Thanks for the reviews! I just wanted to clarify that a lot of the events incorporated will be similar to what happened to me. In Chapter 1, it was all fiction. If you readers are interested if which parts of the story are based on my life, leave me a review and I'll reply as soon as possible. Enjoy! xoxo

Haley was thankful when her first period class was over and luckily the first quarter of school would be health education. She had her U.S. History class next which went by fairly quickly and it was time for lunch. Heading to her locker she saw that Lucas was already there waiting for her. He smiled when he saw her and waved at her.

"Hales,"

"Luke,"

"How is your day?"

Haley rolled her eyes as she opened up her locker to switch her texts and grab her lunch.

"It could be so much better. How about you?"

"Same here. Except, I think it's just 'cause it's school. What do you expect?"

She shrugged.

"So, I'm assuming you won't be eating lunch with cheerleader-face?"

"Come on, Hales,"

"What? Just because I somewhat approve of you two dating, doesn't mean I have to be nice,"

"Fine. But no, we are not eating lunch together because she has second lunch."

"Oh, that's why you've decided to join me,"

She stuck her tongue out jokingly at him as she shut her locker. She linked arms with her best friend and the two headed towards the cafeteria.

Deep in conversation, she missed Nathan and his jock strap crew (as she referred to them), hanging around the halls. He had been talking with his best friend, Tim, a fellow basketball player, Peyton, and Rachel. The two girls were not jocks, but rather cheerleaders along with Lucas' new girlfriend, Brooke.

Nathan couldn't stand Lucas. They had bumped heads in their freshman year during their P.E. class. Basketball was the assigned sport of the quarter and Lucas had defeated the team captain of junior varsity at his own sport. While other students were amazed, Nathan was irked and that was the turning point of his hatred towards his broody peer. So when he had seen him waiting for the adorable Haley James at her locker and seen them linking arms, he was pretty irritated.

He nudged Tim and asked,

"Why do those two hang out together? Are they dating?"

Tim shrugged his shoulders not really caring while both girls turned to see who Nathan was talking about.

"Um… too bad Lucas is officially property of Brooke," Peyton said matter-of-factly.

"She must be one of those clingy friends who wants to be more than friends," Rachel commented jealously.

She had noticed Nathan staring more so at the girl than Lucas. Peyton rolled her eyes, pulling her friend's wrist. Peyton had a tall, slender build with beautiful golden curls and hazel-green eyes. Rachel's body was similar but fuller in the chest. She was a red-head which she managed to make even redder than normal with monthly visits to the hair salon. Both were the typical beautiful girls who held popularity in the palm of their hands. But both were everything but typical.

"And we're off to lunch. Bye, guys,"

Rachel turned back quickly to look at Nathan but he wasn't paying attention and was talking to Tim. She scowled before continuing to walk with her friend.

"Since when did Lucas become even acknowledged by a cheerleader?" Nathan asked.

"I think it was some party during the summer they hooked up or something," Tim said.

"How did I not know about this?"

"Because you were too busy hooking up with other people?" Tim asked unsure of what to say.

Nathan gave his friend a strange look, despite the truth of the statement.

"Since when did you give a shit about Lucas Roe?" Tim asked curiously.

"Who says I give a shit,"

"You and you're questions,"

"Shut up, Tim."

"Or maybe, you give a shit about the girl who was with Lucas Roe,"

"Shut up, Tim!"

"Okay… okay…"

And he started walking quickly to the cafeteria trying to avoid Tim's instigating questions as his friend followed closely behind. Tim was definitely not as dumb as everyone accused him to be.

--

Lucas and Haley sat in the courtyard along with most of the other students for their lunch break. In between bites of their food, they talked a little bit more about Brooke and how she and Lucas had gotten together. Most of the time, the two could rely on each other to always have lunch together, ever since middle school. It was a small tradition that felt normal and comforting. Laughing and enjoying themselves, they were oblivious of the table side their's which was occupied by half of the basketball team.

Nathan and his friend's sat around the table talking about their dirtiest deeds over the summer break and laughing over perverted things. Occasionally if the jokes were really nasty, they'd throw pieces of food at one another. He didn't even notice the people sitting at the table next to their's until a single French fry went flying out of someone's hand and landed, unfortunately for them, in Haley's hair.

Haley felt the impact of something small hitting the back of her head and to her dismay, pulled out a greasy French fry. Lucas watched in fear as her face flushed and hate filled her eyes. She heard laughter behind her and immediately she swiveled around to see who had thrown it and wasn't surprised to see that it had come from the table where the jock strap crew sat. Pulling the piece of food out of her hair, she held onto it as if it were a piece of evidence in somebody's murder case.

"What's so funny?" she yelled demandingly.

Everyone close enough to hear, including the basketball team turned to see who was screaming. She held the food close to one of the player's face and screamed again,

"I said… what's so damn funny?!"

"Uh… we're not laughing at you," he said defensively.

This time she looked at every single person sitting at that table, and threateningly said,

"Don't you ever… ever… throw anything at me again!"

In her blind rage, she didn't even notice Nathan sitting there, smirking at her sudden behavior the entire time.

