Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters, ideas and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 4:
Locker Room, Tree Hill High.
Lucas was walking along the hallway making his way over to the locker room, when he heard a familiar voice shout out, "Uh, son!"
Lucas turned around shocked at seeing Dan there holding a gym bag and looking at him with wide eyes; Dan cursed himself mentally, he didn't know it was Lucas he yelled out to.
Trying to cover the awkward moment, Dan said in a voice of forced calm, "Give this to my boy, would you?" handing over the gym bag, he doesn't even wait for a response before leaving to the gym.
Lucas was left staring at the back of Dan, surprise the main emotion on his features.
"Don't let him take it," Lucas turned around to see Jake. "Your talent, that is. It's all yours."
As Jake took the gym bag from Lucas, Lucas chuckled, "You remind me of someone."
"Let me guess, Valerie," Jake smirked at Lucas who looked surprised again.
"How do you know Val?"
"Oh she came by yesterday to the locker room, put a leash around Tim and threated Nathan for what he said to you in class. Your sister has got spunk huh," Jake chuckled admirably.
"Yeah, well she won over Whitey too, he called her a spitfire," Lucas laughed.
Chuckling, Jake walked into the locker room and handed over the gym bag to Nathan. Lucas stared one last time at the direction Dan disappeared off to, slightly upset. Shaking his head at what Valerie would have done to him if she knew he was upset over Dan, he smirked and went to put over his jersey before pausing suddenly.
Looking at the word 'SCOTT' on the back, he remembered Valerie's words from the River Court; don't let him rule your life.Lucas knew the problem was that he felt scrutinized and pressured by the Scott name, it being from Dan, but Val was right.
And so, he ripped it off, Dan wasn't going to rule his life anymore.
###THE SCOTT SISTER###
Gym, Tree Hill High.
Valerie walked into the gym, taking a seat near Whitey she waved at him, sending him a thumbs up and he smirked back. Then Dan passed by her, sitting in the seat behind her without even noticing.
Deciding to have some fun, she turned and put on her bubbly smile, "Mr. Scott, hi!"
Upon noticing that his … daughter, sat in front of him, he gaped, "Uh, hi," not used to Karen's children being nice to him due to his relationship with Lucas.
"Valerie?" looking up, Valerie noticed her Uncle Keith and her mother; acting nonchalant she stood up and gave Keith a hug.
"Valerie Lucretia! What are you doing here?" growled Karen. Dan wasn't used to seeing Karen so mean before and he was slightly baffled, but played it off, keeping his eye on Nathan who had yet to come out from the locker rooms.
"You have to be more specific mother, are you talking about the game? Or Tree Hill?" asked Valerie pleasantly.
"Both, young lady!" replied Karen.
"Hmm, I'm here for Lucas. Now I'd ask you the same thing … I mean pardon me, but didn't you miss your son's first game?" snapped Valerie.
"Val-"Keith began to say, but Valerie interrupted him by cheering Lucas as he had just come out, leaving Dan to stare at his unknown daughter in shock.
"GO! LUCAS!"
Dan looked up at the same time Lucas' back was turned. He stared in shock and was slightly upset when he noticed that Lucas had ripped out the 'SCOTT' name from his jersey. Valerie however, began laughing loudly, snickering, "Priceless!"
-Time Skip-
[Announcer:] Unbelievable! Lucas Scott with the three-pointer at the buzzer, and the Tree Hill Ravens are still undefeated! And I tell you what, if you're going to play the Ravens this season, you better take note, there is a new Scott in town!
###THE SCOTT SISTER###
Two days later, Gym, Tree Hill High.
Valerie knew Lucas was hiding something from her, call it the twin thing, but she knew her brother, and she could tell that ever since last game he's been distracted and broodier than ever.
She knew that she couldn't push Luke to talk, so she decided to go to the other guy, the one that knew everything; Coach Durham. However, as she was making her way over to the gym, she overheard Nathan and Tim talking.
Creeping silently, thankful that she wasn't wearing heels, she tried to make out what they were saying without being seen.
"So, what happens if we haze this guy and he doesn't go away?" she heard Tim ask. She knew they were talking about Lucas, and it made her blood boil.
"With what I've got planned, he will," said Nathan confidently and a bit smug.
"But what if he doesn't?" asked Tim yet again.
"If he doesn't, I've got a backup plan," replied Nathan, and she could tell he was smirking.
