Chapter 5: Friends?

"So, let me get this straight," Lucas was feeling pretty buzzed at this point, "you think Nathan is cheating on Haley?"
"Shh! Nathan's a big star, there could be tabloid people everywhere," Rachel hissed.
"You guys are crazy," Lucas laughed as he shook his head.
"I don't know, somethings up Luke. Haley is our friend, we have to find out for her," Mouth reasoned with Lucas as they sat in the cab on the way back to the Scott Mansion.
"And Brooke thinks this too?" Lucas asked.
"Didn't he used to be a big player before Haley?" Rachel asked.
Mouth nodded.
"That was before Haley though..." Lucas stuck up for his brother.
"A lepord doesn't change its spots. Wake up from this fairytale land you think we all live in. This is the real world. Guys cheat on their wives everyday," Rachel spoke.
"Not Nathan. Not with Haley pregnant with his baby," Lucas shook his head.
"Talk to him, Luke. Please?" Rachel begged.
"I don't know. I think we should just mind our own business. Isn't that what happened to all of us the first time?" Lucas asked.
"No, it happened to you and Haley. Not the rest of us," Mouth pointed out.
"Fine, but I'm telling you this is going to be awful," Lucas warned as they all climbed out of the cab.

Haley and Mac had spent hours shopping and their feet were killing them. They were both relieved to be back at the house with their feet propped up among all the bags of baby things.

"Haley, I feel like you and I have become much closer today," Mac started.
"We have," Haley grinned, "I'm glad Lucas has found someone like you."
"Well, can I be honest with you about something?" Mac asked.
"Yeah, please do," Haley pleaded.
"I'm not sure if Lucas is the father of my baby..." Mac looked down at her hands as she spoke.
"What?!" Haley asked.
"Please don't tell him, it's just things haven't been as wonderful as everyone thinks they've been. He's not over those girls, he never has been..."
"You're kidding, right? You can't let Lucas think he's the father if he's not. That's not fair!" Haley cried just as Brooke walked in. Her face dropped.
"What did you just say?" Brooke asked.
"Nothing..." Mac said as she ran out of the room. Brooke shot a look at Haley.
"Please tell me that I didn't hear what I think I just heard," Brooke whispered.
"I can't do that. Lucas might not be her babies father," Haley said in amazement.
"That bitch," Brooke hissed.
"Who?" Lucas asked as he stumbled into the room, followed by Rachel and Mouth.
"This girl I met today," Brooke lied.
"How was the meeting?" Haley asked changing the subject.
"I'm a partner!" Brooke squealed.
"Congratulations!" Haley and Rachel hugged their friend.
"Yup, Davis-Bishop designs, it's official..." Brooke grinned.
"Wow, so I guess you'll be moving out here," Mouth started.
"Yeah, hopefully close to Nathan and Hales! It was the strangest thing though... Jackson really wants Nathan to model our mens line..." Brooke looked at Haley with a weird expression.
"Is he gay?" Haley asked.
"No, I mean he says hes not..."
"What's he like?" Rachel asked.
"Hot! So hot!" Brooke smiled.
"Who's hot?" Peyton asked as she walked in behind Nathan.
"Peyton!" Haley ran and hugged her old friend. Everyone else just stared at her.
"Well hello to you guys to!" Peyton laughed. Brooke walked over and hugged her former best friend.
"You look great Peyton," Brooke smiled.
"Thanks. Married life does it to you," Peyton smiled.
"Married?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah, 4 years now," Peyton answered, "Hey Luke, it's been awhile."
"Who's the lucky guy? Do we know him?" Rachel asked.
"Jake Jagelski," Nathan added.
"Yeah, its great," Peyton smiled, "and as much as I'd love to catch up with you all, is there a room I can put things in?"
"Yeah, follow me," Haley grinned as she linked her arm into Peyton's and led her down the hall.

"She has a son, too," Nathan spoke up to end the silence.
"Really?" Brooke asked. "And she still looks like that? That bitch!"
"Hey guys," Nathan started, "I know you all came a long way to see us, but I was hoping that maybe you wouldn't mind keeping yourselves busy tonight? I'd like to be alone with my wife... It's kind of a ritual for us, the night before a home game. My lucky charm, I guess you could say..."
"And you guys thought he was cheating on her!" Lucas laughed.
"What?" Nathan asked.
"It's nothing really, Nate. I told them to drop it," Lucas spoke.
"I've never cheated on Haley. Ever," Nathan spoke angrily, "Why don't you all just get a life and stop trying to ruin ours."
Nathan stormed out the door. They all just let him go. Peyton and Haley came back.
"Where'd Nathan go?" Haley asked.
"For a walk," Mouth replied.
"So, what are the big plans tonight?" Peyton asked.
"How about me, you, Mouth, Brooke, Lucas and Mac go out to dinner and do some sightseeing?" Rachel smiled.
"What about me and Nathan?" Haley asked.
"He's requested to have you alone tonight," Brooke winked at her.
"Yeah, something about his lucky charm..." Lucas stated confused.
"Ah, yeah, you guys better stay gone tonight," Haley laughed.
"Ew, are you trying to warn us about something?" Brooke asked.
"Um, yeah, basically," Haley laughed, "Lucas, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Yeah, come on..." Lucas replied.

He held the door open for Haley and they walked out to the basketball court in their backyard. Haley sat on the bench.

"Listen, we've been avoiding everything that happened all those years ago," Haley started.
"It's in the past..." Lucas interrupted as he sat down beside her.
"We were best friends," Haley looked into his eyes.
"Nothings changed," he replied.
"6 years have changed everything between all of us. Maybe we're all to naive to realize it, but none of really know eachother that well anymore."
"You chose your husbands side, that's what a wife is supposed to do," Lucas spoke.
"Maybe, but you have to understand. That was the hardest time in my life. I had just lost my baby because of something my husband did."
"We all make mistakes Haley."
"I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry that I turned against you... For some reason it was easier to do that than to turn on my husband. I'm so sorry," Haley started crying as Luke put his arm around her to comfort her.
"Shh, Haley. It's okay. It's the past. Let's all just move on and agree to keep out of eachother's business as much as possible and always be honest with one another," Lucas smiled.
"What if being honest with someone constitutes as getting involved in their business?" Haley asked.
"I guess it's you're own judgement then... What's up Haley?" Lucas asked.
"You need to talk to Mac," Haley simply stated.
"I almost forgot she was here... Where is she?" Lucas asked.
"Your room," Haley answered. He kissed Haley on the head and ran back inside.

Author's Note: Sorry so short. More tomorrow, I have so many ideas it's killing me trying to get them all out for you guys!