Chapter Eighteen: Return to You
Author's note: This chapter is dedicated to Ange, because she wrote some of it. Thanks!
This summer, as every summer, the five of them had begun to settle into a routine. One involving late nights, slow mornings, occasional swims at the famed Country Club.
Apparently, all it took was three strangers to throw everything they'd ever known out of whack.
Jake paced nervously in Peyton's bedroom, trying to avoid thinking of anything, trying to avoid thinking of her. He wished the phone could ring so he could feel useful, so he could win back some small amount of respect.
He knew immediately that the heavy footsteps running up the stairs weren't hers, but it didn't occur to him to be nervous, or even jealous. Particularly when a breathless Nathan Scott entered the room.
Jake regarded him warily, remembering inconveniently that Nathan was much bigger than him and had every right to kick his ass.
"What are you doing here?" asked Jake, staring at him in surprise.
"I was about to ask the same thing," said Haley in annoyance, coming into the room behind him. Both men stared at her for a second, one in surprise and one in desire. Her hair was braided hastily over her shoulders, and she was wearing jeans and a simple white tank top. Nathan had never seen her dressed so casually, and he'd never wanted her more.
"Actually," Nathan said, "I was looking for you."
His voice was low so that only she would hear. She could feel his hot breath against her neck and her nerves skittered in response.
"I thought you and I could make use of that bed over there but I guess Jake being here makes that slightly difficult. So what say you and I go somewhere a little more private, I can guarantee that I can make your toes curl, well among other things."
Haley did her best to act as if his words were not affecting her, drawing a deep breath she looked up at him smiling confidently.
"And how exactly do you intend to do that?" she asked.
"Well for starters I was thinking that there has been more than enough talking between us today, it's time we put our mouths to better use and don't be too sure that I only mean kissing." She gasped and turned her head trying not to let him see the red flush creeping up her neck, his hand coming to rest on her hip was all she needed to spur her into action and she quickly crossed the room coming to stand beside Jake steadfastly avoiding eye contact with the man who still stood smirking at her.
Jake awkwardly put an arm around her, unsure as to whether she wanted to spurn Nathan or encourage him.
"Do you have anything useful to say?" he asked as Nathan stood, staring obviously at Haley.
"Yeah. Blondie just called me at the hotel…" Haley abruptly cut him off.
"I'll give you a lap dance if you can tell me her name right now," she taunted.
"I'll never speak to you again if you can tell me my best friend's first name," shot back Nathan, looking pleased with himself. Seeing Haley about to open her mouth, Jake spoke.
"Nathan, what is it?"
"Right. She asked me to find out if Brooke was in Lucas' room. But he was in there, in bed with Davis," said Nathan.
"That's not true," said Haley immediately.
"Have you met Davis? Of course it's true. Do you have any idea where Brooke is?" asked Jake.
"Yeah. At a hotel downtown, it wasn't that hard to track her. She checked in last night with some guy and they're still there now. Haley, come with me and we'll go check it out," said Nathan.
"Like hell. Go alone," she said.
"You're showing remarkable compassion for your best friend here. I have a feeling some girl talk is going to be necessary," he said. She rolled her eyes.
"Fine. I'll go. Jake, call me if she calls," she said. Jake frowned as Haley hugged him quickly and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. Normally such a gesture would be commonplace, but today he knew she was only doing it to piss Nathan off.
Jake frowned again as Nathan put his hand on Haley's lower back to guide her out, and she didn't shake him off. Jake wasn't remotely in love with Haley, he never had been. But it awoke his brotherly instincts to see one of his best friends clearly flirting a man who wanted only to have sex with her.
Haley was silent as Nathan lead her outside and into the front seat of his car. She didn't say anything as he pulled out of the driveway and began to drive down the street.
"So, I've been thinking…" began Nathan, desperate to end the awkward silence.
"Nathan, what the hell are you still doing here?" she demanded, cutting him off.
"What?" he asked, sending her a wounded look.
"You only came here for Davis, and she's not your girlfriend anymore. For God's sake, she isn't even your freaking fuck buddy anymore. There's nothing keeping you here," she snapped.
"That's not true," he said reluctantly.
"For the last time, I'm not keeping you here. I'm not going to sleep with you," she said in annoyance. Nathan smiled to himself.
"Someone's high on themselves. I was talking about me and Davis," he said.
"Well…" Haley looked sideways and caught a glimpse of his smiling face. "Liar."
"Sorry, couldn't resist," he said, turning on the radio to drown out her protests.
Even Haley James couldn't help but smile.
Tension mounted as the two of them entered the hotel and rode in the elevator to the 6th floor. By this time Nathan's hand was no longer on her back, but he comfortingly put a hand on her shoulder.
When she didn't protest, he slowly moved his hand across to her neck, where he rubbed with his fingers in small circles, massaging away the tension. His hand tangled up in her long hair. She inhaled sharply at the emotions he arose in her.
"Haley…" he murmured, looking down at her. Losing all resolve, she followed his guiding hand and flung herself into his strong, comforting embrace.
"They have to work it out. He makes her so happy, and she hasn't been happy in so long," she said.
"They will. He really loves her," soothed Nathan.
"He'd better. She deserves it," said Haley. Leaning back to look into his eyes, she absorbed the comfort and honesty in them.
"No one deserves it more than you," he said, his voice husky and soft. His hand reached out to push down the shoulder of her sun dress, revealing the mark he'd left.
"It's not fading," she said.
"Maybe it's a sign?" he suggested. He leaned down toward her as she leaned up, intoxicated by his blue eyed stare.
A cough behind them startled them out of their reverie as the elevator stopped with an uncomfortable bump. Haley shook her head in frustration. She didn't understand the power he had over her, his ability to make her do things she wouldn't do in everyday life. Such as almost cheat on her boyfriend. Such as consider boys who made her feel violated at least 80 percent of the time.
She hurried down the hall ahead of him to avoid contact, knowing what his thoughts while with her in a hotel would be.
Nathan leaned against the wall opposite while Haley pounded heavily on Brooke's door.
"Haley?" said a voice in surprise, belonging to a guy didn't recognize. A short, skinny guy with spiky hair. Nathan noted immediately that Haley seemed to know him.
"Is she here?" demanded Haley, pushing past him into the room. Mouth moved to stop Nathan from entering, but moved aside when broad shouldered, 6"2 Nathan gave him a menacing glare.
As the two entered the room, a deathly quiet descended on the four of them while Haley and Nathan took in the situation at a glance.
"What the hell, Brooke…" said Haley under her breath. Brooke sat up in bed and looked immediately guilty.
"It's not what it looks like," she said immediately.
"Really? Do tell," implored Haley, rolling her eyes at my best friend.
"It's pity sex. It doesn't mean anything," said Mouth honestly.
"Actually," said Nathan, stepping into the ring. "It's more than that."
Everyone stared as he dramatically pulled a package of birth control pills out of his pocket and dropped them onto the bed, where they bounced gently.
"I've been talking to Luke. I found these in the bathroom of my room yesterday, so I don't know what the hell it is that you're taking," he said. With a shaking hand, Brooke pulled the identical package out of her hand.
XxxxxxX
"So, uh, we need to talk," said Haley to Nathan much later, as he drove her back to her house in his car. He looked sideways at her.
"Yeah," he agreed quietly.
"You want to come in?" she asked, as he pulled up to the house. He looked past her to a figure sitting on the porch steps.
"Suddenly not," he said, sounding annoyed. Haley followed his gaze.
Chris Kellar had returned.