Haley skipped all of her classes that day. She was a college senior. Again. A college senior with no husband, no son. No responsibilities. She let the music wash over her as she walked aimlessly through campus for hours. The students around her smiled. They laughed. They raced to classes. They had boisterous conversations. Hushed conversations. Important conversations. As afternoon settled into evening, she watched one boy walk down the sidewalk with his head in his book. He was just about to run into a cute girl who was texting while walking when he glanced up and jumped out of the way just in time. The girl never looked up. The boy went back to his rushed reading.
What if that was supposed to be their moment? What if in another universe he didn't look up. What if, they collided. Books everywhere. Bags, pencils, phones everywhere. She lands on him. His glasses fall. She laughs and helps him up. They search for his glasses together. Their hands touch. She makes a joke. He's smitten. And that's it. That's the beginning of their love story. Seven years later they are happily married with two boys and girl. But here, in this universe. He looked up. He moved and because he moved that love story will never be written. Those children will never be born.
How a can one moment change a life? How can one moment alter a love story?
She wanted to know what Nathan's life would be without her. Easier. His life is easier without her. He gets Duke without her. He'll probably get drafted. There will be no fight. No accident. This time next year he'll be finishing his rookie season for the Seattle Supersonics. Teenagers across the country will be rocking Nathan Scott sneakers. He'll probably have a long career. He'll get everything he ever dreamed.
And what does she get? A to-be-discovered, slightly less-than-fulfilling career as a teacher. A lifetime of helping students. Helping others reach their goals but never being brave enough to reach for her own. No music. No moment in spotlight. No tour. No Nathan. No Jamie. Bull Shit. She looked at her watch. 5pm.
Haley checked her map and started walking into Chapel Hill. It was time to get that drink. Thirty minutes later she was ducking into the first open bar she saw. An hour and two drinks later, she was flirting with the handsome man sitting next to her. She couldn't remember the last time she had flirted with anyone but Nathan. She couldn't remember the last time she had flirted with Nathan. Definitely before her mom had died. Her mom! Haley grabbed her phone out of her purse and dialed a number her fingers new by heart. She walked away while the guys was mid sentence.
It rang. Once. Twice.
"Haley Bob. What's a girl like you doing calling her mother a time like this? How are you my darling girl?"
"Mom." Haley walked toward the door. She pressed her hand into her mouth to stifle the threatening sobs. She took deep breaths.
"Haley Bob are you in bar?"
"Haha. How on earth can you tell that?"
"Haley, I have spent enough time in bars to hear one a mile away. Or in this case 500 miles away. What are you doing in a bar on a Tuesday night?
Haley looked in the window. There was a salt and pepper haired man with a meticulous beard and mustache, and a full sleeve of colorful tattoos arranging a bar stool on a small stage in the corner. She saw the speakers on the floor in front of the stool. She took a deep breath to steady her voice.
"I'm going to sing at an open mic night."
"Your going to sing? I didn't even know you knew how. Jimmy, Haley's going to sing at an open mic night. I know that's what I said. Sweetie, your father didn't know you could sing either. Are you sure you know how? Is this going to be like the time that-
"Oh god, Mom! I just wanted to hear your voice. I miss you Mom."
"Oh, Haley, my girl, it is always good to hear your voice. What is it Jimmy? Oh OK. Your father says we've gotta go. Listen, you sing your heart out tonight darling. Your father and I are proud of you."
Haley hung up the phone and cried. She sunk to the ground and leaned against the outside of the bar windows. She cried and she laughed and she cried some more. Her mother. Her crazy, amazing, wonderful mother was still alive. She was alive and she was proud. Haley breathed in the words. Her mom.
"Next, coming to the stage let's give a warm welcome to Haley James. Haley come on up."
"Hey, Hi. So, this was kind of a last minute idea. I don't have my guitar or anything. Does anyone have one I can borrow? Promise I won't disgrace it."\
There was a small laugh through the crowd. When a man stood up and walked to stage. Chris Keller. Of course he was here.
"Thank you."
Haley sat down and opened the case. She strummed the guitar and made a few adjustments. As she tuned the guitar, she spoke.
"So, I'm going to do two song for you tonight. This first song is, well it's an old favorite. I usually play it on a piano. But we'll make do.
It's October again
The leaves are coming down
One more year's come and gone
And nothing's changed at all
Wasn't I supposed to be someone
To face the things that I've been running from
Haley looked around the crowded bar. She noticed Chris Keller watching her. She felt the thrill of the crowd's energy. The small conversations had stop. They were hanging on every note. She had them. They were hers. She loved this feeling.
Let me feel
I don't care if I break down
Let me fall
Even if I hit the ground
And if I cry a little, die a little
At least I know I lived
It's October again
Leaves are coming down
One more year's come and gone
And nothing's changed at all
The crowd whistled and clapped and shouted their approval.
"Thanks. Thank you. This second song is something I remixed for a very special little boy. Who can only fall asleep if he's listening to hip hop. Haley plucked the first few notes of Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise. No ER. She had arranged it years ago as lullaby for Jamie. She started to hum, than sang the first few notes.
In a booth in the back of the bar, Peyton Sawyer, looked at the small, vaguely familiar woman. This was something new. She had presence and she just crushed an original song and an original arrangement at a mediocre college open mic night. As the song came to an close. The girl stood up. The crowd cheered and shouted for one more. She smiled and sat back down with a laugh.
"Okay. Okay. I think, I've got one more in me. This is Here Come the Regular by the Replacements."
Peyton had to meet this girl.
Chris Keller had to meet this girl.
