Chapter Eleven: Is There Any Net Left To Break Our Fall
Lea and Nathan sat in the car silently as they approached the address she given to him. She hadn't actually given him Chris' address, no that would be stupid. She'd given him the address of an apartment complex about five minutes away from Chris', which they were getting close to so Nathan finally spoke up.

"So Lea what is wrong?"

"Nothing, I've just been busy."

"Oh come on Lea if you're going to lie at least make it believable." Nathan said as he passed the complex and kept driving.

"Nathan! What the fuck? You just passed by…"

"I know were going to my house." Nathan said matter of factly as he cut her off.

"No we are not!"

"What are you going to do babe, jump out of the car?" He asked sarcastically.

"Don't call me babe! And let me out I don't want to go to your house." Lea shouted. Nathan was a little confused by her rejection of the nickname. She had never minded it before. Instead of saying anything he just ignored it for now.

"I want to know what is going on, and I want you to tell me the truth."

"Yea well we don't always get what we want, do we?"

"Maybe most people don't but you know me Lea I always do and apparently the only way that's going to happen is if we go to my house to talk."

"Why your house?"

"You can't throw me out of my own house if you don't want to answer my questions."

After the final bell rang Lucas went to meet with Brooke before practice.

"Hey Boyfriend." Brooke squealed.

"Hey Pretty Girl." Lucas greeted her with a kiss.

"And so the make-out fest begins." Peyton laughed as she joined the two next to Brooke's car. After breaking the kiss Brooke playfully slapped Peyton's arm.

"Hey, if Jake were out here we would say the same thing about you two."

"Speaking of where is he, and Nathan for that matter." Lucas asking now noticing that neither were there.

"Well Jake was going to go turn something in then probably go straight to practice, Nathan on the other hand…." Peyton let her voice trail off as Brooke started giggling.

"What? What did I miss?" Lucas asked very confused.

"P. Sawyer here saw Hotshot and Barbie leave after third period." Brooke said putting in her two cents.

"I guess he finally did it."

"DID WHAT?!" Peyton and Brooke asked.

"Nathan wanted to get back together with her so I guess he finally asked her."

"Ha! You owe me a twenty P. Sawyer!" Brooke said holding her hand out.

Lea was lying naked in Nathan arms when she realized the time. It was almost two and Chris would be expecting her home in thirty minutes. She started to get up and head for the shower.

"Where you going babe?" Nathan asked lazily. Lea cringed slightly at the use of the nickname, thankfully Nathan didn't notice.

"Just going to get a shower."

Nathan smiled. When that had first arrived at his house she had been unwilling to even look at him. Then after a heated argument turned into very rough passionate sex Lea ended up in Nathan arms, right where she belonged in his opinion. As she crossed the room he watched her hips sway, he loved that after sex glow she seemed to have. Then his heart dropped when he noticed the bruises on her wrists. Why hadn't he noticed them before? Maybe they weren't there before. Oh god then that means I… Nathan thought silently. He felt horrible, not realizing he'd been so rough with her. He quickly got up, threw on his boxers and a pair of gym shorts over them, and went into the kitchen.

Lea finished her shower in about ten minutes. After stepping into the bedroom and realizing Nathan wasn't there she smelled something coming from the kitchen. Oh god he is going to want me to stay. Lea thought. As much as she wanted to stay the cons defiantly outweighed the pros. There would be no way for her to explain coming home late to Chris. With this in mind she walked down the hallway to the kitchen.

"Hey I made us breakfast." Nathan smiled then added. "I know it's like two or something but you know just for old times sake."

"Nathan I… I'd love to." Maybe the cons outweighed the pros but at least she could have some happiness before she returned to hell. Nathan finished fixing their plates then set them down and sat across from her. Memories of their relationship came flooding back to Lea. Every morning for six months he would make her breakfast. It wasn't always something fancy. More often then not it was strawberry pop-tarts heated for exactly twenty seconds in the microwave and a glass of ice cold milk. That was her favorite. Sundays were nice too though, he always made eggs and bacon with some sort of potato. Lea loved potatoes. When she thought about it leaving him probably wasn't the best idea. For all his faults, which she realized now there were only very few, he was a great person. Most people wouldn't think of Nathan Scott as caring loving boyfriend who made breakfast every morning but that's who he was, even if he didn't really show it in public.

"Lea are you ok?" Nathan asked concerned.

"Uh yea." Lea said being brought back to reality. "I was just thinking about us."

The concern in Nathan's voice evaporated. "So is there an us now?" He asked hopefully. Lea desperately wanted to say yes, but she couldn't.

"Nathan I can't I…"

"Why can't you?! I don't understand you Lea. I love you! Isn't that what you wanted! Isn't that why you left in the first place because you thought I didn't love you? Well I do Lea, I love you! And yet you still don't want to be with me? So what is it now? What am I doing wrong this time?"

"Nathan it's not you…"

"Oh don't give me that it's not you it's me bullshit! Tell me the truth Lea!"

"I would if you would fucking let me talk!"

They were both silent for a minute while Lea decided to tell Nathan everything.

"I went back to Chris…"