Wow! I am so excited & just thrilled at all the replies I got! You guys are so awesome!
treehillgirl323- thank you for you compliment and you'll find out what the tattoo is later...lol.
Nathan's Manna- I'm glad you loved the last chapter!
Caitlin( )- I will continue this fic. I actually have a total of 10 chps. written. I'm just taking my time to post them because I have a MAJOR case of writer's block!
jaqueline22393- thanks for replying! It's always great to get feedback!
xScott23x- It so makes my day when people say they love my fic! So, thanks a million!
Eternal Dragon101- As I said before, I have a MAJOR case of writer's block going on so, I'm taking my time posting the chps. I already have. I've also been busy with school (it was finals week but I took my last one today! YAY!) But, I'm completely done with school on Monday (I have a make-up test, blah!) so, hopefully I'll be able to start getting some writing done. I'm so glad you enjoyed the last chapter!
Britt(A )- You'll get your Naley, I promise...eventually. lol
nature-girlie- Glad you like the fic, thanks for replying.
clarkson04- I'm so glad you think this is a great story! I'll try not to have my post so far & few between.
Nathan'sRaven- Wow! 4 replies in one day! Thanks for all the replies! I'm so glad you think my fic improves with each chapter! You'll just have to wait and see how long it takes Nate! lol.
LPkindofLoVe- Glad you think it's cute! I always LOVE any compliment I get!
Again, thank you ALLfor replying! No matter what the comment, it keeps me motivated to write. Just please be patient with me if I don't update soon, I've been having some physical problems lately. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! See, you didn't have to wait as long as last time! lol
Crystal
Chapter 5
There was a knock on Haley's hotel door. Haley looked at the clock, it read nine p.m. She turned off the TV, got out of the bed and walked to the door. When she opened the door a tall brown hair, green- eyed guy and a tall skinny blonde walked in. Haley closed the door behind them.
"Let me see" the guy said to Haley.
"No Gabe."
"I already see the bruises on your face, show me the rest. Now Haley Elizabeth James" Gabe demanded.
Haley had no make up on so the bruises were visible. Gabe never called her by her full name so she new he was serious about wanting to see the other bruises.
"Fine" she sighed in defeat.
She raised her shirt above her stomach and rolled up her sleeves. Callie gasped and put her hand over her mouth at the sight. Haley's arms, stomach and back were covered with purple bruises. Callie rushed over to Haley and enveloped her in a hug.
"Hales, I'm so sorry! I should've tried harder to convince you he was no good" Callie cried.
"Cal, it's not your fault" Haley said returning the hug.
"That son of a bitch! I'm gonna kill him!" Gabe said raising his voice.
"Gabe be quiet! I don't want you to wake up Emily" Haley scolded.
Gabe was furious. He couldn't understand how someone could do that to his baby sister. Haley looked into her brother's eyes and saw the tears that were threatening to spill over.
"Is there somewhere we can go to talk?" Gabe questioned.
"Yeah, we can go to the park" Haley replied.
"Callie, do you mind watching Emily so we can go to the park?" Gabe questioned as he turned to Callie.
"No, not at all. You two go, we'll be fine" Callie replied.
Gabe kissed Callie, grabbed his keys and he and Haley headed to the park. When they arrived at the park they found a picnic table to sit at. Haley fidgeted with the sleeves on her shirt, nervous about the conversation she was about to have with her brother.
"Did he hit Emily? Cause if he did you can't stop me HJ. I will get in the f ucking car and drive to New York and kill him! I will f ucking kill him!" Gabe ranted.
"Almost" Haley whispered not making eye contact with her brother.
"I want to know exactly what happened" Gabe stated while trying to remain calm.
"The day I left he got home and was in a horrible mood. He started yelling at me the minute he walked through the door" Haley recalled.
Flashback
"Haley! Where are you?" Connor yelled as he walked through the door.
"I'm in the kitchen" Haley called out.
Connor walked into the kitchen and saw Haley standing by the stove cooking.
"You haven't finished cooking yet? What the f uck is wrong with you?" Connor yelled.
"Baby I'm sorry. I was running errands and it took longer than I thought. Then I had to pick up Emily from her friend Tara's house and…" Haley began rambling.
"I don't want to hear it! Stop making f ucking excuses! Just f ucking finish cause I'm hungry!"
Connor started to walk out of the kitchen when Haley noticed him limping.
"Connor, what happened? Why are you limping?" she questioned with concern in her voice.
"Because I got hurt during practice. What are you? A f ucking idiot?" Connor replied viciously.
"No, I just…" Haley began but trailed off.
"Stupid bitch" Connor muttered.
