Chapter Four

Family

Nathan shut his door. He couldn't stand this. Today his stupid brother was moving in. His father was already getting his room ready. It was the one right across from his. He couldn't stand the thought of having to see this bastard everyday. Everything had gone from perfect to crappy without warning. How was he supposed to deal with all of this? Who was he supposed to talk to? He couldn't talk to Brooke. She was still in Paris. Not that she'd want to talk to him anyways.

When he called Brooke over the night before she left things hadn't gone the way he expected. He wanted to tell her he was sorry, but it didn't come out. They ended up once again arguing because of how drunk she was. He couldn't have a real conversation with a drunk person and when Brooke drank she really drank. She wasn't one to ever hold back. So after they argued he put her in his car and dropped her off at Peyton's. Nothing had been resolved and it didn't look as if it was any time soon.

Nathan made his way over to his phone and dialed a number."Are you busy?"he asked."Okay, well I need you to come over."he hung up without waiting for a response. They'd show. He had no doubt. He just needed to blow off some steam. It wouldn't mean anything.

Lucas shifted the box in his hand as he made his way upstairs. His father was downstairs unloading the rest of his boxes and told him to go ahead and find his room. He walked to where it was supposed to be and without thinking he opened the door."Whoa. I guess this isn't my room."he said with a laugh.

"No, it's not so get the hell out."shouted Nathan.

Lucas nodded with a smirk."So I see this is why you're not downstairs welcoming me into the family."You're busy up here with your friend."he said as he smiled down at the shirtless blonde under Nathan.

"Shut the hell up. You are not part of this family. Get the hell out and don't ever step foot in here again."said Nathan removing himself from the girl.

"Hey don't get your panties in a wad. I just thought this was my room."he looked once again to the blonde."I hope there's one of those waiting for me in my room."he said with a laugh before walking out of the room, not bothering to shut the door.

Nathan walked over and slammed the door shut.

"Are you okay baby?"asked the blonde.

Nathan turned toward her. He'd already forgotten she was in the room."No, you need to go."he said walking into his restroom and closing the door without sparing her a glance. He hoped when he got out she'd be gone. He paced back and forth until he heard his door open and close before exiting the restroom, something else he'd have to share with that bastard.

Nathan made his way down the stairs to see how much the house was in disarray. He was worried about his mother. He wasn't sure how well she'd be taking this. Last he heard they were still arguing about the whole thing."Mom?"he called as he saw her pass by the stairs.

"Nathan."she said as she saw him descending. She gave him a smile."There you are sweetie. We were beginning to think you were hibernating in your room."

Nathan watched as she lugged boxes with her."What are you doing mom? Why are you helping those two assholes?"

Deb gave him a look."Look Nathan, I know I'm partially to blame for the way you're treating your brother..."

"Don't call him that."he interrupted.

"Nathan, that's what he is and like I was saying. I know I'm to blame because of how openly against this I was, but not anymore. None of this is Lucas' fault. He didn't ask to be born and it wasn't him who cheated on me all those years ago. No matter what, he is your brother and it's time you two got to know each other."

Nathan shook his head."No, it's not. Why can't we just move out? Why can't we just leave them here by themselves?"

Deb placed the boxes she was carrying on the floor and took her sons hands in her own."We can't do that Nathan. This is our home and this is our family. As strange as it's gonna sound I still love your father like no other in spite of what he did all those years ago."

"You don't think he's done it again?"he didn't want to hurt his mom anymore than she already was, but he wanted her to be smart about this. If his father had cheated on her before, he'd probably done it again.

Deb shook her head."I believe your father when he says it was only that one time."

"I hope you're right mom because if not we could soon be having other kids come live with us claiming him as their father."

"Nathan that is enough. Your brother is moving in today and you really need to get out of this mood. After everything gets moved in we're gonna sit down together as a family."she saw him start to protest so she added."And you will be there."she said sternly turning back to pick up the boxes."Oh, I almost forgot Brooke called earlier. I yelled for you, but you didn't hear. She said she'd try again later."

Nathan nodded as he began to make his way back to his room.

"Brooke, huh? Was that the blonde's name?"asked Lucas."No, it couldn't be. She was here. It seems to me you have plenty of girls. You ready to share them with me. Brooke sounds like a pretty name. I bet she's hot."he laughed.

Nathan turned and walked over to him."You will stay away from Brooke if you know what's good for you."

Lucas held up his hands."Hey I didn't do anything. I'm just saying share the wealth."

"And I'm just saying stay the hell out of my way."said Nathan as he pushed past Lucas and out the door. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take and it was just beginning. Who did this guy think he was? How dare he come into his home and think he could rule it, getting into his business and just barging into his room? There was no way that he was going to let that happen. Nathan turned and kicked his car's tires as his phone began to ring."Hello."he said without looking to see who it was.

