Ok little pre warning here... this chapter is super long... but I tried a new approach on it.
I wrote it in script form then I used that to write the story how I normally do... I did keep some {scene: whatever} but I even had to take some out which will be used for the next chapter.
I have two major bombshells I am not sure how you are going to feel about once you get reading but just hang tight
Not a lot of Jamie in these past few chapters I will change that soon I hope.
Now I also made a little shout out tow Sophia bush and Chad in this see if you can find them?
XOXO
{Scene: Logan and Jamie's beach house Logan and Hayley are standing in the kitchen}.
Hayley James had no words. Oh that's not true she had many, many words but none of which seemed to make it to the tip of her tongue. Instead she continued to stand there. Mute.
Logan knew just by looking at Hayley that she had a million thoughts running through her head because if his favorite aunt wasn't talking she tended to be thinking.
Questions. Hayley had questions and comments and even a few curse words and two middle fingers for
Madison but before she could get too far ahead of herself she didn't know if it was true.
It couldn't be true.
"How… how do you know that the baby is not his Logan" Hayley asked a very valuable question considering it didn't make sense how he knew at all. "You can't just go running around throwing out accusations like that. You could be messing with people's lives.
"It isn't an accusation it's the truth" Logan told his aunt.
"Ok pretend I believe you for a minuet how do you know that"? Hayley asked the question that still had yet to be answered.
"You want to know the best part about being a professional racecar driver aunt Hayley? I'm rich. I am loaded to be in fact. You want to know something else? People answer to money something Madison knew all too well, being the wife of a former NBA star she was used to getting what she wants" Logan told Hayley as he sat down on the stool next to the bar.
Riddles her nephew had converted to talking in riddles.
"It doesn't matter what they do for a living when someone sees a check with a few extra zeros on the end they do what they are asked to do. People are greedy. Even Doctors who say they want to help people" Logan said his voice so low Hayley could barely hear him.
Ok now he was just doing it on purpose.
"How about we just cut to the chase now what are you saying Logan?" Hayley snapped at the poor young boy but he knew her to well for his feelings to be hurt at all.
"What I am saying is that Madison paid the Doctor off. After what happened at Karen's café I came home to get some clothes for Jamie remember? You know how he feels about hospital gowns. Well I found the forms that said he was the father. My curiosity got the best of me… I guess you could call me a cat but I see no point in it. It didn't feel right something was off. So I did a little research there is no guy by the name of Taylor Owens who plays in a band called Pigslipt".
"What"? Hayley yelled gaining the attention of the couple who sat in the living room.
An aggregated Logan just smiled back at Jamie and Madison before dragging his aunt down the hallway and into the laundry room where she could yell as loud as her heart's desire.
"I googled the place where they had the D.N.A testing done and made a little trip down there as it turns out it doesn't cost much for someone to lie but it cost a lot to get them to tell the truth".
"The doctor told you this"? The violent red head ask tapping her foot along with the rhythm of the dryer.
"Not only did he tell me this personally but he showed me the proof. He showed me all the results… the real results for the extravagant price of two million dollars might I add" Logan said pulling the papers out for proof.
Logan was many things but he certainly wasn't a liar. Hayley didn't need to read the papers but she still took them. Just for Curiosity. To proof read really.
"James Lucas Scott the alleged father is excluded as the biological father of the tested child" Hayley read the words aloud.
It took her a moment to digest all the information that had just been handed to her this wasn't exactly 'don't forget to pick up the bread' conversation. She was angry at Madison and hurt for Jamie. A little girl she had watched grow up now the thought of that girl made her sick to her stomach.
"Then what the hell are you waiting for go tell Jamie? Why don't you just go in there and announce that she is really the lying back stabbing bitch that everyone thinks she is instead of this. Its ok if she burns
in hell but she isn't taking my son down with her." Hayley said a little too eager for Logan's taste.
Logan wasn't that guy. He wasn't the guy who cared about everyone he ever came across like Jamie did. But if you were lucky enough to make it on Logan's list of those he considered important and that he did care about then you must be pretty spectacular. Jamie was on that list right below his parents.
"Well for one Mommie Dearest it's not that simple. I mean do you realize that this will destroy him right now he thinks he just got his family back. His happy do you really want me to just barge in there and shout something like this out. I can't" Logan told Hayley.
Hayley knew that he was right.
It was going to destroy Jamie and no matter what she felt for Madison, how much she hated her Hayley wasn't ready to watch that all over again. Hayley wasn't ready to watch her son fall apart again it had taken him almost six months to organize the pieces they weren't even put back together when Madison showed back up.
Hayley looked into the living room where she saw Jamie sitting with Madison in his arms a smile that she had missed so much spread widely across his face.
"Not to mention I wouldn't want him to find out this way. For two… I want to make this as painful for Madison as possible. I want to watch her suffer. I want to destroy her".
{Opening credits}
{Scene Alex and Chris house}.
Chris Keller leaned into the bedroom where his son was sleeping knowing that at this point in the day is when he should be up getting ready for school. Sure, Christopher enjoyed sleeping in but at the end of the day he loved going to school.
Not to learn Chris was sure of that after all his parents weren't the brightest in the world but he had friends. Friends he cared he missed.
Chris knew what Hayley said was right. He had to talk to Alex.
He quickly wandered down stairs and to his bedroom where he found Alex packing a bag. For a moment. Just a moment his heart skipped a beat it was something he was all to use to seeing.
"What are you doing"? Chris asked his wife walking up behind her.
"Oh just some stuff for Mia just because she sits in a hospital all day doesn't mean she has to look like Rhea Perlman. "Alex said causing him to let out a sigh of relief and somewhat of a laugh as she turned
around to look at her husband she quickly asked "what's wrong"?
"What makes you think that something is wrong"?
Believe it or not Alex knew her husband as well as he knew her.
"Well your eyebrows are scrunched together and your bottom lip is curled and when you talk your nostrils flared. You made the face. So either something is wrong or you broke my new red vase that my mother sent me "Alex said crossing her arms looking up at him.
"No nothing like awful like that. God forbid we break anything your mother sent" Chris said rolling his eyes.
Alex knew her mother and husband would never get along but that obviously wasn't the issue at hand.
Chris carefully pulled them both on to their bed where he looked at her part of him wanted to tell her and part of him didn't.
"Alex I love you so much and I am so happy that you are finally putting your best foot forward being a mother to our son and a wife to me it means a lot to both of us. We are happy to have you here after all this time" Chris said rubbing her slim arm.
"But" Alex asked the word he didn't want to say.
"But you're being a little overbearing with Christopher. I know what happened was hard. It has been hard for everyone and I understand not wanting to let go for a little while but you have to understand that you have to let go. You can't hold on forever" Chris told her.
"What if I can" Alex asked tears in her eyes. "I mean it happens. Right"?
"Then we just might have a Jimmy Livingston situation on our hands" Chris said causing Alex to laugh somewhat. "He needs to go back to school with his friend he has to be a normal kid. He doesn't want to say anything because he is scared you will leave again but… you have to let go of the least... I am not saying all the way just tugs back a little.
"Chris… we nearly lost him we could have lost him forever".
"I know baby but that doesn't mean you take it into over drive."
"Easy for you to say if he had died you would have had these great memories." Alex snapped and shot up from the bed tears strolling down her face.
This certainly wasn't a way Chris had ever seen Alex before. In all the years that they were married Chris hadn't seen this side of broken side of her.
"You would have the best. You wouldn't be haunted with the fact that instead of making it to his soccer games you were out doing a photo shoot on the island of Fiji" Alex said as she crumbled to the floor.
