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Disclaimer: I don't own OTH or it's characters.

Chapter 4

A/N: Takes place the day after Chapter 3

"This establishment is for paying customers only," Haley remarked with a smile when she saw her two friends enter the café. Haley was back working at Karen's Café. With Karen gone and Deb spending her time at the hospital with Dan, there was no one who could run the café. Lucas had tried, but to be honest, he didn't really want all that responsibility. That's when Haley stepped in. The café had always been her safe haven from school and even her own family. It was Haley's second home.

"Any exceptions for two hungry friends?" Peyton asked jokingly.

"Or the owner's son?" Lucas added.

"And what would your mother say if she came home to find out that her son and friend at all of the profits?" kidded Haley.

"Oh, alright…" Peyton gave in, "Lucas will pay for our dinner," she smiled and nudged Lucas in the arm before jumping up on a stool on the counter.

"Thanks Luke, I'm starving too," Haley said before Lucas could protest.

Deb knocked on her son's bedroom door. When she left for the hospital that morning, Nathan was in his room. It was now 7pm and Nathan was still in his room. He had only come out during the day to eat.

"Nathan, honey?" Deb said when she opened the door. She spotted her son sitting on his bed, playing PS2.

"Yeah mom?" he said without looking up.

"Can we talk?"

Nathan hesitated before pausing his game and putting down his controller, "What's up?"

Deb sat down beside her son and handed him a white piece of paper. It was his acceptance letter to High Flyers, "It says the camp starts on Monday,"

Nathan took the letter and tossed it into the trash can, "I'm not going anymore,"

"Why not? I thought this is what you wanted,"

Nathan sighed, "It is but, with everything that's going on…"

She wrapped her arm around her only child, "Nathan, listen to me. Don't stay here because you feel like you have to. We'll be ok and we can wait for you to come back,"

"It's ok, really. It's not a big deal,"

"Since when? You told me that getting invited to that camp would be an opportunity of a lifetime…Nathan, don't put your dreams on hold for your father or me. You have a life too and you need to follow your dreams,"

"Seriously, I haven't had a customer in over two hours," Haley commented at the empty dining room area.

"Maybe it's the new cook," Lucas said as he chomped on a fry.

"I didn't hear you complaining when you wolfed down your hamburger," Haley defended her cooking.

Lucas shrugged, "I was hungry. I'll eat anything,"

Both Peyton and Haley rolled their eyes at him. Suddenly, Peyton's cell phone began to ring, "That must be Brooke...she must be home from another day of mother/daughter bonding,"

Haley and Lucas continued to talk about the café's dwindling business as Peyton answered her phone.

"Hello? Yeah…ok. I'll be there soon…Bye," Peyton slowly removed her cell from her ear. Her mind was frozen.

"Hey, Peyt…" he touched her shoulder and she slowly looked up at him. Lucas saw fear in her eyes. "Who was it?"

Her eyes shifted between his and Haley's, "My…my dad…he's home,"

Lucas walked Peyton to her car in silence. He was worried about her and couldn't imagine what was going on inside her head. He reached the car first and opened the door for her.

"Are you sure you don't want a ride home? I mean I could drop you off before…"

"Nah, it's cool. I'll walk home with Haley…" Lucas saw her turn away, trying to hide her tears that were beginning to fall, "Hey, come here," He didn't know what to say to take her fears away, instead he held her as if he were trying to protect her from what was to come.

"Oh good you're back," Haley called out from the kitchen when she heard the front door open, "How's Peyton?"

He heard the concern in her voice, "What's wrong with Peyton?"

The voice wasn't Lucas's, it was Nathan's. Haley slowly emerged from the back, "Hi," it was all she could say.

"Hey…so is everything ok with Peyton,"

"Um…yeah, well no not really," Haley began a nervous ramble, "Lucas and Peyton were here earlier and her father called saying that he was back in town and it kinda freaked her out. But who could blame her. I mean she's about to find out if her mother is really her mother,"

"What?" Nathan was clueless.

"You didn't know?" Haley sighed. She assumed that since Nathan had been in Tree Hill all this time and that he and Peyton had become good friends, that she would have told him.

"Wow…I had no idea," Nathan was in shock, "I guess I should have been a better friend, I mean I just dumped my problems on her and I never bothered to ask her how she was,"

"Nathan, it's not your fault. I mean Peyton's not exactly the type of person to announce her problems either. Besides, she has Lucas...he's really been there for her,"

When she finally collected herself, she pulled away and wiped her tears. His hands rested on her shoulders, "Do you want me to come with you?"

Peyton's head shook after some hesitation, "This is something I need to do on my own,"

"Ok, but if you need me or anything, just call and I'll be there,"

With one last look, she began to get into her car. Even though she was scared, she remained strong. In a few moments time, she would finally know the truth and that's what she wanted…or so she thought.

A/N: This ended up as a set up chapter of future conversations. I think the next chapter will mainly deal with Peyton and her father. Also as of right now, Dan is still alive and I haven't decided if he will die or not or who set the fire.