Peyton Sawyer was sitting in her car revving her engine whilst waiting at the traffic lights. Lucas was in the café, excited to have gotten this week's edition of Thud magazine. He skipped through the pages until he found Peyton's comic strip. It was a darker strip than those she'd done before, and Lucas was worried about her. It depicted traffic lights starting on green and finishing with all three of the lights red, this picture read 'People always leave.' Someone close to Peyton had left, Lucas didn't know whom though. Just as he was thinking about this, the door to the café opened and Haley stepped in, but when she looked up and saw him, she turned and left.. They had barely spoken since Lucas had found out she'd been with Nathan the night of the party. He didn't want to carry on doing this though because he missed having her around. He followed her outside and called after her.

'Haley, how long are we gonna do this?'

'Do what?'

'Avoid each other.'

'You tell me, you're the one who's upset.'

'And you're the one who lied to me.'

'I don't know what to say to you Luke.'

'Just explain to me whey you were with Nathan huh? I mean considering the past few weeks and what he's done.'

'I can't' she lied.

'You know how I feel about him Haley.' Lucas said before turning around. He knew she was lying to him again.

'Lucas, fine.' Luke turned around, Haley couldn't keep avoiding her best friend. Lucas didn't want to keep doing it either.

'Yes, I know how you feel about him, but there is something you don't know.' Lucas continued to look at her with a serious hardened facial expression.

'I promised him I'd tutor him if he left you alone.' All anger drained from Lucas' face.

'What?'

'I'm doing it for you Luke.' Haley finished before turning her back and walking away. She knew she shouldn't have lied to him about it. Lucas looked devastated, she'd been doing this for him? And he'd been such a jerk to her about it.

Lucas heard wheels screeching in the distance and turned to look, Peyton was driving her car very fast through dozens of red lights. Why is she doing this?

The following morning, Haley was at work and Lucas was sitting in the café. They were tiptoeing around each other and neither one of them liked it.

'I'm an idiot.'

'I know.'

'I'm sorry, I miss hanging out with ya hales.'

'Yeah I miss hanging out with you too.'

'Listen, I appreciate everything you did for me. I do, Haley. But how about you let me handle the team from now on ok?'

'Ok.'

'So you can stop tutoring Nathan now' Lucas tried, with a hopeful look on his face. Haley however never went back on her word.

'Um….no I can't.'

'Haley.' Lucas tried again.

'Lucas I cant, I promised him, and if I break that promise then I'm just as bad as you think he is.' Haley walked off, annoyed that he best friend didn't understand that. Even if it was Nathan, and no matter what Haley did, he was still a complete jackass to him. Lucas sighed to himself as one of the customers tapped him on the shoulder and showed him an article about him and Dan. Making it sound like he, Nathan and Dan were all one big happy family.

The same article was being read in the Scott household. Nathan had discovered it. Dan was not happy about it at all. Deb tried to diffuse the situation, but Dan wouldn't budge, nor eat breakfast. Nathan left his parents to argue while he made his way to school. Deb tried again.

'You know, there is a chance that Lucas and Nathan could get along if their father encouraged it.'

'True, but there is also a chance hell could freeze over.' Dan was not budging on this, why? That was the real question?

At school that day, Nathan tried to talk to Peyton but she just dismissed him, they were definitely over for good. Brooke was trying her luck with Lucas, but he only had eyes for one girl. Nathan and Haley were getting along well, which only made Lucas angry. He was starting to feel a little alone. Basketball was going well still, and the next game on the agenda was the father/son game. Lucas thought he'd skip it, until Whitey had some kind words of encouragement.

'I thought you were through hiding from Dan?'

'I am.'

'Well then, wouldn't it be fun to dunk on him.' Whitey smiled at Lucas, and Lucas laughed back, that would be satisfying.

Whilst basketball practice was going on, cheer practice was too. But Peyton clearly had something on her mind. Brooke tried to correct something she had been doing wrong in the routine, but she didn't want any advice and bit Brooke's head off. Brooke, who did not understand why Peyton was so upset tried to talk to her.

'Look I'm really sorry things didn't work out with you and Nathan but don't go all Mariah on me ok?'

'You think this is about Nathan' Brooke moved her head slightly to one side as if to ask 'then what is it about?' Peyton continued her tirade toward Brooke.

'You're not even close, you're not even in the neighbourhood of close.'

'Peyton, what's wrong?'

