Chapter One
Nathan stepped on the train and clenched his jaw; this was not supposed to be how his senior year went. He was not supposed to be leaving his friends and going to a small town to live with his aunt, uncle and cousin. His mother was not supposed to be an alcoholic and drug addict and his father wasn't supposed to be an abusive and manipulative asshole; this was just not supposed to happen.
Nathan raked a hand through his hair as he found an empty spot and sat down; nine hours to go until he reached the train stop and then another two hours to get to Tree Hill. He reached into his gray sweater pocket and grabbed his i-Pod. He pushed the ear buds in, leaned his head against the window and pressed play, making his thoughts drown out to the heavy bass of Linkin Park.
The week before, he had sent most of his clothes and other stuff to his Uncle's and had only kept the essentials, which were now packed in a backpack that sat on the uncomfortable plastic seat beside him.
Nathan closed his eyes and shook his head to try to rid him of the anger he felt towards his parents. Why would they send him to a town he went to only once in his life? Why would they take him away from his friends? It was true; he was a difficult teenager, but nothing that couldn't be dealt with. It was only once he was sent to jail- okay twice, but nothing too bad.
He shook his head again as his eyes opened to stare at the raindrops falling on the window. It was the third week of August and lately, it'd been nothing but rain for the east. It was humid out but Nathan insisted on wearing a sweater and basketball shorts today. Nathan bit his lip as he thought back to the moment his mother had told him he was leaving home.
"Nathan, I can't do this anymore!" Deb Scott yelled to her son, slamming a hand down on the marble counter top.
"Oh sorry, am I interfering with your drugs?" Nathan shouted back, throwing the basketball that he had picked up while entering the house, landing with a loud thud at the closed front door, "Have another drink, Mom! It'll calm you right down!"
"Nathan!" His mother gasped, "I wasn't the one calling to inform his mother that he was in jail at two in the morning!"
"How many times do I have to tell you- it was nothing!" Nathan shook his head, going to the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water.
"Oh yeah, being picked up from jail is an everyday thing for you!"
"It's happened before," Nathan shrugged and took a gulp of water.
"This isn't you," Deb shook her head, lowering her voice, "What happened to you?" Nathan shrugged again, "I know I've never set you a good ex-"
"Yeah, you're right," Nathan cut her off and nodded his head, "What with all of your shit and issues. Oh and not to mention my sorry excuse of a father- we just have the picture perfect family, don't we Mom?" His words were like venom as they dripped with sarcasm, "I'm sorry, but to answer your question- nothing happened to me, I just didn't get caught before."
"I don't know what to do with you, Nathan."
"Then you shouldn't have had children," Nathan shot back, finishing the bottle of water, "I'm going to a party tonight and it's my turn to bring the drinks, so leave out the stuff you don't want."
"Excuse me?"
"Don't worry," Nathan shook his head, walking off, "You won't get a phone call tonight, so you can drink yourself to pass out like usual."
"Nathan Scott!" Deb shouted out, stomping to the doorway to stare at the back of her son's head, "You aren't going anywhere tonight!"
Nathan scoffed and turned around, an amused and daring look covered his facial features, "What, are you going to ground me? Don't you think it's a little late for playing the responsible parent now?"
"Before I went to pick you up… again, I might add!" She set her jaw and took in a deep breath, "I called your Uncle Keith."
Nathan raised an eyebrow, why would she do that? "Why?"
"I can't deal with you anymore, Nate…" Deb shrugged, "And obviously, this place is doing nothing for you."
"What are you getting at, Mom?"
Nathan could see his mother swallow as she pushed out the next sentence, "You're going to Tree Hill next week, Nathan."
Nathan rolled his eyes, the amused look coming back, "And what's that going to do for me? A couple weeks there and then I come back- you think it's going to change me?" Nathan started to smirk as he shook his head and started to walk off again.
"You're staying there, Nate; for good." Nathan stopped dead in his tracks and his eyes went wide, "I can't handle you anymore, Nathan. Maybe Karen and Keith can deal with you. But for now, just getting you away from your friends and this place, will be good enough for me."
Nathan breathed out and turned around with narrowed eyes, "You can't do that."
Deb scoffed, "Yes I can, and I did. There are boxes down in the basement. I suggest you start packing now."
"Dad won't let you!" Nathan threatened, shaking his head.
"It's already been settled with your father."
Nathan remained silent for a moment, his eyes staring at his mother. His breath increasing and he swallowed, "You can't do this! This is where my friends are! I'm going into my senior year in two weeks! This isn't right, you can't do this!"
Deb shook her head slightly, "Nathan, I'm sorry but you're impossible! I can't deal with you anym-"
"Then don't!" Nathan shot back, "I can handle myself; I have been since I was ten years old! You want me to move out? I will!"
"You barely passed junior year, Nathan- you think you're going to pass senior year and graduate with the way you're going? You can't skip your way through everything! You can't do this on your own! You don't have any money for anything!"
"I'll get my trust fund from Dad early!" Nathan tried to reason, "I'll be fine! I'm not going to Tree Hill!"
Nathan shut his eyes again as another Linkin Park song came on. He tried to even his breathing out as he thought back to the fight with his mom. He swallowed and cracked his knuckles, glancing at the watch on his wrist; just another eight hours and fifty-four minutes left.
**
Nathan slung his backpack onto his right shoulder as he exited off of the bus he took from the train station. He had just made it to Tree Hill and looked around the bus station for his Uncle Keith who had called earlier to tell him he was the one picking the younger one up.
Nathan took out the ear buds and wrapped them around his i-pod before stuffing it back into his sweater pocket. It was dark now, a light wind was sweeping outside but it was still mildly humid. His hood was up and he towered over some of the people who were running to their families.
"Nate?!"
Nathans attention snapped towards a deep husky voice to the right of him. His eyebrow rose as he saw his Uncle standing there, his hands shoved in his jeans pockets. Nathan nodded to the older and made his way over, not saying a word.
"Wow, Nate…" Keith trailed off, lifting his neck a little to see him, "You've grown since the last time I saw you."
Nathan gave him one slow nod and looked around, not seeing Lucas or Karen around.
"Real talkative one, aren't you?"
Nathan shrugged and walked with his Uncle as he started towards the revolving door. They got in the jeep and Keith pulled away from the bus station and onto the highway that would eventually lead them to Tree Hill.
"So how's my brother doing?" Keith asked, turning the volume on the radio down.
Nathan shrugged again and looked out the window, not feeling the need to speak about his father.
"Listen Nathan," Keith started, checking his blind spot and switching lanes, "I've done it all; the quiet, nobody understands me bit- if you don't feel like talking, fine we won't talk," Keith shrugged, "But just so you know when you do feel like talking, you can come to me."
Nathan glanced at his uncle, but still kept quiet. He turned his attention back to the window as Keith turned the volume on the stereo back up.
Every step that I take is another mistake to you,
I've become so numb
**
A/N: Hey guys, so here's the chapter to my new story! Let me know what you think. i'll hopefully have the next chapter up by next week. do you like the beginning of the story line so far? thanks for reading! :)