Pretty: That's What I Am - Chapter 31 (Part 4)

Hayley awoke beside naked Douglas, the sun was still up but just beginning to set. She looked at him fast asleep and smiled to herself. She then turned to the side to see his Guitar on the edge of the bed. She lift it up to her lap and rested her hands on the choirs. She gently began strumming it slowly, making the sounds not too loud. She closed her eyes trying to make a rhythm but knew it sounded horrible. She didn't remember anything Douglas taught her. She then felt a warm kiss on her bare lower back.

"You're not playing it correctly." He mumbled as his head was rested near her nude body.

"I know." She said laughing and he sat up and nuzzled her neck. "I'm still practicing." She said strumming still.

"That's a G."

"Sure." Hayley said and he laughed. "Now I want to write you a song."

"Then go ahead." He said smiling into her eyes.

"But I play horribly."

"I can play for you, just tell me how you want it to sound while you sing the words." He then kissed her upper back, and Hayley closed her eyes as he did.

"Okay, I'm going to make a quick one right now though."

"Really?" He said laughing. "Alright let's hear it." He placed both hands behind his head as he laid back flat on the bed looking up at her.

"Okay." Hayley said beginning to get a bit nervous. "She strummed the guitar and made the patterns sound similar to the next as best as she could. "OH Douglas oh Douglas you are beautiful." She said and he smiled hard. "You make my days happier and..." She paused. "You're so wonderful"

"How cute." He said chuckling.

"I love your gray eyes and the way your hair falls on your face, you were complicated at first but so worth the chase." Hayley said and he looked at her more seriously now. "Ah I'm awful." She said stopping.

"No keep going babe." He said smiling a little, circling his fingers on her back. Her phone then rang. She strained to get her bag and answered it. "Alright I'm coming."

"Who was that?"

"Dil he was asking if I were on my way home, he wants me to play monopoly tonight with them."

"Them?"

"Ben, my mom." She got up but he held her back.

"Aw I wanted you to spend the night."

"Maybe next time, lover boy." She kissed him quickly. "I'll see you tomorrow." She said getting dressed as he watched her. "Okay?"

"Alright." He said smiling. "I love you."

"I love you too."
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"Oh come on, I don't have enough money to buy that lot." Jordan said as they sat around the monopoly board, he was sleeping over. Hayley sat on the floor, legs crossed as Ben sat on the couch with Dylan and her mom was in the kitchen.

"Oh well it's your turn Hayley." Dylan said excitingly.

"Pizza is here." Her mom said opening the door.

"Oh! Paused the game." Dylan said jumping up with Jordan which seemed identical as they rushed to the kitchen. Hayley laughed playing with the dice in her hand.

"Well... how's it been Ms. Hayley." Ben asked smiling as he fixed the money pile.

"Oh ah, great I guess." There was then an awkward silence.

"Not to be... like weird or out there or anything, but I was just wondering, do you feel uncomfortable around me?" He asked and Hayley frozed. Why would he think that? She felt awful.

"No." She said laughing nervously. "Why?"

"I don't know." He said laughing too. "It's just, I've known your mom for about 3 months now, I been over her quite a bit and we never really talked.

"Oh well, you know I just been busy, I hardly talk to anyone in this house, except mornings and nights." Hayley said and he laughed.

"I know, I have been welcome with open arms from Dylan and... maybe I'm just being too sensitive."

"No, I'm awful." Hayley said seriously nodding and he laughed again. "I should have got to know you more, talk more, you're absolutely right."

"Yeah... I mean I know I'm not your real dad or anything but I want you and Dylan to know-

"I know." Hayley said smiling at him. "I know you're a good person and I'm sorry I made you feel that way, and I'm glad you came into our lives and made us all a little more happy." Hayley said and he smiled. "Thank you."

"It was my pleasure." He said nodding.

"I'm still gonna kick your ass though." Hayley said looking at the board. "No hard feelings."

