Disclaimer: I do not own OTH or any of it characters places or such. I am simply borrowing them.
AN/ Here is the next chapter. It is pretty long and it took me all day off and on to write it, but I wanted to get it done as soon as possible. I hope this meets any expectations that you might have for the graduation video. I have to tell you even as I wrote this I laughed and I cried. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for reading and please leave some reviews!
"Hang on" Lucas said as he drove up to the house and tried to pull into the driveway a few minutes later. Reporters ran along side of the car shouting questions. "Are you sure you want to deal with this?"
"Yea, as long as I am with you. I can handle this" Brooke said as she smiled towards him. Lucas smiled also as he put the car into park behind Nathan's rental car also in the driveway. Lucas looked towards the front door as John and Scott came walking out. John came around to his side of the car as Scott went to Brooke's.
Scott opened the door and smiled at Brooke, "Ms. Davis. You seem to be quite the celebrity."
Brooke laughed as she exited the car. Reporters were all around shouting questions towards her as Lucas and John came around to meet them. Lucas reached down and grabbed Brooke's hand as the walked towards the front door.
Haley met them at the door. "Hey guys. Nice to see you"
"It is crazy out there," Brooke said as she and Lucas walked into the house
"Yea, they seem like vultures sometimes" Nathan replied as he flipped channels on the TV
"Alright Nathan" Lucas said switching into older brother mode as he walked towards him
"Before you say anything, Luke. I will tell you like I told everyone else. I wanted to spend our last night together, together. Here at home with my family, this is where I belong."
"Okay" was Lucas's reply
:"That's it? Okay. No lecture about how I should be in the hospital?"
"Nah. I am glad to have you home" Lucas replied
"Glad to see you two made it home okay," Karen said as she walked in from the kitchen, "I ordered some pizza, not sure how it is going to get to us, but I ordered it"
"Don't worry mom. I am sure it will get here" Lucas replied
"Where is everyone else?" Brooke asked
"Scattered amongst the house" Karen answered
"I think Chris and Sam are in Nathan's room admiring the picture wall. They are amazed by it" Haley replied
Just than the doorbell rang, "PIZZA" Meredith yelled as she came running down the hallway
An hour later, everyone was fed and sitting in the living room, all except Meredith and Karen. They had gone into Karen's room to have their own sleepover. Karen had promised Meredith that she could watch as many movies as she could stay awake through. Having all of those people in the living room was a tight squeeze, but they managed. Nathan was still in the old recliner with Haley sitting on it with him. Lucas and Brooke were sitting on the couch with Trent beside them and Peyton, Jake, Theresa, Skills, Mouth, Erica, Chris and Sam had all found comfortable places on the floor. They had been talking about old high school memories, filling Chris, Sam and Trent in on the high school adventures of their siblings.
"I almost forgot, I got something," Mouth said as he got up from his spot next to Erica and walked towards his overnight bag in the dining room. "I brought something," he said as he came walking back toward the group with a tape in his hand
"Is that what I think it is?" Jake asked
"Yep, the tape from graduation. Thank Sam for reminding me about it"
"I wanted to see what you guys were like in high school" Sam replied
"Same way we are now, crazy people" Skills said
The group laughed because they knew it was true.
"And now ladies and gentlemen, may I present, Our graduation video" Mouth said as he pushed play and sat back in his place
The screen came up with Mouth sitting in front of the camera with a huge grin on his face
"Hello, Tree Hill high class of 2006 and hello to anyone else who may be watching this. My name is Marvin McFadden, but my friends call me Mouth. I guess I should tell you that this video does not including a lot of people from our graduating class actually it only includes the people that I was closest too. My best friends. Nathan, Lucas, Jake, Peyton, Theresa, Haley, Skills, Brooke, and Bevin, these are 9 of the best people in the world. We may all be different, but we are family and this has been the best four years of our lives.
Video cuts to Nathan, Luke, Jake and Skills playing basketball for the Ravens as Nathan makes a three-point basket. The camera then swings over to Bevin, Theresa, Peyton and Brooke cheering on the hometown team and then moves to the right of the cameraman to Haley, who is clapping her hands and smiling towards the court.
