A/N - Finally another chapter. This is definitely slow and steady…I'm gonna do my best to really get into it though, which should be easier now that most of my coursework is out of the review - let me know what you like, what you don't like, what you'd like to see more of/less of…anything at all!Thanks for being patient with me on this one!

Chapter Six - Censored

I had arranged to meet with Haley before school to talk about the scholarship letter and my plan for my piece on the movie. She had seem preoccupied when I last spoke to her, something about the new principal not wanting Sam's article to be published. She went ahead and published the article anyway, the reaction was unbelievable. There was a respect for Sam now, and of course, Brooke only heightened her reputation around the halls she used to frequent.

Sam was sitting on Haley's desk, fiddling with her cell phone, "Where's Haley?" I asked, sliding my bag off my shoulder and onto my desk.

"Suspended," Sam sighed, "For publishing my article. I didn't mean for anyone to get into trouble."

"You wrote an awesome article and won the competition. Haley believes in you and everyone thought it rocked. It's not your problem if the new principal doesn't like it. Last time I checked, we had the right to free speech?"

Sam had a free period, so she stayed in the class as the rest of my senior class filtered into the room, all wondering where our teacher was. Being seniors, they hadn't bothered sending us a teacher to cover. Haley had left a note on her desk to be read to the class, which I took the liberty of doing, "You have been trusted to get on with the reading and pop quiz I told you about last class. I'll submit a plan for the rest of your classes until I get back. I know I can trust you guys to do this. HJS." I placed the piece of paper back down on the desk, "Mrs James Scott has been suspended for publishing Sam's article in the paper," I explained, "The new principal is trying to censor us. I think after everything that's happened in this school, and in Tree Hill recently, she would realise that we aren't all naïve little kids," I sighed.

"I wrote my article to make a point that life isn't easy," Sam spoke up, "I was just this messed up kid, and Haley and Brooke really took a chance on me. For the first time people were proud of me, but I've just caused more trouble for Haley now. I wrote the article, not her."

My friend Lucy stood at the back of the class and spoke, "You've done nothing wrong Sam. You're article was great. I know I have an easy life, but reading that made me realise how lucky I am to have a family. I couldn't imagine going through what you have been through."

Lucy's words were agreed on by most of my class, and the other classes of Haley's that Sam and I spoke to. Of course, once the principal got wind of our little speeches, it wasn't long before Sam and I were dragged to detention. "Phoenix, do you want to go to college?"

"Yes." I answered,

"And Sam, do you want to stay in high school?"

"Yes."

"Then I suggest that both of you get home and are back in classes tomorrow. And that you stop rallying your peers into a fight against me. I am your Principal, and this school runs by my rules."

"With all due respect," I cut in, "But Tree Hill has had it's share of bad news in the past few years. We aren't immune to death, drugs and all the bad things in the world. If anything, Sam's article showed how Tree Hill High can be a sanctuary, can get people back on track. And that you have teachers that really care, like Mrs James Scott."

"We don't mean to undermine you, we just want our teacher back," Sam added.

I drove Sam back to her house, where unbeknownst to us, Haley and Peyton were hanging out with Brooke. We stood in the doorway, hoping they wouldn't notice how late we were. "What have you two been doing?" Brooke asked, noticing the time.

"Detention," we said in unison.

"Shut up!" Haley laughed, "Nic, you've never had a detention!"I glanced at Sam, "That was your first detention?" she asked, her eyes widening in shock.

"You guys really did have detention, didn't you?" Brooke asked, looking from me to Sam. "Well?" she said, gesturing for us to sit down and explain.

"We just made the point that we thought it was unfair that Haley was suspended," I started,

"And then Phoenix buttered her up by saying how the article shows how the school can be a sanctuary," Sam finished. "It worked out quite well in the end, I mean, she hates us, but we made our point."

Brooke looked over at Haley, "I should be mad Sam got detention, but she was just sticking up for you-"

"-Which they're right, it's totally unfair." Peyton added.

"You can't just start rallying students every time the principal does something you don't like." Haley finished. "But thanks."

I spent the afternoon with Brooke Davis, Peyton Sawyer and Haley James Scott. These three woman crossed paths in high school. There were love triangles, road trips, betrayals, backstabbing, bitch slaps, broken hearts and they were also the best of friends.

In their four years at Tree Hill High, they led three very different lives. Haley James became Haley James Scott, tutor girl, rock star, wife, class valedictorian and mother. Peyton Sawyer dated the star of the basketball team, and then fell for his half brother who was dating her best friend. She was shot in the leg and lost her mother, produced a benefit record and flew off to LA for an internship. Brooke Davis was head cheerleader, class president, party girl, pretty girl, clean teen, fashion designer.

Tutor girl went full circle and became a teacher at Tree Hill High - one of the few the kids actually like.

Brooke Davis returned home for her best friend Peyton Sawyer and opened a boutique, became a mother - twice - and started another fashion line.

Peyton Sawyer came home for Lucas Scott and got her man in the end, and she even found the time to start a record label of her own.

Most important of all these things, is nine years after they started high school, they are still the best of friends.

When you leave high school, go to work, go to college, where do you see yourself in nine, ten years? We're not all going to get a movie made of our time at high school, but I for one know that if I could have half the happiness of the three woman I spent the afternoon with, then I'll be doing just fine.