A/N:Enjoy

"So...I was thinking of asking Peyton to prom. I know it's a few months away but I should probably ask her soon." Nathan said, kicking the sand softly as he walked next to his brother.

"You mean with the way that you two have been attached at the hip all year, basically already dating since you haven't even looked at another girl but her and you haven't asked her to prom yet?" Lucas joked, earning a shove in the shoulder from his brother. "Nate." He said as he stopped walking and looked over at his brother.

"What?" Nathan asked as he looked over at the sandy blonde.

"You do know that if you move on... it doesn't mean you love her any less." Lucas spoke softly.

Sighing, "I know, I just don't want to forget her." Nathan confessed. That was his biggest fear, that he would start forgetting Haley. Her favorite color or favorite song or what she smelt like. He never wanted to forget anything about her.

"You won't." Lucas stated sternly. "She's always going to be in your heart but maybe you should let someone else in it?" Nodding behind his brother.

Turning around, a smile immediately found his lips as he saw a curly blonde headed towards them. "I think I'm falling in love with her, Luke." Nathan shared softly.

A smile tugged on the blonde's lips, "Tell her that, not me." Lucas said, pushing his brother gently on the back as he watched him head towards Peyton. Feeling a sense of happiness as he saw his brother finally letting himself become happy again.

"Hey there gorgeous." Peyton said, leaning up and placing a soft kiss on the brunette's lips. "I didn't interrupt, did I?" Looking over his shoulder to see his blonde brother walking away from them.

Shaking his head as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "Nope, just wasting time until you got here." Nathan shared.

"Okay, well is he okay to find a ride home?" Placing her arm around his waist, she began walking with him towards her car.

"He drove here. He sometimes comes here to think." Pulling away from the curly blonde, he leaned against her car. "So I have a question to ask you."

Tilting her head as she looked over at him, "Go for it." Peyton said.

"How would feel about me escorting you to prom?" He asked before he silently held his breath.

Looking at him before a small smile came across her face, "I'd love you too!" The blonde said as she launched herself into his arms. "Oh, I thought you were wanting to skip it so that's why you hadn't asked."

Chuckling as he wrapped his arms around her waist, "Nope, just wondering how to ask you but Lucas said that I should just ask you."

Nodding her head, "I'm glad that he gave you that advice." Peyton spoke with a smile. "Are you sure you want to go? If you want to skip it then we can."

Smiling as he cupped her face, "I want to go...with you." He spoke softly, leaning down he placed a soft kiss on her lips.

Laying in bed with her head resting on his chest, she let out a sigh of contentment. "So I think I'm going to wear red to prom." Rachel shared.

"Why red?" Cooper asked, letting Rachel feel the rumble of his voice against her ear.

"Brooke's favorite color was red." She spoke softly as she looked up at her boyfriend.

A small smile came across his lips, "I think that's a great idea, baby." Placing a kiss on the crown of her head.

"Is it still okay to miss her everyday?" Rachel questioned. "I mean, when I'm having a really good day or a really bad day, I still go to call her to get her input or just to tell her. I dial her number and as my thumb is hovering over the call button, then I remember." She confessed in a soft voice.

"You can always call me." Looking down at his girlfriend, who angled her head and looked up at him.

"Okay." She said as a smile appeared on her lips. "I will." Turning her body over, she crawled up his body and straddled his lap.

"Hey baby." A smirk on Cooper's lips as he looked up at the red head. Ghosting his fingertips over her jawline and down her neck. "You always taste so good, I love sucking on your neck." He whispered huskily.

Moaning her approval as she felt a chilling arousal run up her spine. "Less talking, more doing." She murmured.

Letting out a deep breath, he felt the door shut behind him with a loud echoing bang as he took in the scene before him. This gym looked bigger than the one back home, maybe it was the fact that it was a college gymnasium. Yet Lucas knew that it was because it was where they were playing the state championship.

They had lost one game too many last season, Lucas had a feeling that it was because all the main players were distracted by certain cheerleaders. This season was different, at least for Lucas it was. Basketball was his main focus, pretty much his only focus.

Walking around the gym, he inhaled deeply as he looked around the gym once more with a smile appearing on his face. "This is for you, pretty girl." Lucas spoke softly to himself.

Slipping on his jersey, he looked over at his brother with a smile. "You ready to show the Oak Lake Pioneers how to play the game?"

Smirking as he slipped on his wrist band over his right wrist, "You know it, little brother." The blonde responded with a smile. "Cooper, you ready?"

