Chapter 12
"So when you said we'll hang out," Nathan said, "what did you mean?"
"Just sit around talk and maybe dinner a little later," Lucas suggested.
"Oh," Nathan said, "okay."
"So does Haley know about Rachel?" Lucas asked.
Nathan nodded.
"How'd she take it?" Lucas asked.
"At first she was a little mad," Nathan paused, "or sad couldn't really tell." Lucas started laughing.
"She's like that sometimes," he said.
"I've noticed," Nathan said.
"Oh and Nate"
"Yeah?"
"Don't play with her trust," Lucas said, "and don't hurt her."
"Why would I hurt her?"
Lucas sighed, "I don't know… just promise that you won't."
Nathan nodded. Maybe this was Lucas' way of being protective of Haley. To Nathan, Lucas and Haley seemed more like siblings than Lucas and himself. He could see Lucas as the older protective brother.
"Where's your mind at?" Lucas asked.
"I was just thinking," Nathan said, "about what I'll do when Rachel arrives."
---------------------------------------------------
"Hey!" Rachel said opening the door to Karen's Café.
"Hey Rachel!" Brooke said.
The rest either smiled or waved.
Haley was looking at the floor and Nathan looked at Haley.
"When are we going to eat?" Rachel asked, "I'm starving!"
"Considering you came so late we'll eat in less than an hour," Lucas said smiling.
"Good," Rachel laughed and grabbed a chair in-between Brooke and Nathan.
"Where were you anyway?" Peyton asked.
"Here and there," Rachel said.
'Here is my chance to show Rachel I am going out with Haley,' Nathan thought, 'but how do I make it clear but not too obvious?'
Brooke, Peyton and Rachel were laughing about something that happened during cheerleading practice while Lucas was making sure the food wasn't over-cooking.
"You need some help with something, Lucas?" Haley asked.
"Sure Hales"
Haley got up from her chair and walked to the back room. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in.
"Hard night?" Lucas laughed.
"Well it's a long story," she said with a smile
"Yeah… it's a long story that I know"
"What?"
"Well of course Nathan told me about the whole Rachel dating scenario"
"So everyone knows?" Haley started to freak out.
Lucas laughed, "Only me."
"What am I going to do Luke?"
"You don't have to do anything," Lucas said, "once Rachel makes a move or something then you need to"
"How do you know she'll make a move?" Haley asked.
"'Cuz its Rachel," he said.
"Does she know about me and Nathan?"
"I don't know"
Haley sighed, "Thanks for the talk Luke," She said leaving the back room.
Five seconds after Haley left Nathan came.
"What did she say?" Nathan asked.
Lucas stared at him.
"Haley," Nathan reminded him.
"I know, I know…. This was just very weird," Lucas said.
"What was weird?" Nathan looked confused.
"How Haley leaves and then five seconds later you show up," Lucas explains.
Nathan looked at Lucas, "Stop going nuts and just tell me what she said."
"Nothing," Lucas said.
"Don't you lie to me!"
"She just asked me what she should do"
"And…"
"And then she left"
"No! What did you tell her?"
"To wait until Rachel made a move"
"You told Haley Rachel was going to make a move?!" Nathan's jaw dropped.
"I said 'if'," Lucas lied.
"Okay," Nathan paused, "now that you told Haley what to do… tell me what to do!"
Lucas laughed, "What happened? While Hales was here?"
"Nothing," Nathan said.
"Really?" Lucas questioned.
"Yeah"
"So maybe nothing will happen," Lucas tried being optimistic.
"I doubt it," Nathan said, "What should I do once something does happen?"
"I don't know!" Lucas said getting frustrated.
"Thanks for your help!" Nathan said walking back to where everyone was.
"Oh boy," Lucas said to himself.
The food was served and set on a table.
"Finally!" Rachel said sitting down.
"Actually there's assigned seating," Lucas said trying not to laugh at his 'brilliant' idea.
"You've got to be kidding me," Rachel said smiling.
"No," Lucas said, "Brooke you sit there" he pointed to a chair next to the wall, "and next to her Haley and then Nathan. Facing Brooke is me and then Rachel and then Peyton."
