Chapter Seven: A Safe Place and an Arguement

"Nathan Scoot shoots...and he scores a three pointer to win the game! That's right ladies and gentleman, the Ravens are still undefeated! Go Ravens!" the announcer yelled into the microphone excitedly.

As Nathan walked off the court he received congratulations from all of his varsity teammates along with a standing ovation from the crowd that had watched the game. He managed to catch a glimpse of his parents leaving the gymnasium. They both look thrilled with Nathan's victory shot. It was nice to see his parents actually happy for once.

He walked into the locker room next to Luke. They always made sure to sit next to each other during the talks that Coach Durham gave.

"Gentleman, first of all I want to tell you congratulations on keeping your undefeated season. I know we work hard in practice and I think some of you think I work you all a little too hard. In my mind, all of that extra practice seems to be paying off. You have all come so far from the beginning of the season. You are all a key part of this team, even if you all of you don't get to play all of the time. We have a week off now. It will give you a time to rest and reflect but also a time for you to look forward to the next coming weeks. Don't worry though, we will still be having practice three nights next week" Coach Durham said with a wink. "Now go hit the showers and I will see you on Monday!"

"See you later Coach!" Nathan said as he exited the locker room.

"Nathan, hold on a minute. I was wondering if I could have a moment with you in my office."

"Sure Coach" Nathan said as he started walking to the office. What would Coach Durham need to tell him?

Coach Durham closed the door and sat down in his oversized office chair. His walls were filled with newspaper clippings and pictures of past teams. The desk had stacks of folders with statistics placed inside of them.

"Nathan I wanted to tell you that I am very proud of the player you are turning out to be."

"Thanks Coach. I am really enjoying being on this team. I feel very privleged."

"I'm glad Nathan. There's something else though. I wanted to let you know that I know how your father pressures you about basketball and I wanted to make sure that you knew that if you ever needed to talk about it, I am here."

"Again, thanks Coach. It's nice to have a mentor in this school. I'm pretty used to my dad though. I tend to zone him out most of the time, which probably sounds pretty bad but he just doesn't know when to quit. Even though being on the team makes him pressure and critique me more, it makes me feel like a better person, knowing that I am rising above him and his game. That probably sounds pretty bad too."

"You know Nathan, that doesn't sound bad at all. I'm glad you have learned to zone out him pressuring you. Also, I promise you this. I coached your father for four year and I am well aware of the person he was and has become. I can assure you that you are a better man than he ever was. Just keep using your head and your heart. You'll be able to make the right decisions. I should let you go now son. Have a nice evening and I will see you at practice."

Nathan smiled at his coach and said goodbye. It was nice to have someone else, besides Haley and Luke, who knew how his father pressured him. At least he would have another person to talk to if something ever went wrong with his dad.

---------

Nathan walked home from school. His house wasn't too far from the Tree Hill High, which was nice. He walked onto his driveway and looked at his house. It was beautiful at night and even more gorgeous in the daytime. Even though there were only three people living in it, it was quite a massive house. It had five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, den, dining room, and basement. It was a brown brick house with green trim. The front of the house had a bay window, which was where the den was at in the house. He loved living there, besides the fact that there was problems brewing inside the house. He walked into the house and heard yelling come from the kitchen. Sure enough, his parents were fighting again. Instead of walking in on them, he decided to listen in on their conversation from the hallway.

"Dan, I want a divorce!" Karen screamed.

"Deb, don't you think you are getting a little carried away. You're the one who leaves all of the time. I'm the one who should be asking for a divorce."

"Dan, don't you get it? Have you noticed that I am trying to stay home longer now. As a matter of fact, I have called off all of my business trips for the next year. I want to be able to be with my son now and I want you to stop pressuring him. Maybe I'm being a little irrational but you better hear me loud and clear now. I want you to lay off of my son or I swear that you will be signing divorce papers by the end of next year!"

Nathan decided that it was now time for him to make an appearance. "What is going on here? You know, I am sick of my parents fighting all of the time. Why can't you just get along?" he said angrily.

"Nathan, sweetie, your father and I are just trying to sort a few things out."

"Well forget it, I'm not going to let you settle your differences with me upstairs trying to sleep. I'm going to Luke's."

"Nathan, don't you dare go over there. This is your house. You sleep in it!" Dan yelled becoming angry that his family was now completely in ruins.

"Dan, let him go. We need to talk and I don't want him here while we do it. Go ahead and go Nathan. I will see you tomorrow after school." Deb said calmly, knowing that she didn't want her son to hear her yelling at his dad and her husband.

"Bye" Nathan said as he walked upstairs and grabbed his cell phone, pajamas, iPod, and pillow. As he stormed out of the house, slamming the front door in the process, he flipped open his phone and called Lucas.

"Luke, can I stay there tonight?"

"Yeah man, everything alright?"

"Not really, I'll tell you when I get there."

"K, see you soon."

"Bye," Nathan said as he walked slowly to Lucas' house. He couldn't believe that he was going to have to stay at Lucas' house again. He felt bad that he had to take up space at his home but he had no where to go. Plus, Luke was his brother and he would want him to stay at his house instead of anyone else's.

-----------

When Nathan got to Lucas' house, they talked a little about what had happened and then went to bed. Luke wanted to give Nathan his space so he didn't make him tell him everything that had gone on in the Scott house.

Across town, it was another late evening at the Scott' residence. Dan and Deb managed to fight all through the night. Luckily, Nathan wasn't there to witness it.