White Houses

Chapter Three

It's alright

And I put myself in his hands

But I hold on to your secrets in white houses

Love or something ignites in my veins

And I pray it never fades in white houses

Brooke flopped down on her bed and sighed. She had left Nathan's before he had woken up; Brooke looked down at him before she left. The scene looked so familiar to Brooke, she remembered back when they were 15 and she would watch Nathan sleep. He would then wake up and smile up at Brooke; she loved his smile. Brooke smiled to herself as she thought about Nathan and all the memories they had shared together. 'Get a hold of yourself,' Brooke thought as she felt her eyes swell with tears. Her thoughts were stalled by Peyton jumping on her bed.

"Where were you last night?" Peyton asked as she put her hand on Brooke's forehead.

"Nathan's," Brooke mumbled, "Nothing happened I just slept over and left before he woke up," she said off Peyton's look.

Peyton smiled, "That was really sweet of him."

Brooke rolled her eyes, "It was only a one time thing. Besides, last night will never ever be mentioned again."

"Come on Brooke, he let you stay over night," Peyton pointed out.

"Wow," Brooke exclaimed sarcastically.

"Why do you two act like you hate each other?" Peyton asked as she ran her fingers through her curly hair.

Brooke sat up in her bed, "Because we do."

Peyton stood up and crossed her arms, "You and Nathan are hiding something," she stated and then walked out of the bedroom.

"You have no idea," Brooke said quietly to herself after Peyton had left her room.

Nathan woke up and looked to the other side of his bed; it was empty. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. When he was with her he remembered everything they had shared. Nathan knew that he had hurt Brooke and he didn't want to hurt her again. Nathan remembered how he had told Brooke that he loved, he sure as hell did, but they went their separate ways after the one night. Nathan shook his head and got into the shower, he didn't even want to think about that night, and the following morning.

Brooke cried softly on her bed as she listened to her music and rocked back and forth. She used to rock herself to sleep when she was younger. Brooke was scared when she went to Nathan's; she hadn't been there since what seemed like forever. She felt safe when he wrapped his strong arm around her. All she wanted was to be held by him, and to feel like they were both just two 15 year olds that needed each other to survive. The truth was that they pretended like they didn't need each other, but Brooke needed Nathan and Nathan needed Brooke.

And for the million hours that we were

Well I'll smile and remember it all

Brooke listened to the lyrics and smiled. She loved Nathan, she told him so herself. They had shared something so special with each other, and it hurt Brooke that she had to pretend like it never happened.

Then I'll turn and go

While your story's completed

The hardest thing for Brooke was having to see him walk down the halls with other girls and whisper sweet nothings into their ears and make them laugh. Brooke became friends with Nathan so easily because they had the same personalities. They would laugh for hours when one of them told a joke or told a funny story. All of Nathan's friends told him that he should go out with Brooke, and all of Brooke's friends told her that she should go out with Nathan, but they always remained friends. They liked the way things were.

Mine, it's a long way from done

Brooke's lip quivered and tears streamed down her face. She didn't know why she was letting Nathan Scott get to her like he was. They were both liars. They denied that they were ever friends or even lovers, if you would call them that. 'Love,' Brooke thought to herself, 'It's such a strong word.' Brooke never got the chance to tell Nathan that she wanted to be with him forever, she never had the guts.

Well I'm on a champagne high

Where will I be when I stop wonderin' why?

She looked around her empty room and looked at all the pictures of her and Peyton. Brooke had met Peyton about a year after Nathan and Brooke had sex. Peyton walked into the picture with her curly blonde hair and beautiful eyes. Brooke knew that she and Peyton were going to be best friends. Brooke watched as Nathan and Peyton smiled at each other and held on to each other, and then a week later they were dating. Brooke had to admit that she was jealous. She was jealous at the fact that Nathan told Peyton that he loved her on the second date, but it took him a year to tell Brooke that he loved her. Brooke was jealous because the morning after she and Nathan had slept together he ignored Brooke for a long time. Brooke got angry, there were fights, and they stopped talking and stopped being friends.

On a champagne high

High

Peyton walked on Lucas's door, she looked through the window and saw him at his computer with headphones on. She smiled to herself and let herself in. Peyton walked up behind Lucas and wrapped her arms around him.

Lucas turned around and took off his headphones, "I was just thinking about you," he said in a sweet voice.

"What a coincidence," Peyton said kissing his cheek, "I was thinking about you too."

Lucas handed Peyton a CD, "I made this for you."

Peyton looked at the CD, "Thank you," she said sincerely, "It's about time somebody around here listens to the same type of music I do."

Lucas chuckled, "Aren't you glad I came around?"

"You have no idea," Peyton said. Lucas smiled, "So, are you coming to the annual bonfire tonight?" Peyton asked.

Lucas turned back to his computer and shook his head, "I don't think so. I don't want to give Dan and Nathan the pleasure of seeing me there."

Peyton sighed and rubbed Lucas's back, "Who cares what they think?"

"Everyone," Lucas stated.

"I don't."

Brooke walked down to the bonfire with Theresa clung to her arm, "Theresa tonight is going to be awesome," Brooke said in her cheery voice as usual.

Theresa giggled, "I want to get laid tonight Brooke you don't know how long it's been."

"A week isn't that long Theresa," Brooke teased.

"Shut up," Theresa laughed, "Where's Peyton?"

