Chapter Eight "Lazy Afternoons"
"I have no trouble with my enemies. But my goddam friends...they are the ones that have the real capability to blackmail."
Peyton Sawyer was awakened by the slight turbulence of their Boeing 707 when she noticed her dear husband having the gall to lean on her and proceed to drool on the shoulder of her new black cashmere turtleneck.
She gave him a hard shove. "Chris get your ass off me!" she whispered harshly in his ear to avoid causing a scene.
"Huh, what the hell Pey?" Chris sleepily mumbled to her.
"You know, why do we even book first class with these roomy seats if you are still all up on Me." she huffed.
"Bitch, bitch that's all you do." he snapped right back.
"Ugh, sometimes I wonder why I ever married you." she bit out and threw her hands dramatically in the air.
Chris looked over at his riled up wife and smiled. He loved her this way she had such a fire he couldn't get enough of.
"Aw baby you know why you married me" he whispered softly in her ear and proceeded to nibble on her neck.
Peyton smiled and swatted him. "Well, you have a good point there ass, but let's lay off the making out since we've already been warned twice."
"Yeah, but the lights are off now and you know we have to keep our Mile High Membership active. That means at least once a month in the sky to keep our reign of VIP status." he huskily told her while his hand traveled up her loose fitted skirt.
"You are such a Perv," she breathed out as she felt his hand reach its desired destination.
"Baby, don't tell me it's just a coincidence you always wear a skirt when we fly." he reminded as his hand stroked her.
Peyton gripped the armrest of her chair and felt the warmth spread throughout her body when all of a sudden she felt something she never had before.
"Oh my god Chris" she let out surprised.
"Mm you like that do you" he spoke cockily.
"Not that you ego maniac. This!" she took his hand out from under her skirt and placed it on her belly.
"Look do you feel, it's kicking"
Chris rubbed her small bump and suddenly felt what had her in such a state of wonderment.
"Pey, damn that's our baby" he looked into her eyes and she placed her hand over his that was still spread over her belly.
"Yeah, that's our baby Sherlock" she joked with tears in her eyes and they shared a tender kiss filled with the joy of their future with their baby.
8 Hours Later
"Chris I can't believe you got us lost for an hour after you practically grew up here!" Peyton screeched once they finally pulled up to the main drive of the Scott estate.
"You know do you have to scream when I am one foot away from you" he rolled his eyes.
"Oh and another thing why the hell did you rent a Porsche? I mean one I am pregnant here and even if I'm not that big yet I still want comfort and two our luggage barely fits in here."
"You know Pey I wish I could blame your mood swings on your hormones, but I think being a bitch is just part of your DNA."
"Well, then get ready because if our baby has my bitch DNA then it will definitely have you asshole DNA" and with that she stormed up the massive doorway with a grumbling Chris behind her.
The door opened and a middle age butler greeted them. "Mr. And Mrs. Keller we have been expecting you."
"Actually its Mrs. Sawyer no way in hell was I taking his name" she smiled sweetly to obviously taken aback butler.
"Oh, I'm sorry please excuse my slip up. Everyone is gathered in the dining area for lunch. If you'll just follow me I'll lead you to them and don't worry about your luggage it will be all set up for you by the time your done eating." he warmly directed them.
Chris followed his wife through the familiar rooms and entryways he'd run through almost every summer as a kid. He hadn't been to the estate in over 5 years with college and his own obligations keeping him away, but it still reflected his home away from home in every sense.
"Peyton you're here!" An obviously joyful Haley screamed and immediately ran to hug her old friend she hadn't seen in over a year.
The girls paused in front of each other before bursting into tears and hugging as if their life depended on it.
Chris walked over and gave Lucas a manly hug and they laughed at the scene their other halves were making.
"So when do you think they'll come up for air?" Lucas asked Chris.
"I'd say we have a good couple of minutes of peace before they start screeching again and hurling questions at each other." he surmised.
Peyton tearfully grabbed Haley's face in her hands and looked her straight in the eyes and whispered. "How are you really? You can lie to me over the phone, but I need you to look me in the eyes and tell me for real."
"I won't lie it's been rough losing Caleb, but I really am finally happy again." she swore to her.
"Good, now let me see this rock!"
Haley flashed Peyton her left hand.
