A/N- Thank you so much for the reviews. They are greatly appreciated.

There will be NO Sophia and Nathan. I absolutely love Haley and Nathan and they will be together in this story.

I will be flashing forward because if not then I will be writing this story for the rest of my life and lets be real, who has time for that.

CHAPTER 3

Lucas, Haley and I have become even closer. Spending every day together. Every day after breakfast I would go to Lucas' or he would come to my house so we could go to Haley and get her. We would play all day long, sometimes forgetting to even go home for lunch.

We were playing at my house when Karen came over and was talking to my mom. They had become really good friends, talking every day and going for morning walks together. My mom hadn't found a job yet which my dad told her was OK. Karen had offered my mom a part time job working at the cafe if she wanted to, just to get a little extra cash. My mom had told her Thank you but no thank you. I wasn't really sure why.

"Mom, can I go to The River Court?" Lucas asked his mom who was in the kitchen talking to my mom.

"Yeah honey, just be back before dinner." She replied.

"Can I go with him mom?" I then asked.

"Where is The River Court?" she looked at Karen to answer her question.

"Its just on the other side of the river." She answered.

I didn't even really know where The River Court was.

"On the other side of the river?" My mom looked a bit alarmed.

Karen immediately responded, "Yeah but it just across the bridge and down."

"They have to cross the bridge?" I knew my mom was maybe freaking out a bit.

"Trish, its perfectly safe. It takes them about 10 minutes to get there from here. They walk 3 blocks that way," she pointed to the left, "and then they cross the bridge which has a side walk that is a safe distance from the road and the traffic is calm on the bridge, I promise speed limits 25 crossing it and then they walk three blocks, they are there. I can usually yell for Lucas from the cafe and he will hear me."

"OK, well you guys stay together and be home before dinner."

"Promise." I said to my mom as I ran out the door with Lucas.

"Be safe!" I heard my mother yell as I closed the door.

We walked to Haley's house to see if she wanted to go with us and of course she came too. Lucas said he could not wait for me to meet his other friends. Haley informed me that they were a strange bunch but awesome to be around and fun.

Arriving at The River Court I saw a basketball court with two hoops on either end. The baskets were made of chains. This was something I only saw in the city back in Maryland. There were bleachers and a picnic table next to the court and further off was a pavilion with trash cans surrounding it.

"Here comes the star now boys and girls." I heard someone say from the basketball court.

"Hey Luke, hey Haley!" Another one

"Who's the girl?" Another asked as we walked closer.

"Guys, this is Sophia. She just moved here from Maryland. She's 11 like us." Luke answered.

There were 4 of them, all staring at me like I had three heads. One was a tall lanky boy with too much hair, the second was shorter and had glasses, the third was a tall lanky boy with spiked hair and the fourth was an average looking kid.

"Hello, my names Skills." the first one introduced his self.

"Skills?" I questioned.

"Yeah because I have mad skills." He said doing some sort of trick with the basketball.

The second said his name was Jimmy. I smiled at him. The third said his name was Mouth.

"Mouth, really?" I didn't think that was his real name.

"Yeah, my parents said that ever since I could talk I did so they called me mouth." He answered.

I nodded. the third said his name was Junk. You have got to be kidding me. Did everyone here have nicknames.

"And why do they call you Junk?" I asked.

"His parents own a junk yard and he's always the one to run around in it." Lucas answered for him. OK, those are some serious nicknames. Skills, Junk and Lucas began and game of basketball. Mouth and Jimmy sat on the bleacher pretending to be commentators for the game, "Luke with the jump shot, this is for three ladies and gentlemen." and "Junk with the steal." and other thing that I had no clue as to what it all meant. I could not help but think that this was one of the most boring things I have ever done. Watching a bunch of boys play basketball was not fun for me. I sat there for a few minutes when I noticed Haley wasn't amused by it either.

"Haley want to walk over to the water with me?" I asked jumping off the top bleacher.

"Sure." She said following me.

"So, they do this a lot?" I asked.

"Yeah. They love it. Luke's really good, the other guys too."

"Do you always come here with them?"

"Sometimes. When Im really bored." She said laughing. "But I wanted to come today because you were coming and I thought I better not leave you by yourself to experience this for the first time." She said. We both started to laugh. "Its really not that bad though. You will get used to it. Living in this town anyway, this town is all about basketball. "

"Yeah I saw that when we first got here 'Home of The Ravens!' "

She let out a small giggle, "During basketball season the whole town is blue and black, everything. Everyone is all into it. I went to a game once with my dad and people are packed into that gym like sardines, some people even have to stand."

"Wow."

Haley and I stayed by the water for a little while longer talking and throwing rock into the river.

"Do people go swimming in here?" I asked pointing to the water.

