Bevin turned the radio up full volume as she drove downtown in her convertible sports car. Fresh from yet another meaningless shopping trip at the mall, she had driven to one of the town's funky new sushi restaurants that had become the latest dining craze. She had made plans to meet the usual gang there, the popular bunch of jocks, cheerleaders and snobs she had befriended as a small child. Pulling into a compact space across the street, she pulled her oversized designer sunglasses over her eyes and reached for her Prada bag. But something stopped short as Bevin reached for the handle to open the car door.

Across the street through the tinted windows she watched her friends, the same old people she had always hung out with. Mostly they had been sectioned off into couples. Wasn't that the way it was supposed to be? Didn't the pretty, rich, ditzy cheerleaders always date the hot football and basketball players? Bevin sighed. It was a sad and played out cliché. The mold of her very teenage existence had already been formed and set before her. And the truth was, it was getting to be a little boring and tired.

Before she knew it, before they could see her, she tossed her bag, refastened her seatbelt and thrust the gear in drive, screeching from the space and back into the moderate traffic. She needed to get away, Bevin needed something else and her heart pounded as she tapped her fingers against the steering wheel. Then it hit her plain as day while sitting at a red light. She glanced to her left and the scenic flow of the river. Putting on her signal, she turned, riding down Market Street by the docks and back onto a side street that took her over the large draw bridge. Once on the highway, headed south, she abruptly made the first right exit that led to the side road that led to a certain basketball court. It wasn't a regular hangout for Bevin, she had only frequented it a few times in the past with Brooke but she knew exactly where it was, although she was unsure of the force guiding her there.

Slowly driving down the winding side road, she came to the park and pulled her car to the court. Playing a game of two on two were Lucas and two guys Bevin knew only as Junk and Fergie. Rounding out the team was none other than Skills Taylor. She couldn't help but grin as she watched him. He made a perfect shot despite Lucas' best guarding attempts, discontinuing the fast pace of the game, only to use the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his brow. They continued to play, making several more baskets until Skills and Junk claimed victory.

"Nothin' but net, baby," Skills joked, playfully punching Lucas in the arm. "How many times I gotta tell you, man? I run this court. You don't want none of this. You can't handle this."

"Whatever," Lucas grinned taking a swig of water as the two walked over to the bleachers where Peyton sat.

"Nice game," she nodded.

"Hey," Lucas pretended to be mad before kissing her. "Whose side are you on anyway?"

"Let me think about it, uh, who just won the game?" she teased.

"She's a cold woman," Skills toweled off.

"Look, babe, I know you must be starving and I know we had plans to eat but…"

Peyton smiled at Lucas.

"Let me guess…just one more game?"

"What?" he shrugged. "I've got a defeat to avenge. Ferg and I have a plan this time."

Skills just shook his head.

"You two fools keep on planning and me and Junk gonna keep on winning."

Lucas laughed as he randomly glanced over across the grassy area, squinting his eyes.

"Peyt, isn't that Bevin?"

Peyton strained to get a closer look, noticing her friend for the first time as well.

"I think so."

"She must be here to see you."

"Must be but that's kind of weird, her coming here and especially just sitting in her car with that goofy grin on her face."

"Damn," Skills took a drink from his water bottle.

"What's up?"

"Now I got to look extra smooth seeing as I got my own personal cheering section and all."

Lucas and Peyton exchanged glances.

"Come again?" Peyton grinned.

Skills motioned over to the car.

"Your homegirl over there."

"What about her?"

"Shorty been checking me out lately…a lot."

"Bevin?" they both questioned in unison.

"That's her. I talked to her a couple times. She seem like good people. Besides, Ma is fine as hell."

Lucas looked at Skills and at Bevin and back at Skills.

"Bevin?" he asked again.

"What you lookin' so surprised for, dawg? I came to her honor, the ladies like that kind of shit. Besides, maybe she got a craving for the flavor. Don't front. Y'all know what they say…once you go black, you never go back."

They all laughed as the guys bumped fists and took the theatrics back to the court. Peyton watched with minimal interest. Her real attention was diverted to the giddy cheerleader parked just a few feet away. Letting curiosity get the best of her, Peyton made her way to the car.

"Hey, Bev."

"Oh hey Peyton," she looked up.

They both nodded in awkward silence, Bevin's eye once again fixated on the action on the court.

"So…"

"So…"

"Funny seeing you here," Peyton put her hands in her pockets. "I mean, it's just odd because you never come by. Is something going with cheerleading? Did you need me?"

"Huh? Oh no. Everything is good."

"Great," Peyton looked over at the guys. "That's good but uh, what, what brings you by?"

