Disclaimer: I still don't own anything, especially One Tree Hill related.
Notes: Thanks everyone for reviewing the story. This is the last chapter, but I'm considering doing a sequel, so let me know if you'd be interested in reading one. Enjoy!
Fall Into Me
Chapter 9 - Lifelines
Brooke spent every night that week at Nathan's. They'd meet after practice and have dinner, usually at his house, and then they'd hit the books. At first, Nathan was a bit hard to deal with, but after the first day, he really got into it. After that, it was easy. He wasn't dumb, he was just lazy. At the moment, he taking his American Literature test. The last of his six week exams. He'd already mangaged to pull two B's in Spanish and Algebra, but this was the one she was most worried about. She glanced up at the clock. 11:32. Twenty-eight minutes until lunch. She was never this nervous when she was taking tests.
She tapped the pencil absently against the desk, watching the second hand tick slowly by. She wasn't paying attention to the lecture or her classmates, which was why she didn't notice any of the evil glares thrown her way.
"Ms. Davis," her teacher, Mrs. Culp, called. She didn't notice. "Ms. Davis." Still no response from Brooke. "Ms. Davis," she repeated again, this time several noches louder and just enough to get her attention.
"Yes, ma'am," Brooke answered.
"Would you please pay attention and for goodness sake stop tapping that pencil." A mumbled sorry escaped Brooke's lips. "Now, let's continue."
Brooke looked at the clock again. 11:47. Thirteen minutes until lunch. She sighed heavily and tried to focus on the lecture.
Thirteen long minutes later, the bell sounded signaling lunch. Brooke quickly gathered her things and made her way to her locker. She shoved them in and walked down the hall to Nathan's. He wasn't there. She started to panic. What if he froze? Then he couldn't play and it would be all her fault. I'm going to be the most hated girl in school. She glanced at the clock on the wall. 12:08. 'Where the hell is he?' she thought as she began pacing quickly in front of the lockers. A few students passed and gave her a curious glance, but she was to caught up in her own thoughts to notice.
"Worried much?"
Nathan's voice halted her immediately. "Just where the hell have you been?" She looked at the clock again. "It's almost 12:20."
"I was taking a test."
"I know that. So?"
"So what?"
"Don't play games with me Scott. I ruined a perfectly good manicure waiting on you." She held out her hands to show him.
"Ewww. You should get that fixed."
"Stop stalling." He handed her a folded paper. She unfolded it and quickly skimmed the sheet for a red mark. She stopped when she didn't see any. She flipped the page, still nothing. "Are you sure he graded this?"
"Back page."
102. Her heart stopped and then she squealed. "102! 102! I didn't even know there was a bonus."
"Me either. I just thought it was a regular question, otherwise I probably wouldn't have answered it."
Brooke was absolutely giddy. "I'm so proud of you, Nathan."
"Thanks. I still can't believe it, though. You know, he asked me if I cheated."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. He asked me another question just to make sure."
"And you got it right."
"Of course."
"I never did like him."
"Well, he apologized."
"Good. So all done?"
"All done."
"And how's it feel?"
"Tiring. There's a reason most athletes aren't academic scholars."
"Whatever, let's go eat."
-----
Brooke sat on the bleachers after the game once again waiting for Nathan. They had decided to skip this week's party as well. Nathan was going to take her out as a sort of 'thank you' dinner. She couldn't help but be excited. She talked casually with the different players and fans as the gym cleared out. Once again, Nathan was one of the last ones out. She couldn't understand what took him so long. When the locker roomed door opened again, she turned her head and saw Lucas walk through. She sighed, unsure of what would come next.
"Hey, Brooke," he said as he walked by.
"Hey." And that was it. She felt a bit disappointed, but then the door opened again and it was Nathan. She smiled instantly.
"Ready?"
"Absolutely." She slipped her fingers through his and they walked outside.
-----
Nathan had taken Brooke out for dinner just like he promised. It wasn't anything spectacular, but then that wasn't what she wanted. She used to think that it was, but after everything with Lucas, she realized she just wanted someone she could be 100% herself around and with Nathan, she could.
