Chapter Four
A Few days later
"Hey Haley." Peyton said cheerfully when she walked into the tutoring center.
"Hi Peyton."
"How are you feeling?"
Haley groaned. "I'm going to flunk out of school if I keep missing class in the mornings."
"No you won't. Here." She handed her a small stack of papers.
"What's this?"
"Notes from this morning. Nathan made me promise to take good notes if you weren't in class."
"Thanks."
"So, you haven't told Luke yet have you?"
"How did you know?"
"When I saw Nathan this morning he didn't have a black eye."
Haley managed a laugh. "Yeah. I think I'm more afraid to tell him than I was to tell my parents. He's going to kill Nathan."
"No he won't. He'll just want to."
"I hate this. They're just getting to the point where they can be in the same room without insulting each other. They can even act like friends now and then. This is definitely going to undo that."
"It'll be okay. So you're told your parents?"
Haley nodded. "And Nathan's."
"Ooh, how'd that go?"
"Well my dad didn't try to run him down with the car so that's a good sign. Basically they're disappointed but they're supporting us. Well, my mom anyway. My dad's going to take longer." "And Nathan's parents?"
"Deb was great. She didn't yell or even give us a lecture. Mr Scott, well you can guess what he said."
"Not pleasant huh?"
"No. He told Nate that it was my problem and not a good enough reason to walk away from his future. If Deb hadn't kicked him out he probably would have suggested Nathan wasn't the father."
"Ouch. What did Nathan have to say to that?"
"Just that unlike his dad, he was man enough to face up to his responsibilities."
"Go Nathan."
Haley smiled. "I have to admit, and don't you dare tell Nathan I said this, a part of me was worried he would follow in his father's footsteps."
"My lips are sealed. You know I haven't exactly been his biggest fan and a few months ago I definitely would have expected him to bail but he loves you."
"I know."
"You decided anything yet. Oh.." Peyton slapped her hand to her mouth. "Sorry, that's really non of my business."
"It's okay. We talked for a really long time after we left his house and we decided we're going to be parents. We thought about adoption but I just kept thinking about what my life would have been like if Karen and given up Lucas. He's like a brother to me. Or even if Deb and put Nathan up for adoption. I admire people who are selfless enough to put a child up for adoption but I don't think I could carry a baby for nine months and then let it go."
"Yeah. It isn't going to be easy you know."
"We're not expecting it to be and if it were just me I don't think I could do it but you know, Nathan was the one who first said he wanted to keep it. He's the one who said he couldn't imagine handing his child over to a stranger. That really touched me you know. When I first found out I was pregnant, I felt totally alone. He makes me feel less scared."
The next morning
Lucas watched Haley suddenly turn pale and run out of their English class. A second later, he say Nathan follow her. Concerned, he rasied his hand.
"Yes Mr Scott."
"Can I be excused?"
"Well at least somebody asked. Go ahead. You've got five minutes."
Nathan knocked on the door of the stall.
"It's occupied." Haley answered, seconds before throwing up again.
"Hales, it's me."
"Nathan?! What are you doing in here? It's the girls' washroom. She flushed the toilet and came out of the stall, her face still a little green.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay. Are you?"
"I feel better now. I really didn't want to miss class again this morning. I'm okay now, really. Let's go back."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
When Nathan saw Lucas sitting outside the bathroom it was his turn to turn pale.
"Lucas," Haley asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I was worried about you the way you ran out of class like that."
"I'm just not feeling great this morning, no big deal."
"Come one, I'm your best friend. I have the right to be concerned. You've missed class every morning this week. And you," he said, looking at Nathan, "have been acting almost scared of me. What's going on?"
"Lucas this really isn't the time or the place." Haley said.
Nathan glanced down at his girlfriend and kissed her forehead. "We have to tell him eventually Haley, might as well be now."
"Tell me what? And what do you mean we? What do you have to do with his?"
"As a matter of fact, everything" 'Here goes,' he gulped. "Lucas, Haley ran out of class just now because she has morning sickness."
"Morn." Lucas' eyes went wide.
"She's pregnant. We're having a baby."
"You're what?!" Lucas lunged at Nathan, shoving him against the wall. "You bastard! I'm going to kill you."
"Lucas, stop." Haley pleaded, putting herself between the two brothers. The bell rang. "Look, let's get our stuff from class then go somewhere and talk."
"Fine." Lucas said reluctantly. He stabbed a finger at Nathan's chest. "This isn't over."
Nathan grimaced. "Believe me, I know."
***
"Sorry, we won't be open for another two weeks." Deb looked up from behind the counter of the almost renovated restaurant. "Oh, hello Nathan, Haley, Lucas. Shouldn't you be in school?"
"Um yeah but Haley and I need to talk to Lucas."
Deb glanced at Lucas, saw that the young man was seething with anger then gave her son a knowing look. "I see. I'll go in the back. Give you some privacy."
"Thanks Mom."
Lucas sat down and glared at Nathan. "So I take it she knows."
"Yeah." Haley answered. "And so do my parents. I've been working up the nerve to tell you. I was afraid you were going to kill Nate."
