So here's the sequal to Are You Hppy Now? We're picking up seven years after high school and seeing where the lives of Kimberly, Tyler, Brooke, and everyone else are. I know it's been a while since Are You Happy Now? so if you'd like, go back and read over just to remind your brain of what's happened.
I hope you enjoy!
"When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened." - John M. Richardson Jr.
Chapter One: This Time Around
I see what I want and I've had a taste
I'm aware of the sacrifice its gonna take
^v^v^v^v
When she was five years old, her mom would always tell her that happiness was the key to life. When she went to school, they asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. She wrote down 'happy'. They told her she didn't understand the assignment and she told them they didn't understand life.
You ever heard the expression time takes it all? Well it does.
If you let it, it can take everything from you. Love, family, the need and want for something. And it takes the people that we are to stop and take it back. It's harder than it sounds. First we have to stop, and we have to know that we have to stop. Most people don't. Then you have to figure out exactly how you're going to get all back. People give up here because they can't figure it out.
And then you have to take it back.
But you see most people won't do this. Something has to happen in order for them to do this.
Brooke let out a breath and tried to wipe away the tears. "You're one hell of a kid, you know that?"
"I'm not a kid anymore." She said with all seriousness, but hating it, not wanting it to be true.
"You're my kid." Brooke cupped her hand behind her head and pulled her into a hug. She rubbed her hand along her hair. Kimberly hugged back, knowing this is how it's always supposed to be. "You're my kid." She repeated.
Kimberly bowed her head into the crook of her neck thinking about all the ways her life was going to change. Everything was about to change. And even though she didn't want to admit it, she knew it. But there was always going to be that one thing. That one thing that's been absolute all along. It just took a long journey to realize it.
"And you're my mom."
Her name is Kimberly Baker and she's a little…lost. But she doesn't know it yet. Her work consumes her every thought. It's come to the point where her friends have step away in fear of being run over.
She's changed since her family has last seen her. She's more serious and not the girl they used to know. She's grown up into this person she never wanted to be and she doesn't even realize it yet.
She's an agent. A music agent to be exact. Her job is to go out and find bands and put them in venues to perform and studios to record. It's harder than it sounds. At least to the average person it is. She's been at this for the past year and she couldn't love it anymore.
But it's not like she was given the job. She had to work for it. She didn't ask for her aunt's help or her mom's name, though she did throw in that her father was a movie producer and that he was always looking for a good song for a great movie. But that was the only time she did. It got her the job and the rest was up to her.
She started off in the mailroom, like any good employee would, but eventually she became an assistant and then someone else's assistant and so on until she had her own assistant and an office all her own. She picked the bands to record (to an extent). Her boss trusted her judgment and most times sat back and watched how she worked with certain artist and when he needed to step in he would. But along the way Kimberly proved that she could do this job…and she could.
The perks of her job were what still gave her goosebumps. When she found a band and booked them for shows, she was that person that stood backstage and watched as artists did their work. Every week was a new show. Every week was a new adventure, a new story. But somewhere along the way the stories mixed together and too many shows became a nightly thing and sometimes she couldn't keep up.
She loved it.
It never got old. The music. Peyton once told her to never forget the feeling she gets when listening to a really great song. She told her to listen for the meaning, not the money, because this industry will take away the most important part of music. And she never forgot. Music isn't about money or fame. It's about life and love and art and everything you want it to be it is.
That's all it is.
Maybe she thought so strongly of that, that she kept working so everyone would know it. She wanted the world to know that music isn't just music. It's a lifestyle if you allow it. It heals, it breaks, and it loves. It does everything for you.
"Look I need them in the studio tomorrow morning and at the club on Friday, six sharp, ready to perform." Kimberly barked into the end of her phone as she paced back and forth in her office.
She's grown up over the years. She's taller somehow and her face has aged with experience. Her hair is darker and longer than she would like. She hasn't had a lot of time to get it cut. She's sweeter, but sterner than the high school version of herself. She's exactly who she used to be, but she's nothing like her.
"I don't care if they say they need a break. They have an obligation to this label and that obligation is to be musicians and record." She waited for the guy's response and almost couldn't stop herself from scoffing and completely calling the guy out on his bull. Over the years you learn to think for yourself and do things for yourself.
"Look I need you to cut through the red tape here and get them in the studio tomorrow." She said using a phrase she used to hear both Julian and Peyton use when dealing with annoying clients.
She sighed when the band's manager didn't agree with Kimberly's demands. "Look, Bobby, I love you and I love the band and we've known each other for awhile now. But I have a job to do and that is to make sure you guys look good. So just work with me here." She smiled when Bobby finally agreed. "Thanks Bob. I'll talk to you soon."
Another job well done.
