It was the most eagerly anticipated match up of the regular NBA season. The Philadelphia arena was sold out as the fans filed in to watch the team and particularly, Lucas Scott take on the Charlotte Bobcats and his little brother, Nathan Scott. Brooke showed her pass to the security where she roamed about backstage. Lucas was suiting up and the brunette was shocked to run into Nathan outside the visitors' locker room.

"Hey you", she finally said.

"What's up?" he half grinned.

She shuffled her weight nervously. After all that had happened, it was an understatement to say that there was plenty of tension and uncomfortable silences. Brooke felt like a woman who knew too much.

"Um…ready for the game?"

"You mean ready to kick my brother's ass? Hell yeah", he laughed.

Brooke nodded and tried to smile.

"So uh…where's Megan?"

"At the hotel. She was feeling kind of tired."

"Oh", Brooke stated.

Things were still awkward. The two women who had once been bosom buddies hadn't spoken a word since the night of Brooke's disastrous going away party at Nathan and Meg's house. She knew a meeting was inevitable.

"But in the meantime, to keep you company, the VIP box will be filled with my parents so having to listen to Dan Scott commentate and coach from the stands should ensure that your evening is more pleasurable", he said sarcastically.

"Oh no", Brooke groaned with the roll of her eyes. "Kill me now!"

"It won't be that bad. Jake, Peyton and Jenny made it up, too."

"The Jagielski clan is here?" Brooke asked hopefully.

"Yeah. They should be in their seats now."

"Good. Pey and I need to talk anyway."

She turned on her heels to leave.

"Hey Brooke?"

"Yeah?"

"I, um…I hope you get to see Meg while you're up here. I know things didn't go too well last time you guys saw each other but she's really sorry."

Brooke nodded before leaving.

"Okay. I'll let her tell me that."

"Thanks", Nathan said quietly.

"Good luck out there tonight, Superstar", she winked.

Nathan watched her leave as his team prepared to take the floor for warm ups.

"Hey man. I was looking for you earlier."

Lucas.

"What's up, bro?" they knocked fists.

"Look, we need to talk, Nate. Any way we can get together after the game tonight?"

Nathan nodded.

"Yeah, no problem. What's up?"

Lucas looked uneasy.

"It's nothing. We'll just talk later, okay?"

After becoming so close over the years, the two men had the ability to take one look at the other and no when something was up. Lucas was hiding something heavy and Nathan could tell.

"Luke…"

"It's cool, dude. Just…"

"Man, come on. What, are we in third grade? 'I have something really big to tell you but I'll tell you later'. Come on, man. I hate that stupid shit. Whatever it is, just tell me now."

"I'm sorry I brought it up. Your mind needs to be on the court."

"It's a little too late for that, don't you think? Tell me, Lucas."

The older brother searched for words but were they really polite or politically correct terms to say what he had to say?

"The kid's not yours", he blurted out.

Nathan's eyes widened.

"What?"

"Haley's baby. It…it's Chris'."

The younger Scott tried to maintain his footing and ignore the lump forming heavily over his heart.

"What…how do you know? I mean…"

"Don't get pissed but I went to New York."

"You what?" Nathan hissed.

"I had to see her. I had to talk to her. Anyway, it's all true. Taylor confirmed it. I…I'm sorry, man. I don't know what to say/"

Nathan swallowed hard.

"Good, you know? I mean, I'm glad. Less drama for me to deal with."

"Nate…"

"I knew it wasn't mine."

"Man…"

"I hope she and Chris are very happy together", he whispered before running out onto the court.

The fans cheered for the teams as the announcements of the starting lineups commenced and the action began. All eyes eagerly awaited, especially from the VIP box. In heels, jeans, and a tight fitting designer sweater, Brooke took her seat, which happened to be next to Peyton. They were away from the prying eyes and ears of the others, stuffed in a private corner. The blonde smiled.

"You still mad at me, Davis?"

Brooke smirked.

"Yes."

"But I see you made it home and I take it all is well in the land of Broody and Cheery?"

"Yes. You were right and I was wrong. Want me to freaking hire a blimp to fly that around?"

Peyton thought for a minute.

"Uh…yes. That would be nice."

The two women took one look at each other and burst out laughing as they embraced.

"I was an idiot and I was wrong and I overreacted and you were right and thank you for showing me the error of my wicked ways, oh mighty Peyton."

"All is forgiven", she giggled.

"Good. And if you ever tell anyone I just admitted all that, I will be forced to kill you", Brooke smirked.

"Your secret is safe with me", Peyton smiled. "Now seriously…you and Luke make up?"

"Yeah. We're fine and uh…it looks like the papers were right. Chris is gonna be a daddy."

Peyton's mouth fell open.

"Oh my God", she muttered.

It wasn't real to her. Something in her gut told her different. She'd have to hear it from Haley herself and then she probably still wouldn't believe it. Something was up.

"Yeah but I think it's best that we all just stay out of it. Haley can come to us if she wants."

"Yeah, I guess. How is Lucas taking the news?"

"He's coping, I guess. It's hard."

"And Nathan?" Peyton asked carefully, looking up, making sure Dan and Deb were engrossed in the game and not in their conversation.

"I don't know. He seemed okay. Meg's not here. She's resting in their hotel room."

Peyton nodded but both women wondered exactly how much Nathan knew. They watched him on the court and it didn't take long to know something was wrong. Gone was the man Brooke had exchanged friendly banter with an hour before. He was tense and moody, aggressive and seemingly unfocused. Much to the home crowd's delight and particularly Dan's dismay, he turned the ball over three times in the first quarter alone. His moves were messy and uncoordinated and he took risky shots from the three point line, going 0 for 6. The coach was livid and four early fouls had the younger Scott on the bench by halftime.

If Nathan had royally screwed up, Lucas, the crown prince had delivered for the fans. 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal in two quarters, along with the always superb play of Allen Iverson and the dead on three point shooting of Kyle Korver had the 76ers up by 10.

"What the hell is wrong with your son?" Dan shook his head, sneering at Deb.

Jake, Peyton and Brooke exchanged looks before deciding to talk about happier and lighter issues during halftime. The mood was good inside the Wachovia Center and in the 6ers locker room but not so much for the Bobcats and in particularly Nathan who had his ass chewed by the coach for 10 full minutes.

They returned for the second half of the game where Nathan's third quarter performance seemed to improve vastly. But it was the top of the fourth when all hell broke loose. He was dribbling towards the basket, set up brilliantly by Malik Allen for the easy two point lay up when he felt something push him from behind. It was the body of Samuel Dalembert that threw him to the floor. It was an accident, just the nature of the game that caused players to get physical sometimes.

"You alright, man?" Sam offered his hand to the opposing Nathan.

"What the fuck, dude?" Nathan angrily charged after him.

Malik grabbed his jersey and Lucas quickly intervened.

"Calm down, man. It was an accident."

Just when it seemed Nathan had that famous Scott temper under control, they turned him loose. Sulking and stalking his way up the court, he huffed and puffed, feeling anger build as finally he yanked off his arm band and chucked it into the crowd.

Lucas hung his head. Dan cursed out loud. Everyone knew what that meant. It was a technical foul and Nathan's first. Usually it took two to get kicked out of a game but throwing something into the audience was cause for immediate ejection.

"Number 23, Nathan Scott, you're out of here, son…"

He smirked and took off his jersey leaving it on the floor. The talented young man who had everything and was throwing it all away. On the way out he looked up into the menacing eyes of his father. Nathan grinned. Why not? He had nothing else to lose.