Chapter 2: A Glimpse of What Lies Ahead

As the two got inside the Lexus, Brooke leaned over to Ethan and gave him a sweet, intimate kiss. Ethan looked delighted by the surprise, "Good morning to you too!"

Brooke just giggled, "I can't believe I'm here...with you. Can this morning ever get any better?"

Ethan just laughed as he turned on the ignition and pulled out of the driveway, "Well, my soccer practice doesn't start until 10:00 so I decided to sit-in your biology class this morning."

Brooke screamed in delight as she beamed at her very sweet boyfriend, "Ethan, you don't have to do that!"

Ethan just smiled, "I know baby, but I want to. Besides, you never know how boring biology can get."

Brooke smiled at him gratefully, "Thank you for the thoughtfulness, baby. But actually, I 'kinda like biology."

Ethan glanced at her sideways, "Yeah?"

Brooke nodded with devilish eyes, "Uhuh, I get to learn more about the mysteries of the human body."

Ethan just laughs. He felt like the luckiest man in the world with Brooke by his side. Truth is, he's waited for this time to come ever since he and Brooke became a couple. Although Tree Hill High was quite far from Anne Dale U, Ethan would take a road trip to said high school everyday just to see his girlfriend. Brooke thought it was the sweetest thing a guy had ever done for her. She also realized how committed Ethan was about their relationship, which made Brooke feel so lucky. Surely, Ethan could never be happier knowing that he didn't have to drive a couple of miles to see his girlfriend now. He was also delighted by the surprise he's about to tell Brooke. He suddenly opened the compartment, "Do you mind taking look at those pictures, babe?"

Brooke gladly took the pictures. They were pictures of a huge house by the lake. She looked at them intently, "These are gorgeous babe."

Keeping his eyes on the road, he asked, "You like it?"

Brooke turned to him and smiled, "Yeah, I love it!"

Ethan smiled, "Good coz' we're going there."

Brooke smiled intriguingly at him, "Really...when?"

Ethan replied as he made a right turn, "This weekend. It's my family's ranch actually. Will you come away with me?"

Brooke smiled at him sweetly, "I would love to!" She then leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Brooke felt a rush of excitement come over her at that moment. "A weekend...with Ethan...alone!" she smilingly thought as she looked out the window. She was trying so hard not to look overexcited, although she soon realized it was hard to conceal her happiness. "Oh Ethan, this is 'gonna be perfect! There's a lot we can do in one glorious weekend!"

Ethan briefly looked to Brooke's way as they encountered a red traffic light, "Like what, babe?"

With dreamy eyes, Brooke excitedly turned toward her boyfriend's direction and began to enumerate her plans, "Let's see, cuddle, kiss, make-out..." Brooke's eyes suddenly grew with intense excitement, "We could also go skinny dipping at night!"

Without taking his eyes off the road, Ethan reached for Brooke's hand and kissed it, "That sounds like a great plan, but I think skinny dipping would have to wait another time."

Brooke's excitement suddenly went one notch down, "How come?"

Ethan just smiled, "Well, my mom's 'gonna be there with the rest of the family. She's been dying to meet you and so are my sisters!"

Brooke tried to give him a sweet smile, "Oh, we're meeting the whole family. That's great babe, I can't wait!" Inside, though, she suddenly felt nervous. "What will his mom think of me? Will his sisters like me?" she silently asked herself as she drummed her fingers on her lap.

Ethan looked over to her after another red light and noticed her sudden silence, "Brooke? What's wrong, babe?"

Brooke looked to her boyfriend and smiled sweetly, "Nothing Ethan, absolutely nothing."

Ethan put a hand on her drumming fingers, "Baby, I know there's something on your mind. What's up?"

Brooke sighed, "I'm...I'm just not sure how I'm 'gonna do in this...thing. You know, your mom and your sisters....it's just a little surreal, overwhelming actually."

The light went green and Ethan just laughed as he continued to drive, "Relax babe, they'll like you. In fact, they think you're a great person already. I've told them quite a lot about you."

Brooke just smiled gratefully and nodded, "Ok baby, I trust you. Now, all I have to worry about is how to make-out with you without being caught by the rest of your family!"

Ethan just laughed, "I can help you plan that!"

Coach Fowler is a very punctual man. Lucas and Nathan arrived in his office 5 minutes earlier and already, he was seated on his desk. He's bald, just like Whitey and seemed just as mean. The two brothers suddenly realized they would be training much harder than they ever did back in Tree Hill.

"Good to see you boys early, sit down," greeted Coach Fowler as he motioned for the boys to take a seat on his brown leather couch.

The two boys nodded and sat beside each other. As they did, they couldn't help but let their eyes roam around the coach's office. Hanging on the walls were pictures of the basketball team, both old and new. On top of his shelf lay an extensive display of trophies. The Anne Dale University Basketball Team has always been unbeatable as far as anyone can remember. This didn't overwhelm Nathan and Lucas since they had the same legacy with the Ravens. Coach Fowler noticed their eyes roaming around his office, "I see you boys are getting yourselves acquainted. I suppose you realize the legacy my boys had developed over the years."

