"The hoop is open, the net is hot, Go 'head Ravens, make that shot!"

Taking a break from another one of Whitey's rigorous practices, the basketball players, Gatorade in hand, leaned against the bleachers as they watched their cheerleaders practice on the other side of the floor. Lucas smiled as he watched Peyton blush and try not to giggle. She told him she hated when he watched her during practice and ever the tease, just to fret her, he loved doing it.

"Get a room," Skills shook his head.

Lucas smiled.

"Why you hating, Skills?"

"I ain't hatin', dawg."

"Yeah you are. In fact, you've been in a pissy mood ever since Pickerington."

"Ever since what?" Skills tried to play dumb.

Lucas rolled his eyes.

"You know what. The game we beat 79 to 51. The game our defense killed. The game where you foolishly decided to cozy up to Keisha in front of Bevin and cause the catfight of the year. That refresh your memory, dude?"

Skills made a pouty face.

"Oh yeah. That. I had almost forgot."

"Yeah right. Bev still not talking to you?"

He glanced over, softening a little as he watched the smile that lit up the whole gym.

"She's pretty pissed."

"That was pretty dumb, Skills and I can totally say that because I'm your best friend for one and two, I've been known to make some pretty dumb relationship decisions in the past."

That was an understatement.

"And now?"

Lucas shrugged.

"It's cool. I'm happy. I'm in love, I've got my girl…what's better than that?"

Skills looked away.

"I ain't gonna dwell on it. Shorty was cool and all but I can't let that shit get in my head and mess up my game. Basketball is important."

"I thought Bevin was too."

Skills shook his head and took a seat. They had been friends since pre-k and Lucas knew him all too well.

"She was."

"So what happened?"

"I was stupid. I messed up."

"And now?"

"What do you mean? Bevin hates me. She won't even talk to me."

"She did catch you red handed."

"Yeah."

"That was kind of dumb. I mean, I thought you were smoother than that. What, were you asking to get caught?"

"Maybe."

Lucas narrowed his eyes.

"What?"

"Can I be real with you?"

"What's up?"

Skills shrugged.

"I liked Bevin. Hell, I like her now. She's fine as hell. We really have fun. She's cool people. I never expected we'd end up together but I really started digging her."

"So I thought. But if that's the case, why mess it up? Especially on purpose."

"I got scared."

"Scared of what?"

"I don't know. Of feeling, really liking somebody. That sounds like some bullshit, don't it?"

"No, man. I get what you're saying. It gets heavy when you really like somebody and get involved like that. Anytime you put feelings in it, there is the potential to get hurt. It sucks. Trust me, nobody knows that better than me. It's not bullshit but that's life, Skills. It's all about taking risks."

"Luke…"

"Look at us now. We're Ravens. That was a risk. We could have just stayed on the River Court where it was safe."

"It's not the same thing."

"Similar concept. Look, I know you really like Bevin. She likes you too. The girl has been through enough. If you want her that bad, go for it."

"She ain't having it now."

"The Skills Taylor I know doesn't give up that easy."

"What am I supposed to do?"

Lucas took a sip from his water bottle. He had been there and done that. Sometimes a man just had to swallow his pride.

"Prove your case, dude."

Skills sighed. He hated to admit it but his friend was right. He did like Bevin. And he hoped a part of her still like him. He had messed up and it would take nothing short of a miracle to convince her to give him another chance.

"I'll be right back, man," Skills stood.

"Where you going?"

Skills Taylor didn't give up that easily. He had a case to prove.

"Following the advice of a pretty good friend," he started to walk away.

Lucas sat back and cringed. Getting Bevin to talk to Skills again would be no easy feat. And trying to convince her in front of all the basketball players and cheerleaders probably wasn't the smartest idea.

"From the top, guys," Rachel commanded, beginning to lead another cheer. "1…2…3…and…"

"Yo, Bev, I need to talk to you," Skills marched right up interrupting everything.

"What are you doing?" a horrified Bevin tersely whispered.

"There's something I gotta say. I know you might not be trying to hear me right now but you gotta listen."

"Now is not the time…or place."

"It's the perfect time and place. You won't give me the time of day anywhere else."

