Hey, so as promised here is chapter 7. Remember, our first twist comes in this chapter. I may just have to make it a cliffhanger...
Chapter 7:
An entire year had gone by. A whole year since Haley had revisited Jack and her past. And, she thought, she'd done a considerably good job of doing what she'd resolved to do.
After college, she had, for reasons even she didn't understand, returned to New York to search for a job. It was as though she was inexplicably drawn to the one place she should want to stay the hell away from. But it drew her in, just as it had before. And she'd gotten a job at a publishing company. She reviewed people's writings and decided if they were worthy of being printed. It wasn't what she'd always dreamed of doing, but she'd learned that dreams often remain unfulfilled.
If you wrote a book with a page for each memory
And put it in hardback for people to buy
The critics would laugh, yeah they'd call it ridiculous
And sit around waiting for Porky to fly
Her life had changed so drastically, she could hardly believe it was hers anymore. When she chose Nathan, she'd always thought things would somehow work themselves out. They always say what's meant to be will always find a way. If that were the case, she and Nathan obviously weren't meant to be.
And she obviously wasn't meant for a life in Tree Hill. Somehow, she'd always known she wasn't supposed to live the life she'd surrounded herself with. She was never meant to be so lucky. As a young child, she'd always thought she was destined for greatness. Then she'd realized just how far from the truth that was.
It wasn't the life she'd always dreamed of, but it was something. And she was lucky to have anything at all.
The truth is stranger than fiction
And I must believe what I see
But the truth is stranger than fiction to me
Things aren't always what they seem, herself included. She never would've predicted she would turn out this way. She wasn't the old, sweet, loveable Haley, but she wasn't the New York bitch either. She was somewhere in between. Polite, kind on occasion, with just the right amount of wit and sarcasm and a temper that flared when ignited properly. Some would've called her perfect. Others would say she was ruthless. She preferred to call herself Haley. Just Haley.
She'd tried so hard to find the old Haley James inside herself, but without the support of those she loved, it was nearly impossible. So, she came as close as she could.
The Haley she was now wasn't really sure how her life had come to this. It wasn't all peaches and cream, but it wasn't a complete disaster.
If they made a film of the book of the memory
With Bobby De Niro and Demi De Moore
You'd sit in your seat with your popcorn and chocolate
And wonder aloud at the point of it all
In the past year, she'd had some surprising developments in her life, some good, others mediocre. It would've made an interesting book. But it was one she knew she would never publish.
Perhaps the most surprising of them all was her new boyfriend. She wouldn't say she had moved on from Nathan, that would take more time, it was something she didn't know if she could ever do, but she had found a replacement. Well, not a replacement per se, but someone who would remind her of him.
Another surprising occurrence, of course, being her move to New York. She hadn't anticipated coming back after the time the previous year, but after graduation, she felt it calling her name.
She still kept in touch with Jack, but it was just through emails. And most of them argumentative. Him begging her for another chance to explain, her telling him not a chance in hell. Then him pleading some more and her rejecting him as harshly as she knew how, trying to convey how angry she was with him.
The truth is stranger than fiction
And I must believe what I see
But the truth is stranger than fiction to me
There was no reason for all the changes, all the alterations she'd made, but she knew she needed something, anything to help her forget. Something to keep her mind occupied, to keep her from thinking of all she couldn't have. Of all she would never see again.
If it can happen it will happen it has happened already
If you don't understand, no reason and no rhyme
Don't ask why
After everything that had happened since she first lay eyes on New York, she would've never guessed she'd end up here, like this, with this life. It had just never been an option before. But now, she supposed nothing could surprise her.
Well, one thing could. If she found herself with Nathan again. But she had learned not to cling to the absurd notion a year ago. Or she'd tried to. But she couldn't let go so easily of the person she'd loved so much. The age old adage if you love something let it go hadn't proved true in their case. Of course, their lives had only just begun, but Haley knew, her heart weighing down with the thought, they wouldn't work out in the end, they wouldn't find each other.
It wasn't a possibility anymore. She wasn't happy with it, but it was the truth. And she'd come to find the truth was a bitch, but you had to accept it to move on.
If someone had told you you'd be where you are today
You'd of thought they were crazy and laughed in their face
And I never thought I would long for the memory
I never thought I would get to this place
Suddenly, Haley's cell phone rang and she playfully rolled her eyes as she answered. "You just called an hour ago."
"I know," he whined, "but I thought you would be home by now."
"Aww……. poor baby. I'm on my way."
She could practically hear the smile in his voice. "Really? Cause that's what you said an hour ago."
"Really," she answered.
"Oh, umm……. I needed to tell you something," he spoke haltingly.
"What is it baby?" she asked, concerned.
"Well, we might be having two more guests for Christmas," he laughed nervously.
"That's fine, who?"
"Oh, just some friends from college," he answered.
She laughed. "Sure, that's fine, what were you so worried about?"
He breathed a sigh of relief. "I just didn't know if you wanted to cook for two more people or not."
She smiled. "No problem. The more, the merrier." She thought of their little holiday rendezvous coming up and couldn't help feeling excited. She had some friends from college whom she hadn't seen in a year coming and staying for a few days and now, she could meet two of her boyfriend's.
The truth is stranger than fiction
And I must believe what I see
But the truth is stranger than fiction to me
"Alright see you in a bit," she said.
"Love you," he responded sweetly.
"Love you too," she said.
"Bye, Haley."
"Bye, Tim."
The truth is stranger than fiction to me
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Yes, it is the Tim we all know and love from the show. Don't y'all just love me:) Don't worry; it won't be like an epic romance or anything. And remember, Nathan and Haley finally meet in our next update.
Hm... I wonder who these mysterious two guests are? Does anyone seem to remember an agreement between Tim and Nathan... something about visiting at Christmas time?...
Look for chapter 8 in an hour or two as long asI get a couple reviews.