The Bitter Taste
Linger
There is always going to be that one person you wish you could be with, even after knowing, that person doesn't want to be with you.
xxx
5 months later…
"Finally we get to throw you a bachelorette party!" Haley squealed as she, Peyton, and Brooke sat at the kitchen table. Peyton and Brooke looked at each other and laughed, "What?" Haley asked.
"You're more excited for the party than I am," Brooke said as she tried to sneak a glimpse at the piece of paper Haley was jotting things down on.
Haley put her arms over the paper, "This is all a surprise," she said as if she were a 5 year old with a secret, "You're not going to know what's happening until later tonight."
"Do you know all about this?" Brooke asked as she turned to Peyton.
Peyton nodded and smirked, "Of course I do. Did you think Haley thought of all of this stuff by herself?" She teased.
"This is really nice girls," Brooke said, "Thank you so much," she gushed.
Haley put her arm around Brooke's shoulder, "You deserve it Mrs. Scott," she said in a sing-songy voice, "If you think you're thankful now, just wait till tonight!"
Lucas and Nathan both walked in, "What are you three doing?" Lucas asked as he grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge.
"Planning Brooke's bachelorrete party," Haley said with a big smile.
Nathan covered his ears, "Not listening…"
"Oh Nathan," Haley said as she hit his arm, "Don't worry, we're not going to get in any trouble," she said and then winked at Brooke.
Nathan walked over to Brooke and hugged her from behind, "Be good," he said and the kissed her on the cheek.
"I always am," Brooke said with a twinkle in her eyes, "What do you have planned for your bachelor party?"
Nathan shrugged as he leaned up against the counter, "I don't know…Me and Luke will probably just sit around the house playing X Box360 or something."
"That almost doesn't sound boring," Haley said as she scribbled down more things on the paper.
Lucas chuckled, "Oh and we might order a few strippers…"
"What?" Haley and Brooke both screamed as they looked up at Lucas.
Lucas and Nathan both laughed, "We're not going to get strippers," Lucas said as he walked over to Haley and his fingers through her hair, "But does our X Box360 thing sound so boring now?"
"Not at all!" Haley said as Brooke nodded her head in agreement.
Brooke cleared her throat, "Besides, if you guys did order strippers. Haley and I would both be put in jail for man slaughter."
"Exactly," Haley said.
Peyton sat there and watched as Nathan and Brooke kissed, and then as Haley and Lucas kissed. She was the 5th wheel; she always had been. She knew that they just saw her as little Peyton, the girl who couldn't commit, the girl with the problems, the girl that always had a way of fucking things up. She looked up and saw Lucas staring at her; it had been weird between them after the night Jake left. Peyton kissed him. She knew it was wrong because he was her best friend's husband, but that didn't stop her. Peyton was hurt and ashamed of the decisions she had made in her life, and the fact that she was completely alone didn't help. She looked away from Lucas and looked into the living room where Eric was playing with blocks. He was the only guy for her, she thought to herself with a smile. Eric was the only person in Peyton's life that needed her. At night Eric was the person she could count on. She never knew being a mother could be so exhilarating.
"Peyton…"
"Peyton!"
Peyton looked up and saw Haley waving a hand in front of her face, "Earth to Peyton," she said.
"Sorry," Peyton said as she rubbed her eyes, "I was just…Thinking."
Haley put her hand on Peyton's shoulder, "You look tired babe," she said and then sighed, "Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah," Peyton said with a smile, "I must've been thinking too hard," she said with a stifled laugh.
Haley smiled, "Alright," she said and then stood up, "Well, we're all getting our make up and stuff done soon, so if you need to shower or anything before we go you're more than welcome."
"Thanks," Peyton said and then bit her thumbnail as she watched Haley walk back towards the hall. Peyton stood up and walked into the living room and saw Lucas sitting on the couch holding Eric in his lap. She leaned against the wall and watched Lucas kiss Eric on the cheek and lift him up in the air making him laugh.
Lucas looked over at Peyton and smiled as his cheeks turned pink, "I didn't know you were standing there…"
"You're lucky I didn't have a camera," she joked and then walked towards the two of them. She kneeled down and kissed the top of Eric's head, "He really likes you, almost as much as he likes Nathan."
Lucas smiled and then looked at Peyton, "We need to talk Peyton…"
"Not today," Peyton said in a pleading, tired voice, "What happened was…It was something stupid I did because I was sad and I was lonely."
"You can't keep doing this," Lucas began, "You can't keep doing things because you feel a certain way and then the next day take it back."
Peyton took Eric in her arms and stood up, "Who ever said I took it back?" She asked and then walked out of the room.
xxx
The three girls all loaded into the hummer limo and Brooke was surprised to see Bevin and some of the old girls she used to cheer with in high school. As soon as Haley turned on the radio and opened the champagne the girls went crazy. Brooke drunkenly sat on Haley and Peyton and put her arms around them, "This is so great!" She slurred.
