Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the first chapter. I love reviews. So yes keep it up. Please?
A/N: Just to clear up what the parents do for a living: Lucas is the head basketball coach. Haley is a stay at home mom but also gives music/voice lessons on the side. Brooke is doing her designing which is why she travels a lot. Rachel is the cheer coach. Nathan is retired from the NBA and does charity work and different stuff like that. Peyton does free lance art stuff and does any graphics that Brooke needs for her clothing line. Peyton also bought TRIC from Karen. Ok so I hope that clears up some of the confusion.
Happy reading!
Logan laid flat on his back, tossing a basketball up into the air, letting it rest in his hands only a few seconds before letting it roll off his fingers into the air again.
Haley walked past his opened door and looked in before going into the living room.
"You should go talk to your son." She said as she entered the room causing Lucas to look up from the latest sports highlights. "He's in there brooding like you used to all the time," Haley explained with a kind smile. "Go talk to him."
"I didn't brood all the time." Lucas defended as he got out of his chair.
"You did…and still do. But I love you anyway." Haley said kissing him on the cheek as he walked by.
"Love you too." He said giving her a huge smile then made his way down the hall to Logan's room. He really is my son. Lucas thought as he watched Logan for a few seconds. "You alright?"
"Yep," Logan answered not taking his eyes off the ceiling.
"That's good. I'd hate to see you if you weren't." Lucas said good naturedly as he leaned on the door frame. The older Scott stood there in silence for several moments before speaking again. "Why don't we go to the River Court and you can be alright there?"
Logan caught the ball in his hands and sat up. "Sounds good." Anything to keep me from thinking.
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Ding dong rang through the house signaling that the dinner guest had arrived.
"Charlie!" Peyton called up the stairs, like she didn't hear the door, she thought mocking herself, before answering the door, ushering her friends into her home. "Brooke!" She said excitedly as if they were still in high school and pulled the shorter girl into a hug. "How was the trip?"
"It was really good. The buyer loved all my stuff and your graphics were a big hit as usual." Brooke answered as Charlie came down the stairs. "Charlie! How's it?" Brooke asked with a big smile.
"Brookie!" Charlie said sarcastically. "It's good." She added with a playful smile before being pulled into a hug by the short brunette. Charlie couldn't help but laugh at Brooke's antics. They had always had a relationship that could only be described as one that sisters would have. "Hey guys." Charlie said politely to the redheaded members of the Gattina-Davis family.
"Alright ladies, let's eat," Nathan said finally entering the foyer from the living room.
"Good to see you, too, Nate." Rachel said, not so subtly pointing out his lack of greeting, causing everyone to laugh.
"Isn't it always?" Nathan retorted with his signature smirk, then turned and walked into the dining room with the women following close behind.
"No." Rachel responded not missing a beat causing both teenagers to roll their eyes at their parents.
"Alright you two, let's check the egos at the door, at least until after we eat." Peyton said as she took her usual spot to the right of Nathan who was seated at the head of the table.
"I really don't think that 'checked egos' is possible with this group," Brooke said giving Rachel a loving smile as everyone took their seats; Nate at the head with Peyton to his right, Charlie to her right, Rachel at the other end, farthest away from Nathan, Heather beside her, and Brooke to Nathan's left, directly across from Peyton.
The two families filled their plates with food and ate quietly for several minutes, with the exception of everyone complimenting Peyton on the meal.
"How've you been Heather? Seems like I haven't seen you in ages." Peyton asked looking at the young red head.
"I've been great, thanks." She answered with a warm smile that could melt a glacier.
"I bet you have been," Charlie scoffed earning herself a look from everyone at the table. "I mean why wouldn't she be. She is dating Mr. Basketball himself." She added sweetly with a roll of her eyes. Nathan winced at the hatred he saw in Charlie's eyes as she spoke of her brother.
"Well that's great. Logan is a nice young man." Peyton chimed in trying to diffuse the situation. Nathan couldn't help but smile at his wife's attempt to close the subject. He wanted to agree with her, Logan was a good kid, but Nathan knew that openly acknowledging that while Charlie was in a hate Logan mood, a mood that she was in more and more often the older she got, would only end badly.
"Thanks, Peyton." Heather said giving the woman a thankful smile.
"Seriously, though, you could do better." Charlie said looking directly at Heather with the "Scott" smile plastered across her face. "There are too many other people out there with dark hair, blue eyes, and a great smile, for you to waste your time with that ass hat," she said seriously, putting air quotes around great smile.
Brooke watched the exchange between her daughter and Charlie and grinned when she saw Charlie flash her trademark smile. She knew Charlie better than most people and she couldn't help but think that the girl was describing herself. "So Charlie, you seeing anyone these days," Brooke asked not being able to help herself.
"I see lots of people everyday." She replied with a smart ass grin on her face causing everyone to groan. "But no. I'm not dating anyone at the moment."
