Thicker Than Blood
Chapter 20
I have to say that I hate you guys, for leaving all these wonderful comments and making me want to post the next chapter!! Hehe.. seriously thank you for your words of support and I'm glad you enjoyed. I know many of you have questions but I'm afraid you will have to wait and see for the answers. Someone did ask if Rachel was mentioned in this story and the answer is YES (see all the way in Chapter 1). You know Jake has been keeping a secret, the real question is, who else? The answer might surprise you as you'll see in this chapter and in the next couple ones. Sorry to be cryptic hehe.
Also, thank you for the reviews for "Make it Stop." I'm so glad I managed to write "Make it Work" before episode 13 came out, I figured as much that Nathan and Haley's problems lay not only with each other but with themselves, being so young and having so many responsibilities. For those waiting on "Winners and Losers" I apologize, that story has reached a big turning point and I just want to make sure I get my storylines straight before moving forward and I haven't had the time to really outline it all.
And with last night's episode let me just add that I love the Naleyness, finally!! I made a long note about that in Make it Stop, but I forgot to add that even though the "Sex" scene wasn't as long or juicy as I'd hope, I was more pleased to see Haley playing the piano with Nathan right there and the two of them smiling at each other. It means more to me that they are connected emotionally than physically. With the smile Haley gave to Nathan at the very end of the episode, I was able to breath a sigh of relief. Enough rant..
Enjoy and please review!!
Xxx
Jake paced back and forth unsure of what to do. Ever since that night in the movies, things were not going well at all between him and Peyton, in fact they got worse. He tried to call her, tried to see her but she just dismissed him and made some lousy excuse why she couldn't hang out. Panic had officially settled in, he needed to talk to her, needed to see her but what would he say? What would he do? He was so scared of losing her that he was hiding the truth from her, but it didn't matter anyways, he was pushing her away regardless.
His phone rang and was happy to see it was Peyton calling him, but he hesitated. He was leaving once again, his parents were going out of town and Jenny was still recovering from her flue. He had to go take care of her. His phone beeped again and this time it was a text.
"We need to talk, can you meet me at my dorm?" Jake read the message. He desperately wanted to go see her but then he would have to leave and they would have another argument. He took a deep breath and took the coward's way out.
Xxx
"Thank you Brooke.. this is a great idea." Peyton said as she leaned back against the bleachers.
"I knew you would like it .. you too tutorgirl." Brooke smirked as she turned to Haley.
"I can't believe you dragged me here." Haley stated.
"Don't tell me your not enjoying the view?" Brooke teased.
Before Haley could answer, Peyton chimed in. "She's not.. cuz none of them are Nathan.." Peyton teased.
"Shut up!" Haley glared at Peyton.
"I would come back to the room and Nathan would be there in just boxers.." Peyton turned to Brooke. "Believe me, I wouldn't care much for the swim team." Peyton teased as she looked back at the Duke's men swimming team practicing in the large Olympic sized pool in front of them. Haley had mentioned to Brooke that Peyton was going through a little rough patch with Jake and Brooke being Brooke decided to take her mind off things by going to the gym and "hanging around."
"Hey!! Eyes off my boyfriend!" Haley grew a little jealous. "Besides what would Jake say."
"Probably nothing… he'd send a text message again." Peyton growled.
"So Haley told me that you and Jake are going through a little tiff." Brooke stated.
"No.. not a tiff.. this is a full blown fight."
"What happened?" Brooke asked.
"Peyton thinks, he's seeing another girl.. a girl name Jenny and uses visiting his parents as a way of trying to cover up for it." Haley answered.
"What are you serious?!" Brooke asked.
"Unfortunately… that's why he wasn't at the movies.. that's why he's never been around much." Peyton shook her head.
"He's an idiot!" Brooke stated. "Don't tell me he's with his little slut now?"
Peyton opened her phone and showed Brooke the text Jake sent her last night.
"Sorry.. on my way to my parents, have to take care of someone who's sick.. I'll call you when I get back. – Jake."
"He did not text you!" Brooke gasped.
"Didn't even have the guts to tell me over the phone."
"Guys.. maybe he really is taking care of someone who is sick.. I find it hard to believe that Jake would be cheating." Haley restated.
"Says the one with her boyfriend wrapped around her little finger." Peyton shot back.
"What're you talking about?" Haley asked.
"You have Nathan whipped.. what's your secret? I need to train Jake." Peyton crossed her arms.
"I do not have Nathan whipped." Haley shot back.
"She's right." Brooke said. "Nathan's not whipped.. it's Haley."
Haley playfully slapped Brooke. "BITCH!"
"SLUT"
"Haley?" A voice called out.
All three girls turned around and Haley's mouth dropped when she saw Chase standing there in his swim suit with a towel around his neck.
"Hey Chase." Haley said nervously.
Chase smiled at her, then turned to Peyton. "Hey Peyton."
"Hey Chase." Peyton answered back and then Chase's gaze went over to Brooke.