'Mouth, what are you doing?' Haley says as she turns to look at him, 'Get that thing out of my face. Are you recording? MOUTH'
"That was one of the many games that the guys played for the Tree Hill Ravens. They all moved up to the Varsity pretty quickly. Maybe it is was because we sent so much time here…"
Video cuts to a basketball game at the rivercourt
'Come on guys! What are you wimps? Don't let them beat you!' Peyton yelled from the stands
'Peyt, you are not helping' Lucas said as he tried to block Jake
'Yea, I am. I am helping Nathan'
'A little help Hales' Lucas said as he moved to stop the slam dunk Jake was trying to make
'Nah' Haley replied. She looked from her book to see Jake make the basket and hear the laughter of her friends around. She just smiled towards Lucas
"Ahh, the good old river court." Mouth said as the screen jumped back to him, "How I am going to miss that place. It is the place where the basketball dreams were born. It has always been our home away from home. Of course, we have had our share of embarrassing moments there, like this one. Thanks Theresa"
Video cuts to the river court where Mouth stands at center court with the ball in his hand getting ready to shoot.
'What are you doing?' the whispered voice of Bevin is heard
'He is always taping us. It is payback' Theresa whispered back as Mouth shoots the ball and it goes over the backboard. He runs over to get the ball and goes back to his original position
'You know he is going to be mad when he finds out' Bevin whispers again
'So?'
Mouth shoots the ball again and this time the ball suffers the same fate. Laughter is heard as Mouth turns to look at the bleachers
'Theresa, what are you doing?'
'Nothing'
'Theresa! Give me that' Mouth said as he rushes towards the camera and the laughter continues
"Wait! Stop the video" Theresa yells trying to be heard over the laughter that has engulfed the living room. "Stop the video"
Nathan reaches over push the pause button on the remote on the arm of the recliner, "What's up T?"
"Mouth, you said the other day that you didn't know I was taping until you went to do the video" Theresa said as she looked past Erica towards Mouth
"I didn't know the full extent of what you had taped until I went to do the video. I thought you had just taped me running at you."
"So, why did you use it?" Haley asked, "You could have easily not and we would have never known"
"Because it was funny and it was part of our high school experience. And it showed everyone who didn't know why I didn't play basketball with the rest of the guys" Mouth said laughing
"Yea, It is pretty funny," Skills said
"And this is why I don't play basketball because I suck at it" Mouth said
"We all suck it Mouth well except for the two NBA stars " Peyton said as she looked back and forth between Lucas and Nathan.
"It ain't all it is cracked up to be" Lucas replied, "I miss the river court and just being able to play the game I love. Not having to worry about sponsors, coaches, the media or an image. At the river court, our fans were you guys and no matter how bad we did or how good we did you still loved us the same. We didn't have anyone to impress"
"You did" Nathan replied
"Like who?" Lucas asked
"She is sitting right next to you" Nathan said as Brooke smiled
"Oh, yea. I did want to impress someone. I guess it worked too"
"Maybe just a little bit" Brooke said before reaching up to kiss Lucas
"Oh, guys can you stop with the love fest. I think I am going to be sick," Chris said as Sam slapped him across the arm
"I think it is cute" Sam replied
"You would"
"Look little brother" Sam said jokingly
Nathan and Lucas laughed at the exchange going on between their siblings. It almost mimicked them a few years before.
"Let's get back to the video" Jake said
"Okay" Nathan said as he pushed the play button again
"And there you have it. My most embarrassing moment caught on tape thanks to Theresa. And that is why I don't play basketball. I was not the only one to have an embarrassing moment at the river court though. Here is one that might make me a dead man." Mouth said as he laughed
Video cuts to the river court where Haley, Peyton and Lucas are sitting on the bleachers.
'Mouth, are you ever going to put that camera down?' Peyton asked as she looks towards him
'You never know when something funny is going to happen' Mouth replied from behind the camera
'Like what?' Haley replied
'Like I could stand up on these bleachers here and declare that I am King of the World' Lucas said as he stood from his seat and put his hands above his head.
'Lucas, what are you doing?' Peyton asked
'I told you, I am king of the world' Lucas said as he walked up the bleachers and stood at the top, 'Besides it is not like Mouth is actually taping this'
'Actually I am' Mouth said
'WHAT' Lucas replied before losing his balance and falling off the back of the bleachers
'So much for king of the world' Haley said as she and Peyton laughed and Lucas hid behind the bleachers
"Now that was hilarious!" Haley said as the video cut back to Mouth.
