The buzzer for the end of the third quarter sounded and the gym erupted. The sea of Blue Ravens supporters cheered and gloated at the marginal lead they had over Oak Lake. As he jogged from the court, Lucas Scott applauded the crowd, finding his family's faces in the crowd and sending them a quick smile. It was an important game, perhaps the most important game of the season, not only because Oak Lake happened to be their fiercest rivals for state, but because a certain other Scott played for the team in olive green.
Nathan Scott panted heavily as he watched his half brother sling an arm around his coach's shoulders in celebration of the Ravens lead. He set his jaw and slowly made his way towards his own huddled team, his breath rasping through his lungs. The Oak Lake team had darker faces, they were tired, and they were all looking at him to bring it home for them.
"Pick it up, Nathan." Dan Scott growled menacingly.
Nathan was used to his Dad being on his back at games, but this was different; playing Tree Hill meant Dan seeing his other son on the court. The one that he abandoned at birth. The one that he denied even existed. Nathan dreaded the one night of the year that he had to enter the gym of Whitey Durham, knowing that the eyes of both teams would be on him, waiting for him to crack under the pressure. On the wall of the Ravens gym hung his Dad's number 3 jersey, mocking him almost.
"You're losing your head out there. Get your head back in this game. They're making you look like amateurs." Dan warned in a low warning tone. "Nathan, if you don't-,"
"Thank you, Mr Scott." Coach said in a clipped tone, and Nathan was glad of it.
Around the gym two sets of spectators cheered and yelled and enthused. Along the sidelines the cheerleaders danced and chanted, pumping up the feeling of excitement pooling in the room.
Nathan licked his lips and tried to drown it all out. His Dad was right, his head wasn't in the game, he was playing sloppy. He couldn't help it though; all he could feel was the eyes of his father boring into him and feel the heavy expectations on his shoulders. He could hear the whispers in his ears of the Tree Hill fans; he knew what they all thought of him, that he was the brother who had it all, that he was the chosen one, the lucky one. And the jeering confirmed it, it rang through his mind, the boos screamed through his consciousness. And every so often, during play, his eyes would meet a matching pair of cool icy blues, belonging to Lucas Scott. They studied him, they laughed at him, and they resented him. It was enough to put off even the best of players.
The game had been intense so far, and it showed no signs of changing. There had been countless fouls, scruffy tackles, barred teeth and angry words exchanged. Most of them from Nathan. It was his way of coping, but it was doing nothing for his game. Rather than affecting Lucas, as it was supposed to, it was affecting Nathan himself.
"Forget it's the Ravens." Coach advised in a gruff foreboding tone. "Play like I've seen you play a thousand times in that gym of ours, or else I'll bench you, Scott."
Nathan swallowed the threat down like he was gulping a damn basketball down whole. The only thing that could be worse than losing the game to his illegitimate half-brother would be watching the team losing the game to his illegitimate brother. If they lost, his Dad would kill him. But if he sat back on the bench as they lost, Dan would kill him three times over. It wasn't worth the risk at all.
"Sorry, Coach." Nathan apologised. He could bring the game around, he'd done it before, in a worse situation too. If only he could clear his head. Then he'd be fine.
He snapped his gaze over to his father, still stood on the sidelines; his piercing blue eyes - that he passed onto both of his sons - were staring into Nathan. On the court the cheerleaders were finishing their routines, the crowds were back in their seats and the teams were pulling their game faces back on tightly.
Coach clapped his hands together and slapped the boys on the back, "Okay, let's get out there and win this thing."
Nathan's eyes flitted from his father to his brother, to his team mates. He held up his finger to the coach and reached into his kit bag which was strewn beneath the bench. Haphazardly, almost shaking, he pulled his water bottle out, along with a tiny white pill. He set it on his tongue and swigged some water before going to rejoin his team.
