I know, I know. I'm crazy. I have open stories, yet for some reason I'm starting a new one. I don't really know how long this will be. I could be ten chapters, it could be fifty! Thank you for reading! More will be explained as time goes on, so any holes you may find are intentional!
Chapter One
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Nathan reached his arm out and instinctively pressed the snooze button on his cell phone, burying his face in the pillow once again.
Nothing was important enough to get him out of bed.
Nothing but the knock on his door that came only seconds after the alarm went off.
He suspected the culprit had been awake for longer, but had been waiting patiently.
Nathan glanced at the time. He still had at least ten more minutes. At least.
He quickly shut his eyes again when he heard the door squeak open.
In just a moment, there was a weight that climbed onto the bed next to him, and a face few inches from his own.
"Psst..."
A finger stabbed into his cheek.
Nathan blinked his eyes open, looking up to see an intense blue gaze that matched his own.
Nicholas Royal Scott.
Also known as Nick, or Nicky.
Nathan's seven year old son.
"I have school," Nick reminded him, poking his cheek again and raising his eyebrows.
"How did I end up with a kid that likes school, hm?" Nathan laughed, lightly pushing Nick's arm away, a smile pinned to his face.
An almost permanent smile whenever he was around his son.
Nick let out a laugh, attempting to tickle his dad, grinning at him. "Because Mom is really smart."
"To be fair, Dad is really smart too," Nathan said, shaking his head and sitting up.
Nick pulled a skeptical face, looking at him and shrugging his shoulders.
"Oh, you have jokes?" Nathan laughed, rolling his eyes and standing up. "Well want to hear something that's not a joke? I'm not making pancakes for your first day of school!"
"I take it back! You're so, so smart!" Nicholas said quickly, jumping up to his feet. "Please make me pancakes!"
"That's better," Nathan laughed, pointing to the door of his bedroom. "Go get dressed."
Nick jumped off the bed, running out of Nathan's room to his own.
Nathan chuckled quietly, changing clothes very quickly. He picked up his phone, letting out a sigh at the twenty new emails.
He'd get to them after Nick was dropped off at school.
He shook his head, stepping into the bathroom attached to his room and beginning his fairly quick morning routine.
"Dad!" Nick yelled from outside his door a few minutes later, knocking loudly.
He laughed in response, pulling the door open and stepping into the hall.
"Remember what we talked about?" Nick said, looking up at him with crossed arms.
"You're going to have to refresh my memory, dude... We talk a lot," Nathan hummed, smoothing out his hair.
"You promised I won't be late," Nick said, letting out a deep breath.
"And I hold strong to that promise," Nathan said, shrugging his shoulders. "Go brush your teeth while I start making breakfast."
The young boy nodded, rushing to the bathroom, eager to get what was for some reason, the least favorite part of his morning routine over with.
Nathan smiled slightly, letting out a deep breath and walking down the stairs to the kitchen.
He sighed when he felt his phone start ringing in his pocket, picking it up and shaking his head.
Lucas. His older brother by one year.
"Luke, you're up early," Nathan commented, lifting the phone to his ear, beginning to get out the ingredients he would need to make pancakes.
"Just wanted to check how you and the little guy are doing?"
"Good, good," Nathan responded, humming softly. "Yeah, Nicky is really excited to start. I feel bad that we moved in the middle of the year, but relocating was a much better idea for Fortitude."
"Plus, you guys are closer to Katherine," Lucas reminded him, clearing his throat.
Katherine. Nick's mother. Her and Nathan divorced when Nick was three years old. He'd been lucky though, they had a very kind relationship, with no hard feelings whatsoever.
"Yeah, she's still about a half hour away, but that's better than two hours," Nathan hummed, shrugging his shoulders.
"How's she doing by the way? Is she still dating that guy?" Lucas asked him, clearing his throat.
Nathan rolled his eyes at his big brother's question, shaking his head. "Yes, she is. But I know what you're doing, so I'm ending the conversation."
"You guys split up years ago, Nate. You haven't even had a girlfriend since then, I just want to make sure you're alright, and she's concerned about you too," Lucas laughed at his younger brother's frustration.
"I'm twenty-nine, Luke. I'm fine. I'm busy raising a kid and building a business," Nathan grumbled, glancing over when Nicholas came down the stairs. "Here, talk to Nicky. Nick, it's Uncle Lucas," He hummed, holding out his cellphone to the boy.
It didn't take long for Nick to start laughing at whatever Lucas was talking about, which brought a smile to Nathan's face. The two had such a close bond, it had been difficult to move from Tree Hill to Charlotte, for that reason specifically. But Lucas promised to come visit, and Nathan promised the same.
