This is an emotional chapter. I have had heaps of reviews so thank you but keep on sending them. Sorry for taking so long to submit this chapter but I have been very busy. Enjoy and REVIEW!
Leah's eyes opened slowly as she sat up and rubbed her face, she looked around and realized where she was. Leah stood up and walked to the kitchen. "Morning Leah" Hannah said as she spread out the jam on her warm toast. "Hey mum" Leah replied in her croaky morning voice. "How was your sleep on the couch last night?" Hannah asked with a little smile. "Nice, even though I didn't know I slept there until I woke up" Leah said. Leah walked to the fridge, got the milk out and poured herself a glass. "So if you didn't put yourself on the couch who did?" Hannah asked curiously. "Nathan I guess" Leah said and then drank her milk. "I am going to have a shower" Leah said and headed for the stairs as she walked past Meghan who was dressed and ready for school. "Morning sis" Meghan said and laughed when she noticed that Leah was still in the same clothes that she wore last night. Leah smiled, scratched her head and walked up the stairs. "Are you sure you are ready to go back to school, there is no rush" Hannah said, not wanting to push her daughter into going to school to soon, but was happy she was willing. "I am positive, today is the day and I cant wait" Meghan said even though she could wait because truthfully Meghan was very nervous, its hard moving into a new school where all you know is your older sister who already has friends which she would much rather hang out with. "Ok, but no one is forcing you, remember that" Hannah said and past Meghan some toast.
"You ready Meghan" Leah said as she grabbed her bag and the car keys. "Yep, see you later mum" Meghan said as she went up and hugged Hannah. "Bye pumpkin" Hannah replied as she put her arms around Meghan. "Bye mum" Leah screamed out. "Bye" Hannah screamed back. Leah walked outside to the car, unlocked it and got in the drivers seat. Leah honked the horn for Meghan to hurry up. "I'm coming, I'm coming" Meghan said even though Leah couldn't hear her for Leah had just put on some music which was very loud. Meghan opened the door and got in the passengers seat. Leah started the engine, reversed the car looked up and the house and waved goodbye to Hannah who smiled back with a mug of hot coffee in her hands. Leah drove off making a right. "The school is really cool, you will make friends in no time" Leah said trying to relax Meghan. "I am sure it is" Meghan said while shaking. Meghan didn't want to think about what she was about to face so she decided to change the topic, "How was last night?" Meghan asked Leah. "Really good, except when a guy slapped me on the ass, but at least he was cute and I got to slap him on the face" Leah said and then laughed along with Meghan. "You dance with any guys?" Meghan asked. "Yes, two actually" Leah said and smiled when she remembered dancing with Nathan which was defiantly Leah's high light of the night.
Leah pulled up into a car park and turned off the engine. "Are you ready?" Leah said as she put her hand on Meghan's shoulder. "I guess, anyway we are here now so I have to be ready" Meghan said and opened her door. Leah reached to the back, grabbed her bag, got out of the car and locked it. Meghan looked up at her new school. It was clean, it looked kind of new and everywhere there were groups of students.
Meghan got a shiver down her back, closed her eyes then opened them, took a deep breath and then finally started walking. "I will introduce you to some of my friends" Leah said. "Ok…that sounds good" Meghan said still shaking. "Don't worry I will look after you" Leah said and put her arm around Meghan. "First we will go to the General office to find out where your locker is and to get your timetable" Leah said but suddenly stopped and looked around. "Do you know where you are going" Meghan asked. "Um, I can't remember where it is" Leah said. "But didn't you go there yesterday to find out your information" Meghan said. "Yes of course, but I just don't remember where it is" Leah said. Suddenly Leah spotted Nathan. "Nathan" Leah screamed out. Nathan looked up to see who was calling him. He spotted Leah and walked over. "Hey Leah, who is this?" Nathan asked looking at Meghan. "Oh this is my sister Meghan" Leah said. "Meghan this is Nathan who is going to help us find General office" Leah said. "Oh, am I now, well follow me" Nathan said a walked into a big building. Nathan made a few turns with Leah and Meghan following him like crazy. "Welcome to the General office" Nathan said a pointed to the sign that said General Office, which makes sense. "Thanks Nathan" Leah said. Leah, Meghan and Nathan walked up to the desk. "Hello, how may I help you" a lady behind the desk said. "Hi, I am new to this school and I believe I need to come her" Meghan said innocently. "Oh yes, Meghan Kay is it?" the lady asked. "Yes" Meghan said. "Thought so, you are the only new student we are expecting today," the lady said which made Meghan sink even more. "Now would you like to come around here, I will meet you at the door on your right in one second to let you in" the lady said and pointed to her right. "Ok" Meghan said and looked at Leah. "Well I guess I will see you later" Leah said and gave her sister a hug, "be brave, no one will bite" Leah joked. "Bye, and thanks Nathan for helping us find the place" Meghan said and waved good-bye to them both and walked to the door where she met the lady. "So, do you remember where your locker is?" Nathan joked. "Yes, it is not in this building" Leah said not sounding very sure. "Well done and where from there" Nathan asked, wanting to see how lost Leah would get. "You might have to help me a little" Leah said and linked onto Nathan's arm and headed for the exit.
