Haley James plopped onto the king sized bed, stomach first, half heartedly flipping through some car magazine. From a distance, her boyfriend, Nathan Scott just stared at her and smiled. She was something else, totally beautiful. The last thing he had ever expected was to fall head over heels in love with his sometimes klutzy, bright poncho wearing tutor, but he woke up every morning thanking his lucky stars that fate had had a change of heart. Jumping down beside her, she squealed with delight and giggled as he smothered her neck with kisses that tickled.

"Nathan!"

"What?"

"Babe, we have a big History quiz to study for", she tried to protest.

Her boyfriend would not be deterred.

"But anatomy is so much more interesting."

Haley rolled over and put her hands on her hips.

"Since when did you start studying Anatomy?"

The handsome young jock shrugged and looked off into space.

"Since I fell for you", he finally answered.

And fall he did. It was junior year when Nathan's whole world changed. No longer just a rumor or a dirty secret whispered about behind closed doors, he had come face to face with the illegitimate older half brother his dad had fathered shortly before his own birth with the pretty dark haired café owner across town. In a matter of months, two young men went from strangers to rivals to friends to brothers. But the journey to the end result had been a rocky one at best. Threatened by another player who could match his own basketball talent and seemingly unstoppable athletic prowess, Nathan, backed by their unscrupulous father, had gone to great lengths to keep his estranged brother, Lucas, confined to the River Court and away from the stardom of the Ravens. When nothing else had worked, out of sheer desperation and bad taste, he had devised the ultimate plan. Take Lucas down by seducing then breaking the heart of that girl he always hung around. It took weeks of convincing but she finally agreed to be his tutor. The seduction and heartbreak never happened. What two things did, surprised everyone, most especially Nathan. For once in his academic life, he understood his studies and earned decent passing grades instead of teachers handing it to him…and he truly began to care about something other than basketball and himself.

For Haley, he was simply the mean jerk that tortured Lucas and had made fun of her that summer she had to work at that disgusting hot dog place. He was a jock and an ass, one of those token, dreamy rich boys all the girls seemed to pine after. She never dreamed that one day she would be his tutor. She never dreamed she would fall for him and he in turn for her. She never dreamed of a Cracker Jack bracelet or a macaroni and cheese dinner by the River or that oh so perfect kiss in her very own yard. But somehow all of it had happened. The beginning brought break ups and makes up nearly weekly but true love had weathered the storm. He was her other best friend and in times of his parents rocky separation, then reconciliation, Haley had always been his rock.

"Okay, for that brilliant answer, you actually get one more kiss", she laughed as he hungrily cashed in.

"You know, Hales, history could always wait", he continued kissing.

"Oh really? And just what would we do in place of studying?" she asked, raising one eyebrow.

He looked right in her eyes.

"This", he moved a piece of her shirt to the side and let his full lips expertly worship the sensitive skin of her collarbone.

Haley moaned, cursing herself for "studying" alone in his room again. They were no closer to an A on the History quiz but instead one step closer to the sex she had sworn would never take place until after marriage.

"Nathan…"

"Nathan! Haley! Time for dinner, kids!"

Nathan stopped and rolled his eyes, causing Haley to laugh.

"Saved by the bell or in this case, should I say the Deb?"

Pouting, Nathan stood and straightened his clothes.

"Or we could do that", he grumbled.

"Dinner is good", Haley shrugged, kissing him and leading the way downstairs to the kitchen.

The newly decorated dining room of the spacious home had been set beautifully, waiting for the family to sit and have supper. Although far from perfect, even Nathan had to admit things had settled down since his parents had gotten back together. He accepted they would never be the traditional sitcom storybook family especially with Dan Scott as the patriarch. Dan would always be Dan, unfortunately, but even he had managed to calm his evil, maniacal ways. And working alongside Karen Roe at the café had made Deb a much happier wife, mother and human being in general, although at times it was still weird to see her as that June Cleaver homemaker, the one with the perfect meal on the table and the perfect smile plastered to her pretty face. But in good times and bad, all Nathan had to do was look to his right and Haley would be there. His sanity, his angel, his saving grace.

"Glazed duck for everyone", Deb proudly announced, kissing her only son on the forehead.

"Looks good, Mom", he managed to mumble, only after Haley had nudged him by the arm.

"Smells delicious, too, Mrs. Scott", Haley smiled. "Can I help with anything?"

"No, thank you, dear", Deb looked around, wiping her hands across a dishtowel. "Everything is good to go. You kids just sit down and dig in. We're going to have ourselves a nice family dinner."

As soon as she ended her sentence, the door opened and in walked the well over six foot frame being carried by expensive custom made leather shoes.