Deciding that she had heard enough, she tailed back to her car and drove away, hatching her own plan.
Back in Cali, she was the most popular girl in school and head of the cheerleading squad, so she knew exactly what hazing was, and she was not happy that they were making her brother suffer, mocking him and trashing his stuff.
Nathan Scott was going to find out why nobody messed with the ones she loved.
###THE SCOTT SISTER###
After school, Scott House.
Dressed in jeans mini-shorts and a snug plain black t-shirt, Valerie walked over to the front door and rang the bell. She only had to wait a few seconds before the door opened, looking up to see none other than a shocked Dan Scott.
"Mr. Scott, is Nathan home?" asked Valerie politely.
"May I ask what you need him for?" asked Dan, he didn't like where this was going, he didn't want his son befriending Karen's children.
"You may, but I'm not required to answer. It's personal," said Valerie in clipped tones.
"Look… Valerie, you seem like a nice girl, but we don't want anything to with you or your brother," Dan watched as her face turned from polite and bubbly to a dark, menacing look, and he remembered for a moment Whitey's words.
"Thanks for the – compliment Mr. Scott. Believe me, I didn't come here for a family reunion," she sneered, "Now, you can either call Nathan or I'll just stand by his car and wait all day if I have to. The choice is yours."
She was tough, he'll give her that, and she clearly wasn't intimidated by him at all. Before Dan could say anything, Nathan's voice echoed around them, "Valerie?"
"Oh, goodie, just the one I had been asking for. I came to ask about your hearing aid," when Dan and Nathan looked bewildered, Valerie said, "You know, because I recall telling you to stay away from my brother, yet I find out you're hazing him."
Dan was surprised to see his son look a bit fearful of the tiny girl. Groaning, Nathan said, "I can't believe he told you, what a crybaby."
A look of dark amusement passed over Valerie's features as she said, "Oh, Luke didn't tell me a thing. You and Tim should really watch how loud you speak when anyone could be passing by and overhear you," she snapped.
"Oh. What do you want?" demanded Nathan. Dan watched the whole scene take place since both of them seemed to have forgotten he was there.
"I considered beating the living daylights out of you, but that won't be fair; even though you're an ass, I don't think you would hit a girl. So … basketball, game to 11, I win you leave my brother alone!" growled Valerie.
"You play?" spluttered Dan, making himself known.
"You mean cuz I'm a girl?" asked Valerie, looking more amused than insulted.
"You're on. But if I win, then Lucas leaves the team," said Nathan.
Dan and Nathan watched in plain shock as Valerie didn't even bat an eye, "Deal!"
They made their way over to the basketball net; Nathan passed the ball over to Valerie and said, "I feel it's only fair that you start," he smirked.
Giving back a smirk of her own, Valerie barely looked at the net as she scored a three-pointer, enjoying the flabbergasted looks etched on Dan and Nathan's faces, "Rule number one, never underestimate your opponent," before scoring another three-pointer.
Three minutes later, Valerie won 11-4.
"Whew, that was invigorating, I seem to be a bit rusty, haven't played in a while," said Valerie ignoring the dumbfounded Scotts as she made her way to her car. Before climbing into the car seat, she yelled cheerfully, "It was nice seeing you Mr. Scott. Nathan, let's not do this again. Toodles."
"What the hell was that?" Nathan gaped.
"That, son, was a girl handing your ass," snapped Dan making his way to the house, shaking his head at his- at Valerie, that girl was an enigma to him.
###THE SCOTT SISTER###
Nathan's room, Scott House.
Nathan couldn't believe how Valerie just trashed him; if girls were allowed to play in the Ravens then they would be unbeatable.
Shaking his head he called the guys to cancel on wrecking the River Court, he wasn't stupid enough to go back on his word with Valerie.
But, she said to leave Lucas alone, she didn't say anything about Haley. If hurting Haley, hurts Lucas it wasn't completely his fault as it was indirect.
Smirking to himself, he dialed Karen's Café, and after two rings she answered.
"I'm calling for Haley James."
"Yeah, this is her," answered Haley.
"Hey, its Nathan Scott, um, I really need your help."
"Sorry, this isn't her!" snapped Haley, closing the line on his face.
Nathan stared at his phone angrily, before hanging up. He'll just have to ask her again tomorrow to tutor him until she gave in.
###THE SISTER SCOTT###
Three days later, Gym, Tree Hill High.
