Chapter 15

Sooner or later...it all comes out

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A/N: I have been on a roll with updating. I am working on the next chapter tonight, so it will be up. Let me know what you think everybody. The more comments I get on it, the faster I update. It's true!

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Chapter 15.

The four of them stood there, in the apartment. Lucas and Haley both stared at Nathan and Brooke for answers, some explanation that could make all of this make sense. None if it made sense right now.

--

12 hours Earlier.

--

Brooke had just gotten back in town. It was only three days until school started. The summer had gone by too fast. Not senior year was starting, and she had to work really hard. It was the last year, the last chance, and colleges and everything. it would be very difficult, but she was more then ready for the challenge. Nathan had offered, and promised he would pick her up from the airport, but Brooke refused it, and wouldn't tell him what time she was getting in. Nathan had work, and it was his last day before the weekend started, and then school. There was no reason she couldn't take a taxi, so that is exactly what she did.

--

Nathan came home around four thirty, and walked into the apartment to find Brooke there.

"Brook! You're back?" He asked.

"Yup! Back for good!"

They hugged and kiss, and were thrilled to see each other.

"Ugh...I have to go over to my parent's soon. You can come if you want, but I guess my dad said he wanted to talk to me about some stuff, basketball. Games don't start until November, but I need to get back into running and stuff to get in shape for the fall. If you want to come though...my mom will be there..."

Brooke shook her head, "No. You go! I should unpack tonight and stuff, besides I will be here when you get back. I'll wait in the bed for you...with nothing on." Brooke smiled.

"Kind of makes me not want to go..."Nathan told her, smiling.

"No. Go! Well, can we talk for a few minutes first.."

"Yeah, of course.."

"So...what is the plan? For telling everyone?" Brooke asked him.

"I called Haley...and told her that I was going to be flying out there next weekend, that the summer had passed and her and I needed to talk. She told me that she would meet me for lunch tomorrow. She had to come into to town to get somethings from the school...so, I am going to tell her then. I will go and tell Lucas after that, and you can tell Peyton tomorrow..."

"Alright, sounds good," Brooke kissed him, and told him to have fun tonight.

--

Not even half an hour after Nathan left, Brooke heard a knock on the door.

"Who's there?"

"It's Lucas. Brooke, you're here?"

Shit. "Yeah!" She opened the door, "You're back!"

"Yeah. I got back last night! When did you get back?"

"This morning! I guess Peyton is coming back tomorrow morning,"

She didn't want to lie and say when Peyton came back, she was going back there. That was not the case, but Lucas said it, not her.

"Oh, so you're staying here until she gets back, makes sense."

Brooke smiled, "So, what are you doing? Nathan is over at Dan's house..and I'm bored. Want to go out?"

Lucas nodded, "Sure."

--

Brooke wrote a note down and left it on the counter.

Nathan-
Lucas stopped by. We went out to dinner. Be back later.
-Brooke.

It was simple and too the point but she didn't want him to worry. They went to a restaurant close by.

"Wow..this whole summer...I really missed everything about home. I'm sorry Brooke, that when we dated, about what I did to you,"

Don't feel too sorry. I am dating your brother, your best friend's husband. "Lucas! Don't worry about you. You and Peyton had a connection, I understand that. There was just feelings there..."

"No. You're not getting it, I screwed up. I made the wrong choice. Her and I...we didn't have that connection. We couldn't make it work. Brooke...I am crazy about you. I tried to date other girls, and be happy with what I decided but..I just can't. I know I have no right to ask this, but do you think you and I...we could have another chance?"

"Lucas...I think it's too late for that. There is a reason we didn't work...okay? Please. You are such a great friend, but that is all we are. Friends. Okay?"

"Nothing at all I can do to change that?"

Brooke shook her heard. This was so bad. "I'm sorry Luke..."

"It's okay. I'm sorry. Us being friends is important to me, please forget I said anything,"

How do you FORGET something like this? Brooke nodded, "Sure."

The rest of dinner really didn't go that bad. They even went out after and walked around, going into some stores at the mall and Brooke shopped for some back to school cloths. Lucas was fine at first, but then he never missed the chance to hit on her.

"You need to get that outfit, you look perfect in it," He told her.

