'Dodges flying tomatoes' Okay so yeah yeah, I know you're all probably pissed at me and I am so sorry for not updating sooner I really am. But I couldn't write, I know it's a stupid excuse but I actually couldn't write, and anything I did was absolute rubbish and you all deserve the best ;) So this chapter is pretty long for all my lovely readers and reviewers who have waited patiently for this, thank you all so much for the support and feed back for ht e last chapter. I love every single review i get. And an extra big cuddly hug for my girlies Allie and Kelly who stuck with me and told me I didn't suck… at writing lol ;) Love yas xoxox
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It's been another day thinking what could have been
It gets so hard
But it's not what it seems
What I wanted to be
Did I try to hard
Then I hoped for something much more
Just before this you'll have to
Promise
We won't fall apart
Promise
This right from the start
Promise
On heaven that you won't make believe
Yeah e yeah e yeah
Promise
Me
I don't understand what I did wrong
When the problem was you
What do I say
When everything is over
Forget about you
Then I hoped for something much more
Just before this you'll have to
Promise
We won't fall apart
Promise
This right from the start
Promise
On heaven that you won't make believe
Yeah e yeah e yeah
Promise me
What will tomorrow bring
When deciding the truth
It gets so hard
But it's just a day
When everything went wrong
Relying on you
Thinking
What did I
Searching
What to find
Right now
As I say you'll have to
Promise
We won't fall apart
Promise
This right from the start
Promise
On heaven that you won't make believe
Yeah e yeah e yeah
Promise
We won't fall apart
Promise
This right from the start
Promise
On heaven that you won't make believe
Yeah e yeah e yeah
Promise me
Promise me...
-
Chapter Eleven: Promises
-
"Can we please change the CD?"
"No."
"At least the song?"
"No."
"C'mon! Chris Keller does a lot of things, but rap is not one of them."
"Well too bad." Nathan retorted. "You're hitching a ride with us, so what we listen to is up to me."
"But this is crap!"
Haley rolled her eyes at the back and forth bickering, it had been like that for the past hour, and she was two seconds away from strangling both of them. She was really starting to regret letting Chris tag along with them.
"C'mon Nate!"
Nathan practically growled, "Don't call me Nate, and no."
"Puh-leaseeeee!"
Clenching the steering wheel tighter he was about to respond when the girl in the passenger seat beside him beat him to it.
"Stop the car." She told them calmly but with a tone that had both their mouths clamping shut.
"What?" Nathan asked, cocking an eyebrow at her.
Haley rolled her eyes, turning to face him. "Stop the car."
Nathan rolled her eyes around this time. "I know what you said, but why?"
"Nathan just stop the goddamn car." She said with aggravation. Boys!
"But…"
"Nathan."
"Haley."
"Just stop the car."
"Wh-"
"Now!"
The breaks screeched and there were tire marks on the road it stopped that fast.
Haley turned her body so it was facing the raven haired boy beside her, but her glare was set on the one with too much gel in his blonde locks in the back as well. "You both need to shut the hell up, you're like two, three year olds fighting over a goddamn toy and I am so sick of listening to it. You." She spoke, pointing to Chris, "whining and moaning about the music and you," she moved her hard stare to Nathan. "Provoking him by not changing the CD. You're both driving me bloody insane!" She exclaimed. "So, I've decided that whoever drives can pick the music, and look at that. It's my turn to drive. Okay?" She smiled sweetly at both of them, then when she got no answer she said more firmly. "Okay?"
Both boys nodded, mouths tightly clamped shut.
"Glad we're on the same page." Haley grinned; she and Nathan then swapped seats, not one word passing between the three of them as they did. Once they were all seated she switched on the CD Jake had given her for her birthday.
Nathan groaned.
"This sucks."
Haley ignored him. "I can't hear you." She sing-songed.
"Are you serious?" He exhaled; country music really wasn't his thing.
She flipped him a smirk. "House rules, babe, driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cake hole."
…
Nathan closed his eyes tighter, as if in some way it would block out the incessant humming. He was two seconds away from punching Chris Keller in the face if he didn't shut up. For the last ten minutes he'd had to listen to it, and adding the country music to the mix wasn't helping. He turned to look out the window, watching everything fly by. Haley seriously drove like a maniac, but he wasn't about to argue with her earlier, she had that look, and usually he'd be up for a fight but he was tired. Really, really tired.
