Haley woke up the next morning, feeling refreshed and ready for another day. That was until she remembered everything that had happened the day before and what was going to happen in the day ahead. She buried her head under her duvet hoping to have at least half an hour more of a peaceful slumber before she had to face the dreadful day ahead of her but realised that wasn't going to happen when she felt a little body jumping up and down on top of her.
"Wake up Aunty Haley" Haley heard a chirpy now four year old girl shout. To be honest she was surprised that the little girl even remembered who she was, considering the fact that she hadn't seen her for the best part of two years.
Haley pulled back the duvet and tickled the little girl, who started laughing hysterically.
"Happy Birthday Kayla! How old are you today" Haley asked continuing to tickle Kayla who couldn't speak she was laughing so hard so she put four fingers up to show her age. The two were interrupted by Lucas and Brooke standing in the door way calling Kayla.
"Alright Birthday girl, I know your excited but lets get you dressed then you can come and play with Aunty Haley all you want." Lucas compromised.
Kayla pondered over it before realising that it was a fair deal and showing her agreement by jumping of the bed and running in to her father's arms.
As Lucas turned to leave with his daughter in tow Kayla shouted out with a huge grin on her face "See you in a minute Aunt Haley."
Haley sat up in her bed still smiling at the little girl who had just left the room. Brooke was standing in the doorway looking at her little sister acting the way she used to before any of this drama. She had missed her so much and wanted her back; she wanted her whole family to go back to the way they were, back to normal.
"You know when I told her you were here she got so excited, I didn't want her forget you Haley, I didn't let her forget you ... so get your lazy ass up and get dressed people should be arriving soon and Lucas' family should be here soon." Brooke told her as she jump on the space on the bed next to her sister.
"When is our family getting here?" Haley asked nervously.
"About an hour." Brooke knew that this would be hard for Haley but this was something that she needed to face and with that she left the room.
Haley got up showered and changed into a short black dress with a white pattern across the top and across the bottom, letting her wavy blonde hair be loose and free. After putting on light make-up she headed for the door when she heard the doorbell rang. She braced herself and opened the door.
"Wow, oh my... long time no see." Haley exclaimed with a big smile on her face as she embraced the person behind the door.
"What's up Baby J, I haven't seen you in what, two and half years."
"Yeah, life's been pretty hectic and I've been really busy with work and stuff. What about you?" Haley wasn't in the mood to answer anymore questions on the topic of her life than she had to.
"Well, I'm playing for the Bobcats now." Nathan stated proudly with a huge grin.
"That's....." Haley was interrupted by a screaming four year old. Kayla had her blonde hair in cute curls and a little blue dress on.
"Uncle Natey!" Kayla shouted as soon as she saw him at the door. She jumped in to his arms.
"Hey how's the birthday girl?" Nathan asked.
"She's good." Kayla noticed her Uncle's big sports bag and wriggled out of his arms. She started pulling on the bags strap. "Is my present in here?" She asked with huge grin on her face.
"It might be but that doesn't mean your going to open it now, sweetie, go and watch tv." Brooke told Kayla as she appeared from the living room with Lucas. She watched her daughter skip passed her before greeting her brother in law.
"Hey Nate." She said as she hugged him. Haley just stood in the doorway with them messing with her nails and looking at her feet feeling slightly awkward.
"What's up bro?"Lucas asked as he man-hugged his brother.
"Nothing just playing the game."Nathan grinned."Mom and Dad should be here in any second now they're coming up Brooke's parents." Haley felt even more uneasy and to make matters worse the doorbell rang.
Noticing Haley's uneasiness Brooke spoke up. "Haley, Nathan's going to be staying with us so why don't you show him to the other guest room, I'll get the door."
Haley was so grateful; she gave Brooke a thankful smile and led the way for Nathan to follow.
When she got to his room she opened the door.
"Voila, your room monsieur" Haley joked.
"Merci, Mademoiselle."Nathan joked back as he tossed his bag on the bed and sat at the bottom of it, he patted the space next to him asking Haley to sit. She sat down next to him; she had forgotten how much she had missed him.
"What's going on Haley? What are you doing here?" Nathan said knowingly. Haley had also forgotten about how much he knew her.
"It's over between me and him, I left him and that's all there is to it."
"Alright Hales, as long as your okay and that joker is out of your life."
