Author's Note: I have to say, you guys are the best reviewers I've ever gotten. So many of you take the time to actually write what bothers you and what you like, and it really means a lot to me. I'm hoping you're all satisfied with what happens next, and throughout the rest of the story. I've had it all planned out for, what, years now, and it's all finally starting to take shape.

Keep reviewing like you do, because it seriously makes me feel so beyond euphoric, I can't even explain it.

Movie Script Ending

Chapter Thirty-Seven: You're a Wolf, Boy, Get Out of This Town

She lay stretched out on Peyton's bed, eyes trained on the blue walls, wanting so badly to simply disappear into them. How nice it must be to be in oblivion, to not have a care in the world. She laughed lightly at the thought, for possibly the first time in days, and Peyton turned to look at her with an amused smile.

"Are you high? Brooke, you know you're not supposed to do that when you're pregnant, right?"

As if she did not hear her friend, Brooke's eyes remained on the azure color, and she spoke softly. "Wouldn't it be nice to be nothing? To just be the blue on someone's walls?"

Peyton made a face. "That's an unusually dark thought."

"Well," she met her friend's eyes slowly, "you're an artist. You don't want to be the paint, you want to be the one painting."

She wasn't sure where her friend was going with this, but if it was any insight on what was currently going through Brooke's mind, Peyton would take it. "And what about you? What would you want to do?"

Brooke shrugged, her eyes suddenly clouding over, and her loose body turning stiff. "I'd just let go."

As much as Peyton wanted to dive deeper in, she could tell the moment had passed. Brooke had once again propped herself up, her eyes scanning the pages of a magazine on parenting. The blonde turned back towards her full-length mirror, once again set on the task of applying her makeup.

"So how's life at home?" She asked.

Brooke scoffed. "I should be asking you that, missy. How's life with Jaaake?" She enunciated the word so that Peyton couldn't help the fluttering that commenced in her stomach.

"We're… taking it slow." Peyton said carefully.

Brooke groaned. "You guys are always taking it slow."

"Slow works for us. Fast -- well, I don't really know who fast works for, ultimately."

"True, but, does this mean that Dave is definitely out of the picture?"

Peyton hesitated. "I still want to be his friend…"

"But you love Jake." Brooke nodded, so sure of herself. This must be what it like for her and Lucas, Peyton realized, it must be so simple, so obvious.

Peyton turned to look at Brooke, biting her lip. "As much as I care about Dave, it was honestly like… right as soon as Jake walked through that door, everything felt so much better.You know? Like, I knew everything would be okay and my life would be set with him. I've always known he was the one, and I don't think I ever let myself let go of that."

Brooke was sitting up now, magazine in her lap, eyes sparkling. "I understand that. It's good that it was so easy for you. To you know, pick Jake."

"He's always been it for me. Like Lucas for you."

"Oh, yeah. Right, of course." Brooke cleared her throat, laying slowly back down.

Peyton sighed, hoping for words to fill her mind. Something was strange with Brooke, but she wouldn't push it. Maybe it was just the pregnancy hormones. Satisfied with this answer, Peyton smiled. And suddenly something struck in her brain.

"Oh my God, I've got gossip." She said guiltily, chuckling slightly at her own words.

"Good, I need some gossip." Brooke clapped her hands together.

"Okay, rumor all over town has it that Haley," Peyton paused dramatically. "…got married."

The darker-haired of the two shot up, a gasp leaving her lips. "What? To who? When?"

"I have no idea. All I know is that everyone around town says that Haley's gotten married… and everyone's waiting to see what Nathan does about it."

---

Brooke burst through the door, ripping off her thin sweater and tossing it onto the stairs as she stormed up to her and Lucas' room.

He was sitting on the bed reading a newspaper when she walked in, legs spread out before him and reading glasses -- newly acquired months ago -- over his eyes.

"You," she said, waving her arms, "are not going to believe what I just heard."

---

The phone rang once, twice, and then three times.

Nathan, face down in his bed, was desperately trying to ignore it, to fall back asleep. The past couple of weeks, he'd become something of a recluse. After his final conversation with Brooke, he'd sunk so deep into depression, he didn't think he'd ever find a way out. This was really bad. Worse than when Haley had left him years ago. Except for that now, instead of rebelling against everything and becoming a generally all-around asshole, he was forcing himself to stay mature; to simply let the world continue on without him.

The phone continued to ring, and Nathan scratched an itch on his bare back, still doing everything in his power to pretend the ringing wasn't happening. Whoever was calling should have gotten the message by now - Nathan was screening everyone, and would not stop for any reason.

Finally, the answering machine clicked on, and the person on the other end sighed loudly. It was Lucas. "Nate, I've been trying to call you for days. Where the hell are you?"

"Leave me alone!" He groaned to his victor, sinking deeper into his pillow.

"That's a stupid question. I know where you are. You're right there in bed, listening to this, telling me to go away."

Nathan sighed, but couldn't help to add in a sarcastic, "You know me so well, Luke."

