CHAPTER 6

Hey all! Thanks for the reviews! Sorry for taking so long with the updates, be warned; I'm a very slow updater!

Friday arrived and Haley couldn't contain her excitement about seeing Lucas and Peyton this weekend. It had been a long week coming and she was exhausted with all the overtime she had put in to earn a little extra cash for the weekend ahead. She had managed to talk Mr Mooney into giving her the weekend off and Nathan had done the same. At that moment, they were both cleaning the apartment and making it look presentable for their guests who were due to arrive any minute. Haley's favourite Motown CD was booming from their circa-1998 CD player.

"I'm a love man… that's what they call me I'm a love man!" Otis Redding's voice couldn't be heard over Haley's own. "Make love to ya in the morning, make love to ya at night, make love to ya when ya think about it, wanna teach you everything cos cos cos cos I'm a love man!" Nathan laughed as he watched his girlfriend shake her hips dirty dancing style while she vacuumed the living room. He himself was finishing the last of the huge pile of dirty dishes that he'd been promising to clean all week. He too had been putting in a lot of overtime, today being the first day in weeks that he had spent more than 10 minutes with Haley before falling asleep.

A sharp rap at the door made them both jump. Haley silenced the vacuum cleaner and bounced up and down, Otis's voice drowning out her squeals. She bounded towards the door while Nathan switched off the music and instantly regretted it as Haley's high pitched squeal was joined by Peyton's. He turned in time to see Lucas ducking past them with his fingers in his ears and his face contorted in pain.

"Aaagh! Dogs everywhere are hearing that call!" he announced as he made his way over to Nathan and hugged while back slapping each other.

"Welcome" Nathan gestured to his surroundings "to our humble love nest."

"Sweet." Lucas whistled, looking around him, noticing the worn furniture and brand new TV and DVD player on the stand behind him. Haley and Peyton finally found their way into the living room and Peyton pulled Nathan into a long embrace, talking with their eyes the way only the closest of friends can. Haley and Lucas shared their own moment but soon the four were talking animatedly, sharing their news and catching up.

"Word on the street is you met someone Pey Pey…" Haley teased, using Nathan's childhood nickname for his best friend.

Peyton blushed and slapped Lucas's knee, glaring at her supposed confidante. "Word on the street being a broody blonde who can't keep his mouth shut?" she asked pointedly.

"You can't hide anything from us, babe." Nathan proclaimed, a small smile playing on his lips. "Who is he? Could I take him?" he flexed his biceps and puffed out his chest. The last boyfriend Peyton had told them about was a jealous, possessive jerk who Nathan had to rough up a little before he finally took the hint and took a hike.

"He's a sweetheart, and no, you couldn't take him. He makes you look like Pee Wee Herman, puny boy." The group laughed and Nathan threw her a look; she knew full well that the best way to insult Nathan was to attack his looks. Not that he was vain or anything, he just liked being told how good looking he was. Not vain at all. "His name is Jake, he's 21 and he's an English major. We met at a party my first night in New York; he's a gem." Peyton was gushing now and her friends looked at her in amusement. They had never ever seen Peyton gush over a guy before, never seen her even give guys very much attention unless she wanted something. Peyton was the love 'em and leave 'em type but there was never much lovin' on her part.

"But so what? Juicier word on the street is that Lucas bumped into an old 'friend' and has spent every night this week over at her place…" Peyton quickly changed the subject and focussed on Lucas, his eyes widening at the attention. All eyes were on him and his friends 'ooohed' playfully. He shot Peyton a look that said 'I'm gonna kill you' before attempting to explain.

"Who's the chick, Luke? You finally get rid of the big 'V'?" Nathan chuckled "And I thought you were always gonna save it for everybody's favourite cheerleader…"

"He did!" Peyton yelled.

"No way!" Haley cried at the same time that Nathan asked "Are you serious?"

Lucas shifted awkwardly on the couch, unable to get a word in as Peyton filled them in on his late night antics. He knew he should never have told her anything.

"Ok, ok Peyt. I think I have it from here." He finally managed to cut in. Haley looked at him eagerly, awaiting more information while Nathan just sat across from him looking stunned. "You're making it sound sleazy, Peyton, like we can't control ourselves." Lucas whined. "It's not like that at all, we've been hanging out, but no sex yet. My rule."

"Why the hell not? She's hot!" Nathan cut in but made a face when he received a slap on the forearm from Haley who was sitting on his lap.

"It's so much more than that with Brooke. She's unbelievable, totally amazing. Did you know that she designs all her own clothes? That's what she's studying in New York. Fashion. She's totally original. She's my gem." he scowled at Peyton but she just stuck out her tongue at him in response.

"Whereas Jake and I have been at it like rabbits! He can't get enough of me!" Peyton laughed when Nathan and Lucas wrinkled their noses in disgust and protested that they didn't need that much information.

At that, the two boys declared that they were going out to get the food and dvd's.

"Don't get a chick flick!" Peyton shouted after them as she pulled the cap off her beer bottle with her teeth and put her feet up on the coffee table, ignoring Haley's annoyed glare.

"So Hales…now Nathan's gone, tell me the real deal. How are you guys doing? How's life really treating you?" Peyton asked seriously, taking her feet down and fidgeting with the bottle in her hands. She wasn't used to 'girl' talk, but with Haley she always tries to make an effort.

Haley sighed and leaned back on the couch next to her best girl friend. "It's tough. A lot tougher than I thought it would be." Her smile was gentle, her voice meek, which weren't words to describe Haley. "Nathan and I are working so much that we hardly see each other, everything costs so damn much that we're struggling to make ends meet and it just seems like this is going to be it for the rest of our lives." Haley took in a deep breath and paused, waiting for Peyton to say a few comforting words but the blonde stayed silent. "I just wish things would get easier, you know? I wish so many things…"

"You always knew it was going to be a struggle. Leaving school, leaving Tree Hill. Maybe it wasn't your best option." Peyton suggested gently.

"I couldn't stay there, Peyton." Haley said defensively, a little hurt that Peyton didn't seem to understand her reasons for leaving.

"I understand, Hales -"

"No you don't Peyton. You lost your mom to cancer and your dad worships you and your brothers. You have no idea what it's like to be completely abandoned or what it was like for me in that town or how much I needed to be away from there." Haley snapped but instantly regretted it. She knew Peyton was only trying to help and said so when she apologised. "Do you hate me for taking Nathan away?" Haley asked, her voice low.

Peyton turned to face her and caught Haley's fidgeting hand in her own. "Of course I don't hate you. Do I miss him? Yeah, like you wouldn't believe. I miss you too and I wish things could've been different and we were all going to college together but this is how it is and we all have to accept it."

Haley leaned her head back against the couch and sighed deeply. "I wish things were different too. But it's getting more complicated, Peyton." Haley's head lolled to one side lazily and she stared at Peyton sadly. "I'm late."

Lucas and Nathan stood side by side analysing the selection of DVD's on the shelves in front of them.

"War movie?" Lucas suggested but Nathan shook his head.

"Haley hates movies with blood. They freak her out."

"That rules out horror and most thrillers. What about a comedy? Meet The Parents?"

"Ben Stiller freaks me out. His eyes…he has crazy eyes." Nathan made a face and shuddered. Lucas just rolled his eyes and reached for another box.

"Superman Returns?"

"Guys in tights freak us both out" he grimaced. "It's unnatural, right? Your package all bunched up and practically on display for the whole world to see. Unnatural."

"Is there anything that doesn't freak you out?" Lucas sighed, exasperated. They had been in the video store for almost 20 minutes and Nathan had knocked back every one of Lucas's suggestions.

"How about Lord Of The Rings?" Nathan said it so casual and innocent that Lucas purposely knocked him forward into a cardboard cutout of Will Ferrell.

"Dude no! You've made me watch those movies a hundred times already! Peyton and Haley too. Besides, Gollum freaks me out. He terrified the shit out of me in that last movie." It was Lucas's turn to shudder.

"Who'd win in a fight; Legolas or Aragorn?" Nathan continued on down the aisle, Lucas trailing behind.

"Legolas - he's got all that elf mojo going on."

"Bullshit! Aragorn would kick his ass. Ok, Owen Wilson or Ben Stiller?"

"Stiller would psyche Wilson out with his crazy eyes…" Lucas sniggered when Nathan glared at him. A thought hit him and his eyes widened. "Ultimate Fight!" Lucas announced proudly "Superman or Spiderman?"

"Dude, too much spandex! Really don't want to fill my head with those images…damn it Lucas, too late! You read too many comics when you were a kid." Nathan sauntered on down the aisle, discarding dvd boxes that didn't grab his attention. "So… you and Brooke… never saw that one coming." Nathan's tone was sarcastic but Lucas knew his brother well enough to know he was fishing for information.

Lucas threw a knowing smile at his brother and thought a moment before he replied. "You remember when you first met Haley?" he asked.

"Yeah, I stole her lunch in 2nd grade. Or so she says…"

"You did. It was the first day back at school and you teased her about her Transformer sneakers." Lucas chuckled at the memory, until Nathan had just mentioned it, he had completely forgotten about those Transformer sneakers. He remembered bugging his mom for weeks to get him a pair just like them.

"If I don't remember it, I never did it." Nathan refuted.

"What I meant was, do you remember when you really noticed Haley?" Lucas brought the subject back on track.

"Sure, it was the end of Junior year and I got sent to the Tutor Centre because my grades were complete crap. Why?"

"You remember what she was wearing? What she smelled like? Any of that?"

Nathan squinted his eyes and tried to picture Haley on the day in question. "I remember what her hair was like, and she was wearing that little plastic charm bracelet that Aaron gave her but she always wears that anyway." Nathan looked at Lucas in amusement "Why are you asking me this?"

Lucas smiled wistfully and explained. "The first day I ever laid eyes on Brooke was July 16th 1997." He paused, waited for Nathan to snort and roll his eyes. "She came into the café with her dad. She was holding his hand and she was wearing blue jean cut offs and a pink t-shirt with Wonder Woman on the front. I was only 9 years old but I couldn't take my eyes off her. She smiled at me and I saw those dimples for the first time and I was in love." He stopped for a moment and Nathan thought he'd completely lost his train of thought thinking about Brooke Davis. "My point is," he continued "I've been waiting nearly 10 years for this chance. I was always too shy in high school and she never even noticed me until I joined the basketball team. When I saw her at the party, I just knew."

"Knew what?" Nathan asked, his curiosity peaked.

"Knew that it was meant to be. Fate keeps bringing her to me."

Nathan rolled his eyes again but didn't shoot down Lucas's theory. He was probably right - it was a very strange coincidence that Brooke showed up at the same party as Lucas, hundreds of miles from their home town. He reached for another DVD, examined the blurb and tossed it to Lucas. "Haley's favourite."

Lucas looked at the title and groaned. He'd lost count of the amount of times he had to endure 'Love, Actually'. Nathan tossed him another dvd. "Peyton's favourite. They can fight it out." Lucas grinned, 'Almost Famous' was one if his favourites too but it would be fun watching Haley and Peyton bicker and pout over which one to watch.

Both boys sauntered up to the counter while Nathan fumbled around his jeans looking for his membership card.

"Haley seems pretty happy here." Lucas scratched his ear and ran his hand through his hair.

"It's ok, I guess. She's happy to see you guys, though. She has friends from work but she misses you." Lucas paid, insisted on it in fact, and they left the video store.

Walking towards the car, Lucas took a wad of cash from his wallet and handed it to his brother. "It's from my mom and Keith." he told him.

Nathan shook his head, holding up his hands and backing away. "No way, man" he said, refusing to take the money.

"Nate, they want you to have it. They said to consider it a housewarming present or an early Christmas gift. Please take it."

"We're doing fine, Luke. We don't need it." Nathan argued but Lucas just stared at him, his expression saying 'You expect me to believe that?' Nathan sighed and scratched his forehead. Biting his lip, he took the money from his brother. "I'll save it for emergencies. You can tell your mom that we're gonna pay back every penny. Tell her thanks." he smiled gratefully and put the money into his own wallet.

"What do you mean, you're late?" Peyton asked slowly but already knowing the answer. She narrowed her eyes at her friend. "Please tell me you're not…"

"I don't know! I bought a test but I haven't done it yet." Haley scrunched up her face and buried it in her hands. "I'm scared" she said, her words muffled.

"You have to do it. Do it now, get it over with. You're probably late because of stress or something." Peyton reasoned, trying to convince herself as much as Haley. "You've been under a lot of pressure these past few months. It could be nothing."

"Oh god, I hope so." Haley chewed her lip and pulled a cushion to her chest. "I can't be pregnant, Peyton, I just can't. God, I'm such an idiot!" she punched the cushion in her hands and screamed in frustration.

"Even if you are, there's options…" Peyton softly suggested.

"No! Absolutely not! I couldn't do that." Haley's tone was resolute. Even if she was pregnant, there was no way she could not have it. It just wasn't an option to her. "I'd be a good mother, Peyton. A damn sight better than my own. If I'm pregnant, then I'm pregnant. Oh god, I can't do this!"

Haley's confusion was giving Peyton a headache. She folded her arms across her chest and huffed, her temper rising. "Well go pee on the damn stick and we'll find out."

A few minutes later, both girls were sitting against the bathroom door, awaiting the results of the pregnancy test.

"You're timing couldn't be worse, Hales." Peyton stated.

"Stop acting like I did this by myself, Peyt." Haley snapped.

"I'm just saying; you guys are so not ready for a kid. You're 18 for Christ's sake!"

"You think I don't know that? Nobody more than me, Peyton, is praying that that little stick in there comes out negative."

"He's already sacrificed so much…" Peyton mumbled

Haley stood suddenly and turned to face Peyton. "Don't do that! Don't lay the guilt trip on me, Peyton! I know exactly what Nathan sacrificed for me, but I've made sacrifices too. I've done it my whole damn life! If I'm pregnant, then its something Nathan and I will have to deal with, ok?"

Peyton clenched her jaw and stared at Haley standing over her. "Fine." she grumbled. The stopwatch on Peyton's cell phone beeped and both girls looked at each other in alarm. The three minutes were up, it was time to find out Haley's fate. Haley opened the bathroom door as Peyton got to her feet and followed her. Reaching for the little white stick, Haley closed her eyes and said a silent prayer.

"What's going on?" Nathan's voice came from behind them, standing at the doorway, startling them both and causing Haley to drop the test onto the floor. Nathan's eyes followed it and Lucas peered over his shoulder. Nathan's eyes widened as he realised what he'd just interrupted. Confusion set in as he look questioningly at both girls, his eyes searching for the guilty party and settling on his girlfriend.

Haley fought back a sob as she reached down to pick up the stick. She looked at the little screen and back at the instructions in her other hand, three pairs of eyes on her. "It's pink" she sighed painfully. "Pink is positive." Haley closed her eyes so she couldn't see the crestfallen looks on her friends faces and Nathan bolting out of the room and Peyton chasing after him.

So what do you think? Please review and let me know! I wanted to create a little tension between Peyton and Haley because I want them both to be a little territorial when it comes to Nathan. You'll find out in future chapters... lol