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AN: Hey guys! Here is another chapter! I hope you like it! Sorry the updates are long, I just have a hectic schedule and then I want to make sure the chapter is good enough to post! Thanks for the reviews! You guys are awesome!!!

Chapter 24

Monday

Los Angeles, California

Bel Air Preparatory Academy, The Host of the Tournament

The Auditorium for registration…

Both the girls and boys were gathered in the lobby of the auditorium waiting for Whitey, Karen, and Brooke to sign them all in. Haley was hiding between Nathan and Lucas not ready to face Damien or Elizabeth who Haley had heard got back together, or at least were 'friends with benefits'. After they got their schedules and rules for the week, the group was headed for their hotel that was only about 10 minutes away from the Academy. All around them were booths with free samples of different products or different colleges trying to sell either their product or recruit for their school.

Nathan, Lucas, and Haley went over to the Stanford University booth, which was right next to Duke's. It was always Haley's dream to go to Stanford, but now she wasn't so sure where she wanted to go. As they were talking to one of the recruiters, Haley noticed Damien talking to a Duke recruiter with some of the other guys she recognized from the Bel Air Tarpins. Nathan noticed Haley's posture stiffing as he turned to see what she was looking at he saw three guys with Bel Air Prep Tarpins on the jacket. He realized one of them must be Damien but all he could see was their backs. Before anyone could make a move, Keith came over to get them so they could head over to their hotel to settle in before the beginning ceremony dinner. Keith noting the intense glare Nathan was giving the three guys from the Duke Booth, he made sure to stand between the two groups of guys to prevent something from happening. Especially since, he recognized one of the boys as Haley's ex-boyfriend, Damien West.

Haley gladly took hold of Nathan's hand and grabbed Lucas' arm to join everyone else who were waiting for them by the exit. Haley did not notice the three guys that were at the Duke Booth turn around at the same time they turned and saw the petite figure of Haley sandwiched protectively between the two Tree Hill Ravens who happened to be this years rival for the Championship game. Damien would never forget how she looked from the back or front. This angered all three boys, one for Damien because he still had powerful feelings for Haley; he wanted to be the guy she was hanging on. His two friends saw it as an insult that she was the Ravens and not with them and Damien. They left to meet with the rest of their team to arrange some interesting 'events' for their guest from the east coast.

After the adults handed out the room assignments and rules for their stay. They led them to their rooms; the boys were on the fifth floor whereas the girls were on the seventh, much to most of the boys and girls displeasure. Dan and Keith were sharing a room on the fifth floor with the boys as Karen and Deb shared a room on the seventh floor with the girls, so they could keep an eye on the students, knowing what they are capable of. They had thirty minutes to settle into their rooms then meet back in the lobby to head to the ballroom of the hotel for the opening ceremony.

Most of the out of town schools were staying either at this hotel or at the one down the street. There were 25 schools in all.

Haley being one that is always early was down in the lobby with Nathan who didn't care about 'settling in'; he wanted to spend as much time with Haley as possible. As they were sitting on one of the couches in the lobby sitting very close together, they heard a loud booming male voice, "What do you two think your doing?!" Causing them to jump apart thinking it was one of their parents but when they heard the laughing, they looked over and saw Justin, Josh, Sarah, and Sandra rolling over with laughter.

Nathan growled as Haley laughed after her heart began to calm down. Haley immediately gave them all hugs, ignoring Nathan.

"What are you guys doing here?" Haley squealed excitedly, she loved that her friends came to the hotel to see her.

"Well we knew you were in our city and we couldn't wait to see you tomorrow, so we decided to hunt you down, we can't stay but we wanted to let you know that we will be cheering for you guys." Sandra rambled cheerfully.

"Like we would actually cheer for our stupid team with the likes of Damien and Elizabeth." Sarah said with disgust.

"Their even worse around these times." Justin added.

"Oh, Haley we wanted to warn you, be careful when around them, we overheard things from Elizabeth and her posse and from Damien and his team of jerks. We're not sure of what they're planning; only that Damien still thinks you're his." Sarah gossiped.

"And Elizabeth doesn't like that fact or the fact that you are here this week as a cheerleader." Sandra added worriedly.

"Yeah you should have seen her when she saw your name on the list of attendee's; we thought her head was going to explode." Sandra said with a giggle.

"It was great; she had a grade A tantrum like a five year old." Sarah said happily. By this time the rest of the boys and girls were around.

"She's so jealous of you, girl!" Sandra said. "She's always known you would make one hell of a cheerleader, and now that you are her worst nightmare is coming true. You are everything she wishes she could be.

"This girl sounds like Rachel." Peyton whispered to Brooke, earning her a giggle and a nod. They both turned and stared at the red headed vixen who was with Jamie in the corner flirting with some guys from other teams.

"Well we better go." Justin said as he noticed people around them heading into the ballroom.

"Yeah, some of us still need to do our homework." Josh disappointedly.

"But we'll see you guys tomorrow." Sarah assured the group.

"Alright, bye!" Haley said as she hugged them all goodbye as Lucas and Nathan gave the guys manly handshakes.

They all headed to the ballroom. The adults joined them and explained to them that the people in charge of the event decided that it would be a good idea to assign seats so that they could mix the different schools.

"Just mingle between the tables until you find your name plate." Karen finished explaining.

"And remember to be nice!" Whitey barked to them.

Haley and Nathan set off together hoping they were sitting at the same table, but were quickly disappointed when they found Nathan's name without Haley's. Haley's heart sunk lower when she noticed Elizabeth sitting right next to the chair attended for Nathan. Nathan noticed the change in Haley.

