CHAPTER 1
"11- 8, That's game, bow to the master!" Nathan smirked.
"Best 2 out of 3? Lucas asked
"Like you're a real challenge" Nathan replied.
"Shut up and just check the ball" Lucas said with a shake of the head.
The 2 best friends had been at the Rivercourt for the past hour shooting around and then an impromptu game of one on one. Nathan and Lucas had grown up together, their parents had been friends since high school and the boys were raised together like brothers. Along with Nathans sister Brooke they had spent every Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Birthday together since they were toddlers. Now as seniors and stars of the Ravens basketball team they ruled the school and the town of Tree Hill, North Carolina.
Despite their close friendship the boys couldn't be more dissimilar. Nathan was dark-haired, cocky, arrogant, and a bit if a smartass. He was a player, and loved it. Lucas on the other hand was blonde, intellectual, broody, and nice to everyone. He didn't buy into the jock mentality and unlike Nathan saw basketball as a game not a life. Despite their differences they couldn't be closer, and like their matching scars on their right palms from becoming blood brothers at the age of eight, they wore their friendship with pride.
The second game was just starting to heat up when they were interrupted by a high pitched voice
"Hey Boyfriend". Both boys looked at each other and rolled their eyes, before turning in the direction of the voices owner. The boys were met with the sight of Rachel Gatina, dressed in an impossibly short miniskirt that could pass for a belt matched with a tight halter that left little to the imagination. Rachel had transferred in at the start of the year and had immediately had eyes for Nathan, making it her mission to make him hers. Unfortunately for Rachel, he couldn't stand the redhead and had thwarted all of her efforts, including propositioning him in the shower after team practice.
"What do you want Rachel?" Nathan asked agitated. "I'm kind of busy here".
"Sorry to interrupt baby, I saw you guys and thought Id say hi, see if you want to grab a bite later, or you could bite something else" she said with a mischievous wink. "Plus I thought I'd give you another chance to ask me to winter formal". Nathan fought the urge to roll his eyes again.
"I think I'll pass" He shot a look at Lucas who was trying in vain not to laugh. When he turned his eyes back towards Rachel she was directly in front of him. Nathan flinched back when he felt her breath on his neck. "Call me later" she said seductively in his ear whilst running her hand down his chest. "Bye Luke" she flashed him a smile before strutting away.
Lucas shook his head
"She sure doesn't give up easily".
Nathan grimaced at his friend.
"I wish she would".
Lucas laughed, "It's not like you to turn down a hot girl, especially one willing and able".
"Venereal diseases aren't my style" Nathan replied. "Cmon lets get back to me kicking your ass".
"In your dreams Nate".
After a couple of hours the guys headed back to Nathans place. Walking into the large kitchen they found Brooke screaming into the phone.
"SHE DID WHAT? OH NO SHE DIDN'T! I'll KILL THE BITCH! THAT'S IT EMERGENCY MEETING BEFORE SCHOOL TOMORROW ROUND UP THE SQUAD! THAT BITCH IS GOING DOWN!" The boys just looked at one another and shook their heads. Nathan grabbed a couple of bottled waters from the fridge threw one to Lucas and put one on the counter in front of Brooke, who was now punching another number into the phone.
"Bad day Brookie?" Nathan smiled as his younger sister just threw him a glare. "H JAMES, EMERGENCY! GET YOUR ASS OVER TO MINE NOW!" Brooke screeched into the phone then slammed it down without a response. "AAAARGH" she yelled throwing her hands up in the air. The boys just chuckled
"Whats got your panties tied up in a twist?" Nathan asked his sister.
Seeing the look on Brookes face Lucas started "I don't think you should antagonise her Nate".
Just then the back door opened and in walked Haley James, Brookes best friend.
"Brooke! What the Hell!"
"CLAIRE YOUNG IS GOING DOWN!" Brooke screeched.
"Lucky she doesn't have a gag reflex" Nathan spoke up. Both girls fired a glare in his direction.
"I think that is our cue" Nathan said standing up and gesturing for Luke to follow him out of the kitchen.
Once the boys were gone Haley tried to calm Brooke down enough to find out what was happening.
"That bitch Claire Young said I'm a no talent nobody who dances like a cripple! And that we are going to have our asses handed to us at the Classic! That Ho! According to her I wouldn't know how to choreograph a kiddie recital and then the bitch has the nerve to say what would she expect from a squad of obstinate cheerleaders, Oh no she so didn't call me fat! Now the bitch has gone and registered her music intentions for the Classic and has stolen all three of our songs! She knew I wanted those songs and she has registered their intent! The twofaced mole! When I win, I mean the squad wins I'm gonna take the trophy and shove it up her… " "BROOKE!" Haley snapped her out of her rant. Brooke looked dazed for a second before shaking her head and focusing her eyes on Haley.
"Sorry Hales she makes me soo mad!"
