Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, they all belong to the WB. And oh how I love the WB for finally bringing the show back.

Author's Note: Alright, here is the next chapter, sort of short I know. Sorry the update took longer than expected, but life got in the way. Stupid life. Anyways enjoy, and don't forget to review.

Inside of You

Chapter 9

Day In, Day Out

Nathan shuffled his feet back and forth on the flat airport carpeting. His hands firmly in his pockets, he looked down at the woman in front of him.

"I'm sorry," he muttered somewhat shyly.

"For what," she asked, trying her best to smile for him.

That was a good question Nathan thought. Logically he knew the answer, but it still hurt that he had to leave her, she was after all a big part of his life. One of the biggest. Letting go of someone whose meant so much to you, so casually just didn't seem right. He glanced at the other boarding passengers going into customs and let out a sigh.

"For nothing . . .  everything, I don't know. I wish dad wasn't such a prick. I wish you didn't have to go," he vented.

Deb pursed her lips together, and tried once again to force a genuine smile out. "It's not forever Nate, just until I get some things figured out. I want you to be here if it makes you happy. Just know that if you ever need to call me or want me to come and get you, I will, in a heartbeat."

"I know," he nodded.

"And promise me that you'll take care of yourself, and your father. No matter how much he says he doesn't need anyone else's help, we know it's not true."

"I will," he agreed again.

"And remember to appreciate the people who are really there for you. You and Lucas may not always see eye to eye, but he' still apart of your life."

Nathan gave her a reluctant nod, "Ok MOM."

"And no matter what your father says, don't let him make you stress yourself out about basketball. The world will not end if the Raven's don't win a game ok?"

"All right, all right, I got it. Be good, don't do drugs, or steal cars, or do anything that would in any damage my future beyond repair.  Anything else you'd like to impart before you leave Ghandi, because I think the other passengers are starting to board the plane," Nathan pointed behind her to the line forming a few feet away.

Deb let out a little laugh, pulling her carry on bag over her shoulder. "Ready to get rid of me so quickly now?"

Nathan contemplated this for a second, bringing his hand up to scratch his chin. "Well now I won't have anyone nagging me to do the dishes. So there's a plus," he teased her. He then watched his Mom move to say something back, but he cut her off, wrapping her up in a strong hug.

Deb squeezed him back hard, wondering how grown up her son had become in the last few months. "I love you, Nathan, " she said pulling away, trying with all her might to keep from getting teary-eyed.

"I love you too," he replied softly, watching as she gave him one last smile, before heading into the crowd . . .

"Nathan, are you listening to me," Dan's voice brought Nathan out of his thoughts from earlier that day.

Looking at his father now, Nathan still wasn't sure he'd made the right decision. He'd added up all the reason's to stay, and all the ones of why he should go. He could tell himself it was because he was scared to leave the only home he'd ever known. Or because he didn't want to start over in a new school, on a new team. Or even because deep down he was worried what his father would do if they both left him. And while all those reasons were true, it wasn't why he'd stayed.

For her, that's why.

Something had changed inside of him that night he spent with her. She'd cracked a dent into what many had called his impenetrably cold visage. Yes, when he thought of her he knew he'd made the right choice. It didn't, however, make living with his Dad any easier though.

"Are you going to answer me," Dan asked his son again, leaning against the island in the kitchen.

"What," Nathan wasn't sure what he was suppose to say, instead giving his Dad a confused look.

The older man sighed and spoke sternly, "I was saying, that I've talked with a few of the other boy's  parent's from the team from around town, and they all gave Whitey a call. So practice starts this week before the game on Friday."

"You bullied Whitey into changing his mind," Nathan asked, incredulous.

"Persuaded, Nate.  We persuaded him into changing his mind," his father affirmed.

"Yeah I bet you did," Nathan whispered to himself.

"Now Jeff Baker's coming into town next week you remember him right," Dan continued.

"Sure," he said, not really paying attention to his father's rambling.

"Well I've set you up with his daughter Sarah for Saturday night. She knows you're single, so I want you to take her around town, show her a good time. Her father knows a lot of the East coast scouts Nathan, this could be a great opportunity for us to get in a good word for you, before they visit, come end of the season," Dan grinned proudly.

Nathan on the other hand, couldn't help but stare at him with a mix of anger, irritation, and frustration, trying to figure out why his father was so thick headed. "Dad I can't go on a date with this girl, I 'm already seeing someone: Haley. You remember her?"

Dan folded his arms in front of him, "I want you to have your fun Nate, but it is important you make the right connections now. It can't wait until your senior year. If you want a good spot on a respectable University team you need to network as much as possible so you can meet the right people. It's all about advantage son. How much you need, and how much you've got. Remember that."

