Chapter 1

Somewhere in East side.

"Haley."

"Hey, it's me. Where you at?"

"Home. Why?"

"I'm meeting Jake at River court. Wanna come?"

"Sure. Pick me up in ten?"

"Ok."

"See you soon, Luke." Haley snapped her cell phone shut and changed her pyjamas into baggy sweats and a top. While she was putting on some sneakers she happened to look at a framed picture on her desk of her, Lucas and Jake. They were sitting on the bleachers at River court and making weird faces for the camera. Haley smiled at the picture. For as long as she could remember she had been part of the group. One of the guys. And she loved it. She didn't have many friends that were girls. Sure she got along with the girls who were in her soccer team but she just loved hanging out with the guys. Everything was always so much easier with them. Lucas had been her best friend since she was 8. They met Jake few years later when he moved in town. They all had been friends ever since. Sometimes they also hung out with the River court gang: Mouth, Fergie, Junk and Skills.

Haley heard a car honk and quickly put her hair up in a messy bun. She ran downstairs, took her basketball and got into Lucas' car.

"Hey buddy." Haley said.

"What's up, Hales."

"Nothing. Can I drive?" Haley asked and smiled sweetly at Lucas. He just rolled his eyes and started to reverse from Haley's driveway.

"Nope."

"Oh, come on Luke. You know I could get us there so much faster than you."

"Probably true but I also prefer to get there alive." he said.

"What are you talking about?" Haley asked innocently. "I'm an excellent driver."

"Haley, you're a crazy driver. There's a difference."

"And that difference, my friend, is the reason I always win when we race." she said proudly. Lucas smiled at her. Every time he drove her they ended up having the same conversation.

"You know Hales, a normal person usually doesn't want to drive right after they've gotten into a small car accident."

"Luke, it wasn't a car accident."

"Well, you never told me how you managed to break your side mirror and bump your back bumper into something so it's hanging from its string." Lucas pointed out.

"Ok, if I tell you the truth, promise me two things. One: you won't tell any living sole ever! Ever! And two: you won't laugh." Haley said seriously.

"You know I won't tell." Lucas said. He didn't mention anything about laughing at her because usually everything Haley did was funny as hell. Like every time she tried to park her car. She could spend ten minutes trying to park her car and in the process block the surrounding traffic. It was beyond Lucas' understanding how someone who was probably the best racer in their school couldn't park her car. She hated parking and tried to avoidit with all costs. That's why she almost never drove her own car if there was a possibility to get a ride from somebody else. That and the fact that she had to pay her own gas.

"Well, you're going to want to tell this." she said. Lucas turned to look at her quickly before turning his eyes back on the road. Now he really wanted to know this.

"Hales, I promise."

"Ok. You remember few days ago when I was late for work?"

"Sure, you drove for work and I saw what had happened to your car."

"Yeah… Well, I was late for work and got into my car that was in my garage. I got in, turned on the engine and started to reverse really fast and I kinda… smashed the left side mirror on my garage door." Haley said.

"You're kidding, right?" Lucas asked. When he turned to look at an embarrassed Haley, he burst out laughing.

"Hey, you promised you wouldn't laugh!"

"Sorry." Lucas said and forced himself to stop laughing. "But that doesn't explain what happened to your back bumper."

"Well, after I broke my side mirror I got really angry and continued to reverse. Well, I guess I wasn't paying much attention because suddenly I heard a crash."

"What did you hit?" Lucas asked concerned.

"My mailbox." Haley finished. By now she was bright red with embarrassment and hiding her face in her hands. Lucas was laughing so hard he had trouble keeping the car on the road.

"Hales, I don't understand how everything like this always happens to you." Lucas said smiling.

"Me neither. Thank god the new school has a huge parking lot." Haley said. At the beginning of their junior year the city officials had decided to unite West High and East High. The reaction of people was a mixed one. Some said that it was good thing because maybe now the hostility between West and East would stop. The others said that this would just make it worse. Most of the kids agreed with the latter.

"I can't believe school's starting in a few days. We're seniors. Why couldn't they have waited one more year so we would've been in college…" Lucas said and sighed. Haley looked at him concerned.

"How are you feeling about this whole thing? Being in the same school with your brother?"

"Step-brother." Lucas corrected. "It totally sucks. Not only do we have to share the same school and classes but also the basketball team." Lucas said angrily.

"It's gonna be fine. Don't worry." Haley said and squeezed his hand.

"Thanks Hales, but you know that's not true."

"Well, whatever happens I'm here for you. They won't bother you if you won't let them."

"Let's hope so… We're here." Lucas said and parked the car smoothly near the basketball court. They got out of the car and started to walk towards Jake who was practising on his free throws. Lucas turned to look at Haley with a mischievous smile.

"Race you to the court."

"Oh, you're on. On five." Haley said and they both started the countdown. "One! Three! Five!" and they both started to run towards the court as fast as they could while laughing their asses off.

Somewhere in West side.

