Love Rectangle Plus One (Whatever That Is)
Chapter 17: Follow Through
"Nate I have to talk to you."
Nathan looked up from the table in study hall where he was sitting and saw Jake looming above him. "Ok," he replied uncertainly.
Jake took a seat down across from him. He didn't speak immediately as he gathered his thoughts trying to think of what he was going to say. Nathan raised his eyebrows up impatiently, and Jake shifted his weight and finally began to speak.
"I saw you together?"
Nathan gave him a blank confused look in return. "Who?" he asked.
"You and Haley. I saw you."
Nathan swallowed as his cheeks reddened a little in color. "Oh."
"You really like her don't you?" Jake asked sadly.
"Yeah I do," Nathan said daring Jake to challenge him on it.
"And she really likes you too," Jake said even more sadly.
Nathan smiled proudly. "Yeah I guess she does."
"That's good."
Nathan stared at him suspiciously. "You think so?"
"I'm not into Haley, Nathan."
"Yeah but that doesn't mean you'd be jumping for joy about this. You hate me and think she deserves so much better than me yadda yadda yadda. So I'm sorry if I don't completely buy what you're saying."
"Look things have been really bad for me lately with this whole relationship thing, but even an idiot can see that you and Haley like each other. And that you care about her and want to protect her."
"Yeah I'm sorry about Peyton."
"You know about that?"
"Well Peyton's been visibly moodier than usual which indicates a guy and since it's not Lucas, all that left was you."
"Gee thanks."
Nathan smirked. "You can go run back to Lucas now and tell him the whole story. Don't do me any favors."
"I'm not going to."
Nathan crooked up his right eyebrow. "Why the hell not?"
"Because I figure Haley will tell him when she's ready. Plus I don't want Brooke and Peyton to get pissed at her, since they really shouldn't be upset. And also because it's none of my business. I shouldn't have gotten involved in the whole thing to begin with."
"Yeah you shouldn't have."
Jake sighed but a smile played on his lips. "You're a tough person to apologize to, and even tougher to prove your trustworthiness."
Nathan laughed. "So you won't tell him?"
"No, but you and Haley should soon. And if he doesn't get over it, then it's his problem. Because Haley has the right to be with any guy she wants. And she wants you."
--
Haley sat outside on the quad calmly doing her homework. Occasionally the wind blew and spread her hair everywhere but other than that, there was no interruption. A small smile was etched on her face as she recalled Nathan's words from Saturday. 'I really like you Haley. I promise you that.' It grew bigger as she continued to think of him, until a peppy brunette broke her away.
"Tutor girl," Brooke called excitedly as she slid into a seat next to Haley, "Guess who told her boyfriend she loves him!"
Haley smiled over at Brooke. "That's great Tigger. I'm guessing Lucas's happy and then you too had mind-blowing reciprocal love sex."
Brooke blushed for a millisecond before changing her expression to a sexy smile with her dimples wide. "Well if you must know."
"That's quite alright."
Brooke laughed before continuing. "Ok so tell me how did things go with Vegas?"
Haley's expression immediately shifted nervously. "He's cool, but I don't think we're going to hit it off."
"Oh too bad. Anyone else catch your eye?"
Just at that moment Haley noticed Nathan walk outside. He sent a wink in her direction, and she blushed pink and got even more uncomfortable. "Brooke, can I talk to you about something?" she asked seriously as she began to fidget and bite her lower lip.
"Sure."
"How would you feel if say one of your good friends started dating an ex-boyfriend of yours." Brooke eyed Haley uneasily. "Totally hypothetical situation," Haley hurriedly added.
"Well I guess it would depend on why the relationship ended, and also if my friend had got close to him before, during, or after we had dated."
"I guess that's fair."
"Why? What do you think?"
Haley's face turned red then white. "Well, I think if the friend had nothing to do with the previous relationship, and she really liked the guy, then you should try and be supportive."
"I suppose," Brooke said shrugging it off. "Anyway what's with the sudden question?"
"Just something that's been on my mind," Haley said quietly.
"We really need to get you a guy Tutor Girl. Because you definitely need something cuter on your mind."
Haley bit back a smile. "Whatever you say Brooke," she replied knowing that she was already thinking about someone much much cuter.
--
Later that afternoon after school, Brooke and Lucas lay cuddled together on his bed. He kissed her head gently and she purred before murmuring, "Broody, did Jake tell you about him and Peyton?"
