"Class settle down," the teacher called out. The class reluctantly stopped talking and sat looking expectantly towards the front of the classroom. Haley came through the door breathless; she had been running late and then had to meet with her guidance counselor before she could begin to find her way around the crowded and confusing hallways. She took a deep breath before making her presence known to the rest of her classmates or her teacher, with the way the day began, she just knew it was gonna suck.
"Sorry I'm late, it's just…" Haley spoke up when the teacher glanced in her direction.
"Have a seat and let's not make this a habit," He sternly said. She glanced around the room and found an empty seat and fell into it before she had a chance to see who she was sitting next to. "Ok so before the interruption," He said pointedly towards Haley, who slumped farther down in her seat, "I was about to tell you that I am Mr. Ryan and this is algebra 2."
As Mr. Ryan went off on his speech about how much fun math could be and what they would learn this semester she studied her schedule. Algebra 2, AP History, AP English, Lunch, Gym, Study Hall, and finally tutoring. When the principle had asked her what extracurricular activities she wanted to participate in she explained to him that she had be a tutor at her old school and he was pleased to tell her of an opening at the tutor center so she jumped at the opportunity.
With her eyes fixed on her schedule, someone from behind her threw a piece of paper and it landed right in front of her. Without glancing backwards she opened it, Hey New Girl! Stalking me? She looked behind her and two seats back sat none other than Nathan Scott, he wasn't looking at her, didn't even make an effort to tell her he had wrote the note, but looking around the room she hadn't met anyone else. So she scribbled, You should feel honored that you get to see me so much :). She passed it to the guy behind her who handed it to Nathan, she glanced back in time to see him smirk and look up at her and wink.
It felt like the bell rang ten minutes later, and she stood happily to talk to Nathan, but when she turned he was gone and her smile fell, "Don't get too attached," A girl said gathering her things beside her.
"What?" Haley asked confused.
"Nathan," She said pulling her tote over her shoulder and smiling genuinely at Haley.
"I wasn't…"
"Right," She said sarcastically, "I saw the note and then the smile that you had plastered to your face for the rest of class. It was the I love Nathan Scott smile." She laughed when Haley began blushing, "I'm Brooke Davis."
She stuck out her hand and Haley reluctantly took it, "Haley James."
"Your new here?"
"How'd you know?"
"I know everyone in this town, that's what happens when you are born and raised in the same place." She chuckled, "So what do you have next?"
"AP History," Haley replied looking down at her schedule.
"Eww," Brooke said scrunching up her nose, "You and I obviously won't be in any other classes."
Haley laughed, "I really like school."
"If you keep saying things like that we may not even be friends," Brooke said laughing. "So let me give you the 411 on my friend Nathan Scott, he is the biggest player in school. Has never dated a girl longer than 2 weeks," Haley looked at her as if she were insane, "You think I'm joking, but seriously…14 days. That was with me," She grinned, "But we knew it wasn't gonna last."
Haley raised her eyebrows shocked by this girl's honesty, "Wow. But really I don't like him."
"HA!" Brooke grinned even wider, "Every girl in school who hasn't been scarred by him likes him. Hell I'd date him again…hmm…on second thought no I wouldn't, but you get my point." Haley shook her head and followed Brooke into the crowded hallway, "My best friend is currently trying to get him to ask her out and make it to day 15. We have a bet going on, whichever girl in our group who can get to day 15 wins."
Haley's mouth dropped open, "That's just wrong."
Brooke shrugged, "He's done worse, plus it's not like he would care. He won't let any girl get that close." Brooke stopped quickly in front of a classroom, "So Haley James here is your next class…thank god you met me so you wouldn't be late again."
"Thanks…"
"See ya!" Brooke waved and left her standing there.
"How's your first day going?" Lucas asked when Haley beamed seeing he was in her English class.
"A lot better now," Haley said laughing, "So remind me that after this hellish day is over I'm gonna kill you."
"Why?" He asked leaning towards her.
"For throwing me out there with those people." She said shocked that he didn't remember.
Lucas laughed slightly, "Hales, you really need family and they seem nice."
"That's not for you to decide," she looked at him, "But since you're my only friend in this school I'll forgive you just this once."
The two smiled, "Alright I get it."
"So do you have any classes with your brother?"
"Not yet, thank god," He said under his breath, "But if I hear the name Nathan Scott again I think I'm gonna kill myself."
"Nathan's your brother?" she gulped hard, she couldn't believe that she hadn't made the connection earlier, it just seemed that Scott was such a common name.
"Yea, you met him?"
She knitted her eyebrows contemplating what to say, "Nope, just never knew his name." Before Lucas could say anything class began.
Once the bell rang for lunch the Haley's classmates sprang to their feet excited for the time they get to spend catching up with the friends they hadn't seen all summer. Haley wasn't too peppy or excited. She slowly got her things gathered, "Hurry up," Lucas said impatiently.
She smiled up at him, grateful that they had become fast friends and that he was willing to wait for her, "Are you sure I'm not going to bother you?"
He looked at her like she was a idiot, "The only thing bothering me right now is the fact that you are taking your time and all the lunch lines are going to be long."
She stood up and threw her backpack over her shoulder, "Ok I'm ready." He led her down the hallway and out into the court yard, she glanced around noticing the different groups spread out.
Tree Hill was like any other high school, you had your jocks together talking about the upcoming seasons, while the cheerleaders watched on dreamily. A few tables down were the wannabes and so on. What she didn't see was the nerd table. Biting her lip she glanced at the jock table and spotted Nathan Scott immediately, he was by far the best looking guy in school, "Hales," Lucas began. She snapped her head around and noticed that they had stopped in front of a table of guys. She hopped Lucas hadn't seen her staring, "These are some of my friends, Skillz, Mouth, Jake, and Fergie."
