A/N: I really missed writing Leyton so this is my new story. Basically Peyton arrives at Tree Hill when Rachel would have done so Rachel is there all the time previously- Naley got married and then Haley went on tour, Brucas S1 never happened, S2 did and now they're like the beginning of S3 Brucas were, but Peyton will change everything. If it looks like it could be any good do please review and i'll keep it up :)

Peyton took a last drag on a cigarette and then reluctantly dropped it to the floor. She crushed it underneath a battered black Converse and gazed up at the new hell she was to call school. It wasn't normally like her to smoke but she felt like she needed the head rush for courage. She could handle this if she didn't take it all in. She grimaced; even her inner brain was unconvinced. Her green eyes squinted in the September sun and she was just considering skipping when a car revved behind her.

"You mind? You're in my spot." She twisted to see an enormous four by four being driven by a haughty looking red head and raised an eyebrow. She moved minimally to the side, leaning against her own car and watched as the girl swung into the space next to her with one hand on the wheel and the other holding a cell phone, "yeah I'll see you in two babe." She climbed out of the monster of a car and shot Peyton a dirty look, "newbies park over there clueless."

Peyton raised her eyebrow, "thanks for the heads up," she said lightly.

The girl shrugged and pulled a face, "whatever," before striding away in heels that made Peyton wince just looking at them. Who would wear shoes like that to school?! She slipped on her faithful aviator shades and pulled her bag out of the car.

"Here we go," she muttered.

The corridors were a mass of bodies pushing her one way and then the other. She felt completely lost. She had her 'I don't give a crap scowl' on but inside she was panicking. Where did she go first? Before she could work it out she felt someone shove her against a set of lockers, losing her footing she found herself falling backwards ohh crap-

"Heyy- I got you!" She heard a quiet but strong voice and felt a pair of hands catch her round the waist.

She turned in surprise, catching her sunglasses as they fell of her head and touching her hair in embarrassment. As she looked up she met the most beautiful pair of blue eyes she'd ever seen gazing at her with a mix of interest and concern. She felt speechless.

"You ok?"

"I- uhh- yeah thanks," she said quickly, straightening up and out of his arms.

"You new here?"

She nodded, "seventh school in two years; lucky me."

He grinned and shrugged, "Tree Hill's not so bad."

She realised he was staring at her with a peculiar look in his eyes- like he was reading her thoughts or something and she cleared her throat, "anyway- thanks for the quick catch."

"No problem," he backed down the corridor, swinging his bag over his shoulder, "I'll be seeing you."

She inclined her head slowly and then gave him an inch of a smile; which he returned before disappearing into the crowd.

Peyton felt breathless and realised the people in the corridors were thinning out as they all moved into their classrooms. Oh crap she was totally going to be late and that would mean a scene, CRAP. She spotted a sign that said office and dived towards it.

"Hello?" She knocked on the glass and peered round the door.

A secretary peered at her over a pair of square glasses, "shouldn't you be in class by now young lady?"

"Yeah err, I'm new today."

"Oh- and you are?"

"Peyton Sawyer."

There was a tapping and then she smilied minimally, "you're transferring from down south? Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer?"

"Yep that's me."

More tapping.

"Great, welcome to Tree Hill High, fill these in please." She handed Peyton a pile of papers and a pen and smiled quickly before turning back to her desk and answering a phone, "Tree Hill High, Marjorie speaking, uh huh, please hold. Hello, Tree Hill High? No I'm sorry you'd have to arrange a meeting. No, through me of course."

Peyton rolled her eyes, secretary on a power high much? She scrawled her name across the bottom of several sheets, agreeing that her picture could be used in school papers, her work could be used in school publications, etcetera. She felt like she'd signed a million of these over the years.

"So now that you're all enrolled here I can give you your class schedule and you can get to first period," the secretary smiled at her brightly and then handed her a schedule.

"Thanks," Peyton muttered. Joy, classes.

"Ok any questions?" She looked at Peyton impatiently and Peyton raised her eyebrows minimally and then shook her head silently. "Great- welcome to Tree Hill High!"