Haley stole a quick glance at her boyfriend, the way his knee was bouncing up and down at a rapid pace was a for sure sign that he was irritated. And as much as she wanted to be pissed off at him in that moment she knew that the reason they were on this little adventure as she liked to call it was to get away from everything. So instead of shouting at him to stop it she simply laid her hand down over his that was resting on his thigh and the jiggling immediately stopped. The small smile he sent her made her heart skip a beat, and she winked at him in return, moving her eyes back to the road but her hand stayed firmly in place.
They both ignored the sigh they heard from the back of the car, and did the same again when the action was repeated, but this time a little louder. Haley felt Nathan tense when it happened again, loud and stretched out and she bit her lip to stop from smiling, she and Chris were the only two people she knew who could get under his skin, and she had to admit, it was quite entertaining.
She rolled her eyes when he sighed a fourth time. "What's wrong Chris?"
"Nothing." Was his reply.
And she accepted it, rubbing at Nathan's hand lightly as she let the sound of Kellie Coffey's voice run through her. She'd always dreamt of being a singer one day, to stand in front of a million people and sing her heart out. But she knew it could never happen, signing in front of people terrified her, she'd only ever sang in front of Brad, he was who encouraged her to, and ever since his death she hadn't let a single note pass her mouth. Then Nathan and the guys had caught her singing a couple of times when they were younger, but she'd blush at their compliments and then change the subject. It was embarrassing.
The thought of signing again, the way she would when she just let go, it was something she wasn't sure if she could do again. She wasn't strong enough, because Haley knew once those notes and words passed her mouth in a tune she'd break down, memories would rush back to her and that was terrifying. Brad's death would seem even more real, if that made any sense. She was scared, afraid that if she finally accepted her brother was gone then the memories she did have of him would start to fade, and then he'd be gone completely. And she didn't know if she was strong enough for that yet.
But when she felt a slightly rough hand clasp hers, lacing their fingers together all that fear was replaced with adoration. Haley didn't have to turn her head to know that he was looking out the window, even though they were together Nathan was still shy about being openly affectionate towards her in small ways like that, but it was those little things that made her fall for him in the first place. He had no problem making out in front of the entire town, but holding her hand or tucking a strand of hair behind her ear he got all shy about, and she found it absolutely adorable! Especially when he blushed slightly but he'd immediately deny that. 'Nathan Scott does not blush' were his exact words.
Okay and yes she may have gone a little off subject. She, Haley James, fell head over heels for Nathan Scott. She'd been in love with him for years, she was sure of it but telling each other how they felt wasn't exactly they way their relationship worked.
"What is it Chris?" Haley asked a second time when she heard yet another long sigh emit from the boys mouth.
"Nothing." Sigh.
She rolled her eyes.
"Okay, so I'm kinda hungry, Chris Keller does not drive well on an empty stomach." He told them, his head popping in-between the two front seats.
Nathan rolled his eyes this time, deciding he should simply ignore Chris' scrawny ass.
"Well I have some food in my backpack." She offered.
"And I need a piss."
Haley didn't even bat an eyelash at his crude remark; she was used to it, hanging out with a group of boys all her life.
"There's a gas station a couple miles up the road, we'll stop there." She told him.
"Thanks Hales." He grinned goofily at her.
He actually kind of reminded her of Tim, and with that thought she frowned, she missed her Timmy. Actually she missed all her boys but this was for the best, they all needed space.
Nathan's hand turned into a fist and his whole body tensed again, but then he felt Haley's hand squeeze his other one, their fingers still laced together as her thumb rubbed softly along his knuckles. He felt little sparks shoot up his arm at the contact, then looking over at her he smiled softly. She had no idea what she did to him.
…
She could feel his hard chest pressed up against her back and she smiled as his arm snaked around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
She giggled when she felt the lightest touch of his lips on the skin of her neck, tickling her.
"I thought you were asleep?"
He grinned lazily. "I think I am."
"Oh yeah?" She asked, her dimples on full show she was still facing away from him.
