A/N-It took me longer then usual to get this chapter up. Sorry. I do not own OTH!

FYI-Jake will not have a baby in this story.

Chapter 8

"So how was you weekend with your parents?" Haley asked.

Me and Haley were at her house doing our homework.

"It was actually fun. I did have some contact with the outside world though. Jake came over so that we could talk about our project but besides that, me. my mom, my dad and Kristin watched a movie Friday night, Saturday night we ordered Chinese food for dinner and then yesterday we went fishing." I told her.

"You went fishing?"

"Yeah."

"Is it fun?"

"Yeah. Well sometimes. If you're not catching anything then no, its not."

"Wow, doesn't seem like a lot of fun to me."

We went on doing our homework in silence for a few minutes before Haley spoke again. "Wait, who is Jake and why was he at your house and what project?"

I thought I had told her about the project I had to do. "Jake from the basketball team. We are partners for a project we have to do for Biology."

"Oh, the same thing Luke has to do."

"Yeah."

"Which player is he?"

"He's number 66, I think. He's the one that Luke said gave him the clothes after Nathan drenched his clothes, the nice one."

"Oh yeah. How was it?"

"Fine. He's coming over this evening after practice so that we can go get the stuff we need for the project." I was actually really excited about it and I didn't know why.

Haley just nodded and went back to her homework.

A few minutes had passed before I was the one who said something. "So how are things going with Nathan?"

She shot her head up at the mention of Nathan's name. "Fine."

Typical Haley answer when you ask about him. "Fine? No gossip about him, nothing?"

"He broke up with Peyton."

"Really? Why? What happened?" I asked.

"One question at a time Soph." She laughed. "I think she broke up with him actually and I don't know why and I don't know what happened. He has been quiet the last few sessions we've had though."

"Maybe he has a heart and actually liked her and is taking it really hard."

"Yeah, maybe." She shrugged

I looked over at Haley who looked a little bothered.

"You know Hales, you can talk to me about anything right?" I said to her.

"Yeah, I know. Thanks Soph."

"If something is bothering you, you can tell me. I wont go nuts like I did before. I promise." I nudged her with my shoulder.

"I know."

"OK, anything at all, you talk to me."

She just gave me a long look and then she started to get tears in her eyes.

I put my pencil down and moved closer to her. "Hales, whats wrong?"

"She wiped away a stray tear that had fallen. "I like him Sophia."

"Nathan? Why does that upset you?" I put my arm around her.

"Because I doubt he feels the same way, he just broke up with his girlfriend, Lucas hates him, Lucas is my best friend, he hate Lucas, Lucas is a huge part of my life and it would just make things so awkward." She wiped away tears and shook her head. "Im being stupid."

"No Haley, your not being stupid. Those are all logical reasons to be upset but you don't have too be. You cant help who you like just like he cant help that he like Peyton and if they hate each other until the cows come home then so be it, they will eventually have to be nice to each other because of you."

"I know he doesn't feel the same way about me so none of that even matters."

"Well maybe you should just tell him."

"He just broke up with Peyton."

"So?"

So, this was like a week ago. I pretty sure the last thing on his mind is another girl, especially me."

"Hales, any man would be lucky to have you. If Nathan cant see that then he doesn't deserve you. "Thank you Sophie. You always know how to make me feel better."

"What else would I be good for?"

"Yeah."

"So are you going to tell him, Nathan I mean."

"Maybe. I think I need to give it some time."

I nodded. She gave me a small smile.

We finished our homework and then I had to get going because Jake was coming over.

"Ill see you tomorrow." I said to Haley as I left.

Walking into my house I saw Kristin, she as on her way out.

"Im meeting Quinn and the girls downtown for dinner. Mom is at the Cafe and Dad had an emergency at work but there are left overs in the fridge, just heat something up." Kristin said and then she was gone.

"OK then." I said to myself going to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and nothing seemed appealing, the freezer either. I checked the pantry and decided on cereal. Jake was going to be here in 20 minutes. I grabbed the money my mom said she would leave for me so that I could get the stuff for my project off the counter and shoved it in my pocket. No sooner then I was done the cereal the door bell rang.

"Hey." I said as I opened the door for Jake.

"Hey." He said walking in.

"Ill be ready in a minute. Let me get my jacket and turn the lights off."

