"One more round of shots", Tim announced as he spread the wealth.
Skills eyed it cautiously.
"Dog, what the hell is this again?"
"Jello shooters, my brother", he grinned. "And I made them myself."
"That's what I'm afraid of…"
"Skills may be your name but the Tim is the one with all the skills. Please try my specialty Blue Margarita Jello Shooter made with the finest tequila, Blue Curacao, and water, and I'm talking the good bottled stuff like Evian and not that shit from the tap. Or may I suggest the Cherry Libre shot? Made with cherry flavored Jello mix, duh, white rum and Coca Cola for that added twang. Or for those of you with less sophisticated tastes, shall we say, might prefer plain old cranberry Jello and Vodka."
The adults smiled as they downed their shots of Tim's alcohol, all except Haley and Nathan that is. Separated by a huge picnic table that housed the remains of chicken, burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, watermelon and homemade ice cream. All kinds of soda pop, lemonade and of course beer had been the beverages of choice but for two parents, two former lost loves, ice cold bottled water had been the drink of the evening.
Haley looked around. She had been so nervous about the reunion but it had turned out nicely. It felt good to see everyone again. There was no awkwardness, just the feel good simplicity of "old times", the fun and carefree vibe that defined their friendship. It reminded her of the "good old days"…days she thought would never come again. The guys taking turns from manning thr grill and guzzling beer while keeping up some kind of soccer or football game on the beach. Music blared in the background as they frolicked in the water and ate and laughed as they caught up on the years. Haley smiled as her hair blew in the night ocean breeze and she pulled a sleeping Lillian closer to her.
She closed her eyes. Tim, the newly responsible and mature law student was still the same wacky but lovable "Dim" as Brooke so affectionately called him. He made his corny jokes and passed the alcohol freely. Lucas and Brooke were still the same "Broody and Cheery", smiling and joining in the conversation as she sat atop his lap. Jake, Skills and Fergie tossed a football in the sand by the bonfire as Peyton looked on. The stereo blasted the coolest tunes courtesy of Tree Hill's still coolest deejay, Mouth McFadden.
It reminded her of Dare Night. Shortly after she and Nathan had married, Felix and Anna del Gado had moved to town. Felix was flashy and cocky and had organized an evening that pitted the guys against the girls in a series of dares that ranged from everything from singing live karaoke to taking a photo in an open grave of a real life cemetery. It had been wild and crazy but still fun. One of her last high school memories and one of her favorites at that. Time had changed them all. They had grown up. Some had moved away. All had gone on to college and careers and different things but for one night at the beach, time had seemed to stand still.
"Hey Tim, how about another shot?" Mouth asked.
Jake laughed.
"You better slow your roll, dude. How many is that? Five?"
Mouth grinned and shrugged.
"Liquid courage for my last night of freedom so to speak. Tomorrow I'm planning on asking Erica to marry me."
He reached in his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box that housed a carat diamond on a platinum setting. Erica Marsh, the once stuffy and stuck up class president Mouth had unexpectedly fallen for during senior year. That had dated ever since and made the most adorable couple. Now he was making it official.
"The old ball and chain?" Lucas laughed.
Brooke smacked him.
"Mouth, don't listen to this guy. I for one am very happy for you and I think this proposal is great! I love weddings! And nice job by the way on the selection of the rock. Very, very impressive!"
"It is cool", Fergie knocked fists with him. "You and Erica always did make a nice couple."
Mouth smiled dreamily.
"I love her so much", he beamed. "She's the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. I just want to spend the rest of my life with Erica."
"But isn't that how it's been all along? I mean you guys have been together forever. What has changed that makes you think you need a piece of paper to be able to do all that?" Peyton asked.
"Here we go again", Jake sighed. "Pey…"
"No, I'm serious, babe. I just want his honest opinion. You know my whole marriage philosophy anyway. I don't think a legal document makes love and commitment any more or less real."
"Okay but do you really have to rain on Mouth's parade right now, Debbie Downer?"
"I agree", Lucas stated. "Marriage is a formality. Loving someone unconditionally and being there for them and taking vows even is not solidified by a legal document."
Brooke scoffed.
"Thanks a lot, Broody."
"What?"
"There goes my ring", she huffed.
"You want a ring?" he asked. "Since when?"
"Well, duh. That's a stupid question. What girl doesn't. It might be a formality but it's still a necessary one. It's your way of telling the world and making it official and declaring your love to the world."
"Why does it matter what the world thinks? Shouldn't that be sacred between two people?"
Brooke looked him right in the eye.
"It's nice to feel wanted and it's nice to be spoken for. It's important to know someone loves you and values your relationship enough to make it official. It does matter. It matters a lot", she spoke softly.
