Episode 7 Ch.5 The Sacrifice

The game is over, and of course the Ravens were victorious. Chase scored thirty-six points, a career high. He was on fire.

Chase walked into the gym. "Chase Davis," a man approached him. "I'm Rookie Neilson," he extended his hand. Chase shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you," Chase knew exactly who he was.

"You played a great game tonight son, and I think that you might have a real chance of a career at this."

"Really," that's all Chase ever wanted to hear.

"Yes sir, and I think that it would be smart to start your bright future at Duke University."

"Duke?" Chase said excitedly. He had always wanted to go there, but he never thought he would be good enough.

"Yeah we're really interested in you, and if you continue to play this way in the playoffs you'll definitely have a spot on our team. Very impressive my friend." Rookie shook his hand again. "I will definitely be in touch."

He walked away, and Chase was almost speechless. Brooke heard the conversation. "Mom did you hear that?"

"Yes I did," she was so proud of him. "I knew you could do it."

"This is awesome."

Brooke gave him a hug. She hoped that he was able to get everything he ever wanted.

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Nathan and Lucas are in the locker room. "That was a hell of a game."

"Yeah I know. I can't believe how well Chase played. He never plays like that." Nathan thought.

"I guess he is finally bringing his A game."

"And Jamie played like he had never even seen a basketball before."

"Yeah what's up with him?"

"I don't know, but I'm gonna find out."

"Well at least the team is winning. I think we're gonna be headed to the championship."

"I sure hope so. I want to do this for you Luke."

"Thanks bro," he smiled. "I know you can do it."

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Keith walks into the gym, and Lexie greets him. "Wow you totally rocked it tonight."

"Thank you, but I only had six points."

"Six points is awesome when you only play fifteen minutes a game. You totally helped your team."

"Thanks for the enthusiasm. I'm glad you came. I hope to see you here more often."

"Yeah I hope to be here." She smiled and he smiled back.

Jacey was watching from afar and she stomped out of the gym. Keith saw her. "Hey I gotta go, but it was great to see you."

"Yeah." She said sadly. She really enjoyed talking to Keith. He after all was the one that found her a home.

Keith catches up with Jacey. "Hey I was looking for you."

"Really, because you aren't going to find me with someone I don't even know."

"Are you talking about Lexie? That's no big deal. She's staying with my Aunt Brooke. She just told me good game."

"It's not just about that Keith. We're finally together and we're supposed to be happy, but you didn't even ask me to formal." She told him. She was so disappointed that he hadn't asked her. She started to walk away and he stopped her with a kiss.

"I love you Jacey Jones, and I would love to go to formal with you, but I didn't want to ask you and then I not be able to go. I'm still grounded, and I don't even know if formal is an option for me. I'm gonna ask my dad later."

"So you were gonna ask me?"

"I still am. If my parents let me go to formal will you be my date because I could never go with anyone other than you?"

She smiled. "I love you too Keith." She kissed him, and he knew he had his answer.

He cupped his hands around her face. "You have nothing to worry about when it comes to Lexie. We are just friends. You are the one I want."

"Good, I like it that way."

They kissed again and this time Lexie saw them.

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Jeremy and Summer walk out together holding hands. Jeremy sees his mom. "Oh wow, I can't believe she came." He drops Summer's hand and walks over to his mom. "Hey mom," he tries to get her attention.

"Jeremy you played an amazing game. Twelve points is really good."

"Thanks, I didn't know you were coming."

Summer walked up next to them.

"I've already missed way too much of you life. I don't want to miss anymore of it." She sees Summer. "You must be his wife." She still wasn't too keen on the idea of him having a wife.

"Yeah I'm Summer," she extended her hand. "You must be his mother. It's nice to finally meet you." She said in a somewhat rude tone.

"I can't wait to get to know you."

"You might want to start with getting to know your son first. He's a lot different than he was when he was a little child."

Jeremy gave her a look.

"I know, and I plan on it."

"Are you ready to go Jeremy?"

"Yeah let's go. I'll see you back at the apartment mom."

Summer was now the one giving him the look. "It is just until she gets on her feet."

Summer didn't say anything, but she wasn't too happy about it.

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Spencer takes Lily to her house. He helps her inside. "This was a lot of fun." She told him.

"Yeah I had an awesome time, but I always have fun when I'm with you."