'What's wrong is how pointless all of this is.'

'Stop saying that.'

'No, because it's true. What different does it make if you sleep with the popular guy, you go to the right party or you know the moves to some moronic cheer to do with some lame ass game I couldn't care less about.' Peyton dropped her pompoms and marched off out the door. The basketball squad had heard the whole thing, so had Whitey, he was concerned about her, as was Lucas. Brooke was embarrassed by the whole scene and left the court. Whitey called time on practice soon after, and Lucas made his way to see Keith.

'Hey, you're not working today.' Keith said as he saw Lucas enter the garage.

'Yeah, I have a favour to ask. There's this father/son charity basketball game, and Whitey says I gotta play so you interested?' Keith's face lit up.

'Yeah, yeah ok!' Keith exclaimed. Lucas had made his day, he'd always though Keith was pretty much his father anyway, so Keith was delighted Luke had asked him.

'Of course I might be a little out of shape, plus not to mention I wasn't worth a crap in high school.' Keith and Lucas laughed.

'Well that's better for us, right?' Why don't you start coming down to the court with us?'

'Hang with a member of the Scott basketball dynasty?' Keith said in a mocking tone as he picked up that morning's paper. He laughed.

'So how you doing with that?'

'What're you gonna do, sucks for my mum.'

'Yeah, what about you?'

'Honestly, I can't stand being connected with Nathan or Dan.' At that precise moment Dan came skidding to a halt in front of the pair of them on a pushbike. He wanted to go for some cardio exercise. Keith agreed, and went over to Lucas who'd turned his back. Dan asked if Keith wanted to buy any charity tickets to the father/son game, Keith told him he was playing as a stand in for Lucas. Dan being the ass he was, told the pair of them not to soil the Scott family name. Keith tried to make it into a joke, but he'd stepped over the line with Lucas. He felt he had no responsibility to the name Scott. He told Keith he wanted to change his name. The last thing connecting Dan and Lucas would be erased.

Dan went to the school in the morning and tried to get Whitey to disallow Lucas' attempt to get Keith to play. Whitey wasn't having any of it, he knew Dan would be embarrassed if Lucas played, let alone with his brother as Lucas' stand in father. Whitey knew that and pressed home the point, there was nothing Dan could do about it. Whitey told him that scoring 100 points in that gym, would not erase the fact that Dan was Lucas' father and it wouldn't wipe away the feeling he got in his stomach whenever he sees him, knowing its his son, and he never claimed him. Whitey was a wise old man, and had an answer for many things; Dan couldn't get over the fact that his answers were almost always right. That was why the pair of them fell out in the first place, and it was also the reason Dan still had a problem with Whitey all these years later.

Lucas was on top of the café by himself shooting around the mini golf course he and Haley had built up there when his mother came up to him. She wanted to talk with him about changing his name. She explained to him about what happened back when she was pregnant, that Dan had his basketball scholarship and was off to college without her. But, he changed his mind, he said he would finish the semester at college and come home, to be with her and Lucas. But when Lucas was born, and Karen said his name was Lucas Scott, Dan never showed up. But she then went on to say how Keith had only ever cried once in all the time she'd known him, 30 odd years. That was when he held Lucas for the first time. He was a Scott too. Lucas considered that, Keith had always been his father figure and he was a Scott too, maybe he could keep the name, but for Keith, not Dan.

Peyton was sitting on her own in the graveyard, trying to light a cigarette when coach Whitey Durham walked into sight. Whitey knew what was going on, he didn't miss a trick. He talked to Peyton about her mother, and tried to make her feel better. He explains that he is there because of his wife, she died around the same time as her mum. Both of them were grieving.

Nathan was worried about her, but still he had no clue that she wasn't in such a bad mood because of him. Lucas was worried about her too, so when he saw her sitting at a green light from the café, he ran outside and tried to stop Peyton from driving the car. He was determined to help.

'Why do you do this?' Peyton didn't respond, so he jumped into the car.

'If I were you, I'd get back out now.'

'Not 'til you tell me what's going on.' Peyton didn't respond, but Lucas didn't budge, and the light went to amber and then red. Peyton put her foot down. The car tore off down the road through countless red lights. Lucas couldn't understand what she was doing and tried to help, she had to know he was there for her.

'Come on, slow down Peyton, come on.' Peyton still didn't respond and they went through another red light.

'Slow the car down' he tried again. 'Peyton, slow the car down.' Peyton didn't listen, she continued going but she did explain why she was doing it..