In a burst of confidence, he sprinted onto the court. He rolled his shoulders and smirked towards the opposition crowd. He was Nathan Scott, he had fire in his stomach and more riding on this game than a few team points. His team were unravelling, if they were going to win, he was going to have to be the player to do it, most likely single handed.
The referee launched the ball and Nathan leapt for it. He pounded it backwards, towards his team mate and then sped into space, he yelled for the return and, with the influence he had over the team, he was quickly given the ball. He bound forwards, towards the basket, a boy named Jagelski standing in his way. Quickly he side-stepped him and came face to face with none other than Lucas. Grinning broadly, Nathan twisted on the spot, double backed, and then soared for the net. He jumped, and ran in the air before sinking the ball in the net. He roared as he dunked, he felt the fight in him return, the power, and the adrenaline.
Three baskets later and Nathan was owning the gym. Sweat was pouring down his face, the muscles in his legs were burning and his heart was close to bursting from his chest. But he was winning the game. Lucas had nothing on him, nothing at all. It didn't matter that the room hated him, that everyone thought he was an arrogant show-off. Because this would make his Dad look at him proudly.
As he ran down the sideline, he chanced a look at his Dad. As he did, his smile faltered. Dan was watching Lucas, his eyes weren't even on Nathan.
"Hey!" Nathan threw out his arms to his father, "I'm turning it around out here!"
Dan dragged his eyes away from his other son and sneered, "You shouldn't have to turn it around, Nathan, if you'd bother to play for the rest of the game."
Nathan snarled, seeing Lucas with the ball. He ran over and went in for an admittedly underhand challenge for the ball. Lucas anticipated the attack though and turned his back, causing Nathan to slam into him and crash to the floor.
"Come on, Nathan!" Dan yelled from the sidelines.
Nathan was quickly on his feet, chasing after his brother. He caught him on the shoulder and turned him roughly. Lucas called for a foul but Nathan was no longer listening. He tore the ball down the court, from one hoop to the other. He bypassed every opposition and dribbled the ball around the shocked Ravens players. He laughed as he launched for the basket, and smashed the ball through the net. With a shock he landed back on his feet. The Oak Lake crowd erupted as the Tree Hill supporters protested.
The room began to spin, Nathan wheezed, his throat tightening and his heart thrashing in his chest. In front of his eyes spots danced and his muscles burned like fire. Falling to his knees in defeat, Nathan tried to call out but his mouth was dry and hoarse. Losing all control, he felt his body slam to the floor and the deafening sounds of feet rushing towards him. As the mist descended, Nathan could make out a pair of terrified blue eyes gaping down at him. He hoped it was his Dad, but really, he couldn't tell.
"Nathan!" Lucas knelt down beside the slumped body of his younger half-brother. He shook at his shoulder and called desperately to him until he was thrown away by the strong brutal hand of Dan.
The room was silent, a collective gasp of shock had echoed into the air but it was as though everyone was now holding their breath, forgetting to breathe again. Lucas shook his head staring at the pale form of Nathan, helpless on the floor.
"Lucas," He turned at the sound of his Uncle Keith's voice and the clap of his hand on his shoulder.
Lucas turned to him, looking desperately for some kind of assurance. He didn't know Nathan, he didn't really like him either, but it was scary to see him passed out on the floor. "He just,"
"I know." Keith nodded solemnly, "I'll see to it."
Nodding, Lucas swallowed thickly, "You're going to the hospital?"
"If it comes to that." Keith told him.
"Then I'll come too." Lucas vowed.
Keith smiled grimly, "You're a good kid, Luke, but you don't need to do that."
Lucas nodded dismally to his uncle and released his hand from his arm, allowing the older man to go to his brother's side. Lucas watched the scene unfold from afar, detached from the chaos as his own brother's face grew grey.
Dan was yelling, Keith was attempting to soothe and Nathan was listing dangerously. Lucas swallowed down the scene, his own heart tugging, with something.
"My boy." Karen squeezed her hand around Lucas' arm in a show of affection and selfish relief that her son was the one still standing on the gym floor. There was gasp and shock in her soft voice.