"Hi.. I'm Brooke." Brooke smiled at him and glared over at Haley for not introducing them.
"Hi.. Chase." Chase smiled at Brooke then turned to Haley. "What brings you here?" Chase asked.
"Oh we .. we just needed some girl chat." Haley tried to say dismissively. Chase looked around and saw a couple of other girls gawking at the swim team behind him. He grinned. "Sure."
Haley tried ignoring the comment. "I didn't know you were on the team."
"Yeah.. decided to do it last minute .. you know us so-Cal guys and water." Chase smiled then turned around when he heard his coach blow the whistle.
"That's my cue.. I have to go now… Haley it was good to see you again."
"Yeah you too." Haley replied back.
"Peyton.." Chase nodded in her direction and she smiled back. "And Brooke.. very nice to meet you." He smiled at her and Brooke smiled back.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Brooke turned to Haley. "Oh my God.. that's Chase?!"
"Brooke.." Haley shook her head.
"You attract all the hotties huh? I mean.. he's not as built as Nathan.. prolly not packaged either.." Brooke winked at Haley and she just rolled her eyes. "But he was bulging in the right places." She teased.
"Brooke drop it.. we're just friends now."
"Those looks he was giving you were a little more than friendly." Peyton chimed in.
"You guys are delusional."
"I agree with Sawyer here.. I think he still likes you.."
"Really?" Haley answered back. "From the looks of it .. he was liking you." She turned to Brooke.
"Moi?" She said innocently. "It's nice to know I still have it… I wish I met you sooner before this whole thing with Lucas…" Brooke said. "… you have any more hotties on the side?"
"Brooke!?" Haley shot back at her. "It was at least nice of you to remember your boyfriend Lucas."
"He's not my boyfriend."
"Huh?" Peyton asked confused.
"We're taking things slow." Brooke answered. To the world they may seem like boyfriend and girlfriend, but to Brooke, she wasn't quite ready for that, especially with the things she's done.
"Slow?! That's why he practically sleeps over your place every night." Haley stated.
"Hey! When did this turn into me.. " Brooke tried changing topics quickly. ".. we need to go back to either making fun of Haley or turning our attention back to Jake." Brooke stated.
"You're unbelievable." Haley shook her head.
"And you're just mad cuz you're not getting any from Nathan." Brooke answered and Peyton chuckled. Haley gasped, but Brooke continued to talk before Haley could say anything.
"As for you Peyton.. we still need to resolve your problem.. I say to believe him."
"What?" Peyton asked confused.
"He said he's taking care of a sick family member, then you should believe him."
"Yeah.. for once I agree with Brooke.. give him the benefit of the doubt." Haley added.
"Ok?" Peyton said hesitantly.
"And you could be a good girlfriend and help him out." Brooke smirked.
Peyton turned to Brooke. "I could.. I should help him out." Peyton nodded her head. "I mean.. he's helping out family.. he's my boyfriend.. I have nothing to do and my car has a full tank."
"Look how good of a girlfriend you are." Brooke nodded back.
"You guys are unbelievable." Haley rolled her eyes.
Xxxx
"You okay?" Nathan asked as he took Haley's hand as they strolled through campus, walking Haley to her next class.
"Yeah.. I'm just worried about Peyton." Haley responded.
"They still fighting?" Nathan already knew the answer. He really felt bad for both of them. Jake was already having a hard time juggling school and basketball, but a baby on top of that. Nathan already knew he couldn't handle that kind of pressure.
"Yeah.. it's just that.. she's on his way to see him now." Haley sighed. "I mean.. I think Jake is a good guy."
"He is." Nathan added.
"But he has been keeping things from her .. it just makes me wonder if Peyton really does have a reason to worry."
"What do you mean?"
"She thinks he's cheating."
"He's not cheating." Nathan was quick to answer.
"Wait.. what do you know?" She stopped and looked at Nathan.
"Know what?"
"Nathan.. do you know what's going on with Jake?" She looked at him straight in the eye.
"Noo.." Nathan looked away and Haley knew he was lying.
"You do know something?!"
"No.. maybe.. yes.. fine I know!"
"Nathan!"
"Look.. it's not my place to say anything."
"Nathan…"
"Like you said, she's on his way to see him.. one way or the other she's bound to get something from him."
Haley crossed her arms, not satisfied with Nathan's answer. "Hales.. please don't look at me like that.. I promised Jake I wouldn't say anything.. he confided in me.."
"And Peyton is one of my best friends.."
"Which is why I can't tell you." Nathan pleaded.
She knew he was right. It wasn't fair for her to pressure Nathan into telling her. "Can you at least tell me if it's anything bad?"
He looked at her for a minute, trying to figure out a response. "Depends how you look at it." Nathan said carefully.
She had a sinking feeling that it was indeed bad news, but Nathan was right. She couldn't hassle him about this. There was a reason why people called it "secret."
