The Bitter Taste

Coming This Far

--Thanks everyone for all the reviews you guys are awesome:

-Nate and Jake- Thank you so much for the review!
-OTHlover04- Thank you!
-Kaos2405- Thank you!
-BrookenLucas12- I'm glad you love this story, and I'm going to try to make this one a long one, because Brathan's are my favorite!
-Mony19- Thanks, I love Brathan too
-Selene Romanov- I intend on making Brooke play a little nurse wink, wink And I'm glad you liked the end with Alex and Brooke, I just wanted to make sure the readers knew that Brooke still had some spunk left in her.
-Nookieforever07- I wanted to change this up a bit and I'm glad you like it. Thanks!
-Cap'n Keira Sparrow- Thanks for the review!
-Catz- Yes, very compelling, thanks!
-Belle-Baby- Yeah, that Alex guy is definitely an asshole. I always want that specific character that everyone just hates, and Alex seemed like the perfect guy. Unfortunately, that won't be the last you'll see of him.
-SwedishBlonde- Thanks!
-dolcegrazia- Thank you, and no I did not write those lyrics. The lyrics are from the song "Because of You" by Kelly Clarkson.
-HalesnLukeBFF4Ever- Thanks you!

xxx

Brooke walked out of the airport and got her first glimpse of North Carolina. 6 years had gone by fast. Brooke rented a car and felt her nerves rack up as she passed the sign that said "Welcome to Tree Hill!"

Before she knew it she was crying; she wasn't supposed to be coming back, she was just setting herself up for heartbreak. Brooke thought about Alex and then about Nathan; she told Alex it was over which probably was one of the hardest things she ever had to do. But when she thought about Nathan and about Tree Hill it seemed like nothing else mattered.

She drove to her house and saw that it had been changed a little bit. Brooke got out of her car and knocked on the door. Brooke was surprised when Tim Smith opened the door with a baby in his arms.

"Brooke!" He said in surprise, "Wow, I haven't seen you in years!"

"Hey Tim," Brooke said with a smile as the two of them hugged.

The hug ended and Tim motioned for Brooke to come in, "Come on in…"

Brooke walked into her old house and sat in the kitchen across from Tim as he set the baby in a high chair, "You're a dad?" Brooke asked.

Tim chuckled, "Yeah," he said as he looked adoringly at the baby, "A lot's changed since you've been gone."

"I've noticed," Brooke said as she stroked the baby's cheek, "I would've never expected you to be a dad…"

Tim sighed, "Me neither," he said, "But after Erica and I got married we decided that kids would be good for us…"

"Erica?" Brooke asked, "As in Erica Marsh?"

Erica walked into the kitchen with a huge smile on her face, "The one and only," she said as her and Brooke hugged, "How are you?"

"I'm good," Brooke said, still taking all of it in, "This is like I'm in another universe…"

Erica sat beside Tim as he put his arm around her, "Have you gone to see Nathan yet?" Erica asked, ignoring the shaking of Tim's head.

Brooke bit her bottom lip, "Not yet…" She said and then looked down at the table cloth.

"Did you come back for him?" Erica asked.

Tim groaned, "Erica…"

"What?" Erica asked innocently, "I'm just asking the girl a question sweetie!"

Brooke laughed nervously and cleared her throat, "I came back because I wanted to see everyone, and because Haley came to one of my shows and told me that I should come and see Nathan…So, here I am."

"Oh yeah!" Tim exclaimed, "You're a big time singer now."

"I'm still the same old Brooke," she said with a small smile.

xxx

An hour and a half had passed and Brooke said her goodbyes to Erica and Tim. She got into her car and drove to Peyton's house, which she was hoping was still Peyton's. Brooke knocked on the door and heard Peyton's voice yell "hold on". Brooke smiled to herself as she thought about how long it had been since she'd seen Peyton.

The door opened and Peyton saw her old best friend Brooke standing there nervously. Peyton's jaw dropped and she screamed, "Oh my god!" She said as the two friends hugged.

"Hey P. Sawyer," Brooke said as a lone tear fell down her cheek. Brooke walked into the house as Peyton also began to cry.

"How the hell are you?" Peyton asked as she wiped her eyes.

Brooke smiled sadly, "I've been better," she said, "But…I'm doing okay…How are you?"

"Better now that my best friend is back!" Peyton said excitedly, "I can't believe that you're here!"

"I know," Brooke said as she looked around Peyton's house, "Your house looks different…"

Peyton laughed, "Yeah, that's what happens when you have a guy move in."

"Jake?" Brooke asked.

Peyton's smile slowly dropped and she looked down at the ground, "No, actually, um, he had to leave again…"

"Peyton," Brooke said sympathetically, "I'm so sorry…"

"It's cool," Peyton said as she made eye contact with Brooke again, "Nikki was trying to take Jenny away so he had to leave one night, and we keep in touch through emails and stuff, but…We're just not romantically involved anymore."

Brooke sighed as she thought about how long it had been since she was in Tree Hill, "I feel bad Peyton," she said, "So whose this new guy?"

Lucas walked down the stairs, "Brooke Davis?" He asked.

"Lucas!" Brooke screamed as the two of them hugged. Brooke looked at Peyton and winked, "You two are living together? Lucky!"