"I know B, but this isn't as bad as it sounds, we'll get Peyton to mix us some original songs that noone else can have, and register those. And ignore the trash talk she is just trying to get a rise out of you, she's probably still mad at you for kissing her boyfriend at cheer camp last summer."
"He's a yell leader, he was gay anyway" Brooke replied.
"Brooke! Relax, it'll all work out and Claire Young won't know what hit her" Haley said giving her friend a hug. "I know what can hit her" Brooke replied. "Now what better way to cheer up Brookie then with…" Haley smiled at her friend who at the same time yelled "BROOKIES!"
The girls set about the kitchen grabbing the necessary ingredients and utensils to make Brookes favourite choc chip cookies which had years ago been named Brookies. Like Nathan and Lucas, Brooke and Haley had been best friends since they were little. Haley lived across the street and had asked Brooke to come play one day and they had been inseperable ever since. Through thick and thin they had always been there for one another, they shared clothes and secrets and were more like sisters than friends. Brooke was the extraverted of the two, the prettiest girl in school with the same raven hair and bright blue eyes as her older brother, with the attitude to match. She was captain of the cheerleaders, and student council president. Haley was petite with long honey blonde hair and chocolate eyes, she was a cheerleader along with Brooke and head of the tutor centre. Despite only being juniors they were the most popular girls at Tree Hill High. Every girl wanted to be them and every guy wanted to date them.
As Haley was taking the first batch of Brookies out of the oven, the boys headed back into the kitchen.
"Mmm something smells good" Lucas sniffed. "Brookies" both boys exclaimed at the same time as they spied the cooling rack. The girls shook their heads and set about making the boys a plate.
"Over your little tantrum Brookie?" Nathan asked his sister goodnaturedly.
"I did not have a tantrum!" Brooke snit. "Claire Young was trying to be a cheertator and I need to put her back in her place!" she said flicking her dark hair behind her. When it came to cheerleading Brooke had a tendency to be a bit dramatic.
"Cmon leave her alone Nate" added Lucas gaining a smile from Brooke and an eye roll from Nathan. It was no secret to anybody except maybe Brooke that Lucas has a lifetime crush on her, and he would always jump to her defense when Nathan teased her.
"Anywaaay, What have you guys got planned for tonight?" Haley broke the tension.
"Not a lot, thought we'd have a movie night or something" Nathan answered
"Yeah, Nate is hiding out from Rachel" Lucas added with a chuckle. At the mention of the redhead Nathan grimaced.
"Ugh, is that skank still trying to get her paws into you?" Brooke asked her brother.
"What you haven't hit that one yet Nate?" Haley added with a giggle.
"Hardly, my brother may be a manwhore but even he has standards" Brooke replied.
"Who knew!" Lucas added with a grin.
"Yeah laugh it up the lot of you" Nathan said. "The girl is seriously crazy and thinks I want to ask her to winter formal"
"Who do you want to ask, Nate?" Brooke asked now interested.
"I haven't thought about it, I don't know if I even want to go to the stupid thing" he replied. Both girls had a look of horror on their faces at this remark. "Winter formal is not stupid" they both yelled.
"Um I didn't mean it like that" he tried backpedalling. "Oh I give up" he said putting his head in his hands.
"Its ok Nate, don't worry ill come up with a plan to free you of the skank" Brooke said confidently handing him another cookie. Nathan shook his head at his sister. Brooke and her plans were never good news.
The foursome decided to stay in and have a movie night in the home theatre.
"Just not the Notebook again" Nathan pleaded.
"There is nothing wrong with the Notebook, you could learn a thing or two the both of you" Haley stated to the boys.
"Fine" Lucas says "but no complaining about our choice, agreed?"
"As long as your choice isn't Scarface again or one of your stupid sports movies" Brooke snapped.
"Just get the popcorn Brookie" Nathan said rubbing his temple.
The four were comfortable in recliners in the movie room deeply engrossed in Transformers, when they were interrupted by the sound of a phone ringing. Everyone grabbed for their phones before Nathan held his hand up to show it was his.
"Hello",
"Hey boyfriend",
"Rachel, how did you get this number?"
"Don't worry about it, what are you doing?"
"I'm with my friends, what do you want?"
"You were going to call me silly, and I haven't heard from you so I took the iniaitive and thought I would call you, we haven't made any plans yet"
"Plans for what? we don't have plans"
"I know that's why we need to see each other to make plans for next weekend"
"Next weekend?"
"Yeah Winter Formal silly, we need to make our plans"
"For the last time Rachel there is no we, and I'm not going to Winter Formal with you".
"Of course you are, who else could you possibly take? Don't worry about it we'll make plans tomorrow at school or you could come over and we could do it now, over dessert?"
"Goodbye Rachel".
Nathan hung up his phone closed his eyes and let out a deep breath and looked over at his sister who along with two other sets of eyes were eyeing him quizzically. "Okay Brookie, what's your plan?"