Court, you're the BEST. But you already knew that.

mistydm, krizue (my loyal reviewer!), Naley, HJS-NS-23, echogrl345: I want to thank you for your words and I hope not to disappoint you.

OBS: This chapter is not as long as the other ones, but it's just as important.

Chapter 4

He couldn't remember a time when getting his tie straightened had been such a difficult goal to achieve.

Two years ago, he'd have had his father right in the next room ready to do it for him, but did he miss the old man? Thinking about the price that came with the simple adjustment, he realized he'd rather spend the rest of his life going to functions without ties.

One year ago, he'd have had his wife doing it, but he decided it would be best to cross those thoughts off of his mind for the next few hours. The night was still young and promising. He was being given an award he deserved for his commitment to the game he loved, and he'd most certainly enjoy it, or so he thought... Never in his life had he been able to predict victory could feel so empty.

"You cleaned up pretty nicely, Mr. Scott." Haley addressed her best buddy as she ushered him into the dimly lit living room of the apartment.

"I wish I could return the compliment, my dear friend".

"DON'T WASTE YOUR BREATH, MY SWEET BROODY." Brooke yelled from the other room. "I SPENT TWO HOURS TRYING TO CONVINCE THE BONEHEAD TO DRESS UP AND JOIN US, BUT SHE INSISTS ON WEARING THE UGLY PAJAMAS AND STAY HOME IN A SULK".

"Typical Haley Friday night." Brooke continued, emerging from the next room, dressed up in the most splendid manner, with her impeccable make up matching her strapless red gown and her sparkly delicate sandals. The outfit had gotten Lucas' jaw opened. Brooke: one, Lucas: zero. Brooke had gotten exactly what she wanted. Two could play this game and she was going to win at any costs. Lucas would eventually cave without getting the exclusivity he wanted so badly.

Also contemplating the past, Peyton realized back in the day she would have never bothered knocking. She had never had a key, so to speak, but she'd enter the house through the backyard and none of the Scott parents would notice, or care.

Deb Lee Scott, the former selfish mother, was too busy enjoying herself, living the big life away from home. She was never one to be around to realize Peyton Sawyer, the tormented artist who was dating her son, came in and out of her house at all hours of the day and night. Indecent hours, if the neighbors had a saying.

Dan Scott, on the other hand, didn't give a damn as long as his prodigy kept giving his best on the basketball courts. For him, Peyton could spend all of her time locked inside Nathan's bedroom; he was never one to criticize. From time to time, he'd make sure to pat Nathan on the shoulder, assuring his most valuable possession he was proud that the boy was having his way with one of the hottest cheerleaders from Tree Hill High. Nevertheless, he'd ensure Nate was using condoms. That was Mr. Scott. Not satisfied with being a psychotic, he was also a Pharisee.

Lucky Nathan...

That all seemed like forever ago. Fortunately for all the people involved, the freakish dynamics that used to take place in the Scott mansion was definitely in the past. It had been dead and buried as if it had never existed in the first place.

The beginning of the end started when Peyton decided she would no longer be controlled by her hormones. It was around the same time she discovered she found no more pleasure in spending all of her time with the younger Scott. The older one was all she had eyes for.

In the meantime, Deb had engaged herself in helping Karen with the cafe and their club, and lately, she had made it a mission to try to get her son to see his marriage could still be saved. So far, no such luck with that.

As for Dan, he had been kicked out by his soon to be ex-wife and no longer shared the roof with his dear family. Occasionally, he'd show up to get the bills or harass Nathan, by telling him Haley was a two-timing bch that had only been after their family money. What a great way of telling his son he wasn't capable of finding someone who'd honestly love him...

But, much to Nathan's dismay, there would never be a time in which Dan would simply ignore a chance of letting him know he was better off without Haley James, the girl who also, according to him, had brainwashed his son and tried to ruin his life. Oh, Dan the portrait of the perfect concerned father.

If only that was also two years ago...

Ignoring the past, Peyton was now knocking on the main door. She looked as posh as Brooke, but didn't have the same glow. It was a hard task to accomplish and she knew better than to try it. Plus, she didn't care much. Not tonight; tonight there was concern all over her face and despite her best effort, she couldn't mask it.

Things were already going wrong and to her ultimate joy, as she went on knocking, those same neighbors from the past were watching her every move and were not even discrete.

Were they condemning her for being there? Considering her past with Nathan Scott, they could be thinking she was taking advantage of his failed marriage, but who gave a damn? To hell with them and their thoughts; to hell with Nathan and his unreasonably loud stereo that prevented him from hearing the doorbell.

