"We've decided to get married again," Haley stated grinning.
Brooke gasped, feeling the wind be knocked out of her, what!
Brooke gulped down the knot slowly forming in her throat, and looked up at the grinning pair. Her eyes automatically went to Nathan, who had brought his wife-to-be in a romantic lip lock.
Brooke shook her head, this couldn't be happening, it just couldn't. Nathan couldn't marry Haley, how could he?
Lucas looked down at her smiling, "Wow, I didn't expect this to happen so soon," he stated grinning, "But I'm so happy for them, they deserve to be happy together,"
Brooke looked up at him in disgust, how could he say that?
Brooke pulled away from Lucas, "I'll be right back," Brooke muttered, needing to get away from all the cheering, and most of all, from the engaged couple.
Brooke wasn't sure if her tears exploded before or after she got out of the room, and ran out into the rain. It didn't matter now though, her tears could easily pass off as the rain on her face. Brooke fell to her knees on the front lawn. Through the window, she could still see them, and everyone else. They were all happy for them, everyone was happy… but her.
Haley went from people to people, showing the ring that was once again on her finger.
Brooke shook her head in disbelief, only moments earlier, Nathan had shown jealousy over her intimacy with Lucas, how could he do this, how could he!
"We've decided to get married again."
Those words haunted her, they wouldn't leave her alone. Brooke clutched her head in frustration, getting up off the ground.
It had been a little more then a month, had she not expected them to fall in love again. They were once so much in love; they were even married how had she thought that they wouldn't want to go back to being husband and wife.
But what stung most was the feeling of betrayal. Even though her and Nathan weren't together, it felt like he had cheated her… had done her wrong. Even though she was the one who had ended things between them initially, it was her heart that was broken in the end.
Brooke felt her dress soak in the rain, and looked down at the ruined dress, that now cling annoyingly to her body; and her hair, that she had worked so hard on a few hours ago now fell down in strands, clinging to her face.
This caused Brooke to cry harder, everything was messed up; nothing was how it was suppose to be!
Brooke wiped away her tears, she had to get out of here, she had to leave, and be far away from them.
Brooke took her slippery heels in her hand, and got up. She started to walk away, when...
"Brooke?"
Brooke turned around to see a smug looking Nathan step onto his porch. Brooke welled up in anger and hurt, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing that he made her cry, so she quickly turned away from him.
"You looked pissed inside, what's wrong?" he asked wryly, imitating her from before.
Brooke bit her bottom lip to keep from crying. She couldn't take this right now; she couldn't bear to see him.
So Brooke did the only thing she could think of... she ran!
Brooke wiped away her tears violently, trying to get as far away as possible. Away from the house, the happy people, Lucas, Haley, and most of all, Nathan.
The rain continued to fall harder and harder against her skin, and she could hear the sound of footsteps coming after her. She glanced back to see Nathan gaining on her.
"Leave me-..." but Brooke couldn't finish her sentence; she choked back sobs that were threatening to overwhelm her.
Brooke knew Nathan was going to catch up to her, being the athletic guy he was, but that didn't stop Brooke from trying.
She ran as fast as she could until Nathan grabbed her arm, and turned her to face him.
"Seriously girl, you can run," he whispered, in between gasps.
Brooke turned her face away from him, she couldn't look at him right now, she just couldn't; she knew she would burst into tears the second her eyes laid on him.
"Are you crying?" Nathan asked, slightly surprised.
"Why the fuck would I cry?" Brooke asked crying.
"Exactly, that's what I want to know, I thought you would be happy for us. I mean, you're the one who told me to be with my soul mate, aren't you happy that my soul mate and I are finally getting married again?" Nathan challenged.
Brooke struggled to break free from Nathan's grasp, "Just leave me alone!" she yelled into his face, "Go back to your fiancée or whatever."
Nathan shrugged, "Is that what you want?"
"Yes!" Brooke lied.
I don't want you to ever be with her. I can't stand the thought of you two together. Please stay with me! Her heart screamed, betraying her.
"Okay, I'll leave then, I just... just don't be sad Brooke," he whispered softly, "Come back with me,"
Brooke looked up at him surprised.
"... And Lucas can take you home. Plus, Haley really wanted to share her happiness with you. She really couldn't wait to tell you; she thought you would be happy for her,"
Brooke looked away bitterly, "Just get the hell away from me," she whispered through her teeth.
Nathan nodded, turning away from her. Brooke panicked, "No wait, Nathan!"
Nathan turned to face her.
"Don't do it," she muttered.
Nathan sighed, "Brooke-..."
"No please, listen to me Nathan. I know you still care about me, it's not fair to Haley that you marry her." Brooke persisted desperately.
