A/N People have been asking about couples. But I'm not giving anything away. I know sometimes it may seem like I'm leaning towards certain couples, and I may be, for now, but remember, none of them are certain, and the way things will be later are nothing like what they are now. So stay tuned. There's exciting stuff ahead.
Disclaimer: Sigh One Tree Hill is not mine. Nor are the characters blah, blah, blah.
Chapter 4
Brooke stared at the two girls sitting behind the desk.
"Look at them," She whispered to Peyton, "They're only a few years older than us, and they have so much power over the rest of our lives."
Peyton snorted,
"What? They do. I- We, need to get onto this team, Peyton. It's through cheerleading we'll meet all the boys! We'll get the social life, feel comfortable in the school, work well in class and go to a good college."
"Brooke, I highly doubt not getting onto the cheerleading team means not going to college"
"Statistics show that people who feel comfortable in their High School get better grades."
"And where do your 'Statistics' come from?"
Just then one of the girls stood up and addressed them.
"Ok, freshmen, sophomores, and everyone trying out. I take it you've all remembered to sign your name on the sheet at lunch.
The girls sitting on the bleachers all turned to each other and nodded.
Suddenly a small girl, followed by a boy, burst into the gym. All eyes turned to them.
Haley turned around to see the large group of other girls sitting on the bleachers staring at her.
"Hi." She said. Her voice seemed to echo throughout the hall, "I'm here for the cheerleading tryouts," she almost squeaked,
One of the girls behind the desk stood up, "Did you sign up at lunch?"
"Uh, no. I wasn't aware we had to." She squealed, looking very uncomfortable, still squeezing Lucas' wrist.
"Ok. That's no problem. Just sign here, and we'll be able to try you out!" The girl smiled,
Haley let out a breath, "Thanks," She said, and headed to sign up. Lucas followed behind her, sitting on the bleachers,
"Just one more thing," The girl added, "What's hedoing here?" She pointed at Lucas.
"He, uh…" Haley looked at him,
"I'm here to support her." He finished.
"You came to watch a group of girls cheer. Figures" The girl said,
Lucas turned red, "Uh, I'll just…" he stood up to leave, but Haley sent him a pleading look. He sighed and sat back down again.
One of the girls from the squad gave him a strange look.
"OK everyone!" The girl in charge called out,
"First up is…" She picked up her list and pointed at the first name on it,
"Brooke Davis,"
Brooke stood up nervously in front of the desk with the two seniors, and so began the Tree Hill High School cheer tryouts.
"Now, everyone, let me just say that it was a really hard decision to make, because so many of you were really good, but after much consideration, the new members joining our squad will be;"
The other girl picked up a pink sheet of paper and began to read names off it,
"Brooke Davis, Peyton Sawyer, Bevin Merskey, Theresa Donovan, and… Haley James. Congratulations. For those of you who didn't get in, you can always try out next year."
The hall was suddenly filled with congratulatory sounds and quiet sighs, but for Haley, it was different.
She walked over to Lucas, who looked as surprised as she did,
"Haley James, cheerleader," he whistled,
"Can you believe it?" she asked both Lucas and herself,
"C'mere!" Lucas gestured, and pulled her into a hug,
"You did real good, Hales," She smiled at him, but their moment was broken by another voice,
"Haley James, come over here for a second," Called one of the girls who tried them out,
Haley walked over to her. Brooke and Peyton were there also,
"I just wanted to let you know that the three of you were really impressive. You're like, better than a lot of sophomores and juniors we have." She paused, Brooke was grinning, Haley was shocked and Peyton looked pretty neutral, "So, as you all probably know, High School is easier when you're popular, and well-liked, and I like you, and since I have the opportunity, I'm going to help you."
By now the three girls were sanding there, intrigued,
"My boyfriend's throwing a party next Friday. And you would all benefit a lot from going. A senior party equals a lot of brownie points. Here's the address-" She handed them cards with an address scribbled onto them, "-and you all really should come." She smiled, and Brooke, Peyton, and Haley were speechless,
"Oh and Haley," The girl added, "you can bring your cute boyfriend," she winked, and walked away.
Haley let out a deep breath. She imagined her first day of high school being many things, but she had never expected this.
Brooke and Peyton walked to the bleachers to pick up their bags.
Brooke had been smiling non-stop since they'd been talked to by the head cheerleader,
"Can you believe that on our first day of high school, we got invited to a senior party?" Brooke squealed, really stressing 'senior party',
The two walked out of they gym and began to make their way home,
Peyton smiled quietly, It was pretty cool, "Yeah, it should be great," Peyton replied to her friend,
"You don't get it, P. This is a one-way ticket to popularity. This is, more than we could have ever imagined. This is…" Brooke exhaled dreamily,
"Uhh, Brooke, I hate to burst your bubble, but, do you think we'll be allowed to go?"
Brooke sighed, "Well my mom won't care, and my dad probably won't be home, so it's all good!"
"Yeah, but, my dad…" Peyton mumbled,
"Doesn't need to know!" Brooke exclaimed, "You tell him your coming to sleep over at my house, simple!"
"That'll probably work,"
"Probably? Of course it will work. But back to the more important issue, today is Monday, we have four days to make sure everything's perfect!"
"Brooke, it's not our party, we don't need to organize anything,"
"Duh, P. Sawyer, we need to figure out what we're gonna wear!"
"What am I going to wear?" Haley whined to Lucas, on their way home,
"Nothing." Lucas stated,
"You want me to go naked?" She asked,
"No. You're not going," He replied,
"Lucas, that's crazy. Of course I'm going. This is unmissable."
"Well I'm not going. And I doubt you'll go alone."
"Lucas! You have to come! They invited you," She smiled,
"I don't care if they invited me, I don't want to go."
"Why?" Haley whined, tugging his arm,
"Because… We wouldn't know anyone, you wouldn't be allowed, and I wouldn't be allowed."
"You can tell your mom you're staying over at my place, and my parents won't mind. They trust us. They think we're more responsible than they are. And we will know people, we'll know each other. And Peyton will be there,"
"Really?" Lucas asked, interested,
"Youdo like her!"
"That's ridiculous, I don't even know her. Anyway, she probably won't even go. I mean, why would she."
"Because, it's asenior party, and we're freshmen. This is huge. Why wouldn't she go. And besides, her best friend Brooke is going."
"I thought you didn't like Brooke,"
Haley sighed, "Senior Party"
Lucas laughed, "It really is important to you?"
"More than anything, ever." She pleaded,
"Ok. I'll go. But just for you." He smiled
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" She jumped, and pumped a fist into the air.
"It's just an party, chill out!"
"Yeah, I know… But it's still so cool!" She cried out, jumping up and down,
Lucas laughed, looking at his best friend. It might me fun.