Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.
A/N: Hiya guys and gals. Here's the latest chapter. All I have to say is, I hope you like Brooke since it's a big chapter with a ton of her in it. LOL. Hopefully it makes up for her complete absence for 12 straight chapters. And, of course, I hope you all enjoy the chapter. Thanks to everyone who keeps reading, and big thanks to the reviewers. Love ya!
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It didn't take long for Brooke to notice the ring on Peyton's finger – and to completely and understandably, misinterpret the situation. Despite the fact that her blonde friend's sobs had hardly subsided, Brooke was quick to comment.
"P. Sawyer, no, no, no," she lamented. "And you wonder why your life is a mess?"
Peyton lifted her head from Brooke's shoulder in confusion. "What are you…?"
"Look," Brooke continued. "I get that you want to move on and all that, and I'm sure Lucas is a great guy, but if you marry him, first of all, you're going to crush Nathan, and I know you want to pretend like you don't care about that, but I know you do. And besides that, you're going to crush yourself because, unless things have drastically changed around here in the last week, you're still in love with Nathan. So go ahead and date the guy, but please, for everybody's sake, give back the ring."
Despite everything, Peyton burst out laughing as she recalled that she'd still been dating Lucas when Brooke had left for California a week ago. "Actually," she began with a mysterious smile. "I think Nathan would be more upset if I did give back the ring." She waited for her friend to catch on, but she just sat there with a puzzled look on her face. And no way could she hold the news in. "You know, since he bought it and all."
"What!" Brooke shrieked. "You and Nate are back together?"
Peyton nodded.
"And he proposed?"
She nodded again, unable to contain her smile.
"And you accepted?"
"No, I just like the ring," Peyton teased. At Brooke's fallen expression, she gave her a playful punch. "Of course, I accepted. You think I'd be wearing it if I hadn't."
Brooke let out the loudest squeal that Peyton was sure could be heard from miles away, and threw herself in her arms, nearly sending them both toppling down to the water. They both grabbed the ledge to keep that from happening.
"Whoa," Peyton said. "Easy girl, I didn't bring my swim gear."
"Ok," Brooke exclaimed. "You have to tell me everything. Like how, when, where. Do not leave a single detail out. And why didn't you tell me before now? My two best friends get engaged and you leave me in the dark? That should totally be illegal."
"We wanted to surprise you," Peyton said.
"Oh. Well, I guess that's ok, then," Brooke chirped. "As long as you haven't picked out your dress yet," she warned.
"Pick out my dress without my best friend in the whole wide world to help me?" Peyton went on dramatically. "Never."
"Yay," Brooke exclaimed excitedly. "Ok, so have you guys set a date yet?"
"Well, it was supposed to be in a week…"
Brooke's brows arched in surprise and she cut off Peyton's statement. "A week! As in seven days from now kind of week?"
"Is there another kind?"
"Peyton, are you crazy? No, scratch that, you are crazy." She gasped as a thought suddenly occurred to her. "Wait! Are you…?" she reached her hand out to Peyton's stomach.
Peyton pushed her hand away and rolled her eyes. "That's what Nathan's dad asked. Does everybody think pregnancy is the only reason to marry someone?"
"When you're still a junior in high school, probably."
"Well, I'm not pregnant."
"Then why the rush? A week's not enough time to plan a proper wedding."
"Depends how you define proper. I'm cool with a small ceremony and a couple of witnesses."
"Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer, I've known you most of your life and I'd like to think I know a thing or two about you. And I know you would not be ok with that. It was Nathan's idea to get married right away, wasn't it?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Because he's impulsive like that. You're not."
"I can be," Peyton argued, almost offended. "It's not like I've sat and planned my whole life."
"I know, but you're not one to take those kinds of chances. You'd at least think about what you're getting yourself into before you leap right in, unless Nathan convinced you to do otherwise, which he's very good at, I might add."
"That's not true. I want to marry him."
"Yes, but do you want to marry him next week?"
"It doesn't matter," Peyton said. "Because, thanks to my dad, it's not happening anyway."
When Brooke stared at her blankly, she went on to explain what she meant.
"That's good," Brooke said. "That'll give you more time, and say what you will, but I know you're relieved. And you can tell Nathan your dad took the decision out of your hands."
