Part 27
"Oh! That is some kick!" Brooke said as Haley held her hand over her midsection to feel her son in action.
"Yeah, though I've been trying to warn him that football just isn't going to cut it with his father." Haley says as Brooke pulls her hand back.
"Have you felt it Peyt?" Brooke asks turning her head up to look at the blonde girl, whose lap she was still commandeering for pillow duty.
"Oh yeah." Peyton giggled as her fingers played with strands of Brooke's hair. "It's a wonder I ever managed to get to sleep sometimes." She continues with a shake of her head.
Brooke's eyes widen at that but she can tell Peyton had no idea just how that had sounded, but glancing at a blushing Haley there was no way she could let that comment go.
"My, my, get stuck in hospital for a few days and you miss out on who exactly has been sleeping with who." Brooke says, but as Peyton just smiles and shakes her head at her, she turns her attention to Haley.
"What's wrong Hales? Nathan not enough? Cause I hear pregnant women can be really-"
"Brooke!" Haley interrupts her indignantly.
"Well?" She asks again with a raised eyebrow thoroughly enjoying the pregnant girl's current flustered state. "I mean if you guys are having trouble I can give him some pointers if-"
"Brooke Davis!" Haley tries once again and looks to Peyton for some help, who was having trouble controlling her own amusement at the topic.
"Well from what I've heard they're both doing fine in the bedroom." She says with a grin as Brooke bursts out laughing.
Haley stares at Peyton with narrowed eyes. "And just how would you know you've been missing the past couple of nights." She said through clenched teeth as she willed her blush away.
That halted Brooke's laughter because she knew Peyton had only spent one night here with her. Exactly where was she if she wasn't here?
Peyton on the other hand tried not to make eye contact with Brooke but when the brunette grasped at her hand she let her eyes trail to her friends as Haley sat grumbling, completely unaware of what was going on in front of her.
Looking into the brown eyes below her that were full of questions, Peyton sighed and gave her a sad look with weak smile in return, squeezing the hand in her own softly.
She was with Lucas. Brooke thought and couldn't help her own reaction to that, she pulled her hand out of the blonde's and turned to face Haley instead. Trying hard not pull away from Peyton completely she had to close her eyes in an effort to keep her head where it was on Peyton's thigh.
She kept her eyes closed when she felt the other girl start to run her fingers through her hair again. That's so not helping.
Peyton wasn't sure what Brooke had decided had been the cause for her not being in Nathan and Haley's apartment but she hoped that her best friend knew her better than to think she had gone to some bar to get wasted or high.
Sighing as she looked down at her friend she knew that whatever reason the brunette had come up with it had obviously upset her, so with little thought she lowered her head as close to Brooke's ear as she could and whispered the truth to her.
"I was with my mom."
Brooke felt Peyton's breath on the side of her face almost at the same time as what she had said registered with her. And just like that, the pain, the fear, and all the insecurities currently running around in her head just, stopped. And as she took a deep breathe her emotions calmed and she turned her head to look up at her friend again.
"Sorry."
Peyton shrugged, happy that Brooke didn't seem so upset with her now. "S'okay, was a pretty stupid thing to do."
"I'm still sorry." Brooke repeated earnestly. Where Peyton chose to spend her nights was none of Brooke's business. Right? It's not like I have any claim on her, she has a boyfriend for God's sake!
Peyton stared at Brooke and frowned before tapping a finger gently to the other girl's temple.
"Where did you think I'd gone?"
Brooke smiled shyly and shook her head. "I like the truth better?" She added hoping that would be enough of an explanation for Peyton.
"What truth?" Haley asked to draw their attention back to the fact she was still in the room. She didn't mind that the two best friends wanted or needed to talk with each other, but the smiles and low whispers were enough to make anyone feel left out. She wasn't used to having close female friends, the ones in front of her being the only ones she'd ever had, and while she'd practically been best friends with Lucas from birth, they'd never acted this way with each other.
"The truth that…" Brooke started as she once again changed her position in Peyton's lap. Wonder if that's starting to annoy her? "If things are so great with Hot Shot why exactly are you sleeping with my girl?" She finished with a smirk.
"We weren't sleeping-"
Brooke fakes a gasp of shock at that. "Oh my God! What will Nathan say?" She adds as Peyton starts laughing and Haley tries to finish her explanation.
"Damit Brooke, it was nothing like that and you know it, besides, Peyton isn't my type." Haley says in a rush then looks at Peyton who was trying to catch her breath. "No offence."
"None taken." Peyton replied simply.
"That's okay I still love you." Brooke said in a consoling tone giving her friends leg a pat.
It was only then that she felt the younger girl had stilled at her words. Why don't you freak her out some more you idiot? Chancing a glance up she was greeted by a crooked, understanding smile and rolled her eyes at herself in sheer disbelief which got her a wink from her best friend.
