I don't own One Tree Hill or any of the Characters or Flashbacks, just my plot.
Anna ran through her blinding sheet of tears. Once she reached Alyssa's house she banged on the door as hard as she could. Marti, Alyssa's older sister answered. "Hey! I thought you were dead to the world, stranger. Oh my gosh, what's wrong? What happened?" "I just need to see Alyssa," Anna whispered as she slipped up the stairs and ran into her best friend's room, slamming the door behind her. An old Evanescence tune was playing while her friend, decked out in black shoes and fishnet stockings, a plaid mini-skirt, and a black t-shirt with some weird logo turned around with a smirk on her face. "You know, just because you didn't make the cheerleading team doesn't mean you have to blubber all over the place." "Do you really think I'm that shallow? And no, I didn't make the squad, I made the basketball team, okay?" "Whoa, whoa, whoa, who said anything about basketball? You don't even know how to play that game, though I might as well say it's a step above cheerleading." Anna cried quietly as she relayed the details of the day. "And the worst part is, I don't even know what to do now."
Alyssa started scribbling away a list of things like she always did when she got into her "mode." "Look, I think that you should probably stay over at my house a couple nights, at least until Sunday. Then, if you feel like going back home nothing's stopping you. If you don't, though..." Anna leaned forward. "What's going on up there?" "Well, if you don't want to go back home, what if we got a copy of your birth certificate? Then, we would know who your father is, and we could run a search on him and find him so that you could see him." Her friend's black lipstick outlined her sarcastic smile. "That would really give your mom something to bitch about, huh?" "What are you thinking?!" Anna screamed as she leapt up and started pacing around the room. "I can't do that to my mom! It would be like the ultimate betrayal. And who says I want to meet my dad anyway? I mean, he obviously didn't care much about me sixteen years ago, so why would anything be different now?" "Did you ever consider that maybe your mom wasn't as great back then as she is now? That maybe she made the understandable mistake of sleeping with someone she shouldn't have, and left to cover her tracks? I mean, you don't know anything about your dad! He could be a really awesome guy for all you know. But you'll never know the truth unless you do this for yourself." Both of the girls were staring at each other with the kind of anger that comes from a place deep inside a person and can make them go crazy if they don't vent it to someone. They needed each other, and they knew it.
"You know what?" Anna finally said, breaking the silence. "You're right. I don't want to wait though. I mean, what's the point. The school office is still open, and we can just ask for a copy of my birth certificate from them." "Just how do you intend to swing that with that beady-eyed secretary who would just as soon strip search you for drugs or bombs than look at you?" Anna smiled, a smile so much like her father it had pained Peyton many times in the past. "I have my ways. You just worry about getting everything ready. If you could possibly pay a visit to my mom's house and do some of that excellent lying you do, I would appreciate it." Alyssa smirked. "No more needs to be said. Now go and get that document, girl." They each took off down a separate side of the street as they ran outside.
"I know that you aren't supposed to give out this document. It's just, well, an urgent situation has come up," Anna pleaded, giving the school secretary her best innocent and crestfallen expression. "What exactly would that be young lady?" the woman said, her words almost a whisper with sharp, cold accents. "Well you see, my mom's been sick, really sick for the past couple of years, and the doctor doesn't know if she has much longer to live. She had to give my original birth certificate to the school, and she said that when she... you know, dies, she'd like to have it by her bedside in case I'm not there." Anna buried her head in her hands, pretending her body was racking with silent sobs, when in reality she was laughing so hard she could hardly catch her breath. The middle-aged woman's features softened. "Well, I guess an exception could be made. I'll be back in just a second," the woman said, getting up to rustle through a filing cabinet. After flipping through and finally retrieving the file, she handed it to her and said "I hope your mother has a peaceful couple of last months." With her famous smile, the teenager took the piece of paper and graciously thanked the lady. "It means more than you know." "So much more," she whispered as she silently padded out of the office.
Meanwhile, Peyton Sawyer sat looking up at Alyssa. "You know how Anna is. I mean, the girl is great, but she's always had a hard time sorting stuff out, and she needs a safe place to blow her brains out then put them all back in in a neater fashion again. You know what I mean? I promise you she won't be gone that long. Despite however she might've sounded, she's really psyched about basketball, and she's missing you already." The woman, only thirty-three herself, looked at the Alyssa and tried to figure out whether or not to believe her. "Alyssa, when I was your age me and my friends fed our parents so much crap we could barely keep track of the tales we wove. I don't know if you're telling me the truth or not, but I'm gonna be a sucker and choose to believe you. Just make sure she get home safely, okay?" "Oh, I will. Now I just need to get some of her stuff for her..." Alyssa said while backing up the stairs.
