Raven's Last Ride Chapter 5: Haley's Promise, a sons of anarchy fanfic

Chapter 5- Haley's Promise

August 31st, 2009.

Boston, MA.

She was barely aware of getting dressed and straightening her hair with the flattening iron she had gotten one year for Christmas. She knew Danny was probably sitting in the kitchen, eating. She did her makeup, making sure every inch of her face looked perfect. She put a couple clips in her hair to keep strays out of her face and she went into the TV room where her backpack was, packed up with school supplies like the good student she was.

"No breakfast?" said Danny.

"No," said Haley. "Let's just go."

They took the elevator down, knowing if circumstances had been different they would've joked about her father's loud snoring and her mother being at the hospital at all hours of the night, but that Louie snored even louder so that was why Danny had bunked in the Monroe's guestroom.

Today it was quiet, like a funeral home. Haley bit back tears when that analogy hit her mind, not wanting to destroy the carefully applied makeup she had put on, not wanting to break before she saw Kerri – the bond she had with the girl was like nothing else with her other friends. To find another who understood the performing arts world was demanding and pretty much crushed your social life, it was like finding a soul mate. Most of Haley's other friends had different careers in mind, and she wondered where they'd all be in ten years. She had hoped to be a famous pianist and singer in ten years living in Paris, now all she wanted was for Kerri, her dear friend and a talented ballerina, to be okay.

SOA

They entered South Boston High without much fanfare and split off to greet friends.

"Haley!" Amy yelled.

The two honor students shared a hug, then the redhead Jenny approached with their very gay friend Nate in tow. Suddenly Lucy ran up to meet them and she looked upset.

"I just checked my email… Kerri's back," said Lucy.

"That can't be, I thought that would only happen if… oh, no," said Jenny.

"Oh, no!" said Nate.

The bell rang, and Haley ran to her first class, AP Lit & Comp. No sooner had the teacher handed out the syllabus for that semester that an announcement went over the P.A. system.

"Attention SBH seniors, would all seniors come to the auditorium for an assembly please? Thank you."

The teacher told the class right before leaving that considering the assembly would take the whole period, no homework would be assigned. No sooner had Haley exited the classroom did she spot Kerri exiting the room next to hers.

"Oi!" said Kerri.

The two friends shared a hug. Haley vowed that she would keep the tears back until she was out of school for the day – the least she could do for her friend was stay strong. They talked on their way to the auditorium, knowing they'd see their other friends there.

"Taking an English class?" said Haley.

"Aye, Great Books – I thought I'd see ya in there but I guess ye decided ta take AP English?" said Kerri.

"Yeah," said Haley. "So, I read the email with Danny… what's happening now?"

"Not here," said Kerri.

They went into a bathroom close to the auditorium and talked.

"They got me on an experimental treatment and radiation as well… Mum wanted me ta stay in hospital but I won that argument," said Kerri.

"Did you have to?" said Haley.

"No, I was allowed to have outpatient therapy if we all agreed on it," said Kerri. "I gotta go every afternoon for treatment, didn't want ta be in hospital tha rest of tha time. Wanted ta finish school, and try ta keep up with me dancin' until I get too weak from tha drugs. How did Danny take the news I was sick again?"

"He said it wasn't fair, and hasn't said much since," said Haley. "Boys."

They were about to leave the bathroom when a thought occurred to Haley.

"You didn't have radiation the last time… why now?" said Haley.

"They found a tumor on the left side of my chest," said Kerri. "I get radiation fer five days each week, for four an' a half weeks… good thing I don' have any after-school activities, 'cuz I got chemo on top o' dat. No guarantee any of it will work, I told me mum I wanted ta spend time with you an' the rest of the girls, if it's all I got left."

"You sound calm… how?" said Haley.

"Not really… I don't want ta die," said Kerri.

"You won't… I won't let that happen," said Haley. "I promise."

"There's nothin' that'll be a hundred percent unless I get a bone marrow transplant," said Kerri.

"I know," said Haley. "We'll just have to find your dad – I know a P.I, we can do this. Your fate isn't set in stone Kerri."

"Thank ye, Haley," said Kerri. "Yer a good friend."

