#int. gage + naomi

[hallowcked]

The only thing Tyler could think about was disappearing and never coming back. The only reason he stayed in Riverwood after he finished rehab was so he could see Brooke again. Granted, he wound up in a relationship with another girl but even Lo knew who his heart belonged to. Tyler had her proof read the letter he wrote for Brooke while he was in recovery. She was the only thing on his mind. But he thought she hated him after he kidnapped Quinn and waved a gun around in her and Jake's face. Why couldn't he let her go? The best thing for everyone would be if he never came back.

While he considered leaving, he thought about Riley, Volchok, Naomi, Antonia, and Olivia. Those people still need him but none of that matters anymore. Without Brooke, he could never be happy. He could never let any of those friendships grow and prosper. There would be no room for them in the darkness he was about to descend into.

"You didn't ask for it but it still happened." Even if Brooke didn't initiate the groping and petting, she was still laying on his chest with her hand down his shorts. She also didn't say anything to correct Gage when they were walking past Tyler and he was telling her how he was going to fuck her. It was crude and instigative - especially when Tyler (and everyone else) could see his erection behind the towel on his waist. Even Tyler couldn't remember being that fucked up when she was seeing him behind Jake's back. They kept things private and grew in their relationship together. The only thing Gage wanted to do was flaunt Brooke in his face and hurt him - so he hurt him back. But Tyler would argue emotional damage was way worse than anything he could have done to Gage's face.

What do you want me to say, Tyler? I care about him. But, I love you. It should have felt good to hear those words but it didn't. Not when her feelings for him were voiced after she said she cared about Gage. Could she not hear him? If she truly loved him then she should understand why he beat the living shit out of him. How could she care about a guy who wanted to rip his heart out and make him feel closer to death than when he was in a coma? Tyler doesn't just want to disappear - he wants to end everything. His life was meaningless. Nothing good or wholesome ever stays with him. Nothing. There's not one damn thing for him to hold on to and feel good about. It's fucking depressing.

"You keep bringing up Chloe like I knew who she was. I was confused. She lied to me." Tyler turned around so that his back was facing her. He doesn't want to get off topic and that's where this is going. Tit for tat. This wasn't a game to him. They shouldn't be measuring their past with their present. After giving himself a moment to breathe in through his nose and out through his mouth, he could calm down long enough to rationalize the situation. He broke up with her and she moved on. This was her moving on. "Fine. I get it. That's your boyfriend. Whatever you do with him is your business. Not mine." He told her about the Vipers and how he was forced to break up with her. But she moved on and he couldn't blame her. She deserved to be happy even if its with that slimeball in the other room.

"That's just it, Brooke." Tyler turned around and stared daggers at her. "I'm not better than that. Better than this. This is who I am. When it comes to you - I'm not a good person. I would kill for you. What happened to Gage, he deserved! What did he expect was going to happen? That I would go back to the party and have fun while the girl who I love is being railed upstairs by a guy who's getting off to how that makes me feel? No. My only regret is not finishing him off."

--

"What are you doing here?" Gage managed to pull himself upright into a seated position. Despite Naomi's protests, he wasn't going to lay down like a defeated bitch. "And why are you being so nice to me?" He doesn't bother telling her what hurts because there's nothing she can do about it. He can take a few punches and a minor brain injury. It was nothing a few bumps of coke or grim wouldn't fix. His erection was finally down at least. He didn't think that was ever going down. Not without forcing Brooke's moaning throughout the house. "—I know I haven't been the best. I do want you to know that I'm sorry for everything that happened between us. I wish I could take it back."

Stop it. Stop talking. Stop yelling!!! Brooke wants to scream at the top of her lungs. She would if she could. But instead, she just stands there. She listens as Tyler berates her, and continues to make accusations that aren't true.

What she should've done in the midst of his rant is correct him. Reassure him that she's not in love with Gage. She's only ever been in love with him. Reassure him that she wasn't afraid of who he was or what he'd become in the moment. But, she didn't. Brooke simply says nothing. Not at first, anyway. Part of her feels like it's futile. Like any argument she makes will fall on deaf ears because Tyler had already made up his mind about her.

