Our Recognition
Chapter 4
"Hey Hales, have you seen my Jordan's?" Nathan called from the bedroom, checking in the closet again.
Haley traveled back to the bedroom, carrying the shoes he'd left by the television set. Presenting them to him with a knowing smile, he grinned sheepishly and took them from her. Giving her a kiss, he said, "What would I do without you?"
"I don't know," Haley quipped, mostly in a mumble as she turned away. "Maybe I should jump off a bridge and you can find out."
Nathan stopped in the middle of lacing up his left shoe, going quiet. Haley turned back, immediately regretting speaking the words aloud. "I'm sorry," she said, sitting down on the bed beside him. "I didn't mean that." She placed her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it affectionately.
He nodded, looking over. "I know it was hard for you," he told her, "but I really just want to forget about it, okay?" His tone was gentle, but serious.
Haley nodded as well, resolving more to herself. "I know. I'm sorry. Pretend I didn't say anything."
Continuing to lace up his shoe, Nathan resumed normal conversation. "So did you ever find out what happened with Brooke and Peyton? Why they're at each other's throats again?"
Haley felt the urge to roll her eyes at the entire situation. People needed to stop fighting for Lucas's affection. "It's about Lucas again," she told him tiredly. "Peyton told Brooke she still has feelings for him. I guess she told her right before the wedding, which is why they weren't speaking to each other. I…didn't notice at the wedding, to be honest, but Brooke doesn't know that. So now she's sworn to never be friends with Peyton again. I don't know why Lucas can't just pick one of them and have it be done."
Nathan smiled to himself. "Because it wouldn't be Tree Hill if there was no drama going on."
With a dry laugh, Haley agreed. "Brooke told me she broke up with him already, though," Haley went on. "So I'm not sure where things stand now."
Shaking his head, Nathan said playfully, "Two hot girls fighting over him? Why does he have all the luck?"
Haley swatted him, smiling as she did so. "You have one hot girl who happens to be your wife, so get over it."
Standing, Nathan took her hands and helped her up. "Then I'm the luckiest man in the world," he said, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "What is my beautiful wife doing today, anyway?"
"I have to work," Haley told him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Then I'm going to see Brooke. That should be fun." The sarcasm was evident in her voice. Brooke had ceased all contact with every close friend but Haley, and being the nice person she was, Haley was spending a lot of time with her. And sadly, she spent most of that time talking about the situation with Peyton. Haley was getting tired of being in the middle, although technically Peyton didn't want anything to do with her.
Nathan nodded, having heard her complaints before. "It's nice of you to stick by her."
"Yeah," Haley replied vacantly. "I just wish they'd let it go. Fighting over a guy is just so pointless."
Pulling away, Nathan's brow furrowed. "You and Lucas fought over me when we first started dating, didn't you?"
"Well, yeah," Haley said, "but that was different. He just thought you were a jerk, it's not like he wanted you." She laughed a little at the thought.
Nathan remained serious. "But you didn't stop dating me for Lucas."
"Yeah, because I knew I didn't want to give up something so special."
Nathan moved toward the kitchen, mid-thought. He turned back to her while he was walking. "Peyton gave up pursuing a relationship with Lucas because of Brooke, didn't she?"
"From what I've gathered, yeah…"
"And now she's discovering she still has feelings for him?"
Nathan stopped when he got to the door, ready to head for the River Court. "Right," Haley responded, still waiting for the point.
"Well, maybe she just wasn't sure if what she had with Lucas was worth losing Brooke over."
Haley's expression was intrigued. "But…?"
Nathan shrugged, turning the knob on the door. "But maybe now she is."
That evening, Lucas and Peyton were headed to a concert at Tric. She'd brought Stereophonics into her club for the weekend, and knew Lucas would enjoy it as well. When she told him about it, he had definitely been excited. She found it cute that he was so psyched.
Entering the club side-by-side, the dance floor was empty and a few of the band's crew members were setting up equipment on the stage. Lucas was puzzled at the sight. Trailing behind Peyton, he tapped her shoulder and she turned around with a smile. "What?" she said.
"Doesn't the concert start at 6:30?" he asked, still looking at the stage.
"No," Peyton answered, leading him to the right wing of the stage, "I said it starts at 6:30."
He looked at her like she'd just told him she was thinking of trying out for the football team. "Peyton, there's no one here but us."
Opening a door backstage and keeping her back to the room, she said excitedly, "But Kelly Jones is."
Lucas looked like a little kid in a candy store as he stepped into the room.
"Brooke, do we have to go to Tric again tonight?" Haley whined from the bathroom. "Wouldn't it be just as good to go to a movie or something?"
Every time Haley had spent time with Brooke lately, they'd gone to Tric. Even though she couldn't buy alcohol there, Brooke enjoyed the boys and the music, and tonight was no exception. Even if they were broody, emo bands like Peyton enjoyed, and even though it was Peyton's club, she still had a good time dancing.
"No," Brooke argued, somewhat whiny herself. "There's supposed to be a good band there tonight, I wanna go. And besides, I want to avoid going back to Rachel's house as long as possible."
Haley wasn't surprised by this. "You two have a fight?"
"Just a disagreement. Are you ready or what?"
Stuffing lip gloss back into her makeup bag, Haley said, "Okay, okay, yes. Let's go."
