Chapter 25: Cat Fight and Unanswered Thoughts
Nathan was frustrated. He had this entire plan to re-propose to Haley again, but it seemed pointless now because Brooke just had to go and rebook the wedding for December. They didn't even have a damn say in what day they were getting married. Brooke had just swooped in and taken over, pretending to be Haley on the phone. And God, he couldn't even say anything to her because everyone was fawning over her and the baby, and he couldn't be that guy to ruin the happy moment. He had been that guy too much lately, and he just couldn't do it again. But he had to do something. He absolutely wanted to marry Haley, but in December? That was so close to the holidays and he wanted his wedding anniversary to not be followed by a huge holiday, but that looked like what it was going to be like now.
Haley was still pretty quiet around him too. He couldn't figure out why, they had talked in the hospital and everything seemed okay. He would have to make a mental note to try and drag it out of her when they returned to Durham, since they had both taken separate cars, wasting gas and money. But he had to make sure she was still happy, so he had to go through with his plan even if it seemed kind of lame and dumb.
Haley and Nathan were to return to school tomorrow, but they were so caught up in cooing over their nephew that they had lost track of time. They couldn't miss school either, so their time was limited which meant that Nathan too, was running out of time.
"Luke! Can I talk to you for a second?" Nathan grabbed Lucas's arm, and Lucas nodded as they headed out into the hallway. Brooke and the baby were being discharged this afternoon, which meant that things would calm down for a little bit.
"Yeah sure man, what's going on? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I just don't know how to execute this plan for Haley anymore. We are kind of running out of time here."
"Yeah, well I didn't ask for my son to be born during all of this but things happen little brother and you just have to adapt. You'll figure it out."
"Gee – that was really helpful Luke."
"Listen, I can't make all your decisions for you like you like to think that I can. I'm all for helping you as your brother, but I have to not only make decisions for myself but for a helpless baby now too so I can't keep doing it for you too. You'll figure it out. Now, I need to go back in there and see my girlfriend and my son." Lucas walked away, leaving Nathan standing there and confused.
He would just have to do it tonight and hope that it would go over well. I mean it was Haley, and she loved him, what could go wrong?
- Friends First then Love –
Haley was dying to tell Brooke about the pregnancy, but didn't want to take away from her glory. Once Keith, Brooke and Lucas got home and settled, Haley decided it was time to just talk to her best friend before Lucas spilled the beans. She was pissed that Nathan had spilled it to Lucas, she had wanted to tell him herself, but he seemed okay with it and that's all that mattered to Haley and put her at a sort of ease.
"Hey Brooke, can I talk to you real quick now that everyone's settled in?" Haley was nervous. She really wasn't sure how Brooke was going to react, but hoped that it would be positive.
"Yeah tutor girl just give me a second to put the baby down." Brooke laid Keith in his crib and closed the door to the nursery behind her and headed over to the kitchen where Haley waited. "Is everything alright?"
"I'm not going to beat around the bush so here it goes.. I'm pregnant!" It was dead silent. Haley expected something to come out of Brooke, even a little squeal, but nothing. It remained that way for a little longer before Haley decided it was time to break the tension. "Uh, Brooke?"
"I don't know what you want me to say."
"Uh, Congratulations?"
"I can't say that Haley. I just can't."
"What, why? What do you mean Brooke?" Haley had a bad feeling about this and was not looking forward to the direction this was beginning to take.
"I mean, are you sure you're really ready for this? You and Nathan have been at each other's throats lately and you just called off your wedding. I just don't know if it's the right time for you to bring a baby into the picture. I just don't want that helpless baby to be thrown into something that could potentially be destructive."
"Brooke, what the hell is that suppose to mean?! Coming from the girl who just had a baby with my best friend, who wasn't even engaged in the first place and is living with his mother."
"Hey – knock it off Miss living off her mother in law's money. You have no place to say that. Look, I know we are young and that's not a valid excuse because I just did it, but I just am worried about it Haley. You and Nathan aren't in a good place right now and what if that doesn't get better? Then you have a baby in the mix and then what? You're supposed to just act like everything's dandy?"
"Coming from my BEST FRIEND who also just rescheduled my OWN damn wedding for December! And how dare you tell me that Nathan and I aren't in a good place. You don't know our relationship! In fact, last time I checked Lucas is your first real and serious boyfriend that you weren't just hooking up with, so you're the one giving ME relationship advice? Ha. Funny Brooke, you're a real jokester." Haley wanted to take back her bite but she knew it was too late and by the look on her best friend's face she had really had hit a nerve. It wasn't like them to act like this, it honestly was probably their hormones causing this stupid fight in the first place, but Haley refused to back down. She wasn't going to let her so called best friend dictate her life and her choices. For God's sake she just wanted a simple "congratulations". Was that so hard?
"You're right tutor girl, I'm not one to give relationship advice but I have been the one that has been here for you every step of the way during your relationship with Nathan. I have been here every time that he has made you cry or annoyed, and I was there when you wanted to call off the wedding in the beginning. So sorry for looking out for my best friend, I'll try not to do that next time."
"Brooke, I just wanted a simple 'congratulations'. That's it. Is that so damn hard?"
"Yes, yes it is because I don't support it. I'm sorry Haley, but I don't. You and Nathan aren't ready for a baby. Hell, I was barely ready and I don't want to have to be that bitch but I'm the only one who cares to be blunt and honest around here so be it."
