Flashback in bold italics.
Chapter 8
SOLD. The big red letters were stamped onto a realtor sign outside the house Ollie was approaching. School had finished a half hour earlier and she was just now arriving at Haley's house. When Haley had announced at the Tric performance that she was going to settle down in Tree Hill, Ollie hadn't really believed it. She couldn't see why somebody as famous as Haley James would want to live somewhere so small and boring. But she couldn't deny the fact that the star had bought a house, got a job and seemed to be setting down roots.
She knocked on the door, rearranging her guitar strap on her shoulder nervously. After school before coming here she had run home to get her guitar.
The door opened, and Haley stood behind it smiling at her.
"Come on in." She said warmly gesturing for Ollie to enter the house.
Self consciously Ollie glanced at her before entering the house.
There were boxes everywhere, some half unpacked, some not even opened.
"Umm, the studios this way." Haley was pointing down the hall. She was nervous; this was her only chance to get to know Ollie without her hating her. If it went well she might, just maybe be ready to tell her that she was the mother that left her when she was a child. Maybe.
"You have your own studio? Of course you have a studio," Ollie said in awe shaking her heaed at her silly question.
"Yeah, in here." Haley noticed it was kind of awkward. "Where's your friend? Ephraim was it?
Ollie nodded, "He had soccer practice this afternoon and couldn't come. So, ah, why were you at school this morning?" she asked knowing that she probably shouldn't pry, but curiosity getting the better of her.
"Oh, I'm the new music teacher. Do you take it?"
"Um no I don't."
There was a slightly awkward pause. Haley could tell the younger girl was kind of star struck and that she wanted to be polite.
The two were now in the studio. Ollie had gotten out her guitar, not completely sure what she was meant to do.
"Can you play something for me?" Haley asked gently.
"Like what?"
"Whatever you want"
Ollie nodded as a small blush rose to her cheeks.
Then she began to play.
On the field Ephraim was carving it up. Even though from a young age, Nathan had taught him basketball, he had never really understood everyone's love for the game, but when his stepfather Chase had been kicking a soccer ball round one day and Ephraim had joined in, the game just clicked with him. Earlier that day when he had been talking to the coach about joining the team, the memory of first learning soccer came back to him. As did the memory of a conversation 4 years ago he knew he shouldn't have overheard.
Ephraim knew he should really have been in bed. He wasn't tired though, he wanted to play more soccer. If his mom didn't see them he was pretty sure Chase would let him. 9 o' clock was too early for an eleven year old to go to bed anyway.
As quietly as he could, he snuck to the bottom of the staircase hoping his mom wouldn't catch him. At the bottom he heard voices and quiet music coming from the family room.
"She has a new album out huh?" That was his stepfather's voice.
"Yep", he heard his mother say sadly.
"How's Nathan holding up?"
On the stairs, Ephraim's ears perked up at the sound of Nathans name being said. He crept closer to the door, making out the music to be Haley James singing.
"I rang him earlier. He said he was fine, but I'm not so sure Chase."
"Yeah, I know. It's been years, but do you reckon she's going to ever come back, you know to them?
"I have no idea. The Haley I knew never would have abandoned her daughter and husband in the first place."
"I know babe. Its just sad is all to think that they may never see each other again."
Then they were silent apart from the soft rustling of them changing positions on the couch. Even though he couldn't see into the lounge, because the door was closed, he knew that his moms head was resting on Chases shoulder and his arm was wrapped tightly around her shoulders. He even knew from the tone of his mom's voice that her eyes were laced with sadness.
Tonight wasn't a good night to be naughty, he knew that now. What he also knew was that his parents were talking about Nathan and Ollie. He didn't fully understand though, what the singer Haley James had to do with them.
Silently, he tiptoed up the stairs to his room, confused by what he had just heard.
By the next morning however, his parent's conversation had been pushed out of his mind and he didn't remember it again.
Until it had re entered his mind earlier today.
As soon as he saw Haley at school, he had known exactly what his parent's conversation had meant. Haley was Ollie's mother. It all made so much sense, Nathans sudden depression and Haley's interest in Ollie.
And poor Ollie who, he knew was going to get caught in the middle and hurt in the process.
He felt anger at the situation building inside him. The ball at his feet he dribbled toward the goal putting his anger into the soccer. Booting the ball, he looked on as it flew into the net.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true
Ollie sang, not looking at Haley, looking at the floor instead. What made her choose to sing this, she had no idea, it just came out. She had never practiced it or even really played it before, yet she knew the words and chords off by heart. This was the song that her father used to play to her as a child. He was a terrible singer, so he had always played her this; somehow it had always been able to settle her.
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
As Haley listened, she noticed a hint of sadness in the girl's voice. Haley watched Olivia's bowed head rise ever so slightly to glance over at her, before looking back down again. She could tell that as the song progressed her daughter was getting more comfortable and confident within herself.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
As the song came to an end, Haley's eyes were damp. She wiped them as she noticed Olivia turning to look at her, not wanting her to see her cry.
"That was beautiful Olivia" Haley said truthfully.
"Um really? Thanks." A small smile played on Ollie's lips and a slight blush on her cheeks. "My dad used to play it to me when I was little." She said not really knowing why she told Haley it.
Haley smiled, for some reason Olivia had opened up to her, even if it was only something as small as what she had just said. But she knew that she shouldn't ask her daughter anything personal, it would seem strange and creepy. She didn't have that privilege with her daughter yet. So she changed the subject.
"When your friend Ephraim's not busy I could do some recording for you, if you'd like." Haley suggested.
"Yeah." She smiled wondering why Haley was being so nice, "Thanks, I'll ask him."
Ollie peered at her watch noticing the time, and also feeling that she should probably leave soon, afterall Haley was pretty much a stranger.
"I'd better go", Ollie said placing her guitar gently in its case. "Thanks for listening to me play."
Watching her get up, Haley wasn't ready to say goodbye yet, she also knew that it was time to talk to Nathan. "Olivia, I can give you a ride home".
Ollie smiled. "Ok Thanks, umm you can call me Ollie if you want. Everyone does."
"Ok Ollie," Haley smiled, she knew that pretty soon her daughter wouldn't be this accepting of her.
The two headed out to the car. Haley knowing that at the other end of the drive was one of the most difficult confrontations she would ever have. Seeing Nathan face to face after all this time.