3

"So Lucas told me you spazzed at practice the other day." Peyton knew it was a sore subject for him, but she brought it up anyways. Sometimes it was better to talk about things.

"Yeah, I just…I don't know…Whitey was pressuring me to get my head in the game and he threatened to bench me and I just I snapped. I couldn't help it, I just…I don't know how anyone can concentrate when all I can think about is how she's never gonna come back to me again."

They were sitting at the River Court together, they were staring out at the water together just talking. Sometimes Peyton could feel a new connection with Nathan, a new friendship that was bubbling up from under the shambles of their old relationship. And she thought he could feel it too.

"Hey Nate, you know what? You're too good for this, you are a good guy and you don't deserve what she did to you. I know she cut you deep but you're better than that, you're stronger, and you're a better person than she is. And as hard as it seems right now, you can get through this. I hate to sound cliché but, what doesn't kill you will make you stronger." As she said this Peyton took his hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Thanks Peyton, I dunno what I'd do without you." Nathan choked.

Peyton squeezed his hand again, "That's what friends are for Nate, that's what friends are for."

"I can't do it Peyton, I can't shoot worth crap anymore." The game was in a few hours and Nathan was bouncing everything off the rim, off the backboard, and he was getting frustrated. It was the finals, he'd worked the whole season for this moment and he couldn't make a single shot.

"Nathan!" Peyton said sharply, "Focus. You've done this forever, you can do it, I know you can. Now close your eyes," Peyton walked over and stood under the basket, "focus on my voice, and only my voice, forget about everything else, and just do it Nate, let it flow." Nathan took a deep breath, and with his eyes still shut he launched the ball into the air, half a second later he heard the resounding swish as the ball hit its mark.

"Perfect swish Nate! See, I knew you could do it. Don't let Haley ruin basketball for you to. You know you can do this!" Quickly she gave him a hug and ran into the locker room.

"Wooo! Come on Nathan!" Peyton shook her pom-poms in the air enthusiastically as Nathan sunk his 13th basket of the night. "Let's go Ravens!" The whole town had come out to this game, it was the biggest game of the year; the state finals. From where she stood on court side Peyton could hear the announcers comments "...and that's 26 points for Nathan Scott! Scott is on a roll tonight! Scott has long been considered one of the top most promising young varsity players in years, and it looks as if he may carry his team to their first state title!"

"5...4...,"the cheerleaders began counting down the final seconds of the game,"2...1!" When the buzzer sounded chaos erupted on the court, and off the court. The crowd went wild and the players jumped into a huge pileup! The cheerleaders cheered and the boys high fived one another over and over again.

Peyton felt a hand on her shoulder. Nathan had broken away from the slaps on the back, the high fives and the hugs to see her. She squealed and jumped into his arms.

"Congratulations Nathan!" Peyton felt overwhelming pride for him. "I told you, you could do it Nate. I never gave up on you. Even when you hit the rim 9 times outta 10."

"I couldn't have done it without you Peyton. And I mean that." He gave her a hug and flashed her his cocky grin and ran back to his teammates. And it was at that moment that Peyton Sawyer fell back in love with Nathan Scott.