"Yo waddup Nate dawg! It's T to the Tizzle, I to the-"

"Tim, just say 'It's Tim'." Nathan sighed and held up the small cell phone between his ear and shoulder so he could put his sneakers on.

"It's Tim."

"Yeah, I got that. Hey I was actually about to call you. The new gym's not open yet and my basketball court is full of my mom's shit. She's cleaning the garage or whatever. You wanna go play ball at River court?"

"Sure, but don't the Easts usually go there?"

"Who cares. If they see us they probably end up running away like scared little bitches."

"Sweet!"

"Meet me there in 20." Nathan said and hung up. He stared at the phone for a while and was about to call someone but then decided against it. He went to his car. Newest from Daddy's shop. He sped off leaving tire marks on his driveway. He drove for a while until he reached his destination. He started honking until he saw a blonde curly head open a second floor window.

"Hey babe." Nathan yelled and smiled at Peyton.

"Go away!"

"Oh, come on. Don't be like that." he said and honked.

"Nathan, I broke up with you!"

"No, you didn't." He said smirking and honked it again.

"Yes, I did."

"Nope, now please get in the car." he said and honked yet again.

"No, and stop the fucking honking!" she screamed.

"Don't think so." Nathan said smirking. "In fact, I'm gonna keep honking until you get here."

"Go away!" she yelled. Nathan shrugged his shoulders and started to honk. Peyton looked around and saw that few of her neighbours were staring at her angrily. She sighed frustrated, closed the window, took her purse and walked angrily towards Nathan's car.

"I hate you!" she screamed. She sat down and slammed the car door shut. "And we're picking up Brooke." Nathan just smirked and sped off towards Brooke's house.

At River court

"…and Haley James loses the ball to Fergie who tries to get pass Lucas Scott. He doesn't succeed and Scott takes the ball and passes it to Ms. James who's blocked by Jake Jaglieski. Haley tries to get past him but it appears that Jaglieski isn't letting the school tutor off so easily. Haley still tries to get pass him and –oh did she just elbow him!- James is finally free and shoots the ball neatly through the hoop. But the basket doesn't count. Foul by Haley James." Mouth ended his announcing. He, Fergie and Skills had joined Jake, Lucas and Haley. Skills and Mouth were sitting on the bleachers while the rest of them were playing on the court.

"What? It was clean." Haley said and looked at Jake who was still rubbing his arm.

"Hales…" Lucas started.

"Ok, whatever. Sorry 'bout that Jake. You know how I get when I play." she said apologetically.

"No problem Hales." He said and smiled. She passed the ball to Jake who got ready for a free throw. And he succeeded. And the other one too.

"Two points for Jaglieski-Ferguson team. They now lead by 3 points." Mouth announced.

"Hey Skills, you wanna play?" Haley asked.

"Naw, my foot's still sore from yesterday." Skills said.

"What happened?" Lucas asked and went to sit on the bleachers to get a drink.

"Well Fergie here decided that it would be funny to throw a bowling ball at me."

"What!" Haley asked.

"Wait, wait, wait." Fergie started. "I told him to catch." Fergie said.

"Yeah, after you threw it." Skills said.

"It was more like during throwing it." Fergie said.

"Yeah, well I wasn't prepared and it hit my foot."

"Ouch, you ok?" Jake asked and took a seat next to Lucas at the bleachers.

"Yeah, just a few bruises. It was one of those lighter balls." Skills said.

"Yeah, sorry about that man." Fergie said and offered his hand for Skills to shake.

"No problem." he said and shook it.

"Yo, Jake. Throw me the ball." Haley said and caught the ball Jake threw. She started to practise her free throws while the guys were sitting at the bleachers. The guys were deep in conversation and Haley was so focused on throwing the ball that none of them noticed 2 cars park close by and 4 persons getting out of the cars.

Haley missed a shot and angrily threw the ball over the whole basket. She started after the ball and that's when she noticed the group of people coming her way. Leading them was Nathan Scott, holding her ball.

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me." Haley said angrily and continued to walk towards them. "You guys must be lost!" Haley yelled at them. That got the guys' attention at the bleachers and they started to walk towards Haley and the group of Wests.

"Well, well, well." Nathan started. "If it isn't the bastard Scott with his lil' bitches."

"What do you want, little brother?" Lucas said the last part sarcastically.

"Nothing... Just came to play." Nathan said and nodded towards Tim. Lucas could see him and two girls, one blonde and one brunette. The brunette was staring at him with a sexy smile. When she noticed Lucas watching, she quickly looked somewhere else.

"Well, this court's taken. Find another one." Haley said coldly. "And give me my ball." Nathan just snorted holding the ball tighter.

"Don't think so. Besides, me and Lucas-" Nathan started.

"Lucas and I." Haley corrected with a sigh. How hard was it to speak real English? Nathan just stared at her surprised.

"Lucas and I" Nathan looked at Haley "are going to have play on the same court sooner or later." he said smirking.

"I prefer later. Now get the hell out of here." Lucas said seriously.

