Chapter Four: The Truth Has a Way of Coming Out
The next day was more than just interesting. Brooke was ignoring Lucas and making death threats on Peyton's life; reminding them all that the 'B' in Brooke stood for Bitch, and using extra make up to hide the fact her eyes were red from all the tears she had cried. Nathan was pretty miserable too, moody and aggressive; driving Haley up the wall. One of the things she loved about him was when he opened up to her, told her honestly what was up and why, and let her say that she was sorry, and that it'd be okay; even though they both knew that it was beyond her control. However this time he wouldn't talk about it, except to deny that it was her fault and that he hadn't seen Dan in the last twenty-four hours. When she called Lucas to talk, Karen just told her he'd had been out all night and when he had finally arrived home, via Peyton Sawyer's car, he had suffered night terrors and therefore she'd let him sleep in this morning.
So Haley decided to visit P. Sawyer, the woman with all the answers. Or at least from a purely Nathan and/or Lucas point of view.
They met during lunch at school, Nathan had cut any classes in which Peyton would be, Lucas hadn't turned up because he'd been sleeping, and Brooke had been a bitch so it had been a natural development of this kind of twisted little group that P. Sawyer and H. James aka 'Tutor Girl' would eventually end up lunching together.
"So, what's up with the boys?" Haley asked as they sat down to enjoy their homemade chicken salad sandwich (Haley's) and soda (Peyton's).
"What do you mean?" Peyton asked, pretending ignorance to figure out what Haley knew.
"Well, Nathan's bad mood is enough to drag down even me and Lucas is avoiding all calls, plus… don't tell him I told you but he gets nightmares sometimes and lately they've been getting really bad. Karen let him stay home to catch up on some rest."
"Wow. That is serious. OK, if I tell you what's going on will you promise not to tell anyone else and to help me find out the truth?" Peyton asked. Blinking in surprise Haley nodded quickly. Peyton smiled and stood up, gathering up her stuff as she headed up to the art room.
"Wait, I thought you were going to tell me?" Haley complained as she caught up with the blonde cheerleader.
"Uh huh. I just think seeing is believing!"
OTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTH
A few minutes later the two unlikely allies were stood in front of an abstract drawing. A black canvas with irregular shapes sponged on to the edges, and in the centre a chalk drawing of Nathan's face, only he was younger and in the throws of passion, a mixture of real dirt and paint gave the impression he'd been playing basketball outside. Haley stared at it in shock, it was a very dark and personal piece, the blank and red flecks making it seem both angry and hurtful. Haley assumed it was Peyton's.
"OK. So the story goes that about a week ago I decided to hand in some of my earlier work to my art teacher. Most of it from when I first started going out with him when we were fifteen or sixteen or something, and the stuff from around the time my mom died was really dark. I did this one piece where Nathan was being run over by my mom's car as it ran the red light that killed her. My teacher thought it really reminded her of a piece done a few years ago by another student. This student," Peyton gestured towards the painting, "was about fourteen, fifteen tops, when he drew this. It was the last thing he ever painted."
Interested now, if a little confused that the student was male. Unless of course that student happened to be Tim Smith – because that would explain a lot! "So who was he?"
Peyton shrugged. "Miss Archer wouldn't tell me." And then she smiled wickedly upon seeing Haley's face fall with disappointment. She turned the paper over to reveal a neat and familiar signature;
Lucas Scott.
"Oh my God!" Haley whispered. "But, you're not saying Lucas and Nathan have ever had sex… are you?"
Peyton shrugged again. "See I thought it was crazy too, at first. But then I asked a few non-directional questions and they both totally freaked. Lucas denied it but he told Nathan that I knew something and then Nathan started going on about how the truth would devastate people. And then last night, I heard them talking… Now I don't know what else to assume."
Peyton waited for Haley to freak out. To deny it. To run away back to her boyfriend and best friend and play pretend like Peyton had considered doing after she'd first seen the picture. But to her surprise, Haley was stronger than she thought.
"Oh my god… I mean, I guess it explains some stuff." She admitted, unable to look away from the grotesque depiction of a fourteen year old Nathan having an orgasm.
"Like what?" Peyton asked, concerned.
"Just… the nightmares, the moods, the secrecy. The way he was so adamant about handling any jibs or bullying himself. He didn't want people knowing. And the bruises. After Lucas quit the school team his bruises doubled. He come home, afterwards, depressed and angry and bruised up. Karen just thought he was getting beaten up at school. Oh god Karen!" Haley suddenly realised how soul destroying this information was.
"Haley, stay focused. Is there anything else you can remember?"
Haley bit her lip and nodded. "Yeah. Um, one day I followed Lucas after class. He went to the boys locker room, which was odd since he avoided that place like the plague. There seemed to be no-one else around so I hid outside and waited for him to come out. I heard some really weird things from inside, like moans of pain and grunts too. I mean, I was only fourteen at the time I really didn't know what it was. I could take a guess now, though. The crying started up, like a wounded animal, and a few minutes later Nathan came out. He looked kind of sad but at the same time… kind of self-satisfied. I waited for another hour but Luke never came out. When I got home I called Karen and asked if she knew where Lucas was but she told be he was staying at Keith's that night."
The horror of the situation struck them. Peyton broke the silence with "do you think Keith knew?"
"No. No way. Keith is wonderful there is no way that if he'd known about this he would have helped Lucas hide it. He loves him, he'd hate it if he knew someone was hurting him." Haley said, convinced.
"Are you sure about that?" came a voice that was familiar to both girls. The turned around in shock…!!
ONE TREE HILL SLASH!
CLIFFHANGER!!
Who do you want it to be? Nathan? Dan? Lucas? Keith? Brooke? Deb? Whitey? WHO!
COMMENT IF YOU WANT MORE. I should probably start talking offense at the lack of response but people just don't seem to like dark!fic in OTH fandom.
SO, a special thank you goes out to:
J.Gongaware : I'm sory I made you dislike Peyton! Oh well, I'm over it. I'm not in love with her, I like her but I hate her with Lucas. I do not ship Leyton! Brucas yes, slash yes. And I think Paeyton and Lucas's on screen friendship is very nicely portrayed which is why I added it in! So thank you and keep reviewing! Cheers. Xxx and yes more dirty kinky past next chapter. Will also clear up the matter of consent to as it seems very non-con at the moment when really it's just dub-con.
Summer Davis : So glad you like it! Will be writing a very Nathan/Lucas centric next chapter, it's just Peyton wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote this! Glad you reviewed and plan to do so in the future, you keep me writing! Anyawy, thank so much!! xxx