Chapter Six – Liars, Lovers & Best Friends: Part Two
(Flash backs in italic…)
As Brooke danced with Whitey she couldn't help but feel that tonight was going to turn out alright. Everyone that mattered to her was there and tomorrow she was getting married. She was also secretly relieved when Nathan had agreed that they wouldn't have a bachelor or bachelorette party.
Nathan popped his head from behind the door way and smiled at his bride-to-be. "After you take a shower you have to try these new tooth brushes. They spin on the top, and everything. It's amazing."
"Alright." Brooke laughed at how easily Nathan was amused. "Hey, Nate?"
"Yeah?" He said groggily while brushing his teeth.
Brooke set down the bridal magazine she had been flipping through and sat up. "About these bachelor / bachelorette parties…how about we just don't?"
Nathan laughed. "Jealous much?"
"Conceited much?" Brooke rolled her eyes. "It's just…I was thinking…what's the point?" Brooke sighed with a laugh. "They will be on the same night as the Weddings Rehearsal Dinner, which will probably run late into the night, and then we'll both look like crap and be hung over the next morning for the wedding. I say we just party with everyone at the Dinner next week, okay?"
"Fine by me." Nathan nodded his head with a laugh. "But I'm not inviting male strippers into my home for the dinner party."
Brooke laughed. "Like you don't want female strippers."
"They prefer exotic dancers." Nathan chuckled.
Brooke threw a pillow at him. "Whatever. They're not coming."
"But I was heard the pussy cat dolls make house calls." Nathan playfully complained.
"That's just too bad then huh?" Brooke ran up to Nathan and locked her arms around his waist. Giving him a kiss she grabbed her own, pink, toothbrush, with 'the spinning top, and everything' and brushed her teeth along with her fiancé. Brooke gave Nathan a toothpaste full smile.
"Weren't you going to take a shower?" He asked her with a smile.
"Yeah…" Brooke laughed. "But I would love the company.
Both Nathan and Brooke stripped down and went into the shower laughing.
Brooke laughed to herself at the thought of that day. Leaning her chin over Whiteys shoulder she watched as Peyton and Nathan danced nervously. Now that Peyton knew, she prayed to God that she wouldn't tell Nathan. Brooke was shocked to see the odd couple suddenly stop dancing. Both Peyton and Nathan were staring blankly at the entrance way. Brooke followed their gaze. Her mouth fell open. There in the flesh stood Haley James with Lucas Scott. Oh my god. She thought to herself. She actually showed up? And with Lucas? Brooke watched as Nathan and Peyton discretely rushed towards Lucas and Haley. Brooke bit her bottom lip trying not to laugh. This was too good to be true. Haley had actually showed up! Did this mean she had forgiven Brooke and finally moved on…to Lucas…?
Brooke wasn't quite sure how she felt about the whole Lucas/Haley paring, but she was still happy to see her old friend. She knew that Haley was probably was nervous to be there in the first place, and Brooke chewing her out for lost time wasn't going to solve anything. Brooke was so excited to see her again. She had changed a great deal over the last two years. She looked just as thin as ever, and in very good shape. In better shape then Brooke anyways, and she had long, silky blonde hair that hung down about four inches from her waist. And as much as Brooke hated to admit it, Haley looked much better in that light turquoise dress, then Brooke would have looked in any of her dresses.
"Hey Whitey." Brooke whispered into the Coaches ear. "It's a miracle."
Whitey turned around. A smile crossed is face when he saw Haley. "Are you going to go over and say hello to your guest on your own? Or am I going to have to drag you?"
Brooke laughed. "Come on." The two gracefully exited the area set aside for dancing and made their way over to Haley and Lucas.
All Scotts and their respective others, along with the five friends dates for the evening took notice that the bride-to-be had left the dance floor. Each following her path with their eyes. Each recognizing a familiar face they hadn't seen in years. Haley James. Deb bit her tongue in disgust. How dare that girl show up here, the night before Nathan's wedding? Across the dance floor Dan had a whole different idea in his mind. This night just keeps getting better and better. Dan thought with a pleased laugh. Chris thought this whole scene was just great, and Rachel and Jake both decided to stay out of it. They had enough drama dealing with raising Jenny; they didn't need their friends' excess baggage along for the ride also.
Brooke slowed a bit as she passed Nathan and Peyton. "Come on you two." She grabbed onto Nathan's arm. "Time to greet more of our guests."
Nathan reluctantly let Brooke pull him over to Haley. Peyton followed close behind, the three arrived just in time to hear Whitey greet Haley.
"Well me-oh-my, if it is Haley James." Whitey laughed. "Give an old man a hug."
