Ok guys

Sorry that it has taken me a while to update this story. Being in graduate school keeps me pretty busy!! Anyway, I hope that I can get back to this story and stick with it! And some exciting news since I last updated, I got engaged!! So I'm also planning a wedding! I hope to hear from you guys and please review!

The Meeting

Friday came before anyone knew it and Karen was beyond nervous. Today was cheerleading tryouts and Karen had been talked into trying out by Victoria.

Karen sat at her vanity table applying her make up this morning and reflecting back on her first week of Tree Hill High. She had gotten to know Ellie, Lydia, and Victoria all a little better over the last few days. She sat at their table at lunch, although she wasn't really part of their crowd, yet. She had also had a couple of intense eye contact moments with Dan Scott over the last few days. They had not formally met, but Karen knew his name because Victoria caught him eyeing Karen from across the quad one day at lunch and told Karen that she should be flattered and careful at the same time that Dan Scott had his eye on her. Karen seem to be brushing it off and trying not to make too much of it. Karen caught a glimpse of her brother's picture which sat on her vanity table. It was his senior picture, taken weeks before he died.

"I miss you Cliff. I could use my big brother to protect me from all the stupid jocks and to help me with algebra…." She let a small tear escape from her eye. Just then, her mother Anice knocked and told her that breakfast was ready.

Karen touched up her make up and went to join her parents in the kitchen. She greeted her father first.

"Morning Daddy…" Karen gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Morning sweetheart…" Clinton replied. He smiled and returned to his cup of coffee.

Anice carried plates of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast to the table and placed them in front of her husband and daughter. She then retrieved her plate and joined them.

"So today is the big day, huh?" She smiled at Karen "cheerleading tryouts this afternoon?" Karen smiled nervously.

"Yep. You guys don't have to come. It's not that big of a deal…" she tried to play it off, not wanting people to make a big deal about her trying out.

"Nonsense, we are happy that you like school and are getting involved. You haven't wanted to cheer in while now. But you always were good when you were younger…" Anice doted on her daughter.

Karen just shrugged "just be there 5 to pick me up. Or I can even get a ride home from somebody…" she offered.

Anice shook her head "I'll pick you up dear. Maybe we can even go out to eat and celebrate tonight. Right, Clinton?" She eyed her husband, telling him to agree.

"Sure, we'll try that new café in town. I've heard they draw a crowd. It would be good to get out and socialize some. We haven't gotten to know many people yet…" He said somberly. He and Anice were still traumatized by losing their son. Anice sent him a grateful smile for trying.

Just then, they all heard a car horn beep outside the house. Karen took one last sip of her juice and gathered her things. She gave each of her parents a hug.

"See you guys later. And don't worry Mom; I'll see you at 5…." Karen had a big smile on her face. She was out the door before her parents could reply and hoped into the car with Ellie. She had offered to pick Karen up this morning.

"She seems to be doing well…" Anice smiled at the happy look on her daughter's face.

"She does…" Clinton agreed "We all deserve to be happy after what we've been through." He smiled. He took Anice's hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. They deserved to be happy, more than most people after the tragedy of losing their son.

But Tree Hill is an unpredictable place, and no one could predict the drama that was sure to unfold.

Dan Scott ruled the halls of Tree Hill High. Everyone who was anyone knew that.

He roamed the halls, giving high fives and sneaking a couple smacks on the butt to girls that winked at him. Life was good. Dan, of course, had gotten rid of his latest fling and was a cougar on the prow. He was determined to have another good looking girl on his arm by the end of the weekend. In particular, a certain brunette that he had been eyeing all week. He just had to wait for the right moment to make his move.

That afternoon happen to be football tryouts as well. And as captain, Dan was sure to be there. He wanted to check out all the scrawny freshmen who thought that they could play football and hopefully find at least one decent guy to add to the team.

"Hey Scott, you going to join us or not?" The coach brought Dan from his daydream. He had been starring a lot longer than he realized at the cheerleading squad holding tryouts at one end of the field. He smiled as he saw the most beautiful brunette laughing and talking with some of the other girls on the squad. He was mesmerized.

"Sorry coach, I'm coming…" he smiled his infamous smile. The coach caught on to what Dan was starring at and shook his head in disdain.

"Hormones…" The coach muttered "Alright boys, huddle up…" He blew his whistle.

Over where the cheerleaders were having try outs, Karen was having Ellie teach her one of the routines that they would use to try out. It had been a couple years since Karen cheered, but she still remembered the basics.

"Was that high enough?" Karen asked about her toe touch. She was beginning to see just how long it has been since she cheered.

Ellie smiled "It was really good actually…" She commented "I can tell that you have cheered before..."

Karen blushed "Thanks. I was actually co-captain at my old school, before…." She trailed off. Karen had quit after Cliff's accident. She didn't feel the same about it after his death. But she was starting to feel good about cheering again. She was grateful that Ellie didn't ask any questions.

"Ok, ladies…" Victoria got everyone's attention "We are about to start the try outs portion of this afternoon. We will be going by groups of 3, in order of numbers" That would mean Karen would be toward the end. She was number 12. HorH

When it came time for Karen's turn, she had a big smile as she lined up with the other two girls. Her toe touch was good, and her back spring perfected. As she finished, Karen felt like she was on top of the world. She saw Victoria smile, pleased with her performance as well. Just then, Karen was brought back to reality by someone yelling.

"Look out…" one of the other girls yelled at her. Karen turned around just in time to see Dan Scott trying to catch an out of zone ball, headed right toward her. She had just enough time to jump back and avoid being sacked. Dan landed right in front of her on the ground though.

"You ok?" Karen asked with an innocent smile. One that made Dan's heart melt. He gingerly brushed himself off and stood up slowly.

"I'm ok…" He smiled "I'd be even better if you would go out with me tomorrow night though?" He wasn't the usual arrogant Dan Scott that everyone was used to. He seemed almost nervous and humbled by this beautiful brunette. Karen smiled and bit her lip. She saw Victoria, Ellie, and Lydia all nod yes behind Dan.

"Sure…" Karen finally said. Ellie passed her a piece of scrap paper and a pen. Karen quickly scribbled down her address and passed it to Dan "Here's my address…" She smiled

Dan smiled back "I'll pick you up at 7, then?" He asked to make sure the time was ok. Everyone was in awe at how reserved Dan was being around Karen.

Karen nervously as well "I'll be ready…" With that, Dan returned to the game, receiving some razzing by some of the other guys. Karen turned with mouth wide open to her new friends. Had she really just been asked out by one of the most popular guys in school?

Victoria approached her first¸ followed by the other two "Dan Scott just asked you out…." She seemed shocked too "I mean, he really just asked you out, in front of everybody…."

"I know…" Karen almost whispered, nervous "What am I going to wear? What do i tell my parents? What…" She was cut off by Ellie.

"Ok, first of all, breathe…." Ellie told her "And secondly, we have to go shopping first thing tomorrow morning…" Victoria and Lydia nodded.

"Thank you guys…." Karen smiled, feeling much better. She wasn't sure what would impress a guy like Dan Scott, so she would need some help. As Karen went to gather her things, Victoria called out to her.

"Oh, and welcome to the squad!" Victoria told her.

Karen was on cloud nine as she went to find Anice. She had made the cheerleading squad. And Dan Scott had asked her for a date. Things could not be more perfect in her mind. But for how long?