Mine Again
By Bindy417
Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill. It belongs to Mark Schwahn and The CW. This story is based on the movie Sweet Home Alabama and the title is inspired by a song sung by Mariah Carey, both of which I do not own.
Summary: After a set of unexpected twists and turns, Haley James Scott's life is finally coming together. She's at the height of her career and is about to marry the man she loves. But before she can fully take her place in her new life, she must first face her past and the one man standing in the way.
AN: Hey everyone, so I'm sure many of you are surprised that I'm coming out with another story. But I've had the idea for this fic in my head for over a year now and couldn't wait to start it. It is based on the movie Sweet Home Alabama. I know that there are already many other stories out there that have been based on this movie. But it's one of my favorites, and I've always had my own version that I've been dying to write. So while some things will be like the film, a lot will also be very different. As usual, I'm adding my own creative twist to things.
However, unlike most of my stories, this fic is not pre-written. I have everything planned out, but I will be writing it as I go along. It also means that I won't be able to update as often as I usually do. I've been super busy this semester, and I don't see things slowing down any time soon. But I'll try my best to update for you guys. I'd like to say a special thank you to Ashly815 for giving me feedback and expressing her excitement for this story. I hope you all will enjoy it, too. So please read and tell me what you think!
Chapter 1
The sky was dark and cloudy over the horizon. All traces of the bright sun that had been present most of the day were now gone. The once calm and peaceful water below had transformed into an array of tumultuous waves. Everything pointed to a big storm brewing.
"We should go."
"We haven't been here that long."
"Well, we won't be for much longer if we get stuck in that," said the petite blonde as she pointed towards the ominous sky.
"I think we'll be fine."
"You know what it said on the news. There's supposed to be torrential rain and severe thunderstorms. And like a couple of idiots, we're standing out in the open next to a tall metal lamp pole and a large body of water."
The tall, dark-haired young man next to her just smiled. "You worry too much."
"You don't worry enough."
A small rumbling of thunder could be heard in the distance.
"That's it. I'm going."
"Just wait a minute." He grabbed her arm and halted her. "Just take a minute and look at it." He pulled her back to the railings of the dock and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Despite her instincts telling her that they should make a run for it, the blonde leaned her head against his strong chest. She had this strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. The one she always got when she was with him. It was gloomy and windy and looked as if the sky was about to open up and pour all over them. And yet, she couldn't remember a time when she'd ever felt safer.
"There's beauty in chaos, too, you know?" he whispered into her ear after a moment of silence passed between them.
And he was right. There was something almost picturesque about the scene before them, regardless of the danger it foretold.
"Since when do you pay attention to beauty?" Without looking, she could feel his intense gaze on her.
"I didn't used to. But I guess you could say I've been inspired lately."
She felt herself blush at his words. "Is that so?"
He turned her around to face him, and she instantly found herself mesmerized by a pair of piercing blue eyes. They stared at one another for a long time until a rain drop landed on her cheek, breaking the spell.
"It's raining," she pointed out as more drops started to fall steadily.
He continued to watch her. "I know."
"We're going to get soaked."
"A little water never hurt anyone." He then added, "Besides, you love the rain. Remember?"
She smiled. "I do."
"There's no rush."
A brief flash of lightening was followed by another rumble.
"It doesn't seem that way."
He smirked before his expression became serious. He raised his hand to her cheek and caressed it. She closed her eyes at the contact. It was such a simple gesture and yet her whole body was tingling. She was just about to open her eyes when she felt his lips press against hers. The kiss was soft and gentle, but that didn't stop her heart from quickening. God, what was he doing to her? How was it possible to feel this strongly for someone? And so soon?
The blonde wrapped her arms around his neck to keep him close. She tilted her head a bit to the side and opened her mouth for him, allowing the kiss to deepen. She moaned low in her throat as soon as she felt his tongue slide against her own.
The rain was coming down in full force now, but she hardly noticed. She was so wrapped up in the young, handsome man in front of her that she didn't even care that she was wet and shivering. She wasn't even sure if she was shaking because of the dampness or his kisses. But she had a strong feeling that it was the latter.
"God, I love you," he mumbled when they broke apart, breathless. Although they'd stopped kissing, they remained tightly wound in the other's arms.
