CHAPTER 11
The day of Lucas's surgery arrived, which also happened to fall on the same day that school was starting back up. Almost two weeks had passed since Lucas was rushed into the emergency room and he was relieved that if all went well with the surgery, he could go home by the weekend. He couldn't wait to get back to his own room, in his own bed with his own TV and his mother's cooking. Dr Harte said his recovery time could be up to a month, which was frustrating because, shocking as it sounded, he couldn't wait to get back to school for Senior year. Anything was better than sitting on his ass all day watching soap opera's and Dr Phil. He would have to take it easy for the first few months, but after that he could get back to his usual routine, bar basketball of course. And that was all if the surgery went well.
"Are you doing that voiceover thing in your head again, the whole 'someone once wrote' thing?" Brooke interrupted, leaning against the door jamb, a cheeky grin on her face and looking stunning as always. She threw her book bag onto a spare chair, free from teddy bears and fruit baskets, and made her way across the room, leaning over her boyfriend to give him a sweet, yet thrilling kiss on the lips.
"You make it sound like I'm in the Wonder Years or something."
"Am I your Winnie Cooper, Kevin?" Brooke asked saucily, flashing her famous dimples.
"No, you're my Lisa." Lucas gasped between kisses.
"Loving the Weird Science reference, Broody. Brings me right back to our first date, you remember?"
"How could I forget? I have permanent scarring on my arm to remind me every day."
"It's a good reminder though, isn't it?" Brooke questioned, a little bit self-consciously.
"The best. When I'm 65 and can still look at this tattoo and feel the way I feel now, then it's worth it."
"You're such a charmer." Brooke kissed him one last time and pulled back. "I can't believe I have to go to school. I want to be here so badly." The playfulness had left Brooke's tone and was placed by concern.
"There's nothing for you to do here. I'm gonna be out for hours. You'll probably be back here before I even come around. Go to school, get your schedule, hang out with Bevin and the rest of the squad. Just enjoy your day." Lucas shrugged.
"Like that's gonna be possible. I've told your mom that my cell is on all day and she can call me anytime. Peyton, too. And Haley. It's not fair that Nathan gets to stay here." Brooke pouted as she walked back to the chair and grabbed her book bag, swinging it over her shoulder. Reaching the door, she paused and turned back to Lucas and held his gaze for more than a few seconds. She blinked back tears, forced a bright smile and used every ounce of strength she had not to go back to him and mould herself into him, so that they could never be separated. "You better still be here when I get back, Scott." she said before finally leaving.
Karen paced the waiting room over and over. She was getting way too used to hospital waiting rooms. Nathan was draped across three seats in the corner and was playing with his PSP. Karen could tell by the dreary noises it kept making that he was losing. Lucas drove her nuts with that thing and she was forever yelling at him to turn the sound off, but today she found it oddly comforting, especially as Deb was upstairs in the maternity ward visiting her doctor. Nathan had opted to stay with Karen to make sure she didn't have a meltdown, as he had so kindly put it.
Frustrated at the lack of news, Karen sat down in the chair beside Nathan's feet and began tapping her foot nervously. Nathan looked up from his game, switched it off and put it into the backpack he'd brought with him stuffed full of magazines and PSP games.
"So, Karen, I never really got to hear about New Zealand. Didn't you say it would be the kind of place I'd love?"
Karen turned toward him quickly, surprised, as if realising for the first time that he was there. "Uh. . . No, I guess I didn't get a chance to tell you much about it." Karen smiled, grateful to Nathan for the distraction. "Well, it's a beautiful country, I can't stress that enough. Kids your age get a real kick out of all the activities - bungee jumping, skydiving, snow-boarding - didn't I already tell you about this stuff?"
"Yeah, but I'm sorry I wasn't really paying much attention that night." Nathan confessed.
"Do you know what I think would be a really great idea? You and Lucas should go there next summer, before you go to college! You could both stay with Andy, trust me, it would be the best summer of your lives." Karen enthused.
"I'd like that. It sounds really cool. How is Andy?"
