Haley pushed the cart down the aisle of the supermarket, she moved from the one end to where Jamie stood in the middle. "Did you find a cereal you wanted yet Jamie?"
"I can't decided between these three." He said pointing to the boxes in his hands.
"Alright you pick what cereal you want and I'll be on the end cap looking at the jelly. Don't go anywhere else okay?"
"Alright Momma." He smiled before studiously thinking about his choice.
After Haley grabbed what she needed she turned back down the aisle. Without looking up from her list of what she needed she asked "Jamie did you decide yet?" After not hearing a response she looked up. "Jamie? Jamie where are you?" She left the cart where it was and ran down to the other end of the aisle looking around. "James Scott, Jamie where are you?"
Seeing a sales worker she walked quickly over to him "Excuses me, my son is missing."
"What?"
"He is eight years old, his name is James Lucas Scott, he has sandy blonde hair and blue eyes."
The sales worker quickly pulled out his radio "Code Adam, Code Adam." He announced into it as Haley then heard a bunch of people talking back through to it. "Where did you last see him?"
"In aisle seven."
"Okay, they have locked the doors, no one gets in or out, we will find him okay?" He said trying to calm down a hyperventilating Haley. "Alright come with me to the front desk okay?" He said placing a hand on her back and leading her through the store only for Haley to stop quickly and let out a frazzled gasp before running.
"Oh baby" She cried quickly pulling Jamie in her arms for a tight hug, not realising who he was standing with.
"Jamie I told you to stay in the aisle, why didn't you?"
"I was with dad."
"What?" She asked noticing the man next to her was Nathan. "Why did you take him?"
"He was alone in the aisle."
"I was right around the corner waiting for him, why wouldn't you ask him where I was?" She asked raising her voice.
"I just...I don't know...I didn't think about it." Nathan said running a hand through his hair.
"You never do." She mumbled "Jamie never do that again, you have to tell me. Don't just go off with people even if it is Nathan."
"Alright momma, I'm sorry."
"It's okay." She sighed hugging him once more, glaring at Nathan while mouthing "Don't ever do that again."
"Ma'am here is your purse." Haley chuckled lightly as Todd, the sales worker pushed her cart over and handed her her purse.
"Thank you for all your help."
"Hales, what are you doing here?" Brooke asked walking over.
"It was my week to shop wasn't it?"
"No...or maybe it is." She laughed "Anyway you'll never guess what just happened, I got locked outside because they locked the doors because some kid was missing."
"I know it was Jamie."
"What?" Brooke shouted.
"C'mon let's just go, I'll explain in the car." Haley said walking away and sending Nathan one final glare.
Nathan tapped his foot against the "Welcome" mat as he waited for the door to Brooke and Lucas's house to open. When it did he noticed the look of shock on Haley's face when she saw it was him. She quickly went from happy to guarded as she crossed her hands across her chest. "What do you want?"
"Haley, I just wanted to apologize."
Haley scoffed and laughed "For what? I don't have all day."
"I was wrong for what happened at the food store. I'm sorry for scaring you. I know I shouldn't have done it but I'm still getting used to it...this. I am so sorry and just please don't be mad at me for this. I'm still learning and I want to do what's right by him and you. I just...I'm sorry."
Haley nodded slowly as Nathan backed away and got into his car.
It took him a lot of effort to come to her door and apologize, specifically when he wasn't going to see Jamie Haley recognized and appreciated that. She smiled slightly as she shut the door and walked inside. He was learning.
Lucas sat on his stool at Tric waiting for Haley to come up on stage. Brooke was in the back, helping Haley before her performance.
"Sorry Broody but Haley needs me" She'd told him, after he'd complained of being alone.
"Just make some friends," She'd joked.
Now, he sat alone at the bar waiting. He had considered having a drink but decided against it.
He didn't notice Peyton sitting on the stool next to him until she stumbled into him. "Sorry." She laughed.
He looked over and shrugged, "It's fine."
