Finally able to churn this one out. Let me know your thoughts.
Chapter Two
Highs and Lows
The bike ride with her brother under a beautiful clear sky to Nathan and Haley's beautiful home was pleasant and calming. After arriving to their home, DC and Sophia set aside their bikes and made their way to the front door. "Now, remember what we talked about," Sophia said.
"I know, I know. Nathan got into a really bad accident, is now in a wheelchair, and is all...dark inside and stuff. What are we supposed to talk about?"
"Hell if I know," Sophia muttered, before ringing the doorbell. Moments later, Haley answered, dressed down in jeans and a casual blouse, hair up in a messy bun. "Hey, Haley!"
"Hey, you guys! You made it! Come on in."
They entered, both kids secretly marveling at the house's impressive interior. "Shoes," Sophia whispered to her brother, and he immediately obliged, beginning to remove his sneakers.
"Oh, you don't have to do that," Haley said.
"It's OK; we do it everywhere," DC said.
"No, really! Nathan and Jamie are out by the pool, so leave your shoes on!" She waved them ahead with her hand, and both kids made their way out to the back. A little boy Sophia presumed to be Jamie was playing with a little basketball and a plastic Fisher Price basketball hoop, donning a stylish red cape all the while. Had it not been for the wheelchair, neither Sophia nor DC would've recognized Nathan from behind, being that his hair was long, dark and scraggly. "Jamie, baby, there's people I want you to meet." Haley ushered her company to near Jamie, who stopped playing and seemed to cower in shyness, his blue eyes darting to his shoes. "It's OK! This is Sophia and DC; they're Aunt Peyton's family! Wanna say hi?"
At the mention of Peyton's cousins, only then did Nathan turn around to face his guests. All three of them made eye contact, and Sophia's heart broke a little. Nathan had indeed let his hair grow out, as well as a grungy dark beard, which hid his handsome face. She could see the despair in his eyes from where she stood.
"Hi," Jamie muttered, moving to cling to his mother's leg.
"Hey there, Jamie!" Sophia crouched on her haunches and stuck out her right hand. "My name's Sophia. I've heard so much about you!"
Jamie slowly extended his hand and shook that of Sophia. His eyes met the lanky boy who stood behind Sophia. "What's your name?" he asked, quietly.
"I'm DC," he said, sending Jamie a friendly smile. "It's really nice to meet you, Jamie! Were you playing basketball just now?"
"I'm going to start making lunch," Haley announced. Her eyes met that of her husband. "Nathan, are you hungry?" Nathan didn't answer right away, and only half met Haley's glance. "Nathan. I just asked you something."
Sophia's eyes darted between husband and wife, the tension incredibly palpable. "I could eat!" She piped up. "I know my brother could, too." DC was doing a great job of keeping Jamie occupied.
For a moment, Haley seemed disappointed that Nathan didn't answer her. "Great," she breathed, and retreated, almost grateful to do so.
Sophia stood up from her haunches and stuffed her hands into the pockets of her shorts. "It's good to see you, Nate."
"It's good to see you too," Nathan said. His voice was strained, deep, almost tortured. "I didn't know you were coming to Tree Hill."
"Yeah...I surprised everyone, including Peyton." Sophia realized quickly that she may have been a bit over her head, but it was too late to leave now. "...How're you feeling?"
Nathan swallowed, and Sophia could tell he was debating how to answer the question. She could also tell that most adults filtered what they said to the 16 year-old from New York City, unnecessarily so. "Been better."
Sophia nodded, a lump in her throat. Should she talk about his progress, or keep things light? "I like your hair." Light. Definitely light. "Very rock star."
The slightest of smiles appeared on Nathan's face. "Thanks."
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"Hey Hales." Lucas walked into the house to see Haley making sandwiches with a side of carrot sticks. "Lunch for Jamie?"
"And Nathan. And Sophia and DC."
"Oh, I didn't know they were here," Lucas said, his eyes darting to the back door, but he couldn't see anyone from there. "They with Nate?"
"And Jamie," Haley said.
Lucas nodded, and reached for a carrot stick on Haley's cutting board. "Lindsey is staying in Tree Hill for a while."
