Author's Note: Hey all, sorry it's been so long. That's so much for the
continuing reviews. I'm glad that you all like this story even though it's
not a Naley or any of the other ships. The only thing going on in this
story with be a little Jeyton flirting going on and that's it. I'm not even
sure anything will come of that, but they only appear in like every third
chapter so...Anyway, it's time for a Tree Hill chapter and I think this one
might be the last one for a while, since everyone seems to like the ones
about Brooke and Haley better. Okay, enough of my rambling.
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Lucas Scott couldn't be happier to be in Tree Hill. Well, actually he could, if his best friend was there with him, but it certainly beat sitting in a truck for four hours. He couldn't believe how much this town had changed in just the week he had been gone. The first thing he did upon arriving back in town was head over to the Rivercourt to see the guys. He was surprised to find it empty, no Mouth, no Skillz, no Junk, no one.
After sitting there for an hour, trying to get his thoughts about his best friend in order, he decided that he should head over to his mother's Café and see how she was holding up. He knew how much his mother loved Haley and knew it must have killed her to have to say goodbye to her. He walked into the Café to find it unusually empty and his mother standing at the counter, lost in a daze.
"Hey, mom," Luke greeted her, after she didn't say anything when he entered the Café. She snapped out of her daze and looked up at him. It took her a second to realize who he was before she quickly made her way around the counter and into his arms. "Hey."
"Luke," she sighed, never thinking she could be this happy just to see her son. She pulled out of his embrace and touched his cheek. "I'm so happy to see you. What are you doing here? Keith wasn't supposed to be bringing you back for another few days."
"Something happened that made me want to come home," he answered. He saw the panic come across his mother's face and he quickly shook his head to assure her that no one was hurt. "No it's not anything like that. Everyone's alright."
"Good," she sighed, getting worried that something might have happened to Keith. She smiled at him and made her way behind the counter. Luke followed her to the counter and sat down on the stool. He did a once over of the Café.
"So, why is it so empty in here?" he asked, as Karen began a pot of coffee for her son. She wiped her hands on her apron and turned back around.
"I don't know," she sighed. She looked around too. "It's been like this for a while now. The past week people just haven't been coming." Luke nodded as he grabbed a cookie from the tray they were placed on.
"Yeah," he began. "I was over at the Rivercourt and no one was there. I think that's first. Where is everyone lately?" Karen shook her head.
"Every since that playoff game no one's picked up a basketball," Karen explained. She saw Luke shoulders slump, knowing her son hated talking about that game. He still blamed himself for losing it for the team. "People are just taking some time off. They all heard about Whitey's condition and what happened to Dan and they figured they should lay off the basketball for a while. They all finally saw what it does to people." Luke nodded, still thinking that it had to be in part his fault.
"So," he said, wanting to change the subject. "How've you been? How the Café going?"
"Not to great," she admitted. She let out a sigh of breath. "Ever since Dan's heart attack Deb hasn't been around, she's staying at home to take care of him and Jake has been busy with court appearances and everything."
"Court?" Luke repeated. He found it hard to believe that Jake would do something that would land him in court. "Ol' Jakie boy not as straight an arrow as we all thought?"
"No," Karen corrected. "That Nicki girl is trying to get full custody of Jenny. She getting pretty close too so he's trying everything to keep that from happening."
"Oh, man," he sighed. "That's gotta suck. So you've been here alone most of the time?" Karen couldn't believe she forgot about Haley. She had been dreading this moment for the past week. She knew her son would be devastated to learn that his best friend had left.
"There's something I have to tell you," she began. Luke straightens up; not realizing this was about Haley.
"What is it, mom?"
"It's about Haley," she stated. Luke shoulders slumped again, happy that it wasn't something else terrible. Karen didn't notice the look of understanding on her son's face. "She left town. I'm so sorry, Luke." Luke nodded sadly.
"I already know."
"What?" she asked in confusion. "How do you already know about her? She said I was the only one she said goodbye to."
"I ran into her at a Denny's in Charleston," he explained. "I guess she was just stopping in for breakfast or something. She told me everything."
"Everything?" Karen repeated. Luke nodded, not sure what he said wrong. "Did she tell you why she left?" Luke's eyes widen. He cursed himself for doing it again. Even though he hadn't told his mom yet, he knew that she was going to ask and he wasn't going to be able to lie.
"Ummm.... No?"
"You're a horrible liar, Luke," Karen pointed out. Luke sighed in defeat. "Why did she leave?" She could tell by the look on his face that Luke didn't want to say it, but she had to know. It had been bothering her since Haley left. "Please, Luke. I need to know."
"Why?" he asked. He wished he didn't know why Haley left; all he did was worry about her. "Trust me, mom, it'll just make you worry even more. You're better off not knowing."
"I've thought about the worst case possible," Karen countered. She was scared to death that Haley had some kind of life threatening disease and she was terrified that she was going to get a call informing her that Haley was lying dead somewhere. "Just tell me so I don't have to worry about something that isn't going to happen."