Haley headed for the door, but Brooke slowed and stopped halfway. "You're killing me here," Haley said in a strained tone. "Are you coming?"
"I'm sorry, Haley," Brooke said, flopping down on the couch. "I shouldn't be forcing you to come with me everywhere just because I have no one else to hang out with. And it's not fair to put you in the middle of all this."
Haley gave up and sat down beside her. "You're not forcing me to do anything," she told her kindly. "I love hanging out with you, Brooke. I would no matter what. And you're right, I wish I wasn't in the middle, but I would've been anyway. This isn't your fault. I'm just friends with you both, regardless."
Brooke smiled a little at the sweet words. "Thanks. Why do you stay with me, though? You could've sided with Peyton."
Haley didn't consider herself to be on anyone's "side," but knew that was the way Brooke saw it. "Peyton doesn't want me around, really," she replied. "But I know you're not a bad person, Brooke, and I know you're just hurting. So let me be here for you, okay?"
Nodding and fighting back tears, Brooke wrapped Haley in a hug. She was touched, and comforted. "Thanks, buddy," she repeated.
"Don't mention it. Can we go now?"
"Please. Let's get out of here."
"We'll see you in five. Thanks, Kelly," Peyton said as she closed the door. Lucas was standing a few feet away, still in shock.
Peyton couldn't help but smile at the sight. "I think you enjoyed yourself."
"We just talked about music for a half an hour with the lead singer of Stereophonics," he said, as if Peyton hadn't been there. "Do you know how much I love you right now?"
A sinking feeling worked its way into her stomach, and she forced herself to keep the smile. She didn't want to make it awkward by letting her face fall or by staying quiet too long. "I rock, I know," she answered coolly. "Just tell me I'm incredible and start thinking of ways to repay me." She brushed past him to break eye contact, but looked back coyly once or twice.
"You're incredible," Lucas told her, following behind. "I don't know if I can top that, but you can bet I'll try."
She slowed down to walk side-by-side with him again. She decided to let the harmless comment go. "It better be good," she said mock-warningly.
The club was almost full, and Peyton had to almost shout above the noise. "I have to go announce them," she told Lucas, lighting a hand over his shoulder and moving around him. "I'll meet up with you in a few."
"Okay."
Closing her eyes for a moment when she got up on the stage, she tried to mentally collect herself. It was easy for her to get caught up in the moment with Lucas, and she didn't want that. The last time that happened, she'd said far too much. And the time before that, she thought bitterly.
As the band came on stage, she grabbed the microphone, took a deep breath and turned it on. "Alright, how you guys doing tonight?"
Her words were met with collective yells and cheers that seemed to shake the rafters of the club. "Good, because we've got a very special musical guest for you tonight, and they're ready to rock. Please welcome Stereophonics!"
Thunderous applause filled the club, and the band started to play. Peyton quickly got off the stage, and found Lucas not too far away. "The best view is back there," Peyton pointed, her mouth close to his ear so he could hear her. "Let's go."
The second song of the night ended, and Brooke had already found several dancing partners, including Haley. When the last bars of the song were finished, and the lead singer started talking, Brooke leaned in close to Haley's ear. "I'm gonna go get drinks," she told her. "Stay here."
Haley gave her a thumbs-up and started dancing to the next song. Brooke walked away, noting how her new wedges were already starting to hurt. Gripping a nearby table for support, she adjusted the strap on her left dark blue wedge. Faintly, she could hear a familiar voice nearby. No, two familiar voices. Excited, happy voices.
"Okay. Okay, ready? It's our favorite song. You take the lead part." And suddenly, she heard those two familiar voices singing.
To each other.
Her eyes had darted through the crowds and immediately found Lucas and Peyton. A jealous spark ignited upon sight of the two together, but started to ebb away as she continued to stare. Both had uncontrollable grins on their faces as they practically yelled the lyrics to, "Traffic," to each other. The song, as she listened to it, was actually quite poignant and sad. But both Lucas and Peyton looked so happy. She didn't quite understand it. Peyton did a little dance at the musical break, instantly causing Lucas to laugh. And surprisingly, without really even thinking about it, Brooke smiled too.
Startled at herself, Brooke continued to watch them. She could never relate to Lucas on that level. She never even knew he liked this band that much. It was strange to think about; they'd been together for so long, and she couldn't even pick out what bands he liked the most, or what authors he liked, besides Steinbeck. She'd always considered it to be an "opposites attract" sort of relationship. But maybe their opposites weren't in the right places. Or maybe it was still a case of not being able to salvage enough from their first try at a real relationship.
Either way, all she knew was that they both looked so blissfully content in that one moment. Happier than she'd ever seen them with anyone else. It should've made her jealous. It should've fueled her anger, and made her even more furious with them both. But instead, she just felt sort of…sad. She wished so badly for that kind of happiness, and there it was. Staring her right in the face. Peyton was the one who had it all along, and the one who got to appreciate it the least.
Peyton caught Brooke's stare, and the grin faded. Lucas was still distracted by the music, but Peyton noted that her friend's stare didn't seem hostile. Attempting a friendly half-smile, she raised a hand in greeting, and Brooke did the same. Then she turned back to the bar. But that one exchange, that one moment…meant so much to both of them.