TREE HILL HIGH

One Court -Two Worlds


"Scott!" Coach Whitey called out, his voice echoing in the musty gym.

Nathan and Lucas's heads swiveled around in his direction.

Whitey gave them a grave look. "Both of you! My office, now!"

Nathan took one look at Lucas and threw the ball at him deliberately before jogging off after whitey. Lucas shook his head and followed.

"Sit down." Whitey said, grumpily.

"I'm fine." Lucas said.

"I think I'll stand." Nathan echoed.

Whitey glared at them. "I said sit!"

Nathan sighed and they both slumped into the chairs.

"Now you listen to me and you listen to me well," Whitey said, leaning forward, his body supported by his hands which were rested on the table. "I don't care which one of you is the illegitimate love child and which one is the biggest a.ss out there. When you are on that court, you two will act like teammates." he ordered. "Co-operation!" he glared at them alternately. "Am I clear?"

Nathan raised his eyebrows, innocently. "Crystal."

"Good," Whitey said, standing straight. "Now get out of here."

Lucas and Nathan both jogged back out to the in-door court.

Brooke smiled cheerfully and threw her hands in the air, swinging her pom-poms. "Go Nathan!" she yelled out, winking at him.

Lucas watched in disgust before turning to the bleachers. Peyton looked away from Brooke and Nathan and looked at Lucas. They both exchanged identical disgusted looks before breaking into laughter.

Peyton scribbled something down on the drawing pad in her hands before flashing it in the air to Lucas. "GO LUCAS!" was written across it. Lucas laughed.

"Thanks." he called out, making every head in the gym turn to him, including Brooke and Nathan.

Brooke gave him an appalled face and raised her eyebrow. She mouthed, "Loser."

Lucas sighed.

"Practice is out!" Whitey called from the far end of the gym.

'Thank God.' Lucas thought, jogging over to Peyton. Peyton smiled and picked up her bag, swinging it over her shoulder as she stood up.

"Thanks for the cheering attempt." Lucas teased.

"Hey! I did not cheer, I just… encouraged you." Peyton said, offended.

"Let's face it Sawyer, you're a natural cheerleader."

"Luke, you really are a bastard." Peyton shot back, her eyebrows raised; she turned around and began walking away.

"Ouch." Lucas said, trotting up next to her.

Peyton laughed and swung her arm around Lucas's neck, playfully tugging him closer.

Brooke watched from a distance and looked at Nathan in disbelief. "Isn't that the saddest thing you've ever seen? I mean, aren't they ashamed to be doing that in public?"

"Being friends?" Nathan asked, not seeing Brooke's point. "Brooke, just cause you don't have friends-"

Brooke gasped. "I do too have friends!"

Nathan raised his eyebrows unconvinced. "Right, Brooke."

"Whatever," she said, looking away. She saw a girl sitting in the bleachers, watching them as they quarreled. "Show's over, tutor girl!" she said, shooing Haley with her hands from a distance.

Haley quickly looked away and tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear.

"Leave her alone," Nathan muttered.

Brooke looked at him strangely. "Sometimes, you are just like your brother."

"Hey." Nathan objected angrily. "I told you to stop calling him that."

"Okay, okay." surrendered Brooke. She kissed him. "Drop you home?" she offered.

"Sure." he said, he glanced over at Haley and caught her taking a peek at him, but she quickly averted her eyes from him. He shook his head and turned away.