Haley stopped chopping. "Wait, what?"
"She says it's in the interest of helping my writing." Lucas shrugged. "I say, whatever will get me writing again."
"Right," Haley muttered, then turned back to the cabinets behind her to fetch plates.
"What?"
Haley turned to her best friend, one brow raised with a certain look on her face. "Please, Luke."
"Please what?"
Haley hid her smirk. "Lucas, what kind of editor moves her life across however many states to motivate one of her writers to write? Think about that for a second." At Lucas' blank stare, Haley let out, "She likes you!"
"No she doesn't, Haley. Don't be ridiculous."
"Oh yes she does. It's not ridiculous at all. You really are blind, aren't you?"
"What–"
"Lindsey likes you. It's so obvious. Speaking of obvious things, what about Peyton?"
"What about Peyton?"
Haley laughed in a humorless way. "What do you mean, 'what about Peyton?!' It's always been about Peyton. She's still in love with you. You love her too." Haley pointed at him for emphasis.
"...Are you done telling me how I'm feeling?"
"Oh my God, you are in complete denial. I can tell there's still feelings there by the way you two look at each other, especially the other night at Brooke's boutique opening."
"You saw that."
"Luke, it's a small store. I think everyone saw you two yelling at each other outside."
Lucas rested his palm on the island counter. "Can we talk about something else?"
Haley raised her hands in surrender. "You brought up the Lindsey thing." She shook her head at her best friend. "Would you like some lunch?"
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"Uncle Lucas!" Jamie abandoned playing along with DC and the basketball hoop to greet his uncle.
"Hey, Jamie! Teaching DC how to play the game, huh? Why don't you go wash your hands; it's lunchtime." He ruffled his nephew's hair, and nodded in Sophia and DC's direction. "Hey," he said, noting his own awkwardness and not knowing what to do about it.
"Hi," Sophia greeted. "Nate and I were just catching up...I think I'll go wash up for lunch, too. C'mon, DC."
"It's good to see you outside." Nathan gave Lucas a look, but said nothing in return. "So, how's physical therapy going?"
Nathan's eyes hardened and he scowled. "How's your second book coming?"
"Ouch," Lucas attempted to joke, but it fell flat. He shoved his hands in the pocket of his jeans. He was still getting used to having to stand over his younger brother. "Haley told me that the doctors think you'll be on your feet any day now. You're pretty lucky, Nate."
"Oh yeah. That's me; Mr. Lucky."
"I'm just saying; you'll be back to normal in no time."
Nathan shoved an angry hand through his long hair. "Luke, I'm never gonna play basketball again. That's not exactly normal, OK?"
"Come on, open your eyes, man. You're blessed."
"Blessed? Blessed?!" Nathan seethed. "I'm in a fucking wheelchair!"
Both Sophia and DC, who were just about to enter the house, turned at Nathan's outburst. "Come on," Sophia said under her breath, and corralled her brother inside. "Come on."
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By the time Peyton entered Nathan and Haley's house, she heard commotion coming from the pool area, so there she went. DC and Sophia were in the pool, playing with Jamie, who donned green floaties, one on each arm. "Well," she said, laughing, one hand on one hip. "Aren't you both happy that I pestered you to bring bathing suits?"
"Yes," the kids droned in unison. DC and Jamie came up with a game that mostly involved Jamie getting lifted and thrown over and over, until they got bored of that and played with the in-pool basketball hoop.
"Hey girlie," Haley said, and patted the lounge chair next to her so Peyton could take a seat, and she did. Haley watched her friend and debated whether or not she should ask about how exactly Sophia and DC came to live with her, but decided it not the right time, with the high chance that the kids would eavesdrop. "So, Brooke was telling me that you might start your own record label here in Tree Hill?"
"I forgot how fast word gets around in small towns," Peyton remarked. She let her flip flops fall to the ground and crossed her ankles on the lounge chair, for a moment admiring the lilac color of her recent pedicure.
"I think you should do it, Peyton. I really do. Imagine how wonderful it could be!"
Peyton nodded. "If only I knew where to start."
"Hey, Hales–"
Peyton turned around slowly at the sound of Lucas' voice behind her. He had come from inside the house, wearing jeans and a white tee shirt. She immediately turned back to face the pool, hoping he didn't see her cheeks turn red.
