Disclaimer- I DONT OWN ANYTHING...other then the story line.

Chapter 4

Flash forward 3 years

It has been 3 years, 3 months, 2 weeks and 4 days since I moved to Tree Hill, North Carolina, I was 11. I was so mad at my parents for moving us here. My sister and I could have sworn that our parents hated us and thats why they were making us move. Thing sure have changed though because I could not have imagined my life any other way. I absolutely love my life here. I have the two greatest friends a girl could ask for, two friends who have been nothing but wonderful. They always have my back, they are always there for me and they are the two most trust worthy friends in the entire universe. Besides Luke and Haley, I have Mouth, Skills, Junk and Jimmy who are also the greatest friends ever too. My mom, dad and sister are really happy here and everything seems to be going great for us all.

-X-

My mom started working for Karen at the cafe about a year ago. After asking my mom for more then two years to come work side by side with her at the cafe my mom finally caved which was a great thing because my mom really enjoyed being there. She loved being with Karen and seeing the people of the town on a regular bases. She was really great at it and I was really happy for her. My mom thought it was a great idea to get a job since her and my dad had a huge fight a year ago with my sister and I there, about how my dad was constantly working late and he never had time for his family. She told him that he needed to remember us and that he was working way too much for a man that had a family at home. He told my mom that the reason he was working so late was to get extra hours in to support us since my mom wasn't working. I think my mom felt bad when my dad confessed that too her because thats when she decided to go work for Karen. My mom and dad were better then ever now. My dad didn't work any later then 5 every day and was there to eat dinner every night with us.

-X-

Kristin is going into her senior year at Tree Hill High while Im going into my freshman year there. Her and her boyfriend have been together for 2 years now. His name is Will, a nice guy, very sweet and he is always over at our house. My dad and mom don't seem to mind him much as long as they stay in the living room, dining room or the kitchen, they were not allowed upstairs. My sister never saw this to be fair but what does she expect? Kristin has a ton of friends and is never home. The last year had been rough for her and my parents though. They seemed to butt heads a lot. She had gotten caught sneaking out one night, she came home drunk and then had gotten caught skipping. Kristin was a good girl for the most part, I think my parents were shocked more then anything because she never did things like this or so they thought. She was punished a lot but when she could leave, she was gone.

-X-

Middle school was great for me. I had Luke, Haley and the guys who I spent almost every single day with. We had classes together all through. Everyday after school Luke, Haley and I would do our homework together. Every weekend the three of us would stay the night together either at my house, Luke's or Haley's, sometimes just one at the others, it all would depend on how we felt that day. The summers were amazing, same thing, spending every wakening moment together. We were inseparable. My Aunt Becky, Uncle John and my two cousins Ally and Kelly came to visit the last two summer for a week, that was a lot of fun. Ally was a year younger then me and Kelly was the same age as my sister. Ally did everything with us. She fit right in. We took her to the River Court, showed her down town, road bikes, took her to the park, and had sleep overs. Haley and Lucas couldn't have been nicer to her and even Mouth, Skills, Junk and Jimmy played with us too. My grandma came down for a week this summer and that was nice to have her here. She brought gift for us, said it was only because she hadn't really seen us much other then for Christmas which we drove to Maryland every year for since we have been here. During the summer we would take trips to the beach being that we were only about 15 minutes from there. We really didn't like it too much though, usually too many people. Haley had a bigger yard then the rest of us so we all would gang up on her parents and beg them to get a pool. They eventually caved and bought one. Once her parents did that we didn't have to swim in the river or go to the beach, we had Haley's pool. Her mom and dad made us promise that we all would help take care of it though since we wanted it so bad.

-X-

We drove to Maryland twice a year, once for Easter and the other for Christmas. While there the first time I tried to get together with Mandi and a few other friends but that really didn't work out. My mother said it was because it was the holidays. I did talk to Mandi on the phone a few times but that had eventually stopped. I missed my friends but I knew I had a new life here and thats how it was going to be. After the next few time going back I would try and it was always the same thing so after a while I stopped trying. Going home was always a treat. We would ride past our old house, apparently there was an older couple that lived there. I wanted to go in and see how different thing would be, obviously I couldn't but it was a nice thought. When we would visit I would find myself wanted to get back to Tree Hill so bad because I missed my friends. I loved seeing my Aunts and Uncles and cousins and grandma but I still wanted to go home. Who would have thought that I would one day want to be in Tree Hill more then I wanted to be in Columbia.

