Nathan walked in Tim's house with a bunch of his friends, the party had already begun and he recognized a lot of familiar faces. They had won the game, and the bus ride home had been slightly awkward. As soon as they got on the bus, Peyton had put on a sweatshirt and fell asleep, leaving Nathan to listen to his iPod and watch her for a little bit. The party was in full swing and he smiled softly as he saw a bunch of girls dancing in the middle of Tim's family room. Some of the girls were still in their cheerleading uniforms, including Peyton, yet she still had her sweatshirt on. He laughed as he saw Brooke grab Peyton's arm and drag her towards the kitchen, Nathan followed the girls along with some of his friends.

"Pey, what do you wanna' drink?" Brooke asked as she opened Tim's fridge.

"Whatever," Peyton said as she leaned against the counter.

Brooke rolled her eyes, "You know, I hate that word. It's all you ever say anymore. Whatever. God, who says that?"

"…I do." Peyton said with a smile.

"…Whatever," Brooke said with a laugh.

"Hey Peyton, hand me one?" Nathan asked as he nodded towards the fridge.

Peyton looked up and made brief eye contact with Nathan, she looked away and handed him the beer without looking at him again. Nathan sighed softly as he opened the can.

Peyton smiled as she took a seat at the table and Brooke sat across from her, talking to her old boyfriend, Rob McCallahan. She suddenly felt a hand on her bare thigh, and furrowed her eyebrows, looking immediately to the right.

Nathan smiled as he walked in to the bathroom along with Tim and Joey. He heard two kids talking, and put his finger to his mouth as he nodded towards the direction the voices were coming from.

"Okay, man. So if you could pick one girl to dance with at the party, who would it be?" one of the boys asked.

"Um...Well, Peyton Sawyer…I guess," another boy asked, cheerfulness evident in his voice.

Tim grinned but Nathan shook his head, with a smile on his face as well. The three basketball players continued to hide behind the wall.

"Isn't she going out with Nathan Scott?" the first voice asked.

"..Well, yeah. But, I dunno'. She's just really pretty. And, nice. I just thought if I could ask any girl, I'd ask her…"

The other boy laughed quietly, "Yeah. And, how often do you see her? I mean, outside your fantasies."

Nathan smirked and by now Tim and Joey were on the floor with their hands covering their mouths, to refrain from laughing.

The boy laughed nervously, "Shut up, Dan."

"Dude, last time I slept over I totally heard you in your sleep…How many times did you say Peyton, Gary?" the second boy asked.

"Whatever. Have you seen her webcam?" the embarrassed boy asked.

Nathan laughed as he walked towards them, "Have you seen her naked?"

The other two boys standing in front of the mirror stared at the three jocks who were smirking at them.

"What?" Gary, the embarrassed boy, asked.

"So, you like my girlfriend?" Nathan asked calmly as he walked towards a sink.

"What..Um. No..I just.."

"Dream about her?" Nathan laughed along with Tim and Joey.

"N-No. I…"

Nathan laughed, "And, what makes you think that she'd even talk to a loser like you?"

Nathan laughed as he adjusted his tie in the mirror and turned towards Gary, while his friend Dan stood silently next to them.

Gary's voice cracked as he spoke softly, "I..um..In biology sometimes, she'll talk to me.."

Nathan grinned, "Hold up. I recognize you. You're the kid Brooke pays Peyton to flirt with, right? You sit in front of me in bio?"

The kid nodded slowly, "She pays her to talk to me?"

Nathan laughed, "Oh. You know, this is actually kinda' cute. You have a crush on her, man?"

The boy blushed, but shook his head.

"Eh. It's okay. It's not like she even knows your name.."

Gary's jaw clenched, "Actually. She does. And, I'm gonna' go. Come on, Dan."

Nathan smirked as he blocked the doorway, "Not so fast, man. We're just getting to know each other."

Gary stood nervously as Nathan walked towards him, and only realized that he didn't really want to talk when Nathan's fist made contact with his jaw.