"Is that what this is all about…. Your guilt" Chris asked kneeling beside his wife. "You feel guilty".
"Well wouldn't you" Alex asked looking into her husband's eyes. "His fourteen years old and I have basically missed his life. I can't make it up to me but I can make it up to him or at least I can try to".
She cared. For the first time in almost fifteen years she cared. Alex genuinely cared. For the first time in almost fifteen years she cared. Not just about their son which is the one thing he always wanted but
about him. His wife cared.
"Alex… you being here is enough for him. He is just grateful to have his mom back. To have her here. We both are" Chris said the words that steadied Alex's fast paced breathing. "You need to forget the past both of us have. Ok? You just need to focus on now not then. Focus on waking up every morning, eating breakfast with your family, being there for your friends, finding what makes you happy, going to his soccer games now, having dinner as a family and making dirty sexy love to Chris Keller at least five times a week".
He made her smile and laugh like a young teenage girl in love for the very first time.
"Make it four" Alex teased poking him directly in his chest.
"Four and a morning quickie" Chris fired back with a grin before cradling his wife and tossing her on the bed.
{Scene Lucas and Peyton's house, bathroom, Keith is getting ready for school}.
Keith was happy. For the first time in a while he was happy. He had a reason to be happy. For the most part anyways. He knew what he wanted and
not just what he wanted but who he wanted. It was still scary and hard and kept him up at night but then again he was up half the night texting Kole so it could be one thing or the other.
Keith was immediately brought back to reality when his little brother opened the door to the bathroom that conjoined their two rooms.
"Oh sorry. I didn't know you were in here… I will use Sawyers" L.J said quickly somewhat avoiding all
eye contact with Keith which was hard to go unnoticed.
"No hey its fine… come on in I'm about done just have to brush my teeth" Keith told him.
It was different. It was all different now. Keith didn't know that yet but L.J did.
"Really I am just going to go use Sawyers" L.J said one last time.
"And risk waking her up?" Keith added with a laugh seeing how dangerous the act was in itself but L.J still turned around to leave. It was obvious something was off but Keith didn't know what it was. He grabbed his little brothers arm turning him around so they were nearly face to face and asked "what's the matter with you"?
"Nothing" L.J simply answered.
The two had always been close it wasn't hard for Keith to notice that something was wrong.
"L.J talk to me I'm your brother" Keith said as L.J jerked his arm out of his older brothers grasp and said in a low voice that was almost threating "you know what Keith I think you have enough issues of your own don't worry about me. Speaking of how is your boyfriend? The nurse how is he"?
L.J took the opportunity that his brother had become paralyzed and speechless to flee without looking behind him. Keith was no longer happy.
In fact he was sick to his stomach, he actually hunched over the toilet for a minuet or two assuming that he just might throw up.
His mind continued to run a thousand miles a minuet.
He could tell people. He could tell their dad.
It took Keith a few minutes to pull himself together but when he did he immediately found himself running to his sisters room without knocking he barged in and began shaking her. It wasn't exactly the smartest idea that Keith had ever had but if anyone could handle his sister it was him.
"Someone better be dead or your about to be" Sawyer mumbled barley understandable to Keith as he looked at his sister who had her face planted directly in the middle of the pillow.
"Wake up" Keith said jarring her one last time.
Sawyer snapped her head around and gave him a look the vaguely reminded him of a satanic witch he once saw on the history channel.
"What the hell? It's almost four in the morning Keith".
Keith ignored the fact that she would be asleep all day and proceeded to give her the same death glare that he was receiving from her.
He was mad. Sawyer could tell but she didn't know why.
"Ok I give what's wrong" the curly blond asked sitting up flicking her lamp on.
"Did you tell L.J about me"? He asked in a low voice as though they were in a room full of people.
"What the hell are you talking about? Tell him what"?
She wasn't playing dumb. She was totally clueless.
"Oh you know how I have an S tattooed on my chest and fly around at night in tights saving the world" Keith said sarcastically rolling his eyes. "What do you mean tell him what? That I am gay".
"No I haven't said anything to anyone" Sawyer told her neurotic baby brother.
She wasn't lying. She hadn't told him but that still didn't make him feel better.
But that still didn't answer how L.J had found out. He knew and Keith was in a frenzy. He was panicked and sweating a little bit. To be honest Sawyer had never seen her him like this and she enjoying it. It
certainly made up for waking her up.
"Ok well he knows. Do you think he overheard us" Keith said pacing through her rather large room.
"Every room in this house is sound proofed I doubt it. I don't know how he found out but he didn't find out from me. Trust me I am dying not having someone to talk to about this… I mean I already have my first Facebook status planned the moment you come out" Sawyer said with a grin That didn't help matters much although it did bring a smile on his sisters face.
"Sawyer what if he tells dad? Or mom? Or anyone for that matter? This could get out"!
"Ok first of all you do realize that this isn't exactly a secret you can hide for the rest of your life right? I mean unless you plan to be a gay version of George Clooney" Sawyer said but looked at her brother who wasn't exactly smiling. "Ok look its L.J he won't tell anyone. Just relax. You need to talk to him he is your brother and if he was going to tell anyone else he would have told them instead of you. Ok? Now I'm going back to bed goodnight Marco Del Rossi".
Somehow he wasn't sure how Sawyer had helped which was unusual she usually just made the situation worse than it already was which had Keith questioning why he came to her in the first place. But she was right.
"If there is anyone that you can trust it's your sibling's right? I mean if we can't trust each other who the hell can we trust" Keith said sitting down at the edge of her bed.
"Yeah. You know your right" Sawyer said in a voice that almost sounded sweet which should have warned him it was coming. Two seconds had barley passed when Sawyer jammed her foot into Keith's rib cage knocking him off the bed and she said "Get out of my room I'm going back to bed jackass" in the not so sweet voice.
{Nathan Scott's beachouse, clock shows four thirty two}
Nathan Scott's heart nearly broke as he stood in the door way to his daughter's bedroom when she lay asleep. She looked peaceful. Like the little girl who used to run up and sit in his lap asking him to tell her a story.
But she wasn't anymore. It was hard to think of her as anything else. But she was which is why he took the bucket of ice water and dumped it directly over her head.
Lydia shot up out of her what was warm bed.
"Rise and shine sleeping beauty" Nathan said with a smile.
"Are you insane"? The young girl screamed so loud her father was sure she had just woken the whole neighborhood.
"Most likely… now c'mon move your burning daylight".
He received a look from his daughter that he had received from Hayley too many times to count but mostly when he did something stupid which granted this wasn't the best way to wake his child up.
"Are you kidding me? The sun isn't even up yet" Lydia said her chaw jattering.
"Welcome to camp Scott you have thirty minutes to shower and get ready… although you could probably skip the shower after that rinse... let's move" Nathan said clapping his hands loudly as he left for effect, he seen it on the movies. Not sure it was motivational at all but it was loud and sounded like hell.
The only response Lydia had was "I'm in hell" and for the first time she actually missed her mother.
{Scene Jenny, Sawyer, and Lily's apartment, Lily is drinking a cup of coffee, enter Jenny.}
Jenny had never felt so tired in all her life. She had never felt so tired when she did next to nothing to be tired for. She just felt exhausted but she had just worked 12 straight hours at Tric.
"Whoa. Rough night" Lily asked as she poured her second cup of coffee.
