Love Rectangle Plus One (Whatever That Is)

Chapter 11: Feel Fine

Later that evening, Jake went over to Peyton's house. Nathan had said he would go and talk to Peyton and try to make her feel better. Jake hoped he'd kept it and had decided to go and ask Peyton. The house was deathly silent which felt slightly creep. Jake walked up the stairs until he came to Peyton's room. Peyton was on the mood staring into space.

"Hey," he said tentatively.

Peyton turned her blank stare onto him. She didn't say anything.

"Umm did Nathan come to talk to you? I asked him too."

This got Peyton's attention. She was about to snap at Jake and bitch and moan about how much of an idiot he was to do that. But something inside her kept her from doing it. She knew he was just trying to be a good guy. It really wasn't his fault. How could he have known what would happen? She sighed.

"He came," she said flatly.

"Oh, so it was bad?" Jake asked sounding disappointed.

"Pretty much."

"I'm sorry Peyton. What happened?"

"Well I was under the impression that he wanted to get together for real, so we started kissing and it was amazing, and then he just stopped and said he couldn't do it." Peyton started to tear up.

Jake scrunched up his face. As much as he loved Peyton and wanted to be her friend, hearing this felt really weird. It was total girl-talk, and he wasn't a girl. Moreover, he was pissed at Nathan for leading Peyton on. Again. And then hurting her all over. Not to mention, he was pissed at Peyton for acting so stupid. But she was his friend, and right now she had no one else.

"I'm sorry Peyt," he said placing his hand soothingly on her shoulder.

"Whatever," she said trying to pull herself together, "It's not your fault he's an ass."

"I guess not," Jake murmured sitting down on the bed.

"But I'm officially done with guys. They all suck. No offense."

"It's ok," Jake smiled, happy that Peyton was going to take the initiative and try to be less caught up in what the opposite sex wanted and thought of her.

"I'm just going to hang out with my friends. You and Lucas. Maybe Haley," Peyton said thinking aloud.

"What about Brooke?"

Peyton frowned deeply. "What about her?" she said clearly annoyed.

"She's your best friend. You should at least try and apologize so she forgives you."

"Jake I know you want us to work this out, but I guarantee it's not going to happen. She's too mad, and I just can't now," she said frustrated.

"I still hope you do," he said softly.

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A few neighborhoods away, another house was booming with noise. When Brooke planned something, she planned it to perfection. Therefore, her small movie night had turned into a lavish affair, with plush-covered seats and a huge popcorn-maker. Lucas had invited Mouth and Skills, so it was them plus Haley. After watching two movies, the group decided to just chill and talk for awhile.

"Hey where's Jake? You did invite him right?" Brooke said looking at Lucas.

"Yeah, no idea," he answered. Actually he was pretty sure Jake had gone to see Peyton. But mentioning that would cause unwanted fireworks.

"So guys I really can't believe I've never hung out with you before," Brooke said turning her attention to Skills and Mouth.

"You're not missing much," Haley joked.

"Shut up shortie," Skills said but a smile was visible on his face.

"But seriously, where have you been all my life?"

"They were probably behind you admiring your ass," Lucas teased.

"God Luke! Plus I really don't think Mouth here is the type to do that," Brooke said winking at Mouth who blushed deeply in response.

"Well I know I was," Lucas laughed.

"Oh well that's a little better," Brooke cooed and went over to kiss him. The kiss went on for several seconds before Haley couldn't take it anymore.

"Gross. Guys come on, we just ate popcorn, and I have no desire to throw up."

"Just jealous," Brooke smiled.

Haley's eyes bugged a little thinking of what it would be like to kiss Nathan. Whoa, she thought shaking the image out of her head. "No," she said lamely.

"I know I am," Mouth said in awe.

Everyone began to laugh. "Seriously you guys are the cutest. We have to hang out more," Brooke demanded

"Whoa, I'm in shock," Lucas mocked putting his hands up to his chest, "First Haley and now Skills and Mouth."

"Brooke's turning a whole new leaf," Haley chimed in.

"Shut up you two. I just think it's time for me to share the wealth and my hot looks with other members of our community."

Haley rolled her eyes and Lucas laughed. Mouth just stared. 'Thanks," he breathed out, prompting more laughs.

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Lucas woke up on Sunday morning feeling guilty. He was angry at Nathan for his insinuating comments about Brooke, but he also knew that Nathan had a right to be pissed. As his mind grazed over the subject, he thought back to a conversation he had had with Jake a coupe of weeks ago. Jake was right. He had just accepted Nathan, so he wouldn't be picked on anymore. He didn't try to help him. He knew Nathan was an ass, but he also had a lot of shit with his dad. Their dad. Lucas should have tried harder to make things better for him. So he decided to talk to him.