"Yeah," Peyton agreed. "Problem is, I didn't want it taken out of my hands. I admit we were kind of rushing things by setting it next weekend, so a part of me is relieved that it won't happen that soon, and I can just blame my dad so Nathan can't be mad at me. ..but I do want to marry him. And I hate that someone can just tell me I can't."
"Is that what's gotten you so upset?" Brooke asked.
"It's part of it," Peyton admitted. "There's way more. Trust me, you have missed a lot."
"Ok," Brooke began. "Well, why don't we head out to your place because the half hour your dad gave me is almost up, and then you can tell me everything that's going on? Ok?"
Peyton nodded her head and the two stood up, making their way to their vehicles. She was so glad to have Brooke back to talk to. She was the only one who really understood both her and Nathan. "By the way, I forgot to ask, how's Chase?" she asked when they were each at their own cars.
Brooke shrugged. "I don't know. You were my first stop," she answered before sliding in the driver's side.
Peyton smiled gratefully and got in her car as well, following Brooke all the way back to her place.
They walked in together and Peyton spared neither Larry nor Ellie a glance before heading up the stairs to her room.
The two best friends talked well into the night, Peyton filling Brooke in on everything, primarily Haley's rape accusation and Nathan's subsequent arrest, and of course, how the proposal had come about. By the time she was done, Brooke's head was spinning. She couldn't believe she'd only been gone a week and so much had happened. They made plans to go see Nathan at the prison the next day, despite the fact that Larry had forbidden Peyton to see him. Brooke came up with the idea of using cheer practice as their said destination should Daddy Sawyer question where they were going.
It was late by the time sleep finally overtook them, therefore they awoke later than anticipated. The morning was nearly gone by the time they opened their eyes, but when they did, they jumped out of bed and got themselves ready to go.
Larry attempted to talk to his daughter when she got downstairs, but she continued to snub him. Until he insisted that she remove the engagement ring. She shot him a look as her other hand came up, almost protectively over the ring. But he pressed the issue until she grudgingly did as he commanded.
"You can return it to him at school on Monday," Larry stated firmly. "If he's out of jail by then, that is."
"Actually, I can't," she returned snidely. "Since, you know, I'm not allowed to see him."
"Don't be smart with me, Peyton. One of these days you'll understand that I didn't do this to hurt you."
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Just keep on pretending that after spending most of my life at sea, that you still know what's best for me. Come on, Brooke," she said before stomping over to the door.
Brooke shot Larry a look and spoke softly. "Nathan's really not as bad as you think he is. If he were, I wouldn't have stayed friends with him since kindergarten." With that she walked out the door, knowing full well it didn't make any difference to Larry what she thought, but glad to put it out there anyway.
At Brooke's insistence, they took her car. She didn't trust Peyton's driving at the best of times, let alone when she was so distraught.
Hardly two words were spoken during the ride. They weren't really necessary with these girls. Each knew the other was as worried about Nathan as she was, and the closer they came to the police station, the more anxious they became.
When they arrived they were told that Nathan had been released on bail that morning, nearly two hours ago, so they went back to Brooke's car where Peyton, for probably the dozenth time since they awoke, checked her messages. Nothing. No voicemail, no text, at least not from Nathan.
"Why didn't he call me?" Peyton wondered aloud. "He was released almost two hours ago and he didn't even let me know. He knew I'd be worried about him."
"Call him," Brooke suggested.
Peyton did so. The phone rang a few times and then went to voicemail. "He's ignoring me," Peyton concluded. "Why is he ignoring me?" Before Brooke could comment, a possible reason hit her. "Oh God," she said with dread. "He's probably mad that I wasn't there."
Brooke nodded, knowing Nathan enough to agree with Peyton's assessment. She pulled out of her parking spot and drove toward his house.
They weren't wrong in their assumption. At least not entirely. The first words out of his mouth when they found him sitting on his bed were, "why didn't you come?" Not, "hey, Brooke, long time no see, great to have you back." No, just that question thrown at Peyton in an almost accusatory way. But he wasn't so much mad as he was hurt, so Brooke turned his lack of acknowledgement into a joke.
"Gee, I missed you too, hotshot."
He sneered at her and came back with a biting reply that she'd only been gone a week and it wasn't like nobody expected her back.
Both girls' jaws dropped and Brooke felt a little sting, but Nathan's gaze was back on Peyton as he reminded her harshly that she'd told him she'd be there.
Peyton went over to him and squatted to his level, placing her hands on each of his legs. "I didn't know the hearing was today," she explained. "They wouldn't let me in to see you and nobody told me anything. Otherwise, you know I wouldn't have missed it."
