Previously:
Peyton chuckled and shook her head. ''No, no, it wasn't just mine, Skills. It was Nate's, too, remember?''
''Remember?'' He asked. ''How could I forget? That guy's lucky he has just a black eye...''
The three of them caught up as Nathan was off practicing his shots, and Lucas and Haley remained in their dorms, unsure of how to proceed. Haley still wanted Nathan but he loved Peyton, and his sister would kill him. Seriously. And Lucas wanted Peyton but he knew she was happy with Nathan and that was obvious. And Brooke was just along for the ride ;). What would happen? Who would end up together?
( A/N: GoSal11444 - I'll clear everything up in this chapter :) & PSawyer2514 - Brooke/Skills, huh? I was just thinking that the other day. Or maybe Jake/Haley. :) )
Part Five!
Since it was obvious that Brooke and Peyton were staying in Nathan and Skill's dorm room for the night, the boys decided to give the girls their beds and make due with what they could of the futon in the corner. Nathan realized he and Skills would have to be side by side, and so trying as he might, he ended up staring at the ceiling all night. He kept sneaking glances at Peyton, wanting to fix everything that had transpired between them since her and his sister had come to North Carolina 24 hours earlier. Deciding to get it over with, he silently snuck out of bed in his sweatpants and slipped a hoodie on over his muscular frame before gently getting to his knees beside his bed where Peyton was currently sleeping, asking her if she wouldn't mind taking a walk with him.
She just nodded and slipped out of the bed she and Brooke had decided to share, Nathan leading her out onto the empty moonlight quad so they could talk. ''This isn't how your visit was supposed to happen, Peyt,'' Nathan explained quietly once they reached a bench and sat down. His hand reached for hers and she allowed the contact, smiling at their hands together. ''I know all we've ever been is best friends, and that you've loved me for a long, long time...I'm sorry I never acknowledged that before now, though. I guess I was just scared of losing you. Of having my little sister kill me with a high heel because I'd upset you or something...'' Peyton laughed at the image and he turned to face her, his blue eyes deep in emotion. ''The truth is, Peyt, that I really do want you. I don't want anyone else.''
Peyton smiled at his honesty, still confused. ''Okay, Nathan, but what about Haley? You're not completely over her...and we can't just jump from best friends to lovers when there's not a hundred percent chance that you are still wanting someone else...'' She sighed and looked down at their bare feet. It was so much easier back when they were younger. ''Nathan Scott, you're my first love in every way that counts, and I don't want anyone else either, but if you still want Haley then I won't fight it...''
''Peyton,'' Nathan started sadly, but Peyton just shook her head and willed the tears not to come. She loved Nathan, she always had, but he needed to decide who he wanted more: her or Haley, and she couldn't make that decision for him. Silently she pulled his face to hers and they shared a sweet, loving kiss before it grew deeper and she pulled back, catching her breath. She forced a sad, understanding smile his way and patted his knee comfortingly. ''I'll always be here for you, Nate. It's just up to you to decide now, baby, and I can't do that for you -- no matter how much I want to.''
Nathan, not trusting himself to speak, just pulled the blonde closer and kissed her temples, cheeks; he kissed away the tears that were starting to fall, and the trail of them that led to her lips. He wrapped her close against him and rested his head against hers, silently treasuring their moments together. They remained like that until finally one of them opened their eyes and saw the sun rising, and Nathan realized it was time for him to be a man and not settle for whoever his heart didn't entirely need. He watched Peyton slowly disentangle herself from his side with a chaste kiss full of love against his lips before she figured out the way back to his dorm. He, on the other hand, needed to find Haley and figure something out. Finding her across the campus at her locker, he sprinted in her direction before she noticed he was next to her and the surprise in her brown eyes when she looked up and found him beside her was apparent. ''N-Nathan, what,--'' she started, but his lips clashing against hers stopped her speech entirely.
He needed to see if this was real. If he was still madly in love with her or if it was just his mind playing tricks on him. He didn't notice Lucas, Skills, or even Brooke's wide-eyed expressions at the sight of the former couple making out for all to see. What they did see, however, was when Nathan pulled back a minute later. He looked at Haley like she was a completely different person, realizing that when he kissed her just then, the part of him that had been in love with her and longed for her for so long was finally through. He could breathe now. ''N-Nathan?'' Haley asked a minute later, the look in her eyes full of confusion and love.
''I-I can't do this, Hales. I kissed you to see if what we had was still there, but aside from a small tug at my heart, I felt nothing.'' He looked her directly in the eyes, his blue eyes lit up like a little boy at Christmastime. ''I'm over you, Haley James,'' He said with a bright smile. ''I-I can't believe it, but I'm not in love with you anymore. Like that,'' He added a second later at her hurt look. He grabbed her hands and tried to calm his enthusiam, though that was impossible. ''We can still be friends, Hales, but as far as my heart goes...It belongs to Peyton! Oh My God, I can't believe it!''
Haley looked down at their hands together and nodded. She understood, even if she didn't get it. Now all that was left for Nathan to do was tell her. ''Go get her, Nathan,'' She encouraged quietly, forcing her gaze to meet his. ''We're friends. Go!''
Brooke awoke to the sight of Skills checking his email, surprised to see Nathan and Peyton weren't there. ''Nate? Peyt?'' She asked worriedly, getting to her feet. She quickly threw on her clothes from the day before, her green eyes turning to face Skills. ''Skills, have you seen Nathan and Peyton?'' She asked anxiously, full of fear all of a sudden.
Skills shook his head, but sensing her fear, he quickly approached her and wrapped her in a hug. ''Aw, it's OK Brooke,'' He soothed. ''They might just be getting breakfast or somethin'. Want me to go search for them?''
Brooke nodded, fumbling with her high heels before she gave herself one look into the mirror and started searching the campus, tugging onto Skill's hand the whole time. They were surprised to see Nathan running across campus a few minutes later in just his pajamas, then even more so when he found Haley at her locker and kissed her with everything in him. ''What?!'' Brooke exclaimed suddenly, despite the fact he couldn't hear them. ''He does all this to get with Peyt and now he's back with her?!''
Skills shook his head, obviously concerned. He hadn't seen Peyton yet, and that worried him even more than anything else. ''But I thought he loved Peyton?'' He breathed out. The two remained there staring at her brother and his roommate/teammate much to the surprise of Lucas Roe suddenly appearing besides them. ''What the hell?'' Lucas asked as he approached, his eyes glued to the sight of Haley and Nathan. ''I thought he wanted to be with Peyton?!'' He asked, just saying the blonde's name making his heart race.
''I know!'' Brooke responded. ''Just know this, Nate: when you get back to the dorms, I'm kicking your rear so hard even your enemies will feel it!'' She thought to herself determinedly. She had enough and stormed off to find Peyton, calling her cell phone even but getting even more upset when she didn't answer. ''The hell are you, P.Sawyer?'' She mumbled to herself as she started back towards the dorms. Skills and Lucas followed, not realizing Nathan had already broken things up with Haley and was on his own quest to find Peyton.
''Hi, what can I do for you today?''
Peyton sighed and readjusted her purse on her shoulder, reaching for her credit card. ''Yeah, hi. One round-ticket for Los Angeles, please?''
( A/N: So basically things between Nate/Hales are over, sorry Naley fans. And now Peyton's headed back to LA because she still wants Nate but she can't accept the fact he wants Haley ( or so she thinks ) and Lucas still wants Peyton but that's pretty much void right now...and we'll see what happens with Haley, Jake, Skills, and Brooke in the next chapter ;) )