Hey guys! Here's the next chapter written by Mags (mags0607). Hope that you guys are enjoying the story. Next up is cristy (munkysym).
WARNING There is some sexual content in this chapter. If this will offend you please do not read! Thanks!
January 1, 2010
Lucas walked up to the house that he had called his own for so many years. He hesitated as he climbed the steps and stood on his front porch. Glancing at the swing in the corner, he thought back to the days of high school where he and Karen would sit and talk, laugh and joke; like a mother and son should. He shook his head to clear the thoughts that were threatening to overtake him and send him straight back to New York where he belonged. Instead, he shook his nervousness away and tentatively knocked on the light blue door.
It had taken him nearly nine months to get here, and he wasn't going to let his insecurities cause him to turn around now, not after he had spent most of the 10 hour car ride convincing himself that this is where he needed to be.
After Dan had told him of his mother's condition a while back, he had picked up the phone to call her. Words had been exchanged, pride had been involved, and egos had been bruised. Instead of reuniting the estranged mother and son, the call seemed to only widen the distance between them.
After that day, life seemed to spiral out of control. Nathan and Haley had been falling apart, Peyton was half a world away trying to piece back her marriage, and Jake and Brooke, well Jake and Brooke were playing happy family and planning a wedding.
It seemed like as the lives and friendships they had all planned for had begun to slowly unravel, Lucas himself had begun a downward spiral as well. He began drinking and skipping class, it all became much easier to block out, and after a brief stint at the hospital for alcohol poisoning and a 0.0 GPA, Lucas decided to rethink his priorities. And, what better way to do it than on New Year's Day.
Which is exactly what led him to Tree Hill, and to his mother's door. He waited patiently as he heard the lock click, and the old door swing open, but never in a million years had he expected the sight before him.
Karen stood on the other side, looking fragile and frail. For a woman who had once possessed so much life and energy, she was all but a shell of her former self. She stood in a log robe that hung off her gaunt shoulders, her head was wrapped in a scarf from the loss of hair, and her eyes were sunken in from the radiation and chemo. She looked like the world had finally dragged her down and broken her spirit, but as soon as she saw the face of the boy she had missed for so long, there was a brief spark in her eyes.
"My boy," she whispered disbelievingly.
"Hey Mom," Lucas answered cautiously, not knowing exactly how the woman before him would take his presence.
"You're home."
"I'm sorry, I should have called, but I wanted to see you, and with the way we left things, I wasn't sure if I would be welcome."
"Oh, Lucas," she said cutting him off and wrapping her frail arms around his body. He felt the sting of wet tears soak through his shirt, and he heard her muffled voice against his chest, "I'm so sorry Lucas."
"I am too mom, I should have been here sooner, I should have called, I…"
"Shhhh," she said as she silenced his apologetic rant, "It's in the past now, life is too short." She ushered him in the house, and for the first time in almost 4 years, Lucas was finally home.
She sat down on the overstuffed green couch, and let the uncomfortable silence settle over them for a moment before breaking it, "I'm glad you're here."
"Mom, how are you? I didn't know it was this bad," he said ashamed. How could he not have realized that his mother's health had deteriorated so drastically.
"Lucas," she said as she gripped his hand. " The prognosis is not good. I don't have very long. The doctors say I have less than a year. I've stopped responding to the chemo," she said as she broke down into tears.
Lucas too felt the tears rolling down his cheeks, "its okay Mom, I'm here now. I will take care of you."
"What about school? I can't let you give that up for me."
"They asked me not to return in the spring. I messed up last semester, and they don't take kindly to you failing," he guiltily replied.
"Look, I can't say I'm happy that you failed out, but we've both made mistakes. I'm sorry Lucas, for everything."
"Mom, no. It was my fault too, I've.. I've done some things that I'm not proud of, but I need to set things right, and I need to start here."
She wrapped her arms around him once again and whispered, "I'm glad you're home Lucas, I'm glad you're home."
February 2010
"Mark, Mark are you home?" she screamed throughout the apartment as she opened the door and dropped down her belongings. Her beloved husband was no where in sight, not that it was surprising. He was never around anymore.
