Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill sad but true!
A/N: yes your eyes do not deceive you I have updated! No excuses I just suck. Life will hopefully start to settle down now so I can give more attention to this but in the mean time I hope you enjoy this chapter. As always thanks to those who read and reviewed and to those who signed up for alerts I love getting those emails! And to my sister/beta your not so undivided attention is appreciated. Also to those who answered my most stupid question thank you! You guys rock more than I can say and I hope you guys love this chapter as much as I loved writing it, it's a bit longer than the past couple so fingers crossed. As always let me know what you think!
CHAPTER SEVEN
"I wish everyone would take me seriously" Tim whined in the Roth kitchen. After midnight madness, Brandon along with the team, the cheerleaders, and every student from Tree Hill High they could find headed back to his house to celebrate the start of the season and Brandon being named team captain. Unfortunately for Brooke, while trying to hide from Lucas she'd been cornered by Tim and had been stuck listening to his complaints for the past ten minutes.
"Everyone treats me like I'm just here for comic relief" he continued
"It's not like that Tim" Brooke denied looking around for a means of escape
"Yes it is, I'm the honorary title clown" he complained
"They're good" Peyton nodded
"Peyton!" Tim looked offended
"I meant the band" she said sheepishly "You know the Honorary Title? Nevermind"
"Don't listen to her" Brooke dismissed facing Tim again "Nobody treats you like that, you're a very important part of the group"
"No I'm not, I'm one of those court guys kept around to make the kings laugh" he crossed his arms in a huff
"Who?" Brooke questioned
"You know, the on court dudes" he rolled his eyes
"Aren't they like the players, or the referees or are you talking about Junk and Fergie? Wait aren't you a player?" Brooke asked perplexed
"He means a court jester Brooke" Peyton explained as she poured herself another drink
"What's a court jester?" Brooke asked
"ME!" Tim threw his hands in the air in frustration
"Really? Do you to do some sort of training for that? That's weird I've never seen you do it at games" Brooke mused
"I'm surrounded by idiots" Peyton muttered pulling out her cell
"No Brooke I don't do it at games, well not on purpose"
"I don't understand, huh" Brooke said as Peyton thrust her phone under Brookes nose "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?"
"A court jester" Peyton answered
"Tim why on earth would you ever do this? It's ridiculous and embarrassing and that outfit and don't let me start on that hat! No-one will ever take you seriously like this! Oh wait I get it, the jester and the court being like you, it's a metaphor" Brooke looked proud of herself
"Simile" Haley stuck her head between the two girls to grab Brooke's car keys from her purse before exiting the kitchen while Peyton called uselessly after her for help.
"What's a simile?" Tim asked
"Something only Tutor girl understands" Brooke replied annoyed "Now attention back to me, Tim we don't think of you as this horrendously dressed clown" she held up the picture for him to see
"I would never wear that! Well not intentionally. The Tim has got style" Tim agreed straightening out his collar
"Um yeah, anyway why do you think we treat you like this?"
'Because you do! No-one takes my ideas and suggestions seriously, I'm just kept around for entertainment value, and while I am a very funny, good-looking and entertaining guy, the Tim does have feelings you know"
"We don't really treat you like that do we?"
'You might not realise you do but it's there. It's kind of the same way you treat Bevin. You know she's smarter than you give her credit for"
"Bevin's my friend and I love her, but she's not exactly the smartest crayon in the box" Brooke explained
"She got a C in algebra last year and you shouldn't pigeonhole crayons like that, for all you know they have feelings too" Tim counselled
"Ye-ah look Tim, you're part of the 'crew' so to speak, that's not gonna change and I'm sorry if you feel like I've treated you badly in the past" Brooke apologised "It'll get better for you this year, Bevin too"
"Thanks Brooke, I appreciate your honesty and open-mindedness in the matter" he said seriously Brooke raising an eyebrow in response "Now I've got to go find Bev M and tell her the good news" he grinned
"What good news?" Brooke asked puzzled
"That she's gonna get a B this year! Try to keep up Brookie" he patted her on the shoulder before disappearing into the crowd yelling "WHO"S UP FOR SOME TIM TIME BABY!"
"What in the hell was that?" Brooke yelled as Peyton snickered into her cup
"We don't really know but Nathan convinced him in the fifth grade to donate his body to science so we'll have answers eventually" Lucas said coming to stand behind Brooke
"I'm sorry, did I call for the sexist men brigade?" she asked sarcastically as she spun around to face him.
"Brooke"
"You know my name, I thought you would have referrred to me as 'the dumb cheerleader in the teeny tiny cheer skirt' she added pointing to the blue and white skirt she still wore with her Ravens track jacket
"Who's not dumb and who's name is Brooke" Lucas pointed out
"I can't believe this! What happened to you? You used to be so smart, and sensitive and knew exactly what I wanted and needed to hear now you're just ... dumb!" she ranted before grabbing Peytons hand and dragging her away towards the backyard and away from the shocked boy.
"Brooke, what the hell!" Peyton muttered
"Not now Peyt, I'm way too pissed off" Brooke seethed
"That's my girl!" Peyton beamed "No! Wait Brooke, not outside, Jake's out there and he's still in the doghouse" she tried to stop the brunette.
