That night Nathan couldn't sleep at all with all the tossing and turning because of the thoughts that filled his head. Rather then laying around he got up on his feet grabbed a shirt to throw over his bare skinned torso then yanked this keys off his night stool. Glancing down the empty halls he knew that if Dan was home he'd be up at five expecting a morning run so in order to avoid him Nathan had to be gone by then. He had to be gone because if somehow the word got to Dan about skipping practice he'd hear a long pointless speech. Shutting his door behind him he headed down the steps leading to the front door and outside.

--------

"Broody…." Brooke pouted making a face.

"Yeah Cheery?" He turned away from putting his shoes on to look at her.

"Are you sure you can't stay?"

"I want to Brooke, you know I do, but I have to check in at home. You know we'll see each other tomorrow."

"Yeah I know, I guess I'm just being needy," she let out a laugh, but not the happy kind.

"Since Taylor's gone maybe you should consider renting the place out for someone else."

"Doesn't that seem a little wrong?"

"Well it'd bring more money into the place."

"I know, but it's her room. It's like her world in there."

"It's just a thought."

"I think about it," she smiled then leaned in planting a kiss on his cheek. "Be careful out there."
-----------

Nathan didn't have any particular destination in mind. It was more something to get him some fresh air. However driving down the streets he couldn't miss a figure walking down them. Pulling up to a curb, he parked and pulled out his keys jogging up to the figure. "Nothing like a late night walk in Tree Hill, huh?"

Turning around the figure just looked over with a vague laugh, "Nathan right?"

"Yeah man, what are you doing out here?"

"Didn't really think it all though. My sister, she's……"

"Vindictive, stubborn, confusing, complicated, a pain the ass, beautiful, understanding…." Nathan started listing noting how Brooke sure did change her moods.

Brent took a mental note on the other guy in his sister's life agreeing with everything he had to say. "You picked up on those things too?"

"I don't think she knows what she wants and if she does she doesn't go for it," he shook his head just thinking about one of the moments he had tried to help her. "So she didn't invite you back to her place?"

"You mean after the out break?"

Chuckling Nathan nodded his head, "she let out some of her fury on you today too. I take it."

Flashback:
"Nathan, they needed to have a sisterly moment, I mean, I'd make up some silly thing if it were for Lucas and you too…"
End

"I think I know a place where you can stay. Come on truck is right over here."
-----

"You sure about this man?" Brent asked watching as Nathan retrieved a key.

"No sweat it," Nathan said trying to be as confident as possible while opening up the apartment door. "Just wait here in the living room," he instructed shutting the door behind them then heading off towards one of the rooms. When Nathan had gotten there he quietly as possible opened up the door to see her sleeping. It sure did bring out another image for the term 'Sleeping Beauty' to him. He smiled lightly and walked on over to her taking a seat on the bed brushing her hair out of her face.

Mumbling Brooke moved a little and opened up her eyes to see Nathan.

"Hey," Nathan said taking his hand off of her.

"Nathan? Everything okay? Lucas?" Brooke shifted up a little, but was only stopped with Nathan's finger on her mouth to shh her.

"Everything is fine Brooke, don't worry," he said calming her down even if Lucas was brought up.

"What are you doing here?" She asked in between yawns.

"Remember when you mentioned about Taylor and Haley having problems and how you'd do the same if it were Lucas and me?"

"Nathan you barge into the place and wake me up for this?" She asked lifting up a pillow intending to put on his face, but Nathan stopped it.

"Just listen to me on this one Brooke."

Seeing such determination in his eyes somewhat inspired her. She had brought that part of him out in him. "Alright Nathan, what is it?"

"Come on," he held out his hand at first before letting it drop instead and lifting her up himself.

"Nathan, Nathan," she complained at first before finding a settling place in his arms.

"Yeah Brooke?"

"Nothing," she whispered resting her head on his chest while watching where he was taking her in the apartment.

-----

Flashback:
"Peyton! This is great!" Bevin Maskey jumped into Peyton's arms embracing an over friendly hug. "Rachel can stop her bitching then."

"What was that Bev?" Rachel called from a far.

"You ever heard that by Bewitching – Mickey?"