 Shaking his head back and forth, Nathan got up from his seat to leave the room, but turned around at the last minute. "Ya know what Dad, I'm not going on this date. I don't know this girl, I don't want to know this girl, because I already have a girlfriend. Her name's Haley, maybe you'd know that if you actually acknowledged her. And I'm sorry that me not going on this date means I'm not gonna get in good with this scout guy. I'm sorry I never meet your standards for what a son should be, but you never really fulfilled your part either," he stated, turning around and leaving before Dan could say anything else.

***********************************

"Hey Skills pass me the ball, I'm open," Lucas yelled from mid-court, his arms up high above his head, as Jake tried to block him.

"Are you crazy fool, this shot's all mine," he preened, racing past the other boys and slam dunking the ball with pure ease.

All the boys hooped and hollered when they realized they had either won or lost the game. Lucas came up to Skills and gave him a high five. "Good game man, same time tomorrow?"

"Sure Luke. That is if your lady over there says it's ok," he said, and signaled to where Brooke was sitting on the park bench waiting for him.

"I don't think it'll be a problem," Lucas chuckled, waving good bye to his other friends as he made his way over to Brooke.

"So how's my pretty boyfriend doing," she smiled, and jumped up off the bench to kiss him.

"Better, now that you're here," he answered, wrapping his arm around her waste and bringing her body up against his for another kiss.

"Mmm . . .  nice kissage, but not why I'm here," she stepped back, pulling something from her pocket.

"What's up," he asked, watching as she pulled the white folded piece of paper from her jeans' pocket, and laying said note in his hand.

"And this is," Luke looked at the paper skeptically while he continued to hold it still, on his hand.

"Just read it," she prompted him, folding her arms in front of her.

Lucas inhaled a breath of air, slowly opened the note and began reading it, "Brooke, would you like to go out to dinner with me on Saturday? Wait what is–."

"Keep reading," she pointed to the paper.

Lucas paused, gave her a stranger expression and then started again, "And since I'm such a generous guy, you can pick anywhere you want to go, and I'll pay whatever the price. It would be my pleasure," he finished, looking up at her and cocking his head at her ready for an explanation.

Instead she just smiled, and put her hand over her heart, as if she'd rehearsed this scene over in her head, "Oh, why I'd love to go out to eat with you Luke, that would be fun."

Laughing Lucas said, "Brooke tell me what's going on."

"You said you wanted to be with me right? That you cared about me. Well ok, prove it. Take me out on a real date, like real couples do."

"You coulda just asked me yourself you know. You didn't have to bring me a note," he added, waving it before her.

"You want to do this the right way," she questioned him, tilting her head to look him in the eyes.

"Yeah," he answered pulling her against him.

"If you like a girl, then you ask her out on a proper date," she said, turning all business on him.

He could tell by the look on her face, that she meant what she said. She wanted it to be different this time. Different than it had been with the other guys. And since he wanted that too, who was he to deny her what she asked for.

"When should I pick you up" he asked, flashing her his most charming smile.

*************************************

When Haley came out of Karen's café, she instinctively stopped to look at her paycheck. A soft v familiar voice caught her attention from across the street, and she saw Peyton standing at the entrance to Thud, waving at her.

"Long time, no see stranger," Haley said coming up next to her on the sidewalk.

"Yeah, I had a lot on mind. Needed some time to . . . sort stuff out," she replied somberly.

"And now," asked Haley, walking with her.

"And now, I'm doing ok. Good, actually," she grinned, pulling her car keys from her messenger bag.

"Glad to hear. I know the whole Lucas and Brooke thing was difficult for you. Or at least I assumed it was."

As Peyton came up to her parked car on the street, she stopped, turning toward Haley. "I think the hardest part was not being able to talk about it with Brooke. We usually share everything. We couldn't do that this time, I get that," she looked away, putting her bag in the back seat.

"So what's wrong then," Haley said, knowing there that was something else bothering her.

"I never thought he'd pick her, because of everything that happened earlier with us. Guess I was kinda thrown when he did. Not that Brooke doesn't deserve him, but . . . I don't know if I'm explaining this right. It made sense in my head when I thought it."

"Hey you don't have to explain yourself to me. I'm just here for moral support. Spouting of incoherent and illogical babbling is totally what I'm here for," Haley gave her a peppy grin.

Peyton laughed and opened her car door to get in. "You want a ride?"

"That'd be great, thanks," she ran over to the passenger side and hopped in.

As Peyton pulled onto the street, and came up to stop at the first red light, she looked over at her new friend, thinking how strange the world could be sometimes. "So you got any other hot guy friends I should know about," she asked with a naughty glint in her eyes.

"Kinda just have the one. But hey, you never know what tomorrow will bring. I mean you've seen who I'm with right," she and Peyton laughed. The cool wind rushing through their hair, as they rode down the street and then turned the corner out of sight.

A/N: One more chapter to go!