"Oh yeah?" He laughed. "None taken." They smiled at each other as Dylan and Jordan returned with their pizza plates. He passed on to Hayley and Ben.
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"That's so cute that you're going to prom, I'm happy that you stuck to it." Hayley's mom said proudly in Hayley's room the next morning.

"I know mom."

"I mean I know how much it did mean to you... and I don't want you to feel limited to your high school experiences and senior activities just because... you know.."

"Yeah I know, help me zip it up." Hayley said half way in her red prom dress.

"Why are you trying it on again?"

"Well my body did go through some changes, and I brought this dress months ago with Cassie."

"Oh, how is Cassie anyway?" Her mom asked behind her zipping the dress up. "I haven't seen her in ages."

"Um, she's actually... Pregnant."

"What? Cassie Montgomery?" Her mom said shocked looking at her now. Hayley smooth the dress out, it fit her perfectly.

"Yes and it's... Damon's." Her mom mouth dropped and Hayley couldn't help but laugh as she moved to her dresser.

"Hayley it's not funny." Her mom said in an empathetic voice as she followed her across the room.

"I know, but I'm fine with it now."

"How could you be fine with that, it's not right." Hayley stared at her mom and she changed her reaction. "I'm sorry."

"It's just, I don't want to dwell on that, I'm dating someone else now, so." Hayley shrugged.

"Right." Her mom said. "So you weren't mad or anything?"

"Of course I was mad." Hayley said brushing her hair out. "He was my ex, and Cassie was my best friend..."

"Aw, you could have talked to me about it."

"I know." Her mom rubbed her shoulder.

"I don't want you to feel you need to hide anything from me, you can tell me anything." Her mom said and Hayley thought about her dad. They both then heard Dylan and Douglas laughing downstairs.

"Douglas is here?" Hayley said shocked as she heard footsteps jogging up the stairs. "Close the door!" Her mom pushed it fast as his shadow was appearing.

"Oh I'm sorry ladies." He heard him say from the other side.

"I don't want you to see me in my prom dress." Hayley said laughing as her mom zipped her down.

"Oh , I feel like a groom." She quickly stepped out of it and changed. "You could have text me babe."

"I actually did." He said from the other side of the door as Haley placed a shirt on. She then placed her dress back on the hanger and closed it in her closet. "It's okay now mom."

"Hello Douglas." Her mom said opening the door.

"Hi Sharon." He hugged her and looked at Hayley who was smiling at him. "Hi Hayley."

"Hi Douglas." She mocked him.

"So where you guys heading to?"

"Mary's house." Douglas said "To put some last touches around."

"Mary?" Her mom said confused.

"She's a friend." Hayley said.

"She's pregnant." Douglas finished.

"Oh dear, everyone is getting pregnant..." She then gave Hayley the eye. "You better be careful."

"Okay mom." Hayley said kind if embarrassed and Douglas smiled looking at the ground.
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"You want to go in the cart?" Douglas joked and Hayley smiled leaning in to him. They were in Wal-Mart, looking for something for Mary's and Scott's baby room.

"No I don't, what should I get." She said walking side by side through each aisle. Douglas slumped over as he pushed the cart in front of them.

"I don't know, they would appreciate anything." He looked at baby bottles.

"I mean I want something for the room, put a piece of my love in there for him."

"You did help paint." He said laughing.

"Yeah but I want something else." She picked up a soccer designed frame.

"They already put up frames."

"Oh." Hayley scanned the shelves. "What about a clock?"

"Yeah that's nice." Hayley tiptoed to get one while Douglas got it easily for her.

"Thanks, Daffy Duck or Donald Duck?" Hayley asked holding the two.

"There not the same thing?" Douglas said arching his brow as Hayley laughed hard.

"No crazy, you never watched cartoons when you were little?"

"Not really." He said smiling. "I remember watching Two Stupid dogs." He shrugged. "It was a pretty quiet cartoon."

"Yeah it was, I don't remember those dogs ever talking, Wow, and that's the only one?" Hayley looked at the clocks closer.

