New Boys in School
Chapter 1
"Finally, the café is open again. I hope they haven't changed it too much, I really liked the old place," said Brooke as she walked into the café behind her friends Peyton and Haley.
"It looks alright to me, I wonder who Karen is though," asked Peyton as she lifted up a menu that had the name 'Karen's Café' clearly written at the top.
Just then a petite brunette woman who looked to be in her early forties came over to where the girls had just sat down.
"Hi, I'm Karen, I've just moved to this town and you three are my first customers so your drinks are on the house." The three girls smiled at Karen and Brooke thought to herself, maybe she will like the new café after all. The girls then ordered their food and Karen hurried off behind the counter and began working on their order.
The girls fell into an easy silence and Brooke found herself watching her two best friends and smiling. Brooke watched as Peyton pulled out her sketchbook and flicked to a drawing that was half finished. Even though it was upside down, Brooke could see it was a drawing of Peyton and Peyton's boyfriend Jake. Peyton and Jake had been together for almost two years but Brooke had known them both for a lot longer. She had known Peyton ever since they first met in kindergarten and had been best friends ever since. The two of them befriended Jake not long after when Jake helped the girls by getting rid of a boy two years their senior who was picking on the girls. Brooke smiled to herself as she remembered how Jake had shouted and pushed away the boy who was a lot taller than him. After that Brooke and Peyton were thankful to Jake and the three became friends.
Brooke turned her attention to Haley who seemed to be reading the back of the menu but Brooke knew Haley better than that and could see that Haley was in fact daydreaming and not taking in any of the information on the menu. Haley had become friends with the other three soon after they started high school, before that Haley had been home-schooled since her parents travelled a lot. Brooke remembered how she had not liked Haley at first because Haley and Peyton got on so well but once Brooke got to know Haley and Peyton and Jake began dating, Brooke and Haley had formed a very strong bond.
Brooke was interrupted from her thoughts as Karen came over carrying three glasses of coke and three portions of fries.
"Here you go girls,"
"Thanks," replied the girls.
"So do you girls go to the local school? Tree Hill High?" asked Karen.
"Yeah we do"
"Oh right, do you girls like it? Because my two boys are starting as juniors tomorrow."
"Really? We're juniors too! We'll probably see them around school tomorrow, what's their names?" asked Brooke.
"Lucas and Nathan" answered Karen. "They drove back to our old house last night to pick up the last things, they should be back soon. Anyway I hope you like your food, I better get back to the kitchen." Karen walked away and busied herself in the kitchen. Brooke turned to look at Haley and Peyton who were both smiling at her mischievously.
"Uh, I know what you're thinking you two and I'm happy being single, just because you two are all loved up at the minute, does not mean I need you to try to hook me up with every single guy we meet" said Brooke to the other two.
"Woah Brooke, we didn't even say anything" replied Peyton.
"Yeah well, you forget how well I know you both and since Haley started seeing Jason at the beginning of summer, you two have tried to set me up like ten times."
"Ok, ok, we get it, we won't try to set you up anymore…….unless they're really good looking." All three girls began laughing and Brooke playfully hit Haley on the arm. Once the girls had finished their food, they paid Karen, left a generous tip and made their way out of the café.
Brooke made her way home alone since Peyton had gone to Jake's house and Jason had come to walk Haley home. As Brooke pulled up to her house, she saw that the moving truck was still parked at the house at the end of her street. She had not yet met the people that had moved in, in fact she had not even seen them and then she began to wonder whether this was where Karen and her two sons had moved in.
Brooke walked into her big empty house and by the time she got changed, she had forgotten all about Karen and her sons. Instead Brooke was looking forward to the start of term tomorrow because start of term meant end of summer parties. Brooke and her friends had always been keen party goers but since the start of summer when Haley began dating Jason the parties had been less fun. Peyton and Haley obviously always had someone to dance and chill with and although they would never say, Brooke never wanted to be the fifth wheel so found herself drinking a lot and hooking up with random guys at these parties. She would never miss a party though, after all, she was head cheerleader so expected to make an appearance at all the parties. Also, without the parties she would be bored and alone in her house since her parents were never home.
Brooke sighed to herself and sat down in front of the tv for a night of mind-numbingly boring shows to watch. When eventually Brooke dragged herself up to bed, she fell asleep with the thought that maybe the new school year would bring a change for her…
