Chapter 7

The Class Discussion…

It's been two months now from the alteration in my life. It was now mid-October and autumn was soon approaching, but in Tree Hill it seemed like it has already arrived. I sat down in my English Class, looking out the window at the falling orange leaves. I continued to stare outside till the voice of Mr. Jackson caught my attention.

"Now class, today we are going to discuss a very debatable topic. Since we are discussing love poems. I want to know what you all think about it," Mr. Jackson told the class. "Do you believe in teenage love? Or how about love in general?"

I looked up and immediately saw a girl raise her hand. The girl was blonde, wore a pink shirt with a white skirt, ignoring the weather, and some Pink Roxy's She was what I called part of the 'in' crowd, the type of a girl that was involved in a lot of different clubs, including Student Council.

"I think that love is true, and I absolutely believe in teenage love. I think that just because we are young doesn't mean that we don't know what love is. For example, I know that I'm in love with my boyfriend," she said as she now went into a dream state.

"I bet your boyfriend loves it when---"began an obnoxious student in the back.

"Mr. Jones if you decide to finish that sentence you will be kicked out of this classroom. Am I making myself clear?" Mr. Jackson interrupted.

"Yes," replied the student, slumping in his seat.

"I think that it all depends on the type of person that you are. For example if you are someone like Mark (Jones) then obviously he doesn't know anything about love, but if it's someone more mature then it's possible," spoke out a girl in the front of the class.

"I think that both of you are wrong," I interrupted them. "Teenagers don't know the first thing about love and it even includes the adults. It seems that now all parents do is get a divorce and their marriage problems are solved. If full grown adults are doing it then what makes you think that teens know what the hell love is?" I said in rant.

"Well now we have the pessimistic opinion about it, what makes you think that way?" Mr. Jackson asked me.

"Look at the stats, people are divorcing left and right. Who in this class doesn't have divorced parents?" I asked around the classroom.

Only about 12 students rose up out of the 25 students in the class.

"Point proven," I responded as I slumped back down in my chair.

"Are your parents divorced?"

"No."

"Then how come you have that outlook?"

"'cause it's something I've believed since I was young and still hold true to it now."

"I see…well any other opinions?" Mr. Jackson addressed the rest of the class, changing the moods.

I looked around the classroom and saw that everyone's eyes were on me. I especially noticed the electrifying eyes of the student sitting in the back. I felt his eyes the strongest out of the rest of the class.

Chapter 7: Part II

The Bet…

"Hey Lucas," I greeted him as I approached him during lunch.

"What's up Hales," he responded as he looked up at me, away from his locker.

"What up you guys?" greeted Brooke as she came near us. "Hi boyfriend," she specified as she got closer to him and kissed him.

"Please, no public affection in front of me," I told them as I turned around and began to walk to the cafeteria.

Ever since Steven became 'good' friends with Nathan, I stopped going out with him during lunch.

The less time with Nathan, the better.

Lucas and Brooke stay on campus for lunch because they think that only having 35 minutes of lunch isn't enough time for them to go off campus and be back in time to class. But then again, all the entertainment they needed was each other so they weren't complaining.

We entered the cafeteria and see all the little cliques sitting in the tables. On the far right hand corner sat all the outcasts while towards the middle sat the regular people; they were the ones that conversed and were friends with the popular and not so accepted people. The jocks and cheerleaders all sat on the left hand side of the cafeteria. There was especially one big table reserved for the basketball players. We join the lunch line, but a small freshman, in recognition of The Lucas Scott, one of varsity's most prestigious basketball players, and The Brooke Davis, head cheerleader, moved out of the way for us. Ever since Lucas joined the basketball team and people became aware that he also did have proficiency like his half brother, they all began to like him and consider him 'popular'. However, Lucas was as oblivious as he is to the fact that he is considered 'popular,' he just thinks that everyone just happens to be so polite.

"Whatever," I always tell him when I state the obvious.

Although, Lucas is still the same humble person that he was before his sudden fame. He always just shrugs it off.

'As if…'

We grabbed our food and we walked to our table; or at least Lucas' and his teammates table.

"I can't believe that you got the tuna surprise," I told Lucas as I looked at his choice. "What do you think is the surprise?" I asked him curiously.

"Don't even start that again Haley," he responded as he grabbed his sandwich and took a bite. "This is actually one of the only things edible to eat plus, I like it."

"Whatever…I'm just saying…" I answered as I opened my water bottle and took a drink.

"Is that all you're eating Haley?" asked a voice as they sat down beside us.

I gazed up and saw Steven with Peyton, Tim, Jake, and lastly, Nathan. I glanced back down and observed my granola bar and water bottle.

"See some people don't have to eat 6 different courses to get full," I replied as I referred to his eating habits.

I looked at the food on his tray and saw pizza, fries, cookies, a hamburger, a cinnamon roll, a soda, and finally an apple.

"Point proven," I answered as I pointed to his food.

"Hey, hey, hey---"he began.

"…I'm a growing boy," Lucas, Brooke, Peyton and I finished for him.

We all erupted in fits of laughter.

"Funny you guys," he remarked sarcastically.

"Just plain hilarious," I retorted as I gave him a smile.

I looked past him and saw Nathan's eyes looking at me intently, my smile faded and a puzzled look overcame my face. I suddenly became aware of where I was and especially who I was with.

