Oops, Chapter Four

By Scarlet

A/N:  I'm really mad at Lucas on the show right now, so I take no responsibility for whatever I do to him.  (Could be anything, I write the author's notes before I write the chapter)

A/N 2:  If you are waiting for an update on another story, which will remain nameless, I'm sorry, I just have to get this one out of the way first, it has been bugging me constantly.

Month Four

Peyton

            "Haley, come on, it'll be fun, please?"

          "If you wanted to go to games, why did you quit cheerleading?"  Haley rolled her eyes.

          "Mmmm…cause I hate it and I have more important things to worry about?"  Peyton gestured toward her flat stomach.

          "Well, you can go to cheer on Brooke as she cheers for Lucas, but I really don't want to see Nathan."

          "You can't avoid him forever, Haley, you have to tell him."

          "It's not as easy for me-"

          "You think it was easy for me?" Peyton's eyes widened, "Telling your ex-boyfriend you're going to have his baby, when you know he has feelings for another girl is not the most ideal situation to be in.  And I know I said this before, but I'm sorry I didn't give you a heads up, I was just scared and I panicked."

          "I know," Haley shook her head, "It's okay, I just…I just can't be in like, Nathan Scott's little harem.  It just feels so dirty-"

          "Hey, it's not dirty," Peyton shook her head, "I had something with him and you had something with him.  They are both separate, but they were both real, we don't have to hang our heads like this is some dirty little secret.  We had sex.  It's pretty common."

          "I just hate being one of many," Haley sighed.

          "But you can't deny him the right to know about his child."

          "I'll tell him…I will.  But tomorrow.  After the finals.  Or playoffs.  What do they call this thing?"

          "Championships," Peyton grinned, "Or so I hear.  You know you want to go…"

          "Argh!" Haley screamed into her pillow, "Fine.  But I'm not wearing face paint."

          "Please," Peyton rolled her eyes, "It's 2004.  We wear body paint."

Haley

          North Carolina State Championships.  That mythical thing that Lucas and Nathan killed themselves to get to, year after year.  It was their last chance.

          Dan was by the sidelines as always, giving Nathan last minute tips he didn't need. 

          "He's gonna flip," Haley murmured to Peyton, who took her eyes off Lucas for a moment to focus his brother.

          She chuckled, "Definitely."

          Haley shook her head, he couldn't play like this.  "Nathan!" she called out impulsively.

          His eyes found her immediately and her heart stopped as they pierced through her.  What did she say?  She had no plan, she just wanted him to relax and not kill anyone.

          "Have fun!" she called lamely, nearly groaning.

          Nathan smiled and she smiled back at him like the pathetic fool she was.

          And he played the best game of his life. 

          Her voice was hoarse from screaming.  She was proud of him.  Them.  Everyone on the team.  But she hadn't really watched anyone but Nathan.

          She suspected Luke must have played well, since all his teammates seemed to be thumping him on the back, slapping his ass and the like…but it could just be congratulations for the full on grope session he was having with Brooke, it wasn't completely clear.

          "Haley!"

She knew it was him and flashed him a brilliant smile.  He'd just won the State Championships and she didn't have the heart not to congratulate him.  "Congratul-oomph-"

He crushed her into a kiss that wouldn't let up.  If she responded by digging her fingers through his hair and grinding herself against him…well, it had been a long time, a girl had to take advantage.  Now, how her leg wound itself around his waist, that was just a mystery.

          "Go, Tutorgirl!"  Brooke's voice broke though Haley's fun and she ignored it in annoyance.

          Nathan broke away and looked around self consciously.  "Sorry," he mumbled.

          "Uhh, no, that's okay, just umm…congratulations," she coughed, lowering her leg to the ground as subtly as possible.

          "Right, thanks," he removed his hands from what Haley reasoned were strategic balancing locations, since she'd only been on one leg.  Ever thoughtful, that Nathan Scott.

          "Nice," Tim chuckled beside Nathan, giving him one of those congratulatory 'dude, you almost screwed that chick on the basketball court' pats.

          Haley raised an eyebrow in Tim's direction and he quickly scurried away.

          "Nathan-"

          He didn't appear to be paying attention to her, so she snapped her fingers in front of her chest.

          "I'm up here, Nate."

          He shook off his daze and looked into her eyes.  She almost laughed at his expression.  Poor guy.  It wasn't his fault she'd grown more than a cup size.  Actually, it was, she frowned.  And that was exactly what they needed to talk about.

