Howdy, all! My deepest apologies if it's not your cup of tea, but the relationships in my Tree Hill will be different to the show (although I love them dearly). My story's set during the first season, and while I'm going to try and use some of the happenings from the show, some situations will be very different. Again, I'm so sorry if you hate my universe!

P.S. This is my first fan fic, so please, be gentle!

"Ow!" Charlotte gasped, as her thumb sliced down the lip of the cardboard box in front of her. "Damn it!" She cried, sticking her thumb in her mouth and scrunching her nose as the bitter copper taste hit her tongue.

"Language!" her mom scolded from further down the hall.

Charlotte ducked her head, sending her brother an amused look. "Sorry, mom!" she called back, coughing back a giggle.

"What'd you do?" Zach asked, grinning from his place on her stripped bed.

She pawed through her bag looking for a bandaid. "Cardboard cut," she replied and grinned at the confused look on his face. "You know, like a paper cut, but so much worse!"

Zach laughed, his rough voice echoing on her bare walls. "Jesus, Murph, you really can find anything to hurt yourself with, can't you?"

"Shut up," she chuckled, taping the last box closed. She leaned back against the wall, looking around her empty room with a sad smile. "This is it, Z, our last morning in Coveside..."

Her twin smiled, rising from the bed to wrap his arm around his little sister's shoulder. "I know, Murph," he sighed. "But we've gotta go where dad leads. You know this new job is too good for him to pass on."

"I know, I know," she smiled, squeezing his waist before picking up the nearest box. "I'm just trying to wallow in my self pity here."

Zach laughed and grabbed a box before following her out of the room. "Sorry. Wallow away!"

The made their way out to the moving van, where their father and uncle were loading the last of Zach's furniture. "You got everything finished, Charlie?" her dad asked, grabbing the box from her.

"Yep, she replied, wiping her hands on her dirty jeans. "It's just my bed, then the boxes." She grinned as her uncle wrapped his arms around her from behind, stooping to her dismal height to rest his chin on her head.

"Put your bags and boxes of clothing in the back of the pick-up and the rest can go in the van," their mom called from the front door. "C'mon, kids," she clapped her hands at all four of them, "snap to it! We're almost finished, then we can hit the road. It's a six hour drive to Tree Hill and I want to get there while it's still light."

"Yes, dear," their dad chuckled, dropping a kiss to his wife's cheek after bounding up the porch steps.

Kate grinned at his teasing tone, and smacked his shoulder as he passed. "Don't patronise me, Lou. I might make the kids drive down with you as punishment!"

"Hey!" The twins exclaimed in unison.

Jimmy laughed, straightening from his position behind Charlotte. His laughed turned to a groan when his back pulled. "Geez, Charlie, grow a little, would ya? I throw my back out every time I give you a hug!"

Charlotte gasping with mock indignation, smacking her uncle in the stomach. "It's not my fault hoggy over there stole all the height-juice in the womb!"

Zach laughed as they trudged up the steps. "Hey, I'm older. I deserve to be taller..."

"Whatever," she laughed.

It didn't take them long to finish, and Charlie was standing in the front room of what was to become their old house, when her mom called from outside. "Charlie, Zach, get out here, quick!"

Thinking something was wrong, Charlie hurried out the door and down the stairs, Zach hot on her heels, and they stopped, panting slightly, in front of Kate. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Look," Kate smiled, pointing just past Zach's shoulder.

The twins turned, gaping at the mob that was quickly making their way towards the house. Twenty or so of Zach and Charlie's friends were dancing down the street, frantically waving a decorated bed sheet. Aggie, the artist of the group, had painted 'Farewell, Castle's. Good luck!' on the sheet, and it appeared that everyone had signed it. The twins raced towards the crowd, meeting them on the neighbour's driveway. For the next ten minutes, nothing could be heard over the sound of everyone speaking at once, trying to get their goodbye's in before it's too late.

The sound of a horn interrupted the din, and Lou climbed down from the van. "C'mon, kids, you better wrap it up, we've got a way to go..."

Finally, Charlie stood before Aggie, her best friend since kindergarden. As they looked at each other, the thought of the distance that would separate them hit Charlie and she burst into tears. Aggie wrapped her arms around her friend, her own tears streaking her mascara.

"Oh, Charlie. How can I survive without my other half here?!" she sighed, making Charlie cry harder. Aggie held her tighter. "When the night's are clear and the sky's filled with stars, make sure you go to the nearest playground and sit on the swing. I'll be doing the same thing. Those are our nights, remember. They always have been."

"Only you'll be here," Charlie hiccupped, " I'll be six hours away..."

Aggie smiled, and cupped Charlie's face in her hands. "Hey, don't cry, pretty girl. We're always together..." she gave her friend a knowing look.

"...even when we're not," Charlie finished with a sigh.

She smiled as Aggie released her and pulled Zach into a hug. "You take of my girl, Z," she scolded, "I don't care if you're 6'2, I'll find you and kick your ass!"

Zach laughed, lifting Aggie of the ground. "I promise, Pix."

With another quick hug and a chorus of goodbyes, the twins joined their mom in the truck. Charlie turned in her seat to watch out the back window, her gaze on Aggie as she faded into a speck in the distance.

Soon, Kate, Charlie and Zach were cruising down the streets of Coveside in their old pick up, followed closely by Lou and Jimmy in the moving van. Charlie looked bleakly at the familiar surroundings from her seat in the middle (she had lost the rock, paper, scissors fight for the window seat), and bit her lip to stop more tears welling in her eyes.

Zach, sensing his sister's distress, wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to his side. "We wont be far away, Murph," he rumbled against her head, "we can always come back for weekend stays..."

"Your brother's right," Kate smiled, "Once we get settled, we'll pick up a cheap car for you two, and you can come back and visit as often as you like." Charlie nodded, and wiped the single tear that slid down her cheek. "And I wish you wouldn't call her that."

A feeble giggle escaped Charlie's mouth as her brother defended himself. "It's not my fault you gave birth to the epitome of Murphy's Law, ma!"

"Zachary, stop it," their mom chastised, trying (unsuccessfully) to hide her own smile.

They drove in silence until they reached the last set of traffic lights before they would no longer be in Coveside. "Hey, look," Zach said, pointing up at the bridge on the opposite side of the road.

Aggie had made another sign and had strung it up where she knew they would all see it. 'I love you, my second family. I'm going to miss you.'

"Oh, Aggie," Kate whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

This time, Charlie didn't bother to stop the tears.

~~..~~