The Bitter Taste

You Never Really Knew

xxx

T.H. White said; perhaps we all give the best of our hearts uncritically…to

those who hardly think about us in return.

Brooke sat on Peyton's bed as she started packing her suitcases; Brooke pouted and Peyton let out a deep breath, "This is hard enough already," Peyton said, "Now are you going to help me or just sit there and make me feel bad?"

"The second one," Brooke said, "I just can't believe your leaving…I mean, we've known each other forever!"

"You did the same thing Brooke!" Peyton exclaimed and then stopped herself after she saw the look on Brooke's face.

Brooke looked down, "And I regret it…God Peyt, you just need to face your mistakes and face your troubles!"

"I want to start over," Peyton explained, "It's not every day that you get an opportunity like this…"

Brooke sighed and pulled a bunch of movies out of her bag, "We have to have a little girls night here before you leave," she said as Peyton smiled, "It's like a tradition or something."

"Okay," Peyton said as she sat beside Brooke and popped in the movie, "I'll promise to call," she said softly.

"I know," Brooke said as she wiped a tear away quickly, "I don't know what I'm going to do without you."

Peyton cooed and put her arm around Brooke, "I'm going to miss you too Brooke," she said, "Don't worry about me though…"

xxx

Lucas woke up and saw Haley looking around his room at all the pictures on his walls, "So are you going to tell me why you're here?" Lucas asked.

Haley looked over at him, "When I was with Chris I just kept thinking about everything…About Tree Hill and Nathan…"

"He's with Brooke now Hales," Lucas informed her, "You can't just come back whenever you please and expect things to be okay."

"I know," Haley said, "I know…This isn't fair to do to everyone I know that, but I can't help it."

Lucas shook his head and rubbed his temples, "What do you really want Haley?"

"A second chance," she said softly.

Lucas sighed and rolled his eyes, "I stopped giving those out a long time ago…"

"I thought we were best friends Luke?" Haley asked.

"Really?" Lucas shot back, "So did I!" He exclaimed, "But you just went off and left everyone without even thinking twice about it!"

Haley's eyes started to water and she turned around so Lucas couldn't see her face, "Why do you think I'm back?"

"I don't know," Lucas said, "Did Chris kick you out of the apartment? Huh, because I know for damn sure you wouldn't have left that guy for anyone!"

Haley whipped back around and glared at Lucas, "You just know fucking everything don't you?" She exclaimed.

"That's the truth isn't it?" Lucas began, "You probably did something stupid, and Chris left you!"

Haley threw herself to the floor and cried, "Stop it!" She screamed and then cried harder.

"Haley," Lucas said softly as he knelt down beside her, "Hales," he said again and put his arms around her.

Haley looked up at him, "I cheated on Chris with his manager," she said sadly, "He found out about it and kicked me out of our house…"

"I'm sorry," Lucas said softly and then wiped Haley's tears away, "Why'd you come back here?"

Haley shrugged, "I didn't know where else to go…"

xxx

Brooke sat on Peyton's bed and ate a tub of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, while Peyton sat and painted her toe nails, "Whoever said that Britney Spears can act smokes crack," Peyton said.

"I happen to love Britney Spears," Brooke scoffed, "Well pre- Kevin and pre- pregnant Britney, but all in all she's one of my idols!"

Peyton rolled her eyes and laughed, "Whatever floats your boat," she said and then put the nail polish back on her dresser.

Brooke bit her bottom lip and laid down on her stomach, "I'm in denial," she finally said, "I don't want you to leave."

"Brooke!" Peyton exclaimed, "I thought we made a promise that we wouldn't make a big deal out of this whole moving thing."

"But you're moving," Brooke pointed out, "As in packing your shit and living somewhere else."

Peyton laughed, "Don't worry I won't find a new best friend or anything while I'm gone," she said with a wink.

"You couldn't replace me if you tried," Brooke giggled, and then got serious, "Are you going to miss him?" She asked apprehensively.

Peyton avoided eye contact with Brooke and let out a nervous laugh, "Depends on which him you're talking about…I know a lot of hims."

"Peyton," Brooke said warningly, "I'm serious."

Peyton looked at Brooke and took a deep breath, "Yeah I'll miss Lucas," she said softly, "He came to my house the other night," she said, "He told me how he just wanted to be with me and stuff."

"What did you say?" Brooke asked.

"I told him that I was moving," she said with a shrug.

Brooke's jaw dropped, "He confessed his undying love for you, and you're still packing up and getting your ass out of here?"

"It's complicated Brooke," Peyton began, "Lucas and I have a lot of history together," she said.

