AN: Another week, another chapter. We're happy that there are both BL and BN fans reading this, it makes it so much more fun for us because then at least we're always pleasing someone. LOL. This time we've tried to answer most questions by PM's to be able to get this up faster. But short summary to all our readers: We love you. And to those who also review: We love you even more. ;) /L & E
Comfortable Liar
Part 1: Teenage Wasteland
---x---
Chapter 12: Both Sides of the Gun
Junior Year
November 26th, 2006
For once, she's on time. She even has minutes to spare when she opens her locker and grabs her stuff for double English Lit. Rachel had a test in French and wanted to be here early and for once she got up and came along. Maybe because they hadn't even gone to sleep by the time the alarm went off? Or maybe because she's still in such a great mood from last night…
She should probably be hung over, but if she is, then she's not feeling it. Actually – if she doesn't count the fact that her best friend is miserable – she just feels bouncy and happy. As if the night spent with Lucas gave her a boost of… of energy?
And then all of a sudden she feels him. Just like she usually knows when Nathan is standing right behind her, she senses Lucas even before he nervously clears his throat.
"Uhm…hi…"
She smiles and turns to him. "Hi, broody boy."
He smiles back, looking a little tired. She guesses that he's probably less used to spending a night in a bar than she is. But even so, with his dirt-blonde messy hair, the worn jeans and the grey hoodie, he's just the epitome of hot.
"Good to see you up and about," she says cheekily and winks at him. "Was your uncle mad at you when you got in?"
He squints in an adorable way and nods. "A little." Then he seems to find some courage somewhere because he takes a step closer, making the gap between them more intimate. "But it was totally worth it."
The underlying message is clear and she runs a finger down the bridge of his nose. "It was, huh?"
"Yeah."
The whole setting reminds her of last night at Blue Post, when he had her pressed up against the brick wall, and she pulls in a breath and giggles. The sound is weird coming out of her mouth. She sounds like an innocent school girl when in honesty she's far from being that.
"So last night…" he mumbles and pulls his hand through his hair. "It…uh…makes us a couple, right?"
The question is so unexpected that it seriously throws her off. She's not prepared and she stares back at him confused.
"What?"
He blushes. Actually blushes and clears his throat again. Then he leans in and lowers his voice so that the passing students won't hear him.
"I had a great time, Brooke. I think you know that."
Now she's following again and she smirks confidently. Of course he had a great time.
She leans against the locker behind her and bats her eyelashes. She loves how he looks at her all innocently and she bites her bottom lip in order not to tell him that, for a first time, he was brilliant.
Shy? Maybe. Eager to please? Hell yes.
"Anytime, baby…" she tells him huskily and moves the hair out of her eyes with a flick of her neck. His eyes fall to her lips and she's almost shocked when he leans in as if to kiss her. He stops half way though, because she pulls back, momentarily forgetting that it doesn't matter if someone sees them.
Then she remembers and she closes the last inch between them and kisses him.
This boy isn't forbidden fruit.
The kiss is sweet, not passionate like last night. This time he's less rushed and she bets that it's because he's sober and a lot less courageous. Even so, when he pulls back she grins widely. At least until he says it again.
"So are we? A couple?"
How the hell is she going to answer that?
"Yeah… uhm… about that…" she says and smiles awkwardly. "I don't… I'm not really a relationship kinda girl." She shrugs and looks away.
He tilts his head and looks at her curiously. Keeps looking at her until she meets his eyes again.
"Why?" he then asks, as if there's a perfectly simple explanation to her statement.
"Why?"
"Yeah, Brooke. Why?" His voice isn't taunting. Actually he looks like he really wants to know.
I am not Peyton.
I know that, Brooke! And you know what else you're not? My girlfriend.
"I don't know," she shrugs again. "It's not really my thing. Relationships seem to get so messy and complicated." Then she finds herself honestly saying "But I guess I wouldn't know… I've never really tried it."
He smiles. Pushes a strand of her hair away from her face with gentle fingers. "Well I've never really tried it either. What do you say we just see what happens, okay?"
See what happens?
She smiles back, making it look so sincere that he doesn't even see that it's fake. Everyone knows that 'Let's see what happens' is code for 'Let's just kick it and have sex until we get tired of it'.
She should know. She's done it with Nathan for months.
"Like casual dating?" she asks with her signature brow raised. "Friends with benefits?"
"What does that mean?"
Lifting her eyebrow an extra millimeter and smirking, she explains; "Lots of hot sex, random make-out sessions, no obligations…"
He blushes again. "We could also get to know each other better, Brooke. Hang out…"
The weird thing is that he seems serious. His comment isn't followed by him trying to grope her, or asking her if she wants to 'meet up' after school. He doesn't scout around for an empty broom-closet either. He just runs a shy hand down her side and nods down the corridor.
"Maybe I could start by walking you to class?"
When she nods, he takes the books from her hand and holds his arm out to her. Like a perfect gentleman, she thinks and smiles wider.
"So what are you doing after school, Mr. Scott?" she asks and slips her arm under his.
Suddenly the thought of seeing what will happen doesn't sound bad at all.
---x---
November 30th, 2006
"Nathan?"
His mom's voice echoes through the house and even though the music blasts out of his stereo, he clearly hears it. "Naaathan!"
He's been trying to ignore it but the third time she yells his name, he gives up. Annoyed he turns the old Tupac album off and growls;
"What?"
He's not in the mood for her shit today. It's Sunday and he has no 'must do's. No basketball practice. No school that bores him, no whiny Peyton that drives him crazy and no dad to push him out the door and into a six mile run.
He's planned on not doing anything today, other than lay here and be lazy and maybe go over to Tim's house to play x-box for a few hours, but apparently his mom has other ideas.
"I need you to drive me down to Tidal Creek," she calls from downstairs. "Your dad has the BMW, and you know that I hate driving the Porsche."
"I'm busy."
He just wants to be left alone, does that have to be so hard? This 'motherly' act she's been pulling lately is getting on his last nerve. Usually Deb was a good second to Brooke's mom in the race for the 'worst mom of the year'-title, but the last couple of months she's done a complete 180. He wants her to be a better mom, it's not that he doesn't. It's just that the whole charade of them being a happy family is getting a little hard to stomach.
