Chapter Twenty-Four: Time Goes by Without You

Though I forgot to say so before, chapter twenty-three is dedicated to lysser8312, who has been on my case about it for ages. With love, of course.

"Thank you for coming in to see me today, Miss James. I'm going to check out your references, but I think we can safely say the job is yours," said Edward Bentley warmly. Haley smiled. The job she was being interviewed for was similar to the one she'd had in New York, but she was tired of waitressing and it's miniscule wage.

"Thank you Mr. Bentley," she said sweetly, shaking his hand before escaping from his office.

Haley walked home along the beach, staring into the water. After two years, she'd grown used to California, and how different it was from all her other homes. Nati was happy there. Haley was almost even happy there.

She rode up the elevator and into her apartment, grinning as her daughter heard the door open and threw herself at her legs.

"Mommy you're back!" she yelled joyfully.

"Yes, sweetie, I'm back. Did you have a good time with Chris?" she asked.

"No," said Natalya sweetly, easily betraying one of the people she loved most.

"She's totally lying. I didn't even make her have a nap," claimed Chris, coming out of the kitchen.

"Last time I let you look after my daughter," joked Haley, smiling at her friend.

"How'd the interview go?" he asked, dropping onto the sofa, stretching his long legs out in front of him and easily making himself at home.

"Good. I think I got it. I just feel like I'm moving backwards," she complained.

"Pay's good. You won't have to worry about spilling coffee on yourself," he reminded her.

"Nathan always wanted coffee, so that's not necessarily true," said Haley. Instantly she regretted it-Chris had very little tolerance when it came to Nathan. Haley went out of her way not to mention him.

"But this guy's not going to harass you, so I think you're better off," said Chris. Haley went to the kitchen to wash her hands, trying to hide her annoyance.

"It was what I wanted too," she whispered.

"Mommy!" yelled Nati, running in to the kitchen. "I want to go to the beach!"

"Keller we're going to the beach, you coming?" she called to him.

"Sure, why not?" he said, shrugging as she joined them in the kitchen. It always disconcerted Haley when he joined them at the beach.

The three of them headed out. Haley held a bag containing everything they needed, and in her other hand was Nati's, holding on to her tightly.

"Want to ride," she said suddenly, looking up at Chris.

"What do you say?" asked Haley quickly as Chris leaned down to pick her up.

"Please."

Chris took her by the waist and hoisted her onto his shoulders where she rode, much higher than anyone else in the crowd.

Sometimes Haley felt like Chris was too tall. He was more than a foot taller than her, and skinnier. It was ridiculous. Did the boy ever eat? She knew he did-he ate at her house at least several times a week.

Natalya, never a shy baby, waved to the people in the crowd admiring her, and made them laugh. They also noticed the beautiful young mother, and the seemingly doting father. Haley noticed too.

"Maybe it's not such a bad second choice," she said to herself. Chris had been a good friend to her for years.

They arrived at their traditional spot on the beach. Chris carefully set Nati down on the beach and she immediately set off to make a sandcastle on the wet sand while Haley, blushing, slipped off her shirt, revealing her bikini top.

Chris left to help Nati, but he took one glance back at Haley and couldn't help but stare. Her bikini wasn't inappropriate for someone of her age, or of her station, but it was still a bikini, and it would be impossible for Chris not to notice how attractive she looked in it.

His eyes widened when she closed her eyes to block out the sun and began spreading sun block on her exposed skin. At the sight of Haley running her hands over herself, smoothing out the lotion, Chris felt a fresh wave of desire for her as he stiffened.

By the time she'd opened her eyes again he'd managed to tear his eyes away and was helping Nati sculpt a castle with her beach toys. Haley smiled at the sight of him, the only one on the beach wearing blue jeans instead of swim trunks. She was glad-Chris was her best friend, but she didn't like the thought of him without a shirt on.

For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to think about her old life. About Peyton and Jake, and whether or not they were engaged yet. On Nathan. Had their baby finally made Brooke and him happy together? Did he not mind so much anymore that she was gone? Did he ever think about Natalya, if he never thought about her? She even thought longingly of Taylor-the two had taken a long time to become friends, but they'd always been around each other. Always.

Haley hoped, privately, that Peyton and Jake weren't yet planning to get married. She didn't like the thought of missing her best friend's wedding. She was surprised when she remembered that Peyton would have aged as well-she'd be twenty-nine by now. Taylor would be thirty. Haley guessed that Taylor would hate being thirty. Did she still party all night? When Haley had left, Taylor had already been getting old for it in the viewpoints of some.

"MOMMY!" called out Natalya. Haley looked up in alarm, but smiled when she saw her daughter simply calling her over. She ran over to join them.

"I think we're finally happy," she thought to herself.