Chapter Five – Liars, Lovers & Best Friends: Part One

Each resident of Tree Hill prepared there selves for an evening that was bound to be eventful…to say the least. Dan Scott smiled to himself in his car window before entering his youngest son's home. He knew perfectly well Miss Davis's situation and he couldn't wait to see it all unfold. Dan had only found out recently that his daughter-in-law-to-be was sleeping with her future husband's brother. But Dan knew better then to spill the beans just yet. The real show would be to let Nathan find out about the unfaithful bride-to-be on his own time. It was much more exciting to watch that way.

It was now less then an hour away from the rehearsal dinner and guests were already showing up. Nathan greeted each invited guest as they walked into his and Brooke's home, the place where they would be holding the nights activities.

Nathan greeted Karen and her new husband Andy as they walked into the main room of the home. Shortly after followed his father, Dan Scott, former Mayer of Tree Hill, and his newer, much blonder, much younger girlfriend. What is her name? Nathan couldn't remember. Berkley? Brittany? Bailey? He knew it started with a 'B' and the rest, he could frankly care less.

"Hello son." Dan said shaking Nathan's hand.

"Dad." Nathan said not to enthusiastic that his father had actually came. As a matter of fact, he wasn't so keen on the fact that Brooke insisted on inviting the creep. But nothing was going to bring him down tonight, not even Dan Scott. Nathan turned his attention to his father's girlfriend. "Nice to see you again."

"Nice to see you too, Nathan." The blonde, who upon arrival had been attached to his father's hip, released her grip from Dan and gave Nathan a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Standing on her tip toes so her mouth would be close enough to his ear, she whispered. "My names Bree."

Nathan smiled. Bree! I knew it started with a 'B'! As Bree stepped away from Nathan and clutched back onto Dan's arm Nathan couldn't help but grin. The two were such an odd coupling. Nathan knew that Bree must have been only half his fathers age, maybe less and he also knew that she probably wasn't much older then Nathan. And she was kind of hot. Too hot to be dating a man pushing his late forties that's for sure.

Nathan didn't bother to watch his father and Bree walk away. Shortly after his mother, Deb Lee, and date for the evening walked in. Nathan smiled at the sight of his mother and Whitey. He new very well that the two weren't a couple, but he loved them both.

Deb wrapped her arms around her son into a tight hug. "You look handsome."

"Thanks mom." Nathan blushed. "Hey Coach." All these years had passed since Nathan had played under Whiteys coaching, but he still called him 'Coach.' Now Nathan had aged more, and was a proud member of the North Carolina Bobcats.

"Hey Nate." Coach said shaking Nathan's hand. "Ok. We saw him." He said turning his attention to Deb. "Now where is that gorgeous bride to be?"

Nathan turned and pointed across the room. Brooke stood there all laughs and smiles as she mingled with her guests and her parents and their respective others. She was wearing a long, black, backless, gown that hung loosely in the front. Nathan thought she looked gorgeous. "There." He told Whitey.

Whitey passed by Nathan with a smile, a wink, and a pat on the back. "See you later son."

Deb paused a moment before trailing after Whitey. "I'm going to go say hello to Brooke. I'll be back." She smiled and walked away.

Nathan watched as Brooke greeted his mother and Whitey with a warm smile and hugs and kissed. At the moment she was chatting with Tim and his date. No doubted she was hired to be his date. Probably an out of work stripper. But Nathan didn't care. God, do I love her. Nathan thought. Gazing off at Brooke he hardly even noticed the next set of couples to walk in. Peyton held Chris' hand tightly as they walked in to the home. She was nervous on having to see Nathan and pretend everything was ok. She hadn't bothered telling Chris the news the Brooke had shared with her earlier that day. She doubted he would care either way. He would probably blab it to the wrong person and it would get back to Nathan, so it was better she kept her lips sealed.

"Hey." Chris said catching Nathan's attention.

Nathan spun around to face his next round of guest. "Oh. Its you. Hey Keller." Nathan said forcing a smile trying to be polite.

"Chris Keller is digging your place, Nate." Chris said looking around.

"Thanks." Nathan said brushing off the fact that every time he spoke to the loser, Chris talked in the third person. Turning his attention to his other guests, Peyton leaned forward and gave Nathan a kiss on the cheek, and smiled.

