Disclaimer: I don't own anything! All rights belong to the correct owners.
There is around a two week to a 2 1/2 week time jump between this chapter and the last.
Triggers: teenage drinking, teenage sex, adult drinking, masturbation, and if you really don't like families who tease each other in a healthy and fun way don't read this, because that's my favorite part of Tree Hill. The family.
Other than that, Enjoy!
It's all the same, only the names will change
Everyday, it seems we're wastin' away
Another place where the faces are so cold
I drive all night just to get back home
I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive
Mortified.
That was the only word Haley James Scott could use to describe her current feelings. She was mortified, absolutely mortified.
And slightly traumatized. Utterly traumatized.
Haley could feel her cheeks burning, matching her hair she had died a beautiful shade of red in the spring. The hot sensation took over most of the top part of her body, she couldn't believe what just happened.
She rushed through the long hallway until she found herself inside her bedroom, and locked the door.
Nathan, who was only half dressed, looked oddly at his wife as she ran her fingers through her hair—squeezing the top of her head as though that would remove the memory of this moment out of her brain.
"Are you alright"? Nathan asked his wife as he tossed a handful of folded shirts into his open suitcase that lay on the bed.
"Yeah" she lied, although it was pointless. "No".
"Hales—you look like you have seen a ghost".
"Worse," she said as she paced back and forth. "I can't leave this room ever—I'm never leaving".
Nathan—Who was no less confused than was when he first asked, watched as wife paced. He hadn't seen her like this in—actually he was quite certain he had never seen her like this.
Haley's eyes were wide and big eyes, and they looked in no specific area. She was white, much whiter than normal. She had quickly gone from lobster red to the color of snow, yes that white.
"Hales—you're freaking me out," Nathan said finally taking her hand, causing her to stop pacing. "What is going on"?
"I just—I just walked in on Jamie," she said shaking her head.
"Doing what"?
Haley shut her eyes tightly—unable to remove the dreadful picture from her head but whispered "himself".
And just like that—Nathan burst out laughing sounding like a gang of hyenas. Haley shoved her laughing husband on to the bed where he rolled and roared in a fit of laughter—he wasn't sure he would ever be able to stop.
But, the more he laughed the more mortified his wife became, and the more mortified she became the more he laughed.
It was a never-ending circle.
Haley, on the verge of an anxiety attack from the horror she just witnessed, grabbed one of her overly large pillows and hit her husband with it.
Repeatedly.
Although, even that didn't stop Nathan's outburst.
"It's not funny," Haley said, giving up as she tossed the pillow to the side.
Nathan sat up running his hands down each one of her arms "you're right" he told her nodding. "It's hilarious".
With those two words, and yet another rumble of laughter falling from Nathan's lips Haley pushed her husband back down on to the bed.
"This is a nightmare," she said.
This was a nightmare.
Madison found herself three hours deep in a frantic search through her room. The closet had spilled out and her dressers had exploded—even her laundry basket filled with dirty clothes had been dumped out.
Yet, through it all, she still came up empty-handed.
"What exactly are you doing"? Madison heard, and turned to find Lauren—the woman who taught her and has raised her since, standing in the doorway with her arms crossed—slightly confused and slightly amused.
"Just looking for something," Madison said, brushing the question off her shoulder, praying it would end there.
She should have known better.
"What exactly are you looking for"? Lauren asked her, as she stepped into her room.
Madison scratched her eyebrow—awkwardly "it's that stuff I bought from Victoria Secret over the weekend".
"What stuff"?
"Just a bra and a pair of underwear," she told her as she clenched the towel that hugged her body. "It was red".
"There is a bag down by the door—I thought I picked up a wrong bag, I was going to return it".
Madison immediately darted down the stairs, closely followed by Lauren. All the way through the hall, down the stairs, and to the front door—where she found her oversized pink bag sitting.
"I didn't even think that that bag was yours," Lauren said as Madison turned around to face her, though she actually turned around to walk back up the stairs."This" Lauren said pulling a red lacy pair of underwear out of the bag "isn't exactly something I would want to go camping in".
Madison politely took the underwear and stuffed them back inside the bag with a simple shrug—eagerly attempting to avoid this entire conversation.
"They do however look like something I would wear on a date—that I knew would excel past a kiss," Lauren told her as she crossed her arms looking at Madison. "What else is in that bag? Let me look".
Madison let out a deep breath but handed Lauren the bag who walked to the kitchen and emptied the bag out on the table.
"Oh," Lauren said as she held a red teddy by the strap on one finger. "Jamie has a red fetish"?
Madison moaned covering her face with her hands "I asked him what his favorite color was—that's not for the camping trip".
"Brand new pajamas—very sexy," Lauren said in a voice that told Madison that she was saying, but she wasn't talking to her like she would a girlfriend. "I am counting ten pairs of matching underwear and bras, cute little baby dolls and teddies, oh look at this sexy, classy, and a little trashy—Madison how much money did you spend"?
"A lot" she admitted. "I dipped into my Barcelona fund—Lauren look—we haven't done anything. This weekend is supposed to be our first time, I just want it to be perfect and I want to be sexy—".
"You're not my daughter," Lauren told her turning to face the teen. "But, I do love you like one—I just want you to be careful".
"We will—Jamie has condoms".
"Do his parents know"?
"Do mine"? Madison asked folding her arms. "I appreciate the concern but this is my decision and I'm ready to take the next step with Jamie".
Lauren nodded, as she put the large amount items back into the bag.
"Don't take anything white this weekend?" Lauren told her handing the bag back. "The woods—it will get dirty sleeping on the ground. In my bedroom I have foam, I haven't been on actual birth control since before I got pregnant. I always use it as a backup, in case a condom breaks. You can take it".
"Thank you, you're the best".
"Yeah, I'm like the coolest guardian for horny teenagers".
Madison laughed, it was true though.
Jamie didn't know that this form of embarrassment existed, he had heard of moments like this—although he had laughed at anyone it happened to. Until now. Now he actually felt sorry for anyone that had ever endured this form of humiliation.
He paced his bedroom floor back and forth, for what could have been hours. He couldn't be sure. He was sure that it was past time for him to leave, but every time he looked out his window he saw his mother's vehicle still in the driveway—and there was absolutely no way he could face her.
Not after that. Not after she has seen—that.
God.