"Brooke, I do really care about Haley. Do you really think I'm doing this out of spite? C'mon Brooke, you know me better."
Her tears poured right along with the thundering rain, "Fuck you Nathan," she hissed, turning to run away from him.
"Where are you going, Brooke?" Nathan yelled over the rain.
"Go to hell," she threw over her shoulder, not knowing herself where she was headed.
Nathan frowned, as much as he wanted to just turn away, and go back home, he was worried about her.
He knew the news about Haley and him would affect her some how, but he never expected it to be like this. She was acting like he had done something wrong by choosing to marry his girlfriend and ex wife. Why was she so confusing?
Brooke dumped him, telling him how she had just used him to get back at his older brother, and now? Now she was acting like she was the scorned one, like it was him who had left her for Haley. He had fought for her, but she had fought against him, she had fought for Lucas.
She had hurt him so much.
But now, watching her run away, she looked so fragile and vulnerable. He could tell she wasn't running in the direction of her house, or anyone else's, because most of the people were at his house already.
Nathan sighed, breaking into a jog, and slowly into a run, following the girl he saw in the distance.
"Brooke!" he yelled out. The rain was getting worse, slowly turning into storm, the wind almost causing him to lose his balance. Even though he was wearing a thick hooded sweater, he was still shivering slightly. He winced to think of Brooke, who was wearing a thin strapped dress that came up to her knees. Nathan picked up speed and caught onto Brooke, once again turning her petit form to face him.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Nathan yelled, trying to be heard over the thunder.
Brooke tried to turn away from him, but Nathan quickly pulled her close and tightened his grasp around her waist.
"You're fucking crazy," he whispered into her ear, running his hands up and down her arms in attempts to warm her up.
Brooke gave in, cuddling up to his chest, shivering violently in the cold. Her body felt numb now, she had been so cold.
"Shit Brooke, you're so cold," Nathan muttered worriedly, pulling off his hoodie to rap it around her. It didn't do too much, since it was soaked as well, but it did protect her from the wind.
"Your house is closer, so I'll take you over there,"
Brooke could hardly hear him anymore. She felt so tired. Her eyes were dry, having spent all her tears. She had been so cold, so tired, so hurt, now Brooke just wanted to rest. She felt too weak now; she couldn't even keep herself up.
Nathan gasped when he felt Brooke start to fall, he quickly bent down, hooking his arms under the back of her knees and back, and lifted her up gently.
Nathan looked down at her, "Brooke?" he begged desperately.
He felt a weird feeling over come him. No.
Nathan broke out into a run again, into the direction of Brooke's house. Nathan could feel his eye lids start to sting, and he knew tears were forming. Nathan shook his head; he had to get Brooke to the house quickly.
Nathan ran as fast he could with Brooke in his arms, and when he finally got to her house, he ran up the porch, letting himself in. He hurriedly took Brooke to the couch, and ran upstairs to Brooke's room. He grabbed the blanket off her bed, and covered her with it.
Though her eyes remained closed, her body shivered slightly.
"God Brooke," Nathan whispered, wrapping his arms around her to keep her warm.
Nathan didn't no how long he stayed like that, but a while later, Brooke's eyes opened a bit.
"Nathan?" she whispered confused.
Nathan smiled down at the beautiful girl in front of him, "Yeah, I'm here," he got off her slowly, "Are you okay?"
"Peachy," she muttered sarcastically, "Now get me some warm clothes genius,"
Nathan smiled, bringing her a warm sweater and tracks.
"Seriously Nathan, the first thing you're supposed to do to get someone warm is to remove their wet clothes, not throw a blanket over them." Brooke explained, motioning for him to turn around so she could change, "But I doubt you thought of that,"
Nathan blushed at the thought, he actually had thought of that, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
"Brooke, are you sure you're okay?"
Brooke smiled; it felt so much like old times, when they use to be friends and had first started liking each other. Neither of them was acting on any of the drama that came after that.
"Headache, but I'm okay," Brooke lied, in reality, her body felt like it was still out in the cold. Her head felt like it was burning up, yet her body caused her to shiver, "You can turn back now,"
Nathan turned to Brooke, and frowned.
"You're not okay,"
"What makes you say that," Brooke asked, lying back down weakly.
Nathan pressed the back of his palm on her forehead, "Because you're burning up," he muttered, "You have a fever,"
Brooke shook her head, "I'm fine. You should go back to the party at your place," wanting anything but that.
Nathan pulled the curtain aside slightly, showing her the weather outside. It was actually getting worse, "Pretty unexpected huh? They usually warn people about this kind of stuff,"
Brooke closed her eyes, even though her body hurt all over, she was happy, happy that Nathan was staying, and that it was only the two of them.