"To get a scholarship and prove that I'm better than you losers?" The dirty blonde asked.

Rolling his eyes, "No, that'll be me." Nathan shared.

Shaking his head as he remained mute, knowing sooner or later he'd have to tell Nathan and his parents that he was recruited for the NBA. Yet he was taking his time because he was still wrapping his own mind around the idea that it was true.

"It'll be neither of you if you stay here instead of warming up." Skillz spoke up causing Lucas to laugh as he put two wristbands securely around his wrists.

"Right behind you, oh captain my captain." Cooper teased as he adjusted his shorts and began following Skillz and Lucas out of the locker room, with Nathan right behind him.

"Come on guys!" Lucas yelled as he grabbed a ball from the rack. "Layups!" He hollered out while heading towards the basket and tossing the ball to his brother. "Start!" Watching as Nathan did a layup, catching the ball and throwing it to another player as he repeated the same action.

Coming up the the blonde's side, he placed his hand on his shoulder. "It's good when something you love heals you, isn't it?" He questioned.

Nodding his head, "I thought you were crazy when you told me that it could heal me...but once I got past the trying to bury myself in it. You were right coach, so thank you."

"You've done a great job this season, I'm proud of you." Whitey told him.

Turning his attention to his coach, "Thanks, Whitey. That really means a lot to me. I'm just glad that I could get you this far since you're retiring this year." Lucas spoke.

Nodding his head as he glanced out at the team that was still warming up, "I think it's the perfect way to leave. Even if we don't win this, we got this far and that is something in my thirty years of coaching that I will be forever proud of." Whitey reassured him with a squeeze of his shoulder. "Get them rounded up will ya? Ms. Gatina apparently has a problem with some of my plays."

Laughing, "You're still letting her look at them?" Lucas asked, still not believing that his coach's right hand was the head cheerleader.

Shrugging his shoulders, "What can I say, she knows what she's doing." Whitey said before grabbing his clipboard off the bench and heading towards the squad where the red head was giving instructions.

"Ravens!" Lucas yelled as he motioned for them to stop warming up and form a circle around him. "Okay, this is the state championship and I know since most of us are seniors that we want to win, right?" Earning nods from whole team, even the non seniors. "Well, coach wants this more and I say that since he's retiring that he go out with a bang. Everyone agree?" Once again earning nods from the whole team. "Good."

"Alright." Whitey said as he placed his clipboard underneath his arm and looked at the boys that he had watched grown over the past three years. "I'm not one to get sappy but I just want to let you boys know that I am proud of all of you. I couldn't have asked for a better team, you guys have worked hard to get here and I know that you have given it your all. You are the best team that I have ever coached." Whitey continued as he let out a shaky breath, glancing up to see his wife in the stands causing a smile to come across his lips.

"I know that all of you think that basketball is everything, that this court is everything. I used to think the same thing." He shared, glancing at the Scott brothers hoping that they were paying special attention to what he was saying. "Then I was reminded by someone special that it's who is waiting for you once you leave the court. Just make sure that you don't make it your everything. Find a balance." He ordered them.

"Enough with my wisdom." Causing the team to chuckle softly. "No matter what the outcome is, you all are winners in my book." He finished, hearing the buzzer go off, announcing the beginning of the game. "Hands in, give it your all boys." He said, that's all that he would be asking of them. To go their hardest in their last high school game.

"RAVENS!" They yelled in unison before scattering towards the bench and towards the court.

"You ready?" Lucas asked as his brother and cousin stood on his sides.

Bumping Lucas' fist, "You know it." Cooper replied.

"Let's make 'em proud." Nathan said while also bumping his brother's fist.

Going up to the half court mark, Lucas took his stance while shaking the opposing team's players hand. Watching as the ref tossed the ball up, Lucas jumped up and swatted the ball towards his half of the court. Where Skillz was waiting, taking the ball he dribbled it down the court before throwing up a shot.

Seeing the ball through the net, Lucas fisted his hand in triumph. Seeing the three points go up on the board before quickly focusing back on the game. He had a feeling that this game was theirs to take.

Placing his hands on his knees as he continued to breathe heavily. Nathan slowly brought himself to a standing position, wiping the sweat off his forehead with his wristband. Glancing at the clock seeing that there was fifteen seconds left and they were tied at 86. Nodding his head as he took the ball from the referee, he glanced over at his brother who was waiting on the other side of the court. Seeing a familiar look in his eyes, tossing the ball into play towards Cooper.