The sound of a light knock came from the opposite side of his door, there was no way she would come back to his room—it was a crime scene.
But, when the door opened Lucas stepped in shutting it behind him—locking it, something Jamie probably should have done this morning.
"You heard" Jamie assumed as he looked at his uncle, who clearly had been laughing as he bit on his bottom lip—presumably to keep himself from laughing in Jamie's presence.
"I heard—an event happened this morning, yes," Lucas said, as he continued to fight the urge to keep himself composed.
"I can't even leave the room, Luke—".
And that's when his uncle finally lost the battle he had been fighting with himself. He burst out laughing as he fell into the chair in the corner of Jamie's room.
"We have all been there," Lucas said waving it off, as though it were no big deal. "You live and learn to lock your door. You know my mom walked in on me once before while I was in the middle—".
"I wasn't in the middle" Jamie cut him off.
"What"?
Jamie pinches the bridge of his nose, unsure if he could even repeat it out loud. "I was done," he said as he sat on the foot of his bed. "She walked in at the end—right when I—".
"Wait, wait, wait," Lucas said interrupting his nephew before he could say anything else. "Haley walked in on you—not only as you gave yourself a hand but, as you released the soldiers"?
Jamie nodded.
Lucas was certain he had never laughed so hard in his life, and he wasn't sure he was going to be able to stop. Although for his nephew's sake he wished he could—he just couldn't.
"I was just doing what you told me—I have done it every day for two weeks just to make sure I am able to last for—would you stop laughing"?
"I swear I'm trying," Lucas said as he held his hands up. "It's very hard—".
And with that another roar of laughter escaped from his throat, unable to contain or control the noise.
After what felt like an eternity for Jamie, though it was long enough for Lucas he finally quit laughing. Barely. "How did she not see your tattoo"? He asked as he took deep long breaths to refrain from laughing.
"That's what you're worried about—my mom just saw—".
"I'm trying to not think about to stabilize the conversation if I don't make it about something else I'm going to keep laughing". Lucas told him.
"I was wearing my hoodie".
"You were sitting there in nothing but a hoodie? Seriously? You wear a shirt while you do it"?
"Luke".
"Right, not the point—Everything to the side for a minute," Lucas said. "Are you ready"?
Jamie nodded. "I guess, I'm just so traumatized I don't know if I'll be able to get it back up now".
"Have you ever seen a naked woman—in person?" Lucas added the last part avoiding all eye contact with Jamie, on the verge of laughing once more.
"No".
"Then trust me you'll get it back up," Lucas told him. "You have everything you need"?
"I'm having sex not going to war".
"If you're with the wrong person—the same thing".
"Speaking from experience"?
"Speaking from reality".
Peyton popped the small white pill into her mouth, she could no longer tell if the banging she heard was real or just in her head. It was probably a significant mixture of both after the past week, ever since Chase made the decision to make a couple of changes to Tric—in the same building where Peyton worked.
"Hey" Peyton heard and looked up to see one of the many, many contractors that had waltzed through the building in the past few days. Although, one of the few that had actually been tolerable, Peyton thought his name was Michael—but couldn't be certain. "We are going to take lunch, so it should be quiet around here for a few hours. The café gives us free food—I think the owner has ties with the man who owns this place".
"Yeah," Peyton said rubbing the sides of her temples as she spoke. "We all tend to run in the same pack—like a pack of wolves".
He nodded, "I just thought I would let you know and then when we get back we are going to be working on some of the wirings so the electric might shut off".
"Thanks for giving me a heads up, I appreciate it".
"You're welcome," he said, but awkwardly didn't move. "It's probably none of my business but why are you staying here"?
"Who said I'm staying here"? She asked looking up at him. "I work here—I own this record label".
"We work long—long hours and you get here before us and you don't leave except to take your lunch".
"Maybe I just work a lot".
"Also, the blanket and pillow on the couch along with the suitcase over in the corner".
"Contractor or detective"? Peyton asked, her voice covered with irritation but yet she smiled. "Believe it or not my home life is much worse than sitting around listening to you tearing a building apart for twelve hours a day".
"Ouch. That bad"?
"You say it as you've been there".
"Oh, yeah," he told her. "Back when I was still married to my son's mom, the end was pretty brutal until we finally decided to go separate ways".
"What made you decide to make that decision"? Peyton asked him. "I mean—you have a child together so I'm just curious why".
"Well, it was our son who made us realize we were doing more harm than good in his life" he explained to her. "We couldn't stand to be in the same room as one another, all we did was fight, and raising our son in a healthy environment was more important to us than having him grow up in one household".
Peyton half smiled at his words, and he went to walk away. "Wait," she said before he made his way to the door. "Your name—Michael"?
"Matthew," he said. "You can call me Matt".
"Matt".
"I'll make sure to leave the door propped open with a rock or something when we head out—you can only open the door from the outside so if you're alone make sure not to close it".
Peyton nodded "thanks for the heads up".
Chuck tossed the last of the clothes he had decided to take with him into the duffel bag, which basically meant anything that didn't have a foul odor and zipped the bag tightly. He took two seconds to consider that he might have forgotten something but ultimately decided if it was forgotten, it wasn't important enough anyway. The teenager then tossed the bag over his shoulder and walked out his of his bedroom shutting the door behind him and quickly trotted off to his mother's room.
It had been a habit to always check on her before she left, though it was no longer needed he still tended to do that.
"Mom," Chuck said as he slowly pushed the door open. "I'm leavi—".
At first, he assumed his mom was asleep because she stayed up all night studying, even though it was summer break for him she continued to work on her schooling. Or she could have possibly been at work, but that wasn't possible due to Tric being closed for the moment, but he found that the reason she was still in bed wasn't due to either one of those things.
Chuck didn't even finish his sentence, he felt nauseous. There his mom lay—in bed, with Chase.
"Oh, my god" Gretchen said at the sight of her son. "Chuck".
"What—What in the hell—what is going on"? Chuck demanded to drop his bag at his fight.
He very well knew what was going on, he was sixteen not stupid, no matter what his friends chose to tell you.
"This isn't wh—".
"Don't even finish that sentence mom" Chuck interrupted her.
How could they do this?
How could she do this?
Chuck looked from his mom back to Chase, both of which were covered by a blanket—thank God.
"Don't yell at your mom" Chase told him.
