The Bitter Taste
A Phone Call To No One
AN- Thanks every single one of you for all the reviews! You guys are truly the best, and I appreciate every single review!
xxx
John F. Kennedy said the courage of life is a magnificent mixture triumph… and tragedy.
A man does what he must, in spite of personal consequences…
in spite of obstacles and dangers…
and pressures…
and that is the basis of all morality.
Brooke sat in the dark in her new apartment; after a month of waiting for Nathan to come home she decided to move out of his apartment and move into another apartment complex. It was Christmas Eve, and Brooke sat on her couch with a glass of wine in her hand. She liked the darkness and the silence; she had been sitting on the couch for what seemed like an hour. All Brooke could think about was what she had seen earlier in the day.
"So, who are you going to spend Christmas with Haley?" The VJ asked her.
Haley smiled, "Probably with my boyfriend Nathan."
'Boyfriend,' Brooke thought to herself as she poured herself another glass of wine.
Nathan walked out from backstage and kissed Haley; Haley put her arm around his waist as if she would never let go, "Is there wedding bells in the future for the two of you?" The VJ asked.
Haley looked up at Nathan and giggled, "I hope so…"
Brooke wiped her eyes and got off the couch, she didn't want to think about it anymore. She took the whole bottle of wine and took a big sip of it. That's what she had been doing lately, just drinking away her sorrow.
She also thought about Peyton a lot; Peyton had called a week after she left, but Brooke hadn't heard from her since. Brooke walked back into her room with the wine in her hand; she collapsed on the bed and let out a deep sigh. She looked over on her dresser and saw a picture of her and Nathan; Brooke put it face down and rolled over on her side.
Lucas stood in the door frame, "Are we going to my mom's café tonight?" He asked.
"Yeah," Brooke said as she turned over and took another swig from the bottle, "I just…I need to get my dress on and everything."
Lucas gave her a sympathetic smile and took the wine bottle out of her hand, "You're not showing up to my mom's café drunk," he said and then looked at the bottle, "Since when do you drink cheap wine?"
"Since I found out that Nathan and Haley were a couple," she replied bluntly; Lucas looked down at the ground, "I saw TRL, and I saw those two kiss," she said in disgust, "I knew that it was going to happen…It was just a matter of time."
Lucas sat down on the edge of Brooke's bed, "He loves you Brooke," he said and then sighed, "I mean, Nathan can be an ass sometimes, but when it comes to you…He's a great guy, and he really cares about you."
"I'm not going to wait up for him anymore Luke," Brooke said, "It's time for me to just move on…I mean I have to start dating again."
"You know that won't be hard," Lucas said.
Brooke smiled, "I just miss him you know?"
"I know," Lucas said and then patted Brooke's leg, "Come on, we're going to be late."
xxx
Nathan walked into the airport with his stuff and took a deep breath, Haley ran up behind him in tears, "Nathan!" She pleaded, "You have to stay with me…We're in love!"
"No we're not Haley!" Nathan said sternly as he pulled his arm away from Haley's grip, "You lied!" He said and then walked towards baggage.
Haley knew what she had done, and just stood there and watched him leave. She had tried to get him back, but it was useless. Nathan no longer loved her no matter what she did.
Nathan walked into Haley's room and saw her on the bed with Chris, "What the hell?" Nathan asked.
Haley and Chris both looked up, "Nathan I can explain," Haley said calmly.
"I thought you told me that Chris kicked you out?" Nathan asked.
Chris looked at Haley, "What the fuck is he talking about?" Chris asked and then looked at Nathan, "Haley broke up with me because she told me that you needed her and that you wanted her to be your wife again…"
"I'm out of here," Nathan said with a sarcastic laugh and then walked out of the room.
Haley followed him as her eyes began to water, "Nathan," she said as she started to put on her shoe, "Nathan listen to me I can explain…"
"Explain what?" Nathan asked, "How you lied to me? How you completely manipulated me?"
"I love you Nate," Haley said in tears, "I wanted you back, and I knew that you wouldn't even consider it if I wouldn't have been alone and sad!"
Nathan crossed his arms and laughed in Haley's face, "You're pathetic," he said, "You know, back in high school I liked you because you were so sweet, so innocent, so truthful…But now I can't even stand you! I don't love you Haley, and I never will…So let's just go our separate ways."
"I tried to be the perfect wife for you Nathan," Haley cried, "But I couldn't…But I want to try and make this all work out."
Nathan shook his head, "I left the person who I want to be with back in Tree Hill," he said.
Nathan sat in the airplane and put on his head phones; he closed his eyes and thought about Brooke. Everything was planned between him and Haley, the kiss on TV, the public appearances. Haley wanted him only because he didn't want her.
xxx
It was late and Brooke and Lucas were almost the last people at the café. Brooke had a drink in her hand, as did Lucas. The whole night they had to watch couples kiss and hug; Brooke looked over at Lucas and bit her bottom lip, "You don't know how badly I wanted to punch every single person in this room tonight," she said with a smile.
"I know," Lucas laughed, "It's like you and I were the only two people who didn't have someone to hang on or kiss."
Brooke looked up at the clock, "It's 3:00," she said and then yawned; she looked at her empty wine glass and then back at Lucas, "You still want to drink?"
