Owen came out of class when Rachel caught up with him.
"So, what did you do this morning?"
"Why?"
"Just answer the question? And don't answer a question with a question, it's annoying."
"Okay, I'll play along. I got up, showered, left for class. What is the point to this?"
"I did something really interesting. I went online to see the latest news on campus and I discovered that Tree Hill high student survives major accident. So, I click on it and there is Brooke Davis; your girlfriend…"
Owen interrupted. "She's not my girlfriend." Rachel gave him a look. "We went out a couple of times, but she has this lifestyle that is far too hectic for me."
"Far too hectic, what are you…ninety?"
"Look, we just have different worlds to live in. And didn't you hate Brooke, as you proclaimed many times after coming over to eat all my food."
"Okay, so I may have had a certain dislike for the girl. But I read the article and she doesn't really remember anything. Not who she is, or was, and certainly not anything that would involve you."
"And why is this important?"
"Because now you can let go of this weight that you have been holding on your shoulders is if Brooke Davis would change her slutty…"
"Hey, she's not…"
"Sure, whatever you say. I'm just saying that now you can live your life free of Brooke Davis. She has no memory and certainly not recollection of ever meeting you. So you can move on, find someone else because Brooke Davis doesn't care."
"You give the best pep talks, you know that?"
"I know, I should win medals."
"As always, nice chatting, but I have…I know I have something else to do."
"Oh, hey, you're still coming to the study group right…for psychology?"
"I never said I would, Rachel."
"I sort of said that you would, sorry. I guess I misunderstood."
"I'll try and make it, okay?"
"Works for me."
Peyton handed Haley her lunch bag.
"I have got to stop having your 'whatever' food you carry in my locker. Really, it's time for Lysol to kick the smell."
"Sorry, my parents are away and I'm not the best cook. And you know, takeout only lasts so long."
"I thought you said you were staying with Nathan and Deb while they were gone."
"That was until Nathan and I had this big fight."
"Huh? Why didn't I know about this before?"
"Because I hate putting my relationship problems on you."
"I'm your best friend Hales, so spill."
"Nathan and I had 'the talk' that we've been ignoring for a long time. And I accused Nathan of pressuring me and not caring about what I really wanted."
"Ouch, but you know he does."
"Yes, and that's why I'm so mad at myself Peyton. I mean I know he cares, and I know he wants to wait, but he's…waiting. But, I just don't know what it is. I mean, am I being foolish for making him wait, should I make him wait. I actually spent last night thinking of why I'm doing this. What does it mean if we wait or don't wait?"
"Honestly, it's probably something you're just not ready for."
"I want to be with him, I do, but I get to this point where something clicks and I have this urge to just get away from him. But all I want to do is be with him, like really be with him. And it's not fair."
"No it's not, and I'm sorry. But have you told him this?"
"He won't talk to me, I can't say as I blame him."
"I know there is practice today, so you'll see him there?"
"But between Whitey yelling out whatever he yells out and the game going on, I have better conversations with the bleachers."
"Then we'll just have to find a way to get his attention."
"Like what, naked cheerleading?"
"There's an idea, it would definitely cure you're fear of being close to him."
"I'm kidding Peyton. I just don't want to do anything that seems desperate."
"But you are…"
Haley interrupted. "Yeah, I know, it's just hard to really hear it said out loud."
Haley felt a tapping on her shoulder. She looked up with the sun blasting her in the eyes.
"Nathan?"
"Yeah, who else would it be?"
"In the blaring sunlight…anybody."
"Sorry…do you have a minute."
"Sure." Haley gave Peyton a look before going off with Nathan.
They were in front of the library. Haley's heartbeat was racing. She couldn't imagine what Nathan's first words would be.
"Your mom called the house last night."
Haley was disappointed that their first words would be about her mother calling. "Why? What did she want?"
"You told her you would stay at my house until they got back. And when she called, I told her you were at the house."
"Thanks, but why did you tell her that? I mean, you could just have told the truth and said I was at my house alone."
"Didn't want her to worry. She did say something about calling back to talk to you, so after school I can drive you back to my house and you could stay there until she calls…I mean if you want."
"Sure, yeah. Beats a lonely house all by my self."
