So I screwed myself up last chapter and didn't follow my original plan. I hope it still makes sense and is enjoyable.
We're not the same, dear, as we used to be.
The seasons have changed and so have we.
There was little we could say, and even less we could do
To stop the ice from getting thinner under me and you.
It had been at least seven minutes since Brooke has stormed up the stairs. The only sound that had been heard were her angry footsteps and the slamming of what was presumably Peyton's bathroom door. Nathan stood in place, shock still on his face while Haley was in a daze.
Finally she cleared her throat to croak out, "What are you doing here?"
He looked hurt for a minute, pausing before speaking. "I got an earlier flight out."
"Oh," before the awkward silence settled in, she grasped for conversation. "How did you know I was here?"
"I didn't know you were here." Realizing his tone came out harsher than intended, he softened his voice. "I didn't really want to be at home - Dan is all about loving life right now, and Deb seems too accommodating. I don't know what's up with my parents. Lucas… well we're still not talking."
"I'm sorry, Nathan."
He nodded, looking around the room for anything to distract himself. "Peyton was about the only real friend I had here before I left."
Haley winced, knowing he didn't mean to hurt her - but it hurt all the same. "Well, Peyton's not here-"
"Yeah, I gathered that by the whirlwind that is Brooke Davis."
Feeling momentary relief at a semi-normal conversation, the once newlyweds laughed together.
She knew it was a stretch, but she was feeling oddly confident now that he was here in front of her. "Well, I'd be happy to keep you company."
Nathan knew she was trying hard, but his pride was still burned and he couldn't bring himself to give in. When she left his world had collapsed and he wasn't anywhere near ready to forgive that. He didn't know if he ever would be. They were still so young - they had their whole lives ahead of them. The summer away had given him greatly needed perspective.
"Haley, it's really good to see you." Before the slowly forming grin she had turned into a smile, he continued. "But what I said still stands - I think we should go through with the divorce."
Not caring about her pride or him seeing her weakness, tears flooded her eyes and pooled underneath her lids.
"I love you, and I know I always will. But we were just too young - and maybe it was a mistake."
Hearing the words she'd used once before with Lucas and Peyton shouldn't have hurt this bad - but hearing it come from the man she thought was the love of her life crushed her spirit. She turned her back to him, her hand flying up to her mouth, trying to choke back the sob that was rising.
His heart was breaking for her - for them - but he couldn't find the words to make it all better. Walking up behind her, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "I will always treasure the time we had together, which is why I want the divorce. An annulment would be like it never happened, and I don't want to erase our time together. It's just… over."
She heard him choke on the word "over" but chalked it up to her own hope. Feeling him kiss her shoulder, she shivered. As she heard his footsteps walk away, she murmured the words that had once defined their relationship. "Always and forever."
Hearing his footsteps stop before the door closed, she knew he'd heard. Then the door closed softly, finally allowing Haley to collapse under the weight of her crumbled marriage.
--
Just as the sun was beginning to set over Tree Hill, Peyton tiredly walked through the front door to her home, Lucas trailing not far behind. Instantly, a sense of dread invaded Peyton's senses, causing her to dart her eyes around the house. Hearing muted sobs coming from the living room, she sprinted towards the sound, discovering a distraught Haley curled up on the couch.
Peyton instantly joined her friend, wrapping her arms around her. "Haley, what's wrong?"
Haley turned in the girl's arms, thankful for support. Her eyes were red rimmed, and her face was puffy from the salty tears. She quieted for a moment as Lucas sat on the other side of her, providing much needed comfort. He held out his hand, smiling tentatively when she placed hers in his grip.
"Nathan's home."
Lucas and Peyton shared a worried glance.
"He came here looking for you, Peyton. I told him you weren't here," she whimpered before continuing. "Basically it came down to the fact that he loves me, but he doesn't trust me - we're going to get that divorce. He can't forgive me."
Lucas's eyes flashed with anger, and a worried Peyton bit her lip.
"Also, you should know - Brooke knows."
Peyton's hands flew up to her face and Lucas fell back to the couch.
"How? What do you mean? How do you know that? Where is she? What did she say?" Peyton fired off the questions, causing Haley to crack the first smile in hours.
"Wow, take a breath. You sound like me. She got here around the same time Nathan did, came in here in a fury, yelling at me - she's been upstairs for a couple hours now."
