The Bitter Taste
Sometimes You Just Know
We don't stop loving someone; we just learn how to live without them.
xxx
"Her name was Cassie," Eric began as the two of them sipped their coffee's, "Her dad was the principal at our high school, and her mom was my English teacher…"
Peyton squinted, "Ouch…"
"Yeah," Eric said with a sigh, "Her dad hated me because I was into the whole musician thing…"
Peyton smiled, "Like you are now?"
"It was worse," Eric laughed, "Anyway…Her dad and mom kept watch on me, and somehow through it all we stayed together for three years."
Peyton looked at him in amazement, "Wow," she said, "It seemed like you guys were really in love."
"We were," he said with a small twinkle in his icy, blue eyes, "But…It ended and that's how I ended up here."
Peyton crossed her arms and looked down at the table, "I tried cocaine once…Back in high school."
"It's a stupid drug," Eric said.
Peyton nodded, "I took it because my one boyfriend, Jake, left Tree Hill because his ex-girlfriend bitch took their baby and ran off."
"Whoa," Eric questioned, "Baby?"
Peyton laughed nervously, "Yeah, he had a baby girl…Her name was Jenny…And then recently, I had a boyfriend named Lucas…And everything was just so fucked up with him, and I ended up overdosing on some pills because of it."
"Shit happens right?" Eric offered.
Peyton looked up at him and bit her bottom lip, "Right," she began with a genuine smile.
xxx
Brooke and Nathan walked into a church near by as they talked to the reverend that they had booked to do their wedding; the reverend smiled and wished the two their best's, and then let the two of them explore the church a bit.
Brooke walked up to the altar and smiled, "Can you believe that we're going to be up here pretty soon?" She asked as Nathan came up behind her.
"It's incredible," Nathan said as he wrapped his arms around her waist, "This is almost surreal."
Brooke smiled, "I know," she began, "I'm going to be Brooke Penelope Scott, and I'm going to be your wife," she said in awe, "I've never been a wife before!"
"And I've never been a husb-…Oh wait never mind," Nathan kidded; Brooke laughed and turned to face him, "You're beautiful…"
Brooke bit her bottom lip and smiled shyly, "Stop," Brooke said playfully.
The two of them walked into the beach house and saw Chris Kellar standing on the deck looking out onto the beach. Brooke and Nathan looked at each other in confusion and then walked over towards him. Chris turned around and smirked at the two of them, "I should've figured the two of you would shack up together sooner or later…"
"What the hell are you doing here Chris?" Brooke asked coldly, "Did Haley send you?"
Chris nodded at Nathan, "You've got a feisty one here," he said and then winked at Brooke, "Did you ever think that maybe I just came here to see you?"
"Cut the shit," Brooke snapped, "Now. What are you doing here?"
Chris groaned, "We just wanted to come by Tree Hill and see how everyone's doing."
"We?" Nathan asked.
Haley walked out from the kitchen as Nathan and Brooke stared at her in disbelief, "Hi," she said softly.
"What is going on here?" Brooke asked as she looked at Chris and then back at Haley, "Tell me this is just some sort of sick joke."
Chris walked away from the group shaking his head, "I came by to see Luke," Haley said, "And then I drove past the beach house and saw the cars and…"
"And were hoping that I fell of a cliff and died," Brooke finished coldly, "Well sorry sweetheart, but I'm alive and kicking, and Nathan and I are actually…Married," Brooke said with a smile as she held up her left hand and showed Haley the ring.
Chris whistled as he walked back into the room with a sandwich in his hand, "Damn," he said.
"I thought you and Chris were getting married?" Nathan asked as he put his arm around Brooke's waist.
Haley and Chris looked at each other and smiled, "Whoa dude," Chris began, "We never said that we weren't married…Why do you people always assume that Haley wants to get back together with Nathan?"
"Because that's usually how it goes isn't it?" Brooke asked, "Haley comes back and tries to ruin everything, and then tries to lure Nathan back into her world…I won't let it happen Haley…I'm sorry, but I'm not going to let you take him away from me because he is the best damn thing that has happened to me in awhile!"
