Stranded
Chapter Five
Nathan walked into the tutoring center and sat down in front of Haley, "Hey," he said with a big smile on his face.
Haley smiled, "You seem happy today."
"I am," Nathan said.
"Well, that's good," Haley said as she looked down at her text book, "Nathan, I was wondering if you wanted to go out to eat tonight with me or something?" She asked nervously.
Nathan sighed, "I would love too Hales, but I'm kind of already seeing someone," he said, with the smirk reappearing on his face.
"Who?" Haley asked with a mix of anger and confusion on her face.
"Brooke."
Haley's jaw dropped, "Brooke as in Brooke Davis?"
"Yeah," Nathan said.
"Wow," Haley said with a sigh.
"What?"
Haley rested her elbows on the table, "I don't know, you and Brooke seem like the last two people that I could ever see going together."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Nathan asked as his voice grew louder.
Haley sighed, "Nathan chill! All I meant was that when I met you, you were a complete ass, and then you changed. Brooke still has yet to change," she explained.
"She's changed," Nathan shot back.
"Are you sure?" Haley asked.
Nathan scoffed, "Why the hell do you care anyways?"
Haley started organizing her things, "Because I'm looking out for a friend," she said and then got up and left.
Nathan sat there and stood at the walls blankly, he got up and walked out of the tutoring center and saw Brooke coming towards him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly on the cheek.
"Hey," she said with a wink. Nathan gave her 'the nod', but Brooke didn't recognize it, "So boy toy, there's this great party tonight and we should definitely make an appearance."
"Is that all you ever want to do?" Nathan asked angrily.
"No," Brooke stated, "I also want to make out with my boyfriend," she whispered seductively.
"Put some ice on it Brooke," he said coldly. He walked away and turned his back on Brooke. He didn't know why he had been so mean to Brooke, but what Haley had said to him had really got to him. Nathan turned around to apologize, but Brooke was already gone.
Nathan walked into Brooke's house and up the stairs. He couldn't see how she could stay in the big house by herself for such a long period of time. The house was lonely, and Nathan felt bad. He walked towards her room and saw Brooke on her bed with her legs curled up and her hair back in a messy pony tail.
"Brooke," Nathan said to get her attention.
Brooke snapped her head towards her door "Leave me alone."
"All I want to say is that I'm sorry," Nathan said genuinely.
"A little too late for that you ass," Brooke shot back.
Nathan sighed, "Brooke I really do care---"
Brooke cut him off, "Don't you dare say you care about me!" She yelled, "Because today you acted like every other guy I've been with, and that hurts Nathan and that's a real jack ass thing to do!"
"I'm sorry."
"Yeah me too," Brooke said, "Me too."
Nathan leaned against the doorframe, "Look, what I did was so stupid and I have no idea why I was so mean to you, but I wish I could take it back."
Brooke scoffed, "Whatever, once we're finished with this project, which we almost are, we can go back to never speaking to each other, and we can forget anything that ever happened between us," she said bitterly.
"I don't want to do that."
"You made it pretty clear you did," she said as she wiped her eyes and checked her make up in the vanity. Once she made some minor adjustments she walked towards the door, but Nathan was in her way, "Move."
Nathan stood still, "Where are you going?"
"To a party," Brooke answered briefly, "Now please get out of my way."
"I'm not going to let you hurt yourself," Nathan stated.
Brooke rolled her eyes, "You've hurt me enough."
Nathan stepped out of the way, "So this is it?"
"This is it," Brooke said as she bit her lip. She walked down the hall towards the step.
Nathan crossed his arms, "There you go walking away like you always do."
Brooke turned around, and Nathan could see a tear rolling down her cheek, "And there you go not coming after me." They looked at each other one last time, and Nathan watched as she rushed down the stairs. He heard the front door slam, and knew that he had made the biggest mistake of his life.
Nathan walked into Brooke's room, he knew that he shouldn't have been snooping, but he had a feeling he should be. He looked around the floor and saw a note; he picked it up and read it:
Peyton,
Hey, I know this is like so Junior High to write you a note, but I hardly see you anymore. OMG Nathan has changed, but definitely in a good way. He's a really great guy, and to tell you the truth I think I am definitely falling for him, don't laugh! I know it sounds crazy, but you can't help who you fall for right? I'm so glad we're friends again, because I changed so much for Nathan. When we got assigned partners I stopped going to bars and stopped making out with random guys. I changed so he would like me...Well got to go. Love you my best friend.
Brooke.
Nathan set down the note and felt like an ass hole. He ran out of the house and drove to Peyton's. He ran into her room and saw her putting on her shirt, "Where is she?" Nathan asked.
Peyton knew he must have talked to Brooke, "At a party."
"Where?"
"At some local frat house," Peyton said with a shrug, "She seemed really upset."
Nathan sighed, "Yeah, I know."
"Nathan," Peyton said, stopping him from leaving, "Don't lose her."
"I don't plan on losing her," Nathan said with complete confidence and ran out of the room.