Valerie is cheering her head off for Lucas as she sat next to Haley in the bleachers, ignoring her mother who sat a few seats away next to Uncle Keith. Karen and Valerie reached an impasse, and she wasn't going to talk to her mother until she stopped harassing her to go back to California.
Valerie watched in amusement as Nathan yelled at Tim for passing the ball to Lucas.
The audience started to flitter out as the game ended and Valerie ran over to Lucas, jumping into his arms as he twirled her around happily.
Karen walked over to them and ignoring Valerie, she said, "So are you excited?"
"What? That we won?" asked Lucas, nudging Valerie to play nice.
"No, because there's running water in the locker room. We're gonna be roughing it until tomorrow," joked Karen.
"You know you guys are welcome to use the water at my place until you get the water running," said Valerie nicely as they passed Dan, a blonde woman and Nathan.
Lucas beamed at her, but Karen glared and said, "No thank you! We will do with what we have. I'm really disappointed with you Valerie, you should go back to California."
Valerie glared at Karen before shouldering past her and walking away.
"Nice mom, really nice," snapped Lucas, going to run after Valerie, but Karen held his wrist in place.
"Leave her! She belongs in California Luke, I'm only doing this because I care," pleaded Karen.
"Well you have a funny way of showing it," shouted Lucas, leaving his mother behind to look for Valerie.
Valerie sat by the hood of her car, dialing and redialing her boyfriend, but he wasn't answering the phone. She really needed to talk to someone; she put up a strong front in front of her mother, but it really hurt when she kept telling her to go away and that she wasn't welcome here.
She missed her friends, she missed her grandparents and she missed her boyfriend.
She sniffled again, wiping her tears roughly from her face as she tried dialing her boyfriend again.
Lucas walked up to Nathan who stood with Dan and a woman who looked to be his mother; not caring that he was approaching his enemy and Dan, he asked, "Did any of you see Valerie?"
"No, what did you lose your leash?" snapped Nathan.
"Nathan! Don't be rude!" shouted Deb in disbelief, looking at Dan for support but he merely avoided eye contact, as he noticed a figure pacing around a familiar car.
"She's there by her car," was all Dan said.
Lucas looked up and as he saw her he breathed out in relief, as he went to run over to her, he heard his mother call out from behind, "Lucas! Don't you dare walk away from me!"
"What mom, I gotta go to Val after what you did," Lucius glared at her.
"And you had to ask Dan?" Karen snapped back in disbelief.
"ANSWER YOUR DAMN PHONE!" they heard Valerie scream. All five of them turn to watch as Valerie threw her phone into the car seat and broke down into small sobs.
"Look what you did mom! You don't know how much you're hurting her," said Lucas going to her, but again Karen stopped him.
"Luke you're making a scene, just leave her. Now she'll finally go back to California and be happy," said Karen softly.
"You're insane," Lucius shook his head.
Dan watched the whole scene in shock, he felt so uncomfortable and wanted nothing more than to leave, "Deb, Nathan let's go." Leaving Karen and Lucas to their argument, they began walking over to their car, which was parked a few spots away from Valerie, when they heard someone come up to them.
"Hey, excuse me? You wouldn't happen to know where I might find a Valerie Scott do you?"
They turned to see a tall, handsome man who looked to be around twenty, with a lean and toned body, tanned skin, blonde hair and sea green eyes.
"Uh, yeah man, she's over there," Nathan pointed out to a still crying Valerie.
"Thanks man," the guy flashed him a quick smile as he made his way over to Valerie.
"Now why would a pretty girl like you be crying out here all alone?"
Valerie froze at the familiar voice she had been so desperate to hear, turning around, her red rimmed eyes bugged out, and a shaky smile came over her face, "Ryan?"
"Hey babe," Ryan Lahote smiled.
"Oh my god Ryan!" she squealed, running over to him, he laughed and held his arms out, catching her as she jumped into him and he twirled her around, placing one hand through her hair from the back of her head.
"Why weren't you answering your phone? I needed you," she pouted.
"Can't a guy want to surprise his girl?" Ryan teased. Valerie giggled, before capturing his mouth with hers in a searing kiss that started turning passionate. His arms snaked over her waist, and he leaned her body against her car as he began kissing her heatedly.
"Well, I guess I don't need to cheer her up anymore, ugh gross, I don't need to see that," mumbled Lucas walking past the three dumbfounded Scotts.
