A/N: Once again, getting this chapter up took longer than I had planned. But I'm going to keep going, because I promised myself I wouldn't give up on a story. So here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy. I really will try to get Chapter 9 up soon.


Nathan looked down at the chicken and rice that sat in front of him. He poked the chicken with his fork lazily.
"Something wrong, honey?" Deb asked, setting her own fork down.
Nathan simply shook his head, not looking away from the chicken, now stabbing it angrily, knowing that nothing was right.
"You know you can talk to me, Nathan." She continued, watching his fork go through the chicken once again.
Nathan nodded slowly, but still continued to poke the chicken to bits.
"So what's bother-"
"MOM, I'M FINE!" He exploded, setting the fork down, before he stabbed something other than his chicken.
"O-okay." Deb said softly, returning her attention to her dinner.

Nathan calmed down, taking a bite of his chicken. He hated not talking to his mom, but he knew that it would only upset her more. He was turning out to be just like the father that never wanted him. Why did Whitey want him anyways? He already had Lucas. The first of Dan Scott's sons. The more important, apparently. Nathan had never mattered to Dan, so why would he matter to anyone else? Nathan was just a mistake to him.

"Whitey asked me to join the basketball team." Nathan muttered.
"That's great Nathan," Deb smiled, but Nathan knew she didn't mean it.
"I'm not going to do it." Nathan said firmly.
"Nathan, you have to! Basketball is your life."
"That's what I've got the River Court for."
"I won't let you give up your dream. You're joining the team, end of story."
"What the hell, Mom! You're never home, we rarely have a normal conversation, and yet you still think you can run my life? I don't think so. I think, I don't need some dumb basketball team, I'm going to do what I want for a change."
"Nathan! Don't talk to me like that. I am your mother, whether you like it or not. I may not be home a lot, but it's because I'm out working so you can have a good life. We may not talk a lot, but it's because I'm not home! I go to work every day so you can have your dreams. And basketball is your dream, so I won't let you give this up."
Nathan glared at her, and threw his fork on his plate, before leaving the dining room to go hide out in his room.

Haley's cell phone was ringing once again. She pulled it out of her pocket, and checked the caller display, but it simply said unknown. She brought it to her ear slowly.
"Hello?"
"This is Haley, right?"
"Yeah...who is this?"
"It doesn't matter."
Haley raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
"You should go find him, before it's too late."
"Who? What are you talking about?"
"Nathan. That boy is head over heels for you, girl."
"But he's with Brooke..."

"You know for a smart girl, you take forever to catch on."
Haley frowned, not sure she wanted someone she didn't know insulting her.
"Look. I don't have time to listen to you play dumb. You love Nathan, and Nathan loves you, and it doesn't take a genius to see that. Not even Brooke Davis would stand in the way of that."
"But I-"
"Just do it Haley, or you'll regret it forever."
And within moments, all Haley could hear was the dial tone. But as much as she didn't want to admit, what this person was saying made sense, and if Brooke and Nathan were really over, what was stopping her?

Lucas sat on his bed, when he heard someone pounding on his door.
"Go away."
"Don't talk to your only father like that." Dan smiled, as he opened the door and came walking through.
"Why did you choose me?"
"What do you mean?" Dan asked, as he sat down at the bottom of the bed.
"Why not Nathan? Why did you choose me and Karen, instead of him and Deb?"
Dan sighed, "Because I loved Karen."
Lucas nodded slowly, not sure if he was okay with this answer.

"Speaking of Nathan, Whitey tells me he asked Nathan to join the team."
Lucas raised his eyebrows, "Why doesn't he just stay at his dumb River Court?"
Dan shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine. All I know, is now you have to work twice as hard, because if this kid has his dad's basketball talent, he could steal your position."
"No." Lucas shook his head, "I don't care. Basketball is your dream, not mine. So, you know what? I'll just give Nathan my position. Then he doesn't have to work at all."
"You're joking right?" Dan said, his eyes wide.
"No, I'm not joking. I don't care about basketball. I've worked so damn hard all these years, to keep your dream alive, and so now, I'm going to follow my dreams. Tomorrow, I'll tell Whitey I'm quitting."
"Think again. You are not quitting, because while you still live in my house, you follow my rules. And rule number one, is you play basketball."
"Fine. I won't live here then. I'm moving out tomorrow morning." Lucas said, as he got up off the bed, and grabbed a bag, before he started shoving his things inside.
Dan said nothing, he just laughed, and left the room.

"Oh, hello Haley."
"Hi Ms. Lee..." Haley smiled.
"Oh please Haley, how many times do I have to tell you, call me Deb."
"Right, Deb. Um, is Nathan around."
"Yeah." Deb nodded, "He's upstairs in his room, go on up. But I have to warn you, he's not in the best of moods."
"Thanks." Haley said as she stepped inside and walked up the stairs.
She walked down the hall and saw Nathan's door at the very end. Taking a deep breath, she knocked softly and waited.
"Come in." She heard him mutter.
She twisted the door knob slowly, nervous about what she knew she had to do.
There he was on his bed, and he looked up at her, his eyes lighting up.
"Haley." He breathed.
"Hi Nathan."


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