"Where are we going Hales?" I asked her as we were walking around a quiet part of the neighbourhood.
"My home." She replied with a smile. "Normally, I would never ever take you there considering my place is like a mad dog house. But if we duck and go, maybe they wont realise that we're home."
Mad house? I wondered how many people she lived with. That made me realise I didnt know anything about Haley. What were her parents like? Did she have any siblings? Or was she too a part of my crowd? I didn't think so by how she looked outwardly. But looks are deceiving. I am the first to know that.
We made it in front of a sweet house. It was small but looked very inviting. There were vines growing around and the garden had flowers. A picket fence surrounded the place and it was your standard family home.
"Just perfect." I mumbled under my breath.
"It's not as large as your house. But, it's home." She defended.
"No Haley. It's beautiful. What I have is a large house. What you have here is a loving home. My bets are that you're going to win." I winked.
She got out her keys and we walked inside.
"Lydia, the baby's here." Her dad spoke from the living room.
"Hey dad." She greeted.
"Hi munchkin. Who's the friend?" He smiled as he shook hands with me.
"Hey, isn't that Brooke Davis, the sudden talk of the town?" Somebody spoke from the back.
"Hey Taylor. Yes, its Brooke. B, meet my sister Taylor." She rolled her eyes as she said that.
I just kinked a brow as I witnessed the duo banter about me without me saying a single word.
"Girls, cut it out! James, why aren't you stopping these two? We have a guest over!" A woman whom I assumed to be the mom acknowledged.
"So much for sneaking from the crazy family!" Haley exhaled and pulled my hand.
"Mom, we will be down in the basement. Bye!" I couldn't help but giggle at her exasperated look.
"What?" She argued.
"Nothing." I answered while shooting my hands up in defence. "Haley, I don't want to die today." I answered as she took me down to the basement.
"Relax. I hope you like it though. I'm not that great." She meekly replied.
"Confidence. You can't achieve anything if you keep pulling yourself down like that." I repeated the lesson of the day.
When we reached the landing, Haley flicked the lights to reveal a beautiful practice room. There were pictures on the wall and strings of fairy lights. But, it was what lay in the corner. A beautiful brown piano.
"You play?" I asked flabbergasted.
"Yeah. Come, sit." She said as she took her place on the cushioned seat of the piano.
I just sat there quietly and shut my eyes to enjoy what was going to come next.
She started playing a melody. It was soft and soothing. Then she started singing. At first her voice was soft and I could hear the occasional crack as she was a little afraid about messing up. But as the song proceeded, she gained confidence. Her voice became stronger and all doubts were erased. She sang like a nightingale. The song flowed like a calm brook as her finger glided around the keys in perfect rhythm to make the perfect symphony of sounds. I could honestly say, it made my heart feel bliss as her powerful voice accompanied the harmony.
"Brooke. Brooke, I'm done playing. You can open your eyes now." She snapped to get me out of my reverie.
"Haley James! Oh man! That was so good! You should totally make a record, do concerts and tour! Did you write that song? You're totally like Hannah Montana with the secret voice and talent. Just without the wig. I hope, that isn't a wig!" I said while fumbling with her dirty blonde hair.
"Haha funny!" She joked.
"Haley! Dinner's ready." Her mom yelled from the top.
"Oh come! Or my sisters will ear everything up!" She yelled as we journeyed up the stairs.
"Sisters?" I asked when my ears picked up the plural.
"Yeah. I have two older sisters. Taylor and Quinn. Just imagine how much I would have been picked on!"
"So you have fun at dinner. See you tomorrow for our shopping spree!" I spoke cheerily.
"Oh no, join us. There is absolutely no escape my friend. My mom is not going to let you leave the house until you can't button those jeans anymore."
"No its fine. I don't really eat dinner." I shied away.
"Why?" She asked worried. Wrong move to tell her? Oops!
"No no, nothing like that. Its just that I don't know how to cook. So, I eat lunch at school. And coffee is good enough for the morning. I do order take out sometimes though, if I'm really hungry at night." I explained.
"Brooke-" she started but we were only greeted by another holler from Mrs. James.
"Come on. Eat with us tonight." She firmly commanded.
The table was lathed with the sweet smell of a home-cooked meal, you know the ones where the secret ingredient is a mother's love.
They started with Grace which made me just feel terrible for never praying before eating. I was about to grab some food as I felt my stomach lurch at the sight of a scrumptious meal, but they all joined their hands and thanked God for everything. Note to self, be thankful for food in a poor world.
"This is really very good Mrs. James." I complimented after eating a few bites.
"Oh thank you dear. You can come over to eat any time. Theirs always enough to feed a little army here." She joked.
"I've seen you st school." Quinn commented. "I heard some strange rumours about why you left and came back. Are any of them true? Some of them said that you had a baby, so you left because you would get fat. And some say you were sent to finishing school. Whatever that is. Why did you leave anyway?"
"Oh mom, Brooke is taking me shopping tomorrow. Isn't that sweet?" She quickly changed the subject, knowing how picky I was about that issue.
She looked at me with a worried look. I just smiled and mouthed, 'Thank You.'
She was going to be a very good friend. I knew it.