Audrey got out of her Comet and studied the campus, observing who was already at school, and who wasn't. She spotted her friends, and felt a reassurance that she had somehow forgotten since Kristine had stepped into Tric. She couldn't believe how much that night had changed things, but there was one thing that she hadn't allowed it to change. She spotted her boyfriend and walked over to him. "Hey, babe," she said, smiling as she reached up for a kiss.
The smile on her face was more for everyone else than for the fact that she was happy with the way things were. She wrapped her arms around Sean's waist anyway, though, smiling for all her friends, as she began to get into a conversation about what everyone had done with their last days of break. She saw Logan and her smile became real, but she knew he wasn't happy with the fact that she had taken Sean back. She just didn't know what else to do.
FLASHBACK
After she had dropped her stuff off at Logan's, she had told him she had something to do, because she knew he would try to talk her out of it if she told him the truth, and she knew he was probably the only one who could, but she didn't want to be talked out of it. At least, she was pretty sure she didn't want to be talked out of it. She wasn't completely sure what she wanted anymore.
The night before, and then today, had dealt her blow after blow, starting with the whole Sean and Kristine thing, and then ending with her moving out of her mom's house, and that was not counting everything in between. She knew that there was only one thing she could take control of right now, and she didn't want to relinquish the one chance of control she had. There was just too much up in the air, she couldn't handle everything being out of her control.
Pulling up in front of the familiar house, she dialed a number she knew by heart, a number that just last night she had never wanted to call again. She didn't want to go inside and face his parents, so when he answered she told him to come outside, and then she hung up, before he could question her. She couldn't forget the look that had been on his face earlier, when she had driven away from him.
When the car door opened she kept staring forward as he sat got in and closed the door. She stayed silent for a moment, and he didn't say anything, because he didn't know what she wanted from him. He was waiting to see what she was going to do. She drew in a deep breath, turning to slowly look at him. "Listen, last night was hard enough, but it doesn't matter what happened. I'm willing to give us another try, if you are," she finally said, looking at Sean.
Unable to tell what he was thinking, she began to think about what she wished he would never figure out. She had unearthed feelings she had never given thought to, and while she wanted nothing more than to explore them, she was scared of them, and she knew that this was just her way of running from them, but she didn't know what else to do right now. She was confused, and she just wanted something normal, to remind her that things could be normal.
While the silence lingered between them, Sean couldn't help but think of Kristine. She had told him that he should get back together with Audrey. This was what she wanted him to do. Was it what he wanted, though? He honestly wasn't sure, because that image of Kristine, with tears running down her cheeks, yet still looking beautiful, would not get out of his head. She was bound to be emotionally needy, though, and that wasn't the kind of relationship he wanted, right?
With Audrey, he knew exactly where he stood, and he knew he didn't treat her like he should, but it wasn't like she ever tried to change him. He had a feeling that if he actually wanted to start dating Kristine, a lot of things would change. He didn't want that, did he? He looked over at the blonde. She had put up with him for a long time. He had to admit, he did love her, even if he didn't show it right. This could work, right? "I really am sorry, Audrey. If you can forgive me, I want to try again," he said.
Smiling, although, she had to admit, it felt almost forced, more like relief than joy flooding through her, she turned her gaze on him again, just as the tears welled up in her eyes again. Yeah, this wasn't Logan, but she wasn't sure she could talk to Logan right now, and this was Sean, who she'd been with for the past couple years of her life. She could talk to him. She began to pour out the whole sordid tale, or at least, most of it.
END FLASHBACK
Now she looked at Sean, smiling, as they began to walk toward campus. She saw Kristine and her eyes narrowed. It was true after all. Kristine was now a student at Tree Hill high school. She had been wondering if she would actually show her face, after what had gone down. Audrey had spent the rest of her weekend at Logan's house, so she wasn't sure what Kristine had actually done-was she living with her mom, or had she moved in with Nathan?-and she wondered what James thought of his new sister.
Spotting her cousin, though she hoped that he still didn't know that fact, she noted his glare toward the brunette, and she had to smile. At least she wasn't the only one who hated the newcomer who had thrown everyone's life upside down. She decided to go talk to him, just to be sure, and she squeezed Sean's hand, getting his attention. "I'll be right back," she pressed a kiss to his cheek before heading for James, letting go of Sean's hand as she separated from her group of friends.
Seeing her coming, James sighed, as if he'd known this was coming, and he was preparing himself for it. He started walking again towards the building, and she fell into step beside him. She didn't say anything for a moment, waiting until they passed out of anyone's earshot. "So, how does it feel to be a little brother?" she asked, deadpan, not sure how else to bring up the subject. She was just glad it wasn't her. She supposed with Brooke, it easily could have been.
Kicking a rock, he kept his gaze on the ground for a minute, shrugging. "Damn me if I don't know. I don't know whether I should hate her because my parents don't or because she could ruin my family, or if I should just be nice to her, or if I should actually treat her like a sister because, like it or not, that's what she is, and I don't even know her, so who am I to pass judgment when her life's been thrown into upheaval just as much as mine has, if not more," he blew out a sigh.