Normally he would listen, Chase had always been one of the only men in his life—by choice. The rest was an unfortunate coincidence for those like Nathan, who was his best friends dad.
But, Chase? He chose to be in Chuck's life, he even stood up for him when no one else did. Now, he was laying up with his mom.
"I'm out of here," Chuck said as he picked his bag back up and headed towards the door.
The two must have been quick dressers because by the time he reached the door Chase had beat him and held the door shut with his hand. Sure, he was only wearing his underwear but it was some form of clothing.
"Chuck I can explain," Gretchen said as she came rushing down the stairs tying her robe down around her waist.
"Why? Huh"? Chuck asked turning to face his mother. "Why do you do this? You always ruin everything in my life. You spent the first half of it nearly drinking yourself to death, and now you're screwing Chase. Do you ever take me into consideration? Ever?! Did you once think about how this would make me feel? No, you only care about yourself and your feelings—god mom. I'm leaving".
With that outburst Chuck pushed past Chase—rather he liked it or not.
"I won't have service all weekend so don't bother calling," he told her and with a loud door slam her was gone.
Gretchen felt sick, she wasn't sure if it was her impending pregnancy or the child she gave birth to sixteen years ago. She was certain it was one child or the other.
"When he gets back I will talk to him" Chase assured her.
"I knew he would take it badly—I just didn't think it would be that bad," she said as she sat down on the staircase.
"That was— circumstantial" Chase said as he sat next to her. "He just walked in on his mom, naked".
"It was more than that," she told him, though he already knew. "He was so upset, he thinks he is going to lose the only dad he is ever had".
"But, he won't".
"He doesn't know that," she said. "Any man that has ever stepped over that threshold took off running, but it's different with you. He had you before I did—".
"Stop stressing," Chase told her. "He might feel different when he hears this isn't some hookup. We are having a baby—he is going to have a family. That's something to celebrate".
Gretchen ran her hands over her stomach that had just begun to become visible. "A family," she said.
It sounded strange to her, that after everything happiness was still possible.
Brooke stood in front of her house, on her walkway, in her yard. Yet, ever since she returned to Tree Hill she still had not been able to take the first step over the threshold—it was her home. It was her children's home.
But, a home implied happiness—and as she stood there she didn't feel happy. Instead, she felt a giant weight on her chest, she felt as though she couldn't breathe.
After what felt like hours she finally stepped back and ran to her car—driving away once more until she returned to Nathan and Haley's home where she found Lucas and Nathan loading the back of Lucas' SUV.
"How did you do"? Lucas asked as she got out of the car.
"I made it to the door this time," she told him shutting her door behind her.
"It's okay" Nathan assured her. "Stay here as long as you want, you will either get there or you won't".
"I can't stay here forever," Brooke said crossing her arms shaking her head.
"Don't worry about that" Nathan told her. "Julian died in your home, in front of you. It's not easy, and it's not going to be easy. But, we are all here for you".
"I thought about buying a new house" she admitted. "I love that home, we gave it good memories. The kind it deserved—but the one bad memory it has trumped it all".
"Of course it does," Lucas told her. "How on earth could it not? If it didn't—if it didn't affect you and the way you see your home you wouldn't be normal in my book".
"Which one"? They heard as Jamie walked out with a duffel bag passing them.
"All of them" Lucas responded.
It was clear Jamie didn't know about the seriousness of the conversation, and that he only picked up the end of Lucas' statement. But, he was able to get a small smile out of Brooke—who didn't quite understand why Nathan and Lucas looked as though they might roll over in laughter any moment just looking at the teenager.
Jamie tossed his bag into the back of his SUV and Lily's that was sitting alongside it before shutting the back.
"You heading out"? Nathan asked, biting his lip as he looked up at Jamie—with an attempt to keep himself composed.
"Yeah," Jamie said, rolling his eyes as his father acted like a schoolboy who just heard the word boobies.
"Be careful" Lucas told his nephew.
Jamie nodded in response to his uncle's words as he waited for Lily, who was naturally taking her time.
Silence fell over the four—although Brooke was confused as to why. But, she did take into account that Jamie's face was a bright shade of red while Nathan and Lucas were barely able to look up.
"Did you give your mom a kiss goodbye"? Nathan asked breaking the silence.
And that was that. Nathan and Lucas roared in laughter, as Jamie shook his head.
Brooke—Who was more confused than ever looked up at Lucas who was leaning against the car while Nathan leaned against his brother. They both, in an absolute fit of laughter.
"What in the hell am I missing"? Brooke asked.
"Nothing" Jamie answered immediately.
"Haley walked in on Jamie beating it this morning," Lily said as she walked out with a small bag hanging over her shoulder.
Brooke may not be a teenager anymore but she certainly knew what the "it" was. She looked at Jamie who was no longer red, but an awkward shade of pink.
In an attempt to keep herself from laughing Brooke covered her mouth.
"Let's go," Jamie told his cousin.
"Hey, Lily" Nathan said before they had the chance to walk away. "Make sure if you see a sock on the tent not to go in—Jamie might be using the other".
Lily laughed, Lucas laughed, Brooke laughed, Nathan laughed, and Jamie—he did not laugh. He found no humor in the situation.
"I don't use a sock," Jamie said, not that it was important.
"Really"? Brooke said. "I thought all guys used socks".
"He could be lying—you could just go ask Haley," Nathan said, as he laughed.
This was probably the only time in his life that Jamie would get away with flipping his father a particular finger. Which he did.
Either Nathan didn't care or he was laughing too hard to notice.
"We are leaving—and don't say another damn word," Jamie said pointing at his dad.
Jamie quickly got into his car with Lily and drove away—as fast as he could.
"You're so mean," Brooke said smacking Nathan on his shoulder.
"You're laughing too," Lucas told her.
"I'm going inside—you two are a bad influence".
And she did go inside.
But, they stayed outside—where they continued to laugh. And laugh. And laugh.
Jamie, gladly, drove his vehicle off of his parent's property—attempting to ignore Lily who was currently still laughing as she sat in the back seat. A short time later he was still driving and she was still laughing, except not alone. After Chuck, Madison, and Andre—his cousin, oh his damn cousin, informed the rest of the group of his morning activities.
So, now they were all laughing.
Jamie was not. In fact, it was the most unhumorous thing ever.
