Chapter 21: I love this game.
The entire Ravens team was sitting on the school bus. They were about to leave for the first state finals game of Tree Hill High in almost 2 decades. Bart was in the back of the bus sitting alone. The seat next to him was sacred to everyone else in the bus. After all it was the seat of Nathan Scott, their captain and team leader. Bart was staring out of the window when finally Nathan came onto the bus. Nathan gazed at his teammates. "Whatever happens tonight guys, it has been an honor to play with you but if it's all right with you guys I would like to come home as state champions!" The rest of the team started clapping and shouting. "Whitey is coming on the bus in about 5 minutes, so everyone get your MP3 players out because we all know Whitey's taste in music sucks." Nathan gave them a smirk and took his 'sacred' seat next to Bart.
"You ready man?" He asked Bart. "I think so." Bart carefully said. He gave Nathan a weak smile and started to go through his bag. Nathan was watching his best friend and couldn't figure out what was up with him. Bart pulled out an envelope and handed it to Nathan. "This came for me in the mail this morning." Nathan looked over the envelope he was holding. A smile formed on his face when he saw the emblem that was pictured in the right top corner. He knew that emblem all to well, after all he would be wearing it through out his college years. "A letter from Duke?" Nathan asked. Stroking his hand over the pictured Blue Devil. Bart nodded. "So, did you get in?" Nathan eagerly asked. "I don't know, I've been to chicken to open it." Bart admitted. "Can I?" Nathan asked, after half opening the letter already. "By all means, go ahead." Nathan ripped open the envelope and started to read the letter. His smile faded and Bart feared the worst. "That's a negative right?" Bart asked feeling his heart break. Nathan shook his head and looked up with a huge smile. "You got in man!" "What?!" Bart screamed making the entire bus look at them. He snatched the letter out of Nathan's hands and read it. A smile formed on his face too. "I got in! I got in!" He jumped up from his seat, bumping his head on the sealing of the bus. The entire bus laughed but stopped when they saw the look Nathan was giving them. "What's going on?" Lucas was sitting in front of Nathan and Bart. He had turned his head and was giving the two best friends a puzzled look. "I got into Duke, Luke!" Bart was now shouting through the entire bus. Putting his hand onto his head when finally the pain of banging his head kicked in. The entire bus was cheering and clapping.
"What the hell is all this ruches about?!" Whitey looked sternly at them. "Coach, Bart got into Duke!" Tim yelled. Whitey smiled. "Congratulations son. I knew you could do it!" "Thanks coach!" Bart shouted. Whitey's smile faded and made way for his stern look again. He pulled out a CD, out of his bag and waved it around. The entire team sighed, they knew he had probably picked out an opera or something. Bart and Nathan looked around and saw that already half of the team had their MP3 player's earplugs in. Whitey moved towards the bus radio with a big grin on his face. He popped the CD in and the team couldn't believe what they were hearing. Everybody started to get onto their feet and applauding to Whitey on the beats of the Wutang Clan but when everybody started to get into the mood Whitey turned off the CD and smiled. "You fellas liked that huh?" The team made sounds of agreement. "Well win state and you can hear it the whole ride home." Whitey and the bus driver started laughing, the team sat back down in disappointment. "Common coach that's not fair." Tim childishly shouted. "I decide what's fair and what's not. Now sit your ass down." Whitey sternly replied. Tim obeyed. Whitey had put in another CD and now his normal opera was busting out of the speakers. The team rolled their eyes and put on their own music except for Bart and Nathan.
Bart was reading through his letter again and again. "I still can't believe it." He smiled at Nathan, Nathan returned the favor. "Remember what I told you halfway through the season?" He asked Bart. Bart nodded. "I sure do!" He confidently said. Nathan held out his fist. "N and B making it in the big leagues!" Bart joined fists with him. "N and B in the big leagues." He laughed. Nathan did the same, grabbed his iPod and started listening to his music. Bart stared out of the window and grabbed his cell.
Haley, Peyton and Brooke were sitting in the car. They were accompanied by Mouth and were waiting behind the team bus. They had seen that there had already been some commotion on the bus but they couldn't figure out what it was about.
"Is the cheer squad ready for their state championship?" Mouth asked trying to break the silence. "What do you think!" Brooke replied confidently. Mouth laughed. "I'm afraid that I have to sit this one out." Haley smiled and rubbed over her stomach. "Okay, Tutorgirl your relieved from your duties." Brooke said with a smile. Turning her key's when she saw the bus in front of her move. "So P. Sawyer how's everything going with you and the foreign hunk?" Brooke asked keeping her attention on the road and bus. "Oh, everything's been amazing. We've got a doctor's appointment tomorrow to find out if the baby's a boy or a girl. Bart's convinced that were having a boy." She smiled. "But there's just one thing that has been bothering me." She continued. "Which is?" Haley asked. "Well his mom wasn't too happy about us. She has been avoiding any form of contact with him. He says everything's fine but I can see that it's really bothering him." "He will be fine and his mom will turn around, trust me." Brooke reassured her. Brooke had just said her words when Peyton's cell phone started ringing.
