The Bitter Taste

Love Is Like A Role That We Play

--Thanks for all the reviews! You guys are the greatest people ever!

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Brooke sat at the bar and picked up her glass; she let out a deep breath and stirred her drink around a bit. A guy with long, blonde hair sat next to her and smiled drunkenly. Brooke let out a dry laugh and rolled her eyes, "No," she said and then watched as the guy got up and walked away.

Alex sat down beside Brooke and set his elbows on the table, "Two beers," he said to the bartender and then looked at Brooke, "I knew you'd come back…"

"Why did you tell Nathan about the engagement?" Brooke asked as she took a sip of her drink.

Alex grabbed his beer and laughed bitterly, "Thought he needed to know the truth," he said and then took a sip from his drink, "You dumped me for that guy?" He spat, "I took you in when you had nobody else this guy fucked you over for his wife."

"Shut up," Brooke said harshly, "You don't know anything about Nathan, or about our relationship!"

"All I know is that that he made you run away," Alex said, "He broke your heart, and now your back to square one…You're sitting in a bar waiting for some guy to take you in. Well, here I am baby," Alex said as he stood up and put his arms out, "Let's go home…We'll rent a movie, eat some popcorn, the things we used to do."

Brooke scoffed, "I don't know what the fuck you're on, but we never watched movies, or ate popcorn. It was always about getting drunk or high, and then having sex," she said.

"You never complained," Alex shot back, "Brooke you needed me because I was the only guy who wanted you," he said coldly, "Look at you! You're just some washed up high school cheerleader who lets people walk all over her!"

Brooke grabbed her beer and threw it in Alex's face, "You're pathetic," she said and then barged outside of the bar.

"Brooke," Alex screamed as he walked out to the parking lot after her; he grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards him, "You'll be fucking nothing without me."

Brooke tried to pull her arm away, but Alex's grip was too strong, "Get your goddamn hands off of me!" She yelled.

"Shut up," Alex whispered in her ear and then grabbed her face, "Now you listen to me, and you listen good…You're back in my world now so we're going to pretend that you never went to Tree Hill because I am in love with you Brooke…I love you."

Brooke's jaw felt numb, and she got that feeling her stomach that she was going to die; she always got that feeling when she was around Alex. He told Brooke that he loved her, but he said it with such a psychotic tone that Brooke would almost shake in fear. A tear fell down Brooke's cheek and she found the strength to speak, "You don't love me," she said almost choking on her tears, "You've never known what love is…Alex you need help, and I never want to see you again," Brooke said and then pushed him away causing him to fall like a drunken fool.

Brooke got in her car and drove to the hospital; she walked into her mother's room and saw her father asleep on a chair, and her mother lying in bed.

Brooke sat down beside her mother's bedside and grasped onto her hand, "Mommy," she said as more tears filled her eyes, "I know that you were never around, and I know that I wasn't the perfect daughter, but you have to understand that I do love you…" Brooke wiped her eyes and bit her quivering lip, "It feels like I don't even know you and you're my mom…I love you, I love you a lot…"

"I love you too," Brooke mom, Mary, said as she squeezed Brooke's hand and opened her eyes, "I've always loved you hunny…"

Brooke kissed her mother's cheek, "I thought you were sleeping," she said with a small smile.

"I was resting," Mary said as she stroked Brooke's cheek, "You need to go get Nathan baby…"

"What?" Brooke said in confusion, "How did you…?"

"He came to see me," Mary said as she took a sip of water, "He seemed so depressed hun, so I asked him what was wrong and he told me…Nathan really loves you Brooke," she said.

"I can't leave you here," Brooke said.

Mary sighed, "I'll be fine Brookie…Just go," she said with a smile, "Go on, you're too young and pretty to let this one go," she said with a wink.

