"Some are coming home…"
'Home sweet home' Haley thought to herself. She had just stepped into her new rented apartment. She didn't have much money, but enough for her to live off of. She walked into the apartment that held so many memories. The apartment had not yet been rented, and for Haley it was the most affordable.
She walked into the living seeing Nathan's pain stain. "Oh Nathan" Haley said out loud.
Haley was then torn out of her daze by the wailing of a baby.
"Oh sweetie, it's okay. Everything is going to be okay," Haley cooed to her four month old baby.
James Lucas Scott was 4 months old. Shortly after joining the tour Haley found out she was pregnant. She had tried to call Nathan and tell him, but every time she tried he would hang up on her. She felt it wasn't the type of thing to leave on an answering machine.
As well as dealing with pregnancy hormones, Haley also made sure to keep on track with her academic career. She had gotten the tour manager to get her a tutor who kept in touch with Tree Hill High, to keep her on track with graduating.
It was now 6 months until graduation. After 3 months on the tour with a baby, Haley felt it would be better if she left. She thought it was no place to raise a child.
After leaving she had gone to live with her parents for a month. Her parents had tried to persuade her to stay with them, and let them help, but she had insisted that she needed to return to Tree Hill. She needed to mend the fences she had broken.
In the end, her parents had given her some old beat up furniture, a crib and some other necessities for the baby and a little bit of cash. They promised they would visit the week after Haley moved into her apartment.
Haley had decided she would start back at Tree Hill High, when the second semester started, which was in 2 weeks. She figured it would do no good entering school when some classes would be ending in 2 weeks. She also figured it would help her gain the courage to face her path.
Haley's parents had also hired movers to move the little amount of things Haley had, into her apartment.
As the movers were moving the furniture and heavy boxes into the apartment, Haley decided to take Jamie to Karen's Café. It was 1 in the afternoon and figured none of her old friends would be there.
Karen had been the one person Haley had kept in touch with. From the beginning Karen had insisted that Haley tell Nathan about the baby, or at least work harder at trying to inform him about the child. After awhile Haley had asked Karen to just keep her secret from everyone, even her best friend.
The door bells chimed as she walked through the café door. The café was abnormally quiet for it being 1 in the afternoon. She figured since the university was still on their holiday break that it would pick up when the students returned.
Haley spotted the brown haired women. She was looking down, unaware of the visiter.
"Hi Karen" was all Haley said.
Karen turned around and was startled to find the girl she considered her daughter standing before her.
"Haley! What are you doing here?" Karen rushed out as she enveloped Haley into a hug.
Before Haley could get a word in Karen noticed the baby.
"And this must be James Lucas Scott," Karen noticed as Haley sent the baby carrier on the counter. "he looks just like his father."
"Yeah, I know. He has his eyes and his stubbornness. Don't cha a little guy," tapping Jamie's nose, causing him to giggle.
"Haley what are you doing here?" Karen asked. "Last time I heard you were touring, and were going to become a solo artist, and all that celebrity stuff."
"I had to come home Karen. I could deal with it anymore." Haley told Karen. "I couldn't balance singing, school work, and a baby. It was just to much."
"Oh Haley, I'm so glad you're home."
"Me too, although I have one favor to ask you,"
"Sure, anything,"
"I was wondering if you could watch James for me sometimes." Haley asked sheepishly.
"Like when?" Karen asked curiously.
"During school, Umm…when I'm at work…" Haley asked.
"Sure, but Haley where are you working?" Karen asked unsure of where Haley was working.
"There's a club, that was associated with the record company. And they made me a deal that if I perform at this club 2-3 times a week they will pay me 400 dollars a week. It was the only way they would let me leave the tour without breeching contract."
"Sure Haley, but what are the hours?"
"Umm… I'm performing every other Saturday, plus Tuesday and Thursday nights. But after I graduate, I'm suppose to go up to New York to record a solo album."
"But Haley, what about Stanford or …" Karen couldn't bring herself to ask about Nathan or even her own son, Lucas.
"It was the only way to get time off from the tour. When I first joined the tour, they had me sign a contract. And I had finally gotten them to let me at least graduate from high school before I record. But they wouldn't let me go."
"Oh Haley," Karen replied sympathetically. Karen then noticed a tear slip down Haley's face.
"Oh, Haley everything is going to be okay." Karen hugged Haley, trying to comfort the obvious pain Haley was in.
"Karen and you can not tell anybody about James, until I tell everybody. Please."
"But, Haley what am I suppose to tell Lucas when he notices I'm always babysitting a baby, he's going to want to know who's baby it is."
"Lie to him. Please Karen. I'm not ready for that pain."
"I will do my best honey, but you need to tell them, all of them," Karen persisted.
"I know it's short notice, but could you watch him for a few hours. I need to run a few errands and I'd rather not be questioned if I run into anybody."
"Sure, I still have the crib here from Jake using it for Jenny. But it think Lucas might be stopping by after practice, I know you'd rather not run into him right now so…"
"Can you drop him off at my apartment around 6?"
"Sure honey." Karen knew the pain Haley would soon be facing, and she felt she should try and help her out as much as possible, she knew the comfort from others would be limited.
After 20 more minutes of talking, Haley figured she better leave to avoid running into everybody. After leaving the café Haley ran around town acquiring the some things she needed, such as food, light bulbs and more.
2323
"Hey mom!" Lucas shouted as he walked into the nearly empty café.
"Hey honey," Karen walked out with James on her hip. "Oh, Hi Nathan, Brooke," Karen also noted. She was a little nervous. She hadn't expected Nathan and Brooke to show up.
"Who's this cutie?" Brooke cooed to the baby.
"Oh, this is James. I was asked to watch him for a little while." Karen replied rather quickly.
"By who ma?" Lucas asked quizzically.
"Oh just a friend," Karen hoping Lucas would drop it.
"He's really cute," Nathan spoke up. Nathan tried to tickle the baby in the stomach, and it ended up with the baby grabbing his giant fingers and sucking on them.
"Ahh, look at that Hot Shot, he likes you," Brooke told Nathan.
"Hey would you guys mind watching him, while I help some customers?" Karen asked them.
"Sure, not problem. Come on baby James." Brooke replied while carrying the baby over to a booth.
Karen knew she should not have done that, but what was the harm if nobody knew who his mother was.
That's chapter one! I hope everyone enjoyed.