"Yup. I mean, I wake up and this really beautiful girl is lying beside me, I must be dreaming." He placed a few kisses onto the skin below her ear.
Her heart hammered in her chest at his words; he was too sweet. "Well then we should make one to remember."
"We definitely should." He mumbled and she quickly turned around and pressed her lips to his.
"Mmm, this is nice."
"Yeah it is." His brown eyes looked into her own sparkling ones as she rubbed her nose against his.
"You Jake Jaqkelski are quite the sweet talker." She dimpled.
Jake grinned. "And you Miss. Davis are turning me into a sap."
Brooke giggled, "you love it." She let out a small squeal when his hands ran up her sides, then she cuddled into his chest as he lay on his back on her bed. "You know, I think this is one of the few times I've slept in a bed with someone, for that sole reason."
Jake chuckled. "Maybe we should change that?"
She quirked an eyebrow. "You are a bad influence on me Jaqkelski." She giggled as he rolled them over, but it turned into a small gasp as he sucked and nibbled on her collar bone. She ran her hands through his hair, holding him close to her skin as he feasted.
His hands were making there way under her tank top when the phone rang, Jake groaned into the crook of her neck before he rolled off of her to grab his mobile.
Brooke closed her eyes, trying to get some of her senses back, never in her life had a simple kiss affected her that much. But even though a part of her wanted to have sex with Jake, the other part didn't want that, they'd only started going out last night and this meant something to her. She didn't want to rush things.
Turning her head to the side she watched the different expressions play across his face before he hung up the phone, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
"What is it?" She asked worriedly, moving closer to him.
"They're gone."
Her brow scrunched. "Who are?"
He turned to face her finally. "Nathan and Haley. They left a note. They're gone."
Brooke's own expression matched his then, whoa. That was surprising. "C'mon, we'll go over to Luke's ad find out what else they know." He said, swinging his legs off the side of the bed to put his trainers on. When he didn't feel her move he looked at her over his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
She bit her lip.
"Or you can wait here?" He offered, knowing seeing Lucas wasn't on the top of her list of things to do today.
Brooke shook her head firmly, flashing him a small smile. "No, Haley's my friend." She told him, and she was, her body instantly filled up with worry the minute Jake said that they were gone, and if she had to be in the same room with Lucas Scott to help find out where she was then she would.
He smiled at that, an adoring smile as he pressed his lips to hers in a soft kiss. "You are something else Brooke Davis."
She dimpled with a teasing smile. "I know."
…
"So dude, are you and Haley like a couple?"
Nathan ignored Chris, just kept looking at the sweets in front of him, looking for what Haley asked for.
"Or are you simply friends? Maybe 'Friends With Benefits'?" He licked his lips while looking out the window at Haley as she filled up the car with gas. "Cause I gotta say, a body like that should not be put to waste."
Nathan's fists clenched together so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"So what're yous doing out here anyway?"
Again he was met with silence.
Chris shrugged, must be a sore subject.
"Runnin' from a crazy ex or something?" But that didn't mean he wasn't curious. "I know how it is man, girl get all clingy and suddenly she's tattooed your face to her back, then she wont stop calling."
Nathan raised an eyebrow at this.
"And she gets really paranoid and then turns up at your house, accusing you of sleeping with her sister." Chris sighed, then turned to face the raven haired boy. "So you and Haley get it on yet?"
He grabbed a few sweets and packets of crisps while muttering a curse, knocking his shoulder with Chris' as he stormed passed him.
"Oh c'mon Nate! We're buddies! Sharing is caring!"
--
"Thanks dude…what? I do not sound like a guy. Well then that's the reason I have you." She laughed. "Okay. Bye, miss you too."
"Who was that?"
Haley jumped about a foot in the air as someone suddenly spoke behind her. "Jesus." She muttered turning around, putting her hand over her heart for emphasis. "Are you trying to kill me?"
Nathan smirked. "You caught me."
"Funny." She deadpanned. "Did you pay for the gas?"
"Yup."
Haley's head bobbed up and down. "Okay good, so what did ya get?" She asked, trying to sneak a peak into the plastic bag he was holding.
Nathan shook his head with a small chuckle. "Subtle. Who was on the phone?" He asked again.