Taking a shaky breath, Nathan nodded. "Yeah, I know," he admitted. "I'm just losing it here, I'm sorry," he said, his apology extending to both girls.
"What happened, Nate?" Peyton asked as the girls went and sat on each side of him. "What did the judge say?"
He wasn't answering and Peyton wondered why, until she noticed where his gaze had fallen. Her naked finger.
"My dad made me take it off," she revealed. "We can't get married next weekend, baby. We have to be eighteen or have our parents' consent."
He nodded. "Yeah, my dad told me that on the way home. He says he doubts my mom would approve. Like she should have a say in anything," he mumbled irritably.
"As soon as we're eighteen, we'll do it, just like we planned," Peyton promised him.
"Where's the ring?" he asked.
She drew it out of her pocket and he held his hand out for her to give it to him. She wanted to cry at the gesture – he was seriously asking for it back? But she dropped it in his hand nonetheless.
He took it and walked over to his dresser where he spent a few minutes fiddling with something. His back was turned so neither girl could see what he was doing. When he turned around, they noticed he held a necklace that they both recognized. It was the silver necklace that Brooke had helped him pick out for his and Peyton's sixth month anniversary. The necklace that Peyton had given back to him when they'd broken up. He walked over to his blonde girlfriend and that's when she saw that he'd clasped the ring onto it. And again she wanted to cry, this time from happiness. She stood and lifted her hair so he could put it on her.
"It stays on for good this time," he said sternly, as he tucked into her shirt.
She nodded as she felt tears prickling her eyes. "I wish we would have never left Charlotte," she said honestly.
"Yeah, me too," he agreed.
The next words Peyton said made Brooke question her earlier statement about Peyton not being impulsive.
"We could go back," Peyton suggested. "I mean, it beats staying here, and we wouldn't have to live with Cooper and Jess, although they're great, but we could get our own place there and be away from our parents." The more she spoke, the more excited she got. "Yeah, we could just take off, and by the time anyone found us…"
"They'd find us before we even left Tree Hill," Nathan cut her off to say.
"You don't know that. Maybe they wouldn't. If we left in the middle of the night…"
"Peyton, we can't."
"Why not? My dad has forbidden me to even see you. Don't you want to be with me without having to hide it?"
"Yeah, I do," Nathan replied. "But we can't leave. At least I can't."
She looked at him in question so he lifted his pant leg to reveal a tracking bracelet around his ankle.
"My every movement is being monitored," he said when she stared in awe.
"You're kidding?"
Brooke stood up, equally surprised. "Can they do that?" she asked.
"They did it," he returned in a 'duh' tone. Indicating some contraption on his night table, he continued. "When I leave the house I have to carry that around on a belt or something. The bracelet's the transmitter and that's the GPS tracking unit. It's programmed to make sure I don't go anywhere but home and school. And I think my lawyer's office and the courthouse. I have to make sure it's always charged so my dad set up the charger downstairs in case I forget."
"Nate, this sounds really serious," Brooke said. "Like they're actually going through with this rape charge."
He nodded. "They are. And that's not all," he said, pulling out his bail sheet. "They're also charging me with victim tampering." He shook his head and looked at Peyton. "You were there. Did it look like I was trying to intimidate her? I mean, seriously, would I do it in a crowded police station if that was my goal?"
Peyton didn't know what to say. She couldn't believe how far this whole thing had been taken. And Nathan hadn't told her everything yet.
"And now, on top of all this," he began again. "I have an order of protection against me. Cuz, you know, I pose a threat apparently. I'm allowed to go to school, but I'm not allowed to be in the same area as Haley or Katie so on Monday I have to…"
"Wait," Peyton interrupted with confusion. "Katie? That skank who kept calling you? What…?"
"Oh, you didn't hear?" Nathan asked with a sneer. "Apparently she witnessed the whole thing at the party. Yeah, she saw me drug Haley's soda, which is bullshit, but it's why they issued the arrest warrant," he told her, using his pent up energy by pacing the floor. "So Monday I have to go in early and talk to a counselor to make sure none of my classes this semester run in with either of theirs. If they do, then I have to rearrange my schedule. Plus my locker can't be in the same hallway as theirs, and if we happen to meet up somewhere at school, I have to leave that area immediately, even if I was there first because if I don't, I'm breaching the order and I'll be up on more charges."
