Season on the Brink

The gym was almost empty by the time Lucas emerged from the locker room, freshly showered and searching for Peyton. While the blowout win had put him in a good mood, the site he found awaiting him threatened to put a damper on the whole evening.

"I think Nathan left already," Lucas said as Dan approached him with a wide smile.

He smiled, a creepy, slimey smile that made Lucas wonder if his mom had just made a mistake when she told him that Dan was his father. "I already congratulated him. I was waiting to do the same for you."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the gesture. "Why?"

"Because you played a great game," Dan said, as though it should have been obvious. "Twenty-seven from three-point land is beyond impressive," he explained, just in case Lucas wasn't aware that he had lit up the scoreboard, and the fans. "I know I don't say it enough, but you're a great player, Lucas."

With a cynical chuckle, Lucas stopped walking and stared at Dan. "I played my ass off tonight and I'm pretty tired, so why don't you just tell me what you want so I can tell you to go to hell and get home to bed."

Though he didn't like being spoken to with such disrespect, Dan appreciated the fact that Lucas displayed a spine, at the very least. "Where are you planning on going to college, Lucas?"

"I don't know," he answered honestly, caught off-guard by the question.

"You want to play ball, don't you?"

"If it gets me a scholarship, yeah," he answered, shifting his weight uncomfortably. He was tired, and he was annoyed that Dan was the one waiting for him when Peyton was nowhere to be found. Probably killed her and hid the body, he thought cynically. "Is there a point to this line of questioning?"

Dan smiled and put an arm around Lucas, unphased when his son pulled away immediately. "I have connections at Oakworth Academy, Lucas. I put in a good word for you and your options will be limitless."

Lucas smiled knowingly, wondering if Dan really thought he was that dense. Did he actually think that Lucas didn't know exactly what he was doing? That he was trying to dismantle Paige's team by taking out her captains first?

"Ya know, I used to think that there was nothing worse in the world than being abandoned by my father." Shaking his head, he gave another cynical laugh. "Turns out, knowing I'm your second choice is worse." Bumping Dan's shoulder, Lucas walked out of the gym without another look back.

But Dan wasn't ready to let him go. "Think about it, Lucas. Even if you don't get a basketball scholarship, Oakworth would afford you an academic edge that a public school like Tree Hill just can't give you." Stepping forward, he took his son's arm and leaned close, his voice dangerously low. "And I'm sure an academic scholarship would make things a lot easier on your mom's bank account." When Lucas flinched, he smiled. "Think about it."

"I swear, I'll just be a second," Haley called over her shoulder, nearly running into Dan as he left the gym. "Oh, sorry," she started, glaring when she realized who she had almost taken out. "Wait, no I'm not."

"Haley," Dan smirked as he left her in the gym with her friend.

She was about to tell him exactly what she was thinking about, what she had been thinking for months now, but before she could open her mouth, she noticed Lucas, staring at the floor and looking like he'd lost his puppy. "Hey you," she smiled, walking toward him and bumping him with her shoulder. "You okay?"

But Lucas just shook his head. "No, I'm not," he answered honestly.

"Lucas," Haley said, her voice low as she looked around to make sure they were alone. "Brooke told me about. . ."

"Hales, not now," he warned, holding up a hand as he turned his back and headed out of the gym. "I gotta get outta here."

Haley just shook her head and ran back toward the locker room to grab her History book. She had meant to use her time between school and the game to study for an upcoming test, but had ended up unburdening her soul to Brooke instead. And somehow, it didn't make her feel any better.

"You okay?" a soft voice asked as she exited the locker room.

Looking up, Haley shook her head and smiled graciously. "Uh, yeah," she lied, running a hand through her hair. "I'm fine."

Paige returned the smile and nodded. "You're Haley, right?" When Haley affirmed, Paige looked at the keys in her hands and then back to the nervous-looking cheerleader in front of her. "Hey, if you wanna rustle up your squad, the team's comin' over to my place for pizza tonight. You guys are welcome to join us," she invited.

"Are you actually gonna let us in the house?" Haley asked sarcastically.

Paige laughed and nodded in appreciation. "I deserve that. Yes, you will be welcomed," she assured the younger girl in front of her. As they both began to leave the building, Paige cleared her throat. "Hope to see you later, Haley," she waved before stepping into her car.

"What the hell was that about?" Brooke asked, a bitter twinge in her voice as she joined her friend on the curb.

Turning, Haley turned her head to the side, considering Brooke. "We are cordially invited to the team's celebration party at Coach Dixon's house," she said curiously.

Brooke laughed and then noticed the serious look on Haley's face. "You're not kidding, are you?" Haley shook her head. "Well, I can't think of anything better than sitting around with Coach Bitchy while Lucas and Peyton drool all over each other and you avoid Nathan all night."

Rolling her eyes, Haley linked her arm with Brooke's and stepped off the curb toward the little blue Volkswagen waiting for them. "Come on, Sunshine. It might be fun."