Flashbacks - are italicized

Warnings: PG-13, language

Ch. 2 - If You're Gone (Matchbox Twenty)

I think I've already lost you
I think you're already gone
I think I'm finally scared now
You think I'm weak - but I think you're wrong
I think you're already leaving
Feels like your hand is on the door
I thought this place was an empire
But now I'm relaxed - I can't be sure

"What are you doing Nathan?" He glanced at the girl sitting next to him. She was nineteen, and as his wife had so accurately predicted, a cheerleader. Golden waves swinging down slightly past her shoulder blades, a soft smile. Nathan had fallen hard for Hannah the moment she'd joined the dance squad at the start of the year. Something wasn't right though. He was falling in love with Hannah, while he was still very much in love with his wife. But gradually, Hannah seemed to push through, blocking out the guilty thoughts about his wife.

"I've just gotta… check up on something." He muttered. Hannah watched as he bolted from the car and up the path to the large house. She bit her lip nervously. If it came down to picking between her and his wife, she was pretty much sure that Nathan would pick her now. But you could never be sure. She watched as he fumbled with his key before letting himself into the house. He closed the door. She closed her eyes and waited.

It was as he expected. The house was empty. Her belongings gone. Nathan leaned back against the wall, even as his eyes fell on the glass coffee table. More accurately, the small stack of papers perched neatly on the corner. In two swift strides, he dropped himself heavily onto the leather couch. It was as he reached for the stack that he noticed the golden band sitting on top of them. He almost choked at the sense of finality that was left by that simple ring. Sobs threatened to overtake his body as he picked it up.

He slipped the ring onto her slender finger, as his eyes memorized the details of her face. She was biting her lip nervously, but he could see the smile in her eyes. Her eyes looked up to meet his, and he knew he'd be alright. She was his salvation. As the priest blessed them man and wife, he pulled her gently towards him, and he whispered his undying love to her just before he kissed her sweetly on the lips.

Nathan set the ring down gently on the coffee table, glancing at the identical one on his left ring finger. He tore his eyes away from the wedding bands and refocused on the sheets in his hand. She'd tabbed all the sheets where he had to sign, and highlighted the lines. It was just like her, fastidious, meticulously gone over. He had no doubt she'd checked them to make sure everything was in order. He scanned the pages, feeling a dull ache in his chest each time he saw her flowing signature scrawled across a line. He came to the last page of the stack, and noticed it was a piece of lined paper. He closed his eyes at the feeling of nausea that overtook him as her loopy handwriting stared him in the face.

Nathan,

I've attached my lawyer's business card. I've also left you the wedding band. I don't really care what you do to it. You can melt it into something else, or give it to whoever you find next. I want you to know that I do not regret any moment of our marriage, but I need you to understand that I can no longer be the wife who is there only when you need her. I realized it wasn't fair to either of us for me to keep hanging on to a relationship which you clearly no longer valued. It was difficult for me to acknowledge that I was no longer enough for you. I'm heading back home to sort things out, but I would appreciate it if you didn't contact me in the future.

Haley James

Before he realized it, the piece of paper was crumpled into a ball in the palm of his hand.

"This better be important."

Nathan winced at the voice, and wondered if he was doing the right thing.

"Brooke."

"Nathan."

There was a silence.

"Where is she Brooke?"

"Where is she who?" Nathan grimaced. He could practically see the feigned, wide-eyed innocence plastered across his soon-to-be sister-in-law's face. He didn't answer, knowing the bite would come soon enough. "Oh… you must mean your wife. Oops, my bad. Your ex-wife."

"Brooke."

"Oh, did I offend you? Well that's too bad Nathan. It's not my fault you're such a jackass."

Nathan leaned his head back against the couch as he contemplated hanging up on Brooke. But before he could figure out what would happen, the front door opened.

"Nathan? What are you doing?" It was Hannah.

"Who the f uck is that Nathan?" Brooke sounded furious. Nathan figured that he probably would be dead if they were having a real life conversation. "Oh let me guess. You brought your little skank to your house, just two hours after your wife left it. Real classy Nathan. Lucas better pray he doesn't have the same genes as you."

Click.

She'd hung up on him. And Nathan knew that by now, Haley was probably somewhere in Tree Hill.

"Hannah, what are you doing in here?" He asked tiredly.

Her eyes drifted around the living room, noticing the golden band sitting on the table. "Did you get me a ring?" She asked excitedly, reaching for it.

