Chapter 14: Slipping Away
Brooke woke up the next morning with a huge grin on her face. "Please tell me I'm not dreaming," whispered Brooke as she looked at Ethan who was lying beside her with his eyes still closed.
She couldn't help but giggle as she ran a hand on his hair. "I must have really done something good to deserve a guy like him," she thought as she smiled at the sight of a gorgeous guy lying beside her.
Giving him a kiss on the cheek, she stood up and was about to wash up when she felt a hand pulling her back to bed. As she turned around, she saw Ethan grinning at her. "Good morning, gorgeous," greeted Ethan in his sexy husky morning voice.
Brooke smiled as she leaned over to give him a kiss, "'Morning handsome." After the kiss, Brooke was trying to pull away but Ethan pulled her closer to him, "Where are you going?"
Brooke gave him another kiss, "I'm 'gonna go wash up."
Ethan smiled and nodded, "Don't you 'wanna stay in bed a little longer?"
Brooke just giggled at him, "I would love to, babe...but the smell from the kitchen downstairs is really making me hungry."
Ethan just laughed, "Mom never fails to get anyone's appetite going. You go wash up and we'll go downstairs for breakfast."
Brooke nodded as she headed to the bathroom. Ethan just lay on the bed, looking up to the ceiling with a dreamy smile. "I could get used to more mornings like this one," he thought. Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He turned to the door in time to see his sister's head at the door.
"Uh...hey," Nikki greeted as she saw her brother still lying on the bed.
"Hey Nick, what's up?" greeted Ethan, surprised that his youngest sister was dropping by his room.
Nikki stood silent for a moment. "Um, you and Brooke....make a really good couple," she managed to say.
"Thanks," Ethan replied with a sly smile.
"I was wondering...did she...ever tell you how we know each other?" asked Nikki casually.
Ethan just shook his head, "No, care to tell me about it?"
Nikki just gave her brother a sly smile, "Maybe some other time. I'll see you two downstairs." With that, she closed the door and left.
"Up so early on a Sunday...what's gotten into you?" greeted Haley as she walked into the kitchen the following morning.
Peyton just laughed as she looked up, "I remembered I had some drawings to finish. I need to pass them early Monday morning."
Haley just nodded as she poured herself a glass of orange juice, "Yesterday was...pretty fun, huh?"
Peyton smiled, "Yeah, it was. I'm glad we went along."
Haley grinned at her, "Me too!"
Peyton suddenly looked intriguingly at Haley, "You seem to have enjoyed every moment of it...what's up with you and Nathan?"
Haley just laughed, "Nothing...we're just...good friends!"
Peyton just laughed, "I agree with Brooke...it won't be long before you two become more than friends again."
Haley looked at her with a bewildered expression on her face, "Whatever gave you that idea? I mean, I was just having fun with Nate yesterday...what about you and Lucas? You two had your arms around each other when I walked in the kitchen yesterday."
Peyton gave her a sly smile, "Nothing, he just tried to pull away from the freezer when he saw the pint of ice cream was about to fall on me."
Haley gave her friend an intrigued smile, "You know, I would have believed you if I didn't see the ice cream already on the floor."
Peyton just sighed, "Okay...you got a point there...but really, we were just... caught in the moment."
Haley just laughed, "Whatever you say!"
"Hey, you 'wanna shoot some hoops today?" asked Lucas as he walked into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of milk.
Nathan kept his eyes on the newspaper as he answered, "Yeah, sure. Coach said we should practice as much as we can anyway."
Lucas grabbed a chair and settled himself on the kitchen table, "Can you believe this? We're playing college ball now?"
Nathan just laughed as he turned to his brother, "Yeah...hopefully, it would be NBA pretty soon."
Lucas just smiled at his brother, "Yeah...finally get some paychecks and endorsements!"
Nathan nodded, "Damn...that would be the life."
Lucas suddenly had a serious expression on his face, "You think we'd be happy?"
