A/N: Thank you all for the awesome reviews. And thanks to my beta: Leeese!


Chapter Seven

Haley was just lying on the couch reading a book when she heard a knock at the door. She ignored it. She had a feeling that it was Nathan and she really didn't want to talk to him. However, the person kept knocking on the door. She let out a sigh and finally put her book down. She got up from the couch and walked to the front door. She pulled the door open and was surprised to see Lucas standing on her front porch.

"Nathan and Rachel are fighting again. I'm not allowed to stay over at Lindsey's house. Would it be too crazy to spend the night over here tonight?" Lucas asked her. Haley was hesitant to answer. "I understand if you don't want visitors, but I really don't want to stay in the house with those two arguing."

Haley was quiet for a moment before she answered. "Alright, you can sleep in the guestroom tonight." Lucas smiled gratefully as he walked into the hall. Haley then closed the door behind him. "I assume that Nathan knows that you are staying over here?"

"I tried to tell him, but I don't know if he could hear me with all of the yelling," Lucas replied as he greeted Jewel. "I'm sorry about Rachel's mom. She shouldn't be sticking her nose into your relationship with your ex-boyfriend." He didn't let her have a chance to respond as he noticed the book that she was reading. "You like Julius Cesar?" he asked her in amazement.

Haley gave him a look. "Yes, do you have a problem with your teacher liking the same book you do?"

Lucas shook his head. "No, of course not. I was just surprised. That's all." They then started discussing the book before they continued onto other books. They were in such a deep conversation that they didn't even realize the time. Lucas gave her a wide smile. "Man, you are so much more fun to talk to than Rachel or Nathan. Why is that?"

Haley smiled in return. "Is talking to Nathan really that bad?"

Lucas sighed. "I know that he is supposed to be my guardian, but he's also my brother. I hate that he acts like more of a parent than my brother. I already had a dad and he was great. I don't want another one. I need my brother. Lindsey thinks I should just get emancipated from him so I don't have to worry about his rules anymore."

"Have you ever told Nathan how you feel about this?" Haley asked him. She didn't want to get into the middle of this, but she couldn't help asking.

"I have tried, but he never listens to me," Lucas replied. There was a short pause before he spoke quietly. "He is always too busy with basketball or Rachel to even talk to me. I tried to warn him about all of his old girlfriends, but he didn't want to hear what I wanted to say. It's weird because I could tell my dad everything. But thanks to Rachel, I feel like I am more of a guest in the house than a member of the family."

Haley felt sorry for him. "You two must have been very close then."

Lucas nodded. "Yeah, we were. But I was close to my mom too. I wish you could have met her. She would have liked you. I always helped her out with her café." There was a short pause before he spoke again. "I wish that Nathan could have kept it open instead of closing it." He then thought for a moment. "Actually, I wished that he would have given it to me. I would have taken care of it." He then turned to her. "Did Nathan ever show you the café?"

Haley shook her head. "No, he hasn't."

"I actually keep the place neat and tidy in case Nathan ever changes his mind and wants to keep it open," Lucas replied. "So I can drive you over to see it anytime. I would take you now, but I'm afraid that we might be mistaken for burglars or something. And I really don't want to get arrested for breaking into my mom's café."

"I don't blame you," Haley replied as Lucas had a thoughtful look on his face. "What are you thinking about?"

Lucas was quiet for a moment before answering. "Well, I was thinking that you could run the café." Haley didn't know what to say at first. Lucas then used the opportunity to make his case. "Come on, Ms. James. It would be so nice to have the café back. It was the favorite place to hang out for the students of Tree Hill High School."

Haley gave him a gentle smile. "I would love to bring the café back, but I don't know anything about running a business. Besides, I have a job already. And I love it."

"But you won't have that job forever," Lucas pointed out. Haley gave him a look. "I'm sure my family will help you. At least, I know Dan and I will. If it's about money, I'm sure Nathan will sell it to you for a reasonable price."

Haley let out a sigh. "I'll think about it, ok?"

Lucas gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Ms. James." He then frowned as he asked, "Now where is the guestroom again?"

"It's up the stairs and to your right," Haley replied. "I'll set out some towels for you in the guest bathroom." Lucas thanked her. They then said good-night to each other before he headed upstairs. Haley stayed downstairs for a little longer before she headed to bed herself.

The next morning, Haley woke up a little later than her usual time. She had trouble sleeping the night before as she couldn't stop thinking about Lucas's offer to buy the café. She still didn't know what her decision was yet.

Once she checked the time again, she immediately got up and dressed that so she could take Jewel for a walk. When she got downstairs, she was surprised to find that Lucas had already done it for her. "I swear that I'm not trying to suck up to you," he assured her. "I don't have a chance to do this very often."

"Don't worry. I believe you," Haley replied as she started to make her breakfast. "Nathan told me all about the Scott family being dog lovers and knowing how to raise them."

Lucas nodded. "I wish that we could have a pet, but Rachel doesn't like dogs," he replied. "She thinks that they will be too much trouble."