"Depends on your definition of rough night I had a total of five customers two of which passed out and I had to basically carry out to the cab by the way they showed up drunk I didn't give them anything. Then one of which stayed my entire shift ordering the same drink continually throughout the night as he danced to songs out of the jukebox. By the way remind me to tell your sister in law that thing is due for a serious update. All night I listened to One Direction, The hooters, Glass tiger, and that God awful girl singing about Barbie".
"Aqua"?
"Thank you yes".
"Aqua is a band you do know that right" Lily teased her friend who gave her the worst 'I could care less look in the world'. "A drunken guy danced to that"?
"You better believe I filmed every moment of it".
The two girls laughed as Jenny fell on to the couch which for the first time felt like a cloud considering Sawyer had picked it up from a place called Studs and Spikes.
Jenny laid there starring at the wall and unfortunately her eyes fell on a picture hanging on the wall. It was a picture of Lydia, Sawyer, Lily, and Jamie at what looked to be one of Jamie's NBA games. All four
smiling, well Lydia was posing and Sawyer was acting as though she was dying by choking herself, and Lily laughing. But Jamie was certainly smiling.
God his smile was perfect. He was perfect.
It didn't make sense to Jenny. She had boyfriends in the past many of which she simply got over without thinking about it. But Jamie, he wasn't even her boyfriend but she found herself constantly thinking about him. She was constantly wondering what could have happened.
But there wasn't a point. Not even a little one.
There would be no future between them. He had a family.
Lily had caught Jenny's stare at the picture of Jamie hanging on the wall. Lily only wished that there was something she could say or do but she couldn't. Jamie wasn't the heart breaking kind and Jenny certainly wasn't the kind to have her heart broken but still yet this is where the two had found themselves.
Before Lily could ask any questions Jenny threw one at her instead "what are you reading" referring to the papers in her hands because she simply couldn't handle being asked the same question all over again?
"Well the principle of the school had a heart attack so I have to fill in and we are need of a school counselor so I am looking through resumes" Lily answered instead of proceeding with her question when Jenny had made it plain obvious it was not up for discussion just yet.
"What about Nathan?" Jenny asked sitting up only to see a puzzled Lily "not Scott. Taylor what about Nathan Taylor I mean doesn't he have some big degree in this? I talked to Brooke today... or last night and he is filling in at the jail as the in jail therapist… but its only temporary you should call him. He has been looking for work for a while… I wouldn't call him right now its five in the morning but I would call him. They say his good".
Lily hadn't even considered Nathan. She hadn't even thought of him and she couldn't believe that she hadn't.
It was only a moment after Jenny had lain back down and could feel herself drifting off asleep that there was a light knock at the door. Before she could scream it was her roommate that had responded "who in the hell is here this early in the morning. They obviously don't know who lives here. If Sawyer was here it would be another 'I saw the Devil' moment".
It should have been meant as a joke but it wasn't. Not even close. Sawyer wasn't exactly the sweet and gentle kind. If she saw a puppy she had a better chance of kicking it then playing fetch.
Jenny forced herself to get up off the couch and walked to the door and slowly opened it.
"Dad"? Jenny asked as she saw her father Jake standing before her for the first time in months.
{Outside of Tree Hill high school, Breyton is getting something out of her trunk}
The Baker siblings might have rode to school together but once they arrived it didn't take long for them to spread out. In fact from the time Breyton had parked her brand new Bentley Icar and retrieved her cheerleading duffel out of the trunk both of her brothers had disappeared from her sight. It wasn't surprising.
Davis had to help in the tutoring lab and Jude had morning basketball practice.
Breyton made her way into the nearly empty school and was on her way to the smaller gym at the opposite end when she saw something kind of odd. Lydia Scott passed out on a bench.
"Lydia honey are you ok" Breyton asked lightly gently shaking her shoulder.
For the second time in one morning when Lydia was in her definition a perfect sleep she had been woken up.
"No I'm not" Lydia snapped at Breyton sitting up looking as though she was stoned and Breyton wouldn't exactly put it past her. "My dad has flown over the cookies nest".
"You mean coo coos nest"? Breyton asked standing up straight only to receive an eye roll from the moody Scott as she said "whatever. It's
the same damn thing. He wake me up at four thirty this morning to go out for a run. Most parents make you clean but no my father wants to do finesses".
"Why did he do that"?
"It's his way of punishing me for partying and all that" Lydia moaned sitting back and turned to Breyton asking "what are your groundings like"?
"I've never been grounded but you can ask Jude he is king of the groundings in my house" Breyton said smiling sweetly.
Lydia scoffed at the girl standing in front of her. Breyton should have known she couldn't have a normal conversation with Lydia. It was un-human or at least recently anyways.
"I forgot you are one of those goody two shoes" Lydia said "I mean for God sakes you dress like Blair Waldorf or worse a grandmother from the eighties".
Breyton glanced down at her plaid dress, stockings and high heels. It was how she had always dressed. It was who she was. But Lydia had hurt her feelings saying the things that she did.
For the first time Breyton was offended by something that someone said to her, she always was able to keep her head up and not care but this was Lydia and what she said hurt somehow.
Lydia and Breyton used to be the best of friends. They had slumber parties and went shopping together. Lydia was even the one who threw Breyton's surprise 16th birthday party but that wasn't the case anymore. In fact the two hadn't really spoken since Breyton had to kick Lydia off the cheerleading team. "You see Lydia that is one of your problems when someone is trying to be nice to you… you don't have to be mean back" Breyton said her voice so low that Lydia could sense the hurt.
Lydia didn't care if she hurt Breyton but Breyton did but she cared more about Lydia than her feelings because this wasn't the person she used to know.
"Last I checked your friends list is low and I think you forget that I used to be at the top of that list. Leah was the only person that could tolerate you but you blew that. Like for instance you was a great cheerleader and you could still be one if you got your grades up but instead of studying on week nights you chose to party Lydia you are meant for greatness but you aren't going to achieve it this way" Breyton said before storming away.
{Outside of Lucas and Peyton's home. Keith is waiting by his car}
Keith felt like he had been waiting forever. He knew that they were going to be late for basketball practice which meant he would get an earful from his own dad which sounded as much fun as jumping into a pond filled with poisonous snakes.
Finally L.J walked out the front door to find his older brother waiting by his car. Neither looked to thrilled to thrilled.
"You want a ride" Keith asked as though there wasn't tension in the air enough to fill up the grand canyon.
"I was actually going to ride with Jude" L.J told him.
"Well he left with Breyton about twenty minutes ago" Keith said.
It was fairly obvious to Keith that his little brother was disappointed but he really didn't have any other options at this point.
"Why not" L.J said those damned little words as they both walked towards Keith's car.
It was a quite drive for the first few minutes. Neither of the Scott brothers knew what to say well that's not entirely true they both knew what they wanted to say but it was saying it was the problem.
Keith had never felt nervous around his brother before and L.J didn't know how to feel.
It was as if Keith was no longer his brother but someone else entirely.
"Look L.J" Keith said gathering up the courage to at least speak but it stopped there. He wasn't prepared for anything past his brother's name.
"Before you say anything I saw you… last night that's how I know. I saw you and the nurse. Jude and I were on our way back from the river court Jude got Catalano a snack since she had been at the hospital all day so I was walking around outside and… I saw you".
Keith nodded. But that made his head immediately shot up had anyone else seen him? Jude was with L.J and the baby Scott picked up on his brother's worries without him having to say anything at all.
"Besides the three of us the parking lot was empty" L.J said"I had walked around it five times to count so don't worry about that. Jude was still inside".
Keith just nodded his head. There was nothing more he could say. There was nothing left to say.
"You're not denying it" L.J asked Keith. "You aren't going to say that I'm mistaken that it wasn't you… nothing"?
