Court, thank you so much!

Krizue, once again thanks! I love your replies and I'm so happy you're liking this. In this chapter the dread dinner happens, and although it came out differently than planned, I hope you'll still have fun.

Naley, it's interesting to give her options for her to choose where to go without depending of Nathan's mood! About Brooke, wait and see. She's gonna be even better as the chapters keep on coming.

naleyHON and JJC, you're sisters????? I have an amazing sis too hehe.. Thanks for reading and replying, and don't hate Nate. He's just CONFUSED? Heheh.. and about Brooke being awesome, the same I said above.

Mistydm, I said it above, but Brooke gets SOOO MUCH BETTER!!!

Obs: This chap is longer than normal, but it was still divided. I hope you like it and leave me some words.

Chapter 7

Haley stood in front of her bathroom mirror, her auburn hair exquisitely dressed, and her face hauntingly forlorn.

Wearing a dazzling sea mist mesh V-neck dress with shoulder straps and an empire-waist inset with sequin and tiny bead embellishments, heels' perfectly matching her earrings and purse, Haley was a product of Brooke Davis' mind, and although she was dressed for success, she still felt like wicked old crone in an awfully bad fairytale.

Reminiscing the last few days, she allowed her mind to travel back to the conversation she'd had with Brooke and Lucas the day she got her acceptance letter to Stanford.

"Go see if I'm at the toilet, Luke." Haley told him firmly from her seat on the floor, her voice unwavering, her tone resolute.

"I hate to gang up against you, Tutor Girl, but Luke's got a point. This is huge: This is a scholarship to Stanford. A free ride, with no expenses or worries with tuition, this is the kind of thing you don't think about it, but you just accept it and period; Its what you wished for your entire life and your wish was granted. Plus, why wouldn't you go?" Brooke pondered before asking.

"I still have other options to look into. I can get other scholarships or..." Haley stalled.

"You can, but it won't be the one you want as much as this one. I'm sorry, Haley, but unless Nathan grows into a man until the end of this semester and starts acting like one, I don't see a plausible reason for you not to take this." Brooke desperately interrupted.

"I disagree. Why should she plan her life and then have to reconsider it IF and WHEN Nathan changes his mind? It doesn't work like that. He's been given a million chances and hasn't taken any of them. Time is up. Haley's world doesn't revolve around him anymore." Lucas spoke enraged.

Haley wanted to bolt. This conversation was not insightful, but sickening. She did love her husband and could alter her plans for him, but right now, in her current state, she planned more for herself and didn't include him, just as he pleased. Contrary to what Brooke and Lucas were thinking, she didn't lack options and was not fickle. She just wanted to wait a month or two, but for other things to happen; things that had nothing to do with Nathan Scott.

"Let me get this straight: My world doesn't revolve around Nathan anymore, but it revolves around what the two of you choose for me?" Haley shook her head in annoyance and frustration.

"That's not what we're saying. We're saying Nathan could change his mind and your plans could become others, but as sad as it is, we don't see it happening. We've all tried to talk to him and get him to see the light in the end of the tunnel but he refuses to do it, and you're getting it all wrong." Brooke tried soothing her friend.

"Am I really? Because I'd love it if you could elaborate. MY LIFE" Haley emphasized "revolves around what I think is right and around what I want, not what other people tell me to do, not even Nathan. By the way, why are we discussing him? I thought we had established he was no longer to be mentioned as part of my life. You both know he's made a point to talk to me only twice since the year first started, once being by accident, and he's divorcing me. We haven't even been in the same room for more than one class once a week. Why bring him up? He's not changing his mind and I'm not trying to persuade him anymore. This is SO NOT about him." Haley rested her face in her hands.

"Keep telling yourself that." Lucas muttered.

"Excuse me?" Haley's hands were trembling in rage as she raised her head and faced Lucas. "Watch that other knee, Lucas Eugene Scott."

"Part of you still wish for him to erase this last eight or nine months and to resume your regular lives."

Haley laughed perversely.

