August 10th, 2005
Haley settled into the routine of living with Brooke pretty quickly. She had mainly been spending her time working, settling into the apartment, and occasionally hanging it with Lucas or Brooke.
Brooke had given Haley roughly six feet of space in their bedroom that she was able to call her own. Along with a tiny twin bed to sleep on. It was rough, but Haley was trying to be grateful since Brooke was giving her somewhere to live. She had been procrastinating on unpacking her stuff in hopes that she and Nathan would work things out when he got back from camp. Then maybe she could live with him or they could find a new apartment together. Haley knew it was wishful thinking, but she just had to keep faith that they were going to work things out even though Nathan had been ignoring her for the past two months.
"Good morning, roommate!"Brooke chirps one morning as she walks into their bedroom. She was carrying two to-go cups from Karen's cafe. She hands one to Haley.
"Good morning. Thanks," Haley says, taking a sip and realizing Brooke had gotten her tea rather than coffee. Since Haley had moved in, Brooke had been very attentive towards Haley's pregnancy. Making sure she was taking her vitamins, making sure she was eating healthy and not drinking too much caffeine, and badgering her about working so much. As suffocating as some of it was, Haley knew Brooke's heart was in the right place and much appreciated it.
"Still getting all moved in?"Brooke asks.
"Uh, with the six feet of space that you gave me? Yeah, sure," Haley responds, tiredly running a hand through her hair.
"Good!" Brooke responds with a smile. "So any fun plans for the day?"
"Just work," Haley tells her.
Brooke gives her a disapproving look "That's all you ever do anymore. You shouldn't be working so much. It's bad for the baby. You also need to have some fun,"
"I have fun-"Haley tries to argue, but Brooke cuts her off.
"Sitting around moping about Nathan doesn't count as fun! Speaking of which, I've noticed you haven't unpacked. Little naive, don't you think?"
"No, no, just stalling."Haley says while Brooke looks at her with pity, " I mean it's like if I unpack my split with Nathan will be more real."
"I'd hate to say it, but it's real enough already," Brooke tells her sadly.
"Yeah, I know." Haley sighs.
Haley groans, falling back onto her bed.
"Okay. No, no, none of that!" Brooke quickly reprimands. "Come here, I have a surprise for you," Brooke says, grabbing Haley's arm. "Come on, come on! This will be fun!" She says, dragging a pouting Haley out of the room and towards the living room."This is totally going to cheer you up!"
Haley's eyes widen in amazement. The living room and dining room had been given a complete makeover since she had gone to bed the night before.
"Whoa! This is amazing!" Haley exclaims in amazement, "When did you do this?"
"Last night while you were sleeping," Brooke answers proudly, "You totally sleep like a dead person!"
Haley slaps Brooke playfully. "Shut up. This looks awesome!"
"Thanks!" Brooke says with a smile, "By the way, I'm kinda gonna need to ask for next month's rent now, cause I sort of spent this month's rent on the couch and the rugs and things."
"Okay," Haley laughs. "Although you really shouldn't have to pay for this stuff yourself. We're roommates now. I'll go half."
Even though money was tight for Haley right now, especially with having to save up for the baby, it was fair to Brooke to split rent and utilities while she was living there especially since Brooke had been kind enough to take Haley in after everything she had done last spring.
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
"Oh, I was hoping you'd say that cause I kinda ate half of your rainbow sherbert last night while I was putting up the wall mural," Brooke tells Haley, hoping she wouldn't be too annoyed. Rainbow sherbert had been her craving of the week.
"Where'd you get it anyway?"Haley asks.
"The freezer..." Brooke answers with confusion in her voice.
"The wall mural Brooke." Says Haley.
"Oh, Peyton made it for me!" Brooke answers cheerfully. "It's the French Riviera!"
"Gosh, I haven't talked to Peyton in like forever." Haley says, "Lucas filled me in on her mom situation. What the heck?"
"Yeah, well, the mom situation is on high alert right now, cause Ellie is back in town."
"How's Peyton taking it?"Haley asks worriedly.
"Well-" Before Brooke could answer, her laptop dinged from the kitchen. "Oh, there she is now!"
"She's sending me a last-minute flyer for the party tonight." Brooke tells Haley as she heads over to check her laptop, "Speaking of which, you are not allowed to sulk tonight!" Brooke tells Haley sternly.
"I don't sulk!"Haley argues.