"Can we get together sometime, Nathan?" she asked softly, "We need to talk."

          "Yeah," he nodded quickly, "How about now?"

 Haley chuckled, "Just to talk."

"Sure," he agreed, "Let's go."

"You have to celebrate," she shook her head, "How about tomorrow?  By the

docks?"

"Yeah, I need to talk to you too."

"See you then," she smiled, looking around for Lucas.  Hopefully he wouldn't do that thing where he asked about specific plays…she hadn't a clue.

Brooke

          "He's talking to Peyton," Brooke smiled at Haley.

          "How did you-"

          "You always look for Lucas differently than everyone else," Brooke grinned, "No attempt to be subtle, you just look around and march on over."

          "Well, it's Luke," Haley rolled her eyes.

          "Yeah," Brooke sighed.

          "So how are you doing with the whole Peyton thing?"

          "What Peyton thing?" Brooke looked at her, suddenly panicked.  Was there something she didn't know?

          "Oh—nothing, just, you know, their history and stuff."

          "Don't scare me like that," Brooke laughed shakily, "It's hard.  I know he had feelings for her for a really long time, but he's mine and he's gonna stay that way," she grinned. 

          "He looks at you differently, you know."

          "Is that good or bad?"

          Haley smiled, "Well, he looks happy, what do you think?"

          "I think I want to go jump him right now," Brooke smirked.

          "Suit yourself," Haley made a face.

          "Oh, I always do.  So you finally telling Nathan tomorrow?"

          "Yeah," Haley sighed, "It's been too long, he needs to know."

          "Preaching to Hell's Angel, baby."

          "You want me to distract Lucas while you get Peyton out of the way?" Haley grinned.

          "Now you're starting to think like me," Brooke grinned, "Now what do you mean by 'out of the way.'"

          "Let's just say I wouldn't ask questions if she didn't come back."

          "Yeah," Brooke sighed, "Life would be so easy if I didn't love the bitch."

          "You'd be amazed how many situations that applies to."

          Brooke chuckled, "Peyton!  Move your ass over here.  BFF time," she called.

          "It's what time?" Lucas came over with Peyton.

          "Best Friends Forever, everyone knows that," Haley rolled her eyes, "So you're with me, lets go."

          "Did you actually pay attention this time, Hales?"

          Brooke chuckled as the pair walked away.

          "Are you ever jealous?"  Peyton gestured at Haley.

          "Every day," Brooke shrugged, "Are you?"

          "It would be nice to be loved that much," Peyton shrugged.

          "Peyton, I have to ask you something."

          "I'm not after Lucas, Brooke.  We're totally over."

          Brooke smiled, "Well, good, but that wasn't my question."

          "Oh…shoot."

          "Are you sure it's Nathan's baby?" Brooke lowered her voice, looking around furtively for eavesdroppers.

          Peyton sighed, "I wish it wasn't, but I didn't sleep with anyone else."

          "You'd tell me if you did."

          "Of course!  Do you think I want to be attached to Nathan for the rest of my life?  Believe me, I'd rather it be—Whitey's!"

          Brooke made a face.

          "Wait, scratch that, but you get the idea."

          Brooke held her stomach, "You bitch.  You know I have morning sickness."

***

Lucas

          "So what's the deal with you and Peyton?" Haley asked bluntly as they walked into the café.

          "She's my girlfriend's best friend and a former fling.  All I know is that things are weird."

          "Are you over her?"

          "I think so.  Yeah.  Definitely," he nodded.  "I'm having this baby with Brooke, I've moved on.  She's amazing," he smiled softly.

          "Don't screw it up, Lucas, she really cares about you."

          "I know and I won't."

          "I'm serious.  She seems like this invincible goddess, but she has a really soft heart."

          "Haley, that's what I love about her.  Trust me."

          "You better not let us down, Luke.  Picture a normal woman's fury.  Then picture her amped on estrogen.  It's not pretty."

          "I'll…consider myself warned," he chuckled.

          Haley frowned, "You're not taking me seriously.  You should."

          He put a hand solemnly over his heart, "I am.  I promise."

          "Better," Haley nodded.  "Don't you have a party to go to or something?"

          "Official one's next week, they're just drinking at Nathan's Beach House tonight, I'm sure.  You wanna come?"

