Sorry about the lack of Jeyton in this story, it will come in this chapter, Along with enough other crap to keep you all satisfied... I hope. The Goo Goo Dolls' song Sympathy is this chapter's title. I thought it fit well.
Chapter 16: Sympathy
Stranger than your sympathy
This is my apology
I'm killing myself from the inside out
And all my fears have pushed you out
It had been close to a week since "The whore has left the building." It was all over every tabloid, and it seemed that ten times the paparazzi were circling Tree Hill, just yearning for a shot of Nathan Scott in a 'post-break up depression.' Everyone had tip-toed around him the first couple days, fully prepared for the angry shell of Nathan to comeback with a vengeance. But Nathan was quite the opposite, he seemed to be trying to adapt to his new life in Tree Hill as well as possible, and Hannah, Nicole and he were constantly together. Haley seemed to be sneaking in and out of their picture of perfection, she knew that in less than a day Hannah, Lucas and herself would be on the 6am flight back to New York. Of course, Lucas would be staying only a few days to collect his things, and then he'd be gone on a plane back to Tree Hill. Everyone was bracing themselves silently for the break up. Talking about it made everyone become extremely nervous and someone would quickly change the subject. Brooke and Lucas were avoiding each other and Peyton and Jake had been walking on eggshells the past week. The dinner that Karen and Deb had arranged for that night would be brutal, and it seemed the whole town knew it.
--
"I just don't understand why it has to be tomorrow, mom." Hannah badgered as she watched her mother get ready from her spot on her mother's (well Peyton's guest room) bed. It didn't seem fair, sure coming back to Tree Hill on holidays seemed like a lot when she had most of her KNOWN family with her, but now everything was different. Even Haley could admit that much.
"I think you do, we've been over it enough times. You start school next Tuesday, and we need time to move Uncle Lucas out, and regroup." Haley replied, trying to apply her mascara. This would be as hard for her as it was for Hannah, and she wished she would stop bringing it up, the thought of it made her sick.
"We DON'T need time to 'regroup!' And Uncle Luke can move his crap out by himself." She informed her indignantly.
"Oh really?" She questioned as if this was all news to her. Hannah nodded. "Well, it doesn't change the fact that I have to work and YOU have school!" She said, poking Hannah's stomach as she plopped down beside her on the bed and worked on retouching her toe nail polish.
"Mom...? Is it really just going to be us now...?" She questioned nervously, watching Haley paint her toes almost trance-like.
"Yeah honey it is. Well..." She paused. "Kenny and Taylor will be popping by- like always."
"And Chris?"
"Yeah, he's unavoidable too." Haley chuckled.
"Will we still have movie night, even if Uncle Lucas isn't with us?"
"Of course baby!" She assured, kissing the top of Hannah's head as she closed the nail polish container and walked over to her closet. She pulled a hanger with a zip-up cover on it. She exhaled heavily, "Here goes nothing." She told her self quietly as she unzipped the cover, revealing a very special dress.
--
I wish for things that I don't need
All I wanted
And what I chase won't set me free
All I wanted
And I get scared but I'm not crawling on my knees
"Dad! If you don't get down here this instant I will leave without you! I am not going to be late, just because you can't get your pants on!" She screamed up the stairs. She didn't know why she was so... Hannah-esque, but she wanted to be there as if they could last in the moment and tomorrow would never come.
"Wait. What did you just yell?" Nathan asked, walking slowly down the stairs of the beach house, trying to haphazardly tie his tie. Unlike Nicole, he didn't want this night to ever come, he prayed Haley would change her mind and stay in Tree Hill.
"Nothing." She lied, stifling her laughter as Nathan playfully chased her out of the house and into the car. "Your tie is awful." She giggled.
"I have my mom or Brooke do it." He grumbled. Nicole laughed. "What?"
"You are going to have your mommy tie your tie at thirty years old?"
