The Bitter Taste
Just Whisper My Name
You don't realize how strong a person is until you see them at their weakest moment.
xxx
Nathan turned over to his side and saw Brooke playing with the wedding ring on her left finger. "You're not happy with the ring?" He asked.
Brooke looked at him; surprised he was awake, and shook her head, "No…The ring is gorgeous it's just…" She stopped and took a deep breath, "I love you Nate, but I don't want to rush into things again."
"I want you to have the ring Brooke," Nathan said sternly, "I want you to know that I love you and that I want to be with you…Forever."
Brooke couldn't help but smile, "I know," she said and then propped up on her elbow and faced Nathan, "I love you too baby," she whispered, "I just want to wait a little bit before we get married."
Brooke kissed him on the lips, after the kiss broke Nathan smirked, "I'll wait forever," he said and then kissed her again.
xxx
Peyton lay on the couch and looked up at the ceiling fan. She watched it go around and around and around. What had happened? She had slept with one of her best friend's ex girlfriends, and then her best friend's enemy. Peyton looked over and saw the paper with Veronica's number written perfectly beside her. She had just started some lesbian relationship with a woman that had left her life just as quickly as she had come. Peyton got up from the couch and touched her lips; they were still numb from the hours of kissing and biting that had gone on between the two. Never in her life did she think that something like that would've happened. Maybe it was because she missed Jake, but for a woman to fill her needs? It was crazy. It wasn't her. Peyton walked into the kitchen and got herself a beer; she rubbed her eyes and ran her fingers through her mess of a hair. She heard the doorbell and groaned. Great.
Peyton walked over and opened the door; Jake stood there with Jenny standing beside him holding his hand. Peyton blinked her eyes a couple more times and gave him a big hug.
"Hey," he said with a smile.
The hug broke and Peyton stepped back with her hands over her mouth, "What are you doing here?"
"I understand that you have this life here that you don't want to leave, but I want to be in your life Peyton," Jake began.
Peyton smiled and kissed Jake on the lips, "You don't know how good it is to hear that…"
"I love you Peyton," Jake said softly as he cupped her face, "When you walked out that door I realized that I was making the biggest mistake by not following."
Peyton put her hand on top of Jake's and then took his hand as she led Jenny and Jake upstairs. They walked into Eric's room and Jake went over and looked into Eric's crib. The baby looked up at him and smiled; Jake smiled down at the baby and then looked over at Peyton who was holding onto Jenny with a tear in her eye, "He's amazing Peyton."
"Thanks," she said as she walked over towards the crib.
Jake kissed the top of Eric's head and set him back down in the crib, "So what do you say?" He asked Peyton, "Can we try this one more time?"
"Yeah," Peyton said as she choked up a little bit. Jake smiled and the two of them hugged each other tightly. Jake kissed Peyton on the lips; Peyton took his hand and walked towards her bedroom. They continued kissing until they fell onto the bed.
xxx
Lucas walked along the beach with his sneakers in his hand. He smiled to himself; everything was going perfectly for him. His wife lay in bed at home after their countless hours of sex. To think, his childhood best friend was now his wife. Everything about her was perfect; the way her almond eyes looked up at him when she was happy, and then her body fit in his. He sat down on the beach and looked up at the setting sun.
He saw a shadow behind him and turned to see Peyton standing there with Eric on her hip "Is there enough beach here for all of us?" She asked.
"Yeah," Lucas said with a smile as Peyton sat down and sat Eric in front of her. They just listened to the ocean for a little bit; Lucas looked over at Peyton, "How's life Peyt?"
Peyton smiled, "Well…Jake's in my bed sleeping right now if that's any clue…"
"That's great," Lucas said as Eric grabbed a hold of his finger, "You happy?"
Peyton looked at him and then looked down at her son, "Yeah…" She said and then looked back up at Lucas, "I am."
