Chapter Seven

One week later, Deb was heading to Karen's Café, as she had done many times recently; not to her husband's knowledge, of course. She entered the café just as Keith was leaving.

"See you Deb, I have to go to the auto shop," he informed her.

"Have a good day." Deb sat down at the counter and Karen placed a cup of coffee in front of her. "That was efficient."

Karen smiled. "It's what you've ordered every time you've come here."

"Well, no one can say this place has bad service."

"So how are things at the foundation?" Karen asked.

"Same as always," Deb said, "but, actually, the reason I'm here today is to ask you a favour."

"A favour?" Karen wondered what she could possibly do for Deborah Scott.

"There's a school trip tomorrow –"

"To the gardens, right? Lucas told me."

"Yes, well, the thing is one of the parent chaperones had to drop out at the last minute and no one is free."

"And you want me to chaperone?"

"I was hoping." Deb asked, "Isn't there anyone who can take over for you for a little while? We'll be back in school in the afternoon."

"Well…" Karen could get one of the girls to take over for her. That wasn't the reason why she was so reluctant. "I'm not sure."

"Karen, please. There really is no one else, unless I ask Dan to come along; not that he'll want to, but more importantly, I don't want him to!" Deb said it like it was a joke, but Karen could tell she was serious.

"Deb…there'll be other parents there too, right? And –"

"And they'll be talking about Dan? About Nathan and Lucas? About us?"

Not that Karen had ever liked the saying, but Deb had definitely hit the nail on the head. She nodded.

"That's a reason why I didn't want to go first either. But, look at it this way, Karen. If we're both there together, then what can they say?"

Deb did have a point. "It's over by four?" Karen asked finally.

Deb smiled. "You'll be safe back at the café long before that."

Mr. Durham, known as Whitey to his friends, was currently taking register as the first grade class piled onto the school bus. As the last child climbed on board, he went over the list once again and was surprised to find that one person was still yet to arrive. This wasn't especially surprising in itself, as he had expected someone to be late, it was the person who was late that surprised him.

Suddenly, Haley appeared out of nowhere, running fast and panting as her little body tried to catch her breath. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Durham," She said, still panting, "my mummy wouldn't wake up to drive me till really late and –"

"It's alright, Haley."

Haley looked at him. He didn't look like it was alright. He looked a little annoyed. She just didn't know was that it was at her parents and not at her.

"I'm sorry," she repeated.

"It's fine, Haley." Mr. Durham ticked her name off the register. "Why don't you get on the bus?"

Not wanting to make him angrier, she quickly complied. She looked down the rows for Lucas, but soon spotted him near the front sitting next to a smiling brunette. They were busy in conversation so Lucas didn't even notice Haley. She walked past them, looking for an empty row, but she couldn't find any, and in all the seats where there was only one person sitting, they moved their bag so Haley couldn't sit. As she neared the back of the bus, Haley sorrowfully wondered whether she'd have to spend the bus journey standing or – even worse, sitting up front with the teachers. She didn't mind because there was a nice view, but everyone would make fun of her.

Just then a girl with curly blond hair moved her bag down from the seat so there was space for one more. Haley looked at her hesitantly.

"Are you gonna sit or what?"

Despite the girl's sharp tone, Haley smiled happily and sat down. "I'm Haley."

"Peyton," the blond replied, sinking back into her chair and staring out the window, signaling the abrupt end of the conversation.

Haley put her bag down underneath her seat and looked around. She discovered that the seat across from her was being occupied by none other than Nathan. Unfortunately, he was sitting next to the window and on the seat closer to Haley was one of his mean friends. Haley thought his name was Tim, but it might have been Dim. Haley didn't think that was a name, but they called him that a lot.

Haley kept looking in that direction, trying to catch Nathan's eye, and finally he did look up. He smiled at her, and she smiled back, but one second later Tim tugged on his sleeve.

"What?" Nathan asked.

"Are you playing or what? It's your turn."

"I'm playing; just give me a second."

"To do what?" Tim wondered, he started to look up, but Nathan pulled him back down before Tim could turn his head fully and see who was sitting opposite them.

"Let's just play," Nathan told him and kept his eyes trained on the game boy the rest of the journey there.

A/N: We are coming towards the end of this story. There going to be three more chapters, plus an epilogue if ya'll really want one. You can tell me in your reviews! The more reviews I get, the faster I'll post the next chapter!