"Don't worry; here let me help you find your seat." Nathan whispered into her ear already coming to the conclusion that this was the famous Elizabeth he hears so much about. He led Haley towards the other tables until they found her nameplate.

Nathan noticed at once a guy he recognized from basketball camp that he remembered was the guy he thought of when Haley mentioned her old boyfriend. He immediately had a really bad feeling. His fears were confirmed when he saw the glare Haley gave Damien, and the sick smirk that Damien gave to Haley.

"Hey Hales! Imagine that, after all the time we spent apart, we get to spend some time together." Damien said trying to flirt, while loving the fact that he was making her angry. He loved it when she was feisty. He then turned to Nathan, caught by surprised.

"Nathan? Wow, it's been awhile. You still with the Ravens?" Damien asked tauntingly, while he took notice of how tight Nathan was holding onto Haley. He immediately started to see red; he never thought Haley would actually really move on from him.

"Yeah, you still the same jerk that doesn't believe in free throws?" Nathan replied angrily, not liking the looks he was giving Haley.

Damien looked like he was ready to fight back, but was stopped by who Haley remembered as the Tarpins basketball coach, Mr. Harder, who she couldn't stand. He was never nice to her.

"Its time to take your seats." He said harshly glaring at Haley and Nathan, knowing perfectly well, who they both were. What Haley didn't know was that coach Harder was very good friends with Andy, Janet, and the late Lydia.

Nathan reluctantly let go of Haley's hand, but not before giving her a passionate kiss that surprised Halley, but filled her with joy. He winked at her as he went back to his seat, but not before glaring at Damien who saw Nathan's little show of affection and was glaring right back. Lucas and Brooke, who somehow ended up at the same table, exchanged worried looks.

"This is going to be a long week." Lucas whispered worriedly to Brooke who nodded in response.

Still in the Ballroom, End of the Dinner…

"I want to thank all of the schools in attendance that have come all the way out here for our 50th annual National Basketball and Cheerleading tournament. Where only the top 25 schools were invited, the ones that have shown amazing talent over the last season. Including the amazing cheerleaders who are also here to show us their amazing talent. I also want to thank Bel Air Preparatory Academy for being the host school this year. I hope you all will take this time to get to know the other teas and form friendships. I hope you all have a great week, and I cannot wait to see you all play or cheer this coming week. Welcome to L.A." Announced the chairman of the tournament, Mr. Wyman officially ending the dinner.

Haley was ready to leave as soon as she sat down in the first place. The dinner was a nightmare. Damien would not stop trying to talk to her. Every time she looked over at Nathan's table she was usually able to connect eyes with him, but she also noticed Elizabeth trying to flirt with him and glare at Haley.

As soon as everyone started to get up to leave, she shot out of her seat to head over to Nathan. However, was stopped by Damien's grasp on her arm that was a bit too tight.

"Haley we need to talk." Damien said calmly, softly, and without any room for argument.

"No, not now or ever. It's over, enough said, so please just leave me alone." Haley replied getting angry with him and scared at the same time a little scared by how hard his grip was. She tried pulling out of his grip, but he only tightened his grip and pulled her closer.

"I don't think you understand." He hissed into her ear, but before he could continue, he was shoved roughly away from Haley. Who tripped but was caught by Jake. When Damien looked up from the ground, he saw not only Nathan, but also Lucas standing between him and Haley.

"Excuse me; I'm trying to talk to my girlfriend." Damien said angrily as he tried to stand up.

"EX-GIRLFRIEND!" Nathan, Lucas, Jake, Haley, and even Keith shouted angrily.

"I don't think she wants to talk to you. So I think you should stay away from my daughter." Keith said angrily to Damien, Not liking him or what he did to her in their relationship.

"What? You're not her father! Andy is she should be with him." Damien said with a grin knowing that would upset everyone. He liked Andy, he understood him.

Keith was about to murder this little punk, but before he totally lost his temper Haley and Karen both grabbed his arms and led him away. Over his shoulder, Keith yelled. "Stay away from my family." Nathan, Lucas, and Jake, all three gave their meanest glares as they followed their friends and family out the door.

"Ok, before anyone says anything. I don't care what that punk has done or said, but there will be no fighting! Do you understand me? Including our adults." Whitey bellowed narrowing his eyes especially Nathan and Lucas, then Keith. "Now go to bed all of you. I will see you down here at 7 am sharp for breakfast and you all better be ready to leave right after." As he finished everyone left, Keith went up to whitey to explain the situation once he explained it, Whitey was a little more understanding but asked Keith to keep it PG, and asked if he needed any help with the punk. Laughing they, left to find their rooms and to rest for the week ahead of them that they were sure was going to be challenging.

When they went off to their rooms Haley quickly assured her brother and Nathan that she was fine and left right for her room where she quickly got ready for bed and wanted to be asleep before Brooke could question her, who was her roommate. She glanced down at her arm and saw the makings of an ugly bruise forming from where Damien grabbed her. Memories from their relationship were flooding her mind. Damien never hit her, but he was very touchy and rough at times. He yelled a lot, but at the time, she rationalized that it was her fault and that she was making him angry.

Damien West Residence/Same time…

"Ok, so we need a plan." Damien stated to the rest of his team who were currently at his house.

"It's only Haley, what's the big deal? I thought you didn't care about her anymore?" Lyle asked confused.

"Well I do care, she's mine, enough said ok. I want her back. I don't care how you do it but find her cell phone number. At the games and off I want all the Ravens but especially her brother, Lucas, and that Nathan guy a rough time." Damien said evilly.

AN: Thank you for reading guys! Please let me know what you think. The next chapter will be more tournament! Don't worry I'll have more drama; I guess you could say that I'm building up for more:-D