"I was actually thinking, Peyton could come up with a mix for our routine," Rachel raised a brow at her newest fellow cheer skank.

"With anything?" Peyton asked feeling part of a team having been given such an opportunity.

"Well anything that we could work with. You're one of us; you should be able to pull whatever is possible out of your blonde locks and figure it out."

"When's it need to be done?"

"Blondie, you're coming out with us on the next game. Asap, would be great," Rachel smiled putting a hand on Peyton's shoulder then using the other one to shove Peyton's uniform on her gut. "Welcome to the team Goldielocks."
End Flashback

Peyton looked at the uniform on her bed laying there as she bit down on her pinkie fingernail trying to think of what songs would mesh well together for a group of cheerleaders.

Flashback:
"Let me get this straight, Peyton Sawyer cheerleader?"
End

Flashback:
"Peyton, it's not crazy. You just want the best of both worlds," he assured her nodding his head.
End

And then she had it. She didn't have to make the music about them, but herself because as far as she was concerned if it fit her then it would fit them also. Sitting as her desk she began pulling music down and ripping parts of each song into another.

-----

Brent looked on over seeing his sister in another guy's arms. Intimidating Lucas was easy, Lucas hadn't done anything for Brent, Nathan on the other hand was going to be more difficult to get rid of if it had come to that. "Brooke."

Brooke looked at Nathan, "Nathan…."

"Trust me, Brooke," he said setting her down and giving her a small hug.

"Brent…." Brooke said in a stern voice.

"I'm going to go….. get something to drink," Nathan said finding some lame excuse so he could get lost.

Once Nathan was gone Brent addressed Brooke once again, "where'd you find him at?"

"Lingerie shop window," she answered plainly.

"Really? They have his size in there too?" Brent joked trying to get Brooke to lighten up a little and it had worked.

Brooke tried her best to cover her mouth from smiling or even laughing, but it hadn't worked, "yeah because Nathan is so into those pink thongs they have on sale now."

"Whatever works for the guy," Brent laughed along with.

"Why aren't you going home?" Brooke then asked out flatly enough to get Brent to stop his laughing.

"You ever get tired of order Brooke? Go to college, go to work, go home see Grams, order, can you see how a person can get sick of it?"

"Not so much. Don't you get the occasional squeeze in between?"

"The girls, yeah they're great, but they're not all in place."

"So what you're saying is this place is you're pit stop for the newest flavor in your bedroom?" She teased.

"That's one way to put it."

"So you're staying? Cause I have a place in mind," Nathan interrupted the two invading their conversation.

"Looks like I found another roomie."

"I have to get my stuff from the other place," Brent informed feeling a big weight pull off his shoulders hearing Brooke actually inviting him to stay.

"Other place?" Nathan questioned, "you made it sound like you had no where else to go."

Brooke let out a laugh, "are you kidding? He's loaded. He's going to be giving me the green to get some new shoes."

"So you're stop complaining about them then?" Nathan asked chuckling.

"I so wasn't complaining," she squinted then smiled along with giving him a wink.

---------

Things seemed to be going in a good order for Brooke during the school day. She had dropped Jason off as the café with Brent then caught a ride with Lucas to school. The only thing she had realized was different was Haley wasn't around….. that is till she had gotten to her science class. She was usually the last one to get to class and it wasn't any different with her crutches, this time however she had noticed everyone in different spots, including Lucas next to Peyton. Even if Nathan was close to Peyton and Lucas dated Peyton she hadn't gotten the friendliest bond with the blonde girl like she had done with Haley.

"Miss Cruise, you've seemed to have missed our seating arrangement day. Right next to Rachel Gattina, would you?"

"Hear I was thinking gimpy wouldn't show till the next time we got our seats changed," Rachel let out with a laugh.

"Mr….." Brooke pleaded.

"Seats are final Brooke," he interrupted her then went on back to trying to organize his lesson.

Lucas glanced over at Brooke and couldn't help, but feel bad. There was nothing he could do though. Least that's what he thought. Having been thinking about it he missed what Peyton was talking about. "Huh? Sorry Peyton."

"I said I made this mix, you think you could listen to it and see if it's alright?"

