A/N: Whoa, a WHOLE bunch of new reviews! That's awesome!! I didn't really think I'd get more than one review for each chapter, since my summary pretty much sucked and other people were so set on like future fics with Nathan and Haley's children and everything....but thanks you guys! Thanks SO MUCH! Hope you like this whole chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own any aspects of One Tree Hill, including the characters, the setting, and so forth.
Extended: I also do not own the music or lyrics of the song, "Yesterday Never Tomorrows", by the band, The Stills used in the following chapter.
Summary: After the wedding party, instead of telling Haley about going away in an RV, Lydia and Jim James tell her that Jim is suffering from Liver Disease. Haley is devastated and is faced to deal with this reality, but more drama comes as Jim reveals a hidden secret about his life in the last few months of his life that is common in Tree Hill. He has another daughter.
Second Verse, Same As First: Chapter 3 - Finding Yourself
"Some things last forever,
I hope this last forever,
Nothing lasts forever,
Why can't this last forever?"
Peyton bopped her head to the poppy retro rock music that filled her room. She lay flat on her bed, hoping to get some relaxation by listening to some great music. She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind off of everything that was going on. But before she knew it.....Brooke's voice interrupted her peace.
"Ew......why can't you be listening to the new Usher? This stuff is way too loud and depressing." Brooke said, charging into Peyton's room. She jumped on Peyton's bed and sat down next to her.
"They're called The Stills. And they're not depressing.....they're supposed to bouncy and poppy. They're supposed to be relaxing....which I was DOING, Ms. Davis, until you came in." Peyton said, jokingly, nudging Brooke in the shoulder.
Brooke famous eye-rolling came along and she sighed. "Whatever. The Skills don't have as much poppy to it as Beyonce does."
Peyton glared at Brooke. "It's the STILLS, and that's what makes them so unique. They still give off a happy tune without being part of pop culture." she said, laughing. Brooke smiled at Peyton, knowing she would never win the fight over her choice in music.
"What are you doing relaxing anyway? We should be out in the world, strutting our stuff.....You know. Fun stuff."
"Haha.... Brooke, fun with you is dangerous. Fun with you always involves getting wasted and that to me isn't very relaxing." Peyton replied, lying back down on her bed.
Brooke leaned down on her elbow and faced Peyton. "That's not true. We can get stoned too." she said. Peyton couldn't help but laugh at the sad truth.
"I guess with all this Haley and Nathan married couple and Dan in the hospital and Lucas coming back to Tree Hill stuff going on......it makes me all dizzy......and tired...." Peyton said, closing her eyes, not wanting to think of all the stuff on her mind. Brooke shrugged.
"Yeah, I guess it is pretty weird....." she said, leaving a beat of silence to follow. "What.....do you think.....was in the letter?"
Peyton's eyelids fluttered up and couldn't believe Brooke was bringing up Lucas's letter again. The LAST thing she wanted to do was think of Lucas. She couldn't believe he had come back to Tree Hill.....when she finally thought that she would be free. When she thought that she would be able to get over him.
"I dunno. Something stupid." she said. Both of them were quiet for a little bit as Peyton listened to the lyrics of the song playing.
"More sex. More good-byes.
I love you and I
I won't let myself
Let you go...."
"Peyton...." Brooke said.
"Yeah, Brooke?" Peyton said, turning to face her friend. Brooke had a pretty blank but sad expression on. Peyton wondered what she was thinking about. Was she too.....still not over Lucas?
"I wanna......" she whispered. "I wanna......get over him. I don't want to think about him anymore. I don't."
Peyton was shocked at the sudden sadness Brooke had expressed. Peyton didn't think Brooke was this conflicted with her feelings for Lucas. She cursed herself for being so selfish.
"Brooke...." Peyton said, putting her hand over Brooke's. "We need to find a new identity......We need to find ourselves. For the past few....I dunno, MONTHS, we've been letting this stuff take over our lives. We have to start over."
