Another update for ya'll :)
Again, Feedback is MUCH appreciated ;)
Enjoy!
- Bethie
Haley rolled over in her bed, her hand searching for the warm body that had fallen asleep next to her. She instead was met with nothing, "Nathan?" she lifted her head slowly, looking around but saw nothing.
She grabbed her slippers and walked out of the bedroom only to be greeted with the sight of Nathan in the kitchen. He was shirtless wearing only his blue jeans and walking around barefoot. Haley immediatly smiled. He was trying to break an egg on the frying pan but missed, burning his hand, "Owe!" He shook his finger rapidly before sticking it into his mouth.
Haley couldn't help but laugh making her presense known. He turned, finger still in mouth and whined, "It's not funny!"
She walked towards him, "Oh yes it is." She walked into the kitchen, lowering the heat on the stove and grabbing an egg out of the carton.
Nathan walked over to the counter with an ajoining stool, "So much for breakfast in bed..."
"Aww...well it was the thought that counts" She smiled then turned her attention to the pan. "Nathan?..." She asked softly, "About last night..."
"Don't even worry about Haley. When you're ready...I will be too." He smiled.
With her back still turned away from him, she closed her eyes releaved. Then continued on making them breakfast.
After breakfast they said their goodbyes. Haley had a few things to do before work tomorrow and Nathan was going to play a game of one on one with Lucas...as they always did on Sundays.
Closing the door after he left Haley leaned up against it closing her eyes with a smile on her face. Her life was starting to make sense again. She couldn't explain it but the emptyness she had felt for so long was slowly disappearing.
Haley walked into her closet and pulled out the guitar that hadn't been touched in 2 years. She sat down on her bed and began strumming...the words entered her without hesitation and she began to play what she felt...
"Spending all your money, ain't if funny how time goes by..."
She closed her eyes and moved her head to the melody...
"First you start believing, then your leaving for no reason and you're wondering why..."
Jake's face crept into her thoughts...
"So till the mornin' breaks, go and make your mistakes don't be surprised if your head hurts...Life is for the living, the forgiving and for leaving town alive..."
...then it slowly became Nathan's...
"Whispering in the waves, watching days and moving on. You wake up every Monday then suddenly it's Sunday and the week is gone."
Her smile grew.
"So till the mornin' breaks, go and make your mistakes don't be surprised if the sun rises. Life is for the living, the forgiving and for leaving town alive. Ohhhh...Do you wonder where it starts? Where it ends? What you'll find around the bend..."
A singer tear left her eye as she finally opened her eyes and looked to the sky with a smile.
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Monday morning came quickly. Haley walked into her office with the same bright attitude that she had left with. Knowing she had an important phone call to make she quickly grabbed the messages from GiGi and headed straight to her office.
She picked up her phone and sat back in her chair, waiting for the other end to answer.
"HarperCollins Publishing." The receptionist politely answered.
"Hello. This is Haley James of Davis Ind. I need to speak with Vincent Tomaccio."
"Sure. I'll patch you through."
The phone rang a few times before a deep voice greeted the reciever, "This is Vincent."
"Vinnie!..." Haley playfully exclaimed.
She heard a brief fit of laughter before he answered, "Ms. James...what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Actually I need to cash in on that favor you owe me."
"Well, you have my intrigued. What can I do for ya?"
"I need you to meet with a friend of mine. He has a book tha-"
Vincent cut her off, "Haley. I know I owe you for the story on Robert's daughter but-"
"Vinnie, have I ever steered you wrong?"
"Well no-"
"Exactly. Trust me."
Vincent sighed then finally caved, "Ok. I have an hour this afternoon around 2:00, how's that?"
"Perfect. See you then." Haley hung up the phone and quickly ran out of her office, down the hall into Peytons, "Hey!"
Peyton looked up from her computer, "Hey! What's up?"
"Did you happen to get Lucas' number?"
Peyton immediatly blushed, "Haley..."
Haley shook her head, "No...it's not like that. I'll catch the story on you two love birds at lunch. I set up a meeting for him this afternoon."
"With-"
Before she finished Haley smiled, "Yes!"
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A few moments later Haley was back in her office dialing Lucas' phone number.
"Hello?"
"Lucas! Hey it's Haley."
"Oh...Hi Haley..." Lucas stated surprised. He remembered their conversation but after 6 months in New York, he knew better than to get his hopes up.
"What are your plans for around 2?"
"Ah- I was actually gonna stop by the school to help Nathan with practice. Why?"
"Well you're cancelling and meeting me and one Mr. Vincent Tomaccio...Editor and Cheif of
HarperCollins Publishing!" Haley yelled full of excitement.
All she could hear on Lucas' end was alot of yelling and thanking.
She slightly laughed, "You're welcome just meet me at my office around 1:30...do you know where it is?"
"Yah, Oh wow Haley...I don't even know how to begin to-"
"Don't worry about it Luke...just meet me here, 1:30 and we'll go over together."
"Will do. Thank you, Haley" He stated once more.
"See you soon." She responded before hanging up the phone and smiling.
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The meeting went very well. Vincent agreed to read Lucas' book titled "An Unkindness of Ravens" and Lucas even gave Haley a copy, which had been printed out on computer paper, to reasure her that she hadn't gone out of her way for nothing.
Haley walked back into her apartment and immediatly grabbed her guitar. For some reason since yesturday she hadn't been able to concentrate on much else.
She walked out into the living room and sat on the couch, her fingers finding the right strings as she began a melody that had been pushing her all day...
"...Time is gonna take my mind..and carry it far away where I can fly. The depth of life will dim...my temptation to live for you. If I were to be alone, silence would rock my tears ..'cause it's all about love and I know better...How life is a waving feather..."
Her voice became more powerful as the chorus began...
"So I put my arms around you around you...And I know that I'll be living soon...And I hope that I will do no wrong...My eyes are on you they're on you...And I hope that you won't hurt me..."
As she played time stood still...all the emotions she had been holding in were being released...
"No need for anything but music...Music's the reason why I know...time still exists...Time still exists... Time still exists..."
Her voice could be heard through the floor of her apartment complex. Full of pain, yet finally...equally filled with hope.
Author's Note - Italics If you didn't figure out was Haley singing :)
Songs - "Leaving Town Alive" - Bethany Joy Lenz/Galeotti
"Dancing" - Elisa (but in the story its suppose to be Haley's song ;) )