Author's Note: INT means interior, and EXT is exterior respectively. OS means "off screen." Thanks to those who have reviewed and/or put alerts on this fic so far.
Also, good or bad, please post your thoughts in a review. The formatting, and writing a OTH fan fic is all very new to me, and I'd like to hear some responses. Hope you enjoy :D
INT. BROOKE'S PLACE
Close up of Peyton sitting on the couch across from the fireplace with a glass of white wine in her hand. She looks pensive.
BROOKE
Oh, my god P. Sawyer!
PEYTON
What are you so excited about?
BROOKE
Your good luck, of course?
PEYTON
Um…luck?
BROOKE
(rolls eyes, sits)
Come on! You were there! I thought it would be more considerate of me to wait an hour before I squealed with glee, but Peyton, Lucas Scott, your Lucas, is still a bachelor!
PEYTON
You want me to be excited about Lindsay leaving him?
BROOKE
Duh! It's what you wanted, isn't it?
PEYTON
I just wanted him to be happy.
Brooke scoffs, then takes away Peyton's glass, taking a sip herself.
BROOKE
Peyton, you have to be kidding me. Now you can swoop in and pick up the pieces of his broken heart.
PEYTON
Brooke, I can't just…I'm not sure he wants me to. I mean, he was going to marry her.
BROOKE
Yeah, with your ring.
PEYTON
It was definitely supposed have been my ring.
BROOKE
So why not go get it back?
Brooke smiles at Peyton, and Peyton gives a slight smile back.
Cut to
Lucas walking down the streets, every once in awhile pulling out his cell, checking to see if he had any missed calls, opening it to make sure it's in good working order. It is, and Lindsay still hasn't called.
Cut to
Lucas standing before the basketball court. He takes a deep breath, taking in his surroundings.
SKILLS (OS)
Hey Luke—didn't know you'd be here.
Lucas turns around, and sees Skills behind him, still in his tux.
LUCAS
Yeah. Just…thinking.
SKILLS
Me too.
Skills walks closer, looking somber, hands in his pockets.
LUCAS
So what is it that's got you so down? I sort of expected you to…well, to console me. Everyone else was trying to anyway.
SKILLS
I would, but I just…I feel too guilty to think about much else man.
LUCAS
Guilty? About what?
SKILLS
About Jamie. How can I show my face to Nathan and Haley again?
LUCAS
Skills, they don't blame you. It was an honest mistake.
SKILLS
Yeah—a mistake that could have cost Jamie his life. Or at least him not ever coming home again. I just…I don't know—I forget how young he is sometimes. He's just so smart.
LUCAS
Yeah, he is a bright kid. And it's alright—they didn't blame you.
SKILLS
Yeah? Well they should have. If it hadn't been for Dan…I don't want to even think about it.
Lucas bristles at the mention of Dan, but shakes it off.
LUCAS
Then don't—Jamie's okay now.
SKILLS
Yeah, but it's the only thing I can think about.
LUCAS
I know how you feel.
Skills narrows his eyes at Lucas, not sure what he means.
LUCAS (CONT'D)
I mean about having a one track mind right now. I can't help but think how this day could have ended if…if she'd said yes.
SKILLS
But she didn't. And you know what?
LUCAS
What?
SKILLS
You're still okay, and the world didn't end. Besides, it wouldn't have worked out anyway.
LUCAS
Here we go.
SKILLS
You weren't in love with her, man. Anyone with a pair of eyes could see it.
LUCAS
You are so wrong about that.
SKILLS
Am I?
Lucas just looks at Skills, pensive. Then, his cell phone rings, disturbing the silence of the night.
Cut to
Close up of Lucas as he looks at his phone. His brow furrows.
LUCAS
It's Haley.
(opens phone)
Hales? Wait, calm down…
Cut to
Skills, looking apprehensive.
Cut to
Lucas, waving his hand at Skills in a "calm down" gesture.
LUCAS
All right—I'll be over there as soon as I can.
(hangs up phone)
SKILLS
Is it Jamie? Is everything okay?
LUCAS
Yeah—he's fine. It's more of a marital problem. Though why she's calling me of all people right now, I'll never know.
Cut to
Lindsay sitting in a chair at the airport in regular clothing. She opens up her phone, and we see the contact name "Lucas" on the screen. She sighs before flipping it closed again. She looks out of the window, watching the planes take off as she waits.
Cut to
INT. TRIC
The camera pans to show the slowly swaying couples on the dance floor. It focuses on one in particular after a moment, and we see that it's Nathan and Jade. She has her arms wrapped around his neck, and his hands are low on her waist. They are dancing very closely. Nathan, however, looks pensive.
NATHAN
I'm not so sure about this Jade.
JADE
What? It's just a dance. Harmless. Besides, you're sober, and I'm, well, mostly sober. And still a lesbian.
NATHAN
(sighs)
I know, I know. It's just…
JADE
There's still irrevocable guilt inside of you for some strange reason?
NATHAN
Yeah. Exactly.
JADE
Do you know what the guilt is for?
NATHAN
Well, I do feel guilty about taking that drink—
JADE
Sip, you mean. A sip of light beer before you cast it aside in self disgust. Honestly Nathan, you're being much too hard on yourself.