Sometimes he wonders if Brooke and Rachel aren't better off being practically abandoned. At least that way they didn't have to deal with their parents constant fighting and the whole 'pretend' life.
He flips the page of the basketball magazine he's reading and moves to turn the music back on, but once again he gets cut off.
"Nathan Royal Scott! Get your ass up and into the car. I'm late for the shift at the café."
She's standing in his doorway now and one look at her face tells him she means business. So he groans and starts to get up, but then he frowns confused. What café?
"You're working at a café?" he asks and raises his brow. "Where?"
It's probably charity work, he thinks. Not a soup kitchen, that would be pushing it, but some kind of high class bake sale.
But no.
"At Karen's." She sighs and rolls her eyes. "I've told you this Nathan. I'm managing Lucas' mom's café when she's in Europe for a month. Don't you listen to anything I tell you?"
It's apparent that she is growing frustrated but what the hell? His mom is helping the bastard's mom out? It's got to be a fucking joke. Isn't it enough that the guy is in his face in school, at practice and whenever he tries to get to Brooke? Now he'll have to listen to his mom yap about the guy too?
"Do you really have to do that? Dad's not gonna like it."
Another disappointed look and he shuts up. Because as opposed to Brooke and Rachel, he still has to deal with his mother's wrath when he goes too far.
"I'll wait in the car" she says sternly and leaves. And mere seconds later he follows.
So much for a lazy Sunday.
---x---
Brooke skips into Tidal Creek grocery store a couple of feet ahead of Lucas, and she giggles when she sees the awkward expression that's already spreading over his face. She knows that he had found it very embarrassing when she turned the car around, halfway home from the River Court, and bluntly declared that they needed to go buy condoms. For later.
She knows that he was shocked and speechless. But this is half the fun.
It's so refreshing with a guy like Lucas. One that actually doesn't have a stack of condoms in his bedside drawer, ready to go. One that didn't even have that one condom in his wallet that he had saved for years just to be prepared if he would get it on with some girl.
In fact, she wonders if he ever planned for that occasion. His wide eyes, that first night when she slipped her shirt over her head and he touched her naked chest, makes her think that he hadn't. But that was five days ago and since then she's woken up his urges for sure. He's still a little too 'nice' and gentle, but they're getting there.
Biting her lip in anticipation for later, she looks back at him.
"I'm gonna go over here" she says and flashes him a bright smile that he shyly returns. Then she happily heads into the aisle that holds what she needs.
She doesn't tease him when he stays behind, circling the register while trying to avoid the eyes of Mrs. Sturman that's been working here since they were kids. Because she knows that this – shopping for contraceptives in broad daylight – is totally off his stress chart.
Why?
Because a week ago, Lucas Scott had still been a virgin.
"Do you want ice cream?" she shouts back, eager to see his cute blush turn crimson. "Ben & Jerry's go well with being naked." She winks, and bang; his cheeks turns red, just like she figured they would.
Lucas shakes his head and looks up into the ceiling. It's like she's doing it on purpose, effortlessly making him feel embarrassed and horny at the same time. Not that she's wrong or anything. He bets that having ice cream with a naked Brooke Davis is as close to heaven as it comes. But does she have to shout it all over the store?
And does she have to look so hot in that sweat-suit? He's a guy after all. A guy that's just been introduced to the awesome world of sex, and she should understand what her actions are causing.
Smiling, he thinks that she probably does.
He plays with some key-chains on a rack and eagerly waits for her to return. But then something happens that's not supposed to happen. Especially not now.
"Lucas?"
At the sound of Deb's voice behind him, he quickly grabs a bag of chips and blushes. Shit. Not good.
"Oh, hey um..."
He scans the store for Brooke and breathes out when he can't see her. The nervousness makes him clumsy and he almost knocks over a stack of chewing gum while trying to look normal. Like a guy that's not in Tidal Creek to buy condoms so that he can go home and have sex in the momentarily parent-free house of his.
Now, if only Brooke could stay away until Deb leaves…
"I'm not playing hookie from your mom's café," she says and smiles. "I just ran out of coffee filters."
He nods. "Ok. See you later." Go away!
When she doesn't, he turns back towards Mrs. Sturman, ready to pay for a bag of snacks that he doesn't even want, but the hint doesn't help and Deb keeps talking.
"I'm glad we bumped into each other. Haley and I were talking and we thought it might be fun to start up some live entertainment at the café."
"Great."
He nods again. Smiles over his shoulder and prays to god that she'll leave. For a second he feels guilty, he hasn't really hung out with Haley the last couple of days, but Deb looks at him curiously and he tries to focus on what she's saying.
"Are you sure?" she asks and gives him a questioning look. "Because if you think it's a decision your mom should be making, I'll understand."
"No it's…it's a great idea" he presses. "It's good. Good."
God, he sounds like an idiot. And Mrs. Scott must think so as well because she mumbles "Good" with an even more curious look on her face.
"Yeah."
He turns around again, desperately trying to stop the increasingly awkward conversation. It's weird enough that Nathan's mom is in charge of the café while his own mom is in Italy, but having her here right now is a complete night mare. Again he scans the surroundings for Brooke, and just when she asks "Lucas, are you alright?", Brooke jumps out in front of him.
"Hey," she blurts happily and holds a giant box of condoms in front of his face. "Don't you think it makes more sense to buy in bulk?"
Inwardly he groans and wishes that the ground would open up and swallow him. But it doesn't happen. Instead the smile on the dimpled brunette widens. "Plus…" she says huskily and holds up a can of whipped cream, "…for desert."
It's official. He's now both horny and totally screwed.
He closes his eyes briefly before meeting Deb's eyes over Brooke's shoulder. And finally the girl in front of him catches on and turns around.
The look on her face is one of total surprise.
"Oh, Hi Mrs. Scott," she laughs nervously and backs into his chest.
Deb smirks. "Well, hi Brooke…um…excuse me."
The blonde woman gives him one last look, one that tells him that he's probably in deep shit, and then she walks back into one of the aisles. He lets the breath he's been holding out and it's not until Brooke has paid for the stuff, and they're walking over the parking lot, that his heart-rate starts slowing down.