"Yea it was" Nathan said as he reached over to pause the video again, "I though Lucas was going to kill Mouth when he saw this at graduation."
"Good thing S is not near M" Erica said
"Or he would have been a dead man" Lucas said as he laughed.
"You have to admit though. It was hilarious," Mouth added
"King of the world" Brooke said putting her hands above her head as the rest of the group laughed.
Nathan clicked the play button once more as the video began to play again.
"Sorry Lucas." Mouth said as he laughed, "It was too funny not to include. And now for some of our funnier and memorable moments."
The video cut to them sitting in the living room at the Scott house. Everyone was sitting in the living room laughing about something that had been said
'Oh come on guys. Leave poor Haley alone.' Lucas said defending his best friend
'Thanks Lucas' Haley replied
'Come on, Haley singing for us again' Nathan said
'No, you guys are making fun of me because I do sing it and now you want me to sing it again. No'
'Just the chorus' Peyton
'No'
'Come on Hales' Bevin asked
'Fine, but just the chorus. Mouth, I hope you are taping this because this is the last time I will ever sing it'
'Yea, Right, Hales' Lucas said as Haley began singing.
'I don't want to be
Anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
All I have to do
Is think of me and I have peace of mind
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms
Wondering what I've got to do
Or who I'm supposed to be
I don't want to be anything other than me'
When Haley finished everyone clapped and cheered
'Hope you all enjoyed that it was the last time' Haley said
'Oh Haley' Theresa said throwing her arm around her friend
The video cut to the group sitting at a large table in the café drinking hot chocolate. The rain pouring in the background.
'So, Haley how was your night with Boy Toy over there?' Bevin asked
'Oh thanks, Bev. My own girlfriend is calling me Boy Toy now.' Nathan replied before Haley could answer
'You need a nickname Nate, everyone else has one. Haley is tutorgirl, Luke is broody, I am cheery, Antwon is Skills, Marvin is Mouth, Jake is boy band, Peyton is tortured artist, Theresa is T and Bevin is mama' Brooke supplied
'Ok, first off Skills and Mouth are what we have always called them and second, you just made up those name for Bevin, Theresa, Jake and Peyton' Nathan retorted
'So what if I did. You are still going to be Boy Toy' Brooke said causing the group to laugh
The video cuts to the river court where Bevin, Peyton, Haley, and Brooke are playing a game of basketball. Theresa is sitting on the sidelines commentating as Lucas, Nathan, Jake and Skills sat in the bleachers cheering and talking.
'This is what you call reverse' Mouth said behind the camera as Skills stood up
'I can't take it anymore. Okay experiment over.'
'Are you giving in already, Skills?' Bevin asked from the court with the ball in her hands
'YES! Who's idea was this anyway?' Skills asked
'Yours' Theresa supplied and the group started laughing
The video cut to Mouth again, "Those are just some of the fun times that we had these last few years. Some of them were not caught on tape, but they can be replayed as we tell them to others. Before I end this video, there is one last thing I want to share with you.
The video cuts to the group sitting in the Scott living room in their Pajamas. Sleeping bags and pillows are scattered around and a movie is playing on the TV. No one is watching it though.
'You guys are having way too much in here' Keith says as he comes around the corner. Mouth points the camera at him as he continues, 'What is so funny?'
