Chapter 13
Brooke pulled the soft, white robe tight around her freshly cleansed body. Her thoughts were jumping from Lucas to Haley. One filling her with joy and the other great distress. A light knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Hey," Haley greeted, taking a seat on Brooke's make-up stool. Brooke raised one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows signaling Haley to explain her recent phone call from Steve. "He apologized."
"For what?" Brooke asked, somewhat annoyed.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Look, Haley, you know I don't think Steven's right for you, but if I'm being completely honest, he didn't really do anything wrong."
"Maybe not today, but he has. He let his mom…"
"Fine," Brooke cut her off, already knowing the damage Steven's mother had put on Haley's relationship. "Did you apologize?"
"I would have to tell him, in order to apologize," Haley returned.
"So are you?"
"What?"
"Going to tell him."
"No. I'm not going to see Nathan again and I want this to work with Steven. If I tell him now, there's no way that'll happen."
"So you're just going to ignore your feelings for Nathan?"
"Who said anything about feelings?" Haley quickly became flustered. "Nathan and I had sex, and it was great, but it was just sex, Brooke."
"But Haley…"
"No, Brooke. Nathan was a mistake. An distraction that I took too far. I'm with Steven. I'm going to marry him next month, and I'm going to dinner with him right now. Just forget about Nathan, I have." Haley slammed the door, making her point final.
Brooke fell helplessly on her bed. Haley may believe that Nathan was out of the picture, but Brooke didn't. When she had taken Haley to the Playboy Mansion and pointed her in Nathan's direction, her intentions hadn't been to break up Haley's relationship. She didn't think Haley was meant for Steven, but she certainly hadn't intended for Haley to care for Nathan. And she did, whether Haley knew it or not. She did.
-----
Peyton stood in silence, completely unsure of her next move. She had expected Nathan to be angry, but when she saw the look in his eyes, she knew he was more hurt than anything else. A hurt that she had caused and it pained her.
"What do you want from him?" Lucas asked, interrupting Peyton's thoughts.
"I don't know. I just missed him."
"Peyton you shouldn't have just shown up like this."
"I know, but if he had known, he would have told me not to come. I didn't want to hear him say that."
"Why not? You ditched him. Why are you back now? What happened with that boy toy you left him for?"
"Lucas." Peyton was shocked at his words.
"Peyton, you left him, turned his world upside down. You can't do that again."
"I know. I know I hurt him, and I don't want to ever again. But my life's not the same without him in it."
"And what about his life, Peyton? Have you thought about him at all?"
"I think about him everyday, Luke. Everyday. I just want to talk to him. To see if we can ever be what we use to, for both of us. If he tells me to leave after that, I will. I just need to know. I think we both do."
Lucas knew she was being honest. Though Peyton had hurt his younger brother deeply, Lucas also knew she cared for him. Whether or not they still loved each other like they used to, he didn't know. But Nathan did deserve some happiness and if Peyton could give him that, Lucas wasn't going to stand in the way.
"Just don't hurt him," Lucas warned before retreating to his room, leaving Peyton all alone.
-----
Though they were having a late dinner, Steven had insisted it be somewhere nice. He wanted to start this over right.
"Did you want dessert?" Steven questioned as the waiter cleared their table.
"You pick," she said with a smile. Though she wasn't one for sweets, Steven loved them. He smiled at her gesture and looked over the dessert menu. He chose the Swiss Cheesecake. It was Haley's favorite.
After dinner, they went back to Steven's house. It still took Haley's breath away every time she walked inside. The entire back wall was made of glass and had the most gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean. She'd never forget the first time she had seen the sunset from that spot.
FLASHBACK
"Haley, do you want lemon in your tea?" Steven called from the kitchen. They had just gotten back from their second date. Steven had picked her up early that morning and they had spent the entire day roaming Los Angeles.
Now, they were back at his place. Haley knew he lived in a nice home, but the moment she stepped inside and saw the view, she fell in love.
"Haley," Steven called again as he made his way to where she was. He stopped in his tracks when he saw her image. The sunlight radiated over her face, making her glow even more than she did naturally. The red tint of her hair, that Steven already adored, glistened in the sun's rays. She looked angelic. It was in that moment he realized he could love her. "You like?" Steven asked, now standing at his side.
"It's beautiful, Steven," she whispered.
"I was just thinking the same thing about you." She blushed lightly as he ran his thumb smoothly across her cheek. Then, he kissed her for the first time.
END FLASHBACK
Haley smiled as she thought about it now.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Steven asked walking to her side.
