A/N: Hey guys. Here is the next chapter. I hope you like it. Thank you, as always to all my readers, and special thanks to those who take time to comment. You all rock!
...
"I think it's sweet," Brooke said as she, Peyton and Rachel lounged around drinking non-alcoholic cocktails on Peyton's front porch.
It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and Ellie, who'd gone back to her freelance writing, was off chasing a story, while Larry was out to buy groceries. The way they'd been feeding all of Peyton's friends lately, they ran out fast.
Peyton made a face at her best friend's comment. It had been two and a half weeks now that she and Nathan had gotten back together, and the fact he still hadn't tried anything was really playing tricks with her mind. They ducked off to be alone nearly every day - he seldom joined everyone for dinner since that last one - and still nothing.
"Sweet?" Peyton asked, stretching her long legs out, happy to finally be free of the cast she'd had to lug around for weeks.
"Yeah," Brooke said. "That he's trying not to push you into anything you're not ready for."
"Did he say that to you?"
"No, but I assume that's it," Brooke replied. "I mean, duh, what else could it be?"
"Could be cheating again," Rachel said flippantly. "What?" she added when Brooke sent her an evil glare. "You can't tell me she hasn't already thought of that."
Peyton shook her head, admitting she had, but had dismissed it. "No," she said. "Even when he was cheating before, he still always wanted me. This is something else."
"Yeah, this is Nathan not pressuring you," Brooke said.
"You really think so?"
"Yes, I do. Why? What do you think it is?"
"It's not so much what I think it is as what I'm afraid it is," the blonde answered.
"Ok, spill P. Sawyer."
"Well, you know that Nate's the only guy I've been with..."
"We're talking sexually?" Rachel questioned.
"Yes."
"We all know that P."
"Well, what if...now that he's, you know, not the only one anymore...?"
"Ok, I think I know where this is going," Brooke jumped in. "And if I'm right, then that's ridiculous, Peyton. Being raped doesn't count as being with another guy."
"I agree," Rachel said.
Peyton smiled at her friends. "Great, you agree. But I'm wondering if Nathan agrees too or if he actually sees me differently now. What if he's turned off..."
"Ok, whoa," Brooke stopped her again. "You're over thinking this way too much and what you're thinking is absurd."
"Is it?" Peyton asked doubtfully.
"Yes," Rachel stated firmly. "Look, I know Nathan can be a dick sometimes, but he's not completely heartless."
"I'm not saying he is."
"Nathan loves you, Peyton," Brooke said. "The guy's here every day. How can you doubt his feelings for you?"
"I don't," Peyton countered. "I know he loves me, but that's not what's in question here. I'm just not sure he's hot for me anymore. I mean, look how we used to be compared to now. Have you seen any PDA from us lately?"
"A little," Brooke tried, though she knew what Peyton was saying. The couple who always made out, no matter where they were or who was around, weren't doing that anymore. "I did see him kiss you goodbye yesterday."
"Oh yeah?" Peyton returned. "Was that the cheek one, or still the forehead? Cause, you know, I have the luckiest forehead in all of North Carolina. It's getting all kinds of lip action."
Brooke lifted a shoulder. "It's still a form of affection, right?"
"He kisses me like he would his sister," Peyton mocked.
"Well, considering he doesn't have a sister, you don't really know that that's true," Rachel jested.
"Come on, you two. I'm serious! Do I not turn him on anymore?"
"I don't understand why you're so apt to believe that over he doesn't want to pressure you," Brooke said.
"Because it's not Nathan not to pressure me," Peyton argued. "I know how bad that sounds, but it's not. Nathan's a horn-dog. He always wants sex. And now he doesn't?"
"I'm sure he still does, P..."
"I can't even get a proper kiss out of him. Why?"
"Why don't you ask him?" Rachel suggested. He could obviously answer her questions better than they could. "Or better yet," she went on. "Kiss him. You don't have to wait for him to make the first move."
"You don't think I've tried that already?" Peyton scoffed, never one to just wait for him to start things up. "He pulls away with some lame excuse every time."
"Then don't let him," Rachel said.
"Force myself on him? That's your advice?"
"Somehow I doubt you'd be forcing him into anything," Brooke commented.
"Yeah, it's just..."
"Just what?"
"It's hard enough just wondering about this, but if I come on strong and he rejects me...I couldn't handle that."
"He's not going to reject you," Brooke reasoned. "This is Nathan we're talking about. When has he ever been able to keep his hands off you?"
"The last two and a half weeks," Peyton stated simply.
"Other than that," Brooke clarified, though she knew Peyton was well aware what she meant. "You know," she went on. "My party Friday night would be a good time to get good and kinky with him."
"Yeah, I don't know if I'm up for a party, Brooke."
"Come on. What better way to celebrate the end of junior year? You have to come."
"We'll see," Peyton gave her. "We still have four more finals to concentrate on first."
"I think me and Nathan are the only ones who need to worry about finals," Brooke said. "And I'm making the party, and he's already said yes to going, so that leaves no excuses for the rest of you."
Peyton only responded with a shrug.
"Question, P. Sawyer," Brooke said very seriously. "Do you want to have sex with Nathan again, or do you only want him to want to?"