"Hello?" Peyton said through her phone. "Hey Blondie, it's your hot fiancé." Peyton smiled. "Hey hot fiancé, what's wrong? Miss me already?" She heard Bart chuckle on the other side. "Of course I miss you, you're a part of me, remember?" Peyton smiled. "Of course I remember. So what's up?" "Well I have some amazing news." She heard Bart keep quiet for a while. "I got into Duke, Peyton! I got in!" Peyton tried to gasp for air. Everyone else in the car raised their eyebrows at her. "What? How do you know?" Peyton stammered. "I got a letter in the mail this morning. It was from Duke but I was to afraid too open it but I just did and I got in baby, full scholarship, the works." "Bart, babe that's awesome! I wish I was on that bus so I could kiss you." "I wish you were here too. I got to go Whitey's giving me an angry look." "Okay bye, Bart." "Oh and Peyton!" "Yeah?" "Say hello to our kid okay?" Peyton smiled. "Okay hunny." She closed her phone and put it back into her pocket.
"Well?" Haley, Brooke and Mouth asked at the same time. "Well what?" Peyton asked kind of clueless. "Well what did he say?" Brooke asked eagerly. "Oh, he just called to tell me he got into Duke." Brooke and Haley started screaming. "Really?" Mouth asked rather cool. Peyton just nodded. "I'm so happy for you guys." Brooke smiled. "Thanks Brooke. Oh I almost forgot." Peyton put her hand on her stomach and bended over. "Your daddy says hi." She told her own stomach. Haley giggled at the sight. "That's so cute." Peyton blushed a little. "Thanks Hales."
The Ravens were nervously sitting in the locker room. They could already hear that the gym was filling up nicely for the state final. Whitey was doing his usual routine of walking up and down the locker room.
"I don't think I have to tell you knuckleheads" Whitey paused for a while and looked at Tim "how important this game is." He continued. "Nathan, Bart just because you've got into college doesn't mean you can slack off tonight." Bart and Nathan looked shocked at Whitey. "Off course we won't coach." Nathan replied almost insulted. Bart nodded in agreement. "Okay, so you will probably know that it will be the same old story like in every game we've played before. Bart and Nathan expect alot of pressure, they're probably going to make it a rough and dirty game so watch your asses out there. Lucas I need you to put pressure on the ball carrier together with Skills. Now this means that they're going to have an open guy. The first pass is for you Nathan, then everyone just takes their guy and make it hard for them to pass around. Now go out there and win me a championship!" He concluded.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome, I'm Marvin 'Mouth' McFadden coming to you live from the state finals between the Tree Hill Ravens and the Wilmington Hawks. The crowd is taking their seats, excitingly waiting for the tip off and here come the Ravens led by their two top scorers; Nathan Scott and Bart Vanhooi, they both recently got accepted into Duke and will be playing together as Blue Devils next season. Both teams are warming up as we wait for the opening tip off."
Bart, Nathan and Lucas were stretching and watching the other team. "Those guys don't look that good." Nathan confidently said. "Well they got into the state finals for a reason so we shouldn't judge them on appearance." Lucas replied. "Man, that #17 has been checking Peyton out all evening." Bart said, keeping his eye on an muscular build 6.8 player. "Jealous?" Nathan asked with a grin. "Of course I'm jealous, what if that was Haley." Bart replied quickly. "I guess you're right B. Let's just do what we do every night." "Which is?" Lucas crooked his eyebrows at his brother. Nathan smirked. "Kick their asses, what else?"
The referees blew their whistles, signaling that the game was going to start in three minutes. The Ravens' gathered around Whitey again. "Okay men, you know what to do. Play your hearts out and remember to enjoy this okay!" They laid their hands on top of each other. "Go Ravens!"
Bart and Nathan were walking nervously towards the center of the court. "Nate I've got a proposal for you." Nathan looked skeptical at him. "Which is?" he asked. Bart sighed. "If we win this thing, I'm coming with you, next time you're visiting Dan." A smile formed on Nathan's face. "So basically you're coming with me because we are going to win!" He said confidently. Bart smiled. "I guess you're right." Both men smiled and got ready for the tip off.
Mouth through his microphone: "Here comes the opening tip off and we're under way. The Ravens are in their defensive end. The Hawks are building on their first offence. They pass it inside to #17, Kevin Hudson who's being guarded by Bart Vanhooi. Hudson fakes to the left goes to the right, he takes his jump shot. Oh he gets blocked by Vanhooi! The crowd liked that one. Nathan Scott has the ball, he's wide open on the three point line. He fires it away and nails it. That's 3-0 for the Ravens."
It was halftime and the game was close, with a small lead for the Ravens. 31-29
"Okay men you're doing good so far. Now for the third quarter I want to see full court pressure from everyone. Keep giving the ball inside to Bart, that #17 can't hold him so make use of that. Their defense around the three point line is weak so keep looking for that open shot." Whitey concluded.
