Ok guys.. I'm gonna keep this short... Here's Chapter 50.. Hope you like it...oh... just a few tid bits you sould know... Nathan and Haley never had that whole..."Always and Forever" thing...
Mercedes talked to Tyra and they both agreed to get together sometime before they did the Victoria Secret runway show together. After Tyra excused herself Z turned her attention back to Jennifer and Marc, who were now seated at one of the many tables. Z walked back and noticed that Nathan wans't with them.
"He left." Jennifer told her when she noticed that Z was looking around the area while she walked back.
"Oh." Z answered looking back at her. "Umm… do you know where he went?"
"He said he'd be around."
"Ok. I'm gonna go look for him." Jennifer and Marc both shook their heads. "I'll catch up with you later."
Z kissed both Jennifer and Marc's cheek and went on her search for Nathan. She didn't get to far before she was stopped, being hugged from behind.
"Hey beautiful." A male voice whispered in her ear.
She pulled out of his embrace and took a step back turning to look at him.
"Nick, you scared me."
"Sorry." He answered grinning. "How you been Miss Davis?"
"Don't call me that."
"Why not?"
"Cause. What if I called you Mr Cannon all the time?"
"That's different, Miss Davis is sexy. It's like my pet name for you."
"Yea, well you shouldn't have pet names for me Nick."
"What's up with you?" He asked taking a step towards her and rubbing her arms. "You ok?"
"I'm fine. I'm just looking for my boyfriend."
"You have a boyfriend?" He asked stunned, immediately taking his hands off her.
"Yea, I do" She crossed her arms over her chest and waited for his response.
"Oh."
He was at a loss of words. Z couldn't quite make out his emotions but she wasn't in the mood to try. He lowered his eyes and his head and she instantly felt quilt sweep through her.
"I'm sorry Nick." She lowered her arms and stepped towards him. "I don't mean to be a bitch. It's just been a really stressful day."
"No worries." He looked back up at her "I get it."
"It's so good to see you again." She hugged him, he smiled and hugged her back.
"Ya, you too."
She pulled away and gave him a peck on the cheek
"I'll see you around ok?"
"Count on it."
"Ok…. Bye."
She walked away and he stood there looking after her.
"See ya later Miss Davis." He whispered softly.
Mercedes walked into the VIP room and looked around for Nathan.
Jake and Peyton had both been having a blast together. They both shared a few drinks and great conversation.
"I still can't believe I'm here." Peyton said looking around the room.
"Tell me about it." Jake answered looking only at Peyton.
All he had done all night was look at Peyton and smile. Peyton took a sip of her drink and looked up at Jake when she couldn't take the feeling of his eyes on her anymore.
"What?" She finally asked.
"Nothing." He answered grinning and looking away from her.
"Jake."
It felt different for her to say his name, a good different though.
"Nothing, I was just thinking."
"About Jenny? I'm sure you don't have to worry about her Jake. I'm sure she's fine."
"No, I know she is. That wasn't what I was thinking about."
"It wasn't?" She asked surprised.
"No."
"Then what is it?"
"I was just thinking about how great you are."
A broad smile spread across her face, and at the sight of her smile Jake did the same.
Ciara and Lucas walked back to their table and took a seat after they had finished dancing to a song.
"That was fun." She said leaning towards him so he could hear her.
"Where'd you learn how to dance like that?" He asked smiling.
"My brother, Z, all over the place really."
"Wait… you have a brother?"
"Yea, Jorge. I thought you knew."
Lucas thought for a second. He looked across the room at Jorge, obviously flirting with Haley, and looked back at Ciara. He could tell a resemblance in their features. But if she wouldn't have told him he would have never known.
"He's your brother?"
"Yea, well… half. We had the same mom, different dads. Jorge's dad died in a car accident and my dad ran off somewhere.
"And your mom?" Lucas asked cautiously.
"Don't know. I never really met her. She left with my dad, that's why we live with my grandfather."
"So both your parents just left?"
"Yea. Pretty messed up huh."
Lucas shook his head lightly and looked at her with sympathy in his eyes.
"Don't feel sorry for me Lucas." She said reading him like a book. "I don't feel sorry for myself so you don't have to either."
Lucas smiled and shook his head slightly embarrassed that he had been that obvious. Ciara smiled back and laughed lightly "Come on." She took his hand and squeezed it lightly. "How bout another dance?"
