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It was early Monday morning in November in Tree Hill, North Carolina. The weather during this time of the year was summer-esque, but also had the looks of fall. Nathan Scott sat right outside the back door this morning, like he did every morning for the past couple months just sitting there. This morning he was instantly angered when he saw something going on his pool deck. Just in time, his wife, Haley, walked out the back door.

"Where did Jamie get the hoop?" Nathan demanded, insinuating to his son, Jamie, playing with a mini basketball hoop on the pool deck

Haley looked up from her purse "Lucas gave it to him."

"Get rid of it."

Haley sighed "Nathan, our son is four years old and all he wants to do is be a basketball player like his father."

"Yeah well it's a little late for that. If he wants to be like me so much, get him a wheelchair too." Nathan spat then took another sip of his beer

"Don't you think it's a little early to be drinking?" asked Haley

Nathan looked up at her "I don't think it's going to make a difference since my life is over."

Haley rolled her eyes, not this again. She was so sick of Nathan being down on himself saying his life is over as if he didn't have a family who loves him. "I don't want to fight with you. It's only seven in the morning."

"Well then get rid of the hoop and we won't have any problems."

That's the least of our problems "I'm taking Jamie to school with me today, I need you to talk to Casey before she leaves for school at 7:30."

"About what?"

"She's been sneaking out again, even after I told her not to."

"So what? As long as she doesn't kill anyone I don't see a problem." Nathan shrugged

"Nathan," Haley said in warning tone "Sneaking out is not safe for a sixteen year old girl to do, she could get hurt!"

"Yeah cause the mean streets of Tree Hill get pretty rough at night."

Before Haley could respond with a lecture on raising a teen, Nathan cut her off "Alright Haley, I'll talk her."

"Thank you." Haley said, thanking god they didn't get into another fight. Haley turned to the pool area "Jamie come on, we're leaving!" Jamie dropped his mini basketball and was behind his mother as they left the Scott house.

Once they were gone, Nathan wheeled into the house.

"Casey!" Nathan called. There was silence "Casey!" Nathan called again. This time he heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"You called boozy?" Casey asked in an annoyed voice. She was already dressed for school. Her long blonde hair hung straight down and its length was halfway down her waist. She was wearing regular ripped skinny jeans and a plain dark blue long sleeved shirt. Nathan noticed the most was the shining black nail polish on her fingers.

"Sit. We need to talk."

Casey raised an eyebrow "I think I'll stand for this one." she said "And If this is some ploy to get me to cook you breakfast or get you a beer, you're more drunk then you usually are."

Nathan ignored the insult. "We need to talk about you sneaking out last night."

Casey rolled her eyes "So I'm guessing Haley told you?"

Nathan nodded

"Well as much as I'd like to have this heart to heart with you, I'll pass." said Casey and then was heading towards the stairs

"Cassandra get your ass back here." Casey froze and walked back to Nathan. It wasn't exactly she was afraid of Nathan or anything, she just didn't want to get in a screaming match with a drunk before she went to school. It kinda started the day off wrong.

"I'm not going to give you a lecture because frankly I don't care if you sneak out, just don't do it again."

"Wow that was real parental, Jamie's going to have fun teenage years."

"Just don't sneak out, alright?"

"Fine,"

They both knew this was a lie, neither one was going to admit it though.

Before Nathan and Casey could say anything else, the front door opened and in walked in Lucas. "Good morning." he greeted

"Luke, what are you doing here?" asked Casey. Nathan noticed how Casey instantly brightened when Lucas walked in the room.

"I came to see if my little sister wants a ride to school." Lucas said with a smile. Lately Casey was happy when she saw Lucas; he was like a positive energy to the Scott house. Jamie obviously loved his Uncle Lucas and looked up to him, just like Lucas and Uncle Keith's relationship.

"Yeah hold on, I gotta get my bag." Casey and then ran upstairs. Lucas turned his attention to his little brother

"So what was going on when I walked in? You and Casey get in a fight?" asked Lucas with concern

Nathan shook his head "No, Haley asked me to talk to her. Apparently she's been sneaking out at night."

"Did she say why she's been sneaking out?"

"No, it's not like it's a big deal. Haley's making a big deal about nothing." Nathan said

Lucas shook his head. It was unbelievable that Nathan didn't care about Casey sneaking out. Didn't he think it was possible she could get hurt?"