They both sat there until Peyton asked, "Care to buy me a drink?
He looked over to her and he noticed how drunk she already was. She had a half full glass in her hands and she was asking for more. "I think you've had enough for one night." He said taking away her glass and putting it away from her.
"See, you still care about me."
"You'll thank me in the morning." He said.
"Only if I wake up next to you. Did you miss me while I was away Broooodddy" She said making fun of his old nickname Brooke had given him.
"At first," He said. "But then I figured it was for the best."
"I missed you a lot. I wish I never left and we fixed things. I still love you and regret all this time we spent apart." She continued, "I regret it you know," She started. "I wish we were still together. We were good for each other, we were in love. It was good, I was happy. I don't know why it had to end."
Lucas turned to face her, "It had to end because it wasn't working anymore. There was no you and me anymore. The passion was gone, we didn't have the same plans."
"We weren't good together Peyton. Brooke and I are good together."
"But Lucas." She looked at him and leaned closer. "I still love you."
"I don't Peyton."
"Look me in the eye and admit that. Look me in the eye Lucas cause we both know it isn't true." Peyton said as ran her hand along his cheek and moved to kiss him.
Lucas quickly got up from his seat and moved away. "I'm married Peyton." He said raising his hand to show her his ring "I don't love you, I love Brooke and my son."
With that Lucas walked away, shortly after he met up with Brooke and watched as Haley walked on the stage. He would mention it after but now he wanted Brooke to enjoy Haley's performance
"Hey everybody." Haley greeted walking on stage. "How are you all doing tonight?" She asked as the crowd screamed. "Great. So this song is going to be on my new album, out soon. And I hope you all like it, it's called New York."
Haley looked out at the large crowd as her fingers ran over the keys. She noticed several familiar faces, all seated at the bar, and all but one were smiling. That one was the one the song was about. She took a deep breath and began to play, the band followed her lead and did the same.
If you were here beside me instead of in New York
If the curve of you was curved on me
I'd tell you that I loved you before I ever knew you
'Cause I loved the simple thought of you
If our hearts are never broken and there's no joy in the mending
There's so much this hurt can teach us both
There's distance and there's silence, your words have never left me
They're the prayer that I say every day
Come on, come out, come here, come here
Come on, come out, come here, come here
Come on, come out, come here, come here
Come on, come out, come here, come here
The lone neon nights and the ache of the ocean
And the fire that was starting to spark
I miss it all, from the love to the lightning
And the lack of it snaps me in two
If you were here beside me instead of in New York
In the arms you said you'd never leave
I'd tell you that it's simple and it was only ever thus
There is nowhere else that I belong
Come on, come out, come here, come here
Come on, come out, come here, come here
Come on, come out, come here, come here
Come on, come out, come here, come here
The lone neon nights and the ache of the ocean
And the fire that was starting to spark
I miss it all from the love to the lightning
And the lack of it snaps me in two
Just give me a sign, there's an end and not beginning
To the quiet chaos driving me mad
The lone neon nights and the walls of the ocean
And the fire that is starting to go out
She got off of the stage proud of herself. She'd done it. She had made it through the show. Oh how she'd missed the feeling of holding a mic and the stage below her feet. She was proud of herself.
She walked to the backstage and Brooke tackled her into a hug. "You did it tutor girl!"
"You were great." Lucas smiled and kissed the top of her head.
"Thanks." Haley said taking a deep breath running her hand through her hair
"Not that I want to ruin the joyful mood," Lucas said. "But I think Peyton's lost it."
"Why?" Brooke sighed rolling her eyes.
"She tried to kiss me She was telling me how much she missed me and still loved me and how I was the right one for her."
"She did what?!" Brooke flipped.
"I promise I left as soon as that happened, she was drunk and I...I would never do that." He stuttered quickly.
"I believe you Lucas." Brooke said quickly putting a hand on his chest.
Haley walked away a bit, feeling like they needed their moment.