"Yeah. I really didn't see that one coming," he chuckled softly.
"Do you think he really loves her?"
"God knows he's been there for her for a long time. And it's not hard to figure out how Jake could fall for her."
"I guess that's true," Brooke muttered rolling over so she was facing Lucas. His hands tightly held onto her back.
"Are you worried about her?" Lucas asked with a glint in his eye. When the whole thing was happening, he had thought Peyton was a bitch who didn't give a damn about her friend. But now he saw how much the two girls really did care for each other, despite the mistakes that had been made. And he really wanted to see Brooke reunited with her best friend, much like he and Haley had.
Brooke rolled her eyes playfully. "Don't get any ideas Luke."
"You are worried, Cheery," Lucas said happily as he lightly tickled her arms.
"So what if I am? I just want Peyton to be happy. And Jake's a great guy. And if they really like each other, they should go for it. Plus I was never into Jake," she added playfully.
"Thank God," Lucas responded pulling her closer for a long sensual kiss.
As they broke apart, Lucas rested his forehead against hers. "I love you Brooke Davis," he whispered.
Brooke smiled deeply never tiring of hearing those words. "I love you too," she replied softly into his ear before slowly teasing it with her teeth and tongue.
Lucas groaned in pleasure, but quickly grabbed Brooke's waist and lifted her a little away from him. "So can you do me a favor, pretty girl?"
"I thought I was about to," she said coyly.
Lucas smirked down at her. "Besides that. I think maybe you should talk to Peyton."
"What are you talking about?"
"Just see how she's doing. Talk to her about the whole Jake situation. Who knows, you may even start to get the friendship back."
"Aargh," Brooke muttered just before Lucas quickly started kissing her neck. She writhed under him but he wasn't letting up any time soon. "Fine!" she conceded mock angrily, "But you owe me," she warned.
"My pleasure Cheery."
--
Day turned night, and found Peyton alone in her room. The slight breeze from the open window chilled and she tried to relax to the soft music playing. But her thoughts were too tumultuous. She stretched backward and sighed deeply trying to rid herself from the anxiety. But it wasn't working. She and Jake still weren't speaking and everything was so unresolved. She remembered the night he had told her he loved her. She had been scared; angry and scared. How dare he spring it on her like that? What if he was just messing with her? And even worse -- what if he actually did care about her as more than a friend? Peyton knew that her relationships this year had been completely screwed up. But Jake had been there through it all for her. Was it possible, that she had developed feelings for him? The more she thought about, the more she realized that she depended on him so much. Sure she was friends with Lucas, but he had basically been dealing with Brooke. Jake was the one who had been there for her through it all. He had tried to warn her, and protect her from getting hurt. He had loved her and Peyton had left him hanging. She closed her eyes as a few stray tears fell down her face.
"Hey," a voice said softly from her doorway. Peyton immediately opened her eyes and stared at the boy in front of her.
"Hi," she replied even softer.
"Look, can we just forget about all of this. I miss you. Can we just be friends?" Jake pleaded with her.
"I don't think I can do that." She took a look at Jake's crestfallen face, and continued as if to explain. "Because…" she said smiling slightly, "Because I want to be with you."
"Oh," he replied in an entirely different tone of voice.
"I mean if that's okay," she added hurriedly.
"Yeah," Jake said dazedly, "No I mean that would be great."
Peyton smiled widely. The first time she had been really happy in awhile. "So."
This brought Jake out of his stupor. "But Peyton, you can't just spring this on me. I mean like why didn't you say something before? We weren't speaking for like a week, and I had no idea how you felt. And this is all really weird, and…"
Peyton swiftly closed the distance between them and placed her lips on Jake's. He was shocked at first but quickly started to kiss her back. After a few minutes of intense kissing, Peyton finally broke away.
"Wow," was all Jake said.
Peyton giggled uncharacteristically. "So are we okay now?"
"Well maybe if you do that again," Jake said suggestively.
Peyton's eyes glinted. "Well if you insist," she replied wrapping her arms around his neck and brining him in for another deep kiss. Jake's hands found her hips as he slowly walked her backward to the bed. As they both collapsed onto it, their breathing ragged and heavy, Jake spoke up, "Hey Peyt, I'm sorry about everything before."
"Don't worry about it," she replied softly, kissing down his neck. "All we need is right here. Let's just forget the past." Jake nodded before capturing her lips again with his own.