"Anybody home?" Haley called out walking into her parents house later in the afternoon "We're back." She continued, Nathan following behind.
"Hey baby" Haley heard her mom say in the kitchen.
She followed the voice to find her mother sitting at the table writing bills, and her father seated next to her.
"Hey, how was the trip?" Her father asked.
"Amazing" Haley smiled, taking a seat across from them, as did Nathan. "We wanted to talk to you real quick."
"Of course, what is it?" Lydia asked putting down her pen.
"We just wanted to thank you for the apartment. It means so much, especially to me. You two have graciously taken me into your home, and helped me...I know my parents love me but most days it doesn't feel like that. That's different here, I know you two love me and want what's best for me. You feel more like parents to me than my actual parents. Thank you for that."
"Oh Nathan" My mother smiled moving to get up and hug him. "Your parents do love you, I know it. But we do as well. No matter what anybody says. No matter what happens. You are my eighth child." She insisted.
"Thank you" He whispered hugging the smaller woman.
"But the apartment does come with conditions..." She said as she pulled away.
"Your mother and I discussed it and we decided that you will pay rent every month. We can figure that out with your pay check of how much but that money will go into a bank account. Save it up and then when you two move out you can have it, that way you are saving up money and learning to budget as well." Jimmy filled in for Lydia.
"Of course" Haley smiled, she got up to hug her parents as well.
"No, Haley. You can watch us cheer the guys. That's it." Brooke insisted, as we walked to the rivercourt. It was a nice, hot day, so we figured why not?
"Brooke!" I moaned. "I'm not disabled!"
"With your weight?" I turned around to see Rachel standing there. "It's no wonder she won't let you cheer, she just doesn't want to lift your fat ass."
"Says you?" I responded dryly. I refused to let Rachel get to me. Why should she bully me into thinking I'm fat? I'm pregnant...I mean...she didn't know that...
"Doesn't matter; I'm skinny, and you aren't." Rachel shrugged. "As soon as Nathan realizes it isn't just puppy fat, and won't drop off, he'll be knocking on my door."
"Yeah, right. In a line with 100 other fat asses." Brooke snorted. "Thing is, Nathan's in love with Haley, not you."
"Wanna bet?" Rachel asked, as we arrived to see the guys already playing. "Hey, looking good, Natey!" She shouted over and whistled. Everyone laughed as Nathan just flipped her off. He was sick of her too.
"I wish I would have taken her up on that bet" Brooke said laughing
"Well, what does she have to offer that you don't have?" I asked Brooke, as I dumped by bag on the bleachers.
"Nothing" Brooke said rolling her eyes
"So that bet would be pointless." I insisted.
"Why are you so grouchy?" Brooke asked, as I slumped down on the bleachers.
"Why won't you let me cheer?" I countered quickly.
"You're not cheering this year" Nathan said stopping the game and looking over at her.
"Well hello to you too." Haley snapped.
"That's what I said." Brooke tattled. "But Haley insists she can."
"Seriously shut up Brooke! I am perfectly fine to cheer, people do it all the time. And you" She said turning to Nathan "I walk all the way here in the damn heat and you don't even greet me but feel free to butt your opinion in where it is not necessary. I just want to cheer, it's my senior year!"
"Haley..You can't-"
"Why, Nathan?" I asked loudly. "I am pregnant. I am not sick. I'm not stupid. I wouldn't ever do something that would harm this baby, and I know I can cheer!" I exclaimed loudly "I am your wife not your child!"
I watched on, as everyone stopped what they were doing. "What?" Came Rachel's loud voice. "Are you freaking delusional as well as fat? Nathan didn't get you pregnant, and he didn't marry you. you aren't his wife, sweetie."
"Really honey" Haley said sarcastically. "Then why do we both have rings on our left hands? And why do is only my lower stomach expanding? And why did Nathan get emancipated and move into my house? And why is the baby in my stomach's last name going to be Scott?"
Haley stood up and swung her bag over her shoulder. "You know, I don't feel like hanging out. I'll see you at home. If I'm asleep, don't think of joining me in bed, couch." She looked to Nathan and then back at Rachel. "Back off my husband. Because YOU'RE the delusional one if you think he actually likes you. And don't" She said getting in her face "ever call me sweetie again, bitch" Haley rolled my eyes and headed down the pathway. Turning around quickly she said "And Nathan if I want to cheer I'm going to damn cheer because you're not my master, you're my husband and our marriage isn't going to work that way."
Rachel just stood there, motionless, for what seemed like forever, until she turned to Nathan. "Can't you control her?"
"If I could control her, then I'd have her bitch slap you 24 hours a day." Nathan muttered. "I gotta go, guys."
They all nodded understanding "We might make it tonight...I would say PMS but we all know that isn't going to be happening for a few months" He lightheartedly joked.
"Alright Nate, see you later bro."
He nodded and headed of stuffing his hands in his pockets.
Nathan only walked a few blocks before finding Haley on a bench. "I figured why walk the whole way when you wouldn't be that far behind me."
