Oops
By Scarlet
Month Three Peyton
Peyton shook herself from her daze as she waited for the results of the paternity test.
Time ticked by slowly, silently. Lucas was there, pacing. Brooke was there, but looked ready to puke. Which was probably the case, since the morning sickness started to kick in.
Haley wasn't there. It had been awkward, at first, since the odds were in favor of them both being pregnant with the same man's child. She thought about the day.
She said the only thing that came to mind. "Fertile bastards. Aren't they?"
The other girls laughed, but it was restrained, the shock overwhelming them. Haley looked about to cry and Brooke had a dazed expression.
"This can't be happening," Brooke shook her head, "It's a dream. Someone will run through here naked yelling about a tidal wave, I'll wake up and that'll be it."
"So I take it the boys don't know?" Peyton raised her eyebrow at her friends, who shook their head vigorously. "Gonna tell them?"
Haley was adamantly against that.
"Yeah…I'll tell him," Brooke shrugged, "When I get over the shock myself."
"Are you…?" Haley swallowed and looked tentatively at Peyton, "Are you going to tell Nathan?"
Peyton shifted from one foot to the other. This was why she hadn't planned on telling the girls about this. It actually made it worse that they were pregnant too, but it just slipped out.
"Haley…okay, here's the thing…" The girls looked at her expectantly, "Itmightnotbehis," she said quickly.
"You didn't tell me you got in on the rebound fling action!" Brooke elbowed her, "What's the deal? You know I need a quick play by play on these things-"
Peyton watched her uncomfortably until the brunette's words died in her mouth.
"Oh, God…it was Lucas."
Brooke started shaking, "Sit. Gotta…now…"
"Here you go," Haley led Brooke to her bed hastily.
"Hales, can you get…O.J? In the fridge?" Brooke blinked at her and Haley smiled.
"Love to, I'll be right back," Haley practically bounced from the room, undoubtedly ecstatic to be interrupted from her thoughts with a job.
Brooke licked her lips carefully and studied Peyton. "Was it while we were together?"
"God, no! NO!" Peyton sat down by Brooke immediately, "You know I wouldn't do that. He wouldn't do that!"
"So when-?"
"I was still with Nathan," Peyton sighed.
"I just grabbed paper cups I hope that's…" Haley trailed off, "WHAT did you say?"
Marvelous. "I cheated on Nathan. With Lucas."
"So…it could be either one of theirs," she surmised, "Umm…orange juice?" she held up the carton in her hand.
Everything was so messed up. Lucas was with Brooke. Brooke was pregnant.
None of them wanted to make any decisions.
"Peyton Sawyer?" the nurse asked as the room tensed.
"Yes?" she choked.
"Your results are ready."
Haley
It was amazing how easy it was to dwell on not thinking about something. For Haley, she became obsessed with thinking of anything but her pregnancy and the surrounding circumstances.
Peyton, for example. She liked to avoid thinking about the woman who might be carrying Nathan's other child.
"Haley!" speak of the devil.
"Nathan," she inclined her head.
"You're a hard woman to track down," he smiled.
Little did he know, certain doom approached.
"I've been around," Haley shrugged.
"C'mon, Haley…I've missed you."
Her insides thrilled, and she smiled slightly, "Well, I can see how you would. Your grades suffering again, Scott?" Haley chucked his arm like she would Lucas, like any friend.
"Don't know, haven't been paying attention," he shrugged.
Haley winced, "That's a yes."
"You know I can't survive this whole school thing without you, Haley, you gotta help me out, here."
Ever the charmer. Would he change when he knew? Would he resent her like Dan did Karen? Would it only double when he found out about Peyton?
Haley felt sick.
"I have to go to class, Nathan."
"How about dinner?" he blurted out quickly. "Tonight, we can just talk."
Her heart hammered, "I have plans and then I work."
"Oh. With Lucas?"
"No, look, maybe-"
"Hey Haley," Jake walked up to her, "Did we say five or six?"
"Six," she muttered quickly, focusing on her shoes.
"Cool. Nathan," Jake nodded, "See you at practice."
Nathan didn't answer and Haley finally looked up at him hesitantly.
