Haley turned up at Nathans door, asking to be together again, but he is urgently called away to the fire in Dan's office- Deb asks her along. Peyton tells Lucas about Elisabeth who claims to be her -dead- mother but knows things; her dad now says her beloved ma was not her biological mother- she turns away from both. Three months later Brooke returns walking straight up to Lucas, who was however just waiting for Karen. Nathan finally can go to High Flyers, and Haley's declaration of 'never ceased' love doesn't get to him; but there he remains torn between his love for her and the shattered trust. Dan says in confession he will remember who drugged him and let him to die in his burning car dealership, and then...

Brooke has a end of the summer party on the beach; Nathan is home from basketball camp; Lucas deals with Brooke's rules for dating; Peyton deals with family issues; Haley tries to tell Nathan how she feels.

Lucas and Haley dig up, as each year, their previous predictions for the new school year; he decorated Brookes locker- they are arranged alphabetically, making the Scott brothers and Haley neighbors. Mouth pod-cast-interviews Ravens-star Nathan. Dan warns coach Durham he plans to have the school board remove him and Lucas he remembers his arson. Ellie tells Lucas the marijuana is for her cancer pain. When Haley asks coach for help with Nathan, he just gives her a detention slip for entering the boys locker room- Nathan is there to, but pays her no attention; next day, same place, they talk a bit. When dad Larry and Ellie wait for Peyton, she storms out blaming Lucas for 'trapping' her; left alone, dad makes her consider a shrink. Karen reminds Nathan how desperately he wanted Haley back. Dan tells the board the Ravens can be North Carolina state champions without Whitey, Karen praises his lessons on life for the boys- he stays on, but gives Mouth a scoop: he'll retire next year. When Dan nearly chokes Lucas, Peyton stops him and makes him tell he didn't start the fire but found Dan and dragged him out- Lucas now regrets that, Dan says a real man had left him and demands secrecy. Haley is happy to hear Nathan considers an annulment a lie, not when he proposes a divorce instead, hopeful again when he says the legal one year- waiting period gives them time to reconsider.

It's party time in Tree Hill. A masquerade ball at Tric provides the perfect opportunity for Haley to win back Nathan's heart, and for Brooke to seduce Lucas. Punk-pop sensation "Fall Out Boy" performs amidst the costume madness, while Peyton tries to come to terms with the new mother in her life. Meanwhile, Dan gives Deb an ultimatum, but soon finds she's a much more worthy opponent than he thought.

Dan presents the Ravens opening show for the new basketball season, but after the choreographed cheerleaders the boys come rolling in with a public fight between Lucas and Nathan over Haley; then a major flashback... Brooke and Peyton audition would be-cheerleaders; the obvious winner is arrogant, slutty Rachel, who Brooke accidentally indicates when telling Lucas to date another girl. While Dans team plans his mayoral election campaign, Deb deliberately walks in dressed sluttier then a drunk whore. Captain Nathan puts Lucas on the bench for back-talk. Brooke wants to field Haley instead of Rachel. Coach grudgingly introduces Dan and smiling, to everyone's surprise, his late-hour mayoral opponent: Karen Roe! When Dan announces the team, Lucas calling Nathan 'just like' his dad starts their fight, and Brooke attacks Rachel. Coach is livid at the brothers- and makes Lucas co-captain. Rachel sits naked in Lucas's car, and Brooke chews both of them, to his surprise admitting she only wanted to be desired exclusively by proclaiming non-exclusiveness.

In an effort to keep her cheerleaders from fighting over the same guys, Brooke devises a `Fantasy Boy Draft', Haley and Peyton butt heads over Nathan, while Lucas has trouble keeping up with the brutal pace of basketball practise. Meanwhile, as the election nears, mayoral candidate Dan clashes with his new opponent.

As the fantasy draft dates begin, Brooke finds herself on an unusual double date, while Lucas gets closer to Rachel. Meanwhile, Karen and Deb take their campaigning to new heights.

After Lucas surprised Chris with Brooke, even her self-confidence isn't enough to remain assured she hasn't really lost the possible love of her life. Chris informs Nathan whom he thought already knew and gets knocked for once more breaking up a relationship for someone he's not even truly in love with. Dan phones the radio station to point out on air his competitor Karen is unmarried and checks on Nathans condition for the new season, but gets the cold shoulder. Tim looks forward to the boys getting tattoos this year. Karen nor cake can cheer up Lucas, who doesn't even feel like basketball anymore; Nathans advice in the locker-room to concentrate on his playing and forgive Brooke for love's sake don't help either. Coach tells the team he'll retire after this season, and expects them, his best team ever, to prove so by results; Lucas stinks worst of all at the first game, which is an utter loss. Haley and Nathan are back on speaking terms. Mouth shows 'mayor' Karen his cell-phone recording of Dan roughing up Nathan and coach throwing him out after the match.

Lucas reveals that he knows who tried to kill Dan in the dealership fire. Brooke, Peyton and Haley find themselves behind bars. Chris Keller convinces Nathan to be his wingman at a high-stakes poker game. The residents of Tree Hill finally choose a mayor.

