Ok so I have a couple of chapters left of the original story. However it kind of just stops dead in the middle of a story line, so AFTER NaNoWriMo I will try and wrap up that story line for you. Thank you all again who have read this, and see I remembered today :)
Chapter 27
Peyton Scott looked up from the paper work that she was doing for one of her artists, another label had snipped them away, and as angry as she was, she wasn't going to fight it. If they wanted to leave and deal with a soulless company well that was their problem, not hers, they would learn the hard way that, Peyton gave them a lot more creative license then most producers would. If there was one person she wasn't expecting to see today it was Haley. Although she loved her sister in law, the little spat they had, had yesterday would still be fresh in both their minds and she wasn't up for round two.
"Look Hales , you know where I stand. I think you should trust me and release the song. It's ready, and from what I have heard, you have several other songs ready to record as well. I'm sorry but as your sister in law and friend I can't stand by and watch you waste a talent as good as yours." Sitting back Peyton folded her arms, then waited for what Haley was going to say, she hadn't really listened to Haley yesterday, she hadn't wanted to and that probably hadn't been the right thing to do.
"I'm not pissed that you want to release it Peyton. I'm pissed that you played it for AJ without asking me. That song is incredibly personal to me. I wrote it especially for Nathan before we left, I tried for so long in Savannah to remember it but I couldn't and when mum showed it to me I knew I wanted to record it for Nathan. It wasn't meant to be heard by anyone else. And as much as I am flattered with what you think and what AJ does. I'm also incredibly hurt by the fact you thought, just because I came to you to help me record it. You thought that you had any rights to it at all. I am not one of your artists Peyton I haven't signed anything yet. So far you and I have only been playing around with what could be. You can't go around sharing something that doesn't belong to you. Now I know that husband of yours would say that, you Thudded me yes Lucas has told me about that, and had it been any other song. I'd laugh it off and probably would have just punched you in the arm or something. But Million Dollar Soul, I just wished you had asked me first Peyton. Heck I probably would have said yes, after I had talked to Nathan. But you didn't and that's what hurts. You say big labels are soulless well, I think what you did was pretty soulless. Not as a producer because that's your job. But as my friend you know me, you know how personal song writing is to me, and as my sister in law I thought you had more of a heart then that. You are right about one thing. I do have other songs, and I was coming in here yesterday to tell you, that I would sign for those songs and maybe a few more. But now I'm not so sure, I've dealt with the major labels before Peyton I haven't done anything in a long time because, the last label I was signed with wanted full control not only over my music but over me, they wanted Haley James the single hot up and comer not me for who I am and I said no to that so what makes you think I won't say no to you?"
Peyton watched as her sister in law walked away. Closing her eyes Peyton knew on some level Haley was right, if it had been any of her other artists she would have asked them. But on some misguided notion she thought she would get away with it because Haley was her sister in law. When in fact if anything she had just made things worse, and seeing as there was meant to be a family gathering at her mother in law's tonight. To help Brooke and Julian finalize everything for their upcoming wedding, she knew that it was just going to be one awkward mess, which more than likely would end up with Brooke siding with Haley. They had been friends longer after all.
Flash Back
Peyton smiled as her friend finished listening to the song. He looked up and nodded, it was great and just what they had been looking for, although he knew if anyone was going to get Haley James Scott it would be Peyton. After all their husbands were brothers, they lived in the same town and from what he knew had been friends for years. So it would only be right that Red Bedroom get the illusive Haley James Scott. He'd seen her play back in California a couple of times. She was seriously talented, and with a voice like hers he knew even then that she could go a long way. He'd approached her once before, He had it all planned out, he knew how to approach her. Knew that she had married at a young age, and had a young son, so the whole I can give you the world speech wasn't going to work on her. However his boss didn't like the soft touch. They wanted her; she needed them so she would do all the talking, while he was to stand there as eye candy for her, and it back fired as he knew it would. His boss wanted her to stay in California, give up Stanford because it would just get in her way, more like it would get in their way. But he hadn't said anything. She also wasn't a big fan of Haley being married or having a son. Her idea was to get Haley away from them, and promote her as a young hot and single. When AJ knew Haley might have been young, and yes even he would admit she was stunning. But she wasn't single and there was no way she was going to give up her husband or her son for anything, and he had been right.
"Peyton this is great. Ok I will admit I have seen her before. I saw her tour in California. I approached her back then, and when I say I, I mean Michelle and that should be enough to tell you just how well that went. I was used as eye candy. Even thought I told her it wouldn't work. That Haley was married and she wouldn't be the slightest bit interested in me. Michelle tried, Michelle failed. Then fired me because I didn't flirt with her enough, of course she came up with some lame ass reason as to why she had fired me. But everyone there knew the real reason. A couple of weeks later I got a call from Jordan saying that they would like me back, but not in my old position. I would be taking Michelle's. Apparently they found out. Just how she was getting so many bands attached to the label. Let me just say it wasn't pretty. So when can Haley come in and finish an album?" he asked when Peyton bit her lip AJ looked at her and shook his head.
"She doesn't know, you played this for me does she?" he asked Peyton shook her head. Sighing AJ got up and rested ha hand on her shoulder.
