The Bitter Taste
Who's To Say?
xxx
Peyton walked into Brooke's room and sat down on the bed beside her while Brooke scribbled away in her notebook, "What are you doing?" Peyton asked as she looked down at the notebook.
"I'm singing tonight at this club TRIC," Brooke said, "It's over 21, and I guess Karen has something to do with it?" She said. Peyton laughed to herself, and Brooke looked at her in confusion, "What?"
"I keep forgetting that you've been gone for six years," Peyton said, "Karen and I started that club a couple months after you left…It used to be an all ages, but now since we're all in our 20's we changed it."
Brooke laughed at herself and sighed, "I really have missed a lot," she said regretfully, and then ran her fingers through her hair, "I'm sorry that we haven't talked lately…I've just had so much shit to deal with it's not even funny."
"It's cool," Peyton said reassuringly, "Is everything okay?"
Brooke shrugged and tapped the pencil lightly against her knee, "I guess Nathan got this girl Lilly, who happens to be one of my good friends from New York, pregnant a while back when he was a freshman and she was a senior from some other school," Brooke let out a dry laugh, "Could my life be any worse?"
"I' slept with a married man," Peyton said softly and then looked down at the ground.
Brooke looked at her in confusion, "Pey, what are you talking about, who?"
"Jake," Peyton said as she started to cry, "He came back to tell me that he was engaged, and I don't know…I told him that I needed him so we slept together…"
"Peyton," Brooke said sympathetically as she stroked her friends wet cheek, "I'm so sorry that I haven't been here for you lately…I've been so selfish and—"
Peyton shook her head and wiped her eyes, "You have way too much to worry about right now Brooke…With Nathan and this girl and her kid…Do you know if it's her kid or not?"
"They're getting the test done today," Brooke said apprehensively, "I don't want that kid to be his…"
Peyton gave her best friend a hug, "I know you don't…You've been through too much," she said and then the hug broke.
Lucas walked into his room and saw Peyton and Brooke sitting there. Peyton turned around and he could see the tears in her eyes, and her rosy cheeks. Peyton got up from the bed and mumbled something to Brooke about calling her; and she barged past Lucas and slammed the door behind her.
"Is she okay?" Lucas asked as he looked at the door.
Brooke shrugged, "If you're thinking that her tears were over you then you're wrong Luke," she said and then got up from the bed.
"So you're pissed at me because of this Peyton thing too?" Lucas asked and then stuck his hands in his pockets, "She didn't want me Brooke…I love her."
Brooke scoffed, "Really?" She asked and then picked up to hoop earring from her dresser, "Why don't you tell that to the little slut that you hooked up with last night in my bed?"
Lucas looked at the earrings and mentally kicked himself, "I don't know what to say," He said softly, "I was hurt and upset and this whole Peyton thing was just…"
"You know what Luke?" Brooke said, "Just save it okay?"
"You're the last person I want mad at me right now," Lucas said, "Brooke, don't be like this!"
Brooke rolled her eyes and threw the earrings at Lucas, "Please go," she said and crossed her arms. Lucas picked up the earrings and gave Brooke one last pleading look, "Go," she said and Lucas nodded his head and left the room.
xxx
Lilly sat in the waiting room nervously as Nathan sat beside her and read a sports magazine. Lilly sighed and looked at him, "Do you even remember that night?" She asked.
"Vaguely," Nathan answered and then set the magazine down, "I was a drunk freshman…I had no clue what I was doing."
Lilly looked down at her hands, "After I got pregnant I was so scared because I didn't know who the dad was…" She began, "And you were the last guy I had sex with, I think, so…"
"If the kid is mine," Nathan said, "I will take full responsibility for this…I promise…"
"But," Lilly said and then gave him a small smile, "I know that you're in love with Brooke…So if this baby isn't yours I'll just go back to New York and settle in with the parents."
Nathan smiled and nodded, "We hardly even know each other," he said, "I'm sorry that we had to reacquaint ourselves this way…"
"Yeah," Lilly said with a small chuckle, "I'm glad you and Brooke are working things out," she said.
Nathan looked at her, "Me too," he said with a crooked smile.
"Lilly Stanford," the nurse called from behind her desk.
Lilly and Nathan both stood up, and Nathan grabbed Lilly's hand, "You ready for this?" He asked.
"Yeah," Lilly said and then took a deep breath, "I'm ready…"
xxx
Brooke sat on the stage at TRIC with her piano set in front of her; she saw Karen and Peyton sitting at the bar looking up at her proudly.