She looked into those amazing eyes and found her heart pounding all over again. "I love you, too," she replied, her voice filled with just as much emotion.
He leaned in to kiss her a second time just as the large lightening bolt flashed in the sky, along with a resonating boom. "Always and forever."
Haley James Scott's eyes flew open as she jolted back to consciousness. She lifted her head from her desk and stared out at the giant window a few feet in front of her. It was still raining and thundering outside.
Haley checked her watch and noticed that it was three o'clock in the morning. She quickly shook away the thoughts of her dream, gathered together her designs, and stood up. She glanced around her studio and, like before she'd fallen asleep, noticed her staff working diligently.
"Millie," Haley called to her assistant.
A woman of medium height with wavy black hair and glasses came rushing towards her. "Yes?"
"Why did you let me fall asleep? You know how big tomorrow is and how much work I have to do."
"I'm sorry. I tried to wake you up, but you said you would only rest your eyes for a minute."
"Yeah, well, one minute turned into a few hours," she griped.
Millie cringed.
Haley ran a hand through her wavy, long brown hair and sighed. "I'm sorry, Millie. It's not your fault. I don't mean to take it out on you. I'm just under a lot of pressure. That's all."
It was New York Summer Fashion Week, and Haley was one of the numerous designers going to be featured in the show tomorrow. Everyone who was anyone would be revealing their new summer clothing lines. The only difference between Haley and the others was that the rest were fashion royalty, and she was one of the most anticipated newbies.
Her clothing company Halo had practically been created from scratch. It had taken huge amounts of hard work and dedication over the last six years for her to get where she was today, but it had paid off. She'd attracted a lot of attention last fall when her mentor had featured a few of her designs in his major fashion show. Now she was headlining a show of her own, ready to finally carve a name for herself among the elites.
That is if the critics actually liked her new line. A few bad reviews could send it all crashing and burning. Needless to say, she had to deliver and be at the top of her game tomorrow.
"I know. And don't worry. You're going to be great," she encouraged.
Haley gave her a small smile. "Thanks." Millie may be her assistant, but she was more like a friend. They'd known each other for a few years now, and she was one of the only people Haley knew that, without a doubt, she could trust.
"I'll get you some coffee. How does that sound?"
"Great. Thank you."
"I'll be right back."
While she waited, Haley circled the room to check on everyone's progress. "That dress looks great, D.J. The stitching is perfect," she complimented.
D.J. grinned widely. "Thanks, boss."
"So, I heard you're finally awake."
Haley turned to see one of her models, who also happened to be another friend, Solaris. She was tall, thin, blonde, and absolutely stunning. She would be opening Haley's show tomorrow.
"I didn't intend on falling asleep."
"And I didn't intend on getting drunk at the bar and sleeping with some loser last night. But I guess we can't win them all," she joked.
Haley rolled her eyes. "As long as you're not drunk and are looking fresh for the show tomorrow."
"Hey, you know how important fashion is to me. And since I will be modeling for one of my closets friends, you know that I won't let you down, right?" she said in all seriousness.
"I know. And thank you," Haley replied. "I'm just so nervous."
"I told her she's going to be great," Millie interjected as she returned with a coffee.
"Haley, you've got this."
"It's just that you know how fast they took down that Gina Rayis girl last fall."
Solaris frowned. "Who's Gina Rayis?"
"My point exactly. They buried her, and now nobody knows her name."
"Okay, look at me," Solaris instructed and took her by the shoulders. "You are Haley James Scott. You are young, sexy, and the most talented new designer of this generation. If your clothes were ugly and outdated, do you think I'd be wearing them?"
"No," Haley mumbled.
"Not just no. That'd be a hell no. So toughen up and show those stupid critics who's the h-b-i-c in this town."
"I think you've been watching too much I love New York."
"That doesn't matter," she dismissed. "You get my point."
"Okay, I've got it," Haley assured her. "We've only got so much time, and I've got a thousand-and-one things to do. I've got to get back to work. Millie, I need my design book."
Millie nodded. "Got it." She took off.
"Well, I'm going home. I need my beauty rest," Solaris declared dramatically.
Haley laughed. "Lucky you."