"I'm so beating you up, Nathan." Peyton cursed, sick of waiting for Nathan to finally notice there was someone at his door. For those who were clueless about her rant, they'd think Peyton was joining the "Hate Nathan club", in which Lucas and Brooke were disputing the President's position.

Fighting the urge to go to his backyard and simply enter the house like she'd done a million times, she pulled her cell phone out of her purse and dialed Nate's number, wishing he'd answer so that he'd let her in. She needed to let out what was bothering her and surprisingly, he was the only one who should listen to it.

Minutes went by and she got no response. That called for desperate measures, she thought... Peyton was about to replay the moves she hoped she'd be able to leave behind her.

Once inside her friend's bedroom, the girl couldn't believe the volume of the hip-hop she hated blaring from his stereo. She knew it was loud, but never that much. The boy's reach deafness, that was for sure. As soon as she entered, she proceeded to turn it down, for her own sake.

Noticing the bathroom lights were on, Peyton sat on the edge of Nathan's bed, reacquainting herself with the posters and trophies she had not really missed. Looking around, she took acknowledgment of a certain chain with a wedding ring hanging on it. That got her smiling, and assuming the conversation she was about to have with Nathan had a chance of going better than she was expecting. Maybe there was still hope after all.

In a matter of instants, Nathan came out of his bathroom, wearing his suit and still unable to get his tie well-adjusted. Seeing Peyton sitting in his bed was slightly weird. For a quick moment, his mind drifted to the past.

"Err... Hello?" Peyton offered shyly, in hopes of bringing him back to nowadays. Realizing she was a bit embarrassed, he reached the bed and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.

"I thought my mom had turned down the volume." He informed her. "Wait a sec... Wasn't I supposed to pick you up?" He asked her meekly.

"Yep, but I figured the guest of honor deserved a chauffeur for the night."

"Does that mean you rented a limo?" He raised his eyebrows expectantly.

"Conceited much?" She asked annoyed.

"You're too easy, Sawyer."

"Whatever, Scott."

"Do you want to go downstairs and have something to drink before we leave?"

"Can you provide me some serious scotch?"

"Can't say I can. After mom came back from rehab, I've tried keeping the house drug free and that includes pills, alcohol, cocaine, crack--"

"I get the picture." Peyton interrupted, wishing he'd drop the drug related subject.

"Cheers." Nathan said as they clicked their orange juice glasses and drank some of it.

Uncomfortably, Peyton rested her glass on the counter, fingers curled lightly around it. She was acting as if she was excruciating in pain and Nathan could tell it.

Letting out a big heavy sigh, she brushed of a strand of hair from her line of vision before speaking, but he gently cut her off.

"You can talk to me, you know, about Ellie's disease or anything else."

"I know, but Ellie's fine. She's finally going back to treatment. The prospect of seeing our album being released took its toll on her."

"That's great news."

"Thanks, I thought you'd like to know."

"I do."

"So..."

"Pey, are you going to tell me what's really bothering you or are we spending the night exchanging pleasantries?"

"I-I..err..I talked to Haley." She surprised him. "No more stalling", she had told herself.

"Oh.." He murmured the unreadable expression on his face.

"Not the reaction I was expecting." She spoke softly.

"Am I a widow yet?" He joked, sounding mean and insensitive, but trying to lighten up the sudden dark mood.

"Should I start laughing? Or I should I book some time in my agenda to do it later on?" She replied, her tone being harsher than she intended.

Nathan winced. That was one weird comment coming from Peyton. He was finding it awkward that she was mad he was being careless when it came to Haley. Something was different and not right, but he had a feeling he'd find out before this conversation, which was giving him the chills, was over.

"You're angry I'm cracking a joke about her? Are we still on the same page? Are we talking about the same one you helped me disgrace since the moment she's step foot back in Tree Hill?"

"Yeah." Peyton responded coldly, completely ashamed of every obscenity she had told Haley since her return.

"Just checking. By the way, do you still have thirty-two teeth?"

Peyton closed her eyes, suppressing her anger and shame. A few days ago she was as oblivious to Haley's feelings and being as callous as the one sitting in front of her.

Not bothering to formulate a coherent response to his spiteful comment, she opened her eyes, meeting Nathan's intense blue gaze filled with confusion.

"Let's start over. I'll tell you I spoke to Haley and instead of being an $$ you're going to ask me what we discussed."

"Do I have to, because quite frankly I could care less!" He told her rudely, finally dropping his glass to the counter.

"Quite frankly, I think you're full shit and dying to know." Peyton taunted cynically.

