Hazy Eyes

Right Back Where We Started From

Nathan walked into Brooke's room and saw her putting on her make-up, "You look beautiful," Nathan said; startling Brooke a little.

Brooke smiled, "Thanks," she said as she got up, "You do too."

"I know I spent the whole day picking out this outfit," he joked.

Brooke walked towards him and kissed him on the lips, "Ready?"

"Yeah," Nathan said as he took Brooke's hand.

Lucas, Peyton, and Haley sat in Lucas's room as they got ready for the party. "I cannot believe she is actually coming," Haley whined.

Peyton rolled her eyes, "Hales, all you've been talking about is Brooke and Nathan! Just let it go!"

"Yeah Haley," Lucas chimed in, "Besides it's not like the biggest player in our school actually has feelings for the chick."

Haley scoffed, "Yeah, but since Miss. Nice Girl Peyton over here made the nerd gorgeous Nathan hasn't been able to do anything without thinking about Brooke...Well, besides me," she said with a flirty giggle.

"That's disgusting," Peyton said.

Haley sighed, "I can't help what Nathan and I do in our spare time..."

"What exactly do you have planned for tonight?" Lucas asked Haley apprehensively.

Haley crossed her arms and shrugged, "I plan to create some major damage," she said with a menacing grin.

"Can't you save your mean girl shit for some other time?" Peyton asked, "It's not fair to Brooke..."

"Oh that's right," Haley said sarcastically, "You and her are, like, best friends now!"

Peyton put on her jacket, "I can't help it that the girl is actually cool if you take the time to get to know her."

"I don't have time to get to know the chick," Haley exclaimed, "I'm too busy."

Lucas looked at his watch, "As much as I love talking about Brooke, I think we should get going," he said as he walked out the door.

Peyton followed behind him closely, "Don't let Haley do anything stupid tonight," she whispered to him.

"Fine," Lucas sighed.

Brooke and Nathan walked into the house and they walked up to Tim, "Hey man," Nathan said as they pounded fists.

"Brooke and Nathan!" Tim exclaimed, "My favorite brunettes!"

Brooke chuckled lightly to herself, "We're going to get some drinks," Nathan said as he laughed along with Brooke.

They walked into the kitchen, "Tim's more drunk than usual," Brooke said as she got herself a drink.

"He always gets drunk," Nathan said, "It makes him forget that his parents are divorced."

Brooke looked down at the table, "I feel bad for him..."

"Yeah," Nathan said as he watched Tim dance on the furniture, "He won't listen to anybody so everyone has stopped trying to help him."

"I heard you're quite the drinker," Brooke said with a crooked smile.

Nathan took a sip of his drink, "Only when I want to be," he said with a wink.

"Guys!" They heard Haley squeal as she walked up to the both of them, "Hey Brookie," she said as she hugged Brooke.

Brooke looked at Nathan in confusion over Haley's shoulder, "Hi..."

"What are you guys doing?" Haley asked when the hug broke.

Nathan raised an eyebrow in confusion, "Um, drinking..."

Haley took a drink from the table, "Sounds good to me!"

"Hey guys," Peyton said as she made her way towards the group.

Brooke smiled, "Hey Peyton."

"I'll be right back," Haley said, "I'm going to get some people so that we can play a game."

Haley left, and Nathan hushed his voice, "What the hell is Haley on?"

"I don't know?" Peyton asked.

Brooke looked around the room, "She's being nice to me, but I can tell it' fake."

Peyton sighed, "Don't worry about her...She's just being Haley."

"Hey guys," Lucas said as he came up behind Peyton, "My room's getting pretty dirty Nathan," he chuckled.

Nathan glared at him, "Shut the hell up."

Peyton elbowed Lucas in the gut, "Have a drink honey," she sneered.

"Okay..." Lucas said taking the hint.

Haley, followed by a bunch of people, walked towards the group and made room on the table, "Time to play a game!" She exclaimed.

"What are we playing?" Lucas asked.

"I've never," Haley said as she took a sip of her drink to hide her smiling face.

Nathan looked down at Brooke, "Do you know how to play?"

"Yeah," Brooke said, "I once played at my aunt's wedding...Granted I never took a drink."

Nathan laughed, "Let's play..."

Theresa started the game, "I've never kissed another girl."

"I have," Haley said taking a long sip of her drink. The guys cheered and the girls giggled.

Haley laughed to herself, "Okay my turn," she said giving a look to Peyton, "I've never made a bet about an unpopular freak like Brooke Davis..." She sneered.