"Yeah sure, anytime Peyton," he nodded his head and placed the cd case in his bag.

"Thanks Luke."

-----

So irritated Brooke was making her way down the halls on her crutches and almost collided with the boy's bathroom door. "Woah Brooke," Nathan said catching the door.

"I'm going to kill her. I'm going squish her like a bug. I'm going to give her a paper bag and put it over her head telling her to just breathe," Brooke rambled on.

"Well least by her I don't think you mean your brother."

"No!" Brooke said loudly, "Rachel."

"She's only trying to get underneath your skin Brooke and by the looks of it she seems to be going on the right track."

"Ohhh would you least give me some support," Brooke glared yet said in a pouty tone.

"Still want me to meet you outside after school?"

"Do I want to get out of these crutches? Duh. Of course!"

"You mean these crutches?" Nathan asked yanking one of them making Brooke waddle.

"Nathan!" Brooke hissed trying to catch her balance, but all she did was fall onto Nathan's chest and into his arms.

"Trying to make me fall down too?" He laughed standing in the hands with her with everyone watching yet it didn't bother him. Should it have?

For Lucas did it somewhat as he stood and stared down the ways observing the two, they reminded me a lot of Hales and himself. Best friends, yet Haley wasn't around for himself.

"Well that's what you get for being mean," Brooke said while getting out of his hands and reaching for her other crutch.

"Just was testing you. You might have gotten better and been out of them earlier. Earlier for the game that is."

"As much as I don't want to miss a game I think I will."

"So you're not even coming to see me play?"

"I didn't think that far."

"You should come. It's probably different sitting up in the bleachers instead of being on the court, but you should still show Brooke. Come for me."

"I'll think about it, but if I keep talking I'm going to be late again only to find yet another class seats have changed."

"I'll catch you later Brooke," he wavered her off till she was out of his sight.
-----

"I know mom, I know," Lucas kept insisting while Karen kept warning him of his condition. All he wanted to do was sit and watch the game he used to love playing.

------

"Brent! You coming, Lucas should be on his way," Brooke called throughout the place while putting on her shoes and looking at Jason sleeping soundly in his carrier.

"Lucas? What happened to Nathan?" Brent asked coming into the room dressed.

"They have some pre-game warm ups or whatever."

"So Lucas doesn't play? What is he more of a chess geek?"

"Brent," was all Brooke said to warn him. She didn't quite get him at times like these.

----

"Nathan, nice of you to show," Whitey announced seeing Nathan rushing to get with the rest of the team.

"Coach."

"You're on the bench."

"What?" Was his reaction as was the rest of his team.

"When's the last time you came to practice?"

"Coach, without Nathan we'll loose for sure," one of the guys called as the other ones nodded in agreement.

"You really want to put another loosing game on your plate Whitey?" Nathan asked referring to the time Dan had let Whitey down.

-------

"Looks like we have Captain number twenty three on the Raven's side coming out and talking to the men on the sidelines before the game," one of the announcers called seeing Nathan stepping out of the Raven's box.

"Nate, Nate," Brooke said playfully for Jason in her lap clapping his hands together.

"What's he doing out there?" Brent asked Lucas trying to create some conversation.

"Probably talking to Dan."

"Dan?"

"His father."

"Your father?"

"Yeah.

"Then why say his?"

"Brent, it's a little complicated just drop it," Brooke jumped in saying really not into hearing it.

-----

"Looks like whatever Mr. Scott needed to work out is done with, now let's welcome your Tree Hill Raven cheerleaders!" The announcer called out as the lights dimmed out and a bunch of screaming girls came out dancing about before lining up in position.

Brooke looked down at the girls knowing the routine by heart, all of it. However once the music came on everything started to crumble from that point on. 'What the……' she thought watching the girls move and yet when it came to her part she saw none other then blonde haired Peyton Sawyer.

"What is she doing?" Brooke asked in out rage wanting nothing more to grab a rock and smash it on the girl's head. Who was she to try to take her spot?

"Brooke?" Lucas tired.

"What kind of a sick person would be okay with taking my spot? My moves!"

