..·°-:¦:- Special Thanks To: Nathan'sRaven and Unfolddreams -:¦:-°·..

Chapter Two - On A Night Like This

Adam was but human -- this explains it all. He did not want the apple for the apple's sake; he wanted it only because it was forbidden. - Mark Twain a psuedonym of Samuel Langhorne Clemens

Blue eyes scanned the carefully drafted plans one last time before he filed them in his desk drawer and closed it with a sigh. Three years ago he wouldn't have doubted whether the team could pull it off. But three years ago he'd been playing and the team was good. He wasn't so sure of this team. It was trying, there were attitudes, nobody was a team player, and he knew what Whitey must have felt like. He was on the brink of throwing in the towel and getting out while he could. But he wouldn't. If not for the job he'd have no basketball in his life short of ESPN.

It was hard sometimes having to watch his brother's successes on the court. But he was slowly getting over the jealousy and envy that had caused a rift between the two. Nathan knew it was only because of this they didn't talk anymore but the bitterness he'd been unable to overcome. The last time they'd talked he'd gotten compared to his father, a comparison he hadn't taken so well and the pride the brothers shared wouldn't let them easily forget. In fact, Lucas was hardly in Tree Hill anymore. Home just wasn't where he wanted to be after the trying years they'd all had and the fall outs that came.

But as he got into his car Nathan couldn't help but think about the conversation he'd just had with his once wife. She was trying, he knew but things weren't the same. Things would never be the same between them. His lips twisted into a sinister smirk as he thought of how easy it had been, how natural it was, to lie as he'd done. Briefly he wondered if she even knew that Tim was still away at school. The only "guys" left in town were Jake and Skills, both too caught up with their own lives to spare a moment for anyone else.

The drive was not so long as he remembered. He sat for a moment and looked at the familiar red door, it stood out against the color of the house illuminated by a single porch light. The light was never out, this he knew. It burned twenty four hours. Nobody else was sure why or had paid it much attention but Nathan knew. He'd bothered to care. The driveway, as he'd suspected, was void of any cars but his own. Karen wouldn't be home tonight, she almost never was. Not since Keith had left. Nathan allowed a small smirk at the irony. His mother should be the wreck but in the end it'd turned out to be Karen who'd chosen that path. He wasn't happy about her self destruction. She'd been there for him with Haley but he was amused by this finding.

Nathan didn't bother to knock on the door, he didn't need to be approved for entry and he knew the door would be unlocked. It always was. Just in case.

The scene in front of him was familiar but unlike other nights. She expected him then but tonight had been unarranged and unplanned. A spur of the moment decision on his part. Sometimes it was just to hard to go home. He didn't want to, there were too many memories, too many complexities. With her it was simply. They expected nothing of each other and its exactly what they got. Empty encounters. They were merely two lonely souls seeking temporary comfort, alleviation from the lives they'd never asked for but had to live.

Settling in the chair by her mirror he watched her sleep awaiting her realization that he was there. He knew it'd come without him so much as lifting a finger, telling her in anyway. The room was dark except for the soft glow of the porch light that fell but a few inches across the floor through the window. But he knew anyway, by the way she stirred, the slight movement of her body that she knew he was there.

"Nathan?" He heard her ask, voice thick with sleep. "What are you doing here?"

He merely shrugged and watched her turn on the bedside lamp, "Honestly? Home is the last place I want to be tonight." He said looking at her. "Tonight is three years exactly. I can't be there."

He saw her nod slightly and bite her bottom lip. No doubt trying to figure out what to do next. She absentmindedly rubbed her arm and he sighed. "Brooke," He said. "We don't have to do anything. I just need a place to crash tonight." He told her. Seeing her just look at him he tried again, "Look I'll sleep on the floor if you want."

"Don't be stupid." He watched her scoot over slightly and pat the spot next to her on the bed. Nathan hesitated only to remove his shoes before taking up the spot she'd offered. "Now," She said turning to him with her signature seductive look. One he knew countless guys were familiar with. "What can we do to cheer you up?"

Nathan simply smirked in response and looked down at her fingers slowly creeping up his chest before raising an eyebrow at her and meeting her gaze. "I can think of something." He told her running a hand through her long dark hair and tracing her jawline with his thumb.

As he did so Brooke placed a knee on either side of his waist, straddling his hips and wrapping her arms loosely around his neck. Any response she'd intended to give, any seductive remark she might have had was cut off as he unexpectadly thrust his hands into her thick chocolate hair and brought his mouth to hers, an all out fiery assault on her lips. His act was met with equal fervor, uncoerced and readily, something he remebered only happening with her. He deepened the kiss, pulling at her lips, nipping at her tongue, and delving his own tongue deep into her mouth.

Nathan felt her fingers curl in his shirt as he moved his hands to her outer thigh. She tugged him closer by his shirt, her every touch seeming to set nerve endings aflame in its wake. A sensation he'd not felt since their last encounter. He was surprsied, almost disappointed when she tugged her mouth from his. But shock was replaced by a deep wanting and desire when she trailed a hot, wet path to his ear. Flicking her tongue against his ear lobe, and nipping at it gently, sending a shiver skittering along the surface of his skin that left every tniy hair on his body standing on end.

In one fluid motion, tired of the games he knew could last all night, he grasped her hips and flipped her onto her back, his mouth on hers again. His hand on her bare thigh before moving upward toward the hem of her shirt. The shrill ring of the bedside phone tore through the thick film of desire and temptation weaving them together. He didn't bother to muffle the growl of frusteration that came from his lips as he felt her pull away.

"Ignoir it." He told her, irritation evident in his voice.

But it was too little too late. He heard the talk button beep and rolled off of her looking up at the cieling not believing his luck. He felt her eyes on him and turned to look at her raising a confused eyebrow at the amusement he saw in her dark eyes.

"No other best friend." He heard her say casually twirling a lock of hair around between her fingers. "I haven't seen Nathan tonight. Maybe he's at work?"

He watched her carefully as she paused to presumably listen to what was being said on the other line. He knew it was Haley from the tone in her voice and the title with which she'd answered. After Peyton's moving Haley and Brooke had seemed to bond, he'd remembered. But not so much as they had. He and her had been there for each other through the loss of the center pieces of their life. The very reason they had existed. Broken engagements and failed mariages had deeply bonded the two. He knew that even if everyone else abonded him she'd always be on his side.

He snapped back to reality when he heard Brooke sigh. Nathan thought he must have looked like he'd been caught as her look clrearly told him to relax. Which, with a deep inhale, he did.

"Well maybe he's out with Tim then. I hear he's back in town." He heard her offer another suggestion. "Yes if I see him by chance walking down the street in the middle of the night while I'm sleeping I'll call Haley." She paused again and he couldn't help but be amused by the slight eyeroll. "Because Haley it's midnight and you woke me up. Who wouldn't be frusterated? Just go to bed okay? Goodnight."

For a moment they just looked at each in slience. The mood and moment passed he grabbed a pillow and blanket heading to the floor. He didn't want to chance the bed. Even through what they were doing he couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it. If their encounters were truly empty as both claimed why was it he felt disappointment at their instant separation? Momentarily both lay awake staring at the cieling and thinking the same thing. Was there more to their feelings than they thought?