'She was driving to school to pick me up, she was late so she ran a red light. It was one light at the wrong split second and it ended for her.' She finished before slamming the breaks on and stopping the car at the side of the road.

'My mum ran one red light, I run 'em all the time and nothing happens. Its not fair.'

'No it's not.'

'You can get out now.'

'Or I can stay if you want.' Peyton paused briefly after his response, he really cared for her and she realised that but she looked so vulnerable in front of him and she didn't want that. She didn't open up to anyone easily and that wasn't about to change.

'No, you can't.' Lucas looked at her and wanted to stay more than anything but he knew it would only upset her, so he would have to try another time. He got out of the car and Peyton drove off.

Dan had shown up at Keith's garage for the second time in a week, Keith considered this to be a bad thing. It was also a new record. Dan and Keith had always had their differences, and that hadn't changed when Dan grew up to be the man he was now. Keith asked hi why he had told Lucas he didn't deserve the name Scott, Dan merely followed it up because he doesn't. This riled Keith, Dan was his father and therefore he deserves that name. Keith stated this and Dan became even smugger, he told Keith he was no husband or father. He'd come to goad Keith over the fact he was taking part in the father/son game because Lucas had asked him to. Keith had heard enough.

'How much does a suit like that cost?' he asked his brother. Dan had no response, only a smug smile. Keith continued

'Cos it's gonna look like hell when I lay you out all over that greasy floor.'

'Come on big brother…' Keith cut him off

'That's right, BIG brother. It doesn't matter what you did on that basketball court a lifetime ago, and no matter what you do now, I'll always be your big brother. So guess what Danny boy, it was my name first, it's Lucas' name now. There's nothing you can do about it.'

'Ok Keith'

'You know, you can be ashamed of me, and you can be ashamed of Lucas, but what makes you think we aren't just as ashamed of you? Now get out of my shop.'

Nathan was being tutored by Haley at home, but not much work was getting done, all Nathan could think about was Peyton. He was opening up to Haley, and she did like that. He was different toward her than toward anybody else. She had graded his quiz and he had improved remarkably, her tutoring him was paying off.

Peyton wandered through the boys locker room right after practice, as the guys were all showering and getting changed, but she didn't even sneak a glance at any of them, she continued until she got to the office. Whitey was surprised to see her, but he didn't mind when she asked if they could talk. They sat down and began talking about whom they had lost.

Before long, Whitey and Peyton had left the school grounds and were talking over by the bridge. Whitey had an unlit cigar in his hand. They stopped about half way along to admire the view.

'How long have you been coaching?'

'Too long.' Came the short snappy response.

'Do you ever wonder about it?'

'What?'

'I mean you've spent your whole life watching boys play a game.' Whitey laughed.

'Well, id prefer to think that I was teaching them to play.' Whitey paused and laughed again. 'Yeah sometimes I think about the conversations that went unfinished between my wife and me. Holidays I missed cos I was off coaching somewhere. That's when I come closest to thinking it was a mistake.' Both of them paused.

'Do you miss her?'

'Everyday…Peyton, its hard to lose somebody. I spent a lot of time searching for reasons, for answers, but you cant find what's not there. It just happens.'

'So you gonna light that thing or not?' Peyton asked whilst pointing toward the large cigar in Whitey's hand.

'No, I used to smoke cigars but I haven't smoked one since I lost Camilla. I don't even carry matches anymore.' Peyton looked down at the ground.

'I don't guess I've been much help to you, but I do know one thing. Your mother's proud of you.' Whitey stepped back from the side of the bridge and smiled 'Take care of yourself kiddo.'

He turned around and walked away leaving Peyton thinking to herself.

Lucas was on the roof of the café, and Haley was there too. She had been playing mini golf, he had been there a few minutes but had said nothing, the two of them were still not on the best of terms. When he did eventually go over towards her, she stopped playing and looked up at him. She sighed, their friendship was more important to her than anything at this moment in time. She explained that to him, and he understood, she explained she felt worthy when she tutors somebody and they get it. Like he does when he plays basketball. Lucas wasn't happy that she was tutoring Nathan but as long as it was just tutoring then he would let it go.