Brooke however, is much calmer. And while trying to keep up with his fast pace she can't help but wanting to laugh. She gets that he's embarrassed, but seriously, it's all quite hilarious and she can't wait to share this with Rachel. She knows that Rach will have a field day when she tells her about this.
"Of all the things to stick in my mouth" she giggles, "it had to be my foot."
The sexual innuendo seems to pass straight over his head and when he sighs, she flings a hand out to grab his arm. "Lucas, come on," she tries. "Hold up."
Apparently he's not seeing the fun in this at all.
"Did you see the look on her face?" he mumbles in agony. "Huh, did you?"
"Yeah, total Judge Judy" she huffs back. "…which is completely ridiculous, considering who her son is."
If Deb only knew half of the things Nathan has done, not only with whipped cream, but probably with half the stuff in the fridge, then she would act so high and mighty. Like that time with the chocolate syrup. She bets that Deb wouldn't look so condescending if she knew about that.
Lucas opens the car door on the driver's side, holding it open so that she can get in. "She's friends with my mom" he says seriously and she gasps.
Shit. She didn't think about that.
If Karen finds out that she's corrupting her only son, then she can say bye-bye to ever really being accepted in the Roe household. Not that she knows much about moms that cares, but she guesses that Karen won't appreciate that she's 'de-flowered' Luke. Especially not on their first real date.
"Right…" she mumbles, suddenly feeling remorseful. "I forgot about that one. Well, your mom's in Europe for the next month so what are the odds she remembers this?"
His eyebrow shoots up and an expression of disbelief finds its way into his features.
"Whipped cream and condoms?"
The sarcasm is new and it makes him look even more appealing.
God, he's so hot that she wants to pull him into the backseat of her car and have him do her right there in the grocery store parking lot. But then the reality of his words hit and the laugh bubbles up in her chest. His lips twist into a smile as well and she lets the first giggling sound out.
Seconds later they're both leaned against the side of her baby blue beetle, laughing so hard that they can't breathe. She clutches the box of Trojan's in her pocket and loves the thought of 'later', but right then she's perfectly happy with being with Lucas, laughing together like a perfectly normal couple.
Most of all she loves that they don't have to hide.
---x---
He hides in a random aisle until minutes after Brooke and Lucas have disappeared out the entrance, and it's not until a mom with a screaming toddler asks him to reach up and grab something on the top shelf that he realizes that the random aisle is the one with tampons and shit.
Mumbling something incoherent, he gives the woman a box of whatever and hurries away from there.
Condoms, huh? And whipped cream? Great. Just fucking great.
He already figured that Brooke was sleeping with Lucas, but getting it shoved into his face like this is about as fun as having a root-canal. It doesn't make his already ruined Sunday the least bit better.
His mom pops up from nowhere and smiles. "There you are, Nathan. Did you see Brooke?"
"No."
The response is quick and full of venom. Actually he wishes that he hadn't seen her because if he hadn't, then his head wouldn't be filled with sudden flashbacks that contained of Brooke's naked writhing body and bottle of Hershey's chocolate syrup. Or maybe he wishes that he had, but that the whipped cream had been for someone else, more specifically; himself.
Right now he's not sure.
"I just met her with Lucas. I didn't know that they were a couple." His mother doesn't say it but he can read the silent questions between the lines. Does Victoria know this? Are they really a realistic match?
"Whatever" he mutters and fakes indifference. "Brooke must be really desperate to hang out with that loser. It won't last long."
He starts to walk towards the exit, but Deb puts a hand on his shoulder. Her lips turn into a tense line and she quietly mumbles "I really hope that you and Peyton haven't… I mean, uhm… that you wouldn't…"
"Have sex?" He rolls his eyes and groans, already tired of today's charade. "Mom, think about it. Do you really think that I haven't slept with Peyton? Huh?" Shrugging out of her grip, he laughs dryly. "Get real. She spends three nights a week in my freaking bed."
She makes a hushing sound and desperately looks around to make sure that no one's heard him. And for a second he wonders what she'd say if he told her that he's also slept with a third of the girls in his year and that he's been screwing same said Brooke Davis for months now.
"Whipped cream is for fucking armatures" he mutters and his mother gasps.
"Nathan! Watch your language, mister."
Anger bubbles in his chest and he shouldn't take it out on her, he knows that. But the people that he wants to take it out on are currently on their way home to make use of certain purchased items.
"Are you done here?" he snaps instead and he gets rewarded with the third disappointed look of the day. But at least she drops the subject and he goes outside to wait in the car. Because there's a slight risk that his mom will tell him about what Brooke was buying. And the awkwardness of that conversation is seriously more than he can stomach.
The whole thing is awkward enough as it is.
While waiting for his mom to come out, he takes out his phone and texts Peyton. It's time to make peace.
Sorry for b-ing an ass. Movie + dinner 2nite?
He figures that Brooke will be busy tonight anyways.
---x---
December 2nd
She's almost finished. The tables have been cleared, the menus and salt-shakers are sorted and she's almost done with the last dirty dishes when the bell over the entrance suddenly sounds.
And she's just about to tell the customer that they're already closed when Deb calls out a happy "Oh, hi sweetie. I'll be done in five minutes."
Curiously she looks up and sees Nathan walk up to the counter.
"Haley," he acknowledges with a nod and she snorts in response.
Great. Wasn't it enough that she had to deal with him during tutor sessions? It's been the longest day, she's worked her ass off trying to get both hers and Deb's work done – because honestly, Nathan's mom has probably never worked a day before in her entire life – and after her last meeting with this guy, seeing him now is on the bottom of her wish-list.
Jerk.
She's too tired to play these cat and mouse games with him.
The way she returns his greeting doesn't seem to scare him off though. He tiredly slides up on the barstool in front of her.
"Can I have a soda?" he asks and puts a five dollar bill on the counter. "Please."
She stands rooted for a second but then she sighs and slides it back towards him before grabbing a clean glass. He's actually being semi-polite and it's hard to be cold and dismissing towards a guy that doesn't fire back. Somehow he doesn't seem as evil tonight as he usually does. Maybe he feels bad for drunk-dialing her?
