Chapter 16
*Month 7-Graduation*
"This robe makes me look fat." Peyton was trying desperately to flatten the graduation gown over her stomach.
"You're pregnant, what do you expect?" Lucas asked walking over to the mirror to fix his tie.
"No thanks to you. This baby is half yours so maybe you should have half my stomach."
"No thanks I have a problem of my own." He pointed to the tie that was in a massive knot around his neck.
"Lucas what are you doing?" Karen walked in and reacted to the tie.
"I tried." He threw his hands in the air. Karen came over and did it for him.
"One of these days I'm going to have to teach Peyton how to do this for you."
"Do what for Lucas?" Peyton turned when she heard her name.
"I didn't even see you over there. You look lovely." Karen complimented. If it had been anyone else Peyton would have called them a liar but instead she took it gratefully. "Okay it's picture time. Lucas get your robe on and sit next to Peyton." Karen instructed. After they had taken several pictures Haley and Nathan walked in.
"Good you're just in time for pictures." Karen motioned for them to pose with their friends. Haley ran over to the couple eagerly and Nathan followed reluctantly.
"What time are we supposed to be there?" Peyton asked.
"Twelve o'clock, why?" Haley answered.
"It's 11:45 now." Lucas added.
"Then I guess we should go." Nathan was anxious to leave. They said good-bye to Karen and left for graduation. The parking lot was already beginning to fill up even though only the students were supposed to come early. The group parked and headed to the mass of navy gowns. A shiver ran down Lucas's back when the principal announced that that ceremony was beginning. He saw his mom and uncle take a seat next to Deb in the back of the auditorium and smiled.
Luckily the seats were arranged alphabetically because Scott came right after Sawyer. The downside was that he had to sit next to Nathan. Haley was sitting in the front with the principal because she had to give her Valedictorian speech. Graduation had commenced and the principal gave his speech about how successful all of the students would be, the same thing he said every year. When he was done he introduced Haley. The crowd stood up and cheered knowing how hard she had truly worked for this title. In the congregation Lucas even saw Brooke clapping although envy still ran through her veins. Never had she been able to comprehend how Haley had gotten Nathan. An athlete like him did not belong with the Valedictorian; he belonged with a cheerleader, someone like Brooke. Haley delivered a brilliant speech, more insightful than the principal himself and the presentation of the diplomas began.
It took about ten minutes for the principal to reach the last names starting with S.
"Peyton Sawyer." The principal called from his podium. She got up slowly and the whispers buzzed in the crowd. For the last few months she had managed to avoid bringing attention to herself but now the spotlight was on Peyton and her pregnancy. Not even the principal could look her in the eye. 'You're stronger than this. Don't let them get to you.' She told herself fighting back tears. Lucas came down after her beaming, diploma in hand. They took their seats and Lucas wiped an escaping tear from Peyton's cheek.
Nathan glanced over and for a moment the sight of Lucas comforting Peyton evoked emotion. It was scary for him to feel compassion for Lucas and he looked away. Haley caught his eye on the other side of the auditorium. He winked at her and she felt like she was on top of the world.
At the end of the ceremony all the proud parents rushed to their children who were busy switching the tassel from one side of their caps to the other. Karen came over and embraced Lucas. Deb was congratulating Nathan who was scanning the crowd for Dan. As much as he despised the pressure that his father put on him, Nathan still longed for his approval. Peyton was searching the sea of people for her father. Like always he hadn't shown up and she sought refuge in Lucas's arms.
Normally the students would gravitate towards the Scott beach house but now that Dan had been residing there the massed found a new party spot. The group however did not attend the big party. Instead they had a private party at Karen's Café. Deb and Karen had decorated the place with school colored streamers and a huge sign reading Congratulations 'Class of 2004' hung over the counter. They partied hard on cookies and smoothies and by the end of the party all of them were exhausted.
As soon as Lucas and Peyton got home she burst into tears. He was totally caught off guard but he continued to comfort her.
"I'm sorry." She sniffled. "This should be a happy day."
"You can tell me what's wrong." He kissed her forehead.
"It's just that I thought this day would be the happiest of my life but when the people started whispering all the pain came back. I thought they could just get past the fact that I'm having a baby but I guess not. And to top it all off my dad didn't even bother to show up." Peyton explained.
""If it makes you feel any better my father didn't bother to show up for my life."
"We have such screwed up families don't we?" She laughed.
"Yeah and that's why we are making this work."
*Nathan's Room*
Nathan and Haley had gotten out the stash of alcohol and were ready to do some real celebrating when the phone rang.
"Hello?" Nathan answered. "Yes...Oh that's good...I haven't made any decisions yet...I understand. I'll get back to you." He hung up.
"Who was that?" Haley popped the cork on the vodka bottle.
"I got accepted to UCLA. They need to know if I'm going by the end of the week." He said solemnly.
"So what are we gonna do?" Haley looked into his eyes.
