Brooke handed her notes to Peyton. She scanned the first page. "Brooke, we can't print this, you know that. Please tell me you have something I can use for this week's issue."

"Peyton you said when I was given my own space on the paper I could write whatever I wanted."

"Brooke, you're the fashion editor. This does not scream new boots and a miniskirt. This is serious stuff."

"And we are a newspaper. Shouldn't we be writing about real issues and not what goes on in the locker rooms. Peyton, I know my facts, you know me, I don't hand you a story unless I know it's truth and I can back it up."

"You do realize if I even breathe this story near Turner's office, you and I both will be expelled, and you probably worse since it's your story."

"Then I'll take the heat, people should know what happened. The real story, not the story that came out of Dan's mouth."

"Dan Scott, the mayor and Lucas' father, smart move Brooke."

"If you don't print it, I'll find someone who will."

"I can see it now. Someone is just itching to print a story that Dan Scott killed his own brother and not some troubled student on the day of the school shooting. Brooke this is just a story. The facts have been run over with a fine tooth comb, Keith was shot by Jimmy Edwards, not Dan. Why can't you let it go."

"I have the facts Peyton, Dan should get what's coming to him."

"Sure, I'll run the story and in five seconds we're kicked out of school and never be able to show our faces anywhere ever again. Do you really want that."

Lucas came in. "I could hear you two in the hallway."

Peyton gasps and turned to look at him. "What did you hear?"

"Mostly muffled voices but there was definite yelling. What are you two yelling about?"

"Someone gave me a story that I can't print."

"This is over a story, just print the story if it's that big of a deal."

Brooke pointed to Lucas. "See, he knows what's really going on." She packed up her things, "but I guess it doesn't matter. I'll have some crappy, what is on the lunch menu tomorrow for you, miss editor in chief."

Lucas turned to Peyton. "So it's her story."

"Yeah, she's been trying to get it printed for the longest time, and I just can't do it."

"It's obvious she's passionate about it, why can't you print it?"

She looked into his innocent, finally happy eyes. "Because it would hurt a lot of people. And as the editor, I can't let that happen."

"What about Turner, he might approve."

"Since I almost lost my position as Editor because of the story I printed about Haley losing her spot on the cheerleading squad because of Nathan, I try to play it safe."

"I guess you have a point. So…game time?"

"I know I said I would walk with you, but there is something I have to do first."

"Oh, well I'll be looking for you." He kissed her cheek and walked out.

She let out the air she holding in. She looked at Brooke's notes again, slamming them into her bag and locking up the classroom.

Peyton ran up beside Brooke. "Are we at least going to speak to each other."

"As your cheer captain I guess we have to."

"As a friend?"

Brooke stopped and faced Peyton. "You know that the story is not bogus, it's the truth. Why won't you believe me?"

"Brooke, it's not a matter if I believe you or not. It's what Principal Turner would say and Dan, he's the mayor and can seriously do some damage."

"You didn't answer my question. Do you believe me that it's the truth."

"You've mentioned there are witnesses. Who?" Brooke hesitated. "Or is this one of those 'they want to remain silent' sort of things."

"I promised it would be anonymous."

"An anonymous witness to a Dan Scott killing his brother. Really Brooke, are you listening to that sentence."

"It's not as far fetched as you're making it out to be."

"Really because I can't see how Dan could kill his own brother. I know Dan has done a lot of bad things, but actually ending Keith's life. It's something that is not even….I can't print it and that's final." Peyton handed her the notes. "You left them on the desk.""Thanks. I don't want these to get into the wrong hands."

"Brooke, off the record, when did you start getting these facts about Dan and the shooting?"

"After midnight madness I got a text to meet someone at my car in thirty minutes. I was scared, of course. But since Rachel gave me the pepper spray, I didn't feel so bad. I walked to my car and the story was written out, plain as day. It was like a painted picture of Dan killing Keith."

"Would you ever tell me who she is?"

"I can't. I'm a good friend, sorry Peyton."

"Can we be friends, after all of this."

"Out of everyone I have worked with on the paper, I felt like you were the only one who really understood me. I wasn't exactly everyone's favorite choice to write for the paper. But you believed in me and I felt like there might be something more to Brooke Davis than pom-poms and a shiny credit card. People were reading my words, Peyton and really liking what I had to say. They were listening to me, I've never had that before. Now…it just seems like you're taking that away from me. The ability to tell the truth, no matter the consequences."

"What if that story gets printed, maybe not here, but somewhere. Dan will find whoever it is and make them pay, whether it's true or not."

The last school bell rang. "I have to get to locker room and get ready. Come if you want…I really don't care anymore."

Nathan walked into the tutoring center; he and Haley were going to walk to the gym for the game.

"Being in this room, the one who needed tutoring seems like a million years ago."