He walked warily to the Scott household. Nathan may have begun to accept him, but he still felt uncomfortable with Dan. Although nothing had happened between them for quite awhile, he knew anything could happen at the drop of a hat. He heard the sound of a basketball against the pavement, and walked to the back where the hoop was hung.

"Hey," he called to Nathan. Lucas expected Nathan to yell at him, throw him out, or hit him. But Nathan looked pretty calm, and not even upset to see him. More like a little relieved.

"Hi," Nathan said staring down at the ground.

"You were right Nate. I should have told you about Brooke before. Or at least not rushed into it. I'm sorry," he added sincerely.

"I shouldn't have said what I said. I was just angry," Nathan offered.

"I know," Lucas replied softly.

The brothers stared at each other in silence for a few minutes. Before Nathan broke it with a bitter laugh.

"You were right about Peyton."

"Mmhmm?" Lucas asked.

"I went to talk to her on Friday after school. And well we kind of started hooking up."

"What?!" Lucas cried pissed beyond belief that Nathan would do something like that to Peyton again.

"Relax. I told her it couldn't happen. I just, I needed to be myself again."

"Nathan the last thing you need is to be that guy."

"I know, and that's why I didn't let it go farther."

"Good." Lucas sighed and stared at the massive house. Sometimes he felt he was lucky for the way things had turned out with Dan.

"I should have just avoided her. God I knew she wasn't over it, and I just wanted to piss you off. Ugh"

Lucas smiled. "It's okay Nate. We were both just angry. This whole triangle thing has been bad for all of us."

"Triangle?" Nathan laughed, "More like quadrangle since you loved Brooke for like ever."

Lucas joined in on his laughter. "Maybe the best thing for you man, is to avoid girls for awhile."

"Maybe," Nathan agreed. But the image of Haley James was stuck inside his mind. And if he could help it, the last thing he wanted right now was to avoid her.

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"Hey Luke," Peyton called after school on Monday. Brooke was throwing some emergency cheerleading meeting, which she was late for. But she didn't care. This could be one of the few times they could hang out without Brooke and Lucas getting into a fight.

"Hey Peyton," he smiled as he put down the book he was reading. Brooke had told him to wait for her, so he had been sitting in the quad reading. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," she sighed. "Actually the real reason I wanted to talk to you was to thank you for being such a good friend and looking out for me. You were right about Nathan."

"Yeah he told me what happened."

"Oh," Peyton said feeling a little embarrassed, "Well I should have listened to you. But I realize for good now, that Nathan and I were definitely not meant to be. And I just need to move on."

"I'm proud of you," he said reaching out to give her a hug."

"Thanks, but anyway I should get going. Bye Luke," she waved and smiled before walking away.

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Nathan stared out the window watching Peyton and Lucas's interaction. Next to him, Haley was droning on about polynomials and binomials and whocaresnoamials. He tried to focus for a few minutes, but his attention was immediately drawn back to the window. Brooke was outside now. They were playing around with each other, and from their smiles Nathan guessed there was some serious flirting and teasing going on. Brooke finally pouted and succumbed and started to kiss Lucas.

"Earth to Nathan," Haley said annoyed.

Nathan looked up startled.

"I did not start tutoring you so you could slack off," Haley said her voice brooking no argument.

"I'm sorry." He smiled his signature smile that no one could resist.

Haley just shook her head but smiled too. "So what's wrong?' she asked quickly deciphering that it was more than lack of interest that was capturing Nathan's attention.

He jerked his head in the direction of the window that faced the quad. Haley nodded in understanding. "Before that it was Peyton," Nathan said as an after-thought.

"Are you jealous?"

He was but he wasn't. He was jealous that he had screwed up a relationship with a beautiful girl. Now he realized how much he wanted something like Brooke and Lucas had. Which was weird, because before Haley came he had never cared. But he still didn't want her to know how he felt, so he shifted the subject a little.

"What is he like picking up where I left off," Nathan said sarcastically.

Haley laughed. "Nathan you were an ass to them. Do you really expect them to be so happy with you," Haley said trying to hide her smile. "They're just gravitating to Luke because he's a nice guy."

"Whatever," Nathan said grumpily before seeing Haley's eyes which were filled with amusement. He stared at them and Haley shivered a little from the feeling that her whole body felt when he did that.

"It was funny," she explained pulling her eyes away from his to stare at the table.

Nathan began to laugh. "Yeah I guess it was."

Haley grinned in return. And just seeing that made Nathan's whole body feel like smiling, along with his already smiling face.