Haley stared out the bus window, feeling a mix of guilt, depression, regret, and anticipation. Chris Steller, the man who had started it all, plopped himself next to her.
"You okay?" He asked.
Haley gave a shrug but didn't move her gaze. She had left Nathan behind…how could she leave him behind? She leaned against the glass and closed her eyes. Would he really leave her for doing this?
"You won't regret this. Your career is finally going to take off, James." Chris said.
"But if it does, will I still have a husband?" Haley whispered quietly.
"Still worrying about the cave man, are we?" Chris rolled his eyes. "This is why you don't get married in high school! Nothing lasts in high school. You would have broken up sooner or later. He was just holding you back."
Haley whipped around and gave Chris a steely glare and snapped angrily, "Don't you dare say anything about Nathan! We are going to last."
"You think he's some dream guy? Where was he at the bus stop? If he actually cared about you he have supported you in this, not insisting you give up everything for him." Chris retorted.
Haley faced the window again and muttered, "He loves me and I love him."
"And you're so sure that's enough?" Chris questioned, "Love alone isn't always enough to keep a relationship together. He obviously doesn't trust you. And he's a jealous and controlling."
"Stop it," Haley pleaded in an edgy voice. Chris went silent but continued looking at the woman beside him.
The bus started up and drove off. For the next two hours, Haley was silent. Finally, the bus pulled to a stop and it was time to get off.
"We're staying here tonight," Michelle told the two before getting off. When everyone else got off except Haley and Chris, Haley stood up. Chris's hands took Haley's arms to stop her.
"Wait." He said. "Don't be upset with me, okay?"
"When did you start caring about what others thought of you?" Haley bit out.
"Since I met you." He answered. With that, he leaned in and kissed her. His lips were amazingly soft and took her by surprise…for a split second, she returned the kiss. Her eyes suddenly snapped open and she pushed him away.
"I'm married." She reminded him. Haley looked down and moved around Chris to get to the aisle.
"And it looked like you cared so much about that last time." Chris said.
"That was a mistake. It meant nothing!" Haley snapped before walking swiftly off the bus.
Haley rushed inside the hotel without a backward glance. The words Chris had spoken had jarred her deeply. As she walked, she was petrified that Nathan truly had meant what he said about this being the end of them. She cared about him with all her heart… but she couldn't let this wonderful chance pass by.
As Haley dropped her bags in her hotel room, she realized that she wouldn't be able to enjoy a single moment of this amazing tour if the dread of her marriage being demolished loomed over her head. She bit her lip before grabbing the phone before she could change her mind.
There was no answer. The cheery message the two had recorded on the answering machine sank daggers into heart. "Nathan…please, if you're there, pick up. Please?" Pause. "I'm at a hotel right now… I'm so sorry. I love you with every fibre of my being, I love you. I can't stand being here without you." Tears creeped through her eyes and Haley's voice cracked as she spoke her next words. "Please, Nate, please don't leave me… Don't walk away from our relationship, not now. I had to take this chance, I'm praying you understand that, but the last thing in the world I want is to lose you. Nate, if being here means losing you… I think I may have made a mistake. My cell will always be on, please Nathan, call me as soon as you hear this. I'll come home if you want me to. Or I'll take to Michelle Branch about letting you come here. Please, don't end what we have. Nothing in the world is worth losing you. God, I want to hold you right now. I love you…" BEEP. Haley hung up the phone and wiped away the tears that were falling freely down her pretty face and collapsed on the bed.