Nathan just shrugged as he let out a heavy sigh, "You know...looking at Haley yesterday, I realized I'm happiest with her."
Lucas let out a sigh himself, "Yeah...I get what you mean."
Nathan suddenly gave a sly smile, "I really wish I could have both."
Lucas smiled at him, "What if you'd have to choose?"
Nathan shrugged again, "I really don't want to...I just can't."
"This is really good, Carmen," remarked Brooke as she helped herself to some more hash browns.
Carmen just smiled, "Well, I'm glad you like it Brooke. It's good to know that Ethan's girlfriend eats."
Bridget just laughed, "Yeah...we were expecting you to look quite anorexic."
Brooke just laughed as she turned to Ethan and put a hand on his, "Ethan takes really good care of me. He never lets me miss a meal."
Ethan smiled as he put an arm around his girlfriend, "That's coz' I find it sexy when she eats."
"You mean you get a kick seeing a dab of sauce on the corners of my mouth!" said Brooke jokingly as she playfully hit Ethan's arm.
"Well...I can't say that I don't!" exclaimed Ethan as he reached into his girlfriend for a kiss while everyone just laughed.
"You two make such a delightful pair," remarked Carmen as she beamed proudly at her son and his girlfriend.
"Didn't I tell you she's the best, mom?" said Ethan as he and Brooke continued to look into each other's eyes.
Brooke smiled as she turned to face Carmen, "I'm really glad to be a part of this family. Carmen, you're one of the greatest mothers I know...
She paused and turned to look at Nikki, "I bet you'd make a great grandmother too."
Peyton was looking around a bookstore when she heard someone call her name. "Peyton?" said Lucas as he approached her.
Peyton turned around and smiled as the sight of Lucas, "Hey!"
Lucas just smiled, "So, what are you doing here?"
"Looking for those famous poets..." Peyton answered as she continued to look through the shelf.
Lucas laughed, "Yeah...me too. Any idea who you're quoting from?"
Peyton shook her head, "I might just go as planned...Rolling Stones!"
Lucas smiled at her, "Well, good for you. I don't have a single one in mind."
They continued to look around for awhile. Peyton was completely absorbed in finding a book that she didn't notice a push cart was about to hit her. However, Lucas noticed and immediately grabbed Peyton by the waist, "Look out, Peyt."
Once again, Peyton found herself in Lucas' arms just as the push cart hit the shelf. Peyton smiled gratefully at Lucas, "Guess you saved me again."
Lucas just smiled, "I guess so."
Peyton once again found the same feelings surfacing as she looked deep into Lucas' eyes. She felt vulnerable...but she like it. Without giving it a second though, she leaned over to give him a long a passionate kiss. Suddenly, she could care less whether it was wrong or right. She has wanted him to kiss her for the longest time. The way her lips responded to his was enough to reflect the longing that she had far too long. Lucas was taken aback initially by Peyton's move. Still, he liked it. He can't deny he has wanted to kiss her so bad too. They remained locked in each other's arms for quite some time as they continued to kiss. After awhile, Peyton pulled her face away from Lucas'. A horrified expression suddenly appeared on her face. "Oh God...I'm so....so...sorry," she stammered as she immediately pulled away.
"You're sorry?" Lucas asked confusingly as he watched Peyton start to walk away.
Peyton looked at him with a serious expression on her face, "Look Luke, I was just...overwhelmed by the moment. Okay, it meant nothing."
Lucas couldn't hide how hurt he was as he faced Peyton, "Right...it meant nothing!" With that, he turned around and walked away.
Peyton just leaned by the shelf as she buried her head in her hand. "Damn, I really screwed things up," she thought as she replayed what had just happened in her head.
"I can't believe you did that!" said Nikki angrily at Brooke who had just stepped out onto the back porch.
Brooke gave her a haughty smile, "I can't believe you never told them!"
Nikki stood up and glared at her, "Look Brooke, how many times do I have to tell you this is none of you business!"
"When you lie to my boyfriend, it becomes my business!" answered Brooke with a slightly higher voice.
