Terribly sorry about the long wait for an update. A very close friend of mine was flown to hospital over the weekend and I spent the last 48 hours with his friends and family. He's going to be fine, so I figure the story must go on! I hope you like the new chapter, though I must admit it's not my favorite.

Thanks again to everyone who reviewed and added to their alerts, it means a lot.

Enjoy!

- Jay

Haley woke early the next morning and after laying in bed for over an hour she decided to do something she used to enjoy immensely; shopping. She pulled up at the mall and instantly spotted a familiar car. "Bevin," she whispered, as she stood in front of the hot pink sports car. Not moving an inch she reached into her purse and grabbed her cell phone, speed dialing Bevin. It rang six times before she picked up.

"Hello" Bevin answered, her sickly sweet voice as charming as ever.

"Hey Bev! It's me… Hales,"

"Oh hey Haley,"

Haley looked around. "I was wondering, do you want to maybe hang out today? Last day of holidays and all?" she asked, hoping her best friend would agree.

"I can't Haley, I'm really sorry, but I'm having lunch with my parents at the moment. But I'll see you tomorrow," Bevin's voice remained sweet and soft.

"Oh that sounds nice. Where abouts?" Haley asked, fuming.

"Oh just a cute little restaurant overlooking the river. Anyway I've gotta go, but I'll see you tomorrow okay?" Bevin lied through her teeth.

"Sure," Haley said, hanging up the phone. She took a deep breath. Why was Bevin lying to her? She was going to find out. She headed into the mall, on a mission.

It took her a total of three minutes to find Bevin, and she wasn't alone.

"Carla? Nicole? Jess? What the hell is going on!?" Haley hissed, from the other side of the store.

"Shit, it's her," Bevin whispered to the entourage of girls behind her. "Hales, what are you doing here?" she said, pretending their previous phone conversation never occurred.

Haley walked over to her, and put her hands on her hips. "I could ask you the same thing, because the lingerie store does not look like a restaurant by the river! Why would you lie to me?" she frowned.

Bevin looked at the girls surrounding her, and they all nodded. "Look Haley, we love you, we really do but your just…" she paused, trying to find the right word. "Different. You've changed, and we're sorry, but we don't want to… you know, hang out anymore,"

Haley couldn't help but gape at them. "Is this a joke? We've been best friends for years… and now suddenly you want nothing to do with me!?"

"It's not just suddenly. We where hoping we wouldn't have to say this to your face but lately, you've been a bit of a slut," Bevin took a pause, not sure whether to continue or not, but in true Bevin style, she did. "We heard about Mark,"

Haley froze. Had she heard right? No, she couldn't of. "How?" it came out like more of a growl than Haley had intended.

"He told me. We bumped into each other during break. Look Haley, don't worry your secret is safe with us, but… it's wrong. He's your step brother, and we think you need help. We're just not going to be a part of it, so if you'll excuse us…" Bevin walked past her, and the girls followed her.

Haley stood there, still in shock. She couldn't believe it. But she had to. She also had a problem. Bevin knew. That meant that within 24 hours, her entire school would know that she slept with her own step brother. She screamed in frustration, and walked out of the store. There was no way in hell that she was going to school tomorrow.

"Brooke wake up," Nathan whispered, hovering a mug of coffee over her head. She instantly responded to the smell of caffeine.

"I'm awake!" she said, sitting up on the couch, and attempting to grab the mug of coffee Nathan was holding. He pulled it away from her, and sat next to her.

"Nah uh. Get your own," he smiled, taking a sip.

"Aww Nate, please?" she said, pouting.

He handed her the mug. "We've got school tomorrow,"

"Oh," in all the chaos that had happened lately Brooke had completely lost track of time. She handed the mug back with a grin and watched as Nathan's face changed from annoyed to worried.

He looked into the half empty mug and frowned. "I don't want to go,"

Brooke sighed. "Yeah me either. Hey I know, we could run away and join the circus! Never go to school again," she said bringing her legs up onto couch and crossing them.

"Oh don't joke about that. Seems more tempting than school," her twin smiled.

"Who said I was joking. I'm going to be suicide girl of the year. Maybe I should go blonde," she suggested, though she knew she never would.

"Oh yeah, what about me? I'm the guy who killed his four best friends. You've seen what it's like when I go to the café; let alone what it's going to be like at school. People either ignore me, or stare at me,"

"You didn't kill your friends Nate," Brooke said softly.