Jake, who was holding his seven year old daughter, Jenny's, hand shook Nathan's hand with his free hand. "Hey man."

"Hey." Nathan smiled and crouched down so he was at the level of little Jenny. "Hey beautiful." The little girl leaned forwards and kissed Nathan's cheek. Just as quickly as this kiss came, the girl blushed and hid behind her fathers arm. Rachel laughed. "Hey Rach." Nathan said hugging Rachel.

"Hey Nate, where B. Davis?" Rachel asked. Nathan nodded in Brooke's direction. Rachel smiled. "I'll catch up with you later."

Rachel walked off to see Brooke and Jake laughed. "I go where the red head goes." He told Nathan. As he began to walk away it didn't take him long to notice that Jenny wasn't following behind. He turned back around to face the petite blonde. "Jenny. You comin'?" He asked patiently. As a response Jenny clutched onto Nathan's arm.

Nathan laughed. "It's fine. She can hang out with me."

"If you're sure."

"Really. It's fine." He said patting Jenny on the head. "We're all set, aren't we, Jenny?"

Jenny nodded. "Yep." She answered then blushed again and hid her face behind Nathan's arm.

"If she starts to bug you, send her in my direction." Jake laughed walking off, following Rachel's path.

Peyton turned towards Chris. "Hey, would you mind if I talked to Nathan alone for a minute?" She asked him.

Chris nodded. "That's fine." He kissed her cheek then leaned down so he was at eye level with Jenny. "How would you like to dance with a rock star, shorty?" He held out his hand for Jenny to grab onto. Jenny smiled and grabbed onto his hand practically pulling him out to the dance floor. "Chris Keller might regret this decision." He laughed back to Nathan and Peyton.

Peyton laughed. "Rachel and Jake, huh?" Peyton said turning to Nathan. "Talk about a strange couple."

"Try you and Keller." Nathan laughed. "I never would have thought you would stoop that low."

"Hey!" Peyton playfully smacked him on the shoulder. "He's not half as bad as everyone makes him out to be."

"Peyton, he talks in the third person for god's sake."

"That's just apart of the Chris Keller charm." She laughed.

Nathan looked out on the dance floor and spotted Brooke dancing with Whitey, Chris with Jenny, and Jake with Rachel. Turing back to Peyton he smiled. "Want to dance?" He held out his hand.

"Sure. Why not?" Peyton put her hand in his and smiled. "Let's go." As the two slow danced they chatted. "Speaking of crazy couples, you and Brooke. Who would have guest it?"

"Definitely not me." Nathan confessed. "Not in my wildest dreams did I think about being with her. To be honest, I thought there was more of a chance of us happening again."

Peyton laughed. "Really?"

"Yeah. I know. Crazy, right?"

"Just a little." Peyton smiled "But who could blame you for wanting to be with a fox like me."

Nathan laughed. "Damn straight, Sawyer. Damn straight."

The two danced in silence for a minute. The silence was cut short when Peyton laughed out of the blue.

"What?" Nathan asked her with a smile of confusion.

"I was just thinking…"

"About?"

"About how we all ended up with the people we never would have guessed. "All we need now if for Luke and Haley to hook up and we're set."

Nathan laughed. "Right. Like that would ever happen." A familiar figure appeared in the door way that caught Nathan's eye. It was Lucas. "Hey, Luke!" He called Luke over. Luke smiled faintly and waited for his date. Another figure appeared next to Lucas that Nathan also recognized. Haley James stood here, her arm entwined with Lucas'.

Nathan bit his bottom lip with anger. How dare he bring her here? Clutching tighter onto Peyton he looked into her eyes. "I guess we're all set then, huh?"

"What?" Peyton ask genuinely confused. Nathan turned Peyton towards Lucas and Haley. "Oh my god. What is she doing here?"

"I don't know. Oh, but I bet my big bro does." Nathan responded through his teeth. "Talk about wild pairings…"

Peyton could feel Nathan's grip around her wait grow a little tighter. It turns out that tonight would be living up to every ones expectations. Because you cant have a wedding in Tree Hill with out a little drama and angst to go along with it…