AN: There's been a long break… life is all about work and having a house with a gorgeous man and a kid and what not. But it's holidays now so for some reason I thought I'd give this a bash. Writing is so therapeutic, I keep forgetting that it can be my saviour.

Enjoy.

As always, PLEASE REVIEW!

- C

A Beautiful Mess

x~X~x

'New thoughts and hopes were whirling through my mind,

and all the colours of my life were changing.'

Charles Dickens

x~X~x

Chapter 10: Bad Blood or No?

"Cos baby now we got bad blood

You know we used to be mad love

So take a look what you've done

Cos baby now we've got bad blood…"

Heavy beats pounded off the pavement in succession, lights flashing from inside the eloquent beach house as bodies weaved around each other in melodic rhythm. The end of summer heat layered the atmosphere with a thick blanket of warmth as happy and slightly intoxicated teens streamed into the Scott beachside residence, regular weekly meeting place for drunken celebration and debauchery after any Raven's win. It was a haven – the place of ultimate fun.

Fun and frivolity and freak outs and any other f word your brain could imagine!

"Really?" Chris growled in dissatisfaction as the tunes floated around him. "Taylor Swift? Oh my gawd…"

Dragging his hand down his face in a dramatically slow fashion, Chris' exaggerated expression of faux-pain was understood by Lucas who had not yet made the move to go into the house since they arrived ten minutes prior. Although he had received a few hellos and smiles as people skidded past him en-route to the party, he couldn't help the anxiety that welled up within him. He had seen this house before – wandered past once or twice in the earlier years when he was actually curious about the father he had never known and the brother who lived the life he'd never be a part of – but never had he actually had the chance to walk inside. To see the life that had eluded him – the way the other half lived.

The way his brother had lived. That word still felt foreign, even in his thoughts.

"An-y-time now…" Chris sighed beside him, a soft "ouch" escaping his lips as Haley's elbow connected ever-so-slightly with his ribs. Lucas sighed deeply, his eyes roaming the front driveway as more people pushed past and inside the house.

"I can understand you not wanting to be here," Haley said, her curious eyes darting from body to body, absorbing the scene. "It is a rather cliché high school party. Teen-movie, really."

Lucas chuckled, grabbing onto her warm hand and giving it a tight squeeze. She always knew what to say, when Chris always did the exact opposite. It was probably why they all got along so well. But the truth was, Haley was simply registering the inner fear that Lucas felt by merely standing on the cement that had always been enemy territory. Could one simple game of basketball really eradicate years of hostility? He doubted it. Lucas shook his head and gazed at his friend's their expectant faces waiting for a reply.

"Maybe this wasn't such a great idea? Maybe we should just head home?"

Chris' surprised disappointment infiltrated his features but before he could express his disagreement, a soft voice interrupted their conversation from behind.

"Now why would you do that? You know how to open a front door, right?"

There she was. The girl that had somehow managed to infiltrate his thoughts on a regular basis, with each determined session proving to confuse him even more than the day before. It had been a few days since he had the chance to speak to her, the crowded hallways of the school never feeling quite safe enough for them to talk. At the game he could barely keep his eyes off her and in those moments he had decided that the person responsible for the design of the cheerleader's uniform had become his favourite person on the planet. He often flicked his attention towards her in class, hoping to see a spark of that brilliance she had attacked him with outside the café but she never spoke up, choosing instead to hide her clear intelligence behind a dazzling smile and school cheer. He had caught her eyeing him too at times, but the moments were fleeting and never enough to push him towards actually opening his mouth and allowing words to fall out in an attempt at conversation. He had longed to have a moment alone – a chance to talk.

He had agonised over it and then scolded himself for the agonising.

But as she stood before him now, her denim mini showing off her enviable legs, he could feel his reaction to her was a mixture of excitement and ache. Fear and dread and wonder.

He had missed her. He had replayed her lips on his a thousand times and he had read every line of As You Like It just to hear her learned retort from the café raging through his mind.

"Come on then, Broody and Co."