And finally her day was over. She could go home and relax until tomorrow. She walked around to her desk and sat down to gather her things. Her desk was a disaster. Forgotten contracts put to the side and things she could have been doing instead of arguing with band managers all day. She could deal with this now and relax later, but she just wouldn't. The tiredness she has is taking over her and she really just wants to get home now.
So she grabs the few things she needs to take because she needs to do them before the morning and grabs her coat and purse before walking out of her office. Her assistant, Jess, starts walking towards her and Kimberly almost wants to turn around and run the other direction, but whatever Jess has is probably important and something she has to do.
"Jess, please tell me whatever you have can be done tomorrow." Kimberly begs while still walking in the direction of the door.
"Actually you have a few phone calls. One from your mother and a Mrs. Peyton Sawyer."
"Jess," Kimberly stops to look at the college student, "what did I tell you about personal calls?"
"I'm sorry, it's just…"
"Don't worry about it." She assures, smiling at the almost scared girl. "I'll call them later. Thanks Jess." Kimberly turns and without a second glance walks out onto the windy streets of Chicago and makes her way home.
She never planned on Chicago being in her future. When graduation rolled around she had to find a job and really any job would have done. In the beginning she assumed she would just go back to Tree Hill and work at Red Bedroom, but certain circumstances happened that kept her away. So she applied everywhere: L.A., New York, Seattle, Miami…Chicago. Some didn't think she was fit to work in the mailroom, some accepted her, but Chicago just stuck out. There wasn't anything really significant here. It was just a random place on the map.
But she couldn't have been happier once she got here. She found a small (very small) apartment a few minutes from her new job and started to really enjoy the new scenery. She loved how the music scene was different everywhere she went and she particularly loved it in Chicago.
Eventually she bought a better apartment, made friends, and thought as this place as her home. Though the place that shall not be named would always be her real home.
Her apartment wasn't that large; it just looked that way because it was mostly empty. She had furniture and things to fill up the empty spaces, but it was the lack of people that made it empty. There was only one. She'd come to enjoy it though and very rarely invited people back to her place. It was filled with personal things, pictures, letters, memories, and things she didn't want her friends, or anybody for that matter, to know of.
She walks in and is instantly hit with that sense of loneliness that she gets every time she comes home. She shakes it off and enters the kitchen to find something to eat because she hasn't eaten all day. After searching for awhile she settles on some leftovers she's not sure how old they are, but she doesn't care.
The first thing that's playing when she flips on the TV is an old classic movie that Brooke loves. And Kimberly can't stop that smile when she remembers the countless times the two of them made Julian watch this movie that he called 'horribly stupid'. Usually they'd told him to shut up and smack him in the chest while he laughed at how offended they would get.
She finishes her dinner and continues to watch the movie until it's over, then decides to find something else. She should probably do that work that has to be done by tomorrow, but she's a procrastinator and she works better when she's in a jam for some reason. So she puts it off.
The phone rings and she's not exactly rushing to answer it. In fact, she's kind of disappointed she's been interrupted. But she can't just leave it ringing.
"Hello?" She says into the receiver tiredly and ready for bed. It's not even ten yet and she's almost ready to pass out.
"Hey, Kimberly, it's me, Hannah."
"Hey, Hannah." Kimberly says a little shocked to be hearing from Hannah. They still talked, and were still friends, but somewhere along the way things between them (distance mostly) pulled them apart. Hannah pretty much called once a week and for birthdays and holidays. And Kimberly did the same. "What's up?"
"You don't remember, do you?" Hannah questions knowing that her friend has no idea what she's talking about. There was a pause between the two and Hannah really couldn't believe that Kimberly would forget this. "Katy's singing tonight." She helped.
"Oh my god. I totally forgot." She says her hand smacking against her forehead. "Is…has she…"
"No not yet. She's about to though. She's really nervous."
Katy found this talent for singing a few years back. Grace caught her in her bedroom when she thought no one was home singing out loud to an old song that she used to love. It was Kimberly that convinced her to join choir and sooner or later Katy found herself as one of the best singers in her school.
"She wanted you to call." Hannah breaks Kimberly's silent trance. She feels horrible, she really does, and she wishes she would have remembered. Kimberly knows Katy's probably a nervous wreck and probably needs her sister to tell her she's going to do great. But she's not there and she forgot to call, so she's pretty much useless now.
"Will you just…will you tell her good luck for me? And that I'm proud of her."
"Yeah, I'll tell her."
"Thanks Hannah." Kimberly says quietly.
They say their good-byes and hang up and Kimberly truly feels bad for what she did. She knew Katy didn't like her being in Chicago and her in North Carolina, but it's just how life worked out. It's been a little over a week since the last time they talked, a month before that. Their phone calls have shorten and Katy doesn't visit her anymore and neither does Kimberly. And Kimberly's starting to get the impression that Katy's starting to really hate her.
