Prologue


Sydney sat on the hard bleachers with her head in her hands in the near empty Whitey Durham Field House. She nervously drummed her fingers against her cheeks, tapping out the rhythm to Jingle Bells. There were only two other girls lounging on the bleachers below. Both of them were new to Tree Hill and probably didn't know any better-that Tree Hill was home of "The Ravens" boys basketball team and that no one,seemingly including God, cared if there was a ladies' basketball team.

Coach Lemmens stood in the middle of the gym floor dribbling a basketball. He must have drawn the short straw. Being the new-guy meant he had to try his best to put together a Lady Ravens basketball team—or what was supposed to be the team. But just like the past two years, there was hardly any interest in a team. It was rather pathetic for a town that loved basketball so much that they couldn't manage a single girls' team.

This was the third time Sydney was put in this position. Due to a lack of participants, she hadn't been able to play for a team neither her freshman nor her sophomore years and it looked like the scenario was going to play exactly the same for her junior year. How the hell was she supposed to get a basketball scholarship if she couldn't play for an organized team? She knew that she was good enough to get a scholarship. She just knew it. She had been playing basketball every day with her friends and could hold my own against them, which was even more impressive considering most of them boys averaging six feet compared to her five foot four stature.

But maybe it was for the best that there wasn't a Lady Ravens team. If Tree Hill did manage to get enough girls for a team, it was fairly obvious that all the money would go to support the boys' team because of favoritism and they way it had always been done. It just wasn't fair. Although, it never was.

In the corner of her eye, Sydney caught Coach Durham open the doors into the gym and tap his wrist toward Coach Lemmens. The younger coach sighed and nodded his head knowingly before slowly walking back toward the reject girls on the bleachers. Everyone already knew the message he was going to deliver.

"Well, ladies, it looks like this is the end of the line. There doesn't seem to be an enough interest from the female student body for a Lady Ravens team this year. Better luck next year," Coach Lemmens sighed as he continued to dribble the basketball at his side, without even glancing down at it.

The two new girls didn't seem too broken-up over the fact. They just looked at each other, shrugged and walked for the door. Coach Lemmens noticed that Sydney still hadn't moved from her spot on the top of the bleachers. He offered her a half smile to which she responded by rolling her eyes. Sydney then stood up and angrily walked down the bleachers, stopping right in front of him.

"What am I supposed to do? I'm a junior," Sydney questioned as she slung her backpack over her shoulder.

He looked down at the ground for a moment, pondering the right words to say before he looked back up at the young girl in front of him.. "Next year you'll be a senior, Sydney. You have a whole year to recruit some more girls for a team."

"I've been trying for two years to recruit and it doesn't work. This isn't fair. I have rights you know."

Coach Lemmens nodded his head knowingly. "Take it up with a higher authority, Syd."

Sydney folded her arms across her chest. "Who? Jesus?" she asked sarcastically.

He chuckled under his breath and shook his head before responding, "I was thinking more along the lines of Principal Turner or the school board. My hands are tied Sydney. I can't do anything with three girls when everyone else in our conference plays with five."

"I'm sure there are a few on the boys' team who could play for us," Sydney muttered.

"Sydney, I'm sorry. I really am. We'll try again next year."

The junior girl rolled her eyes before she stormed away from Coach Lemmens with a flip of her dirty blonde ponytail. She could see Coach Durham, the boys' coach leaning in the doorway with his boys waiting to get in the gym. It was utterly ridiculous that he had scheduled a practice when there was supposed to be a girls' practice.

Sydney glared icily at the old man as she walked toward him. After crossing the gymnasium floor, she stopped directly in front of Coach Durham. He nodded his head at her, but Sydney kept her head held high. "I've watched your boys play before. I'm just as good, if not better than most of them...and yet, because they have an added appendage, they can play ball. You may have won this battle, but you aren't going to win the war."

"Didn't know we were fighting," was all Coach Durham said before he walked past Sydney and into the gym. Sydney groaned before Coach Durham stopped and turned around. "But thanks for making me aware, Miss James."

The James girl rolled her eyes as the boys walked past her, mocking her as they went. Of course, Tim Smith couldn't help himself and he stopped in front of her. Sydney turned to walk away, but Tim sidestepped her, literally cornering her. She tried to keep a brave face as Tim's best friend, Nathan Scott made no attempts to stop his friend. Sydney watched as Nathan walked away from the situation but Tim grabbed her by the chin and turned her face toward him. "Well, well, look who we have here."