"HEY! Thirty is NOT that old. It's only like 18 years older than you." He defended as they drove past the construction site that was going to be their house. He looked over at Nicole who sighed pitifully at the sight. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Just everything's changing, I'll be okay. So, are Uncle Luke and Brooke talking again?"
"'Dunno. Tonight will definitely be entertaining if nothing else..." He sighed.
--
Oh yeah everything's all wrong yeah
Everything's all wrong yeah
Where the hell did I think I was
"So... this should be an interesting night" Jenny stated, trying to break the very awkward silence that filled the living room, as they waited for the rest of the group to arrive. Peyton and Jake sat on opposite sides of the couch across from her. "ALRIGHT!" She exclaimed. "This silence crap needs to stop. What is going on here?"
"Nothing." Jake denied crossly.
"Don't lie to her Jake." Peyton bit out at him. She turned her attention toward Jenny. "What's going on here is that your father is an insensitive jerk."
"Oh. Okay. I'm the insensitive one? Who called me a 'stupid jackass' when I tried to fix the doorknob?" He shot back at her. Jenny was struck hard, her parents had never fought in front of her, and if they did they kept it hushed and then made up quickly.
"Only because you ended up breaking the door!" She exclaimed as she started to shake with little sobs. Jenny and her father exchanged confused glances, Peyton rarely cried anymore, especially over something so stupid. "I didn't mean it!"
"Shh... baby..." He hushed quietly, pulling her into him. The click of high heels sounded from the stairs, and Jake quickly signaled for Jenny to stop them from coming in just yet. "You wanna tell me what's going on Peyton?"
"Jake... I'm pregnant." She smiled weakly. A grin spread quickly across his face.
"Really..?" He muttered in disbelief.
"Yeah.." She smiled back. Jake quickly stood up, pulling her up as well, and enveloped her in a hug. "This is going to be quite the night isn't it?" She exhaled deeply, as if a huge weight had been lifted.
"I can truly say it already ranks pretty high in my book. Very little could bring me down now."
"Hmm... dining with the whole Scott brood, and ex- Scott wives and ex- Scott girlfriends and Scott kids? I'd rather stay home and eat... rice and cake."
"Rice and Cake?" Jake asked incredulously.
"Yeah! Doesn't that sound good?"
"Sure babe. Of course." He replied, shaking his head and smiling as Hannah and Jenny appeared in the living room.
"Where is Haley?"
"She went back upstairs to help Brooke." Hannah informed them.
"Yeah, and she looks AMAZING!" Jenny added. "I like the smiling..." She whispered quietly as she walked by them.
--
Stranger than your sympathy
I take these things so I don't feel
I'm killing myself from the inside out
Now my head's been filled with doubt
Lucas paced around his room at his mother's house. He couldn't breathe. He had spent all day dreading the dinner. It meant his plan of avoiding Brooke would suffer a major blow. He couldn't understand why he was acting like this. He realized his behavior at the party was immature. Of course she wouldn't understand what he was hinting at. He had been very vague, but a part of him hoped she'd understand so he wouldn't have to ACTUALLY say it aloud. He patted his pocket. It was still there. His nerves were driving him crazy. His mother knocked on the door. He nearly jumped. "Uh... Yeah?"
"Lucas, honey we need to go. Poor Deb may have a coronary if we miss our reservations. And we are meeting at Peyton and Jake's."
"Yeah... of course." He muttered, patting his pocket again. Still there.
Karen laughed. "This should be an interesting night. Don't you think?"
"Yeah. Interesting." He swallowed.
--
It's hard to lead the life you choose
All I wanted
When all your luck's run out on you
All I wanted
You can't see when all your dreams are coming true
"Wow. Hales. Wow." Brooke stuttered as she stared at Haley in her infamous dress.
"Oh shut up. You look better. Like always."
"Yeah... okay Haley. If that's what you need to believe." She rolled her eyes, dropping onto the bed as she fought with her stiletto, trying to get it on.