Peyton and Brooke were dancing amidst a group of girls in the middle of the dance floor.

"Is this the best homecoming or what?" Brooke asked happily.

Peyton laughed as she nodded her head and ran her right hand through her hair. Her short green dress riding up a little and she adjusted it slightly. Brooke laughed as she saw Tim coming towards them dancing and Peyton joined in as well. She was slightly alarmed when she felt two hands grab her hips and smiled thinking it was Nathan. She began to grind along to the music with him and eventually turned around, with her eyes closed, wrapping her arms around his neck, yet frowned when she realized that she had reached too far. She opened her eyes and realized that she hadn't been dancing with Nathan.

"Vegas?" Peyton asked as she took her hands off of him.

"Hey Sawyer," Vegas said with a smile.

"What're you doing?" Peyton asked, rubbing her shoulder uncomfortably.

"Dancing with you. I think you knew that," he said with a smirk.

"I-I uh..thought you were Nathan," Peyton said softly.

"Yeah. Well, I thought I'd surprise you," Vegas said.

Peyton bit her lip, "I'm gonna' go."

Vegas grabbed her arm as she was walking away, "Where're you going, Goldilocks?"

Peyton looked at him, "Let go, Vegas."

Vegas smiled, "Listen. I was thinking maybe you and me could party later tonight? Alone..."

Peyton pushed him away and walked off the dance floor, looking for Nathan, or Brooke, or even Tim.

She sighed as she walked towards a table to grab some water. She grabbed a bottle and opened it, drinking it quickly. She threw it away and began to walk towards the door, but someone grabbed her arm.

"I thought I told you not to touch me!" Peyton said, trying to yell over the music.

"What?"

"Nathan? Oh my god. Hey," Peyton said softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him.

Nathan laughed quietly, "Are you okay?"

Peyton sighed, deciding that she may not tell Nathan what happened, "Yeah. I just…Forget it."

Nathan shrugged as he pulled her towards the dance floor as a slower song began to play.

"Where were you?" Peyton asked quietly, as she wrapped her hands around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder.

Nathan chuckled, "You would not believe what I heard in the locker room. There were these two losers, and they were like asking each other who they would dance with if they got the chance. And, one of them was like '…Peyton Sawyer."

Peyton smirked, "Really?"

"Yeah, and then I walked in and started asking him about it. And, he was trying to defend himself. And, then I realized that he's the kid Brooke pays you to flirt with in science…"

Peyton laughed softly, "Okay. Larry?"

Nathan smirked, "Nah. I think it's Gary. But, anyway, me and Tim started you know...Just playing around with him."

Peyton pulled away from his shoulder, "Nathan…You didn't."

"What?" Nathan asked innocently.

Peyton sighed, "Did you beat him up just because you felt like it?"

Nathan shrugged, "Whatever. Peyton, it doesn't matter.,"

Peyton sighed, "Yes. Nathan, it does. Because what's he going to say to his mom, when she asks how he got that?"

Nathan rolled his eyes, "Because he was a loser who couldn't defend himself. Peyton, he was like..talking about his fantasies about you."

Peyton rolled her eyes, "I can't imagine that kid even having a fantasy, Nathan…"

Nathan smirked, "What the hell, Peyton? You like him? You wanna' end this so you can go dance with him?"

Peyton shook her head as she pulled her body away from his, "Nathan, before beating up random strangers, why don't you ask some of your "boys" what they say to me when you're not around? Then, maybe we can talk."

Nathan looked at her sternly, "What're you saying?"

Peyton rolled her eyes, "Whatever. Right. It doesn't matter?"

Nathan glared at her, "Peyton. Who said something to you?"

Peyton looked up at him, "Forget it, okay? I just want you to stop beating up random kids, Nathan. First off, they're intimidated by you, and second off..you're probably like ten times stronger than them!"

Nathan grabbed Peyton's arm gently, "Who said something Peyton?"