Just then Emily ran in full of mud and latched on to Connor's leg. Connor winced in pain and shouted.
"Emily get the f uck off me!"
"Connor, she didn't know you got hurt" Haley stated as she walked over to her daughter who was now scared.
"Why the f uck is she covered in mud? Look, it's all over the damn floor. Get your ass in the bathroom" Connor shouted as he grabbed Emily by the arm.
Emily began to cry at this point and it just angered Connor even more. Connor raised his hand to hit her but Haley stepped in front of him. She gently pushed Emily into her room and shut the door after telling her to stay in there. As soon as she closed the door she knew what was coming. Connor looked at her with rage in his eyes and threw her up against the wall then slapped her across the face beginning the worst beating Haley ever got.
End Flashback
"When he was done he left. I laid on the floor for about fifteen minutes unable to move. Finally I got up, went to the bathroom, cleaned myself up then started packing. That was the last straw for me. I could take the beatings from him but I could never live with myself if I let him hit Emily" Haley finished her recount of that horrible night.
At this point Haley was crying and shaking after reliving that night. Gabe got up and walked around to the other side of the table and enveloped Haley in a hug.
"HJ I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you" Gabe whispered as tears ran down his face.
Haley and Gabe didn't notice the figure watching them in the distance.
Nathan had decided to go for a run in the park. When he arrived at the park he saw two people sitting at a picnic table. As he walked closer he noticed it was Haley and some guy.
'Is that….Haley!' Nathan thought to himself.
He walked closer but hid behind a bush so he couldn't be seen.
'Who is that guy she's with? Why does he have his arm around her? Wait is she, is she crying? She is! Why is she crying? What did that guy do to her?' Nathan thought growing concerned.
'Should I walk over there and see if she's ok? No, I don't know her well enough. She might think I'm just being nosey. She's probably fine. I'll just finish my run.'
Nathan finished his run then left the park.
The next afternoon Nathan walked into the café and saw Haley cleaning off a table. Haley turned to the door at the sound of the bell.
"Hi Nathan" she greeted.
"Hey" Nathan replied.
"Can I get you something?" Haley questioned.
"Yeah, I want a cinnamon roll" Nathan answered.
"Ok, I'll go get it for you. Be right back"
A few minutes later Haley emerged from the kitchen with Nathan's cinnamon roll. She placed it on the counter in front of him.
"Thanks. Where's Emily?" Nathan said looking around. He and Haley were the only people in the café.
"She's with my brother Gabe and his fiancé Callie. They came in yesterday to visit me" Haley replied.
'So that guy with her in the park last night was her brother' Nathan thought finding himself a little relieved about that.
"Oh that's cool."
Haley walked around the counter and tripped on something. Nathan reached out to grab her so she wouldn't fall but she jerked her arm away from him.
'That's weird. I was trying to help her and she jerked away' Nathan thought.
"Um, thanks but I'm ok" Haley stammered.
'God Haley, the guy was just trying to help you! What is wrong with you?' Haley scolded herself.
Haley knew Nathan was just trying to help her but flinching was just a normal reaction for her. After four years with Connor it was a natural reaction, one that she wasn't able to shake just yet. Just then Karen walked in.
"Haley, you can go now. I know your brother is leaving tomorrow, go spend some time with him" Karen announced.
"Oh no. My shift isn't up yet. I can visit with him when my shift is over" Haley argued.
"Haley, you only have one hour left. I'm the boss, I said for you to go. So, go. It's fine. Business is slow right now and it won't pick up" Karen insisted.
"Ok, if you're sure" Haley hesitated.
"I'm sure. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Alright. Thanks so much Karen. I'll see you tomorrow" Haley said as she took off her apron.
When she was about to walk out of the door when Nathan's voice stopped her.
"Haley?"
Haley turned around shyly.
"Yeah?"
"If you need anything just let me know, ok?" Nathan said sincerely.
"Ok" Haley replied then turned and walked out of the café.
Just as Haley walked out of the café she saw Callie.
"Hey, what are you doing here? Where's Gabe and Em?" Haley questioned.
"They're at the park. I wanted to see where you work and I thought we could talk" Callie replied.
"Cal, I really don't want to relive that night again" Haley sighed.
"You don't need to, Gabe told me. I just want to talk Hales."
"Ok, let's go inside and get some coffee" Haley said walking back into the café.
They walked in and sat down at a table and Karen approached them.
"Hi Karen. This is Callie, my best friend and my brother's fiancé. Callie, this is my boss Karen Roe" Haley said introducing the two women.
Karen smiled warmly and said, "Hi. Nice to meet you Callie. What can I get you two?"