Still, despite the small part of her that wanted her to believe that made sense, most of her disagreed. "All I have to say, if she was my sister, I'd probably be over there kicking her ass right now. She thinks she can just walk in here like she owns the place just because she happens to be a Scott now. She can't. She's still a newbie, and I think she should have to prove herself to us just like anyone else would," she sent Kristine a glare, and then turned and met James's gaze.
Noting his look, she held her hands up in surrender. She knew from the two years she had been friends with him when James disapproved of something she said, even if he knew her well enough to know that she was stubborn. "Alright, alright, moot point, I guess. It doesn't matter anyway. I was just saying what I would do if she was my sister. I wasn't telling you what you should do," she glanced toward Kristine again, who was now standing with her group of friends. "I'll see you later," she said to James.
Without taking her eyes off the brunette who had what she now knew were the Scott blue eyes, Audrey watched as she talked to her friends, like she belonged there, and everyone else seemed to think she fit right it. That vexed Audrey more than anything. She had worked hard since her freshman year, making friends and working her way up to the top. She'd worked hard to be cheer captain this year, and she wasn't about to let this girl take it all from her now.
Knowing that she would have to have more tact than just going over there and kicking her ass, Audrey restrained herself, even if there was nothing more she would like to do. She would have to wait, she knew, and plan this perfectly, if it was going to work out. She'd let Kristine think she was getting in, for now, but she wouldn't allow it. She was going to come up with a plan and take her down. Kristine wouldn't take this from her like she'd taken everything else.
For now, though, in the pretense of playing nice, Audrey sauntered over to her friends, slipping her arm around Sean's waist possessively, ignoring Kristine as if she wasn't there, without making it obvious what she was doing. She started a story every time Kristine tried to say something, and then when the bell rang, she pulled Sean away, though Kristine tried to say bye to him. She pretended that she didn't hear Kristine say bye to her.
As they moved away from the rest of the group, Sean stopped Audrey with a look. She shrugged, putting an innocent look on her face. He realized he should be grateful that she had taken him back despite his jackass tendencies, especially considering what had happened between him and Kristine, but still, that didn't mean he was going to allow Audrey to be a bitch toward Kristine when Kristine didn't even deserve he. He didn't have time to form any sentences, though, before Audrey pecked him on the cheek and departed.
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The rest of the week didn't go any better for Kristine. She was ignored by Audrey a lot, which was beginning to get her ignored by the other girls in Audrey's group as well, and while that didn't bother Kristine that much, the fact that Sean didn't stick up for her did. She knew it was completely ridiculous, but she had thought he might at least stick up for her when his girlfriend was such a bitch. She had told him to get back together with Audrey, though, so she could only blame herself.
Sighing, she entered the house and was glad for the fact that no one was home. She was going to borrow one of James's basketballs and use the half-court in the back yard. She preferred cheerleading to basketball, but since she wasn't a cheerleader at this school, at least she could play some ball to relieve stress, and to try to get her mind off of things, like Sean. She wished she could stop thinking about him, because she knew that wasn't going to happen, ever, but his image wouldn't leave her mind.
A more productive thing to think about, she knew, would be homework, but who wanted to think about homework the first Friday of the school year? It didn't help that she was falling further and further behind by the day, and only the first week had passed. She guessed that being on independent study the past two years hadn't helped her, but she hadn't realized how far behind she would be when she tried to get back into the regular school schedule. She was completely lost in most of her classes, already.
That did not bode well, but she was pretty sure she could at least manage to keep a good enough GPA to graduate, even if it likely wouldn't be enough to allow her to try out for sports or anything this year. The cheer squad was already full, so there wasn't really another sport she would want to do. She could live with being just average enough to get by. She didn't care if she was the best in class or anything. She didn't think she owed anyone else good grades either, so she just didn't care.
So lost in the game, Kristine didn't even notice when James stepped out on the back porch. He stood leaning against the post as he watched her, and when she finally stopped for a drink and noticed him, he continued to stay silent, and she began to wonder what he was thinking, as she stared back at him, trying to connect her impression of him with the fact that he was her brother. He'd pretty much just ignored her for the past week, so she had no idea what he was thinking.
Realizing that the silent staring was getting awkward fast, James cleared his throat, and pushed off of the post. "You're pretty good at that. I guess you really are a Scott," he said, stepping down the steps. He took the ball from her hands, and made a shot, listening at the ball went in with a swish. "I bet you're not better than I am, though," he challenged, and she realized that this was his way of telling her he accepted who she was, and apologizing for the past week of indecision.
Smirking at him, she retrieved the ball, walking to the half court line and tossing it to him. "You're so on," she said as she bent her knees, waiting for him to get in position. "By ones to ten," she declared, and the game began. They played until dark, and neither of them noticed when their father stood at the back window, watching them for a while, or when Haley stepped out on the back porch, until she announced that it was time for dinner, and they needed to get inside and wash up.
