Wow guys, I'm literally blown away by your awesome reviews for the last chappy. You guys are awesome as always. Well, here's the next one. Let me know what you guys think of this one. Love you guys! Cheers! ;)
Chapter 11
Peyton listened to Haley telling her what happened between her and Nathan intently, only interrupting once in a while. She could tell that Haley was nervous and scared and although she couldn't tell her that she understood her situation, she knew that her friend needed her help and support. Every so often Haley would wipe the tears that had flowed freely down her cheeks.
"I don't know what to do Peyton. I'm really scared," Haley stammered in between her sobs. Peyton watched her as she silently rubbed her back soothingly.
"Hey it's gonna be alright. We can get through this. I don't know how, but we will okay?" She rummaged through her bag. "I got the thing that you asked for," she said, unable to even say the word. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Haley first nodded, then shook her head. "I'm not sure. I don't know. God how can this happen to me?"
"It's okay. Here take this. I'll be here waiting," she said and handed the box to Haley, who reluctantly took it from her hand. She then made her way to the bathroom, all the time feeling as if her knees would buckle anytime.
Peyton tapped her fingers on the coffee table while waiting for Haley to come out. A knock on the door made her jump. She walked over to the door and asked, "who's there?"
"Hey, it's me. Michael." The door creaked open revealing a surprised looking Michael. He hadn't expected Peyton to be there. "Hi Peyton. Is Haley home?"
Peyton looked at her, equally puzzled by his presence. "Yeah, she is. What are you doing here?"
Michael scratched his head. "I'm not sure actually. Haley called me and asked me to come over. Said she needed to talk to me. Emmm can I come in?"
She stood at the doorway, reluctant to let him in. "Sure," she finally said. "She's in the bathroom."
"It's okay. I'll wait. Do you have any idea why she called?" he asked and sat himself down on the couch. He looked around Haley's place and nodded in appreciation. "Nice place. You know I've never been here before," he said, trying to make small talks.
"I'm not sure why she called you. And yeah, she has good taste when it comes to decorating her house." Peyton continued to look at him suspiciously.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm sorry. I still don't get why she called you. I just have to ask. What's going on between you two? I mean, I didn't mean to pry but Haley's one of my best friend and I'm just looking out for her."
Michael smiled at her warmly. "I know you are. Haley and I are just friends. We tried to take it one step further but it didn't work. She's like a sister to me. I swear," he said and put his hand on his chest.
Peyton sighed. "Yeah, well. I suppose with this stupid thing going on between her and Nathan, she's gonna need all the support she can get." She groaned in frustration. "I don't get those two. I don't know why things can't work out between them. And then this happens."
"Wait, what are you talking about? What's 'this' you're referring to?" Michael asked in confusion. "Did something happen that I don't know about?"
Peyton looked up at the sound of Haley's footsteps. "Well, you can ask her yourself."
Michael stood up at the sight of her. Her face was red and her eyes were puffy from crying. "Are you alright? What happened?"
Haley held out her hand revealing the pregnancy test that she had just taken. "It's positive."
Michael and Peyton exchanged stunned looks. "Are you sure?" Peyton asked.
Haley looked like she was about to cry any second again. She looked at the pregnancy test she was holding as if it might explode in her hand. "It's positive," she repeated.
Peyton quickly took her hand and led her to the couch, urging her to sit. Nobody spoke for what seemed like an eternity. Peyton looked at Michael, hoping for him to say something but he still had the stunned look on her face. When he still didn't say anything, she nudged him.
"What?" he asked.
Peyton rolled her eyes. "You told me that Haley's like a sister to you. Well? Do what big brothers do. Say something."
"I said she's like a sister to me. I don't have a real sister. How should I know what to say."
Peyton gritted her teeth. "What the hell are you doing here then? She needs our help. You know, for a rich guy, you sure are an idiot."
"Hey!" Michael exclaimed in protest.
For once Haley spoke up, cutting short their arguement. "Emmm excuse me guys. I'm still here."
Peyton continued to glare at Michael. Truth be told, she didn't know what to say or do either. "Okay," Michael started to say. "Let's see. What the hell were you thinking, Haley? Have you thought of using protection? What would Mom and Dad say?"
Haley looked at Michael in confusion and burst out laughing. "Mom and Dad?" Even Peyton had to bite back her laugh.
He just shrugged. "What? Isn't that what big brothers say to their sisters? It did make you laugh."
"Yeah, it did. Thanks." She groaned and buried her face in her hands. "What am I gonna do? How could I be so careless? One minute I was a virgin, and the next minute I'm pregnant?" She could feel a sob rising in her throat and a hand on her arm.
