Chapter 1

*BOOM BOOM BOOM*

"Madi! GET UP! OR I AM COMING IN THERE!" Nathan yelled from outside my door.

Unfortunately for me, I'm the heaviest sleeper in the world and didn't hear a thing, so in came Nathan.

The next thing I knew I was being slung over someone's shoulder, awakened from my peaceful slumber.

"NATHAN!" I screamed, fully awake now. I was being carried downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Look, I already tried to wake you up for 10 minutes… it's your first day of school at Tree High and I didn't want you to be late," Nathan said while laughing and putting me down to face him.

I couldn't help but laugh too as I tried to "size him up." Nathan was huge compared to me. "Dad's already off to the dealership?"

"He just left. Looks like you might as well just thank me," Nathan said giving me that classic Scott grin.

"Thank you Nathan, for waking a girl from her beauty sleep," I said throwing my hand to my face dramatically. Of course both of my parents would miss one of the biggest days of a young teenager's life.

Nathan laughed. "Pop tart?" He asked me popping one in the toaster for himself.

"Of course," I said back and he proceeded to pop the other one in as well.

"So I haven't really asked you… Now that you've officially given up basketball, what are you going to do?" Nathan asked.

I sighed to myself. I was not ready to have this conversation with him.

"Well," I said trailing off. "I was hoping that Brooke would consider me for the cheer team."

The pop tarts popped, and we began eating them.

"Madi…" Nathan began.

"Look Nathan I know you're all worried about the "slutty cheerleading reputation" and all but you need to give it a chance. I mean you're dating one of them," I said annoyed.

"You know I don't like this… but I'm also not going to stop you if it's something you really want to do," Nathan said with a slight grin.

"YAY!" I said jumping up into his arms.

"Yeah I know, I'm the best," Nathan laughed. "Now go get ready, we're out of here in 25 minutes!"

"Gotcha," I said going up the stairs to my room.

I smiled to myself, I had already accomplished one small goal today; Nathan isn't mad about cheer!

Now, onto the next….

By the time I was ready to go, I decided on a pair of skinny jeans, black high-top converse and one of Nathan's old Raven's sweatshirts.

Sure, it didn't scream "I'M A PEPPY CHEERLEADER" but I wasn't going to start dressing like Brooke just to get myself on the team.

I brushed my hair out and left it down. I then curled my eyelashes and put on some eyeliner.

"So much for finding that cute outfit for the first day of school," I said to myself in the mirror and laughed.

I walked downstairs to see Nathan waiting for me.

"Well anyone who didn't know you were a Scott before, surely will now," He said with a laugh referring to the "Scott 23" on my back.

"Nate, wasn't it your idea for me to wear this so all the guys would know to "stay away from me"?" I said using the air quotes.

"That's true, but I didn't think you would actually listen to me. I'm glad you did though," he said proudly.

We walked outside to get into Nathan's car. It was about sunny and 75… but what can I say? I'm a cold person. Jeans and a sweatshirt are just about my everyday outfit.

As we got into the car I started to think about what one of my main goals for that actually was.

Talk to Lucas. Could I do it? Could I even get away from Nathan's eye or someone who knew Nathan's eye fast enough for me to even try?

"Nate, I've been thinking," I began as Nathan drove. "I know that you want to keep all the guys away from me and stuff… but you have to understand how difficult that would actually be."

"Not difficult at all," Nathan said. A guy I don't like talks to you, and I punch him. Simple as that."

"No Nathan it's not simple as that. You have a huge basketball season coming up. You punch a guy during school and boom, you're suspended from school at least three days and miss at least two games. Would you really want to deal with dad's wrath over something stupid like that?" I asked raising my eyebrows.

"So I punch the guy after school," Nathan said shrugging his shoulders. "And dad would be proud of me for defending you."

"Nathan, you can't protect me from EVERYTHING," I said rolling my eyes.

"I can try," He said looking over at me.

We rode the rest of the way in silence.

The perks of being Nathan's sister: You get a freaking parking spot reserved for you by the student body that is right in the front.

"Well here we are sis," Nathan said. "You ready?"

"As I'll ever be," I said smiling a little.

"You know where all your classes are?"

"Yes Nate."

"Okay. I have practice after school and cheer tryouts are during that time too. So let's meet in the gym at five?" He asked.

"Sounds good," I said.

And then he was out of the car, immediately surrounded by people I knew well and people I knew vaguely. Peyton his girlfriend, obviously, Tim Smith, his annoying best friend, some guys from the team, and some other cheerleaders I didn't really know the names of.

But no Brooke Davis.

Guess I will have to find her later.

I got out of the car and took a deep breath. Then I got instantly sad. I remembered my best friend, Danielle Perkins.

Danielle had been my best friend since first grade, and we used to do everything together. But at the end of last school year she moved all the way to California. Not a town over. Not even a state over. But on the other side of the damn country.

I had other people I considered to be friends but none as good as her. Paige White and Alissa Kyle were my other two closest friends whom I loved dearly, but none truly compared to Danielle… but the past is past. I had to move on now. Make new friends. Meet my brother.

I approached the doors to Tree Hill High and took a deep breath.

Depending on how it went, this could be the biggest day of my life.

Chapter 1 done! I'm sorry it was pretty short. Next one will be longer:) Review Review Review!

-Cassie