Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay. It took me a while to write this and I hope you like it. This takes place 6.5 years after season 8, 6 years after the prequel. Jamie and Lilly are 16, Sawyer is 10 (almost 11), Lydia is 8, and Davis and Jude are 7.
Just a few notes: I didn't get a lot of reviews for the last chapter, so I hope people are still interested. I admit I'm a little bit of a feedback whore, so please feed my creative juices by reviewing, and feel free to be honest.
This episode is sort of an homage to the first episode of One Tree Hill, but the rest of the episodes will not track so closely with individual episodes of Season 1, nor will everything in this fic be a repitition of season 1 except with different characters. There will be some new twists, different storylines, and the stuff with the adults is totally different for obvious reasons.
New Cast (look them up on IMDB to visualize; I just picked actors who looked kind of like the kids or their parents):
Alexander Ludwig as JAMES LUCAS SCOTT
Shelbie Bruce as MADISON LANDRY
Aaron Christian Howles as CHUCK SKOLNICK
Ivana Baquero as LILY ROE SCOTT
Naomi Scott as CAROLINE RUTTENBAR (the other girl on the team Skills coached in season 6)
Tyler Stentiford as RYAN PAULSKY (the guy Madison went to the movies with in 822)
Robbie Jones as ANDRE FIELDS (same actor who played Quentin, but he has hair as Andre)
Isabella Acres as SAWYER BROOKE SCOTT (look her up on IMDB - it is CREEPY how much she looks like season 1 Peyton)
Alison Curtis as AMY SPICER (Sawyer's best friend)
Jason Simmons as JUDE BAKER
Kristopher Simmons as DAVIS BAKER
Ava Acres as LYDIA BOB SCOTT
OPENING SCENE
The Tree Hill Ravens are up against Bear Creek. ANDRE FIELDS takes the jump ball for the Ravens.
CUT TO: EXT. HALEY'S HOUSE
16-year-old JAMES LUCAS SCOTT is playing basketball with his 8-year-old sister Lydia and Brooke's 7-year-old twins on the court that separates his mother's house from the house Peyton and Lucas moved into when they came back to Tree Hill 6 years earlier.
Jamie puts the ball in the air and lets Davis and Jude take the jump-off.
CUT TO: TREE HILL GYM
Andre passes to CHUCK SKOLNICK, who dunks a basket. The crowd cheers. Chuck winks at MADISON LANDRY, who is one of the cheerleaders.
CUT TO: BACKYARD COURT
Jamie lifts Jude up into the air, enabling him to dunk a basket.
TREE HILL GYM
Coach SKILLS TAYLOR sends shooting guard RYAN PAULSKY into the game.
BACKYARD COURT
LUCAS SCOTT pulls up in a tow truck with his 10-year-old daughter SAWYER BROOKE SCOTT. Sawyer eagerly runs into the game. Lucas mouths "easy" to Jamie, tapping his heart. Jamie nods.
TREE HILL GYM
Ryan is tripped by one of the Bear Creek players. He falls down hard on his right knee. The ref blows the whistle. Skills runs out to check on Ryan.
BACKYARD COURT
Davis falls down and skins his knee.
TREE HILL GYM
Skills tends to Ryan, who is unable to get up. He calls a time-out. He and one of the players help Ryan off the court.
BACKYARD COURT
Jamie calls time-out and picks up Davis, carrying him inside.
KAREN'S CAFE - LATER THAT NIGHT
Jamie helps his sister out of the car and the two of them enter the cafe. Lydia runs to greet her mom.
"Hey guys!" Haley says enthusiastically.
"Hey mom," Jamie greets. He turns the sign on the door from open to closed. "It smells good in here."
"Thanks, I made Grandma's dumpling soup," Haley says with a smile. "Hey, Lilly, would you like to join us?" she calls.
"Sure, just give me a sec." In the kitchen, we see 16-year-old LILLY ROE SCOTT cramming to read a chemistry textbook.
Haley, Jamie and Lydia sit down for dinner. "Yum, this is delish, mom," Jamie compliments. "Thanks, buddy."
Lilly joins them a minute later. "How's the chemistry coming?" Haley asks.
"Insanely hard," Lilly grumbles. "We have a test like every 3 days!"
Haley grins. "You hear that, Jamie? Next time you want to complain about me, remember that I could have sent you to the Oppenheimer School and then you'd be constantly stressed about school and have no time for a life just like your cousin."
"Oh, come on. It's not like Jamie has a life now," Lilly teases.