"I am so not speaking to you."

"Yeah, I know. That's kind of the point, Shorty."

"Do not call me that. I am so no longer your shorty, mister."

"Do we have a problem here?" one of the cheerleading coaches stepped up.

"No, Miss Robbins," Bevin answered.

"Looks like we do," Whitey joined them with the whole gym looking on.

"Coach, this will only take a minute but I can't leave. Not yet. Not until Bevin talks to me."

"Miss Robbins, I don't know about you but I got a team to coach," Whitey bellowed. "I don't have time for the Days Of Our Lives here. Taylor, Miss Maskey, take it away from here. Far away!"

"I agree," Miss Robbins nodded.

A humiliated Bevin stalked off with Skills close on her heels.

"I cannot believe you, I am so embarrassed," she said when in a private corner outside the exit. "Making a public spectacle in the gym in front of everyone? Hel-lo."

"Now it bothers you, Laila Ali," Skills folded his arms and smirked.

Bevin's face instantly reddened.

"Real funny. Glad to see that night amused you so much."

"It didn't. Look…"

"Whatever it is, I don't want to hear it, okay? It's over now. It was stupid anyway. You and I never could have worked."

"Why not?"

"We're too different, Skills and you know that."

"How so? The fact that I'm a brotha from the hood and you're a rich white chick?"

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

"Then what did you mean?"

"No. No, Skills. Dammitt! You don't get to do this. You don't get to turn this around on me. How dare you? I'm done, okay? I'm over it. I am over falling for guys who aren't what they seem. I am over getting played and hurt and humiliated. I thought you were different. I thought we had something. I thought I was something special to you but once again, Bevin Maskey was really stupid."

"You're not stupid."

"Apparently I was to fall for you."

"I'm sorry. Look, I like you."

"Nice way of showing it. Looks like you liked Keisha, too."

"Keisha's cool people but I don't feel for her like that…at least not the way I felt for you."

Bevin looked away, feeling the tears stinging at her eyes.

"Then why'd you do what you did?"

"I don't know. I got scared, I guess. I was dumb. I made a mistake but I'm sorry. Look, I like you, Bevin. I like you a whole lot. I can't read the future or nothing but maybe this could have been the start of something cool. I mean, we did have a good time, right? Why can't we just go back to that?"

"Because I'm afraid," she cried. "I like you, too. We just clicked so well, we had an awesome time. My feelings were real and I wasn't scared. But now I am. You hurt me. You hurt me and humiliated me just like every other guy. How am I supposed to know it won't happen again?"

"Because I'm telling you," he looked right in her eyes.

"Skills…"

"Give me another chance. I'll do what it takes, whatever you want, including being man enough to step to you and admit my mistakes while embarrassing both our asses in front of the whole gym. And you won't get hurt this time. I know you're scared. I don't like admitting it but I am too. Maybe we can be scared together. But it's a risk I'm willing to take."

A tear slid down her cheek.

"What you did really sucked," she said between gritted teeth.

"I was an asshole. I know."

"Don't…don't let it happen again."

"Does this mean…"

"It means I will consider being your Shorty again. It means you're on probation. It means we're taking it slow. It means the first time you screw up even a little bit, I'm gone."

"That's fair."

"It's more than fair."

He used his thumb to wipe away her tears.

"I'm sorry for what I did," he hugged her.

"Me too," she buried her face in his chest.

The moment was interrupted when Lucas and Peyton poked their heads out the door.

"Everything okay?" Peyton asked.

Bevin sniffled and nodded.

"Good because Coach says get your ass back on the court before we all have to do 100 pushups," Lucas stated.

"Miss Robbins said the same thing," Peyton added. "Well not about pushups but about getting your ass back on the court. Pronto."

Bevin and Skills both chuckled as their hands briefly brushed against one another.

"Then I guess we better get back then."

"Yeah."

"We cool?" he looked over at her.

She took a deep breath. With her heart and ego still healing, everything inside screamed to run away. The last thing she needed was another failed, drama filled fiasco of a relationship. But a tiny piece of her, perhaps the smallest part had other ideas. It would be one hell of a gamble with her heart at stake.

"Yeah," she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "We're cool."