Italian Restaurant

Brooke and Nathan are sat opposite one another in a fairly upper class Italian Restaurant. The place is very busy, with people standing outside waiting for a table. A man with a violin makes his rounds to every table, playing romantic music or taking request. Nathan and Brooke look at one another, both seem out of their league. Nathan opens his menu, as does Brooke.

Nathan: "Whoa, 50 bucks for a steak?"

Brooke: "My father always said you usually pay for quality and not the quantity."

Nathan: "Meaning?"

Brooke: "Meaning that the overpriced steak will come out and be a tiny little thing on your plate, compared to the $14.99 T-bone steak you get at IHOP."

Nathan: "Gotcha…"

The waiter comes around.

Waiter: "Good evening Sir, Madam. I am your waiter this evening, my name is Joseph. Have you decided on your drinks?"

Nathan: "Yeah, a glass of bud."

Brooke: "A glass of chardonnay."

The waiter raises his eyebrows.

Waiter: "Do either of you have ID?"

Nathan looks at Brooke.

Brooke: "Oh sweetie, did you forget to bring yours?"

Brooke smiles sweetly at the waiter. She opens her purse and hands him her fake ID.

Waiter: "I can serve you, but not him."

Brooke: "Oh."

Brooke pouts, disappointed.

Brooke: "Tonight was supposed to be a celebration. You see, we got engaged last night and we're just passing through town to tell our parents and then its straight back to NYU for some serious study time."

Brooke looks at the waiter.

Brooke: "Your not buying any of this, are you?"

The waiter shakes his head, but smirks.

Waiter: "A glass of chardonnay and a glass of bud coming up. Have you decided on your main course?"

Nathan: "Yeah, I'll have the steak."

Brooke: "Make that two."

Waiter: "I'm sorry sir, but tonight's menu is strictly seafood cuisine."

Nathan: "Your kidding right? But it's an Italian restaurant. Can't I just get like a pasta?"

Waiter: "We have coconut shrimp pasta."

Nathan: "Anything not with fish?"

The waiter shakes his head.

Nathan: "Then, I'll have the pasta."

Brooke: "Make that two."

The waiter walks away from the table. Nathan looks around, confused. Brooke looks at the food on the table beside them and raises her eyebrows.

Brooke: "At least we've got booze."

Nathan looks at Brooke, they both smirk.

Bar

Peyton and Kate are sat at the bar counter, each doing shots. As Peyton downs one shot, Kate follows suit. Two guys sit either side of them. Peyton looks at the one sat beside her as Kate looks at the one just sat beside her. Both of the men are eyeing up the girls. Peyton and Kate look at one another and then burst out laughing.

Kate: "Sorry boys, not interested."

Peyton: "Yeah, we're uh…not into that."

Peyton puts her arm around Kate. Kate smiles leaning in closer to Peyton. The two men get up and immediately walk away. Peyton removes her arm from Kate and looks forward, taking the next shot in her hand.

Peyton: "Guys are always looking for a good screw."

Kate: "Well technically we're easy targets. Beautiful, young…they probably think after one drink they can get us in the sack, when truth be told it would take the entire Pacific Ocean to get me that drunk!"

Peyton downs her shot.

Kate: "So Peyton Sawyer, what troubles are you drowning tonight?"

Peyton sighs, looking at her.

Peyton: "Men!"

Kate: "Here, here!"

Kate downs her shot and then burps and laughs.

Kate: "Pray tell, what man troubles do you have?"

Peyton: "Okay, I love Jake. I mean, I really do. Its just I'm not sure I want this life: The life of such big responsibilities at 17. I think he and Jenny would be better off moving away, back to Florida …and I think, in the long run …so would I. Hey bartender, could me and my friend here get another shot."

Kate: "Wow…I thought I had it bad but I totally understand. I mean your both really young, he has a baby. If your feeling trapped, you should just tell him…and maybe he'll just back away and give you some space…"

Peyton: "You should practice what you preach?"

Kate: "What do ya mean?"