"Hello Leah and Nathan" Peyton said as she closed her locker. "Hey" Nathan and Leah said. Leah walked to her locker, unlocked it, and put her things away. "So what do you want to do," Leah asked. "Well, just down the street there is Karen's Café, which is Lucas's mum, she owns it, so we will go there for a drink and meet up with everyone" Peyton said. "Sounds good" Leah said and followed Nathan and Peyton. "So what is happening at Tric tonight" Leah asked. "Well I don't have any bands booked in, on school nights I only have 1 band for the week, but I have a band on Saturday and Sunday so it turns out to be 3 different bands a week" Peyton said. "Peyton also runs music talent shows," Nathan said. "When do you run them?" Leah asked. "Once a month" Peyton said. "Cool, so I guess when there isn't a band you just play CD's" Leah said. "Yeah that's right and if we don't have many people in we close early," Peyton told Leah. "So you guys aren't going tonight," Leah wondered. "No, but we are Friday night because Peyton forgot to mention that she also runs dress up parties or certain themes on some nights" Nathan said. "Oh yeah, this Friday you go in a couple and you have to dress up in 80's clothes" Peyton said. "That sounds fun," Leah said. "It will be as long as you have a partner," Peyton said. "Oh yeah" Leah said wondering who she would go with. "Well personally I think that guys should ask girls," Peyton said. "Yeah, but I will take anyone I can get" Leah said and they all laughed. "You haven't talked much this morning Nathan" Peyton said. "Just thinking" Nathan said. "Hey by the way Nathan, why didn't you wake me up last night?" Leah asked. "I tried, you're a deep sleeper" Nathan said. "Well thank you anyway, most of the guys I used to hang out with would of left me outside on the grass" Leah said. "Australian men are weird" Nathan joked. "So why didn't your sister come to school with you yesterday?" Nathan asked. "You have a sister" Peyton said. "Yeah she starts today and its been hard on our family, Meghan is really worried about today, you need to encourage her" Leah said feeling sad talking about her family. "What has been hard on your family?" Nathan asked. Leah's eyes started to fill up with tears so Leah tried to hide her face from the others. "Are you ok?" Peyton asked stopping Leah and looking at her. Leah looked up at Peyton and Nathan, who looked very worried, especially Nathan. Leah wiped her face and said, "I am fine…I just don't want to talk about it, yet anyway" Leah said and kept on walking. Nathan and Peyton stared at each other, scared of why Leah was crying. "Leah you don't have to tell us but if you need to talk we are here" Nathan said and put his arm around Leah and Peyton did the same. "Thanks, so where is this café?" Leah asked.
