Hey there everyone! Sorry that it's been so long since the last update but here you go! This was written by Elena (typokween) who we all know is a great writer and she did wonderful things with this chapter!
Ch 12: (2017)
Dead on Arrival
With a casual flick of a thumb her lighter ignited, its flame dancing before her very eyes as she brought it to her pursed lips. Peyton Sawyer lit another cigarette and greedily inhaled its toxins like a lifeline. Staring at her latest creation in front of her she felt a surge of rage and disappointment overcome her. Growling in frustration she grabbed a nearby cup of black paint and threw it at the easel full of resentment. Ruined. She kicked the stand and stood back to watch her art fall to the floor in distaste. Nothing inspired her anymore. Nothing mattered. She sucked back another long drag from her cigarette before smashing it into the windowsill beside her.
A slight humid breeze from outside blew across her pale face and suddenly Peyton was struck with an idea. Hands grabbing at the window frame she hoisted herself up and out the window and onto the fire escape. Arizona desert surrounded her; dry and empty... like her. She screamed out suddenly, shouting until it turned into loud gut wrenching sobs. No one would hear her scream, she was miles from her neighbors and she liked it that way.
Inside her phone began to ring and like always she ignored it. She knew all the conversations by heart now. If it was Haley she'd hear updates on Nathan's condition since the stroke. How the tumor was not completely gone and his physical therapy was improving so that he now walked with only a slight limp. She'd ask Peyton to come visit, tell her how big Brennan was getting and how Lynn was excelling in her ballet class.
If it was Brooke she'd hear the same and then have to lie and pretend everything was fine. She'd also fail miserably which was primarily why she now screened her phone calls. Brooke knew her inside and out and as much as Peyton would like to say that Brooke had too much going on in her own life to care about her, it was a lie. Brooke called everyday and everyday she asked how Peyton was and every time Peyton would say she was fine… Brooke would see right through her. "No. You're not fine Peyton, if you were fine you would answer my calls. You would visit more…" Brooke would snap clearly upset. It was at that point of their conversation where Peyton would end their little tête-à-tête, feigning exhaustion and promising a follow up phone call the next day. A call she would never make.
Lucas and Nathan never called. Ever. Lucas was too busy being tied around Brooke's little finger, and Nathan? He was too busy sitting on his ass feeling sorry for himself.
And as for Jake? Well, he never called anymore. She didn't blame him. Things hadn't been the same since she'd lost her son. She wasn't the same. Besides, Jake was busy playing house with his Teacher girlfriend. She snorted and crossed her arms across her chest, staring out at the open desert. He had more important things to worry about anyhow, like Jenny. God, she needed another cigarette.
"You've reached Peyton Sawyer. I'm not answering and if you leave a message I won't call you back so lets all save some time and hang up… BEEP!"
"Peyton, this is my fifth message. You have a new buyer, he's prepared to offer you a shit load of money you don't deserve but there's a catch…" Her agent paused to take a deep breath, "He wants to take you out to dinner… Call me back. I mean it Sawyer, call me back or so help me I'll drive all the way out there and drag you kicking and screaming." Click.
She sighed and climbed back inside through her studio window. This was her routine. She would hole herself up in her isolated condo in Payson (a little joke played on her by her agent), Arizona for weeks until her art manager finally got on her case enough to make her leave. She'd then fly to New York and smile pretty for the rich buyers who paid ungodly amounts of money for her paintings, drawings, creations… art. She half assed everything she made and yet they still sold like hotcakes. Her agent couldn't understand.
"Shit." She cursed upon opening an empty pack of cigarettes. She was out. She'd have to buy more. Which meant she'd have to leave the house. Shit. The phone started to ring again, frightening her to no end. Shocked out of her daze she didn't think before picking up on the third ring instinctively, "Yeah?" She snapped irritated.
"And hello to you too sunshine." Her agent, Garrett Kristov, scoffed humorously, "Glad to see you're up and around. It's time Peyton got out of Payson! You have another art show in three days so I've booked you a flight on the redeye—"
"No." Peyton growled as she snatched up her purse and stalked into the nearest bathroom where she than began to dig through her bag adamantly.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." Garrett snorted, "So anyways, get your ass to gate 11 by 4 am. Do it or I swear on my life Peyton I'll drop you like a bad habit. I'm sick of your games and I'll rip your contract in half without thinking twice." He growled angry, "You're so talented and so beautiful, but your attitude sucks."
She found it, "Yeah well you're the one who begged me to sign that damn contract. I could give two shits Gar." She said untwisting the small vial in her hands to dump the small powder into the spot between her thumb and forefinger. "Just a sec," She said setting the phone aside to inhale the angel dust through her right nostril. She repeated this process once more then sighed in a dream state, "That's better." She said to herself sniffing her nasal passages clear.
"And another thing, get your habit under control Sawyer." Garrett hissed, "Last month's little overdose scare was not amusing. I had to make several calls to clean up the mess you made and to clear your name."
"Do you want a thank you?" Peyton snorted, a small giggle escaping past her lips.
"I mean it Peyton. Be on that damn plane." Garrett barked before disconnecting the call.
Peyton fell backwards onto the small love seat in the center of the room and closed her eyes. Life was so much more bearable when you were numb.
---x---
"Jenny, babe will you please come and sit down at the dinner table?" Jake shouted in his most pleasant voice.
"Bite me!" The adolescent blondie with dark charcoal lined eyes snapped from inside her room. "I'm not leaving this room until she's gone!" She yelled out referring to Livvie, the beautifully elegant blonde beside him.
"I'm sorry," Jake said placing his hand over hers, "I'll be right back."
"Take your time Jake, I understand her need for her father's attention. Maybe I should just..." She reached for her purse by the door.
"No!" Jake raced across the room to stop her, "Liv, don't. Please stay?" He touched her cheek gently and placed a small, delicate kiss on her plump soft lips.
She rolled her eyes with a blushing smile, "Well when you put it that way." She laughed and moved to sit on the couch.
Jake smiled back at her and walked towards the hall a few feet before stopping to turn back around, "Hey, Liv?" He said glancing at her sitting on his couch with all the patience in the world.
"Yeah?" She said looking back at him curiously, one hand poised to change the channel with the remote, the other curled into a fist under her chin.
He smiled again, "I love you."
She winked back at him with just as much admiration in her eyes as his, "I love you too." She grinned and turned back to the television.
Jake sighed and prepared himself for World War III as he walked to Jenny's room. His face falling into a grimace as he heard the loud angry Rock lyrics blasting through Jenny's stereo. She was so angry, all the time. Jake couldn't help but feel responsible. Maybe if he hadn't given up the search for her when Nikki first took off there could have been a chance for him to be in her life when it mattered most. Was late really better than never? Opening her door he found his little Jenny sprawled out across her bed in skin tight low riding jeans and a barely there halter top. Cell phone glued to her ear she ignored his presence in her room and continued to chat with her friend as if he were invisible. Was this really his Jenny? Was this the little girl he had once rocked every night and sang sweet lullabies?
"What do you want?" Jenny snapped without looking in his direction.
"Get off the phone Jenny." He snapped back just as spiteful.
