Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters go to their respective owners of One Tree Hill, i.e. WB, Mark Schwahn.

A/N: This story is set about six months after the ending of the ninth season of One Tree Hill, but pre-flash forward to Jamie's basketball game. This is a few months after Haley told Chris Keller that he should be the next act for Red Bedroom Records. Enjoy the story. Give feedback if you want me to continue. Let me know your thoughts about their banter. Does it flow? Is it believable? All feedback is appreciated. ;)

Chapter 1: You'll Ask For Me

"Is this really the kind of crap kids these days are listening to?" Chris Keller asked, grabbing the CD out of the player and snapping it in half.

"Yeah, it's not like the label wanted that back or anything," Haley mumbled lamely, putting her head down in her hands, completely and utterly aggravated.

"Seriously? What happened to the really good music from back in the day?" Chris rifled through the remaining CD's. "God, Hales. Have you seen all of these? One band is called the Orgasm Dwellers." He ran his hands over his chin thoughtfully. "Actually, that's kind of hot. Can I take that name when they go nowhere?"

Haley grudgingly looked up. "No, and at this rate you won't be going anywhere either. Your album drops in one week, Chris. I can't have you being this picky about your opening act. If memory serves, you like all the attention anyway, so pick a band. Any band. Even if they suck you'll still be the same self-obsessed rock star that you've always been."

Chris smiled at her, kinking an eyebrow. "You think I'm a rock star?"

Haley groaned. "Yes that was what I wanted you to take away from what I said. Nothing about the fact that you have spent two months being a diva perfectionist and have yet to pick the opening band, even though you go on tour in one week," Haley half-shouted.

"Alright. Calm down, Haley James. We're on a time crunch after all. No buckling around."

"On second thought I think I'll call the studio and tell them that we should cancel all the shows on account of the main act's psychotic tendencies."

"You wouldn't dare," Chris questioned, narrowing his eyes in challenge.

"Try me." Haley was putting her foot down. Chris Keller had to pick a band if it was the last thing she did as a producer.

"Fine," he begrudged. "Let's take five and then go over more of this crap."

"Fine," Haley countered, satisfied.

"Fine," Chris mimicked.

"Yes, that's mature." Haley walked away from him in search of coffee—or a punching bag.

Chris stayed in the office, going through more CD's. The further he went in the pile the worse the material became. He eventually gave up, stretching his legs and going over to the recording area. It was his favorite place in all of Tree Hill. It was very Indie meets Rock & Roll, which was totally the vibe he was going for.

"Excuse me?" a fierce voice asked from the doorway.

Chris Keller looked up. A sexy girl in skinny jeans and a gray tank top stared back at him with a suspicious expression on her face. Her long black hair cascaded down her back in waves.

"Well, well," Chris said to no one in particular. "What do we have here?"

"You must be the new help," Mia responded, crossing her arms, eyeing him up and down. "I expected a little more from what Haley said."

Chris smiled, wounded. "Don't be too sure, sweetheart. I make a pretty lousy first impression, but based on my history after that the ladies find me rather irresistible. Haley, Brooke, Alex. There isn't a girl in Tree Hill that hasn't been interested at one point or another. "

"I'll try to overlook their obvious lapses in judgment."

"Oh, snappy, sweetheart. I like it." He moved closer to her, eliminating the space between them. "I'm Chris Keller, but you probably already knew that." He grabbed the end of her black hair and twirled it in his hand. "And you are?" he asked, gazing into her eyes faux-sweetly.

"Not interested." Mia slapped his hand away roughly. "Someone once told my boyfriend to punch first and ask questions later if the name Chris Keller came up. I'd be more than happy to oblige if you touch me again."

"Snappy and charming," Chris said, stepping back. "That's hot."

Mia rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Where's Haley?"

"I'm here. I'm sorry," Haley cut in. She walked into the room with a bounce in her step, energized.

Mia cocked her head in Chris' direction.

"I know. I know. I should have warned you. Plus I know better; I can never leave him unsupervised."

"Chris Keller can hear you, you know."

"I know," Haley answered unapologetically. "Anyway, back to you." She turned to face Mia, hugging her tightly. "How have you been? We've missed you around here."

"I've been great. The tour was amazing. My show in Pittsburgh—I can't even explain. It was incredible. I loved every minute of it."

"Tour?" Chris Keller asked, interrupting their reunion. "You're a musician?" He sounded doubtful.

Mia Catalano forced a smile. "Of course I am. How else do you think I can come up with such witty and bitchy insults so quickly?"

