One Step At A Time
Chapter 2
Haley checked her make up in the rearview mirror, before getting out of the car. She fixed her black skirt and made sure there was nothing on her white crochet top. Then took a deep breath before walking in the restaurant.
The atmosphere is amazing at least to Haley opinion, The walls were painted red, which was odd to her, she hasn't ever been in a restaurant with dark red walls. She loved the high beamed ceilings and eclectic decor. It also have plants at corners and a vase on each table with lovely lily's in them. The lights set to a medium level, giving the place certain peaceful mood, the music tone, went well with the atmosphere. This place was for sure giving her a friendly, comfortable feeling...
""Excuse me, Can I help with anything?"" A voice said behind her.
Haley turned around, being greeted by a girl, with an apron, " Yes, I'm here to see a Mrs. Sawyer," she told the girl, who she figured was one of the waitress.
" Oh, she is expecting you, I'll get her," She said, before walking away.
Haley just smiled then turn back around looking at the pictures on the wall, they were drawing, wonderful, amazing drawings of New York, apartment buildings, towers, parks, Madison square gardens, " Wow!" she whispered, as she kept looking,
" Mrs. Keller,"
" Yes, " she said, as she turn back around.
" Hey, I'm Peyton Sawyer, " she said, as she extend her hand.
Haley smiled as she shook her hand, " Hey, Mrs Sawyer."
" Well, first things first, it's Ms, not Mrs, I'm not married, not to sure I want to, so please call me Peyton."
" Oh I'm sorry, and yeah believe me, I wish I never married, " she said, " And by the way it's Ms. not Mrs, anymore for me either, and pretty soon, my last name will not be Keller anymore, it will be my maiden name Scott. And you can call me Haley."
" Okay, Haley Scott, it's nice to meet you." Peyton said, extending her hand out again. " We're start over." she smiled,
She smiled back at her, " You to Peyton Sawyer," she said, as they shook hands again.
"So I read on your application that you just moved here."
"Yes, from North Carolina"
"Really, I'm from South Carolina." Peyton told her as she led them over to a booth.
" What a small world, " she replied, as she kept staring at her.. " I'm sorry for starring but I swear, I've seen you before somewhere, I just can't put my finger on it."
" Well, you're going to think I'm crazy, but I was just about to say the something to you, I feel like I saw you somewhere, or something, Like recently , " she told her, as they sat. " But you know they say everyone has a twin somewhere out there." she laughed.
Haley laughed to, " Well, I actually I do have a twin" Peyton's eyes widen, " Not a female one, I have a twin brother, who has lived here the last four years or so. "
" What does he do?"
" He owns Scott's Repair shop, on the corner of...
" Fifth and third, down by the pizza place." Peyton finished for her, Haley give her a confused look. " Well, strangely, my brother works there, so your bother must be his boss, Nathan talks about Lucas, a lot. "
" Nathan, the new guy who can't change the oil without making a mess, gets shocked every time he touches any wires? "
Peyton laughed, " Yep, that's my brother, he's not to good with cars, But put a basketball in his hands and he could show you a thing or two, he's got skills on the court.."
" Why is he working on cars, if he is that good on the court? He should have been basketball player." she joked.
Peyton's smile dropped, "That was the plan." she said on a low voice. " Sometimes life just doesn't go the way you plan. " she added
Haley, decided to dropped the subject after Peyton's sudden mood change. " So this place is amazing, I love everything about it, the atmosphere, the music, the walls or different, then what I have ever seen. Many places don't go for such a dark color,"
"colors in the restaurant are meant to evoke certain feelings, and have even been known to encourage guests' appetites. Colors can do a lot to affect the overall of a place. It's my favorite color."
" I get that," she said, as she looks around again. " The drawings or beautifully done, do you know the artist?"
" Yep," she whispered, as looked at what she was looking at. " She's sitting right across for you."
" You did these?" she questioned, with shock in her voice. " That are amazing, my brother would love them, He loves stuff like this, he collects all kinds of art. "
" Thank you, You should bring him by sometime."
" I will, "
"So you said you like everything about my place, but haven't said a word about my food." Peyton said, as she give her a questioning look.