Finally Lucas managed to tear his eyes from the scene on the floor, to face his mother. "Mom. Where's Lily? She shouldn't see this."
Karen smiled slightly at his brotherly concern, "She's with Haley. She's okay."
"Keith said he might go, with Nathan…and Dan. To the hospital." Lucas struggled and gulped the words out.
She nodded in a knowing way. "He's too good to him."
He knew it was hard for her, even after all the years that had passed. It took courage for her to stand in the same gym as Dan; to see him with his other son, being the father that he never wished to be to Lucas. It was worse when he bought his wife along too.
"Ma," Lucas turned to her, youth spilling into his voice. His eyes skittered searchingly, but truly he didn't know what he was looking for from her. "I want to go with him."
Her dark eyes flashed with surprise, "Lucas, whatever for?"
His expression was grave and desperate. "For Keith, and for Nathan. I'm not scared of Dan."
Around them the gym was a flurry of activity. There were huddled groups of worried faces. There were nervous whispers of grave imaginations. There was desperate medical aid fussing in the centre of the court. And, most disconcerting of all, there were demands from Dan Scott that there be a rematch of the game once Nathan was fit again.
Karen shuddered as she heard the words passing from Dan's lips. She pressed herself closer to Lucas, glad, not for the first time, that she and her son had escaped his wickedness.
"Mom," Lucas tried again, "I'll be okay I'll be with Keith."
She searched his expression franticly seeking an explanation. Finally she let her shoulders fall in defeat. "This isn't your fight, Lucas."
"Maybe it's my war though." Lucas said in a light tone. He was no longer angry though, his bitterness had long since vanished upon seeing his father's true colours at numerous basketball games. He had the best parents he could ever wish for in his mom and Keith. It was now that he could see he was the more fortunate of the two brothers. The only remaining resentment he held for Dan was his treatment of Nathan.
As he saw rushing movement around Nathan, Lucas pulled his mother into an assuring hug. "I have to do this, Ma. There's, there's, something going on, with Dan and Nathan."
Karen frowned. She agreed with him, it was obvious to all, but she couldn't believe that her son was wishing to have any involvement in the situation. "You be careful, Lucas.
He nodded grimly and then set off in a jog after his uncle who he was sure would be following onto the hospital in his car. Karen watched him go, her hands clasped tightly to her chest.
"Mommy!" She turned at the sound of her daughter's call.
Lily was across the room, peddling towards her on little legs. Her dark hair was trailing lightly behind her in a bouncing momentum that only existed in children. Beyond her Haley, Lucas' best friend chased, calling out to the young girl. Karen smiled at Lily's innocence, and opened her arms out to gather her daughter up in. She wished it was still as simple with her son.
…
Nathan awoke in a haze and confusion of blinding white lights and chemical smells. He groaned and thrashed lazily before remembering the game. His thoughts returned to him, jumbled and slow. All he could see was his father's glare.
He sat upright, desperate and shaking, his eyes blinking rapidly and anxious. He realised quickly that he was in a hospital bed but he didn't understand how or why.
"Hey," A hand came to rest on his shoulder, pushing him back carefully, "You're okay, Nate."
Nathan's eyes flashed to the man on his left, recognising him as his Uncle Keith. He frowned wondering why he'd be there in the place of his Dad. "Keith? Where's my Dad?"
"He's down the hall, trying to contact your Mom." Keith explained to the troubled boy.
Nathan scoffed a little at the remark, but didn't comment. Keith though was beginning to form a picture in his mind that told him everything he needed to know without Nathan having to say anything at all.
He went to ask Nathan, to push the answers out of him whilst he had a clear chance, but he was interrupted by the swishing of the curtain, and the sight of Lucas with two steaming plastic cups of coffee in hand.
"Ah," He winced at the sight of Nathan awake and scowling in the bed. The two brothers, although they'd shared a gym on a number of occasions, had only shared putdowns with another.