NATHAN
Is that right?
JADE
Damn right, that's right. I hate to break it to you, but you're stressed and kicking your own ass simply because the woman who's supposed to love you sees fit to blame you for everything.
NATHAN
Haley doesn't blame me for everything.
JADE
And now he changes his tune. Nathan, she blamed you for your son being kidnapped. Who does that? That was a time when you guys should have been a united front.
Nathan clenches his jaw at that, looking away.
JADE (CONT'D)
Face it—you two don't know each other anymore. The girl you fell in love with no longer exists. And the woman she's become is making you miserable.
NATHAN
It isn't that simple, Jade.
JADE
No, I suppose nothing is ever truly that simple. But still, the bottom line remains the same—there's a stranger in your house. The question becomes what are you going to do about it, Scott?
Close up of Nathan as he pulls her closer, looking out at the crowd as he ponders her question.
Cut to
INT. NATHAN & HALEY'S HOUSE
Haley is pacing the living room, when there is a knock at the door. She rushes to it, and flings it open.
HALEY
Thank god you're here.
LUCAS
Of course I am, Hales.
He steps in, and embraces her in a tight hug.
HALEY
God, I just didn't know what to do, Lucas.
Lucas releases her, and they walk into the living room, sitting down on the couch.
LUCAS
What happened?
HALEY
Nathan and I had this huge argument, and…I kind of blamed him for Jamie being taken.
LUCAS
(peers at her with a slight frown)
God, you didn't. Did you?
HALEY
I did. I didn't mean it though…I was just so upset. And then he walked out. Just took his keys and left. Not that I blame him. I was pretty harsh.
LUCAS
I'm sure he just…went for a ride or something. Clear his head. Did you call him?
HALEY
Of course! But…it just kept going straight to voicemail.
LUCAS
He'll be back soon—I know it. If there's anything that I'm certain of, is that Nathan loves you. So he went to blow off some steam—I think it'd be unhealthy if he didn't.
HALEY
I know. I'm just worried…I don't want him to go back to drinking.
LUCAS
No, Haley. He wouldn't do that. He's been through too much to ever pick up a drink again.
HALEY
I hope so. You didn't see him Luke—he was so…angry. And hurt. I was a total bitch to him.
LUCAS
(smiles)
Well, you know the first step is admitting the problem, so you're already half way there.
Haley picks up a couch pillow and hits him good naturedly on the arm.
Cut to
NIGHT. INT. BROOKE'S CAR
PEYTON
God, I can't believe you're dragging me out here tonight. It's so frickin' late.
BROOKE
Peyton, it's Saturday night. Nothing to do tomorrow morning, so don't even worry about it. Besides, it's time to celebrate.
PEYTON
What? Lucas getting dumped in front of everyone?
BROOKE
(annoyed)
No…Him finally being free to be with his true Lady Love—you.
Peyton sighs, looking out of the window at the passing scenery.
PEYTON
Yeah, but I mean is this the way I really want to get him? By default? Get the consolation prize?
BROOKE
Look, you two were meant to be, missy. Just accept it.
PEYTON
(wistful)
Yeah. Everyone seems to think that. Cept Lucas.
Cut to
A shot showing Brooke's car going down the street, and directly across is a man walking. A cut to a CLOSE UP shows that it is Dan, walking with his wet eyes rimmed red and downcast, jaw set, and hands shoved deeply into his pockets.
Cut to
INT. SKILL'S AND MOUTH'S APT.
Mouth is sitting on the couch, aimlessly flipping through channels, in plain clothes. His head turns at the sound of the door opening.
MOUTH
Skills—where've you been?
SKILLS
Just around. Had a lot on my mind.
Skills tosses his keys on the counter, heads to the fridge and grabs a beer.
SKILLS
You want?
MOUTH
Nah, already got one, man.
Skills then comes over by Mouth, plopping down on the couch.
SKILLS
What're you watching?
MOUTH
Nothing much. Couldn't focus, really. Too worried about my friends. Lucas got abandoned in front of everyone he cared about, Nathan and Haley's relationship is crumbling right before our very eyes, and…you're really too hard on yourself man.
SKILLS
I don't know what you mean.
MOUTH
Yeah, you do. What happened tonight, with Jamie, wasn't your fault. It was an honest mistake that any of us could have made.
SKILLS
But none of you guys made it. I did. I let him go alone, and he was taken.
MOUTH
But he's alright now.
SKILLS
But what if he wasn't? What if he…
MOUTH
But he wasn't. You can't dwell on what could have been—you have to focus on the now. Don't let "what if" games screw with your head.
SKILLS
(sighs)
You're right. It doesn't make the guilt any less, but it puts things in perspective.
MOUTH
Dude, no one blames you. And that guilt is going to wear you down to nothing if you don't let it go.
Cut to
Close up of Skills as he takes a swig of beer.
SKILLS
That's the thing though, Mouth. It's hard to look over your own mistakes. It's hard to forgive yourself.
Cut to
INT. TRIC
Nathan and Jade are dancing very close to "Everyday Is Exactly the Same."
JADE
I'm sick of the pain and disappointment. I just wanna forget who I am for a few minutes. Is that cool with you?
NATHAN
(softly)
Yeah. That's… "cool" with me.