"This coming from the girl who I've never seen take her nose out of a book for more than 5 minutes," Jamie shoots back.
"Whatever. At least my best friends aren't 7 years old," she says, sticking her tongue out. Jamie sticks his tongue out in return.
"Mommy, they're being rude at the table!" Lydia complains.
"Yes, they are," Haley scolds with a smile.
BROOKE'S BOUTIQUE - NEXT DAY
"Peyton, come on!" BROOKE DAVIS whines into the phone.
"Brooke, forget it!" Peyton says, shaking her head. "I am going to LA to line up artists for the tour. I am not going to spy on your husband!"
"Can't you just see if he's with anyone when he leaves for the studio in the morning? Or drop by the studio to say hi or something?"
"I don't understand why you want me to. Has Julian done anything to make you think he's cheating?"
"You mean other than taking a six-month contract to direct a movie 3,000 miles away?"
"A movie that he's dreamed of directing for as long as I've known him? Yeah, besides that. Are there any other signs that he's cheating?"
"No, I guess not," Brooke concedes.
"Has he stopped calling every day?" Brooke shakes her head. "Has another woman ever answered the phone when you've called him?"
"No."
"Okay, then stop worrying so much. And don't make things worse by getting all paranoid."
"Unbelievable," Brooke says dramatically. "I can't believe you of all people are defending him!"
"Oh, I am not defending him," Peyton says adamantly. "I think he's really selfish for taking this job and leaving you alone with the boys. I think it's ridiculous that my 16-year-old nephew has been more of a father to them than Julian has for the past 2 months. But...I also think that he made a lot of sacrifices to be in Tree Hill with you for all these years, and maybe you should try to be supportive now."
Brooke throws her hands up, exasperated. "Like I haven't made sacrifices?"
"Brooke, I didn't say that," Peyton says calmly. "I'm just saying that I know how rough these past two months have been for you, but I still think you and Julian can work things out. You've just got to have patience, and a little bit of faith."
"Yeah, I know. It's just been really hard," Brooke admits. "The worst part is, your 16-year-old nephew is better at handling my kids than I am...and I think they like him better."
"Brooke, that's ridiculous," Peyton responds. "You're a good mother...and a great aunt, by the way. Sawyer's suddenly too cool to admit it, but I think she's having a great time hanging out with you at the store while I'm gone."
"Well, I'm glad I'm good at something. G-d, Jamie made it look so easy when he was the twins' age!"
"Yeah, I think he had us all fooled," Peyton says with a laugh.
TREE HILL HIGH
Coach Taylor (Skills) is sitting in his office when Lucas comes in.
"Yo, what's up, dog? How you been?"
"Good, good. And yourself?"
"Pretty good. Lots of sleepless nights lately, but you know..."
"Yeah," Lucas says with a smile. On Skills' desk is a picture of him and Lauren with a 3-month-old baby girl. "Believe it or not, this is the easy part," he warns. "Pretty soon she'll be trying on her mother's makeup and complaining that you won't let her go to the mall by herself like all her friends are supposedly allowed to do."
Skills chuckles. "Natalie's only 3 months old, dog."
"Like I said...it goes faster than you think."
"So Sawyer hitting that preteen stage already?"
"You can say that," Lucas says with a groan. "Peyton's out of town this week trying to line up bands for a tour, and she threw a fit this morning that I wouldn't let her stay home alone after school instead of hanging out with Brooke at the store."
"What? She used to love hanging out with Brooke at the store."
"Like I said, they grow up fast."
Skills shakes his head. "So did you just come by to say hi?"
"Not exactly," Lucas admits. "I heard about the game last night. How's Paulsky doing?"
Skills sighs. "Not good, man. Looks like he's going to be out the rest of the season."
"Damn, that sucks. He's a good player."
"Yeah, no kidding. And I don't really have a good back-up shooting guard, at least not one who's any good."
"Actually, that's what I came to talk to you about. What do you say we take another shot at convincing Jamie to play?"
Skills sighs. "Look, man, I always figured I'd coach J. Luke someday, but he hasn't played in a real game since you carried him off the court in tears after Nathan died."
"But he's good," Lucas insists. "You've seen him play...you know he's got a great shot. And when I play with him one-on-one he usually kicks my ass."
"You play with him?" Skills asks skeptically. "Aren't you not supposed to be doing that?"
"A little one-on-one's not going to kill me," Lucas says with a groan. "I just don't play in front of Sawyer because she's too young to take the medicine and I'm afraid if she sees me play she'll think it's okay for her to play."