Then was they were leaving, Brooke sat in his car with him, and he reached in and kissed her.

"Lucas!"

"I'm sorry...Brooke, I couldn't help it!"

"Of course you could of. I thought we talked about this?"

"Are you seeing someone Brooke? Is that what the problem is...just tell me..."

"Lucas, that really isn't any of your business. Look, I'm leaving."

Brooke got out of his car, and walked off.

--

Nathan had stayed most of dinner, while his father kept going on and on about how they started having to train together. Then he got a call half way through, and he had to leave, so Nathan got out of dinner in under an hour.

--

Haley couldn't believe she was back in Tree Hill. It had been so long. She headed back to the apartment. It wasn't exactly her home anymore, but she could sleep on the sofa, until Nathan came to his sense and agreed to try it again with her. This was a marriage, they had to make it work. She came into the house, it looked very similar, except Haley noticed a ton of boxes, they were all marker Haley,and then explained what was in the box. He had packed all of her stuff up? Haley remembered how hurt he had been. Haley then walked into the bedroom, and saw girl's stuff all over the place. She opened the closet and found where all of her stuff had been, someone else's stuff was now hanging. It was Brooke's stuff. Maybe her and Peyton had gotten into a fight, she had no where to live, so maybe Nathan offered her to be able to stay there. It still seemed a little odd. It was a one bedroom, not a two bedroom, and all of her stuff was in the bedroom, along with hers. Then Haley opened the draw and found a photo album. It contained all sorts of pictures of them in different places. The dinsey world pictures. Then Haley saw that picture of them that was in-titled "Honey Moon"...and then a picture of them kissing. Haley couldn't believe it. Brooke Davis and Nathan were...together? The Honey Moon must have been a bad joke, her and Nathan were still married, so that was impossible! There was something going on though, and Haley was angry. She took the two pictures out and headed into the kitchen, about to leave to demand answers. Right as she was about to go out the front door, Nathan was walking in.

--

Brooke started walking, this was going to be further then she thought! Then all of a sudden a car stopped next to her. It was Bevin, one of the girls who she was friendly with from the cheer-leading team. She was dizty, but also very nice.

"Brooke! Why are you walking?!"

"I was at the mall with someone, but well, it's a long story."

"Hop in! I can give you a ride! Where are you going?"

"I am staying at Nathan Scott's"

"Oh, his apartment? Sure, that is on my way home anyway."

Bevin gave her a ride as promised. "Thanks for the ride," Brooke told her. "I will see you in a couple of days when school starts,"

Bevin smiled, "No problem! I can't wait to cheer again! See ya!"

Brooke headed into the house. She heard crying coming from inside the apartment as she got her key out. Oh no. It was Haley! What was she doing back? In any event, the news was out.

--

Lucas had just gotten home. He felt awful about what had just happened. The truth was the Brooke had been on his mind..A LOT. He did have feelings for. The way he had acted had been so stupid!! She had said that they could just be friends, and then he went and kissed! Then, as he got out of the car he noticed that her cell phone had fallen out of her purse and was sitting on the floor of his car. Perfect, he could go over to Nathan's and bring it back to her and apologize.

--

Brooke wasn't sure if she should enter or not, but what choice did she have? She did the brave thing and opened the door. Haley was crying.

"Nathan! What are these pictures? How could you do this!!"

"I'm sorry Haley..."

Haley went and sat down for a moment, right when Brooke entered.

"Uh...hey...Haley? What are you doing here?"

"This is my home Brooke, or was my home, I guess you pretty much took over, though huh?"

"Haley...I'm sorry.."

"Brooke, this isn't your fault..."

"I need some fresh air, and then I need for you two to explain to me exactly what is going on," Haley said. She couldn't take this, she felt as if she could pass out at any minute. Haley was outside for a few minutes, and was ready to go back in, right when Lucas showed up.

"Hales! Your back?" Lucas said to her. He then notice her eyes were puffy..like she had been crying.

"What's going on...is everything okay Haley?" He asked concerned.

"No...Nathan and I are over...he is ...seeing someone else,"

Lucas grabbed Haley's hand pulling her up from the ground, "What do you mean? He didn't tell me anything,"

"Of course he didn't..."

