Credits to sunshine for the main idea on this chapter.

Rose was standing at her locker, taking out some books for her English class. Brooke saw Rose and decided to talk to her. "Hey, Rose," she addressed her.

"Hiya, Brooke."

"So, I have an invitation for you. I'm getting the squad together tonight to go play pool and you can come if you want. It's at 7:00, we'll all meet at my apartment. You have my number, don't you?"

"I do," Rose nodded.

"I'll text you my address and you can decide if you want to come," Brooke said.

"That depends," Rose said, "who all's going to be there?"

"The whole squad. Even Rachel, but that's only because the squad would hate me if I didn't let her come," Brooke rolled her eyes. "Besides, it'd be a good way for all of them to get to know you."

"So Haley will be there, as well?"

"Is that a problem?"

"Well, um, I guess in this situation the good outweighs the bad. Sure, I'll come," Rose decided.

"Great, see ya then!"

...

Everyone else in English was reading but Rose. She was staring at her desk, lost in thought.

Lucas leaned towards her and cleared his throat to get her attention. She looked at him.

"You know," he whispered, amused, "generally, when everyone else is reading, you're supposed to, too."

"Thanks for the tip," Rose whispered jokingly. "I read this book a week ago. It's still pretty fresh in my mind."

Lucas shrugged. "If you say so."

Rose chuckled.

...

Calculus

"Hey," Nathan tapped Rose on the shoulder. "Are you good at this?"

She turned around in her seat to look at his paper.

"No cheating, Scott," the teacher warned.

"It's alright, Mr. Banks, I'm just helping him," Rose assured the teacher.

The teacher nodded and went back to minding his own business.

"I didn't actually need help," Nathan admitted. "I just wanted to ask you about something."

"Go ahead," Rose shrugged.

"Well," Nathan hesitated. "My mom-our mom-wants to meet you, but she needs to know you're okay with that."

"When?"

"Tonight."

Rose shook her head. "Not tonight. I have something planned tonight."

"What's that?"

"This thing with the squad," Rose said. "Brooke thinks it'd be a good way for the girls to get to know me."

"Oh, okay. I'll just tell her some other time," Nathan said.

"If I even want there to be some other time."

"She's not as bad as Dad, trust me. She's really kind, she just has issues," Nathan sighed.

"Issues?"

"She, well...she and Dad are having...issues," Nathan said, thinking back to when he found out his mom had tried to kill Dan at his dealership with fire.

"That's not uncommon for a married couple," Rose said. Then, she thought about Nathan and Haley's situation. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking."

"It's okay," he said. He turned back to his work when the teacher looked at them, and Rose decided she was taking too long to "help" him, so she turned back around, sighing.

Why did I move down here, again?

...

It was 6:30.

Rose checked the address that Brooke had given her. When she had it in her memory, she drove to Brooke's apartment.

All the girls were there.

"Apparently, the club's been tipped off about our fake ID's, So, we'll have to stay here," Brooke announced.

"Aww," the girls said dejectedly in unison.

"Come on, you guys," Peyton said, "there must be something we can do."

"We could always go skinny-dipping," Rachel suggested.

"I'm up for that," Bevin said.

"How about we do something that's not skanky?" Brooke glared at Rachel.

"Okay, what do you have in mind, genius?" Rachel challenged.

"Actually," Rose said, "I know something we can do if you all wanna head back to my place."

"What is that?" Brooke asked.

...

"Why is your hotel room so big?" Bevin asked.

"And why do you live in a hotel room?" Haley asked.

"It's big because it's the Presidential suite," Rose explained, "and I live in a hotel room because my dad owns Gallagher Suites and I am seventeen and unemployed, so I couldn't live anywhere else."

"Hm," Rachel said dismissively. "So, what's the plan?"

"We are going to do karaoke, but with a twist. Anyone who messes up on any line in the song they're singing has to take a shot of this lovely vinegar," Rose said, setting a shot glass on the table. "Haley, I'm assuming you should be good at this. After all, you've had a lot of practice." Seeing Haley's expression, she wondered if there was a side to the story she hadn't heard and if maybe she was being too harsh. "Sorry, that wasn't fair."

"It's okay," Haley said quietly.

"Anyways, our first song here is 'I Don't Wanna Be' by Gavin DeGraw," Rose announced. "Who wants to go first? Don't be shy, girls."

No one stepped up.

"Guess I'm going first," Rose decided. She pushed the play button on her radio and turned the volume down just a bit.

"Wait," Haley said. Rose paused the music and waited for Haley to continue.

"Can I sing it with you?" Haley asked.

"Of course," she said, "get on up here." She pressed play on the music again.

(A/N: The words of the song in bold is Rose singing, the words in Italics are Haley, and bold italics is both)

"I don't need to be anything other than a prison guard's son

I don't need to be anything other than a specialist's son

I don't have to be anyone other than a birth of two souls in one

Part of where I'm going is knowing where I'm coming from

I don't wanna be anything other than what I've been tryin' to be lately

All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind

I'm tired of looking 'round rooms wonderin' what I gotta do or who I'm supposed to be

I don't wanna be anything other than me,"

"The new girl's really good," some random girl commented.

"Yeah, and it looks like they're getting along," Peyton said.

"Yep," Brooke smiled. Even though her plan for location had been foiled, it was also part of her plan to get Rose and Haley to get along.

...

"So, I guess you're my sister-in-law," Haley said later on. So far, Bevin, Peyton, and another girl had taken a shot of vinegar.

"I guess I am," Rose nodded. She paused and then turned to Haley. "So, what exactly went on between you two?"

"Well, I made a mistake and kissed a guy, and then stupidly went on tour with him, so that's two mistakes," Haley said.

"Well, mistakes happen," Rose said, suddenly seeming distant and somewhat sad.

"What's wrong?" Haley asked, concerned.

"Nothing, I was just thinking about my ex...his name was Steven," Rose said.

"Was?"

"His friend was drinking and driving, and," Rose blinked back tears, "he crashed. The guy survived, but it killed Steven. The friend tried to 'comfort' me by telling me 'mistakes happen'. Well, mistakes don't usually kill people."

"I'm so sorry," Haley said.

"Everything happens for a reason, I guess," Rose sighed. "If he hadn't died, I probably wouldn't be in Tree Hill." She paused. "I eventually forgave that guy, and I think if Nathan really loves you, he'll forgive you."

"I hope so," Haley said.

...

So, that's chapter 4! I hope you enjoyed! Please review!