They shared a hug before hastily running to the auditorium. They had to sit on the second floor, where they found most of their friends. Amy, her boyfriend Ricky, and Danny were on the stage because of their roles in the Student Council. Ricky was president, Amy was vice president, and Danny was treasurer. One of the bimbos on the cheerleading squad was secretary. They were talking about various fundraising ideas for homecoming, prom, and the graduation trip, which the year before everyone had voted to go to Walt Disney World, so this year everyone had to come up with ideas to fatten up the senior class account so that would be possible.

"That sounds like fun doesn't it?" said a voice.

Haley looked at the boy sitting next to her. He had brown hair and blue eyes. She noticed his accent was the same as Kerri's.

"Murphy, quit it," Kerri hissed.

Murphy rolled his eyes.

"You two know each other?" said Haley.

"Aye… he's like that annoyin' little bruther ye never want ta have but ye get stuck wit anyway," said Kerri.

"I'm not annoyin', I'm Murphy McKeavy," said Murphy.

"Haley Monroe," said Haley.

"Ah, the famous Haley Monroe… it's been said ye sing like an angel," said Murphy. "Sing fer us."

"I don't sound like an angel," said Haley.

"Aye, ye do," said Kerri.

"Kerri also said ye play the piano very well," said Murphy.

"Alright, I'll sing something," said Haley.

Where is the spring and the summer
that once was yours and mine?
Where did it go?
I just don't know
but still my love for you will live forever

Hasta mañana 'til we meet again
don't know where, don't know when
darling, our love was much too strong to die
we'll find a way to face a new tomorrow
hasta mañana say we'll meet again
I can't do without you
time to forget, send me a letter
say you forgive, the sooner the better
hasta mañana, baby
hasta mañana, until then

Where is the dream we were dreaming?
And all the nights we shared
where did they go?
I just don't know
and I can't tell you just how much I miss you

Haley stopped and heard her friends clapping softly.

"It's true – ye sing like an angel," said Murphy.

Haley smiled then mentally cursed herself for doing so. She was always like this with guys. She liked the attention when the school sluts weren't hogging it all. He was actually pretty cute, come to think of it. She wondered if he liked her, if he'd ask her out and not think her a prude because she didn't dress like a skank.

She then mentally cursed herself for being excited about a new guy in school when she could possibly lose one of her best friends.

SOA

She was with Kerri and her other friends when Murphy showed up again. He threw a charming smile in her direction.

"He likes you," said Amy.

Haley shrugged. She couldn't have distractions – she needed to find Kerri's dad. She had a name, and would call Taylor tonight. That was when she realized she couldn't remember Taylor's number. However, that didn't bother Haley because she knew that since Brooke and Taylor were best friends that Brooke would have Taylor's number. Haley wasn't one to give up easily. She had promised her friend that she didn't have to die, so Haley would look everywhere she had to or die herself trying. A promise was a promise.

Murphy got in line to get food. Danny took a seat with the girls and put an arm around Kerri. She rested her head on his shoulder.

SOA

The last period was study hall. The seniors who had study hall technically didn't have to stay for it if it was an absolute need to leave school early, so Kerri had to go and wait for her mom to take her to her radiation/chemo appointment at Boston Children's. Haley had waited with her at one of the entrances, then when she went outside Haley had trudged back to class feeling like the oldest person in the world. All of her friends except for Amy and Danny had study hall. The teacher was planning to put in a movie and he cut them all loose so they could buy food and drinks at the school store. Murphy ran to catch up with Haley and soon fell in step with her, asking her about the school and what she liked doing. He wanted to know more about her. He knew she was Catholic because she had a cross on and the references her friends had made to her as a "crazy Pollack", as he'd never met a Polish Protestant in his entire life – didn't want to either.

"Who gave ya that cross?" said Murphy.

Haley fingered the silver cross with the rose in the middle, where Jesus would've been. It was on a matching chain.

"My sister – Confirmation gift," said Haley.

That was when Haley noticed something.

"Oh my god! You're wearing real pants!" said Haley.

"What?" said Murphy.

"You're not wearing skinny jeans and I can't see your boxers," said Haley.

"I saw some boys runnin' around wit their boxers showin'… do they really make skinnies for boys?" said Murphy.

"Yeah – it's gross!" said Haley.

Murphy laughed, and for the first time that day so did Haley.

SOA

"Mom, it's me… Kerri's back," said Haley.

She was at Children's and talking to her mom via cell phone. School had let out so she and Murphy had gone straight there. Danny had wanted to come along but a nasty homework load kept him at home – not that it mattered. After all, he lived right across the hall and would always go to Haley's apartment.

