When I have a new story, I do get a bit overly keen with the updates! xx
Going slowly with the Clay storyline, want to stretch it out for as long as I can, the italics are sort of his dream world when hes asleep. Hope im going ok with Brulian aswell, its my first time writing them properly! Review your thoughts x
"Clay, you gotta wake up honey, you have a job today"...her angelic curls flowed around her face, as her face contorted into a soft smile. Her hair naturally bounced around her, her eyes sparkled in the white light behind them, it was just the two of them...
Clays head snapped up, with a sharp intake of breath
"Clay?" Haley asked, looking concerned
Clay looked around and realized he was at the Scott house..he must of went over to have a meeting for Nathan or something. How did he end up falling asleep?
"Hales" he said, slowly, still taking in his surroundings
"Are you alright?" Haley asked, taking in his appearance for the first time in days. He had dark circles under his eyes, he was definately losing weight of some sort..
"Im fine Hales, just a creepy dream" Clay reassured her "wheres Nate at?" he asked, trying to piece together the events of today. He had woken up and not even known why he was in the Scott house, this was creepy, when did he start forgetting things?
He thought to himself, but he knew. He didn't know where he was half the time anymore. Normal people, they would go into another room and forget why. Him, he went to a completely different location, and didn't know why...
"Are you sure Clay, you've been a bit distracted lately" Haley said, quietly, and she quickly addressed the other question, "Nathans just picking up Jamie from Chucks" she smiled, trying to encourage him to open up a little. There was something, she knew there was something. Practically certain
"Yeah, just a bit stressed at the moment, it'll pass" he kindly replied, gratefully sipping the glass of water Haley had slid over to him
"Did I come here for a meeting?" Clay asked, his hand shaking a little on the glass
"Yeah" Haley smiled, watching him intently
"Well if you need anything me and Nate are here buddy" Haley eventually said, knowing that whatever it was, he wasn't ready to say anything.
"So, picked up any sleepwalkers recently?" teased Peyton, pulling down her shades as Brooke opened the curtains sharply.."ok Brooke, you may be able to survive the day after your horrific cocktails with light, but im not there yet" she said, with a smile
"What are you talking about?" Brooke asked, mentally slapping herself. She had been semi-trusted and she had already blabbed a secret to Peyton
"You picked up Clay..you told me last night" Peyton murmured, talking more to her pillow then to Brooke
"Did I tell Haley and Quinn?" Brooke asked, her eyes widening
"No, but you probably should" Peyton reasoned
"Why?" Brooke shortly asked
"Because if he can sleepwalk himself next to a bench, he could sleepwalk himself into a car or into something nasty.." Peyton said, facing the cushion, her voice becoming a muffled low groan
"He told me it was the first time in years" Brooke suddenly remembered
"Then whats the harm in telling Haley" Peyton asked
"I'll ask Julian" Brooke nodded
"Oooh, back on talking terms are we?" Peyton asked, turning round and looking intrigued
"Well-"
"You bumped into him last night, and bonded over saving Clay" Peyton grinned "so romantic"
"We did not bond, I just said we should catch up" , Brooke narrowed her eyes at Peyton
"What time?"
"4"
"You better get moving" Peyton laughed, and Brooke threw a pillow at her face
"Im going bitch!" she laughed back, throwing on her coat and going out the door
"Dont you think you should tell someone honey? Whatever this is thats happening to you, its not normal" Sara said, lying next to Clay
"Screw normal, nothings normal without you" Clay almost spat, bitterly. Everytime he saw his late wife, he was reminded even more of the loss, what could of been. What should of been
"So you wanna screw up your life?"
"Im not screwing up my life" Clay said, sounding calmer
"Baby, your practically hallucinating, your forgetting everything, and your waking up anywhere but your own home..you cant handle this on your own" Sara reasoned
"I can, im fine, it'll pass its just flu" Clay responded, trying to shut his eyes again, to forget. But Sara was persisntent
"You said you could handle everything after-" she faltered
"You died?" Clay asked, suddenly looking up
"Yeah" Sara admitted, putting a hand over her mouth
"I know I didn't handle that well..but im better now" Clay said, his blue eyes becoming glassy
"You think that, but your not Clay, you need to let someone in this time" she replied, pushing a hair out of his eyes
"I do let people in"
"How many people know about me?" Sara asked, glancing away from him. She was met with a predictable silence
"Sorry" he apologetically ran a hand through his hair
"Its fair enough baby, but whats not fair is torturing yourself. you have friends in this town, good friends. Let them help.." Sara said, trying to be soothing, trying to help..