"Sure I do. I'm a believer. I believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny that hell will freeze over... He's made up his freaking mind, I've tried to change it and couldn't. Can't we put an end to this subject for good?" She threw her hands in the air. "I'm finally recovering, damn it. Why do you have to open these wounds all the time? As much as I still love him and care about him, it's water under the bridge." Haley commented, causing Brooke to choke. She had just tried torturing Nathan to see if she'd get a reaction, but she never thought she'd hear Haley saying it seriously. Haley had cogitated that the ship had sailed once, but it was a moment of weakness, not a moment of truth. "This divorce is what he wants the most, it's the last thing I can give him and I will. I'm done; I'm tired of listening to the words "big mistake" or "too young" coming out his mouth. Don't you think I hear stuff all over school? I do. I'm no one's mistake or burden and I don't believe in miracles. God, just drop it. Marriages end everyday." Haley was so angry that she was easily masking her disappointment; the one that was being forgotten day by day.

"Then why are you hesitating? It's STANFORD." Lucas pleaded.

"Has it occurred to the two of you that maybe I got so screwed over the last time I walked away that I don't want to simply leave again?"

"Now you're not making any sense. You're the one who keep telling us you can't wait until classes are over so that you can get the hell out of here."

"I WANT to get the hell out of here, but maybe I want to see where you guys are going before making harsh decisions. It's not assertiveness, but I'm sure I might get more scholarships and I can go somewhere with any of you. Maybe not everything is about Nathan, but about my two best friends."

"I'm..."

"We..."

Brooke and Lucas were at a loss of words.

"Yeah"

"But still, you can't base your choice on us. I'm all for the altruism, but..."

"I can assure you I'm not going to a place I don't want to go because of anyone, Brooke. I'm waiting, and if one of you happened to go somewhere I'd love to go too, I will join you. It's a win-win situation. We'll make new friends, build new lives, but we'll have a support system to do all that.

"We had no idea." They said in unison.

"Asking before making assumptions is always a good solution."

"We'll do that next time." Lucas informed her.

"Speaking of next time..." Brooke quickly took the chance before it could fly out the window. Both she and Lucas grew into their serious forms.

"By the look of your faces I can see this is not going to please me AGAIN." Haley observed.

"Why haven't you told us you spoke with Peyton yesterday morning?

"Sorry, mom, I knew I had forgotten something. I talked to her about the song I'm donating for her Breast Cancer campaign, so what?"

"That's all you talked about?"

"Brooke Davis, if you already know the answer then why are you asking?"

"Is this taking us anywhere?" Lucas asked confused. He had no clue of what this new conversation was about.

"Shut up, Luke." They ordered.

"Didn't you say I should ask first before assuming things? Well, I'm asking. What have you guys talked about other then the song?"

"We've discussed some details about the opening concert and she's had some bureaucratic questions, but that's all."

"Are you sure? Haven't you discussed a certain party?"

"Keith's birthday? Yeah, we have. She's been invited and I haven't. I'll be honest and say I couldn't believe Keith was throwing a party, but when Peyton said Royal and Mae were coming to town and that Karen had found out and decided to throw a party, it made a little more sense. I just don't understand how Royal got Karen to invite Dan."

"But didn't it bother you not to be invited?"

"At first yeah! But after learning not only Royal and Mae will be there, but Dan too, I was glad. The only amazing thing about my marriage's failure is not having to refer to Dan as a relative anymore. You're saying I should bother? I won't. I love Keith, but I have no desire of spending a minute with Mr. Scott. He's a jackass with a capital J and I can safely say he's rubbing off on Nathan."

"I'm sorry to be the deliver of bad news, but you'll have to spend a few hours with both jackasses."

"No, I don't. I won't crash a party. Coming to think of it, if I hadn't crashed one last year, I'd still be bookworm Haley James and a lot of pain would have been avoided."

"What party have you crashed?" Lucas questioned, trying to remember it.

"The one in which Brooke had to be a bch and compensate later on doing things related to the one I asked you not to talk about." Haley rambled.

