Okay guys heres the next chapter. Ive been on a roll lately with updating but thats because I wont update for another four days. Sorry that there is no Brooke or Peyton in this chapter. Im still trying to tie them into the story. Well I hope you enjoy! Please try and leave a recview

"Well…" Luke started, "I was kind of wondering if we can let her play on the team."

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"What!? Are you serious?" Nathan exploded. "You can't be serious."

Lucas nodded. "Think about it this way she could be our secret weapon! Plus well get a lot of publicity. A girl playing in a guys league, and being just as good as any guy on the team, maybe even better."

"I agree with Lucas!" All the guys looked at Haley. Her cheeks flushed a little, she never usually cared about the team this much. "I just think that if she's as good as Lucas says she is, then maybe you should give her a shot."

"Aight, why don't we wait to see how she plays," Added Skills. "Then well consider it as a possibility."

With that the meeting ended, and every one went on their own separate ways.

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The next day Sarah walked into school a little more confident. She was still wearing the converse with a green polo, and dark gray Bermuda shorts. She quickly met up with her friends, and started walking towards their first period classes. As she walked down the hall she saw Lucas Scott, who gave her a small wave and smile, and went on his way.

This did not go unnoticed by Michelle, who gave her a little nudge in the stomach. Sarah rolled her eyes, and her other friend Mackenzie just smiled. They all said good bye to one another and headed off to their first period classes.

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Sarah came to class and saw that her seat that she had occupied yesterday was taken. A little annoyed the only seat left was next to one of the Sophmore basketball jocks. Haley was taking attendance.

"Isaac Peters?" She asked looking around.

"Its Zeke," said the jock sitting next to Sarah. "I only go by Zeke."

"Ok," Haley said. "Zeke it is." She continued attendance giving Sarah a small smile when her name was called.

Sarah loved Mrs. Scott, she was a great teacher, and was really cool too. She really couldn't wait to start the first assignment. Luckily she only had to wait a couple of minutes.

"So our first novel that well be reading together in class is A Mice of Men by John Steinbeck. It's a great heroic novel set in the late 1930's around the time of the Great Depression…"

Sarah zoned out, A Mice of Men? That was a book that she had read with her father two years ago. There was no way she was emotionally stable to read that book without crying every time she read it. Her eyes started tearing at the thought.

"Stop crying!" she told herself, wiping her eyes with her thumbs, hoping Zeke wouldn't see her. I have to be strong. She was going to read this book, and block out all the memories that she knew would come flooding back to her. It was going to be hard, but it was just part of the process of moving on.

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"Okay" said Luke, "If she decides to go to the river court tonight it will probably be the same time as last night, before dark. We will have to be there already, stationed in our cars so that she doesn't see us." Lucas said excited about his plan.

Lucas, Skills, and Nathan were in the gym office, planning out a way to see Sarah Preston play. Skills was right, in order to consider her to be a possibility, Nathan and Skills needed to see her in action.

Their plan was to watch Sarah play from their cars. Though it seemed a little shady, they knew that if Sarah had known that all the coaches were watching her, she may be a little freaked out and could leave.

"This seems a little….." Nathan started trying to find the right word.

"Pedophilic?" Skills added. Nathan nodded.

"Guys, when you see this girl play you'll be amazed." Lucas assured them.

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2:30 the last bell had ring, the second day of school was officially over. Today happened to be Soccer tryouts, and Sarah was in a rush to get out of school so no one asked her why she wasn't trying out.

Sarah dumped all her stuff in her locker as quickly as she could, "almost out" she thought.

"Sarah!" Sarah turned around. Too late! Her friend Mackenzie was calling her. She slammed her locker, and leaned her head against it and then stood up.

"Hey Mac." She said feigning a smile, she knew exactly how this conversation would turn out.

Mackenzie was one of Sarah's closest friends. She had been on more sports teams than Sarah, known to be one of the best athletes in Tree Hill. She was also really cool and down to earth. Unlike Michelle, boys weren't always on Mac's mind. Mackenzie and Sarah were usually together, and were sometimes just really weird.

" Hey bud, you sure you're not trying out for soccer? you're probably going to start this year." Mackenzie said, trying to get through to her friend.

"Yeah Mac, I'm sure, I think this year im going to take a break from Soccer. I was thinking that I'll concentrate more on school, you know getting better grades and stuff." Sarah said shrugging.

"Bud, you have like the best grades already, theres no such thing as an A plus plus, you're at the highest you can get." Mackenzie said, a little puzzled rolling her eyes.

"Listen Mac, I know that soccer means a lot to you, but Im kinda not into it right now. Im not into doing really anything right now." Sarah said shrugging her voice soft, and tears threatening to come out of her eyes.

Mackenzie smiled softly and gave Sarah a hug. "Kay bud, but if you change your mind theres always a spot open to you." Sarah nodded and went on her way.

Haley James Scott had overheard the ending of the conversation, and watched as Sarah walked out of school looking at her shoes. Maybe Lucas' idea of having her on the team wasn't that great after all.

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Sarah walked home, not really looking at her surroundings. She was thinking about playing some basketball like she did yesterday. Then she remembered Lucas Scott watching her. No she decided shell just go on a run and see where that took her.

Sure enough it took her to the river court, and she went to the bushes to retrieve the ball. She just started dribbling when her first memory hit her.

Flashback

Sarah was about twelve years old, in her driveway in New Jersey holding a basketball on her hip. Her dad was teaching her.

