Author's Note: Three updates in one day! I'M ON FIRE! Not literally, thankfully. Here's the next chapter to Finding Our Way Back! I know you guys are very anxious about Lucas finding out about Katie and Derek and I swear it's coming up. In the next three or four chapters I think. And with the way, I'm updating, you know you won't have long to wait! I hope you guys like it! As always, please read and review!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. One Tree Hill and its characters are property of the WB.
Rating: K+ to T
Finding Our Way Back
Chapter 10 – Meetings and Mondays
Lucas poked his head in from the door to her classroom, "Hey, you ready?" It was by pure luck or chance that she and Lucas had the same lunch hour. Or there was some higher power trying to tell her something. "Yeah, just let me grab my bag-" she started to say but Lucas cut her off. "Lunch is already taken care of," he smiled as he lifted a bag from Subway. "Aww, that's so sweet of you Luke. I've been getting kind of tired of eating peanut butter and jelly all the time. The kids are going through this peanut butter phase and that's all they'll eat; on crackers, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, on celery. At least I'm getting some vegetables in them," she responded as she unlocked a drawer to her desk and pulled out her purse. Lucas chuckled, "I remember that phase. We both went through it. You always loved those peanut butter and banana sandwiches." Haley's eyes widened as she pretended to look through her purse for something. How could he not realize the similarities between the kids and themselves? It was almost so blatantly obvious. Was he that blind and dense to not notice it?
"Yeah, still do," she replied and then pulled out her wallet, "ah ha! Found it!" Lucas laughed and shook his head, "What have you got in there that takes five minutes to find your wallet?" "A whole bunch of stuff. Ladies products mostly," she grinned with a smirk on her face, knowing what it would do to him. Lucas' face scrunched in disgust, "Eww! Over-share!" "Not those kinds of products Luke," she smiled, "it's not my time of the month yet." "Well let me know when it is so I can stay far, far away. You can get kind of bitchy when you're hormonal. Wait, don't tell me. I don't want to know when it's your time of the month. Gah!" He plugged his ears with his fingers and shook his head from side to side, trying to rid his mind of the words.
Haley laughed then walked over and linked her arm through his, "Come on Luke, let's go eat lunch. I still have some papers to grade before my last class." They sat on the couch in the teachers lounge as Haley ate her Classic Turkey and Lucas ate his Meatball sub. They were having light conversation about Haley's classes and the basketball team when they were interrupted by a person appearing before them. "Well if it ain't the two little lovebirds. You two are lookin' pretty cozy," Whitey said in a southern drawl as he smiled and winked at them. Ever since Lucas and Haley had started hanging out more, he always saw them together and always made some remark about them being together. This had even happened back when they were in high school. "Well if it ain't the old man. You're lookin' pretty… old," Haley shot back in the same tone as she smiled. He pointed his finger at her as he turned to Lucas, "You better watch her son, she's a quick one on her wit." "Don't I know it," he replied as he grinned at Haley, "but I can hold my own. I've even beat her a few times." "Have not," she responded with a light slap to his shoulder with the back of her hand. "Have too," he replied. "Have not," she said childishly. "Have too," he repeated in the same tone as Haley. "Oh, we're going to fix this," she replied with a smile.
Three days later on Monday, Haley went to drop her kids off at Kyla's apartment. "Hey Ky," Haley greeted her when the blonde opened the door. Kyla pressed a hand to her forehead as she leaned her head back. "Dam-" she started, but then she noticed the kids, "Darn it! I forgot to call you!" "Why," Haley asked, "what's wrong?" "I can't take the kids for the next few days, Hales. The publisher called me in to New York for some meetings. I'll be gone from tomorrow until Friday. I'm so sorry Hales. I know this is such short notice, but I've been going crazy, busy packing and stuff and on the phone with the airlines and everything. They'll have to stay with Karen while I'm gone. I'm so sorry, Hales," she said with a sorrowful look in her eyes. "No, it's okay, I understand. You gotta do what you've gotta do. Just don't have too much fun doing it," she smirked. "God, will I ever," Kyla replied sarcastically in a dramatic tone with a roll of her eyes, "I hate those meetings with the publisher. They are SO boring!" "Yeah, I remember the ones I used to have with my publicist. They went on and on forever. I felt like I would never get out of there," Haley replied. "Thanks for the support Hales," Kyla responded dryly. "No problem Ky. That's me, the queen of quick wit and dry humor," Haley laughed. "Alright, I still have to finish packing. I'll come see you tonight before I leave," Kyla hugged her. "Have a safe trip," Haley replied as she hugged her friend back.
After she left Kyla's she headed over to the café to drop the kids off with Karen. She entered and walked over to the counter, waiting for Karen to appear from the kitchen. One of the waitresses named Delaney, came out and greeted her, "Hi Haley." "Hey Delaney, can you get Karen for me please?" "Sorry, Karen and Deb are up in Charleston in a meeting with some people from the Small Business League for two days. She didn't tell you," the woman replied. "No, she didn't," Haley sighed as she rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. She should have known when she saw Delaney. The woman mostly worked nights, but worked days when Karen or Deb were gone, being the assistant manager because she had been there the longest. "Thanks Delaney," Haley replied as she turned and waved to her, "I'll see you later." Haley sighed again as she stepped out of the café. Her resources were running slim. Lucas couldn't watch them because he was at the school and she wasn't ready to leave Katie and Derek with him yet. Then a thought came to mind. Whitey. He had finally retired last week and the teachers had had a party for him and presented him with a plaque of monumental achievement. She hated having to do this, but there was no one else to watch Katie and Derek. So she headed over to Whitey's house.
She tentatively knocked on his door and a few minutes later, he answered the door. "Haley, what are you doing here? And who are these two," he asked confusedly. "These are my kids, Derek and Katie. I'm sorry to be imposing in on your retirement, but could you watch them for me over the next couple days while I'm at the school? Usually my friend Kyla or Karen and Deb watch them, but Kyla's heading up to New York and Karen and Deb are in Charleston with the Small Business League. They're usually at kindergarten, but today they have the day off and I-I have no one to watch them," Haley pleaded to him. Whitey smiled, "No problem. It'd be my pleasure. It can get kind of lonely around here sometimes." "Thank you so much Whitey. You are such a lifesaver," Haley responded then crouched down to face her kids, "You guys be good for Whitey, okay? I'll come pick you up after Mommy gets home from work. Bye guys." She hugged them and they hugged her back, responded in unison, "Bye Mommy. We love you." Haley just shook her head and smiled.
Whitey stared down at Derek and a surprised expression appeared on his face. He quickly looked up at Haley, who met his eyes, noticing him studying her son. Whitey looked at Derek one more time before returning his gaze to the young woman. "He looks awfully familiar, don't you think," he replied with a wink, a knowing smile on his face.
Haley rushed to the school and got there just by the time she was supposed to be there. She grabbed a coffee from the teachers lounge then walked to her classroom, sighing in relief as she sat down in her desk chair. It had been one crazy morning. Then Lucas walked inside not three minutes later. "Hey, you ready for the staff meeting?" She looked at him quizzically, "Staff meeting? What staff meeting?" He looked at his watch, "Uh, the one we're supposed to have in about five minutes. You okay there, Hales? You look a little flustered." Haley leaned over and pressed her forehead to the surface of her desk. What was with all the meetings? Maybe it was just Mondays.