Lost and Found
Haley pushed the button on her answering machine. "You have four new messages," the mechanical voice chimed.
"Hi, Haley, it's Trey. Just wondering if you were free to come on a double date with me. I know, I know. I drag you out on these all the time, but I need someone there who knows me in case the date is a bust. What do you say? Call me later." Haley smiled to herself. It had been at least five weeks since she and Trey Carter had broken up and it was amazing that they had managed to become good friends. They had a platonic thing going on now and it was much more fun than their romantic relationship had ever been. They had a system for when one of their friends set them up on a blind date. They'd arrange for the other to come along and bring a mutual friend of the two to be the other's date just in case the blind date turned out to be incompatible. She deleted the message and made a mental note to call Trey back to turn him down. She wasn't interested in dating much right now. It was time she became more focused on her singing career. She was about to recording to put down new tracks for her third album. Haley was signed with a Boston-owned record label in Washington. She wasn't world famous, but she did fine. This was her dream and she was living it.
"Hello, Haley, it's Kalvin from BRC and I've got to say I loved the new songs. The managers are giving it a go ahead to put them on the new album. Way to go, girl." Now she felt really happy. Truthfully, the songs had been written a long time ago and she dug them out of an old notebook and decided to turn them into her manager Kalvin Trent. She began sorting through her mail when the next voice made her drop her letters.
"Hi, Haley, it's Craig." What possible reason could her big brother have for calling her? How did he even find her? "Um, look. Mom and dad gave me your number because I knew that they knew where you were. Wow. Who knew you were so close? Anyways, I'm coming up to see you tomorrow. I have something to tell you and I think it should be done in person. I'll see you around seven." "This message was recorded Wednesday at five p.m.," the mechanical voice said. Haley sighed. It was 6 p.m. on Thursday night. Great, she thought. I am in no way prepared for this. Haley ran a hand through her dyed blonde hair and sighed. She figured she might as well get started on her singing before her brother showed up with his announcement.
AN HOUR LATER
There was a knock at her front door and she raced to answer it. Craig smiled at her. It was a forced smile. He looked basically the same. "Can I come in?" he asked. Haley nodded and moved past so he could come in. He walked in and looked around the place. "Not bad," he said.
"Thanks," Haley said, sitting down at her piano.
"So, how long have you been in Washington?" Craig asked. Haley stopped to think for a minute.
"I moved here right after the tour ended," she explained. Craig nodded.
"Mom told me you moved back to Tree Hill," Haley said. Craig nodded. "Why? When we were kids, all you could talk about was getting out of there," Haley said.
"Tree Hill is my home, Haley and it's where I belong," Craig said.
"And how's life in Tree Hill?" Haley asked.
"It's really good. I was surprised when I decided to come back too. But what's even more shocking is that you left Tree Hill," he said.
"Why is that so shocking?" Haley asked.
"Because you used to fit the description of a small-town girl to a tee," he said.
"Well, things changed," she said.
"Yeah, I heard," he said accusingly.
"So, what did you want to tell me?" Haley asked.
"I wanted to tell you that I'm getting married," he said. Haley looked at him in shock.
"Since when?" she asked.
"Well, I've been engaged for seven months," he said.
"Mom forgot to mention that," Haley said.
"It wasn't her place to tell you. It's mine. And besides, she probably didn't tell you because of who my fiancée is," he said.
"Why would that bother me?" Haley asked.
"You know her. She's your age," he said.
"I do, huh? Well, don't leave me hanging. Tell me who it is," Haley said.
"Brooke Davis," he said. Haley looked completely stunned.
"Tell me we're not talking about the same girl who used to be captain of the cheerleading squad," Haley said.
"The one and only," he said.
"How did you two even meet?" Haley asked.
"In California. She and her family moved out there," he said.
"Ok. When are you two getting married?" Haley asked.
"Next week," he said. Haley almost choked. "And I want you to come," he said. Haley scoffed.
"Look, Craig, I'm really happy for you and Brooke and I want to be there for you but I don't think it's such a good idea," Haley said.
"Mind telling me why," he said.
"Well, never mind the fact that I haven't been in Tree Hill for seven years and I know how most of them feel about me, but what about Brooke?" Haley asked.
"What about her?" Craig asked. Haley looked at him incredulously.
"She hates me, Craig! And I can tell you for certain that Peyton and Lucas will probably be there, and they hate me too. Do you really want all of that tension at your wedding?" Haley said.
"Don't forget Nathan," he said. Haley nodded.
"Ok, now I'm definitely not coming," she said.
"Haley, this is my wedding we're talking about," he said.
"Yeah and if I were you, I would prefer that my wedding didn't turn into the town lynching," Haley said.
"That's ridiculous," he said.
"Oh, now who's being naïve?" she asked, referring to the number of times that her siblings had told her that she was so naïve while they were growing up. Craig eyed her carefully.
"Haley, are you sure that the reason you don't want to come is really for the sake of my wedding, or is it because you don't want to face Nathan?" Craig asked. Haley smiled.
"I'm not afraid of seeing Nathan again if that's what you're getting at," she said.
"Really?" he asked. Haley shook her head. She started to tell him that what happened happened a long time ago and she had moved on and made a pretty good life for herself. She didn't dwell on the past because she knew that if she were faced with the same choice again, she would do the same thing all over again. "I've got to give you credit. You certainly aren't holding any grudges," he said.
"I have no need to, Craig. Look around you. I have a good life. It may not be what I pictured it to be but I'm happy," she said.
"Then, you can come to my wedding if you're happy with the way your life has turned out," he said.
"How does Brooke feel about this?" she asked.
"There are friends of Brooke's that I didn't really want to come," he said.
"Like who?" Haley asked.
"Like a girl named Bevin," he said. Haley looked at him for an explanation, but he didn't give him one. Haley sighed. He looked at her imploring her to come.
"All right, I'll come," she finally said. Then, Craig told her that he expected to see her back in Tree Hill in two days to help him and his mom out. "Look, you never said anything about coming back early," Haley said.
"Because I knew that you would never agree to it then," he said. Haley looked at him in annoyance. He smiled at her as he hugged her. "This means a lot to me, Haley. I really want my baby sister around for this. Thank you," he said, hugging her more tightly. Haley groaned.
"Oh, what'd you have to go and say that for?" she asked. He looked at her. "Now, I can't change my mind and say 'no'," she said. He laughed at her as he hugged her again.
"I'll see you in Tree Hill, sis," he said, getting up and leaving. Haley stared around her apartment for a while. Now, look at what you've gotten yourself into, a voice deep inside said.
