𝗌𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗈𝗇 1 𝖾𝗉𝗂𝗌𝗈𝖽𝖾 1
𝗉𝗂𝗅𝗈𝗍

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It was a cool Saturday night in the small town of Tree Hill, North Carolina. Carmen diligently wiped the tables in Karen's cafe as the angelic voice of Whitney Houston played softly in her ears from her earbuds. The Hayes teen had been working at her best friend's mother's shop for over three months now after telling her parents she wanted to make some money of her own which they happily agreed with.

The door opens revealing Lucas Scott causing Carmen to look up from the table she was cleaning at the blonde boy. "Hey mom, hey Carm." he greets the two women. "Hey, Luke." Carmen smiles at her friend as she moves behind the counter to finish drying coffee cups.

"Hey, hon" Karen looks over to her son as she puts up plates. "Mm. It smells good in here. Did you change your hair?" The blonde Scott teen makes his way over to the counter where the older woman stands.

"If by 'change' you mean dragged a brush through it, then yeah." His mother replies. "Well, it looks nice." He tells her sweetly receiving a thank you in return.

"All the magazine pages are sticky again, little pervs. Oh, hey Luke. You've been reading this?" The voice of Hayley James jokes.

"I don't know Hayley is this the 'Why do I hang out with these people' issue? Because you two are on the cover of that right?." Luke asked, pointing between the two girls.

"No, actually it's the 'my best friend is an idiot issue... and there you are." The James teen pointed as Carmen nodded along. "Oh yeah, I think I caught him taking a look at that after he was done reading the 'My best friends are so much smarter and better looking than me.' magazines. Carmen smiles teasingly at the blonde.

Lucas simply threw his arms out in defeat as the two girls smiled at each other in triumph, high-fiving. "Carmen, Hayley would you too like to join us?" Karen asked from where she was seated.

"Hell, yes," Hayley speaks for the two pulling on the brown-skinned girl's arm to bring her over to the chili pot so they could make their bowls before heading over to the table.

"So, honey how was your day?" Karen asked, directing her question at Lucas. "Good! Thanks." Hayley responded before the Scott teen got the chance to make the other three look to each other in amusement. "I mean 'good' is relative, right? Considering a third of the world is starving. Which does not change the fact that I'm clumsy as hell." She begins.

"Did I tell you that I fell today?" She asks looking between her two best friends before continuing. "Yeah, slipped off the curb, totally bit it face down butt in the air." She rambles on causing the three to laugh at her energetic personality. "Hayley." Karen lightly chuckles. "What, too graphic? Sorry. I'll just be quiet." The James girl apologized before going back to eating her chili.

"Do, I got something for you, Lucas," Karen tells her son before Hayley once again cuts in. "Actually, I found it. I mean, sorry. I mean me and Carm." She motions between herself and the Hayes teen who just listened grabbing a piece of fresh bread and taking a bite.

The James teen continues to speak. "Not that we were like, looking for something specifically that implies some hideous sort of 'Joey loves Dawson' scenario and completely creeps me out but, you know we saw it, and..." She continued before Carmen tapped her shoulder lightly causing her to look over at the tanned-skinned girl. "Hayl's," She sends her a knowing look. "Was I doing it again?" She asks causing the Taylor girl to nod. "Sorry... just give him the book." She motions for Karen to retrieve the gift.

Karen reaches behind her to grab the book handing it to Lucas who reads over the front for a moment before speaking. "Wow. Julius Cesar." He smiles.

"'There's a tide in the affairs of men.' or something like that." Karen quoted with a small smile of her own.

"Nice. Thank you guys, thank you very much." Luke says in appreciation to his best friends and mother.

"Whatever. If that's what you're into." Hayley shrugged.

Carmen rolls her eyes playfully at the girl before turning to the blonde teen. "No problem, book nerd. " She smiles at him before taking a spoonful of chili into her mouth.

Lucas and Karen look at each other with a smile, shaking their heads at the two young girls.

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After dinner with Hayley, Lucas, and Karen the three teens helped the older woman clean up before Carmen made her way back home.

When she entered the large home she was met with all the lights off signaling that her family had gone to sleep for the night. She made her way upstairs heading straight into her bedroom. She jumps in slight surprise once she is greeted by her twin brother Noah who lies sprawled out on her Queen-sized bed watching Fresh Prince reruns.

"Noah, what the hell? Why are you in my room?" She asks her brother who looks away from the screen for a moment before turning back and responding. "I asked Mom where you were and she said Karens so I decided to just wait for you." The curly-haired teen responded.

The younger of the two siblings takes off her jacket before making her way into her closet to hang it up and change into her pajamas. "Let me guess, you wanted to know if Hayley asked about you." She teases, taking off her bright red tank top with gold assets on it and low waist denim jeans.

