Author's Note: The latest chapters havesort of beenthe plateau of the story. Thanks again brathanfan and luvtheOC09 for your reviews! I'm glad you'reliking my story. Enjoy!

The weather was getting colder as fall set in. The summer winds would often grace itself from time to time. But for most part fall winds over ruled, which is why Nathan was all bundled up in his red Jordan jump suit. Jill called him the Canadian flag everytime he wore it because it was red and white. It was evening and he was heading over to play a little bit of basketball with Lucas at the River Court. Jill had taken an extra shift at the dessert shop in order to buy these really expensive oil paints. She was so independant, he loved it! Even with all her family's wealth she insisted on providing for herself.

"So the overly busy Nathan graces me with his presence. What a priviledge this is," Lucas joked as his little brother walked towards him.

"Damn right you should be, you can start by kissing my feet," Nathan chuckled.

Both boys butted knuckles. The usual guy thing to do.

"So what's been going on with you lately? Other than spending time with Jill and working at Ben and Jerry's while spending time with Jill?"

"That's pretty much it. I don't have time to do anything else, and I'm not complaining."

Lucas nodded.

"That's good you're earning your own money, builds your independance."

"Yeah. I don't know it's something about working for your money that makes you feel more powerful. I don't know I guess I'm proud for relying on myself rather than Dan."

"I hear that. Anything that'll take you one step away from Dan, is always good. But Nate wait, what's going on with school? with your busy schedule and all."

"It's good."

Lucas didn't believe him which is why he was shooting Nathan an unconvinved look.

"Yeah whatever. You didn't even do your homework before, even with me pushing you. Now that you have a job it must be harder."

"Yeah it is harder with the small amount of time I have left after work but I'm managing. Have a little faith in me man."

"You know I worry Nate. Remember I told you I want us to graduate together."

"Yeah yeah I know. You, my mom, Jill. I know you guys worry about me and I appreciate that, but you're too late man."

Lucas looked at him weird.

"What do you mean?"

"Jill already beat you to it."

He was still confused.

"Huh?"

"She confronted me a couple of days ago about school, my future, my career, and pretty much everything."

Lucas breathed out a sigh of relief. For a minute he thought Nathan was troubled. He was wrong, and there was Jill to thank.

Nathan pulled out a folded paper in his pocket and showed it to Lucas.

"She helped me study."

Lucas took the paper and analyzed it.

"Wow, Nate you got an A-, that's great."

"Yeah I can't believe it either. When I saw the test in front of me I knew exactly what I was going to write. All thanks to Jill, she makes studying fun."

"Yeah you probabaly like the fact she's looming over you with her breasts in your face," Lucas teased him.

"What?" Nathan laughed back.

"She's got a good B size rack on her."

"I know that man, but you shouldn't."

"What are you going to do? Beat me up cause I noticed Jill's boobs."

Nathan dribbled the ball and faked his way passed Lucas, dunking it into the basket.

"Nah, I'm more man than that. But remember this, I devirginized your girlfriend," Nathan grinned as he continued dribbling.

Lucas laughed and shook his head.

"Oh you're going to get it man."

He ran and stole the ball from Nathan. The boys laughed and did what they went to the River Court to do, catch up and play ball. Their game lasted a couple of hours before they were too tired and out of breath to go on. Don't get me wrong they could play forever, but they needed their rest too.

Nathan wiped away his sweat with his shirt. By now he had taken his jacket off with all the heat he worked up on the court. Taking a sip into his Aquafina he walked over to the bench.

"So what's up with you and Peyton anyway? Free from Brooke turmoil yet?"

Lucas was still breathing heavily from the game.

"We're good, the whole Brooke situation isn't settled yet."

Nathan nodded.

"From what I see at school you guys haven't told her yet."

"Yeah," he sat down beside Nathan, "Peyton wants to do it alone. She feels it's best."

"Yeah I understand, girl stuff. When I was going out with Peyton she ran everything by Brooke, which was annoying but we were still sophmores so I guess it was expected to be naive and immature like that."

"I respect her loyalty to Brooke. I just hope she doesn't choose to stand by her and deny what we have."

"Peyton's smart. She's gone a long way from being the naive tortured artist deal she did. She'll make the right choice."

Lucas wiped his brow.

"Yeah you're right," he paused for a bit, "so what about you and Jill? Any progress? All of a sudden she's your personal tutor."

"She cares that's all. I think more in a friend kind of way."

"You guys are practically a couple except you guys don't do all the couple stuff like kiss, cuddle, have sex. That deal."

"Yeah," he grew silent, "I almost told her I was falling for her."

Lucas shot out of his seat.

"What? Really? When?"

"One day at work, when we were talking about my grades."

"Why didn't you?"

"I don't know. She kept spitting out words like you're my FRIEND and stuff. I couldn't do it."

Lucas nodded.

"Like I said give it..."

"Time, yes I know. I played that through my mind the whole time. It's just more and more each day with her, I don't know I can't help but like her more."

"She's a great girl."

"She's more than great. Luke this girl gives me freaking butterflies in my stomach. I don't know if that's normal for a guy but I feel it when I'm around her."

"Like how you felt with Haley?"

"Yeah. And I know that's something because I loved Haley. No other girl did that to me until Jill came along."

"Wow."

"Yeah I know and it kind of scares me but somehow when I'm with her I'm not scared anymore and I so badly want to tell her everything. But I can't."

"That sucks huh? Liking somoene that much and they don't even know about it."

"Sucks ass but what can you do."

Lucas nodded.

"Don't worry man, it'll happen."

"When?"

"I don't know, you'll know when it's right. Until then keep swarming off the other guys who want to get in her pants."

"That's not going to happen."

Lucas remembered Nathan and Vegas's talk in the gym a couple of weeks before.

"Yeah. When are you going to tell me about what you and Vegas talked about?"

"It's not important. As long as Jill is safe that's all we need to know. Anyways I'm out man, going to show Jill my grade and drive her home."

"All right man, later."

The boys butted knuckles and left the River Court.