"I don't know."
*Month 7-Graduation*
"This robe makes me look fat." Peyton was trying desperately to flatten the graduation gown over her stomach.
"You're pregnant, what do you expect?" Lucas asked walking over to the mirror to fix his tie.
"No thanks to you. This baby is half yours so maybe you should have half my stomach."
"No thanks I have a problem of my own." He pointed to the tie that was in a massive knot around his neck.
"Lucas what are you doing?" Karen walked in and reacted to the tie.
"I tried." He threw his hands in the air. Karen came over and did it for him.
"One of these days I'm going to have to teach Peyton how to do this for you."
"Do what for Lucas?" Peyton turned when she heard her name.
"I didn't even see you over there. You look lovely." Karen complimented. If it had been anyone else Peyton would have called them a liar but instead she took it gratefully. "Okay it's picture time. Lucas get your robe on and sit next to Peyton." Karen instructed. After they had taken several pictures Haley and Nathan walked in.
"Good you're just in time for pictures." Karen motioned for them to pose with their friends. Haley ran over to the couple eagerly and Nathan followed reluctantly.
"What time are we supposed to be there?" Peyton asked.
"Twelve o'clock, why?" Haley answered.
"It's 11:45 now." Lucas added.
"Then I guess we should go." Nathan was anxious to leave. They said good-bye to Karen and left for graduation. The parking lot was already beginning to fill up even though only the students were supposed to come early. The group parked and headed to the mass of navy gowns. A shiver ran down Lucas's back when the principal announced that that ceremony was beginning. He saw his mom and uncle take a seat next to Deb in the back of the auditorium and smiled.
Luckily the seats were arranged alphabetically because Scott came right after Sawyer. The downside was that he had to sit next to Nathan. Haley was sitting in the front with the principal because she had to give her Valedictorian speech. Graduation had commenced and the principal gave his speech about how successful all of the students would be, the same thing he said every year. When he was done he introduced Haley. The crowd stood up and cheered knowing how hard she had truly worked for this title. In the congregation Lucas even saw Brooke clapping although envy still ran through her veins. Never had she been able to comprehend how Haley had gotten Nathan. An athlete like him did not belong with the Valedictorian; he belonged with a cheerleader, someone like Brooke. Haley delivered a brilliant speech, more insightful than the principal himself and the presentation of the diplomas began.
It took about ten minutes for the principal to reach the last names starting with S.
"Peyton Sawyer." The principal called from his podium. She got up slowly and the whispers buzzed in the crowd. For the last few months she had managed to avoid bringing attention to herself but now the spotlight was on Peyton and her pregnancy. Not even the principal could look her in the eye. 'You're stronger than this. Don't let them get to you.' She told herself fighting back tears. Lucas came down after her beaming, diploma in hand. They took their seats and Lucas wiped an escaping tear from Peyton's cheek.
Nathan glanced over and for a moment the sight of Lucas comforting Peyton evoked emotion. It was scary for him to feel compassion for Lucas and he looked away. Haley caught his eye on the other side of the auditorium. He winked at her and she felt like she was on top of the world.
At the end of the ceremony all the proud parents rushed to their children who were busy switching the tassel from one side of their caps to the other. Karen came over and embraced Lucas. Deb was congratulating Nathan who was scanning the crowd for Dan. As much as he despised the pressure that his father put on him, Nathan still longed for his approval. Peyton was searching the sea of people for her father. Like always he hadn't shown up and she sought refuge in Lucas's arms.
Normally the students would gravitate towards the Scott beach house but now that Dan had been residing there the massed found a new party spot. The group however did not attend the big party. Instead they had a private party at Karen's Café. Deb and Karen had decorated the place with school colored streamers and a huge sign reading Congratulations 'Class of 2004' hung over the counter. They partied hard on cookies and smoothies and by the end of the party all of them were exhausted.
As soon as Lucas and Peyton got home she burst into tears. He was totally caught off guard but he continued to comfort her.
"I'm sorry." She sniffled. "This should be a happy day."
"You can tell me what's wrong." He kissed her forehead.
"It's just that I thought this day would be the happiest of my life but when the people started whispering all the pain came back. I thought they could just get past the fact that I'm having a baby but I guess not. And to top it all off my dad didn't even bother to show up." Peyton explained.
""If it makes you feel any better my father didn't bother to show up for my life."
"We have such screwed up families don't we?" She laughed.
"Yeah and that's why we are making this work."
*Nathan's Room*
Nathan and Haley had gotten out the stash of alcohol and were ready to do some real celebrating when the phone rang.
"Hello?" Nathan answered. "Yes...Oh that's good...I haven't made any decisions yet...I understand. I'll get back to you." He hung up.
"Who was that?" Haley popped the cork on the vodka bottle.
"I got accepted to UCLA. They need to know if I'm going by the end of the week." He said solemnly.
"So what are we gonna do?" Haley looked into his eyes.
"I don't know."