"I know!" Brooke exclaimed, but Peyton gave her a look, "Okay…Maybe I don't?"

Peyton sighed and brought her knees up and rested her chin, "I never told you about a lot of things that happened between Lucas and I," she said in almost a whisper; she looked up at Brooke, "I got pregnant after high school graduation, and everyone was so happy for us and everything," she said with a smile, "But I had a miscarriage…"

"Oh Peyt," Brooke said as she rested her hand on top of Peyton's, "I had no idea…"

Peyton wiped a hot tear from her cheek, "I just think everyday how that baby would've changed our lives…"

"You didn't do anything wrong Peyton," Brooke said sympathetically.

Peyton's bottom lip quivered, "Yes I did Brooke," she cried, "Because the baby wasn't Lucas's," Brooke's face fell, "The baby was Jake's…"

"Come here," Brooke said as she hugged her best friend; she kissed Peyton's forehead and rocked her back and forth, "I'm here for you okay?"

xxx

Lucas walked into Nathan's apartment; Nathan looked over at him and nodded, "What's up man?" He asked.

"You know that I have your back," Lucas began, "Especially after the whole Brooke thing…I mean we're brothers."

Nathan looked at him in confusion, "Yeah I know…Is something wrong?"

"No," Lucas said, "Not exactly…" Haley walked into the apartment and looked down at the ground and then back up at Nathan.

"Haley?" Nathan questioned, "What are you doing here?"

Haley ran her fingers through her hair, "Chris broke up with me," she said, "I had no where else to go so I just came home…"

"This isn't your home anymore Haley," Nathan said sternly, "You decided that one a long time ago."

Haley felt the tears form in her eyes, "Nathan…You have every right to not want anything to do with me."

"Why are you even saying this?" Nathan exclaimed, "We're never going to get back together Hales, I'm with Brooke now and that's how it's going to stay."

"Haley?" They heard a voice say.

Haley turned around and saw Brooke standing in the doorway, "Hey Brooke," she said with a small smile.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Brooke asked and then looked at Nathan who shrugged.

Haley sighed, "Chris left me so I came home…"

Brooke laughed sarcastically, "Your home's with Chris…Don't expect to come back here and start trouble."

"I need to talk to Nathan," Haley shot back, "And I'm really sick of your shit Brooke."

Brooke rolled her eyes, "I'm glad to see you're sticking up for yourself James," she said sarcastically, "Or is it Keller now?"

Haley lunged towards Brooke, but Nathan held her back, "You're such a bitch!" She screamed at Brooke.

"Whatever," Brooke said and then walked out of the apartment followed by Lucas, "I hate her!"

Lucas looked back up at the apartment and then walked down the steps towards the parking lot, "Do you think the Chris story is real?" He asked.

"I don't know," Brooke said softly, "But I know that she's going to get him back in her life…"

xxx

Brooke and Peyton drove towards the airport as they listened to one of Peyton's mixes.

"I wish I could come with you Peyton," Brooke said finally.

Peyton looked over at her friend sympathetically, "Is it because of this whole Haley thing?" She asked.

Brooke nodded, "It's like every time something goes good for me, something ten times shittier happens…"

"Brooke," Peyton said, "You know Nathan loves you more than anything…"

Brooke shrugged, "Sometimes I wish that I could go back in time and do everything over again…" She said softly and then refocused her eyes on the road.

"What would you have done differently?" Peyton asked.

Brooke sighed and bit her bottom lip, "I would've married Nathan when I had the chance…"

"What are you talking about Brooke?" Peyton said in confusion.

I'll sing it one last time for you

Then we really have to go

You've been the only thing that's right

In all I've done

xxx

"I don't know why you keep doing this to yourself Haley," Nathan said as the two of them stood face to face, "We've been over for a long time now…"

Haley sighed, "I've been thinking a lot about us lately Nate…And I realize what a big mistake I made," she began.

"It took you six years to figure that out?" Nathan asked sarcastically, "Wow…"

Haley looked down at her feet, "I came back because I was thinking maybe you could come to California with me…"

"What?" Nathan exclaimed.

"I know that back in high school I should've asked you to go with me," she began, "So now's my chance…I'm asking you to come with me Nathan."

And I can barely look at you

But every single time I do

I know we'll make it any where

Away from here

xxx

Peyton and Brooke stood inside the airport; Brooke put her hands in her pockets and bit her bottom lip, "I'm going to miss you blondie," she said with a sad smile, "It won't be the same without you…"

"I'll miss you too," Peyton said as the two girls hugged, "Take care of yourself…"

Light up, light up

As if you have a choice

Even if you can not hear my voice

I'll be right beside you dear

Brooke nodded, "Yeah you too," she said, "Visit me sometime…"

"I will," Peyton said and they hugged once more, "I love you…You're my best friend," she cried.