"Well, to be honest with just moving here I haven't actually had the pleasure to eat here yet." she smirked,
Peyton's eyes lite up, " Well, how about we go in the kitchen and I'll cook you up something, and then we can talk about you being my new assistant, "
" Assistant?" Haley questioned,
" My old one is leaving me, and I like you Haley, I think if you like my cooking, which I know you will, The job is yours if you want. "
" Oh I do, believe me, I do, " she said excitedly, jumping up giving Peyton a hug, Which shocked Peyton. " I'm so sorry,"
" Hey, it's okay, " She said, as she stood up, " Come on, let's go do my favorite thing in the world,"
" I'm right behind you," Haley said, as she pulled out her cell, quickly sending a text. " I got the job! : ) "
Nathan was under the hood of a 1965 ford mustang, when his cell beeped. He pulled it out, quickly reading the message, then smiled. " I knew you would, congrats! :)" he texted back.
" What's got you smile?" Lucas asked, as he walked over to where he was standing.
" Nothing" he said, as he put his phone away.
" Alright then, Look I'm going to probably cut out early, I didn't get much sleep last night, so if you want to stay you can; it's your choice."
" What did you do hit up the clubs last night Luke"
" I don't do clubs Nate, I told you I'm fine with the way by life is, "
" Seriously? I don't believe you, you sound like my sister, You two should meet."
"You have been saying that since I met you, why haven't I met her yet." Luke asked, as he lean up against the car.
" She is so busy with her restaurant, she even spends her free time there."
" That's right Peyton Place, I haven't tried it out yet. "
" You should it's a great place, she is an amazing cook."
"So is my sister Haley, that's they only reason I'm glad she moved so close to me." he laughed... " I'm going to head out."
Nathan wiped his hands off, " Alright man, see you tomorrow..." he said, as his phone when off. " It's my sister." Lucas nodded, then walked away to give him privacy.
Noticing his own sister walking in the door. " Hey, " Haley said, as she walked over to him.
" Hey, did you take good care of my car?" Lucas asked, as he grabbed his jacket.
She rolled her eyes at her brother, " Your car is fine Luke, God, I think you love that car more than you love me."
"Well..." he trail off.
"That's so wrong." she said, as she slapped his arm. " I got the job, "
" That's great," he said, as he give her a hug.
" Who is he?" she asked pointing to the guy in corner.
Lucas looked over, "None of your business, "
" Why?"
" Let's get gong,"
Haley continue to look at the nameless guy." He's cute" she said with a smirk, " Is he single?"
" How can you tell he's cute?" He asked, " All you can see from here is the back of his head."
"A girl just knows these things Luke."
He shook his head and pulled her out of the garage, " Look, I don't know if he's single, it's not my business, but I do know, that he is not a guy I want you dating, or getting to know."
"Why?" She asked, as they got in the car, "
" Drop it"He said, as he buckle his seat belt. He noticed the look she was giving him, "Haley just trust me, he's not the one for you, continue to talk to that guy on the site you met, Nathan and you could never work."
"What do you know that you're not telling me?" she questioned knowing there was more story to his lame excuse.
" Theres things about his background I just don't like."
" So what? everyone has things in their backgrounds Lucas?"
" Yeah they do, your right, but this is different?"
" How is this different?"
" It just is" he said in an annoyed voice
" No it's not. I think...
" He was in prison Haley" He yelled interrupting her " So I would prefer for you to stay away from him." Haley sat there for a moment looking at him. " Look, I like Nathan a lot, he's good coworker, and he's someone I can talk basketball with, but I don't see myself hanging with him outside of work.
" Nathan" she whispered, as she thought back to her conversation with Peyton early. " That's Peyton's brother, he was in prison" she said, as she realized why Peyton's mood changed when they were talking about him.
" What?" Lucas asked, as he continued to drive.
" His sister is my new boss."
" Peyton Place is where you had your interview?"
" Yeah and I kind of promised to meet her for dinner tomorrow night, and bring you and she was going to bring Nathan."
Lucas looked at her, " Look I'm not going to tell you to quit the job, I know how much it means to you, but I'm not going out with Nathan, I'm sorry Haley. And I think you should keep a friendly coworkers relationship with this Peyton chick, The Sawyer's aren't someone we need to get involved with."