HEY GUYS SO WE KNOW WE SUCK! WE HOPE YOU GUYS LOVE THIS CHAPTER! AND I WON'T KEEP YOU LONG. I KNOW WE SAID WE'D BE DONE BY JANUARY, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, SO YEAH!

THIS CHAPTER IS MORE OF A FILLER, BUT WE STILL WANT YOU TO ENJOY IT, AND NEXT CHAPTER IT GETS GOOD AGAIN! SO ENJOY!

OH YEAH AND WE DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

Deceptions & Lies

Chapter 21: Phone Calls and Visits

"Victoria, I'm…" she was cut off by whatever the woman on the phone had to say "MOTHER!" she yelled to catch the woman's attention, "I own the company and you work for me." She reminded her mother, "So fix this problem." She told her hanging up.

She dropped her head and let out a deep breath, "It will be alright. You won't lose your company." She told herself, she jumped as her phone rang again she prepared herself for her mother's voice, "WHAT?" she yelled trying to get the upper hand.

"WHAT?" Nathan pulled the phone away from his ear quickly, "Whoa Brooke, I just called to ask you something." He tried to calm her slightly.

"Nate." Her soft husky voice sounded shocked. "Um, yeah sure ask away." There was a small pause before she rumbled again. "I'm sorry about the yell, I thought you were my…someone else." She stumbled over the words

"No problem." He rubbed the back of his neck. "This might sound stupid but are you ok? I mean did anything happen to you today? Were you with Jake all day, today?"

Brooke paused midway into the hotel mini bar fridge; she was slightly taken aback by the words and the level of concern and slight tone of jealous in his voice, "Um, other than meeting your new other half," she thought she could hear him laugh slightly, "nothing out of the unusual and yeah I guess I did, I met his daughter Jenny and we just hung out chatting about old times and the things that happened all those years ago. Why?"

She was pretty sure she heard a sharp intake of breath which normally meant in Nathan's case he was annoyed by the fact she either spent the day with Jake or that she talked to Jake about the past, "Did you spend the day with Alex?" She accused.

Nathan stared at the door where his girlfriend lay sleeping soundly, "Yeah, up until I went to see P." There was a small pause before both made any attempt to speak. He wanted to say so many things but was too scared of what she might say back.

For the longest time they just listened to the other one breathe, before Brooke broke the silence "Nate why did you call me at nearly two in the morning?"

"I called to ask if you're busy tomorrow."

"Not at the moment, why?"

"Can you meet me at the café around ten?"

"Yeah sure."

"Night Brooke."

"Night Nate."

He hung up with a smile on his face, he stared at the screen in front of him and clicked confirm. "Babe are you ever coming to bed?" he turned to find his girlfriend with her hair all pulled back, one of his old work out tees on wearing her sexist smile; there she stood in front of him, wanting him and he let the image of someone else wearing his t-shirts take over.

"Not yet, you go to sleep. You've had a long day." He turned back to the screen and missed the hurt that crossed Alex's face at his rejection.

She always knew him coming back here was bad for them; Nathan might think she was clueless but he talked in his sleep and her name wasn't the one he was whispering at night.

Brooke smiled down at her phone for a moment before realising she might have some sort of date tomorrow with Nathan; she raced towards the wardrobe and almost pulled the doors off the hinges as she called Peyton.

"You better have a real good reason for calling me at this time B. Davis." Peyton's voice joked as she answered the call.

"I need your help." Brooke told her pulling out a top and pulling a face, "No."

"Are you alright?" Peyton asked nervously.

"Yeah. No. I don't know. I'm freaking out." Brooke stressed.

"Over what?"

"Nate called he wants to meet me tomorrow at the café around ten. Can you believe it; I might have a date with Nate."

Peyton smiled sadly at the girl who wasn't even there, "Brooke sweetie…" she wanted to tell her that they would all be there but something stopped her, "keep causal. Jeans and a sexy top and whatever happens do not freak out."

" Babes."Peyton laughed as Brooke hung up, she sighed when her someone knocked her door.

"I swear to God, Dean I am fine." She swung her door open.