"Can you believe everything that's gone on and the last 6 years?" Lucas said as he let out a deep breath, "Kind of makes you wonder…"
Peyton shrugged, "I'm pretty damn happy about what's gone on these last couple of years."
"Me too," he said, "A lot of shit has gone down between us Peyton, and I just want to say—"
Peyton cut him off, "There's no need to bring up the past Luke," she said, "Everything happens for a reason. You're married, you're happy! I've got a wonderful son and Jake is back…I'm happy too!"
"I love you Peyton," Lucas said.
Peyton gave him a warm smile, "I love you too Luke…"
xxx
Brooke walked into Karen's Café and ordered a coffee; she sat down and got out a pen and paper. She tapped her fingers lightly on the table as she scribbled down lyrics. A hand slammed down a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Brooke looked up and saw Chris Keller standing there. He smirked down at her and Brooke rolled her eyes and continued writing. He sat down and peered over to see what she was writing.
"And watched my bad habits just flush away," Chris said out loud.
Brooke glared up at him, "Is there a reason you're here?"
"I'm back in town for a couple of days," he began, "There's this fine chick who commented me on my website…Sent me a pic and everything," he said raising his eyebrows.
"You met a girl through the internet?" Brooke said with a dry laugh, "Can you be anymore pathetic?"
Chris leaned back in his chair and shrugged, "I've been kind of out of my game since that nice kick in the balls you gave me a few months back…"
"Chris," Brooke said in annoyance, "Back then…I was a different person. I was probably drunk and fucked up on some pill so let's just leave the past in the past."
He stuck his hand out for handshake, "Deal!"
Brooke looked at his hand and rolled her eyes, "It still doesn't mean that I don't hate your guts."
Chris put his hand down and folded his hands, "So…You and Natey-Poo back together?" He mocked.
"Not that it's any of your god damn business but yet."
"Such a harsh tongue Brooke," he said with fake hurt.
Brooke slammed her pen down and looked at him, "What do you want from me Chris?"
"I've got this guy…Cooper," Chris began, "He's just starting out in the music business and I figured you two could work together."
She looked up at him and groaned, "What's the catch?"
"No catch!" Chris said as he put his hands up in defense, "Come on…I'll take you over to the studio now to meet him."
Brooke grabbed her stuff and followed Chris out to the car. They drove up to his old apartment/studio. They walked into the studio and Brooke saw the most gorgeous guy in the booth playing the guitar. He had gorgeous blue eyes and black hair. He looked up and smiled at Brooke; he took off his head phones and walked out.
He put out his hand, "Cooper Walker," he said with a sweet smile.
"Brooke Davis," Brooke said as they shook hands.
They heard a knock on the door and Chris clapped his hands together and smiled, "Time to meet the best fuck I've ever had," he said in a cocky manner.
Cooper shook his head and laughed, while Brooke rolled her eyes. Chris opened the door and Brooke's jaw about dropped. There stood Rachel. She gave Chris a passionate kiss and then looked over at Brooke. Brooke knew that Rachel remembered her.
Chris looked between the two and couldn't help but let out a small laugh, "Do you two know each other?"
Rachel cocked her hip and licked her lips, "Yeah…I fucked her husband…"
"You know what?" Brooke said and then lunged at Rachel. She got on top of her and punched her right in the face.
"Chick fight!" Chris screamed as he stood back and watched.
Rachel rolled on top of Brooke and slapped her hard in the face, "You bitch!" Brooke screamed and then grabbed Rachel by the throat. Brooke felt somebody grab her; she kicked at Rachel and kicked her in the ribs. Cooper finally set Brooke down when they were in the parking lot; Brooke kicked Chris's car and put her hands on her head.
"Take deep breaths," Cooper said as he grabbed onto Brooke's shoulders so that he could steady her.
Brooke did as he said and began taking deep breaths, "I'm going to fucking kill her."
"I don't want to be rude but…What happened?" Cooper asked after Brooke had regained some of her control.