"He's good. It's hard being away from him but he's working hard to find a way to get back into the country. I have a feeling that those ways may not be entirely legal, but I miss him so much that I don't care. I haven't said anything to Lucas yet, but when he does get back we're thinking of getting married." Karen tried to contain her excitement, but her glowing smile gave her away.
"That's great. I'm really sorry about Andy getting deported in the first place."
"You never need to apologise for your father, Nathan. I told you that at the Rivercourt that day. You are not responsible for the mistakes he made. Anyway, have you started thinking about college yet?" Karen quickly changed the subject but noticed that Nathan's mood became even more sombre.
"A little, but the way last year went, I don't think my chances are good."
"Why would you say that?" Karen asked concerned.
"I spent most of Junior year partying, getting suspended, drinking or fighting in class (when I went), and generally being a total ass. Not to mention that I'm not the sharpest tool in the box and my GPA is pathetic. I don't think recruiters are going to be lining up to get me into their colleges."
"What? Nathan, you are certainly not stupid and all of your previous behaviour can be made up for this year if you make it happen."
"I guess I probably shouldn't rely on basketball to get me into college." Nathan shrugged.
"Well, you are a good player but you would still have to work academically to keep the scholarship. It's just a matter of keeping your priorities straight this year."
"Maybe there's no point anyway. I mean, Scott Motors isn't going to run itself and Mom is going to be occupied with the baby. She needs my help."
"Nathan, take this from a working single mother. Deb is perfectly capable of balancing motherhood and Scott Motors. The new manager is apparently very good, so all your mom has to do is check in every once in a while and sign a few cheques. You don't have to worry about any of that. Have you spoken to Deb about any of this? I know that she couldn't stand if you didn't go to college because of her. She wants the very best for you."
"We'll see how it goes." Nathan smiled tightly, obviously wanting another change of topic and Karen saw why as Deb re-entered the waiting room, her new ultrasound picture in hand. Nathan snatched it from her and studied it proudly, showing it to Karen, who laughed, as he expertly pointed out where everything was.
The door to the waiting room opened loudly and all three looked up from the picture and to the smiling face of Dr Harte. Karen stood quickly, rushing toward him.
"Karen, Deb, Nathan - you'll all be pleased to know that the surgery was a success. We've just finished stitching him up and he's being brought to recovery as we speak. Karen let out an audible sigh of relief as Nathan and Deb flanked her, each grasping one of her hands.
"When can we see him?" she asked.
'Karen, you can go in soon, but he might not wake for a couple of hours yet."
"Dr Harte, thank you so much for everything, thank you." Karen shook his hand vigorously as did Deb and Nathan. The doctor nodded his acceptance and after briefing them on what to expect from Lucas over the next few weeks, he left the family alone. The three embraced and Nathan left to make a few phone calls. Karen turned to Deb and laughed. "He's going to be ok, Deb. My baby's going to be ok!" she managed to say through sobs and laughter.
Later that evening, Nathan got back to the apartment which was now a maze of boxes. He and his mother agreed that now Lucas would be recovering at home with Karen, there was no point keeping the apartment, so Nathan too was moving back home. He had carefully packed up Lucas's room the night before, keeping everything neat and tidy so Lucas would find things easily when he dropped the boxes at Karen's house tomorrow. He had come across several photographs, mostly of Lucas and Brooke when they dated first time round and some childhood ones of Lucas and Haley, including one of them dressed as Power Rangers for Lucas' eighth birthday. He had also found a picture of himself and Lucas, taken towards the end of the last basketball season. Both of them wore identical Raven uniforms, sitting on the bench, their backs facing the camera but both looking over their left shoulder at the photographer. Both of them wore easy smiles and looked completely comfortable in each other's company. Nathan knew the picture well as he had an identical one back in his own room. Haley had taken the shot and insisted that each of them take a copy, reminding them that there were no other pictures in existence of them together. Since that picture was taken, many followed - parties, games, road trips - there were now lots of photos of them together, but the one he held in his hands at that moment, was the first one taken of them as brothers.
Nathan placed the picture carefully on top of the pile and packed them away. Standing, Nathan observed the chaos around him and felt a little bit sad that they were now leaving the apartment. Now that he and Lucas were friends again, they could have had some crazy wild parties at this place.
