A/n-Hi everyone, well I am a massive one tree hill fan and I am rewriting the whole lot from a third person perspective. A kind of take on An Unkindness of Ravens, but not written by Lucas. Just see what you think. There will be a few changes to the overall storyline, but not many. R&R please! It will really help!

Thanks!

Disclaimer-I do not own any of the storylines, characters or anything to do with One Tree hill.

Chapter One- A collision in the making

Tree Hill is just a place somewhere in the world. Maybe it's a lot like your world, maybe it's nothing like it, but if you look closer you might see someone like you. Someone trying to find their way. Someone trying to find their place. Someone trying to find their self…

Sometimes it's easy to feel like you're the only one in the world who's struggling, who's frustrated, or unsatisfied or barely getting by. But that feeling's a lie and if you just hold on, just find the courage to face it all for another day, someone, or something will find you and make it all okay. Because we all need a little help sometimes. Someone to help us hear the music in the world. To remind us that it won't always be this way. That someone is out there and that someone will find you…

It just so happens that finding that person might be easier than you think…then again it could be harder in your world….but what if your world collided with another, what then?

The faint sunlight was fading by the second in the evening sky, a solitary figure stood tall on the concrete. All those who were playing with him had left moments ago.

The repetitive thud of a basketball bouncing upon the ground was all that broke the newfound silence.

Chink

The basketball travelled through the hoop cleanly, only hitting the chain on the way through. It was a perfect 3pt shot from 20 ft. The ball bounced on the ground until it came to a stop on the grass surrounding the river court. The figure had been frozen in the shot position like a cut out of Michael Jordan shooting from the 3pt line., until now. The figure jogged over to the ball and picked it up. He repeated this process for hours, until he could no longer see the hoop.

This was Lucas Scott's typical life outside of the confined walls of high school; he's an only child and a loner of sorts, an excellent student who has a passion for literature and who is a phenomenal basketball player.

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Karen Roe is Lucas Scott's mother, she gave birth to Lucas when she was only 18 and finishing high school. She owns a café on the high street, where Lucas' best friend Haley James works. She and Lucas have been through everything together. Lucas works with his uncle Keith Scott in his spare time at the garage that he owns, when not playing basketball or at school. Keith is a well loved man and taught Lucas nearly everything he knows.

As well as Haley, Lucas has great friends who he hangs out with at the river court. Mouth, Skills, Junk, Fergie and Jimmy.

That was Lucas Scott's world. He and his friends kept themselves to themselves, going quietly about their lives.

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Keith Scott has a brother Dan. Dan Scott is Lucas' birth father, but he never claimed him. Keith was more of a father to Lucas than Dan ever was.

Dan owns a car dealership in Tree Hill, and as far as Lucas is concerned, the less known about him the better. He never gave Lucas or Karen anything, Karen never asked. As a matter of fact, Dan wanted Karen to have an abortion. But Karen couldn't, so Dan left and went to college, where he met his now wife, Deborah Lee. Deb got pregnant a few months later, and she had a son Nathan.

Nathan is the star of the Tree Hill Ravens high school basketball team; he inherited his talent from his father, just like Lucas did. He is dating Peyton Sawyer, a beautiful blonde cheerleader. The cheerleaders are captained by Brooke Davis, a stunning brunette who just so happens to be the most popular girl in school.

That was Nathan's world. A world of the popular, partying, drinking and sex.

Lucas' world was about to collide with Nathan's world.

It all started one night in September…

Lucas started the day just like any other, and that night was no exception. Lucas made his way to the River court, where he met his friends. Jimmy and Mouth were there every night without fail, they dreamed of one day becoming sports announcers. They warmed the bench, while Lucas played ball with Skills, Junk and Fergie. 2 on 2 basketball was the game. Lucas held a 138-3 record, wins-losses.

This night was no different to the other 138 nights that Lucas Scott had won a game of 2 on 2. His record now stood at 139-3.

It just so happened that this night was also the first home game of the season for the Tree Hill Ravens. Nathan was playing well, just like always. Dan Scott was encouraging his son to play well, and pushing him as hard as he could. The game went to the wire, coach Whitey Durham had been in charge of the Tree Hill Ravens for over 30 years. He had the task of keeping Nathan under control. Which he tried to the best of his ability. Unfortunately Nathan could not accept he was not always centre of attention. He was benched and the team began to fall apart, regretfully coach had to put him back on the field. Naturally he won it on the buzzer, coach had his work cut out here.

