Chapter 3

The next day

Jamie woke up the next morning with bruises all over. When she looked in the mirror she noticed her brand new black eye and the cut on her lip. She had hand mark-like bruises on her arms and her stomach was still hurting. It seemed that every time he hit her it got harder and longer. She tried to cover up her bruised face, but it hurt too much to even touch. She figured that she would just have to leave it and tell a lie. She knew she wasn't a good liar, but no one else knew that. So she opened up the door and started her trek to school. Before she got to far down the road she heard a car pull up beside her. She was afraid to look, but then she heard a familiar voice.

"Hey Jamie, would you like a ride to school?" Haley asked.

"Yea, if you don't mind" Jamie said. She knew that Haley James Scott was the Haley that she had been best friends with for almost 11 years. She hopped in the back of the car and they took off. The conversation was minimal, but the one question that came up was what happened to her eye. She knew that she couldn't tell them the truth because it would do nothing. She knew that John had a good job here and was already respected by people. Not many adults would believe her, because John always had good excuses for his actions. She also figured that it was her fault, so instead she lied to Haley and Nathan some more.

"I ran into my door last night. It was really dark and I, um, I thought that it was open more than it was and I smacked right into it. I am such a klutz."

"Ouch, you must have been running or something because that looks like it hurts A LOT." Nathan pointed out. He was right, well, about it hurting a lot. Jamie felt bad lying to them, but she couldn't lose another person in her life. When they got to school, Jamie got out of the car quickly, thanked them for the ride, and practically ran into school. She didn't want too many strangers asking about her eye. When she got to her locker she noticed Lucas standing next to it. There was no avoiding him. He had just seen her and she couldn't get away, even if she wanted to. The problem wasn't that she couldn't run away fast enough, she found herself not wanting to. As she walked to her locker she tried not to let him see her eye. She didn't want him to worry about her. As far as he knew she was a klutz, she did run into him twice in one day. As soon as she got to her locker she looked at him and saw the confused look in his eyes it was followed shortly by the angry and protective look.

"Jamie, what happened to your eye? Did you get into a fight with your dad after I left? Did you get into a fight with some kid? If you did just tell me and I…" Lucas was furious, but Jamie wouldn't let him finish his sentence.

"I'm fine. I just ran into the bathroom door this morning and it…"

"I thought it was your bedroom door last night?" Nathan said walking up behind Lucas. Haley, Lucas, and Nathan just looked at her confused. She thought back to what she had told Nathan and Haley hoping that she hadn't just lied herself into too much of a hole.

"I think that I just said my door. And it was my own bathroom and it was actually this morning at like 1:30 or something. So technically it was the morning, but most people consider it to be night." Jamie said hoping not to sound as nervous about lying as she felt.

"Oh, I guess that makes plenty of sense now." Lucas said. "I'm sorry I jumped to the conclusion that your father hit you. You wouldn't lie about something that important."

"Of course not, why would I lie about something like that?"

"Okay, good. Well, we better get to class. You have class with me these next two classes. Let's go Jamers."

"Wait, first, we have second period together? You weren't there yesterday. And second, what did you call me?"

"Yes I have second period with you. I wasn't in class yesterday because I had a doctor's appointment. And I called you Jamers. Is that bad, because if it is or if you don't like me calling you that then I will stop."

"No, it is fine. I just, well, no one has ever really given me a nickname. I kind of like it. But, to be fair, maybe I should give you a nickname. How about Lukie?" She said, forgetting that she used to call him that when she was making fun of him. She saw a little glisten in his eyes, but ignored it when she heard him say something.

"Will you go out with me tonight?" He asked catching her off guard. She didn't know how to answer that. She wanted to scream and yell and just run over and give him a big hug, because she had waited and dreamed of Lucas asking her out for over six years.

"Um, sure, I would love to go out with you tonight."

"Okay." Lucas said with a huge smile coming to his face. He hadn't felt so happy since Abby. "Oh, wait, what about your dad? Won't he be home?"