"She's sick again?" said Julia.

"Yeah," said Haley. "Her mom brought her boyfriend with her this time."

"I don't like that, is he there?" said Julia.

"No… haven't met him, don't wanna, from what Kerri's told me he's obviously a snake in the grass," said Haley. "She says he's been with her mom for years, but… I'd rather not put it blunty over the phone but is it okay if Kerri comes over? I know it's a school night but this guy is creeping her out."

"You don't need to ask, your friends are always welcome in our home, especially Kerri," said Julia. "She's far from home and battling cancer, you did a very good thing reaching out to her that summer. I'm very proud of you."

They ended the call. Haley had no clue where that had come from. Then again, her mom had always been like that, even when she had her strict moments – and those were frequent – she had always let Brooke and Haley bring people around if they needed a place to stay. Taylor's parents on a drug binge? Julia would make up the guestroom. Jenny embarrassed because she had seen her parents doing a hands-on demonstration of free love? Popcorn and soda was at the ready. Lucy wigged out due to living over the family business, aka a funeral home? Haley would then see the stack of horror films and her mom making a discreet exit – Julia hated horror movies but knew Haley and Lucy would watch them together so she tried being fair about it.

To Haley, it was like her mom had been in some other life.

Like Brooke, Haley thought.

"Mom with a biker? No way," Haley muttered.

SOA

She had been sitting in the waiting room when she got a text from Kerri.

All done. Mum can't pick me up, and I don't wanna call him.

Haley then replied.

My mom said you can stay over whenever you need to. We can go straight to school tomorrow.

SOA

Haley was driving Kerri home when she saw a horrible look on her friend's face.

"Pull over," Kerri whispered.

Haley pulled over next to the train tracks. Kerri opened the door and vomited repeatedly onto a patch of dirt. Haley rubbed her friend's back in an effort to comfort her – there wasn't anything either of them could do except wait for it to stop. A cop casing the area saw them.

"Hey! I thought I told you kids not to get drunk on the tracks!" the cop yelled.

"She's not drunk, she's sick!" Haley yelled. "Fuck you!"

Haley gave him the finger and yelled obscenities until the cop ran off.

SOA

The rest of the drive went without incident. By the time they got to Haley's apartment building Kerri was so weak she could barely walk. They took the elevator to the apartment Haley lived in and went inside. Kerri immediately bolted for the bathroom. When Haley no longer heard the horrible retching, she went to check on Kerri and found her friend curled up in a ball, crying.

"I hate this," Kerri whispered. "I couldn't even get out of yer car without help – how am I supposed ta dance?"

Haley almost started crying herself. That was Kerri's lifelong dream, to be a ballerina. Haley had seen her dance several times, and Kerri was even better than Haley's family friend Isabel had ever been.

"If I couldn't sing or play the piano, I –," said Haley.

"Ye might as well be dead," said Kerri. "I'd rather die able to dance than live like this too weak to do a fookin' pirouette!"

"I promise I'll find your dad – you get the transplant, you'll get your strength back, be able to dance, and we'll go to Julliard together," said Haley.

"Aye, but if ye don't find him by me 18th birthday, I'm stoppin' treatment," said Kerri. "Second week I've been on this shite and I hate how it makes me feel."

SOA

Haley glanced at the clock. It was late.

After the breakdown in the bathroom, she and Kerri had made their way to the living room where Haley had played "Clair de Lune" and Danny had shown up upon hearing the piano across the hall. Kerri had smiled for the first time since they had been in school that day before falling asleep in Danny's arms. He carried her to the guestroom and quietly shut the door.

"Thanks," said Haley.

"No prob – you know why I came over," said Danny.

"Yeah, cuz you've been in love with her since we were 15," said Haley.

"And they say long-distance relationships don't work out," said Danny. "I call bullshit."

"You staying?" said Haley.

"Yeah, I'll take the couch," said Danny.

That had been a couple hours ago. Haley knew Danny was still awake. The light was on in the TV room. She turned on her cell phone, opened the window in her bedroom, and crawled onto the fire escape outside. Sitting on the landing, she dialed a number she knew by heart, and could hear "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay playing as the person answered the phone. It was Haley's favorite song.

"Hey," said Brooke.

"Hey," said Haley.

She felt the weight of the day bearing down on her shoulders and couldn't hide her sadness from her older sister if she tried.

"Haley, it's me," said Brooke. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"I need your help," said Haley.

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world