Brooke sighed, "I was married and Rachel was my husband's secretary and he ended up having an affair with her, causing me and him to divorce and to fight and all this shit…"
"A guy would have to be a complete dumb ass to cheat on you," Cooper said genuinely.
Brooke smiled and ran her fingers through her hair, "That's really sweet of you Cooper, but I'm sorry to say that I forgave the "dumb ass" and we're kind of back together," she said showing him her engagement ring.
"That sucks," Cooper said with a laugh as he leaned against a car, "You're really pretty Brooke."
Brooke looked down at the ground to hide her red cheeks, "Where were you a couple months ago?"
"Rough time?" He asked.
"Very," Brooke said, "All I needed was somebody to care about me back then…"
"But now you have this boyfriend of yours," Cooper said with a smirk, "If you forgave him then he must be a good guy."
"He is," Brooke began, "We've been through so much together."
Cooper smiled and looked at his watch, "How about getting a couple drinks with me?"
"Cooper," Brooke said warningly.
"You love this guy right?"
Brooke nodded, "Yeah…"
Cooper opened his car door and looked at her, "Then you have nothing to worry about."
xxx
Brooke drank her last martini and felt the bar begin to spin, "I think I've reached my limit."
Cooper laughed as he finished off his beer, "One more before we clock out."
"Okay," Brooke said, "Hold on, I have to go to the little ladies room," she said with a drunken giggle and staggered away.
Cooper watched her go and took out a small pill from his pocket. He set it in Brooke's drink and smiled to himself.
Brooke walked into the bathroom and saw Rachel standing there applying cover up to a bruise on her cheek. She looked over at Brooke and glared, "The whole bruise thing is a nice look for you," Brooke said in a bitchy tone.
Rachel looked at her and shook her head, "You know…I get why you did this. I slept with your husband and ruined a good relationship, so to make it up to you let me give you some advice—Cooper isn't a good guy, Brooke. He's a troublemaker and he's looking for one thing and one thing only."
"Thanks mom," Brooke spit, "But I think I can handle myself."
Before Brooke could leave the bathroom Rachel grabbed her arm, "Do you think I'm lying to you?" She said sternly, "You want to know what happened to me when I refused to have sex with him?"
"What," Brooke said softly.
Rachel wiped her eyes quickly, "He drugged me and raped me."
Brooke looked at her and got into her face, "I don't believe you," she said finally and walked out of the bathroom.
Brooke walked over to the bar and Cooper handed her her drink, "Let's make a toast," he said as he held up his beer.
Brooke looked at her drink and threw in Cooper's face, "To what? Taking advantage of people by putting date rape drugs in their drinks?"
Cooper looked at Brooke and was speechless; he stood up and towered over her. Rachel came between them and pushed Cooper back down in his seat, "I think you've had a little too many tonight Coop," she said and then grabbed Brooke's arm and headed out to the parking lot.
They drove in silence until they reached the house. Rachel stopped the car and looked at Brooke, "So you did believe me?"
"I watched him put the pill in my drink," Brooke said as she looked down and then looked back at Rachel, "And maybe I believed you."
Rachel sighed, "What happened between me and Nate…"
"Look Rachel," Brooke began, "Thanks for the help with the whole Cooper thing, but this doesn't make us friends and I sure as hell don't trust you now."
Rachel nodded her head, "I was just going to say…That what happened between me and Nate never affected how much that guy loved you. I didn't want you making the same mistake tonight with Cooper."
"Thanks for the ride," Brooke said as she got out of the car. She walked to the front door and watched Rachel peel out of the driveway. Before she could open the door Nathan ran out and hugged her.
"I was worried about you!" He said as he kissed the top of her forehead, "Where were you?"
Brooke looked up at him and kissed him passionately, "I just went for a little walk…I needed time to think about things." It started to rain and Nathan went to go inside; Brooke stopped him and smiled, "Kiss me in the rain Nathan," she said softly. He kissed her passionately, "I love you…"
"I love you too," Nathan said.
