TITLE: Back to You
AUTHOR: Dayz Sollers
SUMMARY: Post season 2 finale. As Brooke, Nathan and Jake come back from their summers away from Tree Hill, the group has to face the trials and tribulations of their senior year of high school, and find out what is really important to them. Mostly B/L but it will take a while. Be patient, it will get there. I promise. P/J and N/H also. Feedback wanted! Please R&R
Disclaimer: Don't own One Tree Hill, too bad for me. Also, the song doesn't belong to me either.
Rating: PG13-maybe to an R later on
Category: Romance/Drama
Kelz3192: Thanks once again for the awesome review! I am glad you like the story and after ten chapters it still has your interest. You're reviews are always nice to see, I like the questions you keep asking. Hmm...I am glad it wasn't Peyton too! That would have been unforgivable I think. But as far as who it was I'll never tell... just kidding it'll be answered in the next few chapters. Hmm... what else...I do have to say lmao! Deb! I didnt think about that one. I wonder what Nathan would think? And yes, I love writing for Felix. Bad guys always get away with a lot more than the good guys do. So, here's to the next chapter :-)
L-A-C-18: Hmm...I'm glad you liked all the Nathan/Brooke friendship in the previous chapter. I think those two have a lot of uncovered territory that they don't explore on the show, and that they have great chemistry. But being the Brucus lover I am, I will only go so far as friends with them. and yes, Felix is deffinitly an ass :-)
BabyBee13: Wow, I am glad someone who likes Nathan and Haley are reading this! As much as I love B/L I think honestly I am a bigger fan of Nathan and Haley. They remind me so much of the way my life is going right now, its easier to relate to them. Hopefully this story is a good mix of all the couples, even though I am trying to focus mainly on Brooke and Lucas
Othfan4life8694: glad you loved the story, hope you enjoy this chapter
DanceDude09: hmm...nathan and haley huh? good! another fan! well here's a new chapter, with some more naley enjoy
KarokeDiva419: glad you're still reading the story. Hopefully you will continue to enjoy it more B/N friendship is ahead in coming chapters
CHAPTER ELEVEN-Love Is
The club had been full to it's maximum capacity as Brooke entered. She glanced around, taking note that she- despite everything was still the prettiest girl there. Dressed in an aqua halter top and black slacks, with matching shoes Brooke had an air about her. She noticed as guys stared, and grinned as girls rolled their eyes.
Brooke smiled. Life was good. The band around her wrist would allow her to drink, and she needed a drink! She just needed to be careful that Karen didn't see.
"Hey Peyton," Brooke said approaching the counter. Peyton looked up from her notepad and smiled gently. Brooke could sense that Peyton was still nervous around her, and she reached out to touch her hand. "I know Peyton. It's okay. Lucas told me it wasn't you." Peyton reached across the counter and hugged her best friend.
"I was so afraid you weren't going to listen to us. I didn't want you mad at me," Peyton smiled, relieved that everything was out in the open.
Brooke raised an eyebrow, and questioned her.
"Why would I be mad at you? You're not the one Lucas was with."
"But I…" Peyton stammered. The look on Brooke's face had confirmed her question. Lucas hadn't told her she had known. "I knew Brooke. I'm sorry," Peyton said looking down at the counter. Brooke pulled away from her friend and shook her head.
She began to laugh, and Peyton could tell she was becoming bitter. "So jokes on me again huh? I thought I could trust you," Brooke said rolling her eyes and beginning to walk away. She turned and looked once more at Peyton and shook her head.
"I yelled at Haley. I told her how horrible of a friend she was for knowing and not telling me. Turns out she didn't know and you did? MY BEST FRIEND?" She paused for a moment, but started before Peyton could say anything. "You knew how I felt about him Peyton. You knew I was going to be hurt. I can't believe you." Brooke's heart was racing, as she sunk into the empty chair. In the distance, she could see friends of hers dancing.
"Brooke?"
As she turned around, she smiled genuinely. Just the person she was looking for.
……
Haley would never be able to get use to this feeling. She peeked her head through the curtain, and saw the crowd of people. Her stomach had butterflies. Hell- her butterflies had butterflies.
Sure she had done it plenty of times before, and the feeling she got on stage was like no other. But being back in tree hill, back at Tric left her with a sense of déjà vu. She shoved her hands into her jeans and began to pace. A familiar voice caught her attention and she turned around.
"You'll do great."
She shook her head, and sighed.
"What are you doing here Chris?"