"That's all I remember." He said looking at some other clocks. "I was a pretty trouble kid remember? Didn't have much time for many children things." Hayley paused and looked at him. "Don't give me that look." He said smiling.

"Did you play any sports, join any teams?"

"Nope, just my guitar and I shot some hoops with Scott when I met him."

"Did you have any friends before Scott?"

"How rude." He said walking around her as she laughed.

"How is that rude?"

"Well Dr. Drew I didn't, is your next question 'how does that make me feel?." He said scanning through more clocks, he looked like he wanted to get off the subject.

"No Mr. Sarcastic." Hayley said poking his side as he flinched.

"Ouch, you're strong." He said smiling "Scott was... just the one."

"THEE one huh." Hayley said smirking.

"Yes I think I'm going to ask him to marry me."

"Oh really, I'm jealous." She said and he stared at her.

"Don't worry you're my first choice, he's just a side time thing." He joked then looked at her hands. "You should get that one."
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Hayley placed the yellow Donald Duck on one of the nails in the baby room.

"Donald Duck is the BOSS." Scott said nodding at it. "Thanks Hayle's." He hugged her.

"You're welcome." Hayley said smiling at it.

"You know Daffy and Donald duck isn't the same thing?" Douglas said eating some chips from the kitchen.

"Um yeah who doesn't?" Scott said and Douglas didn't answer as he pretended to read the ingredients on the back of the chips bag, Hayley laughed. "I'm just glad the room is finally done."

"Yeah and you're about 3 months early." Hayley said.

"Yeah, you think pregnancy would take a while but those months run right past ya, I can't thank you guys enough for helping me with everything."

"No problem... that's what friends are for." Douglas said chewing loudly.

"It was a pleasure." Hayley said bowing jokingly as they laughed.

"OMG!" They heard Mary yell. Hayley jumped up and they all looked at each other. They ran out of the room fast and found her standing in shock in the living room.

"I felt him kick." Mary said with eyes full of tears. Scott ran over and placed his hand on her stomach.

"Come on, please kick for daddy." Scott whispered. Hayley and Douglas stood and watched. He then stood up. "He's probably a momma's boy." He said struggling while half smiling.

"He'll kick again honey." Mary said rubbing her stomach smiling to herself.

"That's great Mary." Hayley said smiling at how happy she was.

"He's getting so big." Mary said. "Who's ready for dinner?"
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A few minutes later Douglas was talking to Mary in the kitchen as he helped her wash the dishes. Hayley watched as he nodded as they were deep into conversation. She then felt like the room shifted a little, she was beginning to feel a bit light-headed. She didn't want anyone to notice so she stepped outside their apartment door and decided to catch some fresh air outside. After she reached the main floor she went outside as saw Scott on the step smoking a cigarette. He saw her immediately.

"Hey." He said putting it out right away.

"Hi."

"You guys leaving?"

"No.." She walked beside him and sat down. "I just needed some fresh air." He looked at her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine.'

"Like you would have told us if you weren't." Scott said.

"I am." She said looking ahead.

"Please don't tell... Mary." He said pointing at the cigarette.

"She doesn't know you smoke?" Hayley said confused.

"She does, she thought I quit, I told her I'd quit for the baby, but it hasn't been easy." He then took out a small mouthwash and gargled. He then spit it out in the dirt.

"Oh."

"Yeah but I'm trying." He looked down.

"You can try those nicotine gums." Hayley suggested.

"I wanted to quit on my own, you know love should be strong enough to make you quit." He looked steady in Hayley's eyes. "Like Douglas quit for you." He straighten up. "That was such a strong thing for me to witness."

"Oh." Hayley looked down. "I'm sure it was hard for him too."

"No when he puts his mind to something he means it, I know him like a book." He looked up at the stars. "He knew his dad was an alcoholic, so he stopped drinking, and now he stopped smoking... I admire him." He said smiling now and Hayley did too. "Probably why my son didn't kick for me, he knows I'm still smoking behind mommy's back."

