Chapter 1

Nathan Scott had developed a resounding hatred for many things. Fate, mostly, which had suddenly dealt him a most unfavorable card. That card was a one-way ticket to Tree Hill, North Carolina. He was losing all he'd ever known -- his friends, his school, his basketball stats and most of all his three years invested on a team towards earning state title. The irony was that his dedication to basketball had stemmed from the very same reason that he was losing everything his senior year of high school: his father. It seemed that Dan Scott's screw-ups were both inheritable and unavoidable.

Speak of the devil himself. His father was outside directing the movers into the house while stealing the occasional scrutinizing glance at his son; to make sure he was practicing his drills, correctly.

He turned away and stared up at the basketball hoop. It had been one of the first things unpacked and set up upon his father's request… or demand… whatever you wanted to call it. He rotated the ball in his hands, letting it slide across all ten fingers, then bounced the ball with such force that its collision with the concrete caught the attention of the entire moving crew. His father was the only person unperturbed.

Without so much as a second glance their way, he aimed and shot the ball clear through the net hearing nothing but the sound of rubber against rope. And then he started his repetitions, almost mindlessly. In reality it was a fine-tuned art and skill practiced with rigid concentration eleven out of the seventeen years of his life. Of course by now, it came as easy as breathing.

Almost two hours later, the front door peeled open.

Nathan caught the ball as it slid through the hoop one last time, tucking it under one arm. He watched his father come out onto the driveway and caught the towel he threw at him.

"Nathan, I have to go to the dealership."

He grimaced at that. The whole reason why he had suddenly found himself relocated to this Podunk town. If only his father had been financially smarter, he wouldn't have blown his business deals in Charlotte. He was sure his dad could read the irritated look on his face. That's right, dad. For once, I'm ashamed of you. His father ignored it, walking right past him. Once again, their family had relied on his mother's father, his Grandpa Lee to save them. And that's how Lee Motors of Tree Hill became Dan Scott Motors.

His father added, "I just ordered in. The food should be here within the next half hour."

Nathan acknowledged this before heading towards the house, hearing his father's Jaguar roar to life behind him, and then gradually rumble away into the distance.

In the kitchen, he paused for a moment, observing the impeccable stainless steel appliances and gold specked black granite counter tops. His parents were so full of shit. They just loved to maintain appearances even if that meant their entire family had to be indebted to his grandfather. What consumed him even more was that his entire life had been provided for. And apart from basketball, there wasn't anything that he felt he'd actually earned.

He opened the fridge, pulling out a sports drink and popped it open. He chugged the entire bottle, tossed it in the garbage and scaled the stairs to squeeze in a shower before dinner arrived.

Once finished with his shower, his relaxed state of mind was rudely interrupted when he realized the delivery guy was knocking incessantly at the front door. He grabbed a pair of basketball shorts from a box nearby and didn't even bother with a shirt when he couldn't find one without having to dig.

"I'm coming!" he yelled as he flew down the stairs.

"Damn," he muttered as he opened the door not bothering to look at the delivery boy.

"Excuse me?" Or girl.

He drank in the sight of her all in a split second. 5' 2"? 5' 3"? Maybe. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, followed by a pair of expressive eyes wearing a bit of surprise, cute nose, and innocent pink lips. Why, hello, hello. He gave her what he thought to be a charming smile.

She scrunched her nose a little at that. That was definitely a first. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then shut it again. Although, he didn't fail to notice her appraising his bare chest – all was forgiven. He was still smiling.

"Mr. Ott?"

"You mean… Scott? Nathan Scott, by the way," he responded, keeping his tone purposefully low and even.

She looked down, her brows nixed in confusion, "Oh, sorry about that. It was a little noisy being a Saturday and all…" she then froze. "Scott, huh? You know…" she hesitated, cutting her eyes up at him once more. "Never mind."

He watched her in amusement, finding himself uncontrollably intrigued. "And you are?" He asked playfully.

"I'm from the café. You know… your delivery order?" Distinctly ignoring his attempt at flirting, she held up the brown bag in her hands.

He wavered for a moment, not used to this kind of reaction. "Uh, yeah." Nathan grabbed the bag from her, still mystified. "Come in for a second," he stepped back into the house, waiting for her to follow.

Her eyebrows arched upwards with a look of skepticism on her face before stepping up into the front foyer.

He recognized that look immediately. "My wallet's upstairs, that's all."

She nodded giving the pretense that she already knew this.

"So, you're new in town, huh?" she asked, just as his right foot touched the first step.

"What made you think that?" Looking pointedly at the array of emptied moving boxes, he sneered slightly, turning the asshole on. As hot as she was, he decided that she wasn't the type to be infatuated by cheap lines and tricks. There was no point for polite conversation, really.

"Yeah… well, it's just that… we don't normally deliver."

He flinched unconsciously, wondering how big of an ass his father had to be on the phone to get the restaurant owners to relent.

Maybe she caught the hint of humility in his eyes or maybe she just felt satisfied rubbing in the fact that Tree Hill's newest residents were snobs, because she immediately softened her voice and assured him, "It was nice to take a break, anyway."

