Love Rectangle Plus One (Whatever That Is)
Chapter 26: Forgive and Forget
"Brooke, can I please talk to you?" Lucas asked softly despite the raucous music. Brooke turned to stare at him, her eyes quickly narrowing.
"Go dance with your sluts some more," she hissed and turned away from him starting to walk away and disperse into the crowded bodies.
Lucas sighed and began to chase after her. Well as fast as he could with all the people around. He finally found her near the front hallway of the house before the stairs. It looked like she was trying to get out of the house, but there were too many people blocking the doorway. Lucas knew this was now or never. He loved her and he didn't have a second chance. He had already made so mistakes, but they could be fixed in this single moment. Gearing up the courage he pushed the drunken bodies aside and came up to Brooke. He gently pressed his hand into her lower back gliding her around to face him.
"What do you want, Lucas?" she asked trying hard to sound angry, but he could tell that all she really was, was sad and hurt. She stared at him, her green eyes filled with pain and weariness, but maybe somewhere he could see that flicker of hope. And he knew that now more than ever he had to give everything to her.
"I'm in love with you, Brooke. I have been for years. And I know I hurt you. But I can't do anything else but apologize and fight for you. So here I am, Brooke. I'm fighting for you. And if you still love me, which I think you do, than you need to fight for us to. I'm right here, Brooke. I'm right here."
Brooke stared at him, her gaze entirely focused on his icy blue eyes. They held the love she craved, the tenderness and adoration that she could return in full, but most of all they held passion and stubbornness. One that she knew she could match, but she didn't want to anymore. Yes her friends had hurt her, betrayed her. But no matter how hard she tried to deny it, she loved them. She loved him. "Yes," she said breathlessly coming up closer to him, "You're right here."
He stared at her in shock, unable to believe that she had already forgiven him, that she wanted him again. But maybe Peyton was right. She really did love him. And maybe in the end that's all she needed to see and hear. He carefully placed his hands around her waist, and pulled her closer into him. She responded by looping her arms around his necks and smiling up at him with the devious and flirtatious smile he hadn't seen in weeks. God how he missed that smile. That playful attitude. "Are you sure, Brooke?" he asked hesitantly, knowing it might break the mood or worse make her change her mind.
She smiled at him again, teasing him, and carefully extracted herself from his grasp, before grabbing his hand and pulling him up the stairs. He followed her wordlessly, until they came to an empty bedroom. He stared at her as they stood in the middle of the room. She looked at him, waiting. And finally unable to take it any longer, Lucas grabbed her and crashed his lips against hers. She responded eagerly. It had been way too long. Without even a moment of wavering, Brooke opened her mouth for Lucas to explore and taste every crevice. She couldn't believe how good it felt to re-familiarize herself with his mouth. It felt so good that she almost for a second wished they had fights more often, so she could repeat the ecstasy of this feeling. Lucas broke apart from her and began to kiss her neck, sucking in the soft flesh. Brooke moaned arching her back so he had better access. "Mmm, God I missed this," she murmured as her fingers crept down to the hem of his shirt before lifting it off, for her to inspect his chest muscles after weeks of not seeing them. She licked her lips before crouching lower to kiss his stomach and chest, finally working her way back up to his lips.
"Your turn," he mumbled desperate to see and feel her again, and he torturously moved his hands up her abdomen tickling the sides of her stomach in circles as the shirt moved up until it was over her head. Lucas traced the outline of her bra with his finger, loving the feel of the delicate skin beneath him. It had definitely been way too long. He didn't even know how he could have gone weeks without being with Brooke. Without feeling her skin next to his. Pressing his hands to the small of her back, he led her to the bed, pushing them down gently onto it. He hovered above her before once again claiming her lips. Their legs mingled as they rolled over and over the bed, exploring each other's lips and mouths. She tasted so good, and he couldn't stop from making sure his tongue and lips had found and kissed every spot there was to reach.
Brooke broke away first breathing heavily. She caressed Lucas's cheek softly before bringing her hands to her back and undoing the clasp of her bra. Lucas's breath caught in his throat. She pushed the straps down onto her arms, leaving the loose bit of material hanging there. All it needed was one touch and it would be gone. She smiled seductively up at Lucas who was staring down at her, hungry desire forming in his eyes. "Lucas, as much as I love this slow stuff, I need to feel you again. I need you."
