The Bitter Taste
Happy Birthday To Heartache
-Thanks for all the reviews, you guys are the best!
(A/N: Italics are flashbacks)
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Nathanial Hawthorne once wrote: No man… for any considerable period… can wear one face to himself… and another to the multitude… without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.
Peyton started decorating TRIC as she sipped on a martini; it was Lucas's birthday and Karen had asked for help in decorating. Peyton couldn't tell Karen about what her son had done again. So Peyton just put on a smile and helped Karen out like she promised she would. She put up the "Happy Birthday" banner and taped a few pictures of Lucas up on the wall; one of the pictures was of her and Lucas from their trip to Canada. Peyton smiled sadly, and took the picture down and replaced it with just a picture of Lucas standing by himself.
"I was wrong about you Jake," Peyton said as she walked into Jake's house, "I realize that this whole time that I've loved you…You never loved me back."
Jake sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, "We've been through some much together Peyton," he said, "You've helped me out with so much stuff…But I just don't think I'm in love with you, like you're in love with me."
"You've changed," Peyton said softly, "I've given up so much for you Jake…"
Brooke walked into TRIC and smiled at Karen who was cleaning off the bar, "Place is looking good Karen," she said with a smile, "For my two-four I want you to throw me a bitchin' party like this!"
Karen laughed, "Bitchin'?" She questioned, "Where do you guys come up with these things?"
"Okay I just finished putting up the pictures Karen," Peyton said as she walked towards the bar with her hands in her back pockets; she stopped and looked at Brooke.
They stared at each other for awhile and Karen smiled at Peyton, "Thanks honey," she said sweetly, "Now could you and Brooke go downstairs and get the beer?"
"Whatever," Peyton mumbled as she headed towards the basement. Karen gave Brooke a weird look, and Brooke just shrugged; she followed Peyton down into the basement.
Brooke sighed, "You're going to have to talk to me sooner or later P. Sawyer…"
"So now you're telling me what I should do?" Peyton asked, not turning around, "And my name's Peyton."
Brooke looked down at the ground, "I am such a stupid bitch for doing this to you…I'll admit that…But sometimes you just have to forgive people for their mistakes."
"Look," Peyton said as she turned to face Brooke, "The only reason I'm here tonight is because Karen asked me to be…I don't want to deal with you or with Lucas because frankly I don't give a flying fuck about either of you!" She said coldly and then headed back upstairs.
Brooke picked up a case of beer and followed slowly behind Peyton; she got up to the top of the steps and saw Nathan carrying a bunch of boxes of food. They looked at each other, and then Nathan looked away quickly.
"You shouldn't have come back for me," Nathan said as Brooke stood in front of him, "None of this would've happened if you would've come back because of my accident…"
Brooke wiped her eyes and looked down at the ground, "I came back because I loved you…And I still do," she said.
"I thought I loved you too," Nathan began.
"Don't tell me you don't love me," Brooke cried, "Because you know for damn sure that you do…You and I are supposed to be together forever! You told me that you wanted to be with me forever…"
Nathan looked down at the ground and rubbed his temples, "And I thought that you felt the same way about me."
"This is the first mistake I've ever made when it comes to me and you," Brooke pointed out, "I kissed a guy because I was drunk…You left me for someone who didn't even want you," she said bitterly.
Nathan looked up at her and glared, "This has nothing to do with Haley and what's happened in the past…This has to do with right now, you and me!"
"I'm sorry Nathan!" Brooke yelled, "God, you don't understand how much I wish I could take everything back, but I can't! I've loved you at your weakest moments…Now can't you just love me back?"
Nathan sat down and rested his elbows on his knees, "I've been loving you Brooke," he said, "Ever since the day we looked up at the stars together I've loved you…"
"I can't see myself with anybody else baby," Brooke said softly, "I see myself with you forever…"
Brooke brought over the case of beer to Karen as Nathan started to put the glasses on the shelves. Karen thanked Brooke and then started to put the beers in a fridge; Peyton walked over and leaned on the counter, "Well Karen the place is in tip top condition…Best the clubs ever looked," she said proudly,
Karen smiled, "Thanks you guys for all your help," she said, "Lucas will really appreciate this…" Brooke looked at Peyton who looked down at the ground when Lucas's name was mentioned, and then she looked at Nathan who did the same. Karen looked at Peyton, "You want to stay for a little bit longer…I know Lucas will stop by eventually."
"You know what I, um, have to go actually," Peyton said and then gave her a quick wave, "I'll see you later tonight."
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Peyton walked down the steps out of TRIC and saw Lucas coming out of his car; she looked straight ahead and walked to her own car.
"Hey," Lucas said softly; but Peyton just kept walking, "I'm bringing Anna tonight," he said; Peyton stopped and turned around.
"Well it doesn't take you long to move on does it?" Peyton snapped, "First me, then Anna, then Brooke, then back to good old Anna…Congratulations Lucas, you're everything that I never thought you were," she said sarcastically.
Lucas looked at her in disbelief, "You didn't want me Peyton…I apologized plenty of times and you still don't want me back…"
"That's because you hurt me," she said.
Lucas scoffed, "And you don't think those letters to Jake hurt me?"
"I already apologized for that," Peyton said in almost a whisper.
Lucas sighed, "And I forgive you…Now it's your turn to forgive me." Peyton looked at him and then turned around and barged towards her car; Lucas put his hands on his head and walked towards the entrance.
xxx
Brooke walked around the club as people started to get settled in; Lucas was supposed to be coming in 15 minutes so everyone was waiting for him. Brooke looked on the wall of pictures that Peyton had put up and smiled to herself. It was like 6 years of her life was flashing before her eyes. There were pictures of Lucas and Peyton at what seemed like a graduation party; there were pictures of Lucas and Nathan at some basketball camp. There were pictures of Karen and Lucas when he was a little baby, to now.
