How To Save a Life
Chapter One: Breakaway
R&R!


No Mary-Sue's, promise. I don't even like my OC, honestly. Disclaimer: I do not own OTH, nor do I own Breakaway, sadly. Maybe next time ;)

Pairings: Undecided as of yet. Opinions welcome on it :)


I'll take a risk,
Take a chance,
Make a Change
and Breakaway

"Breakaway,"-Kelly Clarkson

The sun filtered through the clouds as she stepped outside her door, dressed in jeans and a simple white t-shirt. She hadn't wanted to look like she was trying too hard, yet she didn't want to blend into the background. Which was why she also wore a stylish black scarf and pumps. Her hair was poker straight, which was natural, and flicked out at the ends. Raine Taylor wasn't the prettiest girl around, and was very average, but wanted to stand out in her new school.

But not enough to attract attention. Raine was much more comfortable with observing.

Moving schools wasn't an easy thing to do, especially when you're seventeen, but she had a positive outlook. She believed great things would transpire in Tree Hill, she could just feel it. Hopefully, Raine could make a few friends and get through her last year of High School with relatively no drama.

She had opted to walk to school alone; abandoning thoughts of taking her parents car once she saw the sun breaking through. Her older sister was sulking in her room, so Raine chose to just ignore her completely. Callie could be very emotional and moody, and Raine just generally stayed away when she got too moody.

Raine had to admit, she was impressed with the neighbourhood and town. Raine couldn't wait to immerse herself in the aura of Tree Hill - a quaint, cosy town that was so different to her former Dublin City. The aura reeked calmness and relaxation. Raine could hardly say she didn't like those things.

Raine spotted the school in the distance, and looked at it with peaked interest. She had been to see the principal, and had seen the school up close, but it looked so different now that it was filled with students roaming around the school.

The grass was freshly cut, the smell being the only testimony to the statement though because all traces of cut grass had been cleaned. The walls were painted a fresh white, as she could still see traces of graffiti underneath the paint. Students chatted harmoniously as they walked around, smiling and laughing as they interacted.

She entered the school with a deep breath. It was strange starting school at seventeen, she felt as if she were thirteen again.

Only this time, she knew no one.

Pushing that worrying thought out of her mind, she scanned the halls. Raine remembered the principal showing her to her locker, but struggled to recognise it from all the others now. She glanced down at her number and began searching.

After much apologies and questions to others, she found her locker. Raine had then fumbled with the lock for five minutes before someone took it from her.

"Are you new?" He asked softly, opening the locker with ease.

He was tall and lean with dark, blue eyes that conveyed his seemingly friendly nature. He had dirty blond hair and a killer smile, from what she could see.

"Y-yeah. My first day today… kind of nervous, to be honest."

He smiled and reached to open the locker beside her, "You've no reason to be, people are generally nice around here."

"Thanks. So what's your-" Raine was cut off by whistles from a boy standing not too far from the blond boy. He was howling loudly at a girl walking down the hallway.

Raine took a minute to study the girl. She carried herself with confidence and charm, winking occasionally at the students passing by that she assumingly knew. Her dark brown hair was straight and reached her breasts, and Raine couldn't help but notice how her hair shined. She had a body that every girl would die for; curvaceous, but not overweight or skinny. It seemed she had everyone at her command, but walked alone. Raine found this interesting.

She turned to the boy beside her to find him wearing a scowl, which suggested he was angry - but looking closer, Raine found regret and … longing? In his eyes. She was very intrigued now.

"Erm.. Are you okay?"

He shook his head to clear his thoughts and then sent her a small smile, "Fine.. I've got to go to class now, but it was nice meeting you. You'll be fine today."

"Thanks again… what's your name?"

"Lucas," He replied, "Lucas Scott. Yours?" He began taking steps back as the bell rang, and she had to shout, "Raine Taylor," over the hoards of students rushing to class.

He nodded to indicate he had heard and waved goodbye, walking in the opposite direction.

Raine inhaled and exhaled deeply. That had been interesting to say the least.


She was late; that much Raine was aware of as she rushed into her class. Her face was bright red and her was in a mess, she was sure. Running through three corridors when you don't really know your way is not a smart idea. Raine had tripped several times before a student offered to show her the way. Raine would have to thank that girl later, but she had been to frazzled to at the time.

"Are you Raine Taylor, the exchange student from Ireland?"

"Yeah," She breathed, still embarrassed and red in the face as she kept her eyes away from the pupils.

"Do you want to tell us a bit about yourself, Ms. Taylor?"

"Er… not really, sir."

He laughed good-naturedly, along with some people in the class, "That's fine, I see you're a bit shy. I'll put you next to Marvin then, not a friendlier face in the class!" He gestured to an empty seat down the back, "Marvin raise your hand."

