So here's a longer chapter and it's the best so far (I recon). I said this was going to be a short fic and it's going to be 12 chapters just in case you were wondering.
I've been watching the new series and am really enjoying it, I'm enjoying the drama with Haley and Nathan and the nanny and i have absolute faith that Haley and Nathan won't be breaking up so its ok.
Anyway enjoy all my wonderful readers
3.
Haley had been surprised when Nathan had actually called her and asked her to baby-sit, she was more then happy to oblige after all she had nothing better to do and as the baby mostly slept she could just do her homework.
After school apart from working at the café she would normally hang out with Lucas but most of his time was spent with Brooke at the moment, Haley didn't really mind they'd only been dating for a few weeks and she was sure in a while he would see a bit less of Brooke and a bit more of her.
Nathan had felt really guilty asking Haley to baby-sit as he could offer her no money but she did sound more then happy and as much as he wanted to spend lots of time with his daughter if he wanted to keep her a secret he needed to be going out more. He knew that he could also have trusted Lucas but the less people that knew the less likely his important secret was to get out.
Haley had baby-sat for Nathan three times that week and already adored Poppy, she was such a happy easy going baby and gave Haley no trouble, she could see how the baby had won a place in Nathan's heart so quickly.
It also ment she had got to know Nathan a little better and she found him less intimidating after seeing him interact with his daughter. She had found out that 2 months ago a girl that Nathan vaguely remembered from a college party had shown up with Poppy saying she couldn't look after her and Nathan was the father, he had been instantly smitten.
Although Haley wouldn't have been able to name when exactly she had notice the change that had happened to Nathan Scott, he used to be a massive player and only talk to hot girls but lately he had been more chilled out and just generally nice.
She had started sitting by him at lunch rather then Tim but she still didn't really talk to him at school as it might raise too many questions.
She still wasn't really paying attention at lunch though especially as the main topics of conversation seemed to be basketball and cheerleading, so she was really surprised when they were talking about cheerleading and started talking to her.
"You absolutely must try out." Brooke said with a big smile on her face. Haley looked at her confused for a second.
"For cheerleading?" She asked uncertainly and Lucas started to laugh.
"Yes, stop laughing Lucas." Brooke said scolding her boyfriend.
"It's just have you seen her, she's so clumsy. She's always tripping over her feet." Lucas said still looking amused. Haley knew it was true but she couldn't help being embarrassed having Lucas say that to all of them.
"Lucas is right I don't have what it takes to be a cheerleader, trust me you would not want me on the team." Haley said blushing.
"Please try out, it would be great to have you on the team." Brooke said.
"You might have some fun you never know." Peyton added.
"Plus you would look hot in a cheerleading uniform." Nathan said smirking causing Haley to blush more and Lucas to scowl at him.
"What." Nathan said defending himself when he saw Lucas scowl "Most girls look hot in cheerleading uniforms."
"Fine I'll come." Haley said mostly to shut them up although she was happy Brooke wanted to include her in something.
Brooke sat their smiling, she couldn't wait, she knew how clumsy Haley was and couldn't wait for her to fall on her ass later.
Haley walked into the gym after school and nearly walked back out again the stands seemed to be full of people, she thought it would be a closed audition. She was just leaving when she heard Brooke call her over. She reluctantly joined her.
"I didn't know there were going to be so many people here." Haley said looking around nervously.
"Of course people love coming to cheerleader try outs seeing some of the hot girls seeing some of the rubbish ones." Brooke said. Haley became even more nervous.
"You know this was a really bad idea I should just get off to work." Haley said spotting Nathan and Lucas sitting in some seats near the floor.
"Haley no you're staying." Brooke said firmly "It's just a group dance to begin with to find the best people to do individual dances I'm sure unless you're really good no ones going to notice you. Everyone who's trying out get onto a space on the gym." Brooke shouted out the last bit to everyone.
Haley found a space in the middle, there were 12 other girls trying out and she hoped she was hidden.
The music started and Brooke showed them a simple routine and then they had to repeat it, even though it was simple Haley only got half the moves right and nearly bumped into one of the other girls who gave her a horrible death stare.
Haley felt so flustered and awkward and it didn't help when she looked around and saw Lucas with a big grin on his face obviously laughing at her.
Brooke then did another dance that was a bit more complicated that they were again ment to copy, once again she only got a few of the moves right and nearly fell over.
Before Brooke showed them the last dance routine they had to try she singled out Haley.
"Haley concentrate are you even taking this seriously." She said crossly causing everyone to turn and look at her. Haley felt her face burn up and tears prick at her eyes, she was trying her hardest.
Unfortunately the worst was still to come, as the last dance involved a jump spin at the end. Haley stumbled through the last dance conscious that loads of people were watching her and then when it came to the jump her legs got tangled and she stumbled and fell flat on her face right in front of the crowd.
She lay on the ground for a second feeling stunned and then she heard the music being turned off and the gym ringing with laughter.
She jumped up grabbed her bag and made for the nearest exit, her head still throbbing and her cheeks burning. She managed to get off the school grounds when the tears finally fell down her face, she knew she should just laugh about the whole thing but hearing all those people laughing at her was too much.
She knew what they must be thinking, that she was a loser for even going to the audition, only a few people in the school knew who she was and she was very happy with that but now loads of people would know her as the idiot who thought she could be a cheerleader.
