Chapter One- 'Airplanes' Never Sounded So Good

Everyone's seen those TV shows where a different bad thing happens every episode but, they resolve it and live happily ever after- until the next episode airs. My life is not like that. First off, Sacramento is the worst town on the face of the Earth; sadly it's where I call home. I don't know why anyone would ever want to live here; I can't wait until I can get out of Tree Hill. Second, I hate being the youngest child, the baby. There are three of us; The Golden Child, The Princess, and the Chosen One. The Golden Child is Dean, who's twenty-one, Kaydence Breanne, who claims everything – including the middle child role at nineteen, is the Princess. And lastly, me, Haley Rose, but everyone calls me Haley, my parents named me the Chosen One.

I just turned sixteen two weeks ago. I didn't get a big spectacular party MTV-worthy. I got a dinner at On the Border, and a car, and a new cell phone. I don't count the phone thought because my other broke so I needed a new one. The car... is a stupid gas-guzzler. I'm always late because I'm at the gas station spending at least a hundred dollars a day. My sister got a cute Mercedes rag-top. My parents couldn't have thought I'd look cute in that? Guess they thought I'd need a little more metal between me and road. That or they want to flaunt their money like always. I think it's a standard for James and Scarlett James to be aristocrat-wannabes, or maybe just for Scarlett. But, anyway, let's focus on this Tuesday morning.

This morning, I woke up at seven thirty, a huge problem considering school starts at eight. Not to mention, I live twenty minutes away from school in a "modest two-story, southern style, five bedroom house". Thank my realtor mother, Scarlett, for that one. Also to thank the blue-collar man I call my father, James, for buying it when the economy was at its worst possible. Way to go Dad, you bought a million dollar house for 950,000. Great Job. He plays an important role in my life doing nothing but giving me a hard time and in return I do the same to him.

When I looked through my closet, I pulled on the fastest thing I could find. My winter wardrobe consisted of Bullhead skinny jeans, Abercrombie hoodies, and every shade of UGG boots- Perfect for a cool, November morning. I trampled down the front steps, not caring who I was wakening up. Lord knows I'd pay for that after school, but I couldn't help it if they didn't get their lazy asses out of bed.

I jumped into my Denali, and pulled away from the house not caring what the speed limit was. If I was late again, Ms. Lawrence would give me detention for sure or a really hard time, or another lecture like last week. Public school had some stupid teachers, even the ones at Tree Hill High School but I think ours are the stupidest ever. On the way to school, one of my favorite songs came on causing my hand to subconsciously turning up the volume. B.O.B. and Hayley Williams "Airplanes" never sounded so good with my extremely unnecessary loud vocals. After, I made the U-turn at Elkhorn and Dry Creek to one of the school parking lot. I noticed a car full of boys next to me laughing. Just then I noticed my windows were down, and they had heard me. OH MY 'Lanta! The Varsity football players had heard me. As I drove, I noticed Cameron and Cody Scott, along with Jake McCoy and his partner in crime Aidan Samuels. All the Senior Football players who never glanced at me at school were now bubbling over with laughter. Fan-FREAKIN-tastic, Way to go Haley, I thought bitterly as I pulled into an empty parking lot inside the stadium parking lot. The stadium was directly across from the school so I knew I'd be even later case I'd have to cross through the cross walk. Why didn't I park behind the Portables? Stupid, Haley.

I grabbed my purse out from the floorboard passenger seat, and stepped out of the car. I stopped only for a moment to grab my USC lanyard that held my keys and headed towards the crosswalk. Just my luck. As I pushed the button on the light, the football players walked over. Being late was common with driving.

"You know, Cameron, I really like that B.O.B. song. What's it called?" Cody joked as they stood next to me. Oh my 'lanta! I can smell their cologne.

"Isn't it called Airplanes?" Jake joked back wiping his too long of hair out from his eyes. It took every ounce of power I had to not blush bright red, and run back to my car in an attempt to escape.

"You like USC?" I heard someone; I think it was Cameron say from behind me. Cameron's voice is less deep than his twin, Cody's. Not that I paid attention that much or anything. But, I didn't respond I couldn't risk doing something stupid. "Haley right?" That time I turned towards them.

"Yeah, but only my parents call me that. Uh- call me Just Haley" I said, hoping that was the right thing. I now got the chance to inspect each of them. They all were Typical football players in jeans, tennis shoes, t-shirts, and letterman jackets. Cody and Cameron had short cropped hair, and all adorned the same tattoo on their neck. Not that I was staring at their neck, it's not like they could notice through my faux Armani sunglasses.

"Ok, Just Haley, you like USC?" Jake said, as we began to cross the street.

"I gu-guess" I stuttered. "My brother plays football there." That had to be good enough explanation.

"Oh, really" Cameron said, his blue eyes sparkling. What am I? Nora Roberts? Plus he has a girlfriend, Amanda Wilson. She's another senior and a Varsity cheerleader, like me. Well, I'm a JV and a sophomore so I guess we're totally different. Especially because she' gorgeous and I'm not. She's a brunette, I'm a platinum blonde with black underneath. Courtesy of teenage rebellion, and good dye. She's like 5'7'' and I barely make it past 5'2". Pretty much, polar opposites I think.

"Yeah, Uh, Dean James. He played here all four years, but that was when Coach Michaels was still here." I said climbing the stone steps up to the school carefully trying not to fall. I do not want to embarrass myself any further, or give them something else to make fun of me for.

"Oh I think I remember him. He's the one who went full ride, right, Haley?" Cody said, as we walked through the hallways on our way to the class. I'm still not sure why their following me. But then again, they may have a class nearby mine. Or they could be stalking me, but I doubt that's their goal.

