A/N: First of all, can I say how saddened I was hearing about Heath Ledgers death. He was one of the few Australian actors that have made an successful transition into Hollywood, and no matter what the news report say, he was a brilliant actor that did his home country proud.10 Things I Hate About You is one of the few movies that I can watch without getting sick of, he was one of my first teenage crushes and Heath will be sorely missed. Secondly on a much brighter note, I am finally updating, and remember to vote on my TFCITD poll on my profile page, the more updates the better, it will definitely cheer me up! And I don't own OTH
CHAPTER 8-My Big Mistake
"Jake?"
"Jake, you came for my baby shower…how sweet!" Brooke giddily said, hugging Jake as he still stood in the doorway.
"Ah well not exactly Brooke" he said looking uncomfortable
"He's here for me, Brooke" Nathan said
"Huh? I don't get it" Brooke said, walking closer to the foyer
"Yeah Nathan, since when are you buddies with Jake?" Lucas asked
"Since he is my lawyer" Nathan replied in a matter of fact manner
"Your lawyer?" Lucas and Brooke said in unison
"Yes I'm Nathan's divorce lawyer" Jake said quite uncomfortably
"Divorce?" Haley said from the corner of the room.
"Yes he works for Beck, Stein and Carter" Peyton spoke up
"Hi Peyton" Jake said acknowledging Peyton for the first time
"Hi Jake" she replied quietly, hardly able to meet his eyes.
"Anyway, come in?" he said, still standing in the doorway
"Of course!" Brooke replied waving him in
"Sorry we didn't invite you to the baby shower man, we didn't know what you were up to these days…." Lucas said
"No it's fine." Jake moved his briefcase from side to side uncomfortably
"You should sit, eat drink!" Brooke said merrily
"I'd love to Brooke but I'm just here to talk to Peyton and Nathan" he said in a professional manner.
"Oh ok, use the study if you want" she said
"Thanks Brooke" he said touching her arm lightly "Congrats on the baby"
"Thanks Jake, don't be a stranger, k?" she said looking briefly between Jake and Peyton.
"Ok, and by the way, thanks for being so kind to Jenny" he said with a glint in his eye.
"No worries, she seems like a great kid" Brooke said earnestly
"She is" he said proudly
"Well I better…" Jake motioned towards the study
"Of course, go ahead" Lucas said
Peyton and Nathan followed Jake into the study
Jake set his briefcase down on the desk and fiddled with the hatches. He reached for the manila folder that sat on top.
Peyton and Nathan exchanged confused glances. Since Peyton had closed the door, Jake had remained mute.
"Jake?" Peyton said tentatively
"Andrew Barrage was unable to make it, he had been assigned a high profile case"
"That's fine" Nathan said, sneaking a look at his ex wife. Peyton's attention was now directed towards Jake, as he silently looked through the documents in front of him.
Nathan motioned Peyton towards Jake, the married duo having a silent argument with their eyes behind Jake's back. Peyton rolled her eyes and stepped cautiously towards her former flame.
"Jake?"
"Yeah?" he snapped
"Is everything ok?"
"Of course it is" he said briskly
"Well it is just like you seem to be ignoring us" she stated quietly
"No I'm not ignoring you Peyton. Ignoring you would be no word in 10 years, particularly when you got married" he said angrily
"This is what this about, Jake? Me marrying Peyton?" Nathan spoke up
"What else, Nathan? She was mine!" Jake roared
Peyton mouth dropped, her eyes wide in shock
"She isn't an object, Jake"
"That's funny because maybe if you hadn't been treating like one, you wouldn't be getting divorced" he said snidely
"What happened to you, Jake?" Peyton asked
"What can I say, seeing thousands of marriages dissolved every year has made me a bit cynical" he said
Peyton slipped out of the study, her body shaking slightly
The girls were still sitting in the lounge, and Brooke looked up to see her former friend pale as a ghost
"Peyton?" she asked slowly moving up of the couch
"He…" Peyton started
"He who, honey?" Brooke continued
Peyton remained silent, unable to speak
"Was it Nathan?" Haley, who was speaking to Bevin at the time, turned around at the mention of her ex's name.