Brooke nodded, as she agreed but looked like she was doubting that she would be able to do it. Peyton gave her a reassuring smile.
"And we'll find ourselves....together. I promise." she said. Brooke smiled, and Peyton's words seemed to work on cheering Brooke up. "Okay Peyton........okay." she said.
Both girls laid their heads back down on Peyton's bed, with nothing but the lyrics to the music resonating around the room.
"Some things last forever,
Why can't this last forever?
Nothing lasts forever....
I hope this lasts forever."
---
Haley stared at her house phone, not really knowing what to do. Nathan was out working at the dealership for Keith, as Dan was still stuck in the hospital, unable to continue his position at work. So much had gone by in one night that had changed the course of her whole life. After a celebration for her wedding, her father had revealed to her that he was dying. How was she supposed to cope with a fact like that?
She knew that Nathan had tried to do his part when she came home the night before, bearing the bad news. She knew that there wasn't much he could do to comfort her, but Haley had appreciated his embrace as she almost cried herself to sleep.
Everything was so overwhelming.....
She had urge to talk to someone, but didn't know who. Lucas? No.....Lucas had been so busy dealing with other things, that he and Haley barely talked. Karen? No.....she knew Karen was now busy at her university. One of her brothers?
She had three brothers, each of them being older than her. Jack, the oldest, resided in an area close to Cape Cod, where he owned a scuba diving school and shop near a marina. He was at least 4 years older than her, and they didn't really have much of a relationship growing up. No.....not Jack.
There was her middle brother, Greg, who was going to school in New York at NYU Business School. He was 2 years older than her, and she had an alright relationship with Greg, but knew he was a study-holic, and knew he would be too busy to answer his phone. No.....not Greg.
Then there was Greg's twin brother, but technically the youngest, Joey. He was currently studying at UCLA, majoring in fine arts. He was always the closest sibling to Haley, as they both shared the same passion for music, and Joey was actually fulfilling the dream. But then, she thought about how Joey and her father had an intimate relationship......she couldn't be the one to break the news to Joey about their dad. No......it couldn't be Joey.
Mentally eliminating her brothers, one by one, she then came to the possibility of calling her only, and older sister, the oldest of the five James siblings, Leah. She lived in Wilmington, a few hours away from Tree Hill, and was a cardiologist at the top hospital in North Carolina and was 8 years older than Haley. Haley didn't really know her sister all that well.....but she felt like she needed to talk to another girl in her family.
Her sister seemed like the only option. She picked up the phone and started to dial a number from her phone book. She waited until it started ringing for a little bit and finally someone answered on the other line.
"Hello?"
Haley was startled at her sister's voice. She realized that since her sister had gone away, she hadn't talked to her too much and felt awkward calling her up.
"Leah?"
"Yes, this is Dr. Leah James. Who is this?"
"Leah....it's Haley."
"Uhh....Haley? What are you calling me for?"
Haley's heart fell at the sound of her sister's voice. Her sister sounded shocked, and weirded out that she was calling. "I know this is really sudden....but I was hoping I could talk to you about something......it's about–"
"Listen, Haley. I'm in the middle of a shift.....can I call you later?"
"Oh. But.....Look, Leah.....I don't even live-"
"Okay, bye, hon." her sister said, as the phone clicked. Haley sat there, startled at how inconsiderate her sister had acted. She didn't even give Haley the chance to tell her that she didn't even live at home anymore.......Did her sister even know that she was married?
She put the receiver down and sat on her bed in silence. Haley had never felt so alone in her entire life.
Stay tuned for Chapter 4 of Second Verse, Same as First.......
A/N: I'm just making the siblings up, of course. I've been looking everywhere for information on Haley's brothers and sisters, but nothing has been coming up. If somebody does have information, then by all means, correct me. But for now....I guess Haley has an older sister, one older brother and two older twin brothers.