A/N: I know guys, I'm slowly down on updates but I feel like I have no free time! But I'm trying !

As always let me know what you think!

WARNING: NOT PROOF READ FOR GRAMMAR MISTAKES!

Chapter 3

Talia POV

"He is so hot," I heard Miranda say from a few benches down.

She sighed loudly and leaned back.

"He's old enough to be our Dad but I so don't care," Jessica said agreeing with her.

"Oh please my Dad is like fifty and bald. Coach Scott is nothing like my Dad," Miranda said.

"He must have been like sixteen when Talia was born," Rebecca added.

I resisted the urge to correct her that it was actually seventeen, and rolled my eyes instead as I ate my apple.

"He clearly just stayed with her because she got pregnant," Miranda said.

I gripped the apple in my hand and ignored the juice that ran down from the apple to my wrist. I tried to stay in control and not react. This wasn't anything new; it wasn't like I hadn't heard their ridiculous thoughts about Dad before. Normally I just ignored them and laughed at them behind their backs so why were their words pushing all my buttons today?

A tiny voice in my head shouted 'because they might be right', but I refused to believe Mom and Dad only stayed together because of me. If that were true they wouldn't have had Ella and Cody too right? I also had way too many happy memories of us as a family to even consider it as true, but then again a year and a half ago I thought I knew them well enough to think this wouldn't have happened either. I didn't know what I knew anymore.

I cursed the fact I forgot my headphones and couldn't drown them out as they chose to spend their lunch time watching Dad as he coached the basketball team. Well actually if I was going to curse anything it would be the fact that I couldn't escape Dad at home or at school.

"Yeah, so thank god he finally came to his senses and divorced that skank of a wife who trapped him by getting pregnant," Miranda said.

And that was the point where I couldn't help myself.

"You have no idea about anything," I said.

"Oh please calm down," Jessica said rolling her eyes, "this has nothing to do with you."

"Actually when your discussing my Mom, who you don't even know by the way, and my Dad, who you actually you don't know either, it does kind of bring me into it."

"Well I do know your Mom didn't deserve him because she clearly had no idea what he needed," Miranda said in a snarky tone, and the others laughed.

"As opposed to what? You, the fifteen year old that does?" I said before I punched her.

Xxxxxxx

Nathan POV

I looked down at the lesson plans in front of me but my eyes kept wondering to the framed picture on my desk. We took that photo a week after Cody was born when this were still good. It was Brooke's first outing out since she'd come home from the hospital and we'd ended up just walking down to the River Court. Talia and Ella fed the ducks, and Brooke sat on the picnic blanket with Cody. I remember thinking that afternoon that I couldn't believe this is was my family. Everything seemed so perfect, and I couldn't have imagined things working out any other way. I flipped the camera around on my phone just as Talia and Ella came running to the blanket and I managed to get the perfect picture of all of us, fitting into the frame.

Brooke was clutching Cody with Ella sitting on her lap. My arm was around Brooke, and the other was behind me, keeping Talia who was on my back secure. Technically the photo wasn't that successful because I was the only one looking into the camera. The kids were in too playful a mood to sit still and Brooke was too busy looking at me. Despite all that though it was my favourite picture because it was real.

After seeing how the picture turned out, it didn't take me long to print it out and frame it for my desk.

After everything went downhill I couldn't bring myself to take it down. It had been a few days since Peyton's birthday party and Brooke still had yet to call me. Although why would she? She didn't owe many any explanations or reassurances she was ok.

I was so close to calling her but it wasn't my place. I was just having a hard time getting myself to understand that. How the hell did I get to this point where I had no right to even call Brooke without having questions regarding the kids?

I wanted to make sure she knew I didn't put Luke up to their conversation. It was ok to call her about that right?

This would all be so much easier if there was a rule book for 'how to communicate with your wife who you're separated from but you wish you weren't and you're actually in love with'—but unfortunately no such publication existed yet.

"Coach Scott?"

I looked up from my desk and quickly shuffled some papers around as the doors opened, putting them down as if I was in the middle of something.

"Keesha? Hi," I said seeing Principal Turners assistant.

"Sorry to disturb you, but we're having a little problem with Talia, I didn't know if I should have called your wife or—"

"Talia? Is she ok?" I asked, panicked.