"And you got tired." He said knowingly taking the seat next to her.
"And I got tired."
"Listen Hales...I wasn't trying to control you, I just want the best for you."
"It sure felt like you were" She said snottily.
"I wasn't...I just...Did you know I'm always thinking about you? Always. You and him never leave my mind so when you said you wanted to cheer do you know how worried I became?"
"So what, you don't trust me to make good choices for us or to protect our son? You think I want to hurt him?"
"No Haley it's not like that at all." He sighed running his hand through his hair "I worry...I'm a father it's just what I do." She softened when he said he was a father, realizing that he worried about their child just as much as she did. "It's not that I don't trust you, it's that I am afraid of anything ever happening to the two of you. Your all I have."
"Nothing will happen to us. I promise." She said looking up at him. "I won't do stunts, I won't do the running or workouts in the weight room Brooke makes everyone else do, I won't flip or jump. I can stand on the sidelines of a basketball court and scream a chant. I can dance at half time because its dancing. That is all it is Nathan dancing and screaming that doesn't hurt our child, and I promise that if anything ever hurts or feels weird I will stop right away and make Brooke take me to the doctors."
"As long as you promise."
"I do" She said holding out her pinky to his as they interlaced them. "Pinky Promise."
"And I'm going to have a talk with Brooke about this all."
"You do that" She laughed relaxing into him as he thought.
"You know I lied when I said I wasn't marrying you because you were pregnant."
"What?" She asked starting to get angry again.
"Let me finish. I lied because in a way I was. I've known I have wanted to marry you since I told you I loved you, years ago on this very same bench. I was in love with you long before that but was too afraid to say it...but it was always in the back of my mind, thinking about marrying you. And I had planned for it to stay that way, at least until we were out of college. I figured I would propose whenever it felt right after we went to college but thought we wouldn't get married until we graduated. But when we found out you were pregnant everything changed. It wasn't the reason I was marrying you but it put everything into place. It made me realize, why wait? You are going to spend the rest of your life with this woman, she is the mother of your child and that is commitment enough but it just made me realize it all. Why should I have to wait to call you Haley James Scott when I already knew we would be together forever."
Haley smiled up at him and curled into his chest "You're so sexy when you talk like that."
"I love you" He whispered into the top of her head.
"Always and Forever."
"Hey Hales" Brooke smiled as we walked into her house later that night "I was hoping you would come."
"Of course" I smiled. "Four hours left."
She smiled. "Hey Nate" She said as he walked through the door, and set a box on the table. "Could you do me a favor, can you grab Luke and go into the garage and bring in the beer." He nodded and walked out.
"So how are you?"
"Better, we worked it out. I'm going to cheer but I just have to be careful."
"Okay" She nodded, accepting my answer. "Alright let's have some fun."
"How can I help?"
"Take the brownies for me" She said handing them to me, and following me to the den, with chips and salsa. She had set up the floor with blankets and pillows for us all to lay on.
"What are we watching tonight?"
"What to expect when you're expecting." Brooke smiled at me.
"Ha funny" I smirked as we all laid down and got settled.
"Five four three two one" We all counted looking at each other as it reached midnight. As the clock struck twelve we all smiled.
"Happy birthday Brooke" I said as she got a huge grin on her face.
Lucas leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"Happy eighteenth birthday to me" She smiled before taking a sip of her beer. "Let's dance.
Nathan and I walked towards the restaurant hand in hand. It was a nice night, and I had already napped, so I wasnt too tired.
"So did he not say who his date was?" I asked Nathan. We were going on a double date with his Uncle Cooper.
"Nope, just that she's from around here and some kind of swim wear model."
"A model...oh God." I groaned. "You better not try to upgrade to one of her friends and leave your pregnant cow behind."
"Yeah, right." Nathan laughed lightly. "You're the only model for me." He winked cheesily. "Besides, I think he's got something wrong...I don't know any model's in Tree Hill, and trust me...Dan would be all over her."
I laughed loudly. "Maybe she's new around town. We haven't been out much to know."
"Or maybe she's a lying bitch." I quickly looked up to Nathan and noticed he was looking at the door of the restaurant we were approaching. Outside, stood his Uncle Cooper, and a familiar red head - whose name was Rach-Ho for a reason.
"You have to be fucking kidding me." Nathan muttered under his breath as we approached them.
"What do we do?" I asked quickly, slowing down our speed of walking.
"Play it cool" He whispered as we were now standing in front of them.
"Nathan, my man!" Cooper saw us and 'man hugged' Nathan.
"Hey Coop" Nathan smiled back tightly.
"And the beautiful Mrs.'s" He said pulling me in for a lighter hug.
"Thanks Coop" I said biting my tongue.
This is my date, Rachel." Rachel smirked and stepped forward, smiling falsely.
"Hi" She said "It's so nice to meet you both."
"Right back at ya" Nathan said shaking his head up and down.
"I'm sure." I said quietly, as we headed inside.
"So how was your weekend away?" Cooper asked as we moved to our seats.