-X-

Lucas' uncle Keith is a huge part of his life. He talked about him all the time. Keith was Luke's dad, Dan's brother but Keith didn't have much to do with Dan after he had "abandoned" Lucas. Keith was always close to Karen and Luke, he was the father figure in Luke's life, the father he never had. Keith had moved to Charleston, North Carolina a few months before I had moved here. Haley had said that Lucas took it really hard and was upset about it. Lucas had talked about Keith a lot and I had heard Karen talk about him as well. Over the summer Keith had moved back and Lucas was over the moon. It was nice to finally meet this man that my best friend talked about all the time and spoke so highly of. I could see why Luke loved him so much, he was a really nice man and you could just see how much he loved Lucas. My dad and Keith have grown closer these last few weeks. My dad said that it was nice to have another male around beside Haley's dad who my dad would have drinks with and golf, amongst other things. I could see that Luke was really happy that he was back.

-X-

Tomorrow was the first day of high school for me. We had an orientation a few days ago so that we could see the school and get our schedules. Just like I had hoped, I had a classes with Luke, Haley and my other friends. Luke, Haley and I had English together, Haley and I had U.S. History together, Luke and I had Biology together and Luke and Haley had Algebra together. I had most of my electives with Skills and some with Mouth. I didn't have any classes with Junk or Jimmy but we all had the same lunch. The school wasn't huge but it was definably bigger then the middle school. I was nervous but my sister would tell me great stories about the school and how even though it looked big, it was easy to navigate. She said that they keep the freshman with the freshman, the sophomores with the sophomores, juniors with the juniors and seniors with the senior, meaning we really would't see much of the upper class men.

-X-

Laying in bed that night I got the same feeling I did when I was going to middle school for the first time but at least this time I wasn't totally new. I would at least know most of my peers, other then the ones from the other school. I was still nervous though. It was still a new place and a new beginning in my life, a new chapter. I got up and decided to get some water, maybe that would help. Walking down stairs, I saw my mom sitting on the couch watching TV. It was like deja vu because this is where I found my mother the last time I was nervous about school.

"Uh oh, are we nervous for our big day tomorrow?" My mom asked patting the couch inviting me to come sit down with her.

"Just a little." I answered sitting down.

"You'll be just fine."

"I know but its still a little nerve wracking."

"Im sure it is but it will be just fine. Im sure your not the only one who is nervous."

I let out a laugh, "Haley is so excited for this she can hardly contain herself and Luke couldn't careless either way."

"Well they are weird." I looked at my mom and we both laughed. "Im just kidding honey."

"I know. I don't know why I get like this." I said and my mom put her arm around me. "Kristin doesn't get like this."

"Kristin's weird too." We both laughed again. "No honey its just that you like routine and you don't like change, you have always been like this. It would be the smallest things like me changing your room around, you wanted no parts of that, you just don't like change and your life is about to change slightly. You're going to make new friends besides the ones you have now, your going to start liking boys more, and you may not see Haley and Luke as much in school because it's bigger."

"Are you trying to make it worse?"

"No baby, none of that makes it worse, it means your life is expanding, your world is getting bigger." My mom gave me a smile.

"Thanks mom." I sat there for a few minutes while she had her arms around me. It was nice knowing that my mom could still calm me down with her words. "I guess I should get to bed."

"Alright baby. Good night. I love you."

"Night mom. I love you too."

-X-

The next morning I was awaken by the alarm clock that I had purposely put on the other side of the room because I knew if it was close to my bed I would go back to sleep after turning it off or i would hit snooze a million times. I heard a knock on my bedroom door.

"Yeah?" I yelled.

My sister opened the door and popped her head in. "You up?"

"Yeah, getting there."

"Well you have one hour to get yourself ready or you will be taking the bus."

"OK Kris, Im getting up."

I rolled over, accidently elbowing Milo. I sat for a minute petting him. I think I was actually excited for my first day of high school. I got up and got in the shower. I blow dried my hair, got dressed, putting on skinny jeans, a tight white tank top with a brown and white sweater and put on my brown boots that went almost to my knees. Up until 8th grade I was a simple girl with what I wore, usually a pair of jeans, tank top or t-shirt with a sweat shirt and my chucks, tennis shoes or even Uggs. I still didn't put too much thought into my daily attire but more then I did before. I put on minimal make up, mascara and lip gloss was it. When I got down stairs my sister was just about ready to leave.

My mom handed me a pop tart, "Sorry honey, your sister wont let you eat anything real."

I rolled my eyes, "Thanks mom." I gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Go get Luke, tell him we are ready to leave." I heard my sister say.

I walked next door and knocked on the door that led right to Luke's room.

When he opened I asked, "Ready?"

"Yeah, let me just say by to my mom and then I'll be out to the car." He answered putting his shoe on as he made his way to his bedroom door. "Bye ma." I heard as I shut the door and walked to the car. My sister was already in there. " Where is Lucas?" She asked.