"Clay?" Nathan asked, coming indoors to find his friend laying across the sofa, in a deep sleep
"Leave him Nate!" Haley said quickly, shushing him and bringing in a blanket. Nathan raised his eyebrows
"Whats going on?" Nathan asked, meeting his wifes gaze, she quietly spoke
"He looks like he hasn't had a good sleep in ages, im just gonna put this over him, and wait for him to wake up" Haley said, reasonably, and Nathan nodded
"Your too kind Haley James Scott"
"I know" she grinned, putting an arm around Nathan's waist as they both looked at Clay
"He doesn't look right does he" Haley whispered, wrapping her arms tightly around Nathan
"What do you mean?" Nathan asked, putting his head onto Haleys and holding her
"He seems distant.." Haley carried on, watching him with a sincerity in her eyes, wishing she could read him
A half an hour later, and Haley was curled up on the opposite sofa with Nathan, her eyes shut, she was resting. She was content. Nathan was home, Quinn wasn't with Taylor, and Jamie and Chuck were friends again...then she heard it again..the sharp intake of breath, the panic filled atmosphere that immediately filled the room
She watched as Clays head rose quickly, sharply looking around the room, as if he was looking for the very first time. His breathing was quick-paced
"Clay?" Nathan asked, waving his hands slightly
"Nate..am I here for the meeting?" Clay asked, looking more confused by the minute
"Yeah you are man..how much have you been drinking lately?" Nathan asked, pulling his arm casually around Haley, as if to tell her not to ask questions
"Usual amount" Clay answered, realising that he had been laying down on Nathan's shoulders. He took his feet off the sofa and watched Nathans response
"Man your starting to go a bit mad" Nathan chuckled "get some rest" he finished, still chuckling
"Oh I will" Clay said, plastering on the fake smile and watching Nathan, he didn't look suspicious. That was the good thing about Nathan, anything Nate felt worrywise, he could paint over the next day. He looked over to Haley. She didn't look so convinced. If she wasn't with Nathan, the calming influence, he had a feeling Haley would march him to a doctors straight away. She was definitely on his case, she knew something wasn't right.
He wished he knew what wasn't right, so he could fix it. Fix himself.
"So you already told Peyton.. you are bad!" Julian mock gasped, and Brooke giggled. Her and Julian were sitting in a cafe, a couple of miles out of Tree Hill. She thought that if they met outside the place, that maybe their thoughts would be more neutral.
"Do I tell Haley?" Brooke asked, taking a over-excitable gulp of her frothy coffee, and not recognizing the milk moustache she had just gained
"No..something tells me Clay's telling the truth on this one, I would leave it" he said, watching her put the cup down and smirking slightly
"What?" she asked, looking around her, as if there was something to laugh at "have you planned something, because Julian Baker I don't like surprises they creep me out.." Brooke started, and Julian laughed
"Relax, you only have a milk moustache" he laughed, reaching across the small table and wiping it with his finger softly.."there..perfect" he said, flashing her a smile
"Juliann" Brooke whispered
"Brooke" he whispered back, staring into her eyes
"What are we doing?" she asked him
"What do you mean?" he responded
"On a break, letting all this crap get in between us..what happened to us" Brooke asked, sliding her hand across the table and onto Julian's free hand
"I don't know. Alex came and then everything got complicated" Julian admitted, squeezing her hand, willing her not to let go at the mention of Alex. She hadn't
"I don't like fighting with you" Brooke admitted
"We don't have to fight Brooke..I know your pissed about Alex, but she is just a friend, and I promise you, thats all she ever will be" he explained, still keeping the eye contact "I need you to know that"
"What if..you want kids?" Brooke asked, her eyes glazing over, she felt like her throat was closing up and she was going to choke any minute. It was the one topic of conversation she had dreaded
"I would never do that to you. We can adopt" Julian started
"Adopting is not the same" Brooke said slowly, a visible tear running down her cheek
"Then we'll find another way, as long as me and you are together Brooke, I will do anything" Julian said, his own eyes filling up at the intense converastion
"Do you mean that?" Brooke asked, in a small, sad voice
"I'll tell you everyday until you know I mean it..I love you Brooke, with everything I have. Nothings ever gonna change that, not Alex, not your strange mother, not even the way you kick in your sleep after you watch an action movie, or how you can't handle your wine..I love you, I don't want you to change anything" Julian finished, and pressed a kiss to her cheek "come back to me..we don't need a break, we are so much stronger then that"
Brooke stroked his finger with her own, her eyes flickering to their joined hands.
"Ok" she said, another tear running down her face, she didn't bother to wipe it away "Ok" she said, in a more serene tone, and she crossed over to Julian and hugged him
"Im so glad to have you back" Julian admitted, his voice thick with emotion
"Not as glad as me" Brooke said, in the exact same tone of voice
Clay was at home, it was 4pm, he had already forgotten where he was, twice. He couldn't go out anymore, he couldn't risk it. He couldn't risk being found somewhere strange, or having to question why he was lying on his best friends sofa. He rooted around in his pocket, looking for his phone, and came across a packet. He took the small package out of his pocket, eyeing it suspiciously, and sitting down.
He looked at it and almost dropped it in horror, after gasping. It was a clear packet, filled with white powder. He knew exactly what it was.
The question was, why the hell did he have it?