When she had got to work Karen had made a fuss over her because the side of her face was red and told her to look after Poppy out back until Nathan came and to tell her if she wanted to go home early.
Haley was glad to be able to stay out back as students often came to Karen's after school and she didn't fancy being laughed at again.
She was playing with Poppy and didn't even notice Nathan come in until he was standing right above her. He sat down next to her and greeted his daughter by kissing her on the head.
Poppy squealed in delight when she saw her dad and swung her chubby arms in his direction and he picked her up out of Haley arms, she couldn't help but smile at the sight in front of her.
"Are you ok?" He asked her and she looked confused for a second until he gently brushed his fingers along her red cheek, she flinched slightly and looked down, although her cheek hurt her whole body tingled when he had touched her.
"I'm fine, I over reacted really I guess I should be happy I made so many people laugh." She said with no real feeling in her voice.
"Lucas was going to come after you but I think Brooke grabbed him." Nathan said trying to make her feel better.
"He had every right to laugh he told me not to do it." Haley said and stood up and went to where her apron was hanging up and started to put it on, she looked into the mirror above the hooks and for the first time saw her red face.
"Crap" she said. He came over and stood next to her Poppy still in his arms.
"You're quite a trogon, getting up so quickly after that fall most would have stayed on the floor." He said placing his free hand on her arm, Haley chuckled humourlessly at his compliment.
"I was wondering if you could look after Poppy at yours tonight, Brooke has demanded I have a stupid party at mine." He said rolling his eyes. "I mean I could ask Karen if you wanted to come." He said quickly annoyed at himself for being so thoughtless.
"No its ok I'm not really in the party mood. Just bring her over, there's a spare key under the matt if you want to come get her really late." Haley said smiling at Poppy.
"Your parents won't mind?" He asked hesitantly, he hadn't really asked her what she told her parents when she was out of the house most nights of the week.
"Its fine they aren't really around." she said still looking at Poppy but her smile gone.
"How come?" He asked before he could stop himself, from what Lucas had said over the years it sounded like she had great parents. Haley looked off into the distance for a second trying to think of the best way to put it.
"They're off travelling, they realised life was too short and wanted to live their dream. I ment it's not like I need looking after." She said finally looking up at him.
"I guess we're in the same boat, home alone." He said sadly even though he had gotten emancipated he still wished his parents had been better and that he was still at home.
"Hey your not alone you have this little treasure." Haley said and smiled again as she lightly grabbed Poppy's cheek.
"Well so do you" he said looking at her and gently stroking her arm "Any time you want to come play with us your welcome, open house to all without parental rule." He said smiling at her, she smiled back.
"That is a very generous offer, I better get out there and help Karen, I'll see you later." Haley said feeling a bit better, she wasn't sure if she would take Nathan up on his offer but it was nice of him to have made it in the first place.
It was funny it was normally Lucas who would make her feel better but it was nice to know she had another friend looking out for her and she would never have thought in a million years that she would be friends with Nathan Scott.
The party had not been amazing and it was 2am when he finally got everyone to leave even though it was a school night. He sighed when he thought of what a mess his place was, it would be a long time before any one convinced him to have a party again.
When he got to Haley's he was as quiet as he could be and tiptoed into the living room where he had set up the temporary cot but found Poppy wasn't in it. He felt panic rise up in him for a second until he looked over to the sofa where he saw a sleeping Haley looking very angelic with his daughter asleep in her arms looking equally as peaceful. He stood there for a second just enjoying the sight before taking out his phone and taking a picture.
He hadn't taken any pictures of her yet as when she was awake she always seemed to wriggle away and when she was asleep he was always afraid he would wake her but this scene in front of him was too much of an opportunity to be missed.
It made him happy and sad to see the sight in front of him, sad because Poppy's mother had just abandoned her but happy because he knew that there were other women like Haley who would treat her with as much love as she deserved.
He gently scooped up Poppy and put her in her carry seat, luckily she stayed sleeping.
He then wondered what to do with Haley, he didn't want her to get cold in the night but she looked so peaceful he didn't want to wake her up.
He looked around for a blanket to cover her with but couldn't find one, so he scooped her up in his arms and started to carry her towards the stairs.
She stayed sleeping and he couldn't believe how light she felt in his arms, luckily when he got to the top of the stairs one of the doors had Haley's name on it so he carried her in and lowered her onto the bed and put the covers over her. He gently swept the hair out of her face noticing how soft her skin was and for reasons unknown to him gave her a lingering kiss on the forehead . It was just something about the way she protected his daughter that made him want to protect her too.
He was just leaving the room when a picture on her dresser caught his eye, it was Haley with two people he presumed were her parents, Haley looked like she was about 14 or 15 and in her arms was a baby, they were all smiling at the camera and Nathan couldn't help but wonder who the baby was.
Haley woke up and wasn't really sure how she had ended up in bed but presumed she must have walked up and been half asleep. She hadn't really wanted to go to school but it wasn't like she had a choice.
She just kept her head down and went about her day. She had second period with Lucas and he had apologised for laughing and they had arranged to meet up after school and that was enough.
The day went by quickly and Haley had spent lunch time in the library as she didn't want to face the others yet as she was still embarrassed, she had noticed a few people that day laughing at her but she ignored them.
She was just waiting by her locker at the end of the day for Lucas when she got a text from him.
Sorry, can't meet you. Brooke in hospital, she's been poisoned. L