"Dude this year is going to be the best year ever. We're the oldest and soon we'll be out of here…yeah man!"
Tim and Nathan were standing in front of Tree Hill High. It was their first day of senior year and their last year before they went off to post secondary. Nathan was silent as the energetic Tim jumped up and down from mere excitement. Nathan wasn't sure if he was ready to leave high school. It seemed like yesterday he was entering the institution as a helpless boy who was unaware of being a teen. Years passed and that feeling soon disappeared. He loved high school. So many things have happened to him in those short 4 years and he wasn't sure if he was ready to just leave it all within a year.
"Dammmn! Who is that? She's got hot written all over her."
Nathan broke out of his thoughts with Tim's sudden statement. He looked up to see what had Tim all excited and there she was. She was getting out of the passenger side of a silver Mercedes Benz, and getting out of the driver's side was an older looking man. He was tall, dressed in a suit. Together both walked towards the school and were momentarily joined by a couple of teachers. They stopped mid-way to socialize with them.
"Tim that's her! That's the girl from the River Court." Nathan gasped.
"You sure man?"
"Yeah of course."
"Wow! You and Luke weren't kidding when you guys said she was hot because that girl is smokin'!"
Nathan didn't have time to talk back because he was fixated on the small group, but mostly on her, both him and Tim actually. The group began to move, heading towards the entrance of the school. Jill was walking adjacent to the man she came with but was obviously not in the conversation that was surrounding her. She was observing the school and what was in front of her. As she looked up she saw Nathan. She gave him a small smile before looking down again and heading into the building. Both boys decided to head in themselves, the bell was going to ring in a bit.
Once inside, Nathan and Tim went to grab their lockers. Nobody wanted to get stuck with the outdoor ones because everyone knew when it rained; all their belongings were soaked as well as themselves. The ball team never had a hard time getting the locker of their choice though, whatever they wanted they practically got. Nathan and Tim headed towards the third floor where their lockers since freshman year awaited them. Nathan kept watch hoping to spot Jill in the hallways but it was to no avail. She was nowhere to be seen.
The boys got to their lockers and with no surprise it was empty. Nathan took the corner locker, as always. Tim had the one next to him. That's how the two actually met back in freshman year, the very first day at their lockers...
Two young faces at Tree Hill High. Nathan had already scoped out the corner locker and was racing to get it before someone could snatch it away. He walked quickly yet casually not trying to seem anxious. He got it, the perfect locker. He didn't care if it belonged to a senior who would pummel his ass once he found out he stole his locker. He'd fight back he thought, and probably win too. Nathan at such a young age was already confident. Not something you could say for the tiny little boy that soon parked himself beside Nathan.
"Yes, finally got one!" a young Tim Smith said excitedly.
Nathan who was admiring the inside of his empty locker that indeed stayed empty for years to come, closed it halfway to see who was causing such a commotion.
"Hi..." little Tim said.
"Hey."
"I'm Tim! a.k.a cool guy, a.k.a the Tim meister, a.k.a the Tim man, a.k.a the Timinator, a.k.a..."
"I get it," Nathan interrupted him before he continued down a list that seemed to never end, "I'm Nathan."
"Cool. Man I'm so excited. New school, new people, loads of HOT girls."
Tim was the same Tim. Nathan laughed at the boy. He was entertaining and a little odd but he seemed like an okay kid. Both were suddenly interrupted by the voice of a senior.
"Yo! That's my locker midget." The large body was giving Tim the death glare. He was a pretty huge guy, tall with big guns for arms. He towered over Tim and Nathan and was not in a very good mood, but all Tim could do was stare back in fear.
"So. I don't see your name on it which clearly means it's free for the taking," Nathan went in front of Tim, now face to face with the senior. Showing no signs of fear, he looked up at the guy without even blinking.
The older guy was clearly agitated at the freshman that dared to stand up to him.
"Well it is so you have three seconds to beat it."
"And if I don't?"
"Are you challenging me pipsqueak?"
"You damn right I am," and with that a brawl started between the two. A freshman and a senior going at it on the third floor, and not to mention on the first day of school. No one really knew who won because teachers immediately separated the two. However, most would agree that Nathan did. He left the older guy with a busted lip, a really bad shiner, and without a locker. On the first day of school Nathan managed to get a warning by the principal, a bruised cheek, and respect from the older grades. After that day Tim was stuck to Nathan like glue, and that's how their friendship began.