"This is only the beginning," Haley said with a smile, "Go have fun," she said and then smacked Brooke's butt as she sauntered away. Peyton and Haley laughed as they watched Brooke dance on the pool which was appropriately put in the middle of the car.
Peyton smiled, "I've never seen Brooke this crazy before."
"Just wait till we take her to the strip club," Haley said with a laugh, "So Peyton," she said as she poured them both a glass of champagne, "How are things with you?"
"Good," Peyton said with a smile, "I feel kind of bad though for leaving Eric with Nathan and Luke."
Haley shrugged as they clinked glasses, "If they're just going to stay home and be losers than they can watch the cutie," she said and then bit her bottom lip, "Besides…I don't really think Lucas minds."
"He loves kids," Peyton said as she nodded.
Haley smiled, "I know…Which is why he and I might be adopting sometime this month," she squealed.
"Haley!" Peyton said in shock, "That's great! I'm so happy for you two! Does Brooke know?"
Haley nodded, "I figured I would tell her before the party so that she didn't completely forget it the next day…I'm so nervous! I mean…I'm going to be a mom!"
"It's a surreal thing Hales," Peyton said as they hugged, "You're going to be a great mom."
The limo stopped and Brooke looked out the window, "We're going to a strip club?" She screamed and then started dancing around.
xxx
Lucas and Nathan both sat there as they played a basketball game, Nathan put the controller down and took a sip from his beer, "Six games later and I'm still kicking your ass!"
"I let you win cause this is your party," Lucas said as he turned the TV to ESPN.
Nathan rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah," he said and then looked over at Eric who was sound asleep on the floor, "Brooke told me you and Haley were thinking about adopting…Good for you man."
"Yeah," Lucas said as he looked at Eric, "The both of us have always wanted kids, and when Haley told me that she couldn't have any adopting seemed like the best way."
Nathan smiled, "You two are going to make great parents," he said and then opened another beer, "So Peyton seemed a little quiet earlier today."
Lucas sighed, "Ever since Jake left and that whole thing she's been acting different. I can't talk to her about it because…" Lucas stopped.
"Because?" Nathan asked.
"Never mind," Lucas said, "It's not important."
Nathan let out a dry laugh, "Obviously it is…"
"Well…Peyton told me that she loved me and then…" Lucas began and then looked at Nathan who was waiting for more, "She kissed me."
Nathan groaned and ran a hand through his hair, "Man," he said and then shook his head, "What'd you do?"
"I pulled away what the fuck do you think I did?" Lucas said and then finished off his beer, "It was the smallest of kisses."
"She's always had something for you Luke," Nathan said as he looked back towards the TV, "You just gotta set things straight with her."
Lucas let out an exasperated breath, "Yeah I know," he said softly and then walked back to his room.
xxx
"That was great, that was great!" Brooke sang as Peyton and Haley both led her towards the limo, "Wasn't that great girls?"
Haley humored Brooke, "Yeah Brooke…It was great."
"Oh come on!" Brooke began, "You two had fun I know you did!"
"In the car Brooke," Peyton said as she gently pushed her in the limo. She shut the door and laughed as Brooke sang loudly, "Well that was a night."
Haley smirked, "At least the bride had fun…"
"Yeah, and her bridesmaids had to stop her from dancing on the tables," Peyton said as she leaned against the car.
Haley laughed as she recalled the memory, "Well it was a strip club, so at least the things she was doing weren't considered out of line or anything."
They both laughed and Peyton looked down at the ground, "There's something I've got to tell you Haley."
"Shoot," Haley said.
Peyton took a deep breath and then looked at Haley, "I think I'm in love with Lucas…"
Haley's jaw dropped and she took a step back, "What?"
"Haley I…" Peyton tried,
Haley opened the door quickly, "Don't say a fucking word!" She screamed and then got into the limo.
Peyton closed her eyes and bit her top lip; she got into the limo and sat there quietly; she looked over at Haley who was looking out the window. Brooke sat in the middle of them and looked between the two; she opened her mouth to say something, but went against it. She slid down in the seat and closed her eyes.
xxx
Haley walked into her room as if she were a zombie; Lucas went to reach for her but she walked right past him and laid down on the bed still dressed in her clothes. Lucas rested his hand on her back and leaned in close to her, "Hales," he said softly.
"Peyton…She loves you," Haley said with a mix of sadness and anger in her voice.
Lucas tried to wipe one of her tears, but she pushed him away, "Haley don't be like this."
She sat up and looked at him, "How can she love you?" She asked through gritted teeth.
"It doesn't matter," Lucas said in a hushed voice as he cupped her face, "I love you…"
Haley fell into Lucas's arms and cried, he stroked her head as they both laid down together.
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