"My dad won't be coming home tonight. He went out of town on a business trip, but he is calling at five."

"So, I could come pick you up around 5:30 or so?"

"5:30 would be great. I will see you then." She said as she walked into her classroom. "Well, I guess I will see you before then. I forgot we have the next two hours together." They both started laughing and then stopped abruptly when the teacher came in.

"Psst…do we have lunch together?" Lucas asked when the teacher turned her back to write on the board.

"I have second lunch, but I wouldn't know because I skipped it yesterday to talk to Mrs. Ashby."

"We do have the same lunch. That is awesome. You can meet the rest of the group. I think that you are going to love them."

Lunchtime

As Jamie went through the line she couldn't help but notice that Lucas hadn't seen her yet. Haley and Nathan were both talking to each other and Lucas had his back to her. She couldn't concentrate during math because her mind kept wandering to Lucas. She recognized one of the girls sitting at the table. She had her in fifth period. She was gorgeous, popular, and she heard that she was student council president. As she stood in line she just couldn't help but stare at Lucas. She didn't even realize she did, until she saw the girl point at her and Lucas turned around. They made eye contact and he walked over to her.

"Hey, you're just in time. Everyone just got here. Come sit next to me and I will introduce you to the group." They walked over to the table. Lucas sat down next to a girl she didn't know and she took a seat between Lucas and Nathan. "Hey guys, this is Jamie. She just moved here from Wisconsin. Jamie this is the group. You already know Nathan and Haley. That is Peyton, if you have any art classes you will probably see her."

"Nice to meet you Jamie. I do like art, but I am not in any classes this semester Luke."

"Nice to meet you too." Jamie replied.

"Those two are Brooke and Felix. Brooke is captain of the cheerleading squad and student council president and Felix…well, they are going out." Lucas said with a little chuckle. Brooke and Felix both laughed and said hi. "This is Mouth. He is one of the brains at the school, but also part of the sports announcers. And this is Anna. Anna is Felix's sister and a good friend."

"Nice to meet all of you. This is so weird."

"What is weird?" Brooke asked.

"Well, meeting so many people. I have never been good at meeting people. I am sort of shy when it comes to it." The conversation kept on going at a minimal pace with everyone asking Jamie questions. Then the conversation ended quite abruptly when Tim walked over to the table. When Jamie saw him she didn't even look up. She recognized him as the guy that was making fun of her the day before.

"Hey Nate, guys." He said nodding to everyone else at the table. He acted like he didn't even see Jamie. Lucas and the rest noticed, but Brooke was the one to speak up. She couldn't stand how rude Tim was, not to mention how dirty he could be.

"Hey Tim, if you didn't notice we have a new friend here. Why don't you introduce yourself to her?" Tim finally noticed Jamie.

"Oh, I'm sorry. How could I not notice you? You are always in my way when I need to talk to friends. Why don't you move your fat ass so that I can sit down?" Jamie started to get up when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She kind of cringed in pain, but she tried to pull herself together.

"What did you just say to her Tim? You wouldn't happen to be the one that was making fun of her yesterday were you?" Lucas looked about ready to punch Tim right in the face, but Jamie didn't want anyone to get into a fight because of her. So she turned to Lucas.

"Don't worry about it, remember what I said yesterday. I can deal with it. Let's just go. The bell is going to ring in a couple minutes anyway. Walk me to class." She took Lucas' hand and walked him into the school. She could hear Brooke and Haley telling Tim off. She didn't know if she heard others, but Brooke and Haley were the main two. She was really happy that people she barely even knew (except that she knew Haley when they were little, but people change) were sticking up for her. She was also weirdly happy that Lucas was sticking up for her. Lucas finally broke the silence between them.

"Was Tim the one that was talking shit about you yesterday? Because if he was I swear that I will…" Jamie cut him off.

"You will beat him up during school, get suspended for fighting and Tim will not stop bugging me. I know kids like Tim. It doesn't matter what happens to them. They will always be jerks to people that they don't like or that they think are losers.

