CHAPTER FOUR
"If I choose
to,
Would you try to understand,
I know this love is passing
time,
Passing through like liquid,
I am drunk in my
desire..."
Elsewhere- Bethany Joy Lenz/Sarah McLachlan
It's dark out side of Karen's café. Peyton is leaning against a counter watching Jake on stage. Jenny at his feet dozing. He's singing:
"Such a Lonely
boy
Couldn't find the joy within
Such a lonely girl
Such a
lonely world we're living in
I watch it all go by
I can't
find a tear to cry"
She sees Nikki with Jenny in her arms. She sees Jake's angry face. "You can't DO that Peyton."
She sees Jake on the boat. Heading out to Savannah and out of her life.
"I watch it all go
by
I can't find a tear to cry"
Peyton sat up in bed. Suddenly awake. She shook herself quietly and rolled over. Her alarm flashed One am.
'They hate me hales. Come on!'
'They don't hate you! They're just not used to me doing things like this.' Haley tossed her hair. Sighing. This argument had been going on since she'd told her parents about their marriage. Four hours before…
'OK. OK. Let's just get some sleep ok?' Nathan flopped onto the couple's double bed. Haley watched him- sighing slightly.
'ok.' She slid onto the bed next to him. 'I didn't mean to yell at you Nate. It's just my parents aren't used to me doing stupid things.'
'Marrying me was a stupid thing then was it?!!' Nathan yelled jumping up.
'You know that isn't what I meant!' Haley said panicked.
'I'll see you tomorrow Haley.' Nathan stood up and- slamming the door behind him, left.
Haley now alone in the apartment began to sob. Everything that had bothered her recently began to come out. Little niggling doubts about her and Nathan. The look of shock and disappointment in her parent's eyes. Then she remembered:
"Haley: You, uh, you
ok? You're shaking, Nathan.
Nathan: My heart's racing too. That's
what happens when I'm around you."
She loves him. Haley knew that. She knew it. For certain- her heart swam every time she saw him and she couldn't help but smile just watching him.
She moved to the window and leaned outside. She stared up into the fey-looking sky. And the stars.
'I'll make you a deal.' She whispered to them. 'if you help me get through this… I'll never make another wish.' She sighed and leaned back against the wall.
Her phone rang out. It was Lucas. She read the text message gratefully. UR HUSBANDS HERE was all it said.
She looked up at the stars again and grinned. Grabbing her jacket she left for the Roe/Scott household.
Nathan watched the stars and wished with all his heart Haley was there. He regretted walking out of that apartment.
'You ok man?' Luke asked returning from the kitchen with a drink for each of them.
'I guess.'
'What are you doing to Haley?' the joke was a poor one. Returning to the eventful time the boys had shared a hotel room.
'Not being good enough for her.' He murmured. Lucas reached out and shook his brother. Anyone looking would have been aware of their relationship acutely.
'Don't say that! You showed me that isn't true. She's happier now than I've seen her in ages. Don't you take that away from her!'
'I don't want to! But her parents… maybe…'
'Her parents are like me. They need time to get used to the idea.' Nathan nodded.
'Maybe you were both right. You know I look up at those stars and wish on every one that I could keep her happy…'
'Nate?' Haley asked from behind them both.
The bars music was deafening. Not the Brooke particularly cared she was just happy to let herself go and dance. She was wearing a tight black skirt that was definitely "mini" and a red lace top. She looked stunningly beautiful.
Lucas watched her from the doorway. He'd left quickly after Haley had arrived to speak to her husband. It was late but the club was still open… Skills nodded towards an empty table and Luke wandered over to it. He still couldn't keep his eyes off of Brooke and the way she was dancing.
'Go dance with her.' Lucas oldest friend sat in the chair next to him, handing a glass of vodka.
'No.' Luke said decisively.
'Not Brooke idiot. The blonde watching you.' Skills nodded left of miss Davis. She smiled and beckoned to Luke who followed.
They began to dance. The music grew upwards and the beat filled Luke's head just as it had Brooke's.
'Haley. I'm sorry about…' she cut him off with a kiss.
'I'm sorry.' She whispered as they broke that kiss.
Nathan felt his heart swell with all the love he'd ever felt. All of it turned to Haley.
The people moved Brooke found herself thrown against Luke's chest. He met her eyes both of them remembering the bar. After all Dan was okay now. He was out of hospital in a day or so. Everything was free to become what it would. Lucas and Keith were staying in Tree Hill.
They began to dance together. The song was slow but passionate…
Peyton rolled out of bed and sat at her computer. Logging into her e-mail she received a comment on she stared at her empty in box. She felt a drop. Turning the webcam off she grabbed a pad.
'Haley I love you. I can't believe you're mine. I'm the luckiest person I know. You're like every star in the sky to me. Without them there's no point to the night.' Nathan was whispering.
'Lucas…' Brooke's voice was almost silent in the club but Lucas heard it.
'I know.' he replied as quietly. Hearing the unasked question. 'I want to be good enough for you…'
'Jake…' Peyton muttered as she finished her sketch. Laying the pen aside and staring up at the stars.
Jake Jagelski cradled his daughter against his chest. He watched the night wishing he were in Tree Hill. To tell Peyton about the feelings growing in his chest. The soaring feeling whenever he thought of her and the fact he could only compare these feelings to those he's had when Nikki had been around.
Haley and Nathan kissed again. Haley silently thanked her stars.
'You are.' Brooke murmured into Lucas mouth. Their lips met and they kissed. Brooke felt as if she was at home.
Peyton threw the sketch onto her bed. It was a pencil sketch of Brooke and Lucas, Nathan and Haley either side of the page. Between them were Jake and Peyton. Jake turned away from Peyton and Peyton from him. Above it she'd written. WALKING AWAY AND NOT COMING BACK
In Savannah Jake brought up flights to Tree Hill.