Peyton moved her head from side to side.
"No…okay. Jake?" Brooke asked intuitively
Peyton remained catatonic. Brooke gently started to shake Peyton
"Peyton, its Jake isn't it?" Brooke asked again
Peyton slowly nodded.
"Ok, ok" Brooke said pulling Peyton towards the couch. The rest of the party guest were now staring at the interaction, obviously intrigued what had transpired in the study.
"Come on, Peyt, tell me what happened"
"He—I….mine" Peyton stammered
"You're not making any sense" Brooke said
The study door burst open and ricocheted off the adjacent wall.
"Wha-?" Brooke said
Nathan and Jake tumbled out of the study in a mess of arms and legs, fists being thrown left and right
"You son of a bitch!" Nathan shouted
"Don't bring your mother into this!!" Jake shouted back
For a second time that hour, the men rushed out of the rumpus room, hearing the commotion.
Lucas stood there in horror as Nathan and Jake continued to exchange punches.
"Why do you care anyway, Jake, it was over 10 years ago!" Nathan exclaimed
"Because I LOVE HER!!" Jake shouted
"Ohh boy" Lucas muttered underneath his breath before separating Peyton's two suitors.
"Are you crazy?" Brooke said marching up to Nathan, poking him in the chest
"He started it" he said raising his hands in defeat
"I don't care, Nathan, get out" Brooke said crossly
Nathan looked at Lucas, who just shrugged
"I should go" Jake said getting up off the floor
"No Jake let me get you an ice pack" Brooke said as she helped him to the kitchen.
The living room was in complete silence as Brooke and Jake left the room.
"Luke, do something" Nathan pleaded
"If there is one thing I have learnt in the last 8 months, it is not to mess with Brooke when she is angry" Lucas said
"But he started it" Nathan said childishly
"Just give her some space, Nathan. Let's head out for a bit" Lucas said as he grabbed his jacket.
"Ok…" Nathan said reluctantly. He briefly glanced at Haley, but he couldn't read the expression on her face. He sighed before following Lucas out the front door.
"I'm really sorry Brooke" Jake said as he held the ice pack to his face
"Don't worry about it Jake, it wouldn't be a party without a fight, just like the good old days huh?" Brooke said as she sat down
"Still I didn't mean to ruin it" he said apologetically
"I know, now what are we going to do with you?" Brooke asked
"What on earth do you mean?"
"You and Peyton of course" she replied looking as if it was the most obvious thing in the world
"There is nothing between me and Peyton" he said defensively
"Well that little outburst you had in there said otherwise" Brooke said playfully
Jake slumped against the counter, and ran his hands through his hair
"I didn't mean it"
"You don't go around saying I love you, it doesn't work like that" she said gently
"I know, she must think I am a complete ass"
"No, I think Peyton is just confused at the moment. I mean you just waltz back into her life, and declare you love for her? I thought timing was more of a strong suit for you" Brooke advised
"It usually is, I guess handling this divorce brought all these memories back" he stated sadly
"Jake, you know how I always knew that you two were right for each other?" Brooke asked
"How?" he asked sadly
"Because you and Peyton went through so much to be together. Star crossed lovers, fate, soul mates all of that. Even with Nikki returning, when states and thousands of miles separated you, you still loved each other, love each other." Brooke corrected herself
"But why would she marry someone else then Brooke?" he asked painfully
"It's not my place to say, Jake. Peyton will tell you in her own time" she said wisely
"Thanks Brooke"
"No problem, I just want to see you and Peyton happy again" she said earnestly
Peyton stood behind the kitchen door, eavesdropping on the conversation. She felt so conflicted inside. As soon as she had seen Jake in the door way, this wave of emotions came rushing back, some that she had thought was lost. He hadn't really changed in the last 8 years. Peyton felt butterflies the size of giant moths fluttering around in her stomach. It made her feel like she was 16 again. In the small period if time he was in her life she had never felt so much love, belonging and family all wrapped up in the one person. Most of all she felt hope, and that scared her most of all. She glanced over to the foyer where Haley was pacing back and forth. She slid down the kitchen door and hugged her knees. How could this get so messed up? She thought
Rain was pelting down on the roof as the there was a loud knock on the door.
