Chapter 3

2 more months passed, and Peyton was now 6 months pregnant.

She had been to the doctor in the city a month before to make sure everything was okay with her baby and it was all okay apart from the fact there wasn't just one baby, there were two! She was having twins.

The doctor was very happy with the babies and her health was very good considering. Peyton was of course thrilled with the news of twins and how they were okay but she was feeling very unlucky.

They were both big babies and she was told that she needed to gain more weight to support herself and the babies which was a problem for Peyton who was still desperately trying to hide her pregnancy.

But Peyton was managing well to keep it all hidden, even though she had a huge bump now she just dressed herself in oversized clothing and scarves so it looked like she was trying to go for that look. Because she had been putting on a lot of weight, it wasn't just round her middle that was a bit fuller, her face was a little chubbier so it did look like she had just but on a bit of weight.

Basketball season was in full swing so Brooke, Haley and the boys were all kept extremely busy with that.

Peyton did still speak to them all trying to keep their suspicions away but usually just IM's at home on an evening as she did her best to keep out of the way at school, hoping not to get noticed.

School was a nightmare for her so she couldn't wait to get home everyday. Her Dad was usually an absentee father because of his work but a couple of weeks before he had called to tell her that he had managed to get on a job in Australia that would keep him busy for 10 months, so he was not really a problem in her plan anymore.

By the time he came home, the babies would have been born and it would be a lot easier to explain herself then. So she felt completely at ease at home, not having to dress in big clothes but just ones she felt comfortable in.

Peyton didn't really enjoy all the extra weight she had put on, she missed her usually slim frame and all the clothes she used to wear but she knew that she had to keep it all a secret and she enjoyed having something that only she knew about.

She had gone to Karen's cafe one day after school for something to eat, knowing that Lucas and Karen wouldn't be there because there was a basketball game but to her horror Karen was there.

'Peyton, what a lovely surprise. You look... (looking her up and down) erm... well' followed by a bemused smile.

Peyton knew fine well that she was struggling to say something nice regarding her weight, but it was obvious that Karen just thought she'd gotten fat. 'Hi Karen, I'll just have a club sandwich and a soda... to go' she added the last bit because spending time with Karen was currently one of her worst nightmares.

'Oh no Peyton, stay please, I insist, I haven't seen you for months, it would be good to catch up'

Karen was a lovely lady but she would also be the grandmother to her kids and right now she really just couldn't handle that. When Karen smiled again hopefully at her, Peyton just mumbled something about having to get home and rushed out of the shop with her eyes filling up with tears.

Hours later after the basketball game, Lucas and Brooke entered Karen's cafe hand in hand.

They started having some dinner together and Karen subtly dropped into conversation 'So Brooke, hows Peyton at the moment?'

'Oh, um, fine I think, haven't seen a lot of her really, been busy with the squad and stuff'

'She doesn't cheer anymore?!'

'No Karen she quit ages ago why do you ask?'

'Oh, I'm just thinking out loud Brooke, she just really didn't seem her old self when I saw her before'

with this Lucas butted in and said 'Yeah and she doesn't look like her old self anymore either!'

Brooke and Karen both gave him a cold stare. 'Insensitive pig' Brooke muttered as Luke shuffled off to the bathroom.

'How is she really Brooke, because the Peyton I saw today is not the Peyton I know'

'Honestly Karen I really don't know it's almost as if she's avoiding me'

'Well she is your best friend Brooke, I think you need to go and find out' and with that Brooke left the cafe and headed to Peyton's house.