"I should." He looked at him. "You going to explain yourself?"
"Lucas." Nathan started before being cut off by Haley.
"Ill do it. Luke, you've taken biology class; you know how these things work. This isn't Nathan's fault. We were both there."
"But he."
"It was a choice Lucas. One we both made. We knew the consequences and we're prepared to face them."
"Like father like son, I should have known."
"Shut up Lucas." Haley snapped. "If Nathan were like his father would he have run out of class after me? I don't think so"
Nathan started to get a little braver. "Look Lucas, I know you're mad and I don't blame you but the fact is Haley and I are having this baby, together. There's nothing you can do to change that."
Lucas was silent for a minute. "I can't deal with this right now." with one more angry look at Nathan, he got up and left.
***
"That jerk!" Lucas yelled, slamming the door to his house.
"Hey." Karen looked up from her sandwich. "What jerk?"
"Nathan."
"So Haley told you."
"You knew?"
"She came to me for advice."
"And you didn't see fit to tell me?"
"It wasn't up to me Lucas. Haley and Nathan were the ones who needed to tell you, when they were ready."
"Who knows when that would have been if I hadn't seen her run to the bathroom during class this morning."
"I see."
"I just don't get why she didn't tell me before. I mean I am her best friend aren't I?"
"Of course you are but Luke, how did you react when they did tell you?"
"What do you think I did? I shoved Nathan against the wall. I'd have punched him but Haley stopped me."
"That's why they didn't tell you sooner. Haley was afraid of how you'd react. Clearly, she had reason to be."
"Why do you keep saying they?"
"Because like it or not Lucas, this isn't just about Haley or just about Nathan. I know you've never been thrilled at the idea of them being together but you're going to have to get used to it. Haley and Nathan will always be connected, whether you like it or not."
"Unless he bails like his dad."
"One, Nathan isn't Dan and he's already made it clear that he wants a role in this. Two, even if he did decide to turn his back on Haley and his child, there would still be a connection, just like Dan and I will always be connected whether either of us likes it."
"I hate this Mom."
"What are you really upset about Luke, that Haley's life ahs suddenly changed or that Nathan's going to be in her life forever?"
"Both. Why him? Why did it have to be him?"
"Because she loves him and he loves her. I know she's like a sister to you Luke and I know having to be around Nathan more and more is hard for you but for her sake the two of you are going to have to learn to really get along, not just pretend to. Haley's going to need her best friend and her boyfriend, now more than ever."
"I guess I can try harder."
"No Lucas, don't try. Do it."
A Few days later
"Hey Haley." Peyton said cheerfully when she walked into the tutoring center.
"Hi Peyton."
"How are you feeling?"
Haley groaned. "I'm going to flunk out of school if I keep missing class in the mornings."
"No you won't. Here." She handed her a small stack of papers.
"What's this?"
"Notes from this morning. Nathan made me promise to take good notes if you weren't in class."
"Thanks."
"So, you haven't told Luke yet have you?"
"How did you know?"
"When I saw Nathan this morning he didn't have a black eye."
Haley managed a laugh. "Yeah. I think I'm more afraid to tell him than I was to tell my parents. He's going to kill Nathan."
"No he won't. He'll just want to."
"I hate this. They're just getting to the point where they can be in the same room without insulting each other. They can even act like friends now and then. This is definitely going to undo that."
"It'll be okay. So you're told your parents?"
Haley nodded. "And Nathan's."
"Ooh, how'd that go?"
"Well my dad didn't try to run him down with the car so that's a good sign. Basically they're disappointed but they're supporting us. Well, my mom anyway. My dad's going to take longer." "And Nathan's parents?"
"Deb was great. She didn't yell or even give us a lecture. Mr Scott, well you can guess what he said."
"Not pleasant huh?"
"No. He told Nate that it was my problem and not a good enough reason to walk away from his future. If Deb hadn't kicked him out he probably would have suggested Nathan wasn't the father."
"Ouch. What did Nathan have to say to that?"
"Just that unlike his dad, he was man enough to face up to his responsibilities."
"Go Nathan."
Haley smiled. "I have to admit, and don't you dare tell Nathan I said this, a part of me was worried he would follow in his father's footsteps."
"My lips are sealed. You know I haven't exactly been his biggest fan and a few months ago I definitely would have expected him to bail but he loves you."
"I know."
"You decided anything yet. Oh.." Peyton slapped her hand to her mouth. "Sorry, that's really non of my business."
"It's okay. We talked for a really long time after we left his house and we decided we're going to be parents. We thought about adoption but I just kept thinking about what my life would have been like if Karen and given up Lucas. He's like a brother to me. Or even if Deb and put Nathan up for adoption. I admire people who are selfless enough to put a child up for adoption but I don't think I could carry a baby for nine months and then let it go."
"Yeah. It isn't going to be easy you know."
"We're not expecting it to be and if it were just me I don't think I could do it but you know, Nathan was the one who first said he wanted to keep it. He's the one who said he couldn't imagine handing his child over to a stranger. That really touched me you know. When I first found out I was pregnant, I felt totally alone. He makes me feel less scared."
