A/N: Hey you guys...here is chapter 11...please reply on it...cause chapter 12 is where Kelly's story is revealed...you don't want to miss it! And if you do reply a lot to chapter 12...well lets say chapter 13 is where the biggest drama ever starts! I want at least 10 replies before the next UD...

Chapter 11

Tensions ran high as Chris' birthday came closer. He had never been one to make a big fuss of it…for in his eyes all that mattered was that he was older. But to his friends that never made any sense. They always held parties for him and he loved it when they made fusses over him. But this year was different. Chris' mother's will had clearly stated that her money would only be paid to Chris on his twentieth birthday…that was two days away. Nobody ever knew about his parents…he was very secretive when it came to them. Not even Haley truly knew who and what they were…all she knew was that his mother was killed by her husband. Chris never told her that his mother was born in a very wealthy family and she had inherited all their money. She had always left most of her money in a trust for him that could only be opened when he was twenty. Chris' father had been fuming when he heard that she would not give him any money…and part of Chris always believed that that was also a reason why his father had killed her. Because she refused to give him her money.

Brooke and Sophia had taken it on themselves that they would plan his party cause they had many contacts. Haley was only to happy to stay out of it…she and Nathan spent every waking hour together and had fallen asleep on his bed many times. They hadn't seen Chris with Kelly so to them there were no problems. But Nathan did see Kelly many times and he had decided that it was time to find out exactly what his father's role in it all was. He knew that if he didn't find out he wouldn't be able to move on with his life. Firstly he opened his wallet and took out all his old photos which he replaced with new ones of him and Lucas and him and Haley. He also made her a romantic dinner that they ate on the veranda looking at the stars above them. Both of them knew they were falling in love.

It was finally the night of Chris' party…Brooke had decided that it was best if they held it the night before his birthday so when midnight came they could all be the first to congratulate him. They invited all their friends and also two of their long time friends…Sarah and Duncan…they used to be in the tight nit group but moved to another school across state. Everyone was already at the party when they arrived. Chris grinned from ear to ear as he saw them enter the room. Haley quickly left Nathan's side and walked with Chris to them.

"Duncan. Sarah…welcome guys!" Haley said happily and Duncan grinned as he hugged her.

"Hales…you look amazing. Chris…hey." He said as he shook Chris' hand. Chris smiled at him.

"Yeah man…wazzup? Long time no see." Chris said as the girls greeted each other and the four friends smiled at each other.

"So hows things going?" Sarah asked as she took Duncan's hand in hers. Suddenly Haley wanted Nathan next to her. She turned around and Nathan saw the need in her eyes as he walked to her and grabbed her hand.

"Hey princess…" he breathed as he stood in front of them. He had started calling Haley princess because to him she was one.

"Oh hey guys…I would like you to meet my boyfriend…Nathan Scott. Nate these are my friends Duncan Walters and Sarah Johnson." Haley introduced them. Nathan gave his trademark smirk.

"Hey…nice to meet you." Nathan said cheerfully and everyone smiled as an awkward moment eased in between them. Suddenly Sophia surprised Duncan as she jumped on his back from behind.

"Dunc! You're here!" she yelled as she kissed his cheek and Duncan grinned.

"My my if it isn't my lovely Sophia. I missed you!" he said as he kissed her hand and she let go and hugged her. Brooke came up and hugged Sarah and Peyton and Jake soon followed.

"Well the gang is all here…" Sarah said as they stood next to each other after Lucas and Tim had been introduced to them.

"Plus a few new members…" Chris added jokingly and everyone laughed.

They dispersed in the crowd and went their separate ways. Brooke and Lucas immediately started dancing on the dance floor, Tim hit on girls that didn't want him, Sophia talked with Chris, Duncan and Sarah who watched Haley and Nathan kissing.

"Now when did this happen? Last time we checked you two were still together." Sarah asked Chris who laughed at her.

"When was the last time you checked…three years ago I think…I mean we broke up nearly two years ago Sarah…" Chris said to a shocked Sarah and Duncan.

"What? Why? When?" Duncan asked confused and Sophia laughed.

"It's a long and complicated story…" Sophia said but Sarah shook her head as the information sunk in.

"When is it not with you guys? When we were still with you guys all it ever was, was complicated."

Chris stared at her as she said it. It was true…they always had something to complicate their lives with. He and Haley had never truly had one week together where there wasn't anything bothering them. It was just the way they worked. Chris' parental problems were always between them…partly because Haley never really knew everything of it. The murder. Like the fact that Chris had been the one that had found his mother…

Chris heard the gun shot from his room and for a moment he just sat still. He wondered what it was for it was certainly not a backfiring car. He heard his dad yell and he ran to his parent's room. When he got there he saw his mother lying on the bed, blood covering her whole body. He ran to her and tried to shake her.

"Mommy…wake up…wake up…Mommy!" he yelled loudly as he shook her. He heard his father laugh and he gazed behind to him.

"Daddy help me! Mommy…she won't wake up!" he yelled through his tears but he felt chills through his spine when he heard his father laugh.

"Leave her Chris! That stupid cheating bitch is dead!" His father laughed and Chris cried out as he turned and saw the gun in his father's hand which was now pointed at him.

Chris shook his head as the memory invaded his thoughts. He didn't want to think about her…he needed not to think about her. He looked to Haley who was dancing with Nathan. As they turned she caught his gaze and held it till she couldn't anymore and she broke her gaze away from him. Chris sighed as he walked over to the bar and ordered a drink before whispering to himself.

"If this is the way you want it…well two can play this game Hales…all I have to do is make that one call…and I'm gone."