Haley needed another drink. If Nathan could have his basketball dream then she could have this dream. So what if they missed their moment. Maybe this whole thing was about exploring where life may have taken her. Music. Her mother alive. Lucas. Maybe it could have been enough. Maybe in this reality it was all she'd get. And maybe she'd wake up and be home.
Haley packed up the guitar.
"Chris Keller thinks you've got a great sound girl. You're arrangements kind of suck though. You should be touring."
"You just going to stand there talking or are you going to buy me a drink?"
"Feisty. Let's go to the bar. Chris Keller likes a woman who knows what she wants."
Haley sat at the bar and ordered. Alternate dimensions or a truly strange dream. Either way, she couldn't remember the last time she had been drunk. Time to rectify that situation.
"So, Haley James, you are wasting your talent on open mic nights. You should perform with me Thursday night. I'll be opening for the Wreckers at Cat's Cradle."
"Sure, why don't we work on duet. Ohh, I know, we can do a cover of Ryan Adams When the Stars Go Blue."
"Okay, girlie, I'm getting a really strange vibe here. But I'll like your spirit."
Chris Keller grabbed a bar napkin and wrote down an address. He slid it across the bar to Haley.
"Meet me here tomorrow. Noon. We'll start working on something."
Haley picked up the napkin and folded it. She placed it in her pocket then she tipped back her drink.
"Sure thing Chris Keller."
"Next up, we are lucky enough to have a great North Carolina talent. He is currently opening for the Wreckers, on their whirlwind Wrecking Ball Tour. Be sure to check out their shows this weekend at Cat's Cradle. Everyone, welcome to the stageā¦.Chris Keller!"
"That's my queue darling."
Haley gave a small sarcastic salute and turned back to the bar.
"Hit me with your best shot, Mr. Barman."
As the bartender poured Haley another shot, Peyton Sawyer sat down in the empty seat next to Haley.
"Well, look who it is. I must be Miss Popularity today."
"Hey, I just wanted to say that you were really good. You have an amazing sound. I'm Peyton Saw-."
"Sawyer. Yeah, I know."
Peyton raised an eyebrow in confused question.
"We went to highschool together, Peyton. Let's go Ravens. Rah. Rah. Rah."
"Oh, wow. Now I feel like a complete ass. Don't tell me we graduated the same year."
Haley raised an eyebrow with a sarcastic smirk. She took a leap that this as least hadn't changed.
"You're looking at your class valedictorian."
"There is tide in the affairs of men."
"That was me. Apparently. Good memory."
Haley picked up her glass and swirled the amber liquid around. One moment. One game. What else was the same? What else was different? Were she and Lucas better off without them? Were they better off without them?
"What are you doing these days Peyton? Are you at Duke? UNC? Some fancy art school? Working for a recording studio?"
"HAh wow. Um, well actually, I followed my boyfriend here to Duke."
"Nathan? You followed Nathan here? I can't believe you guys stayed together that long."
"Hah. Wow, you really did go to Tree Hill. Yeah, well, we didn't make it past freshman year. He got groupies. I got tired of the excuses."
Nathan had groupies. Nathan had cheated.
"Why did you stay? At Duke I mean? If you came here for him, I mean."
"Well, Duke has this amazing art program. The teachers are so talented and supportive. By the time Nathan and I we reaching our coda, I was fully invested in the program. So, I stayed. Fuck him right."
Haley lifted her glass in a toast.
"Charcoals over bros." Haley said with a smirk.
Peyton laughed and smiled and brought her glass up to meet Haley's.
"Charcoals over bros."
"You know, my best friend-
"Brooke Davis."
"Yeah, Brooke Dravis. She used to say things like that all the time. God it's weird to talk to someone from home. When I'm here, I usually feel like I'm in a whole other world. Like all the drama and the expectations and everything from highschool, from that town has just stopped, you know? You must know what I mean."
"No, not really. I live with my best friend from Tree Hill."
"Oh really, anyone I know?"
"HAH. I have no idea. Probably not. You probably know of him. My best friend is Lucas. Scott."
"You mean Nathan's-"
"Brother? Yea."
"Does he go here?"
"No, god no. Luke's at UNC. He's doing a Creative Writing degree."
"Huh."
The girls turned to face stage where Chris Keller was wrapping up his first song.
"So, why haven't I seen you sing out before?"
"I guess I've just been waiting for the right moment.
"How is that even possible. Haley, you just crushed your spot like a seasoned professional."
"Yeah, well. Beginners lucky maybe. I'm going to be singing with Chris Keller at Cat's Cradle this weekend. You should come."
"From a first open mic night to opening for the Wreckers in four days?"
Haley shrugged and finished her drink.
"Yea, sure thing lady. I'll do that. In the meantime. Let's drink. Barkeep bring us another round."
The very sexy bartender refilled their glasses with sly smile. His eyes lingering on Peyton.
Haley and Peyton drank and laughed and after the open mic night, when the DJ started playing they danced. Haley felt free and light and drunk. In all the crazy confusion of this insane day. Here she was, dancing the night away with one of her best friends. A friend who had only just met her for the first time.
Later, as Haley, lay down to sleep she wondered if it was possible to find similar connections. Maybe fate wasn't tied to a single moment. Maybe her always and forever was still hanging in the stars. Her final thoughts as she drifted off to sleep were of Nathan and Jamie and a wish to wake up her own bed.
A million miles and a moment away, a different Haley James was waking up in a stranger's bed. In a stranger's life. In a soft silk nightgown she absolutely hadn't worn to bed.