Brooke looked at everyone around her, they were all staring. She then looked at Nathan who had his head down, "What is she talking about?" She asked Nathan softly.

"Oh, didn't you know?" Haley asked, "Nathan and Lucas made this bet, and if Nathan got you to be the most popular girl in school, and the homecoming queen then Lucas paid for his vacation, and if Nathan lost then he had to clean Lucas's room and pay for his and Peyton's vacation..."

Brooke's eyes began to water, "Is that true?" She asked Nathan.

"Of course it is," Haley said before Nathan could say anything, "Why do you think he even talked to you? He used you Brooke..."

"I have to go," Brooke said as she ran out of the house.

Nathan looked at Haley in disbelief, "What the hell was that?" He asked.

People started leaving the kitchen slowly, "She was bound to find out one of these days," Haley said nonchalantly.

"I honestly cannot believe you," Nathan said as he ran his hand along his hair.

Haley rolled her eyes, "She's nothing! God, you act like you actually liked the girl," she exclaimed.

"What if I did?" Nathan asked as he crossed his arms.

"Excuse me?" Haley said as she rested her hands on her hips, "What happened to the whole 'it's just a bet' thing?"

Nathan looked down at the ground, "Things changed..."

"Look," Haley sighed, "I didn't want her to get in between what you and I were creating...We had a beautiful relationship until she came along..."

Nathan let out a dry laugh, "We never had a relationship! And as of right now I don't want to fucking see you ever again!" He said and then walked out of the house.

Brooke lay down on her bed and started to cry. She thought about all the things that she had told Nathan, and all the kisses and hugs. They were all fake, and they were all just set up. Brooke thought she had actually found someone that cared about her as much as she cared about them, but she was wrong. She was always wrong, and she should've none from past experience that the people she love always go away in the end.

Peyton walked into Brooke's room and saw her lying on her bed, "Brooke," she said softly as she stood at the foot of her bed.

Brooke wiped her eyes and turned over to look at Peyton, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I came to apologize," Peyton said as she dug her hands in her pockets.

Brooke scoffed, "I thought we were friends!"

"We are..."

"You knew exactly what the bet was, and you just let me get hurt!" Brooke exclaimed as her eyes began to burn.

Peyton looked down at the ground, "I was going to tell you..."

"I feel sorry for you!" Brooke said with a dry laugh, "You might be popular and all, but you're just a fake, lonely bitch! Now, leave my house!"

Peyton's eyes began to water, so she left her room and wiped her eyes. She knew that everything was just a big mistake.

Brooke held her books closely to her chest, kind of like a protective shield. She saw Nathan sitting in the library. Brooke looked around and sat at another table. Nathan came towards her and sat across from her.

"Hey," he said trying to make conversation.

Brooke sighed, and looked down at her notes, "Please leave me alone."

"Look," Nathan said, "I never wanted it to end like this..."

"You're pathetic," Brooke said simply, "I can't believe I ever fell for all of your tricks..."

Nathan clicked his tongue, "I do like you...The kiss was real..."

Brooke bit her bottom lip, "The kiss might have been real, but what exactly do you consider reality?"

"What we had was real," Nathan said, "I care about you Brooke."

"If you cared about me then you would have never done this bet thing!" Brooke exclaimed raising her voice.

Nathan rested his head in his hands, "I was thinking straight..."

Brooke looked at him in disgust, "Is that the best you can do?"

"I know you'll probably never forgive me," Nathan began.

"You're right," Brooke said sternly, "I will never forgive you," she said as she gathered up her books, "Now, let's play a game. Let's pretend that none of this ever happened, and you can go back to the Playboy jock, and I can go back to the nerd," she said as she got up from the table.

Nathan watched her leave and Lucas walked up to him, "You lost, man."

"Not now Luke," Nathan said.

Lucas sighed, "That's what happens when you start to act like a little pussy and get you're feelings involved."

Nathan got up in Lucas's face, "I said not now!"

Lucas backed away, "Fine, man," he said in defense as he backed away from him.

Nathan walked down the halls and saw Haley coming towards him, he walked right past her, but she grabbed his arm, "Nathan," she said sweetly.

Brooke watched the two of them talk. A single, hot tear rolled down her cheek. She watched Nathan say something and Haley laugh. Peyton walked up behind Brooke and sighed, "I'm sorry," she said softly.

Brooke turned around, "Yeah...Me too."

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