The Bitter Taste

Clarity

xxx

"What are you doing here?" Brooke asked through gritted teeth; she and Felix were standing in her room. He had followed her home after the Anna incident.

Felix shrugged, "I wanted to see you," he said softly and then looked her up and down, "You look beautiful."

"You have really shitty timing," Brooke said; brushing off the compliment, "I don't need this right now…We broke up a long time ago."

Felix walked closer towards her, "And that broke my heart," he said, "I'm in love with you Brooke…"

"You don't know what love is," Brooke said with a dry laugh, "Besides, I found the person who I want to be with for the rest of my life…"

"Lucas?" Felix said coldly.

Brooke shook her head, "No…Nathan."

"You're still trying with that shit?" Felix asked, "I thought he left you for Haley awhile back?"

Brooke backed away from Felix and crossed her arms, "He did…But I'm in love with him, and he's in love with me…"

"God Brooke," Felix said with a malicious laugh, "You still let people walk all over you!"

"You're an ass," Brooke said, "The only person I ever let walk all over me was you…And then I fixed that problem the night I dumped you," she said coldly.

Felix rolled his eyes and walked towards the door, "Whatever Brooke," he said, "Call me when your lover boy fucks you over again," he said and walked out of the house.

xxx

Lucas walked into Peyton's room and saw her painting while she listened to some new music. Lucas knocked on the door and Peyton turned around; she glared at him and turned back towards her painting.

"I'm sorry," Lucas said as he turned down the stereo, "You're in love with Jake…"

Peyton wiped her eyes quickly and turned to face Lucas, "Jake is getting married," she said as her voice cracked, "He came back because he wanted to tell me…He's leaving in a week," she said and then got up and walked over to her bed and sat down.

"I didn't know," Lucas said and then sat down beside Peyton, "I met Anna at a bar the night that I walked out," he admitted, "I really fell for her."

Peyton rolled her eyes and got up from the bed, "You knew her for one night Luke!" She yelled.

"I know," Lucas said, keeping his calm, "I don't know what else to say…She listens to me, and we can talk…"

Peyton cut him off, "And she's an easy skank!" She said, "I made a mistake Lucas…I thought I loved Jake, because I thought Jake loved me but he doesn't. He's getting married and I thought you'd be the person to comfort me, but you're too busy going out and finding bar sluts to fall in love with!"

Lucas got up, "You didn't want me!" He yelled back, "What am I supposed to do? Wait around for you?"

"I didn't expect you to just fall back in love with me," Peyton said.

"I didn't have to fall back in love with you," Lucas said, "I've always loved you…It was always about you not loving me!" He said and then walked out of Peyton's bedroom.

xxx

Brooke walked into Nathan's apartment; she walked back into his room where he was lying bed sleeping. Brooke took off her shoes and crawled into bed with him. Nathan opened his eyes and put his arm around her waist, "Hey," he said in a husky voice.

"Hi," Brooke said as she turned to face him, "I'm sorry about the Felix thing."

Nathan kissed her softly on the lips, "Is he still here?"

"I don't think," Brooke said, "He told me to call him when you fucked me over again," she said and looked down.

Nathan rolled his eyes, "Then I guess you'll never have to call him…"

"Good," Brooke said with a smile, "You don't know how happy I was when you told me that kid wasn't yours," she said.

Nathan put his arms around Brooke, and she rested her head on his chest, "You don't know how happy I was," Nathan said, "I told you Brooke, I never want to hurt you again…"

"I know," Brooke said softly as she closed her eyes, "I know…"

xxx

Haley got out of her limo with Chris behind her; she stood in front of Peyton's house and took it all in, "Remind me again why we're here," Chris said impatiently.

"I told you this about a million times," Haley said, "Peyton booked us for a show tonight at TRIC."

Chris put his arm around Haley and kissed her on the forehead, "That's where you first sang…Remember that?"

"Yeah," Haley said as they walked up to Peyton's front door; she knocked on the door and Peyton opened the door.

Peyton smiled at Haley, "Hales," she said, "I'm glad you could come tonight…"

"Thanks," Haley said as her and Chris walked into the house.

TRIC

Brooke and Nathan walked into TRIC hand in hand; Peyton ran over to them, "Guys," she said, "I have something to tell you…And I know that you might be pissed at me," she said to Brooke, "But…"

"Brooke!" Haley said as she came from behind Peyton, "Hey hun…I didn't know you were staying in Tree Hill," she said with a smile.

Brooke looked at Peyton in disbelief and then looked back at Haley, "What are you doing here?"

"Peyton booked Chris and I for a show tonight," Haley said and then looked at Peyton, "Didn't Peyton tell you?"

Peyton sighed, "I was just telling them," she said.

"Chris is here?" Nathan asked.

Haley looked at Nathan and then looked back down at the ground, "Yeah…"

"Hales we have to get on stage," Chris said as he took her hand and led her to the stage.

Brooke looked at Peyton, "I can't believe you would do this to me," she said.

"I wasn't trying to—," Peyton began, but Brooke cut her off.

Brooke crossed her arms, "Just because you're an unhappy bitch doesn't mean you have to make everyone else's lives a living hell," she said and then walked away.

Peyton looked at Nathan, "I needed someone to sing," She said, "That's all I was trying to do…"

"Why'd you have to bring her back?" Nathan asked, "Nothing good happens when she comes back."

"Then don't fall back in love with her," Peyton said, "You can't keep blaming everyone else for what you do."

Nathan scoffed, "I'm not going to fall back in love with her…I love Brooke," he said and then walked away.

Haley and Chris got on stage, "This song is to everyone who's in love tonight," Haley said as her and Chris smiled at each other.

