At The End of The Day

Authors Thoughts: In the last chapter there may have been some ambiguity over Peyton/Kevin and/or Haley/Kevin. I think that'll be explained in this one. There's more stuff revealed in this chapter and again the foreshadowing is still present. Hmm the rest is sort of self-explanatory. Enjoy!

Chapter 5

"None of us knows what the next change is going to be, what unexpected opportunity is just around the corner, waiting a few months or a few years to change all the tenor of our lives."

-Kathleen Norris

Nathan stared down at the work in front of him and rubbed his eyes with his hands. School wasn't usually that hard for him, he just did the work and got it done. History, Science, even English…whatever the subject was he didn't really have a problem. But for some reason Math had always given him a hard time. Not all Math of course, the basics he got, he even enjoyed Algebra. When it came to calculating basketball stats and crunching numbers there was no problem. But ever since he started learning the abstract things in Math all sense flew out the window. He knew there had to be some sort of logic to this but he wasn't seeing it. He huffed out another breath.

"You ok?" Lucas called from where he was sitting on his bed, legs stretched out in front of him, a book in his hands.

"Yeah," he breathed out, "just this stupid Math is giving me a headache. I thought college was about taking classes that you wanted to take?" he looked up at him with an annoyed look.

Lucas shook his head with a smile, "yeah but you didn't honestly expect to get a business major and not take any math courses did you?"

Nathan rolled his eyes, "whatever, I'm going to the NBA I'm not going to need any of this."

"You really want to go all the way huh?" Lucas questioned smiling once more.

"Yeah I mean…I love basketball, it's one of the most important things to me. Getting to play for years to come, and getting paid to do it? I mean that's like the perfect job for me and it wouldn't even be like a job, I'd just be playing ball." Nathan leaned back on the pillows as Lucas thought over his words for a minute. He and Nathan had always loved basketball since the day they could hold a ball in their hands. They'd learned how to play it together, helped each other strengthen their weaknesses and then compete in countless one-on-one games. They'd always had a lot of fun playing it. They even joined their middle school team. Lucas had always been looking forward to playing with Nathan in high school until he found out he was moving away. It seemed like high school had given Nathan an even stronger passion and desire for the sport. Both of them had talked about playing pro one day but it had always just been that: talking. Lucas still loved the sport, and he knew that he wanted to play college, but he didn't want to make a living out of it. He loved all of his high school English courses and in college he was assured that he wanted to do something with that. It wasn't as if he couldn't play and write a book as well, especially since playing professionally meant early retirement. But Lucas didn't want to waste his younger years worrying about practices and championships and teams and score reports. He looked forward to the day he could start a family and he wanted to be present for every day, and not out on road games.

Nathan had always been more of a dreamer in that sense. His love for basketball was always intense and passionate. When he had a ball in his hands he could tune the whole world out and often Lucas would have to get his attention if he was trying to tell Nathan something. Basketball was just always Nathan's focus, nothing ever really seemed as important to him as that. He wondered though, had Nathan developed any other kind of dreams in the last four years that he hadn't spent with him as often as he would have liked?

"So is basketball all you think about now?" Lucas voiced his question.

Nathan looked at him confusion on his features, "What do you mean? You and I have always loved basketball."

"Yeah I know but come on you're going to play in the NBA and that's it? What about like, starting a family?"

Nathan shrugged, "I'm a freshman dude, that kind of thinking is up to you older people," he waived him off.

Lucas laughed, "Oh come on you think it's really that far off? You should think about that kind of stuff."

"Geez you sound like Haley," Nathan laughed, no wonder they were best friends, always thinking about the future and forgetting to enjoy the present, at least that's how it seemed.

"Yeah Haley and I think about stuff like that, so what? Don't tell me you've never thought about that kind of stuff?"

"Look Luke," Nathan exhaled, "I want a family some day you know? But that's still a couple years down the line. Just because I'm not thinking about it doesn't mean I don't want it."

Lucas nodded, "you're right, I'm sorry. You'll just have to find someone who's accepting of all the traveling you'll have to do."