Mark and Peyton had been trying to salvage their marriage for almost a year now. For a while it had gotten better. He was attentive, loving; everything a good husband should be. Peyton had tried to forgive him, to move on from his indiscretion, but every time she would feel the walls of her defenses crumbling, she would get a flash of his infidelity, and the pain would be almost too much to take. Slowly, Mark had given up trying to earn his wife's love and forgiveness, and had begun with the affairs again.
Peyton knew about them this time, hell she had no one to blame but herself, but she couldn't help but feel bitter. She had believed in this marriage, given up on the only person who truly loved her for him, and it came back to bite her in the ass. She had loved Mark, and he had broken her heart. Now she just stayed in this sham of a marriage because she had no one else to turn to. It was convenient, it was stable, and Peyton didn't have the strength to fight for what she wanted anymore.
Walking over to the answering machine, she hit the blinking red button and waited for the voices to come through the speakers. " Mrs. Calendrier, this is Becky from the insurance agency. We have some information on your father's estate…" she wrote down the numbers, and then moved on to the next message. "Peyton its me, Mark, I'm working late, don't wait up," she rolled her eyes at the lie, and waited for the last message. "Peyton, its Jake. I know its been awhile, but there is something I need to talk to you about. The number is 985-555-2365, please call me back."
Her breath involuntarily caught in her throat as she heard his voice. It had been so long since she'd talked to him or Brooke, and part of her missed them both and regretted not being in their lives, even if they were happy with each other.
Grabbling the phone from the cradle, she dialed the number quickly, hoping that he answered, curious to know why he wanted to speak to her after so long.
"Hello," came the gruff voice from the other line.
"Jake, hi. It's me, Peyton."
"Peyton, hey, I was hoping you would call back. How have you been?"
"I've been great Jake, everything is going well. Mark and I are doing great," she lied. "Life is good. How have you been? How has fatherhood been treating you?" she choked as she stumbled over the words. It was still so hard for her to imagine that Brooke and Jake were parents, and that they were happy with each other. There was something that seemed so wrong with that. It should have been she and Jake, Brooke and Lucas, Nathan and Haley: just like it was in high school.
"The kids are wonderful, they're getting so big. Brooke and I are great. We're getting married in four months," he said cautiously.
"That's great," she tried to respond back genuinely.
"Peyton, that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about."
"You did?" she asked, hopefulness creeping in her voice.
"Yeah, look I know you and Brooke haven't spoken lately, but she misses you."
"I miss her too," she said softly, surprised that the words were actually truthful. It wasn't Brooke's fault what happened, and Peyton did miss her best friend.
"Well that's why I wanted to ask and make sure that you would come to the wedding. I know Brooke wouldn't want to get married without both of her best friends there."
"Jake, I don't know... I have the gallery, Mark's schedule is crazy right now…"
"Peyton please," he cut her off. "This is your best friend, don't tell me you don't have the time to attend her wedding. Please come, for me," he added.
"Alright," she muttered softly. "I'll be there."
"You have no idea what this means to me Peyton, thank you. It's June 3, in Tree Hill. I'm so glad you'll be there and so will Brooke. I'll tell her to call you and catch up. I'm so happy you've agreed to come."
"Me too," she lied. In truth, this was her worst nightmare, watching her best friend walk down the aisle to the guy that she still loved. It just wasn't fair.
She heard the screaming of a child in the background, and realized that he must have been watching the twins. "Peyton, that's Jack, I have to go, I hope we hear from you soon."
"Bye," she said and then he was gone.
Peyton stared at the phone for a few minutes before she ran to her purse and started fishing around for something. Pulling out the small round vial of powder, she smiled at the sight. This would make it all go away; the hurt, the sadness, the pain. Somehow it all seemed less important.
Walking into the bathroom, she poured some of the white powder on a CD and drew it in a line. She quickly sniffed, and waited for the effects to take hold. She caught a quick glimpse of herself in the mirror, and for a second she stared disappointed at the reflection that was mocking her from the glass.
Sighing, she walked into the bedroom and put on a record. She smiled slightly as the drugs began to affect her. A thought flashed in her mind for a moment that what she was doing was wrong, but it was gone as quickly as it came. She gave into the feelings of the drugs, and she slipped into a state where there was no Mark, no Brooke, no Jake, no wedding. She was lost in a world where she felt nothing, and that was the best feeling of all.