"Brooke…"

"And now you've been waiting for it ladies and gentlemen, your Tree Hill Ravens basketball players."

"That's right get them skanky stealing bitches off the court!"

"Brooke!"

"I don't think it's going to help much man," Brent laughed amused at Brooke freaking out and Lucas getting no attention from her.

------

"No going back now, folks. This is it. Down by two, less than a minute on the clock. The ravens need a shot in," the announcer called, which finally hit Brooke on who it was.

"Isn't that Mouth?" Brooke asked looking up at the box, but not being able to spot him.

"Yeah, he always does the games. Lucas answered.

"I never really noticed."

"What kind of parents name their kid Mouth?" Brent asked only to let Brooke escape a small laugh before glancing back at the game scared. Nathan needed the other shot in.

"A sensational steel! The Ravens have it, down by two, 12 seconds left in the game!" Mouth called out hysterically.

"Bring it in!" Dan called from the sidelines close to where Whitey was coaching. "Bring it in if you want your pathetic season to actually win this one." Sighing Whitey lifted his hands up calling a break in the time. "Finally old man's coming to his senses," Dan said getting onto the court with the team.

"Dad?"

"Look at me, look at me. Who out there is scared? Who's scared? Because if you're scared you sit your ass on this bench I don't want you on that court. Nathan, look at me. Get the ball in your hands, okay? Hold the ball tough till there's five seconds left on the clock then you bang inside and tie this thing up."

"But they're going to double him," Tim called having the common sense knowing the other team knew Nathan was the key player.

"I don't care if they put five guys on him, Tim! Listen to me, five seconds, okay? Then you shove it down their throats. Great players make great plays, Nathan. Hands in."

"Let's go. Win it on 3. 1...2...3.. Win it!" Tim called out first then the rest of the team followed.

"It means nothing if you can't knock down the shot," Dan called out to Nathan testing him.

"So the Ravens break the huddle. 12 seconds left on the clock. They need a basket to tie, a three pointer to win, or their season is over. The standing room crowd is on their feet. Tim Smith will throw it in. He does safety. Finds Fenderman, who immediately swings it to Nathan Scott. We're at eight seconds. Now seven. Nathan works out top. Five seconds on the clock. Now four. He spins to the basket. Then shoots for a three pointer and the win!" Mouth called as the buzzer sound went off watching as the ball hit the rim and bounced off leaving Nathan to fall on his knees.

------

"Nice work out there Nate, a real shot with the pros with that," Dan said sarcastically sitting down on his chair sipping on a scotch just waiting for Nathan to come in. Shaking his head Nathan looked at his father in disgust. "You think the scoots are looking for that?"

"Dad…"

"I go to Whitey to talk about his crappy coaching after the game and it turns out you weren't even in attendance for his coaching. Now son, I'm all for you training with me instead of Whitey, but you didn't even do that. So where have you been during practice?"

"Dad…..Its one game. Give up. Unless you can't give up your own one game."

"Alright fair enough," Dan nodded his head getting up and brushing past Nathan before elbowing him in the gut hard. "Come on Nate, show me what you have," Dan challenged wanting to toughen up his son.

Nathan couldn't show even the smallest bit of humanity in front of the old man so whatever pain he was in for it was something not to wince about. "Maybe my future plans don't match up to the ones you mapped out for me, dad," he let out getting another jab on him.

-------

"So the game, what did you think?" Brooke asked about to take a seat down next to her brother.

"Close game. Tough break for them."

"Yeah," she said still recalling the rage she had out to get at Peyton. "One sec," she said excusing herself to get the door as she heard knocking.

"You got it?"

"Yeah, I'm getting the hang of it," she responded with a smile.

"Brooke…" Nathan said looking at her as she opened up the door.

She was doing the same of course, but for him it was something nice to look at as for her seeing Nathan's face bruised, black and blue with blood on it scared her. "Nathan… what happened to you," she said worried just wanting to embrace him close to her, but she couldn't, not on crutches that is.

"Brooke…. "

"Brent come over here!" She called for help. "It's going to be okay Nathan, I'll make it okay," she promised feeling sick to her stomach on how he looked knowing he didn't deserve it one bit.