"I want you so much," he said huskily as he threw the material away and bent down to kiss her again, the heat in their bodies electrifying as their bare chests touched for the first time in weeks. Their kisses grew even more passionate, and they quickly unclothed in a haze of kisses and moans. Before finally plunging in to feel the beautiful girl he loved, Lucas brushed the hair out of her eyes, and smiled down at her, kissing her sweetly. "I love you, Pretty Girl. And I'll never hurt you again. Never."
Brooke smiled and she could feel the tears forming in her eyes, but she willed them away. She grabbed Lucas's head and brought it as close to her lips as she could before they were actually touching. "Shut up," she commanded, "And kiss me." Lucas had no problem complying with that request for the rest of the night.
--
Haley sat in her bed alone. She wasn't crying, but her eyes were far from dry. She wiped a stray tear away, and huddled into her blankets, wishing she could just disappear. She knew she had told Jake that she just wanted to go home and be all alone, but again that wasn't the truth. She wanted Lucas to come to his senses and tell her how much it had sucked what people had done to her. Even more, she wanted Nathan to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be alright. That he cared about her more than anything else, and he didn't care what anyone else thought. However it had been several hours since she left the party and he was nowhere to be found. He hadn't shown up. He hadn't even called or texted. This started a fresh onslaught of tears, but she tried to hold him in. She didn't want to cry anymore. She just wanted to go to sleep to forget the whole crappy night. She sunk into the covers, not even bothering to turn off the small lamp, and closed her eyes. Somewhere between consciousness and sleep, she heard a loud noise, and quickly sat up and opened her eyes. There struggling to get her window open, was Nathan. She stared at him, not moving an inch, until finally he had climbed his way through.
"God that window is a bitch," he muttered, before looking up at Haley and searching her face. She quickly looked away.
"Look Haley about what happened tonight…" he began to say.
"It doesn't matter, Nathan," she said coolly.
Nathan gave her a confused look and moved to the bed perching on the side of it. "Of course it mattered. What are you saying?"
"Look Nathan, I'm fine. I don't need you to protect me."
"Really, is that why you ran away in tears hiding somewhere and then left without telling me?
"I'm not a baby," she said stubbornly, not caring that those words made her sound like one.
Nathan sighed. "I'm not saying you are, Haley," he said his voice wavering on annoyance, "But what they did to you was pretty shitty. And while I didn't expect you to stand there and take it, I wish you would have at least talked to me, instead of Jake."
"Is that what this is about? You're jealous?"
"Haley!" Nathan whisper shouted, Drawing farther onto the bed and thus closer to her. "Stop trying to change the subject, and blaming this on me. I'm so sorry about what happened. I didn't want it to, and I wish you'd just fucking talk to me and tell me how you feel!"
"It hurt," she whispered softly, before tearing up again.
"I know," he said softly, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly.
"Why didn't you come sooner," she wailed crying into his shoulder.
"It took Jake awhile to find me, since I was looking for you. And then I had to deal with Brooke."
"Why what happened with Brooke?" Haley asked pushing back and staring at him with her red rimmed eyes. Nathan felt his heart melting that even when Haley felt like crap she still cared about her friends and what they might be going through. She was just so good, and that was so beautiful.
"Nothing Hales, don't worry about it. This is about you. Are you okay?"
"I'm okay now," she said and Nathan nodded, before gently laying her down until she was resting on her back. He brushed hair out of her eyes and smiled down at her before kissing her tenderly. When he pulled back, he saw her breathing softly, her eyes closed, a smile on her pretty lips.
"Go to sleep, Hales," he said gently, "I'll be back tomorrow." He turned off the lamp, and crept silently back to the window wishing she had asked him to stay. He knew he probably could, but he didn't want to impose on her. Plus it was probably better if they were tentative now, with everything that had just happened. As he opened the window, and prepared to go out, something stopped him.
"Hey Nathan," she murmured as she closed her eyes, "I'm sorry about everything before. I'm sorry for keeping secrets. I never want to do it again no matter how much it hurts me."
Nathan smiled. "No one's going to hurt you again, if I can help it."
She smiled, her eyes still closed. He could see she was drifting fast, but before he could set a foot outside her room, her sleepy voice, filled with semi-consciousness called out to him. "Where are you going?" Nathan smiled, shut the window softly, and walked back to the bed, laying down beside her, and drifting off to sleep along with her.
