Here's chapter 32 People! Hope you like it!

General POV

Nathan walked out on the court with his hands shoved in his pockets.

"What are you doing here Nathan?" Lucas asked putting the ball under his arm.

"You heard Mercedes. She said that she wouldn't talk to me, or you until we worked this out."

"Are you gonna listen to what I have to say?"

"I guess I have no choice." Nathan said crossing his arms across his chest.

"Are you only doing this because she won't talk to you?"

"Honestly? Yeah. I don't really want to talk to you Lucas. I don't trust you."

"Why? Cause I didn't tell you about Haley?"

"Yes! What do you expect me to do! Just forgive you for lying to me and act all brotherly again!"

"That's exactly why I didn't tell you Nathan! I was just trying to look out for you and I get burned, that's not fair."

"Life isn't always fair Lucas."

"Listen… Nathan… I know I should have told you, ok? I'm sorry that I didn't. But you have to understand that it wasn't my place to tell you. I couldn't be the one that broke your heart. I didn't want to be."

Nathan stayed quiet for a moment and looked at Lucas.

"I know you were just trying to look out for me but… I don't know…" Nathan put his hands on his head and let out a loud yell. "I just… I thought that you could have said something to her to make her stay."

"Is that why you're really mad at me? Because you thought that I could actually talk Haley out of it?"

"I don't know… maybe."

"Nathan… you know Haley almost as well as I do. When she makes up her mind about something that's it. There's nothing that's gonna change it."

"I know that now."

"Then? Why have you acted this way?"

"It hurt a lot more than you think Lucas. It still hurts."

"What? What do you mean it still hurts? You have Mercedes now."

"I know… and she's the best thing that's ever happened to me. Believe me Lucas… if I didn'tlove her like I doI wouldn't be here talking to you right now."

"She's…"

"Unbelievable? I know."

"Nathan… can we please be friends again?"

Nathan looked at Lucas for a moment and nodded his head.

"Yeah, friends."

"What about brothers?"

"The brothers thing is gonna take time Lucas."

Nathan said turning and heading to his car. Lucas nodded his head and gave Nathan a half smile as he saw him walk away….

Haley stood in front of Chris stunned, her jaw on the floor and her eyes wide. He had just told her that he loved her and she couldn't believe that had come out of his mouth.

"What?" She said after a moment of silence.

"I love you Haley." Chris repeated walking toward her. Haley shook her head in disbelief and backed away form Chris. "I'm sorry."

"Wait… you… you just can't come in here… and knowing our history… blurt out that you love me!"

"I know, and I'm sorry Haley. But… I have to tell you how I feel about you. I should have told you sooner, I know that but… I don't know after we broke things off-"

"No, not we! You! You broke things off! Or did you forget already! You told me that you never loved me and that we had meant nothing to you!" Haley said tears escaping her eyes.

"I made all that up Hales! I didn't want to tell you the truth about why I really broke it off."

"And what is the truth Chris!"

"I was scared, Alright! I was scared out of my mind that I could actually love you! I've never felt about anyone like I do about you. Sure I've said the words before but I've never really meant them. But I do now… I love you Haley."

"Why now? What made you change your mind?"

"When I was listening to you in the studio this weekend… I realized it. I love you Haley, you have to believe me."

Haley closed her eyes and felt the hot tears roll down her cheeks. She felt two arms wrap around her and felt warm lips on hers. She let herself melt into for not more that a second before she pushedChris away.

"I can't do this Chris." She whispered. "You have to go."

"Haley… please." He pleated.

"Just… go Chris…please."

He looked at her for a moment and turned for the door. She heard it open and close and she fell to her knees sobbing…

Mercedes looked at Jake shocked. Could this little baby really be his daughter?

"What?" Mercedes said to Jake as she looked at Jenny. "She's your…your daughter?"

"Yeah."

Mercedes looked in the crib and listened to Jenny laugh.

"Can I?" She asked signaling to the crib.

"Sure." He said taking her out of the crib and putting her into her arms. "Are you ok?" He asked pointing at her wrist?

"Yeah, I'm fine." She said looking and smiling at Jenny. "Hey beautiful. You're so pretty. Yeah, you are." She said cooing at Jenny. She heard Jenny let out a small laugh and Mercedes looked up at Jake and smiled

"I think she likes you." Jake said to her.

"How old is she?" Mercedes asked as Jenny took Mercedes' index finger and blew spit bubbles.

"9 months, 15 day's and a few hours." Jake said smiling and wiping Jenny's mouth.

"She looks like you." She said smiling

"Oh, oh. That can't be good." He said laughing.

"She's gorgeous." Mercedes said laughing with him. "So this is it hu? You're obligations."

"Yeah."

"Why haven't you told anyone about her?"

"I don't know… But… you know what people say."

"Yeah, people Jake… but your friend will be behind you. I know I will. And so will Brooke, Peyton, Nathan, Lucas, and Haley… besides…you shouldn't be ashamed of such a beautiful baby.."