The two remained silent and just nodded politely at the old man. Nathan was so impressed by the number of trophies the team has won. His eyes continued to travel around the room until it landed on Coach Fowler's desk. There were a series of pictures of 2 children, a boy and a girl. To the far right was a picture of the Fowler family. The grumpy-looking coach was smiling in the picture with his arms around his wife while the two children were in front of them. Nathan suddenly felt a yearning in his heart, he wished so bad that it would be him and his children one day on that picture with a woman he had been dying to see ever since catching a glimpse of her during their graduation day. His thoughts were interrupted when Coach Fowler began to speak, "So, you are the infamous Scott brothers. I sure hope you no longer go on, punching each other on the court in the middle of a game!"

Luke and Nathan both burst into laughter as they both shook their heads vigilantly. "Actually coach, my little brother here and I have come to better terms. We've been civilized around each other for quite sometime now," Lucas explained as his brother nodded in agreement.

"If it's any assurance coach, it's actually our father that we are now at war with," Nathan added, which made the coach laugh.

"Ah Dan Scott, your father was a good player. I never expected he'd be a screw up when it comes to raising children!" commented the old man as he took some papers from his desk drawer.

Nathan just shrugged and Lucas just smiled. Indeed, their relationship has brothers had changed a lot ever since they first learned that they were both of Scott blood.

"So, you two are going to be a part of my team now. Let me ask you both a question. Why do you think Anne Dale U was able to win trophy after trophy to this day?"

Nathan looked once more at the long display of trophies in the office, "I suppose you have really good players, coach."

Luke nodded and gave another answer, "Yeah, that and good plays."

Coach Fowler beamed at them, "Well boys, that's very nice of you two to say, but that's not what keeps us winning."

The two just looked at him in confusion. The coach just laughed as he saw their puzzled faces, "You forgot teamwork, boys...that and a strong support."

The two immediately nodded. "Of course, team work," commented Lucas as he smiled at his younger brother who just nodded.

The coach's face suddenly became serious, "Now that you're part of my team, you'll play my play and follow my rules. Don't try to be star players! I want both of you to be team players. Is that understood?"

The two nodded with equally serious faces, "Yes sir." With that, the coach gestured that they could leave. The boys then stood up and left.

As soon as they were out of the office, Nathan let out a sigh, "Man, he's just like Whitey!"

Lucas just laughed, "Tell me about it, I suppose some things don't change."

Nathan nodded as they reached their lockers, which was just beside each other. "Hey Luke, what's your first class?"

Luke takes out a piece of paper from his locker, "Hmm...let's see, I got biology....damn!"

Nathan just laughed, "Well, I got geometry!"

Lucas turned to his brother and smiled, "Hey maybe we can exchange class. They probably don't know which Scott brother is who yet anyway!"

Nathan thought about it for a second but shook his head in the end, "Nah, I think I'll stay with this class." Ever since he broke up with Haley, Nathan tried to surround himself with things that would remind him of her. He didn't know why, but it just made him feel a little better. When Haley stopped tutoring him, Nathan found himself studying math subjects more intently. Somehow, it made him feel like he still shares a bond with a woman he wanted another chance with.

Lucas interrupted his brother's thoughts as he closed his locker door shut, "Well Nate, I'll catch 'ya later." Nathan just nodded as his brother turned around and made his way to class.

Nathan hurriedly got his books and closed his own locker shut. He was about to make his way to class himself when something made him stop on his tracks. Standing by the parking lot was a girl he found himself staring at. Her back was turned to him so he could not see her face. She had a straight flowing brown hair that seemed to fall just a couple of inches above her tiny waist. "Could it be?" he wondered. The thought of Haley being in the same school gave him a glimmer of hope. He would have wanted nothing but to wait and see who the girl really is, but he's running late for class. He sighed as he went on his way...

Haley just waited patiently by the parking lot as Peyton gathered her stuff from the back of her car. As Peyton walked towards her, Haley just smiled, "Got everything you need?"

Peyton nodded, "Yeah, I think so. I'm a little nervous about my meeting with the school newspaper, Hales. What if they don't like my drawing?"

Haley just looked at her friend with disbelief, "There's no one who doesn't like your drawing, Peyt. They'll love it, trust me!"

Together, they hurriedly walked into the school's main building where they were going to have their first classes. "Hey Peyt, I'm 'gonna stop by the dean's office for awhile. Catch 'ya later?"

Peyton just nodded, "Yeah, see 'ya!" Peyton hurriedly walked to her first class. Realizing her classroom was at the very end of the hallway, she quickly passed through one classroom to another.

Inside his classroom, Lucas was getting quite bored with his subject. Since old Ms. Wringley just kept talking about her academic accomplishments, Lucas allowed his eyes to wander around the room and into the small window by the door. Suddenly, he caught sight of a familiar face. She didn't seem to notice him and appeared to be rushing off to somewhere. He was just stunned as he saw her golden curls bouncing around her head as she hurriedly passed through. Soon, she disappeared. In his mind, he found himself making a desperate wish, "Please tell me that was her."

A/N: I'm so thrilled about the reviews I received for the first chapter. Thank you so much and hope you like the rest! =)