The next morning
Lucas watched Haley suddenly turn pale and run out of their English class. A second later, he say Nathan follow her. Concerned, he rasied his hand.
"Yes Mr Scott."
"Can I be excused?"
"Well at least somebody asked. Go ahead. You've got five minutes."
Nathan knocked on the door of the stall.
"It's occupied." Haley answered, seconds before throwing up again.
"Hales, it's me."
"Nathan?! What are you doing in here? It's the girls' washroom. She flushed the toilet and came out of the stall, her face still a little green.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay. Are you?"
"I feel better now. I really didn't want to miss class again this morning. I'm okay now, really. Let's go back."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
When Nathan saw Lucas sitting outside the bathroom it was his turn to turn pale.
"Lucas," Haley asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I was worried about you the way you ran out of class like that."
"I'm just not feeling great this morning, no big deal."
"Come one, I'm your best friend. I have the right to be concerned. You've missed class every morning this week. And you," he said, looking at Nathan, "have been acting almost scared of me. What's going on?"
"Lucas this really isn't the time or the place." Haley said.
Nathan glanced down at his girlfriend and kissed her forehead. "We have to tell him eventually Haley, might as well be now."
"Tell me what? And what do you mean we? What do you have to do with his?"
"As a matter of fact, everything" 'Here goes,' he gulped. "Lucas, Haley ran out of class just now because she has morning sickness."
"Morn." Lucas' eyes went wide.
"She's pregnant. We're having a baby."
"You're what?!" Lucas lunged at Nathan, shoving him against the wall. "You bastard! I'm going to kill you."
"Lucas, stop." Haley pleaded, putting herself between the two brothers. The bell rang. "Look, let's get our stuff from class then go somewhere and talk."
"Fine." Lucas said reluctantly. He stabbed a finger at Nathan's chest. "This isn't over."
Nathan grimaced. "Believe me, I know."
***
"Sorry, we won't be open for another two weeks." Deb looked up from behind the counter of the almost renovated restaurant. "Oh, hello Nathan, Haley, Lucas. Shouldn't you be in school?"
"Um yeah but Haley and I need to talk to Lucas."
Deb glanced at Lucas, saw that the young man was seething with anger then gave her son a knowing look. "I see. I'll go in the back. Give you some privacy."
"Thanks Mom."
Lucas sat down and glared at Nathan. "So I take it she knows."
"Yeah." Haley answered. "And so do my parents. I've been working up the nerve to tell you. I was afraid you were going to kill Nate."
"I should." He looked at him. "You going to explain yourself?"
"Lucas." Nathan started before being cut off by Haley.
"Ill do it. Luke, you've taken biology class; you know how these things work. This isn't Nathan's fault. We were both there."
"But he."
"It was a choice Lucas. One we both made. We knew the consequences and we're prepared to face them."
"Like father like son, I should have known."
"Shut up Lucas." Haley snapped. "If Nathan were like his father would he have run out of class after me? I don't think so"
Nathan started to get a little braver. "Look Lucas, I know you're mad and I don't blame you but the fact is Haley and I are having this baby, together. There's nothing you can do to change that."
Lucas was silent for a minute. "I can't deal with this right now." with one more angry look at Nathan, he got up and left.
***
"That jerk!" Lucas yelled, slamming the door to his house.
"Hey." Karen looked up from her sandwich. "What jerk?"
"Nathan."
"So Haley told you."
"You knew?"
"She came to me for advice."
"And you didn't see fit to tell me?"
"It wasn't up to me Lucas. Haley and Nathan were the ones who needed to tell you, when they were ready."
"Who knows when that would have been if I hadn't seen her run to the bathroom during class this morning."
"I see."
"I just don't get why she didn't tell me before. I mean I am her best friend aren't I?"
"Of course you are but Luke, how did you react when they did tell you?"
"What do you think I did? I shoved Nathan against the wall. I'd have punched him but Haley stopped me."
"That's why they didn't tell you sooner. Haley was afraid of how you'd react. Clearly, she had reason to be."
"Why do you keep saying they?"
"Because like it or not Lucas, this isn't just about Haley or just about Nathan. I know you've never been thrilled at the idea of them being together but you're going to have to get used to it. Haley and Nathan will always be connected, whether you like it or not."
"Unless he bails like his dad."
"One, Nathan isn't Dan and he's already made it clear that he wants a role in this. Two, even if he did decide to turn his back on Haley and his child, there would still be a connection, just like Dan and I will always be connected whether either of us likes it."
"I hate this Mom."
"What are you really upset about Luke, that Haley's life ahs suddenly changed or that Nathan's going to be in her life forever?"
"Both. Why him? Why did it have to be him?"
"Because she loves him and he loves her. I know she's like a sister to you Luke and I know having to be around Nathan more and more is hard for you but for her sake the two of you are going to have to learn to really get along, not just pretend to. Haley's going to need her best friend and her boyfriend, now more than ever."
"I guess I can try harder."
"No Lucas, don't try. Do it."
