Chapter Eleven
You, My Love
Two weeks later, it was the day of Brooke's party. Peyton and Jake were coming to town for the holidays, and they were coming early for the party. Lucas and Crystal had also agreed to come. Crystal and Brooke had become really good friends, so she was excited to meet Jake and Peyton. Tim couldn't make it; he was going to New York with some of his fraternity buddies. This, of course, was fine with Brooke. Tim had never been her favorite person, especially since he said in a time capsule that they were dating. She didn't want people 50 years from then to think she would actually date a loser like Tim Smith.
Brooke was choosing earrings when there was a knock at the door. A few minutes later, Nathan walked in.
"Hey, Nate," she smiled at him through her reflection. He rarely gave her time to come to the door, unless they were going on a special date. It was their 'thing'. When they had a big event or something to go to, he insisted on being a gentleman. Brooke thought it was cute.
"Hey. Ready?" He had settled on the bed, watching her perfect her image. "You look great, by the way."
She put the hoop in her ear and turned around, smiling. "Thanks. And yes, I'm ready." The two were going shopping for the party that evening. She walked over to him, and he pulled her down, pulling her into a warm embrace, kissing her waiting, patient lips. They kissed for a little while before she knew she had to put a stop to it. "Nathan," she laughed. "Come on."
She pulled him into the other room, and kissed Audrey good bye. Then, she dragged Nathan out to the car. They drove to the store and Nathan allowed Brooke to drag him all over the grocery store.
They were in the dairy section, and Brooke was trying to decide what kind of milk to use in some of her recipes. "Skim milk? Or two percent?"
Nathan looked at her like she was insane. "Babe, do you really think people are going to be able to tell the difference?"
"I will be able to tell the difference," she said defensively. She finally selected the two percent and proceeded down the aisle. "Are you excited?"
"To spend the night with you? Always."
She rolled her eyes. "You are too sweet. I mean it, though. What if something goes wrong tonight?"
He put his arms around her waist. "What could go wrong? Tonight will be perfect, Brooke. I promise." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Now can we get out of here? This place is really boring."
She continued to push the basket down the aisle. "Patience is a virtue." She continued to talk until Nathan pinched her ass. "Nathan," she yelped. She turned around and he was grinning at her.
"Will you stop complaining? Please?" She asked. He was truly tired of being there. They had been there for what seemed like forever, and he wanted to get back to her place.
"After we finish here we have to run by my store," she said, knowing it would totally piss him off.
"Why," he said, in a near whine. "Can't we just go back to your place?"
She smiled at him. "Sure. After we finish here and go to Flirt."
Over an hour later, they were finally back at her apartment. Brooke had pretty much bought out the whole store. Nathan, being the gentlelman he was, brought in all the bags and helped Brooke put everything else. She had just taken a recipe out when he grabbed her from behind.
"Nate," she laughed. "What are you doing?"
He led her to the couch and lowered her on it. "Kissing my girlfriend, do you have a problem with that?"
"Yes, actually I do," she tried protesting. "I have a dinner to make and..." She was cut off by a powerful kiss from her loving boyfriend. She wasn't about to stop it. After the kiss was over, she gently pushed him up. "Why don't you go over to your brother's house while I cook?"
He looked at her warily. "Are you sure it's a good idea to leave you alone in the kitchen?"
She lightly pushed his chest. "Yes, and you better shut up."
He grinned sheepishly. "Okay, I'll go. What time do you want me to be here tonight?"
She thought for a moment. "Everyone is getting here at seven. So, how about you get here around six?"
"Deal," he said, giving her one last kiss before getting up. She grinned as he walked out.
At six o'clock sharp, Brooke's doorbell rang. She had a casserole in her hands, so she wasn't in a position where she could answer it. Besides, she knew it was Nathan. "ITS OPEN!"
The doorbell rang again. Impatiently, Brooke stuck the dish on the stove. She threw her oven mitts on the counter. She had no idea who could be at her door. She threw open the door.
