Love Rectangle Plus One (Whatever That Is)

Chapter 8: Nothing Left To Lose

Jake walked up Peyton's stoop. As it was late in the evening, he figured Brooke had already come and gone. He wanted to check and see how Peyton was after what had happened between them because he knew it couldn't be good. He walked into the house and heard little sounds coming from Peyton's room. He rushed up the stairs, worried, but when he opened the door he just saw her crying, and beating into a piece of paper.

"Hey! Hey it's alright" he said coming closer and taking the paper out of his hands, before realizing it was a drawing. He stared at it and his stomach flipped realizing what it symbolized.

"Hi," she said softly.

"Are you ok?"

She glared at him and folded her arms. "Sureee," she said sarcasm dripping off her tongue.

"Look I'm sorry about Nathan and Brooke."

"Whatever," she shrugged and turned away.

"Peyton, you should talk to someone," he prodded.

"Yeah," she turned to him angrily her eyes flashing, "Well that person isn't you. So why don't you say your 'I told you sos' and leave me the hell alone."

"Peyton, I knew this would happen, but I didn't want it too."

She shrugged and stared at him blankly not really caring.

"So what do you want me to say?" he asked furrowing his brow frustrated.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing. I did this to myself. Whatever. It's not a big deal. You don't have to feel sorry for me. Why don't you just go check on Brooke, and let the villainess get some rest."

"Peyton, you're not a villain."

"Ha. Don't bother Jake. I'm the bad one here. So why don't you go check on Brooke because she's the one who's really hurt."

"You're hurt too!"

"Yeah well sucks for me. Look Jake, just go. I don't want to talk right now. Maybe not ever."

"Peyton please don't push me away. I'm your friend too."

"I know," she whispered staring sadly at him before her face turned to stone again. "Just go."

Jake nodded forlornly and went.

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

"Hey Brooke," Lucas said as they sat and stared at the clouds in the sky still sitting at the River Court. His hand combing through her chocolate locks as her head rested on his lap.

"Mmhmm," she mumbled closing her eyes for a moment.

"Well I just need you to know that." Would he tell her about what happened with Peyton? It was the right thing to do. No he couldn't though. It would doom them before they even started. And he had wanted this for so long.

"What?" she asked gently.

Well maybe he could tell her half. "After what happened with Nathan, before you found out, I talked to Peyton, and well we're kind of friends now. So I hope you can accept that, because I don't want her to be friendless and," his voice began to drain out as he saw the look on Brooke's face.

"I'm sorry," he finished lamely.

"No," she said even though she still felt jealous, "I want us to both be happy, so be friends with her. But please just don't talk about her. Ever."

"I won't," he promised squeezing her hand.

They sat together in silence for a few more minutes before Lucas broke it. "You're that mad huh?"

Brooke nodded tears forming in her eyes. "Like you can't even imagine."

"I'm sorry pretty girl."

Brooke smiled at him and gave him a soft, sweet, but innocent kiss. After all, they were taking things slow.

"What was that for?" he asked pleasantly surprised.

"I liked what you called me," she explained smiling.

"Lucas smiled and then got an impish gleam in his eyes. "Pretty girl, pretty girl, pretty girl, pretty girl, pretty girl," he repeated over and over.

'Stop," Brooke said laughing.

"Fine," he said laughing too.

"Good," she smiled lying back down.

He smiled too loving the feel of her silky locks spread over his lap. It was almost too perfect.

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

A knock on Haley's door that afternoon interrupted her homework. She knew it wasn't her parents because they were still at work. And any of her friends would have just come in. She went downstairs to investigate. As she pulled open the front door, she saw Nathan looking like a sad little lost puppy. It almost broke her heart, before she remembered that he really annoyed her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked her voice sounding harder then she'd intended, but if Nathan noticed he didn't show it, he just stared back at her.

"Brooke and I are over."

"Good," Haley said ready to shut the door.

"I feel bad," he said.

"You should," she replied angry at him. "You lead both Brooke and Peyton on. And Peyton enough so that she betrayed her best friend. And all for what? So you could get some ass. You don't even really care about either one of them!"

Nathan winced at her harsh words. "You're right. I was an ass," he said softly.

"Of course I am, and of course you were," she said rolling her eyes.

"I'm sorry Haley."

"It's not me you should be apologizing too."

"No, I mean about you tutoring me."

"Oh," she said softening a little, "Thanks."

He nodded. "I just wanted you to know that I'll try from now on. If you'll stick with me."

"I will," she promised a little touched.

"Good," he smiled a little.

"Yeah."

"I guess I should go."

"Yeah," Haley repeated.

Nathan shook his head and laughed.

"What?" she asked embarrassed.

"You're cute when you're angry," he replied surprising both Haley and himself.

"Oh," she said softly.

He smiled a little awkwardly, and turned and walked away.

And even though, he was a jerk, Haley couldn't help but feel a wave of happiness wash over her when he said that.

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

"Hey Peyton," Lucas called up the steps. He had just dropped Brooke off at her house and was feeling on top of the world. But he had wanted to check on Peyton, because he was pretty sure Brooke had laid into her hard.

"Hey Lucas," she said attempting a smile. It was funny how in one day, he had turned from the object of her hate to the person she was most excited to see.

"How are you?" he asked kindly.

"Not so good. I was kind of a bitch to Jake. I know he just wants to help me, but whatever."

"That sucks. What about with Brooke?"

"Don't even ask," Peyton said sighing.

"That bad?" Lucas asked wincing.

"Worse," Peyton sighed again.

"I'm sorry," he said putting a soothing hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks, but I kind of deserved it."

Lucas shrugged. "I can't really argue with that," he said sorrowfully.

"It's alright. So why are you so happy and smiley?"

"I don't know if I should tell you."

"Come on," Peyton prodded.

"Well Brooke and I are kind of almost together."

"Oh," Peyton said frowning, "I'm sorry Luke. That's good for you."

"Yeah, but I told her you were still my friend."

"Oh," Peyton said brightening. "Thanks Luke, that means a lot."

He nodded smiling at her.

"Is she okay with it?" Peyton asked quietly, concerned.

"She is. She'll have to be."

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

Nathan sat at the River Court staring up at the hoop trying to figure out where his life could have gotten so screwed up. Up until a few days, partying, winning basketball games, and having sex was all he cared about. He had no qualms about sleeping with both Peyton and Brooke. And now, it was all over and none of that seemed important anymore. There was just some force of nature that was drawing him toward somewhere he'd never been before in his life. He was scared, but he couldn't stop it.

Just then his phone rang and he hoped it was Haley. That was the other weird thing. He was completely drawn to Haley in a way he couldn't even begin to understand. But when he looked at the screen he saw it was just Tim. Nathan sighed and opened the phone.

"Hey."

"Nate man, I am so sorry about earlier. Did Brooke like kill you? Man I'm mad sorry."

"Tim, relax, I'm not mad."

"You're not?" he asked confused.

"No, look I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow." Nathan hung up the phone not bothering with his response. He stood up. He had one last thing to do. He walked until he reached his destination and went in without so much as a knock.

"What do you want?" Peyton asked sounding beyond pissed.

"I know I was an ass. I lied to you, led you on and treated you like shit. I made you betray Brooke for no good reason other than I was horny. And then I hurt you and ruined your friendship. I know it doesn't mean anything, but I just need you to know how sorry I am. Even if you can't forgive me. I'm sorry Peyton.

She stared at him for a moment and was about to respond. But he didn't give her the chance. He just gave her one last look and walked away.