The Bitter Taste

The Big Picture

--Thanks for all the reviews! You guys are great!

xxx

"This is so typical," Brooke said as her and Nathan drove down the highway, "Something good happens in my life, and then it has to be followed by something bad."

Nathan held Brooke's hand, "What's wrong with your mom?"

"I think it's cancer," Brooke said as she wiped her eyes, "But my dad says he isn't sure…He said that something is just eating away at her."

Nathan wiped away one of Brooke's tears, "You should get some rest," he said as he turned down the radio.

"No I'm fine," Brooke said as she sniffed softly, "I want to be with you," she said as she kissed Nathan's hand, "Thank you…For all of this."

Nathan smiled at her, "I love you Brooke," he said, "And I'm going to be here for you."

"I never expected myself to care," Brooke said softly, "My parents were never there for me when I was younger…They were always out drinking and partying, they didn't care. And here I am now crying because I think my mom is going to die," she said sadly, "I just wish…I wish that I would've had parents you know?"

Nathan stroked Brooke's cheek, "I know what you mean," he said and then turned back towards the road. Brooke watched as he looked onto the road; realizing that her and Nathan had a lot more in common then she had ever realized.

xxx

Lucas sat at the bar and took a sip from his beer; he looked around at all the people laughing and talking. It seemed like everyone was mocking him at the bar; they all were in couples; all in love.

Lucas looked across the bar and saw a girl giving him looks; Lucas smiled at her as the bartender set another beer in front of him, "I didn't order this," Lucas said to the bartender.

"The lady over there got it for you," the bartender said, pointing to the girl that Lucas had been looking at.

Lucas raised his eyebrows and walked over towards her, "Thanks for the beer," he said, "I'm Lucas…"

"You are?" The girl asked, "What brings you to a bar on such a lovely night…Without a date?"

Lucas sat down beside her and sighed, "My girlfriend and I broke up…We kind of had a little disagreement about one of her ex's."

"Ouch," the girl said, "So what are you doing now? Hoping to get some ass at a bar from a pure, innocent little girl like me?" She teased.

Lucas laughed, "I'm here doing what you're doing…Drinking alone," he said, "What's your name?"

"Buy me a drink and maybe I'll tell you," the girl said with a seductive smile.

xxx

Brooke woke up when heard the car door open; she opened her eyes and saw Nathan pulling back from kissing her on the forehead, "Hey beautiful," he said as he stroked her cheek.

"I probably look like hell," she said with a small laugh, and then kissed him passionately on the lips.

Nathan shook his head, "We're at the hotel," he said, "We can get all cleaned up and then go to the hospital to see your mom…"

The two of them walked into the room and Brooke laid down on the king sized bed they had gotten; she smiled up at Nathan and ran her fingers through her hair, "Are you trying to seduce me Miss. Davis?" Nathan asked.

"Maybe," Brooke said as she got up from the bed and kissed Nathan up against a wall, "Besides," she whispered, "We both know that you took advantage of me while I was sleeping," Brooke teased.

Nathan laughed, "You are a heavy sleeper," he said and then kissed Brooke softly on the lips.

"I cannot wait till tonight," she said as she poked him in the ribs, "I am going to take so much advantage of you."

Nathan led Brooke over towards the bed and got on top of her and kissed her neck, "I can't wait," he whispered in her ear.

Brooke looked at the clock and sat up, "We should get ready," she said as she got up from the bed.

"Your right," Nathan said and gave Brooke one last kiss on the lips.

xxx

The girl took Lucas's hand after the two of them had had their fair share of drinks, "I'm Anna by the way," she said with a giggle and then took Lucas outside.

Anna leaned against her car and put Lucas's hand up her shirt, "Should we be doing this here?" Lucas asked.

"Do you have somewhere else that we can go?" Anna asked as she nibbled on Lucas's bottom lip.

Lucas nodded and the two of them got into his car and drove to his house. Anna walked into his room and giggled, "I know this room is kind of girly," Lucas said.

"Kind of?" Anna asked, "That's the understatement of the century," she said.

Lucas put his arms around Anna, "This girl is staying here, she moved away six years ago and she came back because she needed to see my other friend…And she's living here so," Anna cut him off as she kissed him hard.

"Is anybody home?" Anna asked as she unzipped his pants.

"No," Lucas said in between breaths as he took off his own shirt, and then Anna's. His phone started ringing and he turned it off and threw it to the side.

xxx

Peyton hung up and dialed Lucas's cell phone number again; she got his voice mail and took a deep breath, "Hey Lucas it's me…Um, I just called because I thought we should talk. I don't want you to leave, and I'm sorry about the letters to Jake and the letters from Jake, but you have to understand that the whole proposal thing was before us…I feel dumb for leaving this on your voice mail, but you haven't been picking up your phone. I love you Lucas, come home…" Peyton hung up the phone and laid back on her bed.

She closed her eyes and then heard someone say her name. Peyton looked over towards her door and saw Jake standing there. Peyton's eyes began to well up with tears and she ran over and hugged him, "Jake," she whispered as he rubbed her back.

xxx

Brooke walked out of her mother's hospital room and walked over to Nathan; she collapsed into his arms and cried.