"Nathan!" She exclaimed. He was standing there in very nice clothes, holding one red rose. He walked into the doorway, and handed her the rose.
"For all your hard work," he explained.
She smiled. "Thank you. But I'm a mess." In the midst of her cooking, she had managed to grab a quick shower. But she was still wearing sweats and a white camisole.
"Shut up, you're gorgeous." She giggled at his compliment, and gave him a peck on the cheek. She shut the door behind him, and then gave him a harder kiss on the lips. It was well deserved attention, since she had pretty much been a crab the whole day.
"Thank you," she murmured in his ear.
He nibbled at hers. "Do you have any idea how sexy you are right now?"
She kissed his neck. "No. Am I?"
He nodded, taking in her presence. "Very." They were interrupted by the timer going off. He groaned. "What the hell...?"
She looked at him. "Sorry. My oven is hot enough."
"So are you, so lets forget about the oven," he said, trying to stop her from walking away.
She looked at him. "What's wrong with you tonight? You didn't watch porn at Lucas's did you?" She asked in a warning tone.
"What? No! Can I help it if my girlfriend is looking extra sexy right now?"
Brooke slipped the casserole dish into the oven. "Well, hang on a second and I will look even better once I change." She looked around. "Where's Audrey?"
Nathan shrugged. "I don't know, I didn't get my usual wet kiss."
Brooke grew nervous. "Okay, not the time to freak out. Nate, help me find her!" She looked in the bathroom, and under the couch. She even checked under the kitchen table. Nathan, meanwhile, had walked over to her bedroom door and opened it. Audrey came bounding out. Brooke scooped her up. "Aud, where were you hiding?" She nuzzled her face before passing the dog to Nathan. "Watch her while I change, please. Don't let her out of your site."
"Man, I was planning on locking her in the bathroom," he teased. He grinned as Brooke threw him one of those famous warning looks, the kind that told him to cut the crap. He took up his usual routine by sitting on the couch and flipping on ESPN. Audrey occupied her normal position next to him, and he absentmindedly pet her as he watched his sports. He had never considered himself a dog lover, but ever since Brooke had adopted this particular one he found himself to like them more and more. Or maybe it was just Audrey.
Thirty minutes later, the bedroom door opened and a transformed Brooke waltzed out. She was now wearing black pants with a sleek, sophisticated red top. She had on red heels and her hair was pulled back. Make up had taken over come her face, and all Nathan could do was gawk.
"Do I look okay?" She asked as she checked the mirror.
"Brooke, you look amazing. How do you manage to do that?"
She smiled coyly as she made her way to the couch. "Do what?"
"Make yourself so damn beautiful." She perched on his lap, and pet the now-sleeping Audrey.
"Years of practice, babe." She smoothed her hair. "I know I was a bitch today. I'm sorry. I just want tonight to be perfect."
"It will be, and you weren't a bitch. Whatever you were, it doesn't matter because right now you are looking so irresistable." His eyes fell to her breasts, and then floated further south to her ass. She noticed his eyes movement and moved so that she could talk quietly.
She whispered in his ear, "Wait until tonight." They had yet to make love. Neither wanted to rush things. When they had rushed things in their past relationships, nothing turned out the way it should have. So, they were taking the slow road. But it was definitely getting harder and harder for either of them to resist, and Nathan had told Brooke it was up to her. She would decide when. Nathan knew she had been hurt, and he didn't want to pressure her. She was still hurt, but she knew she wanted to be with Nathan, in every sense of the word.
Nathan's eyes got big. He didn't question her, though. Brooke stood up. "I have to finish baking," she groaned. "Next time I get this idea, remind not to go through with it."
Brooke went back to work in the kitchen and Nathan offered to help, but she declined. This suit him fine, of course. More time for the television.