A light tap on the front door, barely audible, pulled Nathan from his reverie and he was delighted when it was Haley who stood on the other side.
"Hey, you." she smiled her Haley smile and entered the apartment, grazing Nathan's hand with her own. Nathan felt that familiar jolt of electricity race through him whenever any part of their bodies touched. "I just got back from the hospital. Lucas says hi." she informed him.
"I saw him for a little while when he woke up. He seems to be ok." Nathan added.
"Yeah, he's still a little groggy but he should be back to his usual self by tomorrow."
Nathan nodded and sat down on the couch, secretly glad when Haley sat down beside him.
"So how was school? Senior year?" he said, trying to keep his voice casual.
Haley smiled warmly. "It wasn't bad. All the gossips are talking about me being back from the tour. Brooke, ever the greatest source of information, told me the best rumour going around. Apparently, I got really drunk and trashed a hotel room and so got kicked off the tour. I've been seen at AA meetings every Thursday ever since." she laughed at the story's absurdity.
"Haley James, bad ass of rock. You'll give Courtney Love a run for her money." Nathan joked.
"How weird is that? Me, tutor girl, now has a reputation that makes Pete Doherty look like an angel." They both laughed. "Anyway, before I forget, I picked up your schedule because I know you're mom is making you go back tomorrow. Whitey was asking about you. He wanted to know which Nathan he would be getting this year - 'Drunken-bad-ass-with-an-attitude-Nathan' or 'Responsible-compassionate-wants-to-do-better-Nathan.' "
"Which one do you think I should be? Naughty or nice?" Nathan asked saucily.
Haley blushed and rolled her eyes. "I think you should be 'Going-to-study-get-good-grades-and-get-into-college-Nathan'." she suggested.
Nathan clucked and pondered this for a moment. "I think I'll stick to being naughty." He winced and Haley punched him in the arm but, getting his own back, he began to tickle her mercilessly. Haley screamed and laughed, begging him to stop but Nathan was relentless in his torture. Their laughter stopped as they caught each other's eyes and found themselves in an awkward position whereby Nathan was on top of Haley, one hand on her waist and the other holding both her hands above her head. A few seconds of silence passed before Haley pulled her hands free from Nathan's grip and stroked the back of his head and neck. Nathan didn't fight when she pulled him toward her and began to kiss him with a passion and force he never knew she had, however, it took all his will power to break away from the kiss.
"I can't." he whispered breathlessly. "I can't. I'm sorry." Nathan sat back up on the couch, swiftly distancing himself from his former wife.
"Nathan. . ." Haley gasped and tried to pull him towards her again. Nathan stood this time and took several steps away from her. "I thought we were. . ." she started to say.
"We were, I mean, we are, but I can't." Nathan shook his head, willing himself to put a sentence together but finding it difficult to think about anything other than that kiss. "Haley, at the beginning of the summer, that night you came back, I was a mess. I was so confused and hurt, I just didn't know how to react. That's why I slammed the door in your face. I had convinced myself that we were through and that you weren't coming back so when you did, I was shocked. I was too proud to admit that I still wanted you in my life and that I would've done anything to get you back."
"It's ok. We can fix things now. Let's just forget about that day." Haley soothed and moved toward him again, grasping his hands firmly in hers.
"I don't think we can fix things. I've been so stupid, Haley. I was a complete ass when you left, I was in self-destruct mode, right up until mom found out about the baby. We can't fix things, Haley because I did something unforgivable."
"I did a stupid thing too, Nathan. I left - that was unforgivable, but whatever it is, we can work through it. I love you so much, please let's try again. Please." Haley was crying now and Nathan looked into her eyes and saw the love in them that he knew would soon turn to despair.
"I love you too and I want us to go back to the way we were more than anything. But there's something I have to tell you that might make you change your mind. Haley shook her head as if that was impossible. Nathan paused and bit his lip, mentally readying himself for the hell he was about to unleash. "The night you came back, I slept with Peyton."
A/N; Dun Dun Duuunnn. What do you think? Feedback please!