"Yeah I did. I was driving. It's my fault. But listen enough about me, what are you doing today?" he asked her.

"Uh, nothing. I did plan on sleeping in but since you woke me up, that plan goes out the window. I'll probably just listen to music, chill for a bit," she said.

"Wow, sounds fun," he mocked her. "How about we do something? Together. We haven't watched a movie in forever," he joked.

"Sure. Just as long as I pick the movie,"

"Nope. My idea, my choice," Nathan said, rising from the couch.

"Fine! Just not The Fast and The Furious, I'm sorry, but I can only watch Vin Diesel movies so many times before they become… annoying," she smiled.

"Okay fine. Tokyo Drift?"

"Nate, Brooke, Uncle Keith is coming over for lunch. Can one of you go to the store and get some salad or something to have with lunch?"

Brooke groaned knowing that this was obviously her job. She really didn't mind though, she loved Uncle Keith. It was tomorrow she was worried about. For her, and for her brother. She didn't want to go to school but she knew had to. It was one of the many things that she couldn't control.

As he walked down the streets of Tree Hill, Lucas shook his head. He didn't want to be here, and he didn't want to go back to school. It was one of the things he didn't miss when he was behind bars. This made him think of all the things he did miss. Girls, basketball, food, chocolate, he thought. Looking around him, he spotted a grocery store across the street. He looked to his left, right and then crossed the road.

He entered the store and took a look around. People were smiling, talking, and shopping like it was a normal day. To them, it was a normal day.

He walked through the entrance and looked up and the giant signs that told him what product were in each isle. The red "Snacks" sign was right above his head. He laughed to himself, and headed down the isle.

He passed the cookies, lollies, confectionary, and finally found the chocolate at the very end of the isle. Cadbury. His mouth watered at the site of it. As he reached forward to get the chocolate someone came around the corner, slamming into him, knocking him off his feet.

The girl who had also fallen to the floor, dropping the contents of her shopping basket everywhere yelled at him. "Watch it asshole!" She didn't look at him as she collected a lettuce, a bag of tomatoes and a few more things from the floor.

"Sorry," he said, getting on his knees to help her pick up what she had dropped.

"Don't bother," she hissed, looking up at him. Their eyes locked and Brooke felt a surge of power go through her body.

Lucas looked into her hazel eyes, and saw pain and sadness.

Brooke looked into his baby blue eyes and saw anger and confusion.

For that one moment, they saw each other for who they really were.

Lost souls.

Brooke quickly shook the feeling and stood up straight, regaining her composure.

Lucas found himself looking at Brooke, drawn to her by her long black hair, pale skin, blood red lips and eyes darkened by black make-up. A white singlet clung tightly to her body, revealing little skin, her denim skirt was short enough to show her knee high leather boots.

Brooke couldn't help but stare the guy she had bumped into. He was wearing a black hoody, and a pair of jeans that had over a million holes in them which gave him a bad-boy image, but still she felt mesmerized by him. His lips looked soft, and his eyes even softer.

When they both realized what they were doing they immediately looked away. There was an awkward moment, before Lucas finally spoke.

"Sorry again,"

"Yeah, just watch were your going next time," Brooke sneered, and attempted to walk away. She stopped when he spoke to her again.

"You're the one who bowled me over!" he stated.

"Whatever," Brooke muttered and walked away. She couldn't help but look back at him, which was embarrassing, because he was still watching her.

For the first time in over three months, Brooke and Lucas smiled.

Lucas sat on a picnic bench, with his chocolate, looking out at the river. He'd discovered a basketball court with a river view, just around the corner from the store, and decided to head over and check it out. He was thinking about the girl he'd met at the store. He couldn't figure out what he thought of her, all he knew was that he had to see her again. "Maybe she goes to Tree Hill High?" he said.

"Talking to yourself?" a voice came from behind him. He spun around, and noticed a girl, his age, with curly blonde hair, standing directly behind him.

"So what if I am?" he said.

"Hey don't bite my head off. Just trying to make friendly conversation," she said, shoving her hands in the pockets of her sweater, and walking around the other side of the picnic table to face Lucas.

"By accusing me of being insane?"

"By starting a conversation. How would you have done it?" she said, taking a seat next to him. He looked at her strangely, but didn't object.

"Uh, what curly hair you have…" he said the first thing that popped into his head.

"Yeah, never heard the before," she extended her hand. "Peyton Sawyer, new girl in town,"

Lucas shook her hand. "Lucas Roe, new guy in town," he said, happy to finally meet someone who didn't look down on him. There was a silence, but not an awkward one. Lucas figured it was his turn to start up a conversation.