"Shh baby," Nathan said as he comforted Brooke. The two of them walked outside and got into Nathan's car; Brooke looked out the window and wiped her eyes every two seconds, "Are you going to be okay?" He asked.

Brooke closed her eyes and looked down at her trembling hands, "She's dying Nathan," she said; her voice soft and raspy, "She's dying and I can't do anything about it…"

"Brooke…" Nathan said softly as he rested his hand on her knee. They got back to the hotel and Nathan held Brooke in his arms the whole way there.

The two of them walked into their hotel rooms and saw a blonde girl sitting in the chair; Brooke's jaw dropped, "Lilly?" She asked and then the two girls hugged each other.

"Where have you been?" Lilly asked, and then looked at Nathan, "Hello."

Nathan said hello and Brooke sighed, "I had to go back to Tree Hill, Nathan got into an accident and I had to see him," she said and held Nathan's hand.

"I see," Lilly said, "I heard about your mom…I'm so sorry," she said sincerely, "But…The reason I'm here is because Alex kind of booked you a show tonight," she said, "I'm sorry."

Brooke groaned, "That fucking ass," she yelled and then turned to Nathan, "I don't want to get involved with this Alex thing again, and music is the only way that he tries to win me back…"

"I want to hear your sing," Nathan said, "It's your passion, so sing."

Nathan and Lilly sat backstage while Brooke walked onto stage and sat on a stool, "She loves singing," Lilly said to end the silence, "Are you two dating now?"

"Yeah," Nathan said confidently, "I'm in love with her…"

Lilly smiled, "I remember hearing about you," she said, "Brooke has always loved you…She would cry herself before some shows because all of her songs are about you."

I love you more than I should
so much more than is good for me
more than is good oh the timing is cruel
oh I need and don't want to need more than I should.
I am falling say my name and i'll lie in the sound
what is love but whatever my heart needs around.

Brooke looked over at Nathan and the two smiled at each other. Alex walked over to Nathan and snorted, "You're still her little whipped bitch?" He asked.

"What the hell man?" Nathan said as he turned around and eyed Alex, "Why don't you just fuck off, Brooke's over you."

Alex laughed sarcastically, "Why don't you ask Brooke about we almost got married?" He asked, "I would've had that ass all night long!"

Nathan punched Alex in the face and the two of them fought to the ground; Nathan obviously having the upper hand. The bouncer threw both of them out of the club while they continued to fight.

Brooke ran out as the bouncers were pulling Nathan off of Alex, "Nathan!" Brooke yelled as she ran over to him and touched the cut on his lip, "Baby what's wrong?"

"Why don't you ask your husband?" He spat, "Since you two were going to get married, and you never bothered to tell me!"

Brooke glared at Alex and then looked back at Nathan, "That was when we weren't speaking Nate! I didn't think it mattered!"

"It did matter," Nathan said, "It mattered to me!"

Brooke scoffed, "You're overreacting Nate!"

"It's hard enough seeing you in bed with this guy," he said, "But knowing that you two were going to get married!"

Brooke pushed Nathan away from her, "That's what I think every time I see you…All I can think about is Haley!"

"God look at us! We're fighting!" Nathan said and then put his hands on his head.

Brooke bit her bottom lip and looked down at the ground as everyone let the two have their space, "A lot is going on with my mom right now," she said softly, "I think I'm just going to stay in New York for a while…"

"Brooke," Nathan pleaded, "I'm sorry okay? Just let me stay with you, let me help…"

"Please," Brooke said softly, "Don't make this any harder then it is," she said and then walked back inside.

Lilly watched on and walked up to Nathan, "So your just going to let her walk away like that?" She asked.

"I don't have a choice," he said.

Lilly sighed, "You don't remember me do you?" She asked.

"Can't say I do," Nathan said with a shrug, "I'm sorry…"

"We were both pretty drunk that night," she said and then looked down at the ground, "I'm Lisa Sanders…Lilly for short," she said with a small giggle, "You were a freshman, I was a senior…We were at your beach house and thinks got out of hand," she said with a small smile.

Nathan looked her up and down, "Oh…Lilly," he said, "It was so long ago I almost forgot…How are you?" He asked.

"I'm good," she said, "Brooke will be okay…She just needs some time right now."

Nathan sighed, "I wasted six years of my life giving her time…I can't stand being without her."

"Then do something about it," Lilly said and then walked away.

xxx

"You're here," Peyton said as she began to cry, "I can't believe you're really here…"

Jake kissed Peyton on the forehead and brushed the hair out of her face, "It's so good to see you," he said in almost a whisper.

"Just touch me," Peyton said as they laid down on the bed, "I want you…"

Jake shook his head, but still had his hands on Peyton, "I'm getting married," he said.

Peyton's eyes opened wide and she bit her lip, "Don't tell me that," she said softly, "Just…Just be inside of me tonight," she said and they began to kiss passionately.

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