Peyton: "Well, you didn't break up with Lucas over the stuff that happened between him and me. That was just an excuse, right?"

Kate: "Very perspective. You know, you should be a sidekick"

Kate laughs. Peyton nudges her.

Peyton: "That's psychic, you dumbass! I think those shots are getting to you."

Kate: "You know what; I think you could be right…"

The bartender lays down two shots in front of them. Peyton runs her finger around the rim of her glass.

Peyton: "So, why did you break up with Lucas?"

Kate picks up her shot.

Kate: "I was scared."

Peyton picks up her shot and looks at Kate.

Peyton: "Here's to us, the Scaredy cats!"

They knock the shot glasses together before each downing them. Peyton slams her glass back down on the bar top.

Peyton: "Whoops."

The Italian Restaurant

Brooke is sitting at the table, poking at her plate with her fork. Nathan is drumming his fork against his plate. Both of their meals are hardly touched. Nathan looks up to Brooke.

Nathan: "How's the food?"

Brooke: "I didn't know this place had a specific night for seafood and stuff"

Nathan: "Yeah me either. Sorry"

Brooke: "For what?"

Nathan: "The crappy date…"

Brooke: "It hasn't been crappy, well at least the company hasn't."

Nathan: "Hey, you wanna go get a burger or something?"

Brooke: "Hell yes!"

Nathan and Brooke quickly stand up from their table. Brooke looks at Nathan and smirks mischievously.

Nathan: "What?"

Brooke picks up her purse.

Brooke: "Ready?"

Nathan looks around.

Nathan: "Are you kidding?"

Brooke shakes her head no. Nathan smirks and takes a step closer to Brooke, taking her hand in his. As they walk towards the exit, one of the waiter yells at them. They both run out of the door and past the people still waiting. They slow down half way down the street, Brooke walking to the riverside, leaning against the railings. Nathan follows.

Nathan: "That was fun."

Brooke: "Naughty fun"

Brooke turns and looks at Nathan. Nathan takes a step towards her and leans down, kissing her on the lips. Brooke responds, putting her arms around his neck. As they start to make out, someone shouts something from up the street. They pull apart and see someone running towards them.

Brooke: "Uh oh!"

Nathan takes Brooke's hand and runs down the street, dragging her along with him. The waiter stops, watching the two of them run away.

Lucas's Bedroom

Lucas is lying on his bed. He turns over and looks at the box on the floor, which is filled with all of his stuff. He sighs. At that moment, Haley walks into his room.

Haley: "Still moping?"

Lucas looks up at her and sits up.

Haley: "I'll take that as a yes. Well stop, you're coming out."

Haley takes his hand and pulls him up out of his bed. Lucas reluctantly gets up.

Lucas: "I don't feel like it."

Haley: "Oh okay, well then we will just chill here."

Lucas: "We?"

Haley: "Oh right."

Haley walks over to the door, opening it revealing Jake standing there. Jake nods to Lucas, Lucas nods back.

Haley: "Come on Luke, you gotta come out."

Jake: "Yeah, Haley and I have been walking around for the past 30 minutes like nomads after having dropped Jenny off at my parents."

Haley: "Please."

Lucas nods, grabbing his jacket. Haley claps her hands together excited.

Lucas: "Any idea where we're going?"

Haley: "No idea, it's like a mini adventure."

Lucas looks to Jake, who shrugs. They both laugh.

Lucas: "I'll be back in a minute, just gotta tell my mom."

Haley: "Aw momma's boy!"

Lucas playfully nudges her arm before walking out of his bedroom and into the hallway.

Main Street

Kate and Peyton are walking/staggering along the main street in Tree Hill. As they walk past Karen's café, Peyton stops looking in as Kate takes out her cell phone.

Peyton: "Ooh it's dark."

Peyton looks at Kate.

Peyton: "Why do you think it's shut?"

Kate shrugs.

Peyton: "Oh, it's closed"

Peyton points to the closed sign on the door. Kate looks at her cell and then puts it to her ear.

