Chapter 17
*Month 8-Baby Fever*
"What is taking you so long?" Peyton asked fanning her face with her hand while waiting for Lucas to install the air conditioner.
"Don't worry I'm almost done your highness." He mocked.
"Oh shut up. You have no idea how hot it is." She complained.
"Well our problems are solved." Luke plugged in the air conditioner and cool air filled the room. Just as Lucas sat down to appreciate his work Karen and Keith came home.
"Lucas honey can you please go help your uncle unload the furniture." Karen called.
"Sure." He got up reluctantly. Peyton and Lucas had decided to use some of his baby furniture instead of buying it new. Karen had saved it all in storage in hope that someday she would get married and have another child. That day never came but she could never let go.
Over the past few weeks Lucas's collection of novels had been replaced by pregnancy books and parenting guides, his desk was in the attic until college began and in its place would be the baby's crib. By the end of the transition they had managed to fit a changing table and a rocking chair in the room as well.
"Can you believe this used to be my room?' Lucas flopped down on the bed after a long day's work.
"It still is." Peyton was confused.
"No this looks like a nursery to me." He laughed at the cramped in furniture. She looked around and began laughing.
"You're right. It's a nursery with our bed in the middle of it all."
"I know it's kind of crowded but it looks empty." Luke noticed the lack of toys.
*Haley's House*
"I still can't believe you turned down UCLA." Haley sat down on Nathan's lap.
"It's not a big deal. UCONN is a good school too and it's a lot closer to Princeton." He explained.
"Does your dad know yet?" She was concerned.
"I haven't told him but he probably knows." There was a silence. "Let's change the subject."
"I was thinking." She had the inquisitive look on her face.
"You tend to do that a lot." He joked.
"This is true but I thought it would be nice to throw Peyton a baby shower. What do you think?" Haley proposed.
"Isn't that supposed to be a girl thing?"
"Yeah but then it would just be Peyton and me." She pouted.
"All right. I'm in." Nathan agreed.
"Let's go shopping!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him out the door.
They stood in front of the baby section in Macy's, their heads spinning with all the choices.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Nathan's eyes were wide.
"Lucas told me that they were using his old furniture but they probably need a car seat or a baby carriage." Haley suggested.
"This one looks good." He held up a box. "It's one of those car seats that turn into a carrier and it has that twisted handle."
"Sounds good." She rushed over to the shelf with the stuffed animals. "Look at this. Isn't it cute?" She held up a pink rabbit. Nathan took it out of Haley's hand and put it back.
"It's cute...for a girl. What if it's a boy, you think Lucas wants his son playing with a pink plush toy?
"What about this?" She grabbed a tiger with the traditional orange and balck stripes. "Oh and it's soft too."
"That's more like it." He put it in the cart next to the car seat and they moved on to the clothes.
"Remember to pick out universal colors." Haley said before diving into the racks of baby jumpers. By the end of the spree their cart was an array of yellow, green and red.
The total came to $164.72 and Nathan took out his wallet to pay.
"No I just got paid, let me get this." Haley dug through her bag for her purse.
"No you work too hard to spend all your money at once."
"At least let me pay for part of it. I need to feel like some of it is really from me." She insisted.
"Okay, I'll pay the $100 and you can pay the $64.72." He agreed. They loaded up all of the bags into the trunk and stopped at the dollar store for decorations and wrapping paper
"Can you drop me off at Luke's house? I want to make sure that they'll be home tomorrow." Haley said.
"Make sure it's okay with Karen too." Nathan told her pulling into the driveway.
"I'll meet you at your house." She gave him a kiss and climbed out of the car.
"Did we do a little redecorating?" She commented on the baby furniture in Lucas's room.
"Yeah I saw this look in a magazine and thought it would be good for my room." Luke replied sarcastically.
"Haha, very funny." She sat down on the bed next to Peyton. "Why is it so cold in here?"
"That's what I said." Luke yelled with his head stuck through a sweatshirt.
"Are you kidding me, it's scorching in here." Peyton sat up and Haley gave her a crazy look.
"Anyway... Are you guys doing anything tomorrow?" She asked them.
"No, we never do anything." Peyton rolled her eyes.
"She's right but why do you ask?" Lucas had suspicion in his voice.
"Oh no reason." She changed the subject quickly. "Is your mom here?"
"No she's at the café. Why?" Lucas was starting to suspect something.
"Is a girl not allowed to ask questions?" Before they could answer Haley said "I got to go before I get frostbite." She heard Peyton mumble something as she walked out the door. Haley decided to take advantage of the beautiful July weather and walk back to Nathan's house.
*Nathan*
After dropping Haley off at his half-brother's house he went back home to shoot some hoops. About halfway through his third game or solo 'Horse' Dan pulled into the driveway. Nathan stopped and glared at his father.
"What are you doing here?" He asked Dan before making a shot.
"Not bad." He commented choosing to ignore his son's question. "Too bad you're wasting your talent at UCONN." Dan approached Nathan.
