A/N: Aaaargh! I love you guys! Today when I came home from school, I had thirteen reviews for this story! That was amazing. It really did blow my mind. Never would I have thought that you guys would love this story so much! It really does want to make me write tons and tons of pages for you, that's how much they affect me. Unfortunately, I can't update every day because I have school and a social life, but I'll try to do it soon!

chelle2911- Hey, you're my first reviewer! Congratulations! Thank you so much! I cannot believe that I came up with such an original idea.

TuggyAngel108- I'm glad you loved it! Keep reading and reviewing!

OTHFAN23V- Yes, they are in high school. My fic is different from the show because even though they are all friends, Haley and Nathan aren't dating...yet. Teeheehee!

starykid- Thank you for that wonderful review! I really hope it is going somewhere. Just read this next chapter and your questions will be answered.

CB BABE- I'll never tell! Hahaha! Just read and find out...it is clearly Naley, though.

xpeyton-sawyerx- I loved your greeting! Cute. I'm so happy to hear you say that! I really will try to carry on with it.

naley-obsesshunz-xOx- I can see from your screen name that you love Naley, huh? Then this fic is for you. I'm glad you found it interesting; it's pretty rare to find any of those fics anymore. Stay cool.

Leytonunit- Keep reading to find out.

Brucas4ever- Thank you! I'm updating as quick as I can, babe.

lilmonkeygirl31- I love your screen name because my family used to call my little brother "monkey boy" when he was younger. Don't worry, you'll read it soon.

brucasfanatic- Thank you! Keep reading to find out!

softballeva- Stick around to find out more! Thanks!

mary-023- You're really nice! Thank you!

Chapter Two: Welcome to Hell

"I'm hungry," pouted Brooke, as they reached Amberley Falls. She rubbed her stomach as it growled.

"When was the last time you ate?" asked Haley concernedly.

"Hmm...I don't remember."

"Well, hang on, Brooke. We're almost there, and there's probably some nice people who'll give us something to eat." Lucas consoled. Brooke aimed a dimpled smile at him, and he looked away, blushing.

"Oh, crap!" cried Peyton, slowing down. They all turned around and stopped.

"What is it?" asked Nathan.

"My sandal. The strap broke! I guess I'll have to go barefoot."

"No, Peyt! There are rocks and glass on the floor. C'mon, climb on my back." said Brooke, rushing towards Peyton. Peyton stared at her and laughed.

"We haven't done piggy back rides since we were in junior high, Brooke!"

"Oh, I don't mind. It's not like you weigh anything; you're skinny as a twig."

After Peyton mounted her best friend's back, they turned back around and started walking towards a street. It was already dusk and getting pretty cold.

"Look. This shop's open." Haley said, pointing to a rundown store that read "Mama Lucinda's Gun Shop". They all walked in hesitantly. Walking towards what looked like the front desk, Haley amused herself with a little ringing bell.

"What do ya want?" asked a rough, female voice, coming out from the back of the store. She was old and looked mean. Her gray hair was unkempt, and she wore a faded blue dress and a dirty apron.

"M-my name's Haley James, and I—"

"No solicitors! Read the sign on the front door."

"No, ma'am, we're not solicitors," explained Haley, who had a fearful expression on her face. "My friends and I, we think we were kidnapped—"

"Think you were kidnapped? You're either kidnapped or you aren't, no thinking to it!"

"Well, the thing is, we awoke in the desert back there, and we're from North Carolina, so—"

"I don't have time for this, girl! Either spit it out or move!"

Haley, giving up, walked back to the group and pushed Brooke forward, as if giving the duty to her. Brooke gave Haley an incredulous expression, and then smoothly turned forward to deal with the woman.

"Listen, ma'am, I'm don't have time for this either. I'm lost, I'm hungry, I missed my appointment at the beauty salon, and frankly, I just want to go home and take a bath! So this will go a lot quicker if you just shut your mouth and listen to me!"

The woman looked slightly shocked at Brooke's little monologue and didn't protest.

"My friends and I need a place to stay for the night, and some food to eat. We're in critical condition, according to General Hospital."

The woman narrowed her eyes and Brooke and gave her a long, hard stare.

"Tell it to someone who cares!" she screamed, pestering them out of her store, and then locking the door behind her.

"Bitch." Brooke said, as they were standing outside in the dark.

"Where are we going to sleep?" asked Peyton in a worried tone.

"We'll find some park benches or something."

"Hell no! I'm not Dan Scott's son for no reason. Ain't any way I'm sleeping like a hobo on some bench in this crappy town." Nathan protested.

"If I remember correctly, Lucas is Dan's son, too, and you don't see him complaining. So please stop bitching and just accept the fact that we're all lost and scared." yelled Haley. Everyone turned at her in shock. Brooke made some totally inappropriate comment, as usual, but Haley just paced ahead of them.

She didn't understand why suddenly got so defensive for Lucas, but Nathan was really getting under her skin with his little snooty comments, and she didn't appreciate it. She twisted her curly brown locks around her fingers like she always did when she was thinking. She thought she saw something good and pure in Nathan sometimes, but she really doubted it when he started acting up. Sometimes she felt oddly disappointed when she heard him bragging about how many girls he'd done it with.

"Hey," said a voice from behind her. Haley jumped about three feet.

"Brooke, don't do that to me!" she scolded, clutching her chest in fright. Brooke giggled and put her arm around Haley's shoulder.

"So talk to me, Tutor Girl. Why do you love Nathan so much?"

"W-what?" sputtered Haley. "I don't love him. Heck, I don't even like him sometimes."

"Don't lie to Brooke Davis. If there's anything I know about, it's love." Haley gave her a pointed look. "I know, hard to believe that a girl whose own parents don't care about her knows about love. But I do. What can I say? It's a gift."

Haley laughed and sighed deeply.

"I don't know, Brooke. I'm not like you; I'm not good with emotions. I've hardly even dated. I just stick to what I know, which is books and school and studying."

Brooke rolled her eyes.

"Everyone needs love, Tutor Girl. Come back to Dr. Davis when you're ready to talk." Brooke offered, patting Haley's shoulder. Then she turned back to Peyton and the guys, leaving Haley in a blurring trail of thoughts.

A/N: Ooh! Romance already! Review! Tell me what you like, hate, or want to be changed, and I may just oblige.

Jules