A few hours later, Lucas and Keith were playing a one on one game at the river court, when Keith bought up the subject of name changing. He didn't want Lucas to change his name, he explained he knew he wasn't his father but he just wished Luke wouldn't rush into changing it just because of Dan. Keith explained his past with Dan in a little more detail than Lucas had heard before, and said he was honoured that Lucas had asked him to play. Lucas was honoured he'd accepted, they had a huge mutual respect for each other. Luke was still worried about Peyton though and wanted to go find her. So he set off to try after saying goodbye to Keith.

He found her on the bridge, drawing in her sketchbook.

'Hey, I've been thinking about you.'

'Try a cold shower.' Lucas smiled at the warm gesture that his caring nature had gotten from Peyton.

'Sorry, tee'd yourself up for that one.'

'Yeah I guess so, how you doing?'

'Let's see, I broke up with my boyfriend, my mum's dead and my dad's away on a job.'

'What's your dad do?'

'He captains a dredging boat. He's normally here for this warped anniversary, but this year he sent his sympathies in an email. Oh, I read the article, sounds like you guys are just one big happy family.'

'Its kinda ironic huh! You know I would gladly erase my dad if it could bring back your mum. I wish I could change it for ya.' Peyton didn't know what to say, were there actually people who existed that would say something like that? Even if the father being erased was Dan. Peyton felt how much Lucas truly cared.

'Thank you.' That thanks was heart felt, it was the first one that felt like she meant it. She didn't want to spoil the moment though.

'I gotta go.' Peyton began walking away.

'Hey Peyton?'

Peyton turned around with a broad smile on her face.

'Don't ruin it ok?' She turned back around, knowing that the feelings she was developing for Lucas, were being returned.

Dan Scott was sitting down at home enjoying a glass of whiskey. He was enjoying a conversation with his wife reminiscing about the past, when he played basketball before he got injured. The two of them looked very much the happy couple. It was very clear though that Dan missed basketball. But he took it a step too far when he said it was the best it ever got for him. Dan was beginning to lose sight of who he is, he was living in the past. Deb couldn't help but feel hurt that Dan thought his best times were before Nathan and her.

Nathan meanwhile, had journeyed to Peyton's house. She was painting in her room. Nathan wanted her back, but she clearly didn't. Peyton had a lot on her mind with her mum's death and whatnot. Nathan though was too interested in talking about his own problems. He told her how his dad was hammering him, and how his mum just wanted to hang out with him. Peyton brushed him off, she had bigger things to deal with. He invited her to the game before telling her he missed her. She clearly didn't feel the same way.

Nathan made it to the game and saw Lucas, he knew how he could get to him. So when he saw Haley walking towards him and Lucas in the distance, he showed her his quiz grade from that day at school. He held his arms out for a hug, knowing the affection would annoy the hell out of Lucas. It had the desired effect. Lucas hated it and made his way inside.

The fathers and the sons were in neighbouring locker rooms, the fathers all respected Dan for his basketball playing ability. They also respected Keith as a person. On the other side of the door, the sons were ready for the game, it was a friendly game, nothing on the line and they could enjoy themselves. Though Nathan knew that the pressure was on him because his dad was an ass.

Before the game Haley was trying to talk to Lucas, but he was still pissed and ignored her, she didn't have a clue what she had done.

The game itself was a very one sided affair, the sons disgraced the fathers, but it was enjoyable to watch and play in, the fathers loved it. All but one, the sons would do tricks on their fathers, but Dan did not like it one bit. Nathan beat him with his tricks and Dan hated being embarrassed. But to everyone else on the court, he was old and the sons were young. They are the good ones now. All in all everyone had a good time until half time, where Dan had to put his boot in. He couldn't accept losing, and challenged Nathan to bring his best game and see who's the better player. Keith helped him out of it and made light of the situation.

Haley caught up with Lucas at half time and confronted him about why he was pissed at her, he told her about the fact he saw Nathan and her hugging. She tried to explain but Lucas noticed her bracelet, and he instantly knew it was from Nathan. He wanted to believe her, that nothing was going on with her and Nathan. But it was hard.

The second half was fine until the commentator made it interesting, setting the scores level, next basket wins. Dan fouled Nathan deliberately so that he couldn't get the winning basket, showing his true colours. Everybody watching was not impressed. Nathan wasn't either, so when he had the ball next he dropped it on purpose. His dad didn't deserve his best game. The next time Dan had the ball in the sons D, Nathan was all over him like a rash. Dan couldn't score until Nathan told him that he didn't deserve his best game and that he dropped the ball on purpose, he gave Dan the opportunity to score by stepping out the way and Dan took it. Nathan couldn't believe it. That was his father.