Lucas and Peyton take a road trip together to find Ellie. While out of town, Lucas reconnects with a friend from his past.

Another terrible Ravens game; coach blames everything on total lack of team spirit. Keith is back, admitting to Lucas his fiancé Jules was not what he hoped, and just no match for Karen. Brooke must take the couch at Nathans place, but gets invited for Rogue Vogue, a fashion talent show in New York. Nathan fears Dan was right to suggest Haleys sudden lack of birth control is all too convenient. Coach punishes the boys by transferring them from the glorious stadium to a dump which they must first clean up; Nathan walks out, but after talking to Lucas and Dan about his chances for a scholarship etc. returns. Keith laughs at Dan's promise to prove he's the arsonist, but tells Karen he had intended to kill his brother but was beaten to it by Deb and helped her flee. Lucas shows Nathan the tactical advantages of studying the flaws in the old court. Karen warns Lucas to be careful with Brooke in every respect. Brooke finds out gratefully her design work was entered by- Rachel! Karen kisses Keith, but he is arrested for the murder attempt on Dan before her eyes...

Keith is arrested as suspect for the arson attempt on his brother Dan, but to the mayors anger soon released for lack of proof. The kids are supposed to get counseling about choosing a college, but nearly all have their minds elsewhere. Nathan and Haley make up, but have chosen colleges 3000 miles apart. Brooke believes Rachel deliberately entered her for the New York fashion contest because it's the same day as the cheerleaders' high-day, the Classic. Ellie insists Peyton shouldn't doubt about going to college at all. Mouth has enough of Brookes bitching, so he goes to the game with Rachel. Because Nathan missed political science class now Dan teaches that course, coach benches him, just when the major East Coast talent scout is present; still he gives Lucas the winning tactical tip, which really impresses coach...

A violent rainstorm knocks out the power in Tree Hill, leading Haley to Nathan's doorstep and Brooke out into the downpour for a dramatic confrontation with Lucas. Peyton finally confronts the truth about Ellie's illness, while Marvin is tempted by his new friend, Rachel. Before morning, secrets are revealed, relationships are tested, and new love gets hotter than ever.

It's the weekend of the Classic in Charlotte for the Ravens and their cheerleaders. Haley and Peyton go on a road trip with Brooke to New York for the Rogue Vogue fashion show before hopping on a plane to Charlotte in time for the secret sparkle classic cheer competition. A schedule change in New York though means Brooke has a big decision to make. Rachel does everything she can to mess with Brooke and Coach Durham interferes with chaperones Karen and Keith's weekend.

Last year's time-capsule is maliciously opened 49 years early, revealing many kids' embarrassing secrets, lies and even worse truths, shown on TV screens at school and even on the Internet. Peyton prepares a benefit for the National Breast-cancer action, in memory of her recently deceased ma Ellie Harp; it rocks and brings most kids back together. Keith announces his engagement to Karen and his plan to adopt Lucas. Jimmy Edwards, who bagged the worst on everyone in his time-capsule speech, gets roughed up, but the Scott brothers, Mouth and Rachel save his bacon. Dan reminds Keith how close they were as boys and hands him the black ledger but is scorned and burns it. Nathan and Haley enjoy closeness again. Lucas embraces Keith as his future father, without step-.

A dangerous day at Tree Hill High gives Nathan and Lucas a common goal, as they put their lives on the line to save their friends when a distraught student comes to school with a gun and holds Haley hostage.

The aftermath of the school shooting and the death of Jimmy Edwards forces everyone in Tree Hill to examine their lives. Nathan reassesses his relationship with Haley, while Brooke and Rachel join forces to heal the student body. Dan must deal with the ramifications of shooting Keith, while Lucas and Peyton consider the implications of their kiss in the library.

Rachel invites the gang for a weekend getaway at her family's cabin. Craziness will ensue, including a game of "I Never" which will cause characters to do things they normally wouldn't, and a nasty little issue Mouth has been harboring toward Rachel will surface. Meanwhile, Karen will confront Dan about Keith's death. Could she suspect the truth?

Lucas struggles with the decision of whether he should play basketball in the wake of Keith's death while Brooke forces Rachel to deal with a dark secret. Nathan and Haley's wedding reprise is put to the test and Peyton decides to visit Pete in Chicago.

It's the weekend of the Coastal Classic, and with Lucas sidelined, Nathan has to step up on the court against an old rival who shows an interest in Haley. Brooke and Mouth plot revenge against Rachel while Dan goes head to head with Nathan's Uncle Cooper. Also, Peyton makes a life-altering decision.

On the night before Nathan and Haleys wedding, Brooke argues with Haley over the wedding dress. Meanwhile, Lucas and Karen return.

Nathan and Haley's wedding is a time of great joy. And great sadness. Peyton and Brooke fall out, Dan learns the truth about the fire, and Rachel gets publicly drunk....and publicly bitter.