"That'd be great." He answered getting up and following her onto the dance floor.
Brooke sat next to Q, cuddled close to him. He hugged her tight and kissed the back of her neck lightly. The sensation sent shivers up her spine.
"I love you Brooke" He whispered in her ear.
"I love you too." She answered turning to face him a little and placing a small kiss on his lips. She pulled away and once again fell into his arms. "I'm so glad that you're coming back to Tree Hill with us. I can't stand being away from you."
"I know what you mean."
Just then Z walked up to them. Brooke sat up a little straighter when she saw the look in Z's eyes.
"Have you guys seen Nathan?" She asked stopping in front of them
"He said he was going out to get some air." Q answered. "Everything ok?"
"Yep. Fine." She answered as she left and headed towards the back exit.
"I hope she's ok." Brooke said looking up at Q.
"I'm sure everything's cool." Q answered reassuringly.
Mercedes walked out into the cool night air and looked around for Nathan. She found him leaned up against a light post and walked towards him, passing a few people along the way.
"Hey happy birthday Z." One of them said to her.
"Thanks." She answered returning a small smile and turning to look at Nathan.
Nathan turned around at the mention of her name and locked eyes with her for a second before turning to look away from her. Z could feel a stab of pain in her chest. She swallowed hard tying to get rid of the lump in her throat as she walked up beside him.
"Hey." She said softly hugging herself for warmth.
"Hey" He answered never turning to look at her.
"Nathan I-"
"What are you doing out here Z?" He asked cutting her off, pain and anger in his voice.
"I came to look for you" She answered somewhat startled.
"Humm… surprising. I wouldn't have thought you'd notice I was gone." He said bitterly
"Ok." She stepped in front of him and tried making eye contact with him. It took a moment before she physically make him look at her. She took his face in her hands and looked up into his eyes. "I deserve that" she released his face gently and rested them on top of his folded arms. "Nathan, I'm so sorry I acted like that" He looked down into her eyes still angry and upset. "It's just that... you don't know how hard it is to face all this again. How much it hurts to be constantly reminded that my moms gone." Tears began to form in her eyes but she pushed them back. "I know that's not an excuse, but I just wanted... I needed some way to help me forget." He looked at her, his features softening, but said nothing
"Hey Z!" Z and Nathan both turned at the call from Ciara. "Q needs you back in here now."
Z turned back to Nathan trying hard to read him.
"You should go back." Nathan said turning back to look at her. "That's your world Z. Not mine." He took her hands off his arms gently.
Z felt her eyes sting with hot tears. She shook her head slightly, and turned away from him. Nathan shut his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. He opened them again and followed behind Z towards the entrance. Z walked towards Ciara, hearing the rustling of Nathan's footsteps behind her. She struggled to keep in her tears, and failed when she felt a few escape her eyes. She brushed them away quickly tying to compose herself.
"Everything ok?" Ciara asked as Z walked inside.
"Not really" Z answered sadly
Ciara looked at her best friend with worry, but decided that this wouldn't be the right time to ask her about it.
"I'll be here when you need me ok."
"I know." Z looped her arm through hers and Ciara led them out of the VIP room. "Thanks Ciara."
Ciara smiled and led Z to a table next to the stage. They both took a seat, and Z looked across the room at Nathan, who had just entered and was walking in her direction. He took a seat next to D as Q walked on stage with Brooke. The entire room went silent as soon as they had both stepped in front of the mike.
"Now, ya'll know why we're here tonight, and it ain't just another excuse to party." Q said smiling into the mike.
"We're here tonight to celebrate a very special someone's birthday." Brooke said cheerfully, looking over at Z and smiling.
"All of ya'll know her, and she's a very special person to each and every one of you. But to us she's something more than that. She's family.. And we love her more than anything."
Z walked up to the stage and enveloped them both in a hug.
"Thank you guys so much." She told them both, her eyes misting.
They both pulled away and backed up to leave Z standing in front of the mike.
"Wow..." She looked out into the crowd and smiled as she saw the friends that had attended. "Thank you all so much for coming. This is all something that I wasn't expecting. Umm...a few years ago I would have never imagined standing in front of you right now. Being brought up the way I did... it taught me a lot about life. And I'd like to thin k that I'm a better person because of it. But I am human..." She looked at Nathan and he locked eyes with her for a second before lowering his gaze. "And I'm not perfect."
