Chapter Two: It's A Very, Very Mad World

It is said that it's okay to run as long as you're running towards something and not away from it. But I don't know. Somedays I feel if I could run fast enough, I might be able to outrun all my problems. I could outrun anything.

I had woken up early and sneaked out of the house for a run, my iPod tucked into my ear. Without quite knowing how, I'd ended up in the cemetery where part of my family lies buried. Where my dad lies buried.

Keith Scott.

I never knew the man. I was born into the world, fatherless and with a mother who loved me to bits but who'd been hurt enough by the world. I couldn't add to her misery. I halted before my father's grave and wondered what I could possibly say to him.

But before I could get even a word out, there was a rustle behind me and turned around sharply. A boy stood there looking at me. He looked hardly older than me. His brown hair had fallen across his eyes, and he stood there dressed in a fitting shirt and blue jeans. I spied his headphones resting by his shoulder. We stared at each other for a whole minute and then I called out, "Can I help you?"

"I hope not," he answered, "You don't know how to bring back the dead, do you?"

"Nope," I said, "But I'm working on it."

"I'm Ryan Summers by the way," he said.

"And I'm Lily Roe Scott," I introduced myself.

I wondered what he would say next or if the conversation was already over. Just as suddenly he smiled and said, "Well, I'll be seeing you." Then tucking in his headphones into his ears, he walked off, leaving me to my very confused thoughts in the cemetery.

"Good morning, mom," I called as I entered Karen's Café, "What's for breakfast?"

"Sit down. Eat a proper meal before you go off to school," she said, putting a plate of pancakes before me.

Overjoyed, I sat down at the table. The door to the café opened and Jamie's voice followed. "Oooh! Pancakes for breakfast!"

In a flash he was sitting right next to me. I turned to him and asked, "Doesn't Haley make you breakfast?"

"Don't be mean!" Haley said, appearing with his plate from the kitchen, "I made enough to go around."

"I had no idea, mom, that when I said I wanted to move back to Tree Hill, I'd have more family than I know what to do with it!" I said, tucking into my breakfast.

"You know, you're really lucky, don't you?" my mother asked me, "When Lucas was growing up, all he had was me, Haley and Keith."

"You mean, my dad Keith?"

The words had flown out of my mouth before I could stop them. I saw the hurt cross mum's face before clearing up. I felt terrible but the early morning visit to the grave had really riled me up.

"Eat your food and get to school."

So we ate in silence, and despite all my protests, I found myself being driven to school in Jamie's car.

"Just drive slow," I told him.

"Have a good day, darling," my mom said, giving me a peck on the cheek.

"I love you, mom," I said, giving her hug.

I passed Lucas who was dropping in for breakfast with eight-year-old Sawyer. He called out a 'good luck' to me. I raised my hand in acknowledgment.

"Drive safe, Jamie," he yelled to his godson.

"Yeah, you better drive safe," I said.

As we drove to school, Jamie tried to strike up a conversation again. He seemed really interested to know about what seemed to bother me so much. He had guessed I was carrying a secret around with me.

"So, are you ever going to tell me why you decided to move back to Tree Hill, Lily?" he asked.

"I just got bored of the nomadic life, you know," I answered, "I had to settle down somewhere. Be rooted for a change."

"Sure. Keep telling yourself that." Jamie pulled into the parking lot of Tree Hill High. "And by the way, welcome to Tree Hill High. It sucks but you'll fit right in."

I laughed, "I thought you're a popular little jock. Shouldn't high school be fun for you?"

"Not if you're a Scott," he said, grimacing slightly, "Our family history is just a tad too…"

"Let's not go there…" I said, opening the door and getting off the car. "Thank you for the ride."

"Oh hey, I have basketball practice today after school. So you might have to walk home," Jamie said, climbing out of the car.

"It's fine, Jamie," I said, "You really don't have to babysit me."

It was a good thing too because the next second a raven haired girl in a cheerleader's uniform practically leaped into his arms.

"Jamie!" she squealed.

"Alison," he said, sounding quite happy, "You know, we did see each other just last week?"

"It feels like forever though," she said. She spotted me and frowning asked me, "And who might you be?"

"I'm Jamie's aunt," I replied, watching Jamie cringe slightly, "I'm Lily Roe Scott."

"Alison Schneider," she said, warming up to me at once, "I'm also the head cheerleader."

"And I'm out of here." I said, "I have to go meet the Principal before I settle into school."

"Good luck," Jamie said, as I began to walk away from them, "Come watch our basketball practice after school if you don't want to go back home yet."

"Thanks," I yelled over my shoulder and immediately crashed into someone. Two hands steadied me before I toppled over.

"Woah, steady there," and then the guy from the morning, Ryan Summers, was standing right in front of me, asking, "Hey are you okay?"

"I'm swell, Graveyard Guy," I said, "Sorry. I was talking to my cousin over my shoulder…and…anyway, not interesting. Do you know where the Principal's office is?"

"Sure, Graveyard Girl," he said, "Right this way."

Ten minutes later after the Principal had formerly welcomed me into the school, and then told me to get my classes, (after raving about how wonderful my parents and brother are), I found out that my locker was right next to Jamie's.

"Figures," he said, "It's alphabetical."

Ryan's locker wasn't too far away from mine either. Jamie scowled at him as he walked away and asked, "And who is that?"

"Uhhh…...Ryan Summers," I replied, "Nothing to worry about, little nephew. Don't tell me he's an enemy of yours!"

"I don't have enemies, Lily," he answered, "Just people who keep out of my way, if they know what's good for them."

We laughed and then he added, "But seriously. I think he works for the school paper. So please be a little careful. Our school paper can give gossip magazines a run for their money!"

"Brilliant," I said, "On that note, I'll see you at lunch."

The first day of school was quite exhausting for me. I didn't know all the shortcuts to classes and twice I got lost and had to text Jamie for directions. I was quite glad when it was time for lunch. I could always count on my mother to pack me a good lunch. Only when I opened the brown paper bag did I find a ten-dollar bill and a note from mom saying, "Here's to you enjoying the whole Tree High experience!" Annoyed, I walked into the cafeteria to buy my lunch.

What I didn't count on was the fact that the old cafeteria lady would remember both Nathan and Lucas, and be able to pin my family resemblance.

"You remind me of someone," she said, "Oh I remember now. You're Lucas Scott's sister, aren't you?"

"Lily Roe Scott," I said, forcing up a smile. "Can I please just get my food?"

"You're full of light," she said, giving me the food tray, "Good people always are, and you come from two of greatest people I've ever know."

I walked out of the cafeteria and was about to go outside to eat, when I stopped short. I saw the hallway…the hallway Lucas had described in An Unkindness of Ravens and I'd seen in the movie Julian produced. Even though I'd not eaten a morsel of food, I felt sick to the pit of my stomach.

This is where it had happened. This is where it had all ended…...even before it all began for me. My head was reeling and I found myself praying that Jamie find me, and take me away somewhere safe. I had not been ready to see this spot yet. How would I know my father's murder spot would jump out at me in school?

Maybe mom had been right. Coming back to Tree Hill was the worst decision I'd ever taken in my life. I could feel tears forming in my eyes and blinked them away angrily.

"Lily?"

I turned to see Nathan standing there in the Coach's uniform. He took the scene in one minute and then, the next he'd placed his hand over my shoulder and gently hurried me along.

"Let's go have lunch in my office, shall we?" he asked, kindly.

I didn't trust myself to speak, so I merely nodded.

Author's Note: If you read this story and you liked it, please review it. Follow it. Add it to favourites. It would mean the world to me. Thanks! :)