Chapter Five

After walking off the stage Haley hurried back to the tour bus. As she walked to her bed in the back of the bus she was shocked to see Conner sitting on the edge of the bed looking right at her. It was as if he could see through her.

Haley stopped in front of him unsure what to say. Luckily for her Conner didn't give her a chance to say anything. "Who is he?" Conner asked, his voice tinted with anger and sadness.

"He was my high school boyfriend. Typical small town story, basketball player married cheerleader right after graduation. He got a scholarship to go to Duke University to play for the Duke Blue Devils, it was his dream, so we moved to Durham," not sure if she should continue, she looked up from playing with her hands. Conner just nodded knowing what she was silently asking him.

"I was valedictorian so I could get into any school I wanted so I went to Duke too. It was the end of our Freshman year when a group of us went to a bar for karaoke night. Everyone kept urging me to go up and sing, so I did. When I walked off the stage I was approached by a representative for a record label. Apparently, they get a lot of artists from open mic and karaoke nights," Haley said with a sarcastic laugh before continuing.

"He wanted me to come in to see how I would sound recording. Nathan, my husband, encouraged me to go. When I went in I took a few of my songs that I had written for fun at home with me and they loved them. By my Sophomore year I was missing more classes then I was attending so I dropped out. Eight months after it all started I had an album released with a promise of a tour. I knew I couldn't be a wife and be on tour most of the year so I left in the middle of the night without a word to anyone. About a month after I left I sent him divorce papers so he could be free but he never signed them, he's always sent them back to me no matter how many times I'd sent them. Then the rest you know," Haley finished looking him in the eyes hoping to see anything but what was there, the anger and sadness, it was only worse.

"I don't know what to say Haley, I feel like I don't even know you. I can't believe you've been lying to me for three years. We were friends way before I asked you out, but I guess it makes sense now why whenever I'd bring up getting married and kids you'd shut down. I just figured the commitment scared you. This was the last stop of the tour, so I suggest you start looking for a new tour manager, and while you're at it go talk to your husband and sort your life out. Everything we had was a lie, I'm not sure how you live with yourself. Good bye Haley," Conner said getting up and walking past her off of the bus.

Haley stood there long after Conner left not sure what to do. She was numb. She knew he was right, this whole mess was her fault. If she had just been honest with him, or hell if she had talked to Nathan about the tour before she just left him, then maybe she'd be happy. At this moment she didn't know if she'd ever know the feeling of happiness again.

Without giving it any thought she grabbed her purse and headed for the bus door. She was in such a rush she didn't see Brooke coming in the door and ran smack in to her.

"Brooke? I'm so sorry are you okay? What are you doing here?" Haley rushed out.

"I'm fine, I came to see how you were," Brooke said putting her hand out to steady a still wobbling Haley.

"I'm a mess, I have a long way to being okay but I'm going to get there if you'll help me," Haley said hopefully.

"I'm not sure I can be of much help to you."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I left everyone the way I did. I'm sorry I never called and the only time I ever see you is at the few concerts you've come to. I don't blame you for hating me, hell I hate me, but I have to make it right," she said, fear tinting her voice. If she had any hope in fixing the mess she'd made she was going to need Brooke's help to do it.

"What do you need me to do?" Brooke asked smiling before she gave Haley a hug. She had to at least try to help her friends.