"I guess you heard." Nathan walked toward the bench.
"You're damn right I heard! What gives you the right to throw away everything I've worked for?" Dan yelled. "Is it that stupid girl?"
"Her name is Haley." Nathan shot back. "Besides this is my decision. I worked hard and this is what I want."
"I ruined my career in college and I won't let that happen to you." Dan was furious.
"I will make my own mistakes, on my own time, my own way." Nathan lost it. "Who do you think you are pushing me so hard that I had to take drugs them blaming it on me? You hated the way your dad treated you and you did the same thing to me. Mom kicked you out for a reason, so you would stay from here. Look at what basketball did to you, I'm not letting that happen to me." He threw the basketball at his father and ran into the house.
"You'll never be the man I am." Dan shouted after him.
Haley walked up the driveway ten minutes later and heard music blasting from Nathan's room. The front door was open so she let herself in. The music blared through the whole house. Haley recognized the song, Linkin Park's 'Numb'. She walked in and found Nathan sitting on his bed with his head in his hands looking quite distraught. He didn't notice Haley come in but when she called his name he immediately jumped up and turned the music off but the words still haunted him.
*Numb*
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless
Lost under the surface
I don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
[Caught in the undertow. Just caught in the undertow]
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly afraid to lose control
'Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you
[Caught in the undertow. Just caught in the undertow]
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
[Caught in the undertow. Just caught in the undertow]
Every second I waste is more than I can take
But I know I may end up failing too
But I know you were just like me
With someone disappointed in you
I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
~Linkin Park
"Nathan what happened?" Haley saw the distant look in his eyes.
"Nothing happened, I'm fine." His voice shook.
"I know something is wrong, just tell me." She insisted.
"My dad came by today." He looked away so she couldn't see the tears welling up in his eyes. "And he gave me a hard time about not going to UCLA and I blew up at him."
"Oh Nathan. I'm sorry."
"It's not that. Before he left he said I would never be the man he is. What if he's right?"
"You're already ten times the man he is." She told him.
"You're just saying that."
"No really I mean it. Look at how he treats your mom, you could never do that to me." All Nathan could do was hug her.
"I love you. I could never hurt you." The feeling in Nathan's voice was so intense it froze them in thought until Deb knocked on the door.
"I just wanted to know why you have all that baby stuff in the car. I saw it and brought it in for you." She said.
"Thanks mom, we're throwing a baby shower for Lucas and Peyton." Nathan told Deb.
"That's sweet of you." She said before leaving. They spent the rest of the time wrapping gifts for the next day's event.
*Month 8-Baby Fever*
"What is taking you so long?" Peyton asked fanning her face with her hand while waiting for Lucas to install the air conditioner.
"Don't worry I'm almost done your highness." He mocked.
"Oh shut up. You have no idea how hot it is." She complained.
"Well our problems are solved." Luke plugged in the air conditioner and cool air filled the room. Just as Lucas sat down to appreciate his work Karen and Keith came home.
"Lucas honey can you please go help your uncle unload the furniture." Karen called.
"Sure." He got up reluctantly. Peyton and Lucas had decided to use some of his baby furniture instead of buying it new. Karen had saved it all in storage in hope that someday she would get married and have another child. That day never came but she could never let go.
Over the past few weeks Lucas's collection of novels had been replaced by pregnancy books and parenting guides, his desk was in the attic until college began and in its place would be the baby's crib. By the end of the transition they had managed to fit a changing table and a rocking chair in the room as well.
"Can you believe this used to be my room?' Lucas flopped down on the bed after a long day's work.
"It still is." Peyton was confused.
"No this looks like a nursery to me." He laughed at the cramped in furniture. She looked around and began laughing.
"You're right. It's a nursery with our bed in the middle of it all."
"I know it's kind of crowded but it looks empty." Luke noticed the lack of toys.
*Haley's House*
"I still can't believe you turned down UCLA." Haley sat down on Nathan's lap.
"It's not a big deal. UCONN is a good school too and it's a lot closer to Princeton." He explained.
"Does your dad know yet?" She was concerned.
"I haven't told him but he probably knows." There was a silence. "Let's change the subject."
"I was thinking." She had the inquisitive look on her face.
"You tend to do that a lot." He joked.
"This is true but I thought it would be nice to throw Peyton a baby shower. What do you think?" Haley proposed.
"Isn't that supposed to be a girl thing?"
"Yeah but then it would just be Peyton and me." She pouted.
"All right. I'm in." Nathan agreed.
"Let's go shopping!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him out the door.
They stood in front of the baby section in Macy's, their heads spinning with all the choices.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Nathan's eyes were wide.
"Lucas told me that they were using his old furniture but they probably need a car seat or a baby carriage." Haley suggested.
"This one looks good." He held up a box. "It's one of those car seats that turn into a carrier and it has that twisted handle."
"Sounds good." She rushed over to the shelf with the stuffed animals. "Look at this. Isn't it cute?" She held up a pink rabbit. Nathan took it out of Haley's hand and put it back.