"Okay first ewww and second of all, you can't be mad at Jake for not getting captain"
"No but I can be mad at him for not caring that he didn't get captain"
"That makes no sense"
"It does to me, he should be mad" Peyton sulked
"Brandon's been a starter for the last two years, he deserved it" Brooke argued
"He deserves a smack in the face, and NBA live doesn't teach you about captain qualities" Peyton challenged
"No, but as the stabbed in the back girlfriend of the he who won't be named blonde haired blue eyed thinks he's a god with perfect abdominal muscles.."
"BROOKE!"
"Sorry, anyway I've learnt a thing or two, and Brandon's a nice guy, he was in the leadership group last year when he who won't be named was captain"
"Last year Nathan was more the captain than Luke"
"I thought we weren't gonna use his name" Brooke growled
"Old habits die hard huh Brookie" Nathan materialised from beside the bonfire
"If it's not ass number two" she sneered
"I'm always number one" Nathan disagreed as Peyton snickered
"And always an ass"
"Look have you seen my girlfriend?"
"Yeah she told me to tell my ass of a brother to drop dead"
"You should be thanking your lucky stars you've got this ass" he pointed to his behind
'My ass is perfect thank you" she said pointing to her own "And I'm demanding a full genealogy workup both paternal and maternal" Brooke said to Peyton sarcastically
"Please if anyone's adopted it's me" Nathan scoffed
"Please, you're so much like Dan, it's scary"
"I am not, Deb!"
"Screw you!" she kicked him in the shin
"Fuck Brooke!" he hopped up and down on his other foot
'If you insist" Tim smirked winking at her
"FUCK OFF TIM!" they both yelled
"Sheesh, you asked" he said "Repressed childhood syndrome is so evident in some people" he muttered as he walked away back to the house
"Can't you keep the bitch locked up for one night?" Nathan asked annoyed
"He's your friend!" she retorted
"I was talking about you"
"I'm not a bitch!" Brooke put her hands on her hips
"No, you're the bitch, bitch!"
"Look who's talking bitch!"
"And the world spun back on its axis" Peyton smiled quietly to herself
"What were you saying about a paternity test?" he grumbled "Anyway, where's Haley?"
"Probably staying as far away from your jack of an ass as possible" Brooke sneered
"I haven't been able to find her anywhere" he said looking back over his shoulder at the people dancing by the bonfire
"Did you look under your thumb? Since that's where you wished she lived" Brooke suggested
"What's that supposed to mean?" Nathan narrowed his eyes
"I think you know" she said smug
"I never know what you mean it's as clear as the pancake shit on your face"
"This face is not pancaked!" Brooke exclaimed "I embrace the naturally gorgeous look!"
"Yeah naturally bad" Nathan snickered
"Oh no you didn't"
"Cut the dramatics Brookie, and just point me towards my girl" Nathan ran a hand through his hair in frustration
"I would, but she's made it perfectly clear she doesn't want to see you, your ego, or that high horse you're running around on"
"Brookie..."
"Nathan you were an ass tonight and you deserve a time-out"
"I'm not five!"
"Well you certainly act like it"
"What about you two! Prancing around, dressed like that in front of practically the entire town!"
"It's called cheer-leading" Brooke said sarcastically
"Random guys groping you is part of cheerleading now?"
"What?" Brooke looked at Peyton confused
"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about"
"Who's pretending!" she shot back
"You think it's alright to let those guys put their hands all over you and then call it a sport?"
"Cheerleading is a sport!" Brooke looked outraged
"And so is cards - apparently"
"We are athletes Nathan!"
"You're chicks in short skirts"
"Chicks!" Brooke said in disbelief
"Yeah, chicks that think you're athletes; athletes sweat Brooke"
"We use deodorant Nathan!"
"And hairspray" he pointed out smug
"Like you can talk! It takes you a full bottle of hairspray and two hours in the mirror to do your hair!"
"There's nothing wrong with taking care of yourself" he defended
"Until you break a mirror!"
"That was an accident"
"Sure it was" she snickered
"Tim was practicing his crossover"
"Do you always have to blame Tim; he has feelings too you know"
"Since when are you on the Tim train?"
"Since now, and don't tell him that you'll give him ideas"
"Whatever, can we get back to Haley?"
"I can. You not so much" Brooke shrugged
"How am I in the wrong?' Nathan was perplexed
"How are you not?"
"I wasn't being groped in front of the entire town!" he exploded
"Either was Haley" Brooke retorted
"You would say that considering you were right there next to her - cheer-leading" he mimicked
"Wait, are you talking about Junk and Fergie and our routine?" Brooke questioned
"Don't talk about them to me!" he warned
"MORON!" she smacked him up the back of the head
"OW BROOKE!"
"You stupid, dumb, jealous moron! We weren't being groped, Junk and Fergie are members of our squad; they're bases for our lifts and throws and they both happen to be great tumblers" she ranted "There was no groping, and you are an idiot! Oh my god that's why Lucas is being an ass!" she smacked him again "Damn you Nathan, did you have to corrupt my boyfriend! It's bad enough I have you for family but now I have to put up with him acting like you! Get your stupid, jealous, dumber than a post ass inside and set that boy straight or I swear on moms gin that you'll be playing basketball with your jaw wired shut and my foot up your ass! GET ME!" she yelled holding him by the shirt.