"You sulk! You're a sulker!"Brooke throws back at her "But tonight you're gonna have fun! Just like we talked about. After all, it's a party. It's supposed to be-"
Brooke broke off upon opening the attachment Peyton had sent her. The attachment revealed a flyer more suitable for a horror movie rather than a beach party.
"Dark and depressing?!" Brooke exclaims. "Well, you asked how she's taking it, there you go," Brooke tells Haley while she stares at the poster on Brooke's computer screen in surprise.
XXX
To Haley's dismay. Karen had called to tell her that they did not need her today. So now she was stuck with nothing to do up until the party started later. She halfway wondered if this was some plot from Karen, Deb, and Brooke to get her to stop working so much. Haley decided that maybe she would take Brooke's advice and get a start on unpacking since she had nothing else better to do. She had a good chunk of her unpacking done around lunchtime when she decided to take a break.
Haley walks out into the living room to find Brooke straddling Lucas on the couch.
"Oh, it's way too early in the day for me to see this," Haley says as she reaches in the fridge for a bottle of water. They quickly break apart.
"Well, what hour would you prefer to watch us then?" Brooke giggles. Lucas merely looks uncomfortable.
"Oh, how about never o'clock? Or maybe, uh, I don't know, quarter after stab out my eyes? Either one's really good for me!" Haley answers sarcastically.
"Oh, by the way, that couch hasn't been stain guarded yet, so you might want to get a room instead," Haley says, opening her water.
"Well, if we get a room, then you're going to be stuck on this tiny couch." Brooke points out.
"That's a good point," Haley says, going to sit at the counter.
"Give me a minute, and we'll go to the beach," Brooke tells Lucas before getting up and skipping towards the bedroom. She shoots Haley a smile as she walks past.
Haley gives Lucas a pointed look.
"Brooke asked me to help her out." He says without meeting Haley's eyes.
"And by Brooke, you mean your part-time girlfriend, Brooke?" Haley questions, leaning back against the counter.
"We're gonna set up for the end of summer thing," Lucas says as he comes to stand in the kitchen with Haley.
"Mhmm. What's up with that anyway?" Haley asks.
Lucas looks at her strangely. "Well, you see, there's a season called summer Haley. And when that ends, another season called fall starts right up."
Haley rolls her eyes and laughs, "Okay, rephrasing! What's up with all of the part-time girlfriend stuff?"
Lucas shrugs, " I don't know. Right now, we're on Brooke's terms. I'll keep you posted, though!" He says, patting Haley on the shoulder.
"Oh, gee, thanks!" Haley says with a sarcastic smile. She opens her water to take another sip.
"I also came to check on you," Lucas tells her "Nathan was in a pretty bad mood this morning at the River Court. I thought that maybe that might have had something to do with you."
Haley just about chokes on her water.
He was back?
"Nathan's home?" Haley asks in surprise.
"You didn't know he was back?" Lucas asks, looking equally just as surprised.
"No," Haley responds with mild annoyance in her voice, "No, I didn't."
"I'm sorry, Haley," Lucas says apologetically as Haley turns around, setting her water down and going into the closet behind her. "I thought you knew.."
"Can you just tell Brooke that I'll um just see her tonight?" Haley asks, slinging her purse over her shoulder. A moment later, she is out the door.
A little while later, Haley is on the front step of the Scott house ringing the doorbell.
She is filled with dread by who answers the door.
"Well, well. If it isn't my beloved daughter in law." Dan says snidely.
Haley sighs and follows him into the house.
"Haley, it's so nice of you to come by and check on me following my accident!" Dan says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Oh, by the way, I think I found a pair of your black gloves. Leather, right?"
"Uh, no, I don't own any black gloves, Mr. Scott."
She glances around her uncomfortably, looking for any sign of Nathan. Or even Deb. Anybody to get her away from Dan Scott.
"I know your parents aren't around. So just call me Dad." He tells her, making her feel even more uneasy than she already was.
"I'd really just like to see Nathan," Haley says as politely as she can manage.
"He didn't tell you he was coming home," Dan says in realization. Haley just stares at him and fiddles with her hands nervously.
"Sometimes, I'm so proud of that kid!" Dan smirks.
"I'd offer you a drink, but I wouldn't want to cause any harm to that precious cargo of yours. Congratulations, by the way, I'm sure you and Keller must be so excited!"
Haley narrows her eyes, "I am, and I'm sure Nathan is too in his own way." She says coldly.
"Yeah I wouldn't count on that one," Dan laughs darkly.
"What are you doing here anyway? Deb said you moved out."
