Episode 306: Locked Hearts and Hand Grenades
A/N: I don't own anything. This story starts in the Fantasy Boy Draft episode, but there are quite a few changes. I tried to stick to the episode as much as possible, but the tape that had the episode on it got erased, so I'm depending on my not so good memory. Sorry.
Summary: What if the Fantasy Boy Draft had gone down, but with some changes? This story explores the possibilities if the Boy Draft had been more than just a draft.
Start of episode goes to when Haley and Nathan are walking down the hallway:
"Nathan! Nathan, wait up!" Haley cried as she chased after him down the hallways of the school. Nathan didn't even glance back and merely sped up his pace. Haley followed suit, catching up to him.
"Nathan, please! You can't ignore me forever. At least look at me." Haley cried. Nathan suddenly stopped and turned around causing Haley to crash into him.
"What! What can you possibly say to me right now that you haven't already said? I've heard it all Haley and personally, I'm not in the mood to hear it again. I told you that I needed some time. Can't you understand that!" Nathan exclaimed.
"Nathan, I did give you time. I gave you the entire summer and then some. Talk to me. You must have something to say by now." Haley persisted.
"I'm sorry Haley, but I really have nothing to say. I'm sorry but I'd appreciate it if you left me alone. I have to go now. Bye." After saying that, Nathan left, leaving Haley in the dust.
"I'm really sorry." Haley whispered softly as a tear fell down her face.
Next scene, in front of the school, by the buses:
"So are you going to give me the damage report on you and Lucas?" Peyton asked.
"Well, let's see… one boy, one car, one naked skeez in the back seat, and one Brooke Davis totally flipping out."
"Ohhh Rachel stole your move huh?" Peyton said laughing.
"Not the point" she paused, "It just really set me off seeing them together."
"Even though you were the one that put them together." Peyton replied.
"Way to twist the knife. The point is that she can't just come in here and try to steal my squad and my boyfriend!"
"Boyfriend? Isn't that like a dirty word in the keeping it casual scenario?"
"Yes" Brooke admitted sadly. Peyton laughed.
"Okay, I know that I totally screwed this up but what am I supposed to say to him now?" Brooked asked as the two of them saw Lucas posting up a flyer.
"Well, see there's this new thing out, it's called an apology, you might want to try it." Peyton replied sarcastically, "and if you're having trouble, try using the word exclusive." Peyton walked off as Brooke steeled herself by taking a deep breath and then approaching Lucas.
"Hey there," Brooke stated softly, Luke merely looked at her, "okay look, I'm really sorry Luke. I know that I came down really hard on you the other night and I know that the whole date Rachel thing was my idea, but I do have feelings for you."
"Listen, I thought a lot about what you said the other night and about what kind of guy you want me to be. And I want to be that guy for you, but you have to let me be that guy."
"If I say okay, do you promise to lower the weapon?" Brooke asked looking at his hand. Lucas looked down at his hand and noticed the staple gun poised and ready in his hand.
"Oh," he replied, dropping his hand, "sorry."
"What you got there anyway?" Brooke asked as they walked towards the building.
"Oh, just some flyers for my fantasy league." Luke replied.
"Hmmm…" Brooke paused, "sounds kinky."
"Fantasy basketball" Lucas corrected.
"Eh, sounds lame. So how does it work anyway?" Brooke asked.
"Well, there's a draft where you pick from a list of NBA players and you build your own ideal fantasy team."
"Hmm… so you get to choose from a list of hot athletic guys. Definitely take that back, not lame." Lucas chuckled.
"Well you know that there are better things to fantasize about." Brooke stated as Lucas put up another flyer.
"Well I don't have a girlfriend, so what else is there?" Lucas asked.
"Oh-oh." Brooke replied as she walked into the building. Lucas followed behind her. The two walked into the building to see two cheerleaders engaging in a catfight.
"You liar! You knew that I was going to ask Fede out and you sniped him!" one girl shouted, pushing the other girl.
"Just because he was in your cart doesn't meant that I can't grab him before you get to the checkout line." The other girl shouted back.
"Yea, well check this out." The first girl replied and the two began to fight. Brooke gasped.
"Now I can fantasize about this." Luke exclaimed.