"Coke?" she asks and puts in a couple of ice cubes.
"Yeah, sure. Thanks."
He gives her his trademark lopsided smirk, but it looks fake. He seems tired and 'off'. So when she's placed the soda in front of him and gone back to wiping the clean dishes dry, without him having said anything else, then she has to ask. It's against her nature not to.
"What's up? You look a little low…"
He stirs the ice cubes with the straw and shrugs. "Naw, I'm cool."
"Up late last night? Hung over again?" This time she adds a sarcastic smile but if he sees it, he's not acknowledging it.
This is when she should just leave him alone. Go back to closing up Karen's café and not put her nose in business that will only bring her trouble. But it's so obvious that he's lying. The way he hangs his head and absentmindedly plays with his car-keys as if he can't relax, it all tells her that there is something on the otherwise so cocky guy's mind.
"It's not school, is it?" she presses. "I spoke to Mr. Mitchell and he said that the score on your Algebra was a big improvement from the last one."
"Yeah," he nods. "Thanks to your notes on general inverse elements. But I'm flunking Chem."
He says it as if he doesn't care and she almost shivers. Flunking anything is her biggest nightmare, and he's acting like it's not important at all. She reaches for a clean towel and mutters out a silent "Figures…"
"What do you mean?"
She busies herself with drying the china and curses that fact that she can never stay silent. Lucas teases her for it all the time. Calls her an incorrigible blabbermouth.
"Well…" she starts, biting her lip. She's about as bad at lying as she is of keeping her mouth shut, so she might as well be honest. "You're partnering with Brooke in Chemistry, aren't you?"
She can barely hide the bitterness in her voice when mentioning the Cheer-captain and for the first time Nathan looks up to meet her eyes. His face turns into a mix of defensiveness and… paranoia?
"And?" he snorts with a raised brow. "So what?"
She flinches slightly at the edge in his voice and once again she makes a mental note to not just blurt stuff out. Nathan and Brooke are friends. They're the same, both bread and raised in the world of the elite, and she should know better than to show her dislike of the brunette in front of him.
"I…uhm…" she says and swallows. "I just meant that… um… studying might not be on the top of Brooke's list of priorities, right?"
At this he actually chuckles. And for a second something close to a genuine smile graces his otherwise set jawline.
"I guess not" he answers before the shadow falls back over his face. "But she's switched to partnering with Lucas, so I bet she won't have to worry about that. Loner-boy will do her homework for her."
With Deb still nowhere in sight, she goes against here better judgment and sits down across from Nathan at the counter. She nurses her lukewarm cup of coffee and contemplates the information he's just given her.
"Lucas wouldn't do that" she says, but in the back of her head she wonders. Her best friend is totally love-struck and after her conversation with him in school just the other day, she wonders if he's lost all sense.
Lucas Scott and Brooke Davis. The whole thing is ridiculous. A girl like that belongs with a guy like… like Nathan.
"Besides" she adds, "this is probably a good thing. If you're going to take your studies seriously this semester, then you would have had to switch anyways." She puts her chin in her hand and nods reassuringly. "It can't be worse, right? Who's your new lab-partner?"
Suddenly his cute grin is back and she smiles back for a second before her facial expression freezes. Heck, no! She did not just think of Nathan Scott as cute!
"Actually I think I'm even better off than Davis…" he chuckles as if he's noticed her stiff posture. And when he leans in a little over the counter, she gets even more worried, because his movement causes her to suck in a quick breath.
"Wh…why?" she stutters and clutches her coffee mug, refusing to let the thought in her mind run free.
He looks good… he looks so freaking dangerously good…
"Because" he mumbles and his voice deepens to a softer level, "my new Chem lab-partner… is you."
Her heart plummets straight down into her stomach. This is the one thing that's not supposed to happen. Tutoring Nathan in secret is one thing, even talking to him like this in the café. But if she partners up with Nathan in Chemistry, then it will only be a matter of time before Lucas finds out that she never stopped the tutoring sessions and that she actually doesn't hate the brown-haired Scott brother as much as she would like.
But just when she gets ready to protest and tell Nathan that there must have been a mistake somewhere, then Deb pops her head through the kitchen door and declares that she's ready to go.
"You'll lock up, won't you Haley," the blonde woman asks and smiles warmly. "And thank you so much for today. Karen is lucky to have you."
Dumbstruck she just nods. And Nathan gets up from his chair and winks at her, flirts with her, as if she's one of the popular girls.
"I'll see you around, James…" he smirks and she lets out an incoherent sound that is supposed to be "Yeah, see you".
When the door closes to Karen's café, Haley lets her face fall into her palms and she groans out loud.
This is not good. She's lying to Lucas, playing with fire and acting like a complete idiot.
It's just that right now; lying seems like the only comfortable choice.
---x---
December 5th
Where r u?
Home.
Come over.
I'm busy.
Busy at home?
Yeah.
Nathan stares down at his phone and wonders just what in the hell Brooke could possibly be doing at home. It's the beginning of December which means her parents have jumped ship to warmer climates. She wont see them again until she's forced to fly across the globe for a Christmas reunion. That is, if they remember to invite her this time.
Bullshit. He texts back and slips his phone into his back pocket. He's not going to sit around his house thinking about her. He refuses. It's supposed to be the other way around anyways. She's supposed to desperately be seeking him, it's what any other girl would do.
So how come Brooke and Haley seem to be immune?
"Yo," Owen answers when Nathan calls him.
"O," he replies grateful, "what up?"
"Nuthin'. Watching TV at the crib," he says.
"You still not talking to Rachel?"
He asks more for the sake of conversation than for actual curiosity. Anyone with half a brain can easily figure out that Owen and Rachel are still not on good terms. And if Rachel's mood the past week wouldn't have said it so clearly, then the sigh from Owen says it all.
"Nope. She's still giving me the silent treatment."
Someone says something in the background and Owen mutters back a tired, "Shut up, man. I told you to leave it alone." Then, suddenly back on the line, he grunts, "Prep, what do you say about grabbing a beer? Or five? I need to get out of this fucking house before these guys drive me insane."
"You want me to come up to you or are you driving down here?" he asks while getting up. And when Owen suggests a bar in Benson, somewhere halfway in between, he slides his fake ID into his back pocket before grabbing his car-keys.
