Chapter 11: Hope!

The sun shined it's first rays as Tree Hill peacefully woke up. Bart slowly opened his eyes and a smile formed on his face. He felt Peyton's warmth next to him and just because of that his heart rate went up. He couldn't believe that he didn't dream last night it had just been to perfect. He turned his head and smelled her beautiful blonde hair. As he smelled the scent of vanilla his whole body relaxed. To him this moment was perfect.

"Are you smelling my hair?" Bart awoke from his daydream and saw Peyton stare at him. "Yes I am actually. I could smell your hair forever!" He planted his nose in her blonde curls and started smelling really loud. "Hm, ice cream!" Peyton giggled "does my hair really smell like ice cream?" Bart laid his head next to hers and looked into her beautiful eyes. "Yes it does, vanilla ice cream to exact." He said with a smile on his face. They kept looking in each other's eyes in silence. "I love you Peyton." He broke the silence. "I love you too." She smiled.

"I'm going to take a shower." Peyton got out off bed. "What time is it?" Bart stretched his arms. "2 hours until school starts." Bart had gotten out off bed too and had put most of his clothes on. "Then I have time to make you breakfast. Scrambled eggs, bacon and some toast. What do you think?" "Sounds great." Peyton kissed him and went into the bathroom.

He walked down the stairs. When he got into the kitchen, he jumped in the air from shock. "Oh, uhm hey Mr. Sawyer." "Bart how many times do I have to tell you, call me Larry!" "I'm sorry Mr. Saw, I mean Larry." Bart sat down trying to keep his nerves under control. "You want some breakfast Bart? I'm making fried eggs." Larry smiled. "Sure, why not." Bart smiled nervously back at him. "Had another camp out on Peyton's floor?" "Yes, sir." Bart lied. "You should sleep on the couch, it's much more comfortable." "I'll keep that in mind sir." Larry gave him an irritated look. "Sorry, Larry." Bart corrected himself. Larry's smile came back as he put a plate of eggs in front of Bart. "Enjoy!"

"So how have you been doing after the whole Dan Scott incident?" Larry asked concerned. "I'm fine I guess. It's just that I still can't believe someone would do that you know." "Yeah, that man really gives fathers everywhere a bad reputation but I'm glad you're all right. You make my daughter very happy you know." "She makes me very happy too."

"Who makes you happy?" Peyton walked in the kitchen. Gave her dad a big hug and took a seat next to Bart. "Oh nothing Bart was just talking about some girl named Beyonce or something." "Really?" Peyton said sarcastically. Bart's face was becoming redder by the second. Peyton kissed him on the cheek. "That's okay Bart. I mean she's awesomely hot." Bart gave her a nervous smile and finished his breakfast.

"When are you two youngsters going to school?" Larry started to clean the dishes. "Brooke was picking us up, 5 minutes ago and dad don't ever say youngsters again." "What should I call you? Hipsters?" Bart and Peyton looked at each other with a big grin on their face. "I think I hear Brooke's car. Bye daddy!" Peyton gave him a quick kiss. "Bye Mr. Sawyer." Bart left the kitchen but came right back in. "I mean Larry, sorry. I'll work on that." "You do that Bart" Larry said, smiling.

"Hey you guys, hop in!" Brooke yelled as Bart and Peyton approached the car. Lucas was sitting next to her, reading a book. He looked up, nodded and turned his attention back to his book. "You have to forgive my boyfriend, he can be really impolite." Lucas looked up at her. "I have to get through this whole thing before third period." "Well you should have done it yesterday." "Did you read it Brooke?" Lucas crooked his eyebrow. "Yes." Brooke hesitated for a second. "Most of it." Lucas kept looking at her in disbelief. "Most of the summary I found on the internet." She admitted and bit her lip in shame. Lucas smiled at her and continued reading.

Peyton and Bart had taken place behind the happy couple. "You guys look tired. Did you sleep well?" Brooke looked at her passengers. "Yes!" they both replied blushing. Brooke's jaw dropped. "You rocked the casba didn't you?" She said with a sparkle in her eyes. Lucas was ease dropping as he pretended to read. "Brooke, that's none of your business!" Peyton replied uncomfortably. "I'll take that as a yes." Brooke teased. "Just drive." Peyton stuck her tongue out at her. "All right, lovers!" Brooke said with a high voice. Lucas started laughing. "You liked that didn't you babe." She winked at him. He smiled, shook his head and started reading again.