"Bevin! Ashley!" Brooke exclaimed as the two girls continued fighting, "stop!"
"You can't really blame 'em. I mean, they watched their captain go all 'Kung Fu Hustle' at midnight madness and now, they all want to look like Brooke." Rachel stated. Brooke turned to glare at her.
"Of course that would mean a trip to GoodWill." Rachel added, glancing down at Brooke's clothing. Brooke scoffed. "Hey Luke," Rachel said before walking away. Luke merely raised his hands up and turned away. Just then, Whitey came in blowing a whistle, causing the two to pause in their fighting.
"Okay Paris and Nicole, that's enough. If I wanted to watch cheerleaders wrestle, I would turn on Pay-Per-View." Whitey exclaimed.
"It's okay coach, I can handle them."
"Is that a fact? After you little melee at midnight madness, Principal Turner and I came to a meeting of the mind. Another fight like this one and there will be no cheerleading this season." In anger, Brooke blew Whitey's whistle.
"Squad meeting, NOW!" Brooke exclaimed. All of the cheerleaders filed into the room Brooke was pointing at.
In a classroom all of the cheerleaders sat in the seats while Brooke paced back and forth at the front of the room:
"Now this is my senior year and as I am captain, I am not about to lose this squad just because we are all fighting over the same guys."
"Bevin knows that I like Fede!" Ashley exclaimed.
"Yea well Fede's not into whores!" Bevin retorted.
"Okay, enough!" Brooke ordered, pointing at them. Rachel stood in the back laughing.
"Do you have a problem?" Brooke asked. Rachel stopped laughing and looked innocent.
"Just waiting to see what your plan is captain."
"My plan." Brooke paused, "I'll tell you what my plan is…" the girls all watched her, waiting silently.
"We're waiting, aren't we girls?" Rachel asked snidely. Brooke glared at her.
"The plan is…" Brooke trailed off, looking around. She then saw Lucas' fantasy basketball league flyers and smiled, "a fantasy boy draft." Rachel rolled her eyes as the other girls stared at Brooke confused and wary.
All the cheerleaders are gathered in a circle with Brooke standing in the middle, holding a purse full of compacts:
"Okay, here are the rules of the boy draft," Brooke stated as the girls picked out compacts from the purse, "Once you pick a guy, he is yours for the season. That means that he's yours to date, break or whatever you want until February/ Marchish. So the next 6-7 months. No one else can touch him. He's yours. That means hands off for everyone else until she trades or she's done with the guy. Got it Bevin, Ashley?" The two girls nodded.
"Also, the guy you pick is the boy you are expected to bring to the various social events on our schedule during the season. In other words, said boy will be your date to dances, parties, fundraisers, charities, etc. as long as he is your pick. Even when cheering, you will represent said player whether it is by wearing their number on game days or cheering for them at the game. This is the guy you will be spending most of your social life with, so you better choose carefully girls, okay?" The entire squad nodded, solemnly listening to Brooke's rules.
"So, what are these for?" Haley asked, raising her compact.
"Glad you asked trial separation girl. Open them up. The number on your compact will determine where you are in the draft order. You cannot change numbers, the number you have is the number that you get."
"What's to stop us from just dating whoever we want even with this little draft thingy?" asked Bevin smiling.
"Good question Bevin. Of course you'd be kicked off the squad. Or worse…" Brooke stopped.
"Like how worse?" Bevin asked.
"Liiikee...What's to keep me from telling the whole school that one of you was left handcuffed in Thomas' bed for seven hours waiting for a locksmith?" One cheerleader looked worried.
"Or that at the Sparkle Classic last year, one of you had a little too much to drink and made out with another one of you?" Another girl glares at Brooke.
"Or that scar on a certain someone's back isn't really from falling off her bike but was one of those little baby spine tails that the doctors had to lop off after she was born." Bevin looked embarrassed while she self consciously rubbed the center of her back.
"In other words… honor. Code of silence. You all keep the rules of the code and I keep silent on all of the dirt that I have on all of you. Break the rules and it's social suicide. Final rule, if at anytime during the season you are not happy with your draft pick, you can trade someone else, however, you are not allowed to change draft numbers."
"Okay? Let's count out our numbers starting from one" Brooke stated.
"One," Peyton stated raising her compact.