"I just see the idiot in front of me," Sydney retorted as she swatted his hand from her chin. "Now, if you'll excuse me, but I need to go. So move."

"Aw, c'mon, Syd-we're just having us a little talk."

"Only my friends get to call me Syd and I would never be friends with an idiot like you."

Sydney stepped forward to leave, but Tim put his hand up and placed it on her shoulder, holding her back. "Hold on now. Don't be like that. It ain't gonna change the fact that it's another year without a Lady Ravens basketball team."

"Thank you, Captain Obvious. Your intelligence astounds me. Now get out of my way before I have to resort to desperate and despicable measures of kicking you in the nuts and give the Lady Ravens another player."

"You wouldn't…"

Sydney raised her eyebrow, daring him to fight her on it, but it was Coach Durham that saved him. "Smith! If you're planning on getting any playing time this year, you will get in my gym…now!" Coach Durham yelled.

Tim backed up a little and Nathan looked around at Sydney for a moment with a stern expression on his face from his spot beneath the basket in the gym. Knowing she had his attention, Sydney raised her fist in front of her. She flicked her middle finger up, rubbing it against her lips like she was putting on lipstick. She then put her middle finger away. Sydney knew she shouldn't have done it, but she did it anyway-thus likely landing her a spot on Nathan Scott's hit-list.

Coach Durham must have witnessed the scene because he walked toward her but before he could say anything Sydney managed to escape-although, she wouldn't be surprised to find a detention slip awaiting her tomorrow.

Angrily, Sydney walked away the school to Karen's Café where her older sister, Haley worked. Haley and Sydney were in the same grade, but they weren't twins. At least, not technically. They were more like "Irish twins" because we were born within eleven months of each other, Sydney being the youngest James' sibling. But because of their close age, Haley and Sydney had always been friends, even at school. At times, they were practically inseparable, but like any siblings, they had their moments when they fought.

Sydney walked into the Karen's Cafe and sat down on a stool at the counter before she slammed my arms against the counter and rested her face against the cool counter. "Something strong please," she groaned.

"Water it is," Haley retorted with a shake of her head. A few moments later she set a glass of water down in front of Sydney and leaned against the counter to talk to her little sister. "Again?" Haley asked knowingly.

"Again. It's just not fair." Sydney slowly sat back up before she scooted the glass closer toward her and puckered her lips around the straw, sipping water.

Haley wiped at the ring of water where the glass had been with a white rag. "While I won't even pretend to understand what you and Luke like about that game; it still sucks that you don't have a team to play on. I mean, if that is what you want."

"How else am I going to get to college, Hales? I'm not Miss Academics like you."

"A's and B's aren't bad," Haley pointed out toward her sister.

"But they're not outstandingly good enough to get a scholarship to a decent school. I need something I'm good at. Basketball is that thing and if I don't have a team, I'm going to end up with nothing. I'll probably end up not being able to go to college and having to work at McDonalds or Walmart for the rest of my life." Sydney looked over her shoulder and winced before adding. "Not that there's anything wrong with working at McDonalds or Walmart...of course."

Haley chuckled at her sister. "Sydney, you are good at things. It will work out. I just know it."

"Well, I'm glad one of us has confidence in me. But if the whole no team thing wasn't bad enough—Tim Smith was a complete douche to me and Nathan Scott just stood by and let him be one. I mean, Tim's a punk but asshole doesn't even begin to describe Nathan."

"Keep it down about Nathan, Luke's in the back."

"It's not like I called him a douche."

"Who's a douche?" Karen Roe asked as she came toward the counter with a plate in each hand. She looked over her shoulder for Sydney to answer as she walked away to set the plates at table of two middle-aged men.

"Boys," Sydney groaned which made Karen chuckle.

"Even me?" Lucas asked, appearing in the windowless window that led back to the kitchen.

"You're the worst," Sydney teased with a grin on her face.

Lucas took a step backward like he had been shot. "That hurts. Right here." He pointed to the place where his heart should be.

Sydney wiped her hands before reaching for a fry on the plate Haley placed in front of her. "Then my job here is done."

"You don't even work here," Haley teased. Sydney responded by popping another fry into her mouth.

"I'm sure Ma'd hire you if you just asked," Lucas said coming to the front before he grabbed his basketball. "You coming, Syd?"

"Yes, Lukey," Sydney responded.

"Do you have to call me that?"

"You used my nickname so I'm using yours."

"But you like your nickname. Besides, Luke is my nickname, you know."

"Not the one I use." Sydney winked at her friend and grinned. "But I suppose we can go back to your fifth-grade nickname…Pukey."