"/Being able to dribble properly is very important in a game, If theres a fast break opportunity you want to be able to get down to the other side of the court as fast and as efficiently as you ccan. There are two ways a fastbreak can be ruined if someone catches you from behind, or if the person looses their dribble from all the excitement. So were going to go on a little run, but heres the catch, were going to run a mile dribbling a basketball. You do it fully, and I'll take you out for dinner and Ice Cream. You lose your dribble, you have to go running with me for a full week. "

Sarah nodded. She was accepting the challenge. And they began their trot around the neighborhood. Sure enough Sarah lost her dribble several times, her dad had won the bet.

When they had arrived back home, Sarah and her father weren't even dribbling any more. The sat down on the front steps leading to the house.

"Ok, so we definitely have to work on that." Sarah's dad said chuckling. Sarah nodded. No ice cream or pizza for her tonight.

"Listen to this. How about I teach you some drills to work on your dribbling so that it will get better. If you learn them quickly and do well, Ill reconsider taking you out to dinner.

Sarah smile, and jumped up willing to learn.

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So since that day Sarah had been doing the same dribbling drills. As she got older, making them a little more complex. It had been a long time since she had practiced them so picking upp the ball she began.

She picked up the ball smacking it with her hands getting used to the feeling of the ball. Then bouncing it once she started running. Up and down the court she ran, first dribbling with her strongest hand, her left, and then with her right. Soon she starting doing crossovers, behind the back, through the legs. She then picked up an extra ball and started dribbling two balls. Up and down the court she ran, her head up, brow furrowed trying to concentrate. She then starting alternating the balls, while one was up the other was down. She created a soothing rhythm of the balls.

She was already starting to sweat and she didn't even start shooting around yet. Kicking one ball to the side, she started doing her lay up drill. Soon she had abandoned any sort of repertoire and started shooting around for fun. . Lay ups, jump shots, and three pointers she was making her shots more than missing them. She then moved to the half court line. Setting herself she went for the shot. Using power in her knees and arms. She bent her elbows in and jumped. For a few satisfying second she watched the ball which had not even touched the back board or the rim, just swish in. She smiled. Of course it was a risky shot, one that was never really taken in games but she did it anyways.

Rebounding the ball Sarah started shooting around again. She still didn't know she was being watched by four guys in the silver Range Rover parked not too far from the car.

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The guys were stunned. Lucas was right that girl was incredible. She had great form and her drills were similar to the ones that they did with the team.

Jamie, who had tagged along, since the Scotts couldn't find a babysitter after Carrie, was amazed. "Wow Daddy she's good." He said. His father nodded too enthralled to say anything else.

He watched as Sarah stood at half court and got ready to shoot. "There is no way she's making this one." He told Lucas and Skill.

"Watch." Said Lucas, having faith that Sarah could make it.

And sure enough, two seconds later she made it with out the help of the back board or the rim.

That had Jamie convinced and soon enough he was opening the door of the car, and started running towards the court. "Let's go play!" he shouted.

The guys were a little nervous, but maybe Sarah would stay and join them, showing them what she had in a game situation.

The guys walked onto the court as Sarah had mastered another free throw. Lucas nodded to her and said "Guys this is Sarah Preston. She's the best girl to ever walk the river court." They all said hey, and introduced themselves. Except for Jamie who was hiding behind Nathan's leg, all of his courage earlier had disappeared.

"And what's your name?" Sarah asked pointing to Jamie. She loved little kids and hated that she had no other siblings.

"Jamie…" he said quietly coming out of his hiding place.

"Well Jamie, Do you play ball like the big guys over here?" She asked bending down to the kid's eye level.

He nodded. "Well show me," She challenged. She passed him the ball and he took it eagerly and starting dribbling and running to the basket. He used a lot of force and tossed it up and banked it. A round of applause was given to Jamie from all his fans. He smiled brightly.

"I have an idea why don't we play 2 on 3, me Daddy and Sarah, against Uncle Lucas and Uncle Skills." The guys nodded and thanked Jamie silently for giving them an opportunity to play.

"Ok," Sarah agreed. "But only for a little bit, your mom gave me a lot of home work to do tonight."

They all chuckled.

Sarah was taking out the ball. "Don't play easy on me boys!" She said checking the ball to Lucas. The guys smiled, they definitely liked this girl.

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The game was well underway. Jamie had quit after he realized it was a little too intense for him. Sarah was on fire. She had made 10 of hers and Nathan's 23 points. Two three pointers and two other shots. This was her first pick up game with people other than her father. It felt great to be on the court again she thought while running to the base line. Nathan passed her the ball, and soon enough Skills was trying to play defense on her. Unfortunately for Skills, Sarah turned sideways and made a perfect hook shot. Swish!

Jamie cheered for her, and Skills scratched his head.

"And I believe that's a game." Nathan laughed looking at his brother and friend. He high fived Sarah, who smiled. "You're an awesome player," Nathan said to Sarah. "Lucas told me about you yesterday, but I had to see it for myself. He was right. You exceeded my expectations."

Sarah smiled. "Thanks. But I haven't played for real in a while…" She trailed off, blocking out any sad thoughts that were bound to come up.

"Well actually, that's why were here." Lucas said to her, looking at the guys the both nodded. "How would you like to join the Ravens?"

Dun Dun Dun….. Hope you liked it.

I wont be updating till at least Tuesday.

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