"Back then does seem like a million years ago. You were a jerk, Lucas and I were 'us against he world' and Dan…" She looked up at Nathan to find the words. "You know how Dan was."

"I saw him today."

"When? You were at school all day, unless he did this mayor's special privilege and was one of your teachers."

"Close. He used his mayor card to get me out early, we went to the river court and had pizza, shot the ball around."

"And what, he drilled you on how fast to dribble down the court?"

"And nothing, that was just it. It was just a nice day with my dad, I don't think I've ever had one of those."

"I the to say it, but I think Dan has made amends and is really trying to be the better man."

"If any good can come out of Keith's death, this would be one good thing."

"What did you two talk about." Haley locked up the tutoring center and threw her keys in her jacket pocket.

"I got a packet from Stanford today."

"Stanford University, in California?"

"Yeah, Dan always imagined I would graduate from Tree Hill, play for Duke and some pro team that would pay me millions of dollars for just a signing bonus."

"Dan imagined or Dan planned?"

"A little bit of both I guess. But he didn't do this psychological profile on why I should go to Duke and why it's better. He was actually happy for me."

"So why did you get a packet from Stanford, I thought Duke was the only school that was interested."

"Well until I applied to Stanford."

"You applied to Stanford? Why?"

"You," he said simply, without thought.

They were passing by people and started to talk louder. "But you can't give up your dream just for me."

Nathan waited until they were inside the gym. He turned to face her. "Before you and I started dating, Duke was the dream, Duke was the future. That's all I had ever seen. High School, Duke and pro, that was it. You showed me there is a way out. And I love you for that, and I want to stay with you and if going to Stanford will help me do that, then Duke will just take some other high school MVP."

"So you would give up Duke…for me?"

"Yeah, I guess I already did."

She stood up on her toes and kissed him, but was interrupted by whistling…." Hey Peyton."

"If kissing a Raven like that will guarantee a win, I better go find Lucas."

Haley patted Nathan on the chest and joined Peyton to the locker room. "So what's up with you and Brooke lately, tension could be sensed down the block when she left your house."

"She has this story and I guess it's a good story, I just can't print it."

"If she feels that strongly about it, why not ask Turner."

"You and Lucas ask the same questions, you know that."

"But seriously, what's so bad about it." Peyton gave Haley a look. "Oh, that story…I don't blame you. It involves everyone we know and everyone they know and so on."

"The Tree Hill Vicious Circle."

Peyton opened her locker as Brooke closed hers. Brooke smiled at Kenzie. "You're in the front of formation tonight, I hope you know your moves."

Kenzie was surprised. "Me, why? I'm just a freshman."

Brooke looked at Peyton while speaking. "Because sometimes people can surprise you when you least expect it."

Kenzie looked at Peyton. "Did you two have another fight? She does this every time you two disagree."

"Shut up and go steal someone else's boyfriend." Peyton caught up with Brooke at the doors. "Don't make the squad look bad because you're mad at me. Kenzie is like a spastic humpty dumpty. One false move and we all fall down."

"Look Peyton, this is not all about you. You may call the shots for the paper, but I call the shots here. Or do you want my place as cheer captain too?"

"When is this going to stop?"

"I would say it's when you print my article, but it'll always be something. You're always looking for a way to be far more superior than me. Face it, this is one battle you can't win." Brooke shoved the door open.

Brooke walked onto the sidelines and saw Julian just arriving at the game. He was the senior she had a crush on when first going to Tree Hill. Brooke never had the courage to go speak to him, only admire him from afar and write about him in her journal about everything he did on the basketball court. He waved to her, she coyly smiled and waved back. But on the inside she was doing cartwheels.

It felt like just moments after the game started that it was halftime and time for the Raven cheerleaders to keep the crowd action going.

They all got into formation, Peyton furiously got into the back while Kenzie moved up front and center.

Brooke yelled out…."WHO ARE WE!"

The crowd chanted. "RAVENS!"

"LOUDER…..WHO ARE WE!"

"RAVENS….RAVENS…..RAVENS!"

"AND WHEN ARE WE GONNA LOSE?"

The crowd stood up, chanting, "NEV-ER MORE! NEV-ER MORE! NEV-ER MORE!"

They went into the routine they had rehearsed a thousand times and it ended in disaster….Kenzie missed just one step and Peyton was concentrating on that too much and bumped into Bevin, which made a chain reaction to Teresa who fell onto Haley and creating a domino effect and everyone fell down. The crowd just looked at them, in amazement. The squad had never missed a step, not as long as Brooke has been the captain and choreographer of the team. Quickly they ran off the court.

Peyton leaned up against the locker. "Are you happy?"

"Ecstatic. I mean it's not everyday we tumble in front of the entire town on the simplest cheer known to man."

"It would've been if no one got moved!"

"It was a…cheer-cision."

