Stranded

Chapter Three

Brooke headed down the hall towards the tutoring center. She and Nathan were going to do some more research on the computer and print out all their stuff from the floppy discs. She saw Peyton coming towards her and rolled her eyes, "Give it up ex best friends," she said coldly.

Peyton sighed, "Brooke we've been best friends forever," she explained.

"Yeah, and then you went behind my back and made out with my boyfriend," she said bitterly.

"It was a mistake," Peyton exclaimed.

Brooke scoffed, "What? You two just happened to be together and you both fell at the exact same time and landed on each other, having your lips break the fall?"

"You know what I mean," she said exhausted and frustrated.

"I maybe expected it from Lucas, because he was my boyfriend. But you were my best friend, best friends don't do that to each other," Brooke explained as she glared at Peyton.

"Seriously Brooke..."

"Seriously," Brooke said mocking her, "You fucked up Peyton, it's not my problem now it's yours," she said with a dry laugh and then continued her way down the hall.

Haley walked up to Peyton and watched as Brooke stormed away, "Is she ever happy?" Haley asked.

Peyton looked at Haley and shrugged, "She used to be happy, but then I fucked that all up for her," she said sadly.

"Well is she mad at Lucas too?"

"Of course she is," Peyton said walking down the hall with Haley, "She just thinks that I screwed her over more because I was her best friend, and best friends don't do that to each other."

Haley sighed, "Will she forgive you?"

Peyton sighed, "I hope so...How are things going with you and Nathan?" Peyton asked changing the subject.

"I think I'm falling for him," Haley said smiling.

Peyton's jaw dropped, "For real?"

Haley nodded, "Yes...Is that bad?"

"No," Peyton said, "Just...Be careful."

Brooke sat down next to Nathan as he typed away at the computer, "You're late," he said.

"Yeah," Brooke said getting out the floppy disc, "I ran into Peyton in the hallway, and it was my duty to give her a verbal beating."

Nathan laughed, "I heard that the other night you gave Lucas quite a beating as well."

"How did you know about that?" Brooke asked as she put the disc in the computer.

"My mom saw you guys talking outside Karen's Café, and she heard him call for you and she saw you say something and walk away and she saw him stand their stunned," Nathan explained, "She thought that you probably had bitched him out."

Brooke laughed, "I told him to go kill himself," she said.

"That's nice," Nathan said sarcastically.

"How is your mom doing?" Brooke asked.

Nathan sighed, "Better now that she doesn't have to deal with my dad."

"I don't see why parents just don't get a divorce," Brooke sighed.

"It sucked when my parents got a divorce, because it was like I didn't have a family anymore," Nathan explained.

"I don't have a family to begin with," Brooke said sadly, "So if they would get a divorce it wouldn't even matter. All they do is drink and cheat on each other."

Nathan felt bad for Brooke, "Why did you just tell me that? I mean, we used to hate each other and we've never been that close."

"Maybe that's the point," Brooke said looking at Nathan. They smiled at each other, and got back to work.

The bell for the last period rung and Brooke and Nathan got their stuff and walked out of the tutoring center together, "You're coming to my place tonight right?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah," Brooke said putting one last book in her bag, "Don't worry I won't be there too early, my parents are off somewhere so they probably won't be home until a week or so," she said frustrated.

"I don't mind," Nathan said genuinely. He and Brooke had become pretty close over this project, and they actually learned a lot about each other and found out that they had a lot in common.

Brooke smiled, "Thanks." She said, Nathan nodded his head and walked towards the gym. Brooke went to her locker to get her cheerleading clothes and saw Peyton and Haley walking down the hall together laughing and talking. She was jealous; no doubt. "I didn't know you two were so close," she said loud enough for the two girls to hear. They stopped in their tracks, and Peyton went to say something, but Brooke cut her off. She had been cutting people off a lot this week, "God Peyton, it doesn't take you long to move on," she said bitterly and walked back down to her locker.

Nathan walked into his apartment, and got a shower after practice. Practice had been hell the last couple of weeks. Nathan got out of the shower and ate a sandwich, he heard a knock on the door, "Come in," he yelled from where he was sitting.

Haley walked in slowly and shyly, "Hey Nathan," she said softly, "I came to talk to you about that kiss."

"It's okay Hales," Nathan said, "I mean, Lucas would be upset if he ever found out about it, so I'll keep my mouth shut," he said sarcastically.

"This isn't about Lucas," Haley said sternly, "Why don't you want to be with me?"

Nathan sighed, "It's not that I don't want to be with you, it's just...I think you're too good for me."

Brooke walked into the apartment and saw Haley standing there and Nathan sitting at his counter. She smiled at them and laughed nervously, "Sorry," she said. Nathan hid his smiled, so Haley didn't think he was laughing at her.

Haley sighed, "Nathan, I care about you, and I never thought I would. Just...call me later or something," she said walking out the door.

Brooke watched her walk out the door, "Did I come at a bad time?"

"No," Nathan said getting up from the counter, "You came at a perfect time." Brooke laughed and got up.

"Okay, are we studying tonight?"

Nathan took Brooke's hand and led her outside, "We've been working too hard it's time to have some fun."

Nathan and Brooke got into Nathan's car, as he drove to his dad's beach house, "We can study here."

"Oh!" Brooke exclaimed, "Can we go on the beach first!"

"Sure," Nathan said. They got out of the car and headed on the beach.

Brooke sat in the sand and patted the spot next to her, "Sit."

Nathan sat down beside her and smiled, "Who ever thought you and I would be on the beach together?"