Kate on the phone: "I do love you…you idiot. I mean, I understand why you did what you did, it's just I felt like everything was getting too serious and I wanted to jump ship because I was just scared and I do wanna talk to you and be with you…oh it's Kate by the way"

Kate stops and looks at Peyton. Peyton raises an eyebrow.

Kate: "Oops, end of message."

They both burst out laughing in hysterics. Peyton nudges her. On the opposite side of the street a group of guys who look drunk also start to wave and whistle at the girls. A couple walks behind the guys, sighing. Peyton and Kate reach the traffic lights and waits for it to turn red. As it does, they start to walk across the street. A car comes speeding down the street, towards them.

Man: "Watch out!"

Kate and Peyton look to the car, both of their eyes widening. Peyton grabs Kate's arm, pulling her back. The two of them fall to the floor, the both of them banging their heads against the floor as the car misses them by a couple of inches. The group of guys and the couple run over to the two of them. Peyton sits up slowly, touching the back of her head. She looks at her hand and sees a little bit of blood.

Man: "Are you two okay?"

Peyton: "Uh I'm not sure."

Peyton looks down at Kate, who is still lying on the floor. Her eyes are closed. Peyton shakes Kate.

Peyton: "Kate…"

Man: "I'll call an ambulance."

The woman bends down next to Kate, and takes her pulse. Peyton covers her mouth with her hands while tears begin to fall from her eyes.

Lucas's Bedroom.

Lucas walks back into his bedroom.

Lucas: "Okay, ready to go."

Lucas looks from Haley to Jake, both of whom are grinning.

Lucas: "What?"

Haley: "You got a message!"

Lucas looks at Haley and raises an eyebrow; he walks over to his machine and sees the number one flashing in a bright red. As Lucas presses play and starts to listen to the message, Jake's cell phone goes off. He takes a step outside.

Jake: "Hello?"

Peyton on phone: "Jake…"

Jake: "Peyton? Are you okay? Your voice sounds jumpy?"

Peyton on the phone: "I'm not sure. Everything happened so fast, I don't know…"

Jake: "Go slower…tell me what's happened."

Peyton on the phone: "Kate and I went out to a bar and had a couple of drinks and we were walking back…and a car came right at us…"

Jake: "Are you hurt?"

Peyton on the phone: "Uh…"

Jake: "Peyton?"

Peyton on the phone: "I'm in the ambulance…I hit my head."

Jake: "That's good."

Peyton on the phone: "Kate – though she's not awake…Jake, I'm really scared."

Jake: "Okay. I'm on my way. I'll be right there."

Jake hangs up and walks back into Lucas's bedroom. Jake has a saddened look on his face.

Haley: "Jake is everything okay? Is it Jenny?"

Jake: "No, it's Peyton…and Kate."

Lucas smiles fades.

Lucas: "What happened?"

Jake: "Peyton didn't give me specifics. She said she and Kate were walking home and a car came towards them…they're in the ambulance now."

Lucas: "What about Kate?"

Jake: "Luke…"

Lucas: "What about Kate?"

Jake: "Peyton said she wasn't awake."

Lucas hurriedly walks out of the door, with Jake and Haley in hot pursuit.

Hospital

The three of them walk into the main lobby at the hospital and up to the main reception area.

Lucas: "We're looking for Peyton Sawyer and Kate Durham, they were brought in about 20 minutes ago."

Receptionist: "I'm sorry unless your family, I can't give you those details at this time."

Haley: "We are family."

Jake: "Yeah, I'm Kate's brother."

Haley: "And we're Peyton's siblings."

Receptionist starts to tap away on her keyboard. Lucas looks at the woman and starts to get impatient. Peyton walks over to the three of them, holding a bandage against her head. Jake turns around and sees Peyton. He walks up to her hugging her, then Haley, then Lucas.

Haley: "How are you? Wait, stupid question."

Peyton: "Uh, I'm fine apart from a banged head…"

Lucas: "What happened?"

Peyton looks at Lucas.

Peyton: "Kate and I were walking home from a bar…and as we got to a set of traffic lights, we went to cross and this car came speeding towards us…it missed us barely and before I knew it we were both on the floor."