Cooper dribbled the ball, before glancing over at his brunette cousin and gave him the ball before he got back on defense.

Heading towards his basket, he went to put up a two point shot only to have a player from the opposing team knock it out of his hands and begin dribbling it down the court- the opposite way.

"Damn it!" Nathan cursed as he began jogging after him, seeing his brother directly behind him.

Seeing the player go up for a lay up, Lucas quickly cut in front of him and stole the ball as it was flying through the air. Seeing there was only five seconds left on the clock and they'd be going into overtime anyways, Lucas brought his hand back and chucked the ball towards their basket at the other end of the court just as the buzzer rang through his ears.

Everyone watched as the ball sailed through the air, before it fell right through the hoop. Suddenly cheering erupted throughout the gymnasium, Lucas began cheering before launching himself into his brothers arms before Cooper joined in and the three fell to the ground. With the rest of the team piling on top of them in midst of the celebration.

"Get off!" Lucas said while laughing as everyone began climbing off of the group to stand up to go celebrate with everyone else.

"Nathan!" Peyton yelled as she launched herself into his arms and hugged him fiercely. "Congratulations."

Smiling as he hugged her tightly, "Thank you." He murmured in response.

"Coop!" Rachel squealed as she ran into his arms, feeling him pick her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

Tucking her red locks behind her ear, Cooper rubbed his thumb along her jawline. "Hey baby." He greeted happily.

"Hey State Champ." Leaning down, she pressed her lips against his as she felt his lips smirk against his before he reciprocated the kiss.

Smiling as he looked around at the cheerleaders and basketball players celebrating along with their classmates and parents. Whitey felt a sense of accomplishment, they had won the state championship. Feeling someone place their hand on his shoulder, he turned around and chuckled. "Nice shot, Lucas."

Shrugging as he stood next to his coach, "We said that we were going to win." The blonde shared as he brought the basketball from behind his back. "Figured that you deserved this more than anybody else. Thank you." Lucas spoke sternly and sincerely.

"You're welcome, son." Whitey replied softly, licking his lips as he looked down at the basketball. Never feeling more proud than he did in this exact moment.

"You aren't gonna cry...are you coach?" Lucas asked cautiously. That wasn't his intention, he just wanted to give back at least a little bit of something that the coach had given him the past year.

Shaking his head as he blinked his eyes a few times, "No, thank you for this." He spoke gruffly as he looked back up at the blonde.

"Anytime." Lucas replied before pulling Whitey into a strong hug. "Thank you for never giving up on me." He told him.

Pausing for a moment before he hugged the young blonde back, patting his back gently. "I would've never given up on you." Whitey reassured him.

Smiling as he fell onto his bed, things were great. They had just won the state championship, Whitey told him that Duke was interested in him and he was going to prom with his girlfriend, Peyton. He was happy.

At least that's what he told himself, the smile slowly fading from his face. He reached his hand underneath his pillow and pulled out a picture. Holding the picture above his head, Nathan let out a sad sigh as he ran his thumb over Haley's face. "I miss you." He whispered before kissing the picture and placing is securely underneath his pillow once more before drifting off to sleep.

Hearing a resounding thumping a few feet away from him, "Lucas, shut up. We won the state championship, enough with the practice." Nathan groaned out.

"Well I know I have semi blonde hair but being compared to your brother is a little weird." A familiar voice stated, causing the brunette's eyes to shoot up and take in his surroundings. Making him realize that he wasn't in bed, he was actually laying in the grass in between the river and the basketball court.

"Haley?"

A smile appeared on her face as she twirled the basketball around in her hands, "Miss me?" She asked.

Pushing himself off the ground, he slowly began taking steps towards the honey blonde hair. "What are you- how are you here?"

"Well it's been a while since the two of us have talked." Haley answered with a shrug as she tossed him the basketball. "Want to play some horse?"

Gripping the basketball, "Not really." He responded, still trying to wrap his head around the fact that she was here. "What are you doing here?" Ignoring her question.

Taking a seat on the picnic bench as she looked at him, "So you guys won state championship? That's crazy, I bet that was an amazing game."

"It was pretty intense." Nathan said, easing himself into the conversation as he took a seat next to her.

Nodding her head, "So how are you and Peyton?"

"This is sort of an awkward topic." Nathan responded as he looked out at the water.

"What? Talking about your current girlfriend with your dead ex-girlfriend?"