Peyton sighed, "Vegas asked me if I wanted to come over his house later. So, we could party alone."

Nathan's jaw clenched as he let go of Peyton's arm, and his hands curled in to fists.

He immediately began to search the room for him.

"Nathan!" Peyton yelled, trying to prevent him from starting a fight.

Yet, he didn't care and he continued to look for him.

He spotted him talking to Tim across the room.

"Don't talk to that fag, Tim," Nathan barked as he walked towards them.

"What?" Both boys asked.

Peyton stood nervously behind Nathan as people began to stare.

Brooke emerged. "What's goin' on?"

Peyton shrugged, not able to talk.

Nahtan walked towards Vegas, anger oozing out of his pores, "You wanna' tell me what you did to my girlfriend, man?"

Vegas swallowed slowly but smiled, "Eh. It was nothing. I was just dancing with her.."

Nathan's eyes widened as he turned around, "Peyton?" he asked angrily.

Peyton sighed, " I thought he was you, Nathan. No one else touches me like that."

Nathan glared at Vegas, " So you were touching her, too?"

Vegas sighed, "Listen, man. I'm sorry. It was just a dance, okay? And, she stopped. So…We're cool?"

Nathan laughed, "You wanna' tell me what you said to her after?"

"About the party I'm having at my house?" Vegas said innocently.

"The party at your house or the party in your room?" Nathan asked as he grabbed Vegas' collar and pushed him towards the wall.

Vegas smirked, "Well, man. Maybe if you were around this wouldn't have happened, right?"

Nathan pulled his elbow back and punched Vegas' stomach continuously until Vegas pulled away and began defending himself. Vegas eventually punched Nathan's right eye and Nathan tackled him to the floor.

Tim pried Nathan off of Vegas' body, causing Vegas to laugh softly.

"You wouldn't be so pissed off if you knew I wasn't a threat, man," Vegas commented.

Nathan glared at him, trying to rid himself from Tim's grasp, yet looked up to see a chaperone staring at the two.

"What's going on here?" Mr. Lawler asked.

Peyton grabbed Nathan's arm quickly and pulled him towards the door, "Nothing, sir."

Peyton sighed as she walked towards Nathan's truck and opened the door, waiting for him to begin the conversation.

Peyton quietly, "…Did you have fun?"

Nathan rolled his eyes, "Oh. Yeah. Loads."

Peyton sighed, "You know what? You didn't have to react the way that you did."

Nathan snarled, "Right. Some other guy is touching my girlfriend, and then asking him to come over so he could fuck her, and I don't have to do anything about it?"

Peyton laughed, "Oh right. I mean, why would he be so interested if you didn't give him any ideas of what we do?"

Nathan shook his head, his voice escalating, "I'm not the only guy in the whole goddamn school who thinks you're hot, Peyton!"

Peyton crossed her arms over her body as she reached for the volume button, "Let's just go home, okay? Just forget it happened."

Peyton quietly, "Get your hand off of my thigh, Vegas."

Vegas smirked, "What's up, baby? You're not taken tonight, are you?"

Peyton cringed as she felt his hand slide farther up her thigh, and stood up abruptly, causing some other people to stare at her.

Brooke looked at her, "Wow. Peyton, you need another drink. Or, maybe not…I really don't know. But, you're like having spaz-attacks.

Peyton ignored her and stood up walking around the spacious kitchen and towards the sink, knowing that Vegas was following her. She sighed uncomfortably, realizing that there were a lot of her friends surround her.

Nathan laughed at something Tim said about his older brother and grabbed another beer from the counter.

Tim nodded towards the sink, "Isn't Peyton a little out of Vegas' league?"

Nathan looked towards the sink, which was only two feet away, to see Peyton filling a glass of water and Vegas behind her, a little bit too close.

Nathan continued to watch, trying not to seem like a jealous ex-boyfriend, and more like a concerned friend.

Vegas smiled, "Hey Peyton. I'm thinking that you should take that sweatshirt off. Aren't you getting a little bit hot?"