"Way to go P-Sawyer with pick numero uno. Right behind you with number two. Who's got three?" Brooke asked.
"Three," stated Bevin. "Uh, four," continued Haley. "Five," said Rachel smiling in mock sweetness at Brooke. Brooke looked back making a fake sympathetic face.
"So, wait. Once we pick our guy, then what happens?" Peyton asked. Brooke smiled, "it's up to you."
In the gymnasium, the boys basketball team is running suicides while the cheerleaders sat, watching, nearby. Lucas is visibly lagging behind the entire team:
"Oh man, Lucas looks really tired." Haley stated.
"Well it's not like I've been keeping him up all night. Of course, that can all change after the boy draft." Brooke stated smiling. Haley smiled.
"Yea, I guess. Good luck with that… not that you need any." Haley said, smiling sadly.
"I guess things aren't going well in the Naley department." Brooke stated concernedly.
"Yea, he's still won't talk to me and it's been months since I got back."
"Well hang in there tutor girl. I'm sure that he'll come around."
"Yea, I will. I'm not planning on giving up anytime soon. Anyways, I gotta go. Keep an eye on him, huh?" Haley asked as she gathered up her stuff.
"I will," Brooke replied watching Lucas very closely. Then, when Haley left, she added, "maybe two."
Meanwhile, Mouth walked up the bleacher steps to where Peyton was sitting, sketching.
"Hey Mouth, how's it going?" Peyton asked.
"Pretty good, you?" Mouth answered. Peyton shrugged.
"I'm okay I guess." Peyton replied. Mouth nodded than sat down next to her.
"So I hear that you have number one pick in your little boy draft."
"Yea, how'd you know?" Peyton asked curiously.
"Well, it's only the talk of the whole school. Anyways, who are you going to be picking?" Mouth asked curiously. Peyton set aside her artwork and sighed.
"Honestly, I have no idea. I mean if things were different…" she trailed off.
"You'd be picking the famous Mr. Jagielski, right?"
"Yea, but things aren't different, are they?" Peyton said a little bitterly.
"No, they're not, but hey, you still have the pick of the entire male population in this school. That's got to mean something." Mouth said, trying to cheer her up.
"What do you mean?" Peyton asked confused.
"Well think about it. You have first pick. Didn't you know all the guys are dying to be first pick?" Mouth asked curiously. Peyton shook her head in confusion.
"Well, you'll see what I mean Peyton." Mouth replied, getting up. "I'll see you around."
"Okay, bye." Peyton said, still not clear about what he meant.
The next day after school, Peyton is walking along when Brooke comes by:
"Hey P-Sawyer." Brooke said coming up to walk beside her.
"Hey Brooke. How's it going?" Brooke asked.
"Well, I must say that it's going very well. After all, we have the top two picks of the draft." Brooke answered smiling widely. Peyton looked at her confusedly.
"Why does everyone keep saying that to me as if it means something really important?" Peyton asked. Brooke smiled wickedly.
"Let me show you." Brooke reached over and knocked down the books in Peyton's arms.
"Brooke!-" in an instant, all the boys standing nearby crowded around to pick up the books. Peyton was shocked to see that some were even fighting over who would be the one to hand the books back to her. Eventually, the chaos settled and Peyton got her books back.
"See what I mean?" Brooke asked, "We're cheerleaders, and therefore the hottest and most popular girls in the school. We have the first two picks. Everyone wants to be the first pick of the draft." Brooke finished explaining, before she turned and left a bewildered Peyton behind.
Sometime later, Haley finds Lucas by the River Court training:
"Hey Luke," Haley called as she approached the blue eyed blond who was currently sweating profusely from his recent training session.
"Hey Hales. How's it going?" Luke asked as he bent over to catch his breath.
"I'm doing okay I guess." Haley stated somewhat bitterly. Luke looked at her.
"Uh-oh, am I sensing a little trouble in the Naley department?" Luke asked.
"It's just that I'm doing everything that I can and I can't seem to get him to open up to me the way he used to. He threw my guitar in that bonfire, then bought me a new one, but said that I shouldn't read into it because he was just compensating me for the damage he caused in a drunken stupor. I mean he hasn't signed the divorce papers either, but he's not encouraging me at all. It's like he's trying to keep me as far away as possible. You know?"