April 2010
"Nathan it's me," Haley said as she picked up the phone to call her estranged husband. Despite the love that still remained between the pair, Nathan and Haley still hadn't moved back in with each other. They were still legally married, but the pain of the past couple years was something that neither had completely let go of.
Haley had moved out of their house, and gotten settled in an apartment not more than ten minutes away from Nathan and Lynn. Her depression was under control, and most days she felt like the old Haley for the most part. She and Nathan were cordial, friendly even. They shared custody of Lynn, agreeing that the little girl should know both of her parents and not be affected by their split. Neither had thought about seeing anyone else and were very much in love, but still too scared to take the first step back into married life.
Haley had remained in school at Stanford, and was now training to be a vocal major. Music was still in her veins, and anyone that said she wasn't talented would just be telling a lie.
"Hey Haley, what's up?" Nathan asked as he picked Lynn up and spun her around.
"My drain broke, and something is leaking from underneath the faucet. Can you help?"
"Give me ten minutes," he said as he suppressed a chuckle as the mental image of Haley and leaky dish-water crossed his mind.
"Thank you, Nathan, you're a life-saver."
"No problem, see you soon. Bye."
Haley hung up the phone and leaned her head back against the sink. She was glad Nathan had agreed to come and help her, there was something important that she needed to discuss with him.
During hee and Nathan's separation, Haley had begun writing music again. She had used the studio at school, and had even recorded a couple demos. She had sent them to Chris Keller on a whim, mostly to see if she still had it. Hoping that maybe marriage and children hadn't hindered her musical ability.
Chris had called her immediately after he had received the tapes, and earlier that week, a contract had been delivered to her apartment. The contract outlined a new record deal with the same label that promoted Chris Keller and the Wreckers. It also outlined a three month tour, that she was expected to be a part of. Haley had agonized over the decision for the entire week, before finally making a choice.
Earlier that day, she had signed the papers, and sent the deal back to the record label. Haley James, was back in the music world, but now she still had to tell Nathan the news. She knew that he wouldn't like it, but she would be able to take Lynn with her for part of the time, and besides Nathan hadn't shown any sign of coming back to her, and music was her second love.
Maybe if she couldn't have Nathan anymore, then music would be enough.
She was broken out of her thoughts by a knock at the door, and she opened it to reveal her husband, dressed in a pair of Abercrombie jeans and a button down Polo.
"Where's Lynn?" she asked as he walked into her apartment, toolbox in hand.
"Komala was still at the house, so she agreed to watch her for a little while longer," he replied as he walked over to the sink to inspect the damage.
"That was sweet of her," Haley choked out, trying to hide the jealousy that the housekeeper was closer to both Lynn and Nathan than she was.
"Yeah it was. Haley, what did you do to the drain?"
"I don't know, that's why I called you."
He chuckled slightly as he looked closely at the pipes. "I think I can unscrew this and fix it."
"You can?"
"Yeah, just give me a second," he said as he went to work fixing the plumbing.
He fiddled around for a second before the pipe burst, and water started spouting everywhere. "Damn it, what the hell!" he screamed as the water quickly soaked his shirt and pants.
"Haley turn off the water, now!"
She scrambled under the faucet as well and desperately struggled to stop the swell of water pouring out on both of them. She turned off the water supply, and as she went to regain her balance, she slipped and landed directly on top of Nathan.
They both burst out in laughter, as the tried unsuccessfully to get out of the dirty, messy water. They kept laughing as they tripped, and suddenly Haley lost her balance, landing again on the kitchen floor, laughing as she brought Nathan down with her causing him to land practically on top of her.
She stared him down, and both quit laughing as they realized the position they found themselves in. Their breathing was labored, and as Nathan looked at the girl he had loved for so long, his instincts took over and he leaned down and kissed her.
Haley quickly responded to his touch, reveling in the sensations, and letting herself enjoy his caress for the first time in a long time. Once their need for air won out, Nathan carefully shifted from on top of her, and let out a long sigh as he moved into a sitting position, pulling Haley up with him.
They sat next to each other in silence for a moment before Haley spoke, "what was that Nathan?"
"I miss you," he said simply.
