Hey..im sooo sorry I havent updated in almost two weeks! Ahhh. I really wanted to but sometimes afterschool activities are just TOO MUCH! Okay so onto more important stuff…I have the story building in my head since I don't have time to write it down. So don't worry, im not forgetting about this story. Any moment that im not doing anything, im thinking about the story. Lol alright maybe that's a little exaggerated.

To the reviewers!!! Thank you sooooo soooo much!!! Getting seven reviews for the first chapter literally made my JAW DROP! Lol I have a feeling my second chapter wasn't as good since I only got three reviews for that (. Im sorry if it stinked but please keep reviewing. You all keep me going. Make sure you tell me what you like or don't cuz I want to know both! Thank you all again!

p.s. SLUVER15: you added my story onto your faves? Im honored! Lol thank you!

Just so you all know, this chapter is still when they are seven years old.

ENJOY!!

Chapter 3

"I can trust my friends. These people force me to examine, encourage me to grow."
-Cher

At this moment, four anxious kids were waiting in front of a two-story brick house. For who you might ask? Yes you guessed it, for the rest of their 'group'. Lucas and Jake were supposed to have arrived some time ago but since they hadn't so the four were trying to busy themselves with something so they wouldn't get more worried. Brooke was searching through her pink backpack looking for chapstick or as her mom likes to call it 'lipstick for little girls'. Mrs. Davis thought that Brooke was too young to be wearing makeup so she gave Brooke chapstick, Brooke knew she couldn't win the argument. After all, she was really young! Peyton on the other hand was doing what she always does nowadays, drawing in her notepad. Lately, she drew in her book all the time and Brooke recognized it. She also saw that Peyton was increasingly getting better. Haley was another story. She was always the first person to get nervous, worried, FREAKED OUT, etc. But for some reason, today, she was just sitting on Lucas and Jake's porch thinking.

Nathan, seeing how Haley seemed too quiet headed over to see what was wrong.

"Hey Hales, everything okay?" questioned Nathan

For a second, Haley seemed to be off in lalaland…but then she answered, "Yeah, mhmm, why?"

"Uh what about the fact that you're not running around crazily since Jake and Luke aren't here yet!"

"Uhh…is it time for them to get here yet?"

"YES! They were supposed to get here thirty minutes ago….freaking out yet?" questioned Nathan again

"Well, they're probably just caught up in traffic or something. I'm sure its nothing bad."

"WHAT! That's usually what I say when you go crazy. What's wrong? Hales, I can read you like a book now tell me what's going on."

"Since when did you like to read so much that you can read me like a book?" smiled Haley "But yeah, I'm thinking about how Brooke and Peyton are back and Jake and Lucas are going to come any minute…" Haley faded out

"I KNOW! Everybody's back….but why aren't you happy!? All our friends are back from vacation and I know you had too much of me this summer so…come on, get happy!" laughed Nathan even though he was slightly worried.

"You're going to laugh at me when I say this but since everybody's coming back, it means school's starting up…"

Now Nathan was confused, yes school was starting but that's the kind of stuff Haley James lived for in her seven years. "Well, Hales, what's so bad about school? You love it."

"Yeah, but that was before Rachel and her whole group decided to make fun of me. I never did anything to her and she just…hates me." Haley said in her sad, small voice

"Don't worry about her. Ignore her; she just doesn't have any real friends to hang out with so she uses up all her time teasing people. But don't worry, you have Brooke, Peyton, Lucas, Jake, and remember Hales, you have me."

'awwww' thought Haley. Her best friend was just too good to be true….well sometimes. "Thanks Nate. I really love you, you know that?" grinned Haley

"Ewww, that's disgusting." Nathan made a face.

"Nate, I love you and you can't get away from me! HAHA!" Haley wrapped her arms around Nathan and hugged as hard as she could while laughing

"Oh man…." He finally gave into the hug. "Really Haley, I'm always going to be here for you…that's a promise."

"Always, Nathan Scott"

"And forever, Haley James"

"HEY, YOU TWO! Look who's here!!!" Brooke said jumping up and down

Nathan and Haley diverted their stares from each other and looked into the driveway and saw the familiar Roe pick-up truck and two seven year old boys' faces pressed against the window looking as happy as two puppies ready to play.

'Hmmm, maybe this isn't a bad thing.' Haley thought. She had to admit, she really missed everybody.

Two hours later and the kids were sitting at the Sawyer's kitchen drinking lemonades still talking nonstop.

"GUYS, the road trip to Grandma's was sooo much fun! Me and Lucas had such a good time." Exclaimed Jake

"Yeah, it really was great. It really stinked that you guys weren't there though. It would have been loads more fun if all six of us went." Lucas said agreeing

Suddenly, Brooke's eyes lit up with an idea "OMGOSH! I've a great idea! How about we make a pact that when we get older right before we go to college, we'll go on a road trip together?"

"Alright, but I we can't play any of those weird car games that families play when they go on trips. Gosh I have nightmares of the one I used to play with my grandparents when I was like five!" Peyton said

"Sure….Sawyer….no car games." Brooke winked at Haley

"Sure, I'm in and I'm sure Jake, Luke, and Nate would love too also." Haley assured

"ooooh, I can't wait till we get older!" Brooke stated excitedly

ONE hour later

"I swear, Luke and Brooke are going to get so dizzy after that!" Haley pointed towards the two kids going down the slide then up again then going down the slide again.