He was choosing to believe she was so sadistic she would flaunt her new relationship in his face. Again. When on the contrary, after he cornered her outside the bathroom, Brooke was doing everything in her power not to. While also not upsetting Gage. Because while Tyler didn't get it, Gage hadn't done anything even remotely awful to her. He protected her against Dante when she needed protection the most and Tyler had left her. He helped her grow her social media presence after it's sat stagnant for so long due to Brooke being down, depressed and uninspired. He gave her a distraction when she needed one just to cope or get out of bed. He might portray himself as a bad boy but he wasn't a bad guy.

Granted, Brooke knew better than to say any of this aloud even though it was true and it would explain why Brooke was with him in the first place. She was sure too, that Tyler wouldn't want to hear it. Not after he already accused her of choosing Gage over him. When he couldn't be more wrong about that. Or about her.

As fucked up as it was to say, and as nice as he's been to her, if Brooke were given the choice - save Tyler or save Gage - she knew what her answer would be. The part that hurt the most was, Tyler didn't.

"I didn't ask for any of that." The groping, the excessive display of PDA. With Isadora, it was intentional. She was doing her friend a favor. But with Gage, Brooke was trying everything in her power not to engage in front of Tyler. Out of respect for him and because, she wasn't feeling it after their kiss. Tyler was all she could think about. It's been that way for years and he never even knew it. Her relationship with Jake, despite how hard she tried to convince everyone it would last, fizzled the moment Tyler was gone. Her world was less exciting, and less worth living without him in it.

"You're being irrational." It probably wasn't the best thing she could've said in the moment but, it's how she felt. "And you're wrong." At least about some things. "I knew you were outside yes," she admits. "Which is why I didn't want to engage in front of you. I wasn't coming up here to do anything." By that she means, sexually. "I just wanted to put some ice on it and talk." But, she's not surprised he doesn't believe her. It's clear he thinks the worst of her. Sees her as some sort of slut or whore. He'd never call her either of those things to her face but it's obvious that's what he's thinking. He can't possibly fathom that Gage started off as her friend. "What do you want me to say, Tyler? I care about him. But, I love you." Whether he believes her or not, it's the truth. And Brooke tries not to sob when she says it but, her eyes well up all the same.

"You once helped a girl out who made my life miserable. Who got me kicked out of school, who took away the only hobby I had that made me feel better and wasn't related to sex. Two girls actually." If they were counting Nina in that. Because, lest they not forget Nina bitchslapped Brooke for sleeping with Tyler behind her back once upon a time. She also plotted and schemed and blackmailed Brooke's family with Jake and Tyler's help. They both have done things to each other they weren't proud of. But right now, Brooke felt like she was being painted the villian. That she was wrong for trying to find ways to cope and move on when HE pushed her to do it in the first place. Sure, he had his reasons but what did he expect? For Brooke to shrivel up and be miserable forever? They both slept with other people. And Tyler can't sit there and tell her, he didn't sleep with people he didn't care about. The only difference is... Brooke didn't know any of their names. Meanwhile, Tyler knew most of, if not all of hers. Seth, Jake, Gage. Three out of five weren't bad compared to Brooke's big fat ZERO.

"So you didn't flaunt one of your conquests in front of me. Doesn't mean they don't exist. Sure, if I saw it though I would be just as devastated as you." And frankly, she would want to kill them too. Brooke has no idea that as she stands there making her argument, one of them is just down the hall. Tending to Gage's wounds while Tyler says nothing. And pretends like Naomi doesn't exist. "And fine," Brooke relents. "Seeing you like this scares me. But not because I'm afraid of you, Tyler. I'm afraid of what you'll do." The last thing she wants is for him to self sabotage. To go on a bender and disappear again from her life. Because she hates it when he does that. She rests easier knowing he's alive and around her somewhere. "I don't want you to do something you're going to regret! I don't want you to hurt others because you feel hurt! You're better than that." She truly and wholeheartedly believes that.

----

Naomi wouldn't dare say it, even though a part of her wants to because she's hurt that Gage cares more about Brooke than he ever seemingly did about her but, she knows Brooke is with Tyler.

At the same time, she's not surprised she seems to matter very little to almost everyone. Especially Gage. He didn't seem to think of her or her feelings when he fucked her sister. It's that little, subtle reminder of him with Lo that has Naomi questioning why she's even bothering to help him. He doesn't deserve it.

