In the beginning of the story the characters will be a bit OCC. This might change as the story progresses. Also keep in mind that this is completely AU. Thank you for reading and hopefully reviewing.
Prologue.
2005
Haley bit her lip and sighed. This was shit. She knew that this would have more complications than she wanted, but she needed this. She needed the escape. She gently pressed down her salmon-pink suitcase and sat on top of it, resting her face in her hands.
" Darling, do you really want to this?" A sarcastic voice said from the door and Haley quickly turned around. Her mother stood there, tall and with perfectly blow-dried hair bouncing down her tanned shoulders. Her face showed no sign of aging and as a result no signs of emotion. Ever since her mother started with Botox she was impossible to read because every face movement looked as artificial as a plastic doll's.
" I'm sorry." Haley said weakly. And it was true, she was sorry in more ways then one but leaving her mother behind was not her biggest concern and they both knew it.
" You never fit in here any way." Her mother snapped and took a small sip of the martini she held in her hand. Haley shrugged her shoulders, already knowing the rest of this conversation by heart and she had no intention of staying so long.
" I'm leaving. So you can shut your alcohol stinking dragon breath and just watch me." Haley said sweetly and curved her lips up into a soulless smile. Her mother was just as miserable as any other fucker who lived here and Haley was determined to escape their fate. That sudden realization had hit her when she was at a party a couple of months ago and she just knew that this couldn't be her life. Brooke and Peyton drunk, as usual, dancing on the bar and all of the brainless guys staring at them whilst their pretty, blond and dumb girlfriends drank their sorrows away. Pathetic. Luke staring at them disinterested as he looked for another easy target to forget everything with and Nathan doing the same thing only with a permanent scowl etched on his face. Haley was used to this scene and she wanted out. A fresh start in a town where she wasn't "little rich girl" but instead just " Haley". Finding herself was impossible in a place like this.
" Leaving, oh my. My mother's trust fund really came in handy for you dear then?" Her mother tried to smile back but failed miserably. Haley had to chuckle at the sight.
" Yeah. I'm not going to leave my number or anything so this is goodbye." Haley said coldly already done with her mother long before this conversation. She barely had any fond memories of her mother; they all felt tainted from all the shit that had erupted in between them. It was heartbreaking at first and she had spent countless nights crying about it until her pillow was wet and her eyes puffy, but now all that was left was an empty feeling. It was almost worse. She broke out from her thoughts when she saw her mother's scrunched up face. Was she crying?
" I'm sorry." Her mother repeated Haley's earlier words and for the first time in long Haley felt the walls around her heart crack. But she couldn't crack; not now when she had come this far and already mentally said goodbye to this place. So she chose to ignore her mother's weak apology and hardened her voice.
" I might come back in a few years. You never know so don't drink too much. Tell dad goodbye from me." Haley said and put on her sheepskin coat. This was it.
Her mother just stood there, with tiny tears making their way down her cheeks and Haley almost felt bad. Almost.
The chauffeur opened the car door and she slid inside and put her hair up in a messy bun. Her nerves were in a jumbled mess and she could practically feel her hands shaking.
" Ready Miss. James?" The chauffeur said nicely as he looked at her.
" As ready as I can be."
She was at the airport when her sleek phone rang. She had kept it, as a memory of her old life and she realized that she had been stupid enough to not turn it off. Maybe it was better this way, so she picked up.
" Haley." She said curtly.
" Hot-girl, you are just the one I need to talk to, preferably over a mocha latte." Brooke's raspy voice flowed into Haley's ears.
" I can't." Haley swallowed loudly and clutched the phone tightly agains her ear.
" Hot date? Tell me all about it!" Brooke squealed. Of all the people in Orange County, Brooke was the one who she would miss the most. She loved Brooke.
" I'm at the airport. I got a job at a clinic in North Carolina and I'm leaving today."
" Job? Leaving?" Brooke practically screamed.
" I need to. This town is suffocating me, and I love you and Peyton but it's not enough, I need to love myself and I can't do it here."
Brooke didn't respond and Haley almost thought that she had hung up. But once again Brooke's raspy voice entered her ears and Haley took a deep breath.
" I understand...I guess.I'll miss you like crazy and I can't believe you didn't say anything, but I understand. You never fit in here." Brooke said sadly. Haley was shocked, she had expected a screaming outburst and cussing but as usual Brooke surprised her.
" Thank you. I'll miss you Tigger." She meant it.
" You are going to break his heart you know." Brooke said suddenly.
" Who?" Haley asked confused. Even though she had had a fair share of boyfriends they never really mattered much. They all wanted one thing and sometimes they got it and then they left or she left them. It was sad but expected. Haley highly doubted they were walking around with bleeding hearts.
" Nathan." Brooke said sternly and Haley couldn't control the laughter that bubbled inside of her. It was just too funny. She saw that the plane was boarding and she stopped.
" I need to go. Tell Nathan that it'll be okay." She joked but she felt the tears that escaped from her tired eyes.
" God you're oblivious. Never mind. Just don't forget about me and you know that I'll always love you. Good luck I guess." Brooke said slowly and Haley could hear her quiet sobs. It broke her heart.
" I promise. Bye Tigger." And then she hung up. It was officially the end of her old life.