Forever and A Day | one tree hill

twenty-seven.

"Valentina Scott!"

Valentina looks up to see Haley who sits down across from her.

"Haley James...Scott?" Valentina says with a teasing grin.

"I am writing a song and I am struggling to make lyrics and so who better to help me than you, girl who also struggles with lyrics," Haley says with a bright smile.

"So I don't struggle with lyrics," Valentina says, "I am just hitting a wall."

"It's the same thing, isn't it?" Haley asks.

"No. One means you're not a good writer. The other means you're just stuck," Val says, "And I am just stuck."

"So you're saying I am a bad writer?"

Valentina shrugs coyly and Haley gasps. "Okay fine! You're stuck and I'm a bad writer. Now can you help me?"

"Fine," Valentina says, "What's the song about?"

"It's about...love?" Haley says hesitantly.

"Love?" Valentina asks, raising her eyebrows. "Are you sure? Why is it a question?"

"I'm sure. It's for Nathan," Haley says.

"Ah," Valentina says as she shifts, "You want help writing a love song for my brother. That's kind of weird don't you think?"

Haley gives her an apologetic look and Valentina just laughs, "I'm kidding. Okay so it's a love song. What about it?"

"Everything," Haley says, "Just loving until the last breath."

"Cheesy," Valentina says.

"I know!" Haley says sighing before groaning, "I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm not good with feelings."

"You're married. I think you're doing something right," Valentina says.

"It's not the same," Haley says, "I can't write about it."

"Just write what you're feeling," Valentina says, "Not what you think you're supposed to feel. You're supposed to love him till his last breath. That's what your vows said. What do you really feel?"

Haley looks down at her hands, "I feel scared."

"Scared of what?" Valentina asks gently.

"Everything," Haley says, "I'm 17, Val. And I'm married. We're poor. And I don't know what the future holds."

Valentina smiles, "Looks like you've got yourself a song."

Haley blinks and then she lets out a small laugh, "I guess I do."

"See you're not a bad writer," Valentina says, "You just needed to channel the right feelings."

"Thanks," Haley says. She looks at Valentina, her expression softening. "So what's your problem?"

"Me?"

"Yeah you. What are you stuck on?" Haley asks.

"Nothing," Valentina says, "I'm just not writing anything right now."

"You're always writing something," Haley says, "Is it about Peyton?"

Valentina's head snaps up at that, "Why would you ask that?"

"You usually write what you feel," Haley says with a shrug, "And it seems you're feeling a lot of things for her."

Valentina's eyes narrow, "Why do you say that?"

"You're dating?" Haley says, a slight question in her tone. As if she's not quite sure it's real.

"Yeah," Valentina says, "I was just wondering if Peyton said something."