"I'm pretty sure you are." Nick spoke out into the silence of the crowd, smiling up at Z.
Nathan turned his head and gave Nick a cold stare.
"I'm really not, I make mistakes like anyone else would." He looked up at her "And I know that those mistakes can really mess things up, and I'm sorry." He looked up at her and lowered his eyes. Brooke, who was standing next to her, saw the interaction between the two and placed her hand softly on Z's back in reassurance. Z looked back at Brooke and took her hand, smiling sadly. "Thank you guys so much." She said taking Q's hand as well. You guys don't know how much I love you both." She turned back to look at the audience and smiled at D. "You too D." He held up his glass, and she smiled laughing lightly She turned back to face the audience with Q and Brooke on either side of her. "To all of you guys that came with me from Tree Hill... you don't know how much it means to me. Lucas, Peyton, Haley, Jake, you guys mean so much to me. Even if we have only known each other for a short time, you guys are like my new found family." They all smiled up at her and she smiled back at them. She shifted her eyes to Nathan and tried hard to get him to look at her. "I want to especially thank you Nathan. For helping me though the last few weeks, I love you so much for it." He finally looked up at her and kept his gaze with hers. Her eyes were misty and her voice soft. "And for the for the two people that are not here tonight... my mom and dad. Even though they couldn't be here tonight, they still have aplace in my heart, and I miss them both very much. I only hope that I'm making them proud. So.. Thank you all once again, and I hope you enjoy yourselves." She gave them one last smile and the room erupted in applause.
Nathan looked at Z for a moment and suddenly something inside him clicked. He turned to D and spoke to him for a moment.
"No worries man." D said getting up. "I got ya covered."
A few moments later D walked on stage and over to the microphone. As he did the room began to settle and quiet down.
"Most of you don't know this but.. Not to long ago my little sister started dating someone." At this Z's head shot up and she looked over at D for a second before scanning the room for Nathan, only to find him gone. "And this someone, well... me being her older brother, stuck me as any other guy would. And I kept thinking of only one thing...how to keep him the hell away from my sister."The crowd laughed and a smile appeared on Z's face. "But he's proved me wrong. He's shown me that he really does care for her. And tonight, he's here to share this with her." D turned his back towards the audience and towards Z. "I think there's something Nathan want's to ask you Z."
Z looked at him confused before she heard an 'awe' from the crowd. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to find Nathan standing behind her with a single red rose in his hand. At that moment one of her favorite songs began playing. Nathan took a step towards her holding the rose out to her.
"Will you dance with me?" He asked a shy, almost scared look in his eyes.
She looked at him confused at first, but then saw all the emotion in his eyes and smiled shaking her head lightly. She took the rose in one hand and his in the other. He led her off the stage and onto the middle of the dance floor. She stepped into his arms and laid hers over his shoulders and around his neck.
Ache
Can't watch you break
And shatter
Saved
New lives to make
Us better
She looked up at him and he looked down into her eyes.
"I'm sorry." They said in unison.
They looked away from each other and chuckled.
I'm letting you know
Cleansing my soul
Been letting you know
For days
"I'm sorry Z." He said lightly.
"You don't have to be sorry about anything Nathan. I shouldn't have treated you the way I did. I'm so sorry."
"No, I was being selfish. I didn't realize how much this was hurting you."
She laughed lightly taking her thumb to his cheekbone. She reached up and brushed her lips against his lightly. He kissed her softly and gently, being so sensitive it hurt.
Turn over everything
Time can heal us again
I'm tender in your arms
Reaching inside of me
Bringing the love I need
The loneliness has gone
She pulled away and looked up into his eyes.
"Earlier you said that this wasn't your world. And your right... it's not." He looked at her and she saw a stab of pain flash in his eyes. "But you were wrong about it being mine. Because now... you're my world." Relief struck him and he smiled down at her. "I love you Nathan."
"So do I." He took her back into his arms and she rested her head on his chest. "Always and forever."
Z smiled against his chest and Nathan rested his chin on her head as she massaged the back of his neck softly.