He watched her roll her eyes before whispering something rude into her phone and snapping it shut, "What. Do you want?" She growled sitting up in a whirlwind of bleach blonde hair and black streaks. Flipping her extra long locks over a shoulder carelessly she gave him a droll look, "What are you staring at?"
"Aww isn't this a tender moment?" The cocky voice behind Jake sent chills up his spine instantly; he didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Based only on the look of shock on Brooke's face, he knew. "Are you two planning on having another kid?" She scoffed icily.
"Nikki," Jake turned slowly, not quite sure he wanted to face reality just yet. But it wasn't Nikki he saw when he finally worked up the nerve to turn around. His attention shifted elsewhere. Eyes lingering on the one who got away. She wasn't a little girl anymore. "Jenny." He whispered.
Nikki placed a claw-like hand over her daughters shoulder in a show of ownership, "Surprised?" She smirked evilly.
20 minutes later he was seated across from her at a table in an old diner. Hatred and shock pulsing through his veins and threatening to explode his heart. Beside him sat Brooke, her hand in his for support. Just seeing Nikki sitting there with a smug look on her face was enough to send him into a blind rage. He squeezed his hand over Brookes from under the table harder, her engagement ring digging into his palm. His eyes then darted across the diner in search of Jenny who was busy playing a round of Pinball not six feet away. In the short amount of time since he'd seen her he had found himself constantly checking to see if she was really there.
"I have a proposition for you..." Nikki started.
"Wait a second, isn't your pimp supposed to be the one setting up your appointments? Or have you gone solo in your busy career of being a slut?" Brooke snapped angry, her eyes staring daggers at Nikki.
Nikki laughed, "Nice," She nodded greatly amused, "But why don't you go sit this one out and leave the grown ups to discuss things for once?" She tossed a few quarters onto the table, "Go play some video games or something." She teased.
"Brooke, no!" Jake jumped up to pull the seething brunette back down with great force. "She's not worth it." He said to her.
"Oh, but this is." Nikki grinned.
"What are you staring at?" Jenny's annoyed tone broke Jake out of his daze. "Take a damn picture why don't you? Get out of my room Jake." She flopped back down to her bed in a pout.
It was difficult times such as these where Jake wondered just what kind of environment Nikki had raised his daughter in. She was rude, she was defiant and she never once called him dad. But he had to agree to Nikki's terms, it was the only way to ensure Jenny's safety and give him a chance to play daddy again.
The only catch was the deep betrayal he had bestowed upon one of his very best friends. Someone to whom he owed his life...
"No freaking way." Brooke's mouth fell open in shock, "Jake, tell me you're not considering this." She scoffed, "This is insane! She can't do that."
"Those are my conditions." Nikki said crossing her arms and leaning back into her chair.
Jake shook his head incredulously and asked Brooke to check on Jenny. "You're kidding." Brooke snapped upset, wanting nothing more than to smack the smug look from Nikki's well defined face. He asked her again with a pleading look in his eyes and turned to Nikki when Brooke was out of earshot. "The truth Nikki… Give it."
He sighed and witnessed as Nikki deflated before his very eyes. A frightened look twisting her face and a nervous twitch to her lips. "I need money." Her eyes darted towards Jenny. "And I need it before the end of the week. I'm in trouble Jake, and if they don't get their money they'll do something to Jenny."
"Whoa—wait—what?" Jake stood up so quickly his chair scrapped against the tile and fell backwards with a loud bang. He shook his head at Brooke when she gave him a worried glance and pulled his chair upright to sit back down. "What did you do?" He demanded, "And how the hell is Jenny involved."
Shoulders tensing Nikki's jaw tightened, "We ran scams. Jenny and I, and well… This last one didn't work out too well." She shrugged nonchalant, her cool and calm exterior pulling back up into place.
Jake's head drooped as he began to snicker, "You ran scams with our daughter... I can't believe you." He shook his head and glanced up at her, "How long?" He asked, not wanting the answer.
"Not that long—"
"How long Nikki!" Jake shouted full up built up frustration.
"Since I left Tree Hill with her..." Nikki admitted shamefully.
His face drained of all color, "You... Bitch." He whispered unable to grasp the concept of a mother using her child as bait. He knew he hadn't been fooling himself when he assumed Nikki had no heart.
From across the table Nikki simply licked her lips and glanced around the room nervously, again. As if searching for something, or someone. He'd noticed since they first sat down, her constant room surveillances. She was worried, everything about her was tense and seemingly ready for anything. It frightened Jake down to his very core. "Look Jake, I fucked up. I need 15,000 dollars by the end of the week or he's going to hurt Jenny..." Her eyes clenched shut as she swallowed the lump in her throat.
He couldn't believe her, she had taken so much from him, and now she wanted more. "What was the scam."
This time she answered without protest, too tired to deny her mistakes any longer. "For the past 10 years I've been researching rich cheating husbands and using Jenny to make money off of them. I call and convince them to meet me in a public place, then I'll bring out Jenny and say she's their daughter. Then I black mail them for hush money." She sighed.
"And if they want a paternity test?" Jake questioned.
"I start to get loud until the guy starts to panic and throws money at me to shut up before someone overhears us." She shrugged, "I used Photoshop for when they got persistent about the paternity tests... But this last one..." She paused and looked back at Jenny, "He hired a private detective, and found out the truth. I swear I didn't know how he made his money. All I knew was that I saw a man having a good time at a club and that he had a wedding ring. I asked a couple questions, found out he made big bucks and was married... I swear I didn't know Jake, I would never have done the scam if I knew it would put Jenny in and kind of danger." She started to cry then, angering Jake further.
"What did you do." He said without any sympathy for the tearful woman across the table.
"I scammed a man who makes Tony Soprano look like Mr. Brady." She whispered and her eyes scanned the room once again.
His fists clenched, "You scammed a mobster for 15 thousand dollars Nikki! A mobster!" He shouted at her without thinking first, "God damn you Nikki!"
"No, I scammed him for ten, he wants an extra five thou just because." She ran a hand through her hair. "So are you gonna do this or not? 15 grand for Jenny. I can't be seen with her, he's everywhere Jake. Its not safe for her to be with me." She hugged herself, looking small and unsure for once in her life.
"I can't." He said bluntly, "I can barely afford to pay my damn child support for the twins." He stated truthfully, "You really know when to come into my life and fuck everything up, don't you Nikki?" he scoffed. His eyes glued to Jenny, his heart clenching. "If I could..."
"I'll do it." Brooke's confident voice had them both sputtering to their right.
"What? No." Jake grimaced. "Brooke—"
Nikki scowled, "You would do that? ...for me?" She shook her head in disbelief.
Brooke sneered her way, "No. Not for you. I could careless if Mr. Mob Boss stuck bamboo sticks up your ass and had you swimming with the fishes two seconds from now." She paused to set a supportive hand on Jakes shoulder, "I'm doing it for Jake. For Jenny. Not you."
"Brooke. No." Jake's tone was final. Brooke sighed and sat down beside Jake again, "Wait," Jake spoke suddenly after a long period of silence, "I know where I can get your money." He whispered, his eyes darting to Brooke, "You can't say anything." He said turning to Brooke who immediately agreed without knowing what she was saying yes to.
"Where?" Nikki asked skeptical.
"I've been running Nathan's Chicago branch for a little while now," Jake started.