Skills nods. "I'd love to have Jamie on the team, but he's going to need some training, and at this point in the season I just don't think there's enough time to get him up to speed. Playing in a game is a lot different from shooting hoops in the driveway, and most of the other boys have been playing for real for years."
"I can work with him," Lucas promises. "Besides, if Whitey had limited the roster to people who had played in organized leagues, neither of us would have gotten a chance."
"What makes you think he's even going to want to?" Skills asks. "I approached him at the beginning of the year about trying out and he was pretty firm that he didn't want to."
"I know," Lucas says. "And I think it's going to be a tough sell, but he dreamed of being a Raven since he was a little kid and it kills me to see him sitting on the sidelines. Can we at least give it a try? Come on, you said you don't really have anyone else."
"Alright, I'll think about it," Skills agrees.
"Thanks, man. I owe you."
"I didn't agree to it yet!" Skills yells with a groan as Lucas walks away.
NEXT DAY - KAREN'S CAFE
"Hey," Haley greets Lucas. "Just the victim I was looking for."
"Oh yeah? Why's that?"
"I just talked to Quinn, and she's having a really rough time with the baby with Clay out of town. I was thinking of going to visit her for a long weekend."
"You need me to watch the kids?" Lucas asks.
"I'm going to take Lydia with me...she has a 4-day weekend. But I'm going to let Jamie stay at home...could you just keep an eye out, make sure he comes home at a reasonable hour and has something to eat besides Spaghetti-O's while I'm gone?"
"Yeah, sure. He's welcome to stay with us."
"Yeah, I know, but Peyton will have just gotten home and I don't want to impose. Besides, I'm not too worried about Jamie...if anything, between you and me, I'd almost be happy if he brought a girl over to the house, or at least someone his own age besides Lilly. And he knows better than to throw a party with you and Peyton living right next door."
"Yeah, speaking of that...I probably should have talked to you about this first, but I talked to Skills today, and he's going to try to get Jamie to fill in for one of the players who busted his knee the other night. Are you okay with that?"
"Yeah, I guess so...I mean, I'd love to see him play, but he's been pretty firm about it. Just don't push him too hard, okay?"
"You got it."
TREE HILL HIGH
Jamie sneaks a glance at Madison in the hallway before he is approached by Skills.
"Hey, J. Luke, you got a sec?" Skills calls out.
"Sure, Coach, what's up?" Jamie asks.
"Come with me."
"What's this about?" Jamie asks when they get to the gym.
"You hear about the game last night?"
"No. I had to babysit, and I don't really pay attention."
"Ryan Paulsky busted his knee...he's probably going to be out for the rest of the season."
"That sucks. I'm sorry."
"Yeah, it does. But listen...how would you like to take his place?"
Jamie sighs. "I don't play anymore. You know that."
"That's not what I hear. From what your Uncle Lucas tells me, you out there every day on that court in your backyard. And from what I could tell last time I was at your house, you're pretty damn good at it."
"I just shoot for the hell of it sometimes. And Davis and Jude love it, so I play with them."
"Look, I remember when you was a kid...you used to love the game."
"That was a long time ago, alright?" Jamie says, starting to get defensive. "Look, I appreciate the thought, but I've got too much going on. I've got to help at the cafe and the garage and help out with my sister and the twins. I don't have time for basketball," he says, walking away. Skills stands there shaking his head.
HALEY'S HOUSE - LATER THAT NIGHT
Jamie enters the house and sees his mom looking at a photo album. "Hey, honey," his mom greets. "Skills dropped this off for you," she says, holding up a Ravens' jersey with the #12 on it. Jamie sighs with exasperation.
"What part of 'I don't want to play' don't they get?"
"Can you tell me why you're so opposed to it?" Haley asks gently. Jamie looks surprised. "I'm sorry...I'm not trying to push. I just know that you talked about playing for the Ravens since you were a little kid."
"I just don't want to," Jamie says. "After Dad died it stopped being fun, I guess. Besides, who's going to watch Lydia and the twins after school?"
"Brooke and I can hire a sitter," Haley says firmly. "You're a good kid, Jamie. You help out with the kids, you help at the cafe, you help Uncle Lucas at the garage. You've really lived up to being the man of the house and I'm so proud of you. But you're 16, and you deserve time to be a kid and do fun things. Sometimes I worry that you had to grow up too fast and I don't want that for you."
"Look, maybe next year, alright? Maybe once Julian comes back and Lydia's a little older and I'm done with the SAT's I'll consider it."