Peyton was still sitting at the bar, playing with yet another drink when Brooke walked up to her and asked, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Peyton looked up and put her glass down, "Well, well isn't that Brooke Davis."
"What the hell do you think you're doing with my husband?"
"You know he still loves me." She said.
"Like hell he does, he's my husband and he loves me and our son. He doesn't love you Peyton, you have to get over it."
"You know it, he knows it, I know it. Lucas and I are meant to be together. It hurts that we broke up but I'm back and I want to fix things. I want to be with him, we were good together." She rambled on talking more to herself than to Brooke.
"Back off Peyton, he's mine." Brooke threatened.
"I love him and you knew that when you went out with him. You stole him from me."
"Stay away from my family." Brooke said before turning around and walking away.
At some point during the night, Haley walked saw Nathan talking with Peyton. She wanted to fight the urge to walk over there and tell Peyton what she wanted to say, but she couldn't. She walked over to where Nathan was standing with Peyton. She noticed that he was trying to get some sense into her.
"You leave him alone." She said when she walked up to them. Peyton looked at her confused for a moment. "You left, Peyton. You broke his heart."
Peyton sigh and Nathan let go of her arm. "I didn't mean to, I still love him."
"It doesn't matter, he's with Brooke now and they have a family. There's a child involved. End of story."
Haley didn't leave any time for Peyton to reply, she turned her attention to Nathan and asked, "Can we talk?"
"Sure" He nodded as Haley led them into the back room and shut the door behind her. "What's up?"
"Tonight made me realize something." She led off and paused. "You get to pick Nathan. You either get me back or Jamie. You can only fix one relationship and it's up to you."
Nathan looked very confused as he stuttered "I...Jamie."
Haley smiled. "Good you've learned." She quickly hugged him. "And if you would have picked me over him I think I would have slapped you. Anyway. I've been thinking about how comfortable Jamie is with you now and how you've stepped up to the plate recently to be his father. So I don't think I need to meet with you and Jamie anymore. And neither does Peyton."
"Really?" He asked happily. He was on the right track to get his family back.
"So why don't you take him twice a week, one day after school, and one weekend day. That way you can spend some time with him alone. Just be safe."
"Of course I will Haley." He insisted. "I know how hard this must be for you to let me have him on my own but I will always protect him."
"It's actually easier than I expected." Haley laughed slightly. "I never thought I would say this but I trust you with him Nathan. Now this will keep going as long as it needs unless we need to change it for some reason. Just don't take me to court or else I will lose him Nathan. I don't have the money for a lawyer and with everything that happened before..." She lead off looking at the ground.
"I won't Haley" he said lifting her chin with his finger "I promise."
"And there's something else⦠I'm never going to forgive you for walking away Nathan. I don't think I can ever get past it. And you will never realize how I felt and why I didn't want you to go. It's just not gonna happen. But I want to stop fighting, I want to stop feeling angry and upset every time I think of you so let's just stop. Let's stop bringing it up and let's stop talking about it because we will never agree. I don't want Jamie to witness it either. So let's just focus on him. We only talk about him and we don't keep having these meet ups to talk because nothing good comes from it."
Nathan sighed. "Hales...I'm always going to love you and I will do this for you because you think it's best. But I don't. I understand how you felt. I do now. I now know that I would do anything for Jamie and I was stupid before. I was in the wrong and even though you were being stubborn and we could have made it work in New York, I was still wrong for leaving. But when you say you will never get past it and you can't be with me. That's where you're wrong, and I'm going to prove it to you. We're still married for a reason Hales, you and I both know it. We didn't divorce for a reason, not because you couldn't afford it, but because we are meant to be together. And I'm just gonna have to show you." He said looking into her eyes. She was so conflicted and he knew it but he wasn't giving up without a fight. Slowly he leaned in and kissed her. It was short, and gentle, as he held her chin delicately but it left Haley even more unsure. "I love you Hales and I don't care what I have to do but one day...one day you'll cave." And with that he left the room leaving Haley confused, lonelier than ever, and...wanting more.