"Whatever, it's your team, screw it up. I could say screw it over since you know that term even better."

"You did this, Peyton not me!"

"Me? I did this. All because of a story I won't print in the paper, I did this. I made the decision for you to be a brainless slut in front who knows nothing about cheerleading."

"This is not about Kenzie or the paper, this is about you….you having to win."

"Oh excuse me. I didn't know you replacing tow spots on the squad was because of me. I guess I should feel so important that the team screwed up all because you were doing this because of me."

Peyton got her bag out of her locker. "It's your squad, I'm not doing this. From now on, I'm not even your friend, we can be total enemies. Every minute that goes by makes this 'cheer-cision' easier."

"You can't just leave the game in your uniform."

Peyton threw her bag down and removed her uniform…all but her strapless bra and tiny underwear. "There, give some other nazi cheerleader a spot on your such precious squad. Maybe they can steal boyfriends like the slut you already are."

Brooke paused and looked at everyone just in shock at what happened, and all starring at her. "WHAT!"

They all mumbled and went back to not noticing anything, which is what they normally do when Brooke and Peyton fight.

After the game, The Ravens winning by Lucas' last minute free throw shot, Julian walked over to Brooke.

"Not much was missed by the shouting in the locker room. Cheerleading is violent these days."

"Trust me, Julian, cheerleading had nothing to do with it. Well maybe a little."

"When I used to come around right after I graduated, you and Peyton were like two peas in a pod. What happened."

"Newspaper politics. It's a bigger story than I care to explain."

"Anytime you want to, I'm here." He rubbed her arm.

"I heard a rumor that you write for the newspaper at NC State."

"Truth and I get to be the Editor, fun for me."

"Editor to writer. What if a really true, factual, yet damaging story came to you, would you print it."

"Depends on the story."

"Ike it had to do with the Mayor and the school shooting. Hypothetically speaking."

"Brooke, college papers are on a different level that high school papers. I don't know what you're getting at, but that's not something I can answer. But I gather that's what Peyton and you are fighting about."

"Yeah, I guess I wasn't too subtle."

"Connecting the dots was made simple by the yelling."

"Even if it's too big for a college paper or a high school paper, what should I do. I mean it's the truth."

"Brooke, what story is it."

"Would you say I was crazy I said that maybe Jimmy Edwards didn't shoot Nathan and Lucas' uncle Keith?"

"I would wonder why you are making an accusation, but I wouldn't call you a liar."

"Then you're a better editor than Peyton is. She's not saying it in so many words, but she has this theory I'm making it up because I'm either delusional or just want to write a story so our paper will get national recognition."

"I think you have to respect where Peyton is coming from. Whatever is printed in the paper is her responsibility. She can't just print whatever she wants. She has to comply with the school standards and not upset parents and it's more than printing the news."

"So I should give Peyton a chance?"

"Just don't be so hard on her. Just know where she's coming from."

"But it's not like she wants to know where I'm coming from."

"Does she, or have you not given her a chance for you to find out."

"Guilty."

"I would love to help you. But it seems more like a trust issues with best friends then a newspaper article."

"Thanks." She reached up to kiss his cheek; Julian turned his face and she kissed his lips.

"Was that just a….what was that?"

"Let's just say all events aren't accidents." He kissed her on the cheek. "Night Brooke Davis…see you around."

Whitey saw Dan coming through the doors that morning before practice.

"I thought Vampires couldn't walk around in sunlight?"

"I came to talk to you, it's about Lucas."

"Oh, your other son…what do you want now, him kicked off the team….but that's already happened, so I can't imagine why you and I have a conversation about a son you never claimed to be yours publicly."

"I want you to retire his jersey, if that's not too much to ask."

Whitey turned to him, confused. "If I retire Lucas' jersey, I would have to contact all the previous players in my hears of coaching to announce that we're retiring their jersey's too. I love Lucas like a son, but I just can't retire his jersey."

"You retired Nathan's jersey."

"Well, amazingly that is because of you, Danny. You pushed Nathan so hard when he was growing up, he had no other choice than to be the best, up against the great Dan Scott on the court…and at home."

"Then take mine down? It's been up there long enough, I can even hang it in the beach house."

"What is so important about retiring Lucas' jersey. Is there some sick, personal gain for you in an event Lucas might actually like that his jersey is retired?"

"Whitey, when I gave up on basketball in college, it was the biggest mistake I ever made. I realize, finally, that it was because of my father and the way he pushed me to be better than everyone else." Whitey gave him a look. "Yeah, I know, like father like son. But Lucas got the better deal out of the father situation, he was raised by Keith. He got the chance to love basketball and not take it for granted, like I taught Nathan how to. I want him to be remembered for a great thing in Tree Hill and not for having HCM and having to leave the team."