"Thanks," she headed out of the room and leant against the wall outside. There was nothing like a new school and another uninterested secretary to make her feel right at home. She needed a cigarette. Man she hated her dad so much for this. Sighing she straightened her bag and glanced at the sheet, English Literature was waiting for her. Well maybe golden boy would be in that class, he might be fun. She squinted up at the classroom numbers and then hesitantly moved down the corridor to the frosted door where Steinbeck and Fitzgerald would no doubt be waiting for her. Reluctantly she knocked and then opened it.

"Ahhh a late runner!" A tall lady with dark hair in plaits that made her look like a brunette Heidi turned and looked at her expectantly, "and you are?"

Peyton found that she'd lost the ability to speak and realised twenty five pairs of eyes were staring at her with mild interest.

"It's the newbie I was telling you about," a voice Peyton recognised came from the back of the class where the redheaded bimbo was sitting and the spattering of laughter that followed actually made her feel stronger.

"Peyton Sawyer," she said firmly, shooting a drop dead look in the girl's direction, "i'm new."

"Ah well hello Miss Sawyer- park yourself and we'll continue. I'm Miss Francis and I teach first period English literature- do try and be on time next week."

Peyton nodded slightly, already disinterested in anything but sitting down and dropped her bag on the floor by a desk at the back. She raised her eyebrows at all the faces still gawping at her, what did they expect? For her to break into song? They finally looked away and she pulled a sketch book out to doodle on.

"Now, we'll be dividing into groups to discuss Shakespeare's finer points on why Katherina is the wonderful way she is so look to your left and right to divide and conquer please ladies and gentlemen."

Peyton scowled, great, socialising?

A guy on her left with dark hair and piercing blue eyes twisted to face her and held out a hand, "Nathan Scott."

She took it and grinned, "Peyton Sawyer."

"Yeah I heard, how's it going?"

"Well I nearly got run over so a good start."

He laughed, "always a way to get noticed."

"Yeah well that's me, always-"

A dark blonde turned round from the desk in front of Peyton and interrupted, "Nathan can we talk?"

"Not now Haley," Nathan muttered, staring at his copy of The Taming of the Shrew like it was the most interesting thing he'd ever seen.

"Nathan-"

"I'm working."

Peyton raised her eyebrows and decided now would be the right moment to zone out and check out the rest of the room. The usual cliques were sitting together, the pretty group; cheerleaders and jocks, the goths, the geeks and her fellow loners and- to her surprise she realised the beautiful blonde was in this class. He was sitting in the far corner, immersed in his own copy of the play. Peyton felt her heart beat slightly faster and then disappointment take over as she realised he was most definitely not alone. A brunette with amazing dimples suddenly wrapped an arm around his neck and whispered something in his ear to make him laugh. Peyton scrunched up her face and was about to turn away but just as she did so he glanced backwards over his shoulder and met her eyes. He nodded and smiled slightly and she bit her lip, nodding back, god he gave her butterflies.

"So you wanna talk about this chick Katherina or what?"

She turned back to Nathan who was looking surlier than he had been earlier and shrugged, "sure."

"So I haven't read this play but I think anyone writing about love is clearly deluded," he began.

Peyton scoffed, "Shakespeare's not deluded, he-"

"You have the most amazing bone structure," the girl next to Nathan suddenly announced and Peyton looked at her in surprise.

"Umm- thanks. Anyway, Shakespeare doesn't write about love blindly he-"

"Seriously," the girl reached across Nathan and pushed Peyton's face to the side, "it's awesome, Rach don't you think?"

The red head in front of her leant back in her chair, "what am I thinking Bev?"

"She's got great bone structure right?" The girl named Bev clutched Peyton's chin and twisted her round.

Gently Peyton attempted to remove the girl's hands, "I don't really know you well enough for you to do this."

Nathan chuckled, "she doesn't really mind about that." Peyton raised an eyebrow at him and he grinned at her. "You'll get used to it."

"Rachel!" Bev persisted.

Rachel narrowed her eyes as she glanced at Peyton, "she's not bad. Where you from?"

Peyton shrugged non-committedly, "around."

"Whatever," Rachel rolled her eyes and turned back to her own group announcing loudly, "this sucks."

"She's got something right," Nathan muttered.

Peyton looked at him in surprise, "what?! You know this is actually one of Shakespeare's more interesting plays."

"Says who?"

She shrugged, "says me. I mean the whole play is based on the trials and tribulations of dating and he's kind of scarily on point about everything he talks about."

