Setting: Lucas' coach's office. He is on the phone with the person that interviewed him a few days earlier.
Lucas: It's good to hear from you…ok… of course… I…. yeah… I understand… let me know if you have anything else available… it was a pleasure to meet you… you too… ok… bye.
*Lucas returns the phone to it's dock and empties out a sigh of frustration. He turns the game tape back on and starts jotting down notes. After a few seconds, he slams the pause button, tears the sheet of paper out of his notebook, crumples it into a ball and throws it at the trashcan. The paper hits the rim of the can and then falls to the floor. Seconds later, Jake enters with a grin on his face. He picks up the paper ball, walks to the other end of the office, tosses it in the air and lands it in the can. *
Jake: Like that, my friend, we are going to win the sate championship.
Lucas: *annoyed * Yeah… we better… considering I can't lose two jobs in one year…
Jake: Well, we are going to win… what do you mean "lose two jobs"?
Lucas: I guess I didn't really LOSE two… I didn't have one of them to begin with…
Jake: Didn't get the job?
Lucas: Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner… I just don't know how to tell Peyton…
Jake: Tell her we are going to win the state championship.
Lucas: Someone is a little cocky.
Jake: Well let's just say I have a few new tactics…
Lucas: what are you talking about?
Jake: I'm talking about how now if they misbehave we can give them the worst academic semester of their life!
Lucas: I don't get it…
Jake: I'm the new lit. teacher.
*a smile spreads across both of their faces. *
Lucas: That's great, Jake! I bet Jenny is happy!
Jake: I actually haven't told her yet… So, this Rimkus lady… is she really as bad as what I've heard? I'm taking over her class after she took it over for Haley… what happened? I can't imagine anyone firing Haley…
Lucas: Oh boy… I'll leave that one up to Haley to explain to you…
*******************************************
Setting: Brooke's house
* Brooke is pounding on Sam's door, trying to wake her up. *
Brooke: SAM!!!! OPEN THE DOOR! WAKE UP!
*When Sam doesn't respond, Brooke swings the door open to find Sam lying on her bed with a pillow covering her ears. *
Brooke: C'mon. Chop chop… we have a million things to do today…
Sam: Urgh…
*Brooke swipes the pillow off of Sam's head, to which Sam finally responds by rolling over. *
Sam: *barely awake * you know, some people actually like to sleep when they don't have to get up for school in the morning…
Brooke: Not today. You are getting dressed and we are going shopping.
Sam: For what? I have enough clothes…
Brooke: Not for clothes, you dork! For dresses!
Sam: Wow! Big dif! ... not really…
Brooke: Actually, totally "really"! We are going to get bride's maid dresses…
Sam: wait… what?
Brooke: um…
Sam: You and Julian talked about it?
Brooke: Yeah… is that ok with you?
Sam: it's ok with me as long as you said "yes"…
Brooke: I totally said "yes"!
Sam: Then it's totally ok!
*****************************************************
Setting: Nathan and Haley's house
*Haley is in the kitchen making breakfast. Jamie comes bounding down the stairs, two at a time. *
Jamie: *shouting as he runs down the stairs * Dad!! Dad! Dad can we go to the river court today?!
*Haley runs to the stairs and catches him after he jumps off the last one. *
Haley: You've got to slow down, little man, or you are going to end up back in the hospital…
*She gives him an Eskimo kiss and sets him back down on his feet. *
Jamie: *sighs* ok… where's dad?
Haley: Daddy had to go back to Charlotte, remember? He'll be back this weekend…
Jamie: ok…
Haley: C'mon, I made you breakfast.
*Haley takes Jamie by the hand and leads him into the kitchen. Jamie hops up onto a stool at the counter and starts digging into his pancakes. *
Jamie: Since Daddy isn't home, will you take me to the river court?
Haley: We'll see about that, buddy. I have to go to the studio to meet Peyton and Mia, but would you want Uncle Lucas or Aunt Brooke to take you?
Jamie: Sure… but I really want to go with you, Mama…
Haley: I'll see what I can do. I don't know if you want to take very many lessons from me, though… I'm REALLY bad…
Jamie: You're not THAT bad…
Haley: Oh yeah? Want to bet on that one? When I was in high school, I had to make a free throw to pass gym… your dad spent all week trying to teach me and the only way I could do it was granny style…
Jamie: That's funny…
Haley: Yeah, well it's not so funny when it's about to ruin your GPA…
Jamie: You really were a nerd in high school, weren't you?
Haley: Yeah… I guess I was… finish your breakfast.
*********************************************
Setting: Brooke and Sam shopping…
*They are at a fabric store. Sam is bored and wants to go home, but Brooke is as happy as can be. She is going up and down the aisles, occasionally holding up different fabrics to Sam. *
Sam: So… this isn't really what I had in mind when you said we were going to look for dresses…
Brooke: Sam, are you crazy? You actually think I would buy a wedding dress?
Sam: Well… sort of…
Brooke: Brooke Davis does not buy dresses!
Sam: Ok, ok, I'm sorry… I didn't know… It's just… don't you think it would be easier to buy one because you are going to have to plan the wedding and everything?
Brooke: Sam, I've been making wedding dresses since I was in high school… it's not even an option.
*Brooke's phone rings. She sighs and picks it up. *
Brooke: Hello?.... oh! Hi, Haley!... So, didn't you love the wedding dress I made you?... haha… that's great *shoots Sam an "I told you so" look *….what?... oh, the river court… yeah… I think so… ok… we'll meet you there…. Bye, Hales.