Peyton thought on that a moment. "I think maybe both," she replied.
"You think? Are you ready?"
"I think so."
"See there, maybe that's why he's not trying. Because he wants you to be sure."
"That or he's not sure himself," Peyton replied.
Brooke and Rachel exchanged glances, both realizing they wouldn't be the ones to quell Peyton's unreasonable fears on this particular topic. Only Nathan could show her that he still wanted her, in every way.
...
Nathan answered the knock at the door, figuring it was Mouth coming for their daily tutoring session they'd set up for this week of finals. Thankfully Mouth had also agreed to tutor Nathan once he started summer school, which began two weeks following the end of regular classes.
"Hey, nerd," Nathan greeted his tutor in the customary fashion.
"Dumbass," Mouth greeted back in the same banter they'd grown accustomed to before all the mess had started. "Ready to study your ass off?" he asked, setting the books down at the dining room table as per usual.
"If I have to," Nathan mumbled in return. "Oh hey, you going to Brooke's party on Friday night?"
"I wasn't invited," Mouth replied.
"Well, now you are. And bring your friends too cause the whole town's invited. Well, mostly the whole town."
"I don't know," Mouth said reluctantly. "After everything that went down at my party - you and Haley hooking up, finding out Damien drugged her drink, and the rape trial and everything after that. I just don't know, man. I think I might rather just stay home."
"Come on, you gotta come. This party is to loosen everyone up again so we can all get past all the crap we've been through. Besides, if Haley can go, there's no reason for you not to."
"Haley's going?" Mouth questioned with surprise.
Nathan nodded. "Yeah, she was, uh, kinda iffy on it at first, but me and Brooke talked her into it yesterday."
"Brooke and I," Mouth corrected. "And how did you manage that?"
"Easy," Nathan replied with a shrug. "I promised her I wouldn't rape her this time."
Mouth didn't reply, just stared at him, aghast.
"Dude, that was a joke," Nathan said in amusement.
"Yeah, it needs work," Mouth jested in return. "Your sense of humor's pretty twisted."
Nathan chuckled now. "What else am I gonna do, right? So, you gonna go?"
"Ask me again on Friday."
"I will. Better yet, I'll get Brooke to. She's actually better than me at the whole talking people into stuff."
"You're kidding," Mouth said, recalling how Nathan had convinced him to throw his own party because his parents were out of town. "I'd say you're pretty good at it."
Nathan nodded agreeably and a grin appeared on his face. "So you can imagine Brooke." His smile grew wider. "I'll see you at the party," he told Mouth, demonstrating full confidence in Brooke's powers of persuasion.
"Alright, well, for now, let's concentrate on getting through finals."
"Whatever you say, loser."
...
"You know," Larry said to Ellie that night in bed. "I never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually pretty impressed with Nathan right now. He's really been there for Peyton and it's clearly making all the difference."
"I know what you mean," Ellie agreed. "I mean, look at us, in our own bed, Peyton in hers..."
"Us not being petrified she's gonna swallow another bottle of pills."
"Here, here. She does seem genuinely happy these days. So, Daddy likes the boyfriend now?"
"I don't know about that," Larry replied. "He doesn't seem inclined to make an effort with us, does he? Aside from the few days he stayed for dinner when they first got back together, he seems to go to all lengths to avoid us completely."
"I'm glad I'm not the only one to notice that," Ellie said. "It's pretty clear he has no interest in hanging out with her parents."
"None," Larry grumped. "And I can't say that I like that much. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he's helping her through all this, and I don't expect them to hang around here 24-7, but I'd like some of their time."
"Their time?" Ellie questioned.
"Well, hers," he said. "But I don't want her feeling like it's one or the other like it was before. I want her to realize I'm trying."
"I'm sure she does, Larry. But he doesn't make it easy, does he?"
"No, he doesn't," Larry agreed. "Now, I wouldn't say this to Peyton, but there are a few other things that irk me about him too," he said. "Minor things."
"Like how when he does happen to stick around for dinner or whatnot, he doesn't lift a finger to help?" Ellie guessed.
"Yes, exactly like that," Larry retorted, glad Ellie seemed to feel the same. "He doesn't help with the set up, the clean up, nothing. Just eats."
"Yeah, I chalk it up to growing up in a rich family. He's probably never had to do any of that stuff."
"Probably not. I'll tell you, him and Lucas are like night and day. Lucas is the first one to offer a hand when he stays over. It's hard to believe they're half brothers."
"Still on that Lucas/Peyton bandwagon?" Ellie teased.
"No," Larry denied. "I accept they're just friends, and Nathan's the one she wants. I just can't help notice the differences between the two."
"Well, they weren't raised the same," Ellie pointed out. "Nor by the same people. It probably doesn't even occur to Nathan to offer to help."
"Yeah, I thought of that," Larry said. "I also thought to ask him next time and see what he does."
"That could work," Ellie returned.
They snuggled close together, and all was quiet for several minutes. Until the all too familiar sounds of Peyton's screams rang through the entire upstairs. Both Larry and Ellie got up and headed to Peyton's room, prepared to offer comfort for the next several hours.
