Special thanks to:Always23Forever, othnaleyfan101, saderia, etafeen, LaFilmeMichelle
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Denial-
The next following days came rushing in. Haley was glad Nathan was expressing himself, but he wasn't quite through processing the information.
Thump
What was that? Haley instantly thought rising from her bed. She looked to her left and Nathan was no where in sight. Where is he? At 7 in the morning? She thought further as she began to walk out of the room.
"Nathan" Haley called out, though no response. "Nath- oh god you scared me" Haley startled as Nathan out of the blue hugged her from the back. He then kissed her in the cheek. Haley turned around and turned dazed at Nathan's cheerful facial expression.
"What are you doing up? This early?" Nathan asked. Haley raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.
"I heard a noise, and then you weren't there…what are you doing up?" Haley asked. Nathan smiled wider, then took his wife's hand and guided her back to their bedroom.
"I was making you breakfast-
"At 7 in the morning? Babe, I wouldn't wake up for another 3 hours. But what was that noise?" Haley asked.
"I accidentally dropped a glass cup. Sorry for waking you up, but I was going to anyways. I have something to tell you" Nathan answered. Haley sat once more at their bed and looked up at him curious.
"What is it?" she asked. He sat next to her, smiling wide again.
"Duke's testing me" Nathan replied. Haley stared at him confused.
"Um, explain" Haley answered, yet fearful. Duke, the school that defiantly was never going to allow him to attend any longer. Nathan stirred his body closer to her.
"Well, I been thinking. So I fucked up with shaving points, but if I work twice as hard on basketball and show them how much I improved, they have to let me in. It's a sure thing" Nathan said. Haley forced a smile.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes. It's a sure thing Hales. I'm destined to go to Duke. So let me get your food real quick' Nathan said practically running out of the room before Haley could say anything. Haley watched him slam the door shut. She dropped the smile and now a horrid expression contained her face. It's a sure thing? What the hell is he thinking? There's no way. No way…at all, Haley thought, as Nathan reappeared with a plate of food and orange juice and a rose. Haley quickly forced a smile again, as her food was being settled in their bed beside her.
"Thanks babe. It looks all good" Haley answered.
"Good, you and the baby need a lot of energy…well I'm off' Nathan replied, turning around.
"Where to? Aren't you going to join me?" Haley asked. Nathan turned around, walking closer to his wife.
"I have to begin my workout. I'll see you in a couple of hours" Nathan replied, followed by kissing Haley in the forehead, and off he was.
"But…what about me?" Haley asked, though he was to far ahead to have heard. She turned to her food and frowned. There was an awkward silence.
"I guess it's juts you and me…again" Haley said, rubbing her stomach, followed by turning the television on.
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Nothing but net…again. Every morning these last 3 days Nathan been nothing but working out. He was dribbling the ball further from the hoop. He gripped it, then shot it half court. Again, nothing but net. He quickly ran to the bench to wipe his sweaty face and drink some quick water.
"Nate, I know you love bball, but this is ridiculous" Skillz said as he walked closer to the exhausted brunette. Nathan turned around and smiled.
"Like they say, practice makes perfect" Nathan replied. Skillz forced a smile, then placed his hands in his pocket.
"Haley told me about what you been up to" Skillz said, as he sat on the bench. Nathan joined him, drinking more from his water bottle.
"Yeah…talking about that, do me a favor?" Nathan asked. Skillz nodded, while Nathan took out a camera from his back pack. Skillz stared at it puzzled.
"Film me while I make some hoops" Nathan replied handing Skillz the camera. Though before Skillz could protest, Nathan began to dribble the ball and make free throws and etc. this wasn't for what he came for. Skillz was suppose to talk to Nathan to get a reality check; he wasn't going to Duke. Sighing, Skillz kept recording for a while until Nathan walked to closer to him, in front of the camera.
"Hey I'm Nathan Scott, and I know what you told me, but I'm here to prove that I am Duke material…" Skillz listened to his speech, and felt bad. When Haley told him the situation, he thought it would be easy to talk to Nathan. Now he knew how hard it would be. After the speech, Skillz turned off the camera and looked up at Nathan.
"How did I look? Did I sound ok as well?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah, everything went smooth" Skillz replied. Nathan sat beside him again.
"Feels nice again, huh?" Nathan asked. Skillz turned to Nathan.
"What does?" he asked.