"He's coming, had to say bye to his mom." As I answered her, he opened the door to the back seat and climbed in.

We made it to the school in no time.

"Be at the car no later then 2:45 or Im leaving you." My sister shouted to us as she turned to walk to her friends who were waiting for her. We spotted Haley and walked over to where she was waiting for us.

"Hey guys, ready for our first day of high school?" Haley said with a little more enthusiasm then Luke and I would ever have about this day. I was excited but no one, I mean no one was as excited as Haley was.

Luke and I rolled our eyes, "Yes we are, lets go our nerdy friend you." I said as I intertwined by arm through Haley's, Luke walking next us. When we made our way into the school past the mob of people outside, Haley and I who had 1st period together, U.S. History and Luke had Creative Writing, we said bye to each other and went our separate ways. When we got to class Haley and I realized that we couldn't sit together because we had assigned seats.

"Alright boys and girls, find your name on the board that indicate where your seats are." Mr Garret said.

I looked at Haley and rolled my eyes. This should be fun. My seat was next to a kid that I had never seen before. He must be from the other school. I looked to see where Haley's seat was, it was on the other side of the room, I could barely even see her. The late bell rang, indicating that at this point you need to be in your classroom by now. I looked around and everyone was either talking to someone else, going through their book bag or sitting quietly like I was.

"OK, Im going to do roll, I will call out your names and when I do say 'here', I will only have to this until I learn your names." Mr Garret spoke again. "Brandy Adams" he waited to hear 'here' before calling out another name. He called a few before getting to my name.

"Sophia Kramer."

"Here" I said after hearing my name.

He named a few more. "Peyton Sawyer"

"Here"

"Nathan Scott"

"Here"

When I heard his name I looked over to the left of my chair and he was sitting two seats over. That must be Lucas' brother. He looks nothing like him. Maybe it wasn't him, maybe he was a cousin or something, thats what I thought until I caught Haley's eye and she nodded implying that yes in fact that was Lucas' brother. He looked mean, or a jerk, one of the two. I didn't even know him and I already didn't like him. He was not bad to look at thought, thats for sure.

-X-

Lunch took forever to get here. I was starving. I barely ate the pop tart my mother had handed me this morning. I met my friends at the entrance of the cafeteria. We got our lunches and began to talk about our day so far and weekend plans even though it was only Monday. Haley and I never mentioned Nathan and having a class with him. Why would we? Who cares? We were going to ignore him and Luke wouldn't have cared anyway. It was best just to not say anything. Luke didn't talk about him or his dad so I don't think it matters. It was inevitable that one of us would have a class with him so its not really breaking news.

-X-

After lunch Luke and I walked to Biology together. In this class we were allowed to pick our own seats so naturally Luke I sat side by side.

"Woah, who is that" Luke said casually looking at the door at the girl who just walked in.

"Her, I don't know. Why?" I asked. I thought maybe he knew her or something.

"She's kinda hot." He answered.

She was very pretty, tall, blonde curly hair.

"Guess we will find out." I told him knowing the teacher, Mrs. Withers would be calling out names to get attendance like they had in my first two periods. When the teacher called her name and she answered, "Oh yeah, Peyton Sawyer, shes in my History class." I said to Luke in a whisper so that the teacher could not hear me.

"And you didn't know her name when she walked in?" Luke looked at me funny.

"No, I wasn't paying attention who answered when my 1st period teacher called her name." I said back to him before sitting straight up so Mrs. Withers wouldn't suspect anything.

-X-

The day was over and I was exhausted, Luke and I met my sister at her car before Haley yelled to us that she would come by my house when she got home.

Luke looked irritated.

"You OK?" I asked as we waited for my sister.

"Yeah, Im fine." Was all he said. Clearly not OK. I made a mental note to ask him about it later since my sister had finally decided to grace us with her presents.

"I'll meet you at your house." She yelled to one of her friends as she got into the car.

-X-

"So you have been quiet since we have gotten home, what's up?" I asked as Haley stopped what she was doing to look at Luke and I.

"I thought I would be able to go through high school or even life for that matter without having to have anything to do with him." He said sounding even more irritated then before.

"Who?" Haley asked. I knew who he was talking about.

"Nathan." He answered.

"Well Luke, you had to know this was going to happen at some point, same grade, same school and all." I said, I wasn't sure if he was going to get even madder at me for saying that or be calm.

"I don't know, I just don't want to have to see his face." He started to bite his finger nails.

Haley swatted his hand away from his mouth to make his stop, "Just ignore him."

"I guess. I just don't want to see him everyday."

"Well tomorrow we have a whole new set of classes, maybe you wont have any with him." I said with a little hope for his sake. I was really hoping, like really hoping that he wouldn't have any other classes with him. If he did this would be an interesting year.