"Damn Lucas you sure know how to buy a ring that's impossible to say no to." Peyton teased while still admiring the sparkler.
Then without warning Peyton sprung into tears again pulling Haley tightly to her. "Oh my little Haley is getting married."
Haley laughed at her and then paused suddenly. "Peyton? I'm feeling something hard poking into my stomach and I know you aren't that happy to see me so what the…" Haley questioned as she stepped back and appraised her friend.
"Peyton you're pregnant" Haley finally got out stunned and placed her hand on Peyton's slightly protruding belly.
"Yep, about 4 months and totally hormonal" she beamed causing Haley to look towards an equally beaming Chris at the mention of his child.
"Chris you knocked up Peyton" Haley squealed as she ran into his arms almost causing him to almost fall over if not for Lucas to back him up.
Chris laughed. "Very poetic sweet cheeks, but yeah I knocked her up real good."
"Well, well it looks like congratulations are in order, but God help us all because between Chris's demon seed and Peyton's deviled eggs this kid is going to be one hellion. " Jake spoke up making his presence known.
"Jake!" Peyton ran and hugged him tight. "I wasn't sure if you'd be here"
Haley laughed. "Are you kidding where I go Jake goes and vice versa, you know that. Besides the Scott's fell in love with him like a 3rd son and even gave him his own permanent suite. Oh and there's also Miss Brooke Davis" she winked at Peyton.
"Oh, there's a girl. Do tell me Mr. Jagelski who is this Brooke Davis?"
"No wonder my ears were burning" the perky brunette piped up walking in from the other side of the room.
Haley walked to Brooke and dragged her over to where Peyton stood.
"Brookie this is the only other girl besides you I can call a true friend, Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer and Pey this is the one and only Brooke Penelope Davis.
Peyton smiled and stuck her hand out for Brooke to shake, but Brooke would have none of that. Instead she engulfed the Peyton in a huge hug.
"It's nice to meet you too." Peyton laughed as she returned the hug.
"Oh this is going to be so fun. "We are soo gonna be like Charlie's Angels"
Brooke beamed and hugged both Haley and Peyton.
"That means you are all my angels" Jake said while joining in the group hug.
"Ugh, Jake I'm not sure who's ass you meant to grab, but don't make me have to gut check you like in college." Peyton threatened.
Lucas and Chris busted into laughter as a visibly pale Jake retreated to the other side of the room.
"Ok guys calm down how about we all have a quick lunch and then we can sit out on the veranda and relax." Haley suggested.
An hour later the group sat around the veranda lounging around on the outside couches and cushioned chairs.
Brooke leaned into a sprawled out Jake on a wine colored loveseat. "So tell me how you are all intertwined again. I mean I know we all know "of" each other due to our fortunate family's status, but tell me how you all actually met and became friends. Oh, and by the way there is never such a thing as too much information in Brooke's World."
Haley spoke up first. "Well, you know the story of Jake and I and that we shared an apartment in New York. Anyway, the building we lived in was of course exclusive and extremely expensive. Jake and I had the top two floors for us and after a semester Peyton moved into the floor directly below us by herself, but we didn't even meet till Peyton and I just happened to show up in the same art class where we got to talking and discovered we lived in same building. We all three hung out practically everyday after that. Dinners, parties, classes, and basically just lounging around everyday together.
"Oh God remember that time we all three passed out on my bed watching Gone With the Wind and my mom and dad decided to surprise me that morning." Peyton said.
Haley laughed. "I will never forget the look on you parents face when your father woke us up and Jake proceeded to make the ultimate first impression."
Brooke eyes him "What did you do?"
Jake turned innocent eyes on her. "What? I just politely asked Mamma Sawyer if she wanted to make it a foursome and the asked if Papa Sawyer wouldn't mind running out and buying some more whipped cream. I mean it's not my problem if Peyton's parents have dirty minds."
The whole group laughed at Jake's shit eating grin and Brooke proclaimed he was never meeting her parents.
"Anyway, once we got all cozy just the three of us Chris Keller came into our life's and had to steal one of my ladies." Jake mocked glared at Chris.
"Steal my ass, I had her jumping into bed with just one look." Chris kissed his wife's temple while her and Haley proceeded to make gagging noises.
"What?" he innocently asked.