They had gone back to the beach house for a mini-movie marathon. They'd rented everything from SpaceJam (a favorite of Nathan's that throughouly surprised Brooke) to Brooke's favorite, Sleepless In Seattle. They were barely half an hour into the first movie when car lights came streaming through the window. Brooke got up to see who was there. She saw Tim and a couple car loads of random high schoolers make their way down the beach.
"Expecting company?"
"No. Why?" Nathan asked walking over to the window where Brooke was. "What the hell is Tim doing?"
"Between the kegs and the people, I'm pretty sure he's throwing a party."
Nathan met Tim and twenty other people at the door.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Throwing a party, man. You know like we do after every game. I know it's a little late, but it took longer to score the booze. You weren't around and then we couldn't find Brooke, so we had to get David's older sister's boyfr..."
"Shut up, Tim. You can't have a party here."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not in the mood," Nathan said just as Brooke walked up behind him.
"Oh, I see," Tim said with a grin. "I'm sure Brooke won't mind. Would you, Brooke?"
"Actually..."
"See, no problems, Nate. Let's go, guys!" Tim called and the crowd pushed quickly passed Nathan and Brooke.
Ten minutes later, the place was packed and music was blaring out of every room.
"This is ridiculous, I can't even watch a damn movie in my own house," Nathan spat angrily.
"It's not a big deal."
"I know, it's just the point of it all."
"There's nothing we can do now. We may as well enjoy it," she said taking his hand and ushering him through the crowds of people to the kitchen where Tim was playing bartender.
"I knew you two would come around," Tim said handing them both a drink.
"Don't push it," Nathan said snatching the drink.
Brooke spoke softly, "Let's go." Nathan kept his eyes fixed on Tim a few seconds longer and then followed Brooke to the living room.
"Brooke, Nathan. You're just in time!" Vegas called from the couch.
"Time for what?" Nathan asked.
"We're just about to start a game of quarters."
"I suck at quarters," Nathan replied.
"Well, I'm awesome. I'm in," Brooke said taking a seat next to Vegas.
"Nathan?" Vegas questioned.
"Yeah, I'm in." He settled himself on the floor between Brooke and Vegas and the game got started.
------
Almost an hour later, Brooke and Nathan were still sober. Nathan was a much better shot than he let on.
"Let's go outside," Brooke said standing up. Nathan easily got to his feet and the two of them went onto the porch. "Having Fun?" she asked leaning against the railing.
"I always have fun when I'm with you."
Brooke nodded. "Me too. Even when I'm sober and that's saying a lot."
"Maybe we shouldn't drink so much, then."
"Maybe."
Nathan took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them. He grabbed her hips and pulled her body against his. Slowly, he ran his hands up her arms, sending tingles through her body. "I like you, Brooke."
"What do you like about me?" She questioned softly.
He placed a light kiss on her left cheek. "I like your confidence." He kissed her right cheek. "And your honesty." He kissed her left earlobe. "I like your smile." He kissed her right earlobe. "And your vulnerability." He lightly nipped at her neck, causing a low moan to escape from her lips. She felt him smile against her skin and then he brought his head up to look at her. "But what I like most," he whispered, his eyes fixed on hers, "is how happy you make me."
"And what about everyone else?"
"I'm not Lucas. I don't care about everyone else. I don't care what you've done or who you've done it with. I know all of it and it doesn't matter. I don't want you to change. I'm not settling for you because I can't have Peyton. I want you, more than I've ever wanted anything in my life. But more than wanting you, I need you. You make everything okay for me. You make everything better without saying anything. You see me in a way I thought no one ever would. You're my lifeline."
Half a second later, Brooke's mouth was on his, covering his. Her hands wrapped around him, trying to pull him closer to her. His fingers tangling in her hair as he parted her lips with his tongue. She tasted better than he had remembered. He kissed her harder, deeper, trying to cement this moment in his mind. Only when he thought he was going to pass out did Nathan pull back. Brooke rested her head against him, feeling naked without the contact of his body against hers. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her dark brown locks.