"I doubt he knows that." Hayley said smiling more. "Besides at least you're not smoking around Mary and you still have a few more months, I'm sure Mary would understand it being difficult for you."

"Yeah." Scott said. They then turned to see Douglas coming out of the apartment.

"You ready?" Douglas said to Hayley and she stood to her feet. "Take care man."

"Always do." Scott said and They hugged and left.
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Hayley came out of Douglas's car, and kissed him quickly.

"I'll call you later." He said and she nodded. He then drove away, Hayley fixed her purse under her arm to fit more comfortably, she began to turn to her step and saw a car parked across the street. A person was in it peering through at her. She stopped and looked at them. The person then winded the window down slowly and Hayley realized the person was her dad. She felt her heart drop a million times. She blinked a bunch of times but her feet were unable to move. He then got out of his car. Hayley looked at her driveway and saw her mom's car. She began to panic and walked towards him before he could cross the street.

(Stop reading and play Snow Patrol - Run)

"What... what are you doing here." She said angry and tried to keep quiet as she was face to face with him.

"I... I want to talk to your mom." He said softly.

"W-w-what?" She said trying to comprehend. "You-you-you can't do that."

"Why didn't you tell me you had a tumor?" He asked sadly and Hayley paused and looked down.

"You mean out of the two times we ever talked? Yeah I must have forgotten." Hayley said.

"How long?"

"It's going to be taken care of." Hayley said still looking down.

"I have to speak to her." He said moving ahead.

"Why?" Hayley said moving back in front of him. "You can't just show up like that... after years of never stopping by Peter."

He closed his eyes for a while. "Hayley." He said opening them again. "This is important."

"Why is this so important now?"

"You're my child... you're sick."

"Don't you dare try to claim me now." She gritted under her teeth.

"I'm going in." He said moving fast around her.

"No wait STOP." She placed her hand on his chest to stop him forcefully into her palm. He did, and they both stared at her hands pressed on his jacket. This was the first time she ever actually touched her dad. It felt so surreal, through her palm she felt his strong heartbeat beating. She felt his lungs move as he breathe in air and exhaled. How a human can do such a lifeless thing, have so much life. She looked up at him and saw tears in his eyes, she then felt some well in hers.

"Hayley..."

"DON'T!" She said as her voice shook,one tear fell down her face. "Don't you dear cry." He did. "STOP!" She said crying more and he placed his hand over hers that was still on his chest. "STOP!" She said removing her hand now and moving back fast. She wiped her tears quickly and looked back at her house. "You... should go... please." She looked at the ground.

"Hayley, please."

"GO..." She said crying again looking at him. "Please." He stared at her and then nodded. He took out a napkin out of his pocket and wiped his eyes. He then opened his car door and stared at her. Hayley looked down. He then drove away. Hayley walked into the house and almost collapsed on the floor. She held unto the walls to keep up. She looked around and figured everyone was upstairs. Flashbacks of her father's face when he cried came back to her. Why was he doing this, when she was so happy now? She wiped her face more and stood straighter. She wondered if she should tell her mom about meeting him. If he was going to just show up like he did, she had to tell her. She feared it would make her angry or disappointed that she didn't tell her sooner. She felt herself sink to the floor. She held her knees to her chest as she sat there.
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[Linkin Park - In Pieces]

Hayley walked into the kitchen as her mom was cleaning up.

"Oh hey Honey I didn't know you came home."

"Yeah a few hours ago, I was... sleeping." Hayley said trying not to shake.

"Oh okay, are you hungry?"

"No I'm fine." She looked down.

"Is something wrong?

"I... I have to tell you something."
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Douglas sat in a barber's chair, he looked a bit nervous as the barber threw a covering over his clothes and snapped it on the back of his neck. He wanted to cut it tonight, he felt it would be best to surprise Hayley. He knew actually cutting his hair for a girl meant a lot, he knew how much he really loved Hayley.

"So you want it short right."

"Yes." He said calming down his breathing, he always resisted cutting his hair because he knew how much his dad hated when his hair was long. Scott was right he didn't remember the last time he ever cut his hair so short that his ears shown.