"Uncle Lucas, are you coming swimming, too?!" Jamie asked from the shallow end of the pool.
"Not today, buddy," Lucas answered. "Maybe next time!" Lucas looked Peyton's way, but she didn't turn around to face him again. He pointed over his shoulder. "Hales, I'm gonna head out."
"Oh, alright. I'll see you later?"
"For sure. Bye, guys."
"Bye, Lucas!" Just like that, he left, and the kids went back to playing, oblivious to the rest of the world.
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"Hey Luke," Brooke greeted from behind the counter at her C/B boutique. "What brings you by?" The door had chimed at Luke's entrance.
"Just thought I'd check in and see how my famous fashion designer friend is doing after her store opening."
Brooke grinned. "I appreciate that description, but seriously, why are you here?"
Lucas approached the counter and leaned his hands on it. "What, I can't check on you?"
"Oh, you can. I just wanted to make sure that wasn't a lead-in to another reason." Brooke kinked her brow, challenged him with her knowing gaze.
Lucas hung his head back and eventually asked, "So, Sophia's here for the summer, huh?"
"There it is," Brooke muttered under her breath. "Why do you ask?"
He shrugged. "Curiosity. Kinda unexpected to see her after so long."
"Yeah well, life is like that sometimes."
Lucas looked at her. "Is this a topic I'm not allowed to broach?"
"Kinda." Brooke bit her lip. "I get it, Luke. I'm the practice dummy."
"What?"
"You know. You really wanna ask Peyton about it, but you can't because of all the history and angst–"
Lucas held up his hand. "OK, OK."
Brooke took a breath. "She told me about running into you on the River Court the other night, and she told me about what you said to her at the opening. What the hell, Luke? First you cast her aside, parade another woman around her, and then tell her something like that?"
"First of all. I was not 'parading' Lindsey around her. She was my companion for the evening; that's it. Second of all, everyone's harping about how hard it must be for her to see me, but what about me seeing her?! I hurt too after everything that happened, you know."
"OK, lower your voice," Brooke pleaded. "You don't have to get so defensive."
"Well, what am I supposed to do when you're here attacking me?"
"I am not attacking you. I'm trying to level with you."
"Thank you for that," he snapped, and he turned around to leave Brooke's store.
"I told her to start her own record label here," Brooke called after him, only to watch him keep walking without saying a thing.
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That Saturday night was a rainy one, and everyone thought it the perfect opportunity to finish decorating Sophia and DC's new rooms. Both of them had just been furnished, but they did a Target run earlier for more necessities. When they had finished, Peyton and the kids collapsed onto the couch in the living room, the TV on low. "Are you guys hungry?"
"Yeah!"
"Heck yes," Sophia said. "Pizza?"
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A knock on the door to her hotel room startled her, but Lindsey calmed when she saw it was Lucas on the other side of the door. "Hey, Luke, what's up?"
"Hey, Lindsey. Really sorry to just drop by like this."
"Don't be silly. Come on in so you don't get soaked!"
Lucas entered the hotel room, took a seat near the door. He accepted a small towel from Lindsey to dry his hair and face. "Thanks."
"So, what's up?!"
Lucas exhaled. He knew once he brought this up, the calmness between them would disappear. "Lindsey…do you like me?"
She let out a nervous chuckle, ran her fingertips along her forehead. She wondered if Lucas recognized the gravity of the question, yet the look in his blue eyes told her that he in fact did. She exhaled, and then asked, "It's that obvious, huh?"
Lucas wore a soft smile. "Well…."
"Look, Luke… I know it's complicated because I'm your editor. I would never do anything to jeopardize that...but what I've realized is that I can't–I can't really help how I feel. You know what I mean?"
"Absolutely," Lucas said, after hesitating for only a moment.
"The whole thing is just stupid, really."
"No it's not," Lucas said, a softness in his voice. "Don't say that."
"It is, though, because you don't feel the same way." Before Lucas could respond, she went on, "You don't have to protest or anything to protect my feelings, OK? Seriously." Lindsey looked at him gently for a minute. "I know there's someone else in your heart."