"There is a boat ramp that people swim at but most of the time no, the current is too rough sometimes." She answered.

I stood there for a few minutes looking across the river to Downtown Tree Hill which was directly across. Karen was right you can see the Cafe pretty well and it doesn't seem very far away from here either.

"So whats Maryland like? Is it anything like here?" Haley asked snapping me out of my daze.

"Oh no, its nothing like here. Where Im form in Maryland its not a small town, well the towns are small but they aren't like they are here. Not everyone knows everyone. We knew our neighbors who were right next to us and my parents may have waved to a few others but other then that we really didn't know anyone else in our neighborhood let alone our town."

"Geez, well that doesn't sound very fun. So this is a lot different for you?"

"Yeah. I would never be allowed to walk this far with my friends, or roam the neighborhood for hours."

"Get used to it because everyone here is really friendly and our parents let us pretty much go where ever we want except across 117, we can go as far as 117 and here, those are our limits."

"117?"

"The major highway with all the grocery stores and gas station on it."

"Thats a major highway? In Maryland thats just a regular highway."

"Really? I don't know if I would like it there."

"No, its a lot different."

"It sounds like it."

"But do you like it here so far?"

"Im starting to. At first I didn't want to like it and I didn't because it wasn't home but now its not so bad especially now that I have friends."

"I understand. I don't think I would want to move either if my parents made me but Im glad you did move here though because now Im not the only girl around here and I actually have a friend who is a girl."

"Me too."

"Haley, Sophia, you guys want to play?" Lucas called over to us.

Haley looked at me "Want to?"

"Sure." I yelled back running toward the court.

It had turned into more of a game of keep away. Haley and I were not nearly as good as the boys even though we had made a few shots. Mouth and Jimmy even joined in.

It was starting to get dark and we knew it was almost dinner time so we walked back home.

-X-

Entering my house I could smell dinner cooking.

"Mom, Im home." I yelled from the front door. I walked into the Kitchen and found my mom at the stove.

"How was The River Court?" she asked.

"Ehh, Lucas and a few other boys played basketball most of the time while Haley and I walked near the water." I answered.

My mom stopped stirring and turned around. "Honey, I don't want you playing too close to the water. The current is really bad I hear."

"Mom, I know, beside Haley told me that too. I know not to go into the water. We were just walking near it."

"So you are you starting to like it here?"

"I am." I paused, "but I still miss my friends. I tried to call Mandi the other day but her mom said she was at a friends house. I thought she would have called me back by now."

"She'll call honey." My mom gave me a sad smile.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Will you go get your sister and let her know that dinners done, please."

I hopped off the bar stool right there and yelled as loud as I could "KRISTIN DINNERS DONE!"

"Sophia, I could have done that." My mother said giving me a not-so-nice look.

I laughed as my mom handed be 5 plates, forks, knives and napkins " Set the table, please." I guess Quinn was here and was staying for dinner.

My dad didn't get home until after dinner and my mom didnt seem to happy about this. His place at the table was empty and when my sister asked where dad was my mom answered without even looking at her, "I guess he's working late again." My dad has been working late a lot. He barely makes it home for dinner most nights and other nights he doesn't even make it home until after mom has put everything away. I didnt notice until tonight that it was making my mother upset. They never seemed to fight or argue about it so I guess it wasn't really that dig of a deal.

-X-

The summer was flying by. Every single morning it was the same thing, I would get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush my teeth and out the door by 9:30 am. Me, Haley, and Lucas would play, either riding bikes, going downtown, going to The River Court, playing in Haley's backyard, Lucas' house or playing with Milo. Sometime Skills, Mouth, Jimmy and Junk would play with us but most of the time it was just me, Haley and Lucas.

I began to feel bad because I felt like I was forgetting my old friends. Haley had asked me about them and I told her about my best friend and how much I missed her and about all my other friends. She asked if I have kept in contact with them and I hadn't. I tried calling Mandi but she never called back. I talked to my cousins who were supposed to come and visit but my Aunt Becky said that summer had gotten away from them but they would try to visit very soon. I missed everyone back home but I was really starting to like Tree Hill and was starting to get used to it. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be at all. I never thought I would make friends so fast. Haley and Lucas have really made it easy living here. Even Skills, Jimmy, Mouth and Junk were a lot of fun to be around and were making it easy too. I began to think about my old life less and less.

-X-

Lucas had a doctors appointment today in Charlotte so he wouldn't be around most of the day. Haley and I played inside at my house. It was the hottest day on record for Tree Hill so our parents told us we had to play inside. We watched TV, talked, painted our nails, listened to music, and put on tons of make-up that neither of us would ever be allowed to leave the house wearing. It was a lot of fun doing girly things with Haley because with Lucas around we didnt get to do this stuff not that we didnt like to play with Lucas it was just fun to do this stuff sometimes.