"I'll see you there in about an hour," he mutters right before Owen yells something at one of his frat-brothers and hangs up.
54 minutes, and one stop at a gas-station later, he gets out of his car in front of a place that looks like a strip-club. He spots Owen leaning against his big black truck a couple of parking squares to his left and he realizes that the fake ID is unnecessary. This is hardly a place that gives a shit about abiding the law.
Owen pushes off the hood of the truck and walks over. They silently clasp hands in greeting and then without talking they walk into the club. And it's not until after they both downed their first beer that he dares to talk to the quarterback.
"Peyton's being a bitch," he mutters and spins the bottle between his hands, "and that tutor girl won't even sleep with me."
Owen looks up and frowns. "What tutor-girl? And why don't you just stick with Brooke?"
"Because she won't stick with me."
He sounds like a spoiled kid, he can hear it himself. But it's like he's been dying to whine to someone about this and maybe Owen needs an outlet as well? After all, Owen is the only person he can talk to about Brooke – but just the same; Owens buddies don't know Rachel the way Nathan does so maybe Owen needs to vent as well?
They could trade. It'd be a freaking win-win situation. Right?
"Tell me about it…" Owen mutters and chugs down half his second beer in one go. "I swear, those two girls are way too screwed up. Sometimes I wonder what the fuck happen–"
"Hey, O. Did you and Rachel break up?"
It just dawns on him that this is the first time since Rachel started seeing Owen that they're not fighting. Usually arguments between the redhead and the quarterback are very loud and clear, louder than his own with Peyton, and this time he realizes that he hasn't even seen them fight. He hasn't seen them together at all during the last week, period.
Owen pushes the empty bottle away from him before signaling for a new one.
"I don't know," he shrugs, "I mean, it's kinda hard to break up a relationship that didn't exist, don't you think?"
The question-mark at the end of his sentence is clearly sarcastic and Nathan frowns and sinks back the remains of his own drink. He guesses that Owen is referring to Rachel's phobia of 'labels'. Its no secret that Brooke's redheaded best friend is scared shitless of commitment. But so what? It's not like Owen's been complaining before.
"So Raye doesn't want to have a relationship? Big deal…" he mutters and clunks the bottle onto the counter. "She's giving you pussy, right? Man, be happy. Girlfriends…" he raises his eyebrow for emphasis, "equals drama."
"That simple huh?" Owen snorts and for a second Nathan is sure that the older guy is agreeing with him. But then Owen gives him a look that borders on condescending and mumbles something that sounds like "You're such a fucking kid sometimes…" but the music is getting louder and he can't be sure.
"What was that?" he asks while waving to the bartender for shots and Owen rolls his eyes.
"Peyton or Brooke?" the quarterback grunts.
"Huh?"
Nathan feels confused but Owen shakes his head and makes a second roll of his eyes.
"Stay focused, Prep," he mutters. "When you say that girlfriends equals drama; do you mean Peyton or Davis?"
"Peyton of course." Nathan says, turning back to Owen, "You know that Brooke and me have never been serious. We don't do titles."
"Brooke and I," Owen corrects, "and now you're sounding like Raye."
"Yeah? Well you sound like my freakin' tutor."
What the hell's wrong with the guy? Weren't they here to get drunk and talk about the current 'complications?' Then why does it feel like Owen is disappointed in him?
He's about to ask what the fuck's going on but just when he opens his mouth, then the shots arrive and after knocking back the amber colored liquid, Owen rubs his face and frowns, beating him to the chase. "Speaking of Brooke…" the older guy grunts and plays with his drink coaster, "If you ever change your mind about that, then don't ever tell her you love her. It'll just ruin everything."
"That what you did?"
Owen looks up. "Yeah, and I'm pretty sure that it was a mistake."
"But—"
"Maybe you high school boys got it right," he snorts and stares down at the bottom of his empty shot glass, "maybe being a hardheaded dick is really what a girl wants. She don't want that sweet and sensitive chump. She wants someone who will fight with her," he chuckles bitterly, "call her on her shit. Insult her every now and again just to piss her off…"
Nathan hesitates to say anything and when Owen turns to glare at him he finds that he has no words to begin with. Especially not when Owen concludes;
"Maybe I should just be like you."
---x---
Brooke's not really avoiding Nathan. Honestly, she's not. She's just busy hanging out with Lucas.
And he's so different from his brother. Where Nathan is dark and twisted, Luke is bright and decent. Nathan plays games and Lucas just moves about in life as if he hasn't a care in the world. But Brooke knows better and she tries so hard to remember what life was like before she did.
She likes being around Lucas and his annoying friends. Because Mouth, Junk, and Skills are definite upgrades from Tim, Fede and Vegas. She likes to watch Lucas at the Rivercourt and sit beside Mouth while he shouts out his hilarious commentaries. If it had been Nathan that she was trying to 'date' she'd be at his house watching Tim shove different objects up his nose while Nathan shouted out at whatever game was playing on ESPN.
Before Brooke, Lucas found company in the characters of the books he read from authors like Steinbeck, Faulkner, and E.E. Cummings. That means that he can pretty much summon their words to suit any occasion, and he often does. She loves that about him, his mind is incredibly bright and his heart is unbelievably kind. She can listen to him talk for hours without ever having said a word and still feel as if he's listening to her.
But he doesn't know her.
She wishes she could say he did, that he understood her completely and without conflict. But she's still trapped behind the gates she's had up since forever and just the thought of him scaling those walls frightens her. It's almost enough to send her running in the opposite direction.
She has to let him in eventually. Doesn't she? Maybe she can open the door a crack, see how it goes and if she's comfortable enough, she'll invite him in. Or she can slam the door shut in his face. She has to compromise, because he's such an open book for her and she knows she's testing the limits with him. He can only allow her to be closed off for so long before he starts to pry and ask questions of his own.
Just like he is now as they lay in the grass at the Rivercourt, staring up at the clouds in the sky. An untouched picnic basket sits two feet away by her but she's starving for something that's not food. She craves his touch. Caught in the moment she pulls his hand to her chest and lays his palm flat on her collar bone. He continues to tell her a story about his childhood and once again she's trying to distract him.