Brooke gasped, "Oh my god. Don't even think it Jake Edward Jagielski!" Brooke slammed her palm down onto the table, "Especially after what's just happened to him! The man is in a coma for gods sake!" She shouted heatedly.
"I know!" Jake argued, "But it's Jenny, Brooke. I'm going to pay back every cent. I promise." His eyes begged for her silence. "Please, I have to do this."
She gulped down the rest of her protests, ignored the sirens of danger that went off in her head like fire alarms and sat back in her chair quietly. "I hope you know what you're doing Jake. You're not the only one involved in this anymore. Just by sitting here I'm just as much to blame as you." She wiped the single tear that had slipped past her defenses and slapped his hand away when he reached out to reassure her. How would she ever be able to face Haley knowing what she knew?
"It's fine. I'm going to pay him back. No one will find out, I swear it." He rubbed his hands over his face exhausted and shameful, "Alright. I'll get your money. What now?" He asked the devil in Prada two feet away from him.
A tear trailed down Nikki's dark rimmed eyes as she nodded and thought about how scorching it was going to be in Hell, "I want to say goodbye to my daughter before we do this..." She said.
"Hello? Earth to Jake Jagielski! Hellloooo! Come in Jake!" Jenny stood before him waving her hands about dramatically. She snapped her fingers in his face and laughed when he flinched, "You're so weird."
"Jenny, why do you hate Livvie so much?" Jake shook his thoughts clear. "She's been nothing but nice to you. She takes you shopping, she takes you places when you need a ride... Why are you so horrible to her?"
She shrugged and sat on the edge of her bed, "Because..." She popped a piece of bubble gum into her mouth and stared back at him. He motioned for her to continue and she rolled her beautiful deep blue eyes, "Ugh. I just don't alright? God what's with all the third degree?" She scowled.
In truth Jenny knew exactly why she despised Livvie Reynolds. Jake was the only father Jenny Jagielski had ever known. Even if she didn't quite remember the days when he had apparently written her songs and sang her to sleep. His sweet words and the low strum of his fingers on a guitar sending her off to slumber each night as a baby. What Jenny would give to remember those days was priceless. She wanted so badly to fall back into that father-daughter pattern they has once had. She prayed for it every night and with Livvie always in the picture hogging him up, there was hardly enough time for just Jenny and Jake.
So yes, Jenny hated Livvie. It was plain and simple. Jenny did not want to share Jake. At all. Not with Livvie, not with Brooke and most certainly not with her two half-siblings. Emma was a prissy tomboy and Jonathan was clearly on his way to becoming a jock. Jake praised them both for their great academic & athletic achievements all the time. Jenny had nothing on them, and she hated that.
"There is no third degree, I just would like to know." Jake crossed and re-crossed his arms over his chest. "This conversation is ridiculous anyways. Jen, I know you don't want to hear this but I love—"
"Shut up!" Jenny's hands quickly flew up to cover her multiple pierced ears, "Stop talking! Shut up!" She screamed.
"Jenny, stop it!" Jake warned, "Knock it off Jenny, I mean it!" He snapped jerking her hands away from her ears, "You're almost 13 years old. You need to start growing up little girl!" He shouted at her angry.
"I hate you!" She shrieked running for the door only to be blocked by Jake's arm, "Move out of my way! You're not even my real dad!" She cried, tears flowing down her scarlet cheeks with black mascara streaks ruining her perfect complexion. Her last statement hit where it hurt, stinging his heart. Receiving her desired effect, Jenny sucked in her sobs and stood taller, "Move." She demanded.
Jake blinked back at her, surprised at how quickly she had pulled her self together from a sniveling child to a defiant teenager. She reminded him so much of Nikki just then. "No." He said to her, his inner father coming out, "You come and eat dinner with me and Livvie or your grounded."
Jenny's mouth fell open in shock, "You're kidding me." She scoffed.
His head moving side to side, Jake crossed his arms again and put his damn foot down for once since bringing Jenny home. "These little tantrums of yours have to stop. I love Liv and you're just going to have to deal with it."
"Oh, I see." Jenny's head bobbed up and down in understanding, "Alright then. When you put things in perspective like that." She shrugged, "I guess I'm just going to have to..." Jake's breath caught as he waited for her to cave and have dinner with him and Liv for once. "...stay in here and be grounded." The side of her mouth quirked as she held out her cell to him, "Bye now." She bent a finger at him in goodbye and flopped down onto her bed grabbing a school textbook, "I have a killer math test on Monday. So if you don't mind could you please shut the door on your way out?" She asked innocently.
Jake slammed the door shut so tight every picture, mirror and wall decoration in the house shook on its hooks.
---x---
Lucas grunted as yet another softball caught him in his groin and soon he was slumped down in the grass in pain, "Okay... break time everyone!" He managed to choke out before his face turned beat red and the pain shot up to his stomach. "Oh... God." He buried his face into the grass.
How the hell had he been convinced to willingly volunteer to coach a girls peewee softball team? "Sorry Luke!" Emma called out as she ran into the stands to chat with her cousin Lynn.
Laughing the whole way over as she carried her year old son in her arms, Haley handed her brother-in-law an ice pack. "I told you to wear a cup." She teased, "Lynn's ballet class starts in 20 minutes so I gotta head out." She hoisted Brennan further up on her hip and held her free hand out for Lucas.
"Thanks," Lucas grimaced and half-allowed Haley to help up to his feet. Limping over towards the bleachers he sat down slowly and wondered why Emma couldn't just play basketball like her brother Jonathan. "Okay guys lets hustle up!" He clapped his hands together fully prepared to end practice for the day. His dignity as a man depended on it.
Looking down at him Haley was suddenly struck with an odd feeling of jealousy towards Brooke. She longed for Nathan to just show some interest in their lives. Even if it meant agreeing to sit down at the dinner table as a family one night a week. Instead, Nathan sat on the couch, a beer in one hand and the remote in the other while Haley, Lynn and Brennan sat in the dinning room exchanging artificial pleasantries.
Haley was glad that Brennan was too small to feel the pain of being neglected by his father. Yet her stomach still twisted every time she witnessed the look of disappointment cross her daughters face each time she removed the fourth place setting from the dinner table. Yes, Brooke was lucky to have Lucas. Lucas cared, he coached a softball team for sake of a child that wasn't even biologically his own. Not that blood ties mattered of course, she was just bitter and tired of being the mother and the father of the James-Scott household for the past year.
"Great pitching arm kiddo," Haley overheard Lucas praise his fiancée's daughter, "Maybe later at home we'll work on your follow through, huh? You know, so next time I don't have to go home limping?" He teased, his blue eyes filled with love and adoration as he pressed his lips to Emma's forehead. Yes, Haley was jealous. But after all Brooke and Lucas had been through she was also very glad to see them finally taking the big step together.
As if on cue, Haley's cell began to ring and the sound of a frantic Brooke Davis on the other end stopped her cold. "What do you mean they lost your dress? Brooke! You're getting married in three days!" She cried into the phone prior to moving out of Luke's earshot.
"You think I don't know that!" Brooke sobbed into her cell phone from the inside of her car outside the boutique, "I need you Hales. I'm freaking out and I need my maid of honor to come and fix this!" She cried.