Smiling up at them all, Brooke nodded a hello to a confused Haley and Chris and led the way to the front door. Her delicate fingers wrapped around the handle and pulled down, the noise from the music amplifying in sound ten-fold as the teens were thrust into the world of after-game merriment. Blood-red plastic cups lay strewn across an over-crowded table in the bustling living room. A mixture of harmonious cheers and broken voices filtered through the thick air, laughter bouncing between luxurious hardwood floors and chandelier-adorned ceilings. Whilst cheer elite and basketball gods-alike roamed freely and without pause around the elegant surroundings of the Scott abode. There was quite literally no turning back now. As they made their way through the warm bikini-clad bodies of their new high-school compatriots, eyes widened in surprise at their presence. Although there were some people Lucas' recognised from his previous school, he was now in unfamiliar territory.

And if the look on Felix's face was anything to go by, Lucas Scott was now entering unfamiliar enemy territory.

Without hesitation, the burly Adonis barged towards the trio as they walked behind his girlfriend, his arm stretching out and landing on Lucas' chest with a thud. Stepping back slightly, Lucas let out a quick breath of shock as Felix glared at him. And here we go. I should have turned around when I had the chance.

"And just what the hell do you think you're doing here, pleb?"

Pleb? Wow. Lucas was surprised the basketballer even knew what the term meant. He glanced down at Brooke who was already by Felix's side, pulling at his arm to get him to back away. Again he wondered what on earth she was even doing with him.

"Calm yourself," she breathed, shaking her head in clear annoyance. "He was invited."

Felix roared with laughter, two of his team mates stepping up beside him to join in with him. Three against one, great. Lucas knew this was a bad idea and had wished for the briefest moment that the allure of Brooke Davis hadn't altered his decision to enter the lion's den. Felix stepped forward and pushed into Lucas' chest again, anger flashing across his eyes as he glared at the newest team captain. "First of all, don't tell me to calm down. You ain't my keeper, girl."

Brooke glared at Felix, his slight not lost on her. Lucas could feel the tinge of anger boiling inside of him as he watched her face light up in embarrassment. He opened his mouth to angrily reply but Felix cut him off, his attention turned back to the perceived party-invader.

"Besides, who the hell would invite this pleb to the party?"

Again with the pleb? He had obviously had learned one word in History class and stuck to it.

"I would."

Nathan's voice boomed with authority as he walked forward, the crowd parting for him as he did so. Voices quietened down as the music switched to low, this scene one of both disbelief and curiosity for those around him. Nathan's disdain for his older brother was no secret and it had been assumed that his pass that evening which had inevitably won them the game was done more for the betterment of the team than any sibling loyalty. It was clear that the confusion Felix now displayed was mirrored in every pair of eyes around him.

"And since this is my house Taggaro, I'm pretty sure I can invite whatever pleb I want."

"Okay seriously, do either of you even know wat that word means?" Haley's question was out before she could even stop it and was met with gasps of shock from those surprised she would even have the guts to ask it. Felix's face grew red from anger but Nathan merely laughed, stepping slightly closer to her as he shrugged. His reaction drew both surprise and suspicion from the crowd.

"I'm pretty sure it was a lowly worker from Ancient Roman times but hey, maybe I should get my hands on a tutor to learn more?"

His question floated in the air between them and caused her cheeks to flush slightly pink, a colour not lost on the raven-haired jock. He smiled at her before returning his attention to Lucas.

"Look, like I said you're welcome to hang out. It's the least I could do after that shot tonight and hey, what's good for the team is good for me." Placing his hands on Felix's shoulder, Nathan gave his friend a glare to warn him to back off. Shaking his head, Felix threw his hands into the air and shrugged. He was not one to try and defy the school's king.

"Whatever dude, your funeral. I need a damn drink."

As Felix made his way through the crowd towards the beer keg, Lucas nodded his head at Nathan, unsure what to say or even feel in that moment. Surely one basket couldn't change the bad blood that had been festering between the two brothers for so many years. Surely a few points on a ticking scoreboard couldn't eradicate the endless years of hatred, jealousy and contempt that the brothers felt towards one-another.

Surely.

"Get a drink," Nathan ordered, nodding his head towards the kitchen before turning around and disappearing back into the crowd. That was it? No pushing or shoving, no name-calling or threats? No passive-aggressive words of…

"Yeah, okay – thanks," Lucas stuttered, Nathan turning on his heels and making his way back through the grinding bodies and out of sight. It was so surreal, being civil in enemy territory but it was a start. An hour tops and they could go home having saved face and at least tried to make an effort to keep the relationship between them less hostile. It was best for everyone concerned.