"I can't lie to you L.J you're my brother. You saw me, that was me and my … boyfriend Kole".
L.J just nodded his head as Keith parked his car at the school before he finally asked "so then you're gay"?
"Yeah…I'm gay" Keith answered him.
"So who knows"?
"Besides you… well obviously Kole and Sawyer".
Now L.J was damn near furious.
"You told Sawyer before you told me? We are brothers"! L.J asked in a loud voice,
"Oh c'mon what was I supposed to do? She was dying I thought she was about to go to hell I was trying to ease the transition" Keith said.
Both of them laughed as they sat in the car.
"I won't tell anyone if that's what you are worried about… your secret is safe with me… I promise" L.J said and Keith knew it was.
Someone knew. His brother knew and it felt good. It felt
great. Someone knew and someone accepted him… or so Keith thought.
{Scene Principals office, Lily is reading through papers}
When Lily moved to Tree Hill it was for her mother, Karen's health hadn't been the best lately and that was why she was here. Of course everywhere you go you need a job and she had loved to teach. But being principle wasn't exactly in her plans even if she was just filling in.
She taught five classes a day and now on top of it was running a school.
Lily would gladly trade places with Jenny who got to pour drinks and watch drunk men go wild to crazy one hit wonders.
"Come in" Lily answered to the knock on the door not really wanting to see anyone before school began but was somewhat relived when she saw Nathan Taylor standing in the door way. "Hey" she said smiling.
Something was off with him. He looked sick or something, he was shaking.
"Nathan are you ok"?
"M…. M.m.. Miss…. Scott… yo… you wanted to… see…m…me." He stuttered looking at her wide eyed.
Lily couldn't help but laugh even with all that she had in her hands at the moment.
"Ha-ha very funny. You're hilarious" Lily said hitting him with a folder. "How would you like a job here at the school as the counselor"?
His joke ended and his eyes lit up quickly.
"Whoa really? Are you being serious right now? I can't tell" Nathan said sitting down in the chair across from her.
"I am being beyond serious right now but I know that you work for the police office… so if you want to stay there that is fine too just thought I would check in with you".
"You do realize I get paid fifteen thousand dollars a year there right? Not exactly livable pay… I am living with my parents for God sakes. I will take it… so when do I start" Nathan said eagerly.
{Scene Jenny, Lily, and Sawyer apartment. Jenny and Jake are sitting at the counter}.
Jenny didn't know what to say to her father but he had plenty to say to her. They hadn't seen each other in what felt like the longest time.
"I can't believe that you moved to Tree Hill? And I have to find out from your mother of all people… you didn't even call me after the shooting" Jake said to Jenny. He wasn't mad at her but he wasn't happy either.
Jenny had been living with her father after the 'event'. She didn't exactly live the high life for anyone her age but after it happened everything in her life got worse. She got fired and evicted and it all changed. Everything changed.
"Dad I didn't want you to worry about me because as you can see I am perfectly fine. More than fine and everyone here has been great. Since the café hasn't been reopened which is where I initially worked Lucas lined me up a job at Tric."
Jake wasn't surprised she had met the group that he once knew in high school but it still didn't stop him from worrying. The moment he returned home and Jenny was gone he had went into a frenzy trying to find her. When they spoke on the phone she never said anything about leaving and he never assumed that she would go to Tree Hill of all places.
"I understand that you are ok but you should have called me. I am your father".
"If things were bad I would have but as you can see they aren't. You were half way across the globe I couldn't just call you and demand for you to come get me just because I ran into a little confrontation if I did that you'd be coming to my aid seven days of the week".
"But Jenny- " Jake protested but was quickly caught off by his persistent daughter "Dad I'm fine. Ok. No need to worry and by the way you were right about Tree Hill it really is a one of kind place isn't it by the way I got to meet to the legendary Peyton little tip in case you happen to come across her she is no longer the rock and roll child you once loved".
It was obvious she had changed the topic on purpose and he had no choice but to go along with her.
"Oh yeah"?
"Think… Donna Stone meets Emily Gilmore".
{Scene Peyton Scott is standing on an unknown porch}.
Peyton couldn't leave things alone. She obsessed something her husband and children often teased her about but either way she knew what she had to do. She knocked on the door one more time because a car was sitting in the garage and the television was blaring it was way too obvious that someone was home just refusing to answer the door.
Finally the door opened revealing Tiffany who seen Peyton and quickly tried to shut the door but Peyton stopped it with her hand and said "wait. I just want to talk. I promise.. in fact we need to talk".
"What my son did is bad but you can't stalk Mrs. Scott I didn't make his decisions for him" the fragile woman said.
"Stalk you? No" Peyton said before thinking about the six phone calls she made last night and ten email. "Ok well sort of but I wanted to thank you… Tony saved my nephews life and he is the one that let my daughter go. She would have bled to death it had not been for your son's act of bravery".
One mother to another Peyton knew that's what she needed to hear but it didn't look like that's what she wanted to hear. Peyton didn't understand.
"Bravery"? Tiffany said as though the word tasted like vinegar. "My son died a murder in this town. The town he grew up in where he went to school, took his first steps he rode his first bike on that sidewalk behind you… he used to go to Karen's café every Friday night with some of his friends after he played basketball at the river court and now every time his name hits the tongues of those who once knew him he will only be known as another sick bastard like your father so please Mrs. Scott just leave me the alone".
Now Peyton was determined to help her and she was just going to forget the fact that she was just referred to as the daughterof Dan Scott.
Jude Baker drowned out the sound of Lily Scott's voice as she continued to teach her freshman English class and his mind landed on one thing or more specifically one person. Catalano Adams. It was hard these days to not think about her. She wasn't like most girls he knew all of which seemed resemble Lydia Scott.
Catalano was extremely shy and awkward when you first met her she was reserved, quiet, private, contained, introvert. It wasn't until you got past that, that you really knew who she was. Catalano was energetic and inspiring and talented and she was full of life. But most of all she was strong and made him want to get up every day just to see her.
It was true that Jude always seemed too infatuated with the cheerleading type but now he found himself thinking about this girl who wore only skinny jeans not because she loved them that much but because she was too thin to fit into anything else. The girl who always wore her hair down covering her beautiful face that had never seen had a smidge of makeup touch it, thank God. The girl who curled her bottom lip when she concentrated or played with a strand of hair when she was nervous. The only girl that made Jude stare at his phone through class waiting for a text and get beyond excited when he seen her name light up.
Jude was maybe too eager to see what she wrote even when they weren't writing about anything serious at all.
- You obviously don't know good music Duran Duran is without a doubt the best band from the 80s.
Jude read the text a million times and each time it made him smile a little more.
-Your wrong. Metallica is the reason the eighties will forever be legendary.
Brooke Davis-Baker had been bouncing around and cleaning ever since she rolled out of bed that morning there was denying that she happy you might even want to use the word ecstatic. Jude was coming home. Her family was going to be put back together or at least that was what she hoped for.
The previous night she gave her husband an ultimatum which wasn't something she ever considered doing. But she the outcome was still scary. When he didn't come to bed and she hadn't spoken to him since it worried her that he didn't chose his family but when she seen him sitting in his study flipping through a book she smiled.
Whatever happened it happened but Julian loved his family.
Brooke leaned into her husband's study and was shocked to find a tear rolling down his face. Not a tear of anger or a tear of resentment not even of sadness but a tear of regret. It was all over his face. However Brooke wasn't too sure that the tear was meant for Jude, in fact she knew it wasn't.
