Love Rectangle Plus One (Whatever That Is)
Chapter 18: Secret Love and the Fastest Way to Happiness
Jake woke up and rubbed his eyes and blinked a few times. He looked around at the bedroom that was certainly not his own. Then he spotted the gorgeous girl next to him on the bed. He smiled lazily remembering the night before. He kissed her temple gently and Peyton stirred next to him. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Jake leaning down above her. She smiled and lifted up her upper body to meet his lips with her own.
"Morning," she said happily after she broke away.
"Good morning," he corrected with a smile emphasizing the good.
"Yes it is," Peyton reciprocated.
Jake slipped his arms through her own as encircled her waist. "Last night was amazing," he murmured.
"You're only saying that because you're a guy," Peyton mockingly scoffed.
"No," he responded seriously looking her square in the eye, "I'm saying it because it's you."
Peyton shivered under his glance, tears threatening to roll down her cheeks. Before that could happen Jake swiftly leaned down and gave her another deep kiss.
"Ready to go to school?" he asked as he pulled away.
Peyton groaned. "No, I want to stay here with you," she said petulantly.
Jake laughed. "Sorry Peyt."
"Fine, fine I'm getting up."
Peyton and stood up before walking to her expansive closet and throwing open the doors. Her face curled up as she peered in before quickly taking a pair of jeans and a band t-shirt out. Jake smiled at her as she began to change. He grabbed his clothes from the night before and began to slip them on too.
"Oh my God," Peyton said slapping her head as she turned around to face him.
"Are you ok?" he asked worriedly.
"Yeah it's just that your parents are going to kill you. Oh my God, they're going to hate me before they even meet me. Jake seriously what am I supposed to say? Oh you're the girl that our little precious boy stayed out all night with."
Jake began to laugh. "Peyton chill. When I came here last night they were already asleep. They'll probably just think I left early."
Peyton let out a huge sigh. "Ok. I'm glad you did come though."
"Me too," he replied a smile playing on his face as he came back towards her to kiss her. His hands started to slide up her sides and rested on her waist, as she tugged at his shirt and began to kiss his neck.
"Peyton," he groaned, "We really have to go."
"Fine but don't come crying to me when you want this," she teased.
"Trust me, you'll be the first person I'll come to you. And you won't be able to say no because I'm irresistible."
"In your dreams Jagielski," Peyton shrieked in laughter.
"Oh my fragile male ego," he teased holding his hands up to his heart.
Peyton leaned down and quickly kissed his hands that were pressed against his chest. "Now let's go to school, Mr. Spoil All the Fun."
"You know that was kind of sexy," Jake said as he grabbed her hand in his and swung them out of the room.
"I'll keep that in mind next time you're feeling humiliated."
"Shut up Sawyer. Now come on," he said dragging her along as they both erupted in laughter.
--
Brooke scampered over to Lucas after school. Practice had been cancelled for some reason or another and she wanted nothing more than to spend some quality time with the guy she loved. Yes that's right Brooke Davis loved Lucas Scott and she couldn't have been happier.
"Broody," Brooke whined and he turned around from the person he was talking to and gave Brooke a large smile.
"Hey Babe," he said giving her a soft kiss on the cheek.
"So you ready to hang out after school, boyfriend? I know you are," she said excitedly.
Lucas laughed. "I'm up for whatever you're up for."
"Well you know, I could be up for a lot," Brooke said suggestively kinking up her eyebrow.
"Hmm you don't say," Lucas teased pretending to be pondering over it. "Nah," he finally said with a hidden smile bursting to break free on his face.
"Please Lucas," she whined some more, "I missed you all day."
"That does not sound like the overconfident Brooke Davis, I know," he said putting his arm around her and walking them to her car.
"Well I cannot help if I'm horny. You're just too hot Luke," she pouted.
"Wow I'm touched."
"Shut up. Now can we please get in the car and I can drive your hot self back to my house where fun things can happen."
Lucas smiled. "Yes but I want to take you one place first."
"Ugh," Brooke groaned, "Must we?"
"It's good, trust me," he said hopping into the passenger seat and began to give her directions.
A few minutes they approached their destination. "Luke, it's just the River Court," Brooke said confused. She looked out and saw some of Lucas's other friends from around school playing.
"I just wanted to show you where I come from. This is who I am Brooke. I'm not the big man on campus, I'm not anything special. This place is who I am, and it's a huge part of me. I just need you to know that."
"Lucas…" Brooke uttered speechless.