Because she knows what going to come next. He's going to turn his head and look at her with those big blue eyes of his and ask her to tell him something. He always does that and she hates that she has to lie and make up a story every time he does. She hates lying to him.
But some lies are best left alone.
There are things in her life that she can't quite come to terms with. Like Nathan. She knows she has to let him go but like a stubborn child, she refuses. He's fun and convenient. Most of all, he doesn't ask her personal questions about her childhood or about her parents. But then again, that could be because he already knows all the answers. That's what happens when you've known someone for so long.
Damn him.
"So tell me something," Lucas turns his head on the blanket and sets his deep heart racing eyes on her, "tell me a story about when you were little." His fingers slide from her skin to her hair and he rolls his whole body to the side and rests on his elbow.
"Not much to tell, really," she says staring up at the cotton candy clouds in the sea of baby blue. "My life is boring, anyways," she sighs and rolls to face him, "so why don't you help me make it more interesting?" her eyes sparkle as she bites the corner of her lip and leans up to kiss him.
"Tell me a story about you first," he whispers against her lips, "and maybe I will…" his fingers trickle up her spine beneath her sweater and play with the little clasp at the back her fancy black brassier.
She shivers into his hand and closes her eyes, "Okay," she replies and lifts her lashes. "Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Brooke," she starts with a smirk.
His hand slides away from her and he rolls to his back with a frown, "I mean a real story, Brooke." His grimace deepens.
She panics when he starts to shut her out and quickly she grabs his hand and places it on her face, "I don't have any stories, Lucas." She admits to him, "Not any worth telling, anyways." She moves his palm to her mouth and kisses it.
His eyes grow concerned and he draws her to rest against his chest, "I just want to know you, pretty girl." He tells her and presses his lips to her forehead.
She quickly moves to straddle him and playfully grins, "So get to know me then." Her face bends down closer to capture his mouth with hers.
His hands grip her thighs and even though he wanted to make this moment meaningful, he can't deny the physical attraction they share. Maybe that's how all great loves start out, he thinks. Through heat and lightening. Their bodies create the heat and their intense chemistry…
Well, that's obviously the lightening.
---x---
December 7th
"So basically, what you're saying is that you're sleeping with Brooke Davis–just casually–and you're both just going to see where this goes?"
Haley arcs her brow and gives him a smirk that seems to say 'that's ridiculous and you know it' and he shrugs.
"That's not what I said."
Its lunchtime and the majority of Tree Hill high's students are in the cafeteria so they are pretty much alone out by the pick-nick tables in the schoolyard. He's finally had the guts to tell his best friend that his virginity is out the window and a part of him had hoped that her reaction would be different.
Shocked, he was prepared for. A little uncomfortable too. But he honestly didn't think she'd be this annoyed. It seems like she's almost taking it personally.
"All I said was that Brooke wants to take it slow," he adds and squints against the bright sun. "She's not used to being in a relationship."
Haley laughs dryly.
"You're kidding right?" she scoffs. "She can have sex with you but she wants to wait with being called a 'girlfriend'? Hah! That's rich even coming from her kind."
He frowns now. It's hard to explain to Haley how it makes him feel to spend time with Brooke. That she makes him laugh and do spontaneous things that are far from his usual self. That he feels different around her and that he actually enjoys the attention that the dimpled brunette has showered him with lately.
"Her kind?" he asks, even though he knows exactly what she means. Just a couple of weeks ago he had thought the same. Her kind meant people like Brooke – like Nathan and like Morgan Finley. But Brooke isn't like the rest of them. Actually he's starting to think that Brooke Davis is misunderstood.
"Yes," Haley mutters and bites a big chunk from her apple. "Sche ish eckshackly –" she chews, "Like Morgan."
"Huh?"
The eye-roll is expected. "Like Morgan Finley, Lucas. Cheerleader, popular, without scruples." She makes motion with her hand to show that the list goes on and on. "She's not a nice person and you shouldn't let her play around with you."
He sighs and pats his friend's back. This is going nowhere.
"Okay, Hales," he mumbles tiredly and starts to get up. He's supposed to meet Brooke by the lockers at 1:15 and he needs to get going. "I just thought that you wanted to know what's going on in my life."
Her brown eyes flick down to her hands in her lap and she looks a little guilty.
"It's not that," she tries to explain but he smiles towards her to show her that he's not angry. As a matter of fact, he understands her. Haley doesn't know Brooke. She's never seen the nice sides of the brunette in question and he understands her worry. As soon as he introduced them to each other properly, she'd see what he meant.
"It's okay Hales," he says sincerely. "I get it. But give her a chance, alright?"
Haley nods and he ruffles her hair.
"How about some mini-golf tonight?" he asks playfully and this time there's a smile on her face.
"You bet."
---x---
The sound of sneakers squeaking, bouncing basketballs and loud shouts from the practicing Raven players, is all she hears as she and her squad stretch before their own practice. Brooke loves this part most because it's the only time she can openly stare at the guys without much complaint from her team. Plus, she loves teasing the guys when she stretches, because it never fails to distract them.
"So," Peyton starts as she slides her hands down her shins to touch her feet beside Brooke, "you and Lucas, huh?"
Brooke shrugs from her upside down position and hides the tiny smirk that threatens to take over her face. "What do you mean," she pulls her body back up and stretches her arms out above her head.
"Come on, Brooke. It's all over school," Peyton rolls her eyes.
"I dunno," she sighs, "I mean we're taking things slow, you know? To see where it goes, but for now it's just… it is what it is."
Peyton gives her a quizzical stare that makes her laugh.
"Since when do you take it slow with a guy?" Peyton snorts and bends her knee. "Don't even try to stand there and tell me that you haven't tapped that yet."
"A girl does not kiss and tell," she chuckles huskily in the back of her throat. "But I will tell you this," she leans in closer to her friend, "it was a night to remember."
"Well you sure do move fast, now don't you? What happened to taking things slow?" she snorts.
"Rrraow!" Brooke cat calls, "Chill goldilocks, you said it was cool if I went for him."
"I said I didn't care," she rolls her eyes and squares her hips so that she turn and stretch her back muscles, "not that it was cool."