"Julian honey…. Are you ok" Brooke ask out loud shocking Julian who didn't know that his wife had been standing behind him.
"No not really" Julian answered but before his wife could pry any more he turned and asked her "Jude is coming home today right"?
"Yeah I am going to get his things later. What's that your reading" Brooke asked.
Julian knew Brooke she was a determined woman and didn't give up until she got what she wanted to get but again Julian avoided her question by asking one himself "I have been hard on him huh"?
"Yes! Extremely harsh" Brooke said not even trying to spare his feelings even a little bit. "What I don't understand is why? Why you would act that way towards your son. Jude dud something wrong… its unthinkable that someone would do that to their siblings unless you grew up around the Scott brothers but still Julian this has been totally un you like. I have never seen you act so… barbaric".
"Yeah well I don't support bullying" Julian stated as it was as simple as that.
Brooke didn't buy a word of what he was saying and he knew that she wasn't. Julian watched his wife run her fingers through her long hair before turning to him and saying "I understand that its hard being a parent to a child who is the bully and a child who is the victim that has been just as hard on me but the things you said to him Julian wasn't you it couldn't have been. That's not the man that I married".
"I guess it just really got to me "Julian shrugged standing up making it a point he wasn't ready to fight about this.
"But why? I have to know why? How could it get to you that much that our son was as you put it so nicely dead to you" Brooke snapped the harsh words that he had spoken to his son at the hospital.
"Brooke I have to go… we are holding auditions today for my movie I will see you when I get home tonight ok baby". Julian said kissing her cheek and walking out.
At least Brooke knew one thing. Her husband was coming home. Her family would be one whole again or for the most part. At least her family would all be under one roof. But that really just brought all their problems to life. The problems that they couldn't run away from which she wasn't sure if she was ready for or not.
But she was ready for her son to come home. This wasn't right.
Brooke's mind got to wondering and it wondered to far because she found herself snooping through the book that was in Julian's hand only moments before.
It was just a year book. Nothing special. Or was it?
Brooke found herself looking at a picture of Julian she had never seen.
Every time she had looked at a picture of Julian when he was in high school he wasn't exactly wearing a letterman jacket like in the picture in front of her. In fact it was a side of Julian that she had never seen. A group of football players had him raised above on their shoulders with Julian, arms raised in enthusiasm.
Brooke was now lost. She always compared him to Davis, the two were alike but now was he more like Jude?
{Scene lawyer's office Haley is sitting across from Joseph}
Haley wasn't sure this was the right thing to do but she knew at this point it might be the only thing that she can do. She was angry. She was angry at Nathan. He wasn't going to take their daughter after all that he had done.
"So this is everything. Correct" Joseph asked Haley glancing over the notes that he had taken as his client had spoken.
"Yes" Haley answered her jaw trembling it was the first time that she had told anyone. "He just took her. Can he do that? Can he just walk into my house and take my two kids from me"?
Joseph paused and Haley wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad one.
"Yes and no." He finally replied. "Because the legal matters of the children have not been discussed in court yet he still has as much legal right as you do but because the divorce has been filed you legally are granted custody and because he has done this without your permission we are able to probably gain full custody".
"What about the partying? I mean she went to jail my fifteen year old daughter went to jail."
" I think I can safely say that won't be an issue" Joseph told Haley who was obviously confused by what he had said. "We turn the tables and with everything that you have told me that seems pretty easily done at this point. All I have on this is the truth right? Everything right?
"Yes".
"Hayley I understand how hard it is for you to come clean about the divorce but what you have to understand now is… I have dealt with messy divorces but your and Nathans was fairly easily until you walked into my office about twenty minutes ago. This isn't going to be easy anymore. It's not going to be a simple mediation like we discussed… you're going to fight to keep your teeth now. Understood? Which means when we walk into that court room on Monday morning… you show no emotions understood? You sit there and talk only when spoken too and only if you have to".
Haley nodded as if she was ok when really she was ready to fall apart at any given minuet but she knew that it couldn't be here. Her heart broke as she left, it shattered. Who would have thought her life could come to this?
Jake had left his daughter alone for the day so that she could rest knowing that she worked nights. He found himself wandering around the town it was easy for him to notice what had changed and what had stayed the same. After all this time he had spent away from Tree Hill it was wild to think it was truly the only true place he would ever call home.
The first place he stepped into was a place he used to love. Tric. It didn't get any better. But still yet the sight he saw made him want to just die laughing. Lucas Scott bartending of all people or better words stacking shot glasses in the shape of great sphinx of giza.
"Of all people they have to maintain the bar a monkey… a blind monkey with no hands could have done it better" Jake said as he approached the bar.
Lucas snapped his head around shocked.
"Jake" he asked not sure if he was seeing correctly but truth be told he was and ucas' enthusaim kicked in as he walked around the bar pulling Jake in for a 'man hug' as the two would call it. "You son of a bitch what are you doing here"?
"I just heard about Karens café incident" Jake admitted.
"Yeah that's kind of why I am here Chase and Mia owns the place but Chase is a coma and Mia won't leave his side until he wakes up. Jenny works nights and I work days until Sawyer gets better… not that anyone comes anymore… you just heard about it where the hell where you at? It was on every news channel across the U.S" Lucas asked somewhat shocked.
"I was in Africa actually and my daughter didn't call me… I didn't even know she had moved out here I got back home"
"What the hell where you doing in Africa"?
"I am architecture".
That was unexpected. Lucas could picture Jake as many things but an architect? It didn't roll of the tongue. But then again he knew the wild, crazy, and motorcycle driving father of a baby Jake. Over the course of twenty five years Lucas assumed that he changed a bit.
"Oh that's neat… do you like it"? Lucas asked the only question that came to his mind and it sounded a little like a cliché after he asked.
"Yeah. Oh yeah. I get to travel the world and design things of all shapes and sizes. Experience different things Jenny used to love it when she was little".
"That is neat Peyton and I did a little traveling when the kids were young… hey do Architectures like alcohol because it's all I got to offer you" Lucas asked with a smile on his face.
"Yes we love it bourbon please the oldest you got. Tree Hill hasn't changed much at all except its residents seemed get a few wrinkles and some grey hair… did you gain weight"?
"Oh yeah that's cute make fun of the man who can poison your drink".
"Yeah so what do you do now"?
"Same still writing books but I reopened my uncles car shop that's my normal day job it's not the same though anymore cars aren't the same. Everything is electronic I always pictured teaching my kids how Keith taught me but… it's just different when even a screw driver is electronic".
"Tell me about it… hey you won't believe who I ran into a few years back in India"
"Who"?
"Felix".
That was a conversation from hell.
"As in"? Lucas asked and Jake nodded as he replied "the one and only I built a hotel for him. He owns ten global. By the way he is still a pain in the ass.
"And Nikki"?
"Oh yeah she is still a pain in the ass too. Speaking of a pain in the ass how's the wife"?
Lucas laughed as he handed Jake his drink.
"Don't let her here you say that she will rip your heart right out but she is good… well right now she is driving my daughter crazy and trying to help a woman that doesn't want to be helped".
{Peyton driving on the phone}
One ring, then two, and three before finally Peyton heard Nathan Taylor's voice "Hello"?
"Nathan it's Peyton" the blond said applying lipstick, she was a talented driver.
"I know… caller I.D what can I help you with"?
"I just had a question and I know that you have been talking with those two boys. Tony was from around here right? What about them"?
"That's confidential Mrs. Scott".
Second time she had been called Mrs. Scott in one day and been referred to as Dan Scott's daughter she wasn't really in the mood to play games. The best part about being older you became wiser and used things for your own personal benefit.