Burying her face in her hands once more, Peyton groaned. Lucas reached behind Haley to rub his girlfriend's back. She smiled at him gratefully. "I have to go talk to her."
Lucas nodded, standing up to walk over to her, he crouched down to his knees. Looking her in the eyes, he brought his hands to cup her face. "Everything's going to be okay. I promise."
She leaned in to kiss him slowly, taking one last moment before the reality of their situation set in. Pulling away, their eyes remained closed for seconds before he stood up. "Now, I have something I need to go take care of. Call me when you're done?" At her affirmative nod, he kissed her forehead. Leaning over he did the same to his best friend.
After minutes of uninterrupted silence, the former curly blonde stood up, brushing the knees of her jeans, exhaling slowly. She turned to Haley, "Will you be okay for a little while? I need to go deal with this…"
Haley nodded. "I won't break, I promise." She bit her lip thoughtfully. "Good luck."
"I'm gonna need it," Peyton muttered, trudging up the stairs.
--
Lucas approached the Rivercourt, hoping to run into his estranged half-brother, and to his delight and also disappointment, there he was, aimlessly shooting.
"Scott!" Lucas called out, causing Nathan to turn around suddenly. He could see the contempt in his blonde brother's eyes, but couldn't muster up the will to care.
"What do you want Lucas?"
Scoffing, the older brother pushed forward, smacking the still bouncing ball out of Nathan's hands. "I told you not to hurt Haley. This? The divorce? That's not what I meant by not hurting her."
Nathan watched as his brother fumed around the court, fists clenched and angry words spilling from his lips, but could hardly bring himself to care. Normally, he'd be fighting back just as hard, but he'd just broken his own heart.
"Luke, if you're going to hit me - just do it and get it over with. I'm not in the mood to fight with you."
Lucas took in the way Nathan's eyes seemed empty, and his posture was slumped. Most of the fight in him was gone.
Shaking his head, Lucas turned around, "You're not the guy I thought you were, Nate."
--
Brooke was seated on the edge of Peyton's bed, knees shaking, and hands wringing together. As soon as Peyton turned the corner into her own room, Brooke felt her presence without even turning around. Her stomach churned at the thought of being in the blonde's presence again.
Walking the few steps it took to get from the sidewalk to Lucas's bedroom door, Brooke breathed deep, trying to calm herself. She knew that she'd only just gotten back into town, but she didn't want to put off talking to Lucas. She needed to know if this last break up was the final one. She needed to know that after nearly a year of being off an on, if they were going to move on together… or apart.
Once she had approached his door, she heard the mumblings oh her ex boyfriend's voice, and what sounded like her best friend's voice - curious, she peered through the opening in the small curtain of his bedroom door. Not being able to see much, a flash of blonde appeared that definitely belonged on Peyton's head of hair.
"You are the best person I've ever known, Lucas Scott."
The words that came from Peyton's mouth caused Brooke to pause, heart beating rapidly. She tried to tell herself this might not be what it appeared. And then the words that crushed her heart were spoken by none other than Lucas Scott himself.
"I love you."
Brooke closed her eyes, and grasped at her chest. This couldn't be happening to her, it couldn't. She knew that once upon a time, the two blondes had been into each other, but she thought that had stopped once she'd gotten with Lucas. Looking back into the room, she saw Lucas and Peyton shifting upwards, and their lips melded together. Just as Peyton whispered the words back to him, Brooke ran off the back porch, tears flooding her eyes.
Taking a look around her room, Peyton noticed the multiple packed bags, and Brooke's tense posture. She hurried in and stood in front of her best friend, breaking the haze Brooke had previously been in.
Looking up, the tears shone in Brooke's dark eyes. "Nathan and Haley's old apartment is empty… and the rent isn't too bad if I get a roommate."
Peyton shook her head and kneeled down in front of the brunette. "No, Brooke - you can stay here. Please stay here."
Catapulting herself off the bed, the saddened girl sidestepped her kneeling best friend. "No! I can't stay here Peyton," grabbing a duffel bag, she continued, softly " I can't stay here - because you fell in love with the guy I love."
Peyton bowed her head, not knowing what to say.
"I went to see him earlier, and instead I saw the two of you… together. Peyton, I can't believe you'd do this to me! You of all people - my best friend!"
Instead of screaming or storming out, Brooke stood there with tears falling down her cheeks, and words coming out soft - broken.