Nathan shrugged, "plenty of professional sports players are married with kids, what's the big deal?"

Lucas pondered that, Nathan was right, there were plenty of couples in which one or the other had to travel for their job, not just in sports. There wasn't a problem with that but for himself he wanted to be home everyday.

"There is none."

"Ok then," Nathan laughed, what had gotten into Luke? "Are you ok man?"

Lucas squinted his eyes at him before laughing softly, "why wouldn't I be?"

"Are you answering me with a question? I hate when people do that you know," he smirked.

"I know, why do you think I do it?" Lucas teased.

"All right, just spill, something's up and don't tell me it isn't because I'd like to think I know you a little better than that."

Lucas sighed, "it's nothing," he spoke tiredly, "just sort of fighting with Brooke…"

"Anything bad?"

Lucas shook his head, "nah we'll be ok, just one of those couples things you know."

Nathan nodded, "right, well at least your biggest problem is a small fight with your girlfriend, meanwhile I'm staring at numbers and weird symbols on a page and I still have no idea what the hell this is about." Nathan sighed frustrated. He'd always been all right at school, got by just fine and everything, but this Calculus stuff was annoying him to the nth degree.

"Haley." Lucas stated.

Nathan's head shot up, "what?"

"Haley, she's good at that kind of thing."

"Yeah I know she helped me out the other day."

"So why don't you go ask her for some help?"

Nathan stared at him blankly for a second before shaking his head of wherever it was his mind had gone off to at Lucas' mentioning her name, "no I mean I don't want to take advantage of the fact that she helped me once, even though she did offer to do it again…"

Lucas laughed at his cousin, "See? Haley won't mind trust me. She loves anything that revolves around teaching." Nathan thought about it for a second. She had said that he could come to her if he needed any help, and boy did he need it. So he had the option of staring at the page for the rest of the night and not getting it, or grab hold of his nerves and just go ask her for help. It was no big deal. No big deal at all.

Then why was he so put-off at the mention of doing it? It's not that he didn't like Haley or he didn't want to see her, it was just that he felt weird asking her to help him out already. He felt like he was taking advantage of her generosity, which was ridiculous, but that didn't stop him from feeling it nonetheless.

"Besides there's that party later at Sanderson Hall and I believe it's my duty to make sure you get all your work done before having fun, according to Uncle Dan!" Lucas pointed his finger at Nathan for emphasis in his mocking tone.

"Funny," Nathan deadpanned. He did want to go to that party later so that was the last thing he needed to push him to just go ask for some help.

A bouncy and giggling Brooke swung open the door Nathan had just knocked on a few seconds before. Immediately her smile dropped.

"If you're here on behalf of that weasel cousin of yours you can just turn back around!" she spoke through gritted teeth and Nathan found himself amused. Brooke was angry, but not angry-angry just that cute way girls would be angry at times until their boyfriends groveled. He'd seen this act before, and since he wasn't on the receiving end, per se, it was actually kind of funny.

Nathan laughed, "actually I think this is Haley's room so I'm here to see her."

Brooke's grin returned, "Oh you're here to see Haley huh? Figured out which room was hers and everything, waited for the door to open…" she winked at him with a devilish grin.

"Brooke leave him alone!" Haley interjected from behind where she was sitting Indian style on her bed. "Come on in Nathan," she smiled sweetly at him.

"Hey," he smiled back stepping aside Brooke and into the room.

"Hi Nathan, how can I help you?"

"I was uh, well, I hope you don't mind but I kind of needed some help with Math again, I mean if…you don't mind."

"Umm," Haley glanced at her wristwatch, "yeah I have some time. What do you need?"

"Well I'm going to go get ready for that party later," Brooke spoke up opening the door so she could go to her own room, "you two don't do anything I wouldn't do!" she sing-songed.

"That means we can do everything right?" Haley grinned back at her, which made Brooke stick her tongue out at her. Haley did the same laughing as Brooke closed the door. So college chicks could be just as immature as high school ones, Nathan mused.

