Chapter Nine (1 Year later)
The sun came through the blinds as Nathan slowly woke up. He felt like he had just been hit by a train. He opened his eyes and looked around the bedroom. He moaned, rubbing his head, and trying to think what had happened the night before. He didn't even remember. All he remembered was being pissed and drinking… a lot. He rolled over and his heart dropped.
"Hey Nathan…." Theresa smiled, leaning towards him and rubbing her hand on his bare chest. Nathan's heart raced as he tried to understand why she was next to him.
"Wha…" was all he managed to get out. He felt sick to his stomach. She kept smiling at him seductively.
"Last night was a lot of fun…" she whispered, kissing his chest and up to his ear. Nathan felt his heart crushing as the previous night slowly came back to him. He couldn't move none the less push her off of him. He closed his eyes, sighing, realizing all he had to lose.
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Brooke pulled her car into the driveway and climbed out, looking at the familiar house. She took a deep breathe walking towards the side door. She knocked softly before stepping back and waiting for an answer. It opened slowly, revealing Lucas.
"Brooke… what's wrong?" Lucas asked, sleepiness turning to concern quickly.
"He broke my heart…" she whispered, tears continuing to fall down her eyes. Lucas sighed, opening his arms to his ex-girlfriend. Brooke walked into his hug and sobbed, feeling her knees go weak. Lucas held her up as she cried.
"It's okay Brooke…" his whispered, rubbing her back. She shook her head no, her hair bouncing in her messy ponytail.
"Nothing is going to be okay Lucas…" she sobbed harder.
"Lucas?" Peyton questioned coming out of the bathroom. She looked at Lucas and Brooke with a questioning gaze. "Brooke, what's wrong?" she asked, coming up behind her. Brooke let go of Lucas and turned to Peyton.
"Nathan… he left me" she sobbed, falling into her bestfriends embrace. Peyton hugged her tight, looking at Lucas for answers. He shrugged, rubbing Brooke's back.
"What happened…" she asked, urging Brooke to fill in the missing details. Brooke couldn't speak. Her throat was tight. She just sobbed in the arms of her bestfriend.
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"You need to leave" Nathan said angrily, grabbing Therese's clothes and throwing them at her. She smiled grabbing them and crawling towards him on the bed.
"You weren't saying that last night…." She whispered, licking her lips.
"Yeah, well whatever happened last night was a fucking mistake…" Nathan said, pacing back and forth. His heart was still racing as he looked at her, laying on the bed in some pin up star pose. "Fucking get dressed…." He cursed grabbing her by the arm and pulling her up.
"Whoa… Nate… I didn't know you liked it rough…" she smirked.
"I'm not playing with you. You need to get dressed and get the hell out of here" he told her pushing her towards the bathroom.
"And I wasn't playing while I was fucking you either…." She said sliding her top on. The words ripped through Nathan's heart like a knife. Hearing them sounded worse then knowing what he had done.
"None of this is every going to be spoken about…." Nathan said storming towards her. A rage took over him as he grabbed her arm and pushed her up against the wall. "ever again…" he finished, clenching his fists. Normally this would have scared her but she just smiled.
"Well…. Lets just hope Brooke doesn't hear about this little romp through the grapevine" she said pulling her skirt over her hips. "Because I'm pretty sure this would crush her little world wouldn't it?" she replied grabbing her purse and heading towards the door. "See you tomorrow Nate…" she waved, biting her lip.
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"Did she say anything to you?" Lucas asked as Peyton came into the kitchen. She shook her head, sitting down next to him.
"She couldn't even speak. I've never seen her so hurt Lucas… not even when she found out about…" she trailed off shrugging her shoulders. "What could he have done?"
"I don't know. I saw him a few days ago at practice and he seemed fine. He didn't mention that they were having any problems." Lucas replied, taking Peyton's hand. "You okay?" he asked looking at his girlfriend. She nodded, smiling a little.
"Honestly?" she whispered looking up at him. "I just… I'm not gonna lie. I was a little jealous that she came to you. I mean, she probably knew I was here. But she needed you… and that made me a little jealous" she smirked. "I know… stupid" Lucas shook his head no.
"Like you said…. She probably knew you'd be here and I was just the first person to answer the door" Lucas assured her.
"Yeah but she feels safe with you…. She always has" she added, nodding her head. "And I'm okay with that"
"Peyton you never have anything to worry about…." He said leaning in to kiss her.
"I know, just sometimes I just think what would stop you from going back to her. You said you'd always love her…."she paused, wanting him to speak. He nodded, looking towards his bedroom door.
"I do love her. I'd be lying if I said I didn't. Things have changed but I'll always be there for her. No matter what" he told her, pushing her hair behind her ear. "But you Peyton… I love you…. More then anything" She smiled, leaning into his shoulder.
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Nathan called her phone, over and over, but it was turned off every time. "God damnit…." He said throwing his phone across the room. He put his head in his hands, for the first time in his life he felt tears coming on. He stood up and slammed his fist against the wall before picking up the trophy on his dresser and throwing it across the room. He was enraged, but more at himself then anything.
"You know… Brooke's room looks a lot like this…" Rachel said walking through his door. Nathan jumped, startled by his presence.
"Where is she?" he asked, desperation filling his voice.
"If I knew… I wouldn't be here…" she whispered staring at him. Nathan sighed, sitting down on the bed next to her.
"I fucked up…." He whispered his voice cracking.
"I know you did…" she whispered, wrapping her arm around him. Nathan knew she didn't know about Theresa. Nathan shook his head, looking at his dresser, his eyes falling on a picture of his dad.
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Brooke sat on his bed waiting for him to get home from practice. She felt like she was going to be sick. She heard the front door open and seconds later him heading up the stairs.
"Baby… what are you doing here?" he asked the second he walked in. Brooke's eyes matched his. "What's wrong?" he asked noticing the tears in her eyes. He went to her, kneeling down next to her and wrapping his arm around her.
"Nathan…" she choked out. He looked at with concern. "You're going to hate me…" she cried, feeling every emotion possible rushing through her body.
"What's wrong?" he asked again. His own stomach was in knots now.
"You always said you wanted to be nothing like your dad….." she cried even harder. Nathan was confused.
"Is this about high flyers? Because I was thinking today that I might not go… I'd rather spend the summer here with you" he told her, taking her hand into his. She shook her head no, looking down at their hands.
"Nathan..." she whispered again. "I'm pregnant"
