Ok so I will continue to write my other story 25 Cents for Love, but the idea for this story came to me and I didn't want to forget it. It is loosely based on my brother's relationship right now, but with One Tree Hill characters (who I do not own in any way). Anyway, I hope you like it. Let me know what you think, please.

"Hey Nate, wait up."

"Hey Luke, what's up? Did you need something?" I asked once he caught up to me.

"No man, I just wanted to see what you were planning on doing today. We just finished our last basketball practice this year and finals are over. We leave to go back to Tree Hill tomorrow. I was just wondering what you were going to do for our last day of freshman year."

"Luke you're my best friend, but if you are asking me out I have to say no. It just wouldn't be fair to all the girls out there." I joked.

"Haha." He deadpanned. "No. I was just wondering if you wanted to go back and play some NBA Live with me after we finish packing. I mean our dorm room is a mess and we only have a few hours before we have to leave."

"Sure Luke, that sounds fine. I have to go get some boxes but I'll be there a little later."

Lucas Roe and I have been best friends since we were little boys, we are practically brothers. We were on our first basketball team together and instantly bonded through the sport. We both continued to play through high school and got scholarships to play for Duke. It was pretty great to get here our first day of freshman year and find out we were roommates. Now our freshman year is over and we are getting ready to go back home to completely different lives.

We left early the next morning to try to get home in time for breakfast. Luke's mom, Karen, owns her own café and is an amazing cook, so that would be our first stop before heading to our homes. It was about 7:45 and we parked a few spots before the café, hoping to surprise her. Luke walked in just as she was filling someone's coffee mug. When she turned around and saw him, she dropped the container of coffee on the floor, spilling it everywhere, and rushed over to hug him.

"I missed you my boy." She said as she finally pulled away.

"I missed you too ma." Luke replied.

"Nathan, how are you?" She asked, pulling me into a hug too. She was always more of a mom to me than my own mom.

"Hi Karen, I'm good. It's great to see you, and the café smells amazing. You don't happen to have any extra food back there for your favorite college student do you?" I asked, half joking, half serious.

"Hey, man, I'm her favorite college student."

"Ok, Pucas, whatever you need to tell yourself." I joked.

"Calm down boys. I have enough food for both of you. You are my favorite college students after all." She smiled. "Just go find a seat and I'll go make you all the food you can eat."

"Thanks Mom." Lucas said as I rushed over to get the better seat at the counter. He just glared at me.

"Hey, you snooze, you lose." I laughed.

We hung out there for a while but when the lunch crowd came in, we both went home to unpack. This was something I wasn't really looking forward to. Lucas had an amazing relationship with his mom, she raised him herself, but my own family life was slightly different. My parents were always fighting or working. They never paid attention to me, or my younger sister, Brooke. When I got home, I was relieved to find out that they weren't home, and I knew Brooke was at school, so the house was quiet, just the way I like it.

I finished unpacking and noticed that it was about 1:30 so I went outside shoot some hoops. I just couldn't stay away from basketball; it was my one way to escape everything that is messed up in my life. It keeps me calm. I guess I would consider it my own personal form of therapy.

After about a half hour of shooting around I went inside to take a shower and get ready to head over to the high school. I wanted to surprise Brooke by showing up after school.

I always had a great relationship with Brooke, she was my other best friend. When we were younger, she would do everything with me and Luke and we loved having her around. She may be four years younger than us, but we hardly noticed. Some days I swear she is more mature than we are, but we still do our best to protect her. If she ever needs anything, she knows that we will be there for her no matter what. I am so happy that she was there with me growing up, because without her, I would have turned out much worse. I felt bad leaving her to go to school, but we talked a lot and tried to visit when we could. I didn't like knowing that she was alone in our big house while my parents were gone on business trips or working late. She is only 15 and I just want to protect her from the world.

I know that she gets out of school at 3:00, and then she has cheerleading practice. That is when I plan on surprising her.

I waited until about 3:15 to go inside, on the way out of my car, I felt my phone vibrate. It was a text from Brooke.

Hey bro. When are you getting here?

I laughed. Brooke never was very patient especially when she was excited about something. I decided to trick her even though it would probably get me in trouble later.

Luke and I got stuck here for longer than we expected. We had to deal with some basketball stuff, but we are leaving now. See you in a few hours, sorry.

I quietly snuck into the gym, hiding behind the bleachers. I saw Brooke standing in a group of about four girls. They all looked like they were around her age. I quickly ran up behind her and grabbed her sides, causing her to scream and jump about five feet in the air.

"Hey little sis, keep your voice down. People are going to think you are weird, screaming in public." I laughed.

She just hit my arm a few times. "Nate, that was so not cool. You know how easily scared I am."

" Sorry Brookie. I couldn't resist."

"Whatever, get over here and I hug me." I did as I was told, then tousled her hair, messing it up. She just glared at me as she tried to fix it. "I thought you weren't going to be home for a few hours." She accused.

"Yeah, I lied. I actually got home at 7:30 this morning but Luke and I went to Karen's for breakfast. Plus I really wanted to surprise you." I replied, once again getting hit on the arm. I then noticed two girls standing around us awkwardly. "Hey, Brooke, are you going to introduce me to your friends or continue to be rude?"

"Oh, right sorry. Nate these are my best friends Haley and Peyton. I think you met them a few times last year." I thought back to last year and remembered meeting them, and I knew who they were, but I had never really noticed them before. At least not the way I was noticing Haley now. I just realized how cute Haley really is. That was really strange because well I never thought anyone was cute, I usually just stuck with hot. This girl was different, and I found myself wanting to get to know her better.

"It's nice to meet you both again." I said, shaking both of their hands, but holding Haley's a little longer than I should have. "Alright, I'll let you get back to practice. I'm going to go see Whitey. Brooke do you want a ride home?"

"Um yeah, I usually walk with Haley and Peyton but that sounds good."

"I can take them too. I've got plenty of room in my car."

"Ok, we'll see you later." She said, waving me away.

I had a nice talk with Whitey and went outside to wait for the girls to finish practice. I found myself thinking about Haley. She was beautiful, again I didn't think hot. Something was wrong with me. I mean I could have any girl I wanted. I play basketball for Duke and girls are constantly throwing themselves at me, but Haley seemed different. She had this sweet innocence about her that made me want to see her more often. I don't even care that she is four years younger than me.

"Alright driver boy, get your butt in the car and drive us home. We are all going to hang out at our house so just take us there." Brooke's voice broke me out of my thoughts.

"Whatever you say Brookie." I replied as they all got into the backseat and started laughing and talking. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw Haley's smile. She looked so happy and my heart skipped a beat.

"This is going to be an interesting summer." I mumbled to myself as I pulled into our driveway.