The image of the ring on Haley's hand flashed through Nathan's mind, and he snatched it away before she could grab it. "Don't touch it." He snapped more harshly than he'd intended to.

Her big blue eyes welled up with tears. "Fine. I'll be in the car." She whirled around and stormed out, slamming the door behind her like a petulant little child.

Nathan sighed, and before he could stop himself, Haley would never have done that.

He shook his head. He'd screwed up royally, and it was too late to go comparing Hannah with Haley now. He stood, looking around the room. Hannah could wait a few more minutes. He climbed the stairway wearily, flicking on the light before he entered their bedroom.

The walk in closet was empty, all her dresses gone. He opened the drawers, already expecting them emptied. They were. The vanity was cleared of all her belongings. Above the bed, hung a large portrait. His hands were wrapped around her slender waist, and they were smiling at each other adoringly. Their wedding portrait. The bed… was as always, neatly made. The bed they'd made love in so many times… mocking him with its neatness.

Nathan's breath caught in his throat as Haley's hand pulled loose the last tie on the dress. The silk slid off over her smooth curves, falling noiselessly to the floor. She stood before him, offering herself to him. His hands grazed her cheeks. Their lips met, and his hands slid slowly down to remove her undergarments, leaving her completely vulnerable to him. She moaned softly as his hands set fire to her body, slowly urging her to ecstasy. Her eyes fluttered open. "I love you Nathan." He smiled at her gently. "I love you too." And then they'd jumped off the edge together.

Even as he remembered the first time they'd made love, Nathan found himself to be breathing heavily, slightly aroused by the memory of her. "D amn it." He cursed under his breath.

He hurried out of the house, eager to be rid of all the haunting memories. The house was too empty for his liking. He'd never been in the house alone before. She'd always been there, with her contagious laughter, or the sound of her soft singing. He rushed back down the stairs into the living room, where his eyes fell first upon the leather couch. His cheeks flushed as he remembered what they'd done there as well. There was no way he could be in the house. Everything reminded him of her. But his eyes caught the glint of the ring on the table. He stared at it for a moment, before pocketing it. He left the divorce papers there.

Haley stared, wide eyed at Brooke, as her best friend slammed the phone down.

"What did you just say?" She managed to whisper.

Brooke bit her lip as she glanced at her best friend, sitting so vulnerably on the couch.

"Nothing?" Brooke tried.

"Nice try tigger." Haley gave a weak laugh. "She was in... in our house?"

Brooke nodded, wanting to strangle her fiance's brother.

Silent tears fell down Haley's cheeks.

Brooke pulled her best friend into a tight hug.

Haley had shown up forty five minutes earlier, Louis Vuitton luggage in hand.

"Are you here to visit Hales?! You should've let me know earlier!" She'd chided her best friend playfully. But then she'd noticed the puffy redness of Haley's eyes.

"I've left Nathan." Haley said abruptly, as Brooke's eyes searched her face.

Brooke had pulled her best friend into her apartment, where Haley had broken down and told her everything. By the end of it, Brooke was ready to kill Nathan Scott.

"How could he Brooke? He brought her back with him?" Haley whimpered brokenly. Yes... she could do without him, but... did he have to do such a heartless thing so soon? She'd half hoped that he would come after her, although, she was sure she wouldn't take him back.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Brooke jumped up, and opened the door revealing Lucas.

"Hey, cheery. Ready to go?"

Brooke bit her lip. She'd forgotten all about her date with Lucas. "Umm... broody. Hi. Would you be really upset if I took a raincheck?"

He looked confused. "What? Why? You were so excited. Brooke, I've made reservations and everything!"

Brooke peered back into her apartment, where Haley was sitting alone. "Something came up Luke. I'm sorry. It's important."

His eyes narrowed. "Who's in there with you Brooke?"

That hit a nerve. "Are you accusing me of cheating on you?" She spat out.

"I don't know." Lucas said sarcastically.

"It doesn't run in my family. Not like yours." Brooke shot back.

Lucas gaped at her. "What did you just say?"

At the precise same moment, Haley called out, "Who's at the door Brooke?"

Lucas glanced at his fiancee. "Is that Haley?"

Brooke leaned her forehead against the door frame.

"Yes."

"What's she doing here?" Lucas asked confused. "Is Nathan here too?"

Brooke bit her lip before she let the secret out. It wasn't hers to tell.

"You'd better come in and ask Haley yourself."