Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill
Give me one good reason why I should not try and avoid him, I asked myself. I still felt like it was all a dream, or a nightmare. I was just waiting to wake up and be in bed next to Clark. After the drafts last night and my little conversation with Brooke I had basically decided that I needed to talk to Nathan before he found out I was here. That way I would have the advantage. He would be caught off guard and I could be prepared.
Well that all went down that drain as soon as I got to work just a couple of minutes ago. I didn't know what I was going to say to him. I didn't really know what to expect and besides he was going to be busy all day starting his training. Then I remembered all of the work I had ahead of me as well. I still had to get all of his files transferred as well as Lucas's. I would just avoid him at all costs I told myself.
I looked up as I heard a soft knock on the door, "come in" I said looking back down at my computer screen. "That's just like you Hales, always working." He laughed, and I looked up. "Luke!" I yelled and then ran and hugged him. Even though we talked and I saw Brooke all the time I never really saw Luke. He was always playing ball or working or at school. It would be so much fun to be able to see him everyday at work.
"It's good to see you too Hales, but..." I stopped him before he could even finish his sentence. "Luke do not say anything about Nathan. I know he's here and I am working on a plan to talk to him but with Clark here and all it's hard to find the right time." I replied taking a seat back at my desk.
"Are you till dating him?" Luke asked looking annoyed. He hated the thought of me dating anyone, no matter how nice the guy was Luke would always find something he didn't like about him. "Luke..." about this moment was when Luke noticed my new piece of jewelry on my finger. "You're Engaged!" Luke screamed. "Luke calm down, I love Clark, and well he loves me." I tried to reason with Luke.
I really did love Clark and I just wanted Luke to be happy for me. "Hales don't you see a problem with that?" he asked me. "I know Luke, I working on that. I will figure something out ok. Now go and let me get some work done. And besides aren't you late for practice?" I asked him. "Shit," Luke replied standing up and leaving. I laughed, that was Luke for ya, never on time.
I couldn't seem to keep my thoughts on the actual work that I had to do. My thoughts continued to wonder to Nathan. "Why?!?!" I asked myself frustrated that I couldn't get any work done. "Why what baby?" Clark asked me as he kissed me. "Oh...um nothing." I replied. "You ready for lunch?" he asked me. I had completely forgot that we had a lunch date, "I have so much work Clark, and I don't think I will be able to go. I'm sorry." I replied kissing him. "Fine, just try and get home at a decent time, we'll go out for dinner instead." He added before kissing me and leaving.
I was all out of ideas; I didn't know what to do. I couldn't keep avoiding him all season. I would have to be with the team on the court when they went on the road. Or if he got hurt I would also have to see him. She'll know what to do I thought. I grabbed the phone off of my desk and dialed '411' hopefully this would work.
"What City and State?" I heard a woman's voice ask. "I'm not really sure," I replied. "Ok, for what listing?" she asked. "Um...Peyton Sawyer." I replied trying to remember if Brooke had mentioned Peyton getting married or not since I last saw her at graduation." "We've got a Peyton Sawyer Jagielski listed in NY." She replied. "Thank you." I replied. "And your number is...612-879-5629." The automatic voice said and I hung up after writing the number down.
I quickly turned the phone back on and dialed the number I had just gotten from the operator. "Hello, Sawyer swash Jagielski residence." I heard a young girls voice answer. "Is Peyton there?" I asked. I immediately knew that the little girl must be Jenny. "Nope, no Peyton here." She replied giggling. "Yes there is," I heard Peyton's voice in the background. "Nope your mommy." Jenny replied before handing over the phone still giggling. "Sorry about that, my daughter thinks its funny at the moment to only call me mother and not use my real name." I heard Peyton's voice explaining. She was smiling I could tell, and I was glad. Back in high school I didn't see her smile too much, other then when she was with Jake.
"Hello?" she asked after no response. "Oh sorry." I replied coming back from my thoughts. "Who is this?" She asked not recognizing my voice. I guess I didn't know what I had expected. "Peyton, it's me..." she cut me off. "Haley!" she screamed in to the phone. She sounding excited, I was glad. I really didn't want her to be mad at me over what had happened. Right now I really needed her. "Yeah it's me." I replied smiling. "Oh my gosh Haley. What happened?!" she asked. "Strait to the point, as always." I laughed. "Peyton I know this is completely out of the blue but do you think we could meet?" I asked her. "Haley I live in NY." She replied. She sounded happy that I wanted to meet but disappointed that she thought she lived far away. "Yeah I know, I replied. I've lived here since I left." I replied. "But I didn't know you lived here until just now." "Of course, why don't you come to my apartment? It's 525 7th Street." She replied. "Thanks Peyton, I can come over to my lunch since I have a dinner date." I replied not wanting to let her know I was engaged. "See you soon Haley." She added before hanging up.