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"All right. Bye."
Solaris was almost to the door when she halted. "Hey, Haley?"
Haley looked up from the book Millie just handed her. "Yeah?"
"Has anyone ever told you that you sleep like the dead?"
"Shut up!"
"Okay, everyone, we're up next. I need all of the models dressed with their make up and hair done. Let's move, people," Haley called.
"Haley, we have a problem!" Millie exclaimed with two models in tow. "The zipper on this dress broke and this top is all wrong!"
Haley looked at the first model. "All right, have Cassidy take her place. Meanwhile, bring her to D.J. and see if he can get that zipper fixed. If not, bring her back to me, and I'll figure out something." She glanced at the second model. "And the reason that shirt looks wrong is because it's on backwards."
Millie stared at the shirt in surprise. "Oh."
Haley smiled at her before taking off to make sure the other models were ready.
"Well, well, well, look at what we have here."
Haley's head whipped around to stare at the familiar voice. Another grin quickly spread across her face. "What are you doing back here? You're competition," she teased.
Chris Keller was one of the best fashion designers in the world, as well as her mentor. His company Keller Instinct was always coming out with the latest trends that were featured in numerous fashion magazines from Elle to Italian Vogue, which led them to being sought after by many celebrities.
Haley had met Chris six years ago, and they had become quick friends. He was the person who originally inspired her to take her sketches off of the paper and make them into a reality. She'd never been into fashion growing up, but now she couldn't ever imagine her life without it. Haley lived and breathed it, just like Chris did.
"Chris Keller can go anywhere he wants. And if he wants to check on his protégé, then he can." He took a look around. "My, my, we've certainly come a long way from the tour."
"I know. It's kind of crazy."
"And yet totally fabulous. Ooh, hello," he mumbled as a shirtless male model walked by. "How come you get all of the cute ones?"
"I guess I'm just lucky."
"Send him to my room after the show, will you?"
Haley laughed. "I'll see what I can do."
"And ooh, I love this," Chris complimented as he stared at a few outfits on a rack next to him. "I think Chris Keller might have to steal a few of these." He lifted up a shirt. "You think this will fit me?"
"Seeing as though it's for a woman, I don't think so," she joked.
"Are you calling Chris Keller fat?"
"Haley, D.J. fixed the zipper," Millie announced, running towards her.
"Great."
"Do you want me to switch her and Cassidy back?"
"Yes. Thanks, Mille." She faced Chris again. "You know you're not fat. You're just a guy and built differently."
"Don't remind me," he muttered.
"Miss Scott, you've got ten minutes," the director called.
"As happy as I am that you came to check on me—"
"I know, I know. You've got a show to put on."
"Yes."
"Knock 'em dead, girl."
Haley smiled. "Thanks."
"Big smiles, everyone."
Haley did as instructed and smiled at the photographer. The show was finally over, and the press wanted to take some pictures. Haley posed with her models and Chris for a good twenty minutes before she finally got a break.
She walked towards the runway and looked out at the dispersing crowd.
"Who are you looking for?" Mille asked from behind her.
"Um, no one," Haley quickly dismissed.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. It's nothing."
"Well, a couple of reporters would like to meet you. One journalist was interested in doing an interview with you this week."
"That was fast. The reviews of my show haven't even come out yet," Haley muttered, biting her lip. It was a nervous habit of hers.
"And yet everyone is talking about it. I heard all of the celebrity stylists gushing over which outfits they want for their clients," Millie informed her. "I think it's safe to say it was a hit."
Haley took a deep breath to get a hold of herself. She'd always been a bundle of nerves. But Millie's words were slowly starting to calm her down.
"Excuse me, is there a Haley James Scott here?" someone shouted.
Haley glanced ahead of her and saw a delivery man. There was a huge bouquet of white roses in his hands. "I'm Haley James Scott," she called to him.
"These are for you," the delivery man said. He placed the bouquet in her hands as Millie signed off on it.
"Thank you." Haley inhaled their sweet scent and smiled. She noticed a card sticking out at the top.
"Who are those from?"
Haley opened the card and read it. Her grin widened. "Nobody."
Millie smiled knowingly at her. "Uh huh."