Stand up straight
Do your trick
Turn on the stars
Jupiter shines so bright
When you're around
They tell us slow down
We're too young, you need to grow
The speed's the key
And they don't know who we are
Brooke sang and watched as Jake walked into the club; he and Peyton made eye contact for a second, but she turned away and looked back up at Brooke.
And who's to say that we're not good enough
And who's to say that this is not our love
Nathan walked into the club and saw Brooke on the stage with the spotlight on her while she played her piano and sang. She was so beautiful, Nathan thought as he took a seat next to Karen.
Mother, don't tell me friends are the ones that I lose
Cause they'd bleed before you
And sometimes family are the ones you'd choose
It's too late now
I hold on to this life I found
Jake walked over to Peyton, "I'm leaving in a week or so," he began, "I just wanted to talk to you before the wedding and everything happens because I know how much I hurt you…And I never want to hurt you," he said softly, "Never…"
"It's a little too late for that Jake," Peyton said, "I lost Lucas because of how much I wanted to be with you," she said and started to tear up, "Everything was always for you Jake, don't you get it?"
And who's to say we won't burn it out
And who's to say we won't sink in doubt
Who's to say that we won't fade to grey
Who are they anyway
Anyway they don't know
"I've always loved you Peyton," Jake said as he put his hand under her chin.
Peyton turned away, "Then why are you getting married?"
"Because I realized that I was holding you back," he said, "You were always helping me with Nikki and Jenny…I just want you to live your life and be happy."
And you say we're too young
But maybe you're too old to remember
And I try to pretend but I just feel it when we're together
And if you don't believe me, you never really knew us
You never really knew
Peyton wiped her eyes, "I'll be happy with you in my life," she said.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered and then looked around, "I got to go…" Peyton nodded, but didn't say anything; Jake sighed and walked away.
You and I, packin' up my room, we feel alright
But we're not welcome
Soon we'll be drivin', cause they don't know who we are
xxx
Nathan walked out onto the river court and saw Brooke sitting on a bench looking up at the stars, "See anything you like?" Nathan asked as he sat next to Brooke.
"I love the stars," Brooke said in almost a whisper, "I never realized how amazing they really are," she said in awe.
Nathan looked at Brooke, "Yeah, me either," he said; still looking at her.
Brooke turned to him and smiled, "We really messed up each other's lives you do realize that right?" She asked with a laugh.
Nathan laughed and nodded, "The baby isn't mine," he said finally.
Brooke let out a sigh of relief and felt the tears form in her eyes, "That's the best news I've heard all night," she said and wiped her tears.
Nathan leaned in and kissed Brooke passionately on the lips; the kiss broke and Brooke looked up at him with glassy eyes, "I love you," she said softly.
Who's to say we won't stay together
Who's to say we aren't getting stronger
Who's to say I can't live without you, oh
Who are they anyway
Anyway they don't know
"I love you too," Nathan said with a smile.
And you say we're too young
But maybe you're too old to remember
And I try to pretend, but I just feel it when we're together
Who is to say
And who is to say
And who are they anyway
Stand up boy, I shine so bright when you're around
xxx
"Lucas!" Peyton called out as she ran over to him in the parking lot.
Lucas smiled politely at her, "Peyton," he said apprehensively, "Hi."
"I need to talk to you," she said, "It's really important…"
Lucas looked torn as a girl with tan skin and black hair came up beside him and put her arm in his, "I'm kind of busy tonight Pey," he said.
"Hi," Anna said energetically, "I'm Anna!"
Peyton smiled fakely, "Hi…Peyton."
"Lucas has told me all about you," Anna said with a cocky laugh, "Aren't you supposed to be getting married by now with some guy with a kid?"
"Anna," Lucas warned.
Peyton looked at Lucas in disbelief and then glared at Anna, "This was a mistake," she said and walked away.
Brooke and Nathan had overheard and Brooke stormed over to Lucas and Anna, "Excuse me bitch did I hear you right?" Brooke asked, "Because it sounds like you're barking up the wrong tree!"
"Barking?" Anna asked, "The only dog I see here is you…"
Brooke let out a dry laugh, "Hun, you don't even know me," she said and then crossed her arms.
"I don't," Anna said, "But my cousin Felix does," she said as Felix walked over to the group.
"Hey Brooke," Felix said with a scowl on his face, "Long time, no see right?"
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