"It was one time. I puked on you one time on accident."

"Probably shouldn't have gone on the Tilt-A-Whirl after downing a funnel cake and slushie, huh?" Well, one doesn't just forget their best friend puking over them. It just isn't possible. It becomes grounds to use as blackmail for the rest of their lives. Isn't that right Pukey? Or do you prefer Pucas?"

Lucas shook his head and opened the door. "Let's go," he groaned. Sydney smirked as she walked past him. "Ma, I'm headed to the Rivercourt before Syd can come up with any more nicknames!"

Sydney gave Lucas a playful punch. "I heard that."

"Hey, easy there. That's my shooting arm," Lucas chuckled, backing away.

"That's the point."

"Well, you're gonna want it in working condition if we're on the same team."

Sydney looked at him. "Chance of us being on the same team aren't likely. Eh-I'm gonna risk it." She then playfully punched him again. But before she could completely withdraw her arm, Lucas caught it with his hand. He then twisted it behind her back so that they were pressed against each other facing forward. Sydney felt a slight blush creep up into her cheeks as she looked up at him. "Uncle?"

Lucas chuckled and released her arm. Sydney then stole the ball from him and began dribbling away from him down the sidewalk. Lucas easily caught up to her and they crossed the street. He tried to steal his ball back from her, but Sydney back to run, dribbling the ball. She weaved in and out of the pedestrians walking on the sidewalk. Causing roadblocks was the only advantage she had on six foot, Lucas whose long legs would easily overtake her in a straight shot breakaway.

They were about halfway to the Rivercourt when Lucas finally managed to steal his ball back. Sydney and Lucas continued their journey side by side at a comfortable pace, Luke dribbling the ball as they walked. "So did I overhear right that there isn't a team again?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah, I just don't get it, though," Sydney responded. "Well, I do—but it's just not fair. I should transfer to the next district over but it would cost my parents too much."

"Our little band of misfits wouldn't be the same without you. Besides, you don't need them."

"Because hanging out with my big sister and her best friend isn't weird."

"So, I'm only Haley's friend now?"

"You were her friends first."

"Because she wasn't too shy to come over and talk to me."

"I'm not shy. I'm reserved…at first...unless you piss me off. Good lord, I'm so complicated I don't even understand myself. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I kinda chewed Coach Durham out a little. I mean, words literally vomited from my mouth, so I'm probably going to have a detention slip awaiting me tomorrow."

"So much for being reserved," Lucas chuckled.

"Hey now, I was a little pissed off. You know that I lose control sometimes when I get like that."

Lucas smiled. "Oh, don't I know it."

Sydney's eyes widened and she gave Lucas a shove. "Jerk."

"But I wouldn't have you any other way." Lucas wrapped an arm around Sydney's shoulder and pulled her close. Sydney felt her face flush a little as she wrapped an arm around Luke's midsection as they approached the court.

"Where the hell you two been?" Skills called from the court. "Almost started without you."

"Let's just shoot for teams," Lucas chuckled releasing his hold on Sydney.

Sydney took the ball from Lucas and walked to the free throw line. She lined up her shot and released the ball. Swish. It went right in, just like she knew it would. Sydney had been playing basketball with this group for years and she had more than earned her spot. Lucas walked over and took the ball back and took a shot. Swish. His shot went in too.

Surveying her friends, Sydney knew that her best chances of winning were to have Lucas on her team. Meaning...she was was going to have to miss a few shots...on purpose. She easily calculated which shots to make and which shots to miss as she stood in line, watching her friends shoot.

By the end of the shooting for teams, her carefully devised plan had worked. Lucas seemed none the wiser about what she had done, but Skills gave her a suspicious look. He knew. Then again, he knew a lot more things than he ever led on. Sydney shrugged at Skills. She brushed it off as simply wanting to better her chances at winning-something she needed after the crapfest at school.

The teams were set. It was Skills, Fergie, and Junk against Luke and Sydney. Jimmy Edwards and Mouth McFadden sat at their make-shift booth, which in reality was a picnic table announcing the game. Everything was ready.

Lucas nodded his head at Sydney before walking to center court to start our pick-up game with a jump ball. Sydney stood behind him, ready for the tip off. In the moment of the calm before the storm, Sydney took in her surroundings. This was where everything felt right-right there on the basketball court. But she wasn't ever going to get noticed playing ball on the Rivercourt. No, there had to be another way to get onto a team...any team.

Author's note: I am the author who originally posted this story. I removed it, but I have majorly edited it and reposted it.