"Sure wish those would stop," Larry said with a deep sigh once they'd made it back to their room. Not only was it exhausting for all three of them, but they were never-ending, and he was really getting worried about it.
"Me too," Ellie stated. "Nathan always seems to be able to calm her down quite easily," she added. "Maybe we should get him to spend some nights over."
"Uh, yeah, no, not happening," Larry returned firmly. "I wouldn't sleep any better knowing what's likely going on with her and her boyfriend in her bedroom."
Ellie couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her. "You realize if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. If not here, then someplace else."
"I do," he said. "I'm not naive. I was a teenager once too. But that doesn't mean I have to allow it under my roof, especially when I'm right across the hall. No way."
Again she laughed at him. "Ok, Papa Bear," she jested. "Then how about just talking to him about convincing her to see a counsellor?"
"I thought of doing that, actually," he returned, amazed that they had so many of the same ideas. "If she's gonna listen to anyone, it'll be him."
"Agreed," Ellie replied. "And the worst that can happen is she doesn't."
...
Nathan awoke the next morning in need of a cold shower. Again.
He smiled at the pleasant dream that had been a recurring one for several weeks now. He only wished it would become reality real soon.
They were of him and Peyton entangled in various sexual scenarios. Some were memories, others mere fantasies, but all were of her. Yes, crazy as it may be, he was fantasizing about his own fiancé. A girl he'd had more times than he could count. But whom he hadn't had lately. And that was the problem.
He wasn't sure how much longer he could stand being with her, but not with her. Sex had always been a major factor in their relationship, and he was certainly feeling the lack thereof. He wanted her so bad he could taste it. Patience never had been his strongest suit.
Hell, he dreamed about it every night. Thought about it practically every second of the day, silently wondering how much more time would pass before she was ready again.
And then he'd curse himself for his impatience. She was raped, and he'd give her all the time she needed even if it killed him.
But he still hoped it was soon because he was so damn horny for her, as proven by the ever present erection pressing against his boxers. He sighed in aggravation and reached for the half empty box of tissues at his bedside table. They were his best friends lately, as vivid images of Peyton continued to float through his mind. Hopefully the real deal was coming sooner rather than later.
A few minutes later, he was hopping in the shower, trying to focus his mind on the upcoming final.
...
It was on day three of finals when Larry and Ellie discovered much of what they wanted to know about Nathan from Brooke. It was after school, and Larry and Ellie were already back from work when Brooke arrived.
Peyton, however, was still in the midst of writing her third final so all three had gone off to the kitchen, leaving Peyton with the proctor the school had provided when she wrote her exams.
As Brooke spoke, it became very clear to Larry and Ellie how good of friends, not only were Peyton and Brooke, but also Nathan and Brooke. Oh, they knew they were all friends, but hadn't until now realized the extent of Brooke's friendship with Nathan.
She talked to them, addressing several of their concerns about both Nathan and Peyton, for a good twenty minutes before Nathan arrived. They felt they had a much clearer picture of where their daughter's boyfriend stood regarding some of their issues with him and, when he was also ushered into the kitchen, they figured now was as good a time as any to clear some of those things up.
"Hey, Nate," Brooke greeted him. "How do you think you did?" she asked, referring to the English exam they'd just taken.
He lifted his shoulders uncertainly, rather wishing Peyton's parents weren't home yet. "Ok, I guess. You?"
"Same. I think I might have passed. I hope. That essay at the end was a killer though."
Nathan nodded in full agreement.
"Plus it was kinda hard to concentrate with Mrs. Peterson staring at us the whole entire time," Brooke grumbled. "Like, what does she think we're gonna do? Cheat?"
Nathan's brows lifted, silently reminding Brooke that that same teacher had caught him cheating three times last semester. He didn't dare say it aloud with Peyton's parents standing right there, but he figured she'd know what he was saying without actually saying it.
She did. "Ok, maybe you," she said snippily. "But I've only cheated once in her class and it was last year. Like, get over it already, Lady."
"That one time was one too many," Larry rebuked as though Brooke were his own daughter. She practically was. "Cheating shouldn't happen at all."
"Uh," Brooke countered, putting an arm around Nathan's shoulder. "Three times in English class alone, this guy," she said in an attempt to throw the focus off her.
Nathan instantly felt the disapproving looks both parents sent him and, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, he sent his childhood friend an unamused smile. "Thanks for that, Brooke," he muttered sarcastically.
"Is that so?" Larry asked Nathan in a sharp tone, receiving no response from the raven-haired teen who suddenly found his shoes extremely interesting. "You know, it's probably not my place to say this," Larry continued, "but since you're dating my daughter and are sitting in my house, I'm gonna go ahead and say it anyway. You probably think cheating on a test is no big deal, but I'm telling you it is because, in the long run, you're only cheating yourself. You won't get far in life by cheating your way through it. Remember that."
Nathan sat there, silently waiting for the man to go on, slowly lifting his eyes when he didn't.
Larry chuckled at the look of uncertainty on the boy's face. Clearly this conversation made him uneasy and he was expecting further rebuke. "That's all," he told the kid with a wide smile. "What? You thought there'd be more?"
"Uh..." Nathan began, unsure.