"Well Hales, you really did hurt him. I hope you know that. You didn't even come back here until after I went to see you. It probably doesn't look that good for you right now. Just give it some time. It'll be okay. You two love each other." Luke said, patting her back gently.
"Yea, I know. I just don't want to go through the wait. I wish we were together, now." Haley trailed off, "so anyways, how are you doing? Are you okay?" Luke nodded.
"Yea, I'm fine. I'm just training to get my body back in shape. This stupid medication is slowing me down." Luke stated in frustration.
"Luke, the whole point of the medication is to slow your body down so you don't over exert your heart so that you can live longer. You remember that don't you? You can't push yourself like this. It could get really bad for you and your heart." Haley scolded him.
"I'm fine. That's why I have this medicine, to keep my heart going. I need to train extra hard to make up for the loss that my body gets from the medicine. I can't let the guys down like I did today. Coach made us do extra laps because I lagged behind so much."
"Luke, have you even told Whitey about this yet?" Luke didn't answer, but Haley knew the answer.
"Luke! You have to tell Whitey! This is really important."
"If I tell Coach about this, then he won't let me play on the team anymore. I can't let that happen. Basketball is all I have. My whole life is basketball."
"I think that your life is more important than basketball, don't you? If you keep doing this, you could die. Don't you get it?" Haley asked as tears filled her eyes. Luke pulled her in for a hug.
"Shhh. Don't cry Haley. Don't worry about it. I'm fine and I will be fine."
"I can't lose you Luke. Not you too, not now." Haley sobbed out quietly. In her mind, she began to freak out. 'Oh god. Lucas had to start taking care of himself. She couldn't lose him. She wouldn't know what she would do without him. He was her best friend.'
"Don't worry about it. As long as I have this medicine, I'll be fine." Luke replied.
"Still, you said it yourself. That medicine is pretty expensive. How much longer is your supply going to last? You have to tell Whitey. Does Karen even know?" Luke shook his head.
"Luke!" Haley exclaimed hitting him on the chest, "how could you not tell Karen!"
"It's not a big deal. I'm fine aren't I? I don't want to worry her over nothing. You know she'll make a big deal out of nothing. She would never let me play basketball when I have HCM. Besides, I have this medication. It'll take care of me." Haley sighed and gave in reluctantly realizing that she wouldn't get anywhere with him today.
"Fine, but you still have to tell Whitey. You cannot keep doing this to yourself. You really can die. That won't be good for you at all, not to mention all of us here who care about you will be pissed." Luke opened his mouth to reply, but Haley interrupted him, "no buts. You either tell Whitey or I will tell him." Luke sighed heavily.
"All right. I'll tell him at practice tomorrow." Haley nodded.
"Good. Tell him tomorrow, or I will. Okay? I'll see you later." They hugged, each holding onto the other tightly as if it was their last hug.
"Well, well, well. What's going on here?" Lucas and Haley abruptly jumped apart to see Nathan watching them with anger on his face.
"Nathan… how's it going bro?" Lucas asked. Nathan held up a hand to cut him off.
"Don't say anything. Now answer me this: am I missing something? Did I just interrupt an intimate moment between my brother and my future ex-wife?" Nathan asked angrily.
"Uhh, the last time I checked, you were the one who wanted a divorce. What's it matter to you?" Haley stated bitterly. Nathan's face hardened and Haley immediately regretted saying it.
"That's right. Thanks for reminding me that I don't really need an explanation because it doesn't even matter to me. Not anymore anyways... Well in that case, I'm out of here." Nathan said and stomped away.
"Well that went well." Lucas said smiling wryly.
"Yea, so much for trying to patch things up." Haley said sadly. Lucas sighed.
"Hales," he pulled her into a hug that she quickly returned. "Just think about it this way. He was jealous. Granted, I'm a boy, so I could be wrong, but that has to mean something, doesn't it?" Haley laughed, shoving him in the chest while Lucas pretended to be hurt.
"That's true. He was acting like a jealous husband and that's definitely a good thing. I think that we've made progress. Thanks Luke." Haley said smiling.
"Anytime. My excellent services as handsome, charming, and all around perfect boy toy will always be open to you for free." Lucas replied cockily. Haley laughed.
