Chapter Twenty-Six: But It Pours
Haley dropped the phone again as Nathan came in through the door.
"Where the hell were you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I just needed time to think," he said.
"You could of at least crashed on the couch," she said.
"Yeah, well, I didn't. Can't we put this all behind us?" asked Nathan. For an instant, Haley's mind flashed to the image of him and Peyton, but she forced herself to block out the painful feelings.
"Of course. I'm glad you're back," she said. Haley suddenly realized how tired she was. Not because of lack of sleep, but because of how she'd had to live through the past few months. It was more intense than any year she'd ever experienced, and she was yearning for release.
XxxxxxX
Brooke bundled her son into his car seat and drove off, her mother watching sadly from the curb. Why was it that all of a sudden Haley mattered more than anything? It didn't make sense to either of them, but Brooke had always known that she'd have to one day face the music.
She smiled to herself as they turned onto the highway and saw that Jack was already asleep. It was so like him. Everyone marveled that he was the most low maintenance baby in the world. He was perfect. Brooke wondered how she could have ever contemplated giving him up, even if he was his son. She wondered if there was any way to shield him from harm-how could she know if Lucas would never hurt him like he'd hurt her? But he couldn't grow up without a father. Brooke knew that Nathan had figured out about Jack. It was only a matter of time before Lucas came looking.
XxxxxxX
Lucas Scott's blue eyes scanned the quad the next day just as school was let out. It didn't take long for him to find her: the dark haired girl was talking to Haley, and members of Haley's entourage were never hard to spot.
She flinched as he reached her and wrapped his hand around her forearm, tugging her away from the group.
"Lucas, go away," she said in annoyance.
"Why won't you talk to me?" he demanded. Haley looked between the two of them and left quickly.
"Because we broke up!" she said.
"Actually, you left a note and now you won't return my calls. Want to tell me what's up?" asked Lucas.
"You know what's up, Luke. You're still in love with her. And I'm not going to be her for you. I've got better things to do with my time," said Davis, hitching her bag higher onto her shoulder before running off after Haley.
Lucas watched her go, knowing it was pointless to fight for her. It was true. Tall, brunette, energetic Davis was a calmer version of his ex-girlfriend. It was an insult to both of them to pretend that this wasn't true.
Dimly he noticed that Nathan and Haley were suddenly at each other's throats, but it didn't truly become apparent until after practice, when she ditched Nathan to find Lucas and listen to him mope about Davis.
"What's wrong with you now?" she asked, finding him on the river court and sitting down on the picnic bench.
"Davis broke up with me," he said, his free shot bouncing off the rim of the net.
"I know. I told her to," said Haley frankly. Lucas abandoned the ball and let it bounce off into the tall grass.
"Why?"
"Because you're being pathetic, and I'm tired of it. She's not Brooke and she's never going to be. In fact no one's ever going to be, until you become a man and fight for her!" said Haley.
"You should have seen her the night she left. Trust me, she doesn't want to be fought for," said Lucas angrily.
"Didn't you guys sleep together that night?" asked Haley innocently. Lucas looked downward.
"It was an accident," he said simply.
"It usually is with you, Luke. I just don't get it. You come out all nice guy, but you've cheated on each and every girl you've ever loved," she said. "And for no good reason! That flat chested blonde skank you cheated on me with, who's currently out to ruin my life? Why, Luke?"
Lucas shrugged, refusing to acknowledge the obvious truth.
"If you don't make a move soon you're going to lose her," warned Haley, standing up.
"I already have," said Lucas, turning away.
"No, you haven't," whispered Haley, thinking of the baby, finally putting together the pieces of the puzzle. "Trust me, Lucas Scott, you have not."
XxxxxxX
Haley looked thoroughly around the apartment to make sure Nathan was home before turning on her computer and checking Peyton Sawyer's webcam. It was fast becoming an addiction. She was drawing blanks, and she hated to have no control over her life.
She watched in boredom for ten minutes at Peyton's empty room before sitting up straighter and turning on the volume as two girls entered.
One was Peyton. The other was a girl Haley had never seen. She was tall, pretty and Hispanic. The two girls laughed and the stranger said something incoherent while Haley stared at the screen.
XxxxxxX
"So, how's your master plan going?" asked Anna, dropping onto Peyton's bed.
"Perfectly. He totally thinks I'm in love with him," said Peyton, cracking a smile.
"Oh, and that you're not out to ruin his wife's life? Perfect," said Anna proudly.
"He was pretty easy to play. Men are like that," said Peyton. She went to sit beside Anna on the bed.
"No wonder you got tired of them so quickly," said the other girl, leaning in slightly.
"No wonder," agreed Peyton, bridging the short distance between their lips.