The Bitter Taste

Down This Road

xxx

Lucas and Brooke walked into their hotel room and saw a King sized bed, they looked at each other and laughed, "Of course we get the room with one bed," Brooke said, "So predictable."

They put their suitcases down and Brooke sat on the edge of the bed and turned on the TV; Lucas sat down and leaned against the bed frame, "You know what I always wondered? How you and Nathan got together," he said.

"Weird. Right?" Brooke asked.

"Yeah, but not in a bad way or anything," Lucas said, "But if somebody would've asked me six years ago if I thought you and Nathan would be together, I probably would've said no," he said, "It was always you and me, Peyton and Jake, Haley and Nathan…"

Brooke turned down the sound on the TV and laid on her side, "It's funny how things work out," she said, "When Haley left, he was so sad and so lonely…I was there for him, and Nathan was there for me…We fell in love."

"Then Jake left and Haley came back," Lucas began, "Then you left…"

Brooke sighed and looked down at the comforter, "And I regret leaving…That's why I think you should stay in Tree Hill, because in the long run you'll just regret it."

"I fucked everything over with Peyton," Lucas pointed out, "I mean, I gave up on her and ended up sleeping with some girl who I thought I actually had a connection with."

Brooke looked up at Luke, "Whatever happened to Anna…After that night with the whole Felix incident I haven't seen or heard about her."

"I realized that she was nothing to me," he began, "She wasn't Peyton, and I told her that I couldn't be with her anymore."

"What did she do?" Brooke asked.

Lucas chuckled to himself and ran his fingers along his hair, "She told me that I was a fucking loser and that I was making the biggest mistake ever…"

"Bitch much?" Brooke laughed.

"Yeah," Lucas said as he laughed along with Brooke, "I don't like hurting people…Especially people I love."

Brooke nodded, "I love this," she said, "This talking thing."

Lucas smiled, "Do you ever think about what would happen if Haley never would have left, and if you and I were still together?"

"Sometimes," Brooke shrugged, "Look," she said getting up from the bed, "If you think that something's going to happen between us then you're wrong Luke…I can never hurt Nathan!"

"Brooke," Lucas said, "I wasn't suggesting anything…I was just wondering," he said and then gave her a comforting smile, "Believe me, I know how much you love Nathan."

Brooke blushed and then sat back down, "Sorry," she said; obviously embarrassed, "I didn't mean anything by it…"

"It's okay," Lucas said, "I just…I'm so amazed at how our lives have changed in the past six years."

"Me too," Brooke said, "I want you to stay home Lucas…"

Lucas looked down at the ground and exhaled, "I don't know Brooke…"

xxx

Peyton sat on the couch in Nathan's apartment while he played a video game, "Thanks for letting me come over," she said.

"I could use the company," Nathan said, "So…Are you going to tell me about this Jake thing?"

Peyton shrugged, "Jake's getting married…And we ended up sleeping together," she said regretfully, "But you have to believe me when I tell you that I love Lucas…"

"I believe you," Nathan said, and then laughed to himself, "It's weird us talking."

Peyton smiled, "Why?"

"Because when we dated we never talked," he said, "We just kind of…Had sex and fought."

"True," Peyton said with a small laugh, "I'm glad we can be friends…"

"Me too," Nathan said sincerely, "Come on; let's go out for some drinks…"

Peyton smiled and grabbed her purse, "I couldn't have thought of anything better myself!"

Peyton and Nathan took a seat in the hallway where Brooke and Lucas had had their first date. Nathan took a sip of his beer and looked around the bar, "Why'd you tell me about you and Jake?" Nathan asked; ending the awkward silence.

"I don't know," Peyton shrugged, "I just thought that since your Lucas's brother, and Brooke's boyfriend then we should start talking and being friends…"

Nathan nodded, "You were hurt when Brooke left weren't you?" He asked suddenly.

"Who wasn't?" Peyton asked as she cupped her drink, "I never thought I would see her again…And I don't think I'll ever see Lucas again either."

Nathan sighed, "Brooke is going to convince him to stay, believe me she's very persuasive," he said with a comforting laugh.

Peyton went to say something, but saw Anna coming towards her with a mean glare planted on her face, "Well isn't this cute," she said sarcastically, "You're both here cheating on your significant other…Awe adorable!"