She turned right back around to continue finish eating her lunch, ignoring the stares from not only Lucas, but the rest of the students who had overheard her shouting. She heard the boys snickering but as soon as she turned her head slightly, silence fell upon their table. Haley was trying to calm down as she shook a little from the anger that had built up. Lucas took a hold of her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Nathan watched this and envy briefly flashed in his eyes.

--

After lunch, Haley had gone straight to her fifth period class. She was determined to get through the day, whether it was bad or not. Her fifth period class was an SAT prep class which she was thankful for.

'I'm just going to focus on class and forget all the crap that's happened today.'

The desks were pushed together in foursomes meaning there was going to be plenty of group work. She had come in quite early, aside from the several other students already plopped down in their seats. As she sat and waited for the bell to ring, ushering in the rest of the class, she noticed as most of the students were sophomores—blonde-haired, blue-eyed, and skanky sophomore girls. She groaned when she saw a couple of the varsity football players arrive, who were instantly the talk of the class.

Haley crossed her arms and stared into her desk knowing that no one would sit with her. And no one did.

'Surprise, surprise,' she thought grimly.

The bell rang and that's when Haley felt her island of desks move slightly, as someone sat across from her, their feet bumping into hers'. She felt a little bit of hope glow inside her chest as she gazed up to see the person who had chosen to sit with her.

Haley's bit of hope dropped back down into her stomach. Even though the blonde brigade of idiots seemed to glower at her and her 'luck', she declared her first day of school and the rest of the year officially a bad day. For directly in front of her, sat a contentedly smirking Nathan Scott.

"James, I understand how irresistible I am, but come on, how many times are you trying to see me throughout the day?"

"Don't talk to me like you know me!" She hissed at him.

He could only chuckle.

Just as the teacher came walking in he whispered to her,

"By the way, we weren't laughing at you,"

Haley gasped at his remark. She hadn't even noticed him at the table.

'I hope I didn't look like a big jerk in front of him. Wait, why do I care? Ew! What is wrong with you?'

For some reason, Nathan Scott bothered her. Why he chose to sit with her and not anyone else—like the other jocks or the cutesy sophomores that were clearly swooning. What was his deal? He was known for his flirtatious behavior with everyone from lowerclassmen to even teachers so, did that include nerdy tutors too? He made her feel so self-conscious just by a look or a simple phrase. Her pride was something that no one came even close to breaking, except for him.

As the teacher continued her introduction and presented the curriculum for the school year, Nathan couldn't help but to stare at the girl across his table. He loved tormenting her and waiting to see the way that she would react. But was it really that he enjoyed teasing her or did he enjoy provoking her to think about him. Or maybe he liked this love/hate relationship with her because she was best friends with Lucas Roe. Either way, he had Haley James on his mind and couldn't shake her out, even if he wanted to.

The students were given an in-class assignment, giving the students a welcomed opportunity to gab.

"So, are you and Lucas like dating or something?"

"Why, you jealous?"

She flashed him a self-satisfied grin.

"Why, do you want me to be?"

"Ugh… I'm kidding. But, haven't you heard yet? Brooke and Lucas are together,"

"Are you jealous?"

She scoffed at his quick comeback.

"Uh… no. Why is it so hard to comprehend that girls and boys can be best friends too?"

"Because the girl, boy, or both will get horny and curious… and you know how the rest goes,"

"Ew! That is so sick. Lucas is like my brother! Why should I even have to defend my friendship with him to you? You hate him. Therefore, I hate you."

There was a moment of quiet as Haley reflected on what she had said with regret.

"What if I stopped hating him? What if I liked him? Then would you like me?"

"Look, buddy… if you liked him that would weird me out, but that's your choice…"

"That's not what I meant!"

"Maybe… maybe I would like you,"

Haley gave him a warm smile and refocused on the class assignment. She was unable to see the look of surprised on Nathan's face followed by a boyish grin that appeared afterwards.

--

After school, Lucas had driven Haley to Keith & Karen's Café, a family-run business that belonged to Lucas' parents. Since Haley's parents were hardly ever home, she worked the evening shifts as much as possible, enjoying the time spent with the Roe family.

As the last customer left, Haley turned the sign so that 'closed' faced outside. Lucas was finishing up counting the cash drawer as she wiped down some of the tables. She used the back of her hand to wipe her brow and hopped onto a stool behind the bar, facing Lucas.

"So, why didn't you and Brooke hang out today? You've been here all night long,"

He smiled at his friend.

"You too, Hales,"

"Well, that is because typically, I work these kind of hours, while you just don't,"

"She's busy with cheerleading stuff and we made a date for tomorrow night so…"

"Oh, I see,"

"Yup… so, was your day any better?"

"It was alright. I think I might have overreacted today at lunch."

Lucas brought his forefinger and thumb together.

"Just a little bit," he suggested.

Haley shrugged nonchalantly.

"Hey, I was having a bad day."

"Well, the day is over and a new one does begin tomorrow."

"Thank you for your wisdom," she said sarcastically.

"I'm just trying to be helpful over here!"

"I'm teasing! A lot of people have seemed to change this year like for example, Brooke,"

"Yeah, but who else has?"

"Uh… I've just noticed a couple other people that just acted different."

"Oh,"

"I'm just saying… that this should be a pretty interesting year,"