Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own One Tree Hill or anything else involved with it. (Except Carley who we will meet later )

She Will Be Loved... Chapter 1

They say if you love something, let it go. And that's exactly what Lucas Scott was doing. Tree Hill was the only real home he had ever had and now he was leaving it behind.

"You ready for this?", Keith Scott, Lucas' uncle said from the driver side of their car. Lucas stared out of the window at the "Welcome to Charleston" sign they passed.

"As ready as I'll ever be," he replied back.

And with that...his journey had begun.

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The two pulled into the parking lot of a small diner named "Jerry's Lunch-In". The sign was old and dirty, with a whole in the 'L' and wires sticking out of the back.

"People come here?" Lucas asked amusingly at the sight of the diner.

"Yea well, right now choosers can't be picky. Plus, I hear this diner has the best hamburger in town," Keith said, getting out of the car. Lucas followed him slowly into the diner.

"I'll be right with you!" a voice yelled from behind the counter at the sound of the bell on the door when they came in. "Seat yourself!"

"Nice service huh?" Lucas said with a smirk as they found a booth and began reading the menu. "We wouldn't have to wait at mom's cafe," he mumbled under his breath.

"Lucas, this isn't Tree Hill. If you want to stay down here with me you're gonna have to give Charleston a chance," Keith said, leaning towards to Lucas.

"I know I know...it's just going to take some time," he said as a cute young waitress walked over to their table.

"Sorry about the wait. My name is Carley and I'll be your waitress. Our specials today are the grilled chicken, clam chowder, and a special apple cinnamon pie. Can I start you guys off with some drinks?" she said from memory, not even looking up from her pad. She looked about 15 or 16, with shoulder-blade length dirty blonde hair and blue-green eyes. She wore a black tank top, light blue jeans, and a red apron filled with napkins and straws.

"Umm yes I'll have a beer," Keith told her. Lucas only stared at her. She seems so familiar.

"And you?" she said looking at Lucas.

"Sounds good, I'll have a beer too," he told her with a smile. She laughed for a second.

"Cute newbie but try something that won't get me fire," she said, smiling back at him.

"I guess I'll just have a coke."

"Alrighty, I'll have those in just a sec," Carley said, walking back to the counter. Moments later she returned with their drinks and took their orders. The two finished their meals but when they got their check, Carley had been replaced but an older woman named Sharlene.

"Something about her was really familiar," Lucas said as they left the diner.

"Who? Sharlene?" Keith said with a laugh.

"No...that Carley girl. Something about her.." he paused for a second. "I don't know she just reminds me of someone. Her attitude."

"Well I'd imagine she's used to suckers like you," Keith replied, climbing into the car.

"Ahhh funny Keith, real funny," Lucas said, climbing in as well.

The two left the diner and drove a few blocks to their new home. The neighborhood was small with one-story houses sprinkled across the area. They drove a little ways before Keith finally slowed down and came to a stop infront of a small white house.

"This is it....welcome to home Lucas."

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Hours later, Lucas and Keith had finished bringing in all of their belongings into the house. Keith was sitting on a chair in the "kitchen" drinking coffee and Lucas was looking longingly out of the small window above the sink.

"You know, there's a basketball court in the middle of the neighborhood," Keith said as he watched Lucas stare out of the window.

"Really?!"

"Yeah...go ahead. Go have fun. I've got it here."

"Are you sure Keith? I mean we have a lot of work to be done," Lucas said, unsure what to do.

"No no you're fine. We've got plenty of time to get settled in."

Lucas ran through the small house to the room that was to be his and found a box labeled 'Ravens'. Inside was his jersey, pictures taken from the past year, a few books, and his basketball. He grabbed the basketball and quickly walked out of the house. He soon found himself jogging to the small court, only to find it was already occupied by a short blonde girl.

Lucas slowed down and finally stopped as he watched the girl in action from behind. She was quick and precise in her movements as she ran a lay-up. Lucas soon noticed that the girl was Carley, the waitress from the diner.

"Hey, mind if I shoot?" Lucas called out to her as she began to dribble for another lay-up.

"Only if you can actually get it in," she said, not even looking over at Lucas.

"Well I don't know....what's in it for me?" he asked with a sly smile on his face. This stopped Carley. She looked over at him and smiled at his question.

"Hey buddy, this is my court. Unless you can prove you're worth it's time then you can just head back to whatever little small town you came from."

"That small town is called Tree Hill and if I wanted to go there then I wouldn't be here," Lucas said, testing his shoulder as he raised his arms to shoot.

"Whoa whoa stop," Carley said, putting her hand on his basketball.

"What?"

"You're from Tree Hill? I used to live there," she told him.

"I thought you were familiar. Something about you just struck me."

"Are you sure it wasn't my beauty stopping you in your tracks?" Carley asked with a smile as she shot a 3 pointer.

"Why don't we play a little one-on-one and then we'll see how much you stop me," Lucas said, shooting from the same spot she had shot from. Whoosh!

"You've got yourself a deal newbie."

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An hour later the score was tied but Lucas was preparing to shoot.

"He dribbles left, he dribbles right, he dribbles in a circle. I don't know if Carley can keep up with him!" Lucas said, giving a play by play with his every movement. Finally he caught her and she stepped too soon, giving him the chance to run a lay up.

"I do believe I just won! What do you know? Am I worth your court now?" Lucas said as Carley shook her head at his antics.

"Yeah I guess you're worth it. But you got to take care of it. Otherwise I'll kill ya!" she said, laughing. The two stopped and stared at each other for a moment.

"I guess I should get going. I still have some things to unpack," Lucas said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, I should go too," replied Carley, a little flustered. Lucas began walking towards his house when Carley ran up to him.

"Hey wait Mr. Tree Hill. You come and beat me in basketball and take my court away and I don't even know your name."

"I'm not taking your court away, I'm just borrowing it. And my name is Lucas. Lucas Scott."

And with that, Lucas walked away leaving Carley standing on the court along, and shocked.

"No way. It can't be," she whispered to herself. She thought for a moment and remembered a picture she had at home. "My world just became a whole lot more complicated."

Well? What do you think? Lemme know if I should keep going!