About a half hour later Nathan closed his book and stood up turning to Haley, "thank you so much Haley I'm sorry to intrude on your night…"

Haley waived him off, "Nathan its fine, like I told you, anytime ok?"

He nodded, "all right." He turned towards the door before turning back around, "hey are you going to that party later?"

Haley rolled her eyes, "are you kidding? Brooke will stab me if I don't." Nathan laughed his eyes crinkling, and Haley noticed how nice and wide Nathan's smile was. Lucas had a softer smile than his cousin, but Nathan's smile made his whole face light up in a way that made it obvious he wasn't faking it. Not that he would, she thought, but she just inferred that it would probably be very easy to tell if he was lying about something, or hiding his true feelings, because if he could smile that wide at a simple joke she'd made, there was no way a lesser smile would convince her of his happiness.

"Ok well then I guess I'll see you later?" he asked watching as she suddenly looked at her watch and stood up proceeding to put her shoes on.

"Yeah I'll see you there I guess, I actually have somewhere to be right now so…"

"Oh right, sure, well I'll just get out of your way," he moved towards the door.

"Nathan," she laughed, "you're not in my way."

Neither knew how much those words would ring true.

Nathan stepped with Lucas into the halls of Sanderson Hall, loud music blasting in his ears as soon as he did so. There were a lot of people around, filling the hallways, entryways, and massive lounge that existed on the ground floor of the building. The music came from the lounge as students were dancing and partying, whereas in the halls most were standing around talking to friends, almost all of them with a cup in their hands.

"Nathan!" Brooke ran up to him, stumbling a bit, and Nathan caught her just in time as she hugged him, securing her from tripping over her heels and falling.

"Are you drunk already Brooke?" he smirked.

"Noooo! Just a little tipsy," she bent her pointer finger close to her thumb making the universal hand sign for "little."

"Hey Brooke," Lucas tried from Nathan's side.

"Hi honey," she said in the fakest sweetest voice, before turning back to Nathan. "Come on," she pulled at his sleeve, "lets get you a drink." She dragged Nathan along before stopping suddenly short causing Nathan to almost crash into her at the unexpected stop. "Oh I have it here," she said rummaging through her purse before pulling out a laminated card. Nathan took the card from her hands realizing it was the Fake ID she'd promised him.

"Nash Stockton?" Nathan read the name on the ID. "Who would be named Nash?"

"I don't know I don't pick the names I just tell my people to do them. I got your photo from one of Lucas' photo albums, it was a good thing he had some recent ones because a picture of you in 7th grade wasn't going to cut it."

"I'll bet," he rolled his eyes playfully shoving the ID in his pocket, as Brooke led him further into the party. Lucas followed weakly behind them.

"So the game is truth or dare!" Brooke began. She was sitting in somebody's carpet floor. Someone on the first floor had forgotten to lock their door and it was a party rule that if you left your door open it was your fault if people used the room. Around her sitting in a circle were Lucas, Nathan and Peyton; all with drinks in their hands besides Lucas. He'd decided Brooke had enough for the both of them and he should be fully sober if he was going to watch out for his girlfriend tonight.

"With just us four?" Peyton asked pointedly.

As if on cue, Brooke's phone began to ring, "Hello?" she spoke into the receiver. "Haley James you said you were coming! …Oh you are? We're in 3A….yeah yeah yeah all the way down the hall…ok bye!" She closed the lid to her phone clapping her hands giddily, "Haley's here!"

A few moments later Haley walked into the room with a disgusted look on her face, "ugh I swear I'm never letting you drag me into one of these parties again! Do you know how many people I just walked by sucking face in the middle of a crowded hallway? Have some decency people!" she ranted eliciting knowing chuckles from Lucas and Peyton.

Brooke smiled devilishly, "its ok you're here now, with us!" she patted Haley's leg. Haley had taken the empty seat on the floor between Peyton and Nathan, all three of them leaning their backs against one of the bed's. Brooke sat across from Nathan and Lucas across from Peyton, a small space kept between the two. They weren't quite over their little tiff but Lucas had made it clear to Nathan that she always did this and they'd be fine by the end of the night. It was just one of the ways she liked having her control when so many things in her life were, and would be out of it.