"Back to Keith's party, you won't be crashing. You're a VIP guest. You've made top of his list with Lucas. It's our fault you didn't get the notice. Keith knew you'd refuse to go and asked Lucas to convince you, and Lucas asked me."

"When was that?"

"You won't like it a bit."

"I haven't liked all of this a bit so far and that did not prevent us from having it, right?"

"It has to do with Lucas having his hair died."

A moment; Haley connected dots before standing up and pacing around the room.

"Oh my God, That was your part of the deal, wasn't it? To get me to go! I can't believe you two disgusting ones had me imagining you in bed together. Ugh..."

"You're mad about where your imagination has taken you but not about us lying to you and you changing your hair too?"

"Will being mad at you two take me somewhere? Because I don't think it will. I'll still have to put up with your sorry $$es and I'll still feel guilty about not going to the party. Keith's just too special. He's the only one who didn't provide judgment last year when I decided to be what people called reckless. He's given $$ number two a job and helped us not to starve."

"Does that mean you're going?"

"I don't know. I think it's impolite for me not to go, but I'm not sure I have to stomach to do it. Maybe I should send him a gift and stop by his place the day before, hang out with him..."

"Give us one good reason for you not to go besides Dan." Brooke interrupted.

"Mae, Royal, err… Nathan?

"Incoherence, Hales. You said he doesn't dictate your life any longer." Brooke called out to her.

"That I did."

"So go to the party."

Haley sighed. She had won the first battle, but had definitely lost this one.

"I'll think about it." Haley said, exiting the room.

"And Hales…?" Brooke dragged her attention back to them.

"Yeah"

"He won't go if you don't him to." Brooke warned her.

"I think we all know I'm bigger than that." Haley shook her head, half-smiling and heading to the kitchen.

Victory! Brooke turned back to Lucas, who was still on Haley's bed, and smiled. She'd had a little help, but she'd still won the battle without having to tell Haley about the big announcement. Brooke was exhilarating, but still wished she had won the one on the phone minutes earlier.

"You look amazing, Hales." Lucas, dressed in his new suit, joined her in the bathroom.

"Is it wrong for me to feel sketchy about this dinner?" Haley asked without tearing her eyes off of her image.

"We got your back. Brooke and I will be there all along and if anything happens we just leave. We don't look back, don't give explanations, we simply stand up and head to the door. Do you want me to tell Brooke to watch out for your pouts too?" Lucas tranquilized her.

"I hate having to go, but I hate even more that it's at Deb's house. That place haunts my dreams already. Imagine after tonight..." Haley laughed bitterly.

"Be optimistic, buddy." Lucas patted her on the shoulder.

"I don't get it how Brooke told me Nathan wouldn't go if the party is at his house."

"Oh, we're back to talking about him?" Brooke joked as she directed her herself towards the bathroom drawers.

"No, we're not. It's a one time only thing."

"Curious much, Tutor Girl?"

"Just spill it, Tigger." Haley was exhausted before the night had even started.

"He's called me the other day asking if you'd want him not to go."

"Unbelievable! He's really became a stranger, to think that I'd ask him to skip dinner with his entire family just to avoid him?"

"Maybe he was looking for an excuse not to go." Brooke contemplated. "I'm sorry to break this to you, guys, but with the Scott family history, I'd do the same." Brooke blurted out loud while fiddling with the drawers.

Lucas and Haley exchanged glances and smirked. They had to find a way of controlling Brooke's honesty for the night or they'd be in serious trouble.

"Are you almost ready, pretty girl?"

"WHAT? I don't look perfect?" Brooke panicked, dropping her search and staring at her reflection on the mirror. From the look on her face, Brooke would be asking who was the fairest of them in no time.

Haley decided to sit this one out and enjoy the view of Lucas trying to deal with the repercussions of his silly comment.

"Of course you do."

"Then why are you asking me if I'm almost done? Do you think I'm missing something? Oh, I have to..."