Nikki just threw her hands up as she turned her back on Brooke and looked out. "You have no idea how hard this has been for me...being away from my daughter...knowing she doesn't know me," she said as her voice started to break.
With a serious expression on her face, Brooke replied, "I know what it's like to be away from your mother...I know what it's like when your mom doesn't even want to know how you are for as long as she thinks she's given you all the money you need."
Nikki suddenly faced her, "But she's there."
"She might as well not be," Brooke said softly.
After a moment of silence, Nikki suddenly gave a haughty laugh, "So what are you 'gonna do now? Tell them?"
With a tight smile, Brooke replied, "No...you will." After that, she left Nikki standing in the porch as she went back inside the house.
As Brooke stepped in, Carmen stepped out to the porch with a grave expression on her face, "Can you explain to me what I just heard here?"
Haley had some plans for the day. With a book in hand, she planned to hang-out in the café around the corner with a steamy cup of café latte. She was walking towards the café when an arm suddenly pulled her into a dark alley. Immediately, she felt terrified, but also felt unable to move. "Okay...I don't have any money," she stammered in fright as she tried to make out the face of the person who had just grabbed her.
"Relax Hales, it's just me," explained a familiar voice in the dark.
Haley's eyes suddenly widened in surprise when she recognized the voice, "Nathan? Is that you?"
Nathan took Haley's hand and led her to a part of the alley with a little light so that she could see him. Once they could see each other somehow, Nathan let out a heavy sigh, "Yeah, sorry for grabbing you like that Hales. I really didn't mean to scare you."
Haley looked up at Nathan with a concerned expression on her face, "Everything okay? Are you in trouble?"
Nathan gave her a sly smile, "I'm in trouble alright, but it's not what you think. See, there's a couple of senior girls from school who have been...well...stalking me."
Haley suddenly laughed, "Stalking you? Maybe they're just flirting with you, Nate."
Nathan just gave her a sheepish grin, "Well...alright, they are. But the point is, it's been really...creepy. They hang by my lockers, the leave notes outside my door, they hang out during practice...I mean...it's really starting to freak me out."
Haley just smiled, "I guess it comes with being a basketball star, Nate. You're 'gonna be getting more of that in the NBA, you know."
Nathan nodded as he smiled, "I know, but they have bodyguards in the NBA to handle that."
Haley laughed, "Yeah, you got a point there. Well, what can I do for you today?"
Nathan felt uneasy about asking Haley a particular favor, but he didn't have any other choice, "Is it okay if you pretend to be...my girlfriend for awhile? You know, we could pretend to be a couple just until we get past them. They're hanging out in the café around the corner."
Haley smiled at him, "Okay...boyfriend, let's get this show on the road!"
Nathan smiled gratefully at her, "Thanks Hales, I owe you one!"
With that, they both stepped out of the dark. As they did, Nathan put his arms around Haley as they walked towards the café. Haley let a smile creep into the corners of her mouth as they walked with Nathan's arms around her. "This feels just like before, "she remarked to herself as she glanced up at Nathan who smiled at her.
As they neared the café, Haley noticed two girls looking intently at them. "I guess that's them," she thought as she tried to steal a glance at them.
As soon as they were out of sight, they stopped walking. Nathan pulled away and faced her, "Well...that was pretty easy."
Haley just laughed, "Yeah, it just felt..."
"Real?" continued Nathan with hopeful eyes.
Haley looked at him with a serious expression on her face, "Look Nathan, I'm really glad we can be friends. I just...I don't think I want us to go further than that right now."
"Hales...I didn't mean to..."Nathan began as he tried to explain. However, Haley cut him off.
"Nate...all I'm saying is...we've already lost each other as lovers. Lets try not to lose each other as friends," said Haley with a sly smile. With that, she waved good-bye and walked away.
Nathan called out as Haley continued to walk away, "Hales, I just..." Seeing Haley could no longer hear him, he let out a sigh as he continued, "I still love you...Hales."