Taking a deep breath Haley struggled to find control over the situation, "Okay, alright. This is what we're gonna do. I'm gonna drop Lynn off at her Ballet class and have Lucas pick her up afterwards. I'll have Luke watch Brennan while we figure things out. Stay where you are—no wait. Go to my house, it's closer. I'll meet you there in 20 minutes." She promised, "Just… calm down."
Brooke sniffed back tears. "Okay. God this wedding is turning into a disaster! First my caterer tells me the shrimp is bad then my flower guy leaves the refrigerator open and all my flowers dry up into nothing, now this!" She ticked off her disasters one by one. "Maybe this wedding just isn't meant to be—"
"Brooke," Haley interrupted, "Stop being... Brooke."
"Okay. You be Brooke. I'll be the cool, calm and collected Haley James-Scott." She snapped back.
"I'll be there in a little bit. Just do what I said and go to my house." Haley laughed, "Byeee." She hung up and turned to Lucas, "Change of plans blue balls..." She teased.
---x---
Breathe in... Breathe out... In... and back out... This was the calming mantra Brooke Davis—soon to be Scott, repeated in her mind over and over again. Sitting beside Nathan Scott who hadn't moved in the last 10 minutes straight Brooke began to wonder who had more problems. Him or her.
"You know the TV's off... You know that. Right?" She asked him after 12 minutes of silence. He nodded his head continually staring at the blank screen "Ugh. I don't know how Haley puts up with you sometimes." She groaned and collapsed across his lap to rest her cheek on his knee.
"Neither do I." Nathan muttered bitterly as his hand instinctively brushed the hair from her face.
Twisting around to face the ceiling she glanced up at him curiously, "Why do you say that?"
He could think of a dozen reasons why. Reasons that kept him up late at night wondering how the hell he had come to be who he was today. He could remember nothing of the three months spent in a coma after his stroke. He blocked out the memories of the months to follow when he awoke and had to practically learn to walk, talk and eat all over again. He was useless to anyone and everyone now. Useless and depressed and those two things were not a good combination. Especially for a Scott.
"Nothing. Never mind." He shook his head and reached for the remote.
"Nope." Brooke quickly intercepted and hid the remote under her butt, "Can't get it now hotshot. You being a married man and all." She winked in a friendly teasing way. He playfully shoved a hand in her face and ruffled her hair. "Uh! Nathan!" She squealed and sat up in a huff, "You ass." She pouted, smoothing her hair.
"Good one." He snorted.
Her brow arched, "I could come up with something better if you'd like."
"Would it make you shut up?" He shot back.
"OoOoh, moody Nathan. Did someone forget to take their happy pills today?" She said immediately regretting it. "I didn't mean—"
"Yeah, you did." He scooted forward on the couch to leave.
"Nathan—wait." She pulled him back down and wrapped her arms around his shoulders to lean her head next to his, "I'm sorry." She whispered, her eyes looking at the blank TV in front of them. Wishing she could take away all the hurt and pain since before and after his recovery. He was miserable, and it was not only affecting himself but all those who loved him as well.
Brooke had begun to notice the steady decline in the interests in his everyday life. It started with him remaining silent and anti-social. Then it progressed to isolating himself from everyone he cared about. Never taking Haley out, never playing with his children and not caring about his business. Now he had finally hit rock bottom by never wanting to leave the house.
With her arms still firmly placed around him Brooke sighed sullen and afraid for one of her very best friends. "I really am sorry Nate. For everything."
He shrugged, "Whatever."
She slowly pulled away and sat back on her knees beside him, "You and Haley okay?" She asked playing with his hair, watching her engagement ring sparkle bright and pretty in the sunlight.
Again he shrugged, "You tell me. You talk to her more than I do."
Hazel eyes rolling, Brooke groaned in frustration from Nathan's constant negativity and smacked him upside his head. "Wake up already!" She growled, "If you don't stop this gloomy, broody version of the Nathan we all know and love you are going to lose Haley!" Arms waving about dramatically Brooke continued on in her rant, "Do you even know where you're children are right now Nate? Do you even care?"
"Don't you dare accuse me of not caring about my kids Brooke. You don't know shit about what I'm going through. So just… Don't. I love them with every fiber of my heart and soul. They are the only thing that gets my sorry ass out of bed everyday." He snapped, jaw tensing and finger pointing.
She nodded in approval, "Good to know there's some of you left in there."
"Bite me." He scowled. "And as for Haley, I'm afraid that ship has sailed. There is no saving this marriage, is there?" he snorted in disgust, his eyes staring back at the blank screen once again.
His last statement had stolen the breath from out her lungs, "Excuse me?" She licked her lips nervously. Haley was due any minute and she needed to find out how Nathan felt before then. "What are you talking about Nat—"
"Don't act like you don't know." He sneered. "You guys are practically attached at the hip. There is no way in hell that you don't know." His eyes bore holes into her face, "Look me in the eye and tell me you have no idea what I am talking about." He challenged her.
Never one to back down Brooke obliged and began to feel her patience level drop like gravity. When all Nathan did was turn away in disbelief Brooke grasped his chin in her hand and whipped his face back around. "What the hell is going on here Nathan." She demanded of him. Her tone so sharp and domineering that Nathan felt he had no other options but to tell her.
"I think Haley is having an affair." He blurted. Spilling a can of worms in the process. "God, I can't believe I'm finally able to admit that out loud." He blinked several times in realization, looking down at his twisting hands in his lap.
Head shaking, anger boiling Brooke jumped up from the couch screaming, "How dare you say that about Haley! All she's ever done is love you unconditionally and all you've ever done in return is shit on her! I'm the one who has to constantly reassure her that you'll come around someday. I'm the one helping Haley out when she needs someone to pick up the kids from school because she's stuck in a meeting at your business. So don't you dare sit there and act like the reason your marriage is failing is because of Haley and this alleged 'affair' that you probably just pulled out your ass!" She snapped infuriated, cheeks reddening.
"Nice speech, you practice that with Haley? You know, for when I finally worked up the nerve to bring the affair out into the open?" Nathan snorted.
The sound of an ear piercing slap echoed off the walls of the house as Brooke's palm connected with Nathan Scotts face. "You bastard. I don't even know why Haley sticks around anymore. You're not even man enough to get your ass out of the house." She shook her head sickened with his behavior.
Fingers lightly touching the sting on his cheek Nathan stood up to face her as well, "Are you mad because you truly believe Haley is innocent? Or are you just pissed off that she hasn't even told you?" Hand quickly darting out to stop her as she attempted to hit him once more he laughed bitterly. "I never took you for the S&M type Davis. You just went up a notch in my book." He smirked, eyes roaming up her body.
"Who are you?" Brooke cried, tears threatening to spill over, "I hope Haley is having an affair. Because being with you is worse than being with Dan." She jerked her hand free from his grasp and snatched her purse up from the coffee table before running for the door, "May god be with you Nathan, because he's the only one you got left now." She said before slamming the door shut behind her, running into Haley in the driveway.
