The Bitter Taste

Play Me Anything

When you're around someone so much

for so long, they become a part of you and

if they change or go away, you won't know

who you are without them

xxx

"Everything's just so hard," Peyton whispered as she and Jake sprawled out on her bed looking up at the ceiling, "Lucas and I are completely done, Eric is dead, and I'm pregnant…"

Jake ran his fingers through Peyton's curls, "I'm here now Peyton," he said in a soft voice; he kissed the top of her head and squeezed her closer to him, "I'm here…"

"How's everything with Jenny and Nikki?" Peyton asked apprehensively.

Jake sighed and rubbed his temple, "Nikki's out of the picture, and I have full custody of Jenny," he said with a big smile.

"Oh my god!" Peyton said and then hugged Jake, "That's so great."

Jake nodded, "I know… I left Jenny with my parents because I figured you and I needed time to talk."

"I missed you so much," Peyton said as she collapsed onto Jake's lap, "You have no idea how many nights I stayed up and wondered where you were, or how you were doing."

Jake rubbed her back, "I think I do," he began, "There wasn't a single a night where I didn't think about you."

"Are you staying for good?" Peyton finally asked.

Jake looked down at the sheets and looked away from Peyton, "I don't know if I can or not…"

"Why?"

Jake sighed, "I haven't been here for awhile Peyton," he said, "I came back and everything's so different now… Brooke and Nathan are married, you're pregnant… I've missed so much."

"I need you here," Peyton said as she tried to hold back the tears, "I need you, don't you get it?"

Jake rested his palm on Peyton's red, wet cheek, "I don't want to hurt you again, and I can't promise you that."

"I don't care," Peyton cried, "If it's because of the baby…"

Jake shook his head and put his finger to her lips, "Even if you weren't pregnant I probably wouldn't want to stay," he said truthfully, "It's so hard Peyton. It's hard for me to watch you cry, and watch you be hurt. I just think… For right now, we should be friends."

"We're not friends," Peyton said tearfully, "Friends don't look at each other like we do."

Jake felt his eyes begin to water, "I love you Peyton," he said in almost a whisper as he held her face close to his, "Don't ever forget that."

Peyton grabbed onto Jake's hand and kissed his hand, "I love you too…"

"Get some sleep," he said as he pulled the covers over Peyton's slim body; she looked at him in worry, "I'll be here when you wake up," he said reassuringly.

xxx

Nathan and Brooke sat in the living room as they watched TV. The night had been emotionally draining for the both of them. Brooke snuggled closer to Nathan and closed her eyes. Nathan draped a blanket over his sleeping wife and continued watching TV. The rain started coming down hard after a few hours of watching Sports Center. He heard the door knock and he groaned in frustration. Nathan opened the door and saw Haley standing there drenched with rain.

"Haley?" Nathan asked; it had been a couple months since he had last seen her here with Chris.

Haley smiled sadly and looked up at him, "Hey…" Her voice was weak and tired.

"What are you doing here?" Nathan finally asked.

Haley sighed, "I couldn't do it anymore… Chris wasn't the guy I thought he was, and music just wasn't fun anymore."

"Come inside," Nathan said and then shut the door once Haley had walked in, "Do you want anything to drink?" He asked as the two of them made their way into the living room.

Haley shook her head, "No I'm fine," she said and then looked on the couch to see Brooke sleeping, "Figures she'd be sleeping," she said with a small laugh.

Nathan smirked, "It's been a tiring day," he said and then sat down in the kitchen.

"Is everything okay?" Haley asked.

Nathan shrugged, "Peyton's pregnant and the father of the baby died last night…"

"Oh god," Haley said as she put her hand over her mouth, "Is Peyton okay?"

Nathan rubbed his eyes, "Jake's back… So… I don't know how that whole thing is going to go."

"I feel horrible," Haley said with an open mouth.

Nathan nodded and drummed his fingers on the table, "What happened with you and Chris?"

"I don't know," Haley said as she stood up and ran her fingers through her wet hair, "At first everything was so perfect between us… And then we stopped having fun, we stopped loving each other."

Nathan folded his arms, "I'm sorry…"

"It's okay," Haley said with a small shrug, "It's just what you get when you mess with a rock star," she said sarcastically.