Lucas began his walk home at the usual time, listening to his mp3 player. Peyton was driving home from the game, listening to her music. Nathan was joy riding in one of the school minibuses with most of the team members, and many of the cheerleaders.

Lucas started to cross the road, without a care in the world when headlights dazzled him. He stood not moving, when the car came to a halt. Inside, looking pissed at him was the girl he had had a crush on since freshman year, Peyton Sawyer. Simultaneously, Nathan had been 'distracted' shall we call it, and slammed on the breaks as a train crossed the road in front of him. Police sirens sounded and that was that, the team was about to be broken up. Nathan's future was safe though, Dan made sure of that. Many of the players were suspended from playing, but Nathan was not one of them. Wheels were being set in motion.

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The next day, Whitey Durham invited Lucas to join the Ravens varsity basketball team. Keith had asked him to look at Lucas' game, because 'he should know he's good' in Keith's words. Whitey was impressed with what he saw at the river court the night before, and took a chance on what Keith had said. He trusted Keith's judgement.

Lucas declined the offer, he did not want to see Dan. He did not want his mum to have to see him; that had happened enough in the junior leagues, but it would not continue to happen.

Keith however, persuaded him otherwise. Keith was a very wise man for his age, and a genuine, honest, caring guy. The complete opposite of his brother. He told Lucas of a time he had been taken to a game with his grandfather, it was what made him fall in love with the game. He described (players name) game that night, and told Lucas that it's a damn shame that people would not get to see him play.

The night before Keith had persuaded Lucas to join the team, Nathan had come on Dan's orders, to tell Lucas to back off. He challenged him to a game of one on one, but Lucas had no reason to accept. Until firstly, Keith had persuaded him he should show off his god given talent. Secondly, after he spoke to Peyton for the first time. Keith had gotten the call, and Lucas went to pick up the car that had broken down. It was Peyton's.

That day, Lucas arrived at the scene and parked up. He had a knot in his stomach, he was about to talk to Peyton for the first time. He got out of the car and looked at her, there she was. In his opinion Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer was the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid eyes on. She was skinny, with long curly blonde hair, and piercing green eyes, she had one hell of an ass and great legs. Lucas felt his cheeks getting warm, so looked down at the ground and quietly got on with his job without saying a word.

After a few minutes, it became obvious nothing was going to get said unless he initiated conversation, so he plucked up enough courage, turned towards her and tried to find something to say. He saw a sticker on the folder she was carrying, NOFX. He listened to their music, and thought she must do too. Maybe they had more in common than they both realised.

'It's me inside your head.' Lucas recited a line from a NOFX song whilst pointing at the sticker.

'What?' Peyton questioned.

'NOFX, it's me inside your head.' Lucas answered. Peyton just looked at him blankly, she hadn't come across anyone who liked her sort of music in her world.

'It's the lyrics from the song' Lucas continued.

'I know the song.' Peyton cut Lucas off before he could finish. She turned around thinking to herself, could they actually have something in common? Or was he just the bastard son that everyone in her world thought he was? She shook those thoughts from her head and opened up her phone and dialed Nathan's cell.

'Hey Nathan, it's me.'

'Hey.' Nathan replied sounding uninterested.

'Alright, well listen, my car broke down, your gonna hafta come pick me up.'

'I'm in the gym.'

'So leave the gym, listen it'll take you like ten minutes. I'm on river road around the kerb.'

'I can't, my dad's hammering me'

'Well, it sucks to be you.'

'Whatever.' Nathan put the phone down without a second thought.

Peyton just sighed to herself, typical Nathan. Lucas had prepared the paperwork for the repairs to Peyton's car, whilst eavesdropping in on her conversation. He walked towards her and handed her the paperwork so she could sign it. He looked into her beautiful green eyes and saw a lot of hurt. Before thinking about what he was saying, he asked

'Listen., are you sure you've got a ride? I mean, I can wait if you want?'

'Yeah, that's what I want.' She responded in a sarcastic tone. After signing the paperwork, she spoke again.

'Listen, have your dad call me with an estimate..'

'My uncle' Lucas interrupted.

'If that's your story' came Peyton's reply. Lucas couldn't help but wonder why she was so guarded, everyone knew Keith was not his father. It was also pretty obvious that her oh so caring boyfriend was not coming to give her a ride. He laughed to himself, Peyton Sawyer was a cheerleader yet she had no characteristics a cheerleader should have. So he thought he'd try to break down her barriers, talk to the real her.