Haley bit her bottom lip and smiled, taking notice to the fact that she had caught half of the guests' attention, including Brooke's and Nathan's. Haley warmly gave Whitey a hug. "Hey Coach. It's so great to see you again."
"It's better now, then the funeral. I guess." Whitey joked. Whitey watched as the kids greeted each other and some how knew things weren't going to be so bad.
Lucas greeted Brooke with a kiss on the cheek, and held out his hand to shake his younger brothers. But when Nathan didn't oblige, he coolly ran his hand through his hair and placed it into his pocket. Haley took notice to the arrival of three new people, two of which she wasn't quite ready to see yet.
Haley faced Peyton and smiled. "Hey Peyton." Haley gave Peyton a generous hug, truly happy to see her. Since Peyton had started dating Chris, she really didn't get much of a chance to see her, let alone catch her on the phone. "I hear you're dating Keller. Interesting."
"Hello to you too." Peyton laughed. "Yeah, I know. He's actually over there." Peyton said turning and gesturing to where Chris was. Jenny was standing on his shoes as the two danced. Chris took notice to Haley and gave her a smile and a quick wave. Haley did the same.
Brooke smiled. "Hey Haley." Brooke said breaking the ice. "It's nice to see you again."
It's now, or never. Haley thought and turned her attention to Nathan and Brooke. "Hey Brooke." The two old friends shared an awkward half hug. But both girls took notice to how the other was trying to make an effort. Looking up at Nathan, Haley had trouble finding the right words to say to him. Brooke had been easy. Even though the girls hadn't spoken in two years, it had been longer since she'd spoken with Nathan. She could never really forgive him for breaking her heart so many years ago. But she wasn't here to remorse in the past. She was hear to make a present and future, with her old friends. "Hey Nate." She managed to get out calmly.
"Haley." If you thought the hug between Brooke and Haley was full of tension, awkwardness, and angst, the hug between Nathan and Haley was ten times that. More like a hundred.
The group was interrupted by one of the hired waiters. "We're ready to serve the food, Miss Davis." The waiter told Brooke.
Brooke nodded. Grabbing Haley's hand she smiled. "You can sit next to me."
Haley slowly, but willingly, followed Brookes lead to the dinning table. For the next hour an a half friends and family of the soon-to-be-wed couple laughed, and joked, and had a great time. Not too long after the dinner the guest left with their respective others one by one. Soon it was just Brooke, Nathan, Lucas, Haley and Peyton left. Peyton had taken current residence over the guest bedroom toilet. Perhaps she had just a little too much too drink. Peyton's alcoholic intakes worried Brooke, but when it was ever brought up with her friends, she bit her lip. She knew better then to bad mouth Peyton, especially now that Peyton knew Brookes dirty little secret.
Chris had left about an hour earlier with out Peyton, and with Rachel, Jake and Jenny. They had made plans for Jenny to go to a sitter while the three of them went clubbing for a few hours. Peyton's plans that evening were with Brooke anyhow. Peyton and Brooke had rented a room at the Tree Hill Lodge for the night, because it was bad luck for Nathan and Brooke to spend the night together.
Brooke dropped her duffel bag full of the essentials to last her for the night next to the front door. Waiting for Peyton to come out of the bathroom, she watched the servers and hired help clean the mess left from their guest earlier. Across the room, in a back corner Brooke watched as Lucas and Haley laughed. As much as Brooke didn't want to admit it, she was a little jealous. Brooke walked into an empty kitchen and grabbed water bottle out of the refrigerator before leaving. She was genuinely surprised to see Lucas walk in behind her.
"Hey beautiful." Lucas said with a smile as he pressed her back against a wall and kissed her.
Brooke let herself indulge for a moment before gently pushing him away. "Stop it." She warned him. "Nathan is just in the other room." She whipped her mouth before continuing. "God, Lucas, I'm getting married tomorrow. This has to stop."
Lucas smiled grabbing her chin and pulling her mouth to his. "Who says." He kissed her again.
Brook pushed him away hardly. "I said no." She grabbed the water bottle that had fallen out of her hand and to the ground and walked out of the kitchen. Not paying much attention she bumped right into Peyton. Forcing a smile she laughed. "Ready to go Blondie?"
Brooke ran up to Nathan and gave him a quick kiss. "See you tomorrow handsome." She called back to him as she ran to the front door where Peyton was waiting. The two girls waved good bye to Lucas and Haley before heading out the door and to the Hotel.
That night, while Peyton slept, Brooke laid wide awake. She wondered if Peyton, had heard, or maybe even seen what had happened in the kitchen. Brooke quickly dismissed the thoughts. Even if Peyton had seen or heard anything she wouldn't mention it. She probably would think it was the boos making her imagine it. And if she did mention something, that's exactly what Brooke, would tell her. That she must have imagined it.