"Yeah, sucks, doesn't it?" Dan says, taking a seat on the couch. "My marriage is over. Who knew you and I could have so much in common after all?"
"Could you please just tell Nathan that I'm here," Haley says, having had enough of his games.
"Oh, he's not home," Dan says casually taking a sip of his drink.
Haley looks at him in disbelief before getting up and storming out.
After a half-hour of checking the river court and some of Nathan's other haunts, she finally spots his car parked near the fieldhouse at the high school. When she doesn't find him in the gym, she checks the weight room. Sure enough, he is laid out across the weight bench, pressing a weight.
"Hey," She says softly as he sets down the weight and sits up.
"I saw your car. I didn't know you were home."
"Yeah, I know," Nathan says, wiping the sweat off his face with a towel.
"Did you get my letters? And the picture I sent?"
"Yeah," Nathan replies shortly. He hadn't even looked at her.
"Its good to see you." She says softly.
"Look, Haley. I can't do this, alright?" Nathan snips.
"What? You can't do what?" Haley asks in disbelief. She takes a few steps towards him, but he keeps his back turned to her. "You can't talk to me? You didn't even tell me you were home, Nathan. What were you going to do? Pass me in the hallway at school and not say a word?"
"I didn't even know if you would be in school!" Nathan says, finally turning to look at her. He glances down at her stomach before quickly looking back up at her eyes.
"I told you I'm back for good."
Nathan sighs and directs his eyes down at the ground.
Haley brushes off the sting of the fact that he obviously doesn't believe her.
"Anyway, um, I don't know if you heard, but I'm staying in our apartment. Brooke rented it and asked me to be her roommate."
"You and Brooke, huh?"
"Yeah I really didn't see that one coming," Haley laughs " Oh, by the way, if this basketball thing doesn't work out, you may have a future as a painter." Haley attempts to joke, but Nathan doesn't as much as crack a smile. There is an awkward silence before Haley finally speaks again.
"Nathan, we have some decisions to make," Haley says in a more serious tone. "Especially with the baby coming,"
"Yeah. Yeah, we do," Nathan agrees.
"Yeah. Well, I guess I'll be at the beach tonight." Haley says, nervously fiddling with her wedding ring. "There's a party,"
Nathan laughs without humor and rolls his eyes "Okay."
Haley turns to leave, taking the hint that he obviously didn't want her there. Just as she reaches the door, she turns to face him again. He's busied himself by switching out the weights on the weight bench. It was as though their conversation had not had any effect on him.
"You've changed," Haley says softly.
"Yeah," Nathan says, not bothering to face her "I guess I have you to thank for that."
His words feel like a blow to her gut, and she hurries out before he can see her tears.
He hadn't even asked how the baby was doing. Did he really not care anymore?
XXX
Haley spent the remainder of the afternoon dwelling over her conversation with Nathan before being dragged to the beach by Brooke at sunset. Brooke had dressed her in a white crop top that exposed her pregnant belly and a blue boho style skirt. She had felt uncomfortable wearing such an outfit while pregnant, but luckily nobody seemed to be paying her much attention. It also eased her anxiety when she noticed another pregnant girl about her age.
"People have had fire rituals since the beginning of time. For some people its witchcraft, for others, its religion. But for us, it marks the beginning of our senior year!"
The crowd cheers as Brooke gives a small speech to kick off the end of the summer bonfire. Haley stands next, Lucas. She scans the faces around her and is disappointed when she does not spot her husband. She tells herself that maybe he is running late or is just perhaps planning on coming later.
"I know we have to go back to school soon," Brooke continues, "But tonight, as long as this fire still burns. Summer is still ours!"
With that, Brooke lights the bonfire, and the crowd cheers again. A few moments later, everybody looks around in confusion as Peyton kicks off the party with a slightly depressing song.
After a couple of hours of mostly keeping to herself and questioning why she even came to this thing in the first place, Haley finds Lucas leaning against the lifeguard station. He is glowering at Brooke as she talks to a group of guys.
"Hey!" Haley calls, "How's that casual dating thing working out for you?"
"So-so."
"It could be worse," Haley says as she walks past him "Nathan didn't even show up."
A little while later, she is sitting by the fire again when Tim approaches her.
"Tutor girl! Check it out! The stars are blue! Do your song!" He shoves a guitar in her face.
"Uh, no thanks," Haley declines politely. Singing was the last thing she wanted to do.
"Why not?" Tim whines.
"Cause I don't want to."