"I'm so calling bullshit on that" Lucas spoke. "I seem to recall many phone calls, and Nathan can back me up whenever he rolls his ass out of bed, with you complaining about this hot bitch blonde who nagged you day and night, wouldn't give it up, refused to let you ever drive, and yet you couldn't get her out of your head." Lucas laughed.
"Then Lucas and I proceeded to making whipping sounds into the phone and laugh our asses off at you." Nathan's voice sounded as he walked out onto the massive Italian tiled veranda they were all currently lounging around on.
"Nate Dawg. It's so good to see you man." Chris stood hugged him and bumped fists before plopping back down by Peyton.
Nathan surveyed the open seats and chose to sit on the other side of Haley if he wanted to stay in the circle of couches.
Haley's heart clinched when she smelled his cologne as he walked by and sat down beside her. She quickly shook herself out of the daze and re joined the conversation.
"Oh, by the way this is Nathan" Haley popped up and told Peyton who smiled in his direction.
"So anyway let's get back on topic" Brooke clapped her hands. "Now so we we're up to where Chris and Peyton met and obviously found there was a thin line between love and hate." she pointed out. .
"Alright, so anyway Peyton brought Chris into our little NYC circle and subsequently turned Jake and I into alcoholics just so we could tune out their fighting."
"Speak for yourself Haley I take pride in becoming an alcoholic all on my own." Jake smiled broadly and puffed out his chest causing everyone to laugh and roll his or her eyes.
"Oh damn Lucas did Haley here every tell you the story of her how she got her tattoo?" Chris asked.
"You have a tattoo?" Nathan questioned from beside her while trying to figure out in his head why he'd never seen it before even in her bikinis.
Lucas caught his brother's eye. "Yeah, and trust me it's only reserved for that special someone."
"Or everyone in Cancun, but whose counting?" Chris remarked across from them.
"Chris shut the hell up," Haley warned.
"Huh?" Lucas asked confused.
"Too late sweet cheeks you can't stop me now."
Brooke stopped him. "Since, I'm the lover of all nicknames why do you guys call James here "sweet cheeks"."
"It ties in with the tattoo trust me little darling" Chris explained.
Peyton smacked him on the back of the head. "Chris quit being an ass and just tell the story."
"Damn! All right, so one day we're all sitting around Haley's living room and we're bored. Jake flicked on MTV and saw Spring Break Cancun on and decided we should hop on a plane and go there. He thought we'd just blend in since the entire city was nothing but college kids and the papers or the parents wouldn't find out about our exploits. So we caught the first flight out there and I think arrived around 7 am." Chris tried to remember.
"Ok you are boring me my turn to tell it" Jake interrupted. "So we get there early in the morning and the Margaritas are already flowing. The place was booked solid so we all shared one suite with only one big bed. So we get wasted in the morning, take a big nap, go out dancing and get wasted and then just repeated that routine for the next 3 days. I think on the 4th night our Miss Haley over there decided she was bored and wanted a change. She used the excuse that Chris and myself were ruining her game. She said she'd see us on the flight in the morning. So we all meet hung over on the plane the next day grateful that we hadn't been recognized and ready to get home to sleep the trip off. "
Peyton held up her hand to stop him. "I've got it from here boys. Well, we all collapse on Haley's huge bed, since apparently we had become accustomed to sleeping in the same bed. As soon as we all shut our eyes every one of our cells and the home phones start going off. We all just let them all go to voicemail and until we hear Caleb's voice come from the machine laughing his ass off and telling us to turn any news channel we want on. So we grab the remote and hit, I think CNN was the lucky winner, and there it was in bold red letters 'Socialite shows why she's the apple of everyone's eye'." Peyton laughed remembering then hitting Chris to continue on.
"Oh my God and there she is Miss Haley Catherine James daughter of one of the richest and most powerful men in the world on top of a bar with her dress hiked up and bending over to reveal not only a sexy red thong but a fresh tattoo of a small shiny red apple on her right ass cheek. With thanks to some amateur voyeur the whole world got to see her fine perfect apple shaped ass., not just the lucky patrons of the club. " Chris chuckled while ducking a pillow Haley threw at him.
Brooke finally stopped cackling long enough to ask the obvious question. "Why the hell did you get an apple on your ass?"