"I'll just have coffee" Haley replied.
"I'll have the same" Callie said.
"Ok, I'll be right back with your coffee" Karen said as she walked off.
"So, how do you like it here so far?" Callie questioned.
"I like it. Everyone is so nice to me Cal."
"That's good. I'm glad. So, we need to talk about the wedding seeing as you are my maid of honor and Em is the flower girl."
"Ok. Um, when do we have to get fitted for our dresses?" Haley questioned.
"Not until the end of next month. And don't worry, I won't put you in some hideous looking dress" Callie laughed.
"I wasn't worried about that Cal."
The bell above the door rang signaling that someone walked into the café and caught the girl's attention.
"Hey Haley" Lucas said as he walked past her.
"Hey Lucas" Haley returned.
Lucas sat down in the chair next to Nathan.
"Hey little brother. You know, you sure have been here a lot lately" Lucas said a little too loud.
Nathan pushed Lucas and looked back to see if Haley had heard what he said. Luckily she hadn't, she was deep into conversation with Callie.
"Shut up man!" Nathan warned.
"What? It's true. Ever since Haley started working here you've been here every day. I think you have a little crush on her" Lucas teased.
"Whatever. Anyway, I think I'm gonna break it off with Erin" Nathan said.
"Really? You finally taking our advice?" Lucas questioned, his eyebrows raised.
"She's getting too serious. I don't feel the same way that she does" Nathan said honestly.
"Well, then maybe you should break it off Nate. I gotta go. I just saw you in here and wanted to see if you wanted to play a quick game this afternoon after I get off of work" Luke replied.
"Yeah, sounds good."
"Ok, I'll meet you at the River Court at five. Bye" Lucas said walking out of the door.
Callie looked up and noticed Nathan staring at Haley.
"Hales, that guy has been looking at you quite a bit since we've been here. He's cute too."
"Who? Nathan? He has a girlfriend. Even if I was ready for a relationship, which I'm not, it wouldn't be with someone who has a girlfriend" Haley replied.
Nathan was leaving the café and as he was walking out he heard the last part of Haley's conversation with Callie.
'Yeah, I think I will break up with Erin today' Nathan thought to himself.
Haley's cell phone rang. She looked at the caller ID but didn't recognize the number. She decided to answer it thinking maybe it was a friend from home.
"Hello?"
"Baby, it's me" the voice on the other end said.
Haley froze. It was Connor. She stood up from the table, told Callie she'd be right back and walked outside.
"What do you want?" she questioned in anger.
"I want you to come home" Connor said and she could tell he was crying.
"No! Not happening" Haley said firmly.
"Baby, please. I miss you and Em" Connor pleaded.
"Don't you call me baby. Stop calling me. I'm not coming home. Ever!" Haley nearly shouted as she became angrier.
"Look, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean it. I'll never do that again. Just, please come home. I need you."
"You're sorry? That's not gonna cut it anymore. I've heard that one too many times. And I've already told you I'm not coming back" Haley sneered.
"I love you" Connor said.
After hearing him say that Haley hung up her phone. She wiped the tears from her face and looked up. Callie was standing in front of her, worry written all over her face.
"It was him wasn't it?" Callie questioned knowingly.
"Cal, please, you can't tell Gabe" Haley pleaded.
"This wasn't the first time he called was it Haley?"
Haley didn't answer. She just looked away.
"Damn it Hales!" Callie sighed, "Why didn't you tell Gabe that he's called you?"
"Because I know how he's gonna react. He's worried enough Callie. Please, I'm begging you do not tell him about this! I can handle this" Haley insisted.
"No, you can't!" Callie said raising her voice.
Before Haley could say anything Emily ran up to her.
"Mommy, mommy! I gots to swing and pay on da side. It was fun!" Emily squealed.
Gabe walked up behind Haley.
"Hey guys, what's up?"
Haley looked at Callie and pleaded with her through her eyes not to tell Gabe.
"Nothing. We were just talking" Callie lied.
Haley mouthed 'thank you' to her.
"Daddy a asshole" Emily stated.
"What? Emily where did you hear that word?" Haley said in shock.
"Unta Gabe" Emily said innocently.
Haley glared at Gabe.
"What is wrong with you? Don't say stuff like that around her!"
"Sorry, I was talking to Callie earlier. I didn't think Emily heard cause she was playing" Gabe said uncomfortably under his sister's glare.
Haley bent down to be at eye level with her daughter.
"Em, I don't want you to say that word again, ok? It's not a nice word" Haley explained.
"Otay mommy" Emily agreed as she wrapped her arms around Haley's neck to hug her.