Prologue

The summer lingered around; the sun had decided to stay out longer than most. The wind had decided to only let it drift slowly around as the long wheat-grass swayed lightly. The colour was painted pastel colours of orange. The splash of lightly blue seen every now and then on the canvas of sky. It was summer days like this that would never be forgotten. When the lake's waters glittered, dancing with the light creating mind blowing beauty. The smell of freshly cut grass caused me to take a deep breath of the air around. I stepped slowly, making sure I took in every moment of today. I was in an open-field that out stretched for miles. The waist high wheat-grass surrounded me as my hands floated over the top of the wheat, my majestic blue eyes gazing out into the distance. My dirty blonde lock's hung in long beach waves, my manicured fingers reached up securing a piece behind my ear as I carried on walking through the grass. My eyes never left the horizon. I could feel the memory's burning me, as my hand lifted and settled on my heart. I sucked in a deep breath as I closed my eyes slowly, I'd never imagined it to hurt this much- But it did and there was nothing I could do about it. Letting my leg's fold underneath me I left my body hit the ground softly as the grass engulfed me. Blocking the view of the ever-stretching field, leaving me with just the grass. This year had been the hardest of them all- I had gained a family, lost a sister and now here I was. Exactly where I had started…alone. The feeling of the symbolised ring on my finger felt even heavier on me now just at the thought. A fresh tear rolled down my face but I didn't even know I was crying. Frowning soon enough tears were flowing. Yes, I was sad but I wasn't that sad that I needed to cry. Shaking my hair out I rolled my eyes at myself pathetically. He was my everything but I'd never realised it would be this hard. The humidity was clammy, causing me to ring my hands in and out of each other. Today was March twelfth; it had been a year today that I had left that place behind and started a fresh life. Taking in a deep breath I let my body slowly fall back so I could see the light blue sky above me. There wasn't a cloud in sight just a never-ending blue sky that was pure bliss. I knew in the next hour or so I'd have to leave and return home to continue getting ready for my first day at a new school. I was excited, but at the same time scared- I'd left my past behind in Tree Hill. I'd left Brooke, Nathan, Lucas and Peyton behind the minute I turned my back on that place I promised I'd never look back again. But here I was again thinking about them again, they didn't deserve to be thought about. They were all a group of back-stabbing, cheating and untrustworthy people which I didn't want anything to do with. I shook my head frustrated at myself as I pushed up from the warmth of the grass- I needed to get home otherwise my brain would go into over drive like it always does. Slowly I made my way to my car, my beautiful light blue mini which glistened as the sun shone over it. Slipping inside the heat from the sun warmed my car up to a near-perfect temperature as a smile slowly slid across my pinkish lips. Reaching up i yanked down my sun protector screen in my car and saw a picture I always kept there. Me and Nathan. This time last summer before all the drama had hit, where shit really hit the fan. I wasn't going to lie to myself I was always going to love Nathan. But since the day I'd left Tree Hill- my life had been less complicated and complex. That place might always be home but it was a home I didn't feel like returning to any time soon. Nathan had made no effort to contact me nor had any of the others and neither had i. It was a mutual decision I believe. The day I left we all put it behind us and started a fresh life. Nathan was most likely dating some random cheerleader that the group accepted, Peyton with Jake and Brooke with Lucas. Either way i didn't want to know if they were. I'd start my new life and no one would see me as broken Haley James ever again. No one would see me cry and I'd smile through anything that got in my way because this time around I was going to be a new girl. Flipping the protector shut I let out a final sigh as I turned the engine on. It really was time to head pack and prepare for my beginning of a new school, and my senior year. From now on I was a new person, not the old Hayley James.