"You live in a million dollar home and it doesn't have doors that lock"? Andre asked, earning a glare from Jamie through the rearview mirror. Not that Andre cared.
"Look," Jamie said shaking his head. "If it had been dad, it probably would have been funny. But, mom? My mother—".
"Why were you doing it anyway"? Madison asked looking over at him from the passenger seat.
Jamie didn't need to look over at her, and he knew what she was really asking. She wanted to know why he was doing that when he would be getting something so much better in less than twelve hours, but it wasn't exactly a conversation for the whole carload of teenagers to hear.
"I'm a guy," Jamie said simply as he drove into a fast food restaurant. "It's what we do, that's not the embarrassing part. I have no shame in that, I have a very healthy sexual appetite" he told everyone but looked at Madison, who smiled and bit on her lip as she looked back at him.
Jamie drove around the drive-through and got each five their meal of choice, before pulling back out onto the road.
"We aren't even there yet," Madison said. "Are you really already drinking"?
Jamie looked through his rearview mirror to find Chuck pouring liquor into his soda.
"It gives it a better taste," Chuck said as he put the top back on the bottle, set it to the side, and pressed the lid back on to his soda before taking a long sip through his straw. "Mhmm," he said grinning. "It tastes more—more—".
"Like alcohol"? Jamie asked as he kept his eyes on the road.
Chuck snapped his fingers "that's it. That's the taste. It tastes more like a good strong liquor than the soft drink the four of you are enjoying. Anyone else wants some"? He asked holding the whiskey bottle up.
"I'm driving," Jamie said. "I will stick with soda," he told Chuck. "I believe everyone in the car will appreciate that".
"I do," Madison said. "And since he isn't drinking, I'm not going to drink".
"You wouldn't drink anyways," Chuck said shaking his head.
"I'm out until we get there," Andre said. "It's a three-mile hike and I'm not doing drunk".
"It's just vodka".
"Yes. And I stick with my previous statement".
"I'll drink with you," Lily said pulling open the tab of her cup. "But, just a little or one of you will be carrying me the three miles".
Chuck smiled and poured some of the contents into her cup, more than a little. He poured until Lily said "whoa" laughing. "I said a little".
"That is a little to him," Madison said. "You should've said a teaspoon and he probably would have poured the correct amount".
"Drinking with Chuck is a dangerous game," Andre told Lily shaking his head.
"So," Lily asked as she took a sip out of her straw, and unlike Chuck made a sour face but brushed it off quickly. "How did you all meet"?
"Well, Chuck used to bully me," Jamie said throwing his thumb over his shoulder at his friend in the seat behind him. "He has been a pain in the ass since day one".
"My A1 since day one," Chuck said wrapping an arm around Jamie from behind him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Eww," Jamie said wiping the wet moisture off of his cheek. "Keep your ass back there".
"Nathan and Lucas, your brother," Andre said chuckling—because he was fairly certain she knew her relationship with Lucas. "They coached my older brother and when he died that's when I met Jamie. He then introduced me to Chuck, worst mistake of my life".
"I went to school with them, they were known as the three musketeers," Madison told Lily as she looked back at her in the back seat. "One day Jamie came up and sat with me at lunch, then came Andre, and Chuck—I should have got up from the table when Chuck sat down".
"I'm feeling really attacked right, " Chuck said.
Lily laughed "so all of you have been friends forever basically"?
"Pretty much," Madison said nodding.
"That must be nice," Lily told her. "I never had that".
"That's right—you grew up on the road. What was that like"? Chuck asked turning to face her.
"It was fun," Lily said. "Except, it was lonely. Madison is the first actual friend I have ever had, I never had anyone to talk to—my own age. I think it was too hard for mom to be here, she loved my dad so much everything here reminded her of him".
"What about you"? Andre asked. "Do you like it here".
Lily looked around at the four she shared a vehicle with, her four friends. "I'm starting to," she told him smiling.
The wide open road, fresh air, relaxation—none of which Nathan and Lucas were enjoying as the two found themselves stuck in traffic, for three hours. The burning hot sun beat down, and even sitting inside the SUV with the air conditioner on high the two were miserable.
Although, Lucas seemed to be unbothered by it all—but he was bothering Nathan.
"What are you laughing at"? Nathan asked as he sat back in his seat.
"This cat," Lucas said chuckling as he pointed at his phone. "It's flushing the toilet".
"You're telling me that I'm being forced to drive—your vehicle, while you sleep and sit over there watching videos about cats"?
"I'll make you a deal Nate—if Dan comes back to life I'll drive".
Nathan rolled his eyes and shook his head "technically—if it is him, he never died—".
"It can't be him," Lucas said, cutting his little brother mid-sentence, frankly he didn't care what else Nathan had to say. "Because, if it is him that means—that he never had any visitors. And that means that this whole time he has been alive, missing his life. Growing old in a hospital bed, and that's not right or fair".
"The doctor seemed pretty convinced when I spoke to him, Luke".
"Doctors can be wrong".
"Is that what you want"? Nathan asked him. "Do you want the doctor to be wrong? Or—do you want it to be Keith"?
Lucas looked up from his phone, and at his brother "I don't even know if there is a right answer to that" Lucas told him. "I didn't tell Lily, and I haven't even told Peyton. Not until I know".
"That didn't answer my question".
"I don't know," Lucas said shrugging. "If it is him—that means he has never had a visitor. That means he has spent the last—what seventeen years as a John Doe. No name. No one. But, if it's not him—then he is still dead. I'm choosing to believe it's not him, for now. Because, if it is then I have to tell Lily her dad is alive, but he is in a coma—where he has been for seventeen years".
It didn't matter what Lucas wanted, or what his answer was—if he had one. It was a loose, loose situation for him.
"Are you sure this is what you want to do"? Haley asked as Brooke drove the car. "I mean buying and selling a house is a big decision, is it really one you want to make this rationally"?
"I didn't say I was selling mine and Julian's house," Brooke told Haley. "I just can't live there Haley, and short of living with you for the rest of my life, I'm out of options. I have two boys who need there own home, which I am so grateful for you letting us stay but I need my own home. My kids need their own home, I'm sure you understand that".
Haley did. She did understand that. But, she had trouble supporting her friend's decision, Haley was never one to jump the gun on anything in her life.
But, she had never lost her husband either.