Both girls stood quietly as he continued to pace and rage. Neither knew what to say. There really was nothing they could say, but they could let him vent, which he obviously needed to do.
"I'm only allowed to go to school and come home. And I can't even take myself; my dad has to do it. He has to drop me off in the morning and leave the office early to pick me up as soon as classes are over. They won't even let me play basketball," he said irritably.
"Why?" Peyton asked, knowing that would hit him harder than anything else he mentioned. She didn't see what possible harm playing basketball could do.
"Because, according to the judge, that's a social activity that I don't deserve to take part in," he answered. He shook his head, getting angrier by the minute. "It's like I'm already being punished before we've even gone to trial. I'm already fucking guilty." He plopped down on the bed. "What really sucks is that I didn't even do anything wrong and I have to make all these changes, but Haley and Katie, they come up with this crap story and they don't have to change a damn thing. They can just carry on like normal."
Again they went and sat by his side, each of them leaning into him comfortingly.
"What about your community service at the center?" Peyton asked, knowing how he'd taken to the idea of being someone's role model even though the thought scared him a little.
"Suspended," he deadpanned. "There can't be a violent criminal around the kids."
Peyton shook her head. "God, Nate, I'm so sorry this is happening to you."
"Me too," Brooke agreed. "It's not fair."
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"It's not fair," Haley cried as she paced the small confines of her room. "I didn't do anything wrong, but everyday I have to live in constant fear. My life is forever changed because of him but I have to somehow deal with that and move on. But he…," She cut herself short and took a deep breath. "He's the one who broke the law, but what does he get? A couple of lousy restrictions!" she answered irately. "He doesn't even have to change schools, no, because we don't want to disrupt his life too much, so every weekday I have to be in that school, knowing he's in the very same building. And there's nothing I can do about it. Tell me, how is this justice? I feel like I'm the one getting punished instead of him."
"Hales," Lucas said reasonably. "Those are just his bail conditions, not his punishment. Your case hasn't gone to trial yet. I'm sure once it does, the jury will convict him and then he'll be put away where he can't hurt you, or anyone else, ever again."
"I hope you're right," Haley replied. "But still, the trial's a month away. How am I supposed to feel safe until then?"
"They're monitoring his movements…" he began to say.
"Oh, right," Haley scoffed. "Cuz no criminal has ever snipped those off before," she remarked sarcastically. "Excuse me if I don't put much faith in a little ankle bracelet. Not to mention the school's an 'inclusion' zone so it's not like him being there is going to set off any alerts. He's allowed to be there."
"But only during school hours and he's not allowed to go near you."
Haley let out a non-humorous laugh. "Somehow I don't think a guy who can go after me in the middle of the police station is going to think twice about doing it in the company of his loyal posse."
"That's what the protection order's for," Lucas reasoned, although it was getting harder and harder to reason with her when he actually agreed with everything she said. He too thought it was ridiculous to allow Nathan to continue at Tree Hill High where his victim, or most likely victims, also attended. He should have to wait out his trial in a holding cell, but of course that wouldn't happen. Dan had plenty of money to put up his bail. He shook his head to clear it. Now was not the time to get angry. Now was the time to pull Haley through this and give her some sense of security. "If he breaches that order, then he'll be up on more charges. I doubt he wants that."
"Do you honestly think he cares?" Haley challenged.
"Look, Hales, I know you're scared, but you have me and the rest of the guys to protect you if he tries anything. We're not gonna let anything happen to you. At least one of us will be with you at all times so you're never going to have to look over your shoulder."
"That's right, baby doll," Skills piped up. "That'll be our job. We got your back."
Haley couldn't help but chuckle. "My very own, personal entourage of body guards."
"Always," Skills returned with a wink. "You can count on that."
"I know, and thanks guys. I appreciate all the support and everything, and I don't mean to sound ungrateful…"
"You don't," Luke assured her. "We get it, Hales."
She smiled at him. While she didn't believe that they truly got it, at least they were trying, and though Nathan would probably have the support of the entire school, she would always have her small band of loyal friends. "It just sucks that it has to come to this," she said. "I just want my life back."
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Peyton and Brooke spent the entire day at Nathan's, alternating between listening and giving words of comfort, occasionally hugging him or rubbing his arm, leg, or back, when he got especially down.