"Look, I'm not your principal or your teacher or your parent so I'm not going to stand here and give you some dragged out lecture on right and wrong. I've said my peace and what you do with it is up to you."
Nathan nodded his head, not really sure what else to do.
"Now," Larry said. "There are a few more things Ellie and I would like to discuss with you if that's all right."
Inwardly groaning, Nathan simply nodded once more, wondering what else he'd done wrong.
"Umm, should I...?" Brooke asked, indicating the door.
"No, Brooke, you can stay," Larry told her. Nathan looked as fidgety and nervous as can be, and having his friend there probably helped a little bit.
"Ok," Brooke said with a tight smile.
"First off," Larry began, addressing Nathan once more. "I understand you have this notion that if you're not getting straight A's like Lucas, I'm gonna see you as an unfit match for my daughter. No, don't look at Brooke," he ordered when he noticed the evil eye Nathan had thrown her way. "Ellie and I have heard some of your arguments with Peyton and we asked Brooke about it."
Nathan sighed softly and stirred even more restlessly.
"Let me set the record straight right now," Larry continued. "My dislike for you has never been about academic ability or lack thereof. I couldn't care less whether or not you can solve difficult mathematical equations or understand the works of Shakespeare. I only care about how you treat my daughter. Treat her the way she deserves, the way I've seen for the past few weeks, and you and I won't have a problem."
Nathan glanced at the man, a feeling of relief sweeping through him. He was judging him based solely on the last few weeks, not condemning him for his past behavior when, admittedly, he treated Peyton like crap. He was basically saying he was willing to let it all go. The mistakes Nathan had made before were to be wiped clean, so to speak. He was giving him a chance to prove he could be better than what he'd always been. A clean slate. It made Nathan smile, liking that idea a lot.
"That's excluding the bitch comment from a few weeks ago," Ellie piped up. "That certainly did not constitute as treating her right."
Nathan looked away again, his face flushed with shame. Not because of the bitch comment - he and Peyton both called each other out on their behaviors and if that meant saying whatever to get their points across, then so be it - but because her parents had obviously heard it. "Sorry," he mumbled, almost incoherently.
Larry and Ellie exchanged glances, both a bit amused by the discomfort Nathan seemed to be in. They looked at Brooke, who appeared to be stifling her laughter. They decided not to push the issue, as entertaining as it was to intimidate the kid.
"Just one more thing and then you can get out of the hot seat," Larry teased.
Nathan tensed again and sighed softly. Another thing? Jeez, how many issues did they have with him?
"It's more of a request this time," Ellie stated. "It's about Peyton."
Nathan looked up with questioning blue eyes.
"You know about the nightmares she's been having," Larry said more as a statement than a question.
"Yeah," Nathan replied simply.
"I don't know if you're aware," Larry began, "but before you came back around, Peyton was extremely...distant. She didn't smile or laugh or even talk, really."
"I heard," Nathan replied. "She does that."
Larry nodded agreeably. "She does, but not to that extreme," he said. "We've noticed a huge improvement since you've been coming around again. She's much happier now, and we're no longer afraid of what she's going to do to herself. She's healing, and that's largely because of you."
Nathan smiled, but remained silent, not knowing how to respond to that.
"But she still has the nightmares," Larry continued. "And we're worried about that because, well, I tell you, they're something awful and she has them regularly, sometimes two to three times a night."
"I know," Nathan said.
"No, you really don't," Larry denied. "You've been here for a few of them and, somehow you manage to calm her down like it's nothing, but it's not generally so easy for Ellie and I."
"I know," Nathan repeated. "Peyton said they're pretty bad and she gets them a lot."
"She talks to you about them?" Larry questioned in shock.
Nathan looked from one parent to the other to Brooke, wondering why they should find that so odd. "Yeah," he answered warily. "Something wrong with that?" he couldn't help but ask.
"No, no of course not," Ellie was quick to assure him. "We're glad she's talking to someone, getting things off her chest. They're about the rape?" she asked.
"Mostly," Nathan answered. "Sometimes it's of Damien coming after me with a gun."
Larry and Ellie both nodded, recalling all too well Peyton's panicked state a few weeks ago over Nathan's well being. She'd been convinced something was terribly wrong until she'd followed Ellie's advice and called him to reassure herself that he was fine.
"Makes sense," Ellie said. "More often than not she's screaming your name when she wakes up. At times it seems like she's calling for you to come and save her, and other times it sounds like she's trying to warn or protect you from something."
"Yeah," Nathan responded with a nod. "She's still afraid Damien can get to us even though he's been sentenced to like, well I forget how long, but a long time."
"Forty-five years total," Larry stated, knowing exactly how long the son of bitch's sentence was. "He pleaded guilty to three counts of rape on a plea bargain so he gets away with the rest of his crimes."
Nathan shrugged his shoulders. He'd be an old man by the time he got out. If he got out. "Hopefully he's some big ass dude's fuck toy in prison," he said, and then stopped abruptly. Had he just said that out loud? "Sorry," he mumbled when he realized he had.
"Son, don't apologize for that," Larry scoffed. "We all hope the same thing."