Peyton and Lucas both laughed, "It's so good to see you Cheery," Lucas said as he rested his hands on Brooke's shoulders, "It's been too long."

"I know," Brooke said softly, "I missed you guys too…"

Lucas walked over to Peyton and put his arm around her waist, "I know this is kind of a sore subject for you, but…"

"I didn't go to see Nathan yet," Brooke said, "I'm kind of dreading that."

Peyton gave Lucas a look and Lucas walked back upstairs, "Girl talk," Peyton said as she took Brooke's hand and led her outside.

"How's he doing?" Brooke asked about Nathan.

Peyton shrugged as the two of them sat down, "Do you mean now, or when you left?"

"He had Haley," Brooke said softly.

Peyton sighed, "Well right now, he broke a few ribs and is just pretty banged up. The doctor's say he's really lucky that he was wearing a seat belt…" Peyton explained, "He was such a mess when you left Brooke."

"I was a mess too," Brooke said sadly, "It was hard because everything was going so well, and then Haley came back…"

"They got a divorce," Peyton said.

Brooke leaned back in her chair, "I kind of figured…Haley was the one who told me about Nathan after one of my shows…And she was with Chris so…"

"They got a divorce about a month after you left, hun," Peyton pointed out, "He loves you so much…"

"Loves?" Brooke questioned, "As in still does?"

"I wouldn't doubt it," Peyton said matter of factly.

Brooke looked down at her nails, "Nathan and I haven't seen each other for about 6 years!" She exclaimed, "There is no way that there is any connection between the two of us!"

"Brooke," Peyton said sternly, "If there's nothing between the two of you then why are you here?"

Brooke opened her mouth, but closed it when she realized that she didn't have a real answer. She looked away from Peyton and out towards the road, Peyton patted Brooke's knee lightly and walked back inside.

xxx

"Nathan Scott," Brooke said to the receptionist.

She typed some things on her computer and then smiled sweetly up at Brooke, "Room 23…"

"Thanks," Brooke said and then found room 23. She heard the TV and it sounded like a basketball game; Brooke rolled her eyes, 'Same old Nate,' she thought to herself and then walked into the room.

Nathan looked over to her and dropped the remote; his icy blue eyes were stuck on her and it looked like he had just seen a ghost. Brooke closed the door behind her and walked closer towards his bed.

"Room 23," Brooke said trying to make conversation, "Isn't that you're lucky number or something?" She said with a nervous chuckle.

"Yeah," Nathan said and then picked up the remote and turned off the TV, "I saw you on TRL," he said finally.

Brooke smiled, "I didn't think you watched TRL."

"Well," Nathan said, "When you're stuck in bed and basketball's not on it's the next best thing…Plus, I was always hoping that I would see you on it."

Brooke's heart felt a sharp pain as he spoke those words, "Yeah…" She said as her voice cracked.

"I saw your music video and your interview," Nathan began.

Brooke gnawed on her bottom lip and looked up at the ceiling, "Yeah," she said, "How are you feeling?" She asked quickly.

"It hurts," Nathan said, "But…At least I'm not dead right?"

Brooke nodded, "Right…"

"Who told you I was here?" Nathan asked.

Brooke sat down on the chair beside him and crossed her legs, "Haley came to one of my shows and told me about you…"

"Haley," Nathan said with a roll of his eyes, "Was she with Chris?"

Brooke nodded, "Yeah."

"Figures," Nathan said as he looked down at Brooke, "I'm really glad you're here," he said sincerely.

Brooke sighed, "I'm only going to be here a couple of days…"

"Oh," Nathan said disappointedly, "I thought you'd be staying for good."

Brooke shook her head, "I have a life back in New York you know?"

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Nathan asked apprehensively.

"I did," Brooke said, "But I broke up with him before the trip…"

"Oh?" Nathan said.

"Not because of you," she said as she looked away from him, "He was just an abusive son of a bitch…Always drunk, always high…"

Nathan looked at Brooke sympathetically, "Did he hurt you? 'Cause if he did I'm going to…"

"Going to what Nathan?" Brooke yelled, "Are you going to limp to New York and kick his ass for me?" She asked.

Nathan sighed, "I just…I hate the fact that you were hurting all these years, and I couldn't do anything about it."

Brooke laughed sarcastically, "Are you shitting me right now?" She asked, "You know what hurts more than being verbally and physically abused by Alex?" She said, "The fact that I was in love with someone and they threw me out like garbage for their wife who ended up still cheating on them!" Brooke screamed she stood up from her chair.

"God Brooke!" Nathan yelled back, "Do you know how much of an idiot I am for letting you go for Haley?" He asked as Brooke stood there with her arms crossed, "Not a day goes by that I wish I could've taken back everything that happened!"

"You can't," Brooke spat, "You treated me like every other guy…When you promised that you wouldn't, and when you said that you loved me."

Nathan sighed and looked Brooke in the eyes, "I've always loved you."

"So have I…" Brooke said as she began to cry.

Nathan sat up in his bed, "I get out of this place tomorrow night…Do you think we could talk?"

"This was a mistake," Brooke said, "Coming back here was just…It was just a mistake."

"Please," Nathan said, "We can talk…"

Brooke wiped her tears quickly and nodded her head, "Okay," she said and then left the room.

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