It was late evening when Peyton got a call from her dad, telling her it was time to head home. "I have to go," she told Nathan, rolling her eyes at her father, though he couldn't see it.
Brooke stood up as well since she was Peyton's ride and chuckled as Peyton gave Nathan a lingering kiss.
"I guess I'll have to get used to this again," she joked.
"What?" Peyton asked, leaning away from Nathan.
"You two constantly making out," the brunette replied. "Lucky for you, I don't mind."
"Lucky for you," Nathan countered. "Cuz we don't really care if you mind," he said, coming in for another kiss.
Peyton chuckled and pushed him away playfully.
Brooke laughed as well and grabbed her keys from her purse. "Ready?" she asked Peyton and noticed the blonde hesitate. She knew why. She didn't want to leave Nathan alone right now. Brooke could understand that. She too was worried about him and in fact, she'd been feeling a little torn over which of her two best friends needed her the most at the moment. No doubt they both did, so spending the day with them together was ideal, but only now that Peyton had to leave did she have to decide who to stay with. Turns out it wasn't so difficult a choice. She could see on Peyton's face that she worried more about Nathan than herself. So she threw Nathan a look and ordered him, in a very Brooke-like manner, not to fall asleep as she was coming back after she dropped Peyton off.
Peyton gave her a grateful smile but Nathan protested, not because he didn't want Brooke around, but because he knew Peyton needed her right now. Peyton would always be there for him, but she needed someone there for her too. She was going through this as much as he was. But as Brooke insisted on returning, he clued in that it was how Peyton wanted it so he stopped arguing. And truth be told, he was glad she was coming back. It would ease Peyton's mind to know he wasn't alone and he could definitely use his best friend right now.
He walked them to the door to see them off, giving Peyton one last, lingering kiss before they headed off.
Before Brooke returned, she texted him to ask if there was anything he wanted her to pick up on her way. He sent a message back, asking her to pick up the latest issue of Thud. She asked if he wanted anything else but he said the magazine was all he wanted.
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"So," Nathan said later that night as he and Brooke both lay on their backs on his bed. "I guess you probably want to rip me a new asshole for fucking Haley, huh?"
"Well, I thought about it," she answered. "But no, I think you've probably beat yourself up enough over it."
"Yeah," he replied with a sigh.
"I do, however, have a major problem with you up and proposing to our favorite blonde."
He turned his head toward her. "Why? I thought you were rooting for us."
"I was," she told him. "In fact, I've been your biggest cheerleader. Which is why I should be given the special courtesy of being included in these things."
He chuckled. Of course, she'd expect that. "It was kind of a spur of the moment thing, Brooke. I didn't even know I was gonna do it till I did it."
"You don't regret it, do you?"
"No way. Smartest thing I ever did."
"And there's not going to be anymore cheating?"
"No."
"You sure? Because I strictly remember a conversation we had, not so long ago, when you said you think you could be faithful if Peyton ever took you back again."
"Yeah, and I remember you telling me to stop acting like cheating is something that just happens rather than it being a conscious decision," he threw back. "You were right, Brooke. I have the choice not to cheat. I always did. I just didn't want to see it that way before cuz then I wouldn't have an actual reason for being such a dick. Just a bunch of lame ass excuses. But I don't want to be that guy anymore. Peyton's always deserved better than that and I'm just lucky that she's giving me this chance to finally prove that I can be better. I know she still doesn't trust me yet, but…"
"What makes you say that?"
He shrugged carelessly. "She's already thought I've cheated twice since we got back together. Once with this Katie bitch who told her we had sex the day after I got back with Peyton. Peyton told me herself she didn't know whether to believe her or me. And then she thought I screwed around with this bar chick because we got in this fight and I took off on her and…"
"Nate," Brooke began. "If she doesn't trust you, why are you guys talking marriage?"
Nathan frowned. "She has every reason not to trust me," he argued.
"I didn't say she didn't, but that wasn't the question."
"Because we love each other," he answered with a sigh. "And eventually she will trust me. She'll have to."
"And if she doesn't?"
"She will," he insisted.
She debated saying more but decided against it. Who knows, maybe their love would see them through. They certainly weren't lacking in that department. "Well, you could have at least let me help you pick out the engagement ring," she said, going back to her previous complaint of not being involved.
He turned to his side now and leaned on his elbow, a frown marring his handsome features. "Why? What's wrong with it? She said she liked it. Did she say something different to you?"
