Chapter Two...

Okay, fine. I will admit it. The game was exciting. I never realized that basketball was that difficult or that the games were that endless. Haley told me that they don't usually last that long and the only reason this particular one did was because it went into overtime. I told her that is why I appreciated band concerts and plays. They always lasted the exact same amount of time. She laughed at me and called me sheltered. I knew she was right.

Haley stood near the doors to the locker room. Steps away, a tall, broad shouldered man spoke to Haley's number 23. The two argued until 23 had reached his breaking point. He stormed toward us as he dug through his gym bag on his shoulder.

He pointed to the doors at the end of the hall. Turning back to the man he said, "You wonder why I left... and I think now you should."

The man was becoming aggravated, "I am looking out for you. Scouts were there. Fouling out in the second quarter isn't going to get you to your dream."

23 started to walk away. Haley and I followed several steps behind. He turned around, "You mean your dream."

Shocked the man said nothing.

We continued silently until we reached the parking lot. The guy looked at me and then back at Haley. "You look familiar." He said as he threw his bag and a basketball into his trunk.

"She's Brooke's cousin." Haley said as she fiddled with her car keys.

Slamming his trunk closed, he looked up at me, "No kidding?"

"Would anyone kid about that?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Depends on the person."

I cocked my head to the side and leaned against his car. He stared at me and I said, "So last name Scott. Like Lucas Scott?"

He looked irritated, I ddin't care. "Yeah."

"Brothers?"

"Half." He crossed his arms, "Same dad."

I nodded my head, "And would that be the oh-so-charming fellow you had the yell fest with back there?"

"That would be him."

"Man," I put my hands in my pockets, "With that personality I can she why he was such a ladies man."

Haley laughed and he whipped his head to look at her, "What?" She said narrowing her eyes at him.

Realizing I hadn't introduced myself, I yelled to him as I got in the passenger side of Haley's car. I stood up and peaked my head over the top of the car, "I'm Davis by the way."

"Nathan." He said rolling down his passenger side window.

I smiled and climbed back into the car. Turning to Haley I said, "He never said anything about a party."

She patted me on the head, "Oh Davis, it's a given."

"But we lost."

"All the more reason," She smiled at me. Taking a sharp corner, she turned back to me, "What's a girl like you doing here?"

"Long story."

"Summarize."

I sorted through my purse for a piece of gum. Offering her a piece I said, "My parents whole life revolved around telling me how perfect Brooke was..."

Haley laughed, "Joking."

Shaking my head, she took the gum and we pulled up to an apartment building. Releaved to not have to finish the story I looked out the window. Haley climbed out and I did the same. "So we are here."

"Home sweet home." She turned to me and smiled.

"So this is party central?" I followed her to the front door. She nodded her head as she turned the key in the lock. "Own key."

"Of course." Walking into the house she said, "It's a necessity."

Hearing a noise behind us, I slowly turned around to see an ocean of people swell into the apartment. I looked back at Haley, almost nervous. She patted me on the back. I watched Brooke parade into the apartment, followed by an annoyed Lucas and a curly haired cheerleader. Unlike Brooke, she was not dressed in her uniform, she wore dark blue jeans and a black concert tee with Ramones scribbled across.

I felt a hand on my back and quickly turned around. A medium sized dark headed guy stood so close to me I could almost feel his eyes on my breasts. Behind him stood Nathan with a beer in his hand. I looked at the guy, "Up here," and half-smiled. "Thanks, can I help you?" I asked him.

"I play basketball." He said as he put his hands on my hips.

Was that supposed to be a line? If it was, I knew he didn't get any girls. I pushed his hands off, "I know thirty one ways to make a guy cry."

"Feisty aren't we?"

Rolling my eyes at him, I started to walk away. He grabbed my arm and I turned around, "Are you an idiot? I'm not interested."

"He's smart." Nathan said, taking a long swig from his beer bottle.

I narrowed my eyes at him and crossed my arms, "Look who's talking."

"No really I am."

Starting to walk away, I figured I would humor him. "How so?"

"I got a twenty three on my ACT this year."

