More Guests
Haley was sitting at the picnic table in her husband's arms watching the young boys play basketball. Ricky and Scotty were losing terribly, but none of the boys seemed to notice or care. Keith dribbled the ball in between his legs and passed it over to Bobby. Bobby caught, dribbled it to the hoop and shot the ball. Swish! He had made another basket. Haley looked up and smiled at her husband, "Well, it looks like Bobby got some of his father's genes."
Nate scoffed and glanced down at her, "I think you mean to say most of my genes. Not only is he a wonderful basketball player, he is extremely good looking, and very smart."
Haley frowned, "You do remember who tutored you in high school, don't you? You don't think that could have anything to do with our son's intelligence?"
Nate shook his head, "No, I'm sure it's all me." They both laughed and Haley rolled her eyes at her husband's ego.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" A man walked up to the picnic table with his hands in his pockets and a smirk on his face. Everyone's smile faded and Haley sat up. "Oh no, don't sit up on my account Hales." Haley shot a glare in his direction. He jingled some loose change in his pocket and the smirk never left his face. He glanced across the table at everyone. "The gang's all here!"
"Dad, get out of here." Nathan stood up to face Dan.
"What? No hug for the old man?"
Nate scoffed, "Are you kidding me?"
Dan looked past Nate and caught a glimpse of Abby sitting on the table. His smile grew a little more. "Well, well...someone has been doing well for themselves these days. Another child? I wonder who could be the parents." He glanced back at Nathan.
Nate clenched his fist and was about to speak, but before he could answer Lucas stood up and walked next to his brother. "Actually Dan, she's my daughter."
"Oh!!" He kept smiling, "You would think one of these days you would be able to reproduce a son." Luke just turned his head away and clenched his jaw. "Oh well, those girls are lucky. They have some good genes. A father with HCM and a mother who could produce cancer thanks to their whore of a Grandmother. What was her name again? Elfie?"
Peyton stood up in anger this time at his comments. Brooke grabbed her shoulder and sat her back down and shook her head. Karen frowned as she watched the whole scene. She got up from her place at the picnic table and walked in between the boys to face Dan. "Well, at least those girls have parents who love them. They know their father will always be there for them, unlike their Grandpa."
"Ouch! Now, that's not playing very nice..."
"Bite me Dan." Brooke smiled a little at Karen's forcefulness. She wasn't expecting her to be so rude. She was such a nice teeny woman.
Dan glared through his smile as he scanned the group again and then caught a glance of all the kids on the basketball court. Haley watched his eyes gaze at the children and she felt a knot in her stomach. She tugged on Nathan's arm and gave a nod towards Dan and his gaze. Nate noticed the way Dan was staring at the kids and he cleared his throat to get his dad's attention. "I think it's time you left."
"I think it's time you remember that I am still the mayor and this is a public area son. So you better stop telling me what to do before you really regret it."
Karen swallowed and opened her mouth, "What? Are you threatening your son Mr. Mayor?"
"Actually, yea, I am. What are you going to do about it Karen? Hide behind Keith Jr.?"
She shrugs, "Why not? He's a bigger man than you'll ever be and he's only 10."
Dan shrugged now, "Perhaps, but it's too bad your first son was born a son of a bitch."
"Well, he can't help that his father is a coward. Can he?"
Before Dan could retort Nathan took a few steps closer to his dad. "I mean it Dad. Get out of here. You don't belong here. Just...go home."
Dan looked around once more and nodded. "Fine," he turns around and walks away.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief once Dan backed down and they all returned to their discussions. However, their topics were quickly interrupted by the arrival of another friend. "Um, sorry to interrupt, but was that Dan that we just saw leave here?"
"Rachel!!" Brooke smiled, got up and gave her old friend a hug. Everyone else got up and greeted her with hugs.
She smiled, "I hope you guys don't mind. But I brought my boyfriend." Everyone's attention went over to the car and as the man closed the trunk, everyone's mouths fell open in shock.
"What? Y'all didn't think you'd die without seeing the famous Chris Keller again, did you?"
The friends looked around at each other with a look of question. Haley gave Nathan's hand a squeeze and they were the first to walk over and greet him. Haley gave him a hug and Nate shook his hand. Haley grabbed Nathan's hand again and smiled at Chris, "How are you? What brings you back to Tree Hill?"
He shrugged, "Well, Rachel. She's amazing, not to mention sexy as hell!"
Brooke nudged Rachel, "Are you serious? You are going out with Chris?" Rachel nodded. "But, I thought you were into the whole modeling thing now."
She nodded, "Oh I still am. That's how I met Chris. I was doing a shoot for Rolling Stones and he was there for an interview and a little photo shoot of his own. So, I greeted him, asking him if he remembered me and we just hit it off."
Peyton frowned at Rachel, "But I thought you didn't quote 'date crusty old men picking up hot young girls'. At least, that's what you said to him the first time you met him."
Rachel laughed and frowned a little, "Yea, I did say that. How do you know that? You weren't even there!"
Peyton laughed, "Bevin told me like a hundred years ago."
Brooke smiles, "A hundred years, a.k.a. High School." They all laugh and Rachel and Chris take a seat at the picnic table.