"I'm not ashamed… I'm just… I'm trying to protect her."

"I know you are… but Jake… Listen… my mom left me when I was little… I always thought that she left me because she didn't care, and because she was afraid of what people would say about her. Fortunately though… I was blessed to have my brothers around me. But… sometimes I still feel like she was ashamed of me and that's the reason that she left. Don't let jenny grow up knowing that feeling. Don't hide this Jake; let her know that she has people around her that love her."

Mercedes gave Jenny a kiss on the forehead and handed her back to Jake. Jake… at first was surprised but… he took Jenny back and put her in her crib.

"I should probably go." Mercedes said picking up her purse.

"Um… there's one more thing I want to talk to you about." Jake said

"Ok, what's up?"

"I talked to my mom and she agreed to take care of Jenny and let me come with you to LA for the weekend. That is… if you'll still have me."

"Of course!" Mercedes said hugging him. "I totally love your mom!" She said pulling away.

Jake laughed at her comment and looked at her.

"Listen... Jake, why don't you come hang out tonight? We'll be at Brookes."

"Oh, I'd love too but... I have to take care of Jenny tonight so..."

"Why don't you bring her with you?"

"Mercedes... I..."

"Jake I'm sorry. I don't want to push you into anything so... I guess I'll just see you later." Mercedes looked into the crib and took Jenny's hand. "I'll see you later beautiful." She said pulling her hair out of Jenny's face. "Bye Jake. I hope I see you tonight."

And with that Mercedes left the house and climbed into her car.

Lucas walked into Haley's house without knocking and walked in to the living room to find Haley sobbing on the floor.

"Haley, what's wrong!" Lucas said rushing over to her.

"Nothing." Haley said wiping the tears from her eyes quickly and looking away from Lucas.

"Hales don't lie to me. What's wrong?" He asked as he joined her on the floor.

"Chris came and he told me that he loved me."

"What?" Lucas asked confused.

"I know! That's exactly what I said! I mean... he actually had the nerve to come in here and just... blurt out that he loves me! Who does that!"

"I'm sorry Hales. What did you say to him?"

"I told him that it was too much to deal with right now. But... can I forgive him and take him back Luke? He's the one that broke things off. After everything that I had given up to be with him. He said that he didn't care. So... why should I believe him now?"

"People do stupid things when their in love." Lucas said looking at Haley and taking her into his arms.

"Yeah." She said into his chest.

Lucas pulled away and got up. He reached out to her and offered her his hand. She took it and got up. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her to the couch. He sat down and she followed.

"So... what happened to you Luke?" She asked pulling herself closer to him.

"Oh... that's no important right now." He answered.

"Come on, you said you would tell me what happened to you at practice."

"Well... Nathan made a low comment and well... one thing led to another and... we kinda got into a fight."

"Please tell me it wasn't a fist fight."

"Well... does me punching him in the face and him pinning me on the floor count as a fist fight?"

"Oh, Lucas! I thought you said you weren't gonna fall for Nathan's crap anymore!"

"But that's not the worst part... When we started fighting and Nathan knocked me on the ground... I kinda landed on Mercedes and took her with me."

"Is she ok!" Haley asked worried

"She hurt her wrist but... I think she's fine."

"What do you mean you think? Didn't you talk to her?"

"She doesn't want me too. She told me that until Nathan and I could work things out and be ok with each other again that she didn't want to speak to either one of us."

"I bet that pissed Nathan off."

"Actually he was more upset than pissed off. He came to look for me at the River Court."

"He did not! What happened?"

"He told me why he was actually upset with me."

"I thought that it was because–"

"That's what I though too, but he was upset with me because he thought that I should have said something to make you stay."

"Lucas... there wasn't anything that you could have said to me that would have made me stay."

"He know's that now. So... we're ok with each other now. Not exactly brothers again... he said that would take time but... at least there's hope, right?"

"I'm so happy for you Lucas." she said hugging him.

"Yeah, me too."

"I just wish Nathan and I could be friends again too."

"Give him time Hales. He'll come around."

"I hope so." She said smiling. "Do you want something to drink?" She asked getting up.

"Sure."

I walked into the kitchen with her and she pulled two water bottles out of the fridge, and handed one to me.

"Thanks." I said taking it. "Listen Hales, Mercedes wanted me to come over tonight, and she asked me to ask you if you wanted to come."

"Um...I don't know Luke."

"Come on Haley, please?"

She looked at him for a second before shaking her head.

"Alright. Let's go." She said walking to Lucas.

There it is! Hope you guys liked it! Thanks to Newyorkchicka and OTH-Mrs. Broody for your last reviews! Please leave me on for this chapter. P.S. I wanted to leave a special thanks to Newyorkchicka... you're really great for leaving me reviews like you do. Thanks. I'm really gratefull!