Nathan tore his eyes away, not wanting to see Valerie making out with her boyfriend; he followed Lucas and said, "Look, team's got a party tonight. My parent's beach house."
"Why are you telling me that?" asked a confused Lucas.
"Because I said the team, didn't I? Look, it's kind of the season. Might as well deal with it," stated Nathan before walking away to his car.
"Valerie Scott, Dan?" asked Deb angrily.
Dan snapped his eyes away from his … Valerie and her boyfriend kissing, not liking the fact that someone was touching her that way, no matter how much he tried squashing that feeling away. He looked at Deb and said, "Don't start with me Deb, I just found out about her existence a week ago."
Deb fished the car keys out and gave them to Dan, "What?"
"Yeah, can you believe that? Apparently, Lucas has a twin sister, and Karen hid her away in California for twelve years," said Dan indignantly.
"Oh my god," gasped Deb. "That's terrible. Karen doesn't look happy that she's back."
"Not my problem," said Dan, tearing his eyes away from the mirror so that he wouldn't have to see Valerie with the boy as he drove away from the parking.
###THE SCOTT SISTER###
"Ryan what are you doing here in Tree Hill?" asked Valerie.
"Does there have to be a reason for me wanting to see my sexy and amazing girlfriend?" Ryan chuckled fondly, playing with a few strands of her golden hair before placing it behind her ear.
They were sitting in the living room in Roe House, with Valerie sitting on the sofa, her back leaning into Ryan's stomach and his hands were looped around her waist.
"Hmm, not really, but you forget how much I know you. I can read you like a book Ry. We've known each other since I was five," said Valerie seriously, her head tilted so she could look into her boyfriend's sea green eyes.
Ryan pouted, "Blame the grandparents."
"Spill boyfriend," Valerie giggled.
Valerie and Ryan's grandparents were very good friends, and ever since Valerie was five, the Lahote's would bring over their grandson who was four years older than her to keep her company and they became friends. When Valerie turned fourteen, their feelings changed from best friends to lovers and Ryan asked her out. Both their families were thrilled and Rose Roe and Jane Lahote, Ryan's grandmother, began planning their future wedding.
Even when Ryan left for college to play ball at Duke, they stayed strong; but Valerie had always been able to read Ryan like a book, and likewise.
Sighing audibly, Ryan patted Valerie's thigh and said, "I've been offered to play for the NBA."
"Oh my god, Ry! That is amazing news, it has always been your dream!" squealed Valerie, interlacing both arms around Ryan's neck. Looking at Ryan, she noticed something was bothering him, "What's wrong? Why aren't you happy?"
"That's not it Val, I'm ecstatic, the problem is … I'm going to be busy with games and I won't be able to see you for a long time … I need to focus on playing ball and building my future."
Slowly, Valerie unfolded her arms from Ryan, "I get it," she whispered.
"God, I love you Val and I don't want us to break up, but-"
"No! You're right. I'm sending a demo to begin my career in singing soon, and with modeling and staying in Tree Hill to look out for Luke … it won't be fair to either of us. You being on the road and me traveling the world and living in Tree Hill …"
The two sat together in silence, both their thoughts elsewhere, before Ryan finally broke the silence.
"So what do we do now?" he looked unsure and depressed.
"Well, we were best friends before … we can be again. We'll keep in touch, and who knows, if we're meant to be, then one day, down in the future, we'll be together again," Valerie smiled slightly.
"This is one of the cleanest and friendliest breakups in history huh," Ryan chuckled without any humor.
"Well, we started out as friends, and we're both mature and we love each other," said Valerie with a little giggle. "How long are you staying in Tree Hill?"
"Until next weekend," said Ryan.
"Well then, how about we make the best of it until you have to leave?" asked Valerie.
Ryan answered her with a long passionate kiss as he carried her up the stairs and into her room, not once breaking the kiss; Ryan closed the door shut behind them with his leg and threw Valerie down onto her bed before climbing on top of her.
A/N: How do you like Ryan Lahote? He will be a recurring character in my story … so let me know how you like him.
I'm starting a poll; who would you like to be together? Brathan or Brucas? Naley? Leyton or Peyton/Nathan? I'd like to know your preference, but I'm going to warn you that I might not end up pairing the ones you want together.
Also; if you are interested, I recently put up an OC/One Tree Hill crossover fic, where I promise you it is worth the read … check it out.
R&R.