"Well, this is it," Anna said, grasping her best friend's hands. "I saved the certificate for both of us to read. I figured since you played such a big part in this, you deserved to be part of the moment too." "Just get on with it, will you? We need time to hit the road and leave my rents a note." "Okay," Anna replied. She drew in a deep breath and opened up the paper. "Oh my goodness," she whispered quietly while her hands started to tremble.
"Who would've thought the most successful sports shop chain owner in all of North Carolina, partnered with his brother, no less, would be your dad?" "Is it that unbelievable?" Anna asked, the wind from the black convertible's opened roof caressing her hair. "I guess I should've figured it out sooner. I mean, nobody has as wicked legs as you without working out unless their like a sports prodigy's offspring." "Well, I would appreciate it if you would just focus on the road right now so we don't get into an accident," the blond said, laughter tinkling in her voice.
When the girls finally reached Tree Hill, it was late. About ten to be exact. They decided to hit one of the places they'd gotten as a recommendation a ways back at a gas station. As the sign for Karen's Café came into view, they cheered and parked. They heard guitar music playing as they stepping in. "This song is for my little girl, Jenny. She's not so little anymore, but around the time Open Mike night started off, she was only a baby. The very first night was the first time I told any of my friends about her. She's going off to college after this year, and I want to sing a special song for my little girl. I love you, sweetie." There was cheering at the back by a group of teens surrounding a petite girl with black hair and dainty features. The music started playing, and the two friends sat in a transe just listening:
"I always knew that you'd be there
With your small and sunny smile.
I didn't think I'd want you near
But then I saw your face for the very first time.
And you're beautiful to me,
'cause you're my favorite girl.
Yes you're beautiful to me,
Nobody else could take your place.
If there is a God out somewhere
He must have liked the looks of me
To give me such a special gift as you.
You'll never know the love I have
For my precious little girl.
You changed my life forever
And I know that I will always love you my daughter.
And you're beautiful to me,
'cause you're my favorite little girl
Yes you're beautiful to me,
Nobody else could take your place.
If there is a God out somewhere
He must have liked the looks of me
To give me such a special gift as you."
As the music faded out, Anna found herself wiping tears from her eyes. That girl didn't know how lucky she was. A woman reminding Anna of herself in some ways stepped up to the mike. "That's all for tonight, everybody. I hope to see you again next week." The lights came up, and everyone started talking. Anna and Alyssa stepped up to the booth and took two seats. "Karen's Café, how may I help you?" the woman said. "Could you give us some coffee and directions to the nearest hotel?" Anna asked. "Sure," the woman said, smiling as she poured the black liquid into their mugs. "No charge for visitors. I could give you the directions of a hotel, but since we hardly ever have anyone around here and my house has been empty ever since my son left for college sixteen years ago, why don't you stay with me?" "That's really nice of you! Just lead the way when you're ready to go!" Alyssa said, always the trusting one, though undoubtably thinking up a million escape tactics if the woman turned out to be dangerous. "By the way, would you happen to know the Scott brothers?" Anna asked casually. Karen stopped and looked at her. "As it happens, Lucas Scott is my son, and Nathan Scott is his half brother. They're very close. Why do you ask?" Anna's eyes filled with unstoppable tears. "Daddy," she whispered. "Oh wow. This is better than I hoped. We walked right into your grandma's café our first night here!" Alyssa said enthusiastically. "Ms. Sawyer will love this!" Karen's eyes filled with something unreadable. "Everybody, I'm sorry but I'll have to lock up now!" she called out. Everyone got up and left in a cloud of confusion. "I think that we'll have to get you girls to my house now to discuss this."
The car ride there was silent as they followed Mrs. Roe to a nice house by the end of the street. "Well, girls," Karen said when they got inside, "Would you like to explain this, Anna?" Anna just let the whole story tumble out. It seemed to get easier to recite the events each time she told someone the story of her birth and the situation surrounding it. Karen sat down in shock. "I'm sorry if I seem cold, but this is all news to me. I never would've thought..." "Can you let me meet my dad?" Anna asked eagerly, yet almost inaudibly. "Of course. You have a right to meet all of them. Your aunt and uncle, and your dad, Lucas."