Lucas hung his head back. "Linds…"
"Luke, come on. I spent a year basically editing a love letter to her. You don't just forget about that kind of love."
"I haven't forgotten."
"Yet you're consistently denying it." Lindsey leaned forward. "Lucas, I think one of the reasons you're not writing is because you're not being honest with yourself. Now's your chance. There's nobody around."
He swallowed and heard it travel down his throat. His heart pounded in his chest. "...It's still lingering, Linds. It's still lingering."
Lindsey nodded slightly. "I know." She squeezed Lucas' hand. "I know."
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That Monday morning, as the kids slept in, Peyton climbed up the steps to TRIC and was flooded with memories of her high school years: finding bands for Karen, watching Haley find her spark. Not much had changed about the place...not much at all.
She found Lucas sitting at one of the high tables, scribbling in a ledger. "Hi," she said, which sounded much more confident in her head.
"Hey," he said, gave her a soft smile. "Thanks for coming so early on a Monday."
"It is pretty early," she admitted. "I usually don't start my hard drinking till at least noon," she joked, and wanted to cringe right after she said it. At least we're semi joking around now, she thought.
Lucas stood up and shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. "I wanna show you something."
They walked through TRIC in silence, through a set of double doors that Peyton forgot even existed. They stopped at a large door, and Lucas put his hand on the handle and pulled it open, to reveal a large, airy, loft-like area. At Peyton's look of confusion, he said, "I talked to my mom, and her and I want you to have this. Rent free, under one condition: that it becomes office space for your new label."
Momentarily gutted, Peyton eventually said, "Luke...Luke, I don't even–I don't–who told you?! Brooke?"
Lucas couldn't help but laugh. Peyton was always so cute when she got flustered. "Maybe," he answered. "Peyton," he said, and she met his gaze. "You owe it to yourself to give this whole label thing a try. You'd be so amazing at it!" He tried to ignore the slight smile she gave him, but it was impossible to. "I know you can do this, and so do you. Just consider it!"
"I keep thinking about that book signing you had in Los Angeles." At that, Lucas turned to face her once more. He remembered right then, calling her up all those years ago, when he was about to take Unkindness on tour, one stop being LA, and he called Peyton up to invite her there to see him, uncontrollable nerves and all. "I was there, Luke. I was there, and I was so proud of you...but we hadn't talked in a long time and I saw you were with Lindsey, and I figured you guys were together."
"But we weren't," Lucas said. "Peyton, we're not. We're not, she's just my editor." He took a few steps toward his ex flame until he was close, and she stayed rooted to the spot. "Are you– are you talking about when Lindsey...when she kissed me on the cheek? "
"I don't...I don't remember."
"That was just a congratulatory peck," he insisted, ignoring Peyton's denial. He exhaled, his shoulders lumping over. "Are you meaning to tell me that all these years I thought you couldn't bother to show up, when really you did?" He desperately searched her glance. "Why didn't you just come over to me anyway?" His voice, half a whisper, was pained.
The look on his face was enough to bring tears to her eyes. "I didn't… I thought..." the words couldn't leave her mouth. "I have to go."
"Peyton. Peyton, please wait." His hand lightly grazed her lower back, and she turned back to him.
"I can't do this…." she insisted, her voice delicate and sad.
"Do what?" Lucas took another step forward, and this time each of his hands lay timidly on either side of Peyton's waist, hands she didn't shove off of her. Lucas leaned in and kissed his ex girlfriend on the mouth, her lips tasting as sweet and feeling as soft as he remembered. His hands moved to her lower back, and he carefully pushed her closer to his body. Her arms latched around his neck, but only for a moment. As quickly as the moment had begun, it'd ended. Soon the space between them was almost too much to bear. "Peyton.."
"...I don't understand you," was what she finally said, her head shaking slightly. "I tell you, I miss you, and you push me aside, and now...now this?"
"I know," Lucas said, full of lament. "Look...I'm an idiot; OK? It's just…I'm still hurt. I'm still hurt over everything that happened in Los Angeles three years ago...but...but seeing you here after all this time? I'd be completely lying if I said you weren't in my heart anymore." He searched her face, for a hint, a sense of softness, anything.
