AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, if you're here then I hope the first chapter wasn't a bad start! I know it was pretty short; I actually split the first chapter into two because I didn't want to start off with all the details that are here in case it made them seem super important (if that makes sense). Anyways, here's chapter twp, which is another short one, but it just means we're closer to Naley!


The cab drove off into the darkness as Haley entered her apartment, kicking off the heels she had so optimistically chosen for her abandoned date earlier that night. Switching on the lights, she was greeted by a small, furry body twining itself between her feet. Picking up the small black cat, she placed a gentle kiss between its ears.

"Hey Catsby. Waiting for your dinner, huh boy?"

Placing the cat back on the ground, Catsby simply meowled until Haley slid the full food bowl under his nose. Watching her pet devour his dinner, she sighed. "Coming back to my cat and an empty house. Welcome to your future, Haley James."

Not wanting to go to bed when she was feeling sorry for herself, Haley pulled out a chilled bottle of Pinot Grigio from the refrigerator and poured herself another glass, the warm buzz she'd felt with her drinks over dinner starting to wear off. Pulling out her phone from her bag and checking the time, she quickly scrolled through her contacts before finding what she was looking for.

"Haley Bob! It's so good to hear from you."

Haley smiled at the bright, bubbly voice on the other end as she settled herself down on her couch. "Hey Quinn. I wasn't sure what the time difference was like for you at the moment."

"Actually, I'm back in New York again, I got home on Thursday."

"And you didn't think of calling your favorite little sister as soon as you arrived?" Haley faked a teasing gasp of surprise.

"Of course I did, Taylor picked me up from the airport."

The two sisters dissolved into giggles, knowing how their joke was so far from reality. Not that there was any animosity between the James sisters, but Taylor James was not known for her reliability.

"So you're calling late on a Saturday night," Quinn observed. "Did that date you text me about go well then?"

"Urgh, I don't even want to talk about it... I met up with the girls for dinner instead and I just got home."

"Oh Hales..."

"Speaking of dates, though..." Haley took another sip of wine for courage. "The Brooke and Peyton were trying to convince me to give that MetYet app a go."

Quinn's squeal sounded out loudly in Haley's ear. "Oooh, yes! You should totally try it, Haley Bob. I mean it's how I met Clay."

Haley smiled to herself over her sister's enthusiasm. In her mid-thirties, Quinn had gone through a tough divorce from her husband, David the previous year. Sometimes it had been hard to be feel sorry for her beautiful, talented older sister, but Haley hadn't really appreciated the change in Quinn until Clay had entered her life. She'd remembered hearing from her giddy sister when she'd first started messaging some guy who always seemed to make her laugh but had a sweet and sensitive side to him; she'd never sounded that happy talking about David. Although Haley was nervous and skeptical when Quinn announced that the pair were going to meet in person, a month later she still seemed as happy and as giddy as ever, despite the new couple's time apart due to travel for both of their jobs.

"I don't get it though, how come it's such a great way to get to know someone? It can't stop people making stuff up and then being some creepy perv in real life, right?"

"Most creepy pervs don't want to pay 100 bucks for a dating app," Quinn pointed out reasonably. "And you have to be sending MYMessages to each other for a month before it will unlock your phone number to each other - and most creepy pervs don't want to put that much time and energy into a one night stand anyway. At the end of the day, Haley Bob, it's just another way to try and meet people. You can only give it a try and hope for the same happiness I got out of it."

"Hmm..." Haley made the same non-committal noise that she had made when Brooke and Peyton were trying to convince her. "Speaking of happiness, have you seen Clay since you've been back?"

Haley heard her sister's giggle in her ear and couldn't help but smile. "Actually... I only got to see him yesterday. He's in Tree Hill today, actually."

"What? He's not from here is he?" Haley frowned, confused. "What's he doing here?"

"No, he's from Charleston actually. But… I was going to wait until it was all sorted to surprise you, but I may as well tell you now ... we're moving to Tree Hill!"

Haley lurched forward to place her wine glass on the coffee table in front of her before collapsing back onto the couch in shock. "What? What are you talking about, we?"

"Clay's looking at buying a beach house in Wrightsville Beach and he wants me to move in with him!"

"Wrightsville Beach as in 20 minutes from Tree Hill?"

"That's the one! There's a building on Front Street that would be perfect for a gallery for me and I've been thinking about coming home for a while - it was only David that wanted to stay in New York..."

"But... Clay?" Haley was lost for words as she thought about the huge decision her sister had made with a man she barely knew.

"Well most of his clients are North Carolina-based anyway, but he told me he's in the process of getting a new business partner who wants to set up in Tree Hill, so it's a great move for both of us."

"That wasn't really what I meant, Quinny... you just met the guy and you're moving in with him?"

"I know it must feel like that, but I promise Haley Bob, it feels so right. Clay makes me feel like a part of me had been missing all these years and he's what I've wanted all along. I can't wait for you to meet him. He's back tomorrow and we'll know for sure about the beach house... it's just..." Haley heard her sister inhale, slowly. "I'm in love with him, Hales."

Haley drew in a deep breath, knowing that it wasn't her place to lecture her older sister. Quinn had been through a lot before and she was an adult; surely she knew whether or not it their relationship was moving too fast or not. She deserved to be this happy, always.

"Well, I'm happy for you," she replied, genuinely. "I can't wait to have you back home and I can't wait to meet the guy who makes my big sister so happy."

"Thanks Hales. You know, you deserve to be this happy as well. Join MetYet, give it a go!

Haley laughed. "Maybe you can ask if Clay has any hot single friends."

"Hey did say a few of his friends use the app, so..." Quinn trailed off, teasingly.

"Alright, alright, I get the hint!" Haley laughed.

"I better get going, Haley Bob, I still haven't adjusted to the jet lag and it's getting late. I'll call you as soon as Clay knows about the house, ok?"

"You better," Haley smiled, despite knowing that her sister wouldn't be able to see. "It was good to talk to you, Quinny. Love you."

"Love you too, little sis."

The two sisters said their goodbyes and Haley tapped the red button on her phone to disconnect the call before throwing it on the couch beside her. Picking up her wine glass again to take a sip, she thought about how happy and certain her sister sounded. Haley had never been through a divorce - hell, she'd barely had a relationship serious enough to even consider marriage - but if Quinn was able to find someone to mend her broken heart, then surely Haley would have a better shot and finding someone who could love her, too?

Cautiously fingering the glossy white phone beside her, Haley tossed her sun kissed, light brown curls over her shoulder and pressed the icon that led her to the app store. A quick search brought up the MetYet app - a simple red square with a stylized white MY through it. Letting out a huge sigh, she gave it a tap with her index finger.

"Oh, what the hell... here goes nothing."