"Miss Scott! Miss Scott!" a few members of the press began calling for her again.
Haley kept the bouquet in her hands as she approached them. She answered more questions and took a seemingly endless amount of photos before she could leave. Chris gave her a ride home to her apartment in his stretch limo. It felt good to sit down after being on her feet for hours. They opened a bottle of champagne and toasted to their success.
When they finally arrived in front of her building, Haley already felt a little buzzed. It was nice to feel the earlier tension leave her body. She'd survived the show, and now she could relax for the rest of the night.
"Good evening, Miss Scott," Bernie, the doorman, greeted.
She smiled brightly at him. "Good evening. How are you?"
"Very well, Miss Scott," he replied and opened the door for her. "Thank you for asking."
Haley made her way to the elevator. Her apartment was on the fifth floor. It wasn't big, but it wasn't small either. It was just the right size for someone like herself who lived alone.
Once she was off of the elevator, Haley walked to her apartment door and unlocked it. She took about two steps inside before she froze completely. There were tons of white and red rose petals scattered on the floor, lined with small candles on each side. Haley dropped her tote bag and bouquet by the door. She followed the path leading down her hallway and into her living room.
Her eyes began to water when she saw the amazing sight before her. Her entire living room not only had rose petals and candles scattered everywhere, but there were also dozens of bouquets in beautiful vases dispersed throughout the room.
Haley gaped at the amazing man standing before her. He was wearing a nice black Armani suit with a white dress shirt and tie. Instantly, she thought he looked handsome.
"Surprise," he said after another moment of silence. He walked towards her and gently kissed her lips.
"What is all of this?"
"This is a celebration of all of your hard work and success," he declared. "Your show was amazing."
"I didn't know you came. I was looking for you."
"Of course I was there."
"Why didn't you come and see me afterward?"
"I had to be back on time to put the finishing touches on this. Did you get the bouquet I sent?"
"Yes. It was beautiful. Thank you." It was then that Haley noticed the bottle of wine and assortment of food and desserts on her coffee table. "How did you do this? How did you get in here?"
"I have my ways. Millie let me use her key earlier to get in and set this up."
"Millie knew?" She was the only other person who had a key to Haley's apartment, since she was her assistant and sometimes had to pick things up from home for her.
"Don't be mad at her. I swore her to silence."
Haley shook her head. "I'm not mad. I'm…stunned. This is all so beautiful and unexpected." She brought her hand to his face and caressed it.
"There's more."
Her eyes widened in surprise again. "What, did you get me a puppy or something?" she teased.
He smiled and reached into his pocket. "Not exactly."
Haley gasped when he opened the small black box in his hand, revealing the most gorgeous ring she had ever seen. It had a square cut diamond with small diamonds surrounding its sides. Along the platinum band were three more rows of tiny diamonds. It was absolutely exquisite.
"Oh my God," she whispered as he got down on his knee in front of her.
"We've known each other for a long time, Haley. You're such a beautiful, strong, kind, and talented woman. You've been everything from my best friend to my girlfriend," he declared. "And when I think of my future, I can't picture sharing it with anyone but you. You're my family, Haley, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So…will you marry me?"
The tears were sliding down her cheeks in earnest now. She tried to wrap her head around his words, but the shock of it all was still present, clouding her thoughts.
"Haley?" he prodded when she didn't say anything for another minute.
"Are you sure?" she blurted out.
He frowned. "What?"
"Are you sure? Because if you're not then we can just forget this and pretend like—"
He shushed her and stood up. "Of course I'm sure. Haley, I love you. You're everything to me."
She nodded and took a deep breath.
He cupped her face in his hands. "Do you love me?"
Haley stared into his eyes and felt her heart constrict. "Yes."
"Do you picture a future for us?"
"Yes."
He smiled. "So I'll ask again. Haley James Scott, will you marry me?"
She brought her own hand to his face before leaning in to kiss him. "Yes," she murmured against his lips. Haley then pulled back to meet his gaze. "Of course I'll marry you."
He grinned widely and picked her up and twirled her around. She squealed in surprise before he placed her back down on the ground. "I love you," he repeated and kissed her again.
A beaming smile of her own spread across Haley's face. "I love you, too, Andy."