"Yeah," he asked hesitantly expecting her to be annoyed.
"I love you, every single thing about you. So I love this place just as much as you do. Don't forget this is where we first got together."
Lucas smiled shyly, "You're right. You're amazing Brooke Davis."
"I've been told," she joked before Lucas swooped down and took her lips in his own. They kissed ardently for a few minutes before breaking away. As soon as they did, the guys started to cheer and laugh. Lucas turned a little red but Brooke just smiled coyly at them.
"So go play already," she prodded knowing he wanted to.
"You don't mind?" he asked surprised.
Brooke shrugged as a smile played on her lips. "This is more important. Anything else can wait. I'll just go and sit with Mouth over there," she said pointing to the benches.
"Don't fall for him," Lucas joked.
"I don't think I could," she said winking, "I kind of have to admit that I'm in love with another guy."
"I think he loves you too," Lucas said giving her another kiss, but after a few seconds Brooke pushed lightly against his chest breaking them apart. "Go," she commanded and he laughed and gave her one last peck before running to join his friends on the court. Brooke smiled after him as she walked closer.
--
It was getting late and Haley was finishing up hr shift at the café. Everyone had left at least 30 minutes earlier so it was extremely quiet. She blew a stray piece of hair out of her face as she scrubbed down the counter. Karen was gone so she was closing up alone. It could get slightly creepy at night and she kind of wished she wasn't by herself. On top of that she was exhausted and would have to walk home alone. As she pressed her hand to her forehead from tiredness, she heard the door open behind her.
"We're closed," she called.
"But you're open for me right?" Nathan asked cockily with a smirk on his face.
Haley whirled around and smiled. "Nope," she said grinning wider, "Doubly closed actually."
"Darn," Nathan muttered as he took a seat at the counter.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Haley asked a little self-consciously. Her hair was tied up and she knew she probably looked like crap from work.
"Seeing my beautiful girlfriend obviously. Where is she anyway?" he teased.
"Ha ha," Haley muttered shooting him a frown. "But seriously, someone might see us."
Nathan grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him. "Hales chill. No one is around here anyway. Plus I don't care what anyone else thinks."
"Well who knew you could be so charming?"
"And you haven't even seen my A-game," he replied with a smirk.
"Lord help me if that's true," she said laughing.
Nathan smiled back and pushed the piece of hair, which almost always seemed to be astray, out of her face. Haley shivered expectantly of what was to come. Nathan leaned up and forward and gently moved his lips to meet hers. Haley eagerly kissed him back. They started out slow, but it quickly grew more heated and Nathan brought his hands to rest on her hips as he directed her body closer and closer to him until his legs were between hers. Haley moaned softly against his lips at the close contact, and he pulled back and smiled at her.
"God I missed you," he murmured softly.
"Me too," she whispered pressing her forehead against his. He smiled again and this time pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist. He began to kiss up and down her neck and Haley's hands immediately rested atop the legs of the stool to steady herself.
"Nathan, please," she whimpered and broke free of his grasp.
"What?" he moped that she had left his grasp.
"Nothing, I just really need to get home."
"Did I do something?" he asked staring at her intently and apologetically.
"No sorry, I'm just tired," she said attempting a smile. Haley looked away as she finished wiping the counter. She knew they had been gong out for a few weeks already and all they had done was kiss, but she couldn't help feeling that Nathan wanted more. And she knew she wasn't ready. Sure they hadn't even talked about it, but it was slowly creeping into her mind, despite his reassurances that he just wanted to be with her.
Nathan sensed something was wrong, but he knew from Haley's look she didn't want to talk about it. "Ok," he smiled back, "Find me when you're energetic."
Haley laughed. "So did you see Jake and Peyton in school today?" she asked changing the subject.
"Yeah I'm glad for her. She deserves someone good after all the crap I put her through," he said sadly thinking about it.
"Hey, don't be like that," she said softly running her thumb over his cheek, "You've changed Nate."
"I know," he said quietly, "But that doesn't mean I can't hate or feel regret for who I was."
"I know. I guess sometimes I just wish it had never happened. Since it seems to dictate what everyone thinks about you. And that's wrong, because you're such an amazing person if people gave you a chance and," Haley rambled and Nathan began to laugh.
"Thanks Hales. I really don't deserve you. But I'm glad I have you no matter what. You're the best person I know, and you make me so much better."
Haley smiled back at him and all her concerns seemed to float out the café's window. She slowly drifted over to him and kissed him forgetting everything but them and that moment.