"Brooke…"
What was she hinting at? Did Brooke Davis actually want to get married? Had he been missing the signals? This was certainly news to him.
"We'll talk about this later."
"Okay, okay", Tim laughed. "Beep! Stop put it in reverse! The Tim is way too drunk for this and the conversation is getting kind of heavy. Pucas, you and Brooke are the perfect couple, married or not. Same goes for Jake and Peyton and Mouth and Erica."
"Yeah", Skills added. "Ain't no use in arguing. Besides, ain't no such thing as the perfect couple."
Tim took another shot and laughed.
"I don't know. Nathan and Haley were the perfect couple, you know, back in the day."
Everyone cringed as his large consumption of alcohol seemed to be speaking for him.
"Dim…" Brooke muttered.
"What?" he shrugged.
An uncomfortable silence befell the group.
"Tim…just put a cork in it, man", Lucas politely but tersely said.
"What? I'm just saying they were cute together…you know, before the drama and the bullshit and the whole leaving Nate for Chris Keller and the tour thing."
Only Tim. God knows he meant no harm. He just said what was on his mind, no matter how dumb or inconsiderate it may have come out.
"Man, that was a long time ago", Nathan tried to nervously laugh the situation off.
Tim shrugged, taking another shot.
"It wasn't that long ago, man", he replied as a whimsical look shadowed his eyes and his voice took a softer tone. "Besides, you really, really loved that girl. You two were good together. It's a shame it didn't work out…"
A silence befell the crowd as everyone looked away uncomfortably in the night breeze.
"Tim", Peyton warned softly, nodding at Nathan and Haley.
"Oh my bad", he apologized quickly. "Damn, y'all. I'm sorry. It's the Vodka in my Jello shots talking. I wasn't trying to be rude or ruin the party. I…I was just thinking about how it all used to be. I guess my point is, you never forget your first love but. No hard feelings, huh? Haley? Nate?"
"It's fine, Tim", Haley managed to smile.
"We're cool", Nathan bumped fists with him.
There was a mild level of discomfort but slowly the group was able to regain the light hearted and playful banter they had enjoyed all evening.
"It's getting really late", Haley announced. "I think I should go in and put Lillian down…"
"I'll help", Nathan volunteered, already standing.
Carefully the two unloaded their daughter into the crib placed beside the bed where Haley was sleeping in the beach house.
"I'll bring the baby monitor out. She should sleep for a few hours though."
"Okay", Nathan shoved his hands in his pockets. "Hey, Haley…"
"What's up?" she turned to him.
"Nothing…just that stuff Tim was talking out there…"
"It's okay", she said, her face beginning to redden a bit. "He's drunk. It's no big deal. He's just Tim being Tim."
Nathan swallowed hard. He opened his mouth to say something but he hadn't thought his words through. He didn't know what to say, he didn't know what he wanted to say. Judging by her casual reaction, it didn't matter much.
"Yeah…" Nathan sighed. "You're right. It's just Tim, right?"
"Right", she said. "Come on. You ready to go back out?"
"Uh, yeah."
She smiled as she grabbed the baby monitor. On the way out, Nathan grabbed a thin jacket and draped it over her bare shoulders.
"Thanks", she said.
"No, problem, ma'am."
Haley stopped dead in her tracks. The half smile on his face said it all. Then the conversation and that day came flooding back to her all at once. The morning after her bridal shower, the one where Peyton and Brooke had dragged her to lingerie shop and to the club and of course the hunky male stripper that had joined them. It was a night that only solidified the marriage and proved what both Nathan and Haley already knew…they were soul mates.
That night they had made love, he turned on beyond belief with that hot little lace number she had brought home as part of the bridal gift packet. It was more uninhibited than usual and that morning instead of being embarrassed or timid, Haley had found herself in a playful mood. She sat at the kitchen table doing an English paper on the laptop when he came out from the bedroom dressed in his work clothes and gave her a kiss. Feeling frisky, Haley asked him not to change when he got home. She gave him a saucy wink and let him know she was "kind of into that whole mechanic thing". Not missing a beat, he had said in his most professional voice, "No, problem ma'am." It made her giggle and feel ridiculously tingly inside. It was a running joke but when he was home and she was ripping his coveralls off of him before he could get both feet in the door, it was no laughing matter.
"Nathan", she whispered, looking into his eyes.
"Nate, hey dog, can you grab that tray of devilled eggs off the table?" Skills called out.
The two were just staring at each other not quite knowing what to say or how to act. Finally Haley reached back and handed him the tray.
"Thanks", he said.
She grinned as she held open the door for him.
"No problem, sir."