"So, that was weird," Haley breathed beside him, always seeming to know what the brooding basketballer was thinking. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Lucas replied, throwing her his best attempt at a smile to show his willingness to at least try. "Want a drink?"

"Nope," Haley shook her head, smiling at her friend who should have known better. "I have to get up early and work in the café tomorrow. I'm going to take on the role of sober Sally tonight and try and get you and Chris home in one piece."

"Where is he?" Lucas questioned, turning around to find that he and Haley were suddenly on their own. "He was just here."

"He's Chris," Haley replied, peering around the bodies that invaded the open living room. "He probably smelled a victim and made a bee-line."

Lucas laughed, turning to point towards the alcohol-ladden table in the kitchen area. "Are you sure?"

"Positive," Haley replied, wrapping her arms around herself as she gazed across the enormous house. "I'm going to wander and see how the other half lives. Catch you later?"

"You better," Lucas grinned, watching as his friend tried her best to dart through the crowd without touching anybody. It was always hilarious, her social awkwardness. It was actually one of the most endearing things about her.

"Hey," came a voice from behind, Lucas turning around to see a face smiling before him. "Wanna play a round? I know we just had a game and all, but these party usually end up in a drunken mess and I really couldn't be bothered with all that. Something tells me you couldn't either?"

"Jake, right?" Lucas replied, thankful that someone had decided to dare to speak to him.

"Yeah," Jake replied, sending a smile his way. "How 'bout it?"

"Lead the way," Lucas smiled, thankful to be moving away from all the foreign bodies that were still wondering why he was even there. "I could do with some fresh air.

"I bet," Jake laughed, taking them through the crowd of bodies and out through the Venetian doors at the back of the house. Lucas stopped for a moment and took it all in. The backyard was lit up like a Christmas tree, fairy lights dangling in the tall trees that framed the grass. Towards the top of the garden was the court, perfectly aligned with the latest hoops attached to posts at either end. Behind the court stood a large Jacuzzi gazebo, half-naked bodies piling into the warm water in drunken stupor. To the right of that was the entertaining area, people standing at the grill as they tried to cook hamburger meat rather poorly. Beyond that stood the boat shed, the large doors open and showing an array of jet skis and a boat. All of this was backlit with the beauty of the river, the lights of the rich waterfront houses sparkling on the black stream.

Lucas looked all around, his lips pursed in a tight line as he absorbed how the other half lived. All of this and his mother was working her ass off to keep the café running? He swallowed hard, the emotions within unsure of themselves.

"Quite a life," he finally said, Jake grabbing the basketball he had begun bouncing and immediately noticing Lucas' manner. He shook his head, sensing his tone and the underlying anger within. He looked around and then turned to Lucas, tilting his head as he held the basketball to his hip.

"It comes at a cost."

"I bet," Lucas breathed out, nodding his head as he continued. "I'm sure Jacuzzis and jet skis and high-tech basketball court surfacing comes at a rather high cost."

"I meant for Nathan," Jake replied, walking towards Lucas and imploring him with his eyes to try and understand the message he was sending. "None of this is cheap for him."

"What do you mean?" Lucas questioned, unsure if he even wanted to know the answer. Whatever Nathan had going on it was certainly well paid for.

"I mean, you never knew your dad, right?" Jake asked, Lucas remaining silent as he kept his eyes on his teammate. It was true, he never knew his dad and it was completely his father's decision. "Let's just say, you probably got the better end of the deal."

"You think so?" Lucas questioned, confusion soaring through his mind as he tried to sort through the information presented to him. HE saw the way Nathan and Felix spoke to Jake the other day on the court when all hell broke loose and he was surprised to see the young jock come to his wayward brothers' defence. But maybe that's what they did here – once you're on the team, you stay loyal.

"Listen. Nathan is not my favourite person or anything. Believe me, I know exactly how much of an asshat he can be." Jake bounced the ball a few times, the sound echoing across the raging party and floating amongst the sounds of laughter and heavy beats. He threw for the hoop, the ball sinking in effortlessly before landing on the court with a thud. "But what he deals with here-"

He passed the ball to Lucas, the blonde captain catching it in both hands as he looked intently at the boy before him. "What?"

"This place may look like a palace but I bet if you asked your brother to describe it – he would say it's more like a prison."