The foursome had arrived at school. Bart could see that alot of people were talking behind his back. He grabbed hold of Peyton and continued his way. Haley approached them. "Hi everybody!" she said with a big smile on her face. Everyone greeted her. "Bart you've got a free period right?" Bart nodded. "Want to get a snack with me or something, my treat. I've got free too." Bart looked at her in suspicion. "Uh, yeah sure. I'll see you later Peyton." He gave her a quick kiss and followed Haley."

"So what do you want?" Bart was standing in front of the vending machines. Haley was nervously looking around to see if Peyton was nowhere near. She turned to Bart. "Listen, forget about the snack. That was just an excuse to get you away from Peyton." Bart looked at her skeptically. "Then what is this about?" "Nathan told me that you want to stay in the US with Peyton." "You're husband has a loose tongue but yes I would like to stay." Haley smiled at him. "I've made an appointment with the guidance counselor for you. She has looked into your situation and you have to go now." "Now?" Bart asked with a crooked eyebrow. "Yes now!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him into the school building. "Okay Hales but you owe me a candy bar." "Fine, fine whatever." She quickly responded.

Bart was nervously waiting in front of the guidance counselor's office. "Come in!" He heard a voice say behind the door. He turned the knob of the door his were hands already drenched with sweat. "Good luck." Haley quickly whispered as he walked through the door.

"Ah Mr. Vanhooi. Please take a seat." Bart obeyed and sat down. "Haley tells me you would like to go to college here in America." "That's correct ma'am." Bart politely replied. "Well first of all I would like you to tell me why you want to stay." Bart pondered for a while. "I just like it very much here. The school's great, the people are great. I would like to complete my college years here too." "Hm, I can understand that but I have a feeling that there's a bigger reason." Bart blushed a bit. "Uhm yes, my girlfriend's here too. I just don't want to leave her." Bart nervously said. The counselor smiled at him. "Ah young love, okay, well I can see that your grades are good, accept for math but I understand you're being tutored for that." Bart nodded. "Good" she went on "that always helps. But I'm afraid it's not enough to get an academic scholarship." Bart's face fell. "You play basketball right?" "Yes, ma'am." "Well I've talked to coach Durham about it and he says you have real potential to play in college too." Bart felt a smile form on his face. "Whitey said that?" The counselor coughed. "Oh, sorry. Coach Durham." He corrected himself. "Yes he did. From what I can see that's your best shot at college here. Keep your grades up, play good and I'm sure you will do fine." She smiled at him. "Thank you ma'am I will!" Bart stood up and made his way to the door. "And Bart, if there are anymore questions don't hesitate to come by." "I will, thank you." He went back outside.

Haley stood up from her seat. "What did she say?" Haley said excited. "She said my best chances at a scholarship were via basketball." Haley's smile grew bigger. "And get this Whitey said I had real potential to do it too." Haley clapped her hands and gave him a hug. "I'm so happy for you Bart! Maybe you and Nathan can play in the same team." "That would be great Hales but as long as I'm with Peyton. I'm happy." "Yeah, you really love her don't you?" "I can't even put it in words how much I love her." Haley smiled. "How about that candy bar?" She asked. "Sounds great!" They locked arms, Bart had to duck so she could reach his arm, as they went on.

The Tree Hill Ravens were getting ready for practice. Bart saw Tim staring at him in disappointment. Bart sighed and grabbed NBA live out of his bag. Tim smiled and snatched it out of his hands. "Thanks B." He said, hugging his game. "No problem Tim." He replied chuckling. "Oh and glad to see you're okay." Tim quickly added still hugging his game. "Thanks Tim."

"Hey man." Nathan took a seat next to Bart. "Haley told me you could play ball in college." Bart nodded. "That's great man. I hope you do!" Nathan smiled. "Thanks Nate. Wouldn't it be great if we got into the same team?" "Yeah it would! N and B making it in the big leagues." He joked. "Now let's get in that gym!" "I'll be right there I've got to talk to Whitey first." "All right, cool man." They joined fists, Nathan went in the gym.

Bart knocked on the door of Whitey's office. "Yeah" Whitey grunted. "Hey coach, could I talk to you for a sec." Whitey looked up from his desk "sure, come in Bart." Bart took a seat. "So what is this about?" "I went to see the guidance counselor this morning." Whitey nodded. "She told me that you said that I could play in college with a scholarship. Do you mean that?" He saw a smile form on Whitey's face. "I meant every word off it son. You've got talent but most important your work ethic is really good. You put the team first and listen to my advice. Trust me, play some more good games like the last one and I can guarantee that there's a college team that wants you." Bart nodded. "Thanks coach." "No problem, now get in that gym. I like you more when you're running up and down my court!" Bart laughed and went back in the gym.