The Bitter Taste
We Went For A Ride
-Thanks for all the reviews!
Italics are flashbacks
Just like you can't steal second with one foot on first, you can't move on to find new true love, if you're still holding onto the past!
xxx
Eric and Peyton walked out of the drug rehab clinic; Peyton groaned, "I really don't like that place."
"It's a drug rehab clinic," Eric laughed, "I don't think we're supposed to like it."
Peyton laughed; she had only one more week left in the clinic, and then she was back to Tree Hill to get ready for Brooke and Nathan's wedding. Peyton had talked to Brooke earlier in the week; Brooke had told her about the Chris and Haley encounter, and she told Brooke about Eric. Peyton and Eric had become good friends over the week, and they both really needed each other.
"What are you thinking about?" Eric asked when they had reached his apartment.
Peyton bit her bottom lip, "This is such a dumb question…And you probably have plans…"
"Peyton," Eric stated, "My only plans so far are to hang out with you," he said sincerely.
Peyton smiled graciously, "Well my best friend is getting married a week after we get out of rehab, and I was wondering if you would go with me."
"Are you asking me to be your date?" Eric teased.
Peyton blushed, "Yes I'm asking you to be my date."
"So should we hold hands and fondle each other the whole night and then make out at the reception?" Eric asked with a goofy grin.
Peyton slapped him playfully, "We can just go as friends."
"What if I want it to be a date?" Eric said and then looked down at the ground.
Peyton looked at him in confusion, "You're a great guy Eric, but…I'm just trying to focus on getting my life back in order," she said apologetically.
"Then we'll go as friends," Eric said with fake happiness. Peyton smiled and then walked towards her hotel, Eric's smile fell as she turned the corner.
xxx
Brooke walked into the beach house and saw Nathan napping on the couch. Brooke smiled to herself and set down her purse and bags. She straddled Nathan slowly and kissed him.
Nathan's eyes opened and he yawned, "Hey baby, where were you?"
"I had some wedding stuff to do," Brooke exclaimed as she clapped her hands together twice.
Nathan laughed, "Is everything pretty much ready?"
"We still need someone to sing a couple songs at the reception, and Peyton told me she would bring a few mixes," Brooke began, and then stopped when she saw the gleam in Nathan's eyes, "What?"
Nathan shrugged, "I was thinking maybe you could sing…"
"Nate," Brooke cooed, "I would love to sing at our wedding," she gushed.
Nathan caressed Brooke's and she kissed his hand, "Luke's been working on his best man speech for days."
"You know, Peyton met a guy up in New York," Brooke said as she raised her brows.
Nathan looked at her in suspicion, "She met him at rehab?"
"Yeah," Brooke said apprehensively off Nathan's look, "He's a great guy, and Peyton thinks really highly of him."
Nathan sighed and cuddled closer to Brooke, "I guess I'll take your word for it."
"Do you think we'll have kids?" Brooke asked as she traced her fingers down Nathan's arm, "I mean could you imagine little Nathan's and Brooke's?"
Nathan chuckled, "Kids would be great, but let's work on this whole getting married thing first."
"You're right," Brooke said and then closed her eyes, "I love you," she yawned.
Nathan smiled and then closed his eyes, "I love you too, yawny…"
xxx
Brooke walked up to Nathan's apartment and opened the door; her jaw dropped and her eyes got big. In front of her was Nathan and Haley; the sight made her want to throw up. Nathan's eyes were filled with sympathy and compassion, while Haley's were filled with payback and rejoice.
Brooke dropped her purse and backed up out of the apartment; she slammed the door shut and tearfully made her way towards her car. She didn't know whether to drive off a cliff or run over Nathan and Haley.
The footsteps behind her got closer and closer, but Brooke didn't turn around at all. She heard Nathan call her name, but that only made her go faster; finally she felt a strong hand grip her arm. Brooke turned around and stood there face to face with a guy that had confessed his love to her every single fucking day.
He went to say something, but stopped. There was nothing he could say that would sound the least bit understandable. Brooke rolled her eyes and turned towards her car; Nathan stepped in front of her so that she couldn't reach the door handle.
"Let me in my car Nathan," Brooke said in a monotone voice that sent shivers up and down Nathan's spine.
Nathan looked down at her, "Let me explain…"
"Explain what?" Brooke screamed, finally her voice showing some sort of emotion, "Explain the fact that yesterday you told me that I was the love of your life, and now your wife is back?"
Nathan sighed, "Everything just got screwed up Brooke."
"No shit," Brooke yelled and then crossed her arms tightly around her chest, "She left you for another guy, and I was there for you through everything Nate," she cried, "I loved you!"
Nathan felt his heart ache, "I know," he said sincerely.
"Tell me you don't love me," Brooke said through gritted teeth; Nathan looked down at the ground and Brooke pushed him against the car, "Tell me!"
Nathan grabbed Brooke's wrist in effort to stop her from pushing him, "Don't do this Brooke," he said as she struggled against his grip.
"Don't touch me!" Brooke cried as she pulled away from his grip and ran her hand through her hair, "I can't believe you would do something like this to me…"
Nathan walked towards her and put his hand out to wipe a tear from her cheek, "I lo—," he began.
"Shut your god damn mouth," Brooke said as she slapped his hand away, "You don't know what love is!"
Nathan put his hands in his pockets and backed up, "Please Brooke, things just happened…Haley showed up here this morning and…"
"I don't want to know the details," Brooke said coldly, "Frankly, I don't give a damn if she showed up on a magical unicorn and fucked you up the ass with a golden dildo," she spat and then took a deep breath, "I don't ever want to see you again, and I don't care how cliché that sounds, it's true!" Brooke exclaimed and then got into her car.
Nathan couldn't do anything but watched as Brooke drove off in her car; he walked back up to his apartment and sat down on the couch beside Haley.
Brooke walked into her house and started to pack immediately, the anger and frustration inside of her was too much for her to handle. This was different than the Lucas-Peyton thing; she had fallen for Nathan and she had fallen for him hard. Brooke brought her suitcase out to her car and drove off with a couple hundred dollar bills in her pocket.
She passed the apartment complex Nathan was living at and shed a tear; nothing was working out for her. Brooke drove and drove until she reached New York. She parked her car in front of a bar and walked in and saw a guy immediately giving her looks from the bar. "Welcome to my new life," Brooke said to herself and walked over to the bar.
Read and Review.
-Sorry if it's so short, but the next chapter is going to be the wedding so expect that to be long.