"I trusted you P. Sawyer - and now I don't know if I ever can again. You knew how I felt about him - I've been with him the better part of a year. He was my boyfriend, and you were my best friend. How could you do this to me?"
Peyton's lower lip quivered at the past tense use of friends, so she bit it to stop the shaking. "Brooke I'm so sorry -"
Brooke began pacing, "I knew you two had a vibe once, but I thought once he and I got together, it had totally disappeared."
She almost rolled her eyes, but Peyton held it together. Her and Lucas's connection would never fade. "Exactly," Peyton muttered.
Turning rapidly, Brooke questioned the taller girl, fire in her eyes. "What was that?"
Peyton thought about backing out, but figured nothing else could further damage them. "You knew he was into me, Brooke. You got with him right after we almost hooked up."
"No, do not turn this around on me, Peyton! You went behind my back with my boyfriend!"
Peyton knew she was in the wrong, but she couldn't hold it in anymore. "No! He wasn't your boyfriend, Brooke - he broke up with you! I barely heard from you all summer Brooke. If we did talk, it was all about you - did you even know that my parents aren't my real parents? That I was adopted? No, you don't - because you never asked. It was all about you."
Tears clogged Brooke's throat. She was torn. "So you're saying that I deserved what happened?"
Lowering her head, Peyton sighed tiredly. This wasn't going as planned. "No, you didn't Brooke. I love him - he was here for me all summer. I tried not to, Brooke - I did. But I can't not be with him. I'm sorry that you're hurt. I love you so much, Brooke - but we never meant to hurt you."
Picking up every bag, Brooke waited until the tears and need to scream had subsided. "I'm leaving. Don't call me, don't come over… don't anything. As far as I'm concerned, this friendship is over."
Peyton waited until the front door slammed before finally breaking down.
--
As if mocking him, the red numbers of the clock seemingly stared at Lucas Scott. 1:08 a.m - he scoffed. He should clearly be asleep by now, but today's events had him wide awake. The fight with Nathan was at the forefront of his mind. He loved Haley like she was his sister, and for a period of time, she really was - having his brother take that away from him was incredibly maddening to him. His brother was still important to him - they were family and always would be, but hurting Haley had been the one thing he warned Nathan about, and he'd gone and done it. He didn't want to be like this with his brother, but he didn't see things changing any time soon.
And then there was Peyton. And Brooke. He'd left Peyton to deal with her best friend, and hadn't heard from her since. He knew she needed this time to deal with it and take time to herself, he got that. He's the same way.
Hearing the turning of the lock on his door, Lucas sprung up from his lying position, curious to see who his late night visitor when be.
Stepping inside, she held up the spare key he'd given to her at the beginning of summer. "Couldn't sleep."
"Me neither."
Automatically he moved over, allowing her room to slip into the bed. She placed her hand in his, making sure to intertwine their fingers tightly, and sighed. This had been one of the worst days, but feeling his warmth instantly soothed her.
"How'd it go?"
Peyton let out a mirthless laugh. "Not as expected."
Lucas turned onto his head, disconnecting their hands so he could wrap both arms around her. "What do you mean?"
Leaning her forehead down onto his shoulder, she spoke slowly, as if trying to process the information herself. "She didn't yell or scream, or even slap me like I had anticipated." Tears burned the back of her throat, causing her voice to take on a scratchy tone. "Which was almost worse, because I know how to handle that Brooke. This Brooke was calm and collected, and seemed so sure of her actions."
He recognized that her body was starting to shake and her voice wasn't faring much better. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want. At least not now."
Peyton nodded and scooted closer to him, pushing her body flush against his. Suddenly, exhaustion was sweeping over her in waves. Lucas noticed her fighting to stay awake. He kissed her forehead, breathing in her scent. "Get some sleep, Peyt. I love you."
"Love you too," she mumbled, sleep taking over.
For moments, Lucas just stared down at the beautiful woman in his arms. He felt blessed that after all they'd gone through this summer - hell, this day - that she'd wanted to end up here.
He only hoped that in the morning - when the light of her and Brooke's shattered friendship was clear, she'd still feel the same way.
We're not the same, dear,
And it seems to me
There's nowhere we can go
With nothing underneath.
Sorry for the lack of LP, and the probably lackluster BP fight - I'm seriously losing steam here, but we're wrapping up - 3 more chapters. You guys deserve to have me fully committed to this story, and I'm just not, but I promise there will be more LP coming your way.
Let me know what you think!