Haley sighs. "Who knows if you'll get a chance next year? I admire your dedication, but Lydia and the twins are not your responsibility. And I think maybe you're using them as an excuse."
"Why do you care so much?" Jamie whines. "Why does everyone care so much if I play?"
"Because I think you're going to regret sitting this out," Haley says firmly. "I don't want you to walk away from this for the wrong reasons."
"Like you don't want me to play for the wrong reasons."
"What does that mean?" Haley asks, bewildered.
"Let's face it, Mom. You want to see me play because you think it's what Dad would have wanted. But if he wanted to see me play so bad, he should've showed up, alright?" Jamie says angrily. "He should have showed up," he repeats, this time close to tears as he walks away. Haley just stands there, looking pained and conflicted.
BROOKE'S BOUTIQUE - NEXT DAY
Sawyer storms into the boutique and doesn't acknowledge Brooke as she marches into the back room with her arms crossed.
Lucas enters a second later.
"What's going on with her?" Brooke asks, bewildered. Lucas shakes his head. "I don't know...she's mad that we won't let her stay home alone, but I think it's more than that. I think she and Amy had some sort of a fight, but she won't talk about it. If you promise not to tell Peyton, I can take her with me to the garage instead."
"No, that's okay. Compared to my two boys, a grumpy Sawyer is no sweat."
"Alright, thanks, Brooke. Hey - do you think you could try to find out what's going on with her?"
"Sure...but that doesn't mean I'm letting you in on it. Girls have to have their secrets," she says smugly.
"Okay, fair enough."
Lucas turns to leave and Brooke goes to the back room to talk to Sawyer.
"Hey, Little Brooke...what's wrong?" she asks when she sees Sawyer crying.
"Nothing," Sawyer mutters.
"Well, you stormed in here without even saying hello, and now you're sitting here sulking and crying. It's obviously not nothing. Come on...tell me what's wrong. Did you have a fight with Amy?"
Sawyer nods reluctantly.
"What happened?"
"If I tell you, do you promise not to tell my dad?"
"Are you in any trouble? Are you pregnant? Using drugs?"
Sawyer giggles. "Aunt Brooke, I'm only 10."
"Right. Of course. Okay, then I promise. What's going on?"
"There's this boy I've liked FOREVER...and Amy KNOWS I like him, but she says she's going to ask him to the dance."
"Whoa, hold on a second! You are way too young to be fighting with your best friend about boys. In fact, fighting about boys is a terrible idea at any age."
"You and my mom used to fight over my dad," Sawyer says with a grin. Brooke looks shocked and indignant.
"Okay, Missy. First of all, we didn't exactly used to FIGHT over your dad. Your parents...nevermind, it doesn't matter. The point is, you and Amy have been best friends since you moved back to Tree Hill, and that is way more important than any boy. Your mom and I learned that lesson the hard way. The year we fought was really painful for both of us. So you and Amy need to make a deal that you'll always put hos before bro's, okay?"
"What's a ho?" Sawyer asks. Brooke looks embarrassed, realizing it was inappropriate to use that word with a 10-year-old.
"Ummm...it's just a word for women. Not a very nice word, though...maybe you should just say friends over bros instead. What's his name, anyway?"
"Adam," Sawyer says glumly.
"I see. So has Amy already asked Adam to the dance?""
"No...she says she's going to tomorrow if I don't do it."
"So why haven't you asked him?"
Sawyer tenses up. "Because I don't know if he likes me...and if he doesn't I'd have to see him every day in class and I'd be really embarrassed. Besides, it's not like my parents would let me go out with him anyway. I'm 10 years old and they treat me like I'm four."
Brooke sighs. "Honey, your parents almost lost you when you were four. Not to mention the fact that you have a serious heart condition. I know you're frustrated that your parents won't let you do things that some of your friends are allowed to do, but you can't blame your parents for worrying. Besides, my parents were the opposite growing up, and trust me, it wasn't as fun as it sounds."
"Were you allowed to go to the mall with your friends when you were my age?"
"Yeah," Brooke says. "But my mom never took me shopping. My parents never took me to work with them, or came to watch me cheerlead. Half the time they forgot my birthday...they weren't there for my prom, or my high school graduation, and my dad didn't even show up for my wedding."
"Why not?" Sawyer asks, bewildered.