"She's fine." There's no point in getting Gage more worked up than he needs to be right now. Besides, Naomi doesn't believe in throwing Brooke or Tyler under the bus. Neither have ever done anything spiteful or awful towards her, personally. So she doesn't feel the need to feed Gage's wrath and vindictiveness by informing him they're outside together, hashing out their issues.

Not that she would have to. They weren't being very discreet. Naomi could still hear some of what was being said but not all of it. "No you're not," Naomi insisted as she encouraged him to lay down. "You're not going to do anything until you relax. At least tell me what hurts. I'm not sure you should be moving."

[hallowcked]

Gage wasn't expecting an apology in return. That's not why he decided to open up and put his guard down. Things with Brooke were great but, that doesn't mean he hasn't been missing Naomi every day. "I know that decision wasn't easy. I can't imagine what I would have done if it were me." Luckily, guys couldn't get pregnant or else he would probably have tons of kids already. He thought condoms were annoying and he actually fucked Brooke without one the first time they had sex. If Naomi knew how careless he was still being, she would never forgive him. Therefore, he knows how much to give and how much to keep to himself.

"You're right, I would have made a mistake. At that time, even now - I'm not ready for a kid. But that doesn't mean I won't ever be. I would have liked the option to meet them though. Him?" He thinks he remembers Lo telling him it was a little boy. They could have gone surfing together. Once he was old enough, Gage could have let him work for him at the surf shop and sponsored him with the store. He would have been giving everything Gage never had and then some.

"Naomi, that's not true." He hangs his head for a moment as the ringing in his ear comes and goes. There's so much blood on his face he doesn't know what's bleeding anymore. His eyebrow? His nose? His mouth? All of the above? He does his best to wipe it away before shuffling out a cigarette to smoke. "You're right I am doing well. But you're wrong about other things. You weren't holding me back. You were holding me accountable. Someone has to. I mean, I'm still doing really stupid shit." Like fighting Vipers and going to raves. Getting Brooke hooked on grim and then provoking a fight with Tyler. He was a mess. "I want us to be close again. I don't want to become a memory."

Gage was about to take Naomi's hand and lace their fingers when Jake's voice filled both rooms. He was knocking and screaming for longer than what should have been necessary. Gage had half a mind to stand up and tell him to fuck off but this was his house and he's already been in one fight which according to Naomi was one too many.

Despite asking him to stop, he kept on going. She should've known better than to think this was something they could just brush under the rug and never see or hear about again. But, it was obvious they needed to talk. Not just about his betrayal with Lo but about the baby she never told him existed.

The last time they tried to broach this subject, it didn't end well. Gage was so pissed he barely let Naomi get a word in. He didn't want to hear her excuses or rationalize any more than she wanted to hear his about Lo.

When had things got so messy and fucked up between them? Gage was someone Naomi loved. Had she gotten him to settle down and chill out some, they probably could've been happy and ended up together.

Just as Naomi opens her mouth to speak, no words come out. Her thoughts are curbed by the sounds echoing on the other side of the wall. It takes another minute or two to put together the pieces together about what's happening when the banging is accompanied with another couple's grunts and moans.

For a second, Naomi envies whoever is on the other side. She remembers when her and Gage used to be that insatiable and shameless. Now, they hated each other. Gage was dating Brooke and he seemed to be more into her. While Naomi.... was left wondering what could've been....

"I'm sorry." Now that Gage had come to and was seemingly feeling more like himself, Naomi rose to her feet and then sat down on the guestroom's bed. "I should've told you about the pregnancy. But, I was scared and I wasn't ready. And I didn't want to stick around and let you convince me we should keep it when I know that wasn't realistic. I mean look at us...." they weren't even together anymore. "You know, maybe we did each other a favor." It pains her to say that. To suspect that maybe Gage isn't meant to be her person forever, when for so long she truly thought he was. Or could be.

Wiping a tear from her eye, Naomi continues. "You're happy now. You're with a girl you really seem to like." And it's unfortunate, he moved on while she's been left in the dark. "You started your own business. Which, if I haven't told you already, I am really proud of you for." There's a pause then. "Maybe, this whole time... being with me, held you back. For so long, all I wanted was for you to reach your full potential and ride it out like you do your waves. And maybe you couldn't do that with me."