"You don't have to do a thing. You look amazing. Come on, Brooke... I was just asking because you were looking for something and I thought..."

"You're too easy, Broody." Brooke teased him, winking at Haley and laughing. "Of course I look the best. I got Haley to look bitching, but no one can top me."

Haley glared playfully.

"Then what are you looking for?"

"BROOKE?" They all turned their gazes to the door. It was Peyton's voice coming from the front door.

"IN THE BATHROOM" Brooke yelled back, causing Haley and Lucas to cover their annoyed ears.

"I'm looking for a necklace P. Sawyer wants to borrow. I don't know where I put it." Brooke kept looking, removing all the things that belonged inside each drawer and making a huge mess out of things.

Awkwardness; that was the only vibration that filled the bathroom the moment Peyton emerged. It was not the random one that took over the place whenever Haley and she were together. It was way more excruciating.

"I-I..." Peyton tried unsuccessfully as Haley just stared at her wannabe friend and at herself, mesmerized and pissed off at the same time.

Realizing their mouths were agape, Brooke and Lucas snapped it shut and had the most comical dumbfounded looks. Haley's and Peyton's dresses were the same color and although Peyton's was strapless, it had the same empire-waist inset with sequin and tiny bead embellishments as Haley's.

"I'm going to go change" Peyton finally managed to say before leaving as quickly as possible.

A minute passed and Haley and Lucas couldn't hold their laughter a moment longer.

"Now we also have to sue Suburban Filth's neighbor." Brooke mentioned, enraged that the store had made two almost identical dresses when they promised not to. "Next time you're both wearing Hoes over Bros. It'll save us from tragedy."

Gathered at the former Scott household that was now property of the soon to be Deborah Lee were the infamous owner, man of the hour Keith Scott, his soon to be wife Karen, Mr. jack$$ himself Dan Scott, the snarky old Whitey, the not so innocent Mae and a grouchy old Royal. Apparently Nathan was deliberately MIA and the other kids were yet to illuminate the room with their presences.

The ordinary wine and scotch were being consumed in large quantities at record pace, oh dear Lord. The hectic night was bound to end in tragedy and they all had full knowledge.

The scent of Karen's extraordinary food in the air was supposed to be stimulating, but not even that was doing the drill.

"Have you taught your kids anything related to punctuality, Danny?" Royal provoked the snake, which fought with himself not to respond.

"Royal, how many times have I asked you to behave?" Mae interjected, shooting her husband a wary glance.

"Go help Karen in the kitchen, Mae. God knows Deb doesn't have the best cooking skills."

"There's no need, Royal." Karen smiled, joining the room with Deb standing behind her. "Every thing's ready. We're just waiting for the kids."

Royal smiled back, leading Dan to confusion. He always understood his father thought of Lucas as an accident that should not have happened. Watching the gentle interaction between Karen and the old man caused him to be bewildered, or afraid.

"I'm getting more scotch." Dan declared. "God knows I'm going to need it." He mumbled.

Keith watched his brother and was laughing on the inside. If Dan thought his father talking to Karen was as inaccurate as a supernatural force, imagine when he found out they'd all be related but with Karen as his sister-in-law and not wife. Oh, that tragedy that was about to come...

Trying to lighten up the mood, Deb turned on some old tunes. They didn't work magic, but it seemed like a promising start. Keith was amused talking to his father and good friend Whitey Durham. Dan was drinking solo, and Mae was pretending to listen to Deb and Karen's conversation as she watched her poor miserable baby drink himself to oblivion.

Thirty minutes later, Lucas, Brooke and Haley graced the older ones with their arrival, but there was still no sign of Nathan, or Peyton. The night was not getting any younger and the dinner was getting colder. Royal and Mae took Lucas' presence in and they were formally introduced. Mae hugged him and cried for the what seemed to be hours, while her husband limited himself to shake Luke's hand.

Then, when greeting the girls, the elder couple noticed one of them was Haley, despite her auburn hair that they weren't familiarized with. They had seen her once with the straight dark hair that Brooke was now wearing. They were casual and limited themselves to saying hello. They knew she was their grandson's wife, but they'd leave their comments for later, when the other one in the couple was also present.