Nathan caught Brooke's eyes, noticing she was snickering over his blunder, and even more so at Larry's response to it.
"But back to the nightmares," Ellie urged.
"Yes," Larry agreed. "She might have told you we want her to see a rape counsellor." When Nathan nodded, he went on. "Unfortunately, she refuses to go."
"I know what you mean," Nathan replied. "I tried to tell her she should probably do that, but she just shuts me down."
"You've already talked to her about it?" Brooke asked the question now.
"Yeah, a couple of times," Nathan told her. "But then she started getting pissed so I dropped it. Why?"
"Because we were going to ask you to try to convince her to go," Larry said. "Figured that was our best shot."
Nathan shrugged apologetically.
"It still is," Brooke said. "You have no idea what this guy can talk P. Sawyer into," she added. "Pretty much anything he wants."
"Not anything," Nathan denied.
"Anything," Brooke repeated. "Like my party, for example. When I asked her about it, she wasn't sure if she wanted to go, but somehow you convinced her. How'd you manage that?"
He gave his friend a strange look before replying in a monotone voice. "I said 'hey you want to go to Brooke's party on Friday night?' She said 'Oh I don't know.' I said 'Come on, it'll be fun.' And she said 'ok'."
"I arrest my case."
"Rest, Brooke."
"Whatever. Point is it was easy peasy for you, just like every other time you managed to convince her of something you wanted."
He made a face at her. "It's not always easy," he told her. "Most of the time I have to fight like hell first. Heck," he corrected. Shit, he was gonna have to start watching his language.
"Well then, fight like hell again, Nate," Brooke ordered, making no corrections. "This is more important than all the other petty stuff you try to get her to do."
"I've already tried," he told her. "She says she's fine."
"Try harder. We all know she's not fine. You just don't want her getting pissed at you."
"Yeah, so?" he countered. "Why don't you talk to her if you think it's so easy?" He was clearly speaking to Brooke, for he wouldn't dare talk to Peyton's parents that way.
"I said easy for you," Brooke argued. "Besides, I've already been told by both of you to stay out of your guys' business."
"And we both apologized for that," Nathan pointed out.
"No, you apologized for the way you said it. I'm not an idiot. I know you still want me to back off."
"And this is you backing off?"
"I'm worried about her, Nathan."
"You think I'm not?"
"Ok, all right," Larry intervened. "I wasn't trying to start World War three here. All we want to know is can you try to talk to her again?"
"He can," Brooke answered instead. "But he doesn't want to. He's..."
"Brooke!" Larry admonished.
"Yeah, and you're just jumping at the chance, huh?"
"Nathan!" Larry shouted. "Jeez, are you two brother and sister? Cause you sure bicker like it."
The comment made both Nathan and Brooke chuckle.
"Some would say we practically are," Brooke answered.
"Yeah," Nathan agreed. "She's as annoying as any little sister could be."
"Well, just do what I say and I'll shut up," Brooke stated. "Seriously, Nate, you can talk to Peyton. You're the only one she'll listen to."
"I'm not a miracle worker, ok?" Nathan replied, somewhat frustrated. "I can't just make her agree to something she's totally against. I'd have to pick a fight."
"So pick one," Brooke instructed. "It's not like you haven't done that a thousand times before and you're so good at it."
"Funny."
"Come on, Nate. Just do it for our girl."
He sighed in exasperation. "All right, fine, I'll mention it again," he agreed. "But if she dumps me because of it, it's on you, Brooke."
Larry and Ellie exchanged amused glances. He would blame Brooke only, not the two of them who'd come up with the idea. Plus they both shared the same thought that Peyton wouldn't break up with him over something like that, but when they voiced that opinion and both Nathan and Brooke scoffed, they had to wonder.
"Tell you what," Larry said. "If she does that, I will personally see to it that she comes to her senses."
"Oh no worries," Brooke countered. "He knows how to get her to forgive him, especially when I'm there to back him up, like I've always been."
"Yeah, you better be," Nathan mumbled back.
"Ok, anyway I'm off," Brooke said next.
"Where you going?" Nathan asked her. "You haven't even talked to Peyton yet."
"I just dropped in to say hi, but she's taking too long and I have to meet Chase in ten minutes. Give her a hug for me, ok? Besides, my work here is done."
"Work?" Nathan questioned.
"Uh huh," she replied and then turned to Larry and Ellie. "See, didn't I tell ya I'd convince him to talk to her?"
"That you did," Larry replied.
Nathan's eyes narrowed on her, realizing she'd played him. Again.
Brooke simply laughed and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek before scurrying out the door.
"Unbelievable," Nathan muttered.
"So, you and Peyton going out to eat tonight or can we interest you in having dinner with us?" Larry asked.
"Uh, I...I don't know...we're probably gonna...go out," Nathan stammered. He wasn't usually the one to turn down their invitations. He generally left that up to Peyton.
"So no definite plans?" Ellie jumped in.
"Not really."
"Good, you'll stay then," Ellie said firmly. "You understand, since we've returned to work, we haven't had much time to spend with Peyton."
He nodded in response. "Yeah," he said. "I understand. I can go if you want."
"No, no, you're welcome to stay," Ellie replied.