"I'm sorry I can't tell you Haley.. it's not my secret to tell .. but you know some people keep secrets to protect the ones they care about." Nathan said and Haley nodded, knowing all too well the business of carrying "secrets." But like all secrets, they always have a way of coming out or in some cases, come barging in unexpectedly.
Xxx
Peyton parked her car and rolled up the awning to her convertible. She took a deep breath, trying not to act so nervous. Be cool, she told herself. You are not spying, you are just being a good girlfriend.. a good girlfriend with a big smile on her face.. and carrying a nice bowl of very hot soup to throw at her boyfriend if he's cheating on me. She told herself.
She made it to the red painted door and knocked. She waited for a moment and a sinking feeling came over her. Maybe he wasn't here, he was out with his whore. Peyton's mind was playing tricks on her but she had to calm herself down. Jake's car was here in the driveway, at least he really did go to his parents house. Peyton knocked again and this time the door opened.
"Peyton?!" Jake asked dumbstruck.
"Hey!" Peyton plastered a fake smile across her face.
"Wh.. what're you doing here?" Jake asked hesitantly.
"Bringing you soup!" She said raising the brown paper bag in her hand and stepping right passed Jake into the house. "You're always going home.. taking care of someone .. I thought to myself that I was being selfish being mad at you .. and instead I should help you out!"
"Umm.. I don't know what to say." Jake said honestly, his mind going a mile a minute.
"You can say.. where you want me to put this?"
"Oh sorry.. " Jake said taking the bag from her and placing it on one of his side tables.
"So you never told me who was sick." Peyton tried not to sound so eager. Just then a baby girl, no more than two years old in pajamas came stumbling in from across the hall.
Jake gave a hesitant smile and picked up the little girl and put his hand on her forehead to make sure her temperature was not high. There was no going back now, he thought.
"Peyton… meet Jenny… Jenny can you say hi to Peyton?" Jake said to the toddler bouncing her up and down.
Peyton sighed a breath of relief. She felt so stupid for not trusting Jake. Jenny was his little sister or cousin. All her doubts and worries suddenly gone from her, but she had to wonder why he didn't just come out and say it. Either way, she was relieved that he was not cheating.
"Paaay-tan." The little girl said and Peyton immediately smiled. "Hi Jenny… it's so nice to meet you." She said in a little baby voice and went to shake her little fingers. Peyton had to admit that little Jenny was too cute for words.
Jake smiled, seeing the two interact. That all changed when Jenny turned back to Jake and muttered. "Dadda!"
Peyton took a step back. "Wha.. what did she say?"
There was no point in hiding this any longer. Jake shook his head and took a deep breath, holding firmly onto Jenny. "Peyton.. this is Jenny.. my daughter."
Peyton's mouth dropped.
Xxx
Nathan was on his way to see Haley. He did the usual routine of walking through the front door, showing his ID and stepping into the elevator.
"Hold it!" A voice came out and Nathan immediately reached over to the button to open the door.
"Thanks." Replied a man, about his height and age coming inside the elevator.
"No problem." Nathan gave a half smile.
Nathan looked at him curiously. He was wearing a uniform, no doubt the marines and had a piece of paper in his hand. He looked to be of Hispanic descent and seemed to be rehearsing some lines to himself. Nathan smiled, knowing that he must be surprising his girlfriend or something that attended Duke.
The elevator stopped and Nathan stepped out first and saw the marine get out as well. He was looking at the paper and the door numbers trying to find the right one. Nathan turned his head back and continued to walk down the hall towards Haley room. He reached over to it and knocked at the door.
Xxx
Inside, Haley was on her laptop, when her phone started to ring.
"Hey Anna…. Whoa.. slow down…. Wait … what?!.. .he's going to what?!" Haley was starting to freak out. Then came a knock on her door and she turned around. "Look Anna.. I'll call you back." Haley said putting her phone down.
Xxx
Nathan looked back before knocking and saw the marine obviously still trying to find the right room. He knocked at Haley's door and a moment later, the door flew open. He smiled at the sight of her but she looked completely distraught. Before he could say anything, she beat him to it.
"Felix." She said, her gaze not towards Nathan. Nathan was confused for a second. Felix.. what the hell?
"Haley!!" Came a voice from behind him.
Nathan turned around to see the marine standing behind him and quickly walking right pass him, lifting Haley up in a hug and turning her around. She quickly pulled away from him and gave Nathan a pleading look.
"Felix.. stop!" She said in a serious tone.
"What?" Felix pouted. "I can't get a hug from my fiancé?!" Felix smiled.
A look of dread and horror came over to Haley as she saw the color drain from Nathan's face. Nathan felt like a ton of bricks had just hit him, he couldn't breath, could barely stand, remembering the few details she mentioned about Felix.
"Fiancé?" Nathan softly muttered as he clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.
To Be Continued . . .
Surprised? Confused? That was the intention .. you'll just have to wait for the next chapter, which I sort of already have mapped out so please be patient. I hope you enjoyed and please review and share your thoughts.