"Hey! Where are you going I thought—are you okay?" Haley glanced at the door to the house and back at her best friend, "Did Nathan say something to you? Its his damn medications, they make him so moody and—"
"Hales, please stop defending him." Brooke whispered, "And no, I'm not upset because of him." She lied, "I'm… I'm just really stressed out over my dress and everything is just falling apart, and I'm late…"
Haley soon had Brooke in her arms and led her away from the house to her car, "Come on, I'm sure there's another wedding dress out there for you. We have two days to find one so hold tight." She winked.
"You're amazing Hales. Thank you." Brooke said setting her hand over Haley's.
"Hey, its my job as maid of honor." Haley smiled back. Backing out of the drive Haley's cell phone had begun to ring.
When Brooke reached to answer she was flung back in her seat from the harsh press of Haley's foot on the break. Hand dashing for her cell she quickly pressed ignore and set it back inside her pocket, away from Brooke's watchful eyes. A strange look covering her once confident face.
Cursing herself for allowing Nathan's accusations to get the best of her, Brooke had no choice but to wonder who the caller was. Why had Haley done so much to hide the caller ID from Brooke? Why had it taken Haley a whole hour and fifteen minutes to make to the house when she had promised to be no longer than a quarter of that time? Why had her hair seemed disheveled when normally Haley always looked so well put together?
Or most importantly, why wasn't Haley wearing her wedding ring?
---x---
"Peyton Sawyer." His voice was like a glass of ice cold water in the face. Peyton found her self spinning around ready to strike. "Oh, is that the kind of greeting you give to all your buyers? Or am I just lucky?" Chris Keller grinned back at the thinning blonde.
"What the he—"
"Uh, uh. I don't think profanity is the best way to say thank you for buying your latest piece of crap." His grin seemed to grow wider the narrower Peyton's eyes got. "What? No kiss? No hug, no thank you Chris Keller oh sexy rock star musician!" He grabbed at his heart and threw his head back in a laugh. "Oh, you're no fun." He sighed pulling out her chair, "Please, sit." The grin was back.
Surprising to them both, she sat without protest. "Why did you request dinner Keller? We don't even like each other." She scowled reaching for the glass of wine in front of her.
"Now you see that's where you're wrong Sawyer. I personally have always had a fondness for you. You look very sexy tonight by the way." His eyes traveled up her body before he himself sat down across from her. "Order whatever you like sweet cheeks, Keller's loaded!"
Peyton remained pleasantly silent until after their orders were taken, where in she allowed her anger to get the best of her. Her hand darting across the table to grab him by the collar, she pulled him half way across the table, "What are you up to Keller? Haley's way beyond your reach now. Brooke's getting married to Lucas in three days and me? I'm still counting the days until you drop dead." She hissed.
"Oh, feisty. Keller like." He chuckled, his hands gently removing her fingers from his shirt, "You need to get laid Sawyer. Let out all that built up frustration." He banged a hand onto the table, emphasizing every syllable. "That's where I come in."
She choked on her wine, spitting it out her mouth and all across the table. "You did not just say that to me with a straight face." She coughed into her hands. "Oh my god you're serious." She began to laugh. Hard.
"I don't see what's so funny. You're an attractive woman and I'm an extremely sexy hot rock star—"
"Keller, your music is considered rock/pop!" She rolled her eyes, "Excuse me, I have to go power my nose." She smirked at the irony of her sentence and stood up. "When I come back you better be gone." She snorted.
"I'll be waiting on pins and needles until you return." He grinned. She wanted to slap it off his face but instead walked away towards the restrooms.
Bursting through the door she quickly basked up against it and sighed. She could not believe that sitting outside that door was Chris freaking Keller. He looked good too. Damn it what the hell was wrong with her? Twisting the lock she glanced under every stall to ensure her privacy before rushing over to the sink and pulling out of her purse her much desired, much needed release.
Unaware of the line that had begun to form outside the door, Peyton leaned back against the giant wall length mirrors. Her skin felt as if it were tingling and her ears were thumping to the beat of her heart. She felt as if she could fly. She could remember a time when she could feel this way without the drugs. Feelings safe, feeling wanted, needed… loved. But she couldn't exactly pinpoint which boy had made her feel such a high.
Lucas? Or Jake?
Either way they had both succumbed to Brooke Davis. What was not to love about the cheerful brunette with the killer dimpled smile? But they had both wanted her first before they wanted Brooke. It was Peyton who they dreamed about growing old with. It was Peyton that they kissed with their eyes closed and smiled when she walked into a room.
When had she lost them? How could she have allowed herself to lose both Lucas and Jake to Brooke? The effects of the drugs filling her mind and whispering thoughts of deception and betrayal Peyton was struck with the need to take back what was rightfully hers.
Shoving the door open and shocking the group of women who had crowed around in wait Peyton pushed past them carelessly. Made her way back to her table, pulled Chris Keller up out of his seat by his collar and pressed her mouth to his hungrily. "If we do this," She said running her tongue along his bottom lips, chuckling to herself when he began to tremble. "You have to pretend to be someone for me." She whispered as she made her way from his mouth to his ear.
He grinned against her lips and pulled her closer to his growing lower half, "Baby, by the time I'm done with you, you won't be thinking of him…" He muttered into her mouth, replacing his words with his tongue.
She shoved him off and straightened her dress, "Do we have a deal?" She spoke somber, her dilated pupils giving away her state of intoxication.
He stuck his hand out in agreement and covered her cold small frail hand with his own strong warm one. "So, who will it be this time?" He pulled her close once again as he began to lead them out the restaurant. "Jake? …or Lucas?" His eyes took on a mischievous twinkle then, "I like playing Lucas." He mumbled before they ducked into the back of his stretch limo.
---x---
Things had started to look up, Brooke had found a dress that looked almost identical to her original design and was on air. It wasn't until Brooke had safely made it home that Haley allowed her self to relax. Lucas had dropped of the kids an hour prior to her return home and they were now sound asleep in their rooms.
The sound of the sports channel playing in the living room told Haley where Nathan was. She sighed and walked upstairs to their room to undress and get ready for bed. She was beyond exhausted. Having been dragged to every dress shop in the entire town of Tree Hill. Pulling her shirt up and over her head it barely hit the bed before the sound of her cell filled the room.
Rushing over to answer before it could wake the kids she flipped the phone open quickly, "Hello?" She muttered into the receiver annoyed that anyone would dare call her this late on her personal line.
"We have a problem." The male voice on the other end breathed.
"Eric?" Haley replied worried, "What is it?"
"I was looking over the numbers for the years annual income and there seems to be a large amount of money missing." He responded, "Hales, I don't know how to tell you this but it looks like someone has been dipping into the companies bank account. It says here a cash withdraw of fifteen thousand dollars was taken a little over 11 months ago." He sighed, sounding just as tired as Haley felt.
"Oh my god." Haley sat down on the edge of the bed in shock, "Who could have…" She stopped mid-sentence unable to fully grasp the idea that someone was stealing from her husbands company.
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news. And… Hey, I know this isn't a good time but I really need to see you." Eric breathed and at that moment Haley could imagine him sliding his glasses down the bridge of his nose to rub his tired eyes. She smiled to herself briefly before shaking her thoughts clear.
"Eric, I don't think that would be very appropriate if I were to meet you for personal reasons." She said fighting to keep herself from giving into him. His advances were perfectly clear, he was interested and he knew how taken she was. Emotionally Haley knew she'd been cheating on Nathan for the past 9 months with Eric. Never able to take that next step by making their relationship physical Haley struggled to convince herself that she technically was not doing anything wrong per say.