Confused everyone walked to their assigned seats. No one knew why Lucas was doing this except Haley and Nathan.
"Can I switch with you Peyton?" Rachel asked.
Peyton nodded seeing no problem.
Rachel was now sitting in-front of Nathan but as soon as Peyton sat in Rachel's seat Rachel moved her chair to the end of the table so now she sat next to Nathan.
'My plan crashed to pieces,' Lucas said.
Everyone started taking food to their plates.
"So how's basketball season boys?" Rachel asked looking at Nathan. Nathan looked down to his plate.
"Going good," Lucas said.
Rachel was a little disappointed. After all she wasn't really interested to know how it was. She wanted to start conversation with Nathan. But this was only her first attempt.
Brooke and Peyton were having a little side conversation and since Haley was feeling a little uncomfortable she joined their conversation.
That left Lucas, Nathan and Rachel. But considering Lucas was kind of in-between Peyton and Brooke he couldn't really hear what Rachel and Nathan were talking about.
Rachel leaned over to Nathan and whispered in his ear, "You want to get out of here?" Nathan started coughing.
Lucas saw this and decided to say something that everyone could talk about.
'Hmm,' Lucas thought, 'what do we all want to talk about? Sports! Who am I kidding that's just me and Nathan… school? Too depressing and boring. Cheerleading? Haley will feel left out and guys can't talk about cheerleaders unless it's about how short the uniform is…'
Lucas had an idea, "So Nathan how was it being locked in Brooke's parents' bedroom with Hales?" Everyone quieted down.
Nathan smiled and looked at Haley, "great".
Rachel took Nathan's hand that was rested in his lap under the table and put it on her bare leg and worked his hand up her skirt.
Nathan looked at Rachel, 'What should I do? I don't want people to notice but I don't want my hand up Rachel's skirt!'
"You know Haley and Nathan are going out," Brooke looked at Rachel and smiled not even realizing what Rachel was doing.
"Really?" Rachel set Nathan's hand free, "That's actually quite funny considering I'm going on a date with Nathan on Friday." Rachel looked at Nathan and smirked.
This was all so clear to Rachel: why Nathan was ignoring her. But of course she did not worry considering she was sure it won't last.
Peyton looked straight into Haley's eyes as if to say 'I told you so'. Brooke looked surprised.
"Nate," Brooke said, "feel free to explain…"
Nathan sighed and looked at Rachel, "I tried to call it off but you wouldn't listen."
"Well that's kind of weird," Rachel said looking straight at Nathan with a smile on her face, "you didn't even mention Haley."
Haley looked at Nathan angrily. He tried to avoid her gaze.
"He tried to call it off and you said no?" Brooke asked Rachel.
"Come on Brooke," Rachel said, "its part of the rules of dating… even your rules. When a guy asks you out he can't unask you."
Nathan was staring at his plate and then looked at Brooke.
"And technically he was mine to start with," Rachel said as if Nathan was some kind of property, "just because suddenly Nathan and Haley decided to try something new and go out does not mean I can't get my date." She looked at Nathan, "And try seeing it from my perspective Nate," Rachel said stroking his arm with her hand, "it is like you are two-timing us." She looked at Haley.
Haley looked at Rachel and then at Nathan. The table was quiet. Next, Haley got up and walked out of the Café.
Nathan was about to get up when Rachel put her hand on Nathan, "I'll go talk to her."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Lucas said.
"Then what is a good idea?" she said looking at Luke, "I doubt she'll want to see Nathan now."
"Put some ice on it Rachel," Peyton said, "I can go talk to her."
"And?" Rachel said, "Tell her what?"
"Well what were you going to tell her?" Peyton said getting up.
"I'll go," Luke said.
"You guys are pathetic! She's getting farther away now!" Brooke said. She was the only one, besides Nathan, sitting down. She wanted to go talk to Haley but she didn't know what to say to her. 'Rachel is a bitch it will all turn out okay' was not something very cheerful to say and that was all Brooke could think up.
Lucas walked out of the café. Haley was his best friend and if anyone could cheer her up it was him.