Brooke nodded in response then turned her attention back to Rachel, Nathan and Peyton. The girls finished a few minutes later and excused themselves from the table.
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Thud, thud, swish, was the only sounds that could be heard on the River Court. Thud, I can't believe she's taking something else, thud, my Dad, thud, Jessica, thud, now Heather, swish. The cloudless night sky was being lost on him, his thoughts consuming him, torturing him to the core. He dribbled and made shot after shot effortlessly, trying to block out the sinking feeling rising in his gut. Thud, thud, swish. You're going to lose her. Thud, thud, swish. I'm not leaving, it's the truth and you know it.
"DAMNIT," Logan screamed slamming the basketball hard onto the concrete court, causing it to bounce high then roll off into the grass.
"What is going on with you?" Lucas asked after silently watching his son for the last hour an a half. "I haven't seen you this tweaked in a while." He added walking to the middle of the court where Logan was standing.
"I don't know," Logan said running his hand through his hair. "Heather and her parents went to Nathan and Peyton's tonight, so she cancelled on me." Logan said kicking himself for how pathetic he sounded.
"That's what has you so upset?" Lucas asked dumbfounded. He had expected something much worse than a cancelled date.
"Yeah," Logan answered looking down a bit embarrassed, "I just I really don't like that she's spending time with the spawn…Charlotte," he quickly corrected after getting a disapproving look from his father. "I really can't stand the thought of it." Logan said getting more annoyed as he thought about it.
"Listen son, I know that you and Charlotte have your issues, that is to be expected, but Heather is your girlfriend, not your property. She and Charlie have been friends since before they were born, you knew that when you started dating her 2 years ago. So for Heather this isn't a choice, you shouldn't try and make it one. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Lucas asked putting his hand on his son's shoulder.
"Yes sir," Logan responded. "I just don't trust Charlie she's evil. It isn't good for Heather to be around her." Logan said trying to keep his anger with the situation hidden from his father.
Lucas smiled at his son. "She isn't evil. She's actually a really nice girl, you just can't see it. And as for her not being good for Heather…that really isn't your choice. It's Heather's." He said looking at his son. He was quiet for a few minutes trying to read his son then spoke up again. "Let me give you some advice man to man. If you really don't want to lose Heather you need to cool it with the bashing of her friends, no matter how warranted it seems to you."
"I guess you're right." You really have no clue in hell what you're talking about. Logan ran off to grab his ball out of the grass. "Up for some one on one?"
"Always. You ready to lose?" Lucas asked with a laugh checking the ball.
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"Here," Charlie said as she walked down the steps of her back porch to where Heather was sitting in the tree swing they'd had since they were five.
"Thanks," Heather said smiling up at the girl as she took the copy of their Chemistry homework from her. Heather looked up at the star-studded sky, as Charlie instinctively took a seat in the swing next to her. Both girls sat in silence as they each rocked back and forth in their respective swings.
"Why?" The young redhead asked breaking the silence.
"Why what?" Charlie asked looking at the other girl totally confused.
"Why do you hate him so much?" Heather clarified looking back at the stars. Charlie let out a heavy sigh as her response. "I mean I know you guys have never liked each other much, but it has never been this bad, C."
"I don't know why you care so much." Charlie responded her tone suddenly colder than the North Pole.
"Because you're my best friend, have been since I can remember," Heather answered visibly shocked by the coldness coming off of the girl beside her.
"We haven't been friends in a while." Charlie said looking right into her eyes.
Heather looked down, knowing that she was completely right. The only time they ever spoke was when they were forced to because of their parents or when she needed something. "I know. I'm sorry I've been so absent." She said genuinely. "I miss you C." She added smiling at the taller girl. "Maybe we can hang out sometime this weekend…go back to acting like friends should?" She asked hopefully.
"I guess we could do that. But only because I have nothing better to do." Charlie said with a smile.
"Yay!" Heather squealed and clapped her hands excitedly causing Charlie to crack up.
"You are so much like Brooke it isn't even funny."
"Shuddup," she whined her lips sticking out in an adorable pout.
"I didn't say it was a bad thing," Charlie said smirking at the girl. "You're….it's kinda cute," she said smiling, "in an overly peppy cheerleader type way," she quickly added. Good job Scott.
"Thanks," Heather said biting her lip shyly as a light blush crept up her neck into her cheeks.
"HEATHER we're leaving!" Rachel called out the backdoor.
"Alright," she called back. "I'll call you tomorrow," she said standing up out of the swing. "Thanks for the homework."
"No problem." Charlie said using the rope on the swing to pull herself up. "Night."
"Night," Heather returned with a smile then jogged to meet her parents inside the house.
That girl is gonna be the end of me. Charlie thought running her hand through her dark brown hair.
So there ya go. Chapter 2. Please let me know what you think…what you want to see in the story and all that jazz.