"Dan, he was off the team last year and I thought you were asked to retire his jersey? Why now?"

"Ever since Keith died that day, I've been going over everything I've done…quite a long list and it all starts with me not being there that night. The night Lucas was born. I was there, but when I saw Keith being where I should've been, I knew it was too late. I didn't have the chance anymore. I left that gym thinking I would have the best career and after I left Tree Hill and Deb got pregnant I knew the mistake I had made and was too late to fix one of them. I left Tree Hill, but then came back with Deb, and with Nathan. I had to watch my son, the one I left in that hospital room grow up with Keith for a father, sometimes I would wish that I didn't walk away that night, promise Karen that I would be there for her, even though I really know she would have never let me in Lucas' life, knowing what kind of father I would be. I want Lucas to have something to look up at when he walks in this gym. Not with regret of walking out of here as a former Ravens player, but a Ravens player with something to be proud of. Don't do this for me, do this for Lucas."

"I'll think about it."

"Would it help that I can promise the school board to take down my jersey by the end of school today?"

"I said I would think about it." Whitey waved his hand to shew Dan away. "Now, I have a team to coach."

Right after practice was over, Lucas went to see Whitey.

"Hey, coach…if that's even appropriate." He knocked on the door.

Whitey looked up, taking his glasses off. "Former players twice your age call me coach, I think it's appropriate. What brings you into my office."

"I'm just waiting for Peyton, I decided to walk around the locker room, take in everything that is still here."

"The smell of old socks and sweaty uniforms never gets old."

Lucas laughed. "Nah, I guess not."

"The last time I remember seeing you in my office, just talking, was just after Keith died and it was the first day back at school."

"This is the place I always felt at peace. On the court, in the locker room, in your office…even if you were yelling at me, it still felt at peace, even safe. I felt that when I was on the court, I was unstoppable. I was born to play basketball. I always wondered if me being good at basketball was a way for Dan and I to connect on some level, you know since he never publicly claimed me as his son."

"Let's take a walk." Lucas nodded and they went out into the gym.

"I remember when you and I first walked out here, I offered you a spot on my varsity lineup, one reason because I was desperate after the school board suspended half my first team."

"I never knew what the future held. I loved playing ball on the river court with Skills and everybody. I just never imagined I Could fit into this world. And Nathan didn't' exactly make it any easier."

"I don't think I ever told you, but Keith was the one who really told me to go out and watch you play, I was impressed. I always knew Dan had another son he never really claimed, I just didn't know he was that good at basketball."

"I always thought that Dan wished I wasn't so good at basketball so I would never have a chance of mixing in with Nathan and this crowd."

"Dan came to me today and asked me to retire your jersey."

Lucas was surprised. "Why me? I didn't make the most points for the team, Nathan did. And before that, Dan did. Then…"

"You and I both know Dan Scott in many ways not related to basketball doesn't deserve to have his jersey up there. He was a great ball player, but the day he left your mom in the gym after he found out she was pregnant with you was when I knew Dan wasn't the guy I wanted up there on that wall. But I was outvoted by the points he scored and the games we won when he was a Raven. If I had my way, Keith Scott's jersey would be up there, even though he was probably the worst player I had ever coached. I'm not asking for permission, but what do you think about the idea. Your jersey, number three being up there with Nathan's number twenty-three."

"It would say how far I have come, but I don't feel like I deserve it, you know. I played with a heart condition, I risked my life when my mom needed me the most. I denied taking the HCM because I knew when Nathan didn't have the condition, I knew I could have. It was a fifty percent chance. I was selfish and probably more scared than I wanted to admit."

"But you admitting you have HCM was more courageous than most of the players I have coached. You realized what playing with a heart condition means playing against your life. You chose life and happiness over a thirty minute game time period that wouldn't last the rest of your life, probably not even half your life. And you saved Peyton that day in the school shooting. It takes a lot for someone to walk into large building and not know if there is one student with a gun or fifty. I want to retire your jersey for who you are on and off the court, which is more than I can say about most of my former players."

"You know Whitey, it sounds like you didn't need me to make a decision, just to tell me the reasons for wanting to retire my jersey."

"I'd like you to be okay with it and not walk into this gym being afraid of it."

"Basketball is something I'll never be afraid of, with or without my HCM."

"I was thinking, since I was about ninety percent sure that you would say, that we organize some sort of event, like just before next Friday's game, to retire your jersey. Dan is taking his to the beach house. I don't know why, I guess to admire himself all the time and not have to break into the Tree Hill High School gym to do it.'

"Well, whatever the reasons, it would be nice to see my jersey up there, for everyone to see that I did do something."

"I have complete confidence your jersey will go up there and be admired by all players to come here in the future."

The school bell sounded. 'Back to being a regular student again."

"It was good having you back in the gym again."

"Yeah, it was nice."