"Me too, but does this change anything?" she asked hopefully.
He looked into her big brown eyes and said the words he had been to scared to say before, "only if you want it to."
Haley didn't answer, instead she leaned up and crawled into his lap, kissing him with everything in her. "I want it to," she whispered before recapturing his lips in her own.
They got caught up in the kiss and slowly fell to the ground, landing in a big puddle of water, causing them to both start laughing hysterically.
"Let's continue this somewhere else," he grinned as he helped her off the ground and threw her over his shoulder.
"Nathan, what about the sink? We're soaking wet," she playfully shouted, giggling from his antics.
He just shrugged and began heading toward her bedroom. "We'll call the plumber in the later, and don't worry about the clothes, we won't be wearing them long."
"Nathan," she giggled again, before he dropped her on the bed and crawled seductively on top of her. "Oh , who cares, the rest of the world can wait," she teasingly replied as she let herself get lost in his touch.
Everything else could wait. For now it was just the two of them in their own little world. All thoughts of school, and music, and Chris Keller were long forgotten as Haley just reveled in the fact that she and Nathan seemed to be back on track.
June 3, 2010
Brooke stood in the back of the small, packed church in Tree Hill. Today was her wedding day to the man she loved, and she couldn't help but feel like she was making the worst mistake of her life. She shook the thoughts, hoping that it was just nerves, but knowing that the man standing in the front of the church waiting for her deserved so much better than she could give.
She had thought about leaving, chickening out a million times, but every time she looked into Jack and Emma's eyes, she knew that they deserved a happy family, and that was what she was giving them by marrying Jake.
The wedding planner signaled that the march was to begin, and she smiled fakely as Nathan and Peyton started down the isle.
She and Peyton has repaired their friendship little by little, and she was grateful that her oldest friend had made the trip down for the wedding. The curly blonde didn't seem herself; however, and Brooke made a mental note to talk to Peyton after the ceremony.
"Peyton are you ok?" Nathan whispered. Peyton's step was a little off, and she was having trouble keeping an even pace as she walked down the isle. On the outside she looked like perfection in her bright blue t-length bridesmaid's dress that matched the color of a Tiffany's box to a tee, but on the inside it was a whole different story.
Peyton struggled to comprehend the words that Nathan was speaking to her as she concentrated on not tripping down the isle. Truth be told, she was so strung out that she could hardly see straight. She had been doing better with the drugs lately, but the stress of the wedding and being back in the states, had driven her directly towards her old friend, Rick, the dealer who had hooked her in the first place.
Now she was trying to hide that fact from all of her old friends. "I'm fine," she hissed harshly, hoping that Nathan would just concentrate on walking down the isle, and not try and figure out what was wrong with her. She breathed a sigh of relief as they got to the front of the church, and let her eyes linger on Jake for just a second too long, before she and Nathan parted ways.
Next came Lucas and Haley arm in arm up the isle. As the maid-of-honor and best-man, they both dutifully strutted down the isle, smiling for all of Tree Hill to see.
Haley pinched Lucas' arm as they slowly walked, and hissed venomously at him, "so help me god Lucas, if you do anything to disrupt this wedding, I will kill you with my own bare hands."
"Stop, Haley. I said I would leave it alone," he shot back as he talked through gritted teeth.
"Good, because they deserve each other, Just let them be happy."
Lucas thought about Haley's words and knew that he deserved her wrath - hell if she new the full story, she would be giving him more than just a lecture. He had tried to be happy for his friend and the woman that they both loved, but jealousy had seeped into his veins, and he wished with everything in him that he was the one in Jake's place. But no, he was the best-man and now he had to sit there and watch as his best friend got the girl.
He had mentioned to both Haley and Nathan that he wanted to object, tell Brooke that he still loved her, but they had threatened him within an inch of his life if he uttered a single word. So now, he had to sit there and stew, play the best-man, and watch as the woman he loved agreed to a marriage that was doomed from the start.
Haley shot one last warning glare to Lucas, as they reached the front of the church, and then sent a wink to her husband. Nathan caught her gaze, and a devilishly handsome smile spread out over his face. Haley and Nathan had spent the last two months making up, and Haley had even moved back into their house, reclaiming her position as both a wife and a mother.