"So you're going out with Jake. This a regular thing?"
"We're friends, Nathan."
"Friends that date, apparently."
"Friends that eat and hang out, simultaneously."
"We hung out and ate simultaneously," he stepped closer to her and she backed into the lockers.
"Nathan, what are you-"
"Is it like that?" his eyes raked over her. She shrunk from his gaze and crossed her arms over her chest protectively.
"Does he know what you like?" he ran his hand under her chin and lifted her head.
"What's wrong with-"
He crushed her body against the lockers, grinding their bodies together in a carnal claim that left her reeling. He ravaged her mouth, lips bruising hers as she felt his anger and frustration.
"No!" she pushed him off her, glaring at her former lover. "May I remind you, Nathan, we aren't together. Never do that again."
"Haley, I'm s-"
"I have to go to class," she cut him off.
***
When Jake sat down in front of her, Haley was busy inspecting the salt shaker.
"This seat taken?"
"Is now," she grinned, looking up. "Oh God, what happened?!?"
"What this?" he grimaced, gesturing toward his heavily bandaged nose. "Little run-in with Nathan's elbow at practice. No biggie."
"No biggie," she repeated dully, "Is it broken?"
"Just a little."
"I'm gonna kill him."
"I think Whitey might take care of that for you."
"Ugh! What was he thinking?"
Jake shrugged, "I think it started with not wanting me to have the ball…ended with 'oh shit, Haley's gonna kill me.'"
"Damn straight," she muttered, mentally discounting anything so innocent.
"It kinda hurts to talk, so if you want to just tell me what you wanted to talk to me about…?"
"Oh! Right, I'm sorry!"
"No problem…just don't make me laugh."
"I…well, I just wanted to know what it has been like raising your daughter."
"It's been hell, but I wouldn't give it up. I love her more than anything."
"Do you still have a relationship with her mother?"
Jake shook his head, "That's part of the hard thing, she comes to see her sometimes, but we just couldn't stay together, it was too much pressure."
"So you think all teen couples that go through this are doomed to break up?"
"Well, it depends," Jake shrugged, "I think that kind of stress just makes the problems in a relationship more obvious."
"Exposes the cracks?"
"Something like that. Why do you ask, Haley?"
She sighed, "I'm just trying to make a decision."
"It's Nathan's, isn't it?"
Haley's eyes widened, "How did you know that?"
"Educated guess," he muttered wryly. "No wonder he's possessive."
"He uhh…" Haley swallowed, "He doesn't know yet."
"Interesting. When are you telling him?"
"I just want to make some kind of decision before I…" she gestured.
"Maybe he would want to be part of the decision too?"
"There's also a sort of, erm, complication."
"An additional complication on top of the not being together, but expecting a child at seventeen," Jake's lips twitched. "What would that be?"
"I can't say."
"Can't or won't?"
"It's not for me to say."
"It's not…" his eyes narrowed and he grimaced, "Is there someone else? Haley?"
She wouldn't look at him.
"Peyton?"
Haley's eyes flew to Jake's, "Damn, you're good."
He chuckled, then groaned, "I told you not to make me laugh."
"My wit is just overpowering. It's a curse. But tell me, seriously, are you psychic?"
"1-900-555-JAKE, baby."
"Be ready for my call."
"So Nathan Scott managed to knock up both of you."
"Well, that's the thing, we're not-"
Jake's phone rang and he gave her an apologetic look, "I thought I turned this off, sorry," he pulled it out and frowned, "Hey Brooke…yeah, she's right here," Jake shrugged and handed Haley the phone.
"Hello?" Haley answered nervously.
"They got the results, Haley."
Haley breathed in deeply, "And?"
***
Brooke
Brooke had long since accepted that Lucas was crazy in love with her best friend. It was hard, but who wouldn't love her? Even Brooke loved her.
She'd figured once that on again off again fiasco with Nathan was over, Lucas and Peyton would hook up. But that hadn't happened. And for the first time in…forever, something seemed to be going right in her love life.
Lucas might not love her yet, but he did like her. He noticed her. Most men thought she was hot. Lucas said she was beautiful.
Peyton was her best friend and for two years, Brooke had accepted that Lucas was hers. But he wasn't. Not anymore. And Brooke didn't want to share.