"Besides, you and me together? That's ridiculous." Haley said. When she looked up at his face however, she almost regretted saying it until Lucas broke out into a grin.
"Yea seriously. We're siblings, not lovers. That'd be too weird and gross for me." Lucas replied. For some reason, Haley felt a slight pang from his statement.
"Yea, I concur. It'd be too awkward and weird." Lucas nodded and then the two stood there in an awkward silence, lost in their individual thoughts.
"Well anyways, I really do need to go. Still, you HAVE to tell Whitey tomorrow, okay?"
"Yes ma'm." Lucas saluted her. Haley laughed and after exchanging good-byes, she left, leaving Lucas to stare after her before he began training once more.
The next day, Peyton is walking the halls before class when Nathan approaches:
"Hey, how's Ms. Number one pick today?" asked Nathan. Peyton roller her eyes.
"Oh my God, how does everyone know about this?" Peyton asked.
"Peyton, you guys are cheerleaders and therefore gossips. How could it not get out?"
"True, I guess. But now I have to put up with all of these boys sucking up to me because they wan to be the first pick of the Draft." Peyton complained.
"Well, do you have any ideas on who you're going to pick?"
"If a certain Mr. Jagielski had been here, then yes I would know who I was picking, but he's not so I have absolutely no idea who to pick."
"Well you do have first pick, so there are plenty of options for you." Nathan smirked.
"Including you?" Peyton asked curiously. The smirk disappeared.
"What do you mean?" he asked, suddenly serious.
"Well, I have first pick, but I'm undecided. Then there's Brooke with second pick, but we all know that she's going to pick Luke. Next comes-"
"I sure hope so." Nathan muttered, not realizing that he had interrupted Peyton.
"What was that?" Peyton asked curious at his random comment.
"It's just that yesterday after classes, I went by the river court to relax and think about… well, you know, things and guess what I see at the river court but my two favorite people: Luke and Haley. Guess what they're doing, they're sharing a suspiciously intimate moment. Of course, as is always the case with us now, mean words were exchanged and I left." Nathan explained.
"Oh, I see." Peyton said. After a moment or two of silence, she burst out into laughter.
"Lucas and Haley? Are you serious Nathan? They're best friends, or course they're going to hug. They grew up together. Nothing would ever happen between them because she loves you and he loves Brooke. Even if they didn't, they're too much like siblings to ever feel that way for each other. Oh man, I think you just made my day." Peyton continued laughing.
"Yea, I know. It sounds really ridiculous now that I'm actually thinking clearly." Nathan said laughing sheepishly. "I mean Luke and Haley? That's just ridiculous. What was I thinking?" the two continued laughing for quite some time.
"So, what was it that you started saying before I interrupted you?" Nathan asked once the two of them had calmed down enough to breathe properly and stop laughing.
"Well, I was saying that I'm undecided, Brooke's picking Lucas, Bevin, from what I've been seeing and hearing lately, is bound to pick Skills. That leaves you wide open for Haley."
"Oh." Nathan replied with a blank expression on his face. Peyton sighed.
"Seriously Nathan, do you want me to pick you? I certainly can if you want me to. The question is, do you want me to pick you, or do you want Haley to pick you?" Peyton asked. Nathan stared at her for a few moments in deep thought before replying.
Haley is with Chris putting up names of great musicians on the map:
"Chris Keller… Wilmington, North Carolina." Haley stated as she put his name up. Chris came up next to her smiling. She watched as he put her name up on the map.
"Uh Chris, that wall is for great musicians." Chris nodded his head.
"I know." Chris replied matter of factly. Haley looked confused.
"I do not belong up here." Haley said adamantly. Chris sighed and rolled his eyes.
"If you'd stop running from your emotions and start writing about it, one day you might."
"Running away? How am I running away from my emotions? That's all I've been lately… emotional. I've even been working on a new song and practicing my music. How can I be running away?" Haley asked exasperated.
"Really, a new song?" Chris asked. Haley nodded, "well then, let's hear it."
"Here? Now?" Haley asked completely taken aback.
"Yes here. Where else? Come on, you said you're not running away, prove it."
"Fine. I'll show you." Haley huffed as she picked up a guitar and went to the mike. She sat on the stool and began playing a slow rift on the guitar. After a few measures, she opened her mouth and began to sing.
