Chapter 3: H-O-R-S-E Spells Horse

Note: Thanks to all who reviewed! Much appreciated! I see that you guys want to see Naley, Brucas, and other characters. I hope this chapter will cover all of that. Just a side note: all 5 are rich. That's why it's such a huge backyard…oh you'll see later on in this chapter. So enjoy!

After watching Lucas get whacked with a bucket by Peyton the friends had to decide what to do next.

"What'll we do now?" Brooke asked.

"We could always play basketball." Lucas said immediately, his blue eyes lit up at the thought.

"Yeah." Nathan readily agreed.

"No fair!" Haley and Brooke complained.

"Yeah, we're no good at basketball." Peyton added.

"You guys can be our cheerleaders." Nathan suggested.

Peyton frowned at him along with Haley but Brooke eagerly agreed.

"Come on guys, whatsa matter? We cheerlead all the time!" Brooke said exasperated.

"It's not that." Haley said.

"I just don't like how he asked." Peyton finished.

"Alright, fine." Nathan said rolling his eyes. "Will you three please be our cheerleaders?'

"Sure, we'd love to." Peyton said gratified.

"Sheesh, girls!" Nathan huffed under his breath. Lucas heard him and snickered.

"What was that?" Brooke asked dangerously.

"Oh, nothing." Lucas said quickly. "Look there's Jake."

Sure enough Jake appeared by the fence.

Jake called over to them, his slight country accent apparent "Can someone open the fence please?"

Peyton jogged over and opened the fence. "Hey Jake." She greeted him.

"Hey man, right on time. We were just headed to the basketball court." Lucas said to Jake. "

"Let's go then!" Nathan said.

"We'll play HORSE, ok Nate, Jake?"

"Fine." Jake agreed.

"Sure." Nate said.

"I'm so wet." Haley commented as they walked to the basketball court in the huge backyard.

"I know, but it feels good 'cause it's so hot." Peyton replied.

"Yeah, my mom said it'd be like 110 degrees today!" Brooke added.

"That's impossible!" Lucas exclaimed.

"So I exaggerated a little. It's still hot!" Brooke pointed out.

Lucas rolled his eyes and continued.

"Finally we're here!" Peyton said.

"First!" Nathan shouted before they reached the court.

"No fair!" Lucas protested.

"Sure it is. I said it first." Nathan argued.

"We wasn't even on the court yet!" Lucas exclaimed.

"Fine." Nathan said. "How 'bout this then. First one to get the basketball from the shed and back wins."

"Sure." Mild mannered Jake agreed.

"Alright…GO!" Lucas shouted.

The three raced for the shed at the opposite end of the court. Jake fell behind first. Then Lucas pulled ahead and reached the shed first and grabbed the basketball. He dodged as Nathan tried to grab the basketball from him and sprinted back.

The girls cheered as Lucas reached them first with the ball.

"I'm first." Lucas said with satisfaction when Nathan reached them.

"It's all good." Nathan said confidently. "I'll win anyway."

When Jake had H-O-R, Lucas had an H, and Nathan still had no letters, Peyton and Brooke stopped paying attention and began doing gymnastics.

"Remember H-O-R-S-E spells HORSE Jake." Nathan said jokingly.

Haley cheered every time any of the boys made a shot but it seemed to Jake and especially Lucas that she cheered louder for Nathan.

Finally Lucas stopped during the game and asked her point blank "Why are you cheering louder for Nathan?"

Haley blushed slightly and said quietly "Am not."

Lucas said skeptically "Sure you aren't.", before joining the game again.

The game ended when Jake was out and Lucas got an E, leaving Nathan the winner.

Nathan grinned widely at Lucas and Jake after Lucas missed.

Haley ran over to Nathan grinning. "Congrats!" she said excitedly, throwing her arms around the slightly taller boy.

"Thanks." Nathan replied gladly.

Caught up in the moment she quickly brought his face to her level and kissed him directly on the lips in front of everyone.

Nathan stood there shocked and everyone went quiet.

After what seemed like a million years to Nathan and Haley, Lucas said teasingly "Nathan's got a girlfriend, Nathan's got a girlfriend!"

Haley's face immediately flushed deep red from embarrassment as even Jake chuckled.

Glancing at her friend's embarrassed face Brooke immediately strode over and jumped to her defense.

"Oh you hush Lucas Scott!" Brooke told him angrily, her hand on her hip.

"Or what?" Lucas said tauntingly.

Brooke walked closer to Lucas and without hesitating at all kissed him on the lips.

"Or that." Brooke said satisfied at the shocked look on his face.

Hoped everyone liked the chapter. If you have any ideas for stuff you'd like them to do please put them in your review. If not there are approximately 2 more chapters to the story. Until next chapter!