"The Brookie monster's back!" Peyton cheered
"Shut-up P Sawyer!" Brooke snarled
"So you're saying I imagined the groping, and the hands, and the sexual tension?" Nathan asked meekly
"What part of delusional do you not understand?"
"If you asked me that last year I would've said everything but I'm a lot smarter than that now thanks to Haley. But since I'm kind of scared right now I'm just gonna nod and agree with whatever and forget everything I learnt from my word calendar"
"Do you know what I'm gonna do with that damn thing?" she snarled
"Leave the calendar out of this, it didn't do anything to you Brookie"
"Nathan Scott, if you are not in that house explaining your stupidity within three seconds then Duke is going to get a shocking phone call informing them of your death" she threatened
"Brookie..."
"NATHAN!"
"Fine I'm going I'm going" he relented turning towards the house
"And he better grovel when he apologises!" she yelled after him.
Nathan walked back into the house and found Lucas in the kitchen chatting with Bevin and Skills. Bevin seemed to be carrying most of the conversation as Lucas brooded into his beer.
"Hey man, Brookie's out back; apologise, mean it and I'll explain everything later I gotta get outta here"
"Why am I apologising?" Lucas asked in disbelief
"Because she thinks we're idiots"
"Ok-ay"
"Anyway, I gotta grovel to my own girl, I'll see you later"
"You found her?"
"Not yet, but I've got a pretty good idea of where she is" Nathan pursed his lips before pushing away from the counter "Bye guys"
"Bye Nate" Bevin called
"Bye" Skills added as Lucas half waved his cup
"Cheer up Luke" Bevin soothed "Brooke thinks I'm an idiot too"
"You're not an idiot baby" Skills said as he wrapped an arm around her waist
"I know, besides I can say idiot in Spanish, so therefore I can't be one"
"What?" Lucas asked
"Idiots don't speak Spanish" she explained
"So anyway" Skills said changing the subject "Why does B Scott want a sorry?"
"He's an ass who should be thrilled to be seen with her; I'm parasailing" Bevin filled in
"I think you mean para-phrasing" Lucas corrected
"I said I could speak Spanish not English" she excused
"You're cute in either language baby" Skills pulled her in for a quick kiss
"On that note. I better go look for Brooke" Lucas stood up
"Sure dawg" Skills dismissed
"Oh and sorry you didn't get captain" Lucas added
"It's okay I didn't lose that much cash" Bevin shrugged
"Yeah thanks man but it's cool. I not really captain material anyway, besides it's better Roth spends all his free time with the old man you know what I'm sayin"
"Besides, he'll captain my material tonight" Bevin winked kissing the side of Skills bald head
"That is both disturbing and makes no sense whatsoever" Lucas winced before turning to leave
"And somehow I don't care" Skills said leaning in to kiss Bevin hungrily as she giggled in response "Baby you are so good at that" Skills said a moment later when they'd pulled apart
"I speak french too" she giggled.
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Lucas walked out of the house into the backyard in search of his girlfriend. He moved through a throng of people taking shots and dancing by the bonfire, but still there was no sign of the brunette. As he scanned the area his eyes landed on a brown pair, nodding his head he made his way over to their owner.
"Hey man" Jake greeted when Lucas had reached him
"Hey; why you out here on your own?" Lucas asked
"Hiding from blondie" Jake replied
"Hiding?" Lucas asked with a raised eyebrow
"She's pissed" he answered nonchalantly
"What did you do?"
"It's more like what I didn't do" Jake mused
"Is this about Roth getting Ravens captain?"
"How'd you know?" Jake questioned surprised
"Bevin was rambling on about how she has to return everyone's money; and it's not like Sawyer to stay out of that action"
"The girls were betting? Again?"
"Apparently no-one took Roth, go figure" Lucas shook his head
"Well I don't think that losing the cash has Peyt all hot under the collar. Actually it's not even that I didn't make captain, she's mad because I'm okay with not getting captain! I tell you man, as long as I live, I'll never understand women"
"At least you know what you did, I'm flying blind here" Lucas lamented
"Dude it's Brooke. Tell her she's lost five pounds and you'll be back in like that" Jake snapped his fingers for emphasis.
"Yeah right" Lucas sneered "Like I'd risk that! Brooke'll scream at me because I just said she used to be five pounds heavier, and that I'm insinuating that she's fat. I've been dating that girl for long enough to know not to compliment her in any way that may be construed as calling her fat" Lucas said emphatically
"You are so whipped!"
"Says the guy hiding from the Sawyer Tsunami" Lucas scoffed
"I'm not hiding" Jake denied "I'm just keeping out of sight"
"But not out of mind, you do realise the longer Peyton stews the bigger the explosion?"
'What?" Jake asked confused
"I don't know it made more sense in my head" Lucas replied
"Kind of like dating Brooke huh?" Jake joked with a light elbow to Lucas's side.
