"Hey man, did you get enough to eat?" Lucas asked.
Nathan sighed and nodded, still in a small amount of pain.
"I'm fine."
Brooke removed the dinner tray from across Nathan's bed. Lucas examined the contents. He frowned.
"Nate, you didn't eat all your jello…"
Nathan smiled in spite of himself.
"Well, call the Food Police."
Peyton and Brooke giggled.
"I'm being serious. You need to eat, bro. You need your strength. The doctors say you need to eat a well balanced diet…"
"What is this? A bad episode of Sesame Street? Dude, I'm fine. Really. I don't need a lecture about the four food groups."
Lucas scoffed.
"Fine. I'm just trying to help."
"I appreciate it but I'm okay. I don't need you doing everything for me."
"I'm not", Lucas said, protesting even as he was fluffing his younger brother's pillow.
Everyone began to laugh, even Lucas.
"After you tuck me in, are you gonna read me a bedtime story, too?" Nathan joked with a twinkle in his hand.
"And sing you a lullaby too, if you're good", Lucas winked as he returned to his chair at the foot of the bed, with the girls on either side.
"You know you love the attention, Superstar", Brooke grinned. "It'll be nice to have your own private caretaker when you get home and who knows, Broody might look kind of cute in a nurse's uniform."
Nathan rolled his eyes.
"I don't even know if I'm gonna have an apartment to go home to when I get out of this place. I'm sure the landlord isn't too happy with me."
Lucas winced.
"Yeah there is a notice to pay rent or get out on the door. I just didn't want to bug you with it now."
"Great", Nathan sighed.
"Don't worry, bro. Just focus on getting better. We'll figure something out."
"Thanks, man."
Brooke smiled.
"See? You two are way cute! I totally dig this whole brotherly love thing. It's sweet. Now you'll have Lucas and your mom to take care of you when you get out."
Nathan's smile faded.
"About my mom…"
"Is everything okay?"
"No", he looked away. "Hell, you guys are gonna find out anyway so I may as well tell you. My dad shipped her off to rehab. Apparently the last year she's been popping pills like a crack junkie."
Peyton looked up but said nothing.
"I'm sorry, man", Lucas whispered.
"Well, at least she can get better", Brooke offered.
Nathan remained silent, unimpressed.
"Whatever."
"And maybe you and Tutor Wife can work things out."
"I don't know…" Nathan's voice trailed off.
"Has she come by at all today?" Lucas asked.
"No."
"Oh", he said. "I saw her earlier. Um, I'm sure she'll be by any minute now."
"Yeah…" he said.
Lucas looked down at his watch.
"It's getting late. The nurse will probably be kicking us out soon."
"It's cool", Nathan replied. "I'm getting kind of tired anyway."
"Anything you need for us to get you?" Lucas asked.
Nathan shook his head.
"I'm good."
There was a soft knock on the door, then it opened and the friendly nurse peeked her head in.
"Sorry guys. It's that time. You know the rules. Five minutes left until visitor's hours are over."
Lucas stood.
"I'll drop back by first thing in the morning. If you need me before then, just give me a call, alright?"
"It's cool. Thanks, Luke."
"And don't worry about anything. Just try to get some sleep. Everything is going to work itself out."
Nathan nodded as Brooke smoothed his hair. Peyton leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. The door opened again but it was Karen. She was out of breath and not smiling.
"Everything okay, Mom?"
"Lucas, I need to speak with you…outside, please", she said in a hushed but terse tone as she avoided looking at Nathan.
Nathan seemed to read her face and body language. Instantly his heart dropped.
"Ms. Rowe…"
"Nathan…"
He sat up slowly.
"What happened?"
"Nathan, you should get some rest. We'll talk in the morning…"
He shook his head.
"I don't need to rest. What's going on? Something happened…didn't it?"
Karen hung her head almost tearful. She had no idea how to say what she was going to say.
"Nathan, I am so sorry. Haley…Haley, she left."