Chris smirked. "Got a few days off decided to come here and see what you were doing. You left us hanging back there." He looked at her, and she looked at the ground. She had felt bad for leaving Chris the way she had. But she had realized that Lucas had been right. She needed to come home. Nathan was her life, she had chosen to marry him and she needed to stick by that. Nothing mattered if he wasn't there to share it with.
"I needed to come home."
The words were simple, but Chris knew by looking at her that they were anything but. There was pain in her eyes, pain of losing her husband, and her chance at stardom. But he could sense something more than that. She looked like she was frightened. Like something horrible was about to happen. Chris reached out for Haley, bringing her to him in a gentle hug. He patted her back, and she leaned in closer. Her eyes filled with tears, and as he sat holding her she let them fall.
"It's so hard Chris. Everything's just so hard," Haley said just above a whisper. Chris tried his best to soothe her, and they were too busy wrapped up in their own thoughts that neither one of them had seen Nathan behind them.
He stood, with red roses in his hands, and a disappointed look on his face. Nathan thought about pulling Chris off of his wife, and beating him to the ground but realized he had no right to do so. Haley wasn't his anymore, she had signed the papers. Nathan threw the flowers on the ground, and walked out leaving the two alone. As the door shut behind him, he made his way back towards the center of the club.
"I just love him so much Chris. He means the world to me," Haley said. She looked up at him, and Chris nodded. By the look on her face, Chris had known she was telling the truth. Age hadn't mattered. The fact that the couple had been married in high school didn't matter. The love, was nevertheless right there. And there wasn't any getting over it. Or coming between it. He knew he had to accept it.
"You know the song we were working on? You should sing it."
Haley looked up at him, and shook her head no. "It's not finished. And you're not going to be up there with me." Chris smiled, his ego feeling a lot better. She wasn't in love with him, but she still needed him.
"No you don't. Sing from your soul Haley. You can do it," Chris said. She looked up at him, expecting him to make a wise crack but was surprised when he didn't. He just smiled down at her, and walked away. She sat there, her heart jumping once more against her chest.
"Here goes nothing."
Haley rubbed the bracelet around her wrist and smiled slightly. Even if Nathan wasn't out there, he was there with her. Where he would always be.
"Okay everyone. Let's quiet down and give a big round of applause for our very own Haley James Scott," Peyton said into the microphone. She looked towards Haley and bit her lip. Had she just said Scott? Haley just smiled and sat down at the piano, and began to play.
Once there was a time love was just a myth
It just wasn't for real, didn't exist
Till the day you came into my life
You forced me to think twice
I didn't have too much, no I wasn't rich
Gave me belief someday I'd be more than this
That's why until this day I'm still your girl
Cause you made me understand that
Love is kisses in a bean bag chair
The two of us but no one there
Love is the moment that I climb the stairs
To hold you in my arms after we make love
Love is waking up to see your face
Or kissing in the morning rain
Love is
The only thing that keeps me sane
At the end of the day is that I've got you
Haley looked up at from her keyboard, and stared into the audience. She could see Lucas talking to a girl, and Brooke was watching. A man was sitting with her as well, but had his back to her so that she couldn't make out his face. Brooke smiled at Haley, and Haley smiled back. Her eyes scanned the crowd, falling briefly on Peyton and Jake, dancing to her song. And then she felt him. She turned slightly to her left, and could feel Nathan's eyes on her.
Haley was burning up. She wasn't sure whether it was the club, or whether as she sang the song his eyes were burning her alive. He wouldn't look away from her, even though a part of her wanted him to. She felt so nervous, as if she was baring herself to him, once more. Letting him understand her, a part of her she had kept hidden from him.
Nathan watched, mesmerized by his wife on stage. He wasn't sure why he was still there. After what he had seen he had tried to leave. In fact he had made it to the exit door, when something had stopped him. Brooke's voice played over in his mind. "Miscommunication." He needed to talk to her before he did anything else. And when she had come on stage, he had turned back to her.
As she sang the song, he remembered back to the first time he had seen her on stage. She was as nervous as she was then. He smiled, proud of the talent that she still had.
You're my secret place where I can be myself
You connect with me like nobody else
Even though our circumstances changed
Our love still remains
Meet me on the ground, still you help me fly
You taught me to be patient, I taught you to rely
So no matter what tomorrow brings
We got the simple things cause
Love is kisses in a bean bag chair
The two of us but no one there
Love is the moment that I climb the stairs
To hold you in my arms after we make love
Love is waking up to see your face
Or kissing in the morning rain
Love is
The only thing that keeps me sane
At the end of the day is that I've got you
"Are you alright?" Sean asked Brooke, causing her to look up from her drink. She tried her hardest to smile, but instead shook her head no. Brooke couldn't believe less than three minutes ago, the man in front of her had told her he was a teacher. She found herself blushing, embarrassed by her behavior.