"Not really that funny" Lucas scowled "But I guess when you date Peyton you got to take every opportunity to laugh" Lucas mocked
"Sure" Jake huffed taking a gulp of his drink
"C'mon, I've got to apologise to Brooke for whatever it is that I did, I'm sure Peyton will appreciate the same"
"I'm not apologising!"
"Dude, have you met these girls? it's always better to apologise first and prepare for the next time we 'screw-up' with them" Lucas advised
"No, I'm not doing it" Jake said stubbornly
"You'll never win the argument"
"It's the principle of the matter" Jake crossed his arms
"If you think you can outlast Sawyer, you're delusional"
"I have strength of character on my side"
"And Peyton has actual strength"
"That's a good point" Jake conceded
"She has previously beaten you at arm-wrestling"
"I know" Jake rolled his eyes
"And there was the time she outdrove you at golf"
"Thanks for reminding me"
"And the day she did more chin-ups in gym class"
"That was embarrassing" Jake mumbled
"Oh and don't forget when she got the bolts off and changed the tyre on your truck"
"I loosened them for her" Jake grumbled
"And she did climb that huge tree in your front yard to rescue your cat"
"I was ten and scared of heights"
"What about when she carried you all the way home from the rivercourt?"
"I sprained my ankle, it was piggyback style and you're not doing alot for my masculinity right now" Jake whined
"I'm just saying" Lucas snickered
"Well you made your point; I should suck it up and apologise to Peyt" Jake relented
"And I didn't even give you the number one reason" Lucas cheered
"Which is?" Jake asked as they started walking
"In the case of a zombie apocalypse, you're gonna need her to save your ass" Lucas grinned
"At least my girl won't start the zombie apocolypse" Jake bit back
"Yeah, but no-one will be left to see your girls glory moment"
"I will" he said confidently
"That's if you apologise and she agrees to save you. Let's find out" Lucas said as they approached Peyton who was rolling her eyes at Tim. Brooke was between them looking frustrated as she appeared to be mediating some sort of disagreement between Tim and Mouth.
"Stop analysing me!" Mouth yelled
"C'mon leave him alone Tim" Brooke said trying to calm Mouth
"I'm just trying to help" Tim defended himself "If Mouth accepts the responsibility he should shoulder in his breakup, then he can find a higher happiness and fulfillment"
"I am fulfilled" Mouth argued
"No you're depressed. It's a classic symptom of little man syndrome" Tim explained
"I'm not little!"
"Well let's face it, you're not exactly 'big' either" Tim said using finger brackets "But it's okay, we're here for you" he patted Mouth's shoulder
"Get your hands off of me!" Mouth gritted out angrily
"Tim I think you should go" Brooke tried to resolve the tension
"It's okay, this is a safe place" he soothed
"It's not while you're here" Mouth grumbled
"Interesting and how does that make you feel?"
"Tim that's enough!" Brooke demanded
"Brooke I'll get to you and your anger management issues in a minute" he dismissed
"Alright man, I think that's enough" Lucas stepped in before Brooke could get worked up.
"I'm handling this Lucas" Brooke pushed past him to glare at Tim
"You try to handle things yourself alot Brooke, that could be an underlying manifestation of a lack of parental guidance in childhood" Tim suggested
"I'm gonna handle you, you little twerp"
"Brooke I thought we established that this is a safe place. Violence is never a solution"
"That's it" Brooke snarled as she lunged for Tim. Lucas grabbed her by the waist to halt her movements. "Lucas let me go, or so help me god!"
"Brooke calm down" Lucas tried to soothe
"Brooke you should listen to Lucas, the effects of co-dependency could be good for you" Tim advised
"And the effects of co-boots up your ass won't be good for you!" she yelled as Lucas tried to hold her back
"Tim what did I tell you in the car on the way over here?" Lucas asked as he struggled with Brooke
"That reading the first chapter of my Psych 101 textbook doesn't make me an expert" he shrugged
"And?" Lucas prodded
"Nobody likes a know it all"
"And?"
"If I even thought about analysing Brooke you'd kick my ass" Tim finally answered
"Bingo!" Lucas smirked
"In my defense, you didn't say anything about analysing Mouth"
"The same still applies" Lucas replied
"Fine" Tim gave in "Peyton" he brightened "Is there any chance you'd consider letting me delve into your Daddy issues?"
"Ewww" Brooke and Peyton both grimaced
"Tim, I'm sure there's someone around here that could use psychological help, other than you that is" Lucas said pointedly
"Sweet!" Tim cheered "Actually I overheard Ashley complaining about Fede, maybe they could use some relationship counselling from the Tim" he offered
"Why don't you go find out?" Jake suggested
"Just call me the Doctor Tim of love" Tim cried before taking off towards the house.
"Lucas will you get your sexist hands off of me!" Brooke tried to slap his hands off of her waist
"Not until you promise not to hurt me"
"I refuse to promise that" Brooke denied
"Brooke please" Lucas pleaded
"Peyt, maybe we should give them some space" Jake turned to smile at his girlfriend
"If you're suggesting talking to me, then you can forget it Jagielski" Peyton crossed her arms
"That's it, show him who's boss P Sawyer!" Brooke approved as she continued to struggle against Lucas
"Can we have a minute" Jake asked Brooke
"No" she replied
"Brooke, maybe we could go for a walk" Lucas tried as he slowly let her go
"I'm sorry I don't walk with sexist pigs" she spun around angrily
"Brooke I'm sorry for earlier"
"Really?" she asked sceptically
"Of course, I don't like upsetting you"
"Then why did you?"