There was no other way to put it or sugarcoat it. It was what it was. Lucas felt like he might pass out.
"Nate…"
Nathan shrugged.
"It's okay."
"Look, man, I'll try to convince the nurse to let me sit with you a few extra minutes…"
Nathan shook his head.
"It's cool. I'm fine."
He was eerily calm.
"Nate…"
Nathan saw the four sets of eyes staring at him with pity. It made him furious. The last thing he wanted was for them to feel sorry for him. Haley had left. Yeah it hurt but so what? It wasn't like it was the first time. Once again his wife had disappeared without a trace, without even saying good bye, leaving another to break the news. She was going back to her tour. Whether it was for the music or for Chris or whatever, it didn't matter. She was gone.
That little bitch. Sure he had told her to go and he damn sure didn't have to tell her twice. It was like his little bit of prodding was all the "permission" she needed. He had given up everything for her. He had turned his back on his own parents. He had let her in, he had loved and trusted her. She knew what he had gone through and she had given him her word that she would be there for him until eternity. It hadn't even lasted a whole year.
And he had given up High Fliers for her. High Fliers! Because he loved her, because he didn't want to take away from her dreams, because he didn't want to be apart. He had sacrificed because sometimes that's what marriage called for. But not Haley. Haley had their joint best interests in mind. Haley had looked out for Haley.
He took a deep breath. He had told her to go and she had listened. Fine. But that was it. He wasn't operating a revolving door. She had made the choice and now she had to live with it. She could go be with Chris, Michelle, Jessica, Gavin or whoever. He didn't give a shit.
Haley was living her life and it was time for him to go live his. As much as he couldn't stand his father, he needed him. Dan Scott would be too happy to get the ball rolling on an annulment and he had the right connections to reopen the door for another shot at High Fliers. And as far as being the sappy, cheesy, lovable one woman man? Fuck that! What had he been thinking? He was Nathan Scott, number 23. The Nathan Scott. He could have any chick he wanted…and from now on he intended to.
An anger manifested into sheer rage and it boiled deep inside his gut. Haley had been a mistake. The marriage had been a mistake. Love itself had been a mistake. She was just one more disappointment…just like his damned mother.
"Nathan…"
"It's cool", he finally spoke. "Haley made her choice once and for all. Not knowing was the worst…well, now we all know. It's over. I guess it has been for a long time. I'm fine with that so the rest of you may as well wipe the sad looks off your faces. Let her go. She wants to live her life…fine. Now I'm gonna go live mine."
He was calm and icy even. But he had spoken and his mind was made up for the time being. There was no use in even attempting to reason with him. All they could do was file out of the room.
"This is bullshit", Brooke muttered furiously. "I have tried to give her the benefit of the doubt time and time again but it still boils down to the fact that she's just a selfish little witch. I mean, what was the point of even coming back? She should have stayed where she was. And what a shitty thing to do to just leave your husband all broken and bruised in a freaking hospital? I can't believe her!"
Lucas was dejected, near tears. Hadn't it meant anything to her? Seeing Nathan, being home, their talk?
"I can't believe it either", he said softly.
Karen simply put her head in her hands. But Peyton did not react. She said nothing as she hugged everyone good bye and made her way to her car in the parking lot. Haley, after much agonizing had made her decision. There was no right or wrong but a choice had to be made. Knowing what she knew, she had opted for the hard road. Eventually happiness would come but what a roller coaster ride it would be to finally get there.
Peyton cranked the ignition and was surprised to hear the demo of the song When It Comes. Chris Keller had performed it that last night at Tric. Peyton had a bunch of his CDs as they had gone over what sets he would play but she didn't recall having that one…or how it had gotten in her car…or the CD player.
It was almost dark and her mood should have been just as melancholy as the darkening sky but Peyton suddenly felt good inside. Putting on her sunglasses and lowering the top, she cranked the song. A smile came to her lips. Sure there was a storm coming but afterwards, the rainbow would appear…Haley had guaranteed that one.