Chapter 2

Haley had been in Tree Hill for three days but hadn't left the hotel unless she needed to. The bruises were starting to fade and she needed to look for a job. She got up, got dressed and proceeded to put make-up on to cover as much of the bruises as she could. She winced in pain as she brushed the make-up over her eye and cheeks. Connor sure knew how to cause pain. When she was done she got Emily dressed and they left the hotel. After driving around town Haley passed by Karen's Café, the place she passed on her way in to town, and saw a help wanted sign in the window. They walked into the café and were greeted by a curly-headed blonde.

"Hi, welcome to Karen's Café. How can I help you?"

"I saw the help wanted sign in the window and I wanted to apply for the job" Haley said shyly.

The blonde walked to the entrance of the kitchen.

"Karen!" she yelled.

A black haired woman came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron.

"Yes dear?" she said looking at the blonde.

"This lady wants to apply for the job" the blonde replied.

"Hi. I'm Karen Roe" Karen said turning to Haley.

"Hi, I'm Haley James. Are you still looking to hire someone? I just moved here and I need a job" Haley returned.

"Yes I am still hiring. When" Karen was cut off.

"Mommy! I'm hungry!" Emily whined.

"Well hello. Who are you?" Karen questioned when she finally noticed Emily.

Emily grabbed on to Haley and hid behind her.

"This is my daughter Emily."

Karen looked down at Haley's hand and noticed she didn't have a wedding ring on. The next thing she noticed were the circles under her eyes. She could tell that Haley was stressed.

"When can you start?"

"What? Uh, whenever you need me to" Haley stuttered, surprised that she got the job so easily.

"Ok, how about now?" Karen questioned her with a smile on her face.

"Oh, I don't have anyone to watch Emily. I don't know anyone here" Haley said starting to worry that she would lose the job that she just got.

"No worries, she can stay with you."

"Really? She won't be any trouble, I promise. Just give her crayons and a paper and you won't hear a word out of her" Haley said gratefully.

"Hey, Peyton. Can you get some paper and crayons for little Emily here?" Karen called out to the blonde.

"Sure" Peyton replied walking to the back of the café.

A few minutes later Peyton returned, paper and crayons in hand.

"Here ya go sweetie" Peyton said as she bent down to Emily's level.

Emily shyly took the crayons and paper.

"What do you say Emily?" Haley prodded.

"Thank you" Emily said quietly.

Peyton stood back up and looked at Haley.

"Hi. I'm Peyton Sawyer, uh, Scott."

"Still not used to that Pey?" Karen laughed.

Haley gave Peyton and Karen a look of confusion. Upon seeing this look Karen proceeded to explain.

"She just married my son last month."

Haley was still confused.

"I thought you said your last name was Roe?"

"Oh, it is. Scott is Lucas' father's last name, we never married" Karen explained.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be nosey." Haley said feeling guilty.

"You have nothing to be sorry for!" Karen said.

"So, Haley, where are you from?" Peyton questioned.

"Uh, New York."

"Wow, long way from here." Peyton said.

"Yeah, it is."

Just then a pretty girl with black hair burst into the café with a child. She looked like she wanted to scream.

"Peyton, Karen, help me! I love Jenny but she's driving me crazy! Please help me!" the girl said in hysterics.

"Brooke what's wrong?" Karen questioned.

"I was trying to study for a major test I have tomorrow and she just would not stop running around. I mean, she was just running around the house screaming at the top of her lungs. And Jake is at a parent/teacher conference and he won't be home until four and I really need to study!" Brooke almost shouted.

"Brooke, calm down, look" Peyton said pointing to a booth in the corner.

All of the women looked to the corner and saw Jenny and Emily playing together and laughing. Haley smiled, this was the first time Emily laughed in over a week and it was good to hear the sound of her laughter again.

"Who's that little girl?" Brooke questioned.

"That's my daughter" Haley said.

"Brooke, this is Haley. I just hired her" Karen said.

"Brooke Davis, nice to meet you" Brooke chirped.

Haley was taken aback by Brooke.

"Nice to meet you too."

"So Brooke, you and Jake will be here tonight, right?" Peyton questioned.

"Aren't we always?"

"Hey, Haley, why don't you join us tonight?" Karen suggested.

"What's tonight?"

"Well, on Wednesday nights we all get together and have dinner and talk" Karen answered.

"Who's we?" Haley questioned.

"Me, Peyton, Lucas, my son, Brooke and Jake her uh…" Karen began.

"Roommate!" Brooke shouted.

Haley looked at Brooke like she was crazy.

"My fiance', Keith, my business partner, Deb, and Nathan, I never know what to call him" Karen said.

"Well, he's the ass that knocked you up then left, the got another girl pregnant's son" Brooke blurted out.

"Gotta love her ability to cram complex issues in a nutshell!" Peyton laughed.

"I'm not sure. I mean, I don't really know you all and I have Emily" Haley stated unsure of what to do.

"Oh come on Haley! Jenny will be here for Emily to play with and it'll be a great way to get to know us better and for you to make new friends" Peyton pleaded.

"Ok, I'll stay for dinner" Haley gave in.

"Yay! A new person to get to know!" Brooke said in a cheery tone.

Haley gave a half smile. Brooke really made her uncomfortable. She was too perky. Brooke left after Peyton agreed to watch Jenny so she could study. Peyton was also watching Emily so Haley could work. At first Haley was reluctant to leave her daughter with a stranger but Peyton promised she would stay in the café. Hours passed and it was closing time.

"Hey mom!" a tall blonde haired guy said as he walked in.

"Hi Lucas" Karen replied giving him a hug.

He walked over to Peyton and gave her a kiss.

"Hi babe."

"Hi Luke" Peyton replied.

Lucas turned around and saw Haley and Emily but before he could ask who they were the door opened and two people walked in.

"Ok, I know you all missed me but, I'm here now" Brooke said.

"Conceited much Brooke?" the guy with shaggy brown hair standing next to her said.

Jenny looked up when she heard the guy speak.

"Daddy!" she yelled as she ran from the corner into his arms.

"Hi princess" he said scooping her up and kissing her cheek.

"Damn, Luke, did you see that Audi RS 6 out there?" a tall guy with black hair said as he walked in.

"Hey little brother" Lucas said.

Haley stood back in the corner during all of the commotion.

"Haley, come here" Peyton called.

She reluctantly walked over to the group.

"Haley, this is Lucas, Jake Jagielski, Nathan Scott, and you already know Brooke and Jenny" Peyton said pointing everyone out.

"Hi" Jake and Lucas said in unison.

Nathan didn't say anything. He just stood there staring at Haley.

'Wow, this woman is gorgeous. Her big brown eyes are beautiful' Nathan thought to himself.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you" Haley said giving them a simple smile.

"Hello! Earth to Nate!" Brooke said waving her hand in front of his face.

"Wha- oh. Hi, nice to meet you" he stuttered.