"I was thinking about the first time you brought me here."
"I remember, " he said wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. "That was a great day."
"It was perfect." Haley twisted her body to face him, though still safely in his arms.
Steven noticed as her eyes became glassy looking and the tip of her nose reddened. She was holding back tears. "Haley, what's the matter?"
"Nothing," she replied, shaking her head. "I just want it to be like that everyday."
"Then we'll just have to do that." He smiled and rubbed her back reassuringly.
"Do you really think we can?" She asked honestly.
He knew she wanted him to sure her that it would all be perfect and he wanted to, more than anything, but he couldn't promise her that.
"We can try" Haley smiled, satisfied with his answer for now.
"We can," she agreed and reached up to kiss him.
They spent the rest of the night together.
----
Peyton stood alone for several minutes, unsure of what she wanted to do next. Even when she and Nathan had been together, it had been difficult to get him to talk to her about anything serious. A huge part of that was contributed to his father, Dan Scott. He infuriated Nathan, but Nathan would never say anything. He took his father's criticism and let the anger and resentment slowly build inside him. Eventually, Peyton was able to get him to talk about it, but now she wasn't sure he'd ever talk to her about anything. But she knew she had to try.
She walked slowly down the hall, until she came to the door he had disappeared into. She knocked lightly, but he didn't answer. She stood in the hall awhile, just staring at the door and wondering what was going to meet her on the other side. Peyton seriously thought about just waiting for him to come out, but she knew better than anyone how stubborn he could be. If he didn't want to see her, he'd stay in there for days. 'Its now or never,' she thought and slowly opened the door.
Nathan was sitting on his bed, fresh from a shower, just staring off. Peyton looked down at his hands where he was playing absently with the rubber band he wore around his wrist. It was something he did when he was worried. Nathan was so caught up in his own world that he didn't even notice Peyton was there until she sat down on the edge of his bed.
"What do you want?" He asked coldly, not even looking in her direction.
"I want to talk to you."
"What's there to talk about? You left. I moved on."
Peyton swallowed hard at his last statement. For the first time, she thought about him being with someone else and it stung. "Are you seeing someone?" she asked quietly.
"That's none of your business," he said getting up.
"You're right. It's not. But Nathan, can't you just talk to me?"
"I have nothing to say to you, that you are going to want to hear."
"Try me."
"Leave, Peyton." He demanded
"Not until we talk." Her tone matched his perfectly.
"Fine, I'll leave," he countered. As he walked passed her, she reached out for him and grabbed his wrist. Initiating the first physical contact they had had in several years. "Let go," he ordered sternly, his eyes locked firmly on hers.
"Please, Nathan." Her voice was pleading, yet strong at the same time, her eyes never once blinking.
Nathan immediately noticed the sense of pleading in her voice and he crumbled inside. He thought he was passed this, past her, but now that she was here, he didn't know anything. He wanted to hate her, to tell her to leave him the hell alone, but he couldn't. "Fine." Peyton smiled faintly as he sat down next to her.
-----
Brooke was lounging comfortably in the living room, thankful for the quiet. She was a social butterfly and normally the thought of spending a Saturday night at home, alone, none the less, would have been appalling. However, tonight she welcomed it.
She was just getting into the latest Lifetime movie, when the phone rang. She silently cursed the person calling as she muted the television.
"Hello?"
"Lucas," she said, her voice suddenly upbeat. She had wanted to call him, but was unsure after what had happened ealier that day.
"Just watching some television."
"Now, she's out with Steven."
"I don' know what she's thinking anymore, but I don't want to talk about Haley and since she's out…"
"I'll see you soon."
Brooke quickly jumped from the couch and ran into her room. She hadn't even brushed her hair since she got out of the shower earlier. Brooke discarded the robe and finally put on some actual clothing. She had just finished the last loop around her ponytail when she heard him knock. She half-skipped, half-ran to the door. Just the thought of seeing Lucas had filled her with energy. Energy that would hopefully be worked off with him in the next several hours.
"You were quick," she said opening the door and greeting him with a perfectly dimpled smile.
"I missed you. Can you believe that? Four hours and I'm already missing you."
"I can actually." Brooke grabbed him by the shirt, bringing him inside the apartment. His hands quickly found her and waist and he pulled her closer to him.
"So we have the place to ourselves," he whispered huskily in her ear. The heat causing Brooke's blood to boil. Brooke's hands were roaming aimlessly through his hair, but a second later, she had pushed his head down to meet hers. Their lips meeting with an intense passion. Nathan and Haley weren't the only ones who could have some fun.