'Can I ask you a question?'

'It's a free country.' God she really didn't seem like a happy person.

'Why are you a cheerleader..?' Lucas paused to gauge her reaction, she just raised an eyebrow. Nobody had asked her that before.

'No offence of anything, but your about the least cheery person I know.' Peyton just stared at him before turning away and looking into space, no one seemed to care about that in her world, yet Lucas had hit a nerve, and they both knew it. He turned to the truck and put the paperwork away, Peyton walked over to a nearby log and sat down.

'Come on, let me give you a ride.' Lucas couldn't leave her on her own, and a part of him wanted to talk to her all day, get inside those walls she'd built around herself. She didn't seem to want to, now Lucas knew she hadn't been insulting him on purpose, it just seemed to be her defence mechanism.

'I'll let you insult me.' He said, expecting an insult back. Peyton just looked at him. She'd been nothing but reserved and a bit of a bitch, but he still wouldn't leave her there on her own. The thought crossed her mind that maybe he wasn't just the bastard son. But she still had her guard up.

'First of all you don't know me' she said, mainly to Lucas. Because lets face it, they didn't know each other.

'Second of all, you don't know me.' That seemed to be more of a reassurance to herself, Lucas seemed to understand her somehow. Lucas laughed to himself, here he was trying to be helpful and here she was guarding herself as tightly as possible. Peyton thought he was laughing at her.

'God, why are guys such jerks.'

'Guys, or Nathan?'

'Him, you.'

'I don't know, we share the same father.'

'Yeah, I heard that. He's kind of an ass. That must suck having to see him around.' Maybe Lucas was getting somewhere, at least they were talking.

'For my mum, I never knew him.'

'But she told you he was your dad?'

'Yeah, eventually' Lucas paused, thinking to himself for a second. 'We used to play in junior leagues together, me and Nathan.'

'Basketball?'

'Yeah.' Peyton looked to the sky, she had to hear about basketball every day. ' And I loved it, I was good at it. I mean, you ever had something that you knew you were better at than almost anybody else?' At least she wasn't biting his head off like before.

'Sex.' Lucas just stared at her, he'd never had sex, and in that instant pictured himself and Peyton together. She laughed to herself seeing his expression.

'Joke.' She said, whilst smiling a little. Lucas couldn't believe it, she smiles! They shared a laugh before Lucas continued.

'Anyway, the guys kept teasing me about it, about how Nathan's dad was my dad too, so I asked my mum. She said he wasn't, but I get home and I hear her crying in her room, so I knew it was true. I never went back, I told my mum it was because I didn't want to see his face, but it was mostly because I didn't want her to have to.'

Peyton looked to the ground, she couldn't believe what he was saying, and why he was saying it to her. He had such selflessness for his mum, he loved the game but gave it up for her feelings.

'So why'd you just tell me all that? I mean we don't even know each other.' Peyton asked after Lucas had turned away from her and walked to the truck.

'Maybe that's the point' he responded as he opened the door for her to get in out of politeness.

That conversation along with the fact that when he arrived back at the garage, Dan was there talking about how he had told Karen he'd take care of the pregnancy, made Lucas want to play. To prove something to his father, he was not worthless, and he would show that, he would make his mum proud. There was also another motivation for him to join the Ravens, Peyton. Lucas knew Nathan treated her like crap, and he could tell that she was guarded and needed somebody. Lucas was determined to help her out.

So, it was set. Lucas challenged Nathan, tomorrow at midnight on the river court. If Nathan won, Lucas would not show his face near the team, and if Lucas won Nathan would quit the team. But Lucas changed the bet, instead of Nathan leaving the team Nathan would stay on the team, it's the last thing he would want. Lucas also wanted Peyton, to get her away from Nathan.

Midnight arrived the night after. The river court was packed, the support was split in two. Lucas had friends there, true friends who he could count on. Nathan, seemed to have half the school there cheering him on, almost the whole Ravens basketball squad and cheerleaders. This game was just like bragging rights for them, for Lucas it wasn't about that. It was about his mum, Keith, all those on the river court and Peyton. He had nothing to prove to anyone. For Nathan, it was about who was the best, that was all he cared about.

Lucas was already there when Nathan arrived, his entrance was enhanced by loud music and by being driven right onto the court. So it began.