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"So, D, how do you like Tree Hill so far?" Sophia and her brother were enjoying the summer morning by the boardwalk near the river, each one of them nursing a frozen lemonade.
DC finished slurping his drink and said, "It's awesome. I've always loved Tree Hill, especially in the summer."
Sophia smiled, her straw still stuck in her mouth. "Word." Her phone began to ring, and she glanced at the screen. "It's Haley." Sophia put the phone to her ear. "Hey, Haley!"
"Hey girlie! Listen, I was wondering if you're not busy today, if you wouldn't mind stopping by my place to watch Jamie for a couple hours?! I cleared it with Peyton, who thought you would love to help, but I wanted to clear it with you, obviously. I'm just in a total bind right now; I have to run to the high school to cover a summer session...Nathan's in one of his moods...anyway...I'll pay you!"
Sophia laughed. "I'd love to help. Can I bring DC along?"
"Of course! Ugh, Soph, you're the best! So, should we say like, 1pm?"
"1 is perfect. See you then." Sophia hung up the phone and faced her brother. "Well, feel like hanging out with little Jamie in a bit?"
DC shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
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Peyton entered Brooke's boutique in a whirlwind, looking disheveled and distraught. "Need to talk to you."
"Whoa," Brooke commented, as Millicent was fixing up the display mannequins nearby. "What the hell happened here?"
"...Luke and I kissed!"
Millicent turned around slowly. "...I'll be in the back," she said, and she fluttered off.
"...What." Brooke smirked. "How? When?"
"Just now! At TRIC, where he was showing me some potential office space for my label, that he only knows about thanks to you."
Brooke held her hands up in surrender. "Easy, easy. I'm not the enemy here. What was it like?!"
"What?"
"The kiss. What was it like?"
"That's...not important."
"Huh. Must've not been very good then."
"Brooke," Peyton sighed.
She relented. "How are you feeling? What are you feeling?"
"I'm just...in a bit of shock, first of all," Peyton said, resting her arms on the counter that separated her and her friend. "I'm...confused. First he dismisses me and then–"
"What did he say to you?!"
"'I'd be lying if I said you weren't in my heart anymore,' and that he was still hurt over what happened in LA three years ago."
Brooke nodded. "So maybe that's why he dismissed you," she said, and then added, "Just a thought." After a moment or two of silence, Brooke asked, "So…what are you gonna do?"
"What?"
"With you and Luke, what are you gonna do? You kissed. Now what?"
"Brooke…" Peyton said, and she exhaled. "He's still in my heart too."
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"Hello?" Both Sophia and DC poked their heads in the front door of Nathan and Haley's home and were met with silence. "Haley! We're here!"
A grunt from the living room stole their attention, and both kids crept to the sound. Nathan lay sprawled on the couch, semi covered by a blanket. It was impossible to overlook the several beer bottles, the half empty bottle of his liquor of choice….
"Hey Nathan," Sophia said, and something within her hardened. She realized right then how difficult it must've been for Haley to call for someone to watch Jamie since Nathan was still in the same house, yet completely incapable.
"Thank goodness you're here," Came Haley's flustered voice. Her arm gestured for Sophia and DC to join her in the kitchen, semi far from where Nathan lay. It was there that she gave Sophia and DC the spiel about caring for Jamie: what snacks to feed him, what games they might play, how much TV he could watch. "He takes his naps around 2:15. Help yourselves to anything in the fridge. If you need anything, and I mean anything, call me on my cell. I've also given you the school's number, Luke's cell number, and my parents' house number–"
"Haley," Sophia said, held out her hands. "I think we've got it."
"OK. Jamie's upstairs playing in his room." She made her way to the door, slipped on her heels, and grabbed her purse. "Thank you so much for this again." As quickly as she'd entered the room, Haley was gone.
DC and Sophia made their way upstairs to find Jamie playing with building blocks by his bed. "Hey, Jamie! Remember us?"
Jamie turned his little body towards the doorway. "Yeah!"
"We're here to watch you for a little bit. Would it be OK if we played with you?"
"Sure!"
"Great!" Sophia and DC knelt by Jamie's side.
"Whatcha got there?"
