The Bitter Taste
Seasons Change
Don't let anyone ever make you feel like you don't deserve what you want.
xxx
Brooke lay on her back and looked up at the ceiling as she played with a brown lock of her hair. She rested her hand on Nathan's arm and kissed his shoulder blade. He turned over and faced Brooke; they smiled at each other and Nathan kissed her passionately.
"You going to tell me what happened last night?" Nathan asked.
Brooke bit her bottom lip and looked into Nathan's eyes, "Chris invited me over to his studio, and there was this guy there…And Rachel was there," Nathan's face fell and he ran his fingers through his hair, "I went to this bar with Cooper and he said all the right things to me Nathan," she began, "Rachel warned me. She told me what an ass the guy was…I left and Rachel brought me home."
"I wish I could've been as strong as you are," Nathan began; Brooke gave him a confused look and he kissed her forehead, "This guy Cooper…He said all the right things to you. You could've easily gone back to his house with him, and you didn't…"
"Because I love you," Brooke said softly, "I always have and I always will…"
Nathan smirked, "I love you too," he said, "And don't think for a minute that that has ever changed."
"I don't," Brooke said, "You're the one for me Nathan Scott, and no matter what happens I'm yours…"
"You're beautiful Brooke Davis," Nathan said as he gave her a quick kiss and brought her into his arms.
Brooke smiled and closed her eyes, "Brooke Scott," she said correcting him.
xxx
Haley walked into Karen's Café and sat down in a little booth and ordered a cup of coffee. She got out her book of baby names and opened to the first page. She sighed and wrote down a couple of cute names she liked. She took a sip of her coffee and ran her fingers through her long hair nervously; she was late, and she had yet to tell Lucas. Not that Lucas would be mad if Haley were pregnant, it was just one of those things that Haley wanted to get checked out before she ran to Lucas with the news.
She looked over and saw Chris walk through the door; he looked over to her and smiled. Haley smiled back as he came over and sat across from her. Chris was different around her; maybe because they were once engaged and because Haley was the only person that Chris could open up to. Chris looked at the book and smirked, "You're pregnant?" He questioned.
"I'm late," Haley began, "And it might just be a false alarm or something…I have an appointment tomorrow."
Chris nodded and took the piece of paper and pen, he jotted something down and then slid the items back over to Haley, "Mackenzie," he said as Haley read the name on the paper, "That's what we always wanted our daughter to be named."
Haley looked up at Chris and smiled, "Yeah," she said and then closed the book and looked at Chris, "How are you doing?"
"I'm okay," Chris said with a shrug, "How are you doing? I heard things with you and Lucas are running pretty smoothly."
Haley nodded, "Yeah…We actually got back from our honeymoon a couple days ago," she began, "Have you been seeing anyone?"
"Sort of," Chris said as he leaned back, "I've been just kind of dating around…Trying to find a girl like you."
"You'll find somebody better," Haley said as she looked down at the table.
Chris put his two fingers under Haley's chin and brought her face up so that they were looking into each other's eyes, "I know we kind of left things bitter between us…But I want you to know that I forgive you for everything that happened between us, and I just wish I could've been a better guy for you."
"Chris," Haley said sympathetically, "I had no reason to cheat on you like that…You're a really, really great guy and you deserve somebody great."
"You're great Haley," he said softly, "And I know I can't be saying this because you're in love with somebody else but…I love you Haley James."
Haley shook her head, "You're right…You can't be saying this to me, and it's Haley James Scott."
Chris wiped his eyes quickly and stood up from the booth, he looked down at her as he put his hands in his pockets, "You'll always be Haley James to me, kid…" He said sadly and then walked out of the café. Lucas watched from outside the café and watched as Chris walked past him.
Lucas followed Chris down the street and then grabbed him by the neck and slammed him up against the wall. Chris put his hands up, "Whoa man…"
"Leave her alone Chris," Lucas said sternly.
Haley walked out of the café and saw Lucas with Chris slammed up against a building, "Lucas!" Haley screamed as she ran over and pulled him off of Chris, "Lucas! What the hell are you doing?"
Chris rubbed his neck and Lucas looked down at Haley, "Why the hell is he talking to you Hales?" He screamed.
"We were just talking Lucas!" Haley said as she looked at Chris, "Are you okay?" She said to him.
Lucas let out a dry laugh, "This isn't about him! This is about us!"
Haley shot a glare at Lucas, "What about us Luke?"
"What's going on with you?" He asked, "What's so secretive that you can't tell me, but you can tell this guy?"
"I'm late!" Haley said angrily, "There! You happy now?"
Haley walked away as Lucas followed her; he grabbed her arm and she turned around, "Are you pregnant?"
"The test is positive, but you know how those things are," Haley began, "I have an appointment tomorrow, and I was going to tell you after the appointment."
Lucas looked at her in confusion, "Why couldn't you just tell me?"
"I didn't know how you would handle it Lucas," Haley said apologetically.
"I love you…" Lucas said as he backed away from her, "Isn't that enough for you?"
Haley watched as Lucas walked away, and she crossed her arms and turned around to see Chris standing there looking at her. He walked over and hugged her, and Haley hugged him back. "Come on…" He said as they started walking towards his car.
Haley walked into Chris's apartment, "Sit here," he said and then went back into his bedroom. Haley sat down and looked at the pages of lyrics that were sprawled out on his coffee table.
Chris walked out with a big scrapbook and sat down beside Haley; he handed it over to her and she opened the book, "Oh my god," Haley said as she looked at all the pictures of the two of them.
"Look at you," Chris said with a laugh as they looked at a picture of Haley drunk and Chris holding her up.
Haley laughed, "I was never a good drunk," she said and then turned the page. There was a picture of Haley showing off her engagement ring as she and Chris were on stage singing.
She closed the book and looked at Chris; their lips were inches apart and Chris titled his head and kissed her softly. Haley ran her fingers through his spiked hair as the kiss deepened. She leaned back as Chris got on top of her; he unbuttoned her shirt and threw it on the floor. He took off his shirt and Haley played with the necklace around his neck as her tongue laced his bottom lip. Haley opened her eyes and pushed Chris off her gently. She got up and grabbed her shirt; Chris sat there on the couch and looked up at her.
Haley put on her shirt and walked over to him; she put a caring hand on his cheek, "I don't love you anymore Chris…"
"You love him?" Chris asked her, referring to Lucas.
Haley nodded and smiled, "With all my heart…"
"You wouldn't be here if you love him," Chris shot back.
Haley bit her bottom lip and felt the tears form in her eyes, "You're wrong…I'm leaving…because I love him."
xxx
Jake and Peyton lay together on the couch as Jenny slept on the other couch, and Eric slept in his crib. Peyton looked up at Jake as he kissed her on the top of the head, "I could get use to this," Peyton said with a relaxed sigh.
"Me too," Jake said as he rested his chin on the top of Peyton's head, "I'm glad I came back…"
Peyton smiled, "Me too," she began, "I missed you so much."
"I don't deserve you Peyton…"
"If you're always looking for reasons not to be with somebody, and you always find them, then I guess at some point maybe you should let go and give your heart what it deserves," Peyton said as she put her hand on Jake's cheek, "You deserve me Jake…You're the guy I'm supposed to be with."
Jake kissed Peyton passionately and then kissed the tip of her nose, "Look, I have a confession to make. I'm scared. I didn't wanna say anything to you 'cause I know how much this means to you and you deserve to have nights like this but, the truth is, I'm afraid to go through all of it again…"
"I'm scared too," Peyton began, "But you're going to have to trust me and I'm going to have to trust you…We can make this work. I promise."
Jake smiled, "I know…"
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