Faith
New roads to take
Together
Days
Lying awake
Remember
I'm letting you know
Cleansing my soul
Been letting you know
For days
Turn over everything
Time can heal us again
I'm tender in your arms
Reaching inside of me
Bringing the love I need
The loneliness has gone
I'm letting you know
Cleansing my soul
Been letting you know
For days
Turn over everything
Time can heal us again
I'm tender in your arms
Reaching inside of me
Bringing the love I need
The loneliness has gone
The loneliness has gone
They finished the song together holding each other lovingly. When the last note of the song rang out in the silent room, everyone stood up and clapped and cheered. Z pulled away from Nathan holding her rose and his hand. The night passed on, Z introduced Nathan to many of her celebrity friends. They stuck together after the dance. All the worry about their prior issues lifted. They were all having fun, dancing, drinking, laughing. It was about 3:30 when Z walked, or rather stumbled, up to Brooke.
"Whoa there buddy." Brooke held Z up, trying to keep her balanced. "You ok?"
Z squinted her eyes and puckered her lips trying to get words to come out of her mouth. She looked over at the light shining from above the door.
"Look how pretty thatis." She pointed up towards the light and Brookes eyes followed.
"Sweety that's the exit."Brooke tried her hardest not to laugh.
"There she is." Nathan said walking up to them "I thought she disappeared again."
"Brooke!" Z pulled out of Brooke's embrace and stumbled into Nathan's arms. "Doesn't he just look absolutely yummy?" She said in a hushed tone, as if it were a dark kept secret. Nathan's eyes widened and Brooke bust out laughing. "Hold on, I'll be right back." Z left Nathan's arms and walked, as best she could, to where Jorge and Haley were sitting.
"I should probably get her home." Brooke said to Nathan. "I know Z when she's drunk, she'll be all peppy now but.. It's not long before she crashes."
"I'll do it." Nathan offered.
"Are you sure? I mean.. I don't mind."
"Sure, it's cool. You stay."
"Thanks Nate." Brooke walked by him squeezing his arm lightly.
Nathan walked over to the table where Z was talking to Jorge and Haley.
"Z, you ready to go?" He asked placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Are you guys leaving?" Jorge asked
"Yeah, I should get her home."
"That's probably a good idea. Haley... didn't you say you wanted to go?" He asked turning to look at her.
"Well, yeah but... I can stay."
"Let's go. I'll go with you."
Jorge stood up and offered Haley a hand. She took it and walked behind Nathan and Z outside. They got in the limo and began their trip back to Z's house. Once they had arrived Haley and Jorge got out but Z held Nathan back.
"Let them go" She whispered huskily in his ear.
She closed the door and straddled his lap. He looked into her eyes and saw how they had turned a darker shade of brown. Before he knew it she kissed him, long and hard. He kissed her back with the same force. She began taking off his blazer, and unbuttoning his shirt. He felt his hands rock back and forth as he held her waist and she rocked against him.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked pulling away breathing heavily.
"More than anything." She whispered kissing him again.
A few minutes passed as Z tried to get Nathan's shirt off. She was having more trouble than she thought because of her lack of hand eye coordination and because of the fact that she couldn't really breath with Nathan's tongue in her mouth. She finally got it off and began undoing his belt. As her fingers moved down his chest and down to his belt buckle he stopped her, taking both her hands into his own, and pulling away from the everlasting kiss.
"What?" She asked looking at him confused "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry Z." Nathan said softly. "But I can't do this." She looked at him confusion and surprised "I don't want you Z."
"Wait.." She laughed in disbelief. "You don't want me!"
"No, that's not what I meant." Nathan tried to explain as she ripped her hands out of his and got off his lap. "I mean.. I don't' want you like this. I don't want you to feel like you'll regret it tomorrow."
"Sure Nathan, whatever."She opened the door and began to get out before Nathan pulled her back.
"Wait Z, look... I do want you. God knows but-"
"You don't have to explain yourself Nathan." She pulled away from him completely and got out of the car. "You've made yourself perfectly clear."
Z walked back towards the house leaving Nathan inside the limo.
The lyrics in italic are from "Tender" By Feeder...
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter... thanks to...NewyorkchickaOTH-Mrs. Broody... and... ILOVEDITDARLINGABSOLUTELY... for your reviews... and for those of you that used to leave me reviews... well... i miss yopu guys... hopefully I'll get some for this chapter... ok... well... thanks... later guys...