[hallowcked]

The only thing Tyler could hear was the loud, wet thudding of his fists as they collided with Gage's face. If he allowed himself to, he could hear Brooke's shrilling cries in the background, and if anything, they only made him want to drown them out with more punches. He couldn't believe she was this concerned for Gage. The same guy who was just taunting him by grabbing her ass and boobs in front of everyone. The same guy who was clearly trying to get a rise out of him by mentioning going upstairs to fuck her, out loud. Did she not care about him anymore? Or the way that he feels? If it weren't for Naomi coming in and asking her to take him away, would she have stayed with Gage instead? It seemed so.

Tyler couldn't even look at Naomi without feeling guilty. She wasn't a part of this. In her eyes, he probably looked like a deranged psychopath. He could see it written all over her face but what he didn't expect, was to see it all over Brooke's face as well. Then again - he knew she was afraid of him. They had many arguments where he voiced this concern and she would tell him that she wasn't. But the truth of the matter is, she is.

"What do you mean have I lost my mind?" Tyler didn't even want to walk with her. He didn't want to argue in front of Naomi so he did what she asked and left the room with Brooke. But he knows Naomi was only looking out for him. He has unfinished business with Brooke and Naomi could see that. She was his appointed spirit guide after all. Or maybe he was just thinking optimistically and maybe she wasn't looking out for him at all. It's possible she just wanted to get away from him. That was more likely.

"I can't believe you would rather stay with him than leave with me. That you're sitting there crying over him." Tyler points a finger in the direction they came from. He's certain Naomi can still hear him hollering down the hall but he doesn't care. It's about time she met the real Tyler. He's not some misunderstood boy from the wrong side of the tracks. He's a selfish, unrelenting animal that should have died the first time around. Instead some stupid higher-power decided he should live, so he could go around and ruin more lives. Or in Brooke's case, the same lives.

"You knew I was in the yard with you while he's groping your tits, grabbing your ass, and grinning at me the entire time. If I were doing that to you with someone else, how would that make you feel?" Right, she punched a girl in the face and they weren't doing anything other than talking. In Tyler's eyes, there's no way she wasn't aware of what was happening. "You must really fucking like this guy. I was wrong. It's not me and you." At first, Tyler thought her relationship with Gage was just a fling — something to distract herself with. Now he wasn't so sure. "And so much for you saying you're not afraid of me. I knew you were fucking lying." He points at her face and then takes a step back. Neither one of them has changed since high school. The only difference is, Tyler's in Jake's place. Now he gets to watch the girl that he loves fall into the arms of some conniving bastard. But unlike Jake, he wasn't going to wait around while she rides off on the back of his bike to get fucked somewhere.

--

Gage groans and tries to lift his head but its pounding and he can't see past the blood in his eyes. He can hear Naomi's voice though and reaches for her arm to hold. "Where's Brooke?" He asks and turns his head around to see if she was still there. If he finds out she went off with Tyler, he'll crawl his way back to his feet and kill him. He was going to kill him either way. If people thought Dante looked bad, wait until he gets his revenge on Tyler. "Dude sucker punched me. I'm going to fucking kill him."

"It's not---" Brooke's quick to interject. She doesn't want to make their issues ( or her issues ) about Tyler even though they are. Had he not shown up when he did, taken her against the bathroom door and left her more confused than ever - then they probably would've been okay.

But, for whatever reason Brooke couldn't seem to shake what went down any more than Tyler could as he barges into the room as if he's on a mission to do... what exactly? She doesn't know. Besides, interrupt her and Gage's kiss. That's all they were doing when the door swung open and Tyler started slinging accusations around that couldn't be further from the truth. "Tyler, what're you---" she doesn't get the chance to finish her thoughts or her sentence before all hell breaks loose.

One minute she's staring back at Gage apologetically, albeit confused, and the next he's on the floor at her feet. Suffering blow after blow, while Brooke is screaming for Tyler to stop. "Tyler, stop it!" The last time they were in this same position, it had been Jake trapped underneath him. This time it was Gage. She couldn't get him to stop then and she couldn't get him to stop now.

Sobs wracked her small frame as Brooke tried to intervene but, every time she got close enough to try, she had to jump back just to avoid getting hit herself. She knows Tyler would never lay a hand on her but, she's also never seen him this angry before. Which would make sense. The last few years haven't kind to him and almost dying and coming back to life is sure to do a number on anyone. Not to mention, the stuff with them. Tyler had every reason to want to fight back. To unleash his frustrations out on the world through the first, and right now, only person he deemed deserving of it. "Seriously, stop! You're hurting him." Gage might have taunted Tyler ( without Brooke knowing or catching on ) but, he didn't deserve to have his face rearranged.