"Well, there was an incident today," she said, but I was already walking with her to Principal Turner's office.

I walked into the office area and saw Principal Turner's office door already open, and I took that as my invitation to come in.

Miranda Goode was sitting in the chair with tears streaming down her face, and blood coming out her nose, and Turner had his arms crossed and was staring at Talia.

I felt relief seeing she was ok, then took notice of the cut on her lip and deep scratches on her arm.

"Coach Scott, thank you for coming," Turner said.

"What happened?" I said pulling Talia toward me by her arm and scanning her over for any more injuries. She wouldn't meet my eyes but let me check her.

"It seems Natalia physically attacked Miss Goode today unprovoked. I have witnesses—"

"Those witnesses were her friends!" Talia burst out.

"Talia!" I warned against her tone toward Principal Turner.

"What it's true!" she said.

"She just hit me!" Miranda said crying even more, "I didn't do anything."

Talia rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry Nathan but I'm going to have to ask Natalia not to go back to class for the rest of the day," Principal Turner said.

"Completely understandable," I said, not believing that Talia had taken it this far.

"What!" Talia said.

"I trust you'll deal with this appropriately," Turner said.

"Oh believe me, I will," I said guiding Talia out.

She pushed me off her as soon as we were out the office.

She didn't say anything but I took her into my office.

"What were you thinking?" I yelled as soon as the door was shut, "you hit her Talia?"

"Why are you yelling at me?" she yelled back.

"Why do you think?" I answered.

"You're not even going to hear my side of the story?" she asked.

"Did you hit her?" I asked crossing my arms.

"Yes but—"

"Did you hit her before she hit you?" I asked.

"Yes b—"

"Then I think you know why I'm mad right now," I said, "doesn't matter what happens, you don't hit people Talia. We raised you better than that."

She looked up at me and I saw anger cross her eyes.

"I can't believe you're just taking her side," she said.

"I'm not taking her side. This is about you. I'm telling you that what you did was wrong," I told her.

I could tell from the look in her eyes that she didn't want to be disciplined by me, but everything else aside I was still her Dad whether she liked it or not.

Xxxxx

Brooke POV

"Brooke Scott," I said automatically as I answered the my cell phone.

I tucked it under my ear as I pulled into my driveway and turned off the car.

"Brooke, I'm glad I caught you. I was hoping to speak to you today at the office but I've had meeting's all day," I heard my boss say.

"That's ok Mr Duane, how can I help you now?" I asked, as I unclipped Cody's booster seat and he ran out the car behind Ella who was already waiting at the door.

"I actually wanted to discuss your position here at the company," he said.

I bit my lip as I envisioned him firing me. I unlocked the front door for the kids then went into the kitchen.

"Oh, right," I said waiting to hear it.

If I lost my job now it would be the worst time. I had this house to pay for by myself, and not to mention all the extra bills. Of course Nathan had offered and even insisted to pay them but I'd wanted to do things by myself. Call it pride. I knew if I needed money now he'd gladly step up to help me but I didn't want to have to do that.

"Sir, I know I've been a little preoccupied with the kids lately but—"

"No, no, Brooke, you have it all wrong," he laughed, "I'm promoting you."

"What?" I asked stunned.

"Yes, I want you to head a department. I feel like you've reached your peak here in working on the work attire team," he said, "how do you feel about heading the work attire department?"

"Oh my gosh, I don't even know what to say!" I said, starting to shake. This is what I'd wanted for years—to head my own design team. Working on one had been great but there was a limit to your creativeness when you were ultimately help someone else create their vision.

"Well I hope that's good," he said.

"It is! Thank you so much!" I said.

"Listen Brooke, there is a little catch though," he said, "the department is in our new office in Greensboro."

I stopped hearing what he said. Greensboro? That was a few hours away. I would have to move. We would have to move.

"Mr Duane, this is an amazing offer but I don't know if I can take it. The kids are at school, and their Dad lives here…"

"Brooke they can move school, and we'd be more than willing to help accommodate your ex-husband in bringing him and the children up and down back to Tree Hill."

I sighed and sat down on the chair.

"I don't know," I said.

"Look Brooke, I'm not going to close this offer off to you yet. I want you to think about it. This is a very good opportunity," he said, "I just hope you know that."