"Ugh, it's only about the size of a quarter and because apple bottom or sweet cheeks was what the guys always called me growing up. So, when the guy asked me what I wanted I remembered having my ass grabbed all night and it seemed fitting in my drunken state." she mumbled out while everyone double over in laughter at her.
"Let me just say it's high on the butt cheek too so technically it's not in the middle of my ass cheek." she pointed out.
"Let me see?" Brooke excitedly clapped her hands.
"Yeah take it off." Jake yelled while receiving a slug in the arm from Brooke.
"Damn Brooke" He complained rubbing his arm.
She just smiled sweetly and turned her attention back on Haley.
"Back off my women only I get to see that apple and trust me it's an amazing focal point from behind if you know what I mean." Lucas smirked.
"Once a perv always a perv." Brooke chided him.
"Guys chill if she doesn't want us to see it its no big deal." Nathan broke in even though his entire body screamed for her to reveal it to him.
"Thank you Nathan" Haley smiled and kissed on the cheek in gratitude.
Chris whipped out his cell phone and flipped it open. "Don't you love modern day technology? Each one of my friends has a special pic in here so when it rings I know who it is and would you look here. Peyton could you tell me what picture comes up when I select "Sweet Cheeks"?"
Peyton sent Haley a wicked smile. "I do believe that is a picture of Haley's ass."
"How the hell did you get a picture of that?" She hopped up to see there was indeed a picture of her ass apparently lying on a beach.
"Actually, thanks to your love of exhibitionism, you talked us into going to that nude beach last year on the French Riviera and your gal Peyton over here got some lovely shots.
"Peyton, I'd expect this from Chris, but not you." Haley laughed.
"Hey, I'm an artist. To me the human body is a beautiful thing, plus you never know when you nude pics of your friends might come in handy." she smiled.
"I also have some lovely pics of you with about a line of 30 guys doing tequila shots of your stomach."
"I just love your telling all my secrets to my fiancé that things I'm perfect." Haley tried to look as angelic as possible.
"Aw Haley you being so dirty is what made me fall for you." Lucas laughed and kissed her on the nose.
"Good point" she returned and kissed his lips and pulled his lower lip between her teeth for added effect.
Nathan quickly looked away and caught Jake giving him a knowing look. He shook it off and got up to grab a drink.
Jake decided to break the lovebirds up at that moment. "So Chris, Lucas tells me you guys were all friends growing up" Jake hoped this topic would bring Lucas up for air.
"Yeah I met him and Nathan at boarding school and came here on vacations a lot, as a kid, but over that last couple years we haven't really had anything but phone calls and a few emails between us."
Lucas joined in this time. "Yeah, but the important thing is we're all here now and who doesn't believe in fate seeing as how we're all connected."
Haley laughed. "Just last week you said it was less about fate and more about our family's fortunate status saying we were all bound to meet one way or the other.
Lucas kissed her temple. "I feel like being romantic today, what can I say." he shrugged.
Nathan flopped back down next to Haley and she immediately swiped his freshly made screwdriver and took a few gulps before he even got to taste it.
"Damn girl, remind me just to fix two of everything I make for myself when you're around."
"What would be the fun in that?" Haley smiled sweetly and licked her lips.
Nathan locked eyes with her for a brief moment and they both felt a surge run through them and quickly looked away.
Peyton who had been absentmindedly looking in their direction caught the look and could feel the tension in the air. Whether it was from anger, annoyance, or lust she wasn't sure, but if she had to bet money she choose the latter. Hell maybe her hormones were making her see things. She needed a nap.
"Well, my pregnant ass needs an afternoon nap after that flight. Oh who am I kidding I nap no matter what the hell I've done." Peyton announced while standing up and grabbing Chris's arm to go with her. "Call us when it's time for dinner" she instructed as she and Chris made their way inside.
Haley stretched out laying her head on Lucas's lap and her legs across Nathan's. "I think we could all use one especially since us girls are leaving at 5am tomorrow morning for Paris."
"Haley why the hell are we leaving so early" Brooke moaned and curled further into Jake's body while he squeezed her tight the content smile on his face not going unnoticed by those around him.
"Well, my first initial fitting is at two with the Queen of Bridal Design Reem Acra. I can't wait to see what the dress looks like. I only just saw the finished sketch last month. Anyway, sorry I'm rambling back to the point. It's Nathan not me that told the pilot the time."
