Chapter 3

The Games That Play Us

A/N: I love OTH but unfortunately don't own it!

The intercom buzzer rang in Peyton's apartment.

She reluctantly got up from the couch and pressed the receiver button

"Hello?"

"Mrs Scott, my name in Andrew Barrage, I am a partner at Beck, Stein and Carter. I am the associate handling your divorce. May I come up?" he spoke into the intercom

Peyton flinched at her former moniker.

"Come right in"

Peyton was met by a sandy haired man, probably in his late thirties, Peyton guessed.

"You're a hard person to track down" he said

"Sure, I'm a regular Super Girl" she said sarcastically

"Anyway, I have just been in contact with my consulting associate on this case, Jake Jagielski, who is handling the Chicago side of the settlement and he has informed me that Mr Scott has agreed to all terms of this divorce." Barrage said, getting straight to business

"Ok…wait did you say Jake Jagielski?" she asked

"Yes, he is a junior associate at the firm. You two know each other?" he enquired

The women looked like she was pulled into a trance. The older man knew that Jagielski was reluctant to take the case, but Geoff Beck didn't elaborate, and he didn't ask.

"From a life time ago…" she said faintly "Anyway, when will the divorce be finalised?"

"The papers should be sent through once Mr Scott agrees to the settlement conditions"

"Great" Peyton said, while escorting the lawyer out of her apartment

"I'll be in touch, Mrs Scott" he said he exited her apartment

"It's Sawyer actually"

"Of course, see you soon, Miss Sawyer"

Haley sighed as she clicked on the latest Photos sent by Brooke from her sonogram

Although Haley was happy for Brooke and Lucas, a part of her felt jealous that they were living the Great American Dream- something that she thought her and Nathan would be doing a long time ago.

Haley reread the email that accompanied the photos

Hey Grammy Girl

I'm having a baby shower in a month, to celebrate our little basketball player/ cheerleader. We would both love you to be there. It's gonna be at our house in the Hampton's. Presents are mandatory. See you then! Brooke

Haley stared at the little being in the photo and wondered whether her ex husband would be there too. She hadn't seen him since the night she got on The Wreckers Tour Bus. But she felt beyond guilty that she had missed Lucas and Brooke's wedding day, and Brooke wouldn't forgive her if she didn't turn up to the baby shower.

She opened up a new message box

Dear Tigger,

I just looked at your sonogram photos and my sage god mother powers tell me that you are going to have a cheerleader. I wouldn't miss your baby shower for the world. Send my best Lucas. Tell Nat-

Haley deleted the last part. The divorce had been plastered on every news station and magazine the last 6 months. She wanted to do or say something to Nathan, but the words just wouldn't come. Haley resumed writing

Give my best to Lucas; I hope everyone else is fine.

Love,

Haley xoxo

Haley pressed the send button and turned off her computer.

Brooke's laptop chirped signalling a new email

She slowing walked across the room, and sat down at the desk. She read the email, and her face brightened up once she read the reply. But a frown adorned her face as quickly as the smile appeared.

"Luke could you come here?" she called to her husband of 3 years.

"Yes, Cheery?" popping his head around the corner into the study.

"Come read this email from Haley" motioning at her laptop

Lucas began to read the email, perplexed as to why his wife wanted him to read an email from his former friend.

"I hope everyone is fine?" he asked

"I think that's code for I hope Nathan is ok" Brooke added.

"Are you sure, Brooke? It has been 10 years"

"Luke, you hardly talk to Haley, you don't know she really is" Brooke said loyally, giving Lucas a death glare.

"Don't look at me like that Brooke, he's my brother" Lucas stated

"And she used to be your best friend" Brooke rationalised

"And Peyton used to be your best friend!" he argued

"Look, I don't want to get into this right now" Brooke said, looking exhausted

"Well you were the one who brought up Haley" Lucas defended

"Because unlike you, I don't live in denial land! Why do you think Haley hasn't had a relationship in the last 10 years? Or the real reason why Nathan and Peyton split?" Brooke yelled

"Because they drifted apart, Brooke"

"Do you really believe that, Lucas? Open your eyes! Nathan and Peyton were unhappy the entire time they were married!" she continued to yell

"Marriage isn't a walk in the park, Brooke!" he yelled back

"I know that, Lucas! But Haley and Nathan were always meant to be"

With that, Brooke stormed out of the study into the master bedroom and slammed the door.