"Nathan, it's me."said Brooke.

"What do you want?"he asked a little irritated. He wasn't really angry at her, just the situation at hand, but of course she was there and going to get the brunt of it.

"What crawled up your ass and died?"she said shaking her head. Maybe this was a mistake.

"Look I don't need this right now Brooke. Did you call for a reason?"

"Yeah, I called to let you know my plane arrives tomorrow at noon."

"So?"he wasn't sure why he was being so mean, but it just came out. He actually was really glad she'd be coming back tomorrow. He missed her like hell. Why was it so hard to just say that?

Brooke sighed."So nothing. Never mind. I just thought that maybe you could pick me up from the airport, but never mind. I don't know why I even try with you."

"Are you drunk Brooke?"he asked out of the blue.

"What?"

"Are you drunk? The last time I saw you you were plastered and so I was just wondering if that's how you spent your time in Paris, drunk out of your ass."

"You know what? Go to hell. I don't even know why I called you. Forget that I did."with that she hung up.

Nathan stood there just staring at his phone. Why had he just done that? Brooke hadn't done anything to him. It was his joke of a brother that had pissed him off. He pressed one on his cell's speed dial and called her back. It rang and rang and she never picked up. He should have known she wouldn't. She was pissed at him and he couldn't blame her.

"Nathan. Dinners ready."called out Deb."Oh."she said as she saw him already walking into the dinning room."I thought I might have to drag you out of your room."

Nathan shrugged."I'm hungry."he said as he went to sit down.

Things were awkward to say the least.

"So Nathan, I hear that Lucas is quite the basketball player. I was thinking we could all shoot around tomorrow after lunch."

Nathan looked at his father. This was unbelievable."I can't."was all he said.

"Why not?"his father asked sternly.

"I'm not going to be here for lunch tomorrow."

"You most certainly will."shouted Dan."We need to connect as a family and this is the way to do it."

"One family dinner is enough dad. I don't need to have to suffer through another one."

Dan pounded his fist against the table. Deb took this as her cue to intervene."Where is it you were planning to be Nathan?"

"The airport. Brooke gets back tomorrow at noon. She wants me to pick her up."

Deb nodded."Okay, then you do that."

"Deb."interrupted Dan.

"No, Dan this is important to Nathan. He hasn't seen his girlfriend since she's been gone. We all need time to adjust to everything, but Nathan's life shouldn't be disrupted and I'm not going to let it, no matter what you say Dan. Do you hear me?"she asked sternly.

"Yes."was all Dan said as he went back to eating his dinner.

"Are you excited she's coming home?"Deb asked her son.

"Yeah. I missed her."

"Then why did I see you about to have sex with that blonde up in your room earlier?"asked Lucas with a laugh.

"Nathan?"questioned Deb.

Nathan stood up."He doesn't know what he's talking about. I wasn't doing anything upstairs with anyone and if he knows what's good for him he'll shut the hell up."

"Oh, yeah. What are you going to make me."

"You bet your ass I will."said Nathan pushing himself away from the table ready to get at Lucas.

"That's enough."shouted Dan."You two are brothers and you will get along as such. You are excused from lunch, but you will be here for dinner tomorrow night. That goes for both of you, understand?"

"Whatever."said Nathan walking out of the dinning room.

"Where are you going?"asked Dan."You're not finished with your dinner."

"I'm not hungry."said Nathan as he grabbed his car keys and slammed the door behind him.

Brooke stood still in the airport waiting for her luggage. She hated the fact that she was going to have to catch a cab home. She'd thought about calling Peyton, but stopped herself. She had made a big deal about calling Nathan to pick her up to her best friend. It was a little embarrassing that Nathan had acted the way he did, refusing to pick her up. There was no way she could tell her best friend of the way he'd acted. So she was going to do the only other thing she could, take a cab home.

"There you are."he said as he came upon the beautiful brunette. He watched as she looked over to him confused."You know, the least you could do is call a guy and let him know your plane was delayed."he pulled out a bouquet of flowers."These are for you. I missed you Brooke."he said as he pulled her into a hug.

Brooke stood there motionless, not sure what was going on."Um, who are you and what did you do with my jerk of a boyfriend?"

Nathan rolled his eyes."Look. I'm sorry about yesterday. There was just so much going on and I took it out on you."

"That's not an excuse, Nathan."

"I know and I'm not saying it is. I'm just telling you what was going on."

"Fine, but I'm still mad at you. You were an ass Nathan, yesterday and the night before I left. It needs to stop."