'Nothing Dad' they all saw in unison
'I think they are talking about us again, Keith' Karen says as she comes down the hallway to stand next to her husband
'Now, why would we do that, Mom?' Lucas asked
'Because you have always done it, ever since you were little kids.' Karen answered
'We were just saying how much we love you guys' Peyton replied
'Yea, sure. You guys better go to sleep. Good Night' Karen said as she started to walk away
'Good night guys' Keith said too as he started to walk away
'Good night, mom. Good night, dad' they all said in unison
"And there you have it. Now you know just a little bit more about my family, my brothers, my sisters and my parents. Those people are my best friends. Most of us are going off to college in August, some of are staying behind, but we always know that no matter what, we will always have each other and the times that we shared. Just for fun here are my predictions for the coming years. Nathan" The video cuts to a picture of Nathan in his Raven's uniform after a basketball game, " Nathan he will go on to be a great ball player for the NBA, but he will never forget where comes from and who he is. Lucas" the video cuts to a picture of Lucas at the rivercourt smiling with a basketball in his hand, "Lucas will do one of two things. He will either finish college with a degree or he will go onto the NBA. Either way he will do something that he loves. Jake." The video cuts to Jake sitting in the café during open mic night with a guitar in his hand, "Jake, will continue to play his guitar and sing his heart out. He may not make it big, but he will always be content to play for his home crowd. Skills." The video cuts to Skills sitting at a table in the café with a smile on his face. "Skill is going to whatever the heck he wants to do and no one is going to stop him. He is going to be his own person. Just like he has always been. Peyton," The video cuts to a picture of Peyton in the court yard of the high school a sketch book in front of her, "Peyton will as we all know become a fantastic artist. One day we will all will be able to say that we know the Famous Peyton Sawyer. Theresa" The video cuts to a picture of Theresa after a basketball game still in her cheerleading uniform. "Theresa is going to be the person that we can always come home too. I don't think she will ever leave Tree Hill. This is her home and with any luck by the time we go to our 10-year reunion she will be married to Skills. Bevin" The video cuts to a picture of Bevin at the rivercourt. She was laughing, "Bevin is always going to be someone special to us. She makes us laugh and she does not hold back on anything. Brooke." The video cuts to Brooke at homecoming dance with her crown on her head, "Brooke is always going to be our queen. Our drama queen, date queen, and mostly importantly our reunion queen. She is going to be the one that no matter where we are or what is going on, she is going to make sure that we all get together. Haley "The video cuts to Haley in the tutoring center with a book in her hand, "Haley is my sidekick. The only two bookworms in a group full of jocks. She has always been and will continue to be our teacher. Who knows she may even teach our children some day. Me" The video cuts to a picture of Mouth calling the shot on one of the Raven's basketball games, "I am always going to be a better person because of these people. I know I will leave this town for bigger things, but I will always know where to come home too." The video cuts to a picture of all of them the night of their senior prom. Mouth, Skills, Nathan, Lucas and Jake stood along the back while Haley, Theresa, Bevin, Brooke and Peyton stood in front of them, all were smiling. "No matter where we go or what we do. We will always have each other. And the two people who have influenced our lives and more ways than they know" The video shots to a picture of the ten of them with Karen and Keith, a caption under the picture simply states, "our family"
The TV screen went black.
The group sat silent for a few minutes. Most of the girls had tears rolling down their faces including Sam.
"Mouth" Erica being the first one to speak, "Mouth, that was awesome"
"Yea, I think it means more now then it did at graduation," Theresa added
"It is amazing to me that you guys are all still so close" Sam said, "I only talk to one of my friends from high school and yet you ten have made it through college, careers and life. It is awesome"
"We are a family. A family that was started in the play pen 26 years ago. We just keep adding to it" Peyton said
"If you really think about it. This all started because our parents went to high school together. It is family tradition." Haley added
"A tradition that we plan on carrying on" Peyton said as she placed her hand on her stomach.
"I vote Skills and Theresa next to have a kid" Lucas said jokingly.
When neither Skills nor Theresa responded with a wise crack, Trent who had been quiet the entire night looked at his sister, "T?"
"Looks like there is going to be a little us running around" Theresa said with a growing smile.
"Oh my gosh. You guys!" Brooke said as she got off the couch and hugged Theresa, "When did you find out?"
"Yesterday. We didn't want to say anything with everything going on" Skills replied
"Congratulations guys!" Mouth said slapping Skills on the back
"Trent?" Theresa said as she looked towards her older brother who had yet to speak another word.
"I am going to be an uncle!" Trent said excitingly with a huge smile on his face as he got up from the couch and pulled Theresa into a hug.
The group laughed. This was a night to remember. The last night they would all be together for awhile. They had cried, laughed and just enjoyed being together. No one wanted the night to end. But as the saying goes, All good things come to an end. They would leave each other starting tomorrow, but they would never leave each other's hearts.
AN:/ Song used in this chapter is "I don't want to be" by Gavin Degraw. It belongs to the songwriters and I don't own it. Just using it