"I don't know. My dad just had other priorities...and my mom didn't know how to be a mom. The point is, one day you're going to realize that having a mom who takes you shopping is a lot better than having a mom who just hands you a credit card and lets you go to the mall with your friends. You're lucky to have a dad who worries so much about you instead of a dad who doesn't notice whether or not you come home at night. You're lucky to have parents who come to all of your dance recitals and help you with your homework and care about what's going on in your life."
"Yeah, I guess," Sawyer admits.
"Look, I think there's a pretty good chance this guy Adam likes you too and he's just too shy to ask you out. So I'll make you a deal. You patch things up with Amy and ask Adam to the dance and I will talk to your mom and try to convince her to let you go with him, okay?"
"Okay," Sawyer agrees reluctantly.
KEITH'S GARAGE
Jamie finishes screwing a tire onto a car and goes over to the basketball court in the driveway to check on the twins. "You guys doing alright?" he asks. The boys nod.
"Here, I'll take a quick break and shoot with you," he says, motioning for Jude to throw him the ball. But the boys refuse, shaking their heads. "Come on, throw me the ball." Jude shakes his head.
"We won't be your excuse!" Davis declares with conviction, stamping his foot.
"What are you talking about?"
"Uncle Lucas said not to play with you because you should be playing with the Ravens," Jude explains. "We don't want to be your excuse."
"Fine, suit yourselves," Jamie says with exasperation. He storms back into the garage.
"So this is what you're stooping to now? Getting the kids involved in your stupid campaign to get me to join the Ravens?" Lucas stands there sheepishly, realizing maybe he went too far.
"Why are you pushing me so hard on this?" Jamie asks, exasperated.
"I'm not trying to push...I just know how much you always wanted to play, and I don't want you to miss your chance because you're afraid. When I was first approached about joining the Ravens, I resisted too...mainly because I didn't want to have to deal with Dan and be constantly reminded of how he rejected me. But I'm glad I had family and friends who pushed me, because playing for the Ravens changed my life. I don't want you to sit on the sidelines because you're haunted by the past...I know what that's like, and I know how much better my life is because I got over my fears and put myself out there."
"I'm not afraid, okay? I just don't want to play."
Before Lucas can respond, the phone rings. "Keith's Body Shop and Towing," he answers. He jots down a few notes.
"Hey Jamie, I've got a service call for you to go on. I'll watch the kids."
"Okay, why?"
"Because you're going to want this one," Lucas says with a grin.
EXT. DOCKS
Jamie pulls up in a pick-up truck and is surprised to see MADISON LANDRY sitting next to her car, which has a flat tire.
"Jamie Scott?" she greets him, surprised to see him. He blushes and seems flustered when he sees her.
"Madison...uh, hi." Awkward silence.
"Wow, it's been a long time. How have you been?" she asks.
"Fine. Why are you acting like you haven't seen me in years? We go to the same school."
"Yeah, but you never talk to me anymore. Are you still mad about what happened when we were 10?"
Jamie chuckles. "No, it's not that. I just...we don't exactly run in the same social circles, that's all. Look, let's just fix your car...what's wrong with it?"
"Just a flat tire. Pretty lame, but I don't know how to fix it myself."
"That's alright. Let me take a look," Jamie says. He kneels down and starts unscrewing the tire.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Madison asks.
"It's a free country," Jamie says with a shrug.
"How come you stopped playing basketball?" Madison asks.
Jamie sighs exasperatedly. "Did my Uncle Lucas tell you to ask me that?"
"Your Uncle Lucas? Is that who answered the phone when I called?" Jamie nods. "I only talked to him for 2 seconds. I told him I had a flat tire and he said he'd send someone. I was just curious. I saw you talking to Coach Taylor the other day."
"Yeah, he wants me to fill in for Paulsky while he's injured, but I told him I'm not interested."
"How come?" she asks. "You used to love it."
Jamie sighs, then finds himself opening up in a way that is surprising even to him.
"The night my dad died was my first game in the junior leagues. He was so excited for me, and I kept waiting for him to get there, and he never showed up. Then the next day my mom told me that they found his car at the bottom of the river near the Gable Bridge...but they never found his body, so I guess it didn't seem quite real. I still held out hope that they would find him...I think my mom did too. About a month later, I went back to basketball, and I was supposed to pass the ball in from out of bounds to start the quarter. I looked over at the stands and saw my mom and my sister and my Uncle Lucas and all my parents' friends, but my dad wasn't there...and that's when it sunk in that he was never coming back."
"So you stopped playing after that?" Madison asks sympathetically.