"Brooke," he whispered, taking her hand. "We're going to be fine," he smiled, obviously lying to himself, but so adorably that she wanted to throw him against the wall and have her wicked way with him. Gorgeous sweetheart. "No matter what."
She almost believed him.
"I'm sorry," she told him tearfully.
"Hey!" Lucas pulled her into his embrace, "It's gonna be fine, sweetheart! I'll be there for you, with you. This isn't your fault."
"But you already have Peyton to-"
"No," he cut her off, "We don't even know if Peyton is carrying my child yet, Brooke. But you are and we aren't going to let this destroy us. A child is a happy thing, baby, and I just found out. Let's focus on all the bad stuff later, let me take you out."
Lucas had a way of everything bad disappear for her and Brooke was alarmed at how deeply she loved him. How could she survive if he changed his mind? If he was the same with Peyton as he was with her?
Brooke lifted her chin. She'd just have to fight for her man. Master Seductress wasn't a title given lightly.
"Peyton Sawyer?" the nurse asked. Brooke crushed Lucas's hand in hers.
"Yes?" Peyton choked.
"Your results are ready."
Peyton rose shakily to her feet and took the envelope from the nurse's hand. Unsteady hands ripped it open and she pored over the contents. She exhaled slowly and held out the results for Lucas. "Congrats, Lucas," she tried to smile and Brooke's heart dropped to the floor, "You're not the father."
Brooke collapsed back into her chair, shaking. Just her. She didn't have to share. Lucas was all hers. Angrily, she wiped away the tears that trailed down her cheeks. Stupid hormones. Honestly. Her eyes lifted to Lucas, who watched Peyton, an oddly regretful look on his face that stabbed through her soul. No. It wasn't fair.
The second she saw it, though, it was gone and he turned to her with a wide grin and pulled her out of the chair, laughing. She pushed his expression to the back of her mind and grinned back at him as he swung her around. Lucas Scott was all hers.
"Congratulations, Brooke," Peyton told her seriously.
"Thanks," Brooke smiled slightly, not envying Peyton the position of telling her ex-boyfriend she was now carrying his child. Particularly given that he'd already moved on to one of her sort-of friends.
"Well, I better go tell Nathan," Peyton sighed.
"You want me to drive you?" Lucas offered.
Brooke frowned, "You're telling Nathan now?"
"Is there a better time?" Peyton asked.
Lucas frowned at his girlfriend, "What's wrong with that, Brooke? No time like the present."
Only Brooke and Peyton knew Haley was pregnant too, so she couldn't just blurt out that maybe Peyton should talk to Haley before rushing to Nathan with the news.
"I don't want to waste time, waiting around and getting nervous, Brooke," Peyton's eyes begged her to understand and Brooke felt a little sick.
Peyton wanted to tell him first.
"Well, I brought my own car, so I guess I'll be going home," she muttered.
"Brooke-" Peyton's eyes begged her to understand.
"Do what you gotta do," Brooke shrugged and turned to Lucas, "See you later, lover," she whispered and nibbled on his earlobe. He shuddered delightfully and nodded. "Oh, do you happen to know what Haley's doing tonight?" she turned back to them, as though it was an afterthought.
Lucas shrugged and Peyton pursed her lips in annoyance.
"She said something about hanging out with Jake. You think something's going on there?" he winked.
Brooke choked and Peyton had a coughing fit. "Erm…you never know," Brooke shrugged.
"Lucas, let's go, I want to get this over with," Peyton muttered quickly, pulling him with her.
"OK," he nodded, giving Brooke a quick, hard kiss before he left the room behind her.
"Mmmm," Brooke sighed, pulling out her phone.
Jake. Jake. Jake…Bingo, she pushed send.
"Hello?"
"Jake, this is Brooke, is Haley there?"
"Yeah, she's right here."
"Hello?" Haley's voice came tentatively across the line.
"They got the results, Haley."
"And?" the girl barely breathed the question.
She'd forgotten, when they got the results that if she won, Haley lost. "It's Nathan's, Haley, I'm so sorry."
Silence.
"Haley?"
TBC (or something)