He huffed through the door slamming it behind him. He had a very short fused temper, obvious trait from Dan. Everyone knew to back off when he was angry except three people. Haley used to be one of them when they were still married. Now it was Lucas and Jill, two people who could cool him off before things got worse.

He was so angry he blocked out everything around him. In his mind everything was black and dim. He didn't even notice the figure he banged into right when he got on the driveway.

"Whoa person walking here," the other individual managed to get out while saving himself from falling.

Nathan realizing what had happened shot back into reality, being able to see his surroundings clearly.

"Sorry man."

Lucas looked at Nathan who was still walking. He tagged along, after all, his initial intention of heading towards the Scott's house was to ask Nathan if he wanted to hang out.

"Nate what's wrong?"

"What isn't wrong?" The anger still visible in his tone of voice.

Lucas followed Nathan who got into his car. Joining him in the passenger seat the boys took off down the road.

"It's about Dan isn't it?"

He made a sharp turn around the corner.

"It's always about that bastard. Why didn't he die in that fire, what's so special about him?"

"What happened?"

"Everything."

"Nate talk to me, what's got you all worked up?"

Nathan revved up the engine as he sped down the road. His forehead slightly wrinkled as a cause of anger lines.

"First he plans this dinner from hell where he invites Jill's parents over so he could make it look like we're running wild and crazy. Now he's trying to run my life again."

Lucas shook his head in disappointment. He onced tried giving Dan a second chance but he blew it. He understood the man was corrupted but sometimes he gave him the benefit of the doubt. Nathan did at times too, but it was pretty clear Dan threw away all his chances. His sons had enough.

"Shit man sorry."

"Yeah whatever. I should have seen it coming right? Not like I should be surprised he's being a dick. He earned that title a long time ago."

Lucas nodded.

"What exactly happened this weekend?"

Nathan breathed out a heavy sigh, there was too much to say.

"Friday night after work Jill came over to pick up a book I wanted her to read. When we got home Dan was acting all shifty and what not, next thing we know her parents show up for dinner."

Lucas boggled his eyes.

"Wow."

"Yeah. It turned out he invited them over last minute. At the dinner table he was ranting all this shit, like how I'm always with her during the week doing God knows what."

"Why'd he do that?"

"How the hell do I know? I'm not afucking mind reader. All I know is I wanted to kill him right then and there. I'm just glad Jill's parents didn't believe his bitch pitch."

"That's good, as long as they weren't affected by him."

"Yeah," he lessened the speed on the car. Letting out his steam allowed him to calm down.

"That was Friday though Nate, what's got you all worked up now? I'm guessing there's more to Dan's turmoil."

Nathan stayed silent for a couple of seconds as he payed attention to the road. He was replaying what happened between him and Dan back at the house.

"Dan went snooping around my room."

"Aren't I glad I don't live with him anymore. My mom doesn't even snoop around my room."

"He found these forms and got all pissed about them."

"What were they of?"

"They were university forms?"

"Huh? Nate, university forms?"

He looked at Lucas weird.

"What? You going to bitch at me too?"

"No, it's just I thought you already had a scholarship waiting for you at Duke for basketball?"

"Yeah I do, but what do you think, I'm only going to rely on that and nothing else?"

"True," he nodded, "It's just last time you and I talked about school you had your mind set on basketball and nothing else. I didn't know you wanted to try other things out."

"Yeah well I changed my mind."

"That's cool, I'm not hating.I'm glad you're thinking of other things rather than ball."

"It got old you know? Not that I don't want to go for it, because I probably will. I love the game and it's been my dream since I can remember, but I guess I want to try other things too. To see if I'm any good at it."

"That's good you're starting to think that way man. I'm proud of you."

"Yeah, I'm proud of myself too. Before, I thought that basketball was my one shot, my only shot. Like it was the only thing I was good at. I relied on it to get me places, but then Jill smacked some sense into me."

Lucas looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"I love the game Luke, more than anything. It's been my dream to be a pro ball player for so long, but part of me also thought that it was my only good thing. I held on to basketball even more because I thought I wasn't good at anything else. Why bother failing at everything when I can stick to ball and be great? I didn't do my homework because I was afraid to fail. Everyone loved me for playing ball. No one ever tried to see passed that, until Jill came along. Well Haley did, but after she left me I thought it was because I wasn't good enough."

Lucas felt for Nathan. He suddenly saw him in a new light.

"Damn man I never knew that's how you felt?"

"No one asked."

"Except Jill."

Nathan nodded.

"Except Jill."

He nodded in return, finally understanding Nathan.

"So why was Dan mad that you had university forms?"

"Because he called them loser forms. He only wants me to go for basketball and only that. Everything else isn't important. Besides he said I wasn't good at anything else so I was just wasting my time."

"Jackass."

Nathan laughed a little.

"Yeah see that. My biggest example of people who see me as nothing but a varsity basketball player."

"That's not true."

"It is, but it doesn't matter. I'll prove them wrong," he stopped at the light before turning the corner. This time instead of rushing passed, he signalled.