"I'm just meeting with a realtor, it's not a firm decision," Brooke told her, making Haley feel slightly better. "But, I have to stop by Tric first".
"Tric"?
"Well, actually I have to stop red bedroom to show Peyton these designs—she just signed this band and they are doing a photo shoot in a couple of weeks so she asked me if I would be interested".
"Oh".
"You did it again".
Haley looked at Brooke, honestly oblivious to what her friend was referring to "I did what"? She asked, confused.
"Even the mention of Peyton—your nose flares up, your face goes red, you can't even put a sentence together—you hate her".
"What are you talking about"?
"I don't think what she did is right either, but she is still our friend Haley," Brooke said. "The three of us have been friends forever".
"I never said I hated her," Haley told Brooke crossing her arms.
"You never said you didn't".
Haley paused, she looked as though she might respond but truth be told she didn't quite know what to say. She honestly had nothing to say.
The truth was she didn't hate Peyton, she didn't know how felt about her. She knew that she was mad, furious at her.
Haley also knew she had every right to feel the way she felt about her, she also knew it wasn't going to change any time soon.
"Since you don't hate her," Brooke said parking the car outside of Tric. "Would you like to come in with me? To visit your good friend, Peyton? Well, you'll have to—it's ninety-nine degrees and I'm taking the keys".
"You're ridiculous," Haley said shaking her head but found herself getting out of the vehicle and walking inside with Peyton.
The two walked through the door to that Tric, didn't exactly look like Tric.
Well, it did—except for the plywood laying around, the tools, the drop cloths spread around the floor—the new flooring, the paint—so it didn't look like Tric.
"What all is Chase changing"? Brooke asked as they walked through. "I liked Chase the way it was".
"I did, too. He isn't really changing a lot but after so many years you have to replace flooring and stuff like that. He got a new bar, but other than that it's just updating" Haley told her. "I think he even got the same coloring it was".
"Good. I hate change".
"Says the girl who is about to go meet a real estate agent and drop at least a quarter of a million dollars".
Brooke rolled her eyes as they walked through the door leading to Peyton's office, to find Peyton sitting behind her desk—with her head down sleeping.
"Oh" Haley whispered. "She is sleeping, we should go".
"Not so fast tutor girl".
Out of all the nicknames Haley James Scott has been given, and that one has been around longer than her son.
Brooke walked up behind Peyton, slowly bent over, and whispered: "when was the last time you wore clean underwear"?
"Around the same time as the last time, you had sex".
Peyton sat up smiling, that was until she saw Haley standing in the corner. Then she stopped and awkwardly ran her fingers through her unruly hair.
"I came to see what you thought of these" Brooke said handing her large IPad to Peyton.
"It's not loading," Peyton said after a minute. "There isn't any service in here".
"Just connect to the wifi," Haley said, in the nicest tone she could force out of her throat.
"They were working on the wiring earlier so the electric shut off, the internet has to be turned back on from the outside. I'll go flip the switch".
Brooke and Haley followed Peyton but came to a brute halt behind her as she tried to open the door.
Peyton jiggled the doorknob. Again. Again. Again.
"Oh, no," Peyton said dropping her head. "The door is locked, from the outside. Matt told me about it earlier".
"Matt"? Haley asked.
"Yeah," she said nodding as she pulled her cell phone out. "He is the main contractor, he tries to keep me updated with what's going on just so I—I have no service".
"We Just established that you don't get service in here," Haley said, irritated.
"Don't get snippy with me, the door was propped open, didn't you two think it was like that for a reason"?
"Oh, so this is our fault"? Haley snapped back at her. "You always have to blame those around you for everything".
"My marriage is none of your business, so stay out of it".
"What marriage"? Haley asked rolling her eyes. "You don't even live together, your marriage ended when you slept with someone else".
"Would you two stop for a minute"? Brooke yelled, in an attempt to deal with one problem at a time. "What about the phone? There has to be a phone here right"?
Peyton rushed back to her office where she picked up the cordless that lay on her desk but laid it down moments later. "The phone is disconnected, the internet and phone both have to be started back up from the internet box on the side of the building. It's Friday, so the contract crew always quit around two—it's three sixteen so they won't be back. But, it's okay. Nathan and Lucas will go home and when you don't come home they will come looking for you two".
"Yeah, about that" Brooke said slowly.
"They won't be home until Sunday, they are on a trip," Haley said, choosing her words as carefully as possible.
"A trip"?
"A boys get away," Haley said. "And Jamie is camping with his friends".
"He didn't even tell me he was leaving," Peyton said shaking her head. "We used to consult with each other about everything".
"Well, you didn't tell him before you had sex with another man so—I guess consulting went out the window when you're vagina swung open like a door".
"Haley," Brooke said.
"You think just because you have the perfect husband and the perfect life and the perfect marriage and the perfect kids that you can judge everyone else" Peyton snapped as she walked towards Haley.
"I never claimed to have anything perfect, I have loyal—that's the difference between me and you".
Haley turned on her heel and stormed out of the office—in search of a way out of Tric.
Peyton stormed to her desk, in search to find a way to communicate with someone—anyone to get out of Tric.
Brooke? Oh, she went to find the liquor, in search of intoxication, at the risk that neither of her friends was successful.
"Scary or romantic comedy"? Lucas asked as he tossed a cashew in the air and caught it in his mouth perfectly.
"Seriously"? Nathan asked
Both of the brothers sat in their seat, the same place they had been planted for six hours, with their feet propped up outside the window with their seats laid back.
"I'm taking a quiz," Lucas told his brother holding his phone up.
Nathan rolled his eyes and took the phone out of his hand "you have to be kidding me"! He said, laughing. "This is like those quiz's in the back of those stupid magazines Haley gets every month—Wait it is".
"Shut up," Lucas said. "I'm bored".
"What your favorite summer cocktail says about your sex life" Nathan read the top of the quiz. "I know there is sex on the beach but is there a drink called dry as a beach"?
Nathan laughed. Lucas rolled his eyes as he took the phone out of brothers hand, but chuckled.
The two were silent, but only for a minute.
"If it is Keith—does that mean Dan wasn't a murder"? Nathan asked.
It was a genuine question, one Lucas thought of himself but didn't have the courage to speak it out loud.