"I have to go, but I'll see you at practice."
"Yeah, practice."
Haley slowly walked back to where Peyton was sitting.
"Are lovebirds singing sweet words again?"
"He wanted to tell me my mom called, and he lied for me saying I was there."
"Ouch, I'm sorry Haley."
"But after school he's going to take me back to the house so I can be there when my mom calls and to make it sound like I have been staying there this past week."
"Maybe that gives you and Nathan some chance to work things out."
"Working things out is a bit of a far reach. I'd just like to get to a place where we can talk. I miss those days."
"Well, I think we might fix that."
"How?"
"I think I can talk to Karen into letting Tric open up for Tree Hill's season opening victory party."
"But what if we lose?"
"Then Tree Hill's season opening…let's do better next time party."
Haley laughed. "Alright, you're on."
"Keep the faith Haley, it always works out in the end."
"Easy for you to say…Mrs. Scott."
"AH! I feel like an old woman now!"
"You did marry Lucas, and you know, that qualifies for so many jokes. Especially since I wasn't even there."
"It was so sudden and so not in Tree Hill."
"When did our lives become all about the Scott boys."
"I was seven years old when this boy named Lucas Scott invaded my space at the river court to play basketball when I had a perfectly good spot for my art. It just grew from there."
"I was a nerdy school girl with eyes for the point guard named Nathan Scott."
"And not much changes, does it!"
Lucas sat down in Whitey's office.
"So, what's up coach?"
"Lucas, this team has come under a lot of scrutiny for you playing with HCM. Even though it's fifteen minutes per game, I have had phone calls every second of the day asking why you're playing when other kids can't. So, I made a decision. You won't play."
"Coach, it's only fifteen minutes and I scored the winning shot at the buzzer. You can't let me go because a few parents want their pride and joys to play on the team."
"I wasn't finished yet, and I had some idea you would make a plea for that remark, so I let you have that moment. However, the reason I called you into my office is because this team sees you as a leader. You have risen above hazing and the whispers about being Dan Scott's son. I think you have proven yourself to be one hell of a point guard."
"What are you saying, coach?"
"The athletic committee thinks that since I'm getting old that I should have an assistant. Well, the job is yours; if you want it."
"So I would go from point guard to assistant coach? Isn't there some rule against students being coaches?"
"I don't really care what the rules are. Fact is, you know these boys, you can lead these boys and you're the only one who can kick Nathan into doing his best. So, are you with me…coach Scott?"
"Yeah…yes, I'd love to. I just feel weird being assistant coach of a team I just played for last week."
"It's an adjustment. I haven't talked to anyone else about this. So the announcement will be made at practice today. So if you want to go tell your wife about this…"
"Sure, thanks coach, this is great."
"You can call me Whitey…coach."
Peyton was sitting on a bench in the courtyard when a pair of hands covered her eyes.
"Martin, we have to stop meeting this way, my husband will find us."
Lucas' face peered around. "Martin?"
"You know, as a backup in case you become this famous novelist and marry Kate Bosworth and forget all about everything in Tree Hill."
"Kate Bosworth?"
"I had this dream, and you were on a red carpet with Kate Bosworth…and it's not important."
"Okay, as long as it's a dream. But famous novelist, now that I could live with."
"I thought you had a thing with Whitey before practice?"
"That thing is what I wanted to talk to you about."
"So, what's up?"
"Because of my heart condition, there's a lot of I guess controversy of me playing. And Whitey took me off the team…he wants me as the assistant coach."
Peyton immediately smiled. "Luke, honey, that's great. So, next year, or…"
"Next game?"
"That quickly. But who's going to take your place?"
"Since I was only fifteen minutes a game, I never really had a spot. I just wore a jersey."
"Keith's jersey. And he is going to be so proud of you."
"I never thought being coach of Tree Hill Ravens would happen, especially not when I'm still a Tree Hill Raven."
"So now that you're assistant coach, what does that mean for Whitey?"
"According to him, the athletic board says he's getting old. That's all he said."
"This is fantastic Luke." She kissed him on the cheek. "We have to celebrate, but I have to get to my locker before practice. I'll see you there, Coach Scott."