Haley and I wanted Haley to stay the night so when it was almost dinner time and she was supposed to go home I asked my mom if she could stay the night and then she called her mom and asked. Of course both parents said yes. We walked to Haley' after dinner to get her pajamas and toothbrush.

That night after watching a few movies and eating our body weight in popcorn, Haley and I laid in my bed talking. She told me about her brother and sisters, how her and Lucas have been best friends since she could remember, she also told me about how much she loved school. I asked her what the other kids were like and she said that she really didnt talk to anyone other then Lucas and the other guys. I asked about Lucas' dad, where he lived and why Lucas said he was not a good guy.

"Lucas' mom and dad were boyfriend and girlfriend when they were in high school and before Lukes dad went to college Lukes mom had gotten pregnant. He didnt want anything to do with Lucas, at least thats what Luke said. Then his dad had a new girlfriend and she had gotten pregnant too." Haley explained.

"So Lucas and his brother are the same age?" I asked.

"Yeah, they are like 4 or 5 months apart or something. Im not one hundred percent sure though."

"Where do they live?"

"Here in Tree Hill."

"And Luke doesn't see them much?"

"Nope, he doesn't see them at all."

"How is that possible if they live here too?"

"They live on the other side of route 117. Tree Hill has two Elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. There is one elementary school on this side and that side, one middle school on that side and one on this side and then the high school is on this side but they will go to this high school when we all go."

"Has Lucas ever seen his brother?"

"Yeah, they were in a basketball camp together last summer and Nathan was really mean to him and his dad never said anything to his mom or him so Luke didnt want to go back."

"Why were they so mean to him?"

Haley shrugged her shoulders, "Dunno."

"Thats not very nice."

"I know."

"Whats going to happen when they are in the same school?"

"Hopefully Nathan will just ignore him or maybe they will get along by then."

"I hope so."

-X-

The first day of school was tomorrow. I was nervous but not too nervous. I had all of my new supplies and clothes. Haley was really excited, almost too excited. Lucas said that this was how she got every year for the first day. When she would talk about it Lucas and I would roll our eyes. My sister was really excited about going to school too. She had a ton of friends already. She was more then ready. Thats night I had trouble sleeping. I wasn't sure if I was nervous or scared or excited so I went downstairs and found my mom.

"Hey Sweetie, what are you doing awake?" My mom asked when she saw me coming down the stairs.

"Cant sleep." I went to sit down next to her.

"Excited for tomorrow?"

"Yeah but I'm a little nervous too."

"Why? You will be getting on the bus with Lucas and Haley will be on there too. You may even have some classes with them." She began to rub my hair as I leaned my head on her shoulder.

"But what if I don't?"

"Well you wont be the only new person. No one else has been to this school either, everyone you will have classes with will be just as new as you."

We sat there in silence for a few minutes.

"Dad not hame yet?"

"Nope."

I could sense the irritation in her voice.

"Oh."

"You want me to walk you up to bed?"

"Sure." I said as we walked up stairs.

-X-

I woke to my mom sitting next to me on the bed.

"Good morning sweet pea."

"Good morning mom."

"You ready to get up and get ready for school?"

"No." We both giggled

"Come on. get dressed and then come down stairs. Ill make you waffles."

My mom left the room and closed the door. I got dressed, brushed my hair and then made my way downstairs to eat. I finished, brushed my teeth and got all my stuff together. Lucas came to the door with his book bag and asked if I was ready to go the bus stop. I put my shoes on and grabbed my book bag. My mom kissed me on the cheek and told me to have a great day and that she would be there as soon as I got off of school.

We were only at the bus stop for a few minutes before the bus came. There wasn't many kids on the bus. Haley and I sat together while Lucas sat in the seat next to us. The school wasn't very far so before we knew it we were there. It was a very small school compared to the schools in Maryland. We made our way inside and when we got in there, there were tables set up with A-F G-K L-O P-T and U-Z. We had to go to the line that had the first initial to out last name. My last name being Kramer and Haley's last name being James , we went to the same line while Luke went to the S's because his last name was Scott. After we got our schedules we wanted to see if we had any classes together. Haley and I had Science Social Living together, Lucas and I had Gym together, Lucas and Haley had Social Studies together and we all were in the same English class. This wasn't going to be so bad. Our home rooms were all different so we all went our separate ways with our maps in hand. It wasn't going to take long to know this school like that back of my hand since it was so small. I was so happy that i would actually have classes with my two best friends. This should be a great year.

A/N: The flash flash forward will be the next chapter and I will have it as soon as I can. thank you so much for those of you who have R&R. Please tell me what you think. And thank you those who are now following my story.