"I don't care if I get suspended. He has no right to talk to you like that. And someone should teach him a lesson. And I am the person to do that."

"Lucas, you don't know how much that means to me. But I don't want you to get suspended because of me. It won't look good on your transcript and they don't put what the reason for the fight is."

"How could you let someone talk to you like that?" Lucas stopped yelling and asked.

"I…I don't know. Most of it is true anyway. I am learning to live with the truth."

"Who told you that?"

"Lucas, I'm not stupid. I own mirrors. I see what I look like. I see what other people see."

"No you don't, you don't see what I see."

"Well, what do you see?"

"I see a beautiful girl. I see an intelligent human being who deserves more than she thinks she does. I see someone who puts up with too much shit from people who don't know her. I see a person that takes herself for granted." Jamie didn't know what to say. She heard everything that Lucas had said, but three words kept ringing in her ear.

"Did you say I was…?"

"Yea, I did. Jamie, ever since I ran into you, you are all I think about. This has been a hard week for me. And you have been an amazing distraction from everything. For once in like six years I have finally been able to keep my mind off of something from my past. Why do you think that I asked you out? It wasn't just for the hell of it. I really want to get to know you Jamie Bausch." The bell rings pulling them out of the world that they were drifting to. "Well, I will see you around 5:30 at your house. I'll see you later Jamie."

"I'll see you at 5:30. Should I dress up or is this fine?"

"Dress up a little. It is going to be a nice little date."

"Okay, I will see you later Lucas." With that they both walked to class happy. Jamie couldn't believe that she had a date that night. She had never been on a date before. She didn't know what she was doing. She started to get nervous, but reminded herself to call Andrea for help. As she sat down in a seat for her next class she noticed Brooke walking in.

"Hey Jamie. You have World History too. How fun is this class going to be! Sorry I didn't notice you yesterday. I was kind of in a bad mood because my parents are being stupid, but enough about me. On behalf of the entire student council, welcome to Tree Hill High." Brooke exclaimed. Jamie could tell why she was the captain of the cheerleading squad. She always seemed so peppy.

"Yea, I do. I hope it isn't too hard. I'm not much of a history fan. And I can understand if you didn't notice me. I tend to blend in."

"So, I'm sorry for what Tim said earlier at lunch. He can be such a dick sometimes. I don't think his brain filters what his mouth says. He just lets words come out. But anyway, I hear that you and Lucas have a date tonight. Lucas is a great guy. I'm glad I became friends with him."

"I guess word travels fast here. And, yea, he seems really nice." Jamie was getting more nervous by the second. She had no idea what she was going to wear. Brooke noticed the tension in Jamie's face.

"Don't be nervous about it. It will be so much fun. Do you know where he is taking you?" Jamie shook her head no. "Did you ask if you should dress up?" Jamie shook her head yes. "Would you like some help getting ready tonight? You seem really nervous about this."

"You would help me? I would love that."

"Great…it is a date for us then. Do you mind if I come over after school. I don't have too much to do, but maybe around 3:30 or so."

"That sounds good. He is picking me up around 5:30."

"Perfect…two hours will be plenty of time. I don't think that it will take to much work anyway. We will just have to do something with your hair." After a couple more hours of class, the bell rang for school to get let out. As she started for her locker Haley walked up.

"Would you like a ride home? I get the car because Nathan and Lucas are working out and Luke said that he would give Nate a ride home. So, what do you say? Would you want to hang out or something?"

"Yea, um, Brooke is coming over around 3:30 to help me get ready for tonight. Lucas asked me out. You are more than welcome to come over. It would be nice to get to know you guys better."

"That is what I heard. I would love to come over. C'mon, let's get going. This is going to be fun. I always wanted to know what the inside of that house looked like. It seemed like it was for sale for a really long time." With that Haley and Jamie walked out to Haley's car and drove back to Jamie's house.