--
The next morning, Brooke had called both Peyton and Haley and requested an immediate girl bonding time. They had decided to meet for brunch at Karen's. Haley approached first, being the early one of the bunch, and she walked on and saw Karen immediately. Haley loved Karen, but with this fight with Lucas, she wasn't so sure of what to say or do. But Karen smiled warmly, and brought the girl into an embrace.
"Haley, where have you been? You haven't been around the house lately."
"Just busy, I guess," Haley coughed and smiled.
Karen looked at her knowingly, a hint of a smile on her face. "Look whatever my knuckleheaded son is angry about, he'll get over it. He's too stubborn for his own good."
Haley smiled. "Thanks Karen."
"Anytime, sweetie."
At that moment the doors, burst open with gusto as Brooke rushed in, a haze of perfume in her wake, and a prefect smile on her beautiful face. Peyton followed behind looking tired, but laughing at Brooke. "Hey other best friend and boyfriend's mom," she called out cheerfully.
"Boyfriend's mom?" Haley asked confounded.
"Well you see after a lot of groveling," Brooke began as she dragged Haley to a table with Peyton in tow, "I decided that Lucas was worth it."
"Don't forget a shove from your best friend," Peyton added, and Haley laughed.
"That's so great, Brooke."
"I know," she smiled happily, "And the make-up sex was amazing."
Haley blushed while Peyton cracked up. "Same old Brooke," she said with a smile. But inside she was so glad that after everything Brooke was happy and they were friends again.
"Oh please, Sawyer, like you don't love what Jagielski does to you."
Peyton turned red, but it quickly disappeared. "I'll have you know that Jake and I are very happy in every aspect of our relationship."
"Oh you slut," Brooke laughed, "What about you, tutor girl?"
"What about me?"
"What's it like between you and Nathan?" she said in a duh voice, "I mean I'm sure it's good. Both Peyton and I can attest to that, but with you it must be fantastic."
"Oh," Haley muttered as she began to cough feeling self-conscious and insecure, "Actually Nathan and I have never you know uhh done…. It."
Brooke's jaw dropped and she exchanged a glance with Peyton, each reading each other's thoughts. Nathan wasn't having sex with Haley? They could both confirm he had a very healthy appetite for sex, but if he wasn't getting it with Haley, was he getting it with someone else? Of course, Nathan did have a history of cheating, another thing they could attest to. But he wouldn't do that to Haley. Anyone could see how he felt about her by just the looks he gave her. He couldn't be doing that, so they shook the thought from their heads.
"Well why not?" Brooke demanded, "It's not like you're a virgin." Haley's blush deepened, and Brooke gasped. "Oh my God, you are."
"Yeah," Haley said shifting uncomfortably, "Is that a big deal?"
"Are you waiting for the right guy, or what?" Peyton asked trying to be understanding.
"I don't know. I always thought I'd wait till marriage, but then…." Her voice drifted off.
"Are you in love with him?" Brooke asked softly.
Haley looked up and met her gaze. "I really think I could be."
"Damn," Peyton said, and the three stared at each other silently, each wondering what if anything was going to happen now.
--
Lucas walked to the River Court in a daze. He couldn't believe everything that had happened. He and Brooke were finally back together, and she was finally his again. God, he loved her. He still couldn't get over last night, which had probably been one of the best nights of his life. He had wanted to continue the same activities all today, and stay in bed with Brooke all day, but she had claimed she needed to tell her friends everything. Lucas smiled, thinking about her. Thinking how cute she was, how much he loved her, and wondering how he possibly could have lived without her.
"Dude you are so whipped," a voice shouted out. Lucas looked up from his daydream and saw Jake smirking at him from the court, where he was shooting by himself.
"What do you mean?" Lucas asked, but he still couldn't contain the smile one his face.
"Because I bet you were thinking about how much you love Brooke," Jake said knowingly.
Lucas rolled his eyes but chuckled good-naturedly. "I'm so glad everything's good again."
"Yeah me too," Jake nodded, passing the ball to Lucas who took the opportunity to shoot. The ball flew in the basket with a succinct swish. "Guess you got your game back, as well."
"Shut up, man," Lucas said laughing, "My game wasn't suffering." Jake shot him a look and then the two erupted in giggles like little girls.
"Ok, ok stop, we sound like girls," Jake commanded.
"Yeah," Lucas guffawed, trying to sound manly.
"Dude," Jake complained, "Stop trying to be cool."
"Let's just play some ball," Lucas asked holding up the orange basketball in his hand as a peace offering.
"You've never had a better idea," Jake smirked.