Hey guys. So, I'm so happy that One Tree Hill is starting up again today that I decided to update. lol. Well, actually I promised an update every day and so far, haven't been doing as good a job with that as I would like, so I'm going to try to start doing better with it. Thank you so much to everyone who replied. Once things settle down here and I have more time on my hands, I'll start giving personal thank yous to everyone with each chapter. Love you guys! Enjoy.

Chapter 3:

Fueling her apprehension about her first day back in her quaint home town of Tree Hill, she had yet to come across a face she recognized. After informing her parents that she would "rather not be forced to unpack on her first day back" and a few more similar persuasive phrases, she had been allowed outside to "become reacquainted with the place" (as her parents phrased it) while the movers were paid a ridiculously large sum of money to unpack and organize everything she had brought with her. 'That's gonna take a while,' she thought, snickering at how foolish the men who proudly called themselves "movers" had been to take the job her parents had offered to them.

As she strolled lazily down the street, she couldn't help but be mesmerized by her surroundings. She had forgotten how peaceful this place was. So different from New York, it seemed the two cities couldn't possibly coexist on the same planet, much less within the same country. Yet they did. She shook her head in wonderment at the thought.

In New York, the fast paced bustle and the rush you felt to be part of the crowds which hurried down the many streets had consumed her, but here, well her she had time to think, time to reflect, time to remember. It was a blessed relief from the always changing city of New York.

As she continued gracefully down the streets of Tree Hill, seeming to glide rather than walk, she thought of the person she had once been. She had been the best person Nathan knew. What had happened to her? Quite suddenly, her thoughts turned angry. She knew what had happened. Real life had happened. And with it came the realization that people like her never got anywhere. The only thing they got was a broken heart. And she refused to be one of them. So she had changed, finally understanding the pointlessness of striving to be a good person if she would never be rewarded.

Her thoughts resolute as her determination to protect her heart took prominence once again in her mind, she realized how hungry she was. It was strange, but the change in environment had caused her to rethink her outlook on food and her appetite seemed to have increased heartily.

Whipping out her cell phone she quickly dialed her dad's cell number and listened impatiently as it rang. He answered with
a tired voice, "Hey, sweetheart."

"Daddy, what are we doing for dinner?" she questioned sweetly.

"Well, your mom and I were going out to eat. you can do whatever you want. Just be home by midnight."

"Yes, Daddy," she responded, her voice oozing fake syrupy sweetness, though he didn't seem to notice. "Love you," she continued.

"Love you too. Bye, sweetie," he said, words punctuated with a yawn.

Rolling her eyes, she slammed her phone shut and threw it back in her purse, white with cherries decorating the blank surface.

Farther up the street, she noticed a sign which read, 'Karen's Cafe.' As she read the sign, she was assailed with memories. Owned by Karen, Lucas's mom, Karen's cafe had been a favorite hangout for a much younger Lucas and Haley.

As she approached it slowly, Haley debated silently whether or not to enter. She didn't know if she was ready to face Lucas quite yet. Her decision was made instantly when a customer opened the door and exited, a heavenly aroma of food wafting through the air in his wake. Hurrying inside before she had time to rethink her decision, she noticed that the atmosphere had remained the same, homey and cozy, giving you the impression that this was a family place. What once would have filled her with warm, fuzzy thoughts now sickened her. She resisted the urge to gag as she made her way to the counter.

The one thing which had changed was the amount of business "Aunt Karen" (as Haley had called her) received. It seemed the place was much more crowded than the last time she had seen it just over three years ago. As she waited to be served or better yet noticed, her eyes drank in every detail of the cafe she had missed for the past several years, th unique touches Karen had added.

Suddenly, a perky voice sounded in front of her and she turned back to find a gorgeous brunette, who appeared to be about her age, speaking to her. "Hey, can I get you anything to drink?"

Raising an eyebrow, not amused, instead rather annoyed, at the cheerful nerve of this girl, she said smoothly, "Yeah, I'll take a vanilla latte."

Looking up from her notepad, the brunette suddenly noticed she had been conversing semi pleasantly with a complete stranger and said politely, "I've never seen you around here before. Are you new to Tree Hill?" she asked curiously.

Haley rolled her eyes. She had been adamant in insisting to her parents that no one would recognize her and much to her dislike, she had been 100 correct. "I've never seen you before," she mimicked the girl's perkiness. Then her demeanor changed instantly from cheery and perky to rude and bitchy as she questioned coldly, "Who the hell are you?"

A girl's laugh erupted behind her and she turned to discover a group of five teens (four guys and one girl) observing her exchange with Ms. Cheery behind the counter. As her eyes traveled over each person - the curly blonde who had laughed, two brown haired boys, then finally two guys she recognized as Lucas and Nathan - she wondered if they would know who she was. She was fairly positive they wouldn't.

She had grown up considerably since her departure. Also altering her exterior appearance were the blonde highlights illuminating her dark hair, the carefully applied makeup, the perfectly even tan she had acquired, and the more stylish, infinitely more revealing clothes.

Interrupting her current thoughts, Lucas spoke, answering Haley's previous question for the brunette, "That's Brooke. Brooke Davis."

"Oh God. Brooke Davis? Someone just shoot me now!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.

The group looked at her in confusion.

"You got a name, bitch?" questioned Brooke, eyes flashing with anger.

