The Bitter Taste

Look How They Shine For You

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

Brooke walked into Suburban Filth; a store that she had become manager of. She smiled at her workers and looked at the new designs on the table. Somebody cleared their throat beside her, and she saw Haley standing there holding a pair of black laced boy shorts, and a matching bra.

Brooke let out a dry laugh, "For Lucas?" She asked sarcastically.

Haley looked down at the ground, "I guess you talked to Peyton…"

"Well it was mostly Peyton crying, and in between sobs Peyton telling me what she saw," Brooke said as she leaned against a table, "If you're not back trying to ruin my life, you just have to be back ruining somebody else's."

Haley sighed, "I'm not trying to ruin anybody's life…From what I heard her and Lucas weren't involved. Jake was back and Peyton was happy."

"You know how Jake is," Brooke began, "He comes back and then leaves. Comes back, and leaves. You of all people should know how that works."

"I didn't come here to get lectured Brooke," Haley snapped.

"Then why did you come here?" Brooke asked.

Haley rolled her eyes and held up her underwear, "To buy underwear…"

"Don't be smart," Brooke said as she cocked her hip, "For a big music star it doesn't seem like Tree Hill would be the scene."

Haley bit her bottom lip, "Chris and I are over…I thought Nathan would've told you."

"Nathan doesn't talk about you," Brooke spat quickly.

Haley laughed sarcastically and set down the stuff she was planning on buying, "Lucas and I are going to continue to sleep together, Brooke. I don't care if Peyton or you, for that matter, have a problem with it. As for you and Nathan, I'm happy for you guys. I'm happy that he found someone who really loves him, and I know that he will love you and trust you so much more than he ever loved or trusted me. I'm sorry that Peyton is upset, but I can't help that I love Lucas…" Haley turned and walked out of the store.

xxx

Brooke walked into Dan Scott Motors, which Nathan had taken over after his parents had moved. She walked into Nathan's office and saw an attractive red head standing there smiling at him as she gave him papers. Brooke stopped in her tracks and raised her brow as she watched the girl laugh at Nathan's jokes way too hard, and touch his shoulder when she talked to him. She cleared her throat and caused both of them to look up at her. Nathan stood up and walked over to Brooke, "Brooke," he said as he put his arm around her waist, "This is Rachel, she's my new secretary."

"What happened to the other one? Uhm…Mary, Margie, or whatever the hell her name was?" Brooke asked as she studied this "Rachel".

Nathan chuckled, "Terri was 87 years old, sweetheart."

"The older, the better," Brooke said with a fake smile.

Rachel smiled and walked up to Brooke with her hand outstretched, "You must be Nathan's wife, Brooke…I'm Rachel Winters," she said.

Brooke gave her a fake smile and shook her hand, "How old are you?"

"21," Rachel said enthusiastically.

Brooke gave Nathan a look and then turned back towards Rachel, "Well it was very nice meeting you, but I have to go," she said and then walked out of the office.

"Excuse me," Nathan said to Rachel as he ran after Brooke. He grabbed her arm, "Is there a problem?"

Brooke crossed her arms tightly across her chest, "She's gorgeous Nate! And she's 21!"

"Brooke," Nathan said as he laughed and shook his head, "She's my secretary; I don't look at her in any other way."

"So you didn't notice that little mini skirt she was wearing, or the fact that her boobs were almost coming out of that top?" Brooke asked.

Nathan cupped Brooke's face and put his forehead on hers, "No," he said softly, "The only thing I noticed was that hot brunette that walked into my office…"

"Good," Brooke said with a smile. Nathan kissed her softly on the lips; Brooke smirked and kissed him back, "I'll let you go…"

Nathan kissed her on the forehead, "I'll be home at 6," he said and then walked back towards his office.

xxx

Peyton walked into Brooke and Nathan's house and saw Brooke sitting on the couch with a glass of Jack Daniel's. Peyton let out a little smile and picked up the bottle that sat beside her. "Nothing a little Jack can't fix," Brooke said as she took a sip from her glass.

"What's wrong?" Peyton asked as she set down the bottle.

Brooke sighed, "Let's just say…Nathan has a new secretary; she's 21 and hot."

"Brooke," Peyton said as she sat down beside her best friend, "Nathan would never cheat on you with some 21 year old hoochie mama."

Brooke shrugged and slunk down in the couch, "You know how Nate is," she began, "If she's beautiful and forward then he's going to go for it…I mean that's how I was."

"He's married now Brooke," Peyton began, "Nathan's changed a lot since when we knew him…"

Brooke looked up at the clock, it read 6:30. "I know," Brooke said and then turned on the TV.

xxx

"So you actually fought these guys in just your boxers with your brother?" Rachel laughed.

Nathan laughed as well, "Well my half brother…But to us, we are brothers."

"How does the half come into play?" Rachel asked.

"Well, my dad got Luke's mom pregnant in high school," Nathan began, "And then he met my mom and got her pregnant, and chose my mom over Karen."

"Quite the life," Rachel said as she turned up the radio, "This is my favorite song!" Coldplay's "Yellow" came out from the speakers and Rachel quietly sang along to it; she stood up and looked at Nathan, "May I have this dance?" She teased.

Nathan smiled and began to dance with her, "So did you like Michigan?" He asked to break the silence.

"Not really," Rachel said and then giggled, "Dancing isn't about talking, Nate. Dancing…It's about connecting with the person who you're with," she said in almost a whisper.

Nathan raised his brow, "That's poetic…"

"My dad taught me that before he died," Rachel said and then looked down at the ground.

"I'm sorry," Nathan said sympathetically.

Rachel shrugged, "It's okay…"

Nathan looked up at the clock and it read 6:43; he let go of Rachel and began to put on his jacket, "Shit!"

"Nate," Rachel began as he frantically gathered up papers, "Nate, chill!"

Nathan looked at her, "I promised Brooke I'd be home at 6…"

"You worked late," Rachel began as she sat on the desk, "Come on, we didn't do anything wrong…"

"I was with you, in my office, alone…Dancing," Nathan began, "I'm married."

Rachel sighed, "I still don't see anything wrong with this situation," she said and then grabbed Nathan's tie, "Yet," she whispered and then kissed him passionately on the lips.

Nathan lost his thoughts as Rachel's tongue slid into his mouth. He grabbed her ass as put her up against the door. She ran her fingers through his hair as his tongue traced her bottom lip and then into her mouth. She took her shirt off, and Nathan felt her bare skin against his hands. He stopped kissing her and looked in her eyes; he backed away and put his hands on his head. "This isn't right," Nathan said as he picked up Rachel's shirt and handed it to her.

"That's kind of the whole point of an affair, Nate," Rachel said as she put her shirt on.

Nathan looked at her, "I'm not going to have an affair…"

"You almost did," Rachel said as she licked her lips, "It's just having a little fun," she said with a laugh, "See you tomorrow," she said as she walked out of the office.

xxx

Nathan walked into his house and saw Peyton sitting on the couch, and Brooke lying down. He quietly walked over and saw that Brooke was sleeping. He looked at his watch; it read 7:15. Peyton looked up at him and then stood up, "She's been waiting for you," she said.

"I'm sorry," Nathan began, "I had so much damn paperwork," he lied.

Peyton nodded, "Okay…Well…" She said and then walked out of the house.

Nathan sat down on the couch and rested Brooke's head on his lap; he looked down at her and wiped a strand of hair from her eyes. Nathan replayed the events of what had happened earlier in his head; why would he do that to Brooke? Why would he even think of that? She deserved better…

Read and Review, please.