"Um, well I don't really know" he answered
"You don't know why you upset me or how you upset me?" she asked with a raised eyebrow
"A little of both" he winced
"For crying out loud!" Brooke exclaimed
"I'm sorry!" Lucas tried
"No you're not! You don't care what you did!"
"It's not that I don't care" Lucas refuted
"Well it's not like you know what you did either!"
"Brooke you're acting crazy" Lucas said frustrated
"I am not!" she yelled while Peyton stood staring at the couple
"Brooke can't we just talk about this rationally?"
"I don't know? Can you?" she accused with her hands on her hips
"Babe, you're upset with me. I get that but can't we just put it in the past and move on?"Lucas asked
"UNBELIEVABLE!" she threw her hands up in the air
"Brooke if we can just talk" Lucas tried again
"I'm gonna KILL NATHAN!" she screamed stomping her foot
"This isn't his fault" Lucas ran a hand over his head
"It's the both of yours! I told him, I warned him; when I get my hands on him he's dead. This is so like him. I ask him to do one thing and he pisses off and forgets about everyone but himself! Where is he anyway? Probably annoying the hell out of someone else with his overinflated ego and self centred haircut! And he had to destroy my boyfriend! Life sucks and so does Nathan!" Brooke ranted "So much for family loyalty, he might as well change his name because he's not my brother anymore!"
"Whoa, what do you think Nate did?" Jake whispered to Lucas
"I don't know, but it's better she be mad at him then at me" he whispered back
"If that's the case then run while you still can" Jake advised
"Unfortunatly I love the girl" Lucas shrugged as he stepped forward stilling Brooke's hands that had been flailing wildly as she ranted. "Baby, I know you're mad at me and I'm sorry for that. I promise I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you because I love you. And if that means I need to disown your brother or hurt him on your behalf then I'll do it. Anything to wipe that frown off of your beautiful face"
"You don't think I can handle Nathan myself?" she said incredously
"What?" Lucas asked "That's what you took from that?"
"Clearly I was right and you are sexist! I'm perfectly capable of fighting my own battles!"
"Trust me I know"
"LUCAS!"
"Brooke, I know you can handle yourself trust me, you scare me a little. I'm pretty sure you could take me in a fight"
"Hehehehehehe" Jake snickered
"Zip it Jagielski" Peyton warned causing him to quieten immediately
"I could take you" Brooke agreed
"Yes you could, and you're the only girl I ever want to" he nodded
"Really?" she asked
"Of course" he said lifting her palm to place a soft kiss there
"And you really are sorry?'
"I am"
"And you don't think my cheer skirt is too short?"
"Well, I can't say I'm happy about everyone seeing you in it. But I'd be lying if I said you weren't hot as hell" he said appraising her legs
"Oh that's so sweet, you're halfway back in"
"Only halfway?" he asked with a cheeky smile
"I'm not easy Lucas!"
"I know, you're beautiful, smart, talented, funny and smoking hot but definetly not easy"
"Suck up" Jake fake-coughed getting a sharp elbow to the ribs from Peyton
"Flattery's getting you somewhere" Brooke started to give in
"Is it getting me back to you? Lucas asked dropping his head to leave a soft kiss on her neck
"Maybe" Brooke breathed closing her eyes
"Jealous asshole" Peyton fake-coughed
"So you can pull out the fake cough? Please that's reverse sexism right there" Jake complained
"Jake I didn't make the rules" Peyton dismissed
"Peyton's right, I make the rules, and I say that the jealous jackass that made an appearance earlier better not come back" Brooke crossed her arms
"He's gone" Lucas replied solemnly
"Really" Brooke asked quirking her eyebrow
"And not coming back in the near future" he promised
"And he won't be throwing any more kiddie tantrums anytime soon?" she challenged
"Not at all" Lucas promised again staring deep into the brunettes eyes.
"So do you forgive me now?" Lucas asked softly as he took a step closer. Brooke looked up at Lucas from under her eyelashes as they stared intently at one another.
"Brooke" Peyton broke the moment, pulling the brunette by the arm into her side "You know I love you, and I love Luke, but he was an ass and you're just starting to act like a bitch again, please tell me you're not going to give in and forgive him like that"
"We-ll"
"Brooke he was an ass!" Peyton pointed out
"But it's such a nice ass" Brooke checked it out while Lucas smirked again
"Jake's is better; don't get any ideas you're still sleeping on the couch" Peyton warned before turning back to her friend
"I didn't do anything wrong!" Jake protested
"Tell it to my bookie"
"You should probably leave Bevin out of this" Brooke cut in
"Considering I have to pay up because he lost, then I'd say she's involved"
"How can you be this pissed?" Jake asked increduosly
"How can you not?" Peyton retorted
"You're being ridiculous" Jake stated
"I am not!" Peyton yelled back "You are!"