"A lot of things are confidential Nathan like your mom and me walking in on a certain teenaged boy who ended up in the hospital after pleasuring himself with a vacuum cleaner now… how about you tell me what you know or every girl you ever bring home will hear that story" Peyton snapped at him.
It was only a minuet before Nathan let out a deep breath and said "no the two older boys were from different states but yeah Tony was from around here"
"His record? Did he do anything bad before this"?
No. Nothing. Not even in school"
"I think I know why he did it Nathan. His mom has cancer and she has to have surgery he needed money. She has tried to get loans and everything… if she doesn't get this treatment she will die… I have talked to some of his friends… he went to church… he was a good guy. It didn't make any sense until now I just needed some proof that my theory was right"
"If you need anything… at all… call me".
"Well, one more thing... if you are interested".
Jude hadn't been able to tear his eyes away from his phone all day. He couldn't stop texting her. He couldn't stop thinking about her. Then it occurred to him… he was acting like a thirteen year old Twi-hard fan.
It wasn't until his brother walked up beside him that made him realize that there was still life on the outside of his little bubble.
"Who is so important that you haven't taken your head out of your phone all day" Davis asked leaning over his brother's shoulder who gently shoved him away as he put his phone in his back pocket answering "not that it is any of your business but Catalano".
"Adams? Why are you talking to her? Better yet why the hell is she talking to you?" Davis asked tilting his head as the two Baker's approached their lockers.
Davis was shocked and Jude didn't know how he quite felt about that just yet as he turned to his brother and said "your lack of confidence in me is disincentive".
"You two like… a thing" Davis asked.
Davis was more interested in Jude's love life suddenly than either of the two cared much for but he was interested.
"No we just talk" Jude answered as he exchanged his books out.
"What do you two talk about"?
If Jude knew his brother a little bit better he would know that his brother was jealous or it just didn't occur to him. I mean he had never seen the two together.
"What are you chatty Cathy today" Jude tried to make a joke out of the situation but his brother was still waiting for an answer "ok fine we just talk about… about stuff. Her dad, our dad…. I mean it just goes from there. Why"?
"I don't know she just doesn't seem like your type" Davis answered honestly.
"I have a type"?
"Yeah blond bimbo's with big boobs".
"Wrong brother… I'm an ass man… trust me it's all about the ass".
"Then she really isn't your type huh"?
Both of the Baker brothers laughed but deep down neither of them knew how the felt about one another checking Catalano out because the truth was both brothers had fallen for the same girl the worst part Davis might have already blew what chance he had with her.
Breyton continued to walk down the hall with her nose buried in her event planner. She was obsessing. It was her thing. She obsessed. She didn't even notice that Keith Scott that had at some point and time joined her until he wily asked "whachya doin"?
Breyton didn't look up from the binder in front of her face just answered "I'm reading".
"Whachya reading" Keith asked again.
"You're like a dog with a bone" Breyton said putting the binder away in her book bag. "We got that masquerade ball coming up that now I have to plan all by myself because your cousin decided to go all Paris Hilton and she was supposed to help me plan it… I have an idea why don't you help me"?
"Balls? Not really my thing Brey" Oh the irony. "Why don't you ask Sawyer?"
He should have known better than to throw his sister she never even attended them when she went to Tree Hill high let alone plan them. The only party she ever planed she ended paying more for the damage than the actual party.
"I did she made some sarcastic reference to Shakespeare, vampires that glow in the sun, and Austin Ames".
Yep that sounded like Sawyer.
"And Lydia is no good" or hasn't been for some time "you know your mother seems to have some experience in this area. I mean she is Brooke Davis".
"Its Mrs. Brooke Penelope Davis-Baker to you" Breyton said pointing her finger at him "you don't think that wasn't my first thought but with all that she has going on right now I don't want to bother her with something like this. She has a new line for Baker man, Jude and dad, Davis getting shot…I think she had enough on her shoulders right now".
She had a good point. The two continued to rack their brains for someone but the only thing Keith could say was "I'm sorry I don't know but I am not exactly planning some big dance that I'm not even going to go to isn't exactly in my to-do list".
"I want you to know that I you officially made it on my jock jerk list" Breyton teased before stopping him in the hall "what do you mean not going"?
"I think the not part explains the going as in I won't be there"?
"You have to or at least take me I can't show up alone. Do you know how that would look? I'm captain of the cheerleading team and dance team, head of the hunter against hunger and concerned students for animal welfare, I am part of the student council, I'm a tutor, I am President of the Tree Hill even Planning society, and on the Tree Hill high Gazette do you know how it would look if I showed up alone".
"Ok" Keith said placing his hands on both of her shoulders "you got to get out more".
"Think you could get your mom to get me a band"?
"Now that is something I can help with".
Keith wrapped his arms around Breyton and the two continued to walk down the hall not exactly stress free.
{Scene Hayley walks into Tric where Jenny is working while talking to her dad}
Haley had officially hit rock bottom. She was in her early forties and getting divorced, her husband took her kids the only thing that made her want to get up in the morning, her son had just got out of the hospital and was back with his conniving bitch and she had to be ok with it, and everyone blamed her for it all.
So she found herself walking into empty tric during Lunch where she saw Lucas standing behind the bar as she sat down which couldn't be safe.
"I assume you aren't here to talk to your oldest and best friend" he asked as Jenny walked up behind him saying "if she is here to see anyone its me considering you can't make a drink to save your life so what can I get you Mrs. Scott"?
"The strongest drink you got back there on the rocks" Haley answered and she proceeded to watch the two act like children fighting over who got to make the drink.
It was actually the most entertainment she had in a while but never brought a smile on her face but she wanted to smile when she suddenly had two drinks sitting in front of her.
"Haley James Scott" she heard a male voice coming up behind her.
There was that damn name again. Scott. Whoever it was about to get an ear full but she turned around and found her mouth hanging wide open as she looked at a certain Jagielski that she used to know. Now she was smiling.
"Jake" Haley wasn't sure why she had to say his name it was an old habit when she ran into those she used to know but it was obvious he was still the same.
The two hugged and Haley still couldn't help but correct him "Actually it's… it's just Haley James now… or almost is anyways".
"Oh my God what happened?" Jake asked his mouth now hanging as wide as Haley's. "Out of everyone I pictured to make it… you two were on my top list but then again so were Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough.
Haley answered "it's a long story" to which Jake replied "you know…I got a lot of time… I think I am going to be sticking around for a while as long as Tree Hill wants me."
Even with the topic of her divorce up, the most bitter and unwanted conversation Haley still found herself smiling. He definitely met the criteria of tall, dark, and handsome. He had barley aged at all.
Haley bit on her bottom lip for a minuet debating but turned to face him and asked "do you want the censored version or live and uncut"?
A joke she made a joke about it and he teased right back "I am over the age of seventeen".
"We lied about the divorce… or the reason anyways. I mean yes we were previously having trouble. We fought constantly but that wasn't what pushed us over the edge. We had problems previously I mean for God sake a woman claimed she was pregnant by Nathan and we made it through that but this… this was different and now…I won't lie anymore."
Alex Keller had never truly had her heart broken until she seen Mia sitting in the same spot that she had been for three and a half weeks. It didn't take anyone too smart to figure out just how much Mia loved Chase. Or how much she missed him and how different her life was without him.
Alex sat the duffel bag full of clothes that she brought in the corner as she quietly asked "how is he doing" as if Chase was just taking a nap and she didn't want to wake him.
"Still no change" Mia answered her voice somewhat dark and cold.