"I love you mom," Brooke said as she stood at the door, "I really do…"

Mary smiled, "I know baby, I love you too," she said. Brooke and her mother shared one last look, and Brooke ran out of the hospital.

xxx

Lucas woke up and saw Anna putting on her jeans, "Hey," he said; his voice hoarse, "Where are you going?"

Anna smiled at him, "I've got to go," she said and then gave Lucas a kiss.

"Come on," Lucas said as he put his arms around Anna's waist and pulled her towards him, "Stay for a little bit longer," he sighed.

Anna ran her fingers down his bare chest and kissed him passionately, "I wish I could, but I really have to go…" She said and then got up from the bed.

"When can I see you again?" Lucas asked as he sat up, "I really, really want to see you again…"

Anna sighed and gave him a piece of paper, "That's my cell number," she said and then kissed Lucas one last time on the cheek, "I'll talk to you later stud," Anna said with a wink and then left the room.

xxx

Peyton leaned against the bed frame and played with the curls of her hair; she looked over at Jake who was looking up at the ceiling. They had been like this for at least an hour or so, in complete silence.

Peyton sighed and bit her top lip, "Why would you come back to tell me you were getting married?" She asked finally.

"I thought you should know," Jake said with a shrug.

"You could've just written it in a letter," she said smugly, "I mean; we probably wouldn't have ended up having sex right?"

"Right," Jake said regretfully, "Peyton, you know that I love you…But I found someone else, and last night was just…"

Peyton brought her knees up to her chin, "I get it," she said, "I just needed you to be with me again Jake…Last night was just something that I've been missing for awhile."

"Peyton I'm sorry," Jake said sincerely, and then got up from the bed, "I've got to go…" He said as he put on his shirt, "Can I call you later?"

Peyton wiped a tear from her cheek and nodded; "Yeah sure," she said and looked away from him.

"Peyton…" Jake said apologetically.

"It's fine Jake," Peyton said as she looked up at him and gave him a fake smile, "Really!"

Jake nodded and walked out of Peyton's room; Peyton curled up in a ball and turned on the radio. She wiped her eyes quickly and then got out of bed.

xxx

Brooke knocked on Nathan's front door, and rubbed her arms while she waited. Nathan answered the door and Brooke could see the hurt in his eyes, "What are you doing here Brooke?" He asked.

"My mom told me that you went and saw her," Brooke began, "I know I should've told you about mine and Alex's engagement, but I was so scared because I didn't want to bring back the past…"

Nathan sighed and looked down at the ground, "Looks like the past already caught up with us," he said as Brooke looked at him in confusion.

"What are you talking about?" Brooke asked. Nathan opened the door wider and Brooke saw Lilly standing there with a little girl on her right side, "What the hell is this?" Brooke asked.

Nathan looked at Lilly and then back at Brooke, "Lilly and I hooked up when I was a freshman…Well, she got pregnant and she thinks the baby is mine…"

"What?" Brooke said, "How can this be?"

Lilly shrugged, "I didn't know Nathan was the guy you were talking about, until I saw him that one night…"

"I can't believe this," Brooke said as she backed away and walked towards the parking lot.

Nathan followed her and grabbed her arm, "Brooke," he said.

"What are you going to do?" Brooke asked; not looking him in the eye.

Nathan shrugged, "Take care of my kid I guess…"

"Do you know for sure if it's yours?" Brooke questioned.

"We're getting the test done in two days," Nathan said, "Until then, I'm the dad…"

Brooke looked down and then back up at Nathan, "I came back for you because I don't want things to be over between us, but…I don't want to make things harder for you."

"I know this is hard for you," Nathan said, "But I want you in my life…And if this baby is mine I still want you in my life."

Brooke nodded and refused to look at Nathan, "Okay," she said in a scratchy voice.

Nathan lifted her head up with his two fingers, "I wish I could give you everything you want Brooke, but I can't."

"All I ask for is your heart," Brooke said and then kissed Nathan's hand, "I'll be at Karen's," she said and then walked to her car.

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