Brooke wiped a small tear that was rolling down her cheek and smiled sadly to herself. Everything had gotten so messed up in the past couple of days that she didn't know what she was going to do anymore. Brooke sighed and walked over to the bar, "One beer," she said as the bartender popped up. It was Nathan; Brooke looked at him nervously, "H-h-hi Nate," she said softly.
Nathan mumbled something and then got Brooke a beer; he set it down and then turned to go away, but Brooke grabbed his arm, "Brooke," he said warningly.
"Please don't do this to me Nathan," Brooke began as the tears started up again, "I don't know what I have to do to make you understand that I still want to be with you!"
A taller, preppier version of Brooke walked up behind Nathan and rested her hand on his shoulder, "Are you almost done baby 'cause I want to dance," she said with a big smile.
Nathan smiled back at her, "Yeah just one sec hun…"
Brooke looked at her for a moment; she knew this girl, she knew this girl…Theresa!
"Theresa?" Brooke asked as the girl turned around.
"Hey Brooke!" Theresa exclaimed, "God I haven't seen you in years! The cheerleading squad totally sucked ass when you left doll!"
Brooke let out a small, fake laugh, "What are you doing in Tree Hill? In high school you said that you wanted to become a pro cheerleader and then move to Cali with a rich, hot, surfer dude…"
"Well I did get married to a hot, rich guy," Theresa giggled, "But we got divorced when we moved to Utah…So now I'm back here with another amazingly hot guy," she said and then kissed the top of Nathan's nose.
Brooke looked at them in confusion, "Wait…You two are dating?"
"Well," Theresa began, "Not officially, but we're on a date tonight," she said and then looked up at Nathan, "And I hope this turns into something more," she said with a wink.
Brooke looked at Nathan and he avoided her eyes, "Excuse me," Brooke said rudely as she grabbed her beer and walked away.
xxx
Lucas walked in with Anna on his arm; everyone turned around and yelled "Happy Birthday!" Karen rushed up to her son and kissed him on the cheek and gave him a big hug. Peyton, Brooke, and Nathan all looked on; neither of them daring to wish him a happy birthday.
Brooke finished off her beer and then walked into the bathroom; she looked at herself in the mirror and began to cry. Her mascara started to run so she dabbed her eyes with a paper towel. She got out a bottle of pills that were in her purse and looked at them intently and then looked back up at herself in the mirror.
"What are you doing here all alone pussy cat?" Nikki asked as she sat down beside Brooke.
Brooke looked up at her in shock, "Nikki? What the hell are you doing here?"
"It's a bar," Nikki said, "I'm drinking…"
Brooke scowled, "You know what I mean…What are you doing in Tree Hill?"
"Don't worry it's no more Jake shit," she began, "I just came back to meet this guy my friend hooked me up with…Turns out he was a total dick with nothing going for him."
Brooke let out a small laugh and took a sip of her drink, "Aren't you pushing 30 by now?" She asked rudely.
"Your funny friends," Nikki said and then ordered herself a drink.
"I'm not your friend," Brooke said coldly as she finished off her drink.
Nikki looked around the bar mockingly, "Where's your gal-pal Peyton tonight?"
"That's none of your business," Brooke said through gritted teeth.
Nikki smiled mischievously, "Did you two break up?" She said with mock hurt, "God and you two were such good friends!"
"Listen bitch," Brooke began, "I'm about to pull all the extensions out of your hair and strangle you with them, got it?"
Nikki put her hands up in defense and then took a small pill from her purse. She swallowed the pill and then smiled, "I have a proposition for you Brookie," she said and then took out an orange bottle of red pills.
Nikki shook the pills and Brooke looked at her like she was crazy, "I don't do drugs."
"These aren't drugs," Nikki said, "They just help you…"
Brooke looked at the pills and set them down, "No thanks," she said and then started to get up. Nikki grabbed Brooke's arm and pulled her back, "What the hell?"
"It's a present," Nikki said as she put the pills in Brooke's purse. Brooke zipped up her purse quickly and walked out of the bar.
Brooke opened the bottle and put a couple of the pills in her hand; her whole body began to shake. The door opened and the pills flew out of her hand, she scurried to pick them up and then looked up and saw Peyton.
Peyton looked down at the floor and saw the red pills, "What are these?" Peyton asked as she held one up to Brooke.
"Headache pills," Brooke said, "I've been having really bad headaches lately so…"
"Brooke," Peyton said as she looked at the bottle, "Don't lie to me…"
Brooke leaned again the bathroom wall and looked down at the ground, "I don't want to hurt anymore," she said softly.
Peyton sat down beside her, "Drugs aren't worth it sweetie," she said sincerely, "Don't do this to yourself…"
"I don't have a best friend, and I don't have a boyfriend," Brooke cried, "There's nothing that I can even do anymore…"
Peyton looked down at the crying Brooke and let out a deep breath, "You have me Brooke," Peyton said as she rubbed her back, "You have me…"
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Brooke walked out into the parking lot and saw Nathan leaning against her car. She looked at him and then looked down at the ground until she reached him; she stopped, but didn't look up.
"What do you want Nathan?" Brooke asked finally.
Nathan sighed, "I guess I just want you to be my girl again…"
"What about Theresa?" Brooke asked.
Nathan rolled his eyes, "You know I don't love her…"
Brooke looked up at Nathan and they smiled at each other; he kissed her softly on the lips. The kiss broke and Nathan held Brooke in his arms, "Let's go back to my place," he said and the two of them got into Brooke's car and drove off.
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