Lucas swallowed, nodding his head as he took in everything that Jake had to say. For years he had hated Nathan and the life he had gotten o lead. He had gotten their father, the money and the life of luxury whilst Lucas and his mother had been reduced to working their asses off to just make ends meet. He had never stopped to think about what life might actually be like behind the sandy brick mansion.

"Come on," Jake declared, interrupting his thoughts. "You gonna take a shot or what?"

"Yeah," Lucas replied, taking a brief glance back towards the house that he had once envied to the point of unreason and suddenly feeling that maybe he had actually been the one to make a lucky escape.

x~X~x

"I don't know where we are going now…"

The Sterophonics blared across the slick grass as bodies moved to the rhythm of the music. Digging her feet into the ground, Peyton sank into the old swing set and sighed, allowing the night breeze to blow through her golden tendrils and tickle her bare shoulders and she slowly swung to and fro. Gazing up at the stars she couldn't help but wonder why she was even there. She had split from Nathan and they weren't even on what one would call speaking terms. But the after-game party ritual still hung in the air like a bad odour and she honestly didn't want to have to endure Brooke's constant nagging for her to be where she was needed.

Where she was expected to be.

Funny. The song pretty much emulated how she felt in that moment. She had no idea where she was going now. At least the warm liquid in her hand, her third for the night, would keep her company.

"Is this swing taken?"

Pulling her from her thoughts, Peyton turned to see a goofy grin gazing down at her and she sighed. Chris casually plonked himself onto the swing beside her and began to push, stumbling slightly as he did.

"Whoa," he breathed, wobbling unsteadily on the set as he moved forwards and backwards. His knuckles went white from the grip and Peyton couldn't help but let out a small giggle, disbelief in her eyes as Chris looked at her.

"You seriously haven't been on a swing before?"

"Chris Keller has no need for such ridiculous entertainment," the musician replied, trying his best to remain calm and collected in spite of his unsteadiness. "I grew up with a guitar pick not a chain contraption."

"That must have been an interesting childhood."

"I view it as more a life-shaping experience rather than a childhood. Music is like that, you know. But I know better than to school you on music after your stunt in the record store today."

Peyton didn't reply, instead deciding to push herself a little more and remain silent. Chris shuffled a little uneasily on his swing but slowly began to get the hang of it, much to his relief. If he had to endure a few embarrassing wobbles on a swing set for a chance to talk to Peyton, then so be it.

"Do you play?" Chris asked, trying to keep the conversation moving. She was both the most beautiful and confronting person he had ever met. She made knots in his stomach – the best kind. "Like, an instrument or anything?"

"No," the blonde replied, pointing her toes forward as she sailed through the air. "I appreciate."

"Perhaps I could show you sometime?" Chris offered, hoping she would take him up on it. "I'm sure you could get the hang of it in no time."

"Why are you here?" she suddenly asked, planting her feet on the ground and coming to a sudden stop. Just as quickly as the mood was calm between them it became a raging sea again and he had to admit, it thrilled him. She was so unpredictable in each and every way. "Why bother with this type of party?" Grabbing her drink, she slammed it down her throat, trying her best to wash away all the pain that seemed to surround her everywhere she looked.

"Whoa there Blondie, you might wanna ease up on the booze."

Peyton rolled her eyes at Chris and let out a satisfied breath of air, painting her usual sarcastic smile across her features as she locked eyes with the boy before her. "You might wanna ease up on the judgement?"

"No judgement," Chris replied, raising his hands in retreat. She was getting feisty again. "I swear. You just seem… sad."

Peyton swallowed hard, her eyes darting away from the boy and staring out at the scene before her. The crowd moved and she could hear the laughter and cries of excitement from every one of them. In a typical world, a world of the teenage dream, this would be the epitome of fun. But in her world it was just another reminder that she felt trapped in her own body. Like somehow, the person everybody expected her to be was an alien to her. He could never get that. No one could ever get that. She knew she probably sounded like a freak. Like a girl who had it all but didn't appreciate it.

"Sadness is relative," Peyton replied, reaching out and taking the drink from his hand. She downed it quickly, the red cup falling to the ground as it dropped from her delicate fingertips. She leaned against the metal chain of the swing and closed her eyes, biting her lower lip as she spoke. "Why are you here?"

"What if I said I came to see you?" Chris replied, a small smile crossing his features as he looked upon the half-asleep blonde. He really couldn't work her out.