Meanwhile Peyton was driving around through red lights the whole game, she was in a bad way, and it all got to her when she nearly crashed, she went through a red light but avoided the car with her brakes at the last moment. She cried for a long time afterwards. She needed someone to be there for her, she was all alone.

After the game Lucas told Keith that he was going to keep the name Scott. Because Keith wears it well, and Lucas wants to wear it just as well.

Nathan found Peyton wandering around after the game, and was completely shocked when Peyton told him that her mother had died 7 years ago that exact night. Nathan never asked, so he didn't know. Peyton wasn't at the game for him. She told him so, just as Lucas walked out of the door Nathan asked her why she was there. She turned and saw Lucas, she knew that he was the reason she was there. Nathan could see it by the way she looked at him. Lucas was worried about her, but she just walked past. She clearly didn't want to feel vulnerable in front of him, maybe she just needed to see him to feel like she wasn't alone. She drove home safely that night.

Chapter 6

School began the day of this weeks game, it was an away game. Haley and Lucas were walking to class.

'Luke, you're cool with this right? I mean last week when you said you didn't trust me…'

'I know, I didn't mean it alright, I meant I don't trust Nathan.'

'Hey you got a second?' Came Peyton's voice as she walked toward them.

'Speaking of…' Haley said. She clearly didn't trust Peyton either. Haley wandered of to class

'So last week sucked, I just wanted to say thanks.' She handed over a CD to Lucas that said P.S WHATEVER on it.

'You made me a mix?'

'Trying to square my karma.' Lucas was grateful, and amused by the situation.

'Uhuh, does this mean were dating?'

'You've got a long bus ride tonight, I had some free time, don't read to much into it.' Peyton smiled as she left Lucas pondering what just happened. He did love her smile though.

Nathan caught up with Haley and asked her to come to the game, Haley wasn't sure if she should. Nathan made her laugh and he was sincere around her, not like with anyone else.

Mouth and Haley were watching the game, Mouth commentating for his website.

Brooke and Peyton were walking onto the court in their cheerleading outfits, talking about the whole dating drama that's going on.

'So Lucas looks even hotter in blue you should totally hook up with him.'

'Stop it.' Peyton laughed to herself.

'At the very least you're due for a little rebound action, unless you're still into Nathan?'

'I'm not.'

'Alright, since you're my pal you can have a courtesy hold on Lucas for the weekend but after that he's fair game.'

'He's already fair game. Thanks.'

'So what's the story with that one anyway?' Brooke pointed at Haley.

'She's tutoring Nathan, supposedly.'

'And hanging out with Lucas. Right were supposed to believe she's just friends with both of them.' Nathan looked over towards Haley and acknowledged her being there with a nod as Brooke said this.

'Did you see that?'

'See what?'

'Nathan just gave her the nod.'

'What nod?'

'The, lets hook up after the game nod.' Brooke paused. 'Wanna know what I think? I think Nathan likes tutor girl, but I think tutor girl likes Lucas, and I know I like Lucas and I dunno who the hell you like anymore.' Peyton sighed.

'This is all turning into one love…rectangle plus one, whatever that is.' Brooke smiled, as Peyton laughed at her stupidity.

The game was started, and it was in the second quarter, when Nathan started having a go at Lucas. Lucas would normally take the high road and walk away but Nathan had a habit of getting to him. Eventually he'd had enough of his goading after Nathan had suggested he would get with Haley. The free throws they were waiting for went in and Lucas jogged to Peyton.

'Hey, so I saw Nathan in the shower…yeah its no wonder you broke up with him.' Brooke was in hysterics as Peyton laughed. Nathan saw red and threw the ball at Lucas' back. Lucas turned and shoved Nathan. A fight broke out, and Brooke was shoved to the ground hurting her ankle. The referee threw both of them from the game. It was lucky they had such a big lead or they'd have lost the game.

Later on, halfway home, Lucas and Nathan were kicked off the bus. They would have to work together to get home.

Brooke was in the medical room getting some treatment, but she didn't really want any. She bribed the doctor into some painkillers and gulped them down instantly. She was wasted in a matter of minutes. Haley had missed the last bus, and so she helped Peyton and Brooke to the car before Brooke named Haley, Brooke. The three of them would be together for the car ride.

Nathan and Lucas started to walk after establishing that their valuables were on the bus and they only had the option of walking.