"Alright." The barber said pulling his hair into a ponytail.
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"What... what do you have to tell me?" Her mom said looking scared. Hayley paused. "Hayley you're scaring me... what wrong, is it your tumor?"

"No.."

"Then what?"
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Douglas watched as the Barber moved the scissors slowly to the back of his head, it looked like he was moving in slow motion.
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"Sit." Hayley said pulling a chair out and her mom sat down on one too. Her eyes steady on Hayley. "I don't want you to be mad or disappointed."

"Disappointed in what?"

"I... okay.." She took a deep breath. " a few months ago... I met a cousin... on dads side."
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Douglas heard the scissor snip and his head felt much lighter. He then saw his hair on the floor. The barber then took out a shaver and turned it on.
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"Um." Her mom looked frozen in time. "His name is Ryan, and we became, really great friends, he's um John's son, ...um dads Brother." Her mom wasn't moving, it didn't look like she was even breathing. "Um I didn't know he was my cousin at first actually, but when I did, I was so anxious to meet dad."

"Whhh-hh-at." Her mom said with her bottom lips shivering.

"Um." Hayley looked down as she played with her knuckles. "I compensated on whether I should actually meet him or not, it took a long while."

"Did you?" Her mom asked which sounded like a faint whisper.

'Um. I did actually, the um the night Dylan was found... and Ryan almost drowned."

"Omg." Her mom said holding her mouth and her eyes were watering.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"Omg." She stood up and paced still holding her mouth, muffling things Hayley couldn't comprehend. "What did he say?"

"Um he was... rude at first." Her mom cursed under her breath.

"So like him."

"But we did talk for a bit... and he told me everything."

"Everything?" Her mom said looking hurt, like it was a secret she never wanted Hayley to know.

"Yes..."

"Omg, is this really happening." Her mom pushed her hair back hard.

"Mom, please sit down."
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Douglas watched in the mirror as small shavings of his blonde hair fell unto him as the Barber moved from one side of his head to the other.
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Hayley watched her mom shake uncontrollably, like she was having a panic attack. "Mom please calm down."

"I'm sorry I'm okay." She paused. "Did he mention anything about me."

"He said... he did love you."

"Omg." She said crying a little.

"Mom." Hayley stood and her mom held her hand out to stop her.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Her mom stopped shaking.
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Douglas watched as the barber turned his equipment off, he then brushed Douglas off with a rag and took off his covering off him. He looked at his face, he felt like a new man. He turned side to side slowly, he looked so different, more mature. He couldn't help but stare at his reflection.

"You like it huh." His barber said smiling at his reaction and he smiled slowly.

"I do." He then ran his hand over it.
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"I can't believe you met him, I thought he wasn't even living here, in this state anymore."

"He actually, tried to come in the house today, before I stopped him."

"What! WHY IS HE COMING HERE." Her mom said looking more angry now, then she lowered her voice. "Like, he can just show up like that after all these years, whenever he wants to."

"He found out about my tumor..."

"You told him?" She said looking even more shock.

"No, I told Ryan.."

"Ryan?" Her mom paced again.

"My cousin, that I said from before." Her mom wasn't thinking straight.

"He can't just come here." She paced faster. "This is my space, my home."

"He wanted to talk to you."

"Well the hell does he know I want to talk to him!." Her mom said stern.
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Douglas stood to his feet and brushed himself off. He then open his wallet and paid the barber.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome"

"Goodnight." Douglas said smiling as he exited the store, he was so excited for Hayley to see him like this.
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"I don't know mom..." Hayley said in a quiet tone. They then heard a movement from the side of them. They looked quick to see a sad expressed Dylan stumbled over. He then got back to his feet.

"Can... you tell dad I said hi." He said quietly. "Good night." He then turned as he ran upstairs.
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That's the end of this chapter. Hope you guys liked it. Chapter 32 won't take long to come since I'm halfway through it. I will write it in parts too so it's quicker for you guys.