Lucas closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. The internal life tangling of Brooke, Lucas, Peyton, Nathan, Jake and Haley had gotten more complicated after they graduated high school. Now that Nathan and Peyton had divorced this further complicated things. Not to mention the baby shower that Brooke was supposedly throwing.

Lucas picked up the phone, and dialled his sister in law

"Peyton speaking"

"Peyton its Lucas."

"Lucas…you shouldn't be calling me" she said quietly

"Look, I think you should come to the baby shower Brooke's throwing" he suggested

"For who?"

"What do you mean for whom?" he said confusingly

"Who is Brooke throwing the baby shower for? Bevin or maybe Shelley?" She rambled

"For Brooke, Peyton" Lucas stated
"Oh" is all she could say. Peyton looked at the photo that stood by the phone. They had taken it down by the bridge, over 17 years ago.

Lucas paused. Despite what had been going on, Lucas had assumed that Brooke had told Peyton about the big development in her life.

"How far along is she?" she whispered

"7 months" Lucas answered

"7 months? Oh god" she sat down on the couch, her hands trembling

"Look we are having a baby shower next month; you should come, clear the air" he suggested

"Maybe" Peyton said still staring at the photo

"It would good for everyone"

"Everyone? Who else will be there?" she asked fearfully

"Oh you know me, Brooke, Bevin, Skills…Haley" he added reluctantly

"Look, I don't think I'll come"

"Because of Haley?"

"Because I don't want to get sucked back into the pit of melodrama" she said

"Look, I'm going to send you a ticket, you may not want to come, but Brooke wants you there" Lucas said, determined to sort everything out.

"I'll think about it"

"Please do, it's been good talking to you Peyton" he said earnestly

"You too, Lucas" as she hung up the phone.

"Peyton?" a voice said behind Lucas

Lucas silently groaned to himself as he turned around

"Brooke, listen" he started

"Don't Brooke me, Lucas! I thought we were on Nathan's side here! Have you been talking to her all this time?" Brooke said furiously

"Off and on since they separated" Lucas said sheepishly

"Lucas you know how I feel about her!" she exlaimed

"Come on Brooke, she's your best friend!"

"No Lucas she used to be my best friend before she screwed over Nathan, Haley and not to mention Jake!" Brooke said heatedly

"Brooke…" Lucas sighed

Lucas closed his eyes, wishing that the argument would just disappear. In their near perfect marriage, this was the one issue they always fought about, and when they did, it was major.

"Lucas, I don't want to fight about this, but that's how I feel" Brooke said as she sat on edge of the desk.

"I know, babe" Lucas thought it was best Brooke didn't know that Peyton was going to come to the baby shower, particularly if all the drama affected the baby.

Silence enveloped the room, with the couple each drowned in their own thoughts.

The telephone suddenly started ringing.

Brooke walked over and checked the caller ID.

"It's Nathan, Luke"

"You take it" Lucas said as he exited the room

"Nate, how's my favourite brother in law?" she sang into the phone

"I'm your only brother in law, Brooke" Nathan chuckled down the phone

"How are you, Nate" Brooke said softly

"Could be better, I guess" he said

"You know what can make you feel better, BIL?"

"Has it been that long you forgotten my name?" he asked

"B-I-L, Brother in Law, silly! Seriously, I think you should come to my baby shower, it would be good for you" she said joyfully

"Good as in girly shit like stupid baby games and hordes of giggling women?" Nathan said sceptically

"Come on, Nate, there will also be beer for the non pregnant people, and you can hide out in the rumpus room with the play station and Lucas and Skills"

There was silence on the other end of the line.

"Who else is going to be there?" Nathan asked faintly

"Peyton won't be there, Nate" Brooke said defiantly

"I wasn't talking about Peyton, Brooke" Nathan said bluntly

"Of course you weren't. She can't come, she has a concert in Atlanta or something" Brooke said with her fingers crossed behind her back

"Ok, I guess I will come then" Nathan said reluctantly

"Great, so we are leaving early, so I expect you there next Monday, see you, Nate!" Brooke said, and quickly hung up before Nathan could change his mind.

"What are you up to, Cheery?" Lucas said from the door

"Nothing, Broody" she said as she skipped out of the room, winking at Lucas on the way out.

A/N: Sorry that was a bit of a filler chapter but it is setting up for what is to come! For those who also read my other story, The Heart Brings You Back, (and if you don't you should check it out) the same deal applies here: Lots of reviews updating over the weekend. This may be only understood by my Australian readers but I will update again if the Geelong Cats win the AFL Grand Final on Saturday. GO CATS!!!