"We insist," Larry said when he saw Nathan hesitate.
"Ok," Nathan agreed uneasily, though he had to admit he felt more at ease in their presence now than he ever had before.
"Ribs sound good?" Larry asked him.
"To me yeah," Nathan replied. "Peyton doesn't really like them though."
"That is true," Larry replied. Was it silly that he was a little impressed that Nathan knew that? No, it wasn't so much that he knew it, but that he mentioned it, showing some consideration for Peyton. It was a small thing, yet it was huge. "All right, I'll make my meatball stew. She loves that. Sound good?"
"Sure."
Larry laughed at how unsure he sounded. "Don't worry, if you hate it, there will be plenty of buns to eat."
While Nathan chuckled at the jest, Ellie caught Larry's eye as she sent him a silent signal with her head. Catching her meaning, Larry nodded. "Hey, you mind giving me a hand with it?"
Both parents looked to see what he'd do. He looked from one to the other, suddenly realizing Larry was speaking to him. He gave a nervous chuckle. "Uh...I don't really do so good with cooking," he said. "Last time I tried, I set your oven on fire," he admitted.
"True that," Peyton was heard as she came in the kitchen. "You might rather assign him to chopping tasks rather than actual cooking," she warned.
Nathan chuckled a bit, gave his girlfriend a greeting and let her know she'd just missed Brooke. And then he asked her how her exam went.
"I think I might have aced it," Peyton answered. "Haley's really good," she added. "How did yours go?"
He simply shrugged and let it go at that. He was certain he didn't ace it, but he didn't really care about that anyway, as long as he passed.
Larry looked at Ellie, the topic of 'helping' seemingly dropped.
But Ellie gathered all the vegetables and a knife, setting the veggies on the table in front of Nathan and handing him the knife. "So, chopping then?"
Nathan took the knife from her with an apprehensive nod. "Sure," he said slowly, looking over the array of vegetables before him. "Any uh, particular way you want them cut?" he asked.
"No, just small pieces."
Peyton giggled heartily at her boyfriend. "God, you're so useless in the kitchen," she teased.
"Like you aren't," he returned, reaching for the red pepper to start.
He made a mess of the seeds and red juice dripped everywhere, causing Peyton to laugh at him tauntingly.
Nathan sent her a playful glare. "Think you can do better?" he asked.
"Couldn't do worse," she joked.
"Then grab a knife, princess," he told her.
"Sorry, we only have one chopping knife," she replied.
"Well then, shut up," he said without thinking. His head shot up to her parents. Oh shit, that probably sounded disrespectful to them. "Uh, I mean..."
"No worries. She deserved that one," Larry jested. He'd actually half expected Nathan to pass the work off to Peyton and was a little more impressed to see that he wasn't doing that.
It took him much longer than it would have taken Larry to do it himself, but eventually Nathan had everything chopped. Well, mostly everything. Larry did take pity on him about a quarter way through slicing the onion. He'd done all the rest, after all, and hadn't complained. Much.
"Go on, get out of here," Larry said good-naturedly as Nathan squinted heavily and rubbed at his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt.
Nathan gladly relinquished the knife and the onion to go into the living room with Peyton.
"Aww, my poor baby," Peyton cooed as Nathan's eyes continued to burn. "Come here." She kissed both his eyelids. "Better?"
"No," he said, pulling away from her.
It wasn't long though before the stinging did subside and he was able to open his eyes fully.
"You good now?" Peyton teased.
"Good," he answered. "Never peeling onions again though. How do people do it?"
"Beats me. My eyes were watering just standing there," she replied. "So, I take it we're staying in tonight?" she asked him.
"Oh...yeah...your dad asked and I couldn't say no. Is that ok?"
She chuckled again. Of course, he couldn't say no to her dad. He usually left that up to her to do. It seemed her father had picked up on that and had gone directly to Nathan this time. Smart move. "It's fine with me," she said. He was the one who never wanted to stay. "Are you ok with it?"
"Yeah," Nathan replied with a nod. "I think he might be starting to like me," he said, a smile tugging at his lips. "Or at least, not hate me."
"Good. I knew he'd come around eventually," Peyton said happily. "So, what do you wanna do while we wait for the stew to cook? It'll be at least an hour."
At one time he would have suggested making out, or more. She considered suggesting it herself, as she was also prone to doing, but the way he always pulled back from her kisses, even now when she'd only been kissing his eyelids, held her back.
"Watch TV?" he asked with a shrug.
"Sure, why not?" she said with disappointment. God, could he make his loss of physical attraction toward her any more obvious? And Brooke and Rachel thought she was imagining it? No way she was.
"Something wrong?" he asked. "We could do something else instead."
"Like what?"
Like head out in his car and a have a go in the backseat and be back on time for dinner. That would be his first choice. But he stopped himself from making that suggestion, constantly reminding himself not to push her. "I don't know," he answered aloud. "Like talk."
"Ok," she agreed. "What shall we talk about?"
"Well," he began. "I'm supposed to try to convince you to go see a therapist," he revealed.
"Are you now? Let me guess, my parents?"
"And Brooke," he said.
"Oh God, Brooke too?"