"Can't you just get over it?" he asked frustrated
"Can you even hear yourself?" Peyton yelled again
"Can you?" Jake yelled back
"Do we look like that when we're fighting?" Brooke asked Lucas as Peyton and Jake continued to scream back and forth
"Ouch" Lucas replied as Peyton and Jake stopped yelling and the blonde began to stare the boy down with her eyes. After a few minutes of staring intently at one another silently, Jake finally sighed and nodded his head in defeat.
"For as long as I live, I don't think I'll ever see anything weirder than Peyton and Jake having an indepth conversation with their eyes" Lucas said scratching the back of his head
"It's romantic" Brooke smiled "Just promise me we're not freaks like them"
Peyton finally allowed herself to be enveloped in Jakes embrace
"So he's finally forgiven?" Lucas asked
"He made some good points, I made mine, and he apologised" the blonde shrugged before leaning up and placing a quick kiss on her boyfriends lips.
"That's sweet" Brooke gushed "You could learn a thing or two" she put her hands on her hips as she faced Lucas
"There's nothing that he can teach me" he said grabbing Brooke by the hips and pulling her flush against him "Because he'll never truly understand what I feel for you Brooke Scott"
"That's good enough for me" Brooke replied leaning up to capture his lips in a smouldering kiss
"Brooke, you can't forgive him yet" Peyton argued
"You say tomato, I say get lost" Brooke dismissed as she let Lucas attack her lips
"Babe, unless you want to see a free show then maybe we should leave them to it" Jake suggested as Brooke and Lucas continued to devour one another
"I can't believe she's just gonna forgive him! No yelling, no scratching, no embarrassing photos posted on the internet. It's just not like Brooke"
"She's in love, why it's with Lucas I'll never understand, but it's love nevertheless"
"I know it's weird" Peyton agreed
"I really hope we don't look like that when we make out" Jake grimaced as Lucas picked Brooke up and she wrapped her legs around the blonde boys waist.
"I don't know I kind of get too lost in the moment to check out what we look like" she answered
"That's true" Jake agreed
"You want to go make out with our eyes open and find out?" Peyton wiggled her eyebrows
"I'm down with that" Jake said as they turned to leave
"But you're still sleeping on the couch!"
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Haley sat on the comfy armchair in the corner of her room, with her sock clad feet propped up on the ottoman. Her acoustic guitar was across her lap as she plucked softly at the strings. She hadn't wanted to go to the party but Brooke could be persistent when she wanted something, and with the burning anger she'd felt at Nathan she'd been swept up into the crowd of teenagers wanting to party the night away. However one she was at the house, it was clear that she was in no mood to celebrate so she made a hasty exit back to her own house, although she was sure Brooke would kill her when she discovered she'd stolen her car.
Haley continued to play with her guitar as she heard the sounds of her window being opened.
"Damn it" she cursed quietly when she realised she'd forgotten to lock it
"Umph" Nathan grunted as he swung his long legs through the window and came into contact with something hard causing Haley to chuckle. She continued to laugh softly as she listened to Nathan grunt and groan as he tried to get through the barriers she'd put in his way.
"Fuck" he cursed himself a second later when he kicked the item in question and it suddenly gave way causing him to tumble into her bedroom landing heavily on his stomach on the floor. "Bloody hell Hales, you set me an obstacle course?" he asked as he tried to stand up and straighten himself out. "Hales?" he asked again a second later when he realised she hadn't responded "Haley?" he tried again as she continued to ignore him "The silent treatment huh?" he quirked an eyebrow in her direction as he watched her. He knew she was pissed, normally a neat freak she had carelessy thrown her cheer bag and keys on the bed and her shoes laid where they had fallen when she'd toed them off. She hadn't changed her clothes either he noticed as his eyes appraised her. Haley was still dressed in her cheer uniform, her favourite Ravens jacket with her hair sitting to the side cascading over her shoulder only restrained by the blue ribbon that had been used to fasten a low ponytail. Nathan couldn't help the sigh of approval that escaped his lips as he watched her. No matter what his girl wore she was beautiful to him, especially with her eyes locked in concentration, and her lips caught between her teeth as she focused all of her attention on the instrument in her lap. Or tried to anyway.
Nathan smiled as he watched her try to play the guitar, while her eyes kept glancing up to see what he was doing. His smile widened into a grin and then a smirk as she seemed to pick a few notes in succession on the guitar he'd given to her on her last birthday. Haley had always wanted to learn, so Nathan had set about helping her fulfill her dream. "I guess you're not as mad at me as you want me to believe" he grinned as she tried to ignore him "Despite the silence, I know you still want me" he said cockily as her fingers faltered for a second before they picked up their previous pace on the instrument. "You can try and ignore me baby, but the fact that you're playing the guitar I gave you speaks for itself"
Immediately the soft sounds from the guitar stopped as her fingers froze over the strings. Nathan continued to smirk as her eyes darted back and forth across the room before she placed the guitar against the wall and reached over to grab the book from her nightstand.
"Nice move" he approved "But you stole that book from me last year; I had to write a book report on it"
Haley fidgeted for a second under his gaze as she tried to find another distraction from Nathans piercing blue eyes. Her Ipod? That'll do she decided reaching for her bag and removing the MP3 player.