He walked up the steps slowly and methodically. The longer he took, the longer the delivery girl would be standing in his front hall. He dug around absentmindedly for his wallet -- his mind was preoccupied with scheming up ideal scenarios with the stranger downstairs, preferably one where he'd untie her hair and moisten her lips with his own. After dumping the contents of one of his clothing boxes on the ground, he found a clean shirt and slid it on. Finally retrieving some cash, he exited the bedroom but stopped at the top of the stairs. He inhaled sharply, his breath catching in his throat as he watched her fixing her hair, pulling it back tightly. Her chest was arched forward and her arms were bent and lifted high, tugging her t-shirt away from the waist of her jeans, slipping a bit of skin for his enjoyment. For such a simple task, Nathan found himself intriguingly aroused.

He descended the stairs, a smile playing on his features.

"Ah, looks like you found clothes. You normally answer the door half naked?" Her tone was nowhere near playful, just really, really sarcastic.

But Nathan Scott never left a comment like that unrequited. "You didn't seem to mind. Or maybe you did. Thanks for noticing, either way." He winked at her.

She narrowed her eyes. "Is everything a girl says an invitation to you?"

He laughed to himself. "Yeah, uh… it usually is," he answered unabashedly.

She watched him with a careful look on her face as if he was some sort of science experiment. He waited for a response that never came.

He handed her the cash, unsure of where this conversation was headed, if anywhere. "Thanks for dropping off the food,"

The sharp tongued blonde nodded her head, the curious expression still clear in her eyes. She began sifting through her pocket for something.

"You go to Tree Hill High?" He asked, considering that it'd be fun seeing her again, unusual as that was for him.

Laughing shortly, she finally pulled the wad of singles out of her pocket. "Uh… not really."

Well, damn.

"Tree Hill doesn't seem too big a town… I'm sure we'll meet again…"

"Yeah. Well, I better get going," she smiled, though her mind seemed miles away.

"Keep the change." He interrupted, noticing the cash in her hand.

"Thanks."

That was another first, he realized as he saw her retreating to her old Buick. He couldn't even catch her name. Goodbye nameless delivery girl.

He watched her leave, seeing that any chance he'd had was gone, whatever 'chance' that may have been. For now, at least.

The day was long and by ten o'clock, Nathan had already unpacked all of his clothes and other various personal belongings. Fumbling for the past hour, he'd finally managed to hook up his TV and play station. He let out an aggravated grunt as he collapsed on the bed, too exhausted to even bother playing a game. He shut his eyes, thinking about a lot of things. He was bored out of his skull, but knew things would pick back up once school started and he got familiar with his new territory. Nathan thought of his life back in Charlotte. He missed living in a town where there were more things to do than cow tipping on Friday night. That was an exaggeration. Tree Hill was a coastal community but still… it was in the middle of nowhere. And yet, he appreciated the opportunity to be wretched away from his so-called friends. He was sick of them anyway. They were petty mindless fucks. And they had all just wanted a piece of what Nathan Scott could offer -- popularity, money, sex and a good time.

His thoughts dispersed as he heard the front door open and shut. "Nathan?" His chest constricted for a moment at the soft feminine voice. It was an emotion that he'd long forgotten in his earlier youth, hope, perhaps. But the feeling was gone as quickly as it had appeared. He got up languidly and went downstairs.

"Hey, mom,"

Her eyes held a look of both relief and sadness. He hated it. While Dan Scott expected nothing but the best, it seemed Deb Scott, his mother, expected the worst.

"Hi sweetie," She held her arms out. He walked forward tentatively but gave in to a brief hug. "So, it looks like you guys got a lot done without me." And then came a slew of apologies; apologies for skipping out of town the week of the move, for working too much, and for generally not being around.

He shrugged nonchalantly.

"So, where's your father?"

"At the dealership,"

A look of dissatisfaction crossed her features, before a hollow smile reappeared. "Nathan. I know this isn't what we had planned. And I'm very sorry that you couldn't finish out your senior year at Vance,"

He sighed tiredly, not really wanting to partake in this type of conversation. She was quick to notice his response, but continued after hesitating for a second, "Luckily, your grandfather had an opportunity for us… to start over. I know we're in a much smaller town now, but there will be plenty to do. You'll make new friends." She looked at him in what she must have thought was an endearing way, when he found it completely suffocating.

"Yeah well, the Tree Hill Ravens are a joke. They haven't made it past district in five years. And once I make captain, if I can't carry them any further, then all those years of practice, games and getting grilled by dad was for nothing."

"Nathan, is your father pushing you too hard again?"

"That's not the point, mom!" He snapped, angrier now more than ever as the facts were laid out on the table. And yet, she still didn't get it.

She winced at his reaction. "I just want you to be happy,"

Sometimes Nathan felt bad for his mom. She was so sad all the time and running away from this life she didn't want by devoting all her time to multiple charitable funds. But then it just as easily pissed him off that he and his dad didn't match up to this epic life she'd pictured. She was weak and he didn't need any of that influence in his own life.