"You want me to talk to her?"

"I've got it covered Luke." Nathan said bitterly "Last time I checked I was in charge of her."

Lucas held up his hands in defense "I was just offering little brother."

"Whatever," muttered Nathan. Nathan turned his attention away from Lucas and to the cabinet next to him. Lucas looked to see what his brother was doing, what he saw was Nathan trying to get a bottle of whiskey off a high shelf that would make it difficult to reach since he can't stand up.

"Don't you think it's a little early to be drinking Nate?" asked Lucas with worry in his voice.

"It's five o'clock somewhere. Haley tries to make me stop, but there's no point." Nathan said with a smirk; successfully get the bottle of whiskey

Before Nathan could take a sip of it Lucas grabs the bottle of his hands. "Dammit Lucas, give it back!"

"You can have it Nate, you just gotta get off your ass and walk over and take it." said Lucas, he was sick of his brother felling sorry for himself. He had a family to take care and who loved him. He was turning into Dan with all his self-pity.

"If you don't give that back to me now, Dan won't be the only one in the family to kill his brother." Nathan threatened.

Immediately both boys turned their attention to the bottom of the stairway, where Casey was standing there, it was obvious she heard everything Nathan said

"I'll be out in the car waiting." Casey said quietly and headed out the front door. Lucas turned his attention to his little brother and was even madder then he was before.

"Real nice Nate," Lucas said shortly, then he threw the bottle of whiskey on his lap "Drink your problems away, I don't care anymore." Then headed out the door behind Casey

Nathan just stood there, all alone now Lucas and Casey both left. He regretted that Casey heard what he said. It was an unwritten rule in the Scott house and pretty much of Tree Hill not to mention Dan Scott in front of Casey. So what Nathan said to Lucas was something that Casey shouldn't have heard. Once Nathan heard the car pull out of the driveway he turned his attention back to the bottle and took a swig of whiskey, putting his problems in the back of his mind.

"So how have you been lately?" asked Lucas while turning down the blaring The Constantines music playing on his radio

"Same old same old," Casey replied, still looking out the car window

Lucas nodded "Well I've heard you've been having some night time adventures."

"Did Haley ask you to talk to me too?" Casey asked. What next was her Chemistry teacher. Mrs. Higgins, was going to ask her about her sneaking out?

"No, Nate told me, so you going to tell me what you've been doing sneaking out or am I just going to have to guess?" asked Lucas

"Nothing,"

Lucas laughed "Oh come on Case, what teenager sneaks out and does nothing."

"The kind who believes it's not their brother's business on what they do." Casey shot back

"Technically it is my business since I am your older brother. It's in my job description." Lucas replied "So is it a guy? I'd figured you'd have a boyfriend."

Casey scoffed "I don't date."

"You're sixteen."

"I'm well aware."

"So what's wrong with the guys in Tree Hill?"

"What isn't? Every guy here is cocky, obnoxious, and can't hold a conversation without mentioning the latest party or tapping some hoe."

"Not all guys are like that Case." Lucas pointed out "Those guys just give all guys a bad name."

Casey laughed "Weren't you the one who told me on my thirteenth birthday that all guys wanted beer, food, video games, and sex?"

She did have a point. He couldn't help but feel offended of Casey bashing all guys since he was a guy. But she was right that was what guys only wanted...hell he was one of them and he sure as hell doesn't want her dating someone like he was or worse...someone like Tim Smith.

"So if you weren't with a guy what were you doing?"

"Like I said Luke, Nothing," Casey said. Once they parked into a parking spot at Tree Hill High, Casey turned to Lucas as she opened the passenger door, "Thanks for the ride." then walked out and headed for the front entrance of the school. Lucas watched as his sister walked into school, he knew that the only way to found out what Casey is doing at night to find out on his own.

"Girl you are so fine." said a voice behind Casey. She immediately rolled her eyes; couldn't she just go to her locker in peace? After she shut her locker, Casey turned around to go face to face with the cockiest, most arrogant guy in Tree Hill High, Quentin Fields.

"What do you want Fields?" Casey asked, not amused

Quentin smirked "You,"

"Well aren't you clever. Did it take you all morning to come up with that one?"