"Are you gonna tell Nathan?" Peyton asked. She wished Jake was here with them. He always knew what to do but Haley made her promise not to tell anybody. Not even Brooke who was coming back from her honeymoon tonight.
"I can't. Michael, you understand right?" Haley looked at him with tears streaming down her face.
Peyton turned to look at Michael. "Wait a minute, you know what happened between her and Nathan?" Michael just grinned.
"What can I say. I'm a good big brother." Peyton stuck out her tongue at him, which only made him laugh. "Anyway, Haley I understand why you're running away from this insanely obvious feeling you and Nathan have for each other. But this is his baby too. Don't you think he deserves to know?"
Haley closed her eyes and saw Rachel giving Nathan a kiss earlier that day. Rachel loved him and she didn't deserve to be dragged into this mess. She had made a conscious decision to end her relationship with Nathan even before it started knowing that it could only lead to heartache and pain.
"I don't think I'm showing yet so nobody has to know." She looked at Peyton and Michael pleadingly. "Please you guys. Nathan must not know about this. Nobody must know about this. Promise me that you won't tell anybody."
Michael pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. "We promise, right Peyton?" He eyed Peyton warningly which emitted a sigh from the curly blond haired girl.
"Okay fine. I promise. But what are you gonna do about the baby? Are you gonna keep it?"
Haley lifted her head from Michael's shoulder and rubbed her eyes. She was starting to feel like she was in a nightmare and needed to wake up. She thought about the night she spent with Nathan. How wonderful he made her feel. How every one of his thrust into sent her into throes ecstasy. How he held her close even after they had made love, their bodies still slick with sweat. If she couldn't have him, she had at least the baby that they had created.
"Yeah, I'm gonna keep it." She saw that Peyton was starting to protest and stopped her before she could say anything. "Peyton, this is another life we're talking about. A baby. My baby."
Peyton went up to her and placed her hand on her face. "Honey, I have to ask. Do you love Nathan? And please don't lie to me this time."
Haley pursed her lips together before answering, "I do." She bowed her head down, unable to look at Peyton in the eyes. "I love him so much it hurts. But he's with Rachel now."
"Oh my God Haley I can smack you right now if you weren't pregnant. How do you even know that he loves her?"
"He told me that she makes him happy, and I saw them together justnow. She loves him Peyton."
Michael stood up and started pacing around the room. "Okay fine. You love him and he loves you but there's Rachel who also loves him. Damn he's one lucky guy."
Peyton took a few steps towards him and yelled in frustration, "Michael! You're not helping!"
He held up his hands and backed away. "Whoa! Okay okay. I was just wondering, how the hell are we gonna hide the baby bump once it shows? I mean, sure you can hide for a few months but what happens after that?"
Haley took in a deep breath and looked at him squarely in the eyes. "That's why I called you here. I need a favour."
"Ugh remind me again why you felt you had to buy something from every shop we went to?" Lucas huffed dragging the luggage while Brooke stood with her arms akimbo.
"I'm sorry baby. I could practically hear the clothes calling me." They had just landed from their honeymoon in Venice and although Venice was beautiful and romantic and perfect for their honeymoon, Brooke couldn't keep her legs from walking in the stores lining the streets.
"Yeah, I'm sure they were. You're lucky I love you," Lucas said through gritted teeth. "Where is Nathan anyway?" Nathan was supposed to pick them up from the airport and though Lucas shouldn't be surprised at his tardiness, he felt a touch of annoyance.
Brooke broke into a smile a moment later and started waving. "There he is. Nathan!" she exclaimed. Her smile quickly turned into a frown when she saw Rachel by his side. "What is that skank doing here?" she muttered under her breath.
Nathan smiled and pulled Lucas into a hug. "Hey big brother. How was the honeymoon?"
Lucas pulled back and grinned. "Perfect except for Miss Light Purse here," he said and nudged Brooke.
"Why am I not surprised?" Nathan laughed and turned to hug Brooke. "Hey, good to have you back. You know Rachel." Rachel smiled warmly at Lucas and Brooke.
"Yeah, sure," Brooke said and quickly dismissed her. "Where's Haley?" Brooke asked with the intention to rile Rachel up.
Nathan looked at Rachel nervously. "I dunno. At home I guess." The mention of Haley's name brought back the burning feeling on his lips as he remembered their kiss. He suddenly turned quiet which didn't go unnoticed by Rachel. She eyed him curiously before turning her attention to Brooke.
"So Brooke. Tell me what you did in Venice? What did you get?" She asked as they walked towards Nathan's car. She knew that Brooke was determined not too like her, but she was just as determined to get her and Nathan's friends to change their minds about her.
