Chapter 9
"Peyton, this is Haley's nephew Casey, he's along for the ride," Lucas motioned once Peyton got into the front seat.
"Cool," she nodded, "I'm just going to go ahead and throw out this apology, I was mad at Jake, I took it out on you and that wasn't fair."
"Apology accepted," Haley gave her a nod, "so how've you been holding up since Jake left."
"Pretty well, I understand he had to go but I just miss him," she shrugged.
"I'm feeling that one," Haley promised, "what about you Luke, missing Brooke?"
"I was…am…but she made it pretty clear she wasn't interested so I've accepted that and I'm trying to move on, it's easier some days than others."
"Good for you, Luke," Peyton gave his should a pat, "so if I put some music on will he cry?"
"He's usually okay as long as it's not blaring," Haley responded, glancing over the baby again, he was definitely a sleeper while in the car.
"Wait, so let me get this straight, you used to have milk balloon fights?" Peyton asked looking between the two Scotts.
"Yep, we had one the night of the boy-toy auction, but aside from that we left that behind at the end of freshman year," Lucas sighed thinking back over his fond memories.
"Remember when we would go get cookies and hot chocolate from the café and then just sit on the roof for hours?" Haley sighed from the back seat, glancing over Casey every now and then just to make sure he was still asleep.
"Yeah," Lucas sighed, "that seems like so long ago, when was the last time we did that?"
"The night before you played Nathan for the first time," she remembered, "talk about feeling like forever ago. You and Nathan were still dating then," Haley reminded, "and Lucas was still a boy with an obsessed crush."
"Still is," Peyton laughed, "and can we please never mention that Nathan and I dated."
"Hey, I may be in love with Brooke but I do not have an obsessed crush," Lucas waved a finger, "okay we need gas, you guys want food?" he asked pulling the car off the closest exit.
"No I'm good," Haley answered, "Casey's going to be waking up soon, though, so you might want to get us back on the road so he'll settle easier."
"You got it," Lucas nodded, getting out of the car.
"So Haley," Peyton started glancing into the backseat, "I really am sorry about everything I said…before."
"Peyton you apologized," Haley sighed, "I've forgiven you, let's just forget about it."
"Are you sure?" she questioned, "I would have a hard time forgiving me right about now."
"That's why I'm me and you're you," Haley smirked, and Lucas rejoined them, cranking the car.
"Why is the car not starting?" Haley leaned forward between the two seats as best she could with the carseat in the way.
"I don't know," Lucas sighed, popping the hood.
"Man this can't be good," Haley groaned getting out of the car as well, Lucas turned to her with a grim look, "no Luke."
"I'll go talk to the attendant, see if there's a mechanic on staff," Lucas nodded.
"The mechanic won't be able to get to it till late tonight," Lucas returned around ten minutes later.
"Lucas," she sighed, "we can't miss this."
"I know," he nodded, "the closest rental place is about thirty miles that way," he pointed.
"No, I'll call Mom and Dad, they're supposed to be in Georgia this week, so we might be relatively close," she pulled the cell phone from her pocket, dialing before she'd even realized what she was doing.
"What's the hold up?" Peyton asked, finally setting foot out of the car.
"We're going to be here for the night," Lucas sighed, "Haley's calling her parents; hopefully we can get out of here today."
"No go," Haley sighed, "they'll be here within the hour, but they have a schedule to keep and a weekend not on the road is not in their plans."
"Damnit."
"Yo Scott," Caleb Witherspoon caught his attention, "no family?"
"Can't complain Spoon," he offered a shake of his head, "If anyone could afford the trip it would be my Dad, can't say I'm dying to see him."
"Well if you end up with nothing better than the dining hall give me a call, you can join the fam," Caleb offered motioning to the herd of small children behind him and a couple near his parents' age offering a wave.
"Nah, man," Nathan waved back, "you enjoy your family. I'll call the wife and enjoy dinner over the phone."
"Suit yourself."
"I can't believe we're missing the first night of this weekend," Haley sighed dropping on a hotel bed.
"Just be glad we were only an hour away," Lydia smiled at her daughter, holding her grandson as she rocked him soothingly.
"Thanks for splurging on the hotel Mrs. James," Peyton exited the bathroom a billow of steam following her, her more frequently straightened locks now curly.
"Please, like we were going to let our grandson spend the night in Lucas's jeep?" Lydia smiled, "and please call me Lydia, you kids already make me feel old."
"Sorry," Haley chuckled, "you're just going to have to face the fact you're getting up there Mom."
"Oh you're just the sweetest," Lydia grinned at her daughter.
"Boys crashing," Lucas announced opening he door, placing handfuls of snacks and sodas on Peyton's bed and flopped down as well, "I still can't believe you guys are making me and Jim sleep in that RV."
"Sorry we out number you," Peyton laughed.
"You do not, we still get to count Casey, we can look after him just as well as you do," he pouted clearly not impressed with their argument.
"Says the boy who hates being woken by a 2 am phone call," Haley snorted.
"And please Jimmy had six kids, I think he may have gotten up for a total of 10 middle-of-the-night feedings," Lydia added.
"Hey there wasn't much I could do, unlike you I was not a drink machine," Jimmy took his grandson as he walked into the room.
"Daddy!" Haley exclaimed, horrified by her parents divulgence of information, but Lucas and Peyton just laughed.
"Sorry Bub," Jimmy winked at his daughter, "Lucas mentioned you were going to visit Nate at some basketball camp."
"We're crashing this road trip," Lydia smiled, "it's been a while since I've seen that son-in-law of mine."
"You're more than welcome to join us," Haley answered her parents gratefully; she was more than happy to have them around for a few days.
"Well I hate to break-up the party, but the shop opens at seven and we want to leave as early as possible, so we should get to bed," Peyton announced.
"Alright," Jimmy groaned handing his grandson, back to his daughter, placing a kiss on her forehead and his wife's before grabbing Lucas's shoulder and pulling him from the hotel room.
"Do you want to set up the portable crib?" Lydia asked, when Haley emerged from the bathroom.
"No, he's been sleeping with me," Haley answered, cuddling up to her mother and son. Lydia watched her daughter carefully, she'd lost weight and she seemed sad. She'd have to find a moment alone to talk to her about it.
"Scott," Coach West called him over, during practice, "I know today was supposed to be your day off, but Battle requested for you to be on his tournament team."
The entire last month of camp would be spent in a double elimination tournament, only the boys would be coaching themselves and they would be scored in many different categories including teamwork and leadership. The players had all been ranked based on their previous performance and the team captains had been chosen randomly from the highest rank.
"Thanks Coach," he knew if he didn't make Battle's team, he would either make Damien West's, he wasn't the chosen captain (but let's be honest he was the captain), or a losing team. It was all very good vs. evil around there it seemed.
"He also requested that I allow your team to have two captains, so don't flake on the job."
"No sir," he chuckled, "I was actually almost done and on my way to breakfast, so if that's all…"
"Go ahead," he nodded, heading back to his office. He'd received a phone call that morning from Lucas Scott and Nathan's family would be there any time.