"I just figured you were a Tree Hill native. They all seem to have a habit of bitching out Chris Keller when all he's doing it trying to be himself."

"First of all," Haley began to refute his statements, "I'm fairly certain there's a nationwide habit of bitching out Chris Keller. Second of all, you being yourself generally mean that the rest of us have to deal with your inappropriate behavior, which includes but is not limited to your incessant flirting, suggestive comments, and constant reference to yourself in the third person." Haley smiled proudly. "See, I can bitch him out too."

"Well, you're a musician," Mia pointed out.

"Chris Keller is not even appreciated in his own time," Chris moaned.

"I'm actually surprised you haven't hit him in all the years you've known him," Mia told Haley.

"So am I," Haley admitted. "Then again, I have Nathan to do that for me, which he is more than happy to do whenever I ask him. And even when I don't."

"You don't have to remind me," Chris Keller said, feeling his eyes that had turned black far too many times because of Nathan.

"Well deserved, I'd like to add," Haley said to Chris. "Now stop hitting on Mia and pick a band. Or I'll be forced to resort to other means—like calling my husband."

"You wouldn't dare," Chris said for the second time that night.

Haley smiled brightly in response. "Let's find out."

Chris made a rude gesture and went back to the pile of CDs. He continued to rifle through them, throwing the majority on the floor.

"Sorry about him," Haley said once he was gone. "He's a lot to handle, but he's incredibly talented, so what can you do?"

Mia glanced back at Chris, who was now repeatedly stomping on a single CD case. "Seems like he knows how good he is."

"No argument there, but all of his shows are already sold out. That nation that bitches him out also seems to love him."

"Go figure. So now that he's leaving, will you need help in the studio again? I've missed this place just as much as it's missed me."

Haley shuffled on her feet. "Well, not exactly. Chris is leaving, Alex is on another tour, and I'm not recording right now, so there isn't much to help with. You could always work on your new CD," Haley suggested.

Mia tried not to look too disappointed. "You know I do all of my best writing on the road. I guess there's no reason for me to be in Tree Hill then."

Haley grabbed her shoulder sympathetically. "Why would you say that?"

"I'm not needed to help produce anything. Chase and I broke up almost three years ago. There's nothing really keeping me here."

"What about your awesome friend, Haley?"

"One of the few things," Mia allowed, smiling.

"So leave," Chris Keller said loudly from where he sat at Haley's desk, obviously eavesdropping. "Leave this Hick town and go back on the road."

"Please," Mia said, shaking her head, ignoring his suggestion. "Well, I'm going to go say a quick hello to Chase and then head home. Maybe I'll stop by later this week if you're around," she said to Haley.

"Alright. Yes, please do not be a stranger." Haley hugged Mia goodbye. "I'll call you."

Mia smiled and walked out of the studio.

"I want her," Chris said the second she had left.

"Well, you can't have her," Haley responded immediately, walking back to her desk.

'No. I mean, I want her on the road with me." Chris' eyes lit up with excitement.

"What?"

"That's Mia Catalano, isn't it?"

Haley nodded in affirmation.

"Great. She has to come on the road with me. She's perfect."

"She just got back, and besides, she doesn't open anymore."

"She's too good for it?" Chris asked wistfully.

"She's too good for you," Haley emphasized.

He cocked his head down at her. "You weren't."

She held up her cellphone. "I have Nathan on speed dial, just so you know."

"Come on, Hales. She's great; I'm incredible. You can't get a better match up. Besides my tour bus would be really classed up with a girl on it."

"That's really debatable. We both know you've had girls on it before that definitely didn't add to its sophistication."

"Now are you saying that you don't think Mia is classy?"

"No," Haley said, flustered. "I'm saying that she won't be interested, Chris. End of story. Sorry if that disappoints you. I know how attached you can get," she added, unnecessarily sarcastic.

"Say no more," Chris said, slowly backing up out of the studio. "Mind if we pick this up tomorrow. It's getting late."

Haley glanced at the clock. "It's nine O'clock."

"Oh, wow." Chris fake yawned. "I never got my nap in today, so this is way past my bedtime. Night, Hales." He turned around and walked suspiciously fast out the door.

"What are you going to do?" Haley called after him. "If I hear that you're harassing her, I won't stop her from pressing charges."

Chris just continued on his way.

"Damn it," Haley mumbled out loud, following him out to the bar.

A/N: Thoughts? I don't know if I'll make this more than just a one shot. Review if you want more. ;)