"As stupid as this sounds, I'm glad we're partners," Brooke said genuinely.

"In a weird way, I am too."

"Let's go feel how cold the water is," Brooke said getting up and grabbing Nathan's hand.

Nathan sighed, "I don't trust you Davis."

Brooke hugged Nathan, "Give me a hug," she yelled. She grabbed a hold of Nathan and pushed him into the water, but he didn't fall, "Shit! You were supposed to fall," Brooke said and then took off running.

Nathan ran after Brooke and ran up to the beach house. They walked inside and Brooke set the books down on the table in the living room, "I'm going to get you one of these days Brooke."

Brooke pouted, "That's mean."

"So was trying to push me in the water," Nathan laughed.

"Sorry?" Brooke offered.

Nathan shook his head, "That's not going to fix it," he said as he got a bottle of Vodka from the fridge, "Want some?"

"No," Brooke said looking down at her book, "I don't drink and study."

Nathan shrugged, "More for me," as he took a chug from the Vodka.

"How can you drink that straight?" Brooke asked disgusted.

"You're right," Nathan said as he poured some coke in the bottle, "There we go," he said as he came over towards the couch and sat down next to Brooke.

"You're lucky tomorrow's Saturday," Brooke pointed out, "Because you're going to have such a hang over."

Nathan took another chug from the bottle, "Oh well," he said smiling. An hour or so had passed and Brooke was typing on Nathan's lap top, she looked over and saw Nathan asleep.

Brooke sighed and rolled her eyes, "Nathan," she said softly in his ear, "Wake up."

He looked up at her and smiled, "Hey Brookie Cookie," he said laughing at his own joke.

Brooke couldn't help but laugh, "Come on Nathan let's get you to bed," she said helping him get up.

Brooke helped Nathan walk to his room, "Thanks Brooke," Nathan said as she laid him on his bed. Brooke went to leave, but Nathan stopped her. He started stroking her cheek, "You're beautiful."

"You're drunk," Brooke said with a laugh. She left the room and closed the door; she went back to the couch and started typing again. Brooke had finished a section of her report and looked around the house; she didn't want to go home because she would be alone again. Brooke laid on the couch and fell asleep. When she woke up she saw Nathan standing over her.

"Hey," Nathan said as her eyes opened.

"Hey," Brooke said back.

Nathan smiled, "You stayed?"

"I stayed."

"Because you're lonely?" Nathan asked.

Brooke sighed, "What if I am?"

Lucas walked into Peyton's room and saw her sitting on her bed watching TV, "I thought you'd be drawing," he said; startling Peyton.

Peyton shrugged, "Not in the mood."

Lucas sat down on Peyton's bed, "I care about you Pey."

"I care about you too," she said softly.

"Then why can't we be together?"

Peyton sighed, "Because...We just can't."

Lucas laughed, "That's a pretty lame ass excuse."

"It's the best I can come up with right now," Peyton said with a laugh. Lucas cupped Peyton's face in his hands and kissed her softly on the lips. Peyton smiled and put her hand on Lucas's cheek. The kiss grew more intense and they started making out, Lucas got on top of Peyton and unbuttoned her shirt. Peyton looked down at what he was doing and thought about Brooke, "Stop," she said.

Lucas got off of her, "I'm sorry."

"I just can't do this, I just have this really bad guilty conscience now," Peyton explained as she buttoned up her shirt, "Maybe you should just go."

"Peyton," Lucas said, but he knew that anything he said she didn't want to hear it. He sighed and walked out of her bed room. Peyton looked around her room and threw her remote control against the wall causing it to shatter and the batteries to roll around the floor.

Brooke walked into Karen's Café to get a cup of coffee, she had an amazing night with Nathan and they didn't even have sex. She thought Nathan was a pretty cool guy and she was glad that they were starting to become friends. Brooke sat down at the counter and saw Haley, "Hey Haley," she said smiling.

"Hey," Haley said, "What can I get you?"

Brooke looked around, "Coffee."

"Okay," Haley said getting her a cup, "For here or to go?"'

"For here," Brooke said making herself comfortable.

"So," Haley said filling up the cup, "You and Nathan have been spending quite a lot of time together."

"It's just because we're partners," Brooke explained.

Haley set the coffee cup in front of Brooke, "Are you sure?"

"I don't see why you care," Brooke said and then took a sip of her coffee.

Haley scoffed, "I don't."

Brooke laughed, "Oh my god! You totally have a thing for Nathan."

"What? That's insane," Haley lied.

"It's cute," Brooke said smiling, "Innocent tutor girl falls for playboy jock. Is it just me or are we in a bad rerun of Dawson's Creek?" She joked.

"Laugh it up," Haley said trying to hide her blushing cheeks.

"You two are like Romeo and Juliet," Brooke pointed out.

Haley laughed, "They die at the end."

"Oh," Brooke said, "Well, you guys are like Romeo and Juliet, minus the whole dying thing," she said with a laugh and then walked out of the café. She didn't know why she was helping Haley hook up with Nathan, she didn't have feelings for Nathan, she just...She had something for Nathan.

Brooke walked out the door and noticed how cold it was outside and saw Peyton walking towards the café, "Don't worry your best friend is still working in there," Peyton said sarcastically.

"Brooke, I want my real best friend back," Peyton explained.

"You didn't seem to worry about me while you were stabbing me in the back and making out with my boyfriend," Brooke said with a dry laugh.

Peyton sighed, "What can I do to make you forgive me?"

"I want you to forget we ever met. I'm dead to you," Brooke said bitterly and then walked to her car.

Read and Review