          "Hah…no, I'm good.  Have to get up my courage to tell Nathan tomorrow."

          "Ohh," Lucas perked up, "Can I beat on him after that?"

          "I guess that depends on his reaction," Haley smirked.

          "Great," Lucas grinned.

          "Don't look so excited for him to break my heart," she rolled her eyes.

          "See, I think you're looking at this the wrong way," Lucas suggested, "It's a win win situation.  Either he is good…and then you're good…or if he isn't, then I can beat him into the ground."

          "And how is that win-win for me?"

          "Oh, Hales, we need to work on your feelings of vengeance.  Just give it time."

          "Well, that's one thing I have."

          "You know what you're going to do about school yet?"

          Haley shrugged, "I can get my acceptance deferred for a semester or a year.  I'm not sure which one yet.  I mean, I want to go to school, but no one looks back and says, 'Man, I wish I hadn't spent all that time with my kid, what was I thinking?'" she chuckled.

          "You ever think about talking to my mom about it?"

          "I did…think about it, that is, but I didn't know how you would feel since all of our situations are tied up together and I just don't feel like I can talk about one without the rest of it."

          "Good news, for you, then!  I was gonna talk to my mom about it tomorrow.  I had this whole list of stressful things.  Now that basketball's out of the way, telling my mom is next."

          "Eeek, good luck with that."

          "And then it's her parents."

          "Ohh…Nevermind, good luck with that.  Karen'll be a breeze."

          "Thanks," Lucas snorted, "I feel better now."

          "Well, I have to go to bed," Haley grumbled.

          "Yeah, Brooke gets tired really early too."

          "Not fair," she yawned, "I – could – stay  - late – fore."

          "Ohhhkay.  Goodnight, Hales."

          "'Night, Luke," she mumbled, her eyes drooping.

          He carried her home.

***

Nathan

          Haley was coming.  He got to see Haley.  They made out right on the basketball court.  In front of everybody.  He got to see Haley!  She wasn't ignoring him.  She was there to cheer for him, she cared about him still.  They were going to talk.  He got to see Haley!

          And…got to tell her he knocked up Peyton.  That'd just be marvelous.  Unless she already knew.  Peyton wouldn't just…tell her…would she?

          Nathan knew Haley liked him, he wasn't a complete dumbass.  Women didn't just go around sleeping with men they felt nothing for…well, Haley didn't, anyway.  Maybe she missed him…  He smiled as he recalled their kiss.  Yeah, she definitely missed him.  But the fear he'd had ever since he found out about Peyton was that Haley would finally give in and admit that they should be together and then freak when she found out about the baby.  It would be understandable.  If he found out she was going to have…Lucas's baby, he wouldn't be too happy.

          Wincing, Nathan tried to think of something else.  Why did he torture himself with these images?

          His dad was happy with him for the first time in…years.  Couldn't wait to destroy that with the wrecking ball known Peyton and the relationship that should have ended years ago.

          "Whoa, Nathan, any more happy thoughts, you'll be floating off to Never land," Haley sat down across from him.

          She was there!

          "Hey!" he grinned at her.

          "Wow," she blinked, "Nice mood swing."

          "Thanks, I like your mittens."

          "They were sock puppets back in the day."

          "So I see," he smiled. 

          "Look, Nathan, I'm sorry I've sorta been avoiding you…but I really have to tell you something-"

          "Wait, wait," Nathan took her hand quickly and she didn't pull away, "I just want to be honest with you about something before you say anything."

          "Oh…umm…what?"

          "Peyton's pregnant."

          She blinked.

          "With my baby," he rushed on, taking her continued consciousness as a good sign. 

          "Well…how do you feel about that?"

          "Kinda trapped," he admitted, "I had this whole future planned," with you he left off the end.

          "Yeah," Haley mumbled, "But Peyton did too."

          "I know, it sucks for both of us, but I'm not gonna just be like my dad and move on to some other girl and desert her.  It's just…this ties us together for the rest of our lives and since that wasn't my choice, it's hard not to resent it at least a little.  The situation, not Peyton," he corrected hastily.  It felt so good just to talk to her again.  "Haley, I can't tell you how good it feels just talking to you."

          "Tutor shrink combo, at your service," she shrugged.

          "Soo…what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

          "Oh, uhh, nothing, never mind," she coughed, "So…how'd your dad react?"

TBC