I put my hands on my hips, "Wow." He smiled thinking he had conquered me. I leaned close to him and whispered into his ear, "I might have been impressed if I hadn't gotten that when I was in the seventh grade." Pulling away, I smiled at him and walked away.

Before I could reach the couch where Haley was sitting with Lucas and Brooke, I was stopped by the curly headed cheerleader. "Ya know I was contemplating not talking to you when I walked in."

I crossed my arms and said, "Wow you Tree Hill folks sure are charming."

She smirked at me and said, "But then I saw you talk to Tim and Nathan like they could go blow themselves and I knew that you were an alright kid." She paused, "No one talks to them like that."

"Someone needed to. Tim, I guess, had his hands all over me like he had never seen a girl before." She handed me her cup and I took a long drink. "White Russian?" I looked up at her and she nodded. "Someone is making mixed drinks?"

She shook her head and pointed to herself, "Well I am. I'm Peyton by the way. Want one?"

"Davis and hell yeah." I followed her into the kitchen. Brooke and Lucas now stood in there. Brooke was leaning over Lucas, who was leaning on the refrigerator.

"Pick your poison." Peyton said as she reached for a plastic cup.

Watching Brooke and Lucas out of the corner out of my eye, I told Peyton, "How about a tequila sunrise?"

She nodded and looked back at me, "Coming right up."

Peyton handed me the drink and we walked toward Brooke and Lucas. Peyton spoke first, "Tough game Luke."

He nodded and Brooke put her arm around his shoulder, "Yeah, you win some, you lose some ya know?"

I nodded my head, "Success is counted sweetest by those who never succeed."

His eyes smiled at me and Brooke's mouth frowned. "What are you saying Davis? That they never win..."

"Calm down Brooke." He lowered his head to get Brooke to move her arm. "Emily Dickinson." Lucas said to me.

Nodding my head I said, "The distant strains of triumph break, agonized and clear." I followed him back into the living room and we sat down on the couch.

Brooke wiggled in between us. Lucas leaned forward and said, "You read poetry."

"I love anything involving the fine arts. Poetry, plays, anything."

He smiled at me and Brooke was becoming irritated. She pushed me back, "Okay enough of this philosophical crap..."

I narrowed my eyes at her, "Its not philosophy we are talking about Brooke."

"Does it matter Davis? He's not interested." She stood up and reached for Lucas's hands. "Shall we?"

He looked at me, "Go. We will have plenty of time to talk about poetry."

He smiled and took her hands. She looked back at me and yelled, "No you won't."

"She is being insanely juvenile." I said turning to Peyton.

"What else is new?" She asked me.

Haley plopped down next to me on the couch, "Heard you seriously told of Nathan and Tim."

I nodded, "Maybe it will knock them back down to reality. The real world is definitely waiting for their return."

Peyton laughed at me, "Please explain."

"They seriously need to come to the realization that not every girl in the town is in desperate need to jump on top of them just because they are basketball players." I ran my fingers through my hair and leaned forward.

Peyton and Haley looked at each other and then at me. "What?" I asked them.

"I sense some animosity toward..." Peyton started.

"Everything?" I finished for her.

"Something like that." Haley said.

"You sensed right."

I looked around the room filled with groping, beer hungry Tree Hill students. Ever from across the room I could spot Lucas. He was standing on the edge of a circle which surrounded Brooke. He was staring directly in my direction. I looked behind me, there was no one there. I pointed at myself and he nodded. I shook my head knowing that there was no possibly way he was interested in me.

Knowing that he was far too handsome to turn down I had to the apartment. I took Peyton's hand and lead her outside with me. She looked confused and I said, "Just come with me."

We sat on the stoop outside. I turned around to see Haley walk out. She sat next to me and I said, "So tell me everything you know about my cousin."

"We could be here a while." Peyton said.

I looked at my watch, "I have all night."

Author Note: To address some questions, Brooke's father and Davis's mother and brother and sister. That is why Davis' first name is the same as Brooke last name. Yes, this story will have some Brucas in it and maybe some Davis/Lucas action but maybe not... I'm not going to give that away so early in the story. :)
Sorry for the lack of updates on my stories, I have been really busy and out of town.