"As far as I'm concerned—if this is Keith or not, this changes nothing about Dan," Lucas said. "He still picked up a gun and aimed it at his big brother. His brother, Nate—that would be like you trying to kill me".
"I know," Nathan said nodding.
"I understand that ever since he saved you, you have had a soft spot for him. I am glad he did it, don't get me wrong. But, either way, this turns out—he still robbed Keith of his life. A chance to be a father, Lily is an orphan. My family is all she has".
Nathan paused, for a second he reconsidered the thought that came across his mind. But, he knew he couldn't just leave it there, this was his brother.
"What family"? Nathan asked. "You and your wife don't even live together, you constantly fight and scream at each other— she is sixteen, Luke. She has two years left of being a kid, you and Peyton are robbing her of that. You're taking her childhood away before it's time".
"Okay, Haley," Lucas said, knowing good and well who it was that originally spoke those words.
"Alright, yes I'm just repeating what Haley said" Nathan admitted to which Lucas scoffed, but not that he needed to. Lucas knew Haley as well Nathan, if not better some days. "But, she isn't wrong. Sawyer slept in the bed with us a couple of nights ago after Peyton dropped her off, it's not just about Lily. Your daughter is being affected by it too. I do try to stay out of it, you're my brother that's your marriage except this is my niece and cousin, they are both caught in the middle of this war".
Lucas didn't speak, Nathan assumed he struck a nerve and that he more than likely wouldn't talk to him for the rest of the day.
But, Nathan was wrong.
Lucas listened to every word, and at first, it was funny because his brother was simply repeating the exact words Haley had spoken just days before. But, once Nathan started talking on his own, it broke Lucas. The thought of his daughter unable to sleep and instead of going to her dad's bed, she was so scared of her parents fighting she went to her Aunt and Uncle.
"What—what do I do"? Lucas asked.
"You and Peyton need to either get help and fix it or go your separate ways. Either is better than the route you're currently taking" Nathan said. "Haley and I seen a therapist years ago, it really helped us, Luke. It might help you two. Do you want to work things out"?
"I don't know" he answered honestly.
"They will help you with that, too—to figure it out but you do need to figure things out. This isn't healthy. I grew up with parents that would fight all the time, remember"?
"Oh, my god" Lucas said in utter horror. "We are Dan and Deb".
Brooke poured the burning contents deep inside the bottle down her throat as she watched one friend walk around with her cell phone high in the air, and the other attempt to stack chairs to reach the window.
"You know what this reminds me of"? Brooke asked, too drunk to even notice if she gained the attention of her two friends. "Remember when we got locked in the library"?
"Yes," Haley said aggravated as she tried to level the chairs. "And if I recall correctly that night was a total blood bath, too—because once again Peyton didn't get what she wanted".
"Oh, my god" Peyton nearly yelled. "You have no self-control do you"?
"Coming from you? That's rich".
"I made one mistake, one. I'm paying for it—aren't I? I'm sleeping on a small couch every single night to wake up to the sound of the rest of the building being torn apart" Peyton yelled at Haley.
"Speaking of why is there no ladders"? Brooke asked looking around pointing with the finger holding the bottle of tequila.
"Matt loads them up on the weekends, they take all the expensive things when they leave—I guess they had a robbery a few years ago and he says it ends up costing more money to replace everything".
"You seem to know an awful lot about this Matt guy," Haley said crossing her arms.
"Are you serious right now"? Peyton asked turning to face Haley. "I see him every day—right now he seems to be the only friend I have. That's what you were to me at one point Haley, remember? A friend? Just because you don't support my decisions doesn't mean you just cast the person you have known for nearly twenty years to the side".
"And I have been friends with Lucas my entire life, sorry by Luke trumps you. You hurt him. Destroyed him. It wasn't just him, you had a family Peyton. The one thing you never had, why would you do that"?
"I remember" Brooke interrupted, attempting to intervene as she stumbled through Tric. "When Peyton slept with my boyfriend and Nathan lost his virginity to Haley's sister before he did Speed. I remember when Peyton did Cocaine. I also remember Haley running off with Chris to go on tour, choosing music over Nathan. I remember—".
"Okay," Peyton said. "I think that's enough".
"Is it"? Brooke asked. "We have all made mistakes and I was just getting started, that was only our high school era—it looks like we are going to be in here for a while and you two are ruining my buzz so figure out a way to be around each other or I'm locking you in the freezer".
"Alright," Nathan said as he walked through the open walkway of the motel next to his brother. "We are just thirty minutes outside of Charlotte, we wake up around six and we can be at the facility by eight".
Lucas nodded in agreement, through a yawn.
"306, this is us," Nathan said pointing to a door, before slipping the card through the portal and pushing the door open.
The two stood in the doorway of the motel, Lucas flipped the light on to find themselves standing in a room with one king sized bed, a lamp without a shade, and a mini-fridge that was chained to the wall.
"If you brought me here to do anything other than sleep—I hate to be a disappointment," Lucas said.
"Oh, shut up," Nathan told him as he shut the door behind them.
"I'm serious—I feel anything poking me through the night and your ass is going to sleep in the car".
"I paid for this room".
"Yeah, and you would think that someone who played basketball in the NBA could spring for something that's at least a two-star motel," Lucas said as he tossed his bag on to the bag. "This is where serial killers wash up after a big crime".
"We sat in traffic, literally all day," Nathan told him. "We missed the check in time and I'm tired. Would you like to drive us at nine o clock at night then still get up bright and early in the morning"?
"Not really," Lucas said throwing himself on to the bed "I'm beat".
"Then stop your bitching".
"Man," Lucas said as he looked up at the ceiling "we sound old as hell".
Nathan paused, then chuckled. His brother was right. Nine o'clock at night used to be the start of their night now it felt like hours past the end, it was pathetic really.
"I know Haley didn't say it—but thanks for talking to Jamie," Nathan said.
"Haley is just mad that I won't tell her what we talked about, and if that's what is about to happen here like I told her—".
"No, it's not" Nathan cut his brother off holding his hand up. "I figure if it's important enough you'll tell me—if he is on drugs or something you'll come to me but until then that says between you two. I am actually relieved that he talks to someone over the age of eighteen".
Lucas sat up and watched his brother as he dug through his bag—he assumed he was finding something to sleep in.