"Hi guys," She said with a small wave, "Interesting names."
They all laughed and invited her to sit down, "So where you from?" Skillz spoke up.
"Charleston," She said with a heavy accent.
"Ahh, so what beings you to our small town?" Mouth asked her.
"Long story that will probably be to boring to tell ya'll." Once lunch was over, Haley knew she had made four new friends, and she smiled realizing that she was gonna make it at the school.
As she headed for her gym class she looked around for those familiar blue eyes, and found none. She was thankful that it was the first day of class and she wouldn't have to dress out just yet. Once she found her way into the gym she looked around at all the girls sitting among the bleachers chatting, no one she knew.
She strolled along the bleachers taking her time to pick who she wanted to sit, deciding to make her way to the middle and sit by herself for the moment. The doors swung open with a bang, "Tell me why we have to be in this class," a loud voice called out, "I mean should cheerleading count?"
A laugh echoed threw the noisy gym, "That's not a class though."
"It should be." Haley fumbled with her bag and looked down the row, "Haley!" Haley smiled hearing Brooke's voice call her. She did know someone in the class, but her smile soon faded when she saw who her friend was. Her sister looked at her through narrowed eyes, "I'm glad you're in here. Peyton Sawyer this is Haley James. She's new here, and Peyton is my best friend."
Haley smiled at Brooke as she tossed her bag down and took a seat next to Haley, "Look Brooke," Peyton said still standing, "Bevin and Teresa are over there, lets go sit with them."
"Oh God," Brooke said sinking down and pulling Peyton down, she landed on her bottom and leaned in to find out what Brooke was whining about, "Bevin is annoying the shit out of me. I mean really all I told her was that she was not gonna make it to the competition because she sucked at the routine. Now all she wants to do is show me that she's practicing."
"What's wrong with that? She's dedicated." Peyton said sitting up.
"No. She's on the verge of stalking…I mean who interrupts someone on a date to show them that they can now do a simple flip?" Brooke glanced at Haley who was watching the interaction with an amused look on her face, "Were you a cheerleader at your old school?"
Peyton stifled a chuckle, "Obviously she was a loser at her old school."
"P-Sawyer!" Brooke exclaimed.
"It's ok," Haley said and then smiled, "No I wasn't a cheerleader."
"Well don't worry tryouts are coming up and I'll help you."
"No thanks…I really don't want to…"
"I'm not taking no for an answer," Brooke said and Haley just shut her mouth, "It's settled then. Peyton and I will help you; it's the least we can do since tryouts are in less than a month."
"Really it's not necessary…"
"I saw you with that hottie today!" Brooke said changing the subject to her other favorite topic.
Haley noticed Peyton roll her eyes, "Who was she with?" She said holding back her laughter.
"Uh…only the Lucas Scott," Brooke said putting her hand over her heart sighing at the thought of him.
"Nathan will love hearing you say that." Peyton replied.
Brooke knitted her eyebrows at her friend, "Give me a break. Nathan and I are friends and that's where that ends. Lucas on the other hand seems like he would be amazing in bed. Don't you think Haley?"
"Um…I'm sorry but EW," Haley made a face and both girls cracked up laughing, "He's an amazing guy and a great friend but I'm just not into him like that."
"MmmHmm," Brooke said like she had a secret, "All I know is that he left last year looking tall and lanky and so not hot and came back this year, with oh! So many muscles and that broody look…MMmmm." She ended her sentence like she was looking at a delicious dinner put in front of her.
"OK!" An old man cleared his throat coming inside the gym, "Quiet down ladies."
"Why are you here Whitey?" Brooke called down.
"Welcome back miss Davis. I was just about to explain that your previous teacher passed away two weeks ago and they have yet to find a replacement. So in the meantime we are combining the boys and girls classes." Haley smiled as she heard cheers from the girls, "It will not be social hour!" He demanded unsuccessfully.
"Are we sharing a locker room too?" The girl that Peyton had pointed out as Bevin called down.
Whitey's nostrils flared at the uncontrollable class, "NO! Today just sit tight and tomorrow you will change into your gym clothes and meet over in the guys gym 10 min after the bell has rang. We will start with basketball." HE smiled when the girls moaned and groaned, "Have a lovely day ladies."
"Well at least we will be surrounded by hotties," Brooke said looking on the bright side. She stood up and pulled her bag over her shoulder.
"Where are you going?" Peyton asked her.
"Whitey's not coming back, let's ditch for the last half of class." Peyton followed suit and Brooke glanced expectantly towards Haley, "Coming new girl?"
"Oh no…really I shouldn't…I mean I have to go to the tutor center."
Brooke knitted her eyebrows, "You've never ditched before?" Haley shook her head, "And you seem smart why the tutor center?"
"You're looking at Tree Hill High Schools newest tutor."
"Alright tutor girl, your loss but where do you want to meet so we can practice for tryouts?"
"I've gotta work tonight."
"Ok then what about tomorrow?"
"Sure…whatever we can decide tomorrow."
"Bye tutor girl." Haley smiled and waved towards Brooke as she flipped around, Peyton just glared at Haley, but she never let her smile fade.
"Why are you being nice to her? She's such a loser," Peyton loudly whispered to Brooke.
"She is not and you're just threatened," Brooke said, these girls obviously didn't know how to whisper.
"Why would I be threatened?" Peyton asked shocked that she would say such a thing.
"Because I like her and so does your precious Nathan."
"Nathan would not like her," Peyton said laughing. Haley didn't hear anymore because of the bang of the heavy door.
"Oh sister you better get ready, because it's on now," Haley whispered to herself.