Peyton opened the door and Nathan, Leah and Peyton walked into the café. "Hey guys" Lucas said. "Oh hello" Brooke said sitting at the corner table with Jake. Jake stood up and approached Peyton and kissed her. "Hi babe" Jake whispered into her ear. "Hello" Peyton whispered back. "Ok, cut it out or get a room," Brooke said splitting Jake and Peyton up. "Hey Brooke, could you give me a hand?" Lucas asked. "Me doing dishes, I don't think so," Brooke said pulling a face as if Lucas had asked her the most stupid question. "I will help" Leah said and walked over. "Yeah, me too" Nathan said and also walked over. "Thanks guys" Lucas said and handed them both a tea towel. "Hey kids" Karen said walking in from the back. "Hi Karen they all said except Leah who just smiled. "Hello, you must be Leah" Karen said and walked up to Leah and held out her hand. Leah shook Karen's hand and said "Yes that's me, heard about me already have you?" Leah asked. "Peyton called me last night and gave me her up to date on Tree Hill High, and you were mentioned many times" Karen said and laughed along with Lucas. "Jake watch out, it sounds like Peyton has a crush" Lucas joked with everyone laughing. "Ha, ha, that is so not funny" Peyton said and kissed Jake. "It's cool I wouldn't mind a threesome" Jake said a pulled a face. Peyton punched him in the arm. "Don't mind them," Peyton said to Leah. "You three away from the kitchen" Karen said and grabbed the tea towel off Leah and hit Nathan, Jake and Leah with it until they got out of the kitchen. "Lucas, get them all a drink and then go to school, all of you" Karen said a kept on drying.
As the group finally pulled up into school they still had 20 minutes so they sat at a table and talked. "Mouth" Brooke yelled out. A goofy looking boy turned around and headed for the table. "Hey guys, what's happening" Mouth asked. "Mouth this is Leah a new girl" Brooke said. "Hello, Mouth is it" Leah asked. "Yes, so where are you from?" Mouth asked and sat next to Brooke and opposite Leah. "Australia" Leah said. "Cool, or should I say crikey" Mouth said and Leah and him laughed. "So, why the move?" Mouth asked. "Yeah you never really told us" Brooke said and they all turned and faced Leah to listen. Leah froze, knowing that she couldn't hide it much longer. Leah had never told anyone what happened in Australia, the reason to moving so far away. Leah started to shake, he face wobbling. Nathan noticed that Leah was looking scared and put his arm around him. Leah turned to look at Nathan and started to cry. Leah's crying got harder and harder, everyone stopping as the walked past to look at her. "Keep moving people" Brooke said pointing to the buildings. "I'm sorry, I have to go" Leah said got up and ran to the car park.
"What was that all about?" Peyton said. "I don't know, but it wasn't good" Jake said. The group was awkwardly quiet, not knowing what had just happened. Nathan stood up and started o jog towards the car park. "Should I go" Peyton said and stood up. "No, let Nathan handle this one" Jake said as he touched Peyton's shoulder pushing her back down on the chair. As Nathan reached the car park he looked everywhere trying to spot Leah. He finally came across two cars where Leah was sitting on the ground bunched up crying, her face in her arms with Felix next to her, holding her in his arms. Nathan felt empty to see Leah crying like that, but he felt emptier seeing Felix holding her, showing her that he cared. "Felix can I have a minute with Leah please" Nathan asked, even though it wasn't really a question it was more a 'Felix go away I want to be her knight in shining Armour'. "Did you make her cry like this?" Felix asked, obviously not knowing why Leah was crying. "No" Nathan said. Felix kissed Leah on the head and whispered in her ear "I am here for you". Felix stood up and walked away. Nathan walked up to Leah, sat down and hugged her. Leah hugged Nathan back. "I am sorry, its just, life has been really hard for me lately, I feel so guilty" Leah said. "Hey, it ok" Nathan said and held her head against his shoulder. "No its not ok, you say it is but you have no idea" Leah said and sat up. "The reason my family moved to stupid Tree Hill is because my dad was killed, but a stupid, alcoholic druggie who doesn't know how to bloody drive, my dad was killed but someone who doesn't even appreciate his life and for that someone who does dies" Leah said while still crying, but now she was mad at herself. "And, the great person I am, the great daughter that my dad will never get to see again is just going along with her life as if nothing happened, I am having fun with you guys, having fun as if nothing happened" Leah screamed out. Leah started to hit her face and pull her hair screaming "Stupid, stupid me". Nathan was in complete shock and started to get tears in his eyes watching Leah hurt herself, blame herself for something she couldn't fix, something no one could fix. Nathan grabbed Leah's arms, trying to stop her from hitting herself. Leah started to fight him, but Nathan was too strong and got control of her arms. Nathan pulled Leah into himself and hugged her, held her, while she just let out all her emotions on his shoulder.