"Well," Brooke began teasingly. "She said a lot of things." She saw his face fall at her words and didn't have the heart to follow through with her teasing. "But not liking her ring wasn't one of them," she assured him. "It's gorgeous, Nate and, trust me, she loves it."
He sighed in relief before asking, "So what did she say?"
"Oh, just a lot of girlie stuff that you don't need to hear about."
"You mean stuff you don't wanna tell me?"
Brooke sighed. "She's worried about you."
"I know."
"So am I."
"I know," he repeated.
"Are you scared?" she asked him.
He fell back onto his back before replying. "I wasn't at first," he said earnestly. "I thought the cops would figure out that Haley's lying and the whole thing would just blow over." He took a deep breath. "But now it doesn't seem like that's gonna happen."
"You're gonna beat this, Nate. I know it."
"Yeah?" he scoffed. "How do you know it?"
"Because I'm Brooke Davis and I have special, magical powers that allow me to see into the future."
"Oh ok," he said with a laugh. "And what do you see happening in that crystal ball of yours?"
"Hmm," she said, seemingly pondering the question as she held up her invisible crystal ball. "I see you, me, and Peyton all sitting around a table, enjoying our lobster dinner that you have to pay for in honor of our bet."
He laughed again, thinking back to that bet she spoke of.
Flashback (Chapter 6)
"Can you guys please stop making out for five minutes and talk to me? I'm bored," she whined.
"If we do that, then I'll be bored," Nathan mocked.
"Very funny," Brooke answered, while Peyton gave him a light slap on the stomach.
"We're sorry, Brooke," Peyton told her sincerely, throwing Nathan a warning look, to which he only shrugged carelessly. "What would you like to talk about?"
"I don't know. Anything."
Peyton nodded her head. "Ok, sure. We can do that."
"Excellent!" Brooke exclaimed, squeezing herself between the two on the couch to ensure she had their full attention, rather than be distracted by each other.
Nathan laughed as she practically sat on his lap. "Geez, Brooke, I know you want me but try to control yourself."
"Uh, Peyton," Brooke said, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but it feels like your boyfriend's really happy to see me."
Nathan rolled his eyes and ruffled her hair, before lifting her slightly and pushing over to give her room to sit in the middle.
"Thank you," Brooke said, sending him her dimpled smile, and then turning her back to him to face Peyton. "So, P. Sawyer, you totally have to take drama class with me next semester," she said excitedly.
Nathan grumbled. "We're gonna talk about school?"
"Not school school," Brooke emphasized. "Just drama class. Bevin's taking it and she says it's totally cool. It's like being a real actress, only you get a credit instead of a paycheck, but still, doesn't it sound like fun?"
Peyton smiled at her friend. "Umm, I guess," she said, much less enthusiastically than Brooke.
"So you'll take it with me?" Brooke asked hopefully.
"Sure, whatever. Sounds like an easy credit."
"Yay! I can't wait," Brooke said, clapping her hands in excitement. "What's so funny over there in the peanut gallery?" she asked when she noticed Nathan snickering beside her.
"You in a drama class," he easily admitted. "You really think you can pull off that whole acting thing?"
"Why not? I'm the Queen of drama, remember?"
"Yeah, your own drama. But you'd have to play someone else, not Brooke Davis."
"I know. I can do that."
"Ok," he replied unconvincingly.
"You don't think I can?"
"No, not really," he openly declared while laughing.
There was nothing like a challenge to get Brooke's feathers ruffled. "Ok, you are so on, hotshot. I'll bet you I pass that class with flying colors."
Nathan smiled. "Still betting? And here I thought you learned your lesson," he scoffed.
"It doesn't have to be for money. If I win, you take me for a nice lobster dinner," she challenged.
"Ok. And if I win?"
"If you win, I take you."
"That's it? Hardly worth it," he claimed dismissively.
"Well, what do you want?"
Nathan smirked, looking her up and down.
"Besides this hot body, horn dog," she warned him.
"Pretty high on yourself, huh? I wasn't even going to say that."
"Uh huh, sure."
"I wasn't, I swear."
"Ok, what then? What do you want?"
He thought about it for a second before answering with a smile. "Season tickets to the Bobcats."
"Deal," she said, putting out her hand to seal the bet. "Oh, but since yours is so much more expensive than mine, then you have to take me and Peyton to dinner if I win."
Nathan narrowed his eyes. "You're just trying to get her on team Brooke."