Brooke threw a dirty look to Nathan. "What the hell Nathan? Do you know how many hours of sleep are required for me to keep up my bubbly gorgeous exterior that you all know and love?"
"Spare us the self praise Brooke and contrary to your belief the world does not revolve around you. You know I have to use the jet to be in Spain that day and I'm doing you guys a favor by dropping you off in Paris. Besides you can sleep the whole time on the flight. There's two bedrooms on the jet you know that. You girls can crawl back in one or both of them and I'll stay up in the main cabin."
"Ugh! Whatever, but you better not make us leave to go back later that week so damn early. Oh and by the way the world would be a much more pleasant place if it did revolve around me. I just don't get why people can't see that and just surrender to my ways" she dreamingly stated.
"Yes your majesty" Nathan sarcastically replied.
"So boys are you going to miss us?" Brooke questioned them all, but looked directly at Jake.
He pulled her into his lap and kissed her sweetly. "More than you know Dimples."
Brooke giggled and kissed him deeply until Lucas and Nathan interjected.
"No offense Brooke, but witnessing our cousin getting it on is not something that helps settle our stomach." Lucas said.
Brooke whipped her head around and shot him a death glare. "Oh, Bite me Lucas. It's not like I haven't had to witness you and Nathan all over your whores over the years. Of course present company excluded Haley my love."
"Aw thanks Davis."
"Damn it's getting chilly all of a sudden out here." Haley rubbed her arms when she felt the goose bumps rise.
"Well, babe it is the beginning of November and your out here in nothing but tiny cotton shorts and a tiny t-shirt." Lucas informed her.
"Hey I was doing my pilates when lunch was announced and I haven't had time to change."
"Not my problem sweetie" Lucas replied and then clicked on the plasma TV that hung in front of them from the ceiling.
"Hell yes!" Jake yelled when Luke found and settled on an apparently big Football game causing all three guys to become entranced.
Just then another breeze swept through the massive shaded veranda causing Haley to shiver even more.
"Nathaaaaan rub my legs" she begged while moving her legs up and down emphasizing her need and directing his attention down to her."
"You swipe my drink and now you want a favor." he smirked.
She leaned up from Lucas's lap and gave him a pout causing him to roll his eyes and give in.
Haley closed her eyes as she felt Nathan's large hands spread across both her legs and begin to stroke up and down. She couldn't help the sensations she felt when he hands rhythmically moved over her calves. With each stoke he seemed to venture a little higher causing Haley to have to bite down hard on her lip to stifle the moan threatening to escape.
Nathan watched her lips and felt his bulge growing as his hands began to massage her legs verses just the normal warming strokes he'd been doing prior. She had the most incredible firm, shapely, and silky smooth legs he'd ever had the pleasure of touching. He could only imagine what they felt like wrapped around his body. Suddenly the game in front of him was the farthest thing from his mind.
Nathan leaned back and closed his eyes hoping to cool down some and maybe catch a nap since apparently Brooke had passed out on Jake and Haley didn't look to far off. So he continued rubbing her legs as he closed his eyes while he tried to tune out Lucas and Jake's animated conversation contradicting what the announcer was saying
Haley's eyes remained closed just letting her body enjoy the sensations Nathan's hands were creating. She fought it at first, but decided there was no difference than him and a masseuse thus, there was nothing wrong with enjoying the feeling. After all, Lucas was right there with her absentmindedly stroking her hair. Haley moved a little to get more comfortable and came across something she remembered vividly from the night in the gazebo.
Nathan's eyes shot open and he froze praying Haley hadn't noticed what she brushed up against. He removed one of his hands from her leg and grabbed the rest of his screwdriver hoping to avoid any eye contact with her. He snuck a peak at her and her eyes were still closed allowing him to breath easy that she had probably been asleep and had nothing to worry about. The last thing he needed was her knowing he walked around with a hard on for her 24/7. 'Damn what the hell did this girl have over him?' he asked himself. He could have anyone he wanted anytime and anywhere and for some reason all his past conquests couldn't hold a candle to her. Every time a girl had approached him since he'd met her all he thought about was how they weren't Haley. They didn't have her hair, her eyes, her skin tone, her body, her laugh, and they especially didn't have her smile.