Haley didn't have a chance to respond when she heard the doorbell ring. She went to answer it and wasn't surprised to see it was Nathan. They greeted each other as Lucas came into the hallway. Both Lucas and Haley could tell that the argument hadn't gone well. Nathan turned to his brother. "I wasn't sure if I had heard you correctly, but I guess you really did walk over here last night. It's safe to return to the house now. Rachel has gone to the club." He then turned to Haley. "She is willing to meet you for lunch there to apologize."

Haley didn't have a chance to respond when Lucas spoke up. "Haley wants to buy the café," he blurted out.

Nathan turned to her surprised and asked, "You want to buy the café?"

"I told Lucas that I was only thinking about it," Haley corrected Lucas. "He told me how much he missed hanging out at the café with his friends. He doesn't think that it deserves to be closed. I agree with him, but the problem is that I don't know anything about running a business."

Nathan stopped her right there. "Look, it's nice that you want to do this for Lucas, but I don't think that it's a good idea."

Lucas wasn't giving up. "Of course it is. We could help her out with it." He really wanted this to work out. He then looked hard at Nathan. "You didn't already sell the café, did you?"

Nathan sighed. "No, but you're right. That place has been vacant for far too long. So I'm going to sell it." He then turned to Haley. "No offense, but I don't think that you are the right person for the job."

"None taken," Haley replied.

Lucas frowned. "If you aren't going to sell it to Haley, then who is going to buy the place?"

"I don't know yet. But you will have a say in who does," Nathan replied. Lucas was surprised, but pleased that he was going to be involved in the decision. "Well, the café is yours as much as it is mine. After all, you were practically raised there."

Lucas gave him a grateful smile. "As long as Rachel or her mom don't buy it, I'm good." He then exchanged good-byes with Haley before he headed out the front door. "I'm going to Lindsey's," he told his brother. "I'll be back by curfew."

"That's all I ask," Nathan called back before he turned back to Haley. "Thank you for letting him spend the night here."

"It was no problem," Haley replied. "He was great company last night."

There was an awkward silence before Nathan spoke up. "So were you really thinking about buying the café?"

Haley shrugged. "I might have. It really means a lot to Lucas to keep the café. So I was willing to make him happy. It's too bad that I can't make your wife and mother-in-law happy by leaving Tree Hill; because I'm here to stay."

Nathan sighed. He knew that would be brought up sooner or later. "They are not trying to run you out of town. It's just that Charlene is very overprotective of Rachel. She doesn't want her to get hurt. She wanted to make sure that you weren't going to go after me," he explained.

Haley gave him a look. "Why the hell would I do that? Because I'm single?" she asked him. "I may have broken up with my boyfriend, but I'm not looking into dating right now; especially my neighbor who is happily married to his wife."

"I know that you wouldn't, but Rachel doesn't believe that," Nathan replied. "She probably should hear it from you."

Haley couldn't argue with that. "Don't worry. I will tell her that she has nothing to worry about. Tell her that I'll be at the club at lunch." There was a short pause before she spoke again. "If you don't mind, I have a lot to do. So could you go?" she asked. She really didn't want to be rude, but she wanted to get started on her lesson plan for Monday. Nathan nodded understandingly. They then exchanged good-byes before he left her alone.

A few hours later, Haley parked her car in front of the club. She climbed out of the vehicle and went up the stairs. She walked into the building and looked around the empty room. There was silence. "Rachel, are you here?" Haley called. Part of her hoped that she wouldn't call back. She really didn't want to talk to her right now. "It's Haley."

She was about to leave when she heard footsteps. She turned to see Rachel coming out of the bathroom. She ignored Haley as she went to the bar. "I can't believe this," she muttered. "I can't tell Nathan. I'm going to have to get rid of it. Nathan will never have to know about it."

Haley then managed to get her attention. "Is everything ok?" she asked her.

Rachel ignored the question. "Wow, I'm surprised that you're talking to me after my mother interrogated you."

"Nathan told me about why your mother was grilling me with inappropriate questions about my personal relationship with my ex-boyfriend," Haley replied. "I understand that you don't want anyone to take away your husband from you. Well, you don't have to worry about that. I have no intention of flirting with Nathan. Nathan and I are just friends, neighbors and coworkers. That's all." There was a short pause before she spoke again. "However, it may be a different story if you're planning to do what I think that you are planning to do."

Rachel raised her eyebrows. "Really? What do you think I'm planning to do?" she asked, curious to hear what she would say.

"If I heard you correctly, you have just found out that you're pregnant. And you're planning to abort the baby without even telling Nathan," Haley replied. She glared at her. "How can you do that knowing that Nathan wants to start a family?" she exclaimed angrily. Rachel didn't answer as Haley looked at her hard. "You never wanted children in the first place, did you? You just married him for his money."

Rachel didn't let her get any further. "This is really none of your business. So I suggest that you stay out of it."

Haley wouldn't back down. "Either you tell him the truth or I will."

Rachel tried not to laugh. "Who do you think that he will believe? His new coworker or his wife?" Haley became quiet. She knew that she had a point. It would be hard to get him to believe her without proof. "I thought so. Now get out of my club before I call security."

Haley glared at her one last time before she angrily walked out of the club. She wasn't going to let Rachel get away with her lies. It wasn't right. Even though she knew Nathan would get hurt, he had to know the truth about that bitch.