"They're all worried about your nightmares," he said softly. "So am I."
"We've talked about this already, Nathan. I'm not going to a shrink. I'm fine."
"You're not, Peyton," he countered. "These dreams are coming every night."
"And we've already established that that's normal," she replied through gritted teeth.
"If they were normal, don't you think they should be easing up by now? Or at least starting to?"
She let out a growl of frustration. "God, Nathan, you said you wouldn't push this, that you would leave it alone, but as soon as my dad asks you you're all 'yeah, sure'," she reeled. "I know you want to get on his good side, but this isn't the way to do it."
"That's not what this is about," he denied. "I'm worried about you too."
"Well, don't be. Compared to a few weeks ago, I'm doing much better. My life is going great right now, and I don't need some psycho analyst rehashing old memories."
"They're not old when you're rehashing them every night."
"I'm trying to move on, Nate. Why can't you and everyone else just leave it alone and let me do that in my own way?"
"Because your way's not working, Peyt."
"Ok, you know what? I thought I at least had your support through this..."
"You do."
"Yeah, until my dad, who, need I remind you, hasn't been around for a good part of my teen years and doesn't know me half as well as you do, asks you to support his cause instead."
"No, it's not like that."
"No?" Peyton challenged. "You don't mention a shrink in two weeks and..."
"Because you asked me not to," he argued.
"Exactly!" she screeched. "You respected what I wanted, but now you're on board with what my dad wants."
"It's not just your dad, it's your mom too."
"Fine," she said, plastering a fake smile on her face. "Tell you what? Why don't you just go hang out with them until dinner's ready since you've all gotten so close all of a sudden?"
"Peyton..."
"Or hey, go home. There's another option."
"Peyton, come on, don't be like that," Nathan pleaded. "You're overreacting. What's the big deal anyway? You go to one therapy session, even if it's just to shut everyone up, and if it doesn't help, you quit. And you never know, it might actually do you some good."
"Uh huh, and how are your therapy sessions going, Nate?" she questioned harshly, speaking of the mandatory counselling he'd been forced into during his suicide watch. They'd released him but he was still required to attend therapy.
"Fine," he answered with a shrug.
"Really?" she asked with skepticism. "Cause three weeks ago you said they were a waste of time," she pointed out.
"Because I don't need therapy," he explained. "I'm completely better now."
"And it's the counselling you have to thank for that?" she countered.
He fell silent at her question, knowing full well it wasn't the counselling that had saved him.
"I didn't think so," she said knowingly.
He sighed dejectedly at another failed attempt. More so because she was furious with him now. He didn't want that. He wanted her to be able to count on him to not push the things he already agreed not to push. He worried about her, sure, but even he wasn't all that convinced that therapy would do any good.
"I'm sorry," he said shamefully, knowing she was right about his reasons for bringing this up again. Her dad had gotten to him and he didn't want to let him down now that he was close to possibly accepting and liking him. But in the process of trying to please her old man, he'd let her down, and that was far worse in his eyes. "You're right. I said I'd leave it alone and that's what I should have done. I'm really sorry, Peyton. I don't know what I was thinking."
To his surprise, she smiled sweetly at him. She knew what he'd been thinking. He'd listened to her dad, wanting to impress him. She couldn't fault him for that, nor could she ignore the sincerity in his tone when he apologized. "It's ok," she assured him, taking his hands in hers. "I do understand that you're all worried, and I love you for that, but just trust me, ok? I am fine."
He nodded agreeably. "Ok," he said, gazing at her with great intensity.
The same intensity that more often than not led to a kiss. Peyton braced herself to finally have those lips on hers again. She needn't have though, for he pulled her into him, kissed the top of her head and then pulled away, asking what she wanted to watch.
"You pick," she said with disappointment.
"You ok?" he asked her.
"Yeah, fine," she answered.
He took her at her word, or if he didn't, he didn't say anything about it, and pulled her on the couch with him. He grabbed the television remote and went to flipping through channels, finally settling on 'The Big Bang Theory', a comedy they both found highly entertaining. Generally they laughed heartily, sometimes hysterically, at the crazy antics of the characters, but this time neither did, too preoccupied in their own thoughts, neither knowing that the other's thoughts ran quite similarly to their own. All either of them wanted to do was kiss the other so long and hard that their lips bruised.
But instead they stared inattentively at the screen before them, until they were called in for dinner.
...
"No cell phones at the table please Nathan," Ellie requested softly, yet firmly.
Previously smiling down at a text he'd received, Nathan's head shot up to find both Peyton's parents staring at him, obviously finding his behavior rude. "Oh, sorry," he said, slipping his phone back in his pocket, silently cursing his own parents for their failure to teach him proper table etiquette. They were rich, yes, but not your typical rich family. At home, anything went. His mom had been gone most of the time, and he and his dad tended to take their meals in front of the TV set, a basketball game blaring through the speakers.
"It's fine," Ellie told him, wanting to make her point but not raise too much of a fuss about it.
"Who was it?" Peyton asked, not only because she was curious, but also because she knew Nathan would feel uncomfortable for his blunder.
"Coop," he answered. "They're at the hospital. Apparently Jess went into labor earlier today."