"I know you're making some sarcastic remark. Whatever, man. Just listen… I have somethingreally, really important I need to tell you, so…"

His curiosity was beginning to get the best of him. Nathan lifted his head from his pillow, eyeing the answering machine as it spoke to him. Finally, he began to lift himself, groaning with the weight of his own body.

He shuffled over towards the phone, shivering slightly. He was dressed in just sweatpants and the bed was a lot warmer than the room itself.

"What, man? I was sleeping." He answered in a slightly groggy tone.

"There you are! Where the fuck have you been?"

"Sleeping. Now what's this important thing you need to tell me?"

Lucas seemed annoyed. "So you only answered because I need to tell you something? Nice."

"Dude, I'm really not in the mood for all this, so if you could just tell me, I can go back to sleep, and we'll all be happy." He didn't know why, but he was hoping it was something about Brooke. He needed to hear something about her. To see how she was doing, how the baby was doing.

"What's wrong, Nathan?" His brother's voice sounded so genuinely concerned that Nathan felt his heart melt. Damn Lucas for being such a sensitive person.

"I'm just kind of sick. My allergies are killing me too. Sorry, man." He sniffled for effect.

"That's alright. It's just, if you're sick, this is probably going to piss you off even more than it normally would."

"Great, shoot." He clenched his fist.

Lucas hesitated. "Just… try not to do anything too crazy like paint your apartment pink, or decide to become a clown as a profession when I tell you this, okay?"

So this was about Haley. Nathan's jaw clenched. "Luke, I'm running out of patience here."

"There's some rumors going around town that Haley's married."

---

He didn't believe it.

He wasn't sure exactly why. All he knew was that there was no way inhell Haley had gotten married. This was just so far from something she would ever, ever do. The only reason she'd even married him was because they'd really been in love, and he'd convinced her. Would she make that same mistake again?

As his car turned the corner of Karen's café, he looked for a parking spot, all the while also trying to see if Haley was inside.

He parked, exited, and tried his hardest to look casual as he neared the café, though he felt his palms begin to sweat. He didn't love Haley anymore, but he certainly didn't want her married to someone else.

She was the first thing he saw when he entered, with her hair braided loosely and a gold and diamond ring shining on her left ring finger. He sighed.

"Haley," he sort of coughed as he said it, hands burning holes through his pockets.

"Nathan," she frowned, surprised. He was sure she had some sort of idea as to why he was here. "What are you doing here? You look terrible." This he did not doubt. He had barely managed to jump into the shower before leaving, and his face had grown a nice little beard he had not cared enough to shave. Bags were still firmly in place underneath his eyes, and he knew he looked sadder than a homeless puppy.

"You're married?" He laughed humorlessly.

"I wanted to tell you myself.." She bit her lip, trailing off and looking anywhere but at him.

"I can't believe this. I practically had to force you to marry me, but not even a year after we get divorced, you get re-married? I'm assuming by choice.."

She scratched her head. "Nathan--"

"Everyone's talking about it, did you know?"

"I'm well aware, Nathan." She was getting upset now, and he found that he didn't really care. Maybe all this anger was coming from a different place; from Brooke perhaps. Either way, he didn't care. He was having a bad year, and Haley getting married wasn't making it any better.

"So who is this guy? Is he from Tree Hill?"

"You don't know him." She shrugged.

Nathan's jaw dropped. "It's Chris, isn't it? You married Chris fucking Keller."

"Yeah," Haley rolled her eyes sarcastically. "I married Chris Keller. Grow up, Nathan! This isn't high school. His name is Peter."

"Peter?" he winced. "I can actually see you being married to a Peter."

"Is that some sort of subtle dig? I don't understand you, Nathan! We're not married anymore. We're not even friends. You have no right to come in here, and dictate how I should live my life. I'm happy! Silly me, I guess I thought maybe you'd be happy for me, especially knowing how unhappy I was when we were together."

It made perfect sense. Hearing her say this seemed to make all the difference. As Nathan watched Haley stand before him, eyes watering and chest moving up and down rapidly, he felt himself let her go. He felt his closure of their relationship, so long and deep and painful, slip away.

"It wasn't a dig," he sighed. "I'm sorry. I had no right to come in here and bother you like this."

Haley seemed to soften. "No, it's… I guess I can understand. If I heard you were married, I'd probably be pretty upset."

"The difference is, you'd be too nice to actually confront me." They both laughed quietly, and he noticed now that she'd colored her hair. It was a more honey-colored brown, lighter. She looked happy, there was a faint pink in her cheeks.

"So, kind of hasty?"

"I guess, but I've always kind of been like that, haven't I?"

He bit his lip. "I guess. Look, I should probably go. Leave you to your work, and all.."

Haley nodded.

He began to walk away, stopping when he heard her voice once more. "You didn't force me to marry you, by the way. I hope you know that."

Nathan smiled at her, leaving the café.

He wasn't sure why, but this Haley encounter had lifted a weight from his shoulders. She'd lifted this burden that had pushed him down until he was on his knees, crawling through life.

Perhaps Brooke did not want to be with him, and Haley was married, and the whole world would move on without him. But it was time he let go of everything.

It was time Nathan Scott took control of his own life, and moved on.