Deciding it was better to eat the food while it was still warm Keith made a quick phone call to Nathan and left a message on his voice mail. After doing it, he asked everyone to join him on the table and helped Deb and Karen have dinner served.

The sitting arrangements had Royal at the head of the table, Dan sitting by his side across Keith, who had Karen on his left, followed by Lucas, Haley and Brooke. In front of Karen was Deb, followed by Whitey and two empty seats for Nathan to choose whether he'd sit in front of dragon Brooke, who could potentially hurt him, or in front of Haley's big brown quizzical eyes.

The conversation was flowing freely and Royal seemed to be finally recognizing Lucas as his other grandson. He was genuinely interested in the boy's life and his basketball skills. The Scott genes... Basketball seemed to always be what would define them. Brooke and Haley were bragging about how awesome Lucas' game was and Keith, Deb, Karen and Mae watched them tenderly, and Dan went on drinking.

By the time everyone had almost finished eating, Peyton and Nathan entered the room to be met by Deb's and Royal's disapproval.

"Like father like son." Royal let out a cold, blood-curdling laugh. "With all the respect, Deb, but have you gotten your wife pregnant and then moved to the blond girl, Nathan? If I remember correctly, Haley here had her hair the same shade as Karen's." Royal pointed out ironically.

"Good evening to you too, grandpa." Nathan stated, claiming his seat in front of Brooke's mad eyes.

"This family is a joke." Royal barked. "When Keith told me you had gotten married I almost had a seizure, but I came to terms with it. Unfortunately, I see you haven't."

"Don't go there, grandpa." Nathan warned him while the others didn't utter a single word. Most of them were expecting Royal to finally get Nathan to recover his senses while other were too drunk to notice anything that was going on, or too conformed to believe it would happen.

"Don't go there? Too late, Nathan! I've gone there already and you're not going to shush me. I'll say whatever I damn please and you're going to sit there and listen like a good boy would."

Nathan sighed. He knew he was defeated and he looked briefly at Haley's eyes, but she seemed to be miles away from there.

"Why are you giving her a pleading look, Nate? You think she's going to save you? 'Cause she's not! She's going to sit there and listen too. I don't know if she deserves it, but this entire family seems to deserve a lecture on marriage and the consequences of it. You see, Deb, I told you months ago you and Dan were setting a terrible example with your divorce. Now look at your son..."

"This is not about my divorce, Royal. And if you're going to talk about example, let me ask you how come you still have a solid marriage and your son didn't manage to be anything other than a worthless husband?" Deb madly interrupted.

Everyone's eyes squinted, but Nathan simply mouthed a "thank you" to his mother.

"I'm not trying to get your grandfather to ease the pressure on you, Nathan. I'm simply telling him we're not the ones to blame for your stupidity. Well, maybe your father is." She contemplated.

"You're all full of shit, Deb. All of you! Marriage is a sacred institution whether you want to believe it or not. I think Nathan was careless and naive to get married at this age, but if he did, he has to suck it up and fight for it. Getting a divorce is the easy way out and the excuse of a coward; it's for losers! I never thought my grandson would be one of them."

"Dad, let's just drop it." Keith begged.

"Drop it? I haven't even started with you, Keith. I'm glad I didn't postpone my trip to come to your supposed to be wedding last year. Talking about bad jokes, that was one of them. You barely knew the woman and went to the altar to be left there as a pathetic little puppy?"

So much for Keith and Karen's happy announcement!

"You don't know the whole story, Royal. I suggest you stop talking about it before you find things you'd rather not know." Karen told him sternly.

"What can I possibly find out that I don't want to know, Karen? You tell me. First my son gets a girl pregnant when he's on the verge of conquering his dreams, then he leaves her with my dumb advice and gets another girl pregnant, drops out of college, marries the wrong girl, spends the rest of his life being unhappy without giving his marriage a chance, drives one of my grandsons to the edge, who dumbly gets married at sixteen and leaves his wife before a year of marriage, not to mention my other son who almost married a whore..."