Brooke pulled the soft, white robe tight around her freshly cleansed body. Her thoughts were jumping from Lucas to Haley. One filling her with joy and the other great distress. A light knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Hey," Haley greeted, taking a seat on Brooke's make-up stool. Brooke raised one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows signaling Haley to explain her recent phone call from Steve. "He apologized."
"For what?" Brooke asked, somewhat annoyed.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Look, Haley, you know I don't think Steven's right for you, but if I'm being completely honest, he didn't really do anything wrong."
"Maybe not today, but he has. He let his mom…"
"Fine," Brooke cut her off, already knowing the damage Steven's mother had put on Haley's relationship. "Did you apologize?"
"I would have to tell him, in order to apologize," Haley returned.
"So are you?"
"What?"
"Going to tell him."
"No. I'm not going to see Nathan again and I want this to work with Steven. If I tell him now, there's no way that'll happen."
"So you're just going to ignore your feelings for Nathan?"
"Who said anything about feelings?" Haley quickly became flustered. "Nathan and I had sex, and it was great, but it was just sex, Brooke."
"But Haley…"
"No, Brooke. Nathan was a mistake. An distraction that I took too far. I'm with Steven. I'm going to marry him next month, and I'm going to dinner with him right now. Just forget about Nathan, I have." Haley slammed the door, making her point final.
Brooke fell helplessly on her bed. Haley may believe that Nathan was out of the picture, but Brooke didn't. When she had taken Haley to the Playboy Mansion and pointed her in Nathan's direction, her intentions hadn't been to break up Haley's relationship. She didn't think Haley was meant for Steven, but she certainly hadn't intended for Haley to care for Nathan. And she did, whether Haley knew it or not. She did.
-----
Peyton stood in silence, completely unsure of her next move. She had expected Nathan to be angry, but when she saw the look in his eyes, she knew he was more hurt than anything else. A hurt that she had caused and it pained her.
"What do you want from him?" Lucas asked, interrupting Peyton's thoughts.
"I don't know. I just missed him."
"Peyton you shouldn't have just shown up like this."
"I know, but if he had known, he would have told me not to come. I didn't want to hear him say that."
"Why not? You ditched him. Why are you back now? What happened with that boy toy you left him for?"
"Lucas." Peyton was shocked at his words.
"Peyton, you left him, turned his world upside down. You can't do that again."
"I know. I know I hurt him, and I don't want to ever again. But my life's not the same without him in it."
"And what about his life, Peyton? Have you thought about him at all?"
"I think about him everyday, Luke. Everyday. I just want to talk to him. To see if we can ever be what we use to, for both of us. If he tells me to leave after that, I will. I just need to know. I think we both do."
Lucas knew she was being honest. Though Peyton had hurt his younger brother deeply, Lucas also knew she cared for him. Whether or not they still loved each other like they used to, he didn't know. But Nathan did deserve some happiness and if Peyton could give him that, Lucas wasn't going to stand in the way.
"Just don't hurt him," Lucas warned before retreating to his room, leaving Peyton all alone.
-----
Though they were having a late dinner, Steven had insisted it be somewhere nice. He wanted to start this over right.
"Did you want dessert?" Steven questioned as the waiter cleared their table.
"You pick," she said with a smile. Though she wasn't one for sweets, Steven loved them. He smiled at her gesture and looked over the dessert menu. He chose the Swiss Cheesecake. It was Haley's favorite.
After dinner, they went back to Steven's house. It still took Haley's breath away every time she walked inside. The entire back wall was made of glass and had the most gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean. She'd never forget the first time she had seen the sunset from that spot.
FLASHBACK
"Haley, do you want lemon in your tea?" Steven called from the kitchen. They had just gotten back from their second date. Steven had picked her up early that morning and they had spent the entire day roaming Los Angeles.
Now, they were back at his place. Haley knew he lived in a nice home, but the moment she stepped inside and saw the view, she fell in love.
"Haley," Steven called again as he made his way to where she was. He stopped in his tracks when he saw her image. The sunlight radiated over her face, making her glow even more than she did naturally. The red tint of her hair, that Steven already adored, glistened in the sun's rays. She looked angelic. It was in that moment he realized he could love her. "You like?" Steven asked, now standing at his side.
"It's beautiful, Steven," she whispered.
"I was just thinking the same thing about you." She blushed lightly as he ran his thumb smoothly across her cheek. Then, he kissed her for the first time.
END FLASHBACK
Haley smiled as she thought about it now.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Steven asked walking to her side.