Cringing as he kept his attention towards the water, "Yeah." He relented.

"Well...does she make you happy?" Haley questioned.

"She helps numb the pain." Nathan answered honestly, knowing that he sounded like an ass but it was true. Being with Peyton distracted him from the horrible reality that the girl he was utterly in love with was gone.

"She helps me miss you just a little less each day." Nathan shared. "She's my pain pill."

Tilting her head as she looked up at him, "You know you can always be in love with me, right?" Haley asked.

Laughing slightly, "I know." Nodding his head, "I just have to get to a point where I can love you but not feel this gut wrenching pain every time I think of you."

"This could be a start." Leaning over, she pressed her lips against his. "Closure." She murmured, causing him to deepen the kiss.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he tugged her body closer before breaking the kiss. "I love you." He spoke softly as he looked down into eyes.

"I know." She said with a smile, running her fingertips slowly down the frame of his face. "You'll be okay."

"How do you know?" Nathan asked, sadness washing over him as he suddenly remembered that this was a dream.

"I just do." Haley shared, kissing his cheek softly. "I love you, Nathan Scott." She whispered as he closed his eyes and revealed in the closeness.

Senior Prom had arrived quickly. Too quickly if you asked some people.

Adjusting his bow tie, the blonde let out a sigh. He really didn't know why he was going, he didn't even have a date and was going to be the fifth wheel. He knew that it was because Rachel had guilted him into it, she said that since it was his last prom that he needed to go and that if he really wanted a date that she would find him one. They both knew that he didn't want one.

"Lucas!" Nathan yelled from the bottom of the stairs. "Are you ready yet?!"

"I'm coming!" Lucas yelled back as he looked at himself one more time. Glancing at the picture that hung in the corner of his mirror. It was of him and Brooke from Junior prom. "I won't be a stick in the mud...for you." He whispered as he closed his eyes before he looked at the picture once more before heading downstairs.

"Let's get this show on the road." Lucas announced as he headed down the stairs, taking the necessary pictures for his parents before he, Rachel, Cooper, Nathan and Peyton piled into their limo.

"Are you all ready to have some fun?" Rachel asked as she pulled out a bottle of champagne from the cooler. "I figured that since it's senior prom," ripping off the foil and popping the cork. "We should go out with a bang."

"Nice idea, Rach." Nathan said as he began handing out the glasses.

"What should we toast to?" Peyton asked as Rachel began filling up each of their glasses.

Glancing around the limo, "Friends." Cooper said, gaining everyone's attention. "We've been through a lot together, especially this past year." Pausing for a moment, "Graduation's coming up and I know that most of us are going in different directions but I want us to promise to keep in touch with one another. That at least once a year no matter where we are that we'll all come back home." Seeing everyone nod their heads and murmur their agreement.

Nodding his head, "To Friends." He toasted, all of them echoing before taking a drink.

"What're you doing out here all by your lonesome?" Rachel questioned as she held her dress and walked towards the blonde who was sitting at the beginning of the steps facing the ocean. He had been mostly quiet throughout prom. Only dancing when she dragged him out onto the floor, didn't even last a full slow dance before he would excuse himself to go outside. She knew that it was hard for him but she knew that he needed to go to this. He needed to prove to himself that he could do things on his own or just with his friends.

"Thinking." He replied softly as he felt her take a seat next to him.

Sitting in silence for a few moments, "Do you remember?" Rachel asked.

Chuckling, "What we were doing at prom last year?" Lucas finished before nodding his head. "At this same beach house where they wanted to do endless hours of karaoke."

Smiling brightly before it slowly began fading away, "I go to call her sometimes." She confessed, causing the brooding blonde to look over at her. "I dial her number and then I remember."

Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, "I drive by her house... at least four times a day. I sit across the street and just wait for her to come out the front door." Lucas shared.

"We're gonna be okay, right?" She asked as she leaned her head against his shoulder.

Letting out a breath, "I think we're getting there." He responded, dropping a kiss on the red head's forehead. "You look really nice in red." He commented on her dress.

"Brooke." She said softly, earning a nod from the blonde who understood.

Licking his lips, "I really haven't said it, but thank you."

"For what?" She asked as she pulled away from him slightly and looked at the blonde.

"Being there for me." He told her as he continued to look out at the ocean. "After a while, everyone just assumed that I was doing okay. Except you, you kept pushing your way into my life and making sure that I was okay. You helped me put myself back together."