"That your younger son had hired." Deb completed Royal's rant, almost causing him and Mae fatal heart attacks.

"WHAT? You know, I should've listened to Karen. She's the only sane person in this room. I don't want to know." Royal turned to Lucas. "And you better recognize what you have. This lady sitting next to you is a wonderful girl who's charming, smart and deserves the best. Don't promise her the world if you're planning on acting like your brother or father. I hope not to find you with a blond one the next time I come here."

Unavoidably, everyone directed their gazes at Peyton, Brooke and Lucas, and if it wasn't for the pinnacle of tension, they all would've laughed of Royal's mean but truthful comment.

"You don't give a girl your name and take it back. You stick with her thought thick and thin." Royal said, looking at Nathan.

"You think you yelling at me will make me change my mind?" Nathan spoke bluntly. He was over the edge and Haley could tell he was going to say a bunch of things without thinking. She feared it'd affect her, but she remained quiet. "I MADE A MISTAKE, alright? Is that what you wanted to hear? Is that..."

So much for not listening to those words anymore, Haley thought. Brooke, on the other hand, started rethinking the whole not kicking Nathan's balls from under the table. She gave Haley a hand squeeze as Lucas clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

"WE'RE GETTING MARRIED." Karen screamed, pointing to Keith and preventing Nathan from saying more. She was observing her son and Haley, and was well aware it wouldn't end up well.

Silence; The announcement came with Deb looking at them dumbfounded. Haley, Peyton, Whitey, Mae, Nathan and Royal repeated Deb's action, but Dan couldn't get out of there fast enough.

"Congratulations." Some of them said, except for Royal, who was skeptical, and Nathan, who was staring non stop at Haley, who, by the way, was ignoring him and celebrating with the rest of the crowd.

Minutes later, after hugs had been distributed, Whitey turned to Lucas.

"I think we should call it a night. Lucas, do you and your lovely date mind giving me a ride?"

"Of course not, Coach."

"Mrs. Scott?" Whitey asked, having Mae and Deb turning to him much to his twisted pleasure.

"Mrs. Scott?" Whitey insisted, dragging all the other's attention, but the one person he was trying to talk to.

"Haley?" She finally looked up, getting out of her trance and meeting Whitey's eyes.

"Yeah, Coach?"

"Better late than ever! I've been summoning you for ages, but you didn't listen."

"I'm sorry, I--"

"Giving up the Scott name already?" Royal asked in his devil voice.

Haley didn't find it in herself to answer. She watched Brooke grabbing her by the hand and stood up follwing her friend. She was being given a chance to get out of the dinner from hell and this time wouldn't think twice.

The front door was still opened from Dan's exit and as they crossed, Haley remembered something and quickly walked back in.

"Peyton?"

"Yeah?" Peyton raised her head to meet Haley's eyes.

"I guess you have your answer." And with that, she disappeared into the night again, leaving Nathan in his chair, trying to understand her last comment.

After taking Whitey home and calling Keith and Karen to make sure they had made through the end of the dinner alive, Lucas, Brooke and Haley decided it'd be best not to go straight home. Dinner had gone terribly as they thought it would, and they needed some relaxation and fresh air to help them digest their food. Never in their life had Karen's food made them feel so sluggish, and they were praying for the feeling to exit their bodies.

After reaching consensus, they were there, lying in the towels Brooke kept in her trunk, in the cool sand of Tree Hill's beach, listening to the waves and forgetting all about the craziness of that freaky night.

"Can I evoke the forbidden subject for just a minute?" Brooke asked.

"Go for it, Tigger. We know that if we don't let you, you might not make it to tomorrow." Haley joked, causing Brooke to slap her arm playfully.

"If Whitey hadn't asked us to take him home, I'd have made sure to kill any chance of Nathan procreating."

"That would not have been a bad thing, Brooke. Not in mine or Royal's eyes." Lucas laughed.