On seeing his brother, Nathan's mind thought of only one thing. He noted the blue jersey adorning the Tree Hill logo and his memory flashed back to the game. "We didn't, lose, did we? My Dad, he'll kill me."
"No." Keith said sharply, hoping to calm him, "Nate there'll be rematch, later. You collapsed on the court. Everyone's frantic. No one's thought about the game."
Nathan, whose thoughts were slowly coming into line swallowed down his uncle's words, but he couldn't believe them.
"Nathan." Keith's eyes snapped quickly from the boy in the bed to the blond stood darkly opposite, and then back to the younger boy. "The doctors, they found illegal substances in your blood. You took performance enhancers for the game."
Turning his head, Nathan glared. He didn't want to talk about it; least of all with Lucas stood gawking.
Keith set his jaw, realising that he was running out of time, "Nathan. What Dan's doing to you, it's not right. It doesn't have to be like this. He shouldn't push you this hard. And your Mom, how long has it been going on, the drinking and the drugs?"
Nathan felt his jaw quivering and wetness in his eyes. He assumed it was something to do with the medication, affects of the drugs or something. He never let his weakness out, he couldn't. His Dad would never let him live it down.
"It's okay." Keith pushed, "We can help you. You can leave it all behind. You're sixteen; you're not a kid anymore."
Something changed in Nathan then, it was only a subtle flicker, but both of the Scott men caught it.
Keith shook his head, "I'm sorry I haven't been around. I didn't realise things were this bad. But I'm here for you, okay, I'm here now, Nathan. Luke too, in fact."
Nathan sneered at that but his mind was whirring. The thought of getting away from Dan and Deb, it wasn't a new thought, it was an old dream. But now it was forming legs, because someone else was backing it. He frowned deeper and for the first time since he'd had the thought of leaving him, he didn't push it away.
Lucas took a deep breath and stepped forwards, "Hey, um, look, I know we've never even spoken to one another properly and I don't know you…but I just want to say, I used to be so jealous of you,"
At that Nathan's eyes flashed darkly.
"Dan chose you." Lucas shrugged, "And for the longest time I thought I wanted that. But now I can see that all of those years it was ridiculous for me feeling sorry for myself. I'm the lucky one. I've had total freedom; I was never pushed to do anything I didn't want to do. You shouldn't have either. Dan's, well, he's no father in my eyes."
Keith nodded feverishly, "He's right, Nathan. Dan's never been a Dad to you in your whole life. And you deserve more than him and Deb ruining your youth for you."
Seeming to struggle for a moment, Nathan scoffed, "Nothing's ever going to change though, is it? Thanks for, whatever the hell this was but there's no beating Dan Scott, trust me."
Keith and Lucas shared a look and the slightest of nods.
The older man clapped a hand down on Nathan's shoulder, "Stick with me, kid."
…
Dan Scott was seething mad; he roared and smashed his fist down on the nurses' station. From down the hall, where Nathan was sat on the edge of his hospital bed opposite a kindly spoken social worker, he peeked a look through the curtain to his enraged father. He swallowed thickly and permitted the smallest of smiles to his lips.
"So," He was almost gleeful, he could feel the keenness pumping through his veins. It was more exciting than the State Championship he and the team had played in the year before. He was free; free of Dan's hand and Deb's wild moods. "How does this work, how do I find somewhere to live?"
He'd read about this kind of thing on the internet. It was called Parental Emancipation. Kids could leave their mom and dad and set up on their own. He was feverishly excited.
The social worker, Miss Kelly smiled softly, "Well that won't be a problem at all, your Uncle Keith has offered to take you in!"
Nathan's eyes bugged and he stuttered not knowing what to say, "I, I, what? You mean until I can find my own place?"
Keith laughed at the foot of the bed, "Nate, you're sixteen, you can't live alone."