Nathan listened to half of he conversation, a content smile on his face the whole time as he fixed up some pancakes for himself and his son.
Their morning went fairly smoothly after that, only one shirt change after Nick accidentally spilled syrup all over his first one.
They were in the car a little later than planned, but that was no problem. Before they knew it, the two were headed down the hallway towards Mrs. Baker's second grade class.
"Did you remember to put my crayons in my backpack?" Nick asked quietly to Nathan, tugging on his arm.
"Dude, come on," Nathan laughed, shaking his head. "It's impossible to start a first day without crayons."
"I'm a little nervous," Nick admitted, glancing around the hallway full of kids.
Nathan smiled slightly, looking around and guiding his son to the side of the hall, kneeling down in front of him. "Can I tell you a secret?"
Nicholas nodded, looking at him with curious eyes.
"I'm nervous to start my first day too," He said, a small smile on his face. "But it's going to be okay. Because we've got each other's backs, right? You're going to make lots of friends, and so am I. Okay?"
"Okay," The seven year old said, letting out a deep breath. "You're going to walk me to my table, right?"
"Wouldn't miss it. And I've talked to your teacher a little over email, so we're going to meet her in person together. I know you feel scared, but you're not alone, buddy. I promise," Nathan said, patting his shoulder lightly, before standing to his feet. "Come on, let's go meet your teacher."
It wasn't long until they arrived at the decorated classroom, a brunette haired woman standing at the front, talking to one of the other students.
"Oh, there he is," The woman he assumed to be Mrs. Baker, said, pointing over to him. She then gestured for them to head her way, a kind smile on her face.
Nathan gave Nick a very gentle push forward so his feet would keep moving, a small smile on his face.
"You must be Nathan and Nicholas," Mrs. Baker greeted, reaching her hand out to shake Nathan's hand. "I'm Brooke Baker, it's so nice to meet you."
"You too," Nathan said, nodding at her.
"Hi," Nick said shyly, reaching out his hand to shake as well.
Brooke's smile grew when she saw Nick's out reached hand, reaching forward and giving him a firm handshake. "Good grip you have there," She hummed, nodding at him. "I'm Mrs. Baker, and we're all so excited to have you in our class," She introduced herself, clearing her throat. "This is Kyle," She said, gesturing to the student that was standing next to her. "You're going to be sitting right next to him. Is it okay if he shows you to your seat while I talk to your dad really quick?"
Nick sent Nathan a quick look, and when Nathan nodded in response, he looked at Brooke and nodded as well.
Kyle lead Nick over to the table they'd be seated at with two other students already sitting there.
"He's a little nervous," Nathan said, nodding at her. "He likes to go by Nick."
"Good to know," Brooke hummed, clearing her throat. "Don't worry about him, the students in my class are very kind to one another. This is a great class."
"I'm glad to hear it," He said, feeling a lot of relief after meeting Brooke Baker. He could tell she was not going to let anything happen to any of her students.
"I'll go let you say goodbye to him, class is about to start," Brooke said, gesturing to Nick, a smile on her face. "It's nice to meet you, Nathan. Please, let me know if there is anything I can do to help you or Nick settle in."
Nathan nodded at her, glancing at his watch and sucking in a deep breath. He was probably going to be late on his first day, but that would be fine. He'd be fine.
He hurried over to Nicholas, greeting the kids sitting at his table, and hugging his son goodbye.
He was heading out the door of the school when he heard someone calling his name.
"Mr. Scott!"
He let out a deep breath, glancing over his shoulder to see a blonde hair, brown eyed woman rushing after him.
Maybe the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen in his life, but he didn't really have the time to think much of it, or even talk to her for that matter.
But still, he stopped in his place and looked at her expectantly.
"My name is Haley James, my daughter Macey is in your son's class," Haley introduced herself, a warm smile on her face. "It's nice to meet you. Brooke is an incredible teacher and the class is so great."
Nathan nodded politely, letting out a deep breath. He really did not have the time to talk to her.
"I just wanted to stop you and talk to you about the Spring Festival that we're putting on for the students this year— most of the parents usually sign up to either help decorate it or to bring something to eat, and we'd love-"
"Look... Holly, was it?" He began, almost wincing at the offense that crossed her face.
"Haley," She corrected him.
"Right, Haley, that doesn't really sound like my thing and I don't have time for this right now," He cut her off, turning to rush out the door to his car.
It was rude, he knew that. But if he needed to make amends later, he would. Right now, he had to get to his first day of work.