In honor of my SWEET 16 :) I give you updates for this and my other fanfiction. Exciting, I know. Enjoy!

Love Rectangle Plus One (Whatever That Is)

Chapter 3: Another Mistake

As Brooke had proclaimed in the locker room, she and Nathan had finished what they had started after practice. Nathan wore a self-satisfied smirk as he made his way over to Peyton's house. Only a boy like Nathan Scott could go from having sex with his girlfriend to immediately going to have sex with the girl he was banging behind his girlfriend's back. With Brooke, there was so much pressure because even though the hooking up was great, she was his girlfriend and had expectations. Like that it couldn't be a booty call. With Peyton it was different. He could just go there and relax with her and not worry about actually having a real relationship. Well he could. But with Peyton it was a different story.

Nathan bounded up the steps to Peyton's room where he saw her on her computer listening to what he called 'loser rock'.

"Hey Peyt," he said giving her a slow sexy smile.

But the way Peyton looked back could nicely be thought of as icy.

"What's eating you?"

What was eating Peyton was the fact that she was beyond guilty but she was also jealous. She wouldn't have had sex with Nathan in the first place if she didn't feel a connection with him. And here he was rubbing it in her face that he was still with her best friend Brooke.

"I heard about you and Brooke. And then you went to her house after practice. God, Nathan."

"Peyton she's my fucking girlfriend. What do you expect?"

"Maybe that you actually gave a crap about how I feel!" Peyton screamed.

"I don't need this drama. I get enough from my girlfriend. And I didn't get into this for you to nag me. Why don't you call me when you're less PMS." He was about to storm off when Peyton's voice stopped him.

"I'm sorry, I'm just stressed."

Nathan sighed. He got this all the time. So far having Peyton on the side hadn't been exactly as good as he'd expected. Sure the sex was great, but it could be great with Brooke too. He thought of Peyton as a relaxation, a person to help him get a way from it all. He wasn't looking for a relationship with her. But he knew that Peyton would never have gotten into this if she didn't feel something deeper for him than physical attraction. But he just decided to comfort her, and lie because it was easier than having Peyton get back at him and tell Brooke.

"I know Peyton," he said kissing her softly. "It's just so hard. I don't want to hurt Brooke."

Peyton nodded and her eyes welled with tears. "I feel terrible Nathan, but we can't help what we feel."

Nathan nodded and kissed her again this time more passionately and pretty soon they were done talking.

-------------------

Haley finished up her shift at the café and was waiting for Lucas to come from practice so they could have dinner together. She thought about the day as she waited. Lucas's basketball friends hadn't really been her type of people. She hated to say it but Peyton and Brooke seemed like bitches. Tim was an idiot and a dumbass. And well Nathan, Nathan was something. Haley had watched him walk around and in class. He was an arrogant and cocky jerk. He was also an ass for stringing those two girls along when clearly he didn't care a fig about either of them. But there was something about him. Something that Haley couldn't explain. But she felt it every time she saw him. Luckily Lucas came in at the moment to remove her from her mystifying thoughts.

"Hey Luke," she called over to him before noticing he wasn't alone.

"Guys you remember Haley James," Lucas said to two boys. One was short with spiky hair and big lips. The other was a tall boy with a shaved head. They both nodded in response.

"Good to see you again shorty," the tall one said.

"Yeah I've missed having another spectator at the River Court," the other said with a smile.

"Oh my God! Skills and Mouth. I missed you guys!" she said giving them both big hugs. They boys were a little shocked but hugged her back.

"So how do you like Tree Hill High?" Mouth asked as the four of them made their way to a table.

"It's good so far. I'm glad they have a tutoring center. But I must say I'm much happier to be seeing you guys. I don't think I really meshed with Lucas's other crowd. Well you know besides Jake."

"Yeah Jake's cool," Skills said.

"Don't worry Hales," Lucas said squeezing her shoulder, "I really only like Jake too."

Haley's eyebrow shot up and the two other boys laughed. "Fine and Brooke," Lucas admitted.

Haley smiled victoriously. "It's ok Luke I won't tell her."

"Thanks," he said smiling at her. "But seriously you might want to avoid them. I'm trying with Nathan but he's an ass and can be dangerous. It kills me what he's doing to Brooke. And even though Peyton hates me, I know she's going to get hurt too."

Haley nodded sympathetically. "What about Tim. Can I hang out with him?"

"Only if you really want to," Lucas said disgustedly.

"Kidding," she said sticking her tongue out at him. Skills and Mouth laughed and the four of them spent the rest of the afternoon catching up and reminiscing about old times.

-------------------

After dropping Haley off from the café, Lucas went over to talk with Jake. Although he and Haley really got along, and were on their way to becoming good friends again, he didn't feel quite comfortable telling her the whole Brooke, Nathan and Peyton saga, even though she'd figured most of it out already. Jake who knew the story from the beginning was a much better person to talk to at the moment.