"Wow are you like really smart or something?" Bevin was staring at her wide eyed- her own copy of the play was nowhere to be seen.

"No," Peyton's eyes widened incredulously, "I just read it and understood it. Didn't you?"

"Wow," Bevin breathed and then waved a hand, "oh no I don't really do the whole reading thing. I'm Bevin by the way," she said smiling sweetly.

Peyton raised a hand, "Peyton."

Nathan shifted forward to rejoin the conversation, "so if we're actually gonna talk English- what do you think Katherina's main characteristics are?"

Peyton frowned and then shrugged, "she's a strong woman and that in itself is a rare feat. in the sixteenth century let alone today. She stands up for herself and she has opinions and despite the fact she's constantly berated for having them she never stands down. I think that's pretty admirable. And the fact that this ass of a guy thinks he can train her actually falls for her is meant to be seen as a plus but I actually kind of wish she rejected him in the end but of course- it is only a sixteenth century play."

Nathan raised his eyebrows and then whistled, "you aren't just a pretty face then Sawyer."

She turned to respond when Miss Francis who had been listening from behind them stepped forward, "very interesting indeed Miss Sawyer, would you care to share your thoughts with the class?"

"She's already a favourite then," Rachel muttered to one of the girls in her group who chuckled and then raised an eyebrow in Peyton's direction.

Peyton narrowed her eyes at them both, "I'm sure the class have plenty of opinions already without needing to hear mine."

Miss Francis bounded forward towards the board, "but surely any opinion is valid Miss Sawyer? Tell me, Katherina's sister Bianca- why is she different to Katherina?"

"Well," Peyton felt suddenly hot as she realised the whole class were staring at her and she fixed her eyes on her sketch pad. "She's more happy to have her life decided for her for one thing. I guess she's just more willing to do what people expect of her."

"You mean she's a walkover?" The beautiful boy raised an eyebrow as he looked over at her, the hint of a smirk playing across his face.

"No I didn't mean that," she rolled her eyes forgetting herself now that she was talking Shakespeare. "I think Shakespeare writes the sisters as polar opposites on purpose to represent both an independent spirited woman and the good and morally correct woman. In the sixteenth century Katherina would have been deemed immoral and a bad example for women and Shakespeare wants the audience to question that. But it still happens today; a woman has an opinion and guys get all nervous around her. Women are frowned upon when they don't have opinions or seem to want to stand out, but then when we do speak out we get told to keep quiet anyway." She shrugged, "we're screwed either way."

"So you're saying Katherina is deliberately stubborn to spite society?" He was laughing now; she couldn't believe she'd done this to herself. Somehow in the space of ten minutes she'd managed to direct the entire class' attention onto her and her dumbass opinions were being torn to shreds by the most attractive guy she'd seen in forever.

She shook herself and decided to opt for spikiness, "why not right?"

"Well because she doesn't gain anything from that in the long run. You gotta remember Katherina can't earn her own rent- she doesn't have the benifit of employment on her side, after all," he said smirking, "this is set in the sixteenth century."

Peyton flushed, "i'm not saying she shouldn't have married the guy- I mean at least he challenges her." He shot her a look and she attempted to ignore it, "what I mean is that Shakespeare paints his women in two very different ways and we frown upon them both but we're not much different today."

"So you're saying women are trapped?"

She shrugged, "either way, the guy always wins. Women in Shakespeare's plays always come second in the end."

"They're the weaker sex for a reason right?"

Her eyes widened incredulously, "no!"

"I'm just messing with you," he said lightly.

"Ew," said the brunette beside him, interrupting the debate, "women aren't like that Katherina."

Peyton raised her eyebrows, "some are."

"Miss Davis," Miss Francis said suddenly, "care to offer an opinion?"

The girl shrugged, "Heath Ledger plays a really hot guy in the film based on this play; that's good enough for me."

The class laughed and Miss Francis smiled, "well, that's something." The bell rang and everyone jumped up, "alright, "she called over the sound of scraping desks and chattering students, "please ensure you read the next book on our list for next week class, remember, a book a week will keep the doctor away!" She joked and there was a faint smattering of laughter before most of the class dived for the door.

Peyton broke eye contact with the blonde guy and shoved her books back into her bag before jumping up eagerly. She needed to get the hell out of here before she put her foot in it again. "Hey," She turned to see Nathan holding out a page from her sketch book, "this fell out."