"Here I was thinking you were the same person who thought major Labels were soulless. It doesn't take a genius to figure out you two married into the same family. Peyton, as soulless as we major labels are. Even Jordan wouldn't do that to family, talk to her then get back to me. I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't though-
"AJ wow I haven't seen you in ages, how are you? How's Michelle?" Haley asked coming in a surprising both of them. Peyton looked between them wondering just how they knew each other.
"AJ's dad was one of the sponsors of that tour I did in California." Said Haley Peyton nodded and knew that AJ wouldn't keep it from his friend that she had played the song for him without asking Haley's permission first.
"Ok I know, how private you are, with your music but Peyton played the song you recorded for me. Haley it's great. You know if you started recording again. You'd be a big hit; so many people are waiting for your next record." Said AJ he knew he had just dropped Peyton in it when Haley turned to her sister in law with a look that clearly said 'please-tell-me-you-didn't.'
"Peyton no yo-
"Oh you didn't ok her to play it, oh my bad. Peyton you should have told me that you hadn't gotten your artists ok" said AJ, he knew he was digging her, an even deeper hole, but she was the one who had started this label for artists to get away from heartless labels.
"I'm not a Red Bedroom artist. I'm unsigned, have been since you and Michelle asked me, I had recently been thinking about it, but now I'm not so sure. That song the only song you could have played for AJ that he hasn't heard was Hundred Million Dollar Soul. I can't believe you did that Peyton; to me of all people." Said Haley AJ hadn't known she wasn't signed at all. Throwing his hands in the air he backed away, there was dirty, and then there was that. Jordon wasn't even the type of guy to do that, and he ran a major multimillion dollar label.
"Haley, my number hasn't changed, if you and Nathan and your son Jason, Jaden, Jamie that's it if you three are ever out in LA for any reason give me a call. It would be great to catch up with you. Actually my flight doesn't take off till tomorrow. So call me later." He said before heading out into the bar he knew those two women well enough to know, that it was a bad idea to be in their way when they were annoyed. Well Haley more than Peyton but he really couldn't blame her.
Haley waited for AJ to leave before she turned to Peyton who gave her sister in law a please don't kill me look. Shaking her head, Haley sighed knowing it would be better to leave now then to end up saying something she would most likely regret later. Turning to leave she headed towards the door. She had her hand on the handle before she turned around.
"Don't bother trying to sweet talk me Peyton. I am so pissed at you right now that if I don't leave Nathan will have to hold back Lucas from doing anything to me. Because I am that pissed off and that hurt that, you would actually do something like that. That I might actually do something stupid, so for the sake of our husbands leave me alone, don't talk to me and don't think you can sweet talk Nathan into getting me to do this" said Haley Peyton got up and folded her arms across her chest.
"I think you're overreacting, Haley this song is ready let me do my job."
"This isn't your job. Peyton this is- I really don't know what this is but what you did wasn't right" said Haley before storming out into Tric.
-End-
Walking into the kitchen of her mother in law's house she wondered just how long it would be, before everyone in her husband's family was angry at her. Yes ok she admitted that she had done the wrong thing, but she had, had the best intentions when she had done it. That was ok right? No it wasn't and she knew that. Haley had every right to be upset and hurt. She had been when Lucas had sent her drawings to thud, and Haley was right about that.
Finding her mother in law in the lounge room with Lilly she sighed before walking over to them. If anyone was like Haley when they were growing up it was Lilly, everyone even Haley said she was a mini Haley. It was odd really how she had become so much like her sister in law when Haley and Nathan had only been around for the first four years of her life.
"Peyton, honey what brings you over so soon? Or am I running late?" Karen asked looking at her watch she noticed that it wasn't as late as she thought it was.
"I- uh well could I talk to you for a minute...alone" said Peyton Lilly rolled her eyes. As much as Peyton tried she still found it hard not to baby Lilly she was a kid after all.
"I'm gonna see if Haley is online. Maybe she can help me with this English essay. My teacher is a nut case. I have no idea what she wants me to do" Karen nodded and watched her eleven year old walk away before patting the seat beside her.
Peyton bit her lip and looked down at her hands, before looking up at Karen, when her mother in law, tried to get her to talk by rubbing her hand up and down her back Peyton sighed.
"I did something really stupid" she said, Karen nodded and waited for a bit more information.
"The song that, Haley recorded for Nathan, I kind of showed it to a friend, who is a manager at a label in LA, I also found out that he is a friend of Haley's she knew him from the tour she did in California. I know it was stupid to show it to him without asking her but, she's way too talented to just waste it." Karen sighed she could see where Peyton was coming from, because Haley was talented. Very and it was a shame she wasn't using her talents. But that was also Haley's choice and Peyton shouldn't have exploited her sister in law and friend like that.
"I know you had the best intentions but, Peyton. You know it was wrong, and I'm guessing if you're coming to me, you were caught by Haley and she's hurt. Which I can't say I blame her; I would be hurt to. I'm also guessing you know that, as soon as Nathan, Brooke and Lilly find out they are also going to be angry with you. In time they will get over it. But you are just going to have to ride it out for now. And I'm sure this isn't what you want to hear but. You decided to go behind, Haley's back and do this knowing that she would be upset with you ." said Karen. Peyton nodded, her mother in law was right.
"You're not –
"Disappointed yes, I'm sorry Peyton, but yes I am disappointed with you. Does that mean I will give you the silent treatment like Haley, Brooke and Lilly will, no but I can't say that I will try and stop them."