Nathan chuckled, "Apparently…"

"How was the wedding?" Haley asked as she looked at the pictures, "Brooke looks amazing!"

Nathan smiled, "Yeah," he said, "The wedding was great, and it was just a great moment."

"That's good," Haley said with a content smile, and then put her hand on Nathan's arm, "I'm really happy for you and Brooke…"

Nathan smiled as he and Haley hugged, "I'm glad you're back Hales…" Brooke watched from the living room as the two hugged; a pang of jealousy hit her like a ton of bricks. Brooke knew that Haley would eventually come running back to Nathan once things with Chris went sour, and she knew that Haley wasn't going to give up.

Brooke laid on the couch and listened to Nathan and Haley talk about music, basketball, the wedding, and high school memories. She clenched her teeth when Haley brought up their relationship, but smiled once Nathan had brushed it off.

"Do you have somewhere to stay?" Nathan finally asked after an hour or so of talking.

Haley smiled, "I'm going to go to Lucas's and see if I can stay there for a little bit, and then I'm thinking about buying an apartment."

"Okay," Nathan said as the two of them stood up, "Well give me a call if you need anything, and I'm sure Brooke will help you with anything you need."

Haley smiled as she opened the front door, "Thanks for everything," she said and gave him one last hug.

"No problem," Nathan said and then closed the door once she left. He walked back into the living room and saw Brooke sitting on the couch with a sour puss look on her face. He sighed and jumped on the couch beside her; she didn't even look at him. He put his arm around her, and she scooted over, "How long have you been awake?" Nathan asked.

"Long enough to hear you and Haley talk about you're whole life stories," Brooke said bitterly and then cleared her throat in annoyance.

Nathan rolled his eyes and chuckled, "You're not jealous are you?" He teased as he put his two fingers under her chin.

"No," Brooke said as she slapped his hand away, "I'm not in the mood right now Nathan."

Nathan groaned, "Brooke Penelope Davis! Whatever I did to make you mad I'm sorry, but Haley and I were just talking. We're friends."

"You two will never just be friends," Brooke said with a cynical laugh. Nathan got on top of Brooke and started tickling her, "Nathan stop!" Brooke said with a big laugh, "Stop!" She said and continued to laugh, "Nate!"

Nathan laughed, "Still mad?"

"Yes," Brooke said and so Nathan started to tickle her again, "Stop! I'm going to piss my pants!"

Nathan smirked, "Are you still mad?"

Brooke looked up into his deep, blue eyes and shook her head, "No," she said softly and then stroked his cheek.

"Good," Nathan said and then passionately kissed his wife, "I love you…"

Brooke smiled, "I love you too…"

xxx

Haley smoked a cigarette as she sat on a bench near the River court. She exhaled and looked out onto the river. She couldn't believe that she had actually left this place.

"The rock star's back," she heard Lucas's voice say behind her.

Haley turned around and smiled, "Hey buddy…"

Lucas looked at the cigarette and frowned, "I see you've taken up smoking now?"

"I am a rock star," Haley said as she took another drag of her cigarette, "It's not that bad Luke…"

Lucas laughed and shook his head, "When did you get back?" He asked as he sat down beside his old best friend.

"A couple hours ago," Haley said, "Chris and I weren't working out, and music wasn't fun anymore."

Lucas looked at her questioningly, "And this has nothing to do with Nathan right?"

"No," Haley said as she lit another cigarette, "Does it always have to be about him?"

Lucas chuckled, "With you? Yes."

"Well he's not the reason I'm back," she said as she exhaled smoke, "He and Brooke are married, and I wouldn't ruin that ever."

Lucas smiled and put his arm around her, "So are you staying with me?"

"You read my mind," Haley said as the two of them linked arms and started walking towards Luke's car.

Lucas stopped and turned towards Haley, "If my mom finds out you're a smoker she's going to flip. So can you save the bad girl rock stuff for when you're not near here?"

Haley smiled and threw her cigarette down, "It'll be our little secret," she said and then continued walking.

"You've changed," Lucas said.

Haley turned around and smirked, "You have no idea," she said and then began to walk.

Sorry it's so late!

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