She chose to ignore him. "Mm, skittles, you know me so well."
"Haley…"
"Aw, and Dr Pepper, you're the best boyfriend ever." She smiled up at him.
Nathan tried to stay on subject, but whenever he looked into those brown eyes he was lost. And that smile… oh that smile. "Who was on the phone?" His eyes closed slightly as she leaned up and kissed the corner of his mouth, then the other, she was obviously trying to distract him but oh no, no he was strong, she was not going to distract…Oh God, she started to leave the softest of kisses on his jaw line, moving down to his ear…what was he saying? Oh yeah, he was strong, distraction was not…Mmm…No, strong, gotta stay… he bit his lip to stop from moaning out loud when she nibbled on his ear lobe, then licked around the outer shell. Oh she so did not play fair, but hey, if he was going to lose then he was going to enjoy the hell out of it first.
Nathan cupped her cheeks in his palms and moved her mouth back to his and he kissed her, but it wasn't rough or fast, it was soft and gentle and the small barely audible moan that passed from her lips and he swallowed simply made him want her more. His tongue ever so lightly ran along her bottom lip, and she happily parted them and he wasted no time in plunging his tongue into her mouth. She tasted so sweet… strawberry's… Mmm… honey… and something that was just… just Haley. Yum. He moaned into her mouth when he tongue tangled wetly with his and he pushed her up against the car, their chests pressed together as they devoured the other. When he felt her fingers graze the front of his jeans something snapped inside of him and his hands moved from her cheeks to her waist, pulling her lower body closer to his.
Haley gasped into his mouth as she felt exactly what this kiss was doing to him and she felt proud that she could to this to him with a simple kiss, but the way he was touching her, caressing her… God she wanted him. Her fingers moved to his back and she scratched slightly, making him groan at the small action. She kept moving higher and soon her hands were running through his soft black locks… so soft…she scratched as his scalp, making him moan into her mouth again.
They pulled apart breathlessly, his forehead resting against hers and she sent him a smile… that smile… and Nathan grinned lopsidedly. As he looked into her brown eyes, he felt his heart beating even more rapidly in his chest and his mouth was opening and the words were spilling out before he even had a chance to think.
"I-"
"Now that was quite a show."
He immediately tensed at the interruption and if Haley's arms weren't still wrapped around him he would have lunged at the person.
"I mean that was probably the highlight of these country bumpkins' day."
Nathan rolled his eyes. "Fuck off Chris."
He smirked. "Oh no, I think that's what you wanted to do with Haley just a second ago, and I don't blame ya." He licked his lips.
"Shut the fuck up Keller and get in the car." Nathan growled, and smirked as Chris scurried quickly into the other side that he and Haley were leaning on. "Hey, you okay?" He smiled down at her, his mood immediately changing.
Haley nodded, snapping from her daze, "yeah I'm fine." She smiled leaning up and giving him a soft kiss on the lips but it soon turned more heated.
Chris wolf whistled from inside the truck, "go Nate!"
She couldn't help but chuckle as they pulled apart. "Just ignore him, okay? This trips about us, me and you."
He nodded, tucking a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear. "And the sooner we get rid of his scrawny ass the better."
Haley shook her head with a soft smile, "what? And here I thought yous two were bestest buds."
"Funny." He deadpanned and she giggled. A broad smile overtook his face seeing her smile and laugh.
This was definitely what they needed.
…
"I can't believe this." Jake muttered as he wiped a hand over his face.
"Join the club." Skills said, laying back heavily against the couch in the Scott's living room.
"So they just took off."
"They left this, well Nathan did." Lucas told the other boys, handing Jake the note he'd found. "Mouth and Tim went over to Haley's to see if she left anything." He explained.
"Hopefully they wont do anything crazy." Skills said.
"You never know with those two." Lucas chuckled along with Jake and Skills.
"Any word?" Brooke asked as she walked back into the room, handing each boy a glass of juice.
"I always knew I liked you B. Davis." Skills grinned and she winked at him in return before sitting beside Jake on the couch.
Lucas cleared his throat slightly, moving his gaze away from the couple. "Not yet." He answered her earlier question.
