Authors Note: Hey everybody! For those who've read the prologue, I hope you liked it! Thank you for the nice comments! Now, the prologue is going to be the only first person point of view thing. The rest from here on out are going to be third person. Please, give me some of your personal opinions to make this story better. And again comment any characters you want to see or any characters you want to put it! Sorry for any typos! :( Ciao! - Ellie :)

Summary: Meet the James sisters. Popular, drop-dead gorgeous, smart, and happy. That is until their parents relocate from Chicago, Illinois to a small town in North Carolina. Now their lives are turned upside down. And it turns out, getting to the top of the food chain is a lot harder at their new school. The James sisters have stuck together through everything that's threatened to ruin them, but will this one town change everything? Will they be able to make it through the obstacles now that they are on their own at school? Couples Naley, Brucas, and Jeyton.

Chapter One

"Once a James Girl, Always a James Girl"

The long flight from Chicago to Charlotte was really starting to get on Brooke's nerves. She could never seem to stay seated or still, especially when she was bored. The flight was like the third longest of her life, first place belonging to the summer vacation in California and the second for their cousin Erin's wedding. Then she had to sit in the car for God knows how long until they reached Tree Hill. This was going to be the worst first day in North Carolina ever.

"Brooke, why do you keep moving?" Lydia chided her daughter. "I understand this is uncomfortable, but you need to sit still."

"Sorry, Mom." Brooke replied, bouncing her knee up and down. "You are right; this is uncomfortable. But I'm anxious and nervous and scared. I mean, I'll adjust pretty quickly, but like, what if people at Tree Hill think I'm not pretty enough?" Her eyes widened when she said that. "Oh, my God! Do you think that could actually happen?! What if I'm not popular?! What if there aren't any cheerleaders?! My life will be over before my first actual week at school!"

"Brooke, darling. You're already pretty enough. Gorgeous. Beautiful. Whatever they say doesn't matter. And besides, from what I heard from Haley's friend, or pen pal, or whatever, Tree Hill is a small town obsessed with basketball. So, I am sure there is a cheerleading squad. Don't forget kiddo, you'll always be popular. To your sisters and to me. You've got cool points from me." Lydia smiled. "Oh, did I ever tell you the story where I was voted most popular cheerleader at my high school?"

"Oh, my God." Brooke muttered. "Um, Mom?" Lydia looked over at her daughter. "No offense, but there aren't things called 'cool points'."

"In my book there are." Lydia responded. "Anyways-"

"What's Mom about to tell us?" Peyton asked, shifting in her seat to try and get more comfortable. One look at Brooke's face said it all. "Oh. You're retelling us about your days in high school getting voted as the most popular cheerleader." Rubbing her eyes, Peyton sat up and looked at her mother. "You've told us a million times, Mom. I'm 99.9% sure I can recite it from memory."

"I'm sorry, girls. I thought it was interesting for you to learn about my high school days." Lydia answered defensively.

"Well, don't you have any other high school stories?" Brooke asked, tilting her head to the side. Some of her long locks got into her face and she brushed them back, placing them in one of her bobby pins.

"Let's see." Lydia mumbled as she mentally browsed through her mind. "Oh, did I tell you about the time I bitch-slapped my best friend?"

"No!" Peyton and Brooke cried excitedly. "Spill!"

"Okay, so I was dating this guy. He was the quarterback of the football team and his name was Justin Peterson. My best friend at the time, Mandy Greene, liked him too. Though she never said it straight to my face she liked him, but I could tell by the look that crossed her face whenever he was with me. I never knew they were sneaking around behind my back, screwing each other when I was too busy to hang out with them. One night, after they won the state championship game, both of them were drunk. And Mandy and I had gotten into a fight on the way to the party." A small smile was planted on Lydia's face. "She was drunk and angry. So she stood on the coffee table and ended up yelling that she screwed Justin. I was so pissed. I basically walked up to her, got on the coffee table, and slapped that bitch hard."

"Damn, Mom." Peyton whistled. "I didn't know you had that in you."

"Where do you three think you got the amazing bitch-slap skills?" Lydia asked her daughters incredulously.

"I have no clue what you're talking about, Mom." Haley stated, looking up from her book.

"Haley Bob James, do not try to act innocent. Don't think I didn't see you bitch-slap Regina Donaldson at the spelling bee." Lydia informed Haley.

"That skank deserved it. She practically accused me of cheating." Haley answered, looking at her sisters for confirmation.

"Hales is right." Brooke said and Peyton nodded in agreement.

"I also bitch-slapped Kathryn." Haley said. Lydia snickered.

"Oh, the joy. We've finally landed." Brooke stated. Soon, they group of four were headed to the luggage claim and grabbed their bags. "Haley, you said your friend or pen pal or whatever is taking us to Suck Hill, right?"

"It's Tree Hill, Brooke. And yes, Lucas is going to drive us." Haley answered, shaking her head. "Look for someone with a sign or something. He's blond, tall, lean, and has blue eyes."

"Is that him?" Brooke asked, motioning to a boy with a lean build, blond hair, blue eyes, and a sweatshirt that read 'Keith's Auto Shop'.

"Lucas Scott?" Haley called. The boy turned and smiled.

"Are you Haley James?" He asked.

"Yes! I'm so happy I've finally gotten to meet you! Oh, this is my mother Lydia James. And my two sisters, Peyton and Brooke."

"Hi." Brooke said, cheerfully. "I hear you like literature."

"Yeah, I do." Lucas answered, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "You're the fashion designer, right?"

"Yup." Brooke stated proudly. Damn is he hott, Brooke thought. "Anyways, do you live in Su- I mean Tree Hill?"

"Uh-huh. I'll show you to your classes when you finally start school." Lucas offered.

"Thanks, Lucas." Peyton said. "Now can we please leave. I hate airports."

Lucas nodded and helped them put their stuff in the trunk. He opened the car doors for the girls who politely thanked him.

"I think we're going to like Tree Hill." Lydia told her daughters, twisting her body to look at them.

Her words went unnoticed to her three daughters who were currently bickering.

"I'm serious, Traitor Girl." Brooke was saying. "If you make us look like fools on the first day, I'll beat you. And this time I'll be going to jail, Jailey."

"Ugh, I hate my name." Haley complained. "I promise, I won't make us look like fools."

"Why are you calling Haley Jailey?" Peyton asked Brooke.

"Remember when Suburban Filth stole my designs and we took them back?" Peyton nodded. "Well, the bitch ratted on me to the cops and Haley and us got arrested. Oh, and when she slapped the one chick. And the other chick. And our nanny."

"Oh, my God. That was so embarrassing." Haley said, shaking her head.

"Hales, you got arrested?" Lucas asked, laughing.

"Yeah. Hence the nickname Jailey." She shook her head yet again. "I am so unloved in this family."

"Well, you've been in jail more than us, Stoner Girl." Brooke chirped.

"If I remember correctly, Brooke. You and Peyton made her those pot brownies." Lydia said.

"Pot brownies?!" Lucas exclaimed. "Damn, you raised your daughters right." All of them burst out laughing at the image of Haley eating pot brownies.

"Are we almost there yet?" Haley demanded.