"Thanks," I said to the cab driver as I handed him my money and he drove off. "I hope this is it." I said to no one. I walked up to the building in front of me and buzzed her apartment. The door opened and I walked in and up a flight of starts. She was in apartment 3. I knocked on the door. "Haley!" she screamed engulfing me in a huge hug!" she ushered me inside and shut the door behind me. Just then a little girl with two curly pigtails hanging from above each ear ran into the room. She had a small blue blanket tucked tightly to her body with her thumb in her mouth. She had tears sliding down her cheeks, just then another little girl that looked no different then her also entered the room with another blue blanket except her was tied around her neck as if she was superman. I watch as the two little girls ran over to Peyton and each grabbed onto a leg.
"I swear I didn't do anything," came a voice from a little girl with Brown hair that was cut right below the ears. She looked just like Jake. "Haley this is Jenny." Peyton said lifting one of the little blonde girls and pointing with her other hand towards Jenny. "Oh Jenny you have grown." I replied. "You know me?" she asked turning her attention towards me and way from Peyton. "Yeah, she knew you when you were just a baby." Peyton answered for me. "Now why are Callie and Kylie crying?" she asked Jenny. "No mwore Bue's Cuse," the girl she was holding answered. "I wanted to watch Rugrats and so I turned off Blues Clues." Jenny said matter of factly. "Jenny you already watched your tape for today so it's the twins turn now, so why don't you go and draw for a little while." Peyton told her, Jenny nodded and left the room.
"Sorry about that Haley." Peyton said sitting back down on the couch, a little girl on either side of her. "It's fine," I replied. "Oh this is Callie," he said pointing to the girl to her left the one who she had been holding. "And this is Kylie." She said pointing to the other. "They are so cute." I said looking at the girls. "They look just like you Peyton." "Yeah that is what Jake says everyday. Callie, Kylie why don't you go and finish your movie ok?" she asked them. "Otay mommy." They replied as they carried their blankets into the other room.
"How old are they?" I asked. I knew she wanted to know why I was here but I also hadn't talked to here in years and wanted to catch up a little. "They are just about to turn 3," she replied. "We also have a 4 month old girl sleeping, her name in Delaney." Peyton added. "Wow, Peyton Sawyer married with 4 kids, I never pictured that." I said joking. "Haley Scott just up and leaving night of graduation, never expected that either." She added. She was in a way joking but also wanted to know what had happened.
"Actually it's Dr. Haley Scott now," I informed her with a smile. "What?!" she asked surprise by my response. "Yeah I graduated last year and am going back again wile working." I responded. "Actually Peyton that's what I came to talk about." "Your work?" she asked me confused. "Well sort of. Did you watch the Draft?" I asked her. "Yeah, Jake and I watched it together, we could NOT believe that both Nathan and Lucas were traded to the Knicks." She replied. "Believe me Peyton, I couldn't believe it either. There was no indication of it at all, they were never even mentioned at any of the meetings." I replied realizing that she must be confused. "What meetings?" she asked. "I work for the Knicks," I informed her. "I am their Sports trainer for the team." "And now you have to see them both right?" she asked me. "Well no, just Nate, I ran into Brooke about a year after I left at a coffee shop and well we've stayed in contact since." I replied. I didn't want her to be mad at me for not contacted her earlier. 'She never said anything." Peyton replied. "I asked her not to Peyton, I'm sorry. I just didn't think I could face anyone else. It was hard enough explaining things to them." I replied.
"So what are you going to do about Nathan?" she asked me. "I don't know," I replied honestly. "That's why I called you, I've never really told anyone what happened back in High School. I was hoping maybe you could lend a ear." I asked. "Of course Haley!" she replied. "I will help in anyway I can."
"Peyton I got engaged last week," I said simply. "Congratulations Haley!" She said hugging me. "But I'm just scared. I've never really explained to Clark what happened in high School. Actually to tell you the truth he has no idea that Nathan and I know each other. I mean he knows that Lucas and I are best friends but that's it." I replied. I felt almost ashamed for never telling Clark about my past but I was worried how he would react. "You mean he knows nothing?" she asked. "Nothing," I replied. "Well you should talk to Nathan first. Just talk to him like you use to. He's been going crazy looking for you for years Haley. When you left he just started looking. No emotions, just a panic to find you." "I felt bad about what I did Peyton. I truly did, I still feel bad about it, but I didn't know what to do back then, I was scared and hurt. I couldn't stay." I explained. "I know Hales. Maybe you should explain that to Nathan." She said giving me a hug.
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Tardychick06
