She sat at her desk and stared blankly at the screen, wondering how her best friend was coping. Haley found it hard enough dealing with meeting new foster parents every few months, the nerves, the new faces, the confusion, the heartache, now numbness when it doesn't go to plan AGAIN. She couldn't even imagine how Jess would be feeling right now, her mother only gone 6 days, a whole new family to meet.

She shook her head. This was different, she scolded herself, beginning to type again. This is Jess's real father, her real brothers, it had to go well.

Yeah right, cos your father loves you so much Haley, he'd never do anything to hurt you. Thats why your stuck in foster care in Louisiana for God's sake, a million miles from the place you grew up and the people...

She had to stop thinking like this.

Type. Type. TYPE.

She forced herself to continue.

You cant afford to lose this job by wasting time thinking about the past.

Damn I hope Jess is ok.

Well lets face it, her father can't be as bad as mine right?

Don't think about it.

---

She pulled her small car into the lot across from the cafe. She didn't want to intrude on the family meeting by turning up at Jess's, but she couldn't just go home (if she could call it that,) and pretend like everything was normal. Besides, she usually tried to avoid the Anderson's place during daylight hours anyway. It wasn't exactly a place she felt... secure.

"Large Caramel Macchiato please... lots of caramel, I need the sugar high."

"No problem honey, I'll bring it over."

"Thanks."

I could call her I suppose... or text?

She surveyed the options in her head as she dropped her brown satchel at her feet and fell into the large green armchair in the corner by the window, oblivious to the waitress placing her coffee on the table beside her.

"Oh! Sorry! Thankyou!"

She fumbled with her purse and then sat back in her chair, savouring the smell wafting from the mug in front of her.

Text. Yes, I'll text. Wont interrupt if things are good, but will let her know I'm here if things are bad. Yes. Text.

"J. Hope you're ok? I'm in the TDC in the usual corner if u need 2 talk? H xxx"

Send.

She sighed. All she could do now was wait.

---

6 blocks over and Jessica Marley's cell beeped, interrupting the silent tension that had been in the house all afternoon. She didn't like this at all. There was something about him, something she couldn't quite put her finger on... her brothers were nice, she supposed. Hot too, she smiled to herself. If only we weren't related...

"Something funny?"

His voice cut through the air, she could tell he was trying to make it sound soft, but she still caught the harsh contrast to the silence and it made her flinch.

"I was just thinking."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, I just..."

"It's ok. Honestly."

She stood and walked across the living room, as everyone stared expectantly. This was the first she'd moved since she'd been introduced to her father and two half brothers. She slowly picked up her bag from his feet and slowly felt inside it 'til she found her cell phone. Got it.

"Oh was that yours? I thought it was mine! Ah well nobody loves me!" Nathan joked, trying to lighten the mood. She liked Nathan. He was tall and athletic, with piercing eyes, raven hair and a friendly glint that tied him to his brother, Lucas. He had pulled her aside earlier and told her he was sorry for her mum, they both were. Dan hadn't mentioned her once. Lucas had also told her that he and Nathan didn't get on with Dan at all, so not to worry about moving to NC because she could tag with them and never have to see him. Apparently he's awful. She could tell as soon as he walked in.

"Yeah it's mine." She read the name. "Haley."

Nathan's head jerked up at the mention of the name.

"Hit a nerve son?" Dan smirked.

What? "Sorry did I?" she looked at Nathan apologetically and quizzically.

He smiled quickly, "No, don't worry, you didn't do anything, just..."

"A bit of a blast from the past." Lucas finished for him, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

She thought she heard Nathan mumble "She's not the past", but she couldn't say for sure.

Wow, history. She thought. Probably some ex-girlfriend that cheated or something. Although why you would cheat on Nathan Scott...

She focused herself. "Just a friend of mine."

Dan launched on this scrap of information. It was the first his daughter had spoke voluntarily since he'd met her, and the awkwardness was beginning to get on his nerves. What the hell would the social worker think? She'd been giving him looks all afternoon, and he was unsure whether they were meant to be encouraging or disapproving.

"A friend? Why don't you invite her round tonight? We can have a getting to know each other session? I know you must feel a bit strange, given there's three of us and only one of you? I'd like to meet your friend!" He shot looks at his sons.

"Yeah, sounds fun." Nathan remarked.

"Yup, good idea." Lucas joined.

She thought for a second. She couldn't deal with them by herself all night. She needed an ally. She needed her best friend. She needed Haley. I mean, at least she has experience with this kind of stuff, right?

She glanced at Mrs Henley, the social worker.

"If it would make you feel better, I think it's a great idea Jessica?" she smiled warmly.

For the first time since meeting her father Jess let out a small, hint of a smile.

"OK, I'll call her now."

---

Haley James-Scott pulled her car up for the second time that hour, in another place she was so used to parking in. She switched off her ignition and sat for a second, allowing the situation to sink in. She looked at the flashy red sports car parked just ahead of her small Yaris, and registered that this car belonged to Jess's dad. Jess's DAD. She knew shouldn't be here, interrupting this. But she couldn't abandon Jess, she'd been so broken after her mum died, and she needed this. Haley had known instantly by the sound of her voice when she called that she needed her best friend to be here for this. She got out of the car and decisively pushed the door shut.

Here goes nothin'.

What she didn't register was the all too familiar personalized registration plate as she walked past the car to Jess's door.

"DSCOTT1".