At six fifty five, there was a knock at the door. Nathan tore his eyes away from the television set long enough to get up. It was Lucas and Crystal, who was carrying a tray of something Nathan didn't recognize. Lucas was carrying wine. Nathan gave Crystal a hug before she went into the kitchen.
Brooke grinned. "Hey! Oh my God, you brought appetizers?"
"Of course," Crystal smiled. "I said I would, didn't I?"
"You and I are totally going to be friends for a long time."
In the living area, Lucas had taken it upon himself to get situated next to Nathan on the couch. A basketball game was on, one that neither of them wanted to miss.
Crystal was helping Brooke with the salad when there was another knock at the door. Brooke called, "Nate..."
Nathan sighed. "Going." He opened the door and Jake and Peyton walked in. He hugged Peyton and shook hands with his friend. "Hey, man. Hey, Peyton."
"Nathan," she said, smiling. After hanging her coat up, she saw Lucas standing. "Luke!" She said happily, and he engulfed her in a huge hug.
"Good to see you, Peyton," he smiled.
"Yeah, you too." She walked into the kitchen and hugged her friend. "Brooke, I brought pie."
Brooke looked shocked. "You made pie?"
"No, Karen made pie," Peyton admitted. "I needed a reason to go visit her."
Brooke grinned. "Awesome, Karen makes the best deserts in town."
Peyton then noticed Crystal standing over to the side. "Crystal, hey! I haven't seen you in forever."
Crystal smiled shyly. "Hey, Peyton." The two girls hugged. "How is Jenny?"
Peyton rolled her eyes. "Great. A mess. The other day she came home from school with a new boyfriend. I thought Jake was going to have a heart attack. It took me forever to explain to him that Jenny is six, so he can chill out."
They all laughed and Jake walked in. "Did I hear my name?"
Peyton smiled up at him. "Nope, your imagination is working over time."
"Sure," he said, setting the pies down before hugging Brooke and Crystal. "Great to see both of you."
"You too Jake."
The guys resumed their spot in front of the television, and the girls took it upon themselves to have a girl talk session. Crystal was timid, because she barely knew Peyton.
Peyton looked at Brooke with demanding eyes. "So, are you and Nathan doing good?"
Brooke sighed with a dreamy look in her eyes. "We are doing great. We're so close."
Crystal smiled, "I always knew you two would get together."
Peyton said, "So is he sweet or does he have jerk qualities?"
"Definitely sweet. But not that sickeningly sweet that Haley brought out in him. He's just himself. He loves and cares about me, and that's what matters. He would do whatever it takes to protect me."
Crystal smiled. "I feel the same way about Luke."
"Same," Peyton agreed. She hurriedly corrected herself, "I mean, with Jake of course. Lucas and I are way over."
Crystal leaned forward, interested. "Wait, you and Lucas were together?"
Peyton and Brooke exchanged an amused look. Peyton chose her words carefully. "Back in high school, we had something going, but it never got very far."
"Wow, he was with a lot of girls," Crystal said.
Brooke said, "Well, not really. There was me, Peyton, Anna, and then you." She thought about what she said, "Okay, maybe it was a bunch. But the only one he has been extra serious about is you."
Crystal blushed. "You really think he likes me?"
Peyton burst out laughing. "Hell yes he likes you! I remember the first Christmas break we had, and he came home for a visit. We all got together and he wouldn't shut up about you. Trust me, he loves you."
Crystal seemed relieved. "Good, because I love him too. I don't know what I would do without him."
"Without who?" Lucas asked, walking into the kitchen. He grabbed an appetizer, stuffing it in his mouth. "Do you have any drinks?" He asked, with his mouth full.
Peyton and Brooke looked at him. Brooke said, "Dude, try swallowing. Then, try talking."
Peyton laughed. "Karen taught you better than that."
Lucas shot them an annoyed looked, and then asked calmly, "Do you have any drinks?"
Crystal said, "Hon, didn't we bring wine?"