"I've got an idea. Let's play the name game," Haley said, rolling her eyes. Pointing to her two former best friends in turn, she said, "Let me guess. Lucas, Nathan." Turning to the curly blonde, she thought for a minute and then remembered a similar blonde who had been Brooke's childhood best friend and lifted her finger, pointing it lazily at Peyton, saying exaggeratedly, "Peyton." The brown haired boy next to Peyton was the smallest of the group and looked oddly familiar. Then, Haley recognized him as Nathan's little lap dog, or as Nathan referred to him, "lackey" Tim. Turning to him, she yawned. "Tim." The last guy seemed vaguely familiar. As she sifted through all the memories of Nathan and Lucas's old friends, she remembered a kind, polite boy named Jake who had been her only friend apart from them. A smile spread across her lips as she "named" him. "Jake."
Silence enveloped the group as they looked at one another, all thinking the same thing.

"How the #$ do you know all our names?" asked Brooke, obviously annoyed.

"Didn't you hear?" asked Haley sarcastically. "I'm psychic."

They all stared at her as though she were crazy. Surprising even herself (for she had shown no signs of enjoying herself in over a year), she laughed.

'Wait a minute,' thought Nathan. 'I would recognize that laugh anywhere.'

"Haley?" he questioned uncertainly.

She looked at him, shocked to see the recognition which had dawned in his intense ocean blue eyes. Before, she hadn't noticed, but Nathan had grown up too. 'Wow, he's actually hot,' she thought, but realized she hadn't yet answered his tentative question.

"The one and only," she responded and watched as his face broke out in a joyous smile and he pulled her into the tightest hug she had yet experienced in her short 16 years. She reacted quickly, her arms snaking around Nathan to reciprocate the hug just as forcefully. He picked her up and spun her around, barely allowing his grip around her to loosen and tightening it again once she as back on solid ground.

"I missed you so much," he whispered into her ear, the sensation of his hot breath causing her spine to tingle uncontrollably.

Lucas's voice broke through the daze both had entered while embracing each other as he said, "Nathan, come on, man. Give someone else a turn."

But Nathan refused to comply to his half brother's request, holding onto Haley with a vice like grip.

Finally, Lucas was forced to pry them apart as he brought Haley into a hug of his own. Nathan slapped him across the back of his head as he watched jealously as they embraced each other.

When Lucas finally let her go, Jake smiled and stepped forward, giving her a gentle, friendly hug.

As he stepped back to stand again next to Tim, Tim had a sudden "brilliant" (or so he likes to think) idea and held his arms out to Haley. Her radiant smile quickly vanished, leaving in its wake an irritated frown as she stepped away from him and muttered, "Perv."

Even Brooke had to laugh at the merciless teasing Tim was being subjected to.

"Why does everyone always pick on me?" he whined.

"Dude, you don't want us to answer that," Nathan smirked.

"Why not?" asked Tim, a completely bewildered look adorning his features.

Nathan just laughed and shook his head as Haley rolled her eyes and attempted to explain, "Cuz it would take too long, dumbass."

"Oh," said Tim, still looking thoroughly confused.
Suddenly, his expression turned angry as he yelled, "Hey!" Apparently, he now understood her comment.

Peyton, who had remained silent until this point, addressed Haley, "Didn't you live here a few years ago? You were Luke's best friend, right?"

Haley nodded, not feeling it necessary to voice her affirmation.

"Oh, #$!" exclaimed Brooke. "You were that girl who came to Nate's door in the middle of our party. You were crying and I called you a loser."

Nathan visibly tensed, remembering the mistake he had made that night, glancing at Haley.

But she was glaring at Brooke, who, as she noticed this, spoke again, "Sorry about that."

Haley contemplated the apology and decided it seemed sincere enough and said, "It's alright. No hard feelings."

Hearing this, Brooke grinned and threw one arm around Haley's shoulders and the other around Peyton's. "Haley, welcome to Brookton World."

Her statement was met with a blank stare.

She rolled her eyes. "Hello! Brooke... Peyton... Duh."

Haley raised her eyebrows, saying, "Riiight."

Brooke's eyes immediately lit up. "Hey, now it can be Brooktonley World."

Peyton and Haley shared a look behind her back, rolling their eyes at her antics.

The rest of the day was spent getting Haley accustomed to life in Tree Hill. The others were confused as to why she was guarded about the last three years of her life, but didn't want to force her to talk about anything. After asking several questions and receiving vague answers in return, they dropped the subject and instead shared their own stories with her.

They seemed to be competing, seeing who could conjure up the most embarrassing story about another person undoubtedly from within the deep recesses of their minds. Jake and Peyton were easily the best at thinking of such stories and it seemed they were constantly trying to outdo one another. Brooke and Tim were at the center of most of these anecdotes which provided so much humorous entertainment for Haley.

Besides this battle of hilarity they were engaged in, the group found other activities for the day. They walked down to the Riverside Court and the girls cheered on the guys in an intense game of basketball. Much to the disappointment of Tim, Lucas and Nathan made a formidable opponent against his and Jake's pitiful team. Though they played their hearts out, Nathan and Luke effortlessly emerged the victors.

To celebrate, they walked to the nearest Ben and Jerry's for ice cream. Haley hopped on Nathan's back, resulting in Peyton on Jake's back and Brooke on Luke's. Tim was left to run from pair to pair looking like a complete idiot.

During the entire day, Nathan would spontaneously pull Haley into another hug. He couldn't restrain himself when in such close proximity with her.
But there were no complaints on Haley's part. She enjoyed hugging Nathan as much as he enjoyed hugging her.

At the end of the day, they all went their separate ways, eagerly awaiting the next day when they could be a group again.

But that night as Haley removed her makeup and caught her smiling reflection in the mirror, she remembered her resolution from earlier that day. #$! Today, she had almost let herself return to the old Haley. Her last thought before turning out the light and drifting off to sleep was, 'It won't happen again.'