"What the hell does that mean?" Brooke stops what she's doing to stare down at Peyton.
"It means," she twists around to face the brunette, "that you can play house with him as long as you want. But you'll never change, Brooke. I know you and I know what you're doing. Try to remember that you and him is a mistake. You're a wolf in sheep's clothing, B. Davis, don't try to be something you're not."
Brooke stares back at Peyton hurt and blinks away the wave of sadness that touches her when she starts to believe the blondes words. "Why would you say something like that to me?" she asks.
"It is what it is," she mocks Brooke's earlier statement with a smirk. "Look, I'm just bringing to light what you're trying to hide. You and Lucas? It's bullshit. You're too much for him to handle, Brooke. I can't help it if I'm saying something you don't want to hear. But isn't telling the truth something a best friend is supposed to say? No matter what?"
"Yeah, but being a bitch while doing so is not," Rachel comes to Brooke's rescue, "careful, Peyton. Your jealousy is showing." She smirks.
"No," she shakes her head and scowls, "that would be your tits. Ever heard of a sports bra, Rachel? Because going commando both down low and up top is not acceptable when you're going to be bouncing around for dance routines."
"You sure are offly concerned about my body, Peyton," she chuckles in return, "do we need to go back over how I'm not interested? I know it's hard to grasp, but it's never going to happen between you and me. If anything? I'd fuck Brooke and Bevin before I even looked at you in that way. Hell, I'd take that freaky gothic girl Glenda before you!"
"Dream on, your Raggedy-Anne looking bitch!" Peyton flies forward to push Rachel but gets intercepted by Brooke who slips in between them to hold her back. "Get off me!" she hisses and fights against Brooke's arms.
"Get the fuck out of here, Peyton. You're being a major bitch today and I don't want you poisoning my squad today." She warns her.
Peyton's gaze narrows at Brooke and she's about to snap when suddenly Whitey's voice booms throughout the gym.
"Nathan Scott! Get your scrawny ass over here!" he shouts as he appears from out his office. "Boy, I outta put my foot in your ass right now!"
Brooke blinks in confusion and she releases her hold on Peyton's forearms to turn and watch the drama unfold.
"What?" Nathan sighs in annoyance and pushes the ball under his arm.
"Don't 'what'me, Nathan. Your teacher's just come to my office to tell me that your grades are slipping in Chemistry." He shakes his head. "As well as your English and History classes. Wanna tell me how you've gone from a B average to a D?"
Shit. Nathan thinks to himself as his eyes travel the watching faces around him. He'd been trying to damn hard to make Haley believe he was failing that he'd forgot how it would affect his spot on the team. But he was Nathan Scott, no way would Whitey bench him.
"You're benched until you pull your grades up, Nathan," Whitey snaps. "Lucas," he points to the blonde Scott, "you'll be playing in his spot until then."
"Coach!" Nathan shouts in surprise, "you can't be serious!"
"Do I look like I like to play games, Mr. Scott? Now you can continue to attend practice and wear a suit on game days but your feet will not touch that court during play time until I see results in your grades. Are we clear?" he asks.
"This is bullshit," Nathan scowls and turns his hateful gaze at Lucas, "no way can you even begin to compare to me. Especially on this court," he spits.
Lucas returns his glare, "Really? Cuz I sure had you beat that day on the Rivercourt."
"Ohhhhhh!" the team shouts and Nathan almost charges forward.
"Enough!" Whitey intervenes. "Both of you, I won't go through this again. Get back to practice and Nathan," he points a finger, "I will not be influenced by that father of yours. So it's no use crying home to daddy about this."
Nathan's anger boils hotter.
"Now get your butt back at practice," he shakes his head.
But Nathan shakes his head and backs away, "Fuck this," he scowls, "I'm out of here." He snaps and storms across the gym to slam his out the double doors.
A small gasp works its way past Brooke's lips and she turns from the door to Peyton, "You should go talk to him," she says.
"Yeah," Peyton scoffs, "that's what I'm gonna do." She rolls her eyes and chuckles to herself as she picks up her gym bag and leaves out the other side of the gym.
Brooke looks at Rachel and she merely shakes her head. She doesn't like the look of concern in the brunettes eyes. Then Brooke's gaze flicks to Lucas who is watching the door Peyton just exited from.
So she doesn't feel so bad when her eyes travel back to the door Nathan walked through.
---x---
December 9th
She's not quite sure how she knows where he's going to be but the second she turns the corner there he is. Just as predicted. But he looks upset and given the fact that just the night before Lucas had made the winning shot (again), she's pretty sure Dan is really laying into him.
"Don't you even think about it," Rachel's voice come out of nowhere and Brooke all but jumps ten feet in the air.
"You are pure evil!" she shrieks, "Only someone with snake-like tendencies can sneak up on people so effortlessly and scare the shit of them."
Rachel rolls her eyes, "Don't change the subject."
"What?" Brooke sighs, "What is it now Rachel?"
"He's with Peyton again," she replies matter-of-fact.
Brooke blink and takes a step back confused, "When…"
"Just after fifth period I believe. Then again you wouldn't know because you were too busy sucking the face off—"
"Then why does he look so miserable?" she asks aloud and instantly regrets it because of the look that slides over Rachel's features. "I just meant, you know… he looks…"
"Do not finish that sentence," Rachel scowls. "I get that he's a hot piece of ass and all but that by no means gives you clout for sympathy, Brooke! What's next? You going to buy him a card to cheer him up?" she scoffs, "How tutor girl of you."
Her cheeks instantly flush red, "And why is Bitch so a fucking Rachel right now?" she sneers back at the taller girl. Just an hour earlier she had been annoyingly irritated when finding out that Nathan and Haley had partnered up in Chem and she hates that Rachel had picked up on her mood-change so easily.
"I'm just warning you B," Rachel's tone softens, "it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt. And in this case? It's going to be you, because Nathan doesn't care about anyone but himself. I understand that he's a lot of fun when its just you and him but just remember to keep it simple."
Brooke rolls her eyes and crosses her arms across her chest. She cannot believe Rachel is actually giving her a damn lecture. "Simple," she snorts.