"We're playing here now." Nathan said and glared at Lucas. He glared back. There was a silence. Everyone was staring at Nathan and Lucas and they were all thinking the same thing. Which one was gonna start the fight? The silence was broken by a beeping sound. Everybody flinched except for Lucas and Nathan who were still glaring at each other. Jake took his cell phone out of his pocket, read the text message and sighed.

"Guys, I gotta go. Family stuff." he said.

"Oh." Haley said. "Everything ok with…" Haley asked when she realized it was probably something to do with Jenny.

"Yeah, everything's cool. Later, guys. And Hales, you look after Luke, k'?"

"Always. Later." she said and waved him goodbye. Jake started to walk towards his car. He noticed a blonde girl standing behind Tim looking bored. He smiled a small smile at her and she smiled back. Jake continued towards his car still smiling.

"So…" Haley said and broke Nathan and Lucas' glaring. Now they were both glaring at her. "Never mind." she muttered.

"We need to settle this thing once and for all. Right now." Nathan said through gritted teeth.

"I agree." Lucas said at the same way. They were both ready to start fighting.

"Hey, come one guys. No need to get hostile." Haley said.

"What? You gotta be kidding." Lucas said.

"It won't do any good if you kill each other." she tried to reason. She didn't want to see her best friend get hurt but she was also scared that he might kill Nathan. And Haley didn't wanna see Lucas in jail.

"Come on, Hales. Stop being naïve." Lucas said.

"Now, isn't this cute. Lucas Scott asking permission to fight from his girlfriend." Nathan taunted.

"I'm not his girlfriend." Haley said through gritted teeth. "God, why do people assume that? Is it so hard to believe that a guy and a girl can just be best friends? Or is there some kind of law that prevents two persons with different genders from hanging out as friends if they're not blood related? I'm sick of this whole 'She's best friends with guys, she must be dating them or doing them'" she said in a high voice. "So what if I don't get along with girls? So what if my best friend is a guy? So what-"

"Haley!" Haley got cut off by Lucas, Mouth, Skills and Fergie who were all staring at her bored. They've all heard it before. Haley just rolled her eyes at them and turned to look at Nathan who was smiling in amusement.

"What! What! So, I was blabbering, what!" Haley said sarcastically. Nathan wouldn't stop smirking.

"Anyways!" Haley said trying to change the subject back. "I'm not being naïve. I for one would be more than happy to see Lucas kick your ass back to your Daddy's mansion." Haley said while glaring at Nathan. "I just think there are better ways to solve this whole East versus West problem we have." she said excitedly.

"What are you thinking, Haley? How can we solve this without a fight?" Lucas asked suspiciously. He could see the gleam in her eyes which only meant trouble for all of them.

"The way we solve everything in this town." Haley paused for emphasis. "We go old school." she said smiling. It took everyone by surprise. Apparently none of them had thought about that option but by the looks on their faces they all seemed to think it was a good idea. Tim looked at Nathan confused.

"I don't get it." Tim whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. "Why does she want us to go to our school?"

"I meant I want us to race, you retard." Haley said.

"Hey!" Tim said offended.

"Hey!" Haley mimicked his voice. Nathan and Lucas couldn't help but laugh at Haley. When they realized they were actually laughing at the same thing they both turned back serious.

"So, you think we should race?" Brooke asked stepping up behind the guys. She could feel Lucas' eyes checking her out. And she loved it.

"That's right." Haley started. "You pick the best racer from West and we pick the best from East. This'll be the final competition between West and East… ever."

"Where do we do this?" Brooke asked excited. Lucas looked at her. The girl was hot.

"How about we meet here tomorrow. Same place, same time. We'll talk about the place, the time, rules, etc." Haley said. She saw Tim looking confused again.

"Et cetera." Haley cleared. Tim blinked.

"You know, other stuff like that." Haley tried to explain. Tim smiled in understanding.

"Why don't we just do it now?" Nathan asked smirking. That Haley girl was cracking him up. Haley looked at her watch.

"Because I gotta work." Haley said. Then she continued with a smile. "See, it's when you go to a place and you work a certain amount of time and you get paid for it. And with that money you can buy stuff." she explained it to Nathan as if he wouldn't know the meaning of it. Nathan just huffed in annoyance. Haley turned to look at Lucas. "Drive me home?"

"Sure, see ya later guys." he said and left with Haley. Nathan and the others stared at the duo. They saw Haley and Lucas first sprinting towards his car and when Haley was about to lose, she jumped on Lucas' back. They both fell on the grass laughing.

"The hell they're not dating." Brooke muttered angrily. Lucas was hot and she wanted him.

"Actually, I believe her. I think they're just friends." Peyton said still watching them.

"Blondie's right." Fergie started. "They're not dating. So don't go spreading no rumours." He said before leaving with Mouth and Skills, leaving the Wests alone at the court. Everyone was quiet with their thoughts. Thinking about what had just happened and what would happen. Tim looked at them confused.

"What's naïve?"

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So, what do you think? Please review, means the world to me. :)