"I should get going."
As she stood up, her eyes landed on Lucas. He was asking a girl to dance. Brooke stared at the girl, and felt her heart sink. She brought her hand to her face, in preparation of the tears as she leaned back against the chair. Lucas pulled the girl to the center of the dance floor, and brought her close to him. Brooke made out a faint smile on his lips as the girl leaned up to whisper something in his ear.
She couldn't take her eyes away from it. Brooke felt as if she was standing in front of a train wreck, but couldn't manage to look away. She wouldn't look away. Was this the girl Lucas had slept with? Brooke studied the girl, taking in the sight of her. Her red hair pulled back, and she wore black pants and a white tee shirt. As she continued to dance against Lucas, Brooke could make out the outline of the word 'Tric' written across her shirt.
Sean glanced from her, to where her eyes had landed, and then back to Brooke. He understood now, the pain that had been evident. Sean stood, and took a hold of Brooke's hand. "Let's dance." She looked up at him, confused but never the less followed behind him.
Brooke wrapped her arms around his neck, and shut his eyes pretending to herself that she was where she wanted to be. She allowed herself to dance with him, aware that Lucas would be watching. For a moment, she forgot that the man she had been dancing with was a teacher.
Lucas stared at Brooke, all to aware she was in the arms of another guy. He wasn't sure that she was going to come after all, and instantly felt guilty for agreeing to dance with Alexis. Lucas clenched his jaw as he looked at the man Brooke was dancing with.
Sean caught his eye, and smiled slightly. He knew it wasn't right for him to be dancing with her, but he couldn't help it. He knew what Brooke was feeling, how horrible a broken heart truly was. After all that was why he had moved to Tree Hill. After a four year marriage to his high school sweetheart, he knew he couldn't stay in Charleston. The job at Tree Hill High had come at perfect timing.
Brooke opened her eyes, and was surprised to see Lucas' eyes on her. She smiled weakly, and watched as he loosened his grip on the girl. Brooke could see the disappointment on his face, and knew the feeling all too well. They both were in the arms of other people, a reality that neither of them had wanted.
A part of her wanted to pull away from Sean, and run to Lucas. She envisioned what would happen, he would toss the girl aside, and take her in his arms. They would kiss and the rest of the world would slip away. That night they would make love, just as they had many a times before. And it would be intense in a way it was only with him. They would fall asleep in each others arms, whispering 'I love you' to one another. But in the morning when they woke up, nothing would have changed. He still would have hurt her, and she still wouldn't be able to trust him. So, instead she put her head back against Sean's shoulder and turned away from Lucas. She could feel his eyes still on her, as she looked up at Sean.
"Can we get out of here?"
He hesitated, knowing that it probably wasn't the best idea. Brooke Davis was a senior in high school. And he was a teacher. But he found himself nodding his head. This girl, probably only 17 had done something to him. Looking back at Lucas, he wondered what had happened to break them up. Sean had barely spent a couple of hours with her, and he had realized Brooke was amazing. Why couldn't he?
Love is a Sunday morning with the blanket wrapped around your waist
Love is the way your lips seem to curve
When you say my name (say my name ohh)
Love is when I'm stressing like the world's turning upside down
Baby it all makes sense when you're around
Love is kisses in a bean bag chair (yeah)
The two of us but no one there (making love is)
Love is the moment that I climb the stairs
To hold you in my arms after we make love
Love is waking up to see your face
Or kissing in the morning rain
Love is the only thing that keeps me sane
At the end of the day is that I've got you
"So. Brooke hates me, do you hate me too?"
Peyton sat a soda down in front of Jake. He stared up at her, and shook his head no. Nothing Peyton could do would make him hate her, but he had to know. Lucas had told him that it wasn't Peyton who he had slept with, but he needed to hear it from her.
"What happened this summer? Between you and Lucas."
Peyton rolled her eyes, and sat down next to him.
"Absolutely nothing Jake. I promise," Peyton said. He smiled, relieved that he had been wrong. There hadn't been anything between the two of them. After the fact had sunk into his mind, he looked down at her confused. He went to say something, but Peyton cut him off. He smirked, amused that she knew what he was thinking.
"I was there Jake. There was a party at Tim's, I didn't want to go but Haley thought it would be good for us all to go. Sort of a way to have fun. Well Lucas had been drinking and we all know that boy can't hold his liquor." she smiled slightly, before continuing. "Haley and I were playing poker when I noticed one of the other
Cheerleaders hitting on him. I heard him turn her down, but she just kept on trying. Then I saw them sneak into a room together." Jake couldn't believe it. Lucas had slept with a cheerleader?