"What? No! Why would you even think that?" Noah scoffs sarcastically before pausing for a beat. "Did she?" He questions curiously. Carmen chuckles lightly. "No, Noah. She didn't." She says moving to lie on the bed next to the light-skinned male.

"Now if you would excuse me. I'd like to have my bed back." She speaks pushing the older boy slightly, causing him to fall onto the hard floor with a groan.

The light-skinned girl laughs as her brother slowly stands from the ground with a faux pissed look on his face her stares at her in mock irritation for a second before making his way to the door. "love ya!" She tells him as she now lies under her covers watching the show that was playing on her TV.

"Night stupid." Noah States to her walking out of the room.

"Night idiot." She shoots back.

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The next day at School Carmen is sitting in the study hall with Lucas as the two work on the separate assignments while making casual conversation.

"Scott." The voice of Whitey cuts through the silence of the room causing both Lucas and Nathan Scott, Lucas's younger half-brother to look up at the basketball coach.

Nathan is the first to speak up. " Sup' coach?" The dark-haired male asks, assuming the older man is talking to him.

Whitey shakes his head at the teen. "Not you. You." He says motioning for Lucas to get up and follow him. Carmen was previously caught up in her grading the AP calculus homework her teacher gave her. Looks up from the papers when she sees the blonde getting up from the seat next to her out of the corner of her eyes. She looks at her best friend with confused eyes causing him to shrug, sharing the same expression as he makes his way to the old man.

"You read a book or something." Whitey looks to Nathan who was glaring daggers into the older teen's head. "Maybe Hayes could help you, God knows you need it." He points out, motioning to the light-skinned teen who was now focused back on her homework.

Whitety and Lucas then walk out causing everyone to go back to what they were doing. Carmen tries to ignore the feeling of someone staring at her and continues to grade the papers in front of her. After a few moments, she looks up to see the person watching causing her to meet the eyes of Nathan Scott.

The boy doesn't look away even after being caught. He stared the young woman up and down before once again locking eyes with her and sending her one of his signature smirks and a wink. Unimpressed by his subtle flirting Carmen rolled her eyes at the Scott teen, breaking their previous eye contact as she moved to collect her things from the table she was sitting at and made her way out of the door.

She didn't even bother to glance and notice that the Scott boy stared at her until she was out of his vision completely. However, his girlfriend Peyton did, causing her to kick the Scott boy's leg from under the table making him look at her and notice the glare on her face.

"What?" He frowns at the annoyed look she presents before looking back down at the work in front of him.

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"what's up, people?" Carmen greeted Karen, Keith, and Hayley as she walked into the cafe.

"Hey, sweetie."

"Hey, Carmen."

"Hey, Carm."

The three welcomed the brown-skinned girl with a smile.

Hayley then made her way over to her, interlocking their arms and heading upstairs to the roof. Carmen smiled once she saw Lucas, turning on the lights to the roof. "Wow!" The blonde beamed as the roof lit up, taking in his surroundings impressed. Yeah." Hayley sighed.

"This place looks great." He compliments as he spins around admiring the lights. "Thanks. Hayley just finished putting up the lights, we worked pretty hard. Miniature golf will never be the same." The dark-haired girl smiles at him, proud of her and the James girls work.

"Your mom is worried. She's downstairs with Keith, picking through her past." Hayley spoke as they made their way to him.

"Do you guys think I'm being selfish playing Nathan?" He asks. The brown-skinned girl crosses her arms. "Do you?" She questions him back. "A little bit." Lucas nods.  "I mean if I walked away, then my mom wouldn't be downstairs worried about it now, now would she?" He answered truthfully.

"You're not selfish for wanting this." Carmen began. "I just think you're angry. Angry at Dan for pretending you don't exist, angry that your moms in pain because of him, mad at Nathan for getting the life you didn't. And maybe even angry at yourself because you feel like you don't deserve it and you have every right to be." She frowns. "Look I'm gonna tell you something that I usually never do so don't get used to it. You're a great guy Luke. One of the most caring people I've ever met. But, you put people before yourself too much, sometimes it's okay to do things for your own peace of mind." She sincerely tells her best friend.

Lucas looked down at his feet. "Carm is right. You know I don't say things like this often 'cause it sounds weird but, you are a really good guy Luke. And I'm glad we're friends. I'm glad that we're all friends." Hayley smiles, interlocking her arm with Carmen once again. "But you and you're mom worry too damn much." She spoke again.

"Seriously, you two need to let loose a little," Carmen adds. The three laughed. Hayley removed her arm from Carmen as she made her way back downstairs. "I'll be down in a second Hayl's," She called out to the girl who nodded in response. She turned back to Lucas. "Hayley's right Luke you are a really good guy, and in this town, that's pretty rare." The two chuckled at that. "Don't forget who you are." She smiled.