Brooke stopped in her tracks at the question. Is she talking to me? She looked at Rachel warily before answering, "you know the usual stuff." She started to walk away when she felt Rachel grabbing her arm. She made sure the guys were already ahead of them before facing Brooke.
"Look Brooke. I know you don't like me and I'm not sure why. Well, actually I think I do. I know Nathan's your friend and your brother in law but I'm his girlfriend. Whether you like or not I am in his life now. It may or it may not work out between us but I'd really like to try and your attitude towards me is not helping." She gave a small sigh before continuing, "you don't have to like me and I won't force you to. But I'd like it if you could at least be nice to me once in a while. There I've said it."
The two girls stood staring at each other before Brooke spoke up, "you're right. I don't like you and I'm glad you said that I don't have to but for Nathan's sake, I think a little acting and pretending wouldn't hurt." Rachel was left staring at Brooke's back as she quickly walked away.
Nathan and Lucas were loading Nathan's car with the luggage when Brooke got to them. "What were you and Rachel talking about?" Nathan asked and looked over his shoulder at Rachel.
Brooke smiled sweetly at him showing off her dimples, "oh nothing. Just girl talk. You wouldn't wanna know. Just drive will you?"
"Finally!" Brooke exclaimed twenty minutes later as soon as she saw the driveway to her home. "Ooooohhh I can already picture myself on my bed," she said and left Nathan and Lucas pulling and tugging at her luggage.
"Hey Brooke! You wanna give us a hand here?" Nathan yelled. He felt Rachel touch his arm and turned his head.
"Let her be, baby. She's obviously tired. Here give me something to carry," Brooke heard her say, surprised at her offer which sounded pretty genuine but decided to keep quiet about it.
"Hey Brooke, is it okay if I hang out at Nathan's for a bit? Do you wanna come?" Lucas asked after they have finished unloading. He knew that Brooke was exhausted and would say no, which would give him a chance to talk to Nathan privately.
Brooke looked at her house and imagined her inviting bed and then at Lucas, as if trying to make up her mind. She looked at Lucas guiltily. "Sorry baby. I'm really tired. Can you go alone? I just wanna sleep. I promised the girls that I'd see them tomorrow morning."
Lucas didn't need any more encouragement. "What do you say little brother? You up for it?"
"Yeah sure. But I need to send Rachel back on our way. Is that alright with you?"
"That's more than alright." Lucas gave Brooke a quick peck on the lips. "Don't wait up for me okay? I'll wake you up when I get home," he said raising his eyebrows suggestively.
Brooke grinned. "Oooh sounds naughty. I'll make sure I get plenty of rest. Have fun baby."
"So what's the deal with you and Rachel?" Lucas asked the question that had been hanging over his head since the wedding. They were already at Nathan's watching the NBA.
Nathan's eyes were glued to the telly and said without looking at Lucas, "nothing. We're just hanging out. Why?"
"Looks a lot more than hanging out to me. What about Haley?"
"What about her?" he asked, finally turning his attention to Lucas. He knew what Lucas was getting at but he pretended not to know. Lucas looked at him frustratedly.
"Don't do that man. Don't play the I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about game with me. Is this some sick game you two are playing coz I honestly don't understand it. You told me that you love Haley and the next thing I know you slept with Rachel. What is wrong with you?"
"Lucas I really don't want to talk about it okay."
Lucas stood up and looked down at him. "Oh no, I'm not letting you off that easily. We'll talk about it. You're my brother and I just don't want you to make wrong choices in your life."
"She doesn't want that kind of relationship with me okay?" Nathan yelled angrily. "We slept together one night and the next morning she was gone. And she made it perfectly clear that nothing could ever happen between us. I told her I love her and she just shot it down. What else do you want me to do?"
Lucas's eyes grew wide at the admission. "You guys did what? How come I don't know about this? When did this happen?"
"You know what? You don't have to know everything that's happening in my life."
"Is that why you decided to hook up with Rachel?" Lucas continued as if he didn't hear Nathan's words.
Nathan stood to face his brother this time. "Look I know this sounds a bit screwed up but I'm dealing with it the best I can. And Rachel's a great girl. Just give her a chance."
"Do you love her?"
Nathan ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "Does it really matter if I love her or not?"
"Dude, this is somebody's heart we're talking about! You can't just string her along like that."
Nathan looked at him, pain evident in his eyes. "Haley's got my heart Lucas and the problem is I'm not sure if I can ever love somebody other than her."
"Looks like you sure have a problem there."
Nathan stood remembering the night he and Haley spent together, the kisses they shared, the way he felt everytime he was with her and closed his eyes. "Yeah, looks like it."