Peyton turned around, and realized how close he was, "You really need to back off…"

Vegas grinned, "Why? You're single, right? Nathan doesn't own you anymore?"

Peyton pushed passed him, "Own me?"

Nathan overheard their conversation, and felt his jaw clench.

Vegas grabbed her arm, "Well, now that he's out of the picture, I think we should give it a try..."

Peyton searched the room for Brooke, but realized she wasn't there.

Vegas smiled as he placed his hands on her waist, but looked up shocked as his body was pushed towards the wall.

"You wanna' back off?" an angry Nathan asked as he continued to hold Vegas to the wall.

Vegas smirked, "What the hell are you doing?"

"You know, I think I should be asking you that question. She doesn't want you."

"Sure, as hell didn't want you either, right? That's why she dumped your ass…So, why don't you leave it to me, okay?" Vegas smiled before attempting to walk away.

Nathan shook his head as he grabbed Vegas' sweatshirt and pushed him back towards the wall, extremely hard.

Peyton walked towards him, "Nathan, stop. It's okay…"

Nathan angrily, "What gives you the right to say stuff like that to her?"

Vegas softly, "Look, I'm sorry, man. Okay?"

Nathan louder, "You owe me an apology?"

Vegas turned to Peyton, "I'm sorry."

Nathan pushed him harder against the wall, "You mean that?"

Peyton grabbed Nathan's arm, "Leave him alone, Nate."

Nathan sighed softly as he let him go and grabbed Peyton's hand, and walked towards the front door of Tim's house. Peyton was slightly surprised by the gesture, but stayed silent until she was sitting in the passenger seat of his truck.

"…Thanks, Nate. For..uh..helping me back there…"

Nathan shook his head, "I can't believe he said that to you. What a fu-"

Peyton sighed, "It's..okay."

Nathan shook his head, "No. It's not! What the hell, Peyton? How could you even say that?"

Peyton shrugged, "It's not okay. I just…It's good that you helped me out. I don't know what I would've done if you weren't there to save my ass."

Nathan smiled, "Yeah. Well, I've always loved your ass."

Peyton rolled her eyes and looked around his truck. It was exactly the same, bottles everywhere, leftover bags from fast-food restaurants, the only thing missing were random condom wrappers on the floor in the backseat.

Nathan smirked, "Reminiscing?"

"Why would I want to reminisce about something so horrible?" Peyton asked with a small smile.

Nathan shook his head as he pulled in to his driveway.

"Nathan?" Peyton questioned.

Nathan looked at her, and raised his eyebrows slightly, "What?"

Peyton smiled, "You should go back to the party.."

Nathan smiled, "I kinda' wanted to go back and beat Vegas' ass. But…I guess…hanging with you is a little bit better."

Peyton smiled, "Yeah. Well, don't expect too much."

Nathan smiled as he walked towards the door and opened it, and Peyton laughed as she ran up the stairs. Nathan swallowed slowly as Peyton's extremely short cheerleading skirt flapped up and down every step that she took. Nathan walked up the stairs and towards his room.

"You haven't changed it at all," Peyton stated as she jumped on to his bed.

Nathan shrugged, "Yeah. I guess. Same…Sheets…"

Peyton glared at him, "Why don't you just have sex with Haley so we can get passed this sexual tension…"

Nathan smiled, ignoring her statement, "Eh. You know you love it."

Peyton sighed, "Okay. So, are there actually books on your bookshelf?"

Nathan laughed, "Well, maybe, a couple."

Peyton smiled as she stood up, "…Cyrano de Bergerac…A Tale of Two Cities…a photo album?"

Peyton smiled as she grabbed it off the shelf and walked back towards the bed. Nathan stared at her.

"Peyton. Can I have that back?" Nathan asked quickly.

Peyton rolled her eyes, "Oh please. Yeah right."

Nathan sighed as he watched Peyton open the photo album, and see her eyes widen slightly.

Nathan shrugged uncomfortably, "My mom made it."