A/N – TOOTH is an A/U One Tree Hill fan fiction, revolving around all the final couples (Leyton, Naley, Brooke/Julian) as well as one of my OC's, while incorporating several other OC's into the mix. What would have happened if there had been someone else? What would have changed if there had been another important person in Lucas's life? What if someone else was in the Library, instead of Peyton the day of the shooting? Could a single person, a single moment, change everything forever?

Note: This is going to be a slow progress, mainly, as a side project to everything else I'm working on, but I'd kill for some hardcore reviews! (: I'll update as much as possible, based off if people actually read!

~ K.

Every moment, every single moment, could be life changing. Yet we take those times for granted. We take those moments, and do absolutely nothing. We sit back, we complain, we get mad. But we never realize, that those harsh words may be our last. We never really realize that we may never get another chance to say how much we love someone.

I realized that today.

My name is Kailyn Rose. I'm just like you. I go to Tree Hill High, I have friends, I have a mother, maybe my past is exactly like yours. Deadbeat dad. Sick mother.

But today, I was anything but ordinary.

60 minutes earlier

"Dude, that's blood," Nathan Scott said, his voice full of fear, pain, and desperation. He only came back to save Haley, his wife. He shared a concerned look with his older brother, Lucas Scott, who gave his signature, 'do what you have to do' nod. The two split, Nathan heading to the tutor center, where he knew for sure Haley would be; Lucas following the trail of blood.

I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I pressed my hand as tightly as humanly possible against the deep bullet wound in my side. I took a deep breath and held it, as footsteps approached. I felt my head swim, but I held onto some naive hope that it wouldn't be Jimmy Edwards. I wondered if anyone knew he was the one with the gun. I saw the look in his eyes when he realized he shot me. He didn't mean to. He was scared, lost, and confused. I didn't hate him, I only hated the bullet that was threatening to pierce my right lung.

"Oh, jeez, Kai!" Lucas's strong voice rang. I opened my eyes to see the closest thing to a brother I've ever known, kneeling next to me. His hands shook as he pressed his hand on top of mine.

"L-Luke, don't. If...if the bullet moves, I'm dead," I gasped. He instantly pulled his hand away, but rocked back on his heals. I had known Lucas since birth, literally. Our mother's were best friends, and his family soon became my second home. His uncle Keith was like a father to me, after my asshole of a father was finally arrested. Karen and Keith had been there for me, through everything, as had Lucas.

"Breathe, you have to breathe," Lucas whispered. I had seen him scared before, but the fear in his eyes at that moment, made me realize how bad it was.

"I'll be fine," I whispered, my lips barely moving. "But don't go no where, please," I begged.

"I'm right here," he said, his soft voice comforting me, as it had for all the years we'd been together. I felt him move me ever so gently, pulling me against his warm, broad chest. I closed my eyes, silently begging myself not to die in his arms.

"Did you see who shot you?" He asked softly, trying to keep me awake. He tilted my head, so I was forced to open my eyes.

"Jimmy, Jimmy's got the gun," I gasped as my lungs expanded. I pressed my eyes shut, then opened them and looked at Lucas. He looked baffled, mirroring my expression, but for a different reason.

"G-go get a pair of scissors out of the desk," I said suddenly.

"What?" He asked, shifting slightly, his eyes wide.

"I-I have to get this bullet out of my side. It's too close to my lungs, and I kind of really want to live," I said, my heart pounding in my chest.

I was surprised when Lucas actually got up. I hadn't expected him to trust my instincts, but then, Lucas knew I wasn't stupid. He knew I wouldn't ask him to do something, if I wasn't 100% certain. He came back in what seemed like only mere seconds, and when he did, his hands were shaking worse than mine.

"You could get an infection, you could drive the bullet deeper, damnit! Kai, you could die!" He cried as he sank to his knees next to me. I saw tears roll down his cheeks. Here's something you got to know about Luke. He doesn't cry easily. He really doesn't. He plays hero too much. He's too much like Keith sometimes, but I love him none the less.

"I know," I whispered. I slowly leaned against him warm chest, as I struggled to pull my lighter out of my pocket. I struggled to spark it, but when I did, I held it under the blades of the scissors, counting to one hundred, three times, before letting the blades cool.

"I love you, little brother," I whispered, though we were just barely two months apart. He may not be related by blood, but then, he and Nathan are, and they barely know each other. "If I die, make sure my mom's last few months are -" I started, then stopped. I listened, and realized that my phone was ringing. I pulled it out from under me, and looked at the caller id.

Mom's Doctor Calling

I flipped my phone open, my hands shaking.

"hello?" I said, my voice shaking.

"Ms. Rose?"

"This is she," I whispered.

"I'm sorry, but your mother is-"

I gasped, as my phone went dead.

"Lucas...if I don't make it out of here, you have to make sure that they don't bury my mom," I whispered, as I threw my phone aside. I tore my shirt open, revealing a bloody mess. I took a deep breath, and dug the scissors into my side, carefully edging the bullet closer to the surface. My head swam, and for a whole second, I thought I was going to die. I felt strong hands move mine, and the pressure in my side suddenly ceased. I saw white for a moment, then was met by black.

I felt my heart begin to slow, but not stop. I felt nothing. Numb.

"Don't you die! Don't you dare die!" Lucas chanted over and over again, as he carefully picked me up and carried me out of the library, into the hall.

I vaguely remember hearing Keith, but that may have been a dream. I only remember the pain I felt sheering through my side as Lucas picked up pace.

Then I heard it.

The one sound someone can never forget.

The final moment.

Bang

AN: So, I know it's short, but fast paced, but this scene is so hard to recreate! Trust me though, it's well worth it! What did you think? Any feedback? Both positive and negative is greatly appreciated!