Chapter Ninety: Glass Houses

Haley frowned and attempted to straighten her skirt without gaining attention from the crowd. To her left, Ryan seemed equally uncomfortable. To her right, Nathan was looking stoic and thoughtful. Her mind flashed for the thousandth time to Nina and Eve, left behind with a sitter.

Looking up to the front of the auditorium, she quickly located Peyton's blonde curls and the back of Jake's head. It was their graduation. Haley tried not to think of her own graudation, of what would have been.

Ryan glanced sideways at her, and smiled bitterly. Haley was almost completely certain they'd almost kissed a month previously, and by all accounts had actually kissed at the hospital at Nina's birth. She touched Ryan's hand comfortingly.

Nathan slung an arm around Haley, slung her toward him and planted a kiss on her head. Like he had when they had been teenagers, he was playing her hot and cold. She was tired of games.

Jake winked in Ryan's direction as he reached the stage and took his diploma. The blonde blushed.

Leigh Scott sat on Nathan's other side, looking rail thin and older than before.

Later on, they mingled in the crowd, waiting for Jake to join them. Ryan ran to him and threw herself in his arms when he did.

"Congratulations!" she said excitedly.

"Thanks. Hey Hales, hey Nate. Are Brooke and Lucas around? And Leigh?" he asked eagerly.

"Somewhere, all of them. Are you going to a party?" she asked.

"Yeah, want to come? I can keep you out of trouble," he said palishly.

"You'd better," said Nathan jokingly.

Haley looked wistful for a second.

"Don't be so old, she's a junior. Come on babe," she said, pulling him away.

Ryan glanced up at Jake.

"Maybe we could go home first? You can change?" she suggested. He nodded and began to lead them out.

Their hands gradually interlocked as they walked out, dodging various graduates in black robes. Both smiled shakily at Peyton as they passed her.

Jake instinctively lept forward and caught Ryan in his arms when she suddenly fell forward. She whirled around angrily, ready to confront the foot that had tripped her. Her eyes widened in amazement.

"Shannon?" she said in confusion.

"Davis," said Jake. Davis smiled.

"Ryan, Jake. What a gentleman," she said, nodding at Ryan held protectively in his arms. He set her back on her feet. Ryan stared in amusement at her clashing, dyed blonde locks.

"When the mood strikes me. What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Peyton needed someone to come for her," she said.

"Oh, because it's our fault that..." Jake latched onto Ryan's hand again and hurriedly tugged her away.

Ryan took a deep breath of fresh air once they'd gotten outside, and slowly smiled.

"I shouldn't let her get to me like that," she admitted, as Jake hailed a taxi.

"You're only human."

Jake waited impatiently as Ryan changed in her room.

"Get out here," he yelled. He rolled his eyes, about to make a sarcastic remark, as she finally exited. But as he saw her, the words died on his tongue.

It didn't make sense. He'd seen her in her party clothes plenty of times. Her long blonde hair was flowing over her shoulders, her low waisted jeans sat on her hips and showed an expanse of toned flesh. Her shirt accented her small breasts, and her high heeled sandals made her long legs seem longer still. His mouth went temporarily dry.

"Jake?" she said in surprise.

"You look good," he managed.

"Thanks," she said, walking to the door to retrieve her purse. For a moment, Jake finally let desire override conscious thought.

Ryan made a short noise of surprise after he pulled her on to the couch on top of him, before his lips covered hers. She pulled away for a second, and stared down at him. She loved him. She'd always known it. Satisfaction ebbing at her, she leaned down and kissed him again. Her hair fell over both of them, surrounding them in a cloud of its intoxicating scent.

As she slipped her hand into his pants and the knowledge that they were about to have sex came to both of them, they sprang apart.

"Shit. We have to stop doing that. We're going to ruin everything," she said anxiously. Jake, lying on the couch with an erection, looked slightly less concerned.

"Yeah. Uh, about that..."

"No, not. You're in love with Peyton. I'm not about to be your replacement," she said sternly. He nodded slowly.

"I know. I'm sorry, I haven't been fair to you. Do you want to keep living here?" he asked.

"Jake, this is my home. I'm not going to leave. We just have to keep the lines clearly drawn," she said, more gently this time.

"I think I'm okay with that," he said hesitantly.

"Well, you have to be. I'm not going to move out in case we have sex and become all awkward," she said.

"Good. I don't want you too. You're the best roommate I've ever had," he said. They met eyes, and she raised her eyebrows at him. "Including her."

"I have to go to the bathroom," she said abruptly.

Ryan ran off, sat on the edge of the bathtub and silently proceeded to cry. Never had there been a men less in love with her. He had a mild desire to have sex with her, but it was one easily swayed. He didn't need to have her. He barely even wanted her. It just wasn't fair. What hadn't she done? She'd never tried to hurt anyone. All she'd ever done was be her own lovesick self, and this is where it got her. The only one alone in a sea of couples. Maybe not a sea. Maybe just Nathan and Haley and Brooke and Lucas.

Back in the living room, Jake rearranged his shirt and stared down at his hands. It kept happening. He couldn't explain it. He was beginning to want her in a feverish way he couldn't explain, and she didn't seem to understand. She was everything to him and always would be, in one way or another. And she brought up Peyton whenever she could. Almost as if she was trying to create distance.

At this thought, Jake shook his head. The idea that Ryan Scott, his beautiful roommate, one of the Manhattan Scotts, was in love with him was entirely ridiculous.