When Michelle Branch & Jessica Harp from the band "The Wreckers" perform at TRIC, Haley realizes her passion is to pursue her music career. Meanwhile, Lucas decides to move in with Dan, straining his relationships with both Karen and Nathan. Brooke runs for student council president, but quickly realizes she is taking on more than she bargained for. Peyton and Jake's friendship grows stronger. Brooke finds out that Mouth broke her car window. Lucas gets his HCM results and aren't what they turn out to be.

As his marriage with Haley continues to go wrong, Nathan goes into a emotional crisis and becomes the "bad" Nathan of the past. Karen continues to struggle and try to figure out what would cause Lucas to move in with Dan. Peyton and Jake's relationship gets greater.

When Tree Hill High does a time capsule project, the gang confesses their most intimate secrets to an anonymous video camera. Nathan's anger over Haley's absence continues to grow, landing both Lucas and Nathan in jail. Peyton and Jake's feelings for each other heat up, while Felix throws Brooke a party to celebrate her new gig as student body president. Meanwhile, when brought to court, Lucas opts to live with Dan and Deb rather than Karen.

Nathan's Uncle Cooper comes into town to take Nathan and Lucas on a racing trip. On the track, Nathan and Lucas are challenged to a race by the beautiful Daytona and her smart aleck brother Jarret, but things go horribly wrong when Nathan loses control of his car and crashes into a wall. Meanwhile, Deb's addiction to pain pills intensifies and Dan exposes Andy's relationship with Karen to his class.

In the first part of the two hour second season finale, things heat up between Lucas and Brooke after they head to New York for an overnight stay with Haley. Peyton is elated when she gets the band Jimmy Eat World to perform at TRIC in time for Jake's release from jail. Meanwhile, Andy invites Karen to spend the summer in New Zealand.