Where Do I Go From Here?

Summary: This is a rewritten version of my original fic. Even if you've read the original please give this a chance. It's quite a bit different and I think you'll enjoy it. I decided to rewrite it because although I was pleased with the responses I got from the original WDIGFH and it's sequel, my writing skills have greatly improved and I believe I can do a better job with the story this time around. Also, I never finished the sequel, Where We Got To and back then I had a lot of people who wanted to read the end of it. So this time around I will definitely finish it although it will be quite a bit different from the original. Instead of jumping ahead to the next generation of kids I will make the four-year jump like the show, then if I get a good response from it I will write a new future fic.

Rating: Most stuff in here will be T but I'm officially making it M just in case.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill, just any original characters that appear.

Author's Note: The main character of the original story, Jaime, will have a new name in this. I wrote the original fic before season four ended and I had no idea that Nathan and Haley would name their son Jamie. I'm changing the main character's name just to avoid confusion for those who didn't read the original.

Chapter 1: A Thousand Words

Lucas Scott sighed with frustration as he watched the woman of his dreams walk away from him, arm in arm with his best friend and sister-in-law Haley James Scott. Ever since Brooke had returned from her summer in California Lucas had been trying to get her to go out with him on an exclusive basis. So far all he had managed was a strange non-exclusive relationship that left him feeling more confused by the day. A few months before when he had professed his love to her he had been convinced that when she returned home she would want to take him back. Instead he was faced with a sight of the old Brooke, one who didn't care, and he was one hundred percent sure that it was an act.

"Kinda weird seeing them together like that huh?"

Lucas turned and smiled at his close friend Peyton Sawyer. Before the summer he had been worried about his friendship with Peyton, realizing almost too late that they were drifting apart but the last three months had done nothing but bring them closer together. Unfortunately Peyton was not as accepting of Haley's return from her musical tour and had yet to forgive her. This was causing tension between their group of friends including between Brooke and Peyton, who were best friends in a way that almost redefined the word. Lucas' half brother Nathan, who had married Haley at sixteen, was also not very happy about the young musician's return to Tree Hill. Even though he had admitted that there might still be hope for their marriage he was acting cold towards Haley much to Lucas' dismay.

"I'm just glad she's got someone other than me" was the response Peyton got. The surly tone of her friend's voice made her cringe and she looked up at him with an apologetic face.

"Sorry Luke. I'm trying okay?"

"I know Peyton." Lucas replied as he put his arm around her shoulders. "I just wish everything wasn't so messed up around here. And I thought last year was bad."

Peyton laughed and rolled her eyes. "Senior year huh? I don't even want to think of all the shit that could happen."

Later that day Karen Roe groaned in frustration as she saw a black SUV pull into a parking space outside of her café. The place was busy enough during lunchtime without her having to deal with Dan Scott. For having abandoned her and her son for all of sixteen years it amazed her at how often he stuck his nose in her business.

"Hi Karen." Dan said in a sickly sweet voice. Karen hated how he talked to her, like they were actually good friends despite all the pain he had put her through. The most recent of which was having her boyfriend Andy deported back to New Zealand. Even though she and Andy had ended their relationship due to differing opinions on children she wasn't ready to forgive Dan for purposely hurting her.

"What do you want Dan? In case you can't tell I'm busy."

"I just wanted to welcome you back from your trip."

Karen turned her back on him to place a stack of freshly cleaned trays under the counter. She couldn't help thinking how enjoyable it would be to crack Dan over the head with one of them. Instead she would have to settle with throwing him out of her restaurant.

"Look Dan I'm not in the mood for your games. I think it's time for you to leave."

Faking a hurt expression Dan leaned against the front counter nonchalantly and said in a quieter voice, "Come on Karen, let me make it up to you."

"She told you to leave" an angry voice said from behind him. Dan turned and saw his oldest son glaring at him threateningly. Lucas' face staring at him from amid the swirl of flames in the dealership fire flashed through Dan's mind and he had to resist the urge to take a swing at the teenager in front of him.

"Shouldn't you be in school Lucas?"

"Seniors are allowed off campus for lunch." Lucas replied in a flat voice. "Now get out."

As much as he wanted to call his son out as the one who tried to murder him Dan merely frowned and walked out of the café.

"Are you okay Mom?" Lucas asked as he sat down on a stool. As the days passed by he was beginning to regret running into Scott Motors to pull his no-good father out of harms way.

"I'm fine. What can I get you for lunch?"

"A turkey sandwich sounds good."

Lucas held back a sigh as his mother disappeared into the kitchen to make his lunch. As much as she pretended to be fine he could tell that she was still hurting from her breakup with Andy. Although he understood the reasons behind it Lucas couldn't help but wish they had stayed together. He really liked Andy and he knew that the man truly loved his mother. Andy had even helped Lucas try to bring Dan down to protect Karen and everyone else. Even though Keith would always be the dominant father figure in his life he had begun to develop a paternal bond with Andy and he regretted that he would no longer have that.

"Here you go." Karen said cheerfully as she returned. A part of her had enjoyed watching Lucas stand up to Dan like that. It made her feel better knowing that her son was capable of taking care of himself.

"Thanks Mom" Lucas mumbled, his mouth full of turkey and mayonnaise. The two of them chatted about the new school year and what it might bring while Lucas ate. When it was time to return to school Lucas gave his mother a quick hug and headed out, holding the door for a girl who looked to be about the same age as him. She smiled and muttered a quick thanks before heading inside. As Lucas hopped on his bike and rode towards the high school he couldn't help wondering if he had seen that girl somewhere before. She looked sort of familiar but he couldn't think of where he had seen her before.

Meanwhile inside the café Karen smiled at the young woman standing at the counter. The girl looked up at her with eyes that she had seen before. In fact she had seen them only moments ago. Her heart began to pound as she took in the girl's appearance. Her hair was short, a few shades lighter brown than Karen's. She was tall, five ten by Karen's guess and lean like Lucas. She wore no makeup and had on baggy jeans and a t-shirt of a band Karen had never heard of. But it was the eyes that had Karen in shock. They were identical to her son's and the realization that came with that thought made feel faint.

"Jessica" she whispered.

A/N: That's it for the first chapter. As a sidenote, the title of the chapter is a song by Savage Garden. Please review and let me know what you thought of it. I should have the second chapter done soon.