Bevin smiled as she finally hopped out of the car. She looked great as usual in her denim mini, trendy wedge sandals and cute little tank top. Tanned and toned, her legs seemed to go on for days, a fact not unnoticed by Skills who was desperately trying to keep his attention focused on the game and not the pretty cheerleader.

"I was in the neighborhood and felt like stopping by," she shrugged as the two ladies walked over and took a seat on the bleachers. "It's a nice day and it's so pretty out here by the river."

"Yeah," Peyton agreed with some confusion.

"So. How are things with Lucas?"

"Good. Really good."

"That's nice. I'm glad to hear it. He's a good guy. I mean, you know Brooke and me are practically BFFs and I love her to death and I was really pissed at first that Lucas broke her heart again but I get it now, kind of. He's not a bad person, he meant well and I guess you two were just meant for each other."

"Thanks…I think."

"I hope we can get past all this. I hope we are past it. I just want everybody to be friends."

"Me too."

Peyton could certainly agree with that.

"As a matter of fact, I think we should all hang out more often, all of us."

"Okay."

"The whole gang and you and me and Lucas, he could even invite some of his friends along too."

Peyton smiled. Bevin was trying hard not to be obvious and it was pretty cute.

"Sure," she played along. "That would be fun."

"Totally. I'm sure he has really nice friends."

"That he does."

"Like that guy over there playing ball."

"Who?" Peyton teased. "Fergie?"

"No."

"Junk?"

"No," she grinned with a dreamy sigh. "The one they call Skills."

You could practically hear the romantic soundtrack playing in the background.

"Skills, huh? Okay, yeah. Skills is a pretty good guy."

"What do you know about him?"

"I don't know. I mean, what do you want to know? He's really nice and he's a lot of fun. He's one of Luke's best friends."

"You guys hang out a lot?"

"Sometimes but why all the questions? What's going on?"

Bevin tried to play coy.

"Nothing, it's just that we've talked a few times and he is nice and he's cute and just look at that ass. Have mercy!"

Peyton made a face as she took a closer look for the first time.

"Yeah. It's a nice ass, I never noticed that before…thanks."

"No problem," Bevin giggled.

"So what is this? Do you like him?"

"Maybe. I don't really know him but there's no harm in getting to know him."

"I guess not."

"You seem shocked."

"Not shocked but uh…I don't know. You're my friend and Skills is my friend but I just never pictured you two together."

"He's black," she blurted out.

"So I noticed."

"But I don't care about stuff like that. You don't judge people because of the color of their skin. And I know he's not my usual type but then again, take one look at my usual types. Need I say more? For a while, I had even considered giving up on guys or at least taking a very long break. Then I noticed Skills and we bumped into each other and I can't stop thinking about him. You know how that feels?"

Peyton looked over at the court and was instantly overwhelmed with that same sense of affection for her own boyfriend.

"Yeah, Bevin. I know exactly how that feels. Skills is a great guy, he really is. You know what? I think it's nice you're into him. You should go for it."

Bevin looked over just in time to catch the end of the game.

"I think I will," she flipped her hair and sauntered boldly over to him. "Hey."

He gave her the nod.

"What up, girl?"

"Nothing. I saw you play. Pretty nice."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

He looked around.

"Haven't seen you much around these parts."

She shrugged.

"It's really nice but I guess I never had a reason to be here before."

"And now?"

Bevin grinned at him.

"Let's just say I could use a change of scenery."

"Change of scenery, huh? That's cool."

"Which brings me here today. So I was thinking…on Saturday night, I have this thing. It's a party at the roller rink, it's pretty fun. I was gonna go but I don't have a date…"

"You asking me something?"

She licked her lips.

"You roller skate?"

"I do a little somethin' somethin'."

"Well, how about doing a little something something with me? It'll be fun. We can talk, hang out, get some food."

"Alright," he nodded. "Saturday night."

She grinned as she scribbled down her phone number and gave it to him, just as Lucas, Peyton, Junk and Fergie joined them.

"Give me a call, Tally," she winked before returning to her car.

"What the hell? Now I know my eyes must be playing tricks on me. You just get Bevin Maskey's number?" Fergie asked in disbelief.

"I would so hit that. That chick is fine," Junk nodded.

"Tally?" Skills and Lucas repeated together.

"Yeah, what the hell does that mean?" Fergie inquired.

Peyton just chuckled and shook her head.

"She didn't mean any harm. You called her Shorty and she thought she was calling you the same thing…you know, Shorty, Tally, short, tall…never mind."

And Skills didn't mind, he grinned as he put the number in his pocket. He had never noticed her before either until recently. They had flirted a few times and then looking fine as hell, she had come down to his court to ask him out. He was feeling pretty good. Lucas had first set the trend but after all, it wasn't every day a River Rat had the chance to date a Lady Raven.