Dear Principal Turner,

For one reason or another we've all been sentenced to a detention today and forced to do an assignment that you hoped would make us face who we really are so we can eventually be productive parts of society. As a result we have learned we are: a jock, a know-it-all, a brooder, a beauty queen, a bad boy, a nerd and a home wrecker. Thanks for the invitation to self-acceptance.

Signed,

The Ravens

The day: Saturday, January 22, 2007

The time: 8:52 am

The place: Tree Hill High Library

The reason: Principal Turner's Torture aka. Detention

A shiny silver Jaguar pulled in front of Tree Hill High School, a distinct difference from the school which was overcast and dark in the cold winter weather. In the back of the car Brooke Davis was listening to her mother, Victoria Davis, yell at her once again via her cell phone.

"What did I do to deserve such a ridiculous daughter? Listen to me young lady, you will go to detention and you will stay in school during the appropriate hours. Do you think I have time to listen to phone calls from erratic teachers? I don't want to hear about any of this ridiculousness again!"

Brooke silently closed her phone on the sudden dial tone. She sighed and lifted her Coach purse, "thank you, Maurice, pick me up at three in the afternoon."

The old driver nodded and, appropriately, didn't mention the fact that it was the first time Brooke's mother had called her in months.

00

Marvin McFadden listened as his mother tore him a new asshole. As if it wasn't enough that he was a loser with a social life that was nonexistent. He heard his little sister snickering in the back seat and wanted to turn around and throw her through the rear window.

"Are you listening to me, Marvin? Marvin? Why are you doing this to me? You better go do your time. I'm not paying for your college. You'd better stop this foolishness if you want scholarships!"
"All right mom," he left while she was still in midsentence.

00

Nathan Scott glanced at the side mirror on his side of the car as his father stared him down. A blond girl with crazy curls was speed walking past the car, her hands stuffed in her pockets and a mean scowl firmly placed on her face.

"This will never happen again, Nathan," his father told him quietly, "never."

"It won't," he agreed, if he wanted to get away from his father it really couldn't.

"I'll be back at three, be ready for a workout."

00

Lucas groaned from his seat as he noticed Nathan Scott walking into the school. The last thing he needed on top of an early morning Saturday detention was to spend it with his half brother.

"Just so we're clear, Lucas Eugene Scott, you are grounded," his mother told him.

"Love ya, son," his step-father ruffled his hair like he did when he was a child and grinned.

Luke rolled his eyes and prepared to leave the warm car. His mother gave him a small nod, "see you at three. I love you."

"Love you too, mom," as he got out of the car and took a step a girl banged into him. She grinned up at him, her long blond hair flying in the harsh wind.

"Are you in for Turner's torture too," she asked.

He nodded and took a step forward, "yeah."

00

Principal Turner looked around at the group of kids in front of him and frowned as he began to read his attendance list, "Brooke Davis."

She rose her hazel eyes to meet his stare and arched one perfectly waxed eyebrow, "here."

"Jake Jagielski."

Suddenly the door behind him swung open. Jake Jagielski, a tall kid with dark hair and the body of an athlete walked through the door. He had a swagger and a grin on his face, "here."

"You're late Jagielski," Turner told him sternly.

Jake took a seat at one of the two last empty tables. Everyone else was sitting at their own table, "that's probably true."

"As usual you're asking for trouble Jagielski."

Jake grinned, "I court trouble. Maybe one day we'll have a run in."

Turner rolled his eyes, "Haley James."

"Here."

"Marvin McFadden."

"Here."

"Peyton Sawyer."

The girl with crazy curls glared at him, he took it to mean she was present.

"Lucas Scott."

"Here."

"Nathan Scott."

Nate rose his hand, "the real Scott is here."
The tension in the room shifted and everyone turned to look at Luke. Turner sighed, this was going to be a long day.

"You're each in here for a good reason. You broke a rule, maybe you broke more than one. You're assignment for the day: each of you will write a few paragraphs about how you will change your behavior as it directly relates to your reason for being here, so you will turn into decent people in our society and community of Tree Hill. I'll be in my office next door and can hear every word you speak. For all of your sakes I suggest not speaking."

"That should be easy," Jake sneered sarcastically.

"You have a problem Jagielski? You're always trying to act so tough, trying to impress the masses. Maybe you should tell them why you're here today," Turner baited him.

Jake sat forward, looking deadly serious, "where are your manners today Turner?"
"Don't mess with me," Turner warned, "I'll always be one up on you."

"Fuck this," Jake muttered.

Turner put a had to his ear, "what was that? A written invitation to next Saturdays detention? You got it Jagielski, anymore?"

"Temper, temper, wouldn't want to upset the hypertension," Jake continued on, he grinned, "that rhymed!"

"How about the next two Saturdays!"

Before Jake could open his mouth to reply Haley James, the small blond turned around in her seat, "just stop!"

He was surprised by her response and chose to take the out he was given. He conceded Turner's win in this battle, knowing there would be many more.

"Good," Turner nodded to himself, "you'd better get started on those papers. Remember I can hear every syllable!"

00

The group was sullen and quiet a for a time. Exactly twenty minutes had passed and yet it had seemed a lifetime. Brooke was silently filing her nails, Nathan was writing out plays on his paper, Luke was attempting to read a novel, Haley was doing her Chemistry homework, Marvin was going over complicated Physiological developments in gorillas with a strain of Rubella, Peyton was sketching an angry drawing and Jake was digging words into his table with a pocket knife.

Nathan looked over to Brooke. Out of everyone in the group at the library that morning she was the only one it was socially acceptable to talk to. And he wanted to talk, wanted to goad his half-brother into a perfect ditch where he could shit all over him, "Davis!"

Brooke looked over. He thought she looked gorgeous as usual. The people in their social circle never looked bad, especially Brooke. She was the female leader by far. The captain of the cheerleading squad, Miss Teen Magnolia, and rich, the perfect combinations. She tossed her long dark hair over her shoulder and moved her bangs to the side slightly, "yeah?"

"You going to Tim's party tonight," he asked.

She shrugged, "probably. Theresa and Bevin drag me to all of Dim's parties and then I end up wasted and in a game of I Never Ever."

Nathan chuckled, Brooke truly did have moments in I Never Ever that were classic, he looked toward Luke, "you should come."

When Lucas didn't bat an eyelash or even acknowledge that he had spoke Nathan moved his seat back and looked behind Brooke, "you hear me? I said you should come to Tim's party."

"Get off his sack," Jake muttered.

"This has nothing to do with you Jagielski," Nathan told him.

"Back off, Nathan," Peyton muttered.

Brooke pointed one perfectly manicured finger in her direction, "you don't get to speak!"

Haley looked around, the animosity was thick, "what is wrong with all of you people?"

"Stay out of it," Jake told her between clenched teeth.

"What's going on," Marvin wondered out loud.

"Do you think that finger matters to me," Peyton asked.

"It should. Don't think I won't kick your bony little-"

"Davis," Nathan cut her off.

"Let her speak," Lucas said, never taking his eyes off his book.

Everyone stopped for a moment. It was obvious that there was a common past between most of these people. How in the world were they going to get through the next six hours?