Chapter Twelve
Peyton walked down stairs, the next morning, hoping Nathan was alone. She got to the bottom of the stairs, and walked to the front of the couch. She stood there, for longer than expected, although the sight in front of her, sicken her to the core.
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Nathan woke up, to Haley sleeping soundly on his chest. He smiled, and knew he wanted it like this always. Expect maybe more in a bed than on a couch. He rubbed the back of his neck, without moving to much, he didn't want to wake Haley up. He looked up, and saw Peyton staring at them together, and knew that she was planning something.
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She couldn't take looking at them together any longer. She mouthed to Nathan that she needed to talk to him.
He got up slowly, and lifted Haley's head, and laid it on the couch, with his pillow under her head.
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They walked into the kitchen together.
"What in the hell Nathan," Peyton said, a little louder than intended.
"Sssh," Nathan said, putting his finger to his mouth.
"Look, I've decided I'm going to tell her, she deserves to know," Peyton said.
Nathan knew she would tell, that was just the kind of bitch Peyton was. He just wasn't sure about the reasoning behind it.
"You do understand, if you tell her that, she will be pissed at you too," Nathan said.
"Yeah, but I'm willing to deal with that, as long as she leaves your ass," Peyton said.
"I knew you had a different reasoning," Nathan said.
"Your damn right, you don't deserve to be happy," Peyton said, just wanting to slap him, and kick him out.
"If you think hard enough Peyton, I didn't force you to sleep with me," Nathan said.
"I told you I didn't want to," Peyton said.
"Yeah, will it didn't take much to get you to cave," Nathan said.
"Oh, so what it's all my fault now," Peyton asked.
"What's going on in here, what's Peyton's fault," Haley asked, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
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Nathan just looked at Peyton, knowing this was her opening to spill the beans to Haley.
"Oh, I burnt breakfast, but if Nathan here hadn't distracted me I wouldn't have," Peyton said, laughing it off.
Nathan looked at her, shocked that she hadn't outed him.
"I don't see it anywhere," Haley said.
"Oh, I already threw it away," Peyton said.
"Oh, well, lets go out and get some food," she said, as she stood beside Nathan with her arm around him.
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Nathan took his turn in the shower, and wanted it to last forever. He knew he had to tell Haley, and he knew he had to tell her today. He knew that Peyton would eventually take advantage and tell Haley for him. He figured if she heard it come from him directly, she might be able to forgive him easier.
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Peyton was in her room changing, when she began to drift off, back to that night.
She sat on Nathan's couch, waiting for him to bring Brooke back. She just needed to explain the situation, explain how it was Nathan's fault, and Nathan's idea. She just wanted her friend back. Instead of the door opening, the phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Nathan's cell. She was hoping he was okay.
"Nate, are you alright," Peyton answered worriedly.
"She's gone Peyton," Nathan said.
"You didn't get to her, before she got to the airport?" Peyton asked.
"No Peyt, she's gone," Nathan said, frantically searching for the words to tell her that her best friend was dead.
"Nate, she'll come to her senses she'll come back," Peyton said, assuring herself as well.
"Peyt, she's dead," Nathan blurted out.
"How, I mean, she was just here, how," Peyton said, tears streaming down her face.
"There was an accident, she died instantly," Nathan said.
"What do you mean an accident," Peyton asked.
"She was upset, and pissed, she ran a red light, her car slammed into another one. It hit so hard, and in just the right spot, and her car flipped over top the other one. I'm sorry," Nathan said, as he choked back tears, he hadn't realized had formed.
"She can't be," was all Peyton could say, before she hung up the phone.
After hanging up the phone, she sat on his couch, her knees pulled up to her stomach. She clung to them, as she cried. Her best friend was dead, and she didn't even get a chance to say goodbye.
Brought back to reality, hearing Haley calling down from the hall. She quickly wiped away a few tears that streamed down her face.
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Nathan got out of the shower, and threw on his clothes. He needed to tell Haley now, but he didn't want Peyton around. He couldn't stand her, and he couldn't believe she blamed him for everything. He opened the bathroom door, and hollered for Haley.
"What is it Nate," Haley asked, coming up to him.
"I need to talk to you, in private," he said, eyeing Peyton.
"Oh, Okay, Peyton can we use your dad's room?" Haley asked.
"Yeah, of course," Peyton said.
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Nathan held Haley's hand till they got into Peyton's dad's room. He motioned for her to have a seat.
"I know, I'm stalling, I just can't face my mom yet," Haley assumed that's where he was headed.
"Nah, it's not about that. I have to tell you something, and I don't think you will like me very much, after I do," Nathan said unable to met her eyes.