All eyes turned to the back of the church as the three youngest members of the bridal party stepped out onto the isle. Lynn was walking with Emma and Jack, and the two little girls were throwing rose petals, Emma imitating Lynn step-for-step. The two girls were dressed in frilly versions of the bridesmaid dresses and Jack was dressed in a baby tux. They all looked adorable.
Jake smiled as he caught sight of his children, they never ceased to amaze him. They were their mother to the core, and even at a little over a year -old, captured the attention of the entire church.
After they had made their way to the front, the wedding march began, and all eyes turned to see the beautiful bride on her big day.
Brooke heard the music, and stood frozen in the back of the church, her feet wouldn't move, and she suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe. This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, and she felt like the walls were closing in on her.
"Ready to go, darlin'?" she heard Whitey whisper beside her, and she swallowed the lump in her throat and slowly made her way down the isle. All eyes were fixated on her as she made her way to the front, especially those of the two men whose hearts she had stolen. She looked beautiful in her white strapless Vera Wang gown. She had her hair pulled up into loose curls, and a small tiara adorned the top of her head. She felt her nerves began to calm as she took step after step, but then she caught his eye, and both their minds flashed back to the previous night.
Lucas had returned to his mother's house, his home for the last five months, after a long talk with Nathan and Haley. He wanted to tell Brooke how he still felt about her, that he still loved her, but they wouldn't let him do anything of the sort.
He had just grabbed a beer, when he heard a familiar knock at the door of his room. When he opened the door, a crying Brooke Davis rushed her way inside.
Without a greeting of any kind, she flung herself down on the bed and clutched one of his pillows tight, sobbing all the while.
"Brooke, what's wrong ?"
"Am I making a mistake?" she tearfully asked him.
Without a moment's hesitation he answered, "yes."
"What!" she screamed upon hearing the word come out of his mouth.
"Yes, you're making a mistake. You know it and I know it, Brooke. You still love me, just like I still love you."
"But I love him and I have children with him. Why would you tell me that? I can't still love you."
"But you do, don't you?"
"Yes. No. No… This was a mistake," she said as she headed for the door.
"The only mistake you'll be making is if you walk down that isle."
"No, no, how dare you tell me that, how dare you do this the night before my wedding," she cried.
"You're the one that came to me Brooke, you wouldn't be here if you didn't know that this marriage was doomed."
"But I love him, I do….I…"
But the statement died on her lips as he pressed her up against the wall. He had already lost her once, and he had nothing more to lose by telling her how he felt, maybe she would change her mind after all.
Brooke blocked out all the red flags that were going off in her head, allowing herself to feel nothing but joy at the taste of his kiss. She knew what they were doing was wrong, what was at stake, but she couldn't pull away.
They tumbled backwards onto the bed, a tangle of limbs, as they battled to taste as much of each other as possible. He pulled away from devouring her mouth, and slowly unzipped the blue hoodie that she wore. He threw it to the side and quickly unclasped her red lace bra. Bringing his mouth down to her left breast, he gently sucked it while his free hand massaged her right one. Hearing her gasp in pleasure, he applied more pressure, and smiled against her skin as she dug her nails into his back.
He had missed her touch for so long, and he was going to do everything in his power to fling her over the edge repeatedly.
Spurred on by her moans of delight, he moved slowly down her body, leaving hot, wet kisses in his wake. As he reached the top of her sweatpants, he yanked them off, taking her lace panties down with them. She lay before him completely nude, and he was loving every second of it.
He gently caressed the top of her thigh, teasing her by avoiding the spot that he knew she wanted him in the most. He crawled down the edge of the bed, pulling her body down towards him, getting the best angle to drive her wild. Dipping his head between her thighs, he ran his tongue over her center, sucking and blowing gently, loving the feelings he was getting as she tugged at his hair and wrestled beneath him.
He knew she was hot and wet, and the way her body was responding to his touch, he knew that she had missed him. He slowly let his tongue enter her center, and heard her gasp and quiver as she careened over the edge for the first time that night.
"Tell me now that you don't love me, that you didn't miss me," he taunted, as he started to massage her with his fingers, not even allowing her to come down fully before he was making her writhe again.