"You make everything okay for me, too," she whispered.
Notes: Thanks everyone for reviewing the story. This is the last chapter, but I'm considering doing a sequel, so let me know if you'd be interested in reading one. Enjoy!
Fall Into Me
Chapter 9 - Lifelines
Brooke spent every night that week at Nathan's. They'd meet after practice and have dinner, usually at his house, and then they'd hit the books. At first, Nathan was a bit hard to deal with, but after the first day, he really got into it. After that, it was easy. He wasn't dumb, he was just lazy. At the moment, he taking his American Literature test. The last of his six week exams. He'd already mangaged to pull two B's in Spanish and Algebra, but this was the one she was most worried about. She glanced up at the clock. 11:32. Twenty-eight minutes until lunch. She was never this nervous when she was taking tests.
She tapped the pencil absently against the desk, watching the second hand tick slowly by. She wasn't paying attention to the lecture or her classmates, which was why she didn't notice any of the evil glares thrown her way.
"Ms. Davis," her teacher, Mrs. Culp, called. She didn't notice. "Ms. Davis." Still no response from Brooke. "Ms. Davis," she repeated again, this time several noches louder and just enough to get her attention.
"Yes, ma'am," Brooke answered.
"Would you please pay attention and for goodness sake stop tapping that pencil." A mumbled sorry escaped Brooke's lips. "Now, let's continue."
Brooke looked at the clock again. 11:47. Thirteen minutes until lunch. She sighed heavily and tried to focus on the lecture.
Thirteen long minutes later, the bell sounded signaling lunch. Brooke quickly gathered her things and made her way to her locker. She shoved them in and walked down the hall to Nathan's. He wasn't there. She started to panic. What if he froze? Then he couldn't play and it would be all her fault. I'm going to be the most hated girl in school. She glanced at the clock on the wall. 12:08. 'Where the hell is he?' she thought as she began pacing quickly in front of the lockers. A few students passed and gave her a curious glance, but she was to caught up in her own thoughts to notice.
"Worried much?"
Nathan's voice halted her immediately. "Just where the hell have you been?" She looked at the clock again. "It's almost 12:20."
"I was taking a test."
"I know that. So?"
"So what?"
"Don't play games with me Scott. I ruined a perfectly good manicure waiting on you." She held out her hands to show him.
"Ewww. You should get that fixed."
"Stop stalling." He handed her a folded paper. She unfolded it and quickly skimmed the sheet for a red mark. She stopped when she didn't see any. She flipped the page, still nothing. "Are you sure he graded this?"
"Back page."
102. Her heart stopped and then she squealed. "102! 102! I didn't even know there was a bonus."
"Me either. I just thought it was a regular question, otherwise I probably wouldn't have answered it."
Brooke was absolutely giddy. "I'm so proud of you, Nathan."
"Thanks. I still can't believe it, though. You know, he asked me if I cheated."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. He asked me another question just to make sure."
"And you got it right."
"Of course."
"I never did like him."
"Well, he apologized."
"Good. So all done?"
"All done."
"And how's it feel?"
"Tiring. There's a reason most athletes aren't academic scholars."
"Whatever, let's go eat."
-----
Brooke sat on the bleachers after the game once again waiting for Nathan. They had decided to skip this week's party as well. Nathan was going to take her out as a sort of 'thank you' dinner. She couldn't help but be excited. She talked casually with the different players and fans as the gym cleared out. Once again, Nathan was one of the last ones out. She couldn't understand what took him so long. When the locker roomed door opened again, she turned her head and saw Lucas walk through. She sighed, unsure of what would come next.
"Hey, Brooke," he said as he walked by.
"Hey." And that was it. She felt a bit disappointed, but then the door opened again and it was Nathan. She smiled instantly.
"Ready?"
"Absolutely." She slipped her fingers through his and they walked outside.
-----
Nathan had taken Brooke out for dinner just like he promised. It wasn't anything spectacular, but then that wasn't what she wanted. She used to think that it was, but after everything with Lucas, she realized she just wanted someone she could be 100% herself around and with Nathan, she could.