"Yes" I said turning my head to flash a beaming, obvious fake, smile at them. They then launched into a quick conversation of PAC10 Football Stats for this season. Enough talk about my brother, please. As we approached Mrs. Lawrence's room I finally spoke up again. "This is me. See you guys later" I said, stepping inside the room before any words could be said. I immediately noticed Mrs. Lawrence standing at the board her usual psychotic expression hidden behind her 1980's style grandma glasses. Of course the glasses matched the frumpy black dress, and crocheted sweater. They look so cheap, she probably made both of them by hand. That was mean but she deserves it. There's a reason we call her La-Bitch-ce.

"Well Miss James" She spat, waddling over to her desk, like porky pig. "Please, do us all a favor and please take your seat." She said not looking up from her clipboard. I silently did as I was told sitting down next to one of my friends another JV cheerleader, Teresa Fuentes.

I didn't say a word while Mrs. Lawrence launched back into her lesson on periods, or commas, or something equally annoying. My mind zoned out until I noticed a note being thrown on the desk in front of me. I looked around and Teresa motioned to behind me. I attempted to swivel around in my chair to see who was behind me. At first I saw, JC Samuels , Aidan's younger brother, but he seemed too involved in drooling on his English book to be the one who sent me the note. As I turned around the other direction, really straining my already hurt back, I saw Cameron Scott sitting a behind Kellie Peterson, down at a stack of papers. I knew he was a senior, so what was he doing in my tenth grade English class.

I turned around in my seat, confusion clouding my thoughts. What is he doing here? How did I not notice him come in? And why would he send me a note? My thoughts abruptly stopped there as if I remembered the not, and grasped it quickly, almost ripping it as I opened it. The sarcastic side of me wondered if it was an old assignment he's found. That'd be just my luck.

Once I opened it I saw in messy chicken scratch writing, Hi, its Cameron. Great conversation starter. In my unusually neat handwriting I managed to write, Hi Cameron, what are you doing here? I folded the note up and leaned back in my chair as I handed it a girl nearby, Kellie, who held out her hand for it. She immediately passed it back to him. I didn't let my eyes linger any longer, in fear of becoming 'stalker status.' Just in the nick of time too, as Mrs. Lawrence turned around to glance around the classroom to check who was paying attention. Then, return to another boring monologue on her stupid topics.

I felt a light tap at my neck as I turned around to see Kellie stretching to hand the note to me. It read, My teacher kicked me out so I'm supposed to grade these papers for Miss Lawrence. You having fun? I laughed quietly, as I quickly wrote back, Of course, what's there not love about La-Bitch-ce's intense lecture on use of commas. I folded it up once again and handed back to Kellie who, passed it off without even a glance up from her notebook. Man I wish I had Kellie's focus. I couldn't pay attention if my life depended on it… Or my grade .The next note read, Ha-ha. Sure wish somebody would bust out and sing Airplanes for me :P

I couldn't help the embarrassed smile that I knew I had as I quickly wrote back, You're welcome to go ahead and try it. I hear the girls will all go crazy for it.

He wrote back, Girls always go crazy for me. I couldn't help the sarcasm that came out before I was ready, Awww.. Is that what your mommy tells you? I expected his response to be another snarky comeback, but not What's your #? Did Cameron Scott just ask me for my phone number? No I had to be reading it wrong? I fished my emergency glasses out of my bag. I call them that I am rarely every caught dead wearing them, but this is an emergency. Nope there it was in black and white, he'd asked for my #. This had to be a joke. I subconsciously looked around for cameras and some boys to jump out and make fun of me. So I wrote back Why do you want my #?

His response was clear and concise So I can text you. No room for arguments there. I guess I had to give t to him now. I wrote it down quickly and handed it back, as the bell rung as annoying as humanly possible. Like roosters in the morning when you're balcony doors open.

"Have a nice day, class" Mrs. La-Bitch-ce announced, as the class began to exit. Man two hours went by so fast. I too, stood up and gathered my stuff throwing it in my bag. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Cameron stand up too, noticing how cut his but looked in those jeans. Cut it out Haley, your borderline 'stalker status.' I thought bitterly as I exited the classroom and headed to my next block , my 4th period, Cheer PE. AS I walked through the quad to the small gym, I fished out my phone from my purse. My phone was another gift from Dad for my birthday, it's a blackberry storm, one of the 'it' phones. The one's everyone wants, and beg their parents for. It's a nice phone I think, but I wish it was slimmer because the only place, besides my purse, I can hold it is in my back pocket and I sat on it twice already. But that's probably just me.

I noticed I had three new text messages. I hadn't had the chance to check it while I rushed off to school this morning. As I maneuvered through the students in the hall, I checked them. One from Mom saying, Hi honey, could you possibly pick up food for dinner after school. Gotta work late, XOXO Mom. Of course I'll do it, I thought. Cause I do everything at the house. I swear sometimes I feel like Cinderella. Maybe that's my real name. And Haley is just a cover.

The next one was from Teresa F asking where I was. It was sent at the beginning of class. The last one was from an unknown number, not odd when you're a cheerleader. A lot of the cheer parents send out text messages without names so all you have is their phone number no name. But, this wasn't a cheer message. It said, Hi its Cameron. The same conversation starter as earlier, way to be original. I still didn't know if he was being sincere so I decided to ignore the text message and pretend I never got it. Yeah, that's my plan. I wouldn't text back until I got to talk to Ella and Jordan about the situation and get there advice. They'd know what to do, I hope.