"I just did what I know Brooke would've done." Rachel confessed.

Squeezing her gently as he brought her closer, "It's exactly what she would've done." He said softly with a smile on his lips. "Thanks for pushing, Rachel."

"Anytime." The red head replied with a smile as she nudged him side.

"What's going on with you?" Nathan asked, he noticed that after prom his brother had been quiet which wasn't completely out of character but he also knew his brother.

A small smirk appeared on his lips as he realized that his brother knew him too well- sometimes, "I wanted to wait until after prom, especially since I have to tell mom and dad but I guess now's a good time as any." Lucas let out a sigh.

"Luke, what is it?"

Turning towards his brother, "I got drafted." Lucas told him. "The New York Knicks want me and I accepted. I start training two weeks after graduation." He let out a laugh.

"You're in the NBA?" Nathan questioned to which his brother nodded. "Dude, you're in the NBA!" Nathan yelled excitedly before pulling his brother into a hug. "That's amazing." He said as he broke the hug. "Wait, why didn't you tell me?"

Sighing as he rubbed his face, "It wasn't a for sure thing, Nate. If I didn't get drafted then I didn't want anyone to look at me with pity because I didn't make it. I'll tell you the same thing I told Cooper-"

"Wait, Cooper knew about this before me?" Nathan questioned, wondering if he was so wrapped up in his own little world that he didn't realize what was going on with his own brother.

"He asked Nathan." Lucas told him simply with a shrug of his shoulders. "Look I'll tell you the same thing that I told Cooper, that the older you are when you join the NBA, the less time you're able to play. I want to live my dream for as long as I can. I've already lost one dream, Nathan. I don't know if I can lose another one." Pushing himself off the deck railing. "I'm sorry if you're mad at me but it is my decision, Nate. I figured you'd at least to pretend to be happy for me. Besides, I thought you'd be happy going to Duke with Peyton- I didn't think it'd matter." The blonde shrugged before heading inside, leaving his brother outside with a confused expression on his face.

"What's wrong, Nate?" The curly blonde asked as she slid the side door closed behind her. She noticed that Lucas had come inside without him and after ten minutes of staring at the door with Nathan in sight she got worried.

Leaning his forearm on the railing as he looked out at the waves of the ocean crashing against the rocks, "I'm so sick of losing people." He muttered, with only confused Peyton.

Placing her hand on his shoulder, "Talk to me." She urged him.

Glancing at his girlfriend before turning his attention back down to his hands, "Lucas got drafted into the NBA. He's leaving after graduation. Cooper and Rachel are leaving for the summer before college to travel. I'm just sick of everyone leaving." He told her.

"I'm not going anywhere." She reminded him.

"Is it crazy that I thought that nothing would change?" Nathan asked softly. "I mean this year has been hell. I just thought that we were done going through changes."

Rubbing his back gently, "I know it's been a tough year but I'm sure that Lucas is just doing what he thinks is best for him and you need to be supportive of that." Peyton told him.

Looking at the blonde once again, "I love you." Nathan said as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. "I know I don't say it that often but I do." Placing his forehead against the side of her head.

"I love you too." She said as she leaned into his touch. "Why don't we go upstairs?" She suggested.

Nodding his head, "Okay. I'm really glad that we're going to college together." He said as he followed her inside. "I would've been lost this year."

Walking up the stairs as she led him to the bedroom, "Well I'm here to make sure that doesn't happen." Closing the door behind them as she watched him sit on the the edge of the bed. "Want to know something else I'm here for?"

"What's that?" Nathan questioned curiously as he watched his girlfriend walk towards him before crawling on top of him and straddle his lap.

"To make sure you have a stress reliever." Peyton whispered into his ear as she began kissing his neck.

Smirking, "Oh, because I'm so stressed right now." He joked before flipping them over so he was hovering over her. "I wonder who could help me with that?"

"I wonder." The curly blonde beneath him joked before he leaned down and captured her lips with his.

A/N-:) Hope you all enjoyed it. I apologize for it being so short but I wanted to post something and I was tired of opening this chapter only to close it without being finished. Next one will be long since I haven't really started the writing part of it, just the ideas written down.

I feel like I've gotten rid of Mouth and I kind of have, didn't mean to toss him aside like that but writing him is a lot harder than I imagined so I apologize.

I also wanted the winning shot to be awesome, so here's the link to show you exactly what I was trying to describe. /watch?v=aJuE7SxQ9iM