"He is and I'm fine. I was stupid to think he was the one, you know but today's not about that, it's about me making up with my family and moving on." Haley whispered.
"Okay, should we go down?" Nathan suggested realising that this was going to be hard enough for her.
"Okay." Haley braced herself for what was to come. Nathan gave her a hug and she felt a calm wash over her, suddenly she was ready.
This time it was Nathan who led her. He led her down to the living room; she stood behind him as if for protection. She could her voices coming from the living room, they sounded happy. Haley knew Brooke hadn't told them that she was there. As Nathan entered the room, they greeted him and he then stepped out of the way so Haley was in full view.
"Hey." Haley said nervously looking at the shocked people in front of her. Everyone remained quiet until Peyton spoke up.
"What is she doing here?"Peyton asked coldly while sending Haley an even colder glare.
"Peyton..."Brooke warned, she knew how her sister could be.
"What is she doing here?" Peyton asked curtly.
"Can you excuse a minute, Jimmy you stay here." Lydia told them all. "Ladies, kitchen."
Peyton stood up abruptly and followed her mothers lead but not before giving Haley a hard, cold stare. Brooke took Haley's hand and walked along side her to the kitchen.
When they got to the kitchen Lydia was stood behind the counter while Peyton stood leaning against the sink and looking out of the window.
"I'm sorry." It was all she could think to say, she could feel tears filling her eyes.
"I'm sorry? Really Haley? I'm sorry. You know, that worked the first few times, when he hurt you but it's been three years without a word from you and you think you can just waltz back in to our lives when it all goes bad. I'm right, am I not, he screwed you over again?" Peyton fumed.
"I don't have anything to say to you, you made it quite clear who was more important to you." Lydia said ignoring Peyton's tirade. "Whether or not Brooke wants to forgive you, that's up to her but I would rather you weren't here, we let you come back more than enough times but not this time Haley. Brooke may feel that is okay to let you in to her family but you will not be in mine"
"Mom!" Brooke exclaimed. "She's your daughter, we have all made mistakes before and you forgave us each time because it's what mothers do."
"It's a shame she didn't see it that way, we were nothing but your back up plan, Haley." Lydia's face was as hard as stone, a face that Brooke didn't recognised.
"I made a mistake, a really big mistake and I wish I could erase it but I can't because I don't have that kind of power but I can try and make it up to you. I'll do whatever it is I need to do to prove how sorry I am and how dedicated I am to making this right. Mom, I'm really sorry." Haley pleaded.
"Do you not understand?! There is no making this right. You left this family and I'll be DAMNED if you do it again. Haley, you made your choice now go back to that second rate man whore you call the love of your life" Lydia yelled, all of the girls were shocked, they had never seen her like this before. Brooke cringed at her mothers words. Haley could feel her heart breaking in her chest and it hurt like hell, she couldn't think of anything else to do but run and with that she ran out of the house.
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Haley was sat all alone on the park bench and had been for two hours, tears had been flowing freely but had now dried on her face. She couldn't blame her mother for asking her to leave. She really wished that she had never met Damian, he had ruined her life. Even though she had chosen him, she didn't really love him she just loved the idea of being in love with him. For the past three years she had been lost, her family meant everything to her and she could never understand what had driven her to let go of her family. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, she took it out and the caller id read Damian. What does this Jackass want now? Had he not done enough to me? Haley thought. She exited the call as fast as she could and shove d her phone back in her pocket.
"Do you know if you think too much your head will explode, it's true I read it somewhere." Nathan said from behind her.
"What are you doing here?" Haley said not sure why he had left the party.
"I promised Kayla that I would hand deliver this to you." Nathan held out his hand and in it was a slice of cake with a fork stuck in it on a small paper plate. She gave him a small smile and took it from his hands.
"I'm sorry Hales; I really hoped that it would have turned out good for you." Nathan sympathised.
"It's okay, it's not like it's your fault, right?"
"Haley, you made a mistake and one day your mom and Peyton are going to realise that, you've already got Brooke and your dad on your side." Nathan reassured her.
"My dad?" Haley questioned.
"Yea, he wasn't happy at all, he didn't like the fact that your mom turned you away with out even hearing you out and he believes that you're really sorry because he knows you."
She smiled as she heard what her dad had said.
"Thank you, Nathan you always were a good friend, I really appreciate it. I really missed you, you know that." Haley expressed.
"Your welcome and I missed you, Baby J." Nathan replied.