The third quarter was halfway and the Ravens were dominating, the score was 46-32. Bart and Nathan were untouchable in offence and were keeping their opponent out of the game in defense. # 17 of the Hawks was defending on Bart and getting more frustrated by the second when Bart yet again dunked on him, his fuses popped. He ran up the court for their offence. Bart wasn't giving him an inch. He received the ball looked around, threw his elbow right in Bart's face and made an easy lay up. Bart fell to the ground his eye already swelling from the hit he had just received.
Andy jumped up from his seat. "That was intentional. Vengeance, I demand vengeance!" He screamed. Karen looked almost afraid at him. "Andy calm down." Andy sat back down, his face turned a little red when he saw Karen's expression. "I'm sorry Karen but that's my boy you know." Karen smiled "I know Andy but calm down, see he's already getting up." She reassured him.
"Hey are you all right man?" Nathan offered Bart his hand. "Yeah I'll be fine." Bart grabbed it and stood up again. "What an SOB." Bart looked at #17 who was giving him an arrogant smirk. "Bart take it easy okay, no need to get mad." Nathan tried to calm his friend down. "Oh, I'm calm Nate. Just throw it up there. I have the perfect answer." Nathan could see the fire burning in Bart's eyes.
Skills was caring the ball up the court. He passed it to Nathan, Nathan started dribbling and kept his eye on Bart. Bart shook off his defender, when Nathan threw it up towards the basket.
"Oh, alley oop slam dunk by Vanhooi! What a wonderful assist by Nathan Scott!" Mouth screamed through his mike.
"There are only 5 minutes left and the score is 72- 51 for the Ravens. It looks like the Ravens will win the state championship." Mouth was still commenting the game his excitement grew with every minute that passed.
"5 seconds left, it's in the bag people. Wait Vanooi steals the ball at center court. He throws it up." Mouth, together with the crowd looked in awe at the ball going towards the basket. "It's going, going. He hits it! I can't believe it! What a fitting ending to an amazing game and there goes the buzzer. The Ravens have won the state champions, bring out the champagne ladies and gentlemen!" Mouth screamed hysterically. "Final score 85-57. Top scorers; Bart Vanhooi: 24, Nathan Scott: 22, Lucas Scott: 14. I'm Mouth McFadden coming to you for the last time. It' been a great season, thanks for listening."
Everyone was celebrating. Bart grabbed Nathan by the arm and gave him a grin and then looked over to Whitey who was just sitting on the bench. Nathan knew immediately what Bart was thinking and nodded. Before Whitey even realized it he was sitting on Bart and Nathan's shoulders. Doing a victory lap. Whitey was smiling and just enjoyed his ride, receiving high fives from everyone they passed. They put Whitey back down and saw that he was really touched by the moment. "Coach you're not going to start crying are you?" Nathan asked with a smile on his face. Whitey's stern look returned again, followed by a smile. "Just because you've won state, doesn't mean you can get smart with me, Scott." Bart and Nathan grinned. "Now go celebrate with your teammates you've earned it!" They both gave him a smirk and joined their team again.
The Ravens were celebrating on the court. Everyone was hugging each other and congratulating everybody. Bart looked around for Peyton, when he spotted her.
"So what do you say beautiful want to get out of here?" Kevin Hudson (#17) asked with an arrogant smirk, which seemed to be his only facial expression. Peyton looked annoyed at him when she felt someone grab her arm and turn her around. She was surprised to feel lips onto hers but when she recognized the sweet taste that was coming from them she put her arms around Bart's neck and passionately kissed him back. Bart released from her kiss and gave the same arrogant smirk Kevin was giving them. "Sorry man, she only kisses champions." Bart said grinning. Peyton smiled "I sure do!" Kevin shook his head at the happy couple and left. "Hm, he doesn't seem too happy." Bart said joyfully. Peyton laughed. "Well how would you feel if you didn't have a chance with a pretty girl like me?" She smiled at him. "You're not that pretty." He teased. Peyton's jaw dropped. "Bart Vanhooi, you didn't just say that." She was giving him a stern look. Bart grinned "I love you" he replied. Peyton smiled "ditto". Bart gently put his hands on her cheeks and guided her lips towards his.
Nathan grabbed Haley from behind. She was a little startled at first but recognized the arms embracing her. "We did it Hales." Nathan whispered in her ear. She turned around and saw a smiling Nathan. "We sure did." She replied but she couldn't help to feel a little sad. "What's wrong?" Nathan could always sense when something was troubling her. "Nothing big it's just I wish I could have been on the court, with the girls. Cheering you guys on." She smiled weakly. Nathan put his hand on her cheek and looked into her eyes. "Hales I don't need you in a cheerleading costume. You are always with me on that court, you're my inspiration. The love of my life. Always and forever, remember?" He concluded. Haley smiled "always and forever." Nathan smiled back at her, moved her face towards his and gave her a passionate kiss.
"So how did I do pretty girl?" Lucas was holding Brooke in his arms. "You were all right, I guess." She teased. Lucas chuckled. "Well maybe I can redeem myself?" He grinned at her. "I don't know, it will have to be something really special." She gave him a mischievous look. Lucas looked her in the eyes and kissed her for only 5 seconds and looked back into her eyes. "Perfect" she whispered. Lucas smiled and kissed her with intense passion.
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