Lucas started with the ball, and faked a move forwards. Nathan retreated and that was the half second Lucas needed, a 25 ft basket to start it off. So Nathan told Lucas to go ahead, do that all night. Lucas obliged, making another replica of the first. 2-0. So Lucas decided to go at him, nothing fancy, a tester if you will. He dribbled and that was all Nathan needed, a steal before taunting Lucas and driving past him to the basket to score. 2-1.

Lucas and Nathan battled it out, Nathan driving to the hoop and dunking almost every time he had possession. Lucas going for a jump shot or driving and creating space for a shot. Nathan was the bigger and physically stronger of the two, but Lucas had better movement and a hell of a jump shot, though he could dunk too. The two fought it out, there was nothing in it, both of them playing fluidly, possession swapped regularly, both of them could steal from each other, both of them occasionally missing the hoop. They were two very different players, but both of them had a lot of talent.

13-12 was the score when the defining moment happened. Nathan was weaving side to side with the ball with his back to Lucas, who was guarding the basket, Nathan couldn't find a way past. So on the turn, he elbowed Lucas to the nose and scored the easiest basket of the night. Lucas composed himself and spat out the blood in his mouth, he felt a little dizzy but he wasn't about to let that stop him. Peyton looked on, disgusted at her boyfriend's foul play, the crowd waited for what Lucas would decide. Skills was wound up, he was ready to jump in at any moment.

'No foul, basket counts' were Lucas' first words. Nathan just swaggered, he was 1 point from victory with the ball in his hands. The arrogance shone through. Lucas continued 'besides, you won't score again.'

Nathan bounced the ball, he faked to his left and drove right, Lucas let him and gave chase. Nathan neared the basket and went for the win, bouncing the ball off the backboard. Lucas jumped through the air, time seemed to freeze for that moment. The ball stopped dead on the backboard, Lucas' hand held it in place. That was one of the best blocks ever seen. He was right. Nathan would not score again. The whole crowd looked astonished, including Peyton, but she smiled, would Nathan be put in his place for once?

Lucas jumped up and scored. He was down by one, Nathan taunted him.

'down by one man, don't choke now.' Lucas let him finish before scoring another 25 ft basket. He had held his nerve with ease. The score was tied, next basket wins.

Nathan collected the ball, and knew he was against it, so he tried taunting again.

'He's never mentioned you man, not once in all these years.' What Nathan didn't realise was that Dan did not matter to Lucas any more than Lucas mattered to Dan.

Lucas responded in a defiant tone 'this is for my mum.'

He dribbled, bouncing the ball between his legs a few times so Nathan couldn't steal, he went right before turning his back to Nathan and pivoting, driving the other way, they were to the left of the basket, both with their backs to it. Lucas faked right towards the basket, then left away from the basket, Nathan moved a half-step left and that was it, a fatal mistake. Lucas span right and executed a perfect fade-away. 15-14 the score, Lucas had won. His friends went berserk, the other side of the court was silent, Nathan Scott, the star player of the team, had lost!

Lucas tore himself away from his friends when he spotted Peyton coming towards him. She was undecided if it was a good thing Nathan lost.

'What'd you bet?' She asked.

'I win, Nathan stays on the team.'

'Why?'

'Because it's the last thing he wants.' Lucas and Peyton were locked in eye contact, and neither could look away, both mesmerized by the other.

'And anyway it's not about him.' He finished. Peyton stared into his eyes, and in her heart she knew what he meant, it was about her. Lucas, she concluded; was nothing like Nathan.

Nathan called out to her, and she turned to look at him, as did Lucas. Nathan had said he didn't feel threatened by Lucas before, what about now? Peyton looked lost, like she didn't know what to do, Lucas had effectively won her but Nathan was her boyfriend.

'I'll be seeing ya' Lucas said as she turned back to him. Peyton's lips curved into a faint smile as she turned to leave with Nathan, she was puzzled as to why he cared so much, curious too.

Lucas smiled to himself, he had had the advantage the whole time, he knew every square inch of that court. They were matched equally, two very different people with very different games, but ultimately that was what separated them on that court.

The next day arrived, and Lucas walked into practice after school with his head held high. Everyone in that gym knew what had happened the night before, and all of them stared at him, not one of them said a word. Lucas looked at Peyton and smiled. His world had collided with Nathan's; a new world was being formed, would he fit in?