(A/N: I don't know the words of the song that she sang or whatever, so I'm skipping it)
"So," Haley asked when she finished, "what do you think?"
"It sucks Haley." Chris stated bluntly. Haley looked insulted.
"What? I worked really hard on that song! What do you mean it sucked?"
"I mean, it sucked so bad, I'm wondering it it's possible to unhear a song." Chris replied.
"Well, what was wrong with it, I thought that it was a great song."
"No, it was the song that sucked. Worst thing I've ever heard."
"Maybe it's the song that was good and it's you that sucks." Haley said angrily.
"Yea, maybe, let me think, um… no! It's definitely the song." Chris repeated.
"Well fine!" Haley exclaimed and angrily left the club as Chris looked on.
Meanwhile, Lucas is in Whitey's office, waiting for him to get off the phone:
"So, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about Lucas?" Whitey asked. Lucas took a deep breath to calm himself as well as stall some time.
"Well Coach, um I'm sure that you've noticed my lagging in our past few practices and I just wanted to say that," he paused, "I just wanted to say that you shouldn't make the team pay for it. It's totally my fault for being out of shape so please don't punish them for my mistakes."
"Oh really? Well son, I can take care of that. Thanks for your input." Lucas sighed in relief. He may not have been able to tell Whitey the truth, but at least the team wouldn't pay for it anymore. They wouldn't give him dirty looks anymore.
"Thank you so much Coach." Luke said while thinking, 'Haley's going to kill me.' Together, Coach and player went out of the office and onto the court.
"Listen up ladies!" shouted Whitey after blowing the whistle, "thanks to your co-captain Lucas here, we're going to be doing something extra special today. I'm giving each and every one of you a gift of ten extra suicides and if anyone lags behind, I'll add five more for each time. Let's go team, line up!" The entire team groaned with a couple of them giving Luke dirty looks.
"Thanks a lot bro. You totally made my day!" Nathan stated sarcastically glaring at him as they lined up on the starting line. Luke sighed heavily and prepared himself for a long practice.
A few days later, the cheerleaders were starting to gather in Haley and Brooke's apartment, as the hour for the boy draft draws nearer:
"Ugh! That bitch! I can't stand her, trying to make all of those moves on Lucas. I have to get back at her!" Brooke complained to a bummed Haley.
"What do you mean?" Haley asked without any real interest. No matter how hard she tried, Nathan was still easily avoiding her. Even when she did manage to find him, he would not let her speak and only said harsh things to her.
"Well, she's just being all seductive like and she's always trying to show me up! I mean, looks at the cupcakes that she brought. Of course they have to be better than my food! UGH!"
"Brooke you shouldn't worry about it. I mean you know that Luke likes you. Besides, you're the one who told him to date other girls." Haley replied.
"True. I guess you do have a point. After all, if there's anyone who has to worry it should be you and not me. I mean because your interest is not exactly-"
"What are you talking about?" Haley interrupted. Brooke stopped and stared.
"Uh what I meant was that uh, well fine!" Brooke exclaimed sighing, "I don't know if this is true but I've been hearing things about Peyton maybe picking a certain someone-" Haley didn't even let Brooke finish. She quickly turned around and approached Peyton.
"What is this I hear about you and my husband-" Haley exclaimed.
"You must mean ex Haley because as far as I know, you guys are on your way to being divorced." Peyton stated bitingly. Hurt flashed across Haley's face for a second, but she quickly hid it from view.
"Need I remind you that he is also your ex?" Haley asked.
"So you agree with me on the whole divorce thing don't you?" Peyton asked smirking. Haley looked away, everyone knowing that Peyton was right. Everyone could also clearly see that Haley was nearing tears. Peyton softened a little at her friend's pain.
"Well to be honest Haley, we were talking and he seemed so down that I couldn't help but offer to pick him. I know that you're tired of waiting, but he really needs his space and time to heal so that he can come back to you and you guys can be Naley again. That's why I told him that I'd pick him." Peyton said softly. Haley sighed reluctantly.
"I know it's just so hard. I don't know if I can hang on much longer with him being so mean. I mean I understand that he's angry, but sometimes his words are so harsh." Haley paused, "but just because I understand, doesn't mean that I'm still going to forgive you that easily for picking him first." Haley said before standing up and walking away. Peyton sighed.