"Of course," Lucas said as he went into the back and got another bottle of wine. He poured some in both of their glasses and then held up his own, "What should we toast to?"
Brooke held up her class and put her nose in the air, "Let's toast to the lonely people tonight…The people who have been heartbroken and left to drink all their memories and feelings away," she said and they clinked glasses. Brooke finished off her wine and laughed, "Cheers!"
"Cheers," Lucas said with a smile; he looked around the room and then down at the ground, "Have you heard from Peyton?" He asked apprehensively.
"No," Brooke said softly, "I just want to know if she's okay…"
"Me too," Lucas said and then sighed, "I hope she knows that I love her…"
Brooke smiled, "She told me about how you came to her house the night she told you that she was moving," she said, "I told her she was stupid not to stay."
"I understand why she's leaving though," Lucas said, "I mean; I wanted to leave too…"
"It seems like everyone just runs away from their troubles," Brooke began, "I did, you did, Peyton did…"
Lucas nodded, "And if you don't run away from your problems, you just drink them away," he teased and poured himself another glass.
"I'm glad we're friends Lucas," Brooke said; they smiled at each other, "I don't know what I would've done without you."
Lucas stood up and kissed Brooke's forehead, "I love you Brooke," he said, "You're my best friend," he said sincerely. He looked up at the clock and stretched, "I'm going home…You need a ride?"
"I'm just going to stay here for awhile," Brooke said and took a sip of her wine, "I'll call you in the morning." Lucas nodded and gave her one last kiss on the forehead before leaving the café.
Brooke stood up and got her balance; she walked around the café and looked at all the pictures. Some of the recent ones were of her and Lucas just acting stupid; she smiled and touched the pictures lightly. Brooke saw a picture of her, Nathan, Lucas, and Peyton at the river court; she felt a tear roll down her cheek. The bell on the door rang; Brooke turned around and saw Nathan standing there.
She stood there in shock; it was Nathan. Standing. Right in front of her. Brooke didn't know whether to run up and kiss him, or slap him in the face. She stood her ground and looked at him, "What…What?" She couldn't even get the words out.
"Haley lied," Nathan said, "She lied about Chris, and about getting kicked out…So I came back."
Brooke's jaw dropped and then she regained her composure, "Would you have still left her if you didn't know it was a lie?" She asked.
"You know that I'm in love with you," Nathan began as he walked closer towards Brooke, "And I knew that I made a mistake…Especially on TRL when I kissed her…"
"I saw that," Brooke cut in, "It broke my heart…"
Nathan looked at her sadly, "It didn't mean anything to me…Haley doesn't mean a damn thing to me," Nathan put his hand on Brooke's cheek, "You mean the world to me Brooke…I came back because I realized how dumb I was being."
"Why would you even think about getting back with her Nathan?" Brooke asked.
Nathan shrugged, "It was never about getting back together with her…"
Brooke broke down in tears and fell to the floor; Nathan ran over towards her and rested her in his arms, "I'm sorry I said no to the proposal," she whispered.
"It's okay," Nathan said, getting a little choked up himself, "I didn't even think you remembered that."
Brooke nodded, "I think about it everyday…I love you Nathan, and the only reason I didn't say yes was because I was afraid. I was afraid of losing you, just like you lost Haley."
"You would never lose me," Nathan said softly.
xxx
Lucas laid on his bed and looked up at the ceiling. It was spinning, but it didn't bother him; he closed his eyes and then heard his phone ring. Lucas groaned, but answered the phone anyways, "What?" He asked.
"Sorry," he heard a soft voice say on the other line, "Were you sleeping?"
"Peyton?" Lucas asked as he sat up, "No, no…I wasn't sleeping I'm just…Never mind it doesn't matter, is something wrong?"
Peyton sat in her Florida home outside and looked up at the stars as she held the phone, "No," she said, "I just thought I would call and see how everything was going in Tree Hill…"
"Everything's going…okay I guess," he said, "We miss you."
Peyton smiled, "I miss you guys too," she said, "Is Brooke okay?"
"I don't know about that," Lucas said, "You should call you, she really misses her best friend."
Peyton felt her eyes water, "I miss her too," she said in a hoarse voice, "I'm glad you guys are all okay," she said and then wiped her eyes, "Did you mean what you said the day that you came over?"
"Every word of it," Lucas answered, "Look Peyt, both of us have made mistakes in our life, but I want you to know that I love you no matter what…"
Peyton felt her whole body shake, "I know," she said, "And I love you too…"
"Then come home," Lucas pleaded.
"I can't," Peyton said regretfully, and then heard her other line, "I'm sorry Luke, but I have another call…I'll call Brooke later, and we'll keep in touch."
Lucas sighed, "Peyton please come home," he said.
"Goodbye Lucas," Peyton said and then hung up the phone. Lucas heard the beeping on the receiver and sighed.
He heard his door open and Nathan and Brooke walked through it, Lucas sat up and felt himself smile, "Nathan?"
"Hey man," Nathan said.
Brooke held Nathan's hand and the both of them looked at each other giddily, "What's up?" Lucas asked.
Brooke held up her left hand and smiled, "We're getting married!" She squealed as the two of them kissed and hugged.
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