Nathan got into his car and drove to the nearest fraternity he knew of. He parked his car and went inside. Nathan looked around the room and saw girls dancing with guys, girls dancing with girls, guys throwing dollar bills at the girls dancing with girls. Nathan sighed and walked towards the kitchen to see if Brooke was near the keg. He looked in and didn't see her; he had something in the back of his head telling him that she was in one of the rooms.
Nathan ran upstairs and walked to the first bed room on the right, he heard someone, who sounded like Brooke, saying stop. Nathan went to open the door and it was locked. He kicked the door and it swung open and he saw a guy on top of a wasted Brooke, the guy was beginning to take off her shirt, "Get the hell off of her!" Nathan yelled as he came towards the guy and pushed him off of Brooke.
The guy grabbed his head, which he had hit off the ground, "What the fuck, dude?"
Nathan picked up Brooke and glared at the guy, "You better fucking hope that she's going to be okay!"
"What are you? Her boyfriend?"
Nathan looked down at the now passed out Brooke, "Yeah."
Nathan drove to his apartment and carried Brooke to his room. He set her down on his bed and took off her shoes. He took off her shirt that was covered with beer and put on a t-shirt of his. Nathan pulled the covers over her and kissed her lightly on the forehead, "I'm sorry Brooke," he whispered.
Nathan walked towards the door. "Wait," he heard Brooke say. He turned around and walked back towards her, "I'm sorry too," she said as she swallowed the lump in her throat. She sat up and kissed Nathan softly on the lips.
Brooke woke up the next morning and smiled to herself. She knew that she was at Nathan's and that the two of them had finally made peace. She got up and walked towards the kitchen. She leaned against the wall and watched Nathan as he ate his cereal and read the sports section of the paper, "Hey gorgeous," Brooke said seductively.
"You haven't lost your charm," Nathan said with a wink.
Brooke sat across from Nathan and smiled at him, "Why did you protect me last night?"
Nathan set the paper down, "Because I care about you."
"But I was such a bitch."
Nathan sighed, "I deserved it."
"I'm really sorry Nathan," Brooke said as she ran her hands through her hair.
Nathan walked over and stood in front of Brooke, she rested her head on his stomach, "It's alright," he said as he rubbed her back, "I was an ass."
Brooke pulled away and looked up at Nathan, she gave him a weak smile, "I guess this was all just one big reality check," she said with a stifled laugh.
Nathan looked at her confused.
"We aren't ever going to be together," Brooke stated. She looked down at the floor and sighed, "Nathan. We're two different people now, and when I was at that party last night I realized that I haven't changed."
Nathan shook his head, "You have changed Brooke."
"Nathan," Brooke said as she shook her head, "Obviously I haven't. Last night I got drunk, and I would've had sex with some random guy if you wouldn't have come along."
"What are you trying to say?" Nathan asked as he crossed his arms.
Brooke sighed, "I'm saying that you and Haley should just get together because you and I are two different people now. She's molded you into the perfect boyfriend for her," she explained. Brooke got up and walked out the door leaving Nathan there to standing there shocked and upset.
Brooke walked up to her room and turned on her stereo; she had her Sarah McLachlan CD in and began singing along to it, "I believe this is heaven to no one else, but me. And I'll defend it as long as I can be left here to linger in silence; if I choose to would you try to understand?" She sang.
"I didn't know you had such a beautiful voice," she heard a voice behind her say. She turned around and saw Nathan walking into her room with his hands in his pockets.
"What are you doing here Nathan?" She asked, even though she wanted him to be there.
Nathan shrugged, "I couldn't let you leave the way you did."
Brooke put her hands on her hips, "Nathan, life's a bitch. Okay? I care about you I really do, but I'm not fighting with Haley anymore it's not worth it!"
"I'm not worth it?"
Brooke bit her lip, "Of course you are," she said quietly to herself.
"I came here to ask you if you would be mad if I asked Haley out." Nathan asked.
Brooke clenched her fist, "Wait? So I was your second choice or something?"
"I don't mean it like that..."
"Just leave my room," Brooke screamed, "Leave."
Nathan walked towards Brooke and held her, "Brooke please," he said softly.
Brooke tried to get out of his grip and started punching his arms, "Don't touch me," she sobbed. She broke down on the floor and put her face in her hands as she sobbed harder and harder.
Nathan watched as she cried and wanted so bad to pick her up and kiss her. Nathan walked slowly out of the room. Brooke watched him go and threw a picture of her and Nathan across the room.
Brooke walked into school and saw Nathan and Haley walking into school together. Brooke could see that Haley had the biggest smile on her face ever. Brooke let out a deep breath and got to her locker. She got out all of her books and when she closed her locker and saw Nathan leaning there, "What?" She asked annoyed.
"Do you have the disc?" Nathan asked.
Brooke nodded, "Yeah," she said and then handed him the disc.
"Are we still friends?" Nathan asked nervously.
Brooke shrugged, "Were we ever friends?"
"Yeah I guess."
"Then I guess we are friend," Brooke stated, "Nathan, before I go I just wanted to tell you that..."
She was cut off by Haley calling for Nathan from across the hall. Nathan smiled at her, "Just a minute," he yelled back and then refocused on Brooke.
Brooke took a deep breath, "I love you," she said and then walked away.
Italicized words are lyrics from "Elsewhere" by Sarah McLachlan
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