Lucas stared at her apartment door for what felt like hours, before he finally knocked, "I swear to God Dean I am fine." Peyton laughed as she swung the door open "Luke?"

"Hey P."

"What are you…Is everything ok?" She asked pulling her robe closed slightly and moving to let him in.

"Yeah. I just wanted to check on you. Make sure you were alright?" Lucas smiled at her as he crossed the threshold into her apartment.

"I'm good. What about you? Do you want something to drink?" She asked politely making her way to the fridge.

"We're cool right?" He asked out of the blue causing Peyton to turn to him slightly.

"Sorry?"

"I mean after everything…" He paused thinking how to say what he wanted to say; Peyton smiled grabbed his hands and looked him in the eyes.

"Luke we were kids. We made some mistakes, but we're older now…." Peyton was cut off when Lucas pressed his lips onto hers.

Lucas gently pulled back to stare at her, "You were never a mistake Peyton." His eyes danced between her eyes and lips before she pulled him back into a deep kiss.

Dean rolled his neck to help relieve the tension he'd been carrying lately, after double or triple checking Peyton was alright he'd finally settled down and called home to Sam, who was still pissed that his star attraction was still away finding himself.

He switched the T.V off and stretched as he stood up, groaning when a loud knock came to his door, "I'm coming." He pulled the door open to find a crying Haley. "Hales what's wrong?"

"Can I come in?" she cried softly, nodding he moved to let her inside; she was still so tiny compared to him. "You said if I ever wanted to talk…"

"Yeah," He pointed to the couch. "Sit, I'll get his something to drink." She smiled through her tears and nodded.

"So what do you wanna talk about?" He handed her the beer taking a seat in front of her, she fiddled with the label, "Hales, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," She lied weakly.

"So you just feel like crying?" Dean joked as he took a drink, Haley laughed softly at him.

"Can I crash here just for tonight?" Haley mumbled pulling her arms round her chest.

"Yeah," Dean smiled as she stretched herself out on the couch. "You can have the bedroom Hales." He laughed.

"No that's yours…"

"Hales," He started as he picked her up and carried her. "You're sleeping in the bed." She smiled up at him.

"Can I at least walk then?" she laughed as he put her own her feet. "Thanks." A few moments passed where they just stared at each other, before Dean turned away back towards the living room, "Dean..."

"Yeah?" he asked facing her.

"Can you stay with me till I fall asleep please?" It was something about the childlike way she said the words, that made him realise she was terrified of something but he didn't ask who or what had her scared he just nodded and climbed into bed with her, holding her to his chest until she fell asleep.

NEXT DAY

Peyton shot up right in her apartment, her head spinning from the rush of blood, turning slowly to her right she found Lucas sprawled out carelessly beside her.

"Crap," She whispered as she quietly tried to sneak out of her room. "Where are you going?" Lucas mumbled from the pillow.

"To get ready."

"P, it's not even eight o'clock yet." He groaned turning to face her. "Just sleep in a little longer." He raised a brow playfully.

"I'm going to shower." She told him as left the room.

"Fine, I'll join you." He retorted playfully.

"What? No." Lucas paused, settling himself on the edge of the bed.

"What's wrong Peyton? Is this about last night?" He asked concerned; she stared at him trying to find the right words.

"I just think last night might have been a mistake."

"Why?" Lucas pressed "I don't. In fact I wanted it to happen."

"Lucas we haven't resolved anything from our past."

"You said yourself last night that we were just kids. Now we're grownups, and I realised somewhere along the line that I made a mistake and I want to fix that mistake cause I want you." Peyton looked shocked at the words, when Lucas stood and crossed the room and kissed her, "look maybe last night was a bit too fast, but I'm not apologising because I wanted that to happen since I laid my eyes on you the first night back."

"What about Lindsey?" Peyton squeaked.

"I broke it off with her. I told you Peyton, I want you and only you. And I'm going to prove it to you." He stated grabbing his clothes and getting ready.

Peyton stood numbly watching him before he pressed another kiss to her lips and left her apartment.

Dean woke to the smell of waffles and an empty bed, "Hales?" he called out as he got up and ran a hand through his messy hair. He paused briefly when he saw her standing at his cooker making waffles.