"You always know just how to make me feel better." The Scott teen says making her shrug her shoulders st him. "You know I got your back." She tells him. "Now, get your head in the game because it's time to go kick your brother's ass." She excitedly speaks. Lucas smiles at the short girl before pulling her into a hug. They soon break apart, Carmen places a friendly kiss on his cheek before turning around to make her way back down to the cafe.

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Carmen arrives at River Court with Hayley and Noah, the three walk over to greet Mouth, Jimmy, And Junk. "We are now joined by, Brainiac Hayley James, The star of the Tree Hill Ravens Noah Hayes, and the smart, gorgeous Angel herself Carmen Hayes, Hey guys." Mouth introduces the three teens making them all chuckle at him.

Hayley looks over to Carmen. "you get 'smart gorgeous angel' and all I get is brainiac?" The James girl says offended. Carmen brings her best friend in her arms with a chuckle. "Oh, baby Hayley. you know you're gorgeous." She compliments her best friend.

"Yeah, stunning." Noah cuts in making the two girls turn to the Hayes boy causing him to stutter. "I'm mean— I'm just agreeing with what Carm— Hey yo Luke!" Noah calls out to his friend who is shooting baskets to waste time until Nathan arrives. He quickly makes his way over to the older Scott to save himself more embarrassment. The two girls turn to each other before sharing a laugh. "He's such an idiot. When are you guys gonna grow up and just admit you're in love?" Carmen questions her best friend who she knew was madly in love with her twin brother.

"Hey, He's a cute idiot. And I don't know, I mean I really like him it's just every girl likes him too what makes me so special?" Hayley looks over at the boy she's been in love with Since the 6th grade. "You're my best friend, one of the best people I know. Trust me Noah would be lucky to have you." She assures the redhead.

Soon after Nathan arrives with Peyton and some of his friends and the game begins.

Lucas starts the game off with a far shot causing the crowd to cheer loudly. Nathan then follows up with a slam dunk which also earns loud cheering.

The two play fiercely for what seems like hours going shot for shot. Nathan purposely elbows in the face causing the crowd to groan as he makes the shot, landing it. Carmen steps forward a bit wanting to check on her friend but is held back slightly by Noah.

Lucas walks over to the side of the court, spitting a mouthful of blood in the grass. Making Carmen wince at the sight. "Asshole!" She yells out at the youngest Scott as the ball goes in the hoop causing his eyes to land on her. He stares at her face noticing her eyes shining with anger at what he did to the older blonde. Lucas's voice then brings him out of his daydream causing his attention to go back to the game they were currently playing.

"No foul. Basket counts." He spoke to the younger boy. "Besides... you won't score again." He casually declares.

"Oh, the basket counts. And it's 14-12, game point for Nathan. He could win it all, right here." Mouth announces.

The game starts back up and Nathan goes to shoot but it's blocked by Lucas who smacks the ball against the backboard. The crowd cheers loudly at the move. "Holy crap, did you see that? 'Some day, men will write stories about that block'. 'Children will be named after it'. "Argentinian women will weep for it'." Mouth excitedly speaks.

Lucas then takes a shot of his own earning cheers as if lands in the net. The score was now down by one Lucas took another shot easily earning a point, and tying the numbers up. "This is it folks, no going back now. The next basket wins it."

Lucas shoots the last shot which falls into the net easily, winning him the game. The chorus cheers louder than ever as everyone rushes over to congratulate him. "It's good! Lucas Scott takes it 15-14, and there is bedlam and delirium, and felicity for all!" Mouth yells happily into the microphone. Carmen cheers happily running over to her best friend to embrace him in a hug. The blonde picks up both her and Hayley, spinning them around slightly. Before gently placing them back onto their feet.

From the corner of her eye, she sees someone looking in her direction. Breaking apart from Lucas's embrace her eyes meet Nathan's who's eyes show disappointment. Lucas splits apart from the girls to converse with Peyton.

Carmen sends the younger Scott a small smile which he half-heartily returns before she makes her way over to her brother and Hayley so they can go home.

Later on that night, The four teens returned to the Haye's home and sat in the living room eating ice cream sundaes. They laughed together as they replayed the previous events from the evening.

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𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾:

──── ◌ೄ◌ Okay, guys here is the first chapter! I got a little lazy at the end there but oh well.

──── ◌ೄ◌ I'm really excited to begin this story because I've loved One Tree Hill since the 5th grade and just recently started rewatching when I came up with this idea because I LOVE Nathan Scott.

──── ◌ೄ◌ Please COMMENT and vote so I can see his you guys are enjoying the story so far. It keeps me motivated to keep writing gifs, you guys.

──── ◌ೄ◌ Anyway, that's all. See you in the next chapter have a great day of night depending on when you're reading this. Byeee<3