Lucas leaned down, and let his tongue find her center once again, pleasuring her to the point where she was literally begging him for more.
"Tell me that he gets to you like I do," he gritted out in between thrusts of his tongue.
"Tell me that he makes you moan in pleasure and scream out like I do," he continued taunting, slipping two fingers inside her again, placing them where his tongue had previously sucked.
She was writhing beneath him, and he knew that only his touch could make her lose control, he knew that only he knew how to bring her to the point where she completely lost it. They fit together perfectly, melded together completely, and quenched each other's hunger thoroughly.
"Tell me that you don't think of how good it was between us every time you fuck him. If you can tell me that, I'll shut my mouth tomorrow and let you walk down the isle." He quit talking and pumped his fingers into her harder, making her grip the sheets, her breath coming out in labored spurts.
"No one is as good as you," she breathed out and his ministrations sent her flying over the edge again, her body furiously quaking beneath him.
After she calmed down from the powerful orgasm that shot through her body, he crawled back up to kiss her -hard. She flipped them over so that she was straddling him, and smiled before crawling down his body. He was already rid of his shirt, and she pulled off his basketball shorts and boxers. He was hard, and she wasn't the least bit surprised. She swirled her tongue slowly over his tip, before she took him in all the way, teasing him in the special way that only she had mastered. She knew she was getting him close, and she took him in even further, determined to make him lose control just as he had her. She felt him tense and knew he was close, but he yanked her head away before she got to taste him.
"I want to be inside you," he growled as he pulled her up to him, entering her quickly, flipping them so he was once again in control. They went at it hard and fast, putting everything bit of passion they had into making the other lose it. Stroke for stroke they grinded against each other, years of practice and knowledge coming back to them as they hurdled into oblivion.
Simultaneously they released, and Lucas collapsed against Brooke's flushed, sweaty skin, exhausted but sated in every way possible. Feeling confident that she was his again, he murmured, "I love you," before he drifted off to sleep beside her.
Brooke cried silent tears as realization of what she had done hit her like a ton of bricks. Those few moments in his arms, in their own little world, were the happiest she had in a long time. But, as she stared at the ring that she hadn't bothered to slip off her finger, she knew she had to marry Jake.
Jake loved her, she loved him, and most of all, he loved their family. The two babies that they had brought into the world deserved more than she could ever give them, and she owed it to them to be a better mother than her own. Plus Jake offered her stability, he needed her, and in her own way she needed him too. She had made a promise, and even though her promise was shot to hell now, she was going to stand there and marry him, it was the least she owed the man that had given her more love than she deserved.
Whitey halted when he felt Brooke stiffen besides him. "You okay, honey?" he asked as he slowed their pace.
"I'm fine," she said as she swallowed the lump in her throat. She caught site of her babies, and somehow they gave her the strength to continue up the isle.
She shot Jake a tearful smile as she reached him, and he mistook her tears as those of happiness, not trepidation.
Brooke stared straight ahead, refusing to look at Lucas for fear that the truth of what happened between them would be written on his face.
The ceremony passed by in a flash, and Brooke was brought out of her haze by the minister asking, "does anyone here show just cause why this couple should not be wed? Speak now or forever hold your peace."
Lucas opened his mouth to say something, but was quickly silenced by one look from Haley. Brooke had chosen Jake over him, and he loved her enough to let her make her own mistakes.
Brooke looked at Lucas at that moment, half-scared, half-hoping that he would spill their secret, but he cast his eyes downward and remained calm and quiet.
The minister proceeded on with the ceremony, and soon they were at the exchanging of the rings and the "I do's."
As the minister asked Brooke the question, she hesitated slightly, and began to cry before in one shaky breath, she answered, "I do."
Jake squeezed her hand, and smiled at her with all the love in the world as he answered, completely obliviously that the woman he loved was still in love with the man beside him.
They kissed to seal the deal, and as the minister pronounced them husband and wife, Lucas felt his heart shatter on the floor.
They were now Mr. and Mrs. Jagielski, and Lucas couldn't help but resent Jake even more.
-------
Two hours later, and the reception was in full swing. The wedding party, who had at one time had the most indestructible bond, sat among each other full of deceits and lies.