Lucas went into the house to find out what was going on. He then saw Brooke and Nathan standing next to each other, and it came together. . Nathan and Brooke had spent so much time together. That is why she was staying there. That is why she had acted the way she did when he kissed her. How could they do this?? It didn't seem right.

The four of them stood there, in the apartment. Lucas and Haley both stared at Nathan and Brooke for answers, some explanation that could make all of this make sense. None if it made sense right now.

Nathan cleared his throat..."So..I know you two want to know what's going on...I don't blame you..."

Lucas and Haley just stood there, waiting for what he had to say.

"When Haley left...I was really in a bad place. I didn't want to talk to anyone, see anyone, do anything...I didn't even want to go to school. Everyone tried, and I love you all for that. Lucas...and Haley, I know you didn't mean to hurt me, but it did. Brooke just had this way about her. She wasn't going to just let me sit there and feel bad for myself. She stayed with me at first out of friendship, she didn't have anywhere else to live..and then it turned into something more. I fought it, and it wasn't Brooke's fault. She tried to end it, but I wouldn't let her. We're in love with each other...I am just sorry it had to come out like this. We wanted to tell you..."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Haley asked, "I mean, when I saw you in Florida..you promised not to give up. You were there with her, why didn't you just tell me..."

"I couldn't..okay...I never promised anything...I wanted to end it, and I told you nothing would change. I also told you that I thought we should see other people."

"Nathan...I can't listen to this anymore..." Haley went to leave, "I, uh, I'll be here for myself tomorrow. Never speak to me again. I will send you the papers..."Haley said. Then, in Brook's face she said, "And you bitch, going after a married man? He was nice enough to let you stay here, you knew he was vunerable...you bitch!! I always knew you were a slut."

"Haley, I'll be out in a minute," Lucas said.

"You really are a bastard," Lucas told Nathan. "There are lines you don't cross. I was all for you ending things with Haley...if you really didn't feel anything, but I didn't expect you to go for Brooke, the one person you couldn't have. My ex-girlfriend, your ex-girlfriends best friend, and Haley and her were just starting to be friends. Screw this whole being brothers thing, it doesn't seem to be working out,"

He didn't say anything to Brooke, not a word. He felt he couldn't. He had hurt her, so maybe she had a right to hurt him. In a way, he felt that he shouldn't even be angry with Nathan. He had dated Peyton, and then Lucas tried to steal her away, and almost did. In time he would forgive Nathan, but he had to get over Brooke first to do that.

--

"It could have been a lot worse," Brooke told Nathan, as soon as everyone left.

"Yeah, I mean it sucks, it does. I just pictured it being a lot worse,"

Brooke had trouble sleeping that night, so she ended up falling asleep in the living room. The next morning, she had gotten a text from Peyton, telling her to pick her up at the airport. Brooke got dressed, and went.

"P. Sawyer!: Brooke called out the airport.

"B. Davis! How was your summer?"

"Really good!! How was your summer? How is Jake?"

"Awesome. I all ready miss him. It was a great summer though."

"Peyton..I need to talk to you..."

"Brooke? Is everything okay?"

"Look. I need to get this off my chest..right now.."

"Go for it...what is it?"

"Nathan and I...we're seeing each other. Well, it's more then that. We fell in love this summer."

"What?" Peyton did seem shocked, but Brooke notice, she didn't really look mad, or like she was about to yell.

"I know..it's crazy...Lucas and Haley found out last night..and they aren't very happy..."

"Well...I can see why...but..."

"Do you hate me?" Brooke asked.

"Brooke! I don't hate you!" Peyton hugged her.

"You don't?"

"I've been there...honey...you know I have. I thought I had something with Lucas, and I screwed us up over it..I know how it feels. Nathan and I we were never that close. I am in love with Jake now. What Haley did was crappy, she hurt Nathan, so I don't feel for her. I know that Lucas does care for you and Nathan is his brother, but Lucas hurt you. He went behind your back with me...okay? So don't feel bad. You told them, it's over, and I still love you. You have me and Nathan, okay?"

Brooke smiled, "Thank you Peyton! Soooo much!"

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A/N: First day of school coming up! Going to be a lot of drama between all of them. I can't wait to write it, so I may just do it tonight. : ) Let me know what ya think : )