"Oh, come on! Don't be stuck up!" Tim pushes "I'll sing the Chris Keller part-"
"Tim I really don't wanna sing-"
"Please! Let me-" Before Tim can finish, the guitar is ripped out of his hands and tossed into the fire. Haley looks up to see the figure of her husband stalking away.
Tim stares at the guitar for a moment before running off to catch up with Nathan.
Haley smiled to herself.
He had shown up.
"Hey, girly!" Haley calls to Peyton a little while later, "I've left you like a million messages! Where you been?" Haley asks, taking a seat beside her.
"Around," Peyton answers shortly. Peyton doesn't offer anything else to the conversation.
"Drinking, huh?" Haley asks in an attempt to start a conversation, "I would probably join you if I could with the night I'm having. It's like Tim wants me to play, Nathan won't even talk to me-"
"Well, it's not like you don't deserve it!" Peyton cuts her off harshly, and Haley stares at her in surprise. Peyton changes the song to "When The Stars Go Blue" before storming away. Haley stares after her before putting her head down sadly. She knew she had messed up, but she didn't need to be continuously reminded of it.
"Hey?" A familiar voice asks, "Can I talk to you?"
Haley looks up to find herself face to face with Nathan. She nods and gives him a small smile.
"Everything still okay with the baby?" He asks her as they walk along the beach.
"Yeah," She sighs. "Yeah, everything's fine. I'm able to find out what I'm having whenever I want. I was waiting until you got back to find out in case you wanted to come with."
He nods, "Yeah. Yeah sure. Just um, let me know when."
She nods, and there is a silence between them.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry," Nathan says after a moment "I should have told you I was back in town,"
"It's okay,"
"Not really. Look, I've been avoiding you because I'm still mad, Haley. About everything. I don't see that changing anytime soon."
"You wanna know the last two times I came to the beach?" Nathan asks after another moment of silence. "For our wedding and to burn the wedding wall."
"So that's what happened to it."
"Well, first, I broke it in half with the keyboard I bought you. Then I burned it. Sorry."
"Nathan," Haley sighs "I want to ask you something, and I really don't want you to take it the wrong way."
Nathan stops walking and turns to face her.
"I need to know what you want from me or what you want from us. What are we now?"
"I don't know." Nathan shrugs.
"Well, what do you want us to be?" Haley pushes.
"I don't know Haley. I can't answer that right now!"
"I can. I want us to be together!"
"Why?" Nathan asks, his voice gaining an edge. " I mean, we're so far away from who we used to be! Why even fight for it!"
"Because I love you," Haley says softly. "And I want us to be a family," She says, placing a hand on her stomach.
Nathan sighs and rolls his "Because that worked out so well for my parents," He mutters.
"Well listen, basketball seasons coming up and I'm going to concentrate on that. So you should do your thing, whatever it is. School, music... Something other than me. I'll do my best with the baby stuff, but that's about it. Because I really don't know when I'm gonna be ready for us again. Or even if I'm gonna be ready for us at all."
"Nathan, don't say that! God!"
"Haley, I'm not saying it to be mean, okay? I don't like hurting you. I'm just trying to be honest with you,"
Haley sighs and shakes her head. Obvious hurt and frustration were written across her face.
"I'm going to head back. Alright?" Nathan asks gently. When she doesn't respond, he turns to walk away.
"Nathan!" Haley calls and turns back to face her.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Okay," He says, looking as though he doesn't quite believe her.
She is still sitting by the water sometime later when somebody else sits down next to her. A quick glance tells her that it is Lucas.
"And then there were two." He says.
Haley says nothing. She continues to stare straight ahead, a look of utter dismay on her face.
"Hey, it's not so bad!" Lucas attempts to cheer Haley up. "This is how we started last school year and look how that turned out!"
Once again, Haley doesn't acknowledge his words and continues to stare out at the ocean.
A few moments later, Lucas gently grabs Haley's arm. "Hey, let's take a walk!"
Haley lets out a breath and nods. She shoots Lucas a small smile as he pulls her to her feet. They only walk a few feet until Lucas stops them. Haley follows his gaze and spots Brooke flirting with a group of guys.
"Give me a minute," Lucas says, heading off in Brooke's direction. Haley nods, running a hand through her hair and rubbing her stomach. Lucas exchanges a few words with Brooke before rejoining Haley.
"Its gonna be okay, Hales," Lucas reassures her as they walk along the beach. "As a matter of fact I think that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Again."
Haley giggles, and for a moment everything feels okay. For a moment, she believes that Lucas is right.
Maybe everything would fall into place.