Lucas turned to his girlfriend. "Well, yeah. But I don't want wine."
Nathan yelled from the living room, "There's beer in the fridge!."
Peyton laughed yet again. "Wow, Nate really knows his way around."
Brooke rolled her eyes. "I stock up for him. Luke, bottom drawer." Lucas grabbed a cold can and then left, but not before gently affectionately touching Crystal's back, smiling down at her. Brooke sighed. "That is so sweet."
Peyton agreed, "Lucas was always good at the romance."
At that moment, Nathan walked in. "And I wasn't?"
Peyton threw him a glance. "Nathan, you were good at the sex."
He grinned, and said modestly, "I was, wasn't I?" He walked and stood next to Brooke, who in turn wrapped her arms around him. He gave her a protective squeeze. "So what are you in here talking about?"
Crystal said, "Our boyfriends."
Peyton said suddenly, "You know what's funny? I have dated every guy in this apartment."
Brooke said sarcastically, under her breath, "And you called me a slut..."
Peyton smacked her arm. "Hey, I heard that."
Nathan said, "I was the best, right?"
Brooke let a small laugh slip. "Sorry, didn't mean that to be rude."
"Uh huh, sure," he said, pretending to be offended. Brooke leaned up and kissed his cheek.
"Better?"
"A little," he said.
"NATHAN!" Lucas yelled. "You coming or what?" The girls rolled their eyes, and Nathan shrugged.
"Sorry. Game's on." The guys continued to watch their games but soon Brooke had dinner ready. They all sat down and ate the meal. It was surprisingly good, considering the cook.
Lucas asked his ex, "You sure you made this?"
Brooke glared at him. "Yes, I'm sure. If I ever go back to college, I will go to culinary school."
Peyton said, "Wait, you plan on going back to college?"
"No, I was just saying. Its always a possibility." Peyton laughed at her, and Brooke almost threw her roll at her friend.
They finished dinner, and made their way to the living room to talk. Brooke and Nathan stayed behind to put the dishes in the dishwasher.
Brooke giggled as Nathan splashed her with water. "Nathan," she said sternly. "This is a new shirt."
"So?" He was about to splash her again when the doorbell rang. He looked at her inquisitively.
She shrugged. "I have no clue who that is."
Jake was already headed for the door. He opened it, and in walked Mouth. "Mouth!"
"Hey, Jake." Everyone was pleasantly surprised to see him.
When he walked up, Brooke hugged him excitedly. "What are you doing here?"
"Lucas told me about this. Hope you don't mind that I crashed the party."
"Mind? Of course not!" Mouth went to hug Peyton, and Brooke snuggled up close to Nathan again.
Mouth said hesitantly, "I brought someone I had run into earlier. I hope you don't mind."
Brooke said, "Of course not. The more the merrier. Who is it?"
Heads all turned towards the door as it opened. In walked none other than Haley James.
Author's Note: gasp Haley's back! Trust me, brooke and Nathan have much drama ahead... This chapter was longer than I thought it would be, but I'm sure you guys don't mind! I'm already working on the next one, so it should be up soon. Thanks for the reviews, you know I love them!
tp96: Yes, they are a very unlikely couple, but so cute! By awesome fic, I hope you meant mine! lol thanks for the review.
LivingintheOCsucks: Oh, okay. I guess it makes sense then. Glad you enjoyed the last chapter, and hope you like the drama filled party!
brathan forever07: Thanks, and I agree!
Ababy99: Thanks so much!
Mony19: Is that a good thing the old Brooke is showing herself? I want to make Brooke fun, but let her have her serious moments too. Here's your update, and thanks as always for your sweet review!
MarissaAtwood: Thanks!
msCrazy: LOL, well I am glad this put you in a good mood!
Swedishblonde: Thanks!
Okay, now review again because I will love you forever if you do... Spoiler for next chapter: Everyone has different reactions to Haley's return, and Nathan and Haley take a "walk".