"Which play-list are you going to listen to? The 'Nathan Scott has the hottest body in the world' he asked putting his hands in his pockets as she unfurled her headphones "Or maybe 'Music that makes me want to float Nathans boat?' or my personal favourite 'Songs to forget Nathans a dumbass and make me want to kiss him senseless all night long?" he smirked
"It's the 'Nathan can piss off remix'she snarled finally looking at him
"Version one or two?" he joked Haley glaring at him in response "Don't push my luck, got it. Well now you're sort of talking to me again are you ready to sort this out?" he asked flopping himself down onto her bed
"If the barrier to entry wasn't a clear enough message, then hopefully this is" Haley said giving Nathan the finger
"Ouch, that really hurt Hales" He fake winced holding his heart
"Maybe not, but my foot up your ass definetly will" she threatened
"You've been spending way too much time with Brookie"
"And you've been spending too much time dreaming if you think that you're gonna get off that easily" she retorted
"I'm gonna get off tonight?"
"What did I say about you dreaming?" she spat back while a soft blush covered her face
"I only dream about you Hales" he said sweetly in reply while Haley rolled her eyes "Besides the play-list says you'll forgive me" he motioned to the Ipod she still held in her hands
"You loaded them on here yourself!" she said irritated throwing the Ipod at him
"But you listen to them" he smirked as he rubbed the spot on his chest where it had hit.
"God" she flopped back against the armchair in frustration "You think you're so charming" she huffed
"Baby, you know I can charm the pants off of you" he wiggled his eyebrows
"That's not even remotely funny" she crossed her arms
"I'm just saying"
"Well I'm not charmed Nathan. I'm pissed!"
"I'm well aware of that"
"Are you? Because the way you've acted tonight shows the only thing you're aware of is you're immature delusions and you're gigantic ego!"
"At least you acknowledge the fact I'm gigantic"
"Can't you take anything seriously!" she yelled
"I take lots of things seriously" he denied
"Don't make me laugh" she scoffed
"I do, Basketball, nutrition, weights sessions, my car" he listed off on his fingers
"How could I ever forget basketball and your car" she said sarcastically
"And then most important of all, there's you"
"Could've fooled me" she muttered
"Hales you know you're the most serious thing in my life"
"If that were true, then there would be alot more things on that list"
"Like what?" he asked confused
"Well your studies for one, if you took my love of academics seriously then you would feel the same way as I do about homework"
"Baby not even Alvin Einstein likes school as much as you do"
"Albert, Nathan Albert!" she yelled standing up
"Who?" Nathan asked completely confused
"Albert Einstein!"
"Isn't that what I said?"
"Not even close! This is what I'm talking about! And what about your sister? You crack jokes constantly at her expense, how do you think that's supposed to make me feel? Hmmm?" she ranted
"Well considering you're usually laughing..."
"That's so not the point! She's your flesh and blood and my best friend you have to be nice to her!"
"How the hell did we go from making up to fighting about Brooke and some old dead guy?"
"We were not making up!"
"Yes we were and then were going to make out"
"There is no way that these lips are going anywhere near your selfish, sexist, jealous lips!" she denied taking a step back
"You might as well accept it Hales, you're gonna be all over me soon enough, we both know you can't resist me" Nathan winked
"GET OUT!" Haley yelled
"Nah" he replied still smiling
"Nathan get out of my house right now!"
"It's technically your parents house" he pointed out
"And when they get home they won't want you in their house either"
"Face it Hales your parents love me" he shrugged "Besides it won't be for awhile, they're at the same party as my so called parents and from experience I wouldn't expect them home before dawn, so I think I'll hang out with my girl, I mean I don't want you feeling lonely in this big house all by yourself"
"Like I care"
"Yes you do, and you don't want me feeling lonely in my big empty house either."
"Yes I do" she said stubbornly
"You love me Haley which means by default you have to care you're just gonna have to accept it"
"Just because I love you, doesn't mean I have to like you right now" she grumbled
"Awww you love me" he smiled
"Don't push it Nathan" she warned "You're still pissing me off"
"And you still love and care about me anyway" he stood up and placed his hands on her waist to make her look at him "Because that's the person you are Haley James, and that's just one of the many reasons that I love you so damn much"
"It doesn't excuse your behaviour" she crossed her arms over her chest again.
"I know. I was an ass. I was crazy and jealous and out of my head. That's what you do to me because the thought of ever losing you scares me to death. You Haley James are my world and it's not easy dealing with the fact that an angel such as you would ever date the devil himself"
"You're not the devil Nathan" Haley sighed
"But you are an angel. You're good and kind and sweet and innocent and you always see the good in people and not their bad sides, for example your boyfriend" he said pointing to himself
"You're not a bad person Nathan, and while yes you do have your faults like everyone else, including me, deep down you have a good heart"
"And that right there is why I love you and probably why I want to wrap you up in cotton wool and protect you"
"I'm stronger than you give me credit for" she said annoyed
"I know. But people will still try and take advantage of you and I'll do everything I can to stop that from happening"
"Junk and Fergie are not going to take advantage of me"
"Well I know that now"
"Do you?" Haley asked
"Yeah, Brookie set me straight on a few things earlier"
"That's my Brookie" Haley approved
"I think my ears are still ringing" he said bringing a hand up to his right ear
"You deserved it"
"Yeah I did" he agreed "And you didn't deserve me going off on you. I'm sorry Hales" he said sincerely
"I know you are" she leaned up and brushed his hair back gently "I'm sorry too, I haven't exactly handled this particularly well either"
"You didn't do anything wrong"
"I didn't tell you about the guys joining the squad"
"But you should be able to trust that I'm not gonna blow up about it"
"You're still you and that's the guy that I fell in love with. So it's okay"
"So you still love me huh?" he asked as he pulled her closer to him
"Don't get cocky mister, you're not forgiven yet"
"But it's only a matter of time" he replied confidently
"Why do I love you again?"
