Nathan was still in a phase of confusion from what had happend at his locker. It wasn't like him to be at a loss for words. He always knew what to do and what to say in any situation. It just wasn't possible for him to stumble or fumble, it's not in his nature. Sitting in his seat he crumpled papers and shot them into the near by waste basket as he awaited Lucas.

"Hey," Lucas came dropping into his seat still covering his friend.

Nathan looked up from his little game of waste basketball.

"Hey."

Lucas noticed Nathan seemed troubled. Boy was everyone not having a good day today. First his over excitement, a close call with an angry Brooke, and now Nathan.

"What's wrong Nate?"

Nathan only managed a shrug. He had seized his little game and was now slouched in his seat.

"I don't know man."

Lucas nodded as he turned to face the front of the class.

Nathan began to fidget with his things. He couldn't keep in one place.

"I know what's wrong I just don't know why it happend."

Lucas turned to his brother, "What do you mean?"

"I mean me Nathan Scott the master of quick comments and being all put together. I wasn't and I'm really beginning to get a little freaked out. I never stutter and when I do there's got to be something wrong."

"Okay man slow down. I'm not getting you. What happened?"

Nathan tore a sheet of paper into smaller and smaller pieces.

"I was at my locker today and all of a sudden Bevin surprises me from behind."

"Yeah?"

"She asked me on a date?"

Lucas laughed, "What? Bevin asked you out on a date?"

"It's not funny man but yeah she did. I wanted to tell her no but for some reason it didn't come out."

"What do you mean it didn't come out?"

"Well you know Bevin and her outbursts."

"Yeah the girl can't tell the difference from one thing to another."

"Yeah exactly my point. She kept interrupting me, and when I finally got a chance to talk Jill came. All of a sudden I was at a loss for words. Everything I wanted to say I couldn't.Well first it was cause I wanted to tell Bevin I was crushing on someone, but since Jill was there I couldn't."

"That sucks man."

"Tell me about it. Then Bevin told Jill she asked me out so I was left to try and talk myself out of going with her but again nothing came out of my mouth."

"What's wrong with you man?"

"I don't know. Jill thought it was cause I was too shy to say yes so she said yes for me. Dude I don't want to go out with Bevin tonight."

Lucas couldn't help but laugh again.

"Dude why are you laughing? This shit is far from funny."

"I'm sorry man it's just so weird knowing you messed up. I mean you do it all the time but."

"Thanks dick head."

"Hey! Not like it's a bad thing Nate, but you really need to be quick next time."

Nathan ran his fingers through his hair.

"I know."

"So did you tell Jill you didn't want to go out with Bevin?"

"No. She ran off before I could explain. Now she thinks I like Bevin."

Luke nodded.

"That sucks man."

"That's all you have to say? Where's the Oprah advice guy when I need him?"

"Okay sorry man, but it's not a big thing."

"It is Luke, to me."

"Okay okay calm down. Are you going to go out with Bevin."

"Not like I have a choice. I don't want to be rude."

Luke nodded.

"Alright so when you're on the date."

"It's not a date man."

"Okay when you're on your 'non' date, quit being a pussy and tell Bevin the truth. Knowing her she'll understand. Well not really understand but I bet she won't remember any of it the next day so you're saved on that part."

"Okay, what about Jill?"

"Tell her the truth about the date. You don't like Bevin so there's nothing else to say."

"Yeah."

"It'll work out man don't stress too much."

Nathan looked out the window.

"I hope you're right man."

"I'm alway right," Lucas smirked, "hey wait man."

Nathan turned to face Lucas.

Lucas had just remembered what Nathan said as he was venting.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but a couple of minutes ago did you just admit to liking Jill?"

Nathan sighed.

"Yeah, yeah I did?"

"That's great man!"

"Is it, is it really?"

"Why so pessimistic?"

"Yeah I like her but does she even like me? I mean she was so happy when she found out I was going to go out with Bevin today. If she liked me don't you think she would've been a little sad?"

"I don't know man."

"I understand that she's still not into trusting guys and getting into a relationship right now. It's just it seems she only sees me as a friend."

"Give it time Nate, things like these especially when it comes to attraction need to be taken slowly. Like you said, both of you haven't exactly had the best experiences with relationships. It's no guess why either of you two are a little on nerves when it comes to those things."

Nathan was about to interrupt slowly opening his mouth.

"And I know you're going to bring up how you're already trying, but hers is more recent. I know yours was a really tough time, but you and Haley worked things through together. Jill and Vegas aren't exactly on speaking terms. She tries to ignore him as much as possible, you out of all people should know that."

"You're right man. See now you're all Oprah on me."

Both boys laughed.

"Never underestimate the powers of Oprah man."

"I'll remember that."

"But dude it's not like you two aren't close now. For crying out loud you two are attached together by the hip practically."

"Like you and Peyton?"

Lucas paused. He didn't want to tell Nathan about him and Peyton being an item. Bad enough he was going through relationship issues, he didn't want to rub it in his brother's face, but he had to tell him. They were brothers and they were close.

"Yeah about that."

"You're going out aren't you?"

Lucas was taken back by Nathan's response.

"How do you know?"

"You're not the only Dr. Phil around here. Besides it's pretty obvious."

"Really?"

"I got it right didn't I?"

"Yeah you did, but dude don't tell Brooke okay. We don't want to hurt her yet again. We'll tell her when it's right."

"Alright man but remember what happened before. you may want to tell her sooner before hell breaks loose and you three are stuck in that fucked up shit of a love triangle again."

"Yeah."

"Even if she doesn't like you anymore which is highly doubted, at least you two came clean instead of messing around behind her back."

"Yeah you're right. Since when were you Oprahfied?"

"Hey I had to watch something all those days without Haley."

Lucas nodded his head as he laughed.

"For you too. You and Jill look pretty close enough as it is. You guys got a good thing going on right now. Give it time man."

"Yeah you're right."

Lucas stretched in his seat.

"Yup. You may can be Oprah junior but you'll never be a master like me."

"I'm pretty fine with my position, I can handle that."

The boys laughed finally paying attention to what was going on in class. There's nothing like a good old talk between brothers that's for sure!