"Well, at least you don't know that I asked him if he wanted me to pick him so that you couldn't." Peyton stated to herself before she turned back to the little cheerleader gathering.
In the meantime, the Ravens were in the gym, practicing:
"Lucas Scott! Why don't you hop on your brother's back and let him carry you?" Whitey roared to a straggling Lucas, "that's ten more suicides for each of you until your co-captain here decides to shape up and get back to it!" The entire team groaned.
"Hey bro," Nathan stated as they lined up along the starting line, "this was kind of fun in the beginning, but now it's getting real old. Seriously, what's up with you? You've never been this slow in your entire life. Stop messing around. I don't think that the team can take much more of this. I'm serious. This has been over a week. That's too long a time of training to still be lagging behind. Pretty soon, you'll be the one holding us back." Lucas sighed.
"I'm working on it. Don't worry. I'm not going to bring the team down." Lucas stated determinedly. 'How am I supposed to explain this? I can't tell them that I have HCM. They'd probably kick me off the team and say that I'm too weak to play. I can't let that happen, basketball's my life.'
After a lengthy period of countless suicides an exhausted team finally came to a halt at the sound of Whitey's whistle.
"All right ladies, let's bring it in." Whitey shouted as the team took this moment to catch their breaths. Lucas hunched over, desperately trying to slow his breathing down.
"Now, I want you guys to run through some of our favorite drills. You boys know which ones I'm talking about. No mercy today boys. Not until your captains begin shaping up." Whitey declared. A majority of the team glared at Lucas, who looked down.
"Nathan! You run the drills. Lucas Scott! Come with me. I want to talk with you." Lucas sighed heavily before he followed Whitey into his office.
"Have a seat kid." Lucas complied with the request.
"What's up Coach?" Lucas asked nervously. Whitey sat in his chair.
"Well kid, I've been meaning to ask you that same question. What are you up to? Why are you so out of shape? Are you on drugs Lucas? Is that why you're lagging behind?" Lucas shook his head furiously. 'Well I guess that technically, I am on drugs.'
"No coach. I'm not on drugs. I swear nothing's wrong. I've just been out of shape because I didn't train after the season and during the summer. It's all my fault."
"Are you sure that's it?" Whitey asked. Lucas nodded.
"Yes." Lucas lied. 'I'm sorry Hales, I just can't do it. I can't stop playing basketball.'
"All right then. I better see you shaping up boy or pretty soon, there's only going to be one captain on this team. If that doesn't make you shape up well then, I guess that you and the bench will be best friends for the season. Now, I don't want to do that because you have a lot of talent and the scouts are coming in, so you better shape up. Got it?" Whitey snapped.
"Yes Coach." Lucas replied, nodding his head.
"Good, now get back out there and run some drills. I'm sure that your co-captain out there could use some help." Lucas nodded once more and left the office.
"Man, that kid…" Whitey trailed off, "I can't help but wonder if he's lying to me. He has to be holding something back and I will find out what."
The cheerleaders are now all gathered at Brooke and Haley's apartment, ready for the Boy draft:
"Haley, you have to do me this one huge favor." Brooked exclaimed coming up to her.
"What is it?" Haley asked, rolling her eyes. Whenever Brooke asked favors, it was never a good thing. Haley knew this from her own experiences.
"Well, I've been snooping around and I know who Rachel is going to pick."
"Really? And how did you get this information?" Haley asked curiously.
"Well, I did some snooping and you know I used the charm. Anyways, according to Bevin it's Chris Keller." Brooke paused, waiting for a response.
"Really?" Haley asked intrigued. She wondered why Rachel would pick him.
"Yup. Anyways, she has pick number five, which means she's right after you. So I was thinking since you don't have anyone to pick and all…" she paused as Haley's face fell.
"Well, I was wondering if I could pick Chris and then you could pick Lucas so that she can't have him but she also can't have Chris. This would be the perfect revenge. I could get back at her for trying to take over the squad and steal Lucas." Brooke exclaimed happily.