"Because I'm hot" he said matter of factly
"Exactly how big is your ego?"
"Well when you're Nathan Scott it's to be expected" he shrugged
"Considering you love me so much you'd think your ego would leave some room for me to breathe in here"
"I'm so good I can breathe for the both of us" he smirked before capturing her lips in a tender kiss
"Mmmm pretty good" Haley said not opening her eyes "But it had to end... so you could breathe" she snickered
"You think you're funny" Nathan said before grabbing her face and pulling her up in an urgent kiss. Haley opened her mouth for him and they kissed one another passionately for a few minutes. When they both reluctantly pulled back he leaned his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. "I am sorry Haley. More than I can ever tell you. Just know I am and that I love you"
"Thank you"
"Your welcome baby" he held her close for a few moments before Haley pulled back to look at him mischievously
"So exactly how sorry are you?"
"Haley" Nathan shook his head
"Do you want to make it up to me?" she asked sweetly
"With anything other than what you're thinking about right now" he dismissed
"Please" she fluttered her eyes at him
"Don't give me the eyes Hales" he whined
"Well you said you were really sorry, and you want to get back in my good graces... and you were the one who came up with this"
"That was a long time ago, and if I do this everytime I screw up then.."
"Please Nathan" Haley begged
"Fine" he finally relented "But this is the last time"
"Yes!" she cheered as Nathan let his arms fall from her waist and turned back to her bed grabbing her ipod and pulling out the headphones as he carried it over to her desk. Once there he made fast work of connecting it to the silver docking station and scrolling through the menu until he found what he was looking for.
"Alright, and you better enjoy it because I mean it this is the last time" he said as he moved back over to Haley wrapping his arms around her as the intro music began to play. "I love you"
"I love you too" she smiled brightly before he started to sing to her softly - off key - along to the music
"Everybody needs a little time away, I heard her say, from each other
Even lovers need a holiday, far away, from each other
hold me now, it's hard for me to say I'm sorry," He sang as he tightened his hold on Haley
"I just want you to stay'' he spun Haley aroundbefore pulling her back into his embrace
"After all that we've been through, I will make it up to you,
I promise to
and after all that's been said and done
you're just the part of me I can't let go" He placed a soft kiss on her temple
"Couldn't stand to be kept away, just for the day,
from your body" He smirked as his hands slid down and cupped her ass making her giggle and a blush start to form on her face
"Wouldn't want to be swept away, far away,
from the one that I love" He smiled
"Hold me now, it's hard for me to say I'm sorry,
I just want you to know,
hold me now I really want to tell you I'm sorry, I could never let you go" Nathan leaned in and kissed Haley softly again before singing the chorus again his hand on her cheek
"After all that we've been through I'll will make it up to you,
I promise to
And after all that's been said and done you're just the part of me I can't let go"
Before Nathan could sing the next part Haley had captured his lips in a mind numbing kiss and was running her tongue over his lips trying to deepen it. Nathan forgot the music still playing in the room and gave in to Haley kissing her back with the same fervour. After kissing for a few seconds he felt the back of his knees hit the edge of her bed and Haley pushed him down onto it and climbed on top of him. Attaching her lips to his once more they kissed urgently and passionately only stopping for Haley to rip Nathans shirt over his head and remove her own. Nathans hands were running up and down the skin of her back as she kissed a trail down his chest to his stomach while her soft moans vibrated against his skin. He pulled her face back up to his so he could kiss her deeply again. Haley was gripping the hair at the nape of his neck hard and Nathan could feel himself losing control. Nothing could ever feel as good to him as kissing Haley James. But in the next second he felt himself snapping out of the haze as he felt her small hands trying to undo his jeans. Nathans hands immediately moved down to cover hers to stop the movement.
"Baby you need to stop" he panted into her ear as he tried to regain his breath
"What?" she asked surprised
"Baby, we need to stop we can't do this, not now" he said softly as he felt her body stiffen on top of him and move away "Haley"
"Please not again Nathan!" she ran her hands through her now unkempt hair
"Baby, trust me you don't want to be doing this now"
"I think I know what I want" she said frustrated
"No you don't" Nathan said softly sitting up when she pushed herself up off of the bed
"I know what I want Nathan, I've never been more sure of anything and I've made it perfectly clear, and on more than one occasion I might add, the question is what do you want?" she asked
"You. That's all I've ever wanted, you know that"
"Then why won't you have sex with me!" she yelled
A/N: the song is 'Hard for me to say I'm sorry' by Chicago, and no I do not own it.