"Well, well. Looks like I arrived just in time. Hello, family. Miss James", he curtly nodded.

"Looks like you spoke too soon, Mom", Nathan rolled his eyes as his father took a seat.

"Be nice, fellas", Deb warned, eyeing father and son.

"I'm always nice, my dear. In fact, being nice is what sells carrs. Did you know that Dan Scott Motors was just voted the number one independent dealership in the state, as well 'best service in Tree Hill' and the number two small business on the East Coast?"

The other three rolled their eyes.

"We know, we know!"

"Dad, you've only been telling us all that how many weeks now?"

Dan smirked.

"No harm in recirculating great news. And speaking of, how is the team?"

Nathan sighed as did Deb and Haley. No matter what, in the Scott home, the conversation would always end up on sports, Nathan and everything basketball in particular.

"Fine."

"And your numbers are up?"

"Yes, Dad."

"Good. You have those Swansboro punks coming up on Friday. You need to be ready, son. How about a light jog tomorrow when I get home?"

"Luke and I were gonna work out at the gym and…"

"Nonsense. Lifting all those weights will kill your arms. Whitey would have a stroke if his two best shooters were dead for the game…although picturing the old man stretched out on the floor doesn't seem so bad", Dan hinted with glee.

"Dan!" Deb warned.

"Just kidding, dear. Where is your sense of humor?"

"Dad, do we have to talk about basketball?"

"What else is there?" the father questioned after carefully chewing and swallowing his meat.

"Formal is coming up", Deb volunteered with a smile. "Haley, have you decided on a dress yet?"

Haley smiled.

"Actually, I…"

"Make sure you play all 48 minutes, son", Dad interrupted, adding. "Scouts might be in the stands."

"Dan, Haley was just about to tell us about her dress for Formal."

Dan made a face.

"Formal? Who has time for all that? The boy has enough distraction without corsages and high heels and pink gowns."

It was Haley's turn to frown.

"I don't like pink, Mr. Scott."

"You get my drift", he said tersely.

Sensing the nature of the conversation about to turn tense, Deb opted to change the subject.

"So I invited Keith for dinner…"

"You what?" Dan nearly blew a gasket.

"I invited your brother to have dinner with us but he was too busy at the Auto Body shop."

"Pity", Dan rolled his eyes.

"But he promised us a rain check."

"Oh goody", Dan muttered sarcastically.

"Oh Dan, stop it. He is your brother and it has been a long time since he has sat down to enjoy dinner with us like a real family."

"Please, Deb."

"Yeah, Dad", Nathan spoke up. "I don't see what the big deal is anyway. Uncle Keith is pretty cool."

He had enjoyed getting to know his father's brother over the past year.

"You know what's cool, son? Basketball is cool."

"Dan…"

"Come on, Dad."

"Stop your whining. I am looking out for your future. Ball is where it's at. Listen to me and you'll be riding that golden ticket all the way to Duke and then the NBA in no time, mark my words", Dan winked.

Nathan rolled his eyes.

"It isn't everything", he scoffed.

Dan wiped his mouth and raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe so. Maybe you're right. Doing something you love for a living, something you're good at and making millions, living in a mansion, driving fast sports car, dating even faster women", he joked, much to Haley's dismay. "I suppose you're right, son. I mean, what was I thinking? What kind of life is that? In fact, maybe you shouldn't aim so high. You could follow in the footsteps of your uncles. You can open up a second rate body shop spending long hours on your feet with grease underneath your fingernails all day or better yet still living in LaLa land, playing Mr. Race Car Driver until you're 30…"

The man could go on and on and he did as Deb and Nathan rolled their eyes, used to the lectures and rants. Why did Dan have to be such a judgmental smart ass all the time? Why did he have to be so damned controlling? And what was so bad about Keith and his other uncle, Deb's brother, Cooper Lee? Both were well liked, fun loving, honest, decent men. So what if they happened to march to the beat of their own drummers? They lived life for themselves and had a ball doing it. What was so wrong with that?

At the height of his simmering frustration, just when Nathan was about to explode, he looked over to his right, to the ever present angel on his shoulder. And there she was, tongue poked out, eyes crossed, making the silliest faces as she mocked his oblivious father, who enjoying the sound of his own voice, just kept going on and on and on. Even Deb had to stifle a giggle. And just like that, the anger, the boiling temper was able to cool down in record pace. He could look at his father and his pathetic outbursts with a smile instead of rage and he owed it all to his Haley. Sharing the chuckle with the two women, he shook his head and went back to his food. It was a world where one had to pick and choose their battles and some just weren't worth it. It was just another day in the life of the Scott's.