They pulled away and Brooke turned away, "I love you too," she said and Peyton walked away towards the luggage area. Brooke walked out of the airport and got into her car; she leaned her head against the steering wheel and cried harder.

xxx

Louder, Louder

And we'll run for our lives

I can hardly speak I understand

Why you can't raise your voice to say

Brooke walked into Karen's Café and saw Nathan sitting at the booth; he looked up at her and then looked back down at the cup of coffee in his hands. Brooke walked over towards him and sat down across from him.

"Hey," he said; his voice hoarse and quiet.

Brooke put her hand on top of his, "Is something wrong?" She asked in almost a whisper.

"Haley wanted me to come to California with her," Nathan began; Brooke pulled her hand away slowly, "If I don't go with her she's just going to stay in Tree Hill and ruin our lives…"

Brooke closed her eyes and felt her bottom lip quiver, "Nathan," she said as her voice cracked, "Don't do this to me again…"

"I love you," Nathan said forcefully as he grabbed Brooke's hands, "I promise you that…I just need time to…"

"To what?" Brooke exclaimed; cutting him off, "To have a little fling with your ex?"

Nathan shook his head softly, "It's not about her Brooke…It's about us!"

"Please don't do this Nathan," Brooke cried, "Please…"

Slower, slower

We don't have time for that

All I want's to find an easier way

To get out of our little heads

Nathan's eyes watered, but he kept eye contact with Brooke, "I promise that Haley means nothing to me."

"Then why are you doing this?" Brooke asked sadly, "Why are you letting her win?"

Nathan sighed, "Chris is going to be in California too, because they're doing this big concert…I'm going to try to get them back together and then we can go back to being us," he said softly, "I love you Brooke."

xxx

Have heart, my dear

We're bound to be afraid

Even if its just for a few days

Making up for all this mess

Lucas and Brooke watched from the parking lot at the apartment complex as Nathan drove out and onto the road following Haley. Lucas put his arm around Brooke and gently rubbed her arm, "We're going to be okay," he said.

"Why when everything goes right, something has to go terribly wrong?" Brooke asked as she looked up at Lucas.

Lucas sighed, "Because this is Tree Hill," he answered and then walked towards his own car.

"Lucas," Brooke called out before he opened the door. Lucas turned around, "I don't think I can be alone tonight," she said softly.

Lucas nodded and closed his car door; he followed Brooke up to the apartment, "I'm here for you Brooke…"

xxx

Haley called Nathan; he answered and heard Haley giggle into the phone, "Can you believe we're actually doing this?" She squealed.

Nathan groaned, "I'm doing this because I don't want you to hurt Brooke."

"Nathan," Haley said sternly, "We have to work on us…I mean, we've both made mistakes in the past and…"

"No Haley," Nathan said maliciously, "The only reason I'm doing this is because I want you out of mine and Brooke's lives. I'm in love with her and there isn't a god damn thing you can do about it!"

Haley snorted, "If you're so in love with her then why are you even coming along?"

"I already told you," Nathan said in frustration, "I want you to leave Brooke alone!"

Haley rolled her eyes and sighed, "Give it up Nate…You know that if I never would've left you would've never even thought about dealing with that piece of trash." Nathan hung up the phone and turned it off; he slammed it on the passenger seat and kept his eyes on the road.

xxx

Light up, light up

As if you have a choice

Even if you can not hear my voice

I'll be right beside you dear

Peyton sat on the place and put on her seat belt; she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She felt someone tap her shoulder and she turned and saw Jake sitting beside her.

"Jake?" She said in amazement, "What…What are you doing here?"

"I'm going down to Florida," Jake said, "My marriage kind of…Fluked so…"

Peyton looked at him in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"Well my fiancée wasn't a very faithful person," Jake said and then noticed what he had said.

Peyton rolled her eyes, "I guess you two have a lot in common," she muttered.

"Anna was just screwing around behind my back," Jake began; Peyton's eyes opened wide.

"Anna?" Peyton asked.

Jake nodded, "Yeah…I don't know if you guys got to meet her not because she was always at her grandparents when we were down there…Or at least that's what she said." Peyton laughed quietly and Jake looked at her, "What?"

"Nothing," Peyton said, "It's just…It's good to be out of Tree Hill…"

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