"Uh oh." Peyton said as she noticed the door open.
"Uh oh is right." Says Maggie as she walks into the room. "Sounds to me, and everyone else on this ward, that someone's about well enough to be going home."
"Yup!" Brooke says proudly.
"Mm hmm." The nurse says with a hand going to her hip before she points a finger between Brooke and Peyton. "And remind me again just which one of you two happens to be the patient."
"That'd be me." Brooke says with a smile raising her hand slightly.
"Uh huh, then perhaps your friend would like me to find her another chair for her?" She asks.
"Oh that's okay she's fine where she is thanks." Brooke answered cheerfully giving the thigh beneath her head a gentle slap.
"Uh huh, next thing you know you'll be wanting me to fetch you tea or something." The nurse said with a frown.
"Oh could you?" Brooke says with fake hope as she watched the nurse turn to leave the room mumbling something about 'room service' and 'hotel' causing the three friends to break into fits of laughter.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So how did Brooke take it?" Nathan asks as he places a large portion of fries and a burger down in front of Haley and takes his own seat beside her putting down his own food.
"Actually…" Haley says with a frown thinking back to earlier. "Apart from when we first got there, she was really okay."
"Yeah?" Nate asks popping another chip into his mouth. He found it difficult to believe Brooke wouldn't be as upset as Peyton had been when she had first found out.
"Yeah, I mean she was upset. But after that she was laughing and joking, making fun of me, and it wasn't fake. She was just… happy, I think." Haley said, after she had given the two girls a little space Brooke has seemed much more at ease to her and that had carried on all through the remainder of the visit.
She shrugged. "You'll get to see for yourself later."
"Yeah." Nathan started tentatively thinking that if it was at all possible he'd give that idea a miss. "Well Peyton's not too mad is she?"
"No, she was more worried about how Brooke was going to react, so I think you're safe from a beating from her." Haley grinned, enjoying that her husband seemed so afraid of their friend. "If not, well you can stand behind me, I'll protect you." Haley said jokingly.
"My hero." Nathan replied bring his hands up to cover his heart.
They both laughed.
"Listen." Nathan said seriously. "Lucas was asking me earlier if I'd seen Dan, apparently Dan and his mom were supposed to meet up on Sunday but with everything…"
Haley thought about the last time she had seen Nathan's dad, but other than at the Prom before they'd left she was drawing a blank.
"Sorry." She responded with a shaking head. "Everything was just so… and Brooke and Peyton have been the only things I've worried about."
Nathan took his wife's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I know."
"He's the Mayor Nate, I'm sure someone must know where he is."
Nathan shrugged indifferently. "Not like I care where he's run off to now, or why. As far as I'm concerned as long as he stays away from us and my mom, he can rot in hell." He finished stabbing his fork into his food.
Haley gives his back a rub and decides to change the subject.
"Brooke asked me if we'd picked out a name for our son yet." She said smiling as Nathan's head shot in her direction, the panic clear on his face.
"You didn't tell her right?" He asked.
"Nope, but by the end of visiting she'd started calling him 'Thumper' she thinks he's going to make an excellent soccer player, or football kicker." She giggled.
Nathan grinned, but knew his son would be playing one sport and one sport only.
"Are you still okay with it?" He asked not for the first time. It had been his idea, and even though he'd thought Haley would laugh at him, she'd actually been really touched.
"Oh yeah, I think it's a-"
"Sorry to like interrupt, but can I talk to you guys for a second?"
Nathan and Haley took one look at the person standing in front of them then looked at each other before Nate gestured to the empty seat.
"Thanks."
"What can we do for you Chase?" Haley asked.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lucas looked on as Peyton folded another top and placed it into the bag beside her.
"Isn't that Brooke's?" He asked slightly confused as to what his girlfriend was doing.
"Yes it is." She drawled as she turned her head to look at Lucas. "I'm packing some of her stuff for tomorrow." She reminded him.
"Right!" He replied. "So she's definitely getting out then?"
"Hopefully, if whatever tests they're going to do give her the all clear, then she'll be leaving around lunchtime." Peyton explained.
He nodded his head still feeling awkward being alone with Peyton since she and Haley had returned from the hospital. He wasn't sure if it was on purpose but it felt like his girlfriend was acting as if he wasn't even there.
Maybe it was more that he didn't have something to help her with, instead he just sat back while Peyton went through several of the boxes still in the corner of the living area. He'd offered to help pack the stuff away now that all of Haley and Nate's things were gone, but she said she'd get it done later. Alone.
Feeling at a loose end he checked his watch, it was almost five, so with any luck Nathan and Haley would reappear soon. He blew out a breath and watched as Peyton once again disappeared into the bedroom.