"I'm sure they'll be fine." She told them, "sorry." She smiled sheepishly as her phone rang. "Hello? Oh my-" she stopped as if she'd just gotten shouted at and she pouted, then a wide smile broke out across her face. "Are you okay? Thank God. Do you have any idea-what? Skills, Jake and Lucas. We're all worried about you."
"Is that Haley?" Jake asked, but she ignored him.
"Okay," Brooke sighed. "I wont, but you so owe me. Ew, please don't call me dude you sound like a guy." She laughed at what the person said over the line. "Call me soon okay? Miss you, bye."
All three boys watched her like she had three heads as she sipped on her glass.
"What?" Brooke sputtered, they were making her uneasy. "Oh, you're wondering who was on the phone? Look, Haley and Nathan are fine, her exact words were, 'tell all them doofuses not to worry, we're fine and we miss them all.' So do just that and don't worry."
"Did she say anything else?" Lucas wondered.
"That she misses me." She grinned.
Jake chuckled as he pulled her closer to him, kissing her forehead softly. "I believe she said she misses all of us."
"Yeah, but I got it said just to me, so." She poked her tongue out at him playfully, giggling when he pinched her side teasingly. He really was just what she needed right now.
…
"I'm bored."
"So?" Nathan bit out.
"Well lets do something, oh I know! Lets play a game." Chris grinned like a five year old.
Nathan groaned out loud, keeping one hand on the steering wheel as Haley took his other one in her own hand.
"That actually sounds like a good idea." She said, ignoring the evil look Nathan gave her.
"Traitor." He muttered.
Haley refrained from rolling her eyes and turned around in her seat to look at Chris better. "What one?"
"Hmm." He tapped his chin as if in deep thought. "How 'bout the name game first?"
Haley grinned at that. "Okay, Nate you playing?"
"No."
"Aw c'mon." She pouted, leaning over and putting her head on his shoulder. "For me?"
He almost groaned out loud again at how much of a pansy he was when it came to her. "Okay." He said grudgingly with a grunt.
She nodded happily. "Okay so Chris can go first."
"So 'A', hmmm, girls names first. Anna." He said.
Haley was next. "Abigail."
Nathan sighed. "Allison."
"Ann."
Haley rolled her eyes. "That was practically the same as your first answer." Chris simply shrugged with a grin. "Angela."
"Amy."
"Oooh, I once dated an Amy." Chris spoke up. "She was such a bitch, but hot."
Half an hour later…
"Melinda."
Haley pursed her lips as she racked her brain.
"What's wrong Hales? Cat got your tongue?" Chris smirked, sitting back in his seat when she sent him a glare.
"Just give up babe." Nathan told her, the corner of his mouth curving upwards.
"No." She said stubbornly, suddenly exclaiming. "Madonna! Ha!" She smiled triumphantly. "Your turn, babe." She mocked the tall boy beside her.
Nathan grinned. "Marissa."
Her mouth opened in shock. "I knew I should never have made you watch the 'OC'" She grumbled.
Ten minutes later…
"Okay so how 'bout a different game?" Haley offered.
"Nuh uh." Nathan smirked. "You still gotta give us a name."
She clenched her jaw.
"C'mon it's not that hard." Chris said.
"Then you come up with one."
"Ophelia."
Haley's eyes widened. "Oh. My. God. Okay different game." She told them, making them chuckle.
"What one?" Nathan asked, he wouldn't admit it out loud but he was actually having fun, with Chris Keller. Hell must have frozen over.
"Radio Game." She grinned.
"Ooh I love that one!"
"Dude you're so gay." Nathan laughed.
"I am not!" Chris protested.
Haley rolled her eyes good naturedly at their bantering.
"I'll go first then." She smirked at them. "Okay, so what is Chris thinking about right now…" She flipped the station, practically cackling when the song blasted through the speakers.
"…I'm a model you know what I mean
And I do my little turn on the catwalk
Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah
I shake my little touché on the catwalk
I'm too sexy for my too sexy for my too sexy for my…"
"Oh my god!" Haley laughed, clutching at her side.
"Dude that's hilarious!" Nathan chuckled.
Chris pouted, "fine then, lets see what Nathan Scott's thinking about." He leaned forward and changed the station.