"As I was saying, truth or dare!"

Haley groaned, "BROOKE! WHY must we always play some lame game? We're college students we can't hold a conversation?"

"It's a party Haley, we're not here to talk we're here to have fun! Don't worry I'll start." She turned to the boy sitting across from her "Nathan," she took a sip from her cup. Nathan shifted nervously in his position but tried to hide it. He was a college student now; he didn't have to be scared of a game. It was just a game right?

"Truth," he took his own sip from his cup.

"Are you a virgin?"

That same sip almost came sputtering out of his mouth. "What!"

"Oh come on, your idiot cousin," she glared in Lucas' direction causing Lucas to roll his eyes without saying a word, "has told me all about how you were the big man on campus in high school."

"I wasn't the big man on campus."

"But you were popular?" Peyton piped up.

"I guess," he really didn't know what others thought of him, how could anyone ever know what people really thought of you? "I mean I played basketball, so people knew me," he shrugged.

"Ok so answer the question, are you a virgin?"

"If you're going to answer that try not to be graphic," Lucas spoke with a scrunched up face not wanting to hear about his baby cousins' experiences. It was a mental picture he didn't need.

Nathan felt like he was one of those kids in those videos in health class when they talked about peer pressure and awkward situations and not really knowing what to say. All of the people around him were older therefore more experienced, why did Brooke have to pick on him this way? Did she realize how unnerving asking that kind of question was?

"Is there a reason you want to know Brooke?" he smirked, maybe he wouldn't have to say anything if he charmed his way out of it.

"No don't worry honey your cousin takes care of me." This time Nathan was the one who grimaced along with Haley and Peyton, a collective "ew" was mumbled. Lucas smiled, she was cracking.

"Come on just answer the question, what's the big deal… OH!" she covered her mouth suddenly, "are you one? Oh my gosh, its ok if you are I mean, uh…" she spoke quickly. Nathan rolled his eyes. Great, now this.

"NO!" he interrupted her.

"What?"

"No I'm not a virgin ok?" He figured honesty was the best policy, and maybe she'd finally shut up. He was slightly annoyed.

Haley watched the interaction between them with an observant eye. She wasn't exactly surprised that he wasn't one, but it just made her wonder about some things.

"Oh I knew it! Big man on campus no doubt!" she winked at him.

Nathan shook his head the smile beginning to return to his face, "I'm not a man-whore Brooke," he stated slowly and truthfully.

From his tone of voice Haley knew he wasn't lying about that, her own smile crept on her face.

Brooke shrugged, "your turn."

Nathan grinned, payback time, "Brooke, truth or dare?"

"Dare," she replied immediately.

"Kiss Lucas." He knew it wasn't a huge dare, but he also knew it was the last thing she wanted to do right now, so it'd serve its purpose. Brooke sent dagger eyes his way.

"Oh you're good Scott, for the baby of the group I like you already," she said to him before turning to her side and grabbing Lucas' face and laying one on him. Haley and Peyton turned to each other averting their eyes as Nathan chuckled; his cousin so owed him one.

"Ok," Brooke let go and continued on as if nothing had happened as Lucas wiped smeared lipstick off his lips. "Haley truth or dare?"

Haley sent her a dry look. This was so not going to be good, "truth."

"Same question as Nate here, you still a virgin?"

"BROOKE!" she interjected, "it's not like you don't know that answer."

"Well you did have a date tonight so you never know," she smiled innocently.

Nathan's ears perked up. Date?

"It wasn't a date!" Haley bit out, "it was just hanging out."

"Right," Brooke squinted her eyes at Haley, "just the two of you…?"

"There's nothing wrong with that and that doesn't make it a date!" Haley crossed her arms over her chest.

"Wait who are we talking about?" Nathan interrupted lost to the exchange going on in front of him.

Haley answered before anyone else could, "It was nothing. Kevin just wanted to hang out, just him and me. It wasn't a date."

As if on cue Kevin waltzed into the room, "speak of the devil" Peyton mused.