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With DC occupying Jamie, Sophia made her way downstairs to see Nathan still sprawled out on the couch. "Nathan," she said, cleared her throat. "Hey, Nathan."
Nathan's eyes blinked open, and he shifted his body on the couch. "Something wrong?"
Sophia's mind raced through all the ways she could have answered this question. It's wrong that you're sitting here getting drunk, detached from your family. It's wrong that your son seems more comfortable around his uncle Lucas than he does around you. It's wrong that this is how you're choosing to deal with your pain. It's wrong that this is all too familiar.
"We're going to hangout by the pool with Jamie. Would you like to join us?"
"I'm fine here."
Sophia looked at him for a moment, yet couldn't keep his glance because he averted his eyes to his feet. "OK. We'll be right outside if you need anything."
Time flew by as both Sophia and DC kept a careful eye on little Jamie in the pool. Nathan didn't move from the couch. By the time Haley arrived, he was taking a nap, as Sophia and DC hung out downstairs.
"You two are staying for dinner, right?" Haley asked, slipping on an apron.
"Oh, we don't wanna be a bother," Sophia said.
"Don't be ridiculous. I insist." They chatted as Haley made dinner, a pasta bolognese dish, and soon everyone was seated at the table to enjoy the meal. Well, minus one person. "Nathan, dinner's ready," Haley said, standing over the couch.
He sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes. "I'm not hungry," he said, his voice hoarse and scratchy.
"You need to eat something," Haley tried.
"I said I'm not hungry," he snapped, a certain iciness in his eyes that alarmed his wife. "Just eat without me."
Haley swallowed her words and simply nodded, turned around and left Nathan alone.
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"I can't believe he just...didn't come to dinner," DC said. The two of them were upstairs hanging out in their room, waiting for Peyton and Brooke to come home.
"Yeah," Sophia muttered, putting her hair up in a messy ponytail. "Sound familiar?"
DC's expression grew serious, and he tilted his head in a slight nod. "Right. But…" he started gently. "Nathan really is nothing like our dad, Soph."
"How do you know?" she asked calmly, coolly."You saw him. Surrounded by empty bottles, just laying there taking his family for granted."
DC took a moment to respond. "I understand you're mad. Better than anyone–"
"You were too young to remember, D-"
"I remember." DC spoke with a finality that shocked even his sister. "You'd be surprised at how much I remember. Just...just try to separate the two situations. Not every guy that's in pain is our father. Nathan's different. You know he is."
A knock on the door startled them both. "It's Peyton! Haley told me you guys had dinner over there, but I brought dessert with me!"
"Come in," the two chorused, and Peyton entered carrying bowls of different flavors of ice cream.
"I've got chocolate chocolate chip, vanilla, and cookie dough," Peyton said. "Take your pick!" They settled on the bed, recalling their days to one another, Peyton going first. "I think I'm going to go ahead and start that record label."
The two kids cheered. "Alright, Peyton! That's awesome."
"What about your day! How was Nathan and Haley's?"
DC and Sophia looked at each other. "Uh…"
"What?" Peyton asked, growing wary. "Did something happen?"
"Nothing happened per se. It's just...it's just that there's a lot of...tension there between Nate and Haley. Unresolved tension. He's a mess," Sophia said.
"He refused to eat dinner with us," DC added. "Haley seems...really sad."
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The soft patter of Jamie's feet caused Nathan's eyes to flutter open. He remained on the couch, on an empty stomach. He faced his son, who looked at him, wide eyed and hopeful, clutching his favorite toy basketball. "Daddy," Jamie said, his voice so small and young. "Wanna play basketball?"
"No, not right now, Jamie," Nathan said, his voice rough and cracked.
"How come?"
"Because I can't!" Nathan yelled, and Jamie jumped back a bit. The running water from the sink came to a halt, and hurried footsteps entered the room.
"Jamie, baby," Haley soothed, "Why don't you go upstairs and I'll help you wash up for bed."
"But…"
"No buts. It's almost your bedtime and we still have to do some reading!" Haley smiled in the hopes of exciting her son.
"OK," Jamie said, and his little feet carried him out of the room and up the stairs.