"What about the test results have the come in yet"?
Mia slowly nodded as she looked at her husband Alex couldn't imagine going through what she is going through and she knew if it broke her heart to watch Mia's heart must be shattered. Mia looked at Alex the one person who she never expected to be there for her, ever but she is the one person who had been there for her the most.
Mia had tears in her eyes as she said "so far nothing explains why he is still in a coma he has another c.t scan on Monday morning his shot wounds have basically healed" her voice was weak it became faily obvious that she hadn't ate but before Alex had the chance to saying anything Mia quickly noticed she was alone and asked "where is Catalano"?
"She went with Chris to grab lunch but she should be here soon" Alex said sitting down by Mia "she is doing better though. I mean it's hard on her she has trouble sleeping at night so I sometimes just make it a girls night and we stay up watching old movies until she falls asleep then Chris carries her to bed".
"Alex you have done so much for me I don't know how I could thank you".
"I don't think I've done enough…you want some gossip to take your mind off of everything".
"Please"!
Mia seen Alex grinning before she turned completely to face her and said "I think your daughter has her very first crush".
"What? Who? When? How"? Mia asked shaking her head.
" First off he is a who not a what and Jude Baker of all the people in the world. When? The past few days the two have just been talking… ever since they hung out at the river court. Get this yesterday afternoon he showed up at my house with her books and his school is at least a fifteen minute walk from his. They have been texting each other ever since she came down for breakfast".
Alex had found herself rambling on and on as if it were having her very first crush, living vicariously through Catalano but when she seen that Mia didn't exactly look thrilled she came to an immediate halt as Mia sat there starring at the floor.
Alex said something bad that she thought was good.
'Crap' was the only thought running through her head.
"Why hasn't she said anything to me? I'm her mom. We talk about everything." Mia asked.
Oh that's what she did.
"Honey she probably just doesn't want to bother you with stuff like that. When you walk through those sliding doors it suddenly becomes about life and death not a guy that makes you weak in the knees."
"Yeah but I am her mother… I can't believe she hasn't told me".
Only Alex Dupree, Alex Keller, or even Alice Whitehead can try to make someone feel better but make them feel worse than before. The two girls sat starring at Chase for a solid twenty minutes. It was quite and it smelled like hospital which neither of which liked at all.
"Hey Mia…can I ask you a personal question"? Alex asked turning to her.
"Sure anything".
Although both was worried if this would send Mia off the deep end considering Alex hadn't been the best therapy on this particular day.
"Did you and Chase ever have marriage issues"?
What kind of question was that? "Of course" Mia replied "I mean Alex that's inevitable when you're married at some point and time you will have problems".
"I mean the kind that could lead to divorce"?
"Yeah" Mia told her.
Alex didn't want anyone to know but for some reason she felt comfortable talking to Mia about at.
"The reason I ask is… ever since I came home it's not been the same with Chris. I mean we love each other and we both love Christopher that's all great but it's like something is off. It's not that we fight and it's not that we do either. I don't know how to explain it. We talk but when we do it is as if our words are empty we only talk about what needs to be talked about. We joke and carry on with one another but still yet I feel as though it has to be forced".
Alex was in tears for the second time in one day.
"Alex you have to remember something. For years Chris chased and chased you now he is just supposed to believe that you are here and here to stay" Alex should have known or maybe she had just been too busy with all that came with her hectic life "I had a similar yet different situation with Chase about four years ago I think… we began fighting… at first it was over the littlest things that had no meaning whatsoever like that he forgot to put the toilet seat down or that I left the cap off the toothpaste things to that nature. It wasn't what we was fighting about at all… kind of like what happened with Hayley and Nathan. At the end of the day they loved each other and probably always will but they let their marriage be destroyed over what they weren't saying and they let themselves believe that they were no longer in love because anger and hate sometimes is easier to deal with. We picked fights over nothing. In reality it was just a hard time for us the record label was having trouble and Chase had just been nominated to run for Sheriff we was stressed and hardly spent any time together and when we did we fighting over things that didn't matter. Everyone warns you about the seven year itch they don't tell you anything about the elven year battle. You are coming to a close with your first decade together it is tough to make it through something like that".
Mia reflected on it. Ever since she walked through those doors waiting for her husband to be ok the only thoughts she had were good not the bad but sometimes the bad were just as important.
"What did you do" Alex asked.
"Well I quote unquote accidentally left our phones at home, Catalano was with his parents, and we went to this hotel. We went in and I locked the door behind me then I turned to him and said… we aren't leaving until we figure this out and we spent five days fighting, crying, bitching, and everything in between. When we left we were exhausted and pregnant with Cadell".
Because the bad sometimes end with the good.
{Scene outside of hospital Chris and Catalano are walking in}.
Catalano couldn't count how many times that she had been to the hospital in the past few weeks but for the first time she was happy to be going. No she wasn't thrilled to see her father lying in a hospital bed she was thrilled to see someone else.
Chris Keller looked down at the young girl who hadn't been separated from her phone for five minutes that day before she quietly asked him "do you mind telling my mom I will be up there in a minuet I think I am going to eat my food in the garden if that's ok".
He nodded it was obvious that it was unusual besides being on her phone seeing her mom was her second favorite part of the day.
Chris continued to watch the young girl slowly walk over to the large garden and wasn't too surprised when he seen Jude Baker waiting for her and continued to walk into the hospital.
Catalano sat down next to Jude on the bench and began tearing into her take out as he smiled and asked "how was your day"?
She wished she had a story to tell him. Something funny or something that would entertain him that she did but she didn't instead she could only reply "the same as it always is… dad has no change. They can't figure out why he hasn't woken up yet".
"It will be ok" Jude assured her.
"How do you know that"? Catalano asked.
Jude wasn't prepared for a follow up question. "Because… it has to" he said.
"Oh wise one with all the answers" Catalano teased him.
"That's actually the name on birth certificate I just go by Jude it seems more… normal".
Catalano laughed, her laugh made him smile and his smile made her smile.
"There is nothing remotely normal about your name"!
"I will have you know that my name means praise… in fact Judas was one of Jesus' twelve apostles".
He obviously didn't attend church regularly like she did growing up and it became a known fact when she snapped back with "isn't he the one that betray Jesus? He was the Bibles version of Benedict Arnold probably why your name means Praise. Dear Lord I pray that Jude Baker doesn't go all Hedi and Spencer on me".
"The Hills" Jude asked shocking her that he even knew who she was referring to but then again she remembered the house he grew up in. "Pulling out the big guns I see"?
"You do what you go to do in this life to make it" Catalano smiled
Even past the smile that no one else ever got to see he could still see the broken girl who was worried about her father. She was worried about losing him and he knew it. She wanted to cry and scream and beg God to bring him back.
She didn't just want that she needed that.
"Just so you know" Jude said looking at her "your dad is strong otherwise he wouldn't have made it this far. I'm not saying that to scare you I am saying that because it's true. He isn't brain dead which means he is fighting, fighting from the inside because he has so much to fight for your dad isn't ready to give what he has up. He has your mom and Cadell and you… I know that… if I was in coma and I had you as motivation there is no way I couldn't make it".
"Just so you know… things with your dad… they will get better. Every storm has to run out rain at some point".
"I will overlook the fact that you just quoted Gary Allan and steal one of your fry's".
It had been a long day. Extremely long day but luckily Jenny got off work just a little early which made her happy what didn't make her happy was coming home to a house full of people in her apartment.
Nathan Taylor, Lily, Logan, and Sawyer all sat in the living room talking.
