Part 4: Chapter 3

Rated PG-13 for some language.

Jamie and Sophia sat on top of a picnic table at the gazebo overlooking where the River Court used to be.

"It's so strange without the River Court," Sophia said.

"I know," Jamie said. "I miss it so much. When I was little, my Uncle Lucas used to take me out here in the middle of the night and we'd shoot hoops until way past bedtime."

"You really love your uncle don't you?" Sophia asked.

"Yes I do," Jamie said. "We used to hang out all the time when I was little. Then he married my Aunt Peyton and they had a baby and moved away. I still talk to him all the time on the phone and FaceTime."

"I was close to my uncle too," Sophia said. "He helped me through my mother's death. He was my best friend. One night he and a friend with at the pier down by the docks drinking and reminiscing, and he hit his head, fell into the ocean and drowned. I was 11 at the time. My aunt moved to California and Beth stayed with me."

"I'm so sorry about your uncle," Jamie said.

"Thank you," Sophia said. "Beth is all I have."

"What about your father?" Jamie asked.

"He's always away on business," Sophia replied. "He leaves my sister and me for months at a time."

"Your sister?" Jamie asked.

"I didn't say sister," Sophia said. "I said cousin."

"No," Jamie said. "I heard you loud and clear. You said sister. Is it that you love her like a sister?"

"Okay," Sophia said. "You have to promise not to tell anyone. Beth is not just my cousin. She's my half sister. My father had an affair with my aunt, my mother's sister. She became pregnant about a month after my mom became pregnant with me. My uncle, my dad's brother married my aunt and legally adopted Beth."

"My cousin Lily is my Uncle Lucas's half sister/cousin," Jamie said.

"So you do get what I'm saying," Sophia said. "We refer to each other as cousins in public, but at home, we're sisters."

"Oh," Jamie said.

"So how'd you get back to Tree Hill?" Sophia asked.

"My daddy gave me a ride," Jamie said. "I mean my father gave me a ride."

"It's okay," Sophia said. "I think it's nice you call your parents Mommy and Daddy."

"We stayed the night in Charlotte and I decided to quit the team," Jamie said.

"We all quit," Sophia said. "We were tired of the way Coach Spencer was treating you."

"My daddy sucker punched him 3 times," Jamie said.

"Oh my god," Sophia giggled.

"It's such a relief to be free from that abusive asshole," Jamie said. "I was taking out my anger on my parents. I've also been having these crying episodes."

"You have?" Sophia asked.

"Yes," Jamie replied. "Remember last month when I backed my car into a swimming pool?"

"Yes," Sophia replied.

"Well I overheard my parents talking about how they were going to send me to live with my Uncle Lucas if my behavior didn't get better," Jamie said. "So ever night I'd go outside and sit on the swings and cry."

"Why the swings?" Sophia asked.

"It's far enough from the house so they can't hear me," Jamie replied. "Anyway, I finally went to talk to my mommy and I cried like a baby about how sorry I was for hurting her. It really did make me feel bad that I hurt her."

"That proves you're a good person," Sophia said.

"My next big breakdown was last night in Charlotte," Jamie said. "After the game, Coach Spencer threatened me, so I went into the bathroom and began to cry. My daddy walked in and I lied and said they were happy tears. After the bus left me, I cried in my daddy's arms. I've really been crying too much."

"Jamie," Sophia said. "You've been through so much. I'm surprised you didn't completely go crazy. Don't ever think that it's not okay to cry."

"Thank you," Jamie said. "I needed that."

"Don't mention it," Sophia said smiling.

Later, Jamie came home to be greeted by Lucas and Peyton.

"Sit down Jamie Luke," Lucas said.

Jamie sat down on the couch between Lucas and Peyton.

"We've been thinking about how you've been through so much lately," Lucas said.

"We thought you might need a vacation," Peyton said. "So we talked to your parents and you'll be staying with us for a week."

"Awesome," Jamie said.

"However," Lucas said. "We will be in charge of you and expect you to follow the rules."

"And you'll have to do most of your makeup work every night while you stay with us," Peyton said.

"Understood," Jamie said.

"So how was your date with Sophia?" Lucas asked.

"It wasn't a date," Jamie said. "We just went to the park and talked."

"Just talked huh?" Lucas asked.

Peyton examined Jamie's face.

"Yep," Peyton said. "They just talked. There's no sign of lipstick on his face."

"You guys are so weird," Jamie said. "I'm going to bed."

Jamie started to get up and Lucas grabbed him and held him tightly.

"Uncle Lucas!" Jamie said. "Please let go."

"You're not going anywhere," Lucas said.

"Aunt Peyton," Jamie said. "Help."

Peyton got out her phone and took a picture.

"Well good night," Peyton said. "I'm so sleepy."

"Good night," Lucas and Jamie said as Peyton walked upstairs.

"You're going to have to eventually let go," Jamie said.

"No," Lucas said.

"Uncle Lucas," Jamie said.

"Fine," Lucas said letting go of Jamie. "Leave your poor uncle alone."

"It's late Uncle Lucas," Jamie said. "I just want to go to bed.

"Okay," Lucas said. "Good night."

Jamie walked upstairs to his room, got into his pajamas, turned his light off and went to bed.