Chapter Six

"So they actually took it well?" I said in surprise.

"Yeah. Half of them," said Haley wryly, dubiously examining a pair of discount maternity pants.

"Dan..?"

"Got his lights punched out by Nathan after calling me a knocked up slut," she said easily.

"Go Nate," I said in surprise.

"Yeah. He was defending my honour-it was sweet, in a weird father punching way. Hey, can you see me actually wearing these?" she asked in disgust, holding up a pair of maternity briefs over her designer shirt. I wrinkled my nose.

"God, you're going to be so fat."

"I know. But I'm starting to kind of look forward to it, you know? I mean we both love it so much already-Nathan talks to it sometimes," she said.

"What?"

"Oh, you know. 'Hi Hales, hey Sprout, or something," she said, giggling.

"Sprout?" I asked in surprise.

"Oh, our name for it. But Deb took it great-she asked about our checkup and what our plans are and stuff," she continued.

"I still can't believe you're moving," I said sadly.

"Get this-we're not. Nathan got his boss to reconsider and we're staying!" she said excitedly. I hopped an unPeytonesque hop.

"That's so great! Oh, I'm going to have a little niece! Or nephew! Almost!" I said excitedly, picking up a semi passable shirt and adding it to the pile.

"I know. I'm going to be a mom. And Nathan's going to be a Dad-it's so surreal. I feel like I should tell Brooke, but I'd rather tell her in person," said Haley.

"Haley, by the next time we see her you'll be over five months in. You're not gonna need to tell you, you're stomach's going to tell itself," I said. "And Luke? He's supposed to be your best friend!"

"He is! Such a good friend that I need to do it in person!"

"What about your parents?" I asked.

"Oh, I told them," she said easily. "And the family, except for Taylor."

"Oh right, I heard she went AWOL," I said.

"Yeah, but she'll show up," said Haley confidently.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, after all it is Tree Hill," she said. It was Tree Hill-our past would always come back to haunt us. Relationships never broke up without reunions, however brief. Friends never disappear without reappearances. Enemies you'd hoped to have shaken off always come back to haunt you.

"So how is it with you and Jake?" she asked.

"Good. It was a bit awkward when Dad was around but we're fine now-he's still trying to find a better job, I'm preparing to go to school, Jenny's good, we're trying to find a daycare. I'm still a little sick, but it comes and goes," I said easily. If she shot me an odd look, I didn't notice.

"Hey, let's go in here," she said, indicating a lingerie shop. I shook my head.

"Hales, don't torture yourself."

"No, I want to. It's only another two months that I'll be able to wear things like this so I may as well live it up," she said, holding a black camisole up to herself. I grinned and snatched a red bra down from the rack.

"So what are you going to do?" I asked as we exited the store.

"Right now?"

"No, in the future. Like school, work?" I asked.

"I made a lot of money, I think enough to live on, but I think I'm going to work-after Sprout is born, when we can hire someone, I might go to teacher's college. Nathan might try to get a scholarship into a good school, he's already been offered a few. What about you guys?"

"I don't know anymore. I've pretty much decided to actually go to Duke but I don't really want to, but Thud doesn't go for me anymore because my pictures aren't depressing enough. But I make a lot out of Tric," I said.

"Yeah, it's getting so popular. I have some contacts, I might be able to help you out with bands if you need them," she volunteered.

"Thanks, I might take you up on that. Jake's a really talented musician, but he hasn't decided what he wants to do, and right now he's kind of busy," I said.

"Yeah-I've always admired how he managed to stay in school, on the team with a baby-now that he has a whole family it's even more impressive," she said.

"Yeah. God, I love him," I said happily.

"I'm glad-I could tell, when you came to visit me months ago that you didn't, but it doesn't matter, not if you do now."

"Remember when you came back with us? And you saw Nathan and you guys just couldn't take your eyes off each other, and then he came to help you off the stage and you thought he'd berate you but then he kissed you?" I asked. It had been adorable.

"Yeah. And then we talked-like really talked, without arguing. Then we went home, and…" Haley blushed.

"Oh, conception?"

"No, I actually think that was the day after our girls night, the time you got drunk," she said.

"Oh, well that's better. You haven't been drunk since then," I said.

"When am I ever drunk?" she asked imperiously.

"Shut up. Anyway, how far in does that make you?"

"Let's see. Well today is the tenth, so…"

"It's not the tenth," I interrupted.

"Yeah it is," she said in surprise.

"Isn't."

"Is. Why can't it be?" she asked.

"Because that would make me pretty damn late."