"…I'm in love with a girl who knows me better,
Fell for the woman just when I met her,
Took my sweet time when I was bitter,
Someone understands,
And she knows how to treat a fellah right,
Give me that feeling every night,
Wants to make love when I wanna fight,
Now someone understand me,
I'm in love with a girl…"
Nathan felt his cheeks flush, and ignored Chris' hyena laughter as he did everything but look at Haley, he then felt the softest lips touch his cheek, and he turned his head to find Haley smiling at him with a small wink.
"Okay now that me and Chris have been embarrassed I think it's your turn." Nathan grinned at her and she scoffed in return.
"…Pour some sugar on me
Ooh, in the name of love
Pour some sugar on me
C'mon fire me up
Pour some sugar on me
Oh! I can't get enough
I'm hot, sticky, sweet
From my head to my feet yeah…"
Haley rolled her eyes at their hysterical laughter. It wasn't that funny.
"Oh baby, I'll pour some sugar on you any time." Nathan smirked at her with a wink, and she sent him the bird in return which only made him laugh again.
"Jerks." She muttered under her breath. "What is Tim up to right now…"
"Why do you care?" Nathan raised an eyebrow.
She rolled her eyes and punched him in the arm. "Shut up, I miss him." She admitted, then changed the station.
"…I'm not here for your entertainment
You don't really want to mess with me tonight
Just stop and take a second
I was fine before you walked into my life
Cause you know it's over
Before it began
Keep your drink just give me the money
It's just you and your hand tonight.."
"Ew!" Haley exclaimed as the boys broke into laughter again, "okay eww, mental image. Gross, gross, gross." She muttered. "Someone else ask something."
Ten minutes later…
"Okay so I've been wondering this, and oh so great radio answer me this. What are Nathan and Haley? A couple? Fuck buddies? Just friends?" Chris questioned, fiddling with the knob on the radio.
Both said people shared a look and snickered a little, he was something else but both smirks dropped off their faces at the song that came on.
"…You have stolen
You have stolen my
You have stolen my heart
I watch you spin around
In the highest heels
You are the best one
Of the best ones
We all look like we feel
You have stolen my
You have stolen my
You have stolen my heart…"
Chris grinned.
"Next question." Nathan said, simply making his grin grow. "When will we get rid of Chris?"
The blonde haired boy scowled, folding his arms across his chest.
"…Well I'm cruising El Paseo
In my off-white coup back '65
Or I'm cruisin' down my own street
And my hooptie says to me
You better hang on to your bench seat
I'm gonna take you for a ride
And I'll let you know
When it comes, when it comes
I'll let you know
But don't stay up for me
Don't wait up for me
If I'm not home…"
Haley's brow scrunched. "Do you know that you and Tyler Hilton sound the same? And to think of it, you look alike as well."
Chris twisted his lips in thought. "Nah, I'm way better looking." She scoffed.
"So modest."
He smirked at that, "okay one more question, which again Nate wouldn't answer for me."
"Don't call me Nate"
He ignored the grumpy boy. "Why are Nate and Hales out here in the first place?"
"I open my eyes
I try to see but I'm blinded by the white light
I can't remember how
I can't remember why
I'm lying here tonight
I'm sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me
And I can't stand the pain
And I can't make it go away
No I can't stand the pain
How could this happen to me
I made my mistakes
I've got no where to run
The night goes on
As I'm fading away
Everybody's screaming
I try to make a sound but no one hears me
I'm slipping off the edge
I'm hanging by a thread
I wanna start this over again…"
The car was filled with silence.
Nathan quickly turned off the radio his whole body tense as his hands gripped the steering wheel. Nobody made a move to stop him.
…
"Lucas?"
The blonde stopped dribbling, the orange ball clasped tightly in his hands; he didn't have to turn around to know who it was.
"What're you doing here?" He asked.
"I just…" She trailed off. "I wanted to see how you were doing; I wanted to… see you." She smiled tentatively.
He nodded, his back still facing her. "That's nice Peyton but I'm kinda busy right now."
"Oh." She nodded, if he'd turned around he would have noticed the disappointment flash in her eyes. "Well I emm, I'll leave you to it." She told him, then began heading to her car.
"Wait." Lucas sighed. "I'm sorry." He breathed.