Haley began picking up all the empty beer bottles that Nathan had drank. With her hands full, she turned to him. "What the hell is wrong with you? You won't even play with your son?!"
He turned slowly to his wife. "I told you I don't want Jamie playing basketball."
"Oh come on, Nathan. He's four! He wants to play with you. All he wants to do is be like his dad–"
"Be like me?!" He began to shout. He gestured to his limp lower body, his scraggly hair, his beard, his empty eyes. "Be like this?! That is bullshit, Haley! He doesn't wanna be like me!"
"That's not–"
"I don't want him playing! I don't want him anywhere near a hoop!"
"There are literally hundreds of other activities you could do with your son, and you won't even do those. Jamie needs his dad, and you're not...you're not here, Nathan!" She wiped at a few tears on her face. "Real nice work, Dan." She carried the tray of beer bottles towards the kitchen, but suddenly turned around and hurled the bottles at her husband's head in an act of fury so rare, it would have scared her had she not felt so heartbroken.
Nathan jumped, but only the slightest bit. He turned to look at her as if she'd lost her mind.
"Are you gonna say anything?! Or are you gonna just sit there like you have for the past four months, get drunk, maybe pout a little? Cry?" Her chest heaved with anger and hurt, as her throat constrained with the force of her yells.
Nathan turned around. "You don't get it, do you? I used to be somebody, Haley. Do you understand that? Do you understand what that means? I used to be Nathan Scott, and I was great, and I should've walked away, OK? I know that! But I didn't do it, and now I'm nothing! And I have nothing!"
"You have nothing? You have a beautiful son who is here. I am here. You have got to figure out who you're going to be in this, Nathan, because this version of you does not work for us! I can not keep living like this; OK? Do you understand what I'm saying? One more night like this, Nathan, and I promise you, you will have nothing!"
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Both kids were fast asleep when Peyton heard someone knocking on the front door. She hurried downstairs, in her robe, to look through the eye hole and see Lucas standing on the other side. She wrenched open the door and asked, "Luke, it's late…"
"I know, I'm sorry...can I come in?"
"Sophia and DC are asleep," Peyton replied. "Here." She ushered Lucas outside and shut the door behind her. "What is it?"
Lucas sighed, took his hands out of his jeans pockets. "Peyton…I can't...I can't stop thinking about our kiss."
"Oh, God…" she breathed, ran her hands through her blonde hair. "Don't do this."
"Do what?" he asked, took one step toward her. "I don't understand."
"I don't either!" She said, exasperated. "What are we doing?"
"I don't know; what are we doing?" he shot back. "All I know is we kissed, after all this time, and I can't get it outta my head." He looked at her, his eyes sad yet hopeful at the same time. "...I want to be with you."
An invisible weight lifted off her chest, and she could finally breathe. "...What?"
"I want to be with you. Screw wasting time and dancing around each other's feelings."
"What about–what about three years ago? In LA?" Tears filled her eyes. "Lucas, you walked out on us."
"I proposed to you. You said–"
"I remember what I said. Someday. I did NOT say no," she said, and began to cry. "You left anyway!"
Lucas held out his hands, almost in surrender. "OK. OK. Aw, Peyton…" He took a careful step towards her still. "You're right; I left. I was an idiot, and couldn't handle something I didn't want to hear. I'm so sorry." He swallowed. "We both hurt from it, but what do you say we just...just move on from all that? I just want to be happy again, Peyton, and I think the only person on this entire fucking planet that can make me that happy is you."
She exhaled, and more tears fell. She wiped violently at her face. "Where is this coming from?"
"It's always been there." He shrugged. "I just tried to repress it, but seeing you on the River Court the other night...I can't run from it all anymore, can't hide behind the excuse of my ill thought out proposal in LA, and I don't–I don't want to." He took another step, and was close to her. "I want to be with you," he said, for the third time. "Do you want–"
"Yes," she cut him off. "Yes, I want to be with you, too." Her lips trembled, "But I'm scared."
"Don't be," he said, moved his hands to her slender waist. "I'm not gonna hurt you again. I promise." He moved to kiss her, and they stayed locked in an embrace, blissfully unaware of two pairs of young eyes watching them from Sophia's bedroom window.
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