"I do," I said.

"Just think it through properly?" he asked.

I agreed to speak to him about it properly tomorrow and hung up the phone. I knew I wanted to do it but I also knew what was stopping me. Being far away would mean I would be far away from Nathan. It wasn't long ago I was wishing for some distance to get some space and get over him, but now the opportunity was presenting itself I was reluctant to follow through.

Either way though I knew I had to make a decision about something. The indecision was feeling now told me I was stuck and it wasn't good. Luke was right I did need to make a decision about something. Once I'd taken action about Nathan, then maybe it would be easier to make a decision about this job too. I couldn't keep clinging on to something that was long gone.

I picked up my phone just as it began to ring in my hand.

"Nathan?" I asked, surprised to see his call. As a rule we generally only communicated the days we were supposed to swap kids and even then that mostly happened over text.

"Hi," he said, "how are you?"

"I'm fine. What's up?" I said.

"Talia had a little problem in school today and got sent home. I knew you were at work so I kept her in my office, but I was going to drop her off," he said.

Worst case scenarios flashed in my head.

"Is she ok?"

"Relax, she's fine," he said, "she got into a fight. But she is ok."

"She what?!" I said. Talia was not the type to get into fights, let alone get sent home for them.

"You can talk to her when we're back," he said.

"Ok. Thanks," I said.

"Ok, see you soon?"

"Oh Nathan?"

"Yeah?"

"When you come, can you come in for a while. I want to talk to you about something."

"Sure," he said, "I'll see you in a little bit."

"Ok, bye."

I put the phone down on the counter feeling sick at what I was about to do. I was taking the step I needed to get some closure.

Xxxxx

Nathan POV

The door flew open and Talia burst into tears as soon as she saw Brooke and ran into her arms. Brooke held her close and soothed her by rubbing her back.

"It's ok sweetie," she said, "are you ok?"

Brooke looked at her lip and frowned.

Talia nodded and wiped her tears.

"Why don't you go and take a nice hot shower and I'll make you some hot chocolate and then we can talk?" Brooke asked her, tucking Talia's hair behind her ear.

Talia nodded, then disappeared up the stairs.

I mentally compared Brooke's reaction to mine.

"Shall we?" Brooke gestured toward an open door and I followed her through to what I realised was the kitchen.

It was a spacious square room with white furniture and open space. Brooke went to fill the kettle and I sat down opposite her at the breakfast bar, not quite sure what to do with myself. It seemed strange that this place was home to Brooke but was no more than a random building to me.

I watched Brooke put the kettle on to boil then add milk to a saucepan and putting it on to boil.

"You didn't want to know what happened with Tal then and there?" I asked unable to help myself.

"Of course I did," she said, "but it clearly wasn't the right time. She was upset."

"She hit Miranda Goode," I told her, filling her in.

"I wonder what Miranda did or said," Brooke said taking out two mugs.

"Yeah but either way Talia shouldn't have hit her," I said.

"Of course she shouldn't have but we both know Tal well enough to know she wouldn't have done it unprovoked," Brooke said rationally.

I immediately felt guilt at yelling at her before even asking her reasoning. Brooke was right, I did know Talia well enough to know she must have had a good reason. Even if it wasn't right I should have at least tried to understand it. Was I really that out of touch with my kids?

I watched Brooke pour out coffee into two mugs and automatically mix two sugars into mine before passing it to me.

"Thanks," I said, holding the hot mug.

Brooke nodded then put hot chocolate mix into the pan before pouring it into one normal sized mug and two smaller ones for the kids.

"Before Tal comes down, I actually wanted to talk to you about something," Brooke said looking nervous.

"Before you say anything, I just want to tell you I had nothing to do with what Luke said to you. I want you to do what feels right for you," I told her.

"My conversation with Luke is what actually made me want to talk to you about this," she said.

My mind swam with possibilities of what she could possibly be telling me. Did she want to try things again? Get back together? I thought it was a bad thing Luke talking to her but what it had made her come to this decision.

"Luke was right. We are just making this harder for ourselves and we need to take the next step," she said.

"I agree," I said resisting the urge to smile.

"I think we should think about getting a divorce."

And that was when my mug hit the counter.