"I can't live with you!" Nathan stormed, Keith was clearly insane. He barely knew him, since Keith and Karen had made their relationship official around ten years ago he'd hardly seen him. There was bad blood between Keith and Dan, in fact bad wasn't the word for it.
"Sure you can." Keith supplied easily, "We've got the room. You're family, Nathan, and you can't stay with Dan and Deb."
Nathan shook his head, "No. God, this is so messed up. I can live on my own. I don't need you and your stupid happy families."
Keith smiled on, "You need a home, Nate. And don't panic about Danny, I can handle him."
He wasn't worried about Dan, well, not just Dan. The idea of living with his half brother in the house of his Dad's first love that he'd deserted in favour of Nathan's Mom, it was crazy.
"Dan won't let this happen." Nathan reasoned. He couldn't believe he'd gone along with the charade for this long, even got a social worker involved. Dan was going to kill him.
Keith belief was nice and almost convincing, but Nathan knew his Dad. Dan had got himself out of tighter spots before. Now Nathan was going to pay for allowing the charade to even begin. He hung his head in his lap and groaned.
"Nathan," Miss Kelly called to him, "You're free to go with your uncle now."
"What?" He frowned, shaking his head with disbelief. "You're all mad. Dan will never go for this. Don't you think he's just going to come round and drag me home? Anyway, I can't just live with Keith, for like forever, I have a life in Oak Lake,"
"Nathan," Miss Kelly repeated, "All of these feelings, all of these doubts, they're perfectly normal. We're on your side now though. Your Dad cannot get to you now, if he comes near you you're to call me, okay? You don't need to worry. You're free to be a kid again, like you're supposed to be."
It wasn't real, it couldn't be. He was hallucinating, it must be the drugs. Soon he'd probably wake up with Dan bearing over him. Until then though, he supposed that he could humour himself. He allowed Keith to take him by elbow as he unsteadily found his feet and lead him through a maze of corridors down to the car park. There they met Lucas who was leant against an old mustang that Nathan recognised to be Keith's.
Lucas nodded solemnly to Nathan and turned to Keith, "I've called Mom, she's got everything ready."
Keith pulled a ready smile to his lips and opened the door for Nathan. The younger Scott brother fell into the seat, in a complete daze. He remembered the old saying; Be careful what you wish for. And he felt the bite of it's sting. Since he was a kid, he'd dreamed of leaving his overbearing Dad and absentee Mom, only now could he see that there was a worse alternative.
He was going to live with his illegitimate brother.
…
The journey back to the house was quiet. There was a persistent effort from Keith for conversation and good atmosphere but it was all in vain. Nothing could brush over the awkwardness breeding in the cramped car. Nathan was riding shotgun, but he wished that he wasn't. All he could feel was Lucas' dull stare in his back, whilst Keith chatted nonsense in his ear.
They were enemies as far as Nathan could tell. It was the way that he'd been brought up, he knew no different than to hate his slightly older brother. It was an impulse rooted deep within him, an instinct now, he supposed. And towards Keith he could only muster a feeling of indifference. He didn't know the man; he'd chosen Lucas in the battle of the brothers. Nathan didn't know what he thought about that, but he decided that he didn't care. What he did know, was that he didn't need them saving him. He'd stay the night, because he was too tired to do anything else, but he sure as hell wasn't staying with them any longer.
"Here we are." Keith smiled broadly, as though by doing so, he'd inflict some of his cheerfulness onto his two nephews. He pulled the car into a driveway besides a modest house on the corner of the block. When Nathan glanced up, he saw the silhouette of Karen Scott stood in the window, watching. He'd never met her before, and he knew nothing about her except for the fact that she'd had Dan's first son.
Slowly Nathan extracted himself from the car and followed the two other Scott men to the front door. It was quickly pulled open by Karen and they shared a couple of tight hugs between them. Nathan stood uncomfortably on the step waiting for someone to tell him where he could sleep for the night.
"Nathan." Karen smiled softly and beckoned him inside. He regarded her for a moment, she had kind eyes, he noted, and she was soft in all the ways that his own mother was hard. It was an odd observation really. "Come right in, you must be shattered after that ordeal."