"What are you guys talking about?" Kevin sat down between Lucas and Brooke, across from Haley. "Where you talking about me?"

"I was just explaining to them that we just hung out tonight, that it wasn't a date!"

"She was just trying to tell us you didn't take her virginity!" Brooke teased leaning into Kevin to tell him that, "I'm not convinced about it not being a date."

Realization hit Nathan. Whoa Haley was a virgin? Ok how did someone as hot as her not lose it yet? Wait when had he decided she was hot? Oh right, right around the time she said "hi" and smiled at him when he first met her. She was definitely hot. And a virgin? He didn't really know what to do with that information. A part of him wasn't too surprised; he already knew Haley was different from the other girls, yet a part of him did kind of wonder about it. Was it Haley's choice or was she waiting for the right guy for that or what was it? He remembered what she'd told him about finding Mr. Right and getting married, and that she hadn't dated too many guys. Was she waiting for marriage to have sex? Were the guys here blind to not want her or did they not want her because she wanted to wait? More importantly why the hell was he asking himself all these questions? This had nothing to do with him and quite frankly it was none of his business.

"Oh tonight wasn't a date," Kevin assured Brooke. Then he looked across at Haley and smiled. "You ready to leave this shindig Hales? Come on I'll walk you to your dorm." Haley desperate for a way out readily stood to leave. Lucas noticed Brooke was beginning to doze off, the effects of the liquor beginning to take place. Sighing he pulled Brooke up and into his arms, it was time to carry her home.

"Come on big man on campus," Peyton laughed at the look Nathan gave her, "you can walk me home."

"So Haley and Kevin are pretty close huh?" Nathan couldn't help but ask Peyton.

"Yeah they've always been really close since they met…you know Haley made best friends with Lucas who roomed with Kevin freshman year meanwhile Brooke and I got to know each other. Then last year when Brooke started dating Lucas I ended up spending more time with Kevin so we're cool too."

"Yeah I noticed all the flirting the other night," he teased being rewarded with a sharp jab in the ribs, which caused him to laugh.

"It was not flirting! Kevin and I are just like that, we're like guy best friends, I can be really tomboyish when I want to be," she laughed.

"That's cool."

"But yeah Kevin and Haley have been friends all 3 years so far, but they're not closer than say Haley and Lucas. Kevin just likes Haley's quality I guess. The type of person that she is fits his personality I suppose," Peyton shrugged.

Nathan nodded, pondering all the newly acquired information.

"Oh are you kidding? I was mortified! I love Brooke but sometimes she is so out of line!" Haley complained to a laughing Kevin.

"The consumption of beer will do that to you," she joined him in his laughter letting the slight anger at Brooke's antics slip away.

"But she's still very intuitive even when drunk," he began.

"What do you mean?" Haley turned to him.

"Tonight wasn't a date but…" Haley watched him expectantly; "I would like one if that's ok with you?" he spoke shyly.

Haley's eyes widened, she wasn't expecting that. Kevin wanted a date from her? But he was like…her friend, you don't date friends. No wait that wasn't true you do date friends, better friends then strangers, right? Wait, had she answered him yet? She looked at him noticing the nerves in his face. No she hadn't answered yet.

"You want to go out with me?" she sounded surprised.

"Yeah I mean I don't want to ruin our friendship or anything but I kind of like you Haley and well…just one date, to see how it goes?" His hands were firmly shoved in his pockets and his shoulders rose up in unease. He still didn't know how he'd ever worked up the courage to ask her this, but he'd been wanting to for some time now.

He was a good-looking guy, with soft blonde hair and green eyes. And he was a nice guy that was for sure. He hadn't had too many girlfriends much like she hadn't had too many boyfriends and the few dates he'd been on they'd all ended on good terms…they'd ended, but they'd ended well. It wasn't like the girls hadn't liked him; it was more of just simply not matching personalities. Haley knew all about that.

"Ok sure" she replied with a soft smile. She was nervous as hell about this, but the prospect didn't seem too bad.

One date.

It probably wouldn't change anything.

Right?