"Thanks," she said quickly.

"It's really good," he offered before moving towards the door, "you an artist?"

She shrugged, "some days."

He grinned, "fair enough- hey you wanna have lunch with me later?" She raised her eyebrows and he rolled his eyes, "that wasn't a date invitation, it's just I'm kind of avoiding a few people round here and," he shrugged, "you seem by far the coolest person I've met in a long time, hell you know more about Shakespeare than anyone I know."

She smiled, "well when you put it like that, sure, where do I meet you?"

"I've gotta hit the gym beforehand so you wanna meet me on the strip outside?"

"If I can find the strip sure."

He chuckled, "you can't miss it. See you later Sawyer."

She waved, "later." She followed him out of the classroom and into the hall. There were swarms of glossy haired, laughing students all around her and she felt wistful for her last school- people there wore clothes that cost less than the mortgage of a small house.

She found her locker and pulled a face as she watched "Miss Davis" squeal and wrap her arms around the beautiful boy further up the hall.

"Hey," a voice from behind her broke her thoughts and she turned to see Rachel and Bevin and a gaggle of other girls.

She raised her eyebrows, "what? You gonna pull my hair and steal my lunch money?"

Rachel smirked, "we're a little more advanced here at Tree Hill than your previous weirdly Shakespeare obsessed school."

Peyton tilted her head back; man couldn't they just go away? "Then what do you want?"

"You know, Bevin's right- you're not bad looking- you ever been a cheerleader?"

Peyton snorted, "do I look like the type?"

"You never know," Rachel raised an eyebrow, "beneath the scowl and the Something Corporate tee shirt there might actually be a cheery person lurking."

Peyton snapped her locker shut and folded her arms, "well there's not so you're wasting your time. And how do you know who Something Corporate are?"

"You'd be surprised what I know and who I know," she said easily, "besides, I always get what I want and I think you'd make a pretty rocking cheerleader- try outs are on Friday, we need some new squad members so come along." She began to walk away and suddenly stopped and turned, "oh- and we don't just hand out invitations- this is a pretty big deal."

Peyton smirked, "I'll keep that in mind."

"Do that."

Peyton watched them all swish away wondering whether she should laugh or cry- she looked like she could be a decent cheer leader?! That in itself could be an insult. She suddenly realised the beautiful boy was coming her way and tugged at her tee shirt trying to be nonchalant.

"Hey," he said smiling.

She inclined her head, "you always pick on the new kid in their first class?"

He laughed, "that wasn't picking on you- I was nice."

"Ha! Look nice up in the dictionary; I suspect you'll find the definition somewhat contradicts you."

"Alright, "he held up his hands, "I'm sorry, I got carried away- it's not every day I get to have that sort of discussion in my English class."

She grinned, "now that I understand."

"Anyway," he held out a hand, "can we start over? I'm Lucas, Lucas Scott."

She shook his hand and tried to ignore the tingles that threaded from her fingers all the way up her spine. She cleared her throat and looked away from the piercing blue eyes that seemed to look straight into her, "any relation to Nathan Scott?"

He nodded slowly as they began to move down the emptying corridor, "yeah actually- he's uh my brother."

She had been in enough schools to take in the tension both in the way he had hesitated to reply and the tone of his response.

"We're not really on speaking terms at the moment," he added, "we kind of had a fight."

She looked at him in surprise- he seemed equally shocked that he'd told her that and she felt suddenly like she needed to put him at ease, "apparently siblings are meant to fight," she said quickly.

He laughed and gave her a look of appreciation, then said softly, "apparently?"

She shrugged, "only child."

Lucas nodded, "I was one of those once."

"Once?"

"It's errr- a long story- one I would tell you if I didn't have calculus."

She shrugged and smiled at him, "some other time."

"I guess you're sticking around then," he said grinning, "you'll have to give me your thoughts on Something Corporate versus Jack's Mannequin."

She didn't think her smile could get any wider as she nodded, "sure- but just so you know, Something Corporate every time."

He shook his head, "so the wrong answer," he winked at her and opened the door on their left, "see you."

"Have fun doing maths," she said smirking at him, he pulled a face at her and disappeared inside. She headed towards her own classroom smiling, man she had worn the right tee shirt today. Maybe this school wouldn't suck as much as she'd thought.