"Haley—is having trouble letting go of this illusion that Jamie is going to be a kid forever," Nathan said shaking his head. "I know he is going to drink, experiment with this and that—we all did. I only want to know if he is doing something that could affect his health or the rest of his life. I mean I want him to talk to me, of course. I don't want him drinking every weekend, but I do want him to experience life. He has to learn his limits himself, I just set the boundaries and pray he listens".
"You know how Haley walked in on Jamie this morning"? Lucas asked as he kicked his shoes off.
"Don't?" Nathan said, chuckling. "I can't laugh about that any more than I already have".
"Right," Lucas said, with a small laugh. "I sort of told him to do it".
Confused. Conflicted. Neither of the words seemed strong enough to describe Nathan's emotions as he turned to his brother. "As I ask you why I'm desperately praying that if this goes to trial I am not called up to testify"?
Lucas rolled his eyes "you're disgusting" he said pointing his finger at his brother.
"I'm not the one telling sixteen-year-old boys to masturbate".
"It's nothing he wasn't already doing," Lucas said. "But, there was a reason I told him to do it—I didn't just tell him to—I wasn't advising that for no reason".
"Then—dare I ask again why"?
"Jamie and Madison—they have played basketball together for years right"? Lucas asked, to which Nathan nodded. "Okay, I'm sure he has made some good shots— maybe a couple of three-pointers, a layup, and he probably even got a few free throws in".
"What in the Sam hell are you talking about"?
"But, this weekend—he is going to make his first slam dunk," Lucas said, ignoring his brother's comment.
Lucas looked up at his little brother whose face remained confused, for a brief second. He watched as the metaphors struck a familiar nerve with Nathan. "Oh," he said. "Oh. Oh. Oh" he repeated, each one louder than the first as it officially registered in his mind just what Lucas was referring to, and it was not basketball. "Wait. They are going to—have sex"?
Lucas was shocked, Nathan was virtually calm, at first he seemed to be alarmed by the news but Lucas assumed that was just the confusion he had caused.
"Yeah," Lucas said nodding. "But, he came to me—with a problem, one of the sexual category".
"And that was"?
"Well—it's his first time, and it's not like it's a random hook up. This is his longtime girlfriend and—he was freaking out that maybe he would enjoy it too much".
"Oh," Nathan said lowering his head with a small chuckle. "So, he was worried that he was going make his shot before it was time"?
Lucas nodded, chuckling as well. "You Okay—about this".
It wasn't a question.
Lucas was awkwardly surprised by how well his brother was handling the information he was being handed.
"Of course I am," Nathan said. "I meant what I said earlier—it's just that, I wish he had come to me about it. I know he is a teenager, and he isn't a little kid anymore but he can trust me. I just want to be a part of his life, he is already hinting that he doesn't want me to coach for the team anymore, I just want to be a part of his life".
"You're his dad, you'll always be a part of his life".
"Hurry, hurry," Madison told Jamie. "You're going to drop it in the fire," she said laughing.
Despite the large amount of heat rolling off of the marshmallow he had at the end of the stick, he tore it off and laid it down between a graham cracker, and a large piece of chocolate. The teen then grabbed another piece of graham cracker and smacked it on top.
Madison smiled, before taking a small bite out of the smore her boyfriend over roasted six different marshmallows in the fire for, and fought Chuck over the last piece of chocolate for. It wasn't cold, they definitely didn't need a fire but the five teenagers sat around it smiling and laughing, the main one being Madison.
"So, you all do this every year"? Lily asked.
"Yeah," Andre said. "Last year was the first time we were allowed to come by ourselves".
"I feel like I'm on an episode of naked and afraid," Lily said, chuckling.
"Now," Chuck said standing up. "That sounds like an idea, there is a lake right over that bank. Whose in"?
"Me," Lily said standing up.
"I'll go," Andre said. "I could use a cool off".
The three disappeared into the dark of the night, leaving Madison and Jamie alone as they sat by the fire.
"Do you want to go"? Jamie asked, as he continued to rub Madison's lower back, though he avoided eye contact with her.
"No" she whispered.
Jamie, who had been avoiding eye contact with his girlfriend at the chance she said she wanted to go swimming—he didn't want her to see his disappointment. But, when she said no he looked down at the woman sitting next to him, biting on her lip.
"Are you sure"? He asked.
"Yes".
"I'm not talking about swimming".
"I'm not either".
Madison stood up and reached for his hand, he gladly accepted and the two found their way to their tent in the secluded area. Away from the fire. Away from everyone else's tent.
Away.
Jamie could only see his girlfriend from the lantern he had hanging on one of the trees as he interlaced their fingers in both hands. It was strange, after all these years of her not wanting to have sex and him dying to, she didn't look nervous but he felt as though he might pass out.
"Are you going to kiss me"? Madison asked with a smile. "Or are you going to keep staring at me"?
He smiled, releasing one of her hands to bring his arm up—cupping the side of her face in his palm. Then he kissed her, gently. It was the first time in a long time that he kissed her so softly.
Madison let go of the one of Jamie's hand that still had a hold of hers before running her fingers slowly up his chest beneath his shirt, before tugging the shirt up over his head.
Their lips found each other's once more before Jamie let his fingers find the bottom of the dress she had wore that day and pulled it over top of her head—tossing it as far from her body as possible.
"Is this why you ask me what my favorite color was"? Jamie asked as he pulled her into his body, looking down at Madison.
"Maybe".
Jamie spun them around and pinned his girlfriend against a tree, lifting a leg over one of his hips.
He wasn't gentle this time. He kissed her, and he kissed her as his hands roamed around her body.
Neither knew when or how, but they found themselves inside their tent, alone. They continued to kiss as they were both balanced on their knees.
Jamie felt her hands on his waist as she began fidgeting with his belt buckle, for a split second he wanted to back out. Reconsider. But, when he felt her fingers undo the button to his jeans he quickly brushed that idea off, wondering why it crossed his mind in the first place. But, as he removed his pants he quit wondering why he thought of anything else, at all.
In a perfect world, this would be it. They would have laid down and had sex for the first time just as they planned but they don't live in a perfect world.
Just as Jamie lowered Madison down to the sleeping bag and found his lips just inches above her navel, the farthest they had ever been the two heard "Jamie".
"Is that Andre"? Madison asked.
"Ignore him," Jamie said trailing kisses back up her body.