"Lucas and you still avoiding each other." She started cautiously.
"Yeah. Kinda." She shrugged.
"Are you going back to LA?" Again, Brooke shrugged.
"I don't know Haley..." She sighed. "I had this GREAT job in Los Angeles, I mean, I was REALLY close to opening my own line... but everyone I love is here." Haley feigned offense and Brooke looked at her worriedly. "What?"
"I won't be here!" Haley laughed.
"Oh, tutorgirl, ya know I love ya!" She winked.
"Well, duh. I am Haley James! Grammy winning ARTIST!" Haley joked dramatically.
"You need to work on your ego girl." She laughed as they walked out of the room and down the stairs.
--
Oh yeah it's easy to forget yeah
You choke on the regrets yeah
Who the hell did I think I was?
Nathan and Nicole pulled up to Peyton's at the same time as Lucas, Karen, and Keith did. They all got out together, and Nathan laughed at Lucas's flustered attitude.
"Stop laughing at me Nathan or I swear to god I will chop off your-"
"Lucas!" Karen scolded. "Don't you dare say another word. And Nathan. Tie your tie."She added, walking threw the open front door.
"Oh. Thirty years old and STILL getting yelled at by your mother." Nathan snickered. Lucas glared. "Dude, relax." He chuckled before following Nicole threw the door.
Brooke came down the stairs first and immediately her eyes locked with Lucas's. She gave him a feeble smile before commenting on Peyton's outfit. Haley's footsteps were heard coming down the stairs, but they stopped suddenly. "Crap!" Haley shouted. "Hold on. I forgot my thingy-per-bob-job.
Everyone laughed at her choice of words. "That means her purse, or cat, but I'm going with purse." Hannah laughed. A few moments later her quickened footsteps were heard, but again she shouted out in frustration. "Ah! My shoe fell off."
"Haley! Carefully down the stairs, if you fall and rip that dress we will kill you!" Brooke shouted. Haley obeyed and sat down on the stairs and put her strappy black high heeled shoe back on.
"Why? Is it your dress or something?" Nathan asked. Brooke laughed.
"No. Just THE HALEY DRESS." Brooke responded.
"NO WAY! Is she?" Peyton exclaimed excitedly.
"Yep." Brooke smiled. She looked over at the boy's confused faces. "You'll see. IF your memory didn't stop working, you'll see."
"ALRIGHT! I think I am ready.." Haley said, digging threw her purse as she came to the bottom of the stairs. It was a maroon, strapless silk dress, that hit just blow the knee.
"Oh. THAT dress." Lucas smirked, as he looked over at Nathan, whose wide-eyes had a look of part-terror, part-amazement. "Thirty years old and STILL getting turned on by your ex-wife. DUDE, Relax." He mocked, whispering in his ear.
"You understand now Hot Shot?" Brooke smirked. Nathan simply nodded.
"I don't get it. It's a pretty dress and looks great on her, but why is it so important?" Nicole asked Brooke.
"Come on! Where is it!" Haley yelled, oblivious to everyone staring at her as she continued to dig threw her purse.
"Come sit, and I will tell you the story..." Brooke sighed. "Alright, so your parents basically were avoiding each other at all costs during the beginning of our senior year-"
"Why?" Nicole asked.
"Doesn't matter, ask your mother. Anyways, they were, and of course they still loved each other, just your parents are probably the two most stubborn people I have EVER met. And every year we had this basketball party thing at Dan's house, formal attire was a MUST. And I dragged Peyton and Haley with me, which was hard because your mother hated leaving the apartment! She wanted to sit and watch Lifetime movies! I can't have that! Anyways, so we went and she wore that dress. THE HALEY DRESS!"
"GREAT STORY! Really had me shakin on that one Brooke." Nicole rolled her eyes.