"I called Haley, and told her we're over here,"
"What did you tell her?" Brooke winced.
"I told her we had run out of ice, and you said that you had some, so we came over here and got stuck in the storm,"
Brooke nodded blushing, "I'm sorry, Nathan,"
Nathan shrugged, "For now, let's forget about that, and concentrate on you getting better okay? You look pretty sick, but I'm not really good at this stuff, so I don't really know what to do? You think I should call a doctor? Or get you something?"
Brooke felt the energy she had a moment ago drain out of her, "I just feel so tired, and hot and cold at the same time. What about you get me some Advil, a wet cloth for my head and lie down beside me here,"
Nathan looked a little apprehensive at the last part, "Uhm Brooke-…"
"Nathan, I'm so cold right now, nothings better then body heat, I promise not to rape you, okay?"
Nathan blushed slightly, bringing her some Advil and put a wet cloth over her forehead, "Feel any better,"
"Feel like shit," she muttered, scooting over to make him room. Nathan looked down at the small couch, not sure of what to do.
He was engaged now, it would be weird to be lying that close to Brooke. Especially keeping in mind the affect she had on him.
But looking down at Brooke's pitiful form brought back the feeling he had when he had picked her up outside, the fear of losing her. He knew she still had a high fever, and he wanted to do anything to help, but he couldn't deny the tingle of excitement that shot through him at the thought of having Brooke close.
Brooke looked up at him expectantly. Nathan sighed, against his better judgment, he lay down beside her. Brooke smiled weakly, cuddling into his arms, and sharing the blanket with him.
If having this horrible fever meant having Nathan like this with her, then it was worth it. But what if-…
Brooke pulled away from him slightly, "Hold on, what if I get you sick as well?"
Nathan shook his head, "I only get the fever once a year at most, and a few weeks ago, Haley had gotten really sick, and taking care of her, I got-…" Nathan cut short on his story, realizing what he was saying by the look of hurt on Brooke's face.
It didn't feel so special anymore, knowing that he had taken care of Haley like this as well. It hurt knowing that even though he knew there was a chance of him catching the fever from her, he had taken care of her. It reminded her of all the time they must have spent together, and who knows what they had done together.
Nathan looked down at the hurt Brooke in regret; he hadn't meant to hurt her this time. He was scared at the weird feeling he had having her in his arms. It was indescribable. Unfortunately, no matter how much he cared for Haley, it had never felt this way. Having Brooke safely in his arms made the anger and hatred he had felt for her, wash out of him.
Brooke pushed all thoughts aside when she felt Nathan pull her a little closer. It felt like she was almost on top of him now. As sick as she felt, she couldn't deny the butterflies in her stomach of having Nathan's body pressed against hers.
She shut her eyes in content and slept in his arms for the first time.
Nathan didn't know when he had drifted off but when he finally woke up, he saw Brooke looking up at him.
"Wow, how long have I been out?"
"About half an hour, I woke up a little while ago,"
"Why didn't you wake me?" Nathan asked.
"I didn't want you to leave," Brooke admitted shyly.
Nathan was a little taken back, "Brooke-…"
"I know, I know, I'm sorry, I just saw you sleeping so peacefully, and it was so nice having you so close, I couldn't get myself to wake you, I knew you would get up and go back to Haley," Brooke whispered, surprised at her own boldness. Was it her fever that was making her spill this stuff out?
"Uhm Brooke…" Nathan whispered, torn between wanting to stay here with her, and the need to go back, knowing this wasn't right.
"Nathan, I miss being with you," Brooke confessed, "And I know it's wrong to want to be with you again, but I can't help it. I care about Lucas and Haley but…" Brooke looked away sadly.
Nathan didn't know what to do with her confession, he wouldn't deny that her words made him have a weird feeling of thrill in the pit of his stomach, but it also confused and shocked him.
"Brooke, I don't know what you want me to say," Nathan stated, trying to digest the information still.
Brooke wasn't sure if it was the weakness she was feeling, or having the fever was messing with her head, when she said, "I don't want you to say anything right now, I want this…" she muttered, her arms snaking behind his head, and pulling his lips to hers, passionately. Nathan didn't respond right away, his hands in the air in defense.
Brooke pressed her body against his, pulling him even closer to her. Happy that even though Nathan wasn't responding, he wasn't pulling away either.
Brooke ignored the tiniest bit of resistance that his body was attempting and deepened the kiss…
A/n OMG ! Well, there you go, this chapter was filled with Brathan! But… Nathan is still engaged and Brooke is also still with Lucas. Anyways, the little button down there that states review is really missing you guys ! Go on ! R&R