Nathan laughed, "Yeah, well that'll teach them a lesson. Anyways, I'm going to go over to the monkey bars. My dad says it's a good way to build muscles." Nathan groaned

"Nate, you're seven! Gosh, your dad is getting on my nerves!" little Haley yelled

Nathan just laughed and walked towards the bars.

It was an hour later and they all were at the park just five minutes away from Peyton's house. Brooke and Lucas were going crazy going down the slide a million times. Peyton was sketching in her art book…yet again. Jake was reading a book sitting down next to Peyton. And Haley was sitting on the swings just moving slightly; she never liked going high on the swings. It made her feel as if she were going to fly off and get hurt.

Suddenly, someone approached Haley and introduced himself. Even though she wasn't supposed to talk to strangers, this boy seemed her age and looked very nice.

"Hi, I'm Marvin….never mind just call me Mouth."

Haley laughed 'who would want to call themselves Mouth?' But anyways she answered, "Hey Mouth, I'm Haley. Are you new? Cause I've never seen you before" inquired the little girl

"Yeah, my family just moved here last week."

"That's nice. So…where do you live?" asked Haley

"Oh, I think it's just down this street. Sorry, it's hard to remember with all of these houses." Mouth said while casually walking behind Haley. "So, let me push you." He said

"No, it's okay" Haley said slightly worried

"No, really. I love going high on the swings, it's so much fun!"

"NO! Pleas don't. I hate going high." Haley pleaded

"Come on, just try it."

Mouth started to push Haley on the swing….and like expected, Haley started to freak out. She knew that telling Mouth wouldn't stop him since well….she already told him and he didn't agree with it. So she went with her gut and screamed…

"NATHAAAAAAANNN!!!!!" Haley screamed for Nathan since she knew he was the closest at the monkey bars and well….he promised he would be there for her.

As soon as Nathan heard his best friend's shriek, he ran over to see what could have caused it. 'What the heck is that kid doing?' Nathan thought looking at Mouth. He ran over to Haley's swing and brought it to an abrupt stop which caused her to gently slip off but Nathan was in front of her so she wouldn't get hurt. Then he turned towards Mouth and Haley could swear she saw steam coming out of Nathan's ears. Haley knew she couldn't let Nathan hurt Mouth, Mouth didn't think too much of what he was doing.

"Nate, it's okay. He didn't know I didn't like it." Haley suggested

Mouth looked like a deer caught in headlights. Nathan asked, "Well Hales, did you tell him you don't like to swing high?"

"Well…yeah—" but Nathan cut her off "Then he should have known not to have pushed you!"

"Look at me, Nate. No cuts, no bruises; I'm fine. He made a mistake…it's okay." assured Haley

Nathan finally looked defeated, he knew he wouldn't do anything to this kid if Haley really objected to it and it seemed like she did. Now, Haley looks towards Mouth's innocent face and almost laughed.

"Nathan, this is Mouth; our new friend."

"Mouth, this is Nathan; my bestest friend."

Now that introductions were done between them, Haley decided to call over the rest of their gang so she could introduce them to the new kid.

"Brooke, Luke, Jake, Peyt! Can you come over here pleaseeee?" Haley yelled

Jake, Lucas, Peyton, and Brooke arrived; Brooke and Lucas looking very tired and very out of it while Jake and Peyton were relaxed and calm.

"Hey guys, this is Mouth. He's new around here so let's make him feel welcome!" now turning to Mouth, Haley said "Mouth, this is Peyton, Jake, Lucas, and Brooke" pointing to each boy/girl as she said their name

Nathan still looked like he was going to pound Mouth into the playground. 'What kind of name is Mouth anyways? Couldn't his parents think of something else….bet his sister's name is nose…dork.' Nathan thought.

Haley could sense the tension radiating off of Nathan so she leaned and whispered in his ear, "Calm down! He made a mistake and you saved me, it's okay. Oh yeah, by the way thanks for taking care of the problem; I don't know what I would have done." smiled Haley

Nathan eased up and grinned back at Haley. Haley always had that effect on Nathan like none other; she could cool him down in a heated moment.

"Come on Mouth, you can play on the slides with me and Lucas; it is SO MUCH FUN!" Brooke encouraged and pulled Mouth alongside her.

Peyton and Jake just smiled and went back to do their own activities while Brooke, Lucas, and Mouth went to the slides again. Haley and Nathan stayed back and hung around the swings till they all had to leave.

Out of the six in the gang, Haley and Nathan were the only ones who had houses right next to each other. Everybody's were pretty close together but not neighboring like theirs. They all headed their own way when they reached their street. Since Mouth was still a little lost, Peyton and Jake volunteered to help him find his way back to his house. The four left passed Brooke's house and she left. Then came Lucas' house in which he ran inside saying that he really needed to go to the bathroom. Haley and Nathan, the last two, were the last to say their goodbyes to each other, promising that they'd see each other bright and early the next day. Or maybe just late since they both had problems with oversleeping during the summer.

What do you guys think? Review, review, review! Please. And please tell me your honest opinion cuz I'll change something if you guys really don't like it.

Push the button and review and make my day…..soo much happier!

Thank youuuuu…. angiie