Untitled - Still in Progress

Chapter 1 - Tyler - Present Day

I hop out of my truck and head into Jack's Big Bar. I don't know why he named it that, only half of it's a bar, the other half is a convenience store. And besides, hardly anyone ever drinks here. Most everyone drives into the city or just buys their liquor and go home.

"Hey Jack, your shipment came in!" I call out as I walk in.

"Thanks Ty, it means a lot that you brought this in early." He says with a smile.

I give him a nod and set the box on the counter so I bring the rest of it in. Just as I'm getting ready to head out, I hear a car speed by and some gravel gets tossed through the door.

"Just hurry up, I want to get there before too long!" A man shouts, then a door slams.

The other car door slams, followed by a woman's voice. "Oh please, that shack isn't going anywhere! And neither are your parents!"

There's the sound of heels clacking on the patchy sidewalk before the owner of them walks in. She stomps up to the bar and slaps a hundred on the counter. She looks so out of place in her black skinny jeans and impractical high heeled boots.

"Two fifths of vodka and one of tequila." She says.

"Come on, hurry up!" The man shouts from outside.

She sighs. "And a shot of whiskey. Gotta have something to get through this."

Jack nods, pours her shot and pulls out her whiskey. The woman knocks back her whiskey with no chaser. When Jack goes to get her change she holds up a hand. "Don't bother." She looks around. "Looks like you could use the extra cash anyway."

She stomps back out of the bar with her booze and we hear the sound of doors slamming and the unmistakable sound of arguing coming from the vehicle. Even over the engine as they drive away we can still hear them arguing.

I'm standing there in shock when Jack finally says anything. "Jake wasn't that..."

I nod. "Yeah. That was Hailey O'Donahughe."

Streaks of blonde in her brown hair or no, I'd recognize her anywhere. Even after everything that happened the last time we saw each other, I still can't keep the hope out of my chest at seeing her again.