As the two teenagers came inside, Haley returned to the kitchen, where Nathan was standing, leaning on the counter. She stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist as she looked up at him. "Well, I guess we have our answer, then. We said we'd wait until the kids decided whether or not they wanted to live together, and then we'd talk to Brooke about Kristine living with us on a more permanent basis. I think that they showed us tonight that they can get along like normal siblings," she said.
Taking a moment to think about it, Nathan pulled her even closer by the waist, and distracted her by kissing her. He ended up being the one who forgot what they were talking about, and when she pulled back and looked up at him with expectant brown eyes, he had to think to remember what she had asked him. "Yeah, I guess we should talk to Brooke tomorrow. We'll call her in the morning and set up a meeting. I think we should meet with her on our own to air things out before we bring Kristine into this," he finally said.
Thinking it over, she nodded her agreement, but before they could continue talking about it, the teenagers were in the kitchen, bringing dinner to the table, and setting it. Haley sent Nathan an impressed look. The past week dinner every night hadn't been a very loud affair. Mostly it had been quiet, eat and run, and neither of the teenagers had been much of a help, because they hadn't really talked to each other. It had been very silent. Haley and Nathan had a feeling tonight would be different.
After Grace was said, Kristine and James started talking about their basketball game, and Nathan joined in, talking about the moves he had seen each of them do, and what he thought they could work on, though he didn't focus on what they did wrong, like Dan had done with him, he talked up some of their best plays, too, and they both shared moves they thought the other one they had done well. Haley, content to just watch, because she knew next to nothing about basketball, smiled contentedly.
Even after the four of them finished eating, the conversation continued, unlike the other days of the week, when both teenagers split as soon as everyone was finished with their food. The talk moved from basketball to school, and this was a conversation Haley could get in on. "So, how was the first week of school for the two of you? I feel like I haven't gotten to talk to either of you all week. Kristine, are you liking Tree Hill High?" she asked.
Shrugging, Kristine looked over at her step mom. "Well, it's okay, I guess. It's just different, going to a public school again, after having been on independent study for so long. I don't want to have to spend my last two years of high school on independent study, though," she paused, knowing that Haley, despite the fact that she had been a rock star in high school, had been very intelligent. "It's kind of hard getting back into the academic part of school. I'm kind of behind right now," she admitted sheepishly.
Nodding slowly, Haley considered the options, but she wasn't sure if Kristine would want her opinion. She wasn't Kristine's mother. She wasn't sure how Kristine viewed her, as the wife of her father, or a potential mother figure. She didn't want to overstep any boundaries. "Well, maybe, if you think you'll have trouble catching up, you can go to a tutor. I know that most of the tutors at Tree Hill love what they do, and they'd probably be a big help," she supplied.
Considering it, Kristine shrugged again, and allowed James to talk about his first week back. She was really thinking about what Haley suggested, she just didn't know if she wanted a tutor or not. She would have to think about it. Maybe if she were able to cheerlead, she would definitely say yes, but since she couldn't, she didn't know if she wanted to bother with a tutor. She tuned into the rest of the conversation, but the thought stayed alive in the back of her mind.
Glad to see his children interacting, and especially glad to see that Haley and Kristine seemed to get along, Nathan was pleased with the evening. He knew that the timid happiness could be destroyed, if Brooke chose to fight it. He didn't know if she would give up her daughter without a fight. She had only reluctantly allowed Kristine to live there while they tried to decide what they all wanted to do. He wasn't sure at all she would make this easy for them.
Seeming to sense where Nathan's mind was, Haley reached over and grabbed his hand, while Kristine and James were debating one of her current teachers, whom James had had in a previous year. She met his gaze and sent him a smile as she squeezed his hand, letting him know that no matter what happened when they talked to Brooke, she didn't want to allow this to ruin her marriage. She could be angry that Nathan had probably cheated on her all those years ago, but she wouldn't be.
It did hurt to know that Nathan had another kid, but she knew that she had to stand by him in this. She knew what kind of person he used to be, but she also knew what kind of person he was now. He wasn't the same guy she had married when she was a junior in high school, and she had changed to. She couldn't hold old sins against him, even if he had never admitted to them. The past was the past. What mattered was now, and now she was going to stand by him.
After dinner, as Kristine was loading the dishwasher and James was taking out the trash, Nathan retreated to his office. Haley knew what he was doing, but knew that he should do it on his own. He picked up the phone and the piece of paper with the number he needed, dialing the number. He listened to three rings before there was a click and a voice said hello. He didn't bother with the greetings, jumping right into the reason for calling. "Brooke, we need to talk," he said.
A/N: So, this chapter didn't have a lot going on, but it was necessary. The next chapter will involve the Naley/Brooke interaction and maybe might throw some Kristine into that mix, depending on how the meeting writes itself. I'm not sure how many other characters will be in the chapter, because this is kind of a big one, where you find out what Brooke's story is and everything. I promise that coming up soon there will be a Leyton/Audrey interaction and Peyton will tell her side of the story, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, to those two, at least. I hope you're excited about that, because I know I am. Let me know what you think of this chapter. I'll try to update sooner if you do. Thanks for the reviews and thanks to the people who read the last chapter. I love all my readers, and especially those of you who review.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.