They had gone back to the beach house for a mini-movie marathon. They'd rented everything from SpaceJam (a favorite of Nathan's that throughouly surprised Brooke) to Brooke's favorite, Sleepless In Seattle. They were barely half an hour into the first movie when car lights came streaming through the window. Brooke got up to see who was there. She saw Tim and a couple car loads of random high schoolers make their way down the beach.
"Expecting company?"
"No. Why?" Nathan asked walking over to the window where Brooke was. "What the hell is Tim doing?"
"Between the kegs and the people, I'm pretty sure he's throwing a party."
Nathan met Tim and twenty other people at the door.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Throwing a party, man. You know like we do after every game. I know it's a little late, but it took longer to score the booze. You weren't around and then we couldn't find Brooke, so we had to get David's older sister's boyfr..."
"Shut up, Tim. You can't have a party here."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not in the mood," Nathan said just as Brooke walked up behind him.
"Oh, I see," Tim said with a grin. "I'm sure Brooke won't mind. Would you, Brooke?"
"Actually..."
"See, no problems, Nate. Let's go, guys!" Tim called and the crowd pushed quickly passed Nathan and Brooke.
Ten minutes later, the place was packed and music was blaring out of every room.
"This is ridiculous, I can't even watch a damn movie in my own house," Nathan spat angrily.
"It's not a big deal."
"I know, it's just the point of it all."
"There's nothing we can do now. We may as well enjoy it," she said taking his hand and ushering him through the crowds of people to the kitchen where Tim was playing bartender.
"I knew you two would come around," Tim said handing them both a drink.
"Don't push it," Nathan said snatching the drink.
Brooke spoke softly, "Let's go." Nathan kept his eyes fixed on Tim a few seconds longer and then followed Brooke to the living room.
"Brooke, Nathan. You're just in time!" Vegas called from the couch.
"Time for what?" Nathan asked.
"We're just about to start a game of quarters."
"I suck at quarters," Nathan replied.
"Well, I'm awesome. I'm in," Brooke said taking a seat next to Vegas.
"Nathan?" Vegas questioned.
"Yeah, I'm in." He settled himself on the floor between Brooke and Vegas and the game got started.
------
Almost an hour later, Brooke and Nathan were still sober. Nathan was a much better shot than he let on.
"Let's go outside," Brooke said standing up. Nathan easily got to his feet and the two of them went onto the porch. "Having Fun?" she asked leaning against the railing.
"I always have fun when I'm with you."
Brooke nodded. "Me too. Even when I'm sober and that's saying a lot."
"Maybe we shouldn't drink so much, then."
"Maybe."
Nathan took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them. He grabbed her hips and pulled her body against his. Slowly, he ran his hands up her arms, sending tingles through her body. "I like you, Brooke."
"What do you like about me?" She questioned softly.
He placed a light kiss on her left cheek. "I like your confidence." He kissed her right cheek. "And your honesty." He kissed her left earlobe. "I like your smile." He kissed her right earlobe. "And your vulnerability." He lightly nipped at her neck, causing a low moan to escape from her lips. She felt him smile against her skin and then he brought his head up to look at her. "But what I like most," he whispered, his eyes fixed on hers, "is how happy you make me."
"And what about everyone else?"
"I'm not Lucas. I don't care about everyone else. I don't care what you've done or who you've done it with. I know all of it and it doesn't matter. I don't want you to change. I'm not settling for you because I can't have Peyton. I want you, more than I've ever wanted anything in my life. But more than wanting you, I need you. You make everything okay for me. You make everything better without saying anything. You see me in a way I thought no one ever would. You're my lifeline."
Half a second later, Brooke's mouth was on his, covering his. Her hands wrapped around him, trying to pull him closer to her. His fingers tangling in her hair as he parted her lips with his tongue. She tasted better than he had remembered. He kissed her harder, deeper, trying to cement this moment in his mind. Only when he thought he was going to pass out did Nathan pull back. Brooke rested her head against him, feeling naked without the contact of his body against hers. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her dark brown locks.
"You make everything okay for me, too," she whispered.