"Having a scholarship to the school you want. I cant wait to have that feeling back again" Nathan replied, then drank more of his water. Skillz looked down, then back at Nathan. He was completely delusional.
"I don't want to bust your bubble, but are you a hundred percent sure this is going to work?" Skillz asked as he waved the camera around.
"Yes, it has to. These last couple of days I been busting my ass to get better. It has to work" Nathan answered sternly. Skillz once again forced another smile.
"Just don't have high hopes" Skillz said. Nathan didn't respond, he kept quiet, gripping the ball harder. It has to work.
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Haley entered her old apartment, greeting her girlfriends.
"Is that root beer?" Haley asked as she eyed Peyton's drink. Brooke chuckled.
"Yeah, wants some?" Brooke asked. Haley raised from their couch and walked to the counter, joining them.
"Hell yes. Pregnant girl here" Haley replied.
"That's right, the cravings. How has Nathan been with that so far?" Peyton asked. Haley stirred her drink.
"I don't know, he hasn't been home much. Lucas usually does it for me, since his mom is pregnant too. It's funny, he texts me like around 3 in the morning to ask me what do I want from Safeway" Haley said. Peyton and Brooke chuckled at the joke, but both turned serious, turning to Haley.
"How is he…with that?" Brooke asked.
"With my cravings or Duke?" Haley asked.
"Duke?" Peyton and Brooke asked. Haley sighed.
"He thinks that by working out every muscle in his body, repeatedly, he will get back in and with the scholarship" Haley said.
"He's that naïve" Peyton replied.
"No, he's just going though a phase. He cant actually believe he will get back. I mean, he cant, can he?" Haley asked.
"Haley, hear yourself. He has been at this for how long?" Brooke asked.
"Three days, but I talked to Skillz today to give him a reality check. If Lucas couldn't do it, he has to" Haley said, eating more of her frozen treat.
"Well, Skillz does have a way with words, maybe he'll talk him out of the crazy idea. But more importantly how are you? Are you excited about bringing Jr out to the world?" Peyton asked. Haley smiled.
"A little, but I cant wait. I want to fit back into my jeans already" Haley said, as the others laughed.
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Shutting the door, Nathan began to drop all his belonging to the ground. He was exhausted. Training had fatigued his body. Haley heard him come and mumbled " He's actually home." In a matter of seconds Nathan then joined her in the living room. He walked to her, kissing her quickly on the lips and sat beside her.
"I'm ready to send the tape" He replied.
"Nathan, about that-
"What about it?" Nathan asked. Haley sighed.
"As much as I love you, and I know you worked so hard for this…do you know for sure this will work?" Haley asked.
"Not you too. Hales, this is the only way. Once the admission office sees this, they'll let me in" Nathan replied.
"But Nate, you…you need to stop being oblivious to this. Duke said no" Haley said, finally expressing her thoughts. Nathan looked at her stunned.
"You don't support me?" He asked. Haley instantly frowned.
"No, I do. I support-
"Then why are you telling me this?" He asked.
"Because I'm your wife and about to be the mother of your child. Nate, Duke is gone. That tape wont work. They'll most likely be laughing at you" Haley said.
"So that's it. You think I'm a joke?" Nathan asked with a bit of anger. Haley stared at him bewildered.
"No, you're twisting my works. Listen to me-
"I am and all I hear is that I'm a joke. These last days I been working my ass off. This will work, this tape will get me back in" Nathan explained, rising from the couch. Haley also stood, then grabbed his hand.
"I just don't want you to have high hopes. Why don't we do what I suggested last week, lets look at other schools" Haley suggested.
"There is no other school-
"Nathan stop! Duke wont accept you. Stop being so ignorant" Haley blurted out, relieved she had it out of her system. Nathan shook Hale's off his, and began to walk away.
"Nathan where are you going?" Haley asked. Nathan turned around.
"Somewhere I might get support" he replied.
"Nathan don't be this way…Nathan don't walk away" Haley said.
"Other than not getting support from you Haley, it's better if I do walk away. You wont get to hear the things I really want to say right now" Nathan said and walked away from her and the house.
"Nathan! I need you…ugh!" Haley shouted, walking to her cell.
"Hello Luke, where are you?…Yes! Can you get me ice cream?…Any kind, I need to cool down my temper…Yup, your dumbass of a brother just pissed me off again…ok, love you too. ..see you soon" Haley said then sat on the couch, thinking how marvelous the next day will be.