Her husband was emotionally closed off while Eric was so… open. Standing tall at a full 6 feet, Eric had a very well kept body that she had on occasion noticed when he lifted heavy boxes. His sandy blonde locks appeared soft and beautiful while his gentle honey brown eyes kept his image wholesome. He reminded her of Matthew McConaughey, and everything about Eric screamed perfection. But she was married, and the feelings that he stirred in her were wrong. She loved Nathan. She just wished she felt he loved her back.
"Hales, please." Eric begged of her, "I can't help the way I feel. I just can't."
Haley cleared her throat softly, "Goodnight Eric." She whispered regrettably and clasped her cell phone shut. Her fingers immediately moving to touch the gold band on her ring finger. Earlier Brooke had asked why she hadn't been wearing it and Haley had blurted out a random lie about washing her hands and forgetting about it. When in truth Haley just couldn't bare to feel its weight on her finger whenever she and Eric were in the same room.
But Haley James-Scott had bigger problems than a failing marriage and a possible affair… Someone was stealing from her company.
Someone who was going to pay dearly for their heartless betrayal.
---x---
"Peyton! Hey!" Lucas smiled happily upon seeing the blonde haired beauty walk through the doors of his favorite restaurant. "When you called and asked me to meet you here I must say I was beyond shocked. It's been almost a year since we last spoke and look at you, you look like a completely different person." He smiled humbly at her new appearance.
Honestly Peyton's new look scared the shit out of him. She looked thin, she looked dead. Her hair was pulled back tightly to her skull and straightened to look sleek, cool and sophisticated. She pulled off the whole starving artist look flawlessly. Her cheeks hollow and her eyes lifeless Lucas almost fell out of his chair in shock when she pulled out a cigarette and lit it up casually.
"Yeah well I feel I need to get something off my chest before its too late." She said blowing the smoke skyward. "Vodka martini, please." She said to the waiter the moment he paused at their table. "Luke?" Her brow quirked interested in his choice of order.
"Umm... w-water please." He stuttered.
She laughed huskily and crossed one leg over the other. Her short black dress with the plunging neckline riding up to show the smooth creamy white skin at her thigh. "So here's the deal. You're going to marry Brooke tomorrow and I think it's very chivalrous of you and all but..." She smashed her smoke out into the ash tray that the waiter had brought over.
"I don't think I understand you right now Peyt." Lucas played with his tie nervously glancing around the restaurant. The first thing Lucas decided he would do when he got home was tell Brooke exactly what was going down at this very instant. It was obvious that Peyton was not eating right and he knew how much it would hurt Brooke to know that her friend was in need of help.
Brooke. Just thinking of her could bring a smile to his face, he couldn't wait to say I do in front of all his family and friends. He just wished that the other two most important people in his life, could look down upon him on that special day and bless his new family. He loved Brooke. He loved Emma, he loved Jonathan. He longed to slide that gold wedding band up Brooke's slim smooth finger.
The waiter had arrived with their drinks and Peyton waited until he was gone before she answered Lucas, "What's not to get? I admire your charity." She leaned back in her chair relaxed and seductive. Lucas had never seen her this way, a small smile played on her lips.
"My charity?" He sputtered, "Peyton, I love Brooke. I've been waiting for this day my entire life—"
"There was once a point in this 'life' you speak of, where I do believe it was me you imagined walking down that isle to you." She spoke leaning forward now, her hands palms down on the table between them, "I'm here to tell you that you don't have to pretend to love Brooke because you want to save her." She shrugged, "Everyone needs a little saving, but who's gonna save you Lucas?"
"Peyton you're not making any sense, and why are your eyes so damn huge?" He questioned her.
She chuckled deep within her throat, remembering the three lines she did before meeting him. "Think about it Lucas. I'm giving you a no strings attached invitation here." She licked her lips, "My cars outside, and I have the presidential suite at the Sheridan hotel."
Lucas could not have been more shocked had Peyton Sawyer spontaneously combusted right there and then. "I… I can't be here." He stood up, chair falling over, "I can't hear this, I don't want to hear this." He shook his head vigorously, "What the hell is wrong with you Peyton?" His eyes looked back at her incredulously.
She shrugged her shoulders carelessly slanting back into her chair, "The offer's still there and will be until you say I do." She grinned wolfishly, "Think about it." She winked. Who the fuck said Brooke had to have her cake and eat it too. She didn't get to have both Jake and Lucas. Not on Peyton's watch. She'd been holed up in her studio for far too long, alone and depressed.
Perhaps it was the drugs, perhaps it was feelings long buried, but Peyton Sawyer vowed to have Lucas Scott on his back by the end of that night… or the next.
---x---
He paced the room back and forth several times in deep thought. Who the hell did she think she was propositioning him like that one day before his wedding to her best friend! He stopped pacing and stood in front of the window of his and Brooke's bedroom. Haley has just pulled up into the driveway, rushing out to keep dry from the rain that had started to fall.
He rushed down the stairs to let her in, "Hey Hales. What brings you—Haley!" Lucas gasped seeing the state she was in. Eyes tearful and puffy, cheeks red and face contorted in pain he pulled Haley inside the house and into the nearest chair.
"Oh Lucas, oh god…" She cried harder into her hands.
"Haley for gods sake what is it?" Lucas kneeled down before her.
Removing her hands from her face she forced herself to look into his eyes, "You have to promise not to tell anyone. Not even Brooke." She whispered.
He nodded, unable to refuse her, "Hales." He brushed the hair from her face, "What's wrong?"
She fought to control her sobs before being able to choke out her answer, "I think I'm having an affair." She blurted.
"You think?" Lucas scoffed, "Haley what did you do?" He murmured, shaking his head sadly. Nathan would be crushed, no matter how far the gap between them had grown Lucas still could not help but care for his younger half-brother.
"I slept with Eric." She choked out, "I promised myself I wouldn't allow things to get physical but then Nathan started screaming at me last night, accusing me of having an affair and the things he said were so horrible!" She cried further, "I swear I just went to talk, to tell Eric that I couldn't be around him anymore. But then one thing led to another and…" She sobbed, leaning into Lucas for comfort, "Oh god Lucas what have I done?"
---x---
"What do you mean you drove her away?" Brooke said, arms crossed on Nathan's couch. "Explain to me in detail what went down, leave nothing out." She snapped.
He sighed and rubbed his hands over his face, "I fucked up okay? I haven't been taking my damn medication lately and its making me so moody and out of it." He admitted to her.
"Were are the kids?" Brooke asked, her first concern for Lynn and Brennan.
"They're at my moms." He exhaled noisily, "I think this is it Brooke, the things I said. I don't even know where that shit came from." He blinked trying to remember what it is he even said, "But I think I actually kicked her out of the house." He muttered.
"Great. I'm getting married tomorrow and you decide to blow up on my maid of honor. That's just great Nathan. I told you Haley wasn't having an affair and—"
"You see that's where you're wrong Brooke. Haley flat out admitted to it seconds before flying out that door." His finger extended to the wooden entry behind the stunned brunette. "She said that I was closed off and worthless, she said that I wasn't the same man she'd married. She said that she was tired of being ignored and that Eric listened to her." He laughed, "Who the fuck is Eric anyways? Huh?" He kicked over the side table beside Brooke, sending her to her feet instantly.