"First off we're not cheating," Peyton shot back, "We're friends…Shouldn't you be taking some random guy home so you can fuck the hell out of him, and then have him never call?"

Anna crossed her arms, "Lucas seemed to like that in a girl…"

Peyton got up, but Nathan got in front of her, "Peyton," he said, "She's not worth it…"

"Awe," Anna cooed, "Your man standing up for you?"

Nathan glared at Anna, "She already told you that we're just friends, so why don't you just run along, get another round of drinks, and forget about this whole night?"

Anna rolled her eyes and gave Peyton one last look, "Whatever," she mumbled and then walked away from the two of them.

"Thanks," Peyton said as she looked up at Nathan, and then sat back down in her chair.

"No problem," Nathan said and then sat back down, "You want another beer?"

Peyton laughed and nodded, "I would love another beer."

xxx

Lucas woke up and looked over and saw Brooke standing on the balcony of their hotel room; he got up and walked outside and stood beside her, "Brooke, it's 3:00 in the morning," he said.

"I know," Brooke said; her voice raspy, "I just couldn't sleep…"

Lucas put his arm around her, "Are you okay?" He said in almost a whisper.

"I just finally understand that I'm never going to see my mom again," she said sadly, "Today's her funeral, and it's so unbelievable."

Lucas gave her a sympathetic look and sighed, "You know I'm always here for you…And I'll be with you for the funeral," he said, "But Brooke…Why didn't you want Nathan to come?"

"I didn't want him to see me hurt," Brooke said with a shrug, "And I didn't want us to break up, because in a time of crisis I always break and make stupid mistakes…"

Lucas rubbed Brooke's back, "I'm going to go back to bed," he said and then kissed Brooke on the top of the head. He gave her one last look before heading back inside.

Brooke's cell phone rang and she saw that it was Nathan; Brooke smiled and answered the phone, "You do not know how much I need this call right now," she said thankfully.

"Hey baby," Nathan said as he sat on the couch in his apartment, "I didn't expect you to be up so I was just going to leave you a hella sexy voice mail," he teased.

"Damn," Brooke said with a small laugh, "What did you do tonight?"

"I actually took Peyton out and we had a couple beers," he said and heard Brooke laugh on the other end of the line, "What? I can be friends with my ex!"

Brooke let out another stifled laugh, "I know baby…It's cute," she said and then sighed, "I miss you…"

"I miss you too," Nathan said, "I wish I could be there right now."

"I know you do," Brooke said, "But I want us to be together for a long time, and…Things like this affect me, and I didn't want it to affect us."

Nathan ran his hand through his hair, "I love you," he said softly.

"I love you too," Brooke said and then let out a warm smile, "You don't know how badly I just want to kiss you right now."

Nathan laughed, "I know the feeling," he said, "When you get home, you and I are not leaving my bed for days, unless we need showers…Which we will get together."

"Can't wait," Brooke moaned playfully; she yawned, "Baby I'll call you after the funeral tomorrow…I love you."

Nathan smiled, "I love you too sweetie," he said sweetly, "Bye."

"Bye," she said and then closed her cell phone. Brooke walked into the hotel room and got into bed.

xxx

Peyton laid on her back while she looked up at her ceiling; Jake walked into her room with his hands in his pockets. Peyton looked at him and felt the tears already begin to form in her eyes, "You know, this is really getting old," she said.

"I had no right to come back here and expect you to be okay," Jake said softly, "And I can't say how sorry I am…"

"I know you're sorry," Peyton said with a roll of her eyes, "You're always so god damn sorry."

Jake sat down on the end of Peyton's bed, "This is hard for me too," he exclaimed.

"Don't even say that!" Peyton yelled, "You came back here and fucked me while you knew that you had a wife!"

Jake threw his hands up in defense, "You were basically throwing yourself at me!"

"So now I'm a slut?" Peyton asked and then stood up from her bed, "You know what? You just need to leave!"

"Peyton," Jake said calmly, "I didn't mean it like that…"

"I don't need your sympathy and your lies Jake," she said, "I lost somebody I loved because I thought that you actually care, well Peyton was wrong again!"

Jake looked once more at Peyton and then walked out of her room; Peyton sat back down on her bed and curled up in a ball. She got her cell phone out and called Lucas; Peyton got his voice mail and she threw the phone across the room.

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