"Fine," Luke sighed. He knew his mother wasn't going to listen to his warnings. "But you have to promise not to tell anyone." Karen nodded, urging him to tell her. "She walked in on Nathan with some girl, they were together...in the biblical sense."
"My poor baby," Karen sighed. She thought back to what Haley had said to her the night she left; she had said that Nathan didn't need her. Karen suddenly felt even worse than she did before. She knew how much Haley loved Nathan and she could just imagine how hurt Haley was right now. "I can't believe he would do that to her."
"There's more," Luke sighed. He wasn't sure whether he should be telling her this, not knowing if Haley would be okay with it or not. Karen's stomach dropped to her feet at the bitterness in his voice. She knew what Luke was going to say, but she was praying she was wrong. "She's pregnant."
"God," she whispered. A part of her was disappointed in Haley. She couldn't count the number of times she had lectured Haley and Lucas about sex, but that was only a little part of her. The other part of her was so worried about Haley, not knowing if she would be able to take care of herself out there all alone. Suddenly a whole knew feeling of dread came over her. "Does Nathan know?" Luke lowered his head, which gave her all the answer she needed.
"Yeah," he mumbled, trying to suppress the anger he felt coming to the surface. "She told him and guess what happened?" he asked bitterly. Karen shook her head and brought her hands to her face, trying to calm herself. She couldn't believe that the same thing happened to Haley that happened to her. "Another girl fooled by a Scott."
"Luke, this isn't your fault," Karen told him, sensing that some of the anger he was showing was directed at himself.
"I just can't believe I trusted him with her," he muttered. He couldn't deal with this right now. He needed to get out of her before he blew up at his mother for no reason. He stood up and moved to the door.
"Where are you going?" she called out to him, afraid that he might go do something stupid. She couldn't blame him for being angry though. She love Haley just as much as he did and she was filled with the overwhelming need to go give Nathan a piece of her mind. She was just afraid Luke would give him more than that.
"I need some air," he told her. Without another word he stormed out of the Café and into the morning sun. He didn't know what he was doing or where he was going, he just needed to get away. He was so lost in thought he didn't even realize he lead himself to Nathan's front door. He certainly didn't second-guess himself and bounded on the door.
"Just a minute," he heard Nathan's voice call from the other side of the door. He heard a girl's voice whining about something, which just made him angrier. He balled up his fist, waiting for his brother to open the door. A moment later the door open to reveal a sleepy Nathan. Luke didn't waste any time before he tackled Nathan to the floor and began punching him like there was no tomorrow.
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All done. Hope you all liked it. I wasn't satisfied with the slap that Peyton gave him, I felt Nathan needed a serious ass kicking. Anyway, please tell me what you think. Peace.
OTH
Lucas Scott couldn't be happier to be in Tree Hill. Well, actually he could, if his best friend was there with him, but it certainly beat sitting in a truck for four hours. He couldn't believe how much this town had changed in just the week he had been gone. The first thing he did upon arriving back in town was head over to the Rivercourt to see the guys. He was surprised to find it empty, no Mouth, no Skillz, no Junk, no one.
After sitting there for an hour, trying to get his thoughts about his best friend in order, he decided that he should head over to his mother's Café and see how she was holding up. He knew how much his mother loved Haley and knew it must have killed her to have to say goodbye to her. He walked into the Café to find it unusually empty and his mother standing at the counter, lost in a daze.
"Hey, mom," Luke greeted her, after she didn't say anything when he entered the Café. She snapped out of her daze and looked up at him. It took her a second to realize who he was before she quickly made her way around the counter and into his arms. "Hey."
"Luke," she sighed, never thinking she could be this happy just to see her son. She pulled out of his embrace and touched his cheek. "I'm so happy to see you. What are you doing here? Keith wasn't supposed to be bringing you back for another few days."
"Something happened that made me want to come home," he answered. He saw the panic come across his mother's face and he quickly shook his head to assure her that no one was hurt. "No it's not anything like that. Everyone's alright."
"Good," she sighed, getting worried that something might have happened to Keith. She smiled at him and made her way behind the counter. Luke followed her to the counter and sat down on the stool. He did a once over of the Café.
"So, why is it so empty in here?" he asked, as Karen began a pot of coffee for her son. She wiped her hands on her apron and turned back around.
"I don't know," she sighed. She looked around too. "It's been like this for a while now. The past week people just haven't been coming." Luke nodded as he grabbed a cookie from the tray they were placed on.
"Yeah," he began. "I was over at the Rivercourt and no one was there. I think that's first. Where is everyone lately?" Karen shook her head.
"Every since that playoff game no one's picked up a basketball," Karen explained. She saw Luke shoulders slump, knowing her son hated talking about that game. He still blamed himself for losing it for the team. "People are just taking some time off. They all heard about Whitey's condition and what happened to Dan and they figured they should lay off the basketball for a while. They all finally saw what it does to people." Luke nodded, still thinking that it had to be in part his fault.