"Hey man, what's up?" Jakes asked from his porch. He had been sitting their strumming a guitar, his favorite way to spend the afternoons after school besides playing basketball.

"Just came to talk?" Lucas sighed, sitting down next to him.

"You want to go inside?" Jake asked his thumb pointing towards the door.

"Nah its cool," Lucas said looking down and shaking his head, a frown playing on his face.

"Dude you have to give it time," Jake said referring mostly to Brooke.

"I know, but I'm just ready to kill Nathan. He has no remorse."

"I don't know what to say man. I mean Nathan's kind of an ass."

"Kind of?" Lucas asked looking up and smiling.

Jake laughed. "You know what I mean. It's good that the two of you aren't fighting with each other every second, like you used to. But you just accepted who he was. You didn't try to help him be a better person."

"Jake if I tried, I would still be getting pranks pulled on me like before."

"I know Luke. He just needs to find someone that will change him from the ass he is into a normal person. And hopefully, before Brooke and Peyton kill him."

Lucas laughed. "Yeah maybe an angel will appear out of nowhere. I wish I could tell Brooke how I felt though."

"Yeah speaking of that. Look I was wondering if it was ok with you if maybe I asked Haley out. She seems really cool."

Lucas tensed for a second. He felt really over protective of Haley for some reason. But he knew Jake was a good guy. "Yeah sure. Thanks for asking though."

"No problem, man. And listen, things will turn around. This is Tree Hill, after all. There's always some sort of drama."

"That's an understatement," Lucas said his smile widening.

-------------------

Haley got home from the café and was about to start her homework, when her cell rang. She couldn't understand who could be calling her. The only people who had her number were her parents (they were already home), her old friends (who were most likely busy) and Lucas, Skills and Mouth, (who she had just come from.) She looked at the screen and there was a number she didn't recognize. That made a little sense.

"Hello," she said flipping the phone open.

"Hey!" was the response. The girl on the other end managed to sound excited and bored at the same time. "It's Brooke from lunch."

"How did you get my number?" Haley asked confused.

But Brooke ignored the question. "Ok so since you're friends with Lucas and you're not hideous, you could totally be part of the in-crowd here. So you want to go shopping this weekend, and do something about your hair."

"My hair?" was all Haley managed to get out before Brooke steamrolled her again.

"It could really use some highlights. And you definitely need more fashionable clothes."

"Look Brooke, I really appreciate this," Haley finally managed to say, "But I'm fine with myself. I don't really have to be popular or part of the in-crowd. I like how I look and who I am."

"Oh," Brooke said flatly.

"We can still be friends," Haley said hoping to soften the blow. Although Brooke really wasn't Haley's type of person, she did seem to have a good heart and a fun spirit.

"Um yeah whatever. Look I have to go."

"See you tomorrow," Haley said trying to sound cheerful, but Brooke had already hung up.

-------------------

Brooke felt really agitated. Here she was trying to make some poor girls life a little better and she had totally not cared. Brooke was used to getting her way and hated it when people disappointed her. She decided to go to Peyton's to vent. Because if anyone knew anything about being angry and upset, it was Peyton.

"P. Sawyer!" she called when she opened the front door, "You better not still be asleep."

Peyton sat up hearing Brooke's voice. "Shit," she mumbled. Nathan was beside her, sleeping.

"Nathan, get up! Brooke's downstairs!" she whisper-shouted.

That sure woke Nathan up. He jumped out of the bed stubbing his toe on the desk chair. He grimaced in pain but managed not to shout out. He ran half- limping the rest of the way to Peyton's closet, as she hurriedly threw on clothes. He managed to shut the closet door behind him quietly the moment Brooke appeared in the room's doorway.

"Peyton!" Brooke whined.

"What is it Brooke?" Peyton said rolling her eyes knowing that Brooke got upset and needed comfort over the littlest things like breaking a nail.

"I called that girl that Lucas introduced us to, and told her I could make her into like a goddess but she completely refused. Bitch." Brooke sat on the edge of the bed her arms folded looking annoyed.

"Wow Brooke. You've outdone yourself with this one."

"What are you talking about?" Brooke whined noisily.

"The girl is clearly not one of us. I can't believe you even bothered."

"You're right," Brooke said sitting straighter and letting her hands fall. She felt better now. "She clearly is too much of a loser to hang out with us anyway."

"That's better," Peyton cooed.

"Don't make fun, P. Sawyer. And for the record, I said no to her."

"That's how I saw it," Peyton said laughing.

"Good," Brooke said standing up and dancing over to Peyton and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Well I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing. Bye bitch," she called cheerfully.

"Bye Brooke," Peyton said laughing. Peyton waited until she heard the front door close before opening her closet to a naked Nathan who was rubbing his toe muttering.

"You can come out now," Peyton said holding the door open trying hard not to laugh.

"Fuck," was all Nathan said in response.