Author's Note: Hey guys! I found a little time to write this chapter through all the goings-on this weekend. I know it's short, but I promise the next one will be longer. I know you all will probably hate me, and most likely Lucas and Haley too, after this chapter, but they will be getting back together soon, if not the next chapter then the one after that. I'll try to get around to writing TSS on Monday if I'm not running around all over the place or spending time with the family. Happy Fourth of July to all you Americans out there and to anyone who celebrates 4th of July! I hope you like this chapter! 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 28 – Cornered

It had been two weeks since the fight and neither one had talked to the other nor apologized. Every time he tried to talk to her, she would just glare at him and he would end up closing his mouth, biting back his words, and walking away from her in defeat. He hadn't seen his kids in two weeks, ever since that day in the café, seeing their sad, heartbroken faces and the tears in their eyes. That image would forever be engrained into his mind.

Over the past two weeks, Lucas had watched her from afar. He'd watched her stomach gradually grow more round and prominent, more noticeable. He longed to touch and caress her stomach, feel their child growing inside of her. He had been cheated out of that the first time because Haley had never told him she was pregnant. He wanted to be a part of her pregnancy, help her through everything he hadn't been able to do the first time. He was determined to be a part of this baby's life, now, before it was born, not five years later like with Katie and Derek. So with his jaw clenched and a 'Will not take no for an answer' look in his eyes, he set out for Haley's classroom that morning as soon as he arrived at the school.

Haley was preparing for the day, writing on the chalkboard the list of assignments they would be doing, when she heard the door close and turned to see Lucas quickly striding towards her. He had a determined look on his face and fiery flames burning in his blue eyes. Fear instantly coursed through her body. She had never seen such a look on his face than the one he was wearing now. She had never been so scared of Lucas than she was right now. Well, there had been that one time a few months after Lucas had joined the basketball team and had been forced to go to the annual 'Kiss Dan Scott's Ass' dinner for the team and she had gone to talk to him at his house where he had been getting ready and she'd told him she was starting to like Nathan as more than a friend or tutoring student. He had been pissed to say the least, but there had been a quiet resignation in his eyes, letting her know that he understood even though he didn't really like or accept it. There was none of that in his eyes now and it made her even more scared to think of what he might do.

He advanced towards her as she backed up, until she could go no further; he had cornered her up against the wall and Haley began to whimper in fright. Lucas finally broke out of his trance and his eyes refocused, seeing Haley cowering before him, seeing the fear in her eyes as she gazed up at him, pleading with him, her chin and lower lip trembling, her whole body shaking, her arms wrapped protectively around her stomach. "Shit," he swore under his breath as he hung his head and moved his eyes to the floor in shame for scaring her so much, pulling away as he ran a hand through his hair, "I'm sorry." Haley regained a shred of her composure with the distance put between them and anger surged through her. She slapped him hard across the face. "Sorry for what," she demanded. "What do you mean? I said I was sorry," he mumbled, holding his jaw and rubbing it gently.

Haley's anger was near the boiling point now. She let out a frustrated scream, "You know what? Just get out! Get out and leave me alone! Just-Just stay away from me, you bastard!" Tears welled in Lucas' eyes as he gazed at her pleadingly and whispered "I'm sorry" to her before leaving the classroom, knowing he wouldn't be able to talk to her until she cooled down and cursing himself silently for scaring her.

As soon as Lucas left, Haley felt the sudden urge to throw up and she quickly clamped her hand over her mouth and rushed across the hall to the staff bathroom. She collapsed onto the floor in front of the toilet as she purged what little breakfast was left in her stomach after already throwing up earlier that morning. Once she had stopped vomiting, Haley curled up into a ball as she buried her head into her hands and sobbed.