"Tyler, that's enough." It was Naomi's voice that cut through the commotion now. She'd watched the three of them head inside when she came outside to grab a drink. She knew the look in Tyler's eyes as he entered because she'd seen it in Gage's plenty. With the help of both girls, Naomi and Brooke were able to tug on Tyler's shirt and get him to come to a full stop.

As much as Naomi wanted to ask what the hell was going on, she refrained at the sight of Gage moaning on the floor, blood spilling from his mouth and his nose. Before Brooke could, she knelt down beside him and tried to assess his injuries like she has so many times in the past. "He's going to be okay. He's still breathing but, we should get him cleaned up." Her eyes cut to Brooke and Tyler.... Tyler who is still heaving and coming down from his violent outburst and Brooke who looks horrified.

"You should take him and go." Naomi was talking to Brooke now while referring to Tyler. Even though she'd only been present for five minutes, she could tell there was a lot going on. And even if, it was probably Brooke's duty as Gage's girlfriend to tend to him, she clearly wasn't in the right headspace to be taking care of someone when she could hardly take care of herself. "Trust me, I've got this." Naomi knew Gage well enough, she'd know how to fix this. And while she'd gotten to know Tyler intimately lately, she didn't think she was the best person right now to convince him to go cool off before he did something he would truly regret.

"Fine." As much as Brooke didn't want to leave Gage in the state he was currently in, and with his ex girlfriend no less, Naomi was right. Both he and Tyler needed to be separated and because this was all her fault, Brooke felt responsible for getting answers or clarity on what the hell just happened.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Brooke shrills, once she guides Tyler out of the room and their far enough out of earshot. They end up down the hall, where she jabs a finger at his chest. "What the hell are you doing? What was that?!"

Meanwhile, Naomi rips a sheet off the bed and lays half of it under Gage's head while the other half is used to mop up some of the blood. "I don't know what happened but, are you okay? Can you even hear me?"

[hallowcked]

"Ow!" Gage flinched, cutting a glare at Naomi after she applied to much pressure to his eye. What he needed was ibuprofen and some tequila, then he would be fine. "Look, I know you're pissed. I would be too." There was no excuse and yet he was still searching the back of his mind for one. He doesn't want to blame the whole thing on Lo but she was the one who was taking advantage of the situation, not him.

"I didn't know you were pregnant or why you left. You just up and bailed. I mean, months were flying by." He stops just short of that thought. "I can't even say they were flying by. Days felt like weeks. You were gone a long time, Naomi. I missed you. I thought you were done with me. Lo, she reminded me of you. It was a stupid thing. I just...I just wanted you back."

After a few minutes, something behind Gage could be heard hitting the wall. It sounded like a tennis ball being thrown. Every time it struck the wall it bounced back and knocked again. It was annoying because it was breaking his concentration but, it's a party. Things could be nosier. And then they were. The heavy breaths and rough grunting. That was no tennis ball - someone was fucking. At least someone was getting some ass. "Are you hearing this shit?" If she wants to change the subject, fine. They can talk about whoever's fucking next door.

continued from here, @hallowcked

"I was invited." If by here, he means the party. When it comes to tending to him though? The answer's a lot more complicated and frankly Naomi can't give him one because she's not completely aware of it herself.

"And I don't know...." A part of her knew, she shouldn't be this nice to him. He didn't deserve it after what she found out he'd done to her behind her back. He wasn't stupid. He had to have known screwing her sister would hurt. But, maybe that's what Gage wanted. To get back at her, to make her feel as miserable and insignificant and alone as he felt when she left without telling him.

Maybe the person she should've been more mad at was Lo. Because at least, Lo knew what was going on. She hid Naomi's secret from him, and slept with her boyfriend (if they could even call him that) anyway. "Stop." The pressure she applied to stop some of his wounds increased along with her warning. "I don't want to talk about it. Or hear any of your excuses. It's not going to make it better. And I'm not going to forgive you." Therefore, there was really no point in rehashing it. That doesn't mean she'd leave him hurt. Naomi was pissed off and upset he screwed her over but she wasn't cruel. "Besides, you can't take it back. It happened. It's done."