"When did you break out of Jail" Jenny teased Sawyer sitting down on the sofa next to Nathan.
"Logan here broke me out about an hour ago" she grinned ear to ear.
"Remind me to thank you later Logan" Jenny said looking at him.
"Which means if your tires are slashed she did it" Lily translated with a laugh. "And Jenny how was your day"?
"Looks tough… hard to fill my shoes isn't it"? Sawyer said with a smile.
"Only because you have big clown feet" Nathan said earning a few middle fingers.
"It was… interesting… guess who my dad has a date with on Monday"?
"Who"?
"Haley James… weird right"?
"She is already moving on… that is a little fast".
"Ok what I am about to tell you is to be kept secret meaning it doesn't leave this room understood"?
"Yeah".
Jenny looked at everyone before she finally let out a breath "turns out Nathan and Haley lied about their divorce. It wasn't that they couldn't fix their marriage problems… not irreconcilable differences… try infidelity… Nathan had an affair".
Eleanor Roosevelt once said "One's Philosophy is not best expressed in words
Jamie was happy for the first time in a long time he was happy as he laid in bed. He continued to stare at the ceiling with his wife laying in his arms. It had to be a dream.
"I love you" Madison said looking up at him with a smile on her face.
"I love you".
It was in that moment that he knew it wasn't a dream and in that moment he knew it was nightmare as his thoughts slowly drifted to Jenny someone who hadn't betray him and who hadn't hurt him. Someone who could have loved him.
It is expressed in the choices that we make.
Lydia Scott smiled as she walked into the party no way her father was keeping her held up captive on a Friday night.
"You made it" Julie asked walking up to her.
"My dad thinks he can hold me down" she said with a smile.
It wasn't long before she made a choice under the influence that would flip her world upside down.
And the choices we make are our responsibility"
Breyton walked into the Scott's house calling for her aunt Peyton until she found her in none other than the kitchen which if you had read the ravens wouldn't expect but if you knew her like Breyton did it would have been the first place you looked.
"Breyton" Peyton said with a smile and hugged her God daughter.
"Can I ask you for help"?
"Of course".
"My mom or my dad… they can't know".
"Ok"?
"I want to find my birthparents and I need your help".
Eleanor was right. Every choice we make can ultimately define who we are seen as,
For the first time Jude walked into his house again and his heart sunk.
It was the place he called home as far back as he could recall. Or ever since their father bought their mothers old house, the one she grew up in and it was home until Brooke burnt it down cooking so he had to buy this one.
"Hey" Davis said walking up this his brother.
But Jude couldn't tear his eyes away from his father who simply went into his study shutting the door.
Our choices can shape out our life in ways that can affect everyone around us.
Nathan continued to bang on the door of what once was his home. He knew Haley was there it was late and her car was parked out front. Finally the door opened revealing his exwife in a robe and even having just been woken up looked as beautiful as ever but Nathan was angry. He was angry and he was angry at her.
"Where the hell is Lydia"? he yelled at her.
"I don't know she isn't here" Haley said.
Then it hit her and now she was mad too.
"What is she not in her room? On a Friday night? Well I will damned I can't believe you lost our daughter was you not paying attention to her? You must be an incompetent parent "Haley scoffed at him "I will see you on Monday… at court don't come to my house again".
Haley turned her back on Nathan but she wouldn't turn her back on her daughter. She quickly dressed and with the help Lucas and Keith found Lydia drunk passed out on a bench.
"I've got it from here" Haley told them "thanks guys".
Haley walked over and felt a tear stroll down her cheek.
"Lydia come on your coming home with me" Haley said.
"No" Lydia said in a slur "I don't want you. I want my family back… and you took that from me"!
"Is that really what you think"? Haley asked.
Actions are what set things into motion
Julian shut his bedroom door behind him to find his wife who had waited up for him sitting in the corner holding something. The year book. The one he had hid for nearly thirty years.
"What's this" Brooke asked standing up.
"It is a year book" Julian stated the obvious.
"I know that but why have I never seen it before and why were you looking at it today… and what does it have to do with our son"?
"I did some things… in high school that… I am not proud of Brooke".
But it is our choice in what we set in motion.
Alex Keller walked into her sons room and sat on the edge of his bed.
"Hey kiddo" she said ruffling the blanket and she could see her husband out of the corner of her eye in the door way.
"Hey mom" he said with a smile.
"You know… I think its time for bed… you… you got school in the morning".
Christopher's head snapped up before he nearly tackled his mother with a hug.
It was hard and she wasn't ready but Alex knew that she had to be.
What we make of our life is our choice.
Nathan Taylor was happy for the first time in a long time. He had a job doing what he loved to do. It was about time too. It was great.
He took his happiness out to the river court. Shot after shot until.
"Nathan"? He heard someone call his name and turned around to come face to face with Tim.
Whatever the problem may be the choice is up to you… even if it's not your decision to make.
Logan and Sawyer both lay utterly exhausted in her bed after five and a half rounds of… tennis? Oh we are all adults five and a half rounds of sex. Amazing toe curling sex and the continued to lay there the only noise in her bedroom was the sound of their ecstatic breathing trying to calm.
"What… what are you thinking about" Logan asked smiling looking at Sawyer.
"Just what you said about… Madison".
"What do you mean"?
"Omigod omigod" Sawyer said shooting out of the bed.
"What"?
"The mother son banquet".
"The what"?
Logan was lost and not just because a completely naked Sawyer was pacing the bedroom that was just a bonus.
"There was this mother son banquet for the NBA players and since Jamie hadn't resigned yet he still attended it was in New York with Haley… right after him and Madison decided to move here so she stayed. It was right when I first started at Tric".
"Baby… just come back to bed".
"No… Nathan was there that night and so was Madison… and you told me that the baby isn't Jamie's. They were together all night I of course didn't think anything of it and when they left I just assumed that she was taking him home… he was really drunk".
"Ok. What the hell does this have anything to do with"?
"Do the math Logan that was six months ago and she is six months pregnant… she left two days after to leave with this Taylor person that doesn't exist and files for divorce…Nathan and Haley aren't far behind and Jenny even said… Jamie isn't the father of Madison's baby… his its older brother".
"Choices are what define us and it is our choices that define not what we are but who we are… or who we could be. The choice… is up to you" Lily Scott read the last of the essay "by Jude Baker".
Ok so if you made it this far your butt is numb in your chair LOL
Anyways I just want to say my sisters name I Hayley and I had been spelling it that way until I realized... not right LOL sorry.
And now for the story I am a huge Naley fan but we watched them together for years I just ant to explore them apart... not saying that they won't find their way back to one another and I'm not saying that they will either. I want to explore them apart and Naley wouldn't just fall out of love I had to do something big. Huge to make them separate. I've had this planed if you didn't catch it they lied about their going through the big D and don't mean Dallas... and Nathan did something awful didn't he?
I am however kind of excited to play around with Jake and Haley.
I am kind of planning for Keith and Breyton to sort of be the best girl and guy friend of this... like Haley and Lucas were.
And of course every drama needs a love triangle but it will be a bit different because this is the sweetest girl in the world with a bad boy and a good boy, brothers.
Don't hate me for it! Its a drama!
Now I normally give out spoilers but instead the three viewers who have stayed with me from the start... I instead want you guys to ask me something you want know... spoilers... that I have to answer xXWishXYouXWereXHereXx, XToXWriteXLoveXOnXHerXArmsX , andlift-me-up.
I have big plans for everything.
Did you like the chapter being this long or do you want it shorter. I just got carried away.
XOXO Taylor.