"Welcome to Tree Hill," She said to herself, "Mom, I wish you were here." She gulped as she drove her new car over the city limits. Leaving Charleston was one of the hardest things she had ever done, but losing her mother was by far the worst. She remembered very little about this town, the town her mother grew up in and the town her mother forced her to spend summers in, at least that was until her grandparents died, and this was her first trip back.

FLASH BACK:

"Haley, please come in and sit down," She nervously looked around the office. Everything was still so fresh for her, her heart was still broken from the pain, "I'm sorry about your mother."

"Thank you," if her mother had taught her anything it was to be kind and classy in every situation. She hoped that even with the loss of her mother she could hold onto the few things that she had been taught.

"I realize that it's only been a few days, but due to the fact that you are a minor, with no legal guardian, this had to be done as soon as possible."

"I understand," She replied leaning up in her chair, "but I'm 15, a straight a student, and my mother has left me alone for months at a time."

The estate attorney, whom she had only met one other time nodded, "I understand that and everything will be revealed when the rest of the group arrives."

She knitted her eyebrows, "The rest of the group?" She looked towards the windows of the conference room they were sitting in and straightened her black skirt, "I don't have any family."

"I understand…"

"No I don't think you do," She shook her head frustrated, "Read my lips, I have no family. My mother just died, she was an only child, and her parents died way before that. Not to mention my fathers side of the family, whom apparently are all dead as well." She knew hardly anything about her father's family except that he died and he had no other relatives either.

There was a small knock at the door and both the attorney and Haley looked at him. He looked nervous, not looking either in the eye. Letting his hand linger on his tie a little too long, like it was choking him, "Mr. Ryan?" The man spoke up and stuck his hand out, "I'm Larry."

"Ahh, Hello." Mr. Ryan shook his hand and pointed towards a chair motioning for him to sit. Haley made no effort to attempt a greeting. "Shall we begin?" Both Haley and Larry nodded. "I, Karla Marie James, being of sound mind and body do hereby leave the whole of my estate to my lovely daughter Haley Marie James. Being a minor, my entire estate will be put in a trust set up for you until your 25th birthday. On the contingency that you have graduated from college, and if this has not been met then you will receive the estate on your 30th birthday.

"Haley-bub, there is a lot for me to explain and I'm sorry that it is coming out like this. I hope that you find everything you are looking for in life, and I'm sorry that I won't be there to watch you graduate, or to see you get married, or to even watch you grow up to be a brilliant, independent, beautiful woman, I am so sorry. I can't put the whole story in this final will and testament, but I do want you to know that I am sorry for the pain. I do hereby give guardianship of my baby girl to her biological father Larry Sawyer." Mr. Ryan looked up as he said the final words, just in time to watch her mouth fall open.

"You've got to be joking," She said rather dryly, not taking her eyes from the lawyer.

Mr. Ryan shook his head, "You can read it for yourself." He tossed the will towards Haley.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Larry spoke up, "Doesn't she have any other family?"

Haley, with the previous poise and class forgotten, glared at the man her mother claimed was her biological father, "No I don't have any other family. And believe me when I say this, I don't want to live with you either."

As she looked back down and scanned the words of her mother's will, Larry spoke up again, "I didn't mean it like that," He let his eyes roll upwards, "I just think that you might be better off with a family member that you know."

She looked up exasperated, "Mr. Sawyer, is that your name?" She said narrowing her eyes, he nodded, "Why don't you go ahead and do both of us a favor, and emancipate me."

"What?" Larry asked surprised, "And please call me…"

"What? Dad? Hell no," She said cutting him off, "My father is dead, and I kinda want to keep it that way."

"Haley, your mother has decide to give you an allowance every month," Mr. Ryan spoke up bringing them both back to the issue at hand.

"That's perfect, an allowance, a father, what else does she have for me?" Haley asked crossing her arms.

"Look, Haley," Larry said gently placing his hand on her arms, "I'll make a deal with you."

She stood up and pulled her arm from his touch, "Don't do me any favors," She spit out.

"Please," He began if this was a different situation he would have probably lost his cool, but he stopped himself, "Ok so spend three months with us and if you still hate being my daughter then I will let you move out on your own."

"Three months and then I'm free?" She asked suspiciously.

"With a few conditions."

"What kind?" She asked staring into his hazel eyes.

He saw himself in her eyes, she was definitely the mirror image of her mother, with hints of himself, "We'll cross that bridge."

"I guess I'll survive three months."

END FLASH BACK:

Haley stirred her new Dodge Charger to a stop in front of her so-called fathers house, the house she would call her own at least for the next three months. She thanked the lord that she was an only child and she was able to get her license early.

Larry Sawyer, her biological father, she still wasn't sure. He helped her grab a few things from her house, and told her that the movers would bring up the rest. She knew very little about him, and knew even less about the family that she was coming home to.

"Haley, welcome home," Larry said opening the door, "Listen I think that we should talk."

Haley looked around the moderately decorated house. She was not raised wealthy at least not until her mom got promoted and her grandparents passed away, nor was she use to judging people based on where they came from or how much money they had, but this house was a few major steps down from what she was accustomed to. "I'm not really in the mood to talk," She said setting her stuff down in the doorway, "I'm really tired."

"It's important," He said firmly, "Sit down." He suggested pointing towards the couch, she hesitantly did as she was told, "I choose not to be in your life…"

She stood up and crossed her arms, "What a way to start dad." She said sarcastically.

"Haley, please." His voice hinted anger and frustration, "I was married back then…"

"Every time you open your mouth the story keeps getting better and better," She shook her head and spoke again before he could, "Listen to me, I don't really care. I don't want to know, all I want is to get through this three months and get out of your life again."

He stood up, "Is that really what you want?"

"Yes."

"Dad? Your home?" A girls voice called out throughout the house, she sounded breathless as she ran into the living room, her face lit up at the sight of her father, "Hi dad!" She gave him a big hug.

Haley looked at the blond girl in her workout clothes, this must be her sister, "Peyton," He said as he hugged her, "I didn't think you were going to get home so early."

"Nazi Brooke let us off early so that we could enjoy the last couple of days of summer, but I think it's cause she has a hot date tonight." Peyton said smiling towards Haley, "Hi."

"Hi," Haley said amused by the situation, she obviously had no clue what was about to happen.

"Peyton, will you sit down for a moment?" She knitted her eyebrows but did as she was told.

"I'll leave ya'll alone to discuss this family issue," Haley said becoming more and more amused.

"Haley, you're family."

"I don't think…"

"Haley sit," He demanded, but she stood in place and crossed her arms, "Fine, stand, whatever. Peyton, a long time ago…I really don't know how to say this."

"Dad just say it."

"This is Haley," He introduced the girl, "Your sister."