"So," he said, wanting to change the subject. "How've you been? How the Café going?"
"Not to great," she admitted. She let out a sigh of breath. "Ever since Dan's heart attack Deb hasn't been around, she's staying at home to take care of him and Jake has been busy with court appearances and everything."
"Court?" Luke repeated. He found it hard to believe that Jake would do something that would land him in court. "Ol' Jakie boy not as straight an arrow as we all thought?"
"No," Karen corrected. "That Nicki girl is trying to get full custody of Jenny. She getting pretty close too so he's trying everything to keep that from happening."
"Oh, man," he sighed. "That's gotta suck. So you've been here alone most of the time?" Karen couldn't believe she forgot about Haley. She had been dreading this moment for the past week. She knew her son would be devastated to learn that his best friend had left.
"There's something I have to tell you," she began. Luke straightens up; not realizing this was about Haley.
"What is it, mom?"
"It's about Haley," she stated. Luke shoulders slumped again, happy that it wasn't something else terrible. Karen didn't notice the look of understanding on her son's face. "She left town. I'm so sorry, Luke." Luke nodded sadly.
"I already know."
"What?" she asked in confusion. "How do you already know about her? She said I was the only one she said goodbye to."
"I ran into her at a Denny's in Charleston," he explained. "I guess she was just stopping in for breakfast or something. She told me everything."
"Everything?" Karen repeated. Luke nodded, not sure what he said wrong. "Did she tell you why she left?" Luke's eyes widen. He cursed himself for doing it again. Even though he hadn't told his mom yet, he knew that she was going to ask and he wasn't going to be able to lie.
"Ummm.... No?"
"You're a horrible liar, Luke," Karen pointed out. Luke sighed in defeat. "Why did she leave?" She could tell by the look on his face that Luke didn't want to say it, but she had to know. It had been bothering her since Haley left. "Please, Luke. I need to know."
"Why?" he asked. He wished he didn't know why Haley left; all he did was worry about her. "Trust me, mom, it'll just make you worry even more. You're better off not knowing."
"I've thought about the worst case possible," Karen countered. She was scared to death that Haley had some kind of life threatening disease and she was terrified that she was going to get a call informing her that Haley was lying dead somewhere. "Just tell me so I don't have to worry about something that isn't going to happen."
"Fine," Luke sighed. He knew his mother wasn't going to listen to his warnings. "But you have to promise not to tell anyone." Karen nodded, urging him to tell her. "She walked in on Nathan with some girl, they were together...in the biblical sense."
"My poor baby," Karen sighed. She thought back to what Haley had said to her the night she left; she had said that Nathan didn't need her. Karen suddenly felt even worse than she did before. She knew how much Haley loved Nathan and she could just imagine how hurt Haley was right now. "I can't believe he would do that to her."
"There's more," Luke sighed. He wasn't sure whether he should be telling her this, not knowing if Haley would be okay with it or not. Karen's stomach dropped to her feet at the bitterness in his voice. She knew what Luke was going to say, but she was praying she was wrong. "She's pregnant."
"God," she whispered. A part of her was disappointed in Haley. She couldn't count the number of times she had lectured Haley and Lucas about sex, but that was only a little part of her. The other part of her was so worried about Haley, not knowing if she would be able to take care of herself out there all alone. Suddenly a whole knew feeling of dread came over her. "Does Nathan know?" Luke lowered his head, which gave her all the answer she needed.
"Yeah," he mumbled, trying to suppress the anger he felt coming to the surface. "She told him and guess what happened?" he asked bitterly. Karen shook her head and brought her hands to her face, trying to calm herself. She couldn't believe that the same thing happened to Haley that happened to her. "Another girl fooled by a Scott."
"Luke, this isn't your fault," Karen told him, sensing that some of the anger he was showing was directed at himself.
"I just can't believe I trusted him with her," he muttered. He couldn't deal with this right now. He needed to get out of her before he blew up at his mother for no reason. He stood up and moved to the door.
"Where are you going?" she called out to him, afraid that he might go do something stupid. She couldn't blame him for being angry though. She love Haley just as much as he did and she was filled with the overwhelming need to go give Nathan a piece of her mind. She was just afraid Luke would give him more than that.
"I need some air," he told her. Without another word he stormed out of the Café and into the morning sun. He didn't know what he was doing or where he was going, he just needed to get away. He was so lost in thought he didn't even realize he lead himself to Nathan's front door. He certainly didn't second-guess himself and bounded on the door.
"Just a minute," he heard Nathan's voice call from the other side of the door. He heard a girl's voice whining about something, which just made him angrier. He balled up his fist, waiting for his brother to open the door. A moment later the door open to reveal a sleepy Nathan. Luke didn't waste any time before he tackled Nathan to the floor and began punching him like there was no tomorrow.
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All done. Hope you all liked it. I wasn't satisfied with the slap that Peyton gave him, I felt Nathan needed a serious ass kicking. Anyway, please tell me what you think. Peace.