The Bitter Taste

We're Trying, We're Dying

The trouble with love is that it doesn't care how fast you fall.

xxx

Nathan pulled up his pants and buckled his belt. He put his tie on and looked over towards the bed; Rachel laid there smoking a cigarette. He didn't know how it all started. Nathan had gotten up, gave Brooke a kiss goodbye, got to work, saw Rachel, and they ended up renting a motel room for a couple of hours. She smiled up at him and crushed her cigarette, "I have to say Nathan," Rachel began, "That was amazing…" Nathan looked at her and sighed as he tucked in his shirt and then put on his blazer. Rachel let out a dry laugh, "Feeling guilty?"

"How can I not?" Nathan asked, "I've been having an affair…"

Rachel wrapped the sheets around her and stood up; she stood in front of Nathan and re-did his tie for him, "Nathan…She's not going to find out. I won't allow it. Look how well this is working out for the both of us." Nathan looked down at the ground and moved away from Rachel.

xxx

Brooke felt shivers go up and down her arms; she rubbed her hands together and took another sip of her tea. "What?" Peyton asked.

The two of them were sitting on the deck drinking tea and eating cookies, "Nothing," Brooke said, "I just got this really bad feeling about something…"

"Yeah, I've been getting a lot of those lately," Peyton muttered.

Brooke gave her a sympathetic look, "Still upset about Haley and Luke?"

"The thing is…I know I made a mistake with trusting Jake again…" Peyton started, "Lucas loved me and I loved him."

Brooke patted Peyton's knee and sighed, "Do you have any names for the baby yet?"

Peyton smiled and rubbed her stomach, "If it's a girl I was thinking maybe naming her Elizabeth or Annie or something…" Peyton said, "And if it's a boy I was going to name him Eric," she said sadly.

"Peyton…" Brooke began, but then the phone rang, "Hold on," she said and then ran into the house. Minutes later Brooke came out; her face was pale and tear stained.

Peyton sat up quickly, "What's wrong?"

"Nathan's in the hospital," Brooke said softly. Peyton grabbed her hand and the two of them ran to Brooke's car.

xxx

Lucas rolled over and kissed Haley's forehead. She smiled and opened her eyes slowly, "Hi," she said softly.

"Hi," Lucas said with a smile, "Sleep well?"

Haley yawned and stretched out her arms, "Uh-huh."

"What happened between you and Chris?" Lucas asked as he ran his fingers through Haley's blonde hair.

She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath, "I cheated on him Lucas…"

"This seems to be a new thing with you," he said angrily.

Haley gave Lucas a look, "Life on the road is so difficult Luke…There are so many temptations, and hot guys are literally throwing themselves at you…I got caught up in all the bull shit, and I messed up. He walked in on me and one of his best friends…"

"You could easily just cheat on me," Lucas said as he laid on his back and looked up at the ceiling.

Haley shook her head, "No I couldn't," she said quietly.

Lucas looked over at her, "And why not?"

"Because I love you," Haley said and then kissed Lucas passionately on the lips.

Lucas kissed her back and smiled; his phone rang, "Hello?" Lucas answered; his face went blank, "Okay," he said, "We'll be there soon." He hung up the phone and got out of the bed quickly, "Get dressed," he said to Haley.

Haley sat up quickly and looked up worriedly at him, "What's wrong?"

"Nathan was in a car crash," Lucas said; Haley put her hand over her mouth and got out of the bed.

xxx

Brooke walked into Nathan's room and saw him sitting there with a grimace on his face. She stood beside his bed and ran her hand along his cheek. He looked up at her and smiled, "Hey," he said; his voice raspy and dry.

"I talked to the doctor," Brooke began, "He said that you got pretty beat up, but you should be out of her in a few days…" She stopped and looked down at the ground, "And he said Rachel is going to be okay, too."

Nathan tried to grab Brooke's hand, but she pulled away, "Brooke you have to listen to me…"

"Did you sleep with her?" Brooke asked as tears streamed down her face. He looked up at her and didn't say a word, "Did you sleep with her Nathan?" She repeated.

Nathan swallowed the lump in his throat and closed his tear filled eyes, "…Yes," he said. Brooke turned to walk out of the room, "Brooke," Nathan called for her.

Brooke turned around and looked at him, "How could you do this to me?" She asked, "I thought you loved me."

"I do love you," Nathan began, "I got caught up in the moment…"

"Was today your first time?" Brooke asked.

Nathan shook his head, "This has been going on for a week," he began, "But we just recently started sleeping together."

"I want a divorce Nathan."

xxx

Peyton stood outside the hospital and watched a little girl walk in holding tightly onto her mother's hand. She smiled and rubbed her own belly; she heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Lucas walking towards her. He stood beside her with his hands in his pockets, "How you doing Peyton?" He asked.

"Pregnant, bitter, pissed off, upset, emotionally unstable," she said, "How are you doing?" Sarcasm dripped from her tongue.

Lucas sighed and looked up at the clouds, "Who's Rachel?"

"Nathan's secretary," Peyton began, "And I think he was having an affair with her…"

Lucas looked down at the ground and shook her head, "Why he would cheat on Brooke is beyond me."

"Because people are stupid," Peyton said with a dry laugh, "He had everything with Brooke, but he saw a thrill with that slut and took it."

Lucas looked at her, "Do you think this is it for them? I mean, they're in love…Everything's going to be okay," he said hopefully.

"Lie to yourself enough and you'll start to believe things are actually getting better," Peyton said and then walked back into the hospital.

Read and Review, please.

Sorry if it's short…