"Cut the sarcasm Scott, you and I both know you want me just as much as I want you." Q said, inching closer

"The day I want you, is the day pigs fly and hell freezes over."

"So tomorrow then?"

Casey sighed "Goodbye Q, say hello to your latest skank for me." and walked off, leaving Q standing there. Before she could head to her Chemistry class, a voice called her name. Casey rolled her eyes, thinking it was Q again with his lame ass pick up lines, but when she turned around it was Bridget Moss, the most popular girl in school.

"I'm so glad I found you!" Bridget said happily. Bridget was your typical popular girl, her caramel skin always glowed, her dark black hair was shiny and curly, and she was head cheerleader of the Ravens Cheerleaders except she wasn't a bitch, but one of the nicest girls in their class.

"It's a small school; it's kinda hard not to find me." Casey said matter of factly

"Oh right. Well I saw you and Quentin Fields talking at your locker, is there something going on between you two?" Bridget asked suspiciously

Casey couldn't help but laugh out loud "Oh god no, him? The day any girl likes that tool, doesn't have standards much less respect for herself." She noticed the small hurt look on Bridget's face; Casey realized why Bridget asked that question. "Well its fine that other girls like him, I mean it's just my opinion of him."

Bridget nodded "So I didn't come to you just to talk about that. I wanted to know if you could come to my party Friday at my parent's beach house. It will be amazing, pretty much anybody worth inviting is going and a ton of frat boys from Duke are coming!"

Casey could see how excited Bridget was, really it's just a regular party, the only reason frats would come here is to slum since they slept with all the girls at their school. She didn't say this to Bridget though.

"I can't I have work." Casey lied

"Oh where do you work?" asked Bridget

"Carl's Crab Shack," Casey didn't know why she picked that place, she's never been it much less even like seafood, but it was the first place that came to mind.

"Really? Hannah Fisher works there and she said, Carl closed the shack for the whole week cause he had to court with some angry lobsters?"

Crap thought Casey "Oh yeah! I'm so use to working there that I forgot about that, I meant that I have to baby-sit my nephew, Jamie."

"That sucks! But I wouldn't mind babysitting your nephew, Mrs. Scott brought him in a lot when she was student teaching, he's so cute."

Casey smiled "That's Jamie for you."

"Well if you get done early, it would mean so much to me if you came!"

Casey nodded "I'll try, but I really gotta go to Chem."

"Oh right! Well I'll see you later then!" Bridget said, it wasn't a question, but a statement. She noticed Casey didn't say anything back, but just walked away and was already gone in the sea of students.

"You know she's not gonna come to your party." said a voice behind Bridget

"I know." she immediately replied and turned to face Quentin. She could feel her heart beat faster.

"Then why didn't you call her out about lying about working and babysitting."

"Because I'm trying to get her to be my friend again,"

"Again?" asked Quentin

Bridget nodded "Yeah. We were best friends from preschool to till 7th grade until she moved to Maryland with her brother and Mrs. Scott. She never called me when she left and the first time I saw her since was the first day of school when she came back."

"Why are you trying so hard if she ditched you?"

"Because she wasn't just my best friend, she was my sister. Her parents weren't really there, physically and mentally so she pretty much lived at my house to avoid them."

Quentin nodded. He knew about the Scott history like he knew the back of his own hand, the whole town did.

"Yeah, It just sucks ya know? We were so close, we did so many dance classes together and we dreamed of going to Julliard and dancing for the Rocketts."

"Well if she isn't returning those friendship vibes back to you, why bother anymore?"

"This is my last straw. I mean she's turned down so many of my invitations it's getting sad."

"I'll talk to her." he suggested. "She totally wants me; she'll do anything I say."

Bridget felt a ping in her heart "You really like her?"

"Nah, I wouldn't mind getting in her pants though. Girl is fine!"

Bridget nodded "Bye Q." and left. She lied when she said this was her final straw, she'd keep trying, but if Casey crossed the line with Q. It would be war, and the cheerleader always wins.

Sorry for the long update, I've been so busy! But I hope you liked the chapter and I added the Q and Bridget piece because it gives us an insight of Casey past relationship as well as, a build up for future chapters. I don't know if I like the Casey/Q pairing yet, maybe I will maybe I won't. I might even consider adding a new guy into the mix. Read and Review!