"Which one?"
"Maria." Peyton sighed. "When I confronted him about it, he said he couldn't even remember what happened. He knew he had kissed her, but he wasn't sure how far it had gotten. I told him not to tell Brooke. I knew that if she came home they would work things out. She deserved to be happy." Jake nodded his head, understanding what Peyton must have been going through.
"Did you explain to Brooke?"
Peyton sighed. "You know how she is. After everything that happened last year between me and Lucas…" She noticed how uncomfortable he looked, and she took his hands in hers. "What happened between us is over. We're different people than we were last year. I love you, and he loves Brooke."
"I know."
"I wish we could help them," Peyton said. She looked across the club, and noticed her best friend dancing with a guy. Lucas too, was in the arms of someone else. Why were they both being so stubborn? She wondered to herself. If the last year had taught her anything, it had taught her to hold on to love. So why weren't they?
"You mean well Peyton, but we have to stay out of it. Sooner or later they'll realize what we've known all along." Peyton nodded, she knew Jake was right. It was just hard for her to be happy when her friends weren't.
"Wanna get out of here?"
Jake smiled, and nodded his head. He only had a few hours before he had to go home, and more than anything he wanted to have her to himself for a little while. "I'll go tell Karen we're gonna leave, and you call your parents to check on Jenny," Peyton said. As she walked away, Jake reached for his phone. He had gotten lucky, after everything that had happened between him and Nikki, things were finally looking up. As he dialed his home number, he wondered when the other shoe would drop.
Love is kisses in a bean bag chair
The two of us but no one there
Love is the moment that I climb the stairs
To hold you in my arms after we make love
Love is waking up to see your face
Or kissing in the morning rain
Love is
The only thing that keeps me sane
At the end of the day is that I've got you
"We're here."
Brooke nodded her head, Sean and her had decided to drive to the next town over to go to an all night diner. They spent the car ride in silence, neither one of them ready to talk. It was a bit awkward for Brooke, knowing that he was a teacher at her high school. But she didn't want to go back to Karen's house, and she couldn't stay with Peyton. Nathan was going to talk to Haley, so that left her alone once again.
Sean opened the door for her, and they sat down at one of the booths. After they placed their orders, Sean chuckled. "This is awkward." Brooke looked up at him, and smiled softly. She nodded her head shyly, and shrugged her shoulders.
"Doesn't have to be," Brooke said. "Tell me about yourself."
"What's to tell? I'm one of your teachers."
Brooke looked up at him, and held his gaze. A smile played on her lips, as she shook her head no. "You're not my teacher." Sean couldn't help but see the sparkle in her eye, and he knew he was on dangerous territory. He knew he was already breaking rules, but if he went any further there would be no going back.
"Tell me about you."
Brooke smiled in satisfaction. She could tell by the look on his face that he was interested, and that made her feel special. The guys in Tree Hill only wanted one thing from her, and even though she was good at giving it to them she secretly always wanted more. "Twenty questions?"
He nodded, after a minute he looked at her and asked "how old?"
"18 in December."
"Favorite color?"
"Red."
"Why were you crying?"
Brooke was taken back by surprise. She hadn't been expecting that one. How was she supposed to explain Lucas to him? As their waitress sat the dinner on the table, Brooke began to talk.
"Long story short? I've never been the girlfriend type till I met this guy. He was amazing, and I fell for him. Turns out the joke was on me, because he was interested in my best friend. And she fell for him. They sort of had something, while he was with me. I guess I never really got over it," Brooke looked down at her plate. "Last year he told me he loved me. Wanted me back. But I was going to California for the summer. I knew I wanted him back, but I just couldn't bring myself to tell him. When I came back, I finally admitted it. The funny thing is the joke was on me again. He had slept with someone this summer, and my best friend she knew about it."
Sean felt sad for the girl in front of him. She looked so heartbroken, so alone for someone of her age. As she finished telling him the story, he couldn't help but notice the tears enter her eyes. He wanted to help her, to free her from the pain.
"He doesn't deserve you."
Brooke's heart skipped a beat. She shut her eyes, and nodded her head. Even as he said the words, she knew they weren't true. Lucas Scott was a wonderful person. He was gorgeous, sincere, and loyal to a fault. He was honest too, and that is what was killing her. Lucas had told her the truth, knowing how she would react. Knowing how angry she would be. Why? Even as the question entered her mind, she already knew the answer.
