Keeping Up With The James's
All in all it could have gone worse. But they still needed to tell Karen and Haley's parents at least. God only knows what Haley's parents would say, but Karen's reaction would be similar to Lucas'. Needless to say they were once again terrified. It's one thing telling your friends but parents are always another story.
Haley knew that she needed to tell them. Brooke was as always supportive of Haley. If Haley wanted to tell her family then she would stand right beside her as she did it. Haley was the one she wanted in her arms for the rest of her life, if she was lucky enough for that.
"Brooke, my parents arte here and I want to tell them before they decide to leave again." Haley said half way through tutoring in her room.
"Okay whatever you want I'll be there for you, alright?"
"You're the best!" Haley exclaimed hugging Brooke as tight as she could.
"Hales, Baby, I need air."
"Right, sorry. I love you Brooke Penelope Davis."
"I love you, too, Haley Elizabeth James."
"Let's get this over with." Haley sighed. She took hold of Brooke's hand as they made their way into the kitchen.
"Mom, can I talk to you and Dad?"
"Oh my God, you're pregnant." Lydia James said.
"What?! No!"
"Jimmy, come in here! Haley's pregnant!" She yelled out the kitchen window.
"Mom!"
"What's going on?" Jimmy James asked coming to stand next to his wife.
"Haley has something to tell us."
"Mom, Dad, I'm gay." Haley said in as strong a voice as she could muster, which was surprisingly strong considering she felt like her knees were about to give out.
"So there is some liberal in you, thank God. For a while there you had us scared that you were a right wing nut." Lydia said.
"Is this your girlfriend? She's gorgeous, Sweetheart." Jimmy said not waiting for Haley or Brooke to answer.
"Thank you Mr. James."
"What's your name?" Lydia asked, completely ignoring the fact that her youngest was speechless.
"Brooke Davis, Ma'am." Brooke replied before turning her attention towards Haley. "Tutor Girl, Haley. Hello Earth to H. James."
"What?"
"Shocked?"
"A little. I'm glad you're okay with this." She said turning to her parents.
"Of course we are. Now how long have you been together?" Jimmy asked.
"Two months. Brooke asked me to tutor her with ulterior motives."
"In my defense I needed tutoring and it was Peyton's idea so I wouldn't just stare at Haley all the time."
"I didn't know that."
"That is so sweet. So who is Peyton?"
"My best friend, she's like my sister. Her mom practically raised me before she died."
"So how long have you known you gay, Haley?"
"Four years. Can we go now?"
"Of course. Taylor is coming home tomorrow by the way." Lydia said. "It was nice meeting you Brooke."
"You too, Mr. and Mrs. James."
"Well Haley has such a polite girlfriend. Very pretty, too." Jimmy said to his wife.
"I agree. She is good for our little girl, I think. I thought she was never going to tell us."
"Which one is Taylor?" Brooke asked as they drove to the café.
"She's my youngest sister and the wild one. She's my favorite pain in the ass." Haley smiled. You'll like her, she's… Taylor, there aren't words in the English language to describe her."
"So I think your parents like me."
"They do. I'm going to guess that your parents won't like me."
"My mother will hate you, my dad I don't know it depends sometimes it's like I have him wrapped and others he's indifferent at best." Brooke frowned. "Mrs. Sawyer was the only mom I've had and Mr. Sawyer loves me like his own."
"Hey you don't need your sorry excuse for parents give it a few weeks my parents will have all but adopted you."
"You think?"
"I know. Come on Karen's staring at us now, we've been sitting out here for five minutes."
"Do you want to tell her today?"
"Yeah and Taylor will find out tomorrow."
"Hey Karen can we talk to you on the roof?" Haley asked noticing they got there for the mid-afternoon lull.
"Sure, let's go." Karen said looking from Haley to Brooke. "So girls what's this about?"
"Brooke and I are dating."
"Are you happy?"
"Yes." They answered.
"That's all I can ask for." Karen smiled. "Does Lucas know?"
"We told him last month. He told Brooke that if she hurt me he'd have Faith smack her around."
"That sounds like my son." Karen shook her head. "I'm happy for you two. I hate to cut this short but I have to get back to work."
"Good we're starving." Haley replied.
"Of course you are, you eat nearly as much as Lucas." Karen laughed at her almost daughter.
"I'll have the 'Food of the Gods' and a coke, please." Haley said ignoring Karen's comment.
"Same, please." Brooke said smiling at the interaction.
"Coming right up girls."
"So are we telling Taylor today?" Brooke asked while going through Peyton's newer drawings.
"Yeah, we might as well. God knows she'll tease me 'til the end of time and she'll be hurt if we don't tell her immediately." Haley replied.
"Taylor's your youngest sister right?" Peyton asked.
"Yeah Vivian, Quinn and Taylor."
"What do they do?"
"Vivian does something from home, medical transcription, I think. Quinn's at college studying photography, and Taylor's the free spirit."
"Cool so you're pretty close huh?"
"Yeah I mean I'm closer to Quinn and Taylor, but I talk to Vivian about school more."
"That's because she's the other bookworm."
"Thank you for adding that, Brooke." Haley said sarcastically.
"You know I love you Tutor Girl."
"I love you too Tigger."
"Guys best friend right here." Peyton interjected.
"Sorry Peyt. We gotta go pick up Taylor anyway. See you later at Karen's right?"
"Yeah I can't wait to meet Taylor."
"Oh God this could be bad." Brooke told Haley.
"You have no idea."
"Which bus is Taylor's?"
"Um… 57863. There she is."
"Haley-bub!" Taylor exclaimed, flinging herself into Haley's arms and effectively landing them both on the floor.
"Tay! I need to breathe."
"Sorry Little Sis." Taylor said helping Haley stand up again. "Who do we have here?" She asked.
"Tay, this is Brooke Davis, my girlfriend."
"Well I'll be damned, Hales you got a knock out. Good for you. Now if you hurt my baby sister I'll kick your ass, understood?"
"Absolutely. But I won't hurt her not intentionally at least."
"I like her." She said to Haley. "So you got any brothers, sisters? I'm not picky."
"Not biologically the best I've got is Peyton."
"Is she hott?"
"Tay, she's sixteen." Haley said as they climbed into Brooke's car.
"So?"
"Aren't you nineteen?" Brooke asked.
"Within three years is legal." Taylor answered.
"You would know that."
"I don't even know if Peyton swings that way."
"She wiil if she doesn't already."
"You're trying to annoy me aren't you?"
"What ever gave you that idea, Haley?"
"I've known you for the past sixteen years."
"That would do it." Taylor conceded. "When are we going to Karen's?"
"After we drop your stuff at home."
"Works for me. When am I going to meet Peyton?"
"When we go to Karen's." Brooke said. "She's looking forward to meeting you."
"Good to know." Taylor grinned.
"No hitting on my friend or I'll tell them what you wrote in Luke's freshman yearbook." Haley threatened.
"You have my word." Taylor said quietly earning a laugh from the girl's in the front seat.