"Peyt, what are you doing here?"
"I thought you could use some comfort"
"I don't need any more comfort, Peyton" he said bitterly
"I don't mean me, you moron, I meant this" she said revealing the Southern Comfort from behind her back.
"That's my kinda comfort" he said, opening the door wider
"That's what I thought" she said smugly as she opened the bottle and he found two clean glasses
"What's up Peyt? I not you're usual sparing partner" as they slumped onto the couch
"I just came back from Lucas'" she said, a troubled look appearing on her face
"So? That's not unusual" he said
"I told him I loved him" Peyton admitted
"And I'm guessing it wasn't reciprocated?" Nathan asked
"Not exactly" she said, taking a swing of the bottle
"Well join the club" he said motioning to the television
"What is this?" she asked, trying to focus on the image
"Grammy's" Nathan said simply
"Do you think you should be watching this?" Peyton asked
"Why not?" he said haughtily
"Because you're ex wife is nominated for like a gazillion awards" she stated
"What ever, you want to drink or not?"
"Alright"
Peyton and Nathan were sufficiently drunk by the time they had a glimpse of Haley on the screen.
"Hey…Nate?" Peyton giggled
"What?"
"Wasn't this like a month ago?" Peyton asked, finally connecting the dots
"So?" he asked angrily
"Why the hell are we watching this?"
"Because…of that" Nathan said as he pointed, his hand trembling at the television
Haley was in a red strapless dress, her sandy blonde hair in an array of curls.
"Wait for iiiittt" he slurred
Haley walked up to Nancy O'Dell
"Here with me is a woman, at the tender age of 20 is nominated for an astonishing 5 Grammy's this year. Haley James, everyone."
"Hi, Nancy" Haley said waving at the television
"Now your latest album, Always and Forever, has been critically acclaimed. Where did you get your inspiration for this?"
"Let's just say I was in a relationship that gave me some experiences to draw on" Haley said, rubbing a spot on her left ring finger.
"Ahh could this be based on some of the lovely gentlemen friends you have been seen out on the town with?" Nancy asked coyly
"Possibly" Haley replied in a non committal manner.
"One last question before you get ushered of into the auditorium" Nancy asked as Haley's minder was guiding her towards the entrance.
"Of course"
"Sources say that you are linked to Charlotte Bobcat Nathan Scott, can you confirm or deny?" Nancy asked frankly
"I did go to high school with Nathan but it nothing more than that" Haley, who had slightly paled when asked the question, answered with such confidence Nathan almost believed it.
"Nothing more? No romantic trysts, high school sweethearts" the reporter probed the singer
"Sorry Nancy, all Nathan is to me is a piece of the past, much like the rest of Tree Hill. Now if you could excuse me" Haley said as she walked towards the theatre.
"Sure, Haley, have a great night. This is Nancy O'Dell for Access Hollywood."
"So there you go, Peyton, all I am is just a part on Haley's past, already forgotten about" he said painfully
"She hasn't forgotten about you Nate" Peyton said patting Nathan on the knee.
"Well she may as well have. All I am is a miserable bastard waiting for the one to walk through the door" he said sculling the rest of the bottle.
"Well misery loves company" Peyton said, moving closer to Nathan
"Why me Peyt? Why do I always loose the girl?" he said staring at his wedding ring that remained on his finger.
"You didn't loose everyone" Peyton said
"No I am glad you're here" Nathan said earnestly
"Me too" Peyton said miserably
"We make a great pair" he chuckled
Both Nathan and Peyton fell back onto the couch, faces inches apart. As they both moved closer each other, hands were moving to places where they had not been in years, and neither knew the repercussions of the what they were about to embark on.
Outside, a woman stood, the water dripping off her soaked clothes, her tears mingled with the rain, the light from the inside of the room reflected in her eyes.