*******************************************
Setting: River Court
*Jamie is sitting on the picnic bench with Haley. Brooke and Sam walk over to them. Sam picks up a ball that was lying on the court when she walks by. *
Sam: Hey, J Scott! *she tosses him the ball * You up for a game of one-on-one?
Jamie: *He catches the ball and runs over to her * Totally!
Haley: Take it easy, buddy!
Jamie: Ok, Mama…
Haley: Have fun…
*Brooke joins Haley on the bench. *
Haley: So, let's see the ring!
*Brooke holds out her hand so that Haley can admire it. *
Haley: Wow! It's beautiful, Brooke! Did you pick it out?
Brooke: No… Julian did…
Haley: Well then, he's got very good taste…
Brooke: Yeah, he does… you know, if you had been engaged for more than like ten seconds, maybe you could have one too!
Haley: Ha ha… very funny…
Brooke: So, how's TutorKid doing?
*Haley watches Jamie as he makes a basket. *
Haley: You know, he's doing really well… for the first time in a while, I feel like things are really heading in the right direction.
Brooke: That's so good, Hales…
*Haley's phone rings. *
Haley: Hey, Mom… can I call you back later… what?... *Haley gets up off the bench and walks to the other side of the park * are you sure?... oh my god…mhhmm… ok… oh…no…yeah… ok… let me know when you hear anything else… ok… I love you, mom… bye…
*Haley returns to the bench with tears at the brim of her eyes, but not yet flowing down her cheeks. *
Brooke: Is everything ok?
Haley: maybe I spoke too soon about everything being ok…
Brooke: Hales, what happened?
*Haley starts gathering her things and fishes her car keys out of her purse. *
Haley: It's… um… my… sister, Allie…. She… my mom said… that she … um… is…. is… dead.
Brooke: Oh, Haley *Brooke gets up to wrap Haley in her arms. *
Haley: Yeah… I um… I have to go…
*Haley heads to the car. *
Haley: Jamie, come on… we have to go home now…
Jamie: But, Mom!
Haley: We have to go.
*Jamie reluctantly complies and makes his way to the car. *
*************************************************
Setting: Brooke's house
*Brooke is sitting on the couch looking at pictures from high school. *
Sam: Whatcha doing?
Brooke: I was just going through some of my old stuff to make room for Julian's things and I found some photo albums from high school…
Sam: Ooh! I want to see!
*Sam joins Brooke on the couch. *
Sam: ahh… Brooke Davis, cheer captain… you guys sure won a lot a trophies…
Brooke: Yeah… we kind of rocked! You should try it… it's fun!
Sam: I am SO not the "cheerleader" type…
Brooke: yeah, well neither were Peyton or Haley, but they worked the blue and white… look, you don't have to… I just think you may actually like it…
*Sam notices a happy Haley in the picture. Her long, blonde, curly hair draped over her shoulders and she wore a grin from ear to ear. *
Sam: Hey, Brooke, is Haley ok?
Brooke: Yeah… I think so… she is just dealing with a lot lately… I'm just trying to give her space…
Sam: She just seemed really upset today when she left the river court…
Brooke: Ok… I'm not really supposed to tell you this, so don't go spreading it around or anything, but… um… her sister died…
Sam: oh…
Brooke: I mean… like she died today…
Sam: God, that's tough…
Brooke: The only other person she's told is Nathan… I don't even think she has told Jamie yet… but, she'll be ok… I know she will… she's strong.
*Brooke gives Sam a wink and turns the page to the next set of pictures. *
Sam: You dated Chase?
Brooke: Yep!
Sam: Man, what guy in Tree Hill haven't you dated?
Brooke: Umm… Nathan?
Sam: Ok… let me change the question to "what guy haven't you slept with?"
Brooke: God, what don't you remember? I knew there was a reason I shouldn't have told you that story…
*Sam notices Chase's "clean teen" shirt and giggles. *
Brooke: what?
Sam: Chase was a "Clean Teen"?
Brooke: yeah…
Sam: Brooke Davis dated a "Clean Teen"?
Brooke: Yeah, well he wasn't when I was done with him…
********************************
Setting: Nathan and Haley's house.
* Haley is sitting at the piano, trying to right a song… Every note she plays reminds her of her sister, Allie… Allie was her oldest sister. Haley didn't really know her when she was growing up, because they were about 10 years apart in age. By the time Haley was eight, Allie had already gone off to college. But, ever since Jamie was born, she relied on Allie more than ever. Allie had a daughter right after she got out of college. The man she married eventually left her, and she was forced to raise Kayla all by herself. Allie was Haley's only other sibling who had kids when Jamie was born and Haley found that she was someone that she could always turn to. She thought back to when Nathan was in his wheelchair and Allie would call every day from New York to check on her and Jamie… In the past five years, she had become more of a sister than she can say for Taylor or Quinn. Lost in her memories, she began to feel out the piano keys, resulting in a mournful ballad that had tears streaming down her face. Seconds after she finished playing, she felt strong arms wrap around her from behind.
Haley: When did you get home?
Nathan: A couple minutes ago…
Haley: I thought you had to stay at practice…
Nathan: I got your message, Hales.
* Nathan joins Haley on the piano bench. Haley buries her face into Nathan's shoulder as he strokes her hair. *
Haley: What about he bobcats?
Nathan: My spot will still be there when I am ready to go back, but right now my family needs me more than the bobcats do.