"Yeah. I just...it was too hard. I still shoot hoops in the backyard, but every time I think about going out on a real court I get that same nauseous feeling I got that night. I'm sorry...I don't know why I just told you all that."
"It's okay," Madison says sweetly. "My real dad left when I was a baby...I don't even remember him."
"My sister doesn't remember my dad either," Jamie says. "And sometimes, as stupid as it sounds, it's hard not to resent her for that."
"You feel like she got off easy?"
"Yeah, I guess. I don't really know. It just bugs me that she can't remember."
"I guess I never thought about it like that," Madison admits. "I always felt hurt that my dad left us, but I guess since I never knew him I don't have to miss him. But that doesn't mean it's been easy. My mom got remarried a few years ago and suddenly my house doesn't feel like home, you know?"
"Yeah," Jamie says bitterly as he finishes the tire and hands her the paperwork. "I know."
KEITH'S GARAGE
Lucas is still working on the car when his phone rings. "Hey, you," he says with a smile. "How're the hot shot bands treating you?"
"Okay...I signed 3 for the tour this morning," Peyton says on the other end.
"Wow, that's great!" Lucas says encouragingly. "So are you on your way to the airport now?"
"Actually, that's what I was calling to talk to you about. How upset would you be if I took the Red Eye instead?"
"Okay...is everything okay?" Lucas says, slightly alarmed.
"Yeah, everything's fine. There's just something else I need to take care of here."
Lucas looks a little curious, but he has an idea what's going on. "Sure...you do your thing. I will be there tomorrow morning to pick you up."
"Oh, honey, you don't need to do that. The flight gets in at like 6 in the morning."
"Doesn't matter. I'll be there. Just get home safe, alright?"
"Alright. Love you."
"Love you too."
BROOKE'S BOUTIQUE
Sawyer is helping Brooke rearrange clothes on the rack. Sawyer's best friend Amy enters the boutique.
"Hi," Amy says tentatively. Sawyer doesn't respond.
"Look, I'm sorry about before," Amy says. "I don't really like Adam...I was just trying to get you to ask him out already."
"That's okay...my Aunt Brooke is right. We should make a pact right here and now that we'll always put hos over bros."
"What's a ho?"
"It means us, but it's a bad word," Sawyer says in a mischevious voice. "The point is, we should make a deal never to fight about boys. So are you in?"
"Sure. Ho's over bros," Amy agrees, sticking her fist out. Sawyer bumps her fist against Amy's in agreement. Brooke smiles to herself as she observes the scene.
OUTSIDE CENTURY STUDIOS, LOS ANGELES
Peyton pulls up and is surprised and disgusted to see JULIAN BAKER horsing around flirtatiously with ALEX DURPE. She gives him a hug as he walks her to her car.
HALEY'S HOUSE
Jamie walks in and sees his mother helping Lydia with her homework.
"I'm sorry," he says. Haley gets up and gives him a hug.
THE NEXT DAY
Jamie hesitantly walks into the gym during practice and stares up at Nathan's old jersey, #23, hung on the wall. He approaches Skills and hands him the jersey. "I want a different number," he says. Skills looks surprised. "If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it on my own, with my own number."
Skills nods, understanding. "You got it," he agrees, tapping Jamie on the shoulder.
I hope you guys liked this, but either way, please review and let me know what you thought. Brulian fans, please stick with me...I like them together, and Julian is not cheating with Alex. I just needed some drama, and I figure Peyton and Lucas have been through enough.
Next episode will focus more on the teenagers, but I wanted to give an update on all the current characters. Next episode you will see more of Lilly, Chuck, Madison and Andre.
One thing that is different from the first season is the presence of all these younger kids. I am open to feedback on how much readers want to see of them. I know some people thought there was too much Jamie in the season 8 finale so I didn't want to focus too much on the kids who are now about that age.
Here are some lines from the next episode to keep you intrigued:
ANDRE: All of us earned our spots on the team. You just got yours because of who your father was.
Jamie is shown fighting with Chuck and Andre.
JAMIE: Why are they saying my father was a cheater? He never cheated on the court, did he?
SKILLS: Have a seat.
JUDE (standing on Jamie's head in a closet in Jamie's house): I found it!
Jamie puts Jude down and Jude hands him a box, which is full of Nathan's old basketball stuff. Jamie notices a folded piece of paper in the box. He opens it up and is shocked as he reads it.
JAMIE: I wasn't drinking, having sex, or getting some ugly-ass tatoo.
LUCAS: Then where were you?
JAMIE: I went to see Grandpa.