"Have you made it a purpose to ruin my night? 'Cause I worked very hard for this VIP title and I'd love it if we could skip this conversation entirely or postpone it for the time being."

"That's your problem to deal with and not mine. You're going to suck it up. I came here to talk and you're going to hear me out, like it or not." Peyton explained bossily.

"Why is bitch being a Peyton?"

- Why is jacka$$ being a Nathan?

They insulted each other, testing their limits.

"I cave. You have a history for being more obstinate than I am." Nathan pondered.

"Finally. I knew I'd win this battle." Peyton grinned.

"Don't be so sure of that yet. You talked to Haley and yatta yatta and so what? In fact, why have you talked to her at all?" He questioned uninterestedly.

"I knew you were curious." Peyton found Nathan's fake indifference amusing.

"Do I sound curious?"

"You're good with hiding your feelings. I've always envied you. I'm good with showing my anger."

"Peyton, we're really going to be late for the dinner party. Start talking and get it out of your system before they call me on stage and I'm not there to get my prize."

"She's not going to be there, you know?"

"Haley?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Of course you're talking about her, but so what? I don't think it's her place to be, anyways."

"Of course not. She's just the wife of the star of the event. How foolish of me."

"Can you please explain to me what is it with you? Last time I checked you didn't care for Haley and was telling me I should get an annulment instead of a divorce because the second option would take longer. Who are you and what have you done to my friend Peyton Sawyer? I don't need another Brooke or Lucas making my life miserable and if you're planning on joining them, you can go out through the same door you came in."

Peyton stared, trying to get a grip on herself and not attack Nathan. None of them spoke for a couple of minutes, but she soon broke the silence.

"I dare you to throw me out."

"You know I won't do that. It's easier to let you in here talking to yourself and to walk away."

"But then I'll still be here when you come back."

"What's going on with you?" He asked patiently this time.

"I regained my sanity, Nathan. That's what going on. I let my anger towards Ellie and Jake aside, put my tale between my legs and apologized to Haley. And you know what? It wasn't the end of the world. She refused to hear me out the first time, but after three days of insisting and following her around I got her to listen. I told her about how mad I was that Jake was gone and how Ellie just appeared out of nowhere after seventeen years just because she was dying and wanted to put her conscience at ease. I admitted I let my mixed feelings take control of my emotions and that I took my anger out on her when she didn't deserve it because she was the easy target. I can't say she's forgiven me already, but it's a start. She's heard what I had to say and even gave me a chance to ask her something. For your information, I got her to collaborate with the "Friends with Benefits Project". Lucas was bragging to Karen the other day at TRIC about how great her new song is and I overheard. When I asked Brooke, she's confirmed Haley's written the best song ever and I guess I convinced her to let us use it despite her feelings towards me."

"Good for her. You might think she doesn't deserve the crap you put her through, but some of us still have the right to do it."

"You know how I said it wasn't the end of the world to say that I was sorry? Well, I'm saying it again. Being vulnerable and letting people in once again are not the end of the world either, Nathan. Second chances are supposed to be given."

"Cut the crap, Peyton. The free trip to guilt land will NOT affect me."

"Can I ask you something?"

"I won't promise you an answer."

"Why do you keep your wedding ring on your nightstand? Do you carry it around with you?"

"Thank you." He had just wrapped up his quick speech. His estranged brother, parents and friends were applauding him, but all he could think of were Peyton's words, echoing inside his head and the fact that without Haley's face in the audience, his award seemed to mean absolutely nothing.

An hour later, after shaking a few hundred hands and being congratulated by loads of people that didn't matter to him, Nathan got to his car and drove away from where the party was being held. His destination seemed unknown, but on the bottom of his heart he knew where he was headed, the apartment complex.

Stopping by, he saw the lights were out and thought she was probably sleeping. She hadn't gone out. He had heard that much from Lucas and Brooke, when they told Skills and Bevin how upset they were that she hadn't joined them.

Deciding not to wake her, he drove aimlessly. He wanted badly to visit a certain place, but wasn't sure he could handle the fond memories that he was doing his best to keep safe, but forgotten. He was being incoherent. How could he drop by her house with the intention of seeing her and not stop by the spot where they shared their first memories? He realized that much.

Walking around the docks, he experienced a tranquility he hadn't felt since the last night he and Haley had spent together. Breathing in the scent of the trees, he felt her presence. It was like having an epiphany, a sudden intuitive perception that his life wouldn't be the same without her in it. It was then that he saw her. A vulture, in the middle of the landscape he was appreciating, doing exactly the same thing he was doing, finding solace in their untouched place. What a sad pair those two were...