"Oh, ouch," Peyton grimaced. "Everything going ok?"
"I guess."
"You guess?"
"Well, Coop didn't say it wasn't, so yeah, I guess it is."
"Good. Is he excited?"
"Probably," Nathan replied. "Hard to tell in a text, but I'm thinking yeah."
"Who are Coop and Jess?" Larry asked curiously.
"Nathan's uncle Cooper and his wife Jessica," Peyton answered. "They have two daughters already and they're having another one in...well, now."
"Is that the young couple that I met at the courthouse?" Ellie asked.
Peyton's head bobbed up and down. "Yeah, they came down from Charlotte for the trial," she said, stealing a glance at her father, who'd been so angry to learn at the time that Peyton had been going to Nathan's trial every day, and that Ellie had been taking her despite his strict orders for Peyton to stay away. Much to her relief, he didn't appear angry anymore. Probably because he, like everyone else, now knew the truth about what had really happened at Mouth's party.
"Well, they seem like a lovely couple," Ellie commented, recalling how open and friendly they had been with Peyton.
"They are," Peyton replied genuinely. "They're awesome, and their kids are adorable. I hope there's no trouble with the labor," she said to Nathan now. "Remember they said there were problems earlier on in the pregnancy?"
"Yeah," Nathan replied with a nod. "I'm sure she'll be fine."
"I hope so," Peyton repeated with concern. "Coop gonna let you know when it's over?"
Nathan shrugged uncertainly. "He didn't say."
"Well, can you ask him to?" Peyton requested.
"Yeah."
"Like, right now?" she pushed when Nathan simply continued to eat.
Nathan gave her a look. Had she not been sitting right there two seconds ago when her mom had told him to put his phone away?
"Go ahead," Larry told him, seeing his hesitation, understanding it completely. "Exceptions can be made for the important stuff," he added when Nathan still looked unsure.
So Nathan pulled his phone out again and quickly sent his uncle a message, returning the device immediately afterward.
"Thank you," Peyton told her boyfriend.
"Sure," he replied, putting a spoonful of the stew in his mouth.
Peyton did the same. "This is so good," she said before she'd even swallowed.
Nathan nearly laughed at the stern looks her parents gave her. Good. Let them focus on her lack of manners instead of his.
"Sorry," Peyton said, unperturbed. "But it is good."
"As you say every time I make this," Larry returned with a chuckle. "I'm glad you're enjoying it."
"No, I mean, it's even better than usual," Peyton went on brazenly. "Probably has to do with how the veggies are cut so tiny and perfect. Great job on those, babe."
Nathan chuckled at his girlfriend. His chopping was definitely far from perfect, and certainly didn't contribute to the added deliciousness of the meal, but he loved her for saying that, and hey, it worked. A smirk naturally appeared on his face. "Thanks. I'll put that on my list of many talents."
As soon as he said those words though, he realized how cocky they probably sounded and how that had been one reason for her father's instant dislike of him. He quickly fell back into silence.
But Peyton smiled. Because yes, the comment was cocky - even said in jest, it was cocky - and that was her Nathan all the way. He was starting to slip up and let his true self show in front of her parents. Maybe someday soon he wouldn't even be self-conscious about it.
...
He sat at his desk, history exam in front of him. It was Friday and this was the final exam of the semester. After that was summer vacation. Well, not for him since he still had to go to summer school, after falling so behind, but he did have a few weeks off before it started, and another few weeks when it ended and senior year began.
He reached in his pocket for his phone, where he'd plugged in all the important dates of American history, knowing he'd never remember them all.
Larry's words from a few days before popped in his head. 'You won't get far in life by cheating your way through it.'
He shrugged it off. This was his only chance to pass this damn class. He needed at least an 85% to raise his average to a passing grade. Besides, this wasn't life. It was History. Stuff that had occurred ages ago and that had no bearing on his life now. He didn't even see why it was a mandatory class. What would knowing all this crap ever do for him?
'You probably think cheating on a test is no big deal, but I'm telling you it is because, in the long run, you're only cheating yourself.' He shook his head, ignoring the words that suddenly seemed ingrained in his memory.
Holding his phone low, under the desk, so as not to be spotted, he subtly glanced at it, copying down the dates onto his test. He got through the first five questions, pushing thoughts of both Larry and Ellie's disapproving faces aside. They would never know. He needed this.
He answered question six, a foreign feeling of guilt stirring within him.
By question ten, he couldn't take it anymore and shoved his phone in his pocket with a deep sigh. Beneath his breath he cursed this sudden attack of conscience. 'Nice going, Mr. Sawyer', he muttered silently. Way to kick in the morals at the least favorable time.
Oh well, at least he had Brooke's party to look forward to tonight. And he did already have to attend summer school so whatever. So what if he failed History too?
...
So you can probably all guess that this story is starting to near its end...I know, finally, right? LOL. Yeah, there are 7 regular chapters left and then the epilogue, so 8 in total. The minor story lines are starting to all come to an end so the final chapters will be focused mainly on Nathan and Peyton dealing with the final issues of sex and her nightmares/counselling etc after all that has happened. Thanks again for reading, and I hope you'll let me know what you think.