"Um… I don't know Brooke. We don't have to trade or anything, do we?" Haley trailed off. 'Things aren't going well with Nathan as it is; the last thing I need to worry about right now is another guy. Not to mention have him worry about me and Chris.'
"No! After what happened last year! I would never do that to you. Besides, with Nathan mad at you, you would probably be taking Lucas to things anyways." Haley remained silent, still contemplating the proposal. Brooke began to pout. Haley began to think. There was something desperate in the manner Brooke was asking her and Brooke was never desperate.
"Well is Rachel really the only reason that you're asking me to do this?" Haley asked.
"Of course!" Brooked replied in a fake, perky manner. Haley merely stared at her with a disbelieving look. After a moment Brooke gave in, shoulders slumping.
"Okay, so maybe I'm still a little scared right now. I mean after what happened last year, I don't know if I can trust him again." Brooke stated.
"Wow, this is almost like de-ja-vu." Haley stated ironically. Brooke laughed.
"Yea, I guess you're right. Nathan and I are in similar positions and you and Luke are both on the opposite side of us." Haley nodded her agreement.
"So anyways, I don't know if I can trust him yet which is why we had the loose relationship thing going on, but you saw what happened to that." Haley smiled at the memory of midnight madness. It had been quite an interesting night.
"My point is, I'm not ready to be with him in a real relationship yet, but at the same time I don't want anyone else to get him… especially Rachel. I can't let her win."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Haley stated, "Wait a minute. Lucas is not a prize to win. Remember that Brooke. Don't get too caught up in this thing between you and Rachel because you might actually wind up losing the most important thing."
"Yea I know." Brooke said nodding, but her gaze was locked on Rachel who was currently handing out second helpings of her cupcakes to the other cheerleaders. Haley sighed knowing that Brooke had not heard a thing Haley had just said.
"Still, I don't know Brooke. I mean this dating draft thing has a lot of rules and we're supposed to go to a lot of events together and stuff. I don't want people to get the wrong idea."
"Oh come on. The whole school knows that nothing will ever happen between you guys. I mean it's you and Luke for pete's sake. Besides, you can make Nathan jealous." Brooke stated.
Haley immediately had a flashback to a few days earlier when Nathan had gotten angry at her and Luke down by the river court. Pretty soon, an idea began to form in her mind. Lucas would kill her, but he'd eventually give in. After all, this plan would benefit them both.
"Ppppppllllleeeeeaaaaaasssssseeeeee." Brooked begged. Haley sighed.
"All right, fine. I'm only doing this for you." Haley stated trying to convince herself. 'I'm not doing this for me. I'm helping out a friend. If I can make Nathan jealous while I'm doing it, then hey, good for me. Besides, Brooke's right. It's just Lucas. Nothing would ever happen between us. We simply don't feel that way for each other.'
"Yay, thanks. Now we can start the draft. Thank you!" Brooke squealed, hugging Haley.
"All right girls, bring it in." Brooke called out over the noise as she dragged a board over to the couches where all of the cheerleaders were seated. On the board were the girls' names by draft order on the left side with a line next to each name. On the right side of the board was a longer list of the pool of boys open for the draft.
"Now, everyone remembers the rules, right? There's no going back after this point. You get who you pick. Understand?" the cheerleaders all nodded.
"Okay then girls, here we go!" Brooke exclaimed signaling to Peyton.
"I get Nathan!" Peyton shouted. Brooke nodded and wrote Nathan Scott next to Peyton's name and crossed out his name on the other side of the board.
"Okay, well then I get Chris Keller." Brooke declared, shooting Rachel a triumphant look. She became confused when the girl merely smiled sweetly and happily back.
"I get Skills." Bevin quickly jumped in. Brooke added that name next to Bevin and crossed out Skills from the list. "Ooohh, this is getting exciting. Tutor girl?"
"I want Lucas." Haley stated, then blushed, "no, I meant, you know what I meant." Brooke laughed and then wrote Lucas' name next to Haley's, crossing his out from the list. Brooke couldn't help but smirk when Rachel shot a glare at Haley.
"Okay then, I get… I get Mouth!" Rachel declared. The smirk quickly disappeared from Brooke's face as it appeared on Rachel's face.
"What!" Brooke exclaimed, but she could not be heard over the din of the rest of the cheerleaders picking their men.
Scene fades out…end of the episode