"I was thinking about the first time you brought me here."
"I remember, " he said wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. "That was a great day."
"It was perfect." Haley twisted her body to face him, though still safely in his arms.
Steven noticed as her eyes became glassy looking and the tip of her nose reddened. She was holding back tears. "Haley, what's the matter?"
"Nothing," she replied, shaking her head. "I just want it to be like that everyday."
"Then we'll just have to do that." He smiled and rubbed her back reassuringly.
"Do you really think we can?" She asked honestly.
He knew she wanted him to sure her that it would all be perfect and he wanted to, more than anything, but he couldn't promise her that.
"We can try" Haley smiled, satisfied with his answer for now.
"We can," she agreed and reached up to kiss him.
They spent the rest of the night together.
----
Peyton stood alone for several minutes, unsure of what she wanted to do next. Even when she and Nathan had been together, it had been difficult to get him to talk to her about anything serious. A huge part of that was contributed to his father, Dan Scott. He infuriated Nathan, but Nathan would never say anything. He took his father's criticism and let the anger and resentment slowly build inside him. Eventually, Peyton was able to get him to talk about it, but now she wasn't sure he'd ever talk to her about anything. But she knew she had to try.
She walked slowly down the hall, until she came to the door he had disappeared into. She knocked lightly, but he didn't answer. She stood in the hall awhile, just staring at the door and wondering what was going to meet her on the other side. Peyton seriously thought about just waiting for him to come out, but she knew better than anyone how stubborn he could be. If he didn't want to see her, he'd stay in there for days. 'Its now or never,' she thought and slowly opened the door.
Nathan was sitting on his bed, fresh from a shower, just staring off. Peyton looked down at his hands where he was playing absently with the rubber band he wore around his wrist. It was something he did when he was worried. Nathan was so caught up in his own world that he didn't even notice Peyton was there until she sat down on the edge of his bed.
"What do you want?" He asked coldly, not even looking in her direction.
"I want to talk to you."
"What's there to talk about? You left. I moved on."
Peyton swallowed hard at his last statement. For the first time, she thought about him being with someone else and it stung. "Are you seeing someone?" she asked quietly.
"That's none of your business," he said getting up.
"You're right. It's not. But Nathan, can't you just talk to me?"
"I have nothing to say to you, that you are going to want to hear."
"Try me."
"Leave, Peyton." He demanded
"Not until we talk." Her tone matched his perfectly.
"Fine, I'll leave," he countered. As he walked passed her, she reached out for him and grabbed his wrist. Initiating the first physical contact they had had in several years. "Let go," he ordered sternly, his eyes locked firmly on hers.
"Please, Nathan." Her voice was pleading, yet strong at the same time, her eyes never once blinking.
Nathan immediately noticed the sense of pleading in her voice and he crumbled inside. He thought he was passed this, past her, but now that she was here, he didn't know anything. He wanted to hate her, to tell her to leave him the hell alone, but he couldn't. "Fine." Peyton smiled faintly as he sat down next to her.
-----
Brooke was lounging comfortably in the living room, thankful for the quiet. She was a social butterfly and normally the thought of spending a Saturday night at home, alone, none the less, would have been appalling. However, tonight she welcomed it.
She was just getting into the latest Lifetime movie, when the phone rang. She silently cursed the person calling as she muted the television.
"Hello?"
"Lucas," she said, her voice suddenly upbeat. She had wanted to call him, but was unsure after what had happened ealier that day.
"Just watching some television."
"Now, she's out with Steven."
"I don' know what she's thinking anymore, but I don't want to talk about Haley and since she's out…"
"I'll see you soon."
Brooke quickly jumped from the couch and ran into her room. She hadn't even brushed her hair since she got out of the shower earlier. Brooke discarded the robe and finally put on some actual clothing. She had just finished the last loop around her ponytail when she heard him knock. She half-skipped, half-ran to the door. Just the thought of seeing Lucas had filled her with energy. Energy that would hopefully be worked off with him in the next several hours.
"You were quick," she said opening the door and greeting him with a perfectly dimpled smile.
"I missed you. Can you believe that? Four hours and I'm already missing you."
"I can actually." Brooke grabbed him by the shirt, bringing him inside the apartment. His hands quickly found her and waist and he pulled her closer to him.
"So we have the place to ourselves," he whispered huskily in her ear. The heat causing Brooke's blood to boil. Brooke's hands were roaming aimlessly through his hair, but a second later, she had pushed his head down to meet hers. Their lips meeting with an intense passion. Nathan and Haley weren't the only ones who could have some fun.