"It's cute...for a girl. What if it's a boy, you think Lucas wants his son playing with a pink plush toy?
"What about this?" She grabbed a tiger with the traditional orange and balck stripes. "Oh and it's soft too."
"That's more like it." He put it in the cart next to the car seat and they moved on to the clothes.
"Remember to pick out universal colors." Haley said before diving into the racks of baby jumpers. By the end of the spree their cart was an array of yellow, green and red.
The total came to $164.72 and Nathan took out his wallet to pay.
"No I just got paid, let me get this." Haley dug through her bag for her purse.
"No you work too hard to spend all your money at once."
"At least let me pay for part of it. I need to feel like some of it is really from me." She insisted.
"Okay, I'll pay the $100 and you can pay the $64.72." He agreed. They loaded up all of the bags into the trunk and stopped at the dollar store for decorations and wrapping paper
"Can you drop me off at Luke's house? I want to make sure that they'll be home tomorrow." Haley said.
"Make sure it's okay with Karen too." Nathan told her pulling into the driveway.
"I'll meet you at your house." She gave him a kiss and climbed out of the car.
"Did we do a little redecorating?" She commented on the baby furniture in Lucas's room.
"Yeah I saw this look in a magazine and thought it would be good for my room." Luke replied sarcastically.
"Haha, very funny." She sat down on the bed next to Peyton. "Why is it so cold in here?"
"That's what I said." Luke yelled with his head stuck through a sweatshirt.
"Are you kidding me, it's scorching in here." Peyton sat up and Haley gave her a crazy look.
"Anyway... Are you guys doing anything tomorrow?" She asked them.
"No, we never do anything." Peyton rolled her eyes.
"She's right but why do you ask?" Lucas had suspicion in his voice.
"Oh no reason." She changed the subject quickly. "Is your mom here?"
"No she's at the café. Why?" Lucas was starting to suspect something.
"Is a girl not allowed to ask questions?" Before they could answer Haley said "I got to go before I get frostbite." She heard Peyton mumble something as she walked out the door. Haley decided to take advantage of the beautiful July weather and walk back to Nathan's house.
*Nathan*
After dropping Haley off at his half-brother's house he went back home to shoot some hoops. About halfway through his third game or solo 'Horse' Dan pulled into the driveway. Nathan stopped and glared at his father.
"What are you doing here?" He asked Dan before making a shot.
"Not bad." He commented choosing to ignore his son's question. "Too bad you're wasting your talent at UCONN." Dan approached Nathan.
"I guess you heard." Nathan walked toward the bench.
"You're damn right I heard! What gives you the right to throw away everything I've worked for?" Dan yelled. "Is it that stupid girl?"
"Her name is Haley." Nathan shot back. "Besides this is my decision. I worked hard and this is what I want."
"I ruined my career in college and I won't let that happen to you." Dan was furious.
"I will make my own mistakes, on my own time, my own way." Nathan lost it. "Who do you think you are pushing me so hard that I had to take drugs them blaming it on me? You hated the way your dad treated you and you did the same thing to me. Mom kicked you out for a reason, so you would stay from here. Look at what basketball did to you, I'm not letting that happen to me." He threw the basketball at his father and ran into the house.
"You'll never be the man I am." Dan shouted after him.
Haley walked up the driveway ten minutes later and heard music blasting from Nathan's room. The front door was open so she let herself in. The music blared through the whole house. Haley recognized the song, Linkin Park's 'Numb'. She walked in and found Nathan sitting on his bed with his head in his hands looking quite distraught. He didn't notice Haley come in but when she called his name he immediately jumped up and turned the music off but the words still haunted him.
*Numb*
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless
Lost under the surface
I don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
[Caught in the undertow. Just caught in the undertow]
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly afraid to lose control
'Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you
[Caught in the undertow. Just caught in the undertow]
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
[Caught in the undertow. Just caught in the undertow]
Every second I waste is more than I can take
But I know I may end up failing too
But I know you were just like me
With someone disappointed in you
I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
~Linkin Park
"Nathan what happened?" Haley saw the distant look in his eyes.
"Nothing happened, I'm fine." His voice shook.
"I know something is wrong, just tell me." She insisted.
"My dad came by today." He looked away so she couldn't see the tears welling up in his eyes. "And he gave me a hard time about not going to UCLA and I blew up at him."
"Oh Nathan. I'm sorry."
"It's not that. Before he left he said I would never be the man he is. What if he's right?"
"You're already ten times the man he is." She told him.
"You're just saying that."
"No really I mean it. Look at how he treats your mom, you could never do that to me." All Nathan could do was hug her.
"I love you. I could never hurt you." The feeling in Nathan's voice was so intense it froze them in thought until Deb knocked on the door.
"I just wanted to know why you have all that baby stuff in the car. I saw it and brought it in for you." She said.
"Thanks mom, we're throwing a baby shower for Lucas and Peyton." Nathan told Deb.
"That's sweet of you." She said before leaving. They spent the rest of the time wrapping gifts for the next day's event.