Chapter 24

He left her. That's all that kept running through Haley's had as she walked into her empty apartment. He left her. The only thing she felt was regret. She should ave told Nathan as soon as she found out maybe tings would have been different. Maybe nathan wouldn't have just walked out on her. Or maybe he still would have walked out on her. Maybe Nathan wasn't the guy that she thought he was. Maybe he was just like Lucas. A jerk. The thought that that could be true brought tears to Haley's eyes. She couldn't believe that. Nathan wasn't a jerk, he was just hurt and who could blame him. She basically made all of his decisions for him regarding his life by not telling him about the baby.

Haley quickly ran to her room and threw herself on the bed sobbing uncontrollably. The sound of Haley's whimpering quickly brought Max to her side. He slowly approached the bed and leaned his chin on the side of it silently whimpering with Haley. Max could see that Haley was hurting and the thought of Haley being sad made him sad as well.

Haley could hear the soft cries of her dog next her and so she looekd up to see him sitting beside her just staring at her. The concern of her dog made her smile. If she could count on anyone it was her dog for emotional support. He was always there to listen to her when she needed to talk.

"Well Max, it looks like I made a mess of my life. I told Nathan about the baby today or mor elike Brooke told him. He didn't take it too well."

Haley patted Max's head.

"It looks like it's just going to be you and me raising this kid." Haley's tears began to flow freely again, "i really wish it was nathan and me raising him/her though and well you of course. I don't know what I was thinking Max. I mean who am I to play God. I wish I could take it all back, I wish Nathan was here with me and I wish we could all be a family. Why can't I have that Max?"

Max tilted his head.

"Yah I know, you're a dog, you don't know. Oh god when did my life get so pathetic that I look for my dog to give me answers to life questions." Haley fell back on her bed and began to sob again completely oblivious to Max being in the room.

Max was sad for his owner. There had to be something he could do and he was going to do it. So he had a plan and that's when Max slipped out of Haley's apartment and quickly made his way towards the only place that could make Haley smile again.

"So you just left?" Jake said

"Yah, well what was I suppose to do. She kind fo dropped something huge on me. Actually let me correct myself, Brooke dropped something huge on me, Haley didn't even have the decency to tell me in the first place. When do you think she was acually goign to fill me in when the baby was born, when it goes to college, or how bout when he/she gets married?"

"Well you could have atleast talked to her and find out why she didn't tell you."

"And hear more of her lies, I don't think so."

"Ok now wait a minute Nathan, I wasn't going to get into this but considering you insist on being a pain in the ass it seems as though I'm going to have to step in."

"What is that you can say that I don't already know?"

"How about the fact that Haley didn't tell you because she didn't want to ruin your life. She was afraid that if you knew about the baby that you would give up that job in California."

Nathan stood silent.

"Yah taht's what I thought."

"She still should have told me."

"I'm not saying that she shouldn't have, all I am saying is that Haley put you before herself. She could have easily told you tat she was pregnant and begged you to stay in New York and you know what...you would have done it. Haley didn't want that however. She wanted you to take that job and do all things that you dreamed of.."

"She was what I dreamed of." Nathan said just above a whisper.

"Well maybe you should have told her that earlier."

"I'm going to go get some fresh air."

"Good idea."

Nathan walked out of the house and slowly walked down the steps. When he go to the last step he sat down and began to think about today's events. Looking back he didn't uunderstand why acted the wasy he had acted. He shouldn't have just left Haley. He should have talked to her and let her explain why she kept their baby from him. Maybe instead of being apart right now they would be together holding each other thinking about names for the baby, deciding where to live and how to decorate the nursary or maybe even thinking about getting married. Bu that wasn't the case. They were apart. He wouldn't blame Haley if she never wanted to talk to him again. Nathan let out a sigh and placed his head in his hands. "What have I done?" He mumbled to himself.

"BARK BARK"

Nathan lifted his head, "Max, what are you doing here?"

"GRRRR GRRRR"

"Oh whoa boy, I can see you're not too happy with me right now."

Max gritted his teeth and really began to show his anger.

"Ok well I can't believe I am going to say this to a dog, but will you let me explain?"

Max began to calm down but still kept his distance and angry facade.

"Ok, I realize I didn't handle things too well with Haley this afternoon and I'm sure she has probably spilled her guts out to you but you have to understand Max, I know I screwed up."

Max crept closer.

"I shouldn't have left the way I did, it's just that I was confused as to why she would have kept something so big from me."

A little closer.

"I want to make things right with her, I'm just not sure if she wants me after today. I love her max. i really do."

Max crept up beside Nathan and placed his chin on his lap.

"Ok good so we're still friends." Nathan began to pat Max's head, "What am I gonna do Max?"

With Max quickly lifted his head and began to tug on Nathan's pants. "Max what are you doing, I thought we were cool."

Max continued to pull on Nathan then let go and began running in the direction of Haley's apartment. Half way down the street Max turned around to see if Nathan was following.

"Yah I get it." Nathan said and began to follow Max.

Max stayed in the middle of the street waiting for Nathan to catch up. As Nathan was walking about to Max he began to talk, "You know Max, you have to be the most interesting dog that I know. I can honestly say that I have never been threatened by...OH NO!!! MAX MOVE OUT OF THE STREET!!!!!"