"It's okay." Peyton told him.
"No, no it's really not. Nothing is okay." He said tiredly, finally turning to look at her, and he wished he hadn't; she was beautiful, even with her hair tied back messily and with hardly any make up, she was stunning to him.
Peyton hesitantly walked closer to him. "Wanna talk about it?"
He bit his lip and after a few minutes he nodded. He did, he really did want to talk about it. So after settling onto the bleachers he told her everything. Brad, Haley, Nathan, the two of them taking off without telling anyone, he wasn't sure why but he could tell Peyton everything without a bat of an eyelash, all the words just spilled from his mouth easily.
"Wow." She breathed. "I'm sorry Luke."
Lucas shrugged. "It doesn't matter anyway, nothing can bring him back."
Peyton laid a comforting hand on his shoulder gently. "You know, my mam passed away when I was young, and I go and visit her, in the cemetery and it helps. It helps a lot. Maybe the four of us could have a picnic?" She joked and was rewarded with a small smile from the broken boy in front of her. "Luke, you're strong, you can get through this."
He shook his head, looking down at the ball in his hands as he felt a few tears escape down his cheeks. "I don't know Peyton."
She made him look at her. "You're Lucas Scott and instead of looking after everybody else for once you've gotta focus on getting through this."
Lucas nodded, closing his eyes as he felt more tears escaping and he was then crying into her chest as her arms wrapped around him tightly, stroking the short blonde hair.
"It's okay, I'll help you Luke." Peyton whispered into his ear. "I promise."
…
"Chris hurry up!" Nathan yelled at the skinny boy as he lagged behind, pulling his holdall along the ground behind him. He rolled his eyes at what a sight Chris made, it was actually quite funny.
"Slow down! Jeez, ya know not of us are fit like you." Chris huffed and puffed as he finally caught up.
Nathan smirked. "I know you think I'm hot dude but sheesh, put some ice on it."
His mouth dropped open and he slit his eyes as Nathan walked off, chuckling all the way. "Not funny!" He shouted after the bulkier boy.
--
"This is… nice?" Nathan offered as all three of them walked into the room, his nose instantly scrunching.
"What's that smell?" Chris asked walking in. "God Nate, really, you couldn't have waited until you got to the bathroom? Owe!" He exclaimed as said boy punched him in the shoulder. "I bruise like a peach!"
Haley laughed. "Ya know it kinda smell like your gym socks." She smirked, but then she was hit with a memory so fast it made her head spin.
"So this is… nice?" Brad said, crinkling his nose as they walked into the room.
Haley shrugged, slightly scrunching her nose as well. "What's that smell?" She asked, walking further inside as her brother shut the door. "Smells like yours and Nathan's socks after you've come back from the gym."
"And how do you know what our socks smell like? " Brad enquired as he put his bag onto one of the double beds.
Haley let out a laugh and fell back against her bed, closing her eyes as she spoke. "Well, whenever yous came home and went to take a shower or something I'd rake about in your bags and steal them, for my own sick and twisted pleasure."
She cleared her throat and threw her bag onto the double bed, raising an eyebrow as Chris dropped down backwards, folding his hands behind his head.
"What so you think you're doing?"
"Well this is my bed."
She smirked. "Oh I don't think so. This is our bed." She motioned between her and Nathan. "That," she pointed to the fold out couch, "is yours."
Chris groaned as he stood up and grumbled as he walked over to the tiny sofa.
"Hey you okay?" Nathan enquired, walking over beside his girlfriend.
Haley nodded, "yeah I'm okay." She told him quietly.
He shook his head, looking over his shoulder to make sure Chris wasn't listening, but found the other boy trying out different positions on the couch, falling off as he tried to curl up in a ball.
"No you're not." Nathan said softly, cupping her cheek in his palm, smiling as she leaned into his touch. "We'll get through this Hales."
Haley nodded, feeling the tears sting at her eyes and a lump form in her throat as he pulled her into his arms.
"Pinky promise?" She whispered, sounding like a scared child.
Nathan swallowed, how could he promise her something he wasn't sure of? But when she looked up at him with those large brown eyes, which were filled with so many emotions it broke his heart he nodded.
"Pinky promise."
…
…
…
TBC