In response Nathan only grimaced.
"I've set the guest bedroom up, it's not much but I've been told that the bed's comfortable." Karen told him, "There's some clothes for you laid out on the ottoman an some toiletries on the dresser."
He nodded and said, "Thank you, M'am." It felt stupidly formal but he didn't know what else to say, she was a perfect stranger.
Thankfully though, she seemed to understand somewhat. "This must be completely overwhelming, if you'd like to just get your head down, you're welcome. Unless you're hungry? I have some leftovers in the fridge."
He shook his head, almost determinedly, although he was hungry. He wanted to get away from everyone, from everything. He wanted a release, and for now, that meant sleep. "I'd like to just go to sleep, if that's okay?"
"Of course." Keith clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll show you around." Karen offered, and Nathan was glad of it. There was something about the petite brunette woman; she fed Nathan with a strange kind of calm.
He climbed the stairs behind her, and she signalled with a finger to her lips that Lily was asleep in one of the rooms. Nathan eyed the room with a mild curiosity. Although the little girl was his cousin, he only knew of her from his parents' whispers and on the occasions that he spotted her smiling face at games.
"Here we are." Karen indicated to a small room that housed a twin bed and a few pieces of furniture. "And right next door is the bathroom, you'll have to share it with Lucas and Lily but it's clean and tidy."
He nodded in thanks and stepped inside the room. He saw the carefully laid out clothes that Karen had mentioned and the array of bottles on the dresser. He could already tell that she was a wonderful mother.
"If you need anything at all, Nathan, don't you hesitate to knock on our door, okay?" Karen smiled once again and wished him a goodnight before clicking the door closed behind her. Nathan fell down onto the bed, physically and mentally exhausted. He didn't bother with slipping under the sheets, or changing into the pyjamas that had been left out for him. He welcomed sleep.
Downstairs, Karen rejoined her boys in the kitchen. She filled the kettle and set it onto the stove. She'd let Nathan go straight to bed, but Keith and Lucas had some explaining to do before they were permitted such luxuries. As she busied herself with mugs and tea, Keith and Lucas exchanged a look.
Finally Karen set the three steaming cups onto the table and slipped into a seat. She settled her tired eyes on the two Scott men and they obediently fell into two of the vacant seats. "Is someone going to fill me in?"
All she'd had was a rushed phone call from Lucas alerting her that they were bringing Nathan home with them, possibly as a permanent arrangement.
"I couldn't leave him, Karen," Keith began in a husky tone.
"Of course not." Karen shook her head, "I can't believe this was going on. I suppose we shouldn't be surprised at Dan,"
She trailed off and her eyes fell down to her tea. None of them needed to be reminded of Dan's callousness.
"And Deb," Karen shook her head. She didn't know Deb Scott herself, but Keith had described her as self-assured, confident and funny. She also knew that they had money and lived a comfortable life. Karen scolded herself for assuming that money would have made Dan and Deb happy, she knew better than that.
"I know." Keith nodded, "I didn't realise anything was going on at all. But seeing Danny, the way that he kept putting basketball before Nathan, I knew I had to help him."
Karen nodded, musing over the situation, "And how was Nathan?"
"He wanted to get out of there." Keith said solemnly, "But when it happened, I think he was too shocked to believe it."
Karen sipped at her tea and turned to her son, "Lucas, what do you think?"
Slowly, he considered his answer. He rolled his heavy shoulders and sighed, "Well, seeing what Nathan was living with, and hearing that he wanted out, he probably should leave. But I don't think he'll want to live here."
"Why not?" Keith questioned, his frown grave and his voice slightly wounded.
Lucas shrugged, "He said himself that he wants to live on his own, besides, I'm pretty sure that he hates us."
"Lucas!" Karen gasped. She hated to hear him speak that way; that the boy sleeping upstairs in her house could hate them all.