I came back to the living room, Jake was right where I had left him. We walked outside to his car. He opened the door for me and then shut it when I was in. I guess I didn't really think about it but I forgot that he had a car. I was used to walking everywhere or having my parents take me somewhere farther. I idly thought that my parents would not be happy that I was in a car with someone they barely knew. They were weird like that but the store was only 10 minutes away, we weren't going far.

When we had gotten everything we needed Jake had taken me home. He walked me in so that we could put all of our stuff inside. My parents still weren't home and neither was Kristin. By the time we got back to my house it was almost 8 so we decided that we would wait to start.

"When do you want to start this?" Jake asked as we walked back outside.

"When are you free next?" I asked.

"Tomorrow, same time."
"K, tomorrow? Same time?"

"Sure, I mean Im not cramping your style am I? I don't want to get in the way of your social life."

"Ha ha ha, your funny." We went and sat down on the two rocking chairs that were on the porch.

"I try."

"No, my social life is just fine. Promise."

We sat for few minutes in silence then Jake spoke, "Where is everyone?"
"My mom is working, My dad had an emergency at work and my sister is downtown with friends."

"Is your sister in high school?" He asked.

"Yeah, Kristin, shes a senior."

"Oh yeah, I've seen her around."

"Yeah."

"So you go to all the basketball games?" He asked another question. What the hell was this? 21 questions. It was kind of funny though.

"Every single Friday. Even the away ones. Haley and I take the fan bus."

"Thats pretty awesome."

"Yeah before I came here I had no interest in basketball at all, it was always football but now living in this town and with Lucas, I couldn't help to start actually liking it."

"Really? Football? Whats your favorite team?"

I pointed to the Ravens flag hanging on the front porch. "I really didn't have a choice. Thats all I knew."

"The Ravens? Really?" He asked wrinkling his nose.

"Yes, only the best."

"If you say so."

"OK, whatever."

I played with the hem of my jacket before I spoke again. "So do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"Nope. Im an only child."

"Really? Was that boring growing up?"

"I don't really know. I mean it was all I really knew. I had a lot of friends. I would get jealous that my friends had siblings but then they would always be fighting and arguing so I though maybe being an only child wasn't so bad."

"Sometimes I feel like an only child. I forget that I have a sister." I said to him with a small laugh. "We are rarely ever home at the same time other then for dinner and even thats only like a 20 minute thing and then we all go our separate ways. She does take me to school every morning but we don't really talk."

"So you guys aren't really that close?" He asked.

"We used to be when we were younger but now we are practically strangers."

"Do you miss it? Being close?"

"Yeah but Im always so busy so I really don't think about it too often."

"Yeah."

"So have you played basketball along time?"

"Yup, since I could hold a basketball. Its really kept me out of trouble."

We both started to laugh. "How much trouble could you have gotten into too?"

"Im sure I could have gotten into some trouble. You ever see some of these people around here who don't have extra curricular activities?" He smiled.

We sat in silence for a few minutes before it started to get late.

"Alright. Well Ill see you tomorrow Sophia."

"Night Jake."

"Night."

I watched Jake as he climbed into his car and drove off.

-X-

A few days had passed and Jake was coming over every day after practice so that we could do the assignment. It was really coming along even though we made a huge mess with the clay and my mom was constantly trying to clean as we went along. After a few times that Jake had come over and my dad had met him, my dad seemed better about Jake coming over. We were almost done, the only thing really left to do was let it dry and then write the written part of the project. We were going to do that this weekend. I hadn't really seen Haley or Lucas in the last few days because I was so busy, but it was Thursday and Jake and I decided that we would take a break until Saturday when we would finish so that I could hang out with Haley and Luke. We were going to hangout and watch movies over Luke's house.

"Hey guys." I said walking into Luke's living room with popcorn and chips I had snagged from my house.

"Hey." They both said back to me at the same time.

I sat everything down on the table.

"What are we watching?" I asked.

"We cant decide." Haley said rolling her eyes.

"I named like 30 and you keep saying no." Luke shot back.

"Now now children." I said putting my arms up to stop them. "Im sure there is something we can agree on." I went to the stand that had all the movies on it.

Then I heard Haley, "So Luke, are you going to tell her or should I?"

I turn around quickly, "Tell me what?"

Lucas rolled his eyes, "Its not that big of a deal."

