Nathan sat on the picnic table at the River Court surrounded by his ball buddies. The group consisted of his best friend Tim Smith and the boys: Vegas Parker, Mike Bowls, and Tyler Jones. The guys he hung out with all his life were now his frequent ball buddies. Senior year was starting in a couple of days so they were trying to relinquish what little time they had left of their summer and the year they were leaving behind. Nathan had just returned from 3 gruelling weeks at High Flyers. He loved the game and the sport that's for sure, but he was glad to be back. It had been a tough summer for Nathan, nix that a tough year to be exact. Lucas the brother he once despised became one of his best friends. His rushed marriage to Haley at the age of 16, and her leaving him only a couple of months after they were united as husband and wife. Don't forget the fact that she came back to Tree Hill and into his life again.
She appeared at his doorstep the day he was leaving for Florida. She stood in front of him with the smile he longed to see for so long, and it was there right in front of him. She had heard he was leaving for High Flyers and came to take care of a recovering Deb while he was away. It was a rush for him to be in front of her again. All their memories flashed before his eyes in just a matter of seconds, but he knew, well... both knew that things were different now. Nathan went off to High Flyers and kept in touch with Haley. They slowly worked out the frustration and pain together as friends, no longer were they binded by matrimony. They had made it official with the divorce papers. Annulment was too much for them. Besides no matter what had happened the past year they still wanted to remember the love that was present and had once lived. He still had so much anger in him, but it was no use, past was past and the present was where he should be. Hopefully, in the future they would look back and remember the happiness instead of the pain. Nathan now understood Haley's decision that he so once regretted. It was solely for the music and not because of the incident with the infamous Chris Keller. Nathan still hated the guy's guts, but he had the satisfaction of knowing that Haley never had that sort of affection towards him. He still loved her no doubt about that, she was after all his first love, but their time had passed and their friendship meant everything to him. Haley was back in New York though, she decided to continue her musical career and was being home schooled...well more like studio schooled. Everyone supported her on her decision because they all knew this was her calling.
Back to family matters, now that the brothers were united as a team, they had every will to bring down their monster of a father, Dan. He had been in a fire at the dealership, but miraculously survived it with no more than a few minor burns. Everyone was still shocked at this unfortunate miracle and still no one knew who committed such. To some that "such" was a godsend but it was only short lived because the bastard was up and running like normal. Still the same arrogant, dick headed, vicious man that everyone had grown to hate.
All that happened in a year. Nathan still couldn't believe it...now a new school year was ahead of him and he was curious to see what lies ahead. However, time will tell of what was to come. Everyone will just have to endure the ride through it.