SHOUT OUTS/ANSWERS

Mit: Okay.

Ladysteinbeck: Thanks, well wait no more.

Long Live BRUCAS: Thank you. It seemed very Dan-like. You'll find out. Again, you'll find out. We'll see. Wait and see. That would be like him, wouldn't it?

Lalez: You'll find out. You'll see. You and me both. Thank you, I will.

Lexie-Rae: Thank you. Same here, lol. Cool.

DISCLAIMER

OTH belongs Mark Schwahn and the CW. Plot belongs to Fanacticfan84 who has let me use and tweak it. I only own characters you don't recognize. I use the name of actual stores, so they own themselves.

Haley ran her fingers through her hair and sighed as she closed her math book. This day was just dragging on forever and it was only ten o'clock. Ohhhhh. I hate the weekend, she thought to herself. When they were at school, it was easy to pretend everything was normal. However, on the weekend…things always fell apart. Hearing footsteps, she turned to see Peyton.

"Hey, what's up?" she questioned.

"Nothing much," the older girl answered. "Where's Luke?"

"Oh, he took off a couple of hours ago, saying he was gonna go visit Uncle Keith in Charlotte," Haley answered.

"Huh. Better not let Dad find out," Peyton cautioned.

"Oh, believe me---I know," Haley commented.

"So, are you done with your homework yet?" Peyton questioned.

"Yep," Haley answered.

"Wanna go to the mall?" Peyton offered.

"Sure," Haley agreed. "But who's gonna take us?"

"Oh, Nathan said he had to pick something up at Sports Goods, and he offered to take me, so---" Peyton began.

"You extended his invitation to me?" Haley finished.

"Exactly," Peyton confirmed. They laughed. Then, they walked out of their room and to the driveway, where Nathan was waiting.

"Haley's coming too?" he asked in surprised.

"Yeah, I invited her," his oldest sister replied.

"Oh, geez. Just don't take all day," he requested. The girls jabbed him and he jabbed them back. Then, they drove off. After agreeing to meet at the entrance in two hours, Nathan went to Sports Goods and Peyton and Haley went into Macey's where they immediately started clothes-searching. When they were finally done at the designated time, they headed back to the entrance. Then, they went home. When they got back, they saw Lucas in the kitchen.

"Hey. How was your visit?" Peyton asked.

"Good," Lucas answered. Then, "Don't tell Dad." His siblings promised that they wouldn't. Then, they went about their day. It was around late afternoon when the kids heard a door opening. They came downstairs to see their parents.

"Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad," they chorused together.

"Mmm. Afternoon, kids," Karen greeted. "Are you having a good day?" she questioned.

"Mmm-hmm," they answered.

"That's great," Dan said. Then, "Luke how 'bout a game?"

"Sure, Dad," Lucas agreed, and the two walked out.

"I hate when he makes him play," Haley heard Peyton whisper as she left the kitchen and up to their room. Haley's brows furrowed. What did she mean by that? she wondered. Then, she hurried up to their room.

"Hey, Brooke! We got some new clothes!" Haley shouted.

"OOOOH! I WANNA SEE!" she heard her sister yell. This was followed by excited footsteps. Peyton laughed as the girl bounded into their room.

"You're crazy," she told her.

"Shut up and show me the goods," came the response. Haley and Peyton laughed again as they dumped out the clothes and started giving each other an impromptu fashion show. Soon, the trio was enmeshed in a pile of clothes. A couple of days later, Haley was walking down the hall when she heard angry footsteps. Nervously, she hid. This didn't sound good. Then, to her surprise Dan cornered Luke in the hall. Haley's eyes widened in surprise when she saw the look of fright in her brother's eyes. What's going on? she wondered. What could scare her brother like this?

"Dad, what's going on?" Luke questioned.

"Lucas, we need to talk," Dan told him.

"What about? I haven't done anything," Lucas responded. Yeah. He's been really cool to you, Haley thought to herself.

"That's not exactly true," Dan said. "You've been running your mouth, telling stories on me," he stated. Haley's brows furrowed in surprise and confusion. What was Dad talking about?

"I---I don't know what you're talking about," Lucas stammered as he backed up against a wall. Why is he so nervous? she wondered.

"Keith called me from Charlotte. Said he was concerned about you," Dan told him.

"Okay, yes, I visited Uncle Keith this weekend," Lucas admitted. "But I don't see what the big deal is. I didn't tell him anything!" Dan put his hands on either side of the boy, effectively trapping him.

"For your sake, boy, you better not be lying to me," he said. "I mean, I'd hate to lose my Good One," he added with a smirk and tousling his hair. 'Good One'? What does Dad mean by that? Haley wondered. Lucas tensed at the touch, but said nothing. The man walked away. Lucas let out a shaky breath, and sank to the floor.

"Luke?" Haley asked. He gasped and jumped up.

"Hales, did you just hear that?" he questioned.

"Luke, what's going on?" she wondered.

"Keep your mouth shut!" he snapped. Then, he pushed past her and headed for his room. Haley let out a troubled breath and went back to her room.