"What?" I was now really curious.

"Hoe bag asked Luke out. Like on a date. Friday night after the game." Haley answered before Luke could.

"Brooke?" I asked know who Haley was talking about.

"She is not a hoe." Lucas began to defend her.

"OK, whatever you say Luke." Haley roller her eyes.

"Seriously, shes not." He started to get a little angry which Haley and I thought was kind of funny.

"I bet shes not even a virgin." Haley said.

"Guys stop." He paused and then looked back to us. "I think I like her."

"Wait, what happened to Peyton? Her and Nathan broke up so she is fair game now."

"I don't know, it just seems right with Brooke."

"Im sure it does." I mumbled under my breath. "Well Luke if thats what you want then go for it, Im happy for you." I smiled at him.

"See, why cant you say things like that Hales? Huh?"

"Oh stop it Luke. You know Im just giving you a hard time. If you like her then Im happy for you too. Wish you all the best."

"Thank you." Luke said to her.

"So how is your project coming along Luke?" I asked him.

"Its fine. Faith is quiet. We may say maybe three words to each other while we are working."

"Yeah Jake and I only have the written part to do." I said to him.

"I tried asking him what it was and he wouldn't tell me."

"I told him not to tell you." I started busting out laughing.

"Whatever." He rolled his eyes, laughing with me. "Find anything for us to watch yet?"

"What about something scary?" I asked.

"I have to walk home. I would rather not." Haley hated scary movies but sometimes Lucas and I could convince her to watch them with us.

"We will walk you home." I told her.

"Really guys? I don't like scary movies."

"Well we voted and you lost." Lucas told her.

"Fine! Which one?" She asked giving in like she normally did.

"The Strangers?" I looked to Lucas and he just smiled.

"OK. Is it really scary?" She asked.

"No, not too scary." I lied because it was probably the scariest movie I had ever seen and she was going to freak.

"OK." She said.

Lucas went to start the popcorn and we got up to get drinks.

About half way through the movie Haley was having a heart attack. She was now sitting on the couch between me and Lucas with her head behind a pillow.

"You guys lied to me. This is beyond scary and you two are beyond cruel." She said with a muffle voice due to being behind a pillow. We just laughed at her, although I was still scared too. A few times I had hid my face under the blanket or covered my eyes and ears. This movie was scary.

"You guys are sissies. Its just a movie." Lucas said.

"So." Was all I said to him.

When the movie was over we walked Haley to her house and then Luke and I went our separate ways.

"How was movie night?" My mother asked as I entered the house.

"Good." I answered.

"What did you watch?"

"The Strangers. Its a scary movie."

"How can you guys watch that stuff."

"Its fun." I sat down on the couch next to my mom.

"I see your project is done." She said pointing to the dinning room where we had left it to dry.

"Yeah we painted it yesterday now all we have to do is write the written portion."

"It looks good. You guys did a great job."

"Thanks."

"You and Jake seem awfully friendly with each other." She said raising her eyebrows.

"Well when you have to do a project together its easier to get along then it is not too." I told her.

"Thats not what I mean."

I knew exactly what she meant. I liked seeing Jake just about everyday for a few hours at a time. Sometime it was strictly work and other time we would goof off. When we were doing the clay, there may have been a little clay exchanged between the two of us. It was easy to talk to him, so easy that it almost felt like I had knows him for longer then really a week. A few times I thought maybe I liked him but then maybe it was just that we were spending so much time together. He was older then me anyway. What would he want with a girl who was two years younger then him? I knew I was making a mountain out of a mole hill and just needed to finish this project and then that would be it. We would go back to being practically strangers.

"Well there isn't anything more then just two people doing a project together." I said to her.

"OK, OK." She said putting her hands up.

-X-

After the basketball game Haley and I were waiting outside with Karen and Keith for Lucas to come out.

"Oh thanks Sophia for coming to the game just to watch me play! Oh wait, you only come to watch Lucas." I heard Jake say walking up to us and then passing. "Ill see you tomorrow." He winked at me and then he was gone.

"What was that all about?" Haley asked.

"Im not really sure about the first part but he is coming over tomorrow to finish or assignment."

"Hmm." Was all Haley said.

Lucas came running up to us. "Hey mom, is it OK if I hang out with Brooke for a little bit? Ill be home later."