"So, you going to Tree Hill High?" he asked.

"Maybe. Depends," she said, looking out at the view.

"On?" Lucas questioned.

"I'm still trying to figure that part out," she smiled. Lucas smiled back, understanding her perfectly.

Peyton didn't know why, but she felt comfortable with this guy, even though he was a complete stranger.

They both looked out at the view, and didn't talk for a while. They didn't care where the other person came from, or what their past was, they only cared that they had found someone who wouldn't pass judgment, or criticize them.

"I better get going," Peyton said, getting off the table. "See ya round Lucas Roe,"

"Bye Peyton Sawyer." he waved. Peyton backed away, and Lucas smiled as he watched her go. "Maybe the girls of Tree Hill aren't so bad after all," he thought, though he couldn't get his mind of a certain dark haired beauty…

Brooke looked across the hallway and into her brother's room. She could see him lying on his bed, arms folded underneath his head, staring at the ceiling.

Nathan sensing that someone was watching him, looked to his left. He could see his sister standing next to her bed, arms folded across her chest, watching him. "Perve," he mouthed.

Brooke smiled. "You wish," she mouthed back. He smiled back at her. He signaled her to come into his room and Brooke crossed the hallway into his room. He sat up, giving her room on the bed to sit down.

"Talk to me sis," he said, leaning against the wall.

"Bout what?" she asked, looking at her nails.

"Anything. Everything. We used to talk Brooke. Seems like we don't anymore,"

Brooke shrugged. "Like Uncle Keith said, we've both got our own crap going on. Speaking of; what's with him and this new kid?"

"Lucas?" Nathan prompted. Brooke nodded. "Not sure. New kid. Karen's nephew or something. He didn't go into details. Why? You wanna marry the guy?"

Brooke laughed. "Nah, just curious,"

"Riiight," Nathan dragged it out. "So, tomorrows going to be fun,"

"Yeah, tons. I may even attend some classes," Brooke smiled.

"Ha ha. Now get out of my room, I'm tired and I need my sleep if I'm going to be fighting off angry cheerleaders, pissed jocks and annoyed teachers for six hours tomorrow," he said, pointing to the door.

Brooke got of the bed and turned to look at him. "It's really going to be that bad isn't it?" but she already knew the answer.

"No. It's going to be worse," he said softly. "Goodnight Brooke," he said, sinking back into his bed.

"Night Nate," she whispered, shutting his door behind her.

Nathan let out a sigh. He wished she didn't have to go through this. He wished that he could have been there for her when she needed him the most. But that was the past, this was the present. He promised himself that he would be there for Brooke now, tomorrow and forever, when it really mattered.

Peyton sat in her hotel room, eating a greasy cold pizza. She'd made up her mind about Tree Hill. From what she'd seen of it today, it had potential. This week was apartment hunting, next week, school. As she used the back of her hand to wipe away any pizza that she'd missed, she jogged to the other side of the room, grabbing her wallet, and jogged back to her comfy chair.

Opening her wallet, she looked at all of the green notes, and smiled. She had enough money in there to last her at least several months. Happy with that, she threw her wallet across the room, and it landed safely on her bed. She sunk into the couch, grabbing the remote, and turning the TV on.

It was at that moment that she felt safe and happy. It was at that moment that she knew; Tree Hill was her new home.

Lucas sat awkwardly at the dinner table across from Karen. She looked up at him, and in an attempt to make conversation, started with the simple things.

"What do you think of Tree Hill Lucas?"

He wasn't much help. "It's alright," he shrugged.

"Meet anyone today?" she asked, pouring them both a glass of soft drink each.

"Few people," he said.

"Oh really, who?" she asked, genuinely interested.

"Peyton Sawyer, and some psychotic goth chick," he said, smiling.

Karen wasn't sure what he was saying, but it was the first time she'd seen him smile since he'd arrived. She decided to just go along with it. "That's nice," there was an awkward moment, so she kept talking. "School starts tomorrow, are you nervous?"

"Nope," he lied. "I'm done, can I be excused?" but he didn't wait for an answer; he just got up and went to his room.

He flopped down on his bed, and sighed. School. The one thing he hated more than prison. But on the bright side, he thought he might have a chance of seeing that girl again. Yeah, maybe school wouldn't be so bad. On that note… he fell straight asleep.

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