"I'd say you wasted your time," Peyton opened her eyes, sliding herself back up the chain to look at him. His eyes were a piercing blue she'd never noticed before. "I'm not exactly the life of the party."

"Ahh yes, but you are the one who knows your music and thus I figure we could have a great conversation about mutual likes and dislikes."

"I am sad," Peyton replied, cutting him off as she spoke. He stopped and looked at her, shocked by her admission. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen and she seemed to have it all – yet she was fragile and all he wanted to do was hold her tight so that she didn't fall apart. He couldn't explain it.

"You might want to hold off on the booze then. It tends to accentuate melancholy." Chris reached out and brushed a blonde tendril from her face, the cheerleader turning and looking at him.

"Keith Richards would have to disagree with you on that one," Peyton whispered, her eyes locking onto his as she did so. They sat for a moment in silence, Chis swallowing hard as he tried to think of some kind of reply that would make her think he was some sort of creative, funny and charming genius.

"Well, nice work Blondie, throwing in a little Rolling Stones reference – like a guy can win an argument when you Stone him!"

"Like you could win an argument, period!"

"Oooh," the musician chuckled, fingertips touching a loose curl that hand fallen into her eyes as he tucked it behind her ear. It was the second time she had allowed him to do that and he gave himself an internal high-five. "Still as feisty as ever I see. So where's the ex-boy tonight? Please don't tell me I might be booking myself a one-way hospital trip simply by talking to you?"

It was almost as if the bubbliness that had littered their conversation had been sucked out of the air in one, foul swoop as Peyton's eyes immediately darkened and she pushed back from Chris' touch. Immediately he regretted having said anything, cheeks burning a little at his complete lack of tact.

"Shit, uh, sorry," he mumbled as he stepped closer to her, whispering so as to block out their conversation from prying ears. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"Well, you have a point," Peyton whispered back, a long, tired sigh escaping her lips. "But he's not my problem anymore, right?"

"Well maybe…" Chris began, ready to hear all the reasons why the head jock and blonde cheerleader were going to suddenly reignite their passion for each other and have their fairy tale ending. "But if he's the one making you sad then maybe..."

Peyton smiled faintly, hitting him with her glassy orbs once more. She had definitely had too much to drink but she was still gorgeous. A gorgeous, drunken mess. "He's not."

"I'm glad," Chris smiled, placing both hands on the chains of the swing and twisting them across one-another as he turned his entire body so that he was facing her. "He's not worth it. You deserve someone who will make you happy."

"Really?" Peyton smiled, leaning forward so that her face was but an inch from his. He could smell her sweetened vanilla skin, so close that he could taste her. God, she was sexy as hell. "And what would make me happy, Muso?"

Without a second thought, Chris reached out and grabbed the back of Peyton's head, bringing her mouth to his. Their lips tangled in hunger, the musician putting every feeling he had behind the kiss. God, she tasted even better than all the daydreams he had had about this moment. His heart exploded with all the joy and starvation he had felt, wanting to be with her.

Needing her touch.

And as quickly as it had begun it was over, the cheerleader pulling herself out of the embrace and standing to her feet. She wiped at her mouth, clearly rattled and trying to process what had just happened. Chris dared not move, begging with his eyes for her to stay.

But she didn't.

Turning, she started to make her way back to the party, Chris jumping to his feet and grabbing her hand from behind, turning her to face him. His eyes pleaded with her, pulling at her insides slightly.

"Just don't be sad," Chris breathed, unsure what to even say at this point. "You're too amazing for that, even if you don't believe it."

Peyton reached up and touched her lips, still feeling him there. She smiled slightly, a small sigh escaping her lips as she gazed at him.

"I think I'm slightly less-sad now."

Chris smiled, white teeth beaming as he looked at Peyton. They watched each other for a whole until a loud voice interrupted them both teens turnings to face the commotion.

"God damn it, Felix. Why are you such an asshole?"

"Why are you so hormonal, woman? Jesus, Brooke!"

Peyton rolled her eyes, turning to face Chris as he chuckled. "I'd better…"

"Yeah," Chris nodded, taking a step back and giving her room. "You'd better. Good luck."

Peyton laughed, turning and walking back towards the house. He replayed the sound of her chuckle over and over in his head, unable to wipe the smile from his face. And then she was gone, weaving between bodies until the bouncing blonde curls were out of sight, taking Chris' heart with her.

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Chrissy