"Whoa, Nate calm down." She backed away for the door, "You're really starting to scare me, okay?" She gulped slowly.
"Scare you?" Nathan advanced towards her like a predator approaching its prey. "I'm scaring you!" He screamed, arms flung out at his sides, "I'm scaring myself here, Brooke. I'm completely and totally worthless to my family. My wife has given up on me, my kids won't come near me. My brother won't speak to me…" He shook his head in amazement. "I'm him. I'm Dan… I'm my father." He stopped his pacing mid-step. "Fuck!" He roared sending another living room décor flying across the room.
Head shaking back and forth Brooke braved one step towards Nathan and paused, "You are not Dan, Nathan." She whispered afraid of his sudden violent behavior. "You just need a little help right now is all." She struggled to keep her tone even and calm. She flinched and retracted her steps back to the front door when Nathan's arm swung out to strike another object in the house.
He stopped before hitting the framed family photo on the piano to his right. Realizing what he'd done and was about to do, he slid down the wall at his back. "I'm just so messed up right now. I hate being like this. Not being able to do anything, having to take seven different pills everyday. One for my blood pressure, one for my muscle pain, one for the radiation used to shrink my damn tumor and three for my depression and anxiety." He shook his head and looked up at Brooke who stood by the door, "I'm sorry I scared you." He muttered, eyes cast down to the floor, "I just can't lose her Brooke, I love her so much." He said on the verge of tears.
"Shit, Nathan." Brooke clenched her eyes shut and crossed the room to pull him into her arms, "Don't worry, I'm here. I'll help you, we'll get Haley back." She promised as she rocked him while he cried. Terrified of what the future held, her hand instinctively slid down to clutch her gradually extending belly.
---x---
"Don't worry Hales, I'm gonna help you. No one will have to know about this. I'll talk to Eric. Hell we'll have him transferred." Lucas snorted.
"I can't look into Nathan's eyes knowing what I did." Haley blubbered, "I can't."
"You will." Lucas held her face in his hands, "It was meaningless, it was a mistake."
"Could you lie to Brookes face?" Haley spat, "Could you live with this meaningless mistake?"
He thought back to Peyton's offer and shook his head, "I honestly don't know." He sighed, "I have to tell you something Haley, since this seems to be our hour of confession." He ran a hand through his hair sourly. "I had lunch with Peyton earlier…" he continued on to tell her about everything that had happened. All the way up to the point where Lucas jumped into his car and peeled out the lot straight home to his beautiful bride-to-be.
---x---
It was supposed to be the best day of her life. It was supposed to be storybook, epic, wonderful… Brooke would have never in her entire life thought she would on her wedding day walk into a room to find her husband and best friend lip locked. Peyton clinging to Lucas like a lifeline and Lucas with guilt and shame written all over his face. This wasn't the way it was supposed to play out.
She should have known it wasn't meant to be. She had seen the signs and she had ignored them. Nothing was storybook about this wedding and the best part was yet to come. She should have known something was up when Lucas paused at the I Do's, his eyes darting to Peyton before settling in on her own. She had ignored it and clenched her jaw tight throughout the rest of the ceremony.
"Do you Lucas Eugene Scott take Brooke Penelope Davis to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold…" His voice trailed on but Lucas could no longer hear his words. His mind kept going back to the sight he had seen just hours before.
Peyton. Drugs. Peyton was doing drugs. Peyton was doing drugs with Brooke & Haley's children in the very next room. How could she be so careless? How could she still proceed to throw herself at Lucas on his wedding day? His eyes darted to her in a rage so great and consuming he had missed his cue to say 'I do'.
"I-I do." He stuttered, wincing inwardly upon realizing he had been caught staring at Peyton. The entire church getting the wrong idea. He saw Brooke's jaw clench in anger and cursed himself for allowing Peyton to get under his skin.
When this was over he would tell Brooke everything. He didn't care if it could possibly ruin their long standing friendship. Brooke had a right to know that Peyton was spiraling out of control. "Brooke, please." He whispered and squeezed her hand after kissing her as his wife.
"Not now." She had growled, a fake plastic smile on her face for the crowd.
"Brooke…" He tried again as they waltzed down the isle of the church on their way to the white horse driven carriage outside.
"I said not now." She hissed digging her fiberglass French tipped nails into his hand. The other waving out to their friends. He saw Brooke's face fall at the sight of Nathan standing alone and to the side, completely isolated from everyone else.
He tried to explain to her on the ride to the reception hall. But he had forgotten just how damn small Tree Hill was and before he knew it, they were there. "Brooke, damn it listen to me for a second!" his hand pulled her back into her seat.
Snatching her arm back her eyes turned cold, "Don't ruin this anymore than you already have Lucas. I said not now." She muttered, determined to make this marriage work. "So I'm going to pretend that you didn't just stumble over your vows all the while drooling over my best friend Peyton! And I'm going to walk into the hall with a damn smile on my damn face and we're gonna sing and laugh and dance and…" She started to hyperventilate then. "Oh my god, I can't breathe." She gasped, "I can't… I can't…"
"Brooke, baby? Brooke, you need to calm down… Calm…" Lucas breathed in deeply in a show of what he expected her to do.
She slapped him across the face, "Don't patronize me you son of a bitch." She panted between gasps of fresh air. "You don't get to patronize me right now." She shoved past him and jumped down off the carriage without help. Hefting her dress up into her hands she walked towards the church elegantly and with her head held high. Without looking back she waited for Lucas to join her so that they would enter looking like the perfect newlywed couple.
"It's not what you think…" Lucas said pushing Peyton off him. "I was looking for you. I found Peyton in here snorting co—"
"I can't believe this." Brooke whispered, her eyes darting between her husband and best friend. If she'd been paying attention she would have seen the vial clasped firmly in Peyton's fist. "I just… I can't." She laughed sadly and back out of the room, "I have to go." She spun around to take off, running into Haley.
"There you guys are! We're about ready to cut the cake—hey… What's going on?" Haley looked from one sad and hurt face to the next, "Luke?" She asked confused, "Brooke?" She brushed the hair from the brides face with concern.
"Why don't you ask them," Brooke pointed bitterly, "Since they just can't seem to make up their damn mind about wanting to be together or not." Her voice cracked and she was gone.
"Brooke? Come on baby, you have to talk to me sometime tonight! It's our wedding day!" Lucas shouted out into the darkness of the room he had seen Brooke enter moments before. Or at least, he had some someone walk inside…
Slowly making his way towards the small light in the room Lucas stooped cold at the scene before him. Peyton's delicate fingers held on to the rolled up fifty dollar bill as she slid it across the small mirror on the table beside her. Her nostrils flaring to consume the magical angel dust at her tips. She sniffed once, twice… three times before looking up into the horrified eyes of Lucas Scott.
"That's twice in one day I caught you sneaking up on me." She smirked, rubbing her nose before dusting off her dress and standing up tall to wobble over to him. "Careful, a girl could get the wrong impression." She circled her arms around his neck and nuzzled her face into his neck to breathe him in, "You smell… safe." She whispered in a daze.
