The Up Hill Battle

22. River Court, Tree Hill, NC- 4pm

A/N: Sorry its late. I've been really busy so far this year. I work at a high school and things got busy. Then Shelter in Place in California happened and everything just got more busy and difficult. I hope you're all staying safe.

AJ POV

Mia, Lena, Zara, and I were sitting at the river court. It's kind of cold, not really. February has been a blur. I mean I know Mia went on a date with Zeb and then two days later they broke up. He didn't really give an excuse, he just said something like he loves her and will always care about her. Mia didn't do anything for two days. She went to school, and came home. She doesn't talk much about him. Zara says that Zeb's an idiot and if he can't see how great Mia is than its his loss.

"Do you guys ever feel like someone is secretly watching you?" I asked. Mia laughed.

"I always feel like somebody's watching me, and there's no privacy, I always feel like someone's watching me, who's playing tricks on me," Mia and Lena sang. I rolled my eyes.

"Seriously, though," I stated. Zara nodded.

"Sometimes I feel like someone is, but it's usually just nothing," she answered, then looked at Mia.

"Well Yeah, but it's usually just Lucas or Haley or Peyton or Sawyer," Mia said. "So, I'm really not of any help."

"Maybe it's just god," Lena stated. We were all quiet and then laughed.

"That was good," Mia said. "Why do you ask anyways?"

"Yeah, what's up Alycia?" Zara asked looking to the side, her chin touching her left shoulder.

"There's just been this woman. I see her everywhere and then she's just gone."

"A woman?" Lena asked.

"Yeah, with like fiery red hair," I stated. Everyone looked at me.

"Are you sure you're not seeing Mia or Lena. You know Your sisters?" Zara asked.

"No, it's not Mia," I said as they laughed.

"And how are you sure I'm not secretly spying on you?" Mia asked with a smile. I hit her and she smacked me back.

"Because she's taller, and her hair is like curly or wavy and you're blonde right now," I said.

"Sounds like Mia tried a new hairstyle and it didn't work out," Zara said. Mia laughed, then looked at us.

"That's what I need," she said. We all looked at her. "A new hairstyle, a new me"

"So you're going back t being strawberry blonde," Lena said.

"God, you're right. I wish I could pull off black hair, and if I do brown it's just going to be hard to take out, less so than Black. Why? Why me?"

"What about my stalker?" I asked.

"We'll see if she pops up," Mia said. Lena and I got off the table along with Zara ,and followed Mia. We walked to towards downtown Tree Hill. "I'm serious, take a picture of her or something. Every time you see her, write it down. When, where, and at what time. I mean if you continue seeing her, than it can't be coincidence."

"So, you want me to document?" I asked. Mia nodded.

"Now, back to my hair," Mia said.

"You can cut it," I suggested.

"Eww, no. Sweetie she can't. Her long hair is gorgeous," Zara stated. "What if instead of cutting it, you just let the waves take over. You don't need to do anything, but run a comb through it and its perfect. Don't straighten it or curl it. Just let it be."

"I can do that," Mia said.

"Do you miss him?" Lena asked.

"No, Yes. He's an idiot. I miss him, but it getting easier with each passing day," Mia said. "Plus, now you have me all to yourself."

"So, you'll go skateboarding with me?" Lena asked excitedly. Mia scrunched her face and then nodded.

"If I'm not too scared to break a leg," Mia said as we all got up. We started to walk towards the downtown area.

"You skateboard? Why do I not know this?" Zara asked surprised.

"I taught her everything she knows. Well, the basics, a flat ground Ollie, frontside/backside 180 ollie, and a kickflip."

"How did I not know this?" Zara asked again.

"It's not that big of a deal," Mia said.

"No, you being in Debate is not a big deal, you being a skateboarder is," Zara stated as we walked through downtown Tree Hill. Mia rolled her eyes and opened the door to Karens Café. "Mama S, did you know Mia skateboards?"

"Yes," mom said, "I was aware of that."

"You skateboard," Lucas said with Sawyer just looking surprised.

"Oh, she does more than just skateboard, she also roller blades," mom said. Lena laughed a bit, but Zara just looked shocked.

"How do I not know all of this," Zara stated as she sat down.

"Would it be possible for you to forget this conversation if I made you a milkshake," Mia stated as she jumped over the counter.

"You're hot, and you skateboard, and roller blade. Yet, you decide to debate," Zara said. "What's wrong with your daughter Mama S?"

"Beats me?" Mom said. Mia looked at mom shocked as she continued making a milkshake. "There was this movie on Disney that made her want to roller blade a lot, and then she got into skateboarding from my brother."

"Donny?" Lucas asked.

"Barry. He took her to the skateboard extreme Games in New York," mom said.

"X-Games," Lena stated almost appalled that mom wouldn't know what it was called.

"Sorry, X-Games. He took her to the X-Games," Mom corrected, "he wasn't as good as he is now at taking her places that interest her. But after that day Mia's goal was to win an X-Games event."

"Mom," Mia stated. "Seriously."

"Yeah, no number of milkshakes is going to make me forget this," Zara said.

"I also wanted to be a paleontologist," Mia said, "you know Jurassic Park, A Marine Biologist because Free Willy, and a bad ass because of Lara Croft."

"Yeah, but X-Games," Zara said.

"You are bad ass Mia," Lena said.

"Aww, thanks," Mia said and I rolled my eyes.

"Mia was going to be a professional golfer too," I said. Zara and Sawyer looked at Mia. Sawyer laughed.

"Laugh all you want. Do you know how much the winning purse is?" Mia stated.

"I'm sure you can still be one," Nathan said as he came from the kitchen with Haley. "Considering how you beat Lucas and I."

"Yeah, New York has a great golf scene...and private schools have golf teams," Mia said.

"It's also the one sport you don't have to run a lot in," I said. Mia turned her head to glare at me.

"Running isn't fun unless you're running from something," Mia said with a shake of her head.

"From something?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah, like Zombies, gangsters, the feds," Lena said.

"Parkour," I said.

"Those were the days," Mia stated.

"The girls took these Parkour classes, Barry gifted them a year of classes one Christmas," mom explained as we sat down. Zara sat down next to Mia. Brooke and Julian arrived with the boys. Jude sat next to Lena. I sat next to mom. I turned my head and gasped in surprise.

"Dad."