Lucas was nursing a scotch on the rocks, and was well on his way to being completely drunk. Nathan was watching his brother, and making sure that Lucas didn't do anything stupid or Lucas-like.
Jake and Brooke were off in there own little world, and while Jake looked happy as could be, Brooke looked as though her dog had died. That was definitely not how a bride should look on her wedding day.
Haley's attention was now on to her other best friend, slowly catching on to Nathan's suspicions that there was something going on with Peyton. She saw the blonde head toward the ladies room, and after waiting just a moment, followed her to see if she could figure out what was up.
As Haley quietly slipped into the ladies room, she froze at the sight before her. There was Peyton drawing a line in the bathroom.
"What the hell are you doing?" Haley screamed as she startled the blonde.
"Don't worry about it Haley, go back to your perfect husband and perfect life, " Peyton slurred as she went back to trying to snort her drugs.
"No, Peyton, I'm worried about you and this crap has got to stop," Haley screamed as she got rid of the drugs.
"I can't Haley. I'm not strong enough," Peyton said as she broke down in tears.
Haley grabbed her sobbing friend, and held her as they both sunk to the ground. "Yes, you are sweetie, you can do it, you are strong enough to quit this."
"Mark left me," Peyton admitted tearfully, "and I don't know what to do."
"Oh sweetie, we'll figure it out. You can move back here, back to the states, you still have your dad's house right?"
Peyton nodded, and sunk into Haley's embrace. "It will be okay Peyton, We'll help you every step of the way, but first you have to get rid of the drugs."
Peyton didn't say anything else, she just rifled through her clutch and handed Haley a small vial. Haley removed herself from Peyton's embrace and slowly emptied out the contents and flushed them down the toilet.
"Thank you," Peyton whispered as she felt like maybe it would all get better.
While Haley was in the bathroom, Nathan was sitting back watching all the rest of the people at the reception, smiling at his dad as Dan danced with Lynn on his feet. He heard a ringing noise coming from Haley's purse, and reached over and grabbed her cell phone, answering it without checking the number.
"Hello, may I speak to Haley James please?" the voice asked.
"Its Haley Scott," Nathan emphasized the last name, "who can I ask is calling?"
"This is Joey D. I need to finalize Miss James' tour dates with Mr. Keller, please have her call me when she returns."
Nathan stared blankly at the phone as he heard the dial tone on the other line. Chris Keller? Tours dates? What the hell was this, and more importantly, what was Haley hiding from him now?
He didn't have time to react to the news or figure out was going on before he caught sight of Brooke arguing heatedly with Lucas. Nathan knew his brother was intoxicated, and that he wasn't handling Brooke's marriage to Jake all that well.
Jake approached the fighting pair right at the same time as Nathan made his way through the crowd and over to his brother, and both men heard parts of the heated conversation.
"Lucas, your drunk," she screamed, "please don't do this now."
"Do what now, Brooke?" he slurred. "What am I doing?" he repeated as he gabbed her arm and got closer to her, the effects of the alcohol clouding his judgment greatly.
"Don't touch me Lucas, just go home, sleep it off," she hissed as she wrenched her arm out of his grasp.
"What, you don't want me to touch you now? You didn't have problem with me touching you last night," he replied sinisterly, almost like he knew that he was ruining everything.
"Brooke, what is he talking about?" Jake asked as he put a protective arm around his new wife. "Lucas, what the hell are you talking about?"
"Tell him Brooke, what am I talking about?" he sneered.
Brooke looked like she had literally been punched in the gut as her whole world began to crumble around her. She looked into Jake's trusting eyes and completely lost it.
"I slept with Lucas last night," she whispered as she stared at the ground, wishing it would swallow her whole.
She felt like she was being struck in the heart with a knife as she saw the look of hurt and disgust flash over Jake's face as he turned away from her.
He took one step forward and complete anger and hatred shining in his eyes as he took one look at his now former-best friend. He punched him with all of his might, sending Lucas to the floor, before walking wordlessly out of the reception.
Once he reached the confines of his car, he put his head in his hands, and let one tear run down his cheek. What should have been the happiest day of his life, had ended in complete shambles.
And, that was how Tree Hill's wedding of the year concluded - with the bride in tears and the best man knocked out cold on the floor.