OTH Slash – When We Were Young(er)
A Not So Secret Love – Trials
Peyton and Brooke were having lunch. It was a beautiful new school year and for the last six months Lucas and Nathan had been secretly building a relationship that seemed brotherly in the daylight but in the sanctity of their own bedrooms was anything but. For the time being Nathan was still living with his mom with his dad living in the Beach House that he had won from the divorce he had finally granted Deb in return for her backing his candidacy for Mayor of Tree Hill, which he had, of course, won. Keith had returned to Tree Hill after a brief affair with a beautiful woman who had disappeared one night, and when he has asked his brother to look into her name for him Dan reported that no such woman existed. Heart broken he was now teaching Auto-shop in Tree Hill and trying to repair his friendship with Karen, who was doing well. She now had two businesses, the Café and a club called Tric with Peyton who was currently helping Jake apply for full custody of Jenny. They lived together in Peyton's big old lonely house, surprisingly with Larry Sawyer's approval. At the moment Peyton and Brooke were discussing Haley's fate.
"God, it's so weird to think that Haley is gone!" Peyton declared as she bit into her lunch and took a sip of soda to wash it down. Brooke rolled her eyes.
"No. It's so weird that Tutor-Girl of all people turned out to be a rock star who's on her way to making it big before graduation. From the way things were going a few months ago I'd a thought she would have been married – or knocked up! – by Nathan by now. It's totally unfair, by the way, that she still has a perfect GPA and I'm failing Maths." Brooke said.
Peyton smiled at her friend's amazing ability to make it all about herself.
"Peyton. If I tell you something, promise not to laugh?" Brooke began tentatively.
"Of course. Unless you're gonna tell me you've decided that the perfect career would be teaching poor Mexican children maths? Because then, I'd have to laugh."
"No! I'm thinking maybe… I mean, I forgave you and really it was nothing so… I want to try again with Lucas." Brooke admitted and watched Peyton' face fall. "Oh God, you don't still like him do you? Because I would totally back off I mean if you-"
"No, no Brooke I don't still like him. And there is a reason you shouldn't either." Peyton began.
"What?" Asked Brooke suspiciously.
"He's in a relationship." Peyton said, skirting around the truth.
"So? Who is the bitch, I can take her down." Brooke said confidently.
"Not a she."
Brooke's mouth opened wide and stayed that way for a minute. Then she started laughing manically. "Peyton! He's not gay. Trust me, I've been there. He is a hundred percent A grade perfectly-"
"Nathan." Peyton interrupted.
"Huh? You lost me there."
"He is fucking Nathan. Has been for years – kinda." Peyton finally said it.
"You mean his brother? Peyton, that's not even funny. That's… that's illegal and gross and disgusting and OH MY God you are serious! I'm gonna chuck up… that's just… how long have you know?"
Peyton looked at her friend guiltily.
Five hours later Brooke found herself sitting at the bar of Tric sipping an orange juice that she had slipped a generous amount of vodka into. Miss Roe was tending tonight and she just needed to wait for the perfect moment before – ah, here it was.
"Miss Roe. Can I have a minute of your time?" Brooke asked, smiling evilly as Karen came over to talk to her. By the time she left Karen was as pale as a ghost and was dialling Keith's number while downing her third scotch of the last thirty minutes.
"Hi, Keith. It's Karen. I need to see you. Can you get to the house? Good, I'll met you there. No, no, there is no emergency, I'm fine. Lucas is fine. He's at Nathan's." There was an edge to Karen's voice when she said her son's name and Keith picked up on it and rushed over.
&
"I can't believe how calmly you are taking this!" Karen yelled as Keith sat impassively at the kitchen table after just being informed that his two nephews were having sex with each other and had been since they were thirteen. "You believe me right? Coz I'm not making this up!" Karen said.
"Despite the fact you are clearly on your way to drunk, yes I believe you. I just don't know what you want from me Karen." Keith told her.
"What I want from you? I want you to tell me it's not true, that Brooke is just angry because Lucas isn't in to her anymore. I want you to be as disgusted as I am! In fact, you should be twice as disgusted as I am! There are two of them that are related to you. God Keith! I just want you to tell me everything is going to be okay." Karen finally said, tears making tracks down her cheeks as she sat down.
Keith came over and kneeled down in front of her. "Karen, honey. I wish I could tell you it was a lie, but everything will be ok. I know you are disgusted right now, but in the morning you'll wake up and realise he is still your son and you still love him."
Instead of being comforted by his words Karen frowned and found herself more disturbed. "No. I'll feel like this forever. It's a sin and it's wrong, Keith. Why can't you see that? And why do you act as if this isn't a surprise – as if you already knew?"
Keith avoided her glance and stood up, walking over to the counter to pour himself some scotch. "Not everything is as clear cut as it seems right now, Karen. That I can promise you."
TBC.
So what do you think? I know there is no Lucas/Nathan lovin in this chap but relax they will be here next hapter, reaping what they sow.
So what did you think? Please comment!
And what do you want to happen next? Just out of curiosity?
THANKS TO:
Othhottness sorry, it's a longer chapter! Goodluk with your exams and I'll keep in mind what you said about Chris Keller, I do love it when you add him to the mix! Maybe I'll bring back Haley and Chris can tag along! Oh the fun!
MarissaDavis SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU for PM-ing me the other day and getting me back to the story! Don't worry the boys will be together and loving and strong in the face of opposition and there will be some interesting power battles going on between them Hope you liked the update.
J.Gongaware I will get back to Lathan's past soon, I just wanted to get the whole 'finding out' out of the way and I think it works this way, sort of like a chain of gossip, the type found in villages and small towns. Some tell others out of concern for their pride and heart (like P and B) others out of revenge and jealousy (B and K) and then there is the genuine need to share with a friend (K and K). Hope this is ok!
AlexCurtis Thanks!
LathanLover don't worry, I'm not gonna delve too far into the Keith-and-Dan thing because this story is about Lucas and Nathan. Haley won't be interfering but she may come back for a chapter or two.
Bianca thanks and I know. I think I mean to put that there – or maybe it was a esult of writing fanfiction at one am? Who knows. Anyway, cheers.
Rubie hope you are still there and yep, still writing! Thanks.