And she did. Their lips found one another's again, their bodies rolled against each other's, and Jamie held both of his girlfriend's arms above her head as they kissed.
"Jamie".
They continued to ignore.
"Jamie".
But, each time he called.
"Jamie".
He got louder.
"Jamie".
Indicating he was closer.
"Jamie".
Each time.
"Jamie".
"I swear I'm going to kill him," Jamie said sitting up. "What"? He called back. "I'm busy".
"I'm busy"? Madison whispered, rolling her eyes.
"Well, I am" he whispered back.
"We have lost Chuck" Andre called back. "He has had a lot to drink, I can't find him anywhere".
Jamie moaned, and not the type he would prefer it be. He looked down at Madison who lay the perfect. She had one leg propped up, the one that was around his waist only seconds ago. She wore matching red lacy panties and a bra.
"I swear I hate Chuck" Jamie grumbled as he searched for his pants.
Madison sat up and wrapped her arms around Jamie's neck "it's fine" she told him.
The two quickly dressed and grabbed a flashlight, in an attempt to help locate there friend.
"I don't know what's going on with him," Andre told them. "But, something is going on".
"I thought you said he was always like this" Lily said.
"He is," Jamie said. "But, there has been something odd about him today—I was going talk to him tomorrow once he sobered up".
"He drinks," Madison said. "But, not this much".
The four searched high and low, and just as worry started to set in Jamie spotted his friend laying in a large open field.
"What is he doing"? Andre asked, and yelled "Chuck"?
The sound of Andre's voice echoed, followed by a loud thudding, that came closer and closer.
"What the hell is that"? Lily asked.
Jamie shinned his flashlight up and saw a large herd of wild horses running through the field, right at Chuck.
"Stay here," Jamie told his girlfriend and cousin.
Andre and Jamie darted towards their friend in an attempt to get to him before the twenty some horses did, which they did.
"Chuck wake up," Jamie said slapping the sides of his face.
"Wha—".
Chuck looked up and despite his current situation rose up and ran with his friends. The three basketball players ran, as fast as they could but even with the flashlights, the dark won when Jamie tripped over a rock embedded into the ground.
"Jamie" Madison screamed.
Perhaps it was fate, or luck, or whatever Jamie chose to believe in for the second but the horses all broke up and split leaving him laying in the middle.
All except one, the last one to come running through got spooked at the sight of Jamie laying sprawled out on the ground. The horse came up on its back to legs and when it came down landed on Jamie with a loud POP.
Jamie was sure he screamed, though he couldn't be certain. Just as he couldn't be certain when the horses disappeared but he did see his friends running towards him, most importantly his girlfriend.
"Are you okay"?
"Are you hurt"?
"What happened"?
Just a few of the many questions he heard, though he wasn't entirely certain who asked what.
"Jamie" Madison said trying to help her boyfriend sit up, unfortunately, he was unable to. "Are you okay"?
"Kill—Chuck" was all Jamie was able to muster out of his mouth.
Chuck, while concerned about his friend, found it appropriate to still take a step back.
"Where are you hurt"? Andre asked bending over.
Jamie—did not want to answer that question, it didn't matter how bad it hurt. He did not want to answer that question.
"Oh, my god" Andre said wincing as he saw Jamie's hands clutching the area below his waist.
"I think it broke my dick".
Lucas walked side by side with Nathan as they found their way through the building, which was relatively quiet. Not that, that part wasn't exactly shocking. The two made their way to the front desk, and for the first time in his life, Lucas felt like the younger brother. He felt like the kid that needed to be protected by his older brother because instead, he took a step back allowing Nathan to interact with the woman behind the desk.
"Welcome," she said with a smile and a light voice. "To Live, and love long term care—how can I help you, fellas"?
The accent alone indicated she was from further south than North Carolina, but the 'fellas' tipped the scale.
"We have an appointment with Doctor Eagleston," Nathan told her.
"I have been waiting" they heard and turned to see a blonde standing in the hallway with a chart in her hand. "Come with me".
The two did, the followed her through the dimly lit hallway.
"So—you went to school with Keith"? Nathan asked awkwardly as they followed her.
"And Dan," she said. "I had a crush on your dad actually back in school".
"God, he didn't get you pregnant, too"? Lucas asked.
"No," she said with a small smile. "I was in Keith's year—I don't exactly go for younger men. Never did. And as it turns out I dodged a bullet with that—oh, God. That was a bad choice of words".
It was. There was no denying that, but the brothers shook it off.
"I just started here about a month ago," she said, quickly changing the topic. "It takes a while to get around to every patient but when I went into this room, a John Doe—he just looked so familiar. I started hunting Lucas down immediately".
Nathan and Lucas watched as she turned the knob and then held the door open for them.
Lucas took a long, deep, and shaky breath before walking into the room behind Nathan. It was when he was in the room that all his hopes and dreams came crashing down, he couldn't breathe.
Lucas turned on his heel and darted out of the room.
"Is it not him"? She asked Nathan. "I was so sure—".
"No" he cut her off. "That's him. That's Keith".
And it was Keith, but the question remained how?
Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it's not for days
The people I meet always go their separate ways
Sometimes you tell the day
By the bottle that you drink
And times when you're all alone all you do is think
I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted (wanted) dead or alive
Wanted (wanted) dead or alive
A/N this is only part one of this chapter, it would have been more along the lines of 20,000 words if I had put everything into one chapter.
But, I did leave you with a nice little cliffhanger, over the next couple chapters more about Keith will be revealed as to what happened and etc. Once you find out who the mastermind behind all this was you might be a little shocked.
As for Nathan and Lucas, I really enjoyed writing their moments together. Once they started acting brotherly in the show, their scenes together were Always my favorite.
I personally felt really bad for Jamie I'm this particular chapter, he is not having anything easy right now. I knew what I wanted to happen to him but coming up with how it happened to him was tricky, I I did remember the first time I seen a herd of wild horses running when I went camping and that's how I came up with that scenario. More will be explained in part.
Haley is under no circumstances letting Peyton off easy, and this is only the start! But, As for the Brooke, Lucas, Peyton love triangle like I said before and I just feel like mentioning that every chapter so that no one gets the wrong impression I'm slowly dissolving the peyton and Lucas marriage while Brooke and Lucas is going to happen but will be a very slow burn
As always thank you for the reviews, they mean so much and help me write and get my chapters out so much faster.