Nathan let out a sigh."So does your drinking Brooke, but you don't hear me saying anything do you?"

"Well what do you call what you're doing now?"she raised her voice."Look I don't want to argue with you the second I get back. Lets just go."she said as she grabbed one of her bags.

Nathan grabbed a hold of her arm and brought to him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head."I'm sorry babe."he squeezed her tighter."I really did miss you."

Brooke smiled into his chest."I missed you too."

Nathan pulled away and grabbed the remaining bags.

"Do you really have to go?"whined Brooke as she watched Nathan pull his pants on.

Nathan turned to her and smiled as she wrapped the cover tightly around her naked body."You know I do. Dan will blow a fuse if I don't show up for this family dinner of his. I swear he's taking this too far."

Brooke let out a laugh."So how is your brother?"

"Don't call him that Brooke."

"Well then what do I call him? You haven't even told me his name."

"You don't need to know his name. You can call him what I do. The bastard."

Brooke nodded."You know as tempting as that sounds, I don't think when I meet him I can call him that."

"You don't need to meet him, ever."

"Don't be ridiculous Nathan. He's your brother I'm gonna have to meet him sooner or later."

"Why. He isn't anybody."

Brooke took a deep breath."Fine, whatever you say. I don't want to argue with you. I just got back and I want to savor this time with you. We can argue tomorrow."she walked on her knees over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, letting the cover fall to the bed.

Nathan looked down at her naked body. She really was beautiful."Or we can just stop the arguing period."he said running his fingers up and down her back, nuzzling her neck with his nose.

"Sounds like a plan to me."she laughed as she captured his lips with her own. She smiled as Nathan got on her bed with her and gently began to lower her into a lying position."What about your family dinner?"she asked in between kisses.

"Screw the family dinner. You're the only family I want to be with tonight."he said as he rolled her over so she was on top of him.

"That's good enough for me."said Brooke as she straddled his waist.

Nathan quietly closed the front door behind him. It was late and he was hoping that his parents wouldn't be waiting up for him. He knew after the tenth call he ignored that when he got home, he'd be in serious trouble, but he didn't care. There was no way in hell he was going to sit through another family dinner.

Besides Brooke had just gotten back. How was he supposed to just leave her there? He missed her like crazy and wanted to spend her first day back with her so he did. It didn't matter that he was going to get it when he got home.

He began to make his way up the stairs.

"Nathan?"called out Dan.

"Damn it."cursed Nathan as he turned around and made his way to his furious father."What dad? It's late and I need to get some rest."

Dan chuckled."You need rest? Well what? Did Ms. Davis wear you out tonight? Is that why you thought it would be okay to disobey an order? So you can screw your slutty girlfriend?"

"That's enough."shouted Deb as she watched her son ball his fists in anger."Don't you bring Brooke into this. None of this is her fault Dan. Don't you dare put her down because you are angry with Nathan."

Dan looked away."Fine, you're right. I apologize for my comment, but that doesn't change the fact that you're grounded for not coming home for dinner."

"What? Grounded? Are you serious?"he turned to Deb."Mom, do something. This isn't right."

Deb shook her head."I can't Nate. Your father is right. He asked you to do something and you disobeyed him. You need to know there are consequences for your actions and this is one of them. Two weeks Nathan. You are grounded for two weeks."

"Two weeks?"he questioned.

"You're lucky that's all you got. I wanted to give you a month."said Dan."Go upstairs and apologize to your brother for ruining dinner."

Nathan laughed."You can ground me all you want, but I will not apologize to him."said Nathan as he made his way to his room. He slammed the door and sat at the edge of his bed.

"We missed you at dinner bro."said Lucas with a smile from the restroom the two boys now shared."I hear you're grounded. Tough break with that girlfriend of yours being back in town. If you want I can keep her entertained while you're out of commission."he said with a smirk.

Nathan got up from the bed and made his way to the restroom."I'm only gonna say this once so you better listen. Stay the hell away from my girlfriend. If I see you so much as sniffing around her I'll kick your ass."with that he pushed the door shut and locked it.

Lucas stood there with a smile on his face. This was fun. He loved pissing Nathan off. Nathan acted as if he was the only one suffering by him coming to stay here, but he was too. He didn't want to come to Tree Hill and live with people he didn't know. This sucked for him just as much, but Nathan couldn't or wouldn't see past his self and it pissed him off. He wanted to make Nathan's life hell just as he was trying to do with him. This Brooke girl seemed like the perfect way to do it. She was obviously the one important thing in Nathan's pathetic life. He hadn't even met her yet and already he was thinking about all the things they could do together that would make Nathan's life miserable.