"I'm not done! So, we went, and Haley looked gorgeous, but she insisted on keeping this stupid coat thing on so no one could see the dress. But then we played a LITTLE game... which you should NEVER play!" She added quickly, intriguing the girls.
"What kind of game..."
"A uh, drinking one."
"I Never, to be exact." Peyton added, coming in to sit down with them.
"Right, so it was my turn, and I was drunk, and was looking for some fun. So I say, "I never waited for marriage to have sex." Which was sorta mean, but not really since everyone knew Haley had waited."
"It was still mean Brooke." Peyton corrected. "But Haley took it like a champ and downed a LOT of her drink. Then it was your father's turn, and he says, "I never regretted letting Haley wait until marriage." Which would make ANY girl smile."
"Yeah, so your mother, who was completely drunk takes off her shall coat thing, revealing the stunning dress that made horny teenage Nathan flip. And so he takes her arm and drags her away, and asks her to go on a "Walk " which we all knew meant to his bedroom. And that ladies- Is the night your momma got preggers." Brooke says.
"You're kidding!" Nicole laughed. "Our mom wore that dress when we were conceived?"
"Um. Actually. She wore BEFORE you were conceived. I'm pretty sure she was naked when they were-" Brooke told them.
"LADIES! Let's go!" Jake shouts at them.
"Oh right, dinner." Peyton mumbles
"So what happened after we were born?"
"They got a divorce...?"
"Way to state the obvious on that one Brooke." Peyton laughs. "Only your parents know that."
"What are you two talking about?" Jake and Jenny ask.
"Nothing." They say quickly in unison.
"I'm sure..."
--
Stranger than your sympathy
All these thoughts you stole from me
I'm not sure where I belong
Nowhere's home and I'm all wrong
"Well, only 25 minutes late." Deb scolds playfully as everyone arrives. They all greet her and a sullen looking Dan.
"What's up with him?" Lucas whispers to Keith.
"I dunno." He shrugs. "Deb, what's wrong with Dan?"
"I have no clue, he's been like this all day." She rolled her eyes.
They all sit down at the large round table. Nathan is sitting next to Dan, and Haley is beside him. Nicole and Hannah are sitting next to Haley, then comes Lucas, Karen, Keith, Jenny, Jake, Peyton, Brooke and finally Deb who is sitting next to Dan's other side. Peyton and Jake had seemed to go off in their own little world, Jenny was busy eying a bus boy who was taking French with her next year, Nicole and Hannah were talking quietly about ways to avoid the next day, Lucas was talking to Karen and Keith about his new living arrangements, and the remainder of the table were discussing something about colleges. Suddenly Jake stands, grinning ear to ear, and clears his throat, catching the table's attention
"Um. Peyton and I... um. We would like to tell you that uh..."
"I'm pregnant." Peyton smiled, finishing for him quickly. The table immediately responded with their congratulations. Everyone settled back down, and eyed Jenny nervously who hadn't said anything.
"Jenny honey. Are you going to be okay?"
"Please tell me this is a sick joke or something." She stated bluntly.
"No, Jenn, Peyton is really pregnant."
"GREAT!" She exclaimed sarcastically. "Whatever. Let's just eat so I can go call Alexa."
"Welcome to the teenage years..." Jake mumbled to Peyton.
"Oh god. Let's hope she's not like us." She responded.
"Or Nikki.." Jake sighed.
"So. A toast, to family.. And friends." Deb smiled raising her glass after they had finished their meal. The clinking of glasses and "Cheers!" Echoed throughout the table.
"And to think this will all be over tomorrow.." Karen sighed sadly. Everyone sat uncomfortably for a moment before the waitress returned with the dessert cart.
"Oh! I shotgun the chocolate cake!" Haley exclaims, everyone laughs.
"Grow up, Hales. Just grow up." Lucas laughs.
"Says the man eating chocolate PUDDING!"
"Whoa. Break it up. Last time this fight occurred our kitchen was covered in chocolate, and I had to clean it up!" Hannah scolds.