Brooke shrugged. "Hmm, maybe. So what do you say?"
"Fine," he agreed "If you pass with a 90 or higher, I'll take you both for a lobster dinner," he said, shaking her hand.
Brooke turned to Peyton. "Don't worry, partner. We're totally going to win."
"Yes we are, partner," Peyton agreed, throwing Nathan a look of superiority. "We got it in the bag," she added, showing complete confidence in Brooke's determination.
End of Flashback
"I almost forgot about that," Nathan admitted.
"Huh, how convenient," Brooke huffed. "But I'm not letting you off that easy. I'm getting that lobster, mister."
"Or I'm getting those tickets," he countered. "And hopefully I'm not in jail so I can actually use them."
"Don't even," Brooke said in a sharp tone. "You're not going to jail, and if you want those tickets, I suggest you buy them yourself because I'm sure as hell not."
"You realize you haven't even started the class yet, right? For all you know, you're gonna suck."
"Uh huh, yeah. Hey, remember that time in the caf when I totally fooled everyone, including you, into thinking I was pissed at you for this horrible thing you'd done?"
"Yeah, yeah," he said begrudgingly. How could he forget that little performance of hers? "Beginner's luck."
"Nope," she denied. "True, raw talent. You'll see. Oh, and by the way, I guess if you're marrying Peyton, then that kinda nullifies our marriage vows, huh?" she teased, referring to their private joke of being married to each other.
"Didn't we get divorced?"
"Well, we talked about it, but I never got any papers."
"Oh well," he responded. "If some cultures can have multiple marriages, why can't we?"
"Because it wouldn't be fair to the other guys if you hog both hottest women in town."
He shrugged. "Who said I was fair? What the hell do I care about them other dudes?"
"Well, I don't like to share so I'm afraid divorce is the only answer," she joked. "But hey!" she exclaimed, suddenly bolting up. "I could totally give you away!"
"Yeah, don't make me feel cheap or anything."
"No. I mean at the wedding! I could walk you down the aisle and hand you over to your new bride, aka Peyton. What do you think?"
"I think you need to get some sleep or lay off the crack."
She giggled before lying down and admitting she was tired.
"You sure you don't want to take one of the guest rooms?" he asked.
"Why? Is it too weird for you to sleep next to a girl you're not having sex with?"
"Yes."
"Scared you won't be able to resist mauling me in my sleep?" The words were out of her mouth before she realized how close it hit to the current accusations he was facing. "Oh Nate, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by that…"
He simply laughed. "Brooke, it's cool. I'm not gonna fall apart because you cracked a joke."
She nodded in relief and lay back down. "Anyway, if you're uncomfortable with this, then you can move to the guest room cuz I'm nice and comfy right here."
"This is my room."
"Yeah, so what's your point?"
"This is my room. That is my point."
"You are being a very rude and ungracious host, mister."
"Oh ok," he joked. "So gracious host equals sharing bed with guest. In that case, I've been a hell of a gracious host over the years."
"I'm sure you have," Brooke mumbled into the pillow. "Nite, nite, Nate. Run along now, and oh, you should take your pillow. The ones in the guest rooms are so not comfortable."
He shook his head in amusement but got up, grabbed his pillow as she suggested and walked over to the door. "Hey, Brooke?" he said, before walking out.
"Yeah?"
"How's virgin boy doing?"
"I told you he's lover boy now," she returned. "But to answer your question, I don't know. You and Peyton were my first and second stops."
Nathan smiled at that. He and Peyton were always Brooke's top priority. "I'm glad you're back," he told her.
"Me too," she replied. "And don't worry, ok. Everything's going to work out. You'll see."
He nodded, wishing she could guarantee that and then he left for a restless night of tossing and turning, all of which had nothing to do with the discomfort of the unfamiliar bed, and everything to do with the pending charges against him.
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Peyton was there waiting for him when he arrived an hour early at school Monday morning. He hadn't seen her or heard from her since Friday, despite his many attempts to contact her, so he was really glad to see her. "Hey," he greeted her with a kiss. "I called you all weekend. What's up?"
"My dad," she answered with annoyance. "He grounded me for giving him attitude."
"I figured that when you never replied to any of my texts or picked up. He took your phone?"
"Yeah."
"How long?"
"Until I give up the attitude."
"So, for life then?" he teased.