Haley watched as Nathan kissed the top of Brooke's forehead; Brooke looked up at him and they shared a look. A look that Haley noticed her and Nathan had never shared, "Can we talk?" Haley asked Brooke, "Outside…"
Brooke and Haley walked out onto the beach; Haley sat down as the wind blew her hair back. After a few seconds Brooke sat down beside her and wiped her eyes, "Aren't you happy with being away from here? I mean isn't that what you wanted in the first place?" Brooke questioned.
"I used to come back here just to see Nathan," Haley started, "But it isn't like that now…I came by to see Luke this time, and I am more than happy for you and Nate."
Brooke crossed her arms and looked down at the sand, "I love him Hales…More than anything in the world…"
"I know," Haley said with a little pain in her voice, "I watched the two of you earlier and I saw how much he cared for you…Nathan never was like that with me; I mean maybe in the beginning stages of the relationship, but it didn't last…He wants to be with you Brooke, and I'm happy for you two."
Brooke finally looked at Haley and smiled, "So is this some sort of truce or something?"
"It's not over till someone cries," Haley said with a wide smile.
Brooke hugged Haley as the two of them cried, "Then I guess it's over," Brooke said.
"Oh come on," they heard Chris say behind them, "Look Nate, they're already cheating on us."
Haley threw sand at Chris and laughed, "Shut up!"
The four of them walked into the parking lot as Chris and Haley were about to get into the car. Haley looked up at Nathan and smiled, "So I guess everything's okay?"
"Yeah," Nathan said with a nod, "You be careful alright?"
Haley nodded and kissed Nathan on the cheek, "You and Brooke deserve each other," she whispered into his ear.
"Thanks," Nathan said as he opened Haley's door for her; Haley smiled as he shut the door and waved goodbye to the two of them.
Brooke and Nathan watched the car pull out of the driveway; Brooke cuddled closely up to Nathan and then smirked up at him, "That was oddly enjoyable," she said.
"Yeah," Nathan said as he kissed the top of Brooke's nose, "Let's go," he said as he nudged Brooke.
Brooke bit her bottom lip playfully and pulled Nathan towards the house by his shirt collar, "This whole thing has kind of got me in the mood," she said suggestively.
"Me too," Nathan said with a wink as the two of them stumbled into the house.
xxx
Haley walked into Lucas's room as he laid on his back and listened to his MP3 player; Haley smiled and jumped on top of him. Lucas's eyes opened and he looked up at Haley, "Oh my god!" Lucas exclaimed as he took out his ear phones, "What…What are you doing here?"
"Hey to you too," Haley said with a smile, "I actually came down to see you!"
Lucas smiled, "You're kidding?"
"Nope," Haley said with a smile as she high fived Lucas, "How are things going for you?"
Lucas looked at Haley's ring and raised his brows, "Obviously not as good as things are for you…"
"Chris and I got married," Haley said, "I mean we finally did it…"
Lucas sat up and sighed, "Did you see Brooke and Nathan?"
"Yeah," Haley said with a small smile, "We worked things out…Finally."
Lucas nodded to himself and gave Haley a big hug, "I missed you," he said sincerely.
"Where's Peyton?" Haley said as she wiped her eyes.
Lucas looked down at the ground and started to pace, "Peyton and I broke up, and then recently she overdosed on a bottle of pills after a little fight we had…She's in a drug rehab clinic in New York for a couple weeks."
"Oh god Luke," Haley said as she gave him another big hug, "Is she okay? I mean..."
Lucas shrugged, "Yeah she's okay…"
"Are you okay?" Haley asked sincerely.
Lucas looked down at the ground, "I can't help but think this is all my fault…"
"You're a great guy," Haley said with a smile, "Don't start blaming yourself for this because I don't want you to live in guilt forever okay?"
Lucas smiled, "Okay," he said and then gave Haley one last hug, "This is when we say our goodbye's right?"
"Yeah," Haley said sadly as the hug broke, "If you ever need anything just call my cell phone alright?"
Lucas kissed Haley's forehead, "Alright," he said and then laughed to himself, "Can you believe that awhile ago it was me and you? Just me and you."
"It's weird," Haley said as she looked around his room and then spotted a picture of her and Luke from high school, "Burn that," she teased.
Lucas looked at that picture and laughed, "You were so innocent."
"As were you," Haley said as she headed towards the door, "I love you Luke…"
Lucas dug his hands in his pockets, "I love you too…"
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