"Morning," She giggled, "I wanted to thank you for letting me crash here so I made you waffles."

"Thanks, you didn't have to though." He answered grabbing a waffle and stuffing it into his mouth.

"I want to," she said back to him.

Dean watched as she searched his cupboards, "What are you looking for?"

"Strawberry syrup," She mumbled, Dean stood behind her and reached up to the highest shelf pulling down the syrup she turned to face him. "Thank you," She turned to move before Dean grabbed her wrist and pulled her back and kissed her hard.

"What was that for?" she breathed out as they broke apart.

"The waffles," He smiled lightly as he stuffed another one in his mouth, making her laugh at him. "They're really good. Besides we better get ready for meeting Nathan." He smiled.

"Yeah, I better go home and change so I'll see you there?" she wasn't sure why the last part sounded like a question.

"Of course," He smirked down at her as she bit her lip. "See you soon," was all she left him with as she left the apartment.

"You too," Jake frowned when Brooke entered the café; Brooke stared at the five faces of her so called friends, "What are you all doing here?" she snapped annoyed.

"Nate called us all last night, wanting to meet." Dean filled her in, handing out coffees to everyone. "Here." she smiled at his gesture, before glaring at Peyton.

"Sorry." Peyton mouthed as she sipped her coffee.

"Hey guys." Nate's usually cheery voice entered the café; Brooke rolled her eyes even more when she saw the brunette following behind him.

"Hey man." Lucas smiled as he nudged Dean who nudged Jake, "Hi Alex." Jake smiled at the girl.

"Hey Jake," She smiled warmly before taking the empty seat between him and Nathan.

"Really Jake's already met your beautiful girl?" Dean smirked playfully at Nathan.

"Oh please." Brooke whispered as she fell into the seat between Peyton and Haley; Peyton gently rubbed Brooke arms while Haley frowned, confused at the girl.

"Hi Brooke," Alex smirked at her playfully, Dean and Lucas almost choked on their coffees when they realised that Brooke also know Nathan's new girlfriend.

"Awkward." Dean sang to Lucas and Jake, who laughed.

"Why are we here?" Haley asked forcing the entire conversation back to Nathan.

"I've decided we need a break."

"Well I don't know about you guys, but I thought I was on a break?" Brooke added.

"No I've booked that cottage in the woods for us." Everybody frowned, "The one we spent the summer before graduation." Nathan continued. "I figured we're here trying to mend what's broken, but we're not really mending our friendships or spending any time together so why not lock ourselves away for a few days."

"What about Rachel and Jenny? I can't just up and leave them Nate. You guys go…"

"Rachel, Jenny and Alex their coming too," Nathan assured his friend; Alex sent Brooke a look at that part, and Brooke knew Alex knew more then she let on. "So is everybody in?" Nathan looked at each one starting with Jake, only pausing when he got to Brooke who shrugged.

"If Hales goes, I'll go." She turned to Haley who was glaring at Nathan openly.

"Hales?" Nathan pressed unfazed by her anger.

"Fine."

"Good. So we leave tomorrow at eight. I'll take Alex, Jake, Rachel and Jenny. Can you take those four?" He asked Dean who nodded.

"Sure."

"Cool so once everybody is picked up we'll meet back here and leave together." Nathan smiled at them all; Brooke stood dragging Peyton and Haley to their feet, "Well we better go pack. See you guys tomorrow."

"Hales, can I talk to you?" Nate asked carefully pulling her off to the side. "I couldn't think of any other way to keep you and the others safe. At least this way we're all together and there's less of a chance of…"

"It's fine Nathan and thank you for trying to keep me safe." She smiled softly giving him a hug and leaving the café quickly with Peyton and Brooke trying to catch up with her.

"What was that all about?" Dean asked as he appeared behind Nathan who was watching the trio carefully as they pulled away in Brooke's car.

"Nothing, just checking up on a friend," Nathan lied smoothly as he past Dean to stand beside Alex and listen to what ever stories Jake and Lucas were coming up with about him.

Dean felt like his whole world was about to crash around him, she was still into Nathan and maybe Nathan was into her now. Instead of hanging around he left the café and headed home.

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