"Brooke," Nathan said as he ran out of the club to catch her, "Listen to me," he said, "I am not going to fall back in love with her!"

Brooke hung up her cell phone and Nathan saw that she was crying, "My mom died," she said softly and then fell into Nathan's arms."

"Brooke," Nathan said sincerely as he comforted her, "Baby…"

Peyton walked out of the club and saw the couple standing there holding each other, "Guys I am so sorry about this Haley thing," she said as she walked up to them.

Brooke let go of Nathan and hugged her best friend, "My mom died," she said.

"Oh my god," Peyton said softly and then looked at Nathan, "Brooke…"

Brooke held onto Nathan's hand, "I have to go to New York for the funeral and stuff," she said.

"Let me go with you," they heard Lucas say as he walked up to the three.

Nathan looked at him as did Peyton, "Lucas," Brooke said and then gave him a hug.

"I want to move to New York," he said.

"What?" Peyton asked.

The hug broke and Lucas sighed, "I've been making a lot of mistakes lately…I want to leave Tree Hill."

xxx

Nathan sat in Brooke's room as she packed her bags, "I want to go with you," he said.

"I couldn't do that to you," she said softly, "There is so much shit that I have to deal with right now, and I don't want you to get involved with all my personal craziness."

Nathan hugged Brooke and kissed her passionately on the lips, "I want to be involved though," he said, "I want to be there for you…"

"Take care of Peyton for me while I'm gone," Brooke said, "I'll try to convince Lucas to stay in Tree Hill," she said.

"It's not going to work," Lucas said as he walked into the room, "I need to leave Brooke…"

Brooke sighed, "You can't do this to Peyton," she said, "You two belong together…"

"I can't take this drama anymore," Lucas said, "I'm 23 years old…It's time for me to leave Tree Hill for good."

Nathan walked up to Lucas and gave him a hug, "Don't be a stranger," he said.

Brooke watched the two of them and couldn't help but smile; they had come a long way since the days in high school; Brooke picked up her suitcase, "Group hug," she said with a small laugh as all three of them hugged.

The hug broke and Lucas walked outside; Brooke looked up at Nathan and kissed him on the cheek, "I'll be back in a couple days," Brooke said as she stroked Nathan's cheek, "I love you," she said, "I love you…

"I love you too," Nathan said and then kissed Brooke passionately; the kiss broke and Brooke looked at him once more, "I'll be waiting for you," he said.

Brooke smiled and walked out of the room; she got into the car and looked over to Lucas, "You ready?" She asked.

"Yeah," Lucas said and then pulled out of the driveway.

Peyton ran into Brooke's room and saw Nathan sitting on the bed, "Where is Lucas?" Peyton asked.

"They already left," Nathan answered and then stood up, "Brooke said she was going to try and convince him to stay.

Peyton fell into Nathan's arms, "It's my fault he's leaving," she cried.

Nathan patted Peyton's back and rocked her side to side, "Shh," he said comfortingly, "It's not your fault," he said, "Lucas loves you; he truly does."

"I know he does," Peyton said as she looked up at Nathan, "I just didn't love him enough…"

xxx

Nathan walked into his apartment and saw Haley sitting at the kitchen counter with a beer in her hand, "What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I just thought we should talk," she said and took a sip from her beer, "We haven't done that in awhile."

Nathan rolled his eyes, "Look at you with a beer in your hand," he laughed sarcastically, "Looks like you're all grown up…"

"I'm moving to California with Chris," she said, "And then we're getting married."

Nathan shrugged, "I know…You told me you two were engaged," he said, "I wish you the best of luck," he said sarcastically, "Just don't find some musician and run off with him…Wait, you've already done that," he said bitterly.

"I loved you Nathan," she said, "I just wasn't ready for the whole marriage thing…I was 17 years old."

Nathan grabbed himself a beer, "Let's not take a walk down memory lane," he said, "Are you done here because I need to go to sleep?"

"Yeah," Haley said and then gave Nathan a small hug, "Maybe I'll call you sometime…Just to see how everything's going."

Nathan broke the hug quickly and looked away, "I'm not a little kid," he said, "I'll be fine…"

"Right…" Haley said and then walked out of the apartment.

xxx

Lucas looked over at Brooke and sighed, "I'm sorry about everything…"

"It's okay," she said with a shrug, "I'm glad I got to talk to her before she died…"

"Yeah," Lucas said, "You and Peyton are best friends," he began, "So I have to ask you this…Did she really love me?"

"Yes," Brooke said truthfully, "She has always loved you Luke…And just because she loved Jake too, doesn't mean that she wanted you to be Jake."

"That's what it felt like," Lucas said, "It felt like I wasn't good enough for her…"

"She risked my friendship for you," Brooke said, "Of course she loves you…"

Lucas looked at her apologetically, "Can you believe how stupid we were when we were 17…I mean, the cheating, the lying…Everything."

"Yeah," Brooke said with a small laugh, "But we learned from our mistakes…I hope."

Lucas smiled, "We were just bored teenagers who had nothing better to do but drink and have sex."

"It wasn't that bad," Brooke said with a wink, "The drinking and the sex part was the best part…The love was the thing that hurt the most."

"It's just weird to think that you and I were in love at one point in our lives," Lucas said.

Brooke shrugged, "I know, I still love you but on not in that way…"

"Same here," Lucas said, "Things change…But change is good right?"

"I don't want you to leave," Brooke said, "It isn't fair to Peyton and it isn't fair to anyone else…"

Lucas stopped at a red light and looked out towards the window, "I have to leave Brooke…"

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