"Wow. Thanks a lot. You know, I didn't support you and Luke having a baby but I supported you even though I thought differently and I congratulated you and was there for you every step of the way so thanks, thanks a lot." Haley replied, getting up and walking out of the house slamming the door behind her. She figured she probably woke up the baby, but she really didn't care at this point. She wanted to go back to Durham now and escape the hell that Tree Hill was slowly becoming, but Nathan had promised that he would take her out and do something special with her. She hoped that it would be exactly what she needed to cheer up. She hated being mad at Brooke, but damn it she was being a bitch. And maybe she was right, maybe her and Nathan weren't ready for a baby but is anyone ever really ready for a baby?
Haley drove and met Nathan at the Riverside dock where they use to get ice cream and Haley would tutor Nathan. It brought back so many memories being here, and it was sentimental for a moment. But then again, Haley smiled because it was reminder that they had made it. They had made it from those high school days and they had conquered everything that came their way.
She was surprised when she started walking towards the table to see beautiful white lantern like lights hanging everywhere and a path of flower petals leading her to the same table where they used to come. Nathan was sitting there with a candlelit dinner waiting for her. She smiled. She couldn't believe she had fallen in love with the boy she had know her whole life. They had been best friends, she had tutored him during high school, they even hated each other at one point due to their jealousy but here they were.
"Nathan, this is all so beautiful. What's the special occasion?" Haley asked skeptically, as she sat down and smiled at Nathan.
"No reason Hales. Just want to show you how much I love you." He leaned over and kissed her softly, and she blushed as their lips briefly touched and he pulled away. He stared at her for a second before he grabbed her hands in his.
"This is beautiful Nathan, and just what I needed. You are something else, that is for sure." She chuckled. "I love you."
Nathan got down on one knee and Haley gasped. She was so confused, Nathan had already proposed to her once and it was extravagant and amazing, so why was he doing it again?
"Haley James. I know I already did this once, but I screwed up. I messed up the one thing that meant so much to me, and I never want to see you throw off your ring again. You are my world Hales, you are everything that I ever dreamed of having in my life since we were 7 years old. Would you do the honor of marrying me again, and making me the happiest man on the earth?" He opened the box to reveal the same engagement ring he had given Haley so many months ago and felt a sense of relief when she nodded her head yes and wrapped her arms around him. He felt content and happy. This is where he belonged, wrapped in her arms. This was home.
- Friends First then Love –
"Brooke, what's got you so upset? You've been extremely quiet since Haley left and that was almost two hours ago. You didn't even smile when you were rocking Keith." Lucas looked at Brooke concerned. She seemed so quiet and emotionless since Haley had left from her visit and he just knew something must have happened.
"Haley and I got into a fight. A bad one."
"Oh no baby, what happened?"
"She told me she was pregnant, and I didn't take it very well. I feel bad for the things I said, but at the same time I don't. I was just being honest. Well, trying to." Brooke sighed. Lucas loved this about Brooke, she was not afraid to speak her mind. She would tell you how it was, whether you wanted to hear it or not. She was feisty, and she kept him on his toes which is what he needed.
"What did you say?"
"I told her I didn't support her. I told her that her and Nathan were too much of a wreck themselves right now that throwing a baby in was going to make things worse."
"Oh Brooke – "
"I don't take it back because it's the truth but it may have also been out of a little jealousy in a way too. Haley always gets everything. She got the boy, the ring, the baby, the beautiful wedding, top of the class in high school, and then there's me. I got the boy, but I also got pregnant super early, drove my boyfriend away, and just continued to be a bitch."
"Brooke, stop that. You have so much going for you, there's no need to be jealous."
"I guess I just wanted my share of the glory after having Keith, and I know that's selfish but for once I felt like I was on the top again, and I missed that."
"It's okay, things happen and you're human. You make mistakes and you feel these things sometimes that you can't always change. But you should try and talk to her once things have cooled down. I'm sure you both said things you didn't mean, you're girls and your emotions are at an all time high right now."
"Yeah, I guess. I just feel like a bad friend for not totally supporting her. She supported us when we got pregnant, but I just couldn't lie to her. I didn't think it would be fair."
"Like I said pretty girl, you should really talk to her and sort things out. It'll work out, you two love each other too much to let a petty fight get in the way of that. Besides, you both had a long weekend, so you were both probably speaking off of being tired as well and we all know how you can get when you're tired." They both chuckled at the last part as Luke put his shoulder around Brooke and she sunk into him. He was right.
"Thanks Broody, you always know the right thing to say." Brooke kissed him lightly on the lips and smiled. She was one lucky girl.
- Friends First then Love -
It was 3 am and Lucas couldn't believe he was back at this house again. He needed to see him. He needed the answers that he had been wondering for so long, the same answers that Nathan was too scared to ask about. He needed to do this for him, for Nathan, for Chris and most importantly, for Haley.
He marched right up to the front door this time, making sure to not disturb Felix. He didn't want to have a run in with that prick again because he might end up punching him and doing more damage than Nathan did the last time. He breathed a heavy breath before he placed his knuckle on the door and knocked, loudly. He knew Dan would be pissed, it was 3 am for Christ's sake and Lucas was the son that he chose to abandon. This whole situation screamed danger and stupid from a mile away, but Lucas just couldn't handle the unknown anymore.
He knocked again, harder this time. He rocked back and forth on his heels as he waited for Dan to open the door.
Dan finally jerked the door open, looking extremely pissed and confused. It was no question that Luke had definitely woken him up, but he didn't care. It's not like Dan did anything with his life, he could catch up on the sleep later.
"Who the hell is knocking at this hour?! Do you have any idea what time it is?!"Dan yelled, swinging the door open and stopping when he saw Lucas staring back at him.
"Hi Dan."
"Lucas?" Dan spat, not sure if he was completely angry or completely relieved that it wasn't Nathan at his door.