He could only hope this was just some crazy ass infatuation brought on by the forbidden aspect of her being his brother's fiancé. Each time he replayed that thought it sounded less and less convincing. Sighing he decided he would just continue to have fun with her and eventually all the other elements would fall away and he'd only look at her as a friend. Although, he had a feeling that development was far in the future if ever. 'Maybe after she has Lucas's 2nd kid' he thought sarcastically to himself.
Haley kept her eyes shut and decided faking sleep was her best move. Besides he looked like he was dozing off so he was probably just fantasying about some model or something. She shouldn't jump to conclusion and flatter herself that it was her putting him in that predicament. Not that she couldn't if she wanted, I mean she was Haley James, but still she wasn't going to give herself the credit. She breathed deeply, cleared her head, and drifted off to sleep for real.
Nathan noticing she wasn't waking up and her breathing was definitely even joined her in an early afternoon nap.
Jake finally stopped talking to Lucas long enough to notice Brooke, Haley, and Nathan had all passed out.
"Damn their dropping like flies." he chuckled.
Lucas looked around and laughed with them.
"Ugh let's wake their asses up and hall them into the house." he decided.
"Hell no!" Jake refused holding his hands up in the air.
"First off, waking Haley up is like something out of the exorcist and from what I've recently learned Brooke has a similar reaction to Haley's"
"You're right, screw it, I could use a nap anyway might as well be out here with them."
"Now that's what I'm talking about" Jake agreed and curled up behind Brooke.
Lucas settled back against the couch kissed Haley's forehead and succumbed to the fatigue he felt as the game in the background faded into silence.
Deb Scott strolled through the house with her arms full of shopping bags. She'd spent the last two days in Rome at some of the most exclusive stores and also getting her monthly botox treatments of course. She sat her bags down and instructed Max to take them up to her dressing area and put them in their appropriate places. She grabbed the mail and walked toward the main staircase ready to go up to her room and take a relaxing bath when she spotted the kids passed out on the veranda.
She smiled she loved having a house full of kids. She hated silence and sometimes she feared they would all leave and then it would just be her and Dan and nothing but silence. She loved Dan with all her heart and she knew he loved her, but she had known since day one it was more a marriage of convenience than anything else. They were companions that had a deep love and respect for one another and they had two beautiful boys and for that reason alone she would never regret their marriage. They were happy, maybe not earth shattering scream from the rooftops can't live without each other happy, but happy.
She heard Dan's voice call out to her.
"Deb you all right" he walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Of course darling, I was just looking at the kids." she smiled.
Dan laughed. "Let's see, first we had our two boys then Brooke just showed up one day and never left, except for vacations, and last but certainly not least Haley and Jake came into our lives."
Deb giggled. "I really love Haley, Dan, from the moment I saw her I knew she was going to be a part of our family, but I will admit I had reservations about Jake. That is until that first week when I was actually attempting to make cookies and he came right in not shy at all with a big goofy smile asking if he could lick the bowl. Then he sat and talked with me for an hour about anything and everything. It reminded me of when the Lucas and Nathan when they were little. Ever since then he won me over. " Deb finished with a wide grin.
"One night I couldn't sleep and was watching TV in my office. He apparently saw the light on and thought I might be lonely and sat there and watched the entire thing with me giving me the status of not the players, but the cheerleaders." Dan lightly chuckled.
"Yep, I think it's safe to say those two were destined to come here and look at Brooke and Jake. I have never seen Brooke so taken with a boy." Deb mused. "Oh and just look at Haley curled up in between Lucas and Nathan. That's so sweet."
Dan stared at the three of them, Lucas holding onto one part of Haley while Nathan held on tightly to another. He couldn't help but notice the irony in their positions. Even unconscious they both wanted her and he wondered if Haley, like her position suggested, was becoming increasingly torn between the two brothers. He knew there was a spark when Haley looked at Nathan, but there was a difference between he himself recognizing it and Haley actually admitting it to herself.
"Dan, you ok?" Deb turned and noticed the worry etched on his face.
"Yes I'm fine darling. How about we take a nice relaxing bubble bath before the kids wake up and we have to get ready for dinner?" Dan held her close and whispered in her ear.
"That sounds wonderful Dan."
Deb took one final wistful look at her kids, as she chose to refer to them all as, and followed her husband up the winding staircase.