He had loved her. For months, she had seen it. Lurking in the shadows, helping her stay in Tree Hill, supporting her when she wanted to run for class president, fighting with Felix, being there for her when no one else was.
It was hard for her to admit, to know that he loved her and still slept with someone else. She herself had waited. Why hadn't he? She knew he was a man, and men did things a little differently than women. She just didn't understand why he would risk their relationship for a stupid girl.
Brooke knew she had to let it go. The reality of everything was going to drive her insane. As she opened her eyes, and looked at Sean she knew she had to let Lucas go. It was the best thing for her, and perhaps even Lucas as well. All they did was hurt each other, and more than anything Brooke wanted Lucas happy. She reached across the table, and touched his hand.
"Thank you."
Sean simply nodded, not able to say anything. She held her hand there, a bit longer than she should have. A rush ran through both of them, a feeling of mutual understanding. He rubbed his thumb on the inside of her palm in circles, as she watched silently. She squeezed his hand, and he stared up at her.
"I should take you home."
Love is
Waking up to see your face (say I've got you)
Kissing in the morning rain (ooh)
At the end of the day is that I've got you
Haley was ready to fall asleep as she put the key in the lock, and turned it. As she opened the door, she threw her purse on the table and flipped on the light. She jumped back, and screamed.
"Nathan, what the hell! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
He smirked, and held up his own key. He watched as she made her way throughout the apartment, pulling off her sweater and laying it on the couch. She motioned for him to follow her into the kitchen, and she grabbed ice cream from the refrigerator.
"What are you doing here?"
Nathan shifted uncomfortably. He knew why he had come but he was nervous. Could he go through with it? He needed to put his heart on the line, but was too stubborn to do it. "You sounded great tonight." The words were easy to say, and he couldn't help but notice her blush. As she put her spoon into the ice-cream, he turned away from her. "Did you mean it?"
She hesitated, not knowing what she was supposed to say. "Nathan, I…" she fumbled around, looking for the right words. He didn't turn to look at her, and she was glad. She couldn't look at him and tell him how she felt. She couldn't handle the rejection. "I meant every word." She whispered. Nathan turned to face her, a smile appearing on his face.
"I miss you Hales," Nathan's voice was filled with sadness. Haley nodded, knowing how he felt. They both were sad, both lonely. He looked down at his hand, and wondered briefly where his ring was. After a moment, he remembered he had thrown it into the ocean. That had been three months before, when he had lost all hope in his marriage. "I don't know where to go from here. I love you, you know that right?"
Haley nodded, but still stayed quiet.
"I'm not saying that this is going to work out. But we're married Haley. When I took those vows, I meant them. For better or worse. I want to try and make this work," Nathan walked up to her, and lifted her chin up to him. He waited for her to back away, but when she didn't he leaned down and kissed her. "I want to take this slow, I don't want to do anything to mess this up."
"Me either Nathan. I love you more than anything in this world. I am so glad you're willing to give us another chance," Haley said as she threw her arms around him. She held on to him, as tight as she could.
"I am willing. But there are some conditions," Nathan said. Haley looked up at him, a bit confused. "I am going to continue staying at my mom's house for a while. Until we can work everything out. But I think we should get to know each other again. We're not the same people we were last year."
As much as those words had hurt her, Haley knew that what he said was true. The two of them weren't the same people anymore. A lot had changed. And in order to make their relationship work, they needed to start over.
"What happens now?"
The words came out of her mouth, and she backed away from him slowly. Three months had been long enough for her, but if Nathan needed time she would give that to him. He smiled slightly, and rubbed her shoulder.
"We talk. Over the phone, at school, whatever. We make our way back to where things were. But it's not going to be easy." Haley knew he was right. Nathan needed to let go of his resentment and she needed to forgive herself. "I'm going to go home. My mom should be back from seeing dad." Nathan headed for the door, but Haley called out to him.
"Nathan? I love you."
His smile grew as he nodded his head.
"I love you too."
As the door shut behind him, Haley leaned against the wall. She was happy that he was giving them a second chance, but wondered to herself how long it would take for things to get back to normal. As she walked to their old bedroom, she felt herself smiling. "Thank you," she whispered as she fell to the bed and shut her eyes.
tbc... what did ya think? Good, bad, don't continue? Well, whatever your review, please send it to me! I love hearing from all of you!
What's next with Back to You?
- Nathan and Haley go on a 'date'
- Brooke finds out who Lucas slept with
- Peyton walks in on students gossiping about Brooke
- Sean's ex comes to see him