"Royal... he seemed more reasonable that I thought possible." Brooke informed her friends.

"Tonight was enlightening, tragic, but funny nonetheless. It was great to see some people squirming. And I never knew I had a comedian for a grandfather."

"Talking about squirming, have you seen Dan running away after Karen told everyone she's marrying Keith?"

"That was priceless, but how come I didn't know about that? Am I not reliable? Were you afraid I was going to blab before the time came?" Haley questioned.

"She knows us, pretty girl."

"Ah, it's okay. The surprise was great and came in handy."

"That's why I love this girl, Luke. She can't stay mad at me for more than ten seconds."

SMACK! Brooke gave Haley the wettest kiss on the cheek and both girls giggled as Lucas' cell phone vibrated on his pocket.

Pulling it out, Lucas saw Nathan's name on the screen and showed it to the girls. Brooke pretended to be puking as Haley laughed at her antics. That was a new one, Lucas thought, but he still answered. A chance to yell at Nathan for his once again asinine behavior couldn't be taken for granted, even if he'd get a new one by the following day's practice.

"Speak." Lucas demanded rudely.

"I--I…"

"You—you…?" Lucas mocked his brothers' state in Brooke's insulting ways.

"I need help."

"Don't we all?" Lucas reproached in his contemptuous manner.

"I'm being serious, Lucas."

"So am I."

"The help's not for me, but for Dan."

"Let me help him the way the both of you helped me over the last eighteen years." Lucas declared, hanging up at his brother.

"I can't believe you did that." Brooke smiled. "You're learning something from me. I'm so proud, my love." Brooke jumped him, placing kisses all over his face.

"I'm calling him back, Brooke. Just let him feel the distress for two minutes."

"Why would you call him?"

"Because he's better than Nathan." Haley re-joined the conversation.

"Call him already. Let's find out what he wants so that we can say no." Brooke suggested.

"It's not about what he wants. He said it's something for Dan."

"I take it back, don't call him." Brooke said.

"Yeah, no need to be better than him then."

The girls laughed, but Lucas still called. It wasn't in his nature to be spiteful and maybe he'd teach Nathan a lesson he could most certainly use about being the better person.

"I changed my mind. I'm considering helping you or Dan."

"Then meet me at that ugly $$ bar ten miles from town. And bring any help you can."

Thirty minutes later, Lucas, Brooke, Haley were standing outside the dreadful bar, spotting Nathan's car parked, and Peyton meeting them upfront.

"You could have maximized the emergency squad, Luke." Peyton commented as she walked to meet them.

"Why is that, P. Sawyer?"

"Well, Brooke, do you remember how we ended the night of Haley's bridal shower?" They talked as they walked back to the place where they were supposed to meet Nathan.

"Rubbing toilets?"

"Think of replaying that, but without toilets. Think about…hmm… sweeping, cleaning and rebuilding."

"What happened, Peyton?" Haley meddled, sick of watching the enigma unfold.

"Go inside and see for yourselves. Let me tell you it's not pretty. Dan's quite destroyed the place." Peyton said as she wandered back inside.

As they entered, they saw broken chairs, glasses, bottles and another load of broken things on the floor. Hypnotized by the view they failed to notice Nathan standing next to them with some brooms in his hands.

"If you want to leave, we understand. We'll call a cleaning service and pay them double to work for the night, or we'll call the guys from the team." Nathan spoke.

"Has Dan done this by himself?" Haley asked.

"From what they told me, he got into a fight and one thing lead to the other and..."

"Where is he now?" Lucas questioned without looking back at his brother.

"Getting glucose at the hospital. Mom's taken him there and the owner told us to clean this shit or she'd call the cops."

"Let's just clean and go home." Haley said, grabbing a broom.

"Thanks." Nathan told her sincerely.

"I'm doing this for Lucas and only him." Haley told Nathan with gritted teeth. "If he was only your father, I wouldn't have bothered coming in, and you'll be fooling yourself to think otherwise."