"Yes," the redhead nods, "it's very simple, Brooke. Fuck Nathan, cuddle with Lucas. Do you see the distinction?" she holds both her hands palm side up as she weighs them up and down like a scale. "It's a win-win, B," she scoffs sarcastically, "Best of both worlds, right?"
Her friend sounds unusually bitter and for the millionth time the last couple of days Brooke wishes that a certain Duke quarterback could fix things.
"Raye, I know that things suck between you and Ow–"
"This has nothing to do with Owen. I'm just trying to make you remember that life isn't about hallmark cards and hot pink hearts, okay? Boys are–"
She interrupts Rachel with a loud sigh. "Boys are commodities. Accessories like handbags or sunglasses…" She rolls her eyes and tries to not get snappy. "All I'm saying is that if you want me to talk to Owen, I will."
For a second Rachel looks sad but then she shakes her head. "Its fine Brooke, play with your boys and have your fun because you never know how long it's going to last." She send Nathan a quick look and then she repeats, "Just keep it simple," this time a little harsher. "That way you won't have to deal with all the crap." Then she starts walking down the hall towards the parking lot.
"Rachel, come on," she tries but the redhead just waves without turning. "See ya later, B…" she singsongs and seconds later she rounds the corner and disappears.
Her heels echo against the walls and bring Nathan's head snapping upwards form his locker. He turns around and spots Brooke standing over by the water fountain. He stares at her and she shrugs before bending over to get a drink.
He shoves his books into his locker then slams it shut and jogs up to join her. She continues to gulp water as if she's dying of thirst and its then that he realizes she looks nervous. The very thought of a nervous Brooke brings a chuckle to his lips and he shakes his head at the absurd idea.
Glancing over his shoulder he sees no one else in sight and takes advantage of this opportunity. His hand slides down her back and stops where her hair ends to bunch it up in his hand, he give a slight tug and her head flies up. Her eyes narrow and when she lifts a hand to wipe away the water around her mouth he dips downward and licks it away right before devouring her lips.
Her school bag slides free from her shoulder and falls to the floor but she doesn't move to pick it up because now Nathan has her pinned against the wall. His breath is hot against her mouth and she welcomes it because no one can make her knees buckle like him. Not even Lucas, though she is working on that.
But until then…
Fuck Nathan, cuddle with Lucas... It's a win-win, B.
"Closet," she whispers against his lips and walks backwards as he pushes her towards the janitor's room. It's tacky and it's all kinds of twisted, but he makes her so fucking horny sometimes that she'd fuck him in a room full of watching people if she had to.
"Aren't you with Lucas?" he chuckles into her ear and teases her by pulling at her earring with his teeth.
"Like you fucking care," she grunts and winces when he shoves her against the door and the handle digs into her back. "Are you really back with Peyton?" she mumbles over his lips.
"Does it matter?" he says turning the knob and pushing her inside.
"You know it does," she pushes him away from her. "Nathan, you know our deal. There are rules."
"Yeah," he nods with his eyes glues to her lips, "I know the details," he replies and places a hand on her hip to pull her towards him. "I also remember you saying you don't do relationships…" his finger curls in her belt loop and tugs gently.
What if you have a boyfriend?
Pshh… Me? Having a boyfriend?
"If you can break the rules," his grin should be illegal, "then why can't I?" he whispers against her lips and she hates that she opens her mouth to him and pulls him closer until she's smashed against him.
"No, wait," she shoves him away breathless. "That was never a rule, it was just an assumption. And for your information; Lucas is not my boyfriend."
He laughs and tries to kiss her again.
"No, I mean it," she slaps his hands away from her. "Me and Lucas are having fun. I haven't promised him anything. Are you with her or not? Rachel said—"
"Rachel said…" he mocks her. "Oh so it must be true then, because Rachel said so." He scoffs. "Cut the cord, Brooke. She's not your mother."
She hates how arrogant he is. Especially when she's fighting not to let him charm his way into her pants. He never has to try very hard, he's like a bar of chocolate. Irresistible and bad for her health.
"Are you with her or not—"
"No!" he shouts, "Fuck, I'm not with Peyton, okay? She was hinting around at it but I sidestepped it. I walked her to class and told her I'd call her later. That was it. Okay? Is that good enough for you?"
She's still not sure and she crosses her arms to stare at him skeptically.
"What about you and the loser, huh? I mean come on, Brooke. You can't be serious." He chuckles. "The guy makes Steve Urkel look like George Clooney."
"You are so stupid," she laughs at his joke. She hates that she's laughed at his stupid, stupid joke. Because he's just dissed Lucas and the smirk that he wears after saying the words just manages to turn her on even more.
"Look what you do to me girl," he shakes his head at her and once again pulls her forward by her belt loops. "Come're," he mutters and slowly she steps closer and closer until he dips his head down and presses his lips to hers.
It starts soft, slow lip presses and then his tongue slides out across her lips and she opens her mouth to let him in. Then their kisses are heated and hungry, she bunches his shirt in her hands and crushes herself against his chest. He hugs her against him and slides his hands down to cup her ass and give it a firm squeeze that makes her yelp against his lips.
"You can't tell me he makes you feel like this," he says as his hand slips under her jean skirt to pull her panties down her thighs. "Tell me how badly you want this," he says teasing her with his thumb.
Her breath catches in her throat and she buries her face in his shoulder as a pleasure filled moan erupts out past her cherry flavored lips. She tells him exactly how badly she wants it, she even tells him how she wants it just before pulling his shirt up over his head and dropping it to the floor beside her own.
"Don't be such a tease," she growls and yanks him back to her mouth with her hands on his face, "hurry up and fuck me."
His fingers tangle in her hair as she rips off his belt and then he turns them around so that he can press her back against the door. "Someone's in a hurry," he grins down at her and lifts her leg up against his hip, "smile pretty for me, baby," he mutters against her lips just before he plunges into her.
Her moans are loud enough to wake the dead and he loves every minute of it. Because watching her head fall back lustfully as she meets him thrust for thrust, it's all just a huge reassurance to him…
Lucas doesn't stand a chance.
---x---
AN: That's it for this week. Do you guys hates us for making the chapters so long? Should we make them shorter?
'Til next week ;)