"So…to what do we owe this miraculous pleasure?" I mockingly asked Steven. "Why are you on campus?"

"Well can't I ever just come and visit my bestest sister," he told me as he put an arm around my shoulders.

"I'm your only sister you idiot," I answered as I shrugged my shoulders so his arm would slip off.

"Yeah we just decided to stay on campus today," he finally responded. "We had to stay after class because the teacher wanted to talk to me and Nathan, so we ran a little late to be able to leave and come back on time."

"What did you do this time?" I asked him.

"Why couldn't the teacher just made me stay after class because he wanted to know how I was doing at my new school?" he questioned me.

"Steven it's been two months," I informed him. "You're not really considered a 'New' student anymore. So what did he talk to you about?"

"Well it seems our grades are sort of sliding," Steven answered.

"Well maybe if you would stop ditching and going to McDonalds for breakfast with your accomplice you wouldn't be in this situation," I stated as I glimpsed at Nathan.

"Whatever, I crave my Egg McMuffin every morning. I think I'm beginning to be addicted to it," he answered with a scared look.

"Stop being such a drama queen." Peyton added.

"Well we talked to the teacher and she's giving us some options. So my grades will go up and we will continue to play ball like the true ballers that we are," Steven responded as he knocked fists with Nathan.

"You guys are just plain cocky," I told them. "Too much if you ask me; Take some of air off your head."

"Well some of us actually like to have some fun, unlike people who sit around and do their homework…even on the weekends," Nathan replied as he stared at me.

"Well at least I have good grades and will be accepted to the best colleges and universities because of my good G.P.A. and class rank. What about you Nathan? Get any recognition certificates for your fine marks?" I questioned him. "Or how about perfect attendance?" I asked bitterly, irritated at his last comment.

I looked at his face and it was filled with hurt.

'I think I might have hit his soft spot,' I told myself.

"Well I've made my parents happy with a full ride to UNC," he answered, after he recovered from my last remark.

"On basketball, correct?"

"Yes," he replied. "See there are two types of people at this school. There's the type that are academic, but never have any fun in there life. Then there's people like us," he said referring to Tim, Steven, and himself. "That actually have fun and still get accepted to the best colleges and universities in the country," he added with a devilish look. "So what type of stories do you have to say? About the time you studied and got the best grade in the class?"

"Well at least I have stories to tell that don't revolve around partying and drinking. But, how about yourself? Has there ever been a time that you, Nathan Scott, actually went to a party, didn't drink, and still had fun? And without also getting laid by your tramps?" I asked him.

He didn't answer.

"Exactly," I responded as I took a bite of my granola bar.

I looked around the table and observed that everyone was dead silent. They were all amazed of my sudden outburst, but all that I stated was basically true.

"I bet that you can't ever, let loose and have some fun," he said as he gazed at me.

"Well I bet I can," I replied, "and I'll be a lot more responsible then you," I continued with a smirk.

"Fine, tonight at the party… I won't drink and you will let loose while being 'responsible' at the same time. If you don't…then…" he vocalized as he began to think. "You apologize to me by showing up at the next basketball game in a cheerleading outfit and during halftime you hold up a sign saying that I am the hottest guy in the entire world. You will then also cheer with the rest of the cheerleaders," he added with a triumph smile.

"And if I win, you have to…" I began as I thought. "During the next basketball game you come out in nothing but your boxers and your basketball shoes while holding up a sign saying that I was right and that you wished you could go out with me," I told him as I held up my bottled water. "Deal?"

"Deal," he answered as he picked up his drink and apprehended it up to me.

We both took a sip of your own drinks and I commenced to hear everyone in the table voice their disagreement.

Though, I tuned them all out because all I could think was one thing.

'What the hell have I gotten myself into?' I asked myself over and over again.

AN: Hey what's up you guys? Well here's a hella long chapter for all of ya, just cuz I love you guys ;) !

RavenHottie23- Thanks…I say mind as well give shout outs back to the ppl who review, you know? Yeah update…but I also have other things to do…I have a life you know? LOl…but also remember that I also have The Spanish Experience to update too, so that's why it takes awhile to update…
LockerRoomBandit17- LMAO…OMG, when I read ur review, I wuz laughing so hard…lol…yeah I barely noticed that people have been writing a lot of lesbian stories…go figure, huh? Trust me this story will have LOTS of Naley so don't worry about that and thanks!
Lysser8312- Trust me, Steven is not going to become Nathan…why the hell would we want that? Lol..
Jill- Literate hoe, huh? LOL…well thanks for the review. Yeah, Steven is an interesting and loveable character. Yeah it would be heaven, but…
Tardychick06- As you can tell from this chapter, yes they are still brothers…and Steven should know…cuz of Haley and being friends with Lucas and everything…
OTHLover04, PsWhatever23, OTHFanatic129, Daydreamer743, and thewbchickster- Happy that you guys like this story and I hope you guys like this chapter!!!

Spoilers:

At the party…
-Another not so innocent outfit from Haley…
-Judging a book by its cover…
-NALEY!

Who would have known that one single party would change the lives of two distinctive people, ceaselessly?

As always my gorgeous readers….REVIEW!!!! And feel free to include what you guys liked ;)

With much love,
Sleepneeded911