The boy raised his hand, smiling widely at Raine in a way that she found slight disconcerting - or she would have, had he not looked so friendly.

She paid full attention to her English class, drinking in everything he was saying with renewed enthusiasm for English. The teacher had been very nice; and Raine felt obliged to try harder because of that.

Half way through the class, she felt a nudge. She turned to Marvin, surprised. "Did you nudge me?"

"Yeah. Hey. I didn't really get to introduce myself. Call me Mouth, not Marvin. You can probably guess why they call me Mouth.. Anyhow, I'd be happy to help you on your first day. I know how hard it is making friends sometimes."

She smiled, "Thanks, that would be really helpful." A thought suddenly struck her, "So you know everyone here, yeah?"

"Well, yeah. I have been here quite some time," He joked.

"There was this girl who was in the corridor today - really pretty. She had brown hair and guys whistled as she walked… she seemed to be popular, but walked alone-" Raine was cut off by Mouth.

"Brooke Davis. Yeah, she's amazing. She's kind, friendly, popular and.. Beautiful," He finished, a smile gracing his features.

"Oh.. You and her?"

He laughed quietly, "No. I wish! Joke. But we are really good friends. She's a good person, and anyone would be lucky to have her as a friend."

"You have feelings for her, definitely!" Raine accused with a playful smile.

"No, no. I did once, but they faded. She's protective of me though… like a big sister would her little brother. I'll introduce you two sometime. If you know Brooke, people will know you."

"I see. I met Lucas, too-"

His eyes widened, "He and Brooke talked?"

"Um, no. I don't seem to remember mentioning that.."

Mouth quickly changed the subject, and she was rather impressed by how easily he did it, too. "Your accent is really cool. I love it, loads of people will be asking you to pronounce things. Which part of Ireland are you from?"

"Dublin," I answered with a bright smile, "Though I was from the 'posh' are and constantly dubbed a snob. Even though I'm not."

"I believe you," He chuckled, "I can't believe Mr. Grange hasn't told us to be quiet yet.."

"I think he's just giving me time to make friends. He seems like a really nice teacher."

Mouth nodded, "One of the best."

"Sound."

"Sound?"

"Yeah, like nice or whatever. You don't say that over here?" Mouth shook his head, "You can say 'Oh, he's sound' or 'That's sound!' kind of thing?"

"I'd say awesome or sweet."

"And dude?" Raine laughed, but seeing Mouths straight face quickly realised he was being serious. "Oooh. That's cool, I should get used to it." There was a pause, "Dude."

They both laughed and Raine felt her heart lift at the fact that she had made a friend already. Mouth was going to be one of her best friends here, she knew it. Raine knew everything, or so she liked to think.

At lunch, Mouth graced Raine with his presence, choosing to sit with her rather than his usual friends. Well, she didn't know that for sure but he had just sat down beside her. She had found that Mouth seemed popular with everyone, and had many friends scattered throughout the school. She wouldn't be surprised if he had lunch with someone different everyday.

"Oh, there's a game on tonight. You wanna' go?" He asked, swallowing a piece of his sandwich.

"Sure. Is it football? What time? How will I get there?"

"Basketball, seven. We can walk together, if you like. Football isn't really a big sport here, basketball is more the Tree Hill sport. We're pretty good."

"You play?"

"No, but I have some friends that do." He remembered something then because he added, "Lucas does, actually. You'll see him play."

"Awesome," She teased. "Now show me some of your other friends."

The two shared another laugh and she saw his gaze linger on a redhead sitting across the way, his eyes becoming glazed over as he took her in.

"Oh, it's her you like."

"Yeah, unfortunately." He sighed.

Raine looked closely at the girl from where she was sitting, "She doesn't seem your type." She figured blunt would be the way to go.

"No, she doesn't. Who says everyone has to have a set type though? Who says we have to stick to cliques and groups that won't matter once this year is finished? I'm not going to. She's beautiful, talented and has a secret heart of gold. But we're not each others type, apparently…" He stopped. "It doesn't matter anyway, she doesn't like me. We've established as much. We're friends though."

Raine took one look at Mouths sullen expression and said her next words gently, "It must be hard to be friends with someone when you're in love with them."


Well? What do you think? Pairings are very open atm, but there's definitely history! But It's more mystery and stuff. You'll see - the next chapter will get the ball rolling.

Raine isn't a Mary-Sue by the way, she isn't perfect. She's averagely smart and that's it. She hasn't any hidden art or singing talents, she isn't charming and endearing and her looks are average at best.

Anyway, Raine isn't the key character of the story. She's the catalyst kind of thing.

Anywhoser, reviews are appreciated. Especially seeing as this is my first OTH :D

CheeryRae x