But there's really nothing she can do about it while here in Chicago.
She pushes any doubts to the back of her mind and flips the TV off to get ready for bed. It's an easy sleep that night, even after she disappoints her own sister.
^v^v^v^v^v
Her morning is a little…hectic.
For starters she woke up late. Her nice, quiet shower was shortened to a fast one and her breakfast was a granola bar. She was lucky her clothes matched. And still manages to get to work on time. After two years of doing this, she thinks she has it down packed.
She finally gets done with that work she was supposed to do the night before (barely) and starts on the things that need to be done by today. Her band is late and she's beginning to get stressed. She's avoiding calls and has already canceled two of her meetings for the day.
It's stressful, but she's never been one to crack under pressure (at least not anymore).
Her phone starts ringing and she dreads answering, so she doesn't. It stops and Kimberly smiles until it starts ringing again. She's busy and doesn't have time to deal with snobby assholes.
"Miss Baker, the band's here." Jess says entering her office.
"Thanks Jess." Kimberly smiles thinking it's about damn time they got here. She leaves the papers on her desk and goes to deal with her band up in the studio. "And call me Kimberly." She throws over her shoulder to Jess.
She loves her job. It's fun and exciting and it's a new story everyday. It changes on a day to day bases. But she hates the office work. The papers that need to be filled out, contracts that need to be signed, it's a lot to take in and she would much rather be out finding the bands than dealing with them. She's never complained about it though. She knew that she had to work for her position and she knew she had to work to keep her position and she's glad that she does because she loves every minute of it.
Except this part.
"Kimberly what the hell!" Angry musicians that need more attention than she can supply. It's frustrating and sometimes messy, but in the end it comes out okay.
"Hi Max." Kimberly says as sweetly as she can.
"I told you we don't want to play at that crap venue anymore." He says motioning to the other members of the band. They all have the same angry expression as Max does and Kimberly literally has to stop herself from laughing.
"I know." She says simply.
"Then why are you making us play there?"
Kimberly sighed, running her fingers through her long blonde hair, a smile tracing her lips. "Because this place has been good to you and the band. They've given you great promotion and keep asking you to come back. Now, Max, this is an indie label, which means you're not always going to be playing big ol' sold out stadiums. Now one day when a major label comes along, and I promise they will come because you guys are good enough to be on a major label, then you'll get the big shows and fame that comes along with it."
"It's not about the fame." He deadpans probably trying to convince himself that.
"Really, because you're kind of making it sound like that it is." She smirks. "Look, I know you want bigger audiences and better promotion, but this is all we can do for you and if you don't like it, you and the band can leave. But do you remember what I told you when we first signed you?"
He shook his head.
"I told you that if you give me a chance that I'll get you guys to the big time. Now have I not tried my hardest to do that?"
Max smiled knowing she was right. "I'm sorry, Kimberly. We'll play the show."
"That's what I thought."
The band chuckled and retreated back into the studio to get in a few good recordings. Instead of going back to her office, Kimberly stayed put on the outside looking in. She had to smile at the band and how far they've come.
When she found them they were just five guys with a few instruments. With her promise, Kimberly made them into what they are today. Musicians on the verge of becoming rockstars.
She couldn't think of a better life for herself. For the first time in a (very) long time she felt good, really good. Sure she had always dreamed to get married and have kids, but she figured that could always wait for later. Right now, she was just enjoying her job and her artist and her life itself. She felt like the pieces of her puzzle were coming together.
"Excuse me? Kimberly?"
Kimberly turned around to see none other than Jess in the doorway. She arched her brow waiting for what the girl had to say hoping it wasn't something about work.
"You have a few phone calls waiting for you."
"Can you take a message for me?" Kimberly asked turning back to watch the band.
"They say it's urgent."
"Alright." She huffed leaving the studio and heading back downstairs to her office.
She walked into her still messy office with papers strewed everywhere and the lights on her phone blinking uncontrollably. Jess stood in the doorway waiting for any further instructions. She didn't even bother to sit down, figuring this would be quick.
"Touch and Go Records. This is Kimberly." She said picking up the phone and putting it to her ear. The smile fell when she heard who it was on the other end. After he said doctor, she sort of blocked out his voice. She's never really had a problem with doctors, but she got a strange feeling when she heard the tone of his voice.
And when he gave the reason for his call she literally felt her heart drop. Her stomach knotted and she couldn't feel her legs anymore. The temperature had rose twenty degrees to her and her mind racked with questions she wasn't sure he could answer.
"Oh my god." She said after he described what had happened.
And just like that the pieces of her puzzle fell.