"Peyton, we have to tell Brooke. We're going to get you help." Lucas tensed beneath her hold, as if under the watchful eyes of a poisonous rattle snake.
She laughed then, rubbing the side of her face against his like an affectionate fuzzy feline, "Oh come off it Luke. No one can help me. Hmmm…" She moaned into his ear, "You were always saving me…" Her breath at his ear sending shivers down his spine. She pulled back slightly, her face inches from his.
"Don't." He clenched his eyes shut, "Stop it Peyton." He gently began to push her away. "I'm married. I made my choice a long time ago. I'm in love with Brooke." He reminded her.
"So?" She shrugged and pressed her mouth to his.
"Brooke? Have you been crying? What's going on?" Nathan said hoping up from his seat at one of the many tables in the hall. His attention on her from the moment he witnessed her run out form one of the back room in a frenzy.
"I…I…" She sobbed into a hand and sucked in a deep long breath, "I have to get out of here Nathan. I really just need you to take me away from here right now. Please Nathan, I can't…" She started to cry again.
"Hey, hey…" He held her shaking shoulders in his hands, "What happened?"
"There's no time for that right now okay? I just have to go! Right now!" She cried out and pulled him along on her way out the door.
---x---
Jenny hated weddings. Her mother Nikki had loved them. She would keep Jenny up late into the night just talking about what she imagined her dream wedding to be like. Of course in each delusional scenario Nikki came up with, Jenny was never born yet. 'You would come later bunny. When mommy was ready.' She'd wink and curl her arms around Jenny tighter.
Feeling dizzy and light headed from the three glasses of champagne Jenny had stolen from random guest tables, she somehow managed to make her way outside. The cool night air of Tree Hill touching her face like the soft caress of a mothers hand. Jenny missed Nikki. As much as she liked to pretend that she didn't she thought about her every day.
She even missed the scams. She liked to get pretty things, new clothes, temporary father love. It was like a game, and in that game Jenny was the prize that was both frightening and exhilarating to the winner. She hiccupped and stumbled across the grass and onto the sidewalk. Who would have though just three glasses of the good bubbly could make her feel so alive?
"Hey, bunny…" Nikki's voice whispered from somewhere across the street, "Bun-ny! Come here sweetpea. Mommy misses you. Don't you miss mommy?"
Jenny blinked several times and slapped a hand across her face twice. Whoa. That was freaky. Jenny vowed right then and there to never ever drink again for the rest of her entire life. Emotions were a fickle bunch and she knew the tears would come soon but she didn't anticipate the effects the alcohol would have on her already chaotic feelings. She was sobbing within minutes and cursing her mother for leaving her behind.
"Hey you remember that one day in the park with the big tall trees?" She asked and received a small nod in return, "We stayed all day until night time and watched the stars…" She covered her mouth to suppress an aching cry, "Think of me when you look at the stars, okay?" She wept silently in her hands.
"Don't go, please." Jenny begged.
"Mommy messed up bunny. I'm so sorry. Jake is going to take care of you now, okay? You be a good girl for him?" She kissed Jenny's forehead, "Jake may not be your daddy by blood but…" She paused as Jenny reached out to wipe away a few of her tears, "Thank you baby." Nikki smiled sad, "But Jake is your daddy. No one could ever love you as much as him and no one will ever love you as much as much as me." She kissed the tip of Jenny's nose, "Good bye bunny. I love you."
"You bitch!" Jenny cried out into the open night, "How could you leave me like that? With him?" She screamed upset, "He doesn't love me! You said no one would ever love me as much as him and you lied!" She fell to her knees, dirtying her dress. "You scammed me…" She whimpered.
"Hey, bunny…" The voice sounded again.
She knew she was drunk, she knew she was imagining her mothers voice calling to her from across the street. But those two simple facts did nothing to stop her feet from carrying her across the asphalt towards the wind stirred trees.
"Mom?" She paused mid-way across the street, shaking her head, "This is ridiculous. Jenny, you've lost your god damned mind." She chuckled which turned into a hiccup and then a giggle.
Bright lights blinding her she spun around and held up a hand to her face to block out the blinding brightness. Hey, bunny… Wanna play a game with mommy? No. She didn't, she was sick of games. Of scams. No more. She was done.
"JENNY!"
---x---
Brooke sat on her hands to keep them from shaking. She waited until Nathan had located the keys to the limo and sighed in relief for the first time that night as he gunned the engine to life. She just needed some time to think. Time away from all the lies and deceit that had gone down in that one room alone. She loved Lucas, she loved him so much she was willing to forget everything he'd just done. Surely there had to be a good explanation. But she just needed some time. Head rolling back onto the seat she turned to Nathan who slowly began to pull out the drive before stopping. She sat up.
"What?"
He gave her a look, "I want to know what happened."
"Drive and I'll tell you." She promised.
---x---
"You ruin everything!" Lucas shouted as he snatched his arm free of Peyton's grasp, "Get off me." He growled and stalked past Haley to look for Brooke.
Haley turned to look at Peyton with tearful eyes, "What have you done Peyton?" She asked cheerless and alone. Her arms lifting to her hug her body.
"I did what I had to do." Peyton said defiant and brushed past Haley to follow Lucas. Strike two Sawyer. You ready for the final out? "Lucas!" She cried out and began to jog after him in two inch heels. Still feeling invincible from the drugs.
"Brooke!" Lucas called out after bursting through the back doors.
"Lucas!" Peyton stumbled down the hall to follow.
"Brooke!" Lucas ignored Peyton as he continued to search for his wife.
---x---
Nathan glanced back at Brooke in shock, "You're kidding." He scoffed, "Lucas loves you Brooke. He's my brother, I know." He said more to convince himself than Brooke. "I mean, we may not be on speaking terms as of now but," He shrugged, "and as for Peyton—"
"Don't even say her name in front of me right now." Brooke replied through gritted teeth. "I still can't believe…" She shook her head unable to finish her sentence.
His jaw clenched, "He's not gonna get away with this." He shook his head spinning the wheel around.
"Nathan—look out!" Brooke screamed.
---x---
"JENNY!" Jake cried out in horror as the black stretch limo careened around the corner towards his daughter.
"Dad?" Jenny whirled around, a mass of bright blond and dark black streaks.
"JENNY!" He hollered again and began to race towards the street where she stood stock still staring at the oncoming traffic.
---x---
"Oh shit!" Nathan jerked the wheel to the right, barely missing Jenny by inches. Tires screeching, the limo fish tailed before it came to a final stop. "Fuck, that was close." He sighed, panting and reaching out to see if Brooke was okay. Blue eyes glancing up at her face he knew it was coming before it hit.
"Nathan…" Brooke whimpered her once beautifully vibrant hazel eyes glued to the 18-wheel semi that headed their way doing 65 in a 35 mph zone.
They say your life flashes before your eyes before you die. They say you see images, beauty, wonderful things. Nathan saw Haley. He saw Lynn, he saw Brennan. Brooke saw Lucas, she saw Emma and Jack and a baby that she had yet to bring into the world. One hand grabbing for Nathan's outstretched palm, the other moving to cover her abdomen. She saw what could have been.
But then everything went black…
No one ever talked about that part.