She is a little uncomfortable by that remark. "I'm sorry Lily, but I love you, and I want you to know that. I also want you to know that it wasn't always perfect for us, but the best apart about the two of us is that we always find our way back to each other. I think that you will find your way back to me because I am nothing if I don't have you." He cupped her face with his hands. "We complete each other, and I can't wait until you remember that." Without even thinking he misjudged the moment and kissed her. The kiss for him was passionate and romantic, but for her she felt as if she was kissing a friend. She had no connection with him.

"You should go," she finally told him after he stopped kissing her. "I mean it's getting late, and I am really tired."

"Yeah," he knew that she hadn't felt the same thing he did, but he still had hope.

……………………………………………………..

Peyton is reading a book, and Grace is on the other side of the bed asleep when Larry comes in. He smiles at the sight of the two women he loved so much. "Hey," he whispered.

"She got tired," Peyton smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"I brought you something. I recorded the game tonight. I don't want you to miss any of your children's moments. They are all too precious."

She smiled. She loved that he did that for her although she could just watch it on Raven Hoops dot com.

"That was so sweet of you dad."

"I know how it important it is to be there for all the little moments." He gave her a hug. "I better get her home." He reached over and slightly kissed Grace's cheek.

"Peyton stop," she joked as she opened her eyes. "We can't do that to your dad."

They laughed. "Ha, ha you are too funny. Come on sleeping beauty let's get you home."

"Thanks for stopping by dad, and thanks for hanging out with me Grace."

"Anytime."

Peyton smiled as she looked at the video camera. Her dad really was trying, and she found it all very sweet.

………………………………………………..

Lily is in her room, and she looks at the flier for formal. She picks up her phone. "Hi, I know that this might sound strange but would you go to formal with me? I wouldn't want to go with anyone else." She smiled when she heard the other person reply. She was trying, and it was definitely going to be the start of something new and good between the two of them.

………………………………………………….

At home Brooke walked upstairs to feed Sophie.

"Mr. Scott, can I talk to you for a second?" Lexie asked.

Nathan turned around, "It's Nathan and sure."

"I know that this is strange, but I really like it here. And I know that you don't have to say yes because you have a huge family, and you guys don't really need someone to try and come in here and mess with a good thing. But your wife has been so good to me already, and I've never had that before." She stopped for a second to catch her breath and form the right words.

"I don't know if you know how it feels to be alone or to be hurt by the people that are supposed to be taking care of you, but I have. And for the first time in a very long time I feel safe. You don't realize what a luxury it is to feel safe until you lose that feeling, and it has been so hard for me, and I'm not asking for a pity party, but I'm asking you to take a chance on me because no one ever has." She had tears in her eyes. "I just want to be part of a family. I just want to have hope that there is good in this world because I lost that hope a long time ago."

Nathan didn't say anything. He didn't believe that any words were necessary. He took her in her arms and hugged her. He wanted to make her feel safe, and he wanted to protect her from all the hurt that she had felt.

She didn't need him to speak. His actions spoke louder than words. She knew then that she had a fighting chance to have a family and be happy. She was already beginning to feel safe again.

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Okay so I was pretty happy with this chapter. I wasn't a big fan of the episode, but I liked this chapter. I don't really like writing the basketball stuff, but it is Tree Hill and basketball is important. I want to know what you guys thought about the end. I thought it was very sweet, and I really like Lexie. So i hope you guys do too. She is going to be a major part of this story.

Who do you guys think Lily called? I know but I can't tell until the next episode. I was going to tell you, but I was pretty sure you can figure out, and a story is always good when you don't reveal every little thing. At least i think so.

So there will not be another update until at leat a week. I'm sorry. I usually never let my stories go that long, but like I said I'll be on vacation. But I have task for you guys while I am gone. Since I will be gone for a week I want you guys to review, and tell me what you think of the story so far. Or I want to know what kind of ideas you have and I could possibly use them. Because you are awesome and always have great ideas, and I try to do what you guys want because you are after all the readers.

So here are a few Spoilers:

Episode 8 will be formal.

Alot of couples will be formed during this time.

Coming up in later episodes: some things about Lexie will be revealed (that is later on, but it is coming), Peyton will have her babies but will it be smooth sailing, Nathan and Brooke will disagree about several things, and Chase continues to fight for his basketball career, but could it lead to danger.