Peyton wasn't sure what else Brooke would need, she'd already packed two changes of clothes as well as some underwear. Shoes! She laughed at herself before heading to the walk in closet where she'd already unpacked most of Brooke's belongings. Flats, heels, flat or heels. Hmmm, what would Brooke want? She debated before grinning and lifting a pair of trainers that she then added to the overnight bag she was holding. Done!
"Knock, knock." Lucas said as he opened the bedroom door enough to poke his head around. Catching Peyton's eye he smiled at her. "Hey, I just ordered some pizza, should be here in ten."
"Okay, I'm finished now anyway." Peyton said dropping the bag next to the door and following Lucas back out of the room.
xxxxxxxxxxx
Nathan watched his wife get out of their car with some difficulty but knew better than to offer to help.
"You know Hales maybe now's the time to start think-"
"Don't say it." Haley said as they began walking up the path towards the apartment. She knew Nathan was just concerned about her but she knew how much trouble she had doing a lot of things, she just wasn't ready to be told she should be laying back with her feet up until she gave birth.
She knew that when she was tired she waddled more than she walked, but there was too much going on with her friends right now to not be around for them as much as she could. Yes her pregnancy was taking its toll but she still had a few weeks before her due date so she was determined to carry on as normal for as long as she could.
"Fine." Nathan said as he slipped an arm around his wife. "But how about we take it easy tonight, a nice long bath, I'll even cook, what do you say?" He asked dropping a kiss on his wife's head.
Haley closed her eyes and enjoyed the idea of what was to come later, of course in her head she wasn't over eight months pregnant and they didn't have a friend crashing on their couch, but she was sure she'd still have a really good time.
"Sounds great, throw in a foot massage and you've got a deal." She offered with a smile as they entered the apartment.
"Okay." He agreed with a laugh.
"Shhh!"
Haley turned and saw Lucas and Peyton staring avidly at the television and quietly followed her husband to join them at the couch.
There has been a dramatic twist in the tale of last weeks prom night attack. Tree Hill police have refused to confirm or deny that the man they want to bring in for questioning over the brutal rape and attempted murder of eighteen year old student Brooke Davis is twenty three year old Texan Ian Banks.
Haley watched as a picture of Ian flashed up on screen, he looked much younger in the picture and she guessed that it had been taken from his own high school year book.
Banks is still wanted for questioning in Fort Worth over the death of his girlfriend five years ago. He is also wanted in connection with the deaths of six girls in the last few years along the east coast. All the girls were raped and killed on their prom nights by a man fitting Banks' description.
Today a police spokesman refused to comment on any similarities between those murders and the Brooke Davis attack, stating only that more information would be made available at tomorrow's news conference.
But today local Tree Hill High students were able to confirm for us that Ian Banks was indeed seen around school some weeks ago with another student, seventeen year old Peyton Sawyer. It was claimed that Ian Banks was pretending to be a relation of Miss Sawyers although it is our understanding that she later reported him to police over harassment allegations.
It was also at Miss Sawyers home that Brooke Davis, a former long time friend of Miss Sawyers, was to be attacked by Ian Banks less than a week ago. Miss Sawyer has so far been unavailable for comment on her involvement if any in this attack, but it still remains unclear as to why Miss Davis was at that house on the night she was attacked.
Was she lured there by an ex-best friend, or was she somehow abducted and taken there by Ian Banks himself?
These are just some of the questions News 26 hopes will be answered in the upcoming days as more light is shed on the circumstances that almost cost Brooke Davis her life.
We'll bring you more on this as-
Peyton switched the television off having already heard more than she had wanted. Okay what the hell are they trying to say? She thought to herself furiously as she dropped the remote down onto the table in disgust.
She looked at the faces of her friends and noticed the apprehension they held. She wanted to roll her eyes at them, they heard what that reported had said how exactly did they think she was going to react. Did they expect her to start screaming? Maybe throw things at the television?
Sighing she simply leaned back against the couch, folded her arms across her chest and scowled at the darkened screen.
"You okay Peyton?" Haley asked very tentatively. She was pretty sure the answer was no but she didn't want her friend to just close up on them.
Peyton felt her nostrils flare as she tried to control her anger.
"Fine." She ground out past her clenched teeth, arms still folded.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"You're not upset?"
"Why on earth would I be upset over that?" She responded sarcastically. Could it be the fact they all but accused me of having something to do with Brooke's attack? Oh no, couldn't be that.
Nathan watched as Peyton continued to stare at the unlit screen, he didn't like the way the reporter had questioned his friend's involvement, but they did raise a valid question. One he still wanted to know the answer to.
"Peyton?" He asked drawing her eyes to his own and before he could back out he asked his question.
"Why was she at your house that night?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx