Authors Note: I'm sorry for the late update guys. I've had my friend staying at my house and haven't had much time to write unfortunately. Although I had a great time with my friend. Thankyou so much for the reviews last chapter. You would not believe how happy I get when I get a review or my story added to someone's favourites; it makes my day. Anyway I hope you enjoy Chapter 4 :)
February 2029
It had been a couple of days since Alex and Chase had broken up and he had been staying in Brooke and Julian's guest bedroom. He was extremely grateful to them both for being so welcoming, but he missed his family terribly. Brooke and Julian didn't mind having Chase around because they were happy to help their friend but they were worried about him. He spent a lot of his time in the bedroom or at Tric and neither friend knew what to do to help him. But Brooke was going through her own problems.
"What's up? You've had your thinking face on for a few days now, what's on your mind?" Julian asked Brooke with genuine wonderment.
"What thinking face?" Brooke was oblivious to the apparent faces that she pulled.
"Oh you know the one where you're trying to work something out mentally. I can almost see the steam coming from your ears and you walk around the house mumbling to yourself. And hell I don't mind, I think it's kind of cute but I'm starting to worry that you might be doing the same thing out on the streets or something and I'm pretty sure that the public won't know what to do with you. I don't want you to be taken away or anything," Julian joked.
"Haha very funny mister but I do not talk to myself!" said Brooke determinedly.
"You keep telling yourself that," Julian laughed. He loved Brooke's slightly childish mannerisms. "So what's going on in that pretty head of yours?"
"Just something that Peyton said on Tuesday."
"Which was?"
"She told me to never give up hope you know. So I've been doing some research. Come look, it's on my laptop," said Brooke leading Julian into their office.
Tree Hill High was always busy during lunch period; lockers being opened, lunch being eaten in the quad and homework being done at last minute in the corridors. Ella never quite understood why people would leave their homework till the last possible moment to do it. Were their lives really that sociable? Even Sawyer managed to do her homework on time, although it was probably because mom and dad make her, Ella thought to herself. She turned the corner in the busy corridor, to stop at her locker before she headed to the tutor centre for her lunch time session with a girl called Macey, and walked straight into an oncoming teenager. Ella wasn't expecting to just walk into someone and as a result her many books that she was carrying ended up on the floor. She quickly bent down to pick them up, not even looking at the person who had caused the problem.
"I'm so sorry, please let me help you," called out a voice that belonged to a boy that had just bent down in front of Ella to help her pick up her books.
"Thanks," Ella replied timidly. She was never very confident when it came to meeting new people. She looked at the boy who looked about her age, maybe a year or so older and smiled out of politeness. One trick that she had learnt from her dad; a smile can go a long way. "Don't worry about it, it was my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going."
"Let's just say we were both to blame or this could turn into one of them petty debates about who's more sorry," the teenage boy laughed. "Here," he said handing over Ella's copy of 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck. "Great story; it's probably my favourite of his. Have you read it before?"
"Several times, it's one of my dad's favourites as well as mine," Ella said standing up in symmetry with the teenage boy whose name she still did not know. "I'm Ella," she reached her hand out towards him.
"Dylan Carter though I've never really been called Dylan in my whole life. Most people call me Lanny," he shook Ella's out stretched hand.
"Lanny? That's really unusual, why didn't they just call you Dylan?"
"Crazy parents? They clearly wanted me to have a name that was so obscure that girls would question it," Lanny chuckled with Ella who found the boy rather down to earth and funny. "I'm new here."
"Well I guess that makes me old here," commented Ella. "Where are you heading?"
"I'm supposed to be going to the tutor centre but I'm totally lost. Do you know where it is?"
"Even better, I'm actually heading that way now! Want to come with me?" suggested Ella.
"That would be great thanks," replied Lanny and they made their way towards the tutor centre. "So why are you going there?"
"I'm a tutor."
"Really? Me too...well I hope to be anyway. I was a tutor at my last high school and I've got to speak to the head of the tutor centre to see if it's possible for me to continue here at Tree Hill." Their conversation continued until they reached the tutor centre. Ella had never had a conversation with someone that she had only just met; it went against her shy and timid characteristics. "So I'll see you again?"
"Maybe," Ella smiled and walked to the desk where her tutor student was sat.
"How's my little nephew doing?" Haley asked Peyton as she entered her vacant classroom.
"He's doing great; well he must be because I'm growing. I've got another doctor's appointment in a couple of weeks so we will know more then." Peyton took a seat opposite Haley's desk which made her feel oddly out of place, like she was a child who had been sent to the principal.
"Any names yet?"
"Unfortunately we haven't really discussed names yet."
"Still plenty of time though, how long is it now?"
"I've still got 4 months to go," said Peyton, somewhat impatiently. This pregnancy had taken it out of her. At the beginning of the pregnancy, she had extremely bad evening sickness and she slept all of the time. Turns out being a pregnant 42 year old woman was not an easy task especially when you ran your own record label and had three children.
"Well you look great girly!"
"Thanks Hales! But I kinda just want him to arrive already you know?"
"You're just at the stressed stage, where everything seems impossible because you're pregnant. But it's not; you can still have a job and kids. Surely I was a good example of that."
"Why did you not have any more kids Hales?"
"Nathan and I talked about it. I would have loved to have lots of kids. As much as my siblings annoy the hell out of me sometimes, I still love them and I'm grateful that I have siblings. That's something that I wanted in my family you know, lots of kids. But when the twins arrived, we were just happy with what we had. We wanted them to get the right amount of attention and support growing up. We didn't want them or Jamie feeling left out so we decided to just have three children and if we did by any chance get pregnant then it would be okay but we weren't going to try. I guess it worked out the way it was supposed to though right because we never did get pregnant after the twins."
"I never knew that Haley, I guess it's because I had never asked before. So what's going on with you? I feel like we haven't had a good catch up in a long time."
"Yeah it has been a while. Everything's great with me though you know. Nathan loves his job and that team. Jamie is happy in Durham. He has a great job and good friends. And Lydia and Quinley are excellent students who seem to be content with their lives."
"Well that's great for them but what about you Haley?"
"I'm sorry but you know how it is being a mom, you kind of put those around you first. I've been okay too though. I'm still writing music though no more recording for me before you pester me again for like the billionth time!"
"But Haley I only pester you because you are a great musician and I know that you could make a great record."
"I know Peyton and I appreciate that more than anything but I've got my classes. That's my life now and I...I love it I do," hesitated Haley slightly.
"But?"
"I've just got this new kid in my class and I just know that he wants to cause trouble. I don't think that I can save this one Peyton."
"Haley James Scott, are you giving up on a student? Things must be bad! How many lessons have you had with him? Peyton questioned.
"One," mumbled Haley.
"He can't be that bad?"
"Oh he is. Has Lucas not told you about him, Jonathan Carter?"
"That's the boy? Well I know about him. He sounds like a troubled teenager Haley and sometimes troubled teenagers are just looking for some help. I think that you shouldn't give up on him just yet buddy, it's not like you."
Peyton was right. It was in Haley's nature to want to help others, especially those who act like they don't need it. But Haley couldn't bring herself to help Jonathan.
Nathan had been having basketball training every night with the Ravens. He was overwhelmed by how great they were getting after each practice. He had players on the team that he knew would become great players, maybe even better than him. Tree Hill hadn't had a player like Nathan Scott since he graduated but he was sure that some players on this team could give him a run for his money. But it wasn't just their basketball skills that made this Ravens team unique; it was their heart, dedication and support for each other that really made them different. They had gelled completely as a team and we're more like brothers than team mates; when one guy was down, another would come and pick him back up again.
"I want you all to know that I couldn't be more proud of you. I got to be honest with you, when you all tried out I was worried. I didn't think that you guys had it in you to be the best team Tree Hill has ever seen but I take it back. To me you already are but you just need to go out there tomorrow and show the rest of Tree Hill just how amazing you really are. I know that we're going to win; you know that we're going to win so let's win it. Hit the showers and get an early night. I want you fresh and wide awake for tomorrow."
The sweaty and tired teenagers trooped off to the changing rooms whilst Annie joined the cheerleaders. She was looking for her best friend Avery, she hadn't seen her all day but she thought that she would turn up to Cheerleading practice. Avery never missed a practice; she was trying to impress the older cheerleaders so that when they graduated she could be head cheerleader.
"Has anyone seen Avery?" asked Annie to the group of giggling girls.
"No I haven't seen her all day and she hasn't come to practice. We haven't heard from her," a red haired, short cheerleader replied.
"Okay thanks anyway." Annie walked away slightly worried about her best friend. She knew just how unlike Avery it was to miss practice, what could possibly have been wrong for Avery not to come to school or tell Annie what was going on.
As Annie left the gym, Haley entered it. She had been working late, grading some papers so dropped by the gym to say hi to her husband and son.
"Hey 23, you best not be pushing them kids too hard!" she shouted to Nathan from the other side of the gym.
"Well they haven't done suicides in over a week so that's always a plus," Nathan smirked to his wife who was now stood in front of him. "Hey baby," he kissed Haley's soft pink lips. "You're working late."
"Just been grading some work for my sophomore class. Listen I'm heading home now, I don't want Lydia to be alone and I'll start dinner."
"James is there remember."
"Oh god, of course. It's been a long day, how could I forget about my own son."
"Don't worry about it; I do it all the time." Nathan received a playful hit on the arm from Haley. "I'm joking!"
"Well I'll see you at home okay? And please try not to be late. I want as much family time as possible before Jamie leaves on Sunday," she quickly kissed Nathan and left the gym.
The Scott's were sat round their dinner table eating the food that Haley had cooked for them tonight; Mac and cheese. It was a dish that Nathan had come to love over the years that he had been married to Haley; she cooked the best Mac and cheese he had ever tasted.
"Thanks Hales, this is great," Nathan said, filling his mouth with another forkful of food.
"No problem, I'm glad you are all enjoying it," she replied.
"Are you kidding? Mom you make the nicest Mac and cheese in the whole of Tree Hill," said Quinley, barely able to talk because he had that much food in his mouth.
"Thanks Q but could you not speak with your mouth full, there is more on the table than on your plate," Haley told Quinley which made the table laugh. Quinley had always been the messiest out of the Scott children but he had really made a mess tonight. The tastier the food, the more Quinley seemed to leave on the table.
"Do you have to go home on Sunday Jamie?" Lydia begged her older brother. He was the person that she looked up to the most. She had a great relationship with both of her parents and her twin brother, but it was Jamie that she would always turn to with any problem.
"Lydie's right J-Luke; why do you have to go back so soon?" Quinley agreed with his sister, he didn't want Jamie to leave either.
"Because I've got friends and a job and a life back in Durham. Tree Hill will always be home to me and if I could stay here then I would but I just can't right now," Jamie explained to his family.
"If it's your girlfriend that you're worried about then she is more than welcome here James," offered Haley to her son who now wore an extremely confused frown upon his face which reminded her of her best friend Lucas. Jamie had always bore a resemblance of his uncle but the older he got, the more and more like Lucas he became.
"What?" Jamie exclaimed.
"Come on James, we know about your girlfriend back in Durham."
"But how did..."
Nathan interrupted his son who had gone an embarrassing shade of pink. "Dude, if you're going to change your facebook status from single to in a relationship, you might want to not be friends with your brother and sister on there."
"Guys, what happened to having each other's backs?" Jamie turned from his father to look at his younger siblings who were sat opposite him at the table. Both were looking to and from each other, trying to look for an answer.
"Bro, this was all Lydia," Quinley confessed with panic in his voice. He hated upsetting his older brother.
"Whatever Quinley! Mom caught both of us trying to look at his girlfriends profile," Lydia tried to defend herself and she wasn't lying. A month ago, Haley was cleaning up around the house when she heard Lydia and Quinley arguing in Lydia's bedroom. She walked in there to find both of them fighting over the computer. After asking them several times what was going on, Lydia finally confessed.
"Are you going to tell us about her?" Haley asked.
"I didn't want to tell you like this. I wanted to know how serious we were getting before I introduced you to her. Her name's Megan, we went to Duke together. We've known each other since enrolment day but we only started dating 4 months ago. She's pretty amazing!"
"Is she a Law grad too," Nathan asked whilst shoving another forkful of food into his mouth.
"No, she's a marine biologist. She's down at the Gulf now, helping out; I would have brought her otherwise. I've met her parents so it's only right that she meets mine."
"Wow, it must be serious," Haley declared.
"It's not like that. I met her parent's way before we were even dating. They live in Durham so I've seen them several times," Jamie revealed.
"She sounds great son, you should bring her next time you stay," suggested Nathan.
"I will. She really wants to meet you all."
The Scott family's conversation quickly changed from Jamie's girlfriend to basketball; a popular topic of conversation in their household.
"Do you get to play a lot of basketball in Durham J-Luke?" Quinley asked Jamie.
"Not really Q, not with my job and everything."
"Not being able to play must kill you."
"Actually it's not as hard as I thought it would be. I love basketball and it used to be my dream to be a pro but I'm just not tall enough and I gave up on that dream years ago. "
"Sorry Jamie, that's totally your mom's fault for being so short," Nathan smirked.
"Shut up," Haley jokingly said to Nathan.
As the family laughed, the phone began to ring and Lydia stood up from her seat.
"Lydia, sit down sweetie, I'll get it." Haley made her way into the hallway where the phone was on the small table next to the door. "Hello."
"Hey teacher mom!"
"Brooke, hi. I've been meaning to call."
"Don't lie girly," Brooke giggled.
"No I'm serious. I've just been crazy busy with school and the kids."
"Don't worry about it Hales. I understand. Well maybe not the kid's part but I've been busy with work too."
"So what's up girly?" Haley asked.
"Well Julian and I were just wondering if you and Nate want to come for dinner on Saturday."
"We'd love to but it depends..."
"Oh, do you have other plans?"
"No it's not that, we're free. It just depends on who's going to be cooking because if it's Julian, we will be there. But if it's you Brooke Baker then I vote for take-out."
"Haley James Scott, my cooking is not that bad!" Brooke said childlike.
"Brooke, I've tasted your roast and believe me, cooking just isn't your forte."
"Fine whatever Hales; Julian will cook!"
"We shall be there then."
Sawyer, Ella & Annie were in their bedrooms so Lucas and Peyton were spending some quality time together on the sofa downstairs. Peyton was leaning her head on Lucas' shoulder, rubbing her belly whilst he stroked her curly hair.
"We're lucky aren't we Luke?" Peyton stated.
Lucas laughed at Peyton's statement. "Yeah we're lucky Peyton but where did that come from?"
"I don't know, I've just been thinking about what Nathan and Haley have and what Brooke and Julian don't have. Brooke can't have kids but we are about to have our fourth despite the fact that we weren't supposed to have any children after Sawyer. Maybe we're not supposed to have another baby Luke," Peyton turned to face her husband who was in shock at what his wife was saying.
"Peyton...I...I don't understand" he stammered.
"Luke, don't look so scared okay because I want this baby, I want our son more than anything. I'm just worried and scared."
"About what Blondie?"
"What if we have ruined it? We might have pushed our luck Lucas. We couldn't have another baby naturally so we had to have IVF. Maybe that was a way of saying that we should not have any more kids."
"But the IVF worked Peyton; if we were not supposed to have another child then the IVF wouldn't have worked. Our son is going to be great and you are going to be great."
"I just don't want to ruin this now Luke, after everything that we've been through."
"Exactly, after everything we have been through and we are still together and happy. Not many couples can say that after going through half of what we have. This is meant to be! I promise you both." Lucas leant in to kiss Peyton's lips tenderly. Their lips just gently grazed each other's but in that single moment when they connected, Peyton was reassured. Lucas was always saving her and if he said that it was going to be okay then she knew that it had to be okay.
"How about you show me how much you love me upstairs," Peyton smiled sexily; a smile that made Lucas weak in the knees.
"But the girls?"
"They'll understand when they're older. Momma needs her man. I love you Lucas!" She wrapped her arms around his neck, leading his mouth to hers. He happily laid his lips upon hers and passionately kissed her.
"Upstairs?" Peyton suggested.
"Yeah upstairs," Lucas smiled and reached out for Peyton's hand so that he could lead her upstairs.
The happily married couple headed to their bedroom feeling happy and in love but most importantly; safe. Safe that everything would be okay...eventually.
Authors Note: I quite liked writing the scenes for the Scott family this Chapter but my favourite part personally was writing the scene between Lanny & Ella. It was great for me to see her interact with someone new. I hope that you all like the character of Lanny (I do). I know that the name is unusual but in my head it just fits him completely. Anyways leave me reviews because you guys really do make my day! Y'all rock!
Next Chapter- Lots of Chalex, Avery & Caleb scenes and Brulian/Naley dinner.