"You knew?" I asked
"Everyone knew" Nathan laughed.
"Oh, well it was great. I've got a good husband." She smiled reaching to hold his hand. "He spoiled me rotten this weekend."
Rachel smiled falsely, yet again, whilst sipping the drinks the waiter had brought.
"And I've got a good wife." Nathan smirked at me.
"Thanks. I know" I laughed.
"So how long are you in town Coop?" Nathan asked.
"Couple of days at least." He replied, smiling at Rachel. "I might be persuaded to stay."
"That's good" Haley smiled tightly. "Maybe we could have you over, you could see our new place."
"We'd love to." Rachel replied for him, and I rolled my eyes.
"Oh, you don't have work?" I asked her bluntly.
"Well, I could rearrange some things if necessary." She said. "Anything for Cooper."
"I'm sure." I muttered, picking up a menu. "What to eat..."
"They have mac and cheese babe." Nathan said pointing it out on the menu.
"I don't fancy it." I mumbled...knowing Nathan would play on this forever. "I don't think your child like's cheese right now."
"Really? That's strange. He likes it every other day of the week." Nathan laughed.
"He changes his mind." I insisted, wishing I could just eat the damn meal.
"He wants a Cobb Salad."
"Oh that's a good choice" Cooper smiled.
"It sounds good doesn't it?" I smiled looked up, "What are you going to get?"
"I'm going for the side salad, no dressing." Rachel insisted and I stared in disbelief.
"You know that isn't a meal, right?"
"It's called a side salad because it's supposed to go with something." Nathan pointed out. "Like an actual meal."
"I know that" She said in a matter of fact way."That's not all I'm getting...I'm also getting the Pasta Primavera." She said quickly, I knew it was the first thing she saw and by the look on her face she regretted that decision.
"Enjoy." I smirked, standing up. "If you men will excuse me, I'm going to use the rest room."
"Aren't you going too, Rach?" Cooper asked as I stepped away from then. I sneered as I heard her reply no, she didn't need to use the bathroom.
I now made it my new goal to make it so she had to go. I would keep refilling her drink for her until she had to. Cooper did not deserve this.
When I came back I sat down to hear the boys talking about basketball and Rachel looked incredibly bored. "Basketball talk again"
"Sorry Hales"
"No its okay, please continue." I smiled seeing the look on Rachel's face. I was used to Nathan talking about it for hours, she wasn't. Nathan stopped though and instead asked Rachel about her career.
"My aunt actually owned an agency and helped me get my start."
"That's great that she helped. Who have you modeled for?'
"And I guess I was just blessed with my looks."
"Um, all sorts." Rachel smiled. "Magazines, like Grazia, Vogue...I've done catalogue's, FHM, Macy's..."
"Oh wow, do you have any copies?"
"Um...no." She said quietly and I smirked inwardly. Cooper put his hand around Rachel's shoulder supportive.
"Rachel's parents moved abroad a few years ago and they took the last copies she had with them." He answered for her. "Isn't that right, baby?"
"Yeah!" She said quickly.
"Rachel could I get you some more Iced Tea?"I asked lifting up the pitcher and moving it close to her glass. As I poured it I hit the pitcher on her cup and it spilled all over her dress "Oh my I'm so sorry! I'm a little bit bigger than usual so it's tricky to judge distances sometimes. Hopefully it won't stain, maybe you should go rinse it off in the bathroom."
"What the hell?" Rachel almost flew out of her seat. "You did that on purpose!"
"I'm sure you could ask the woman at the front desk, they probably have a stain remover" Nathan said with a smile
"Ugh!" Rachel stomped off, and it took all that was in me not to laugh as she did so.
Nathan waited until she was far away until he spoke again. "Coop I have something to tell you about Rachel."
"Do you love her? Isn't she great"
"Coop...she's in my class. She's lying to you."
"What, nah you must have her confused."
"Cooper" Haley said gently "Her name is Rachel Gatina, she is seventeen, just like us, she goes to Tree Hill High, she has had a crush on Nathan since freshman year and ever since we got together it's been her goal to break us up. I'm so sorry."
"What? No...no you just don't like her. Right Nate? I mean...they just...Haley doesn't like her."
"Cooper" Nathan said shaking his head "I'm so sorry."
I saw Coopers eyes glaze over as he realized we were telling the truth.
"Do you want to be alone with her...we should go so you can talk but give Nate a call when you leave and you can come over. We could watch a movie or something."
"I don't think so...but thanks." Coop sighed. "I'll call and let you know when I'm back at my hotel."
"Okay" Nathan said "Seriously though dude, call us if you want to do something."
"Thanks Nate" He said as we got up "See you later."
"Yeah..."
We left the table only to walk past Rachel on the way.
"I know you did that on purpose!" She said, before we even got to her.
"He deserves better than you, you bitch. Why can't you leave out family alone." Nathan said.
"Because the men are just too damn hot." She smirked, eyeing Nathan, before heading back to find Cooper.
"Just keep walking Haley." Nathan said nearly pulling me away from slapping her. "She isn't worth it."