Lucas shook his head; he didn't like to bring his Mom into his and Nathan's ridiculous spat. "It could just be his game face, but I get the impression that he's not too nice. And there's definitely no love lost between us. I can't see him wanting to live with us at all."
The three Scotts sat and considered Lucas' thoughts.
"Well, the social worker's calling round in the morning, so I'm sure that we'll find out more then." Keith told them.
Lucas raised his eyebrow, thinking that with Nathan, there was sure to be fireworks.
…
Nathan tossed and turned all night, restlessly, although he craved sleep. There were snatches of the night that he managed to sleep, but when he did, he was haunted by nightmares. His body still wasn't calm from the amphetamine that he'd taken earlier that night and his mind was rushing with thoughts of what his Dad was going to do with him.
Eventually, at just past dawn, Nathan gave up the battle. He hauled himself up and as quietly as he could, crept to the bathroom. There, he changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that he knew belonged to Lucas. The only clothes he'd bought with him were his Oak Lake kit though and he didn't much fancy going for a run in that, especially in Tree Hill.
He jogged downstairs, hoping that the creak of the stairs didn't wake the family upstairs. He didn't know the house and frowned searching for the memory of the night before when Karen had led him from the kitchen to the stairway.
He crossed the lounge and clicked open the door to the kitchen where he spied the back door. He made towards it when he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. There was a flash of pink and the slap of feet on the wood flooring. He turned sharply, his muscles tightening with hesitance. His gaze fell over a pair of wide dark eyes belonging to a little girl dressed in soft pink pyjamas.
Instinctively he held out his hands in an attempt to tell her that it was okay and he wasn't a stranger who was going to hurt her. In reality though, he was a stranger, he realised.
"It's alright," He said hurriedly, "I'm Nathan, I'm your cousin."
She looked up at him conflicted as he silently prayed that she wouldn't scream. She tilted her head and deliberated his story. "You played for the green team. You fell down."
She said it simply, stating a fact and he smiled a little. "Yeah, that's me."
Lily crawled up onto one of the chairs, which Nathan assumed to be to level the height difference, "You pushed Lucas."
Her dark eyes frowned at him as she stood tall on the chair. She was dressed in sweet little girl jammies, but she was honestly the fiercest opposition Nathan had faced in the past day. "Oh, um," He brushed a hand through his hair and stumbled for an excuse.
"You should say sorry." She told him matter-of-factly, "Can you make me a bagel?"
Nathan chuckled under his breath as she bounced expectantly, "I guess, I can, yeah."
Growing up as an only child, with no cousins that he actually saw, Nathan had little experience of kids. He liked the way Lily looked at him though; grown up and responsible, even though her assumption was wholly inaccurate, he liked that she gave him an air of authority.
"Yay!" Lily bounced, daringly close to the edge of the chair.
Unconsciously, Nathan reached out for her, deathly afraid that she'd fall and hurt herself. "Woah, careful! How about you go and watch cartoons?"
She happily agreed, and launched herself from the chair causing Nathan's heart to leap into his mouth. She landed on her feet, like a cat, before bounding into the living room. Nathan watched her skip out of the room, only noticing then that Keith was stood in the doorway.
"You're good with her." He commented with a nod of approval.
"Ah," Nathan blushed and jerked his thumb over his shoulder, "Actually, I was going out for a run."
Keith studied him carefully. He'd witnessed a different side to Nathan, but he could see that now he was attempting to pull his walls back up. "Okay, you go. I'll see to Lily."
Nathan nodded and wrenched open the door. He had no idea where he was going, but he didn't care. Running was a coping method for him; it was where he did most of his thinking.
Keith watched him go and smiled slightly. He saw hope in the kid, and he knew that if he worked at it hard enough, he could make this work. He could change things for Nathan.
…
Basically Nathan grew up in Oak Lake, but everyone else is in Tree Hill, as you'll see.
Anyone like? Any couple preferences? Thanks for reading x