Oh yeah, I forgot he was going out with "hoe bag" tonight. I need to stop talking about her like that. I didn't know her.

"Yes, but don't be too late." Karen said to him.

He gave her a small kiss on the cheek and then waves to the rest of us. "Thanks for coming guys. Soph, Hales, Ill see you guys tomorrow." And then he was gone.

I turned to Haley and asked her, "Want to stay the night tonight?"

"OK." She said climbing into Keith's truck.

Haley and I were sitting on the floor in my bed room painting our toes.

"So have you told Nathan how you feel yet?" I asked her.

"No."

"And why not?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"I don't know. Im scared I guess."

"Of what?"

"I really don't think he feels the same way Sophie." She paused and let out a huge sigh. "I don't know."

"Well you will never know unless you tell him how you feel. Who knows he may feel the same way and is just too scared to tell you so."

"If he felt the same way I think he would tell me. I mean there is flirting and stuff but that it."

"Well if he's flirting with you then maybe that because he does like you."

"i think thats just the type of guy he is, like he shows all girls that type of attention."

"Yeah but this is one on one attention."

"I just don't fit into his world, ya know?"

"Fit into his world? What do you mean."

"Well for one he is the star basketball player for the Tree Hill Ravens and for two he is a serious partier. That just not a world that I fit into."

"Well maybe if you guys were together then things would change. Maybe you could change him."

"I don't want to change him."

I handed her the color I was using. "You make no sense girl."

"I know. None of this makes sense."

"Well I have small confession to make."

She stopped painting her toes and looked up. "Go on."

"I think I like Jake."

"Your project partner?"

"Yeah."

"What do you mean 'you think'?"

"Well I don't know if its just because we have been working together on this project and have been spending so much time together or that he is older or what."

"Do you think maybe he likes you?"

"I have no clue."

"Well it looks like we both are stuck between a rock and a hard place."

"SOPHIA, PHONE!" I heard my dad yell up the steps.

"Ill be right back." I said to Haley getting up off of the floor.

I ran down the stairs. "Who is it?" I asked taking the phone from my dad.

"Jake." He said.

"Hello." I said into the phone.

"Hey Sophia, Its Jake." He answered.

"Hey. Whats up?"

"I have something to do tomorrow until about 5 is it OK if I come over after that?"

"Yeah, sure thats fine."

"OK. Ill see you then."

"OK. Bye."

"Bye."

Once I hung up I went to the living room to tell my mom that Jake would be over around 5:30 instead of noon.

"Soph, your mother and I will be in Charlotte for a work thing tomorrow night."

"OK." I answered. What did that matter.

"Well I don't think its a good idea to have Jake in the house without your mother or I here." My dad said.

"He was here last week alone when we went to get the stuff for the project. Whats the difference now?"

"I just don't think its a good idea."

"Well it has to be done this weekend. Its due Monday." I said back to him.

Then my mother spoke. "Sophia, your father and I will talk about this. Go back to Haley."

I rolled my eyes and went upstairs. I heard my mom and dad talking.

"You know he has to come here tomorrow." I heard my mother say to my father.

"Trish, I don't want him here without us here." My dad said.

"She is a good kid. What do you think is going to happen?"

"I don't know. What do you think most hormonal boys his age think when they are alone in a house with a pretty girl?"

"Jason stop it. He is a nice boy and our daughter is a good girl."

"How do we know he's a good boy? We don't even know him."

"We do know him. He has been over here every day for the past week and our daughter knows him. and besides we will be back by 9. We will tell her he has to leave by 8."

"What id we make Kristin stay here."

"Good luck getting that girl to stay in on a Saturday night."

"We are her parents, if we tell her she has to stay in then she has to stay in."

"Jason we are not making her stay in. Sophia will be fine."

"Fine." My father caved. "But I want you to know that I do not like this at all. This goes against my better judgment."

"Well I trust our daughter and I know she is a good girl."

Thanks mom. I went into my room to find Haley doing her finger nails.

"You stared without me?" I asked plopping down on the floor across from her.

"You took too long."

"Sorry, it was Jake. He cant come over until later tomorrow but my parents will be in Charlotte and my dad was not happy about Jake coming over here without them being here."

She rolled her eyes at my parents being wacko. Seriously there was nothing to worry about.