Author's Note: This chapter shows whats going on with the other couples, which sadly means a little less 'brathan.' And also I would like to warn you guys, the next chapter will be the last so...enjoy.
--
"What's wrong?" Brooke asked concerned, leaning against the kitchen counter as she watched Nathan fidget across from her.
"I have to go back."
"What?"
"I have to go back to LA."
"B-But you s-said you were done waiting," Brooke stuttered out in shock.
"I was, but I just didn't really think about all the changes that were gonna have to be made for that to happen," Nathan explained softly.
"So what now?" Brooke asked, tears brimming her eyes.
"My agent already arranged a flight for me, but its not for a couple more hours."
"I suggest you leave now."
"Brooke-"
"I said, leave!"
Nathan sighed. "Fine," he walked to her and quickly gave her a kiss on the forehead, hearing her hold in a sob, then he walked out of the kitchen.
Brooke closed her eyes as she heard the front door close. A lone tear traveled down her cheek, followed by many more.
--
Felix and Anna watched Nathan walk out of the house from the living room window, but when Felix heard Brooke's crying he rushed outside.
"Felix!" Anna yelled behind him, but he ignored her.
He walked down the steps quickly and caught up to the brunette, spinning him around to be face to face.
Nathan opened his mouth to speak but as soon as he did, Felix's fist met his jaw sending him straight to the floor.
"I told you not to hurt her!" the latino yelled before stalking back into the house.
Anna looked at Nathan's pitiful form slumped on the floor, she shook her head in sympathy and walked back into the house.
Nathan rubbed his jaw and stood up slowly. He put his hand up to his mouth and when the crimson color of his blood covered his fingers he smiled.
Then he chuckled as he pulled out his cell phone. "I so have a call to make."
--
"Look Hales there they are," Lucas said pointing at the 'couple' across from them.
Haley rolled her eyes at the couple and Lucas. He was being really obsessive with this idea of his. Yes, this was his idea. She thought it was stupid, but somehow he talked her into it.
So here she was, in the arcade watching Jake and Peyton suck face across from her while she could do nothing about it. She looked away from them and up to her friend. "This is so stupid Lucas, why don't we just make up with them?" she asked pleadingly.
He looked at her like she was crazy. "Are you serious? How can you say that after what he did to you?" he asked softly.
Haley sighed and rubbed her temple. "It wasn't his fault, Luke. And you know that."
"He got drunk and had sex with one of the sluttiest girls in school, Hales!" he exclaimed, wide eyed. "How is that not his fault?"
"Lucas you know why," she said with unshed tears.
"He hurt you Hales!"
She looked around and noticed that the people that were near them were staring so she quickly wiped her eyes and looked up at Lucas. "Okay, first of all, keep your voice down. Secondly, I don't see why you want me to be mad at him…it…wasn't…his…fault," she emphasized slowly then she sniffled as her voice cracked. "You know that they slipped something into his drink."
Lucas looked away from her as soon as he saw her silent tears fall down her cheeks, he couldn't stand to see her cry. He closed his eyes as he spoke, "I know."
"The only reason I agreed to this was because you seemed so out of it with Peyton gone," she explained, ignoring the looks she was getting for crying. "I risked my relationship for you. I risked it even though I knew Jake needed me," she looked up and noticed that the said shaggy haired boy was looking at her from beside Peyton. "And I think he still does."
Lucas scoffed. "Yeah right."
Haley narrowed her eyes at him. "Why are you so hostile towards him? What did he ever do to you?"
"Besides making out with my girlfriend twenty-four-seven?" he said with anger, but it slowly left his face and turned into sadness as he spoke his next sentence, "She loves him Hales."
"What?" she asked, not understanding.
"Peyton loves him," he sobbed. "I never saw her kiss another guy in a bar…sh-she told me that she loved him."
"Oh Luke," she sighed pulling him in for a hug, letting him cry on her shoulder.
Jake's eyes widened at the information he just overheard. He looked at the blonde next to him, who was oblivious to the other two people who were previously arguing. "You love me?"
"What?" she said in a panic.
"You tricked me," Jake said in disbelief. "You said you wanted Lucas back, but you really just wanted to use him as your excuse to make out with me."
"Jake, I-" she tried.
"No," he said before he started to walk away from her. "I'm gonna get my real girlfriend back."
Peyton watched him go and swallowed back her tears and looked to Lucas and Haley, who were hugging.
Typical, she thought sadly before grabbing her stuff and leaving the arcade.
Jake walked up to the hugging friends and tapped Haley on the shoulder making her look up and when she did he smiled. "You think we could talk for a bit?"
Haley looked at Lucas for permission and he nodded his consent. She hugged him one last time before looking at Jake. "Let's go," she reached for his hand and pulled him towards a familiar photo booth. They entered, Haley first, then Jake.
"So…" she started.
"Yeah…" he said nervously.
"I'm sorry," they said in unison.
Jake smiled, sadly. "Look Hales, about Peyton…"
She put her hand up to his mouth. "Don't," she said slowly removing her hand.
"But-"
She put her hand back. "I said don't," she smiled. "It doesn't matter," she said pulling his face into hers to kiss him softly.
Jake licked his lips as they pulled away and breathed out, "I love you."
"I love you too," she whispered bringing him back down to her lips with a smile.
--
Nathan stood outside Felix's house, banging the door. "Open it! Please!" he yelled. "Come on Brooke I know you're in there!"
Still, no one answered.
He sighed as he stepped back from the door and began to walk away.
"Nathan wait," he heard being called behind him. He turned and was surprised to see Anna walking towards him.
"Uh…hey," he said awkwardly, he wasn't really used to speaking to her.
"Look, they don't want you anywhere near here," she told him bluntly.
"So what are you their messenger?" he asked bitterly.
"No," she answered honestly. "I want to help you."
"Why?" he said, on guard. "What do you want?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
"Well…thanks," he said, in slight shock. "That means a lot."
"It's no problem," she replied. "Besides, Brooke has always been there for me, it's about time I do the same for her…but I do have a question, though," Anna started.
"What?" Nathan asked.
"Why are you still here? I thought you were gonna go back to your great life in LA."
He got a far away look in his eyes as he spoke, "I just realized that going back without Brooke wouldn't be worth it."
--
Peyton spotted Lucas sitting by the water fountain in the mall and walked towards him angrily. "Hey!"
He looked up startled and stood up quickly when he saw who was in front of him. "What do you want?"
"Why didn't you tell Haley the truth?"
"The truth about what?"
"You told her that I was in love with Jake!"
"Because that's what you told me!" he said, in disbelief. "You said you didn't love me anymore, that Jake was the one you wanted," he whispered, just loud enough for her to hear.
"Yeah, well I lied!"
"What?" Lucas asked quietly.
"I lied, okay?" she said. "I didn't mean it."
"But then why would you say that?"
"Because you love Haley!"
"Of course I love her," he said confused then he saw that she started sobbing and his eyes widened in realization. "Oh god no! No! Peyton, I do not love her like that, I meant as a sister," he explained quickly.
She looked up at him. "Really?" she asked in a small voice.
Lucas stared her in the eyes. "I only love you like that Peyton."
The sincerity in his voice brought more tears to her eyes, but these she was glad to shed. "I love you," she said as she flung herself to him.
He caressed her blonde curls and he hugged her back. "I love you too."