Chapter Six-The Funeral

The funeral came and went quickly. Nathan had stood silently as Lucas spoke of Haley. He hadn't said anything. He couldn't say anything. He had no idea what to say. Brooke had come, Peyton stood at her side. Everyone else in Tree Hill who had ever met Haley seemed to come as well.

Nathan was tired of funerals. First his dad, now Haley. He knew exactly what would make him feel better. He left the funeral and went home. He reached into his top dresser drawer and pulled out a bottle of vodka. After taking a few sips he watched Peyton walk in.

"Hey." She said looking down at the bottle. "Why are you drinking?"

"Why are you doing coke?"

Peyton was shocked by this question. Clearly he was mad at her. "I'm not doing coke." She told him. "If I had seen you since we got back from New York, you would know that."

"Sorry Peyton, I'm not in the mood for an argument."

"Whatever Nathan, I guess I was wrong about you after all." She slammed the door and left his house.

Nathan sat staring at the door that was slammed in front of him. "Whatever," he muttered and he took another drink from the bottle.

It didn't take Nathan long to get drunk. He hadn't eaten anything all day, not to mention his emotions were completely out of control. He got in his car and drove to Peyton's house.

Peyton looked up from the picture she was drawing and saw Nathan stumble into her bedroom. "Wow," he admired her walls. "This is cool."

"Nathan," she stood up walking over to him to stop him from falling. "Did you drive over here like that?"

Nathan nodded. "I had to see you. I had to tell you the truth Peyton. I had to." He grabbed her by the arm and kissed her.

Peyton kissed him back with passion. Being so close to him had never felt so right. She felt at home for the first time since she had seen Jake. She needed him. Finally she pulled away. "Nathan you're drunk."

Nathan nodded, "But it doesn't change how I feel. I guess I've been avoiding you, because I was scared."

Peyton helped him onto her bed and laid with him until they both fell asleep.

XoxoxoX

Brooke and Lucas stumbled into Peyton's bedroom after drinking for hours. Brooke started laughing when she saw Nathan passed out next to Peyton. "P. Sawyer" Brooke started to yell but Lucas covered her mouth.

"Maybe we shouldn't wake them," he warned.

"Maybe we should," she giggled crawling next to her best friend and kissing her cheek.

"Nathan," Peyton whispered. "I told you we could talk about this in the morning,"

Brooke laughed hysterically. "P. Sawyer get up!" she ordered.

Peyton jumped when she heard Brooke's voice. "What the hell?" she asked staring at Brooke and Lucas. "Are you both drunk too?"

Lucas nodded slightly and shrugged. "Are you?" he laughed.

Peyton shook her head.

"Well isn't that funny, you're not even drunk and here you are asleep next to my boyfriend's brother. Or should I say, your former boyfriend's brother. Or actually, should I say your former boyfriend?" Brooke laughed. "How screwed up was that?"

Lucas laughed with her. "That is kind of messed up."

Peyton smiled at the two of them. "You guys are nuts. Don't wake Nathan up. It's nothing. He was drunk and upset so he came here. Clearly the two of you had the same idea. Aren't you going back to California tomorrow?"

Brooke shook her head. "Nope, my parents are letting me stay!" she exclaimed. "I'm staying with Lucas again for the rest of the summer, and then they are coming back to help me find an apartment for senior year! We'll finally be able to hang out again best friend!"

Peyton smiled. She was excited to be getting Brooke back. She missed having her friend. She was also disappointed that she was probably going to loose the closeness she shared with Nathan. "Come on boozy and boozette." She giggled making room for them in her bed.

XoxoxoxoxoxoxoX

Nathan woke up and looked around Peyton's room. "What am I doing here?" he whispered. He saw Peyton typing in her computer chair. He looked over and saw Brooke next to him and Lucas next to her asleep. "What the hell?" he asked motioning toward Peyton in confusion.

"That was a sick fantasy you had last night Nate," she elbowed him. Nathan looked at her un-amused. "Sorry,"

"What am I doing here?"

"You don't remember?" Peyton asked sadly.

Nathan shook his head no. "Well actually, yes. I know that I came here to see you. I know what I told you. But why is Brooke and Lucas sharing a bed with me?"

Peyton smiled. He remembered. "Apparently they had the same idea you did last night. They got wasted and came here."

Nathan nodded. "Did they confess their feelings for you too?"

Peyton shook her head. "Actually, I did wake up from Brooke kissing me."

"What?" Nathan's eyes lit up.

"On the cheek."

"Still, I wish I could have seen it." He sighed. He pulled her close to him and kissed her. "I still meant everything I said."