"Hey," she said, smacking his chest, which just made him laugh. "So, you ready for today?" she asked him. "All the rumors, the sidelong glances, the whispering?"
He shrugged, used to all that anyway.
"Ok," she said, slipping her hand into his. "Then let's go get our schedules changed."
"Our?"
"Yeah, so they coincide with each other. Is that a problem?"
He shook his head. No, that wasn't a problem at all. In fact, he liked the idea a lot. "You can't change your drama class though," he said. "Brooke would kill me if I let you do that."
"Well that's fine," she said. "Because having one class apart will only make you miss me more."
He chuckled and they started walking toward the entrance. "Hey, Peyt?" he said, his tone suddenly serious.
"Yeah?"
"I think you need to have it out with that boss of yours over at Thud. You know, show him that famous attitude your dad hates so much."
She gazed at him quizzically, wondering where that had come from. "Why should I do that?"
"Because," he said sternly. "They didn't even print your sketches this week."
"And you know that how?"
"I bought the magazine. Well, Brooke actually bought it for me, cuz I'm not allowed to go there, but that's not the point," he said. "I mean, it's bad enough that they put them way over on page 14 most of the time, but when they don't even print them at all, that's just bullshit and I think you should complain."
Peyton felt a smile tug at her lips. He knew what page her sketches were generally featured on? "I don't think I have cause for complaint," she told him.
"I think you do," he countered. "Why should…"
"Nate," she said, placing both palms on his chest to placate him. "They didn't print them this week because I didn't submit anything."
"Why not?"
"Because I have to submit by 4:00 Thursday for them to go to print Friday," she replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "We weren't back till 5:00…"
"Peyt, you should have said something."
"Why?"
"Because we could have left a little earlier or I coulda drove faster…"
"Don't worry about it. I didn't have anything to submit anyway. The only sketch I worked on was of the Lee family and I left it there. I figured Cooper and Jess would appreciate it more than Thud would."
"Well, why didn't you work on anything else?"
"I was busy."
"No you weren't," he countered. "All we did was lounge around."
"Yeah so? I happened to enjoy spending that time with you."
"Yeah, but Peyt…"
"Nate, just forget about it, ok. So I missed a deadline. It's no big deal." She could tell by his face that he wanted to say more, but she didn't want him to. "And you have bigger things to worry about," she added, taking him by the hand again and leading him inside the school.
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It didn't take long to rearrange the schedules. Turned out Nathan and Haley didn't have any classes together – hers were almost all in the advanced level – so there was only Katie's schedule to work around. That one took more time since she was in a lot of the same classes as Nathan, but it only took about fifteen minutes to get Nathan's schedule in order. And then another ten to get Peyton's to coincide with his. It took longer to get the counselor to agree to change hers, but between the two, they were able to convince him. They walked out of there a good twenty-five minutes before first class.
"Ok, let's go find your new locker," Peyton said, holding Nathan's hand once again as the two roamed the hallways.
As they did so they could already feel the gazes of the other students upon them. Nathan rolled his eyes as they tried to avert theirs to make it seem like they weren't staring. He just shrugged it off though. He was used to being center stage. And though that attention could sometimes be annoying, he generally thrived on it. He was either a superstar or a jerk to most of these people. That's how it had always been, and that suited him just fine.
"You notice who else is in your drama class?" Nathan asked, ignoring the crowd and focusing his attention on Peyton.
Peyton gazed at him in wonder. There were only two choices. "Haley or Katie?" she asked.
"Haley," he replied.
"Well, I guess she's gonna ace that class," Peyton returned snidely. "We already know what a great actress she is."
"Yeah."
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Haley wasn't as cavalier as Nathan as she stepped through the school's front doors, surrounded by the Rivercourt gang. The only one missing was Mouth whom she knew, because of his friendship with Nathan, was doubting her story. Her nerves got the best of her with each step she took and she had to concentrate on not visibly shaking. It was, however, an impossible task.
All weekend she'd tried to mentally prepare herself for this day and now that it was here, she realized that no amount of preparing would have been enough. This wasn't some science test that she could study for and ace. This was her life.
She took a shaky breath as the first pair of eyes fell upon her, only to quickly turn away. Others followed. And she wanted to turn around and run. She wasn't used to the attention and she certainly didn't want it. She didn't want any of this. She just wanted things to go back to normal. And yet she knew the moment she'd named Nathan Scott, Tree Hill High's king, as her rapist, that nothing would ever be normal again.