Lucas: "Is she okay?"

Kate appears, walking next to Whitey.

Kate: "A little bit achy…"

Kate has a white bandage wrapped across the top of her forehead. They look at one another and Lucas smiles. Kate smirks.

Whitey: "They wanted to keep her in for over night observations, but she kicked up a fuss. She said she wasn't going to stay in a hospital when her bed was waiting for her at home…I'll bring the car around."

Kate: "Thanks Grandpa."

Whitey leans down and kisses her on the forehead, on top of her bandage. As he walks past Lucas he pats him on the back, before walking out of the hospital.

Peyton: "You had me worried."

Kate: "You know me, the drama queen…always gotta go one step further."

Peyton walks over to Kate and hugs her. She walks over to Jake, who puts his arm around her. They look from Lucas to Kate who are in deep eye contact. Jake, Peyton and Haley all turn around and start to walk out of the hospital.

Lucas: "Are you okay?"

Kate: "Mild conscious…it's nothing. I've been knocked out by a basketball harder."

Lucas: "So your okay?"

Kate: "Yeah, I think it helps though that I have about 22 shots of tequila in me."

Lucas looks away. Kate looks down to the floor.

Kate: "You shouldn't be here"

Lucas looks back to her, raising an eyebrow.

Lucas: "What?"

Kate: "You shouldn't be here!"

Lucas: "You're joking right? I shouldn't be here? If there is any place in the world I should be right now, it's by your side…right here."

Kate: "No, Lucas I'm not. We broke up remember!"

Lucas: "Yeah, Iremember."

Kate: "Then what are you doing here?"

Lucas: "I'm here because I love you."

Kate: "Don't"

Lucas: "Why not, you love me!"

Kate:"That's not-"

Lucas: "That's what you said."

Kate: "When?"

Lucas: "About 40 minutes ago,you left mea phone message saying that you loved me."

Kate: "That was the tequilatalking."

Lucas throws hisarms up in the air, out of despair. He puts them behind his head, closing his eyes. Kate looks down to the floor.As heopens his eyes again, he walks closer to Kate.

Lucas: "Do you love me?"

Kate looks up at him.

Kate: "What?"

Lucas: "Do you love me? Simple question."

Kate: "I -"

Lucas smiles.

Lucas: "If you say you don't, I know your lying."

Kate: "Lucas, Idon't deserve your pity, your compassion or your love."

Kate starts to walk, but Lucas steps in front of her. He leans down, cupping her face within his hands and kisses her. People start to stare and they break apart.

Lucas: "I'm gonna take that as a yes."

Kate smiles, as Lucas leans down again and kisses her. Only this time their kiss is cut short by her pulling back.

Kate: "Ow!"

Lucas: "What? Did I hurt you?"

Kate: "No my head hurts!"

Kate says, half sighing and half smiling. Lucas puts his arm around her and they walk out of the reception area and join Peyton, Jake and Haley outside.

Next On One Tree Hill

Peyton, Brooke, Nathan and Kate are sat around a table in the courtyard. Kate still has the bandage wrapped around her head.

Brooke: "Wow, so let me get this straight. You and Peyton got drunk last night, without me?"

Peyton: "Don't forget we almost died."

Brooke: "Yeah, but you went to a bar…got tequila, without me. Now that hurts! And now you and Lucas are back together?"

Lucas: "Yeah, she couldn't live without me."

Kate nudges him.

Brooke: "Eventful night!"

Peyton: "How was your date?"

Brooke and Nathan look at one another, smirking.

Haley and Jake are walking along the corridor together.

Haley: "I can't believe Nikki's doing this to you."

Jake: "I know – she walked out of Jenny's life when she was born and now she expects to just walk back in."

Haley: "What did your attorney say?"

Jake: "That in most cases the mother of child wins custody. My parents think I should go to Florida again and live with my cousin."

Haley: "That sounds sensible."

Jake: "Yeah but it would mean leaving Peyton behind, but if I don't go I could lose Jenny. Either way I lose someone I love."

Haley hugs him.