Brooke looked around and shrugged, "Probably with that Lucas kid."

"He's hot," Theresa said winking.

Brooke nodded, "Definitely."

Theresa sighed, "Don't you usually of dibs on the new kids?"

"Well," Brooke said with a shrug, "Peyton really likes him, so she can have him."

"True," Theresa said as she waved to a group of freshman causing them to all high five each other and whistle, "What about Tim?"

Brooke rolled her eyes, "What about him?"

"You two got pretty close at the party the other night," Theresa hinted.

Brooke scoffed, "That was practice, T."

"Practice?" Theresa questioned.

"Yes," Brooke answered, "You use some guys for the sex, and you use some guys for the practice."

Theresa laughed, "We're such sluts."

Brooke nodded and chuckled, "Proud of it."

"What about love?" Theresa asked as she threw one of her Raven notebooks in the fire.

Brooke made eye contact with Nathan, and he looked away, "There's no such thing," Brooke answered flatly and walked away.

Peyton held Lucas's hand and he smiled down at her, "Don't worry," she whispered into his ear, "You'll be okay."

"I know," Lucas said nodding, "I'm with you."

Brooke walked up to the two of them and put another one of her fake smiles on that she had mastered, "Hey you two," she said sweetly, "I didn't know you two would be coming."

"Hey Brooke," Lucas said smiling at her.

Brooke smiled back, "How are you doing?"

Lucas looked at Peyton and her eyes sparkled, "Perfect," he answered.

Peyton blushed and looked towards Brooke, "Who'd you come with?"

"Theresa offered me a ride," Brooke said putting her hands in the back pockets of her jeans, "I don't see why a bunch of kids want to watch stuff burn, but hey what else is there to do in Tree Hill?"

Peyton and Lucas laughed, "True," she said.

Nathan and Tim walked up to the three, "I'm surprised you showed your face around here Pucas," Tim sneered.

"It's Lucas," Peyton corrected him with a glare.

Tim laughed, "Awe," he cooed sarcastically, "Are you two dating? How cute," he said and then laughed at his own joke.

Brooke groaned, "Give it up Tim."

Nathan looked at Lucas, "Man, what are you doing here?"

"I'm on the team," Lucas shot back; "I can be here if I want."

"Aren't you embarrassed?" Nathan asked coldly.

Lucas shook his head, "No, are you?" He asked as he nodded over towards their dad who was showing everyone Nathan's pictures from basketball.

Nathan's fist tightened, "At least I have a dad."

"I guess you're right," Lucas said with a shrug as he put his arm around Peyton, "But he's too busy living off your success to even realize you," he said and then walked away.

Brooke stood beside Nathan and watched the pain and anger in his face start to surface; she rested her hand on his shoulder, "What happened to you?" She asked softly.

Nathan looked down at her in confusion, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"You've changed," Brooke stated, keeping as calm as she could, "You have no reason to hate Lucas, you're just so pissed at you're dad that you let you're anger out on Lucas."

"This has nothing to do with my dad," Nathan said defensively.

Brooke shook her head and sighed, "Nathan it always has something to do with your dad. I know how hard he is on you."

"How would you know?" Nathan asked, starting to get mad.

"Because we were best friends," Brooke said getting louder, "I know you remember that."

Nathan looked at the fire and sighed, "I do."

Brooke closed her eyes trying to stop the tears that were beginning in her eyes, "You can't forget everything we went through Nathan."

"I'm not trying to."

"We can't pretend like that thing never happened," Brooke started to say.

Nathan put his hands up, "Not now Brooke."

Brooke bit her bottom lip, "Then when?"

"Why do we have to talk about this?" Nathan questioned.

"Because it happened, and I can't just forget about the first guy I've ever loved," Brooke exclaimed.

Nathan sighed and crossed his arms, "Brooke, I can't do this, not now, not ever."

Brooke's lip quivered, "I'm trying to make some god damn closure here. You're not making this very easy."

"Things between us are never going to be easy," Nathan stated, trying to put realization into the situation.

"We were best friends," Brooke said looking down at the ground, "We slept together. You were my first and I was yours."

Nathan looked at Brooke, "The past is the past."

Brooke scoffed, "How can you be like this?"

"Nathan?" Brooke heard a sweet voice behind her say. She turned around and saw a petite brunette standing there with her weight shifted to one side. Brooke recognized the girl from around school, but she wasn't in her social group.

Brooke looked back at Nathan, "Hey Haley," he said with a smile on his face. Brooke knew that smile, and sadly the smile wasn't intended for her.

Brooke looked at Nathan and then back at Haley. She mumbled something about having to get a drink and left the two standing there talking. She walked back towards Theresa's car and leaned against it and cried. Brooke felt someone's hand on her shoulder and she turned and saw Lucas.

"Are you okay?" Lucas asked with sincerity in his voice.

Brooke bit her lip and shook her head, "No," she sobbed and fell into Lucas's arms.

Haley laughed at a joke of Nathan's and he smiled at her. He looked around and looked towards the parking lot. He saw Brooke in the arms of Lucas, anger and annoyance ran through his veins as he watched the scene. Nathan looked back down at Haley and forced a smile on his face, but couldn't get Brooke out of his head.

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Italicized Lyrics: "Champagne High" Sister Hazel (Best song ever!!)

(A/N: Haley and Lucas are not best friends in my story. That would make the storyline too complicated.)