"He started it.." She muttered, staring down at her cake.
"Did not!" He objected quietly.
"I love you girls. Hannah, be good for your mother." Karen cried kissing them goodbye for the millionth time.
"Love you too, Karen." Haley laughs, as they leave the restaurant.
Nathan and Nicole were sitting on bench outside, and they walk over to them.
"Took ya' long enough!" Nicole exclaimed.
"Yeah, well that's Karen for you." Haley laughs.
"I'm surprised my mother didn't choke you to death too." Nathan says.
"Oh, she did." Hannah states.
"Well, shall we ladies?" Nathan sighs, holding out his arm.
"No. We shall'nt or shouldn't, WHATEVER! We won't go until you tell us why." Nicole states.
"Why what?" He asks confused.
"Why I got YOU and she got mom!" She points at him. Haley starts to laugh, which seems to make Nicole more upset.
"You wanna tell them, or should I? You SCREW UP!" She giggles.
"One, Haley stop calling me a screw up. Two, No, I really don't want to tell them, I don't think we should have to." He gumbles.
"YOU"D think that, wouldn't you." She bites accusingly at him. "Fine, you won't I will."
"Whatever. I'm leaving then."
"Fine. Take the easy way out." She shouts after him. "Didn't seem to bother you then, either." She whispers, sitting down on the bench and pulling Hannah and Nicole down next to her.
--
And I wasn't all the things I tried to make believe I was
"Brooke, can you come with me for a second?" Lucas questioned. Patting his pocket again, it was still there.
"Um. Sure. Look Lucas I-" She started, but he silenced her with his finger on her lips.
"Brooke, its okay. Close your eyes. Trust me, it's okay." He assured her. He lead her around the back just as he had planned. And sat her down on a bench. And told her to open her eyes.
"Lucas, it's so beautiful." She gasped as he sat down next to her. He had taken her to a rose garden, there were lights in the trees and roses and the bench was placed right in front of a fountain.
"You're beautiful." He corrected. "Brooke, last week, the reason I acted like I did was because I was afraid of losing you again, and I don't know if my heart could take that. I need you so much Brooke."
"Aw. Broody, you won't lose me silly. I love and need you too." She smiled, her trademark dimples glowing as she leaned in to kiss him.
"Sounds good.." He whispers.
"Yeah, it does..." She nods before they kiss.
"Brooke...?" He softly says after they break away, foreheads touching lightly.
"Yeah?" She responds, watching him slide off the bench and onto his knee in front of her. "Oh my god." She whispers, realizing what he is doing.
"Will you be my wife?" He proposes, looking at her face of shock as he takes the ring box from his pocket finally.
--
And I wouldn't be the one to kneel
Before the dreams I wanted
And all the talk and all the lies
Were all the empty things disguised as me
Yeah stranger than your sympathy
Stranger than your sympathy..
Haley sighs, not sure how to start as she stares at the stars above them. "Your father and I.. We... got married VERY young..." She almost wished Nathan had stayed, together they could have breezed over it, but without him it wasn't going to be so easy.
"We know this, skip ahead to Us." Hannah sighs annoyed.
"Shut up Hannah. I want to know why you were fighting before dad knocked you up."
"Don't talk like that." She scolded. "And who told you we were fighting before I became pregnant?"
"Brooke. She told us about that dress.." Hannah answered slowly. Watching Haley's frown turn to her exhausted face.
"Yeah, well. Brooke needs to learn to not tell you two everything." Haley chuckled. "We were fighting because I had left him for singing and he hated me for it, and I hated myself for it. But I DID wear this dress the night you two were conceived. And so I guess I have to thank this dress... and whatever it was that I was drunk off of. But.. After that, not everything went so well.."
Yeah. Yeah. TWO CLIFFHANGERS! Sorry bout that! MORE WILL COME SOOON! I promise...