Friday night was a nervous night Jake Jagelski, Haley James and Peyton Sawyer. It was their first official basketball game as a Raven. Jake and Haley were down at the river court just 'practising' free throws and jump shots with Mouth, Jimmy, Junk and Skills. Peyton was god knows where. Out on the darkening water, they could just see the lights from a small boat and then its horn sound across the ripples.
Mouth wasn't sitting on the bench this time, Haley attempting to teach him how to successfully make a shot from twenty-five feet. So far, it wasn't looking good so Haley showed him how to do it again. "Be nice, be nice. Put it in there. There you go."
Jake and Haley weren't looking to good. Practice with the team all week had been bad to say at the least. They were slightly pale and tired looking.
"Jake, Jake, what up dawg? Check this out. Shoot it and see what you got," said Skills.
Jake caught the ball handed to him and shot it looking at Skills. He knew it went in when he heard the chain link net swish for the millionth time in the hour that they'd been there.
"Ahh. That's it baby," praised Skills.
"Come on, let's move," said Mouth.
"Time to go, baby," said Skills, pushing Haley towards Jake's car.
"Six-thirty, guys," Jimmy informed everybody.
"Oh, come on. You guys don't have to come. It's just a game," said Haley.
"Yeah right. Whitey asked you three to join the team-" started Jimmy.
"-Lucas threatens you-" added Mouth.
"-you beat him one on one on this court-" chimed in Junk.
"-you join the team and it's the first game and now we aren't allowed to go? Uh-uh. We are going. This is for all of us," said Skills.
Over at Karen's Cafe, Taylor James was sitting in a booth surrounded by books, and Peyton, she needed for studying when Keith walked in.
"Taylor, you ready to go?" he asked.
"Oh, I'm not going. Figured I should do some studying," she said, pointing to all the books.
"Does Haley know about this?"
"No, but she'll understand," said Taylor, not too sure of her own words.
"Taylor-," he started.
"She doesn't want to go. Doesn't want to see her baby sisters and brother play the sport that this town worships, even though she plays, with the guys that made our lives hell for the past – since
preschool," said Peyton, kissing Taylor on the cheek and walking towards Keith. "Let's go. You're my ride and I'm gonna be late."
"You'll be alright on your own with the store?" asked Karen, handing an apron to Taylor.
"Yes. I did work here too during high school. Wasn't that long ago," replied the college student.
Keith stared at Taylor with a look on his face that said 'You'll regret it'. Peyton and Karen walked out, Keith following as Taylor yelled a 'good-luck' to Peyton.
"I think you're making a mistake. Think about it Tay you got half an hour," said Keith, waving as he opened and closed the door, the little bell ringing as he did so.
Dan Scott was walking and talking with his boys, Nathan and Lucas, at his mansion. Convincing them how to handle the first game with new players. Their enemies.
"Whitey can put these 'freaks' on the team, in the game, but he can't put them in your game. So shut. Them. Out. And shutdown the opposition. You guys are with Broner tonight and they're good, so be ready," he said, slapping them both on the back.
"Alright," said Luke.
"Sure, Dad," answered Nathan.
In the locker room at Tree Hill High, Nathan and Lucas walked in and immediately spotted the ones the despised as they bumped fists with Tim and Ruben. Haley and Peyton were leaning against the side of Jake's locker talking to him, nervously laughing. Whitey walked in and straight away Lucas went to say something about Haley and Peyton being in the boys locker room, but Coach Durham held his hand up to silence the spoiled brat, and crooked his finger at Peyton, Jake and Haley for them to follow him into his office.
"I still can't believe they're on our team," said Tim, knowing that by saying it, he was in the Scott Brothers good books.
"Yeah, for now," said Nate.
Across the hall in Whitey's office he was leaning against his desk, looking between his new recruits.
"You three nervous?" he asked, reaching behind him to grab three jerseys, black, white and blue.
"A little," said Peyton, looking back to Jake and Haley.
"You should be. It's normal. Well, just do what you have been doing in practice all week and you'll be fine," said Whitey, all but throwing their jerseys at them. Peyton and Haley had to swap because they caught the wrong ones.
Jake tossed his own over his blue singlet and walked out with the girls following, their tops over their shoulders casually. In the hall, the three were ambushed by Mouth and Jimmy, who held out a tape recorder microphone.
"Hey, you guys mind if we get a few words in before the game?" asked Mouth, over excitedly.
"Yeah, we're going to put it up on the net. ," said Jimmy, pointing at the address on the front of his t-shirt.
"Yeah. Podcasts and everything," finished Mouth, holding the microphone out just a little further.
Whitey decided to walk out then, and noticed two people who should not have been in the boys locker room before a game, or at all, and it was not Haley James and Peyton Sawyer.
"What the hell is this?" he asked.
"Well," started Mouth, who was looking at Jimmy a little scared. "We have this website."
"Yeah, we're sports announcers," explained Jimmy, pointing to his shirt again.
"Not in here you're not. Locker room is closed. No...media," finished the coach, walking into the change room.
"Dude," squealed Mouth. "Did you hear that? We're media."
"Not just media," said Jimmy, smirking happily. "Banned media."
The two boys smile happily and walk away to get a good seat to announce the game into their microphone. Haley looked after them, shaking her head while mildly amused. Peyton and Jake shared a few chuckles and Haley slipped into the change rooms, pulling her jersey, her jersey with her name on the back and her very own number underneath it, over her head, her blonde friend not far behind.
As Peyton pulled her warm up shirt on over her jersey in front of Haley but behind Jake, the whole team began chanting as they all lined up beside one row of lockers. She saw Lucas walk past and step into tune with the rest behind Haley.
"You want my world. You got it," he whispered into her ear.
"Let's take the court," yelled Whitey walking through the doors to the packed gym, chanting 'Ravens! Ravens!'
Haley and Lucas walk out nearly side by side, their names James and Scott the only thing one would see.
In the gym, after they had run out onto the court, they were all warming up. Peyton took a shot, focusing only on the basket twenty feet in front of her. Taylor and Larry Sawyer, Peyton's dad, walked in just ahead of Dan, who immediately went behind the bench of the Raven's team.
"Finally come to see your nephews play, huh, Keith?" he asked.
"Yeah. You could say that," smiled Keith, looking mockingly at Karen, before noticing Taylor and Larry.
"Larry. Good to see, you," he said, getting up to shake his hand. "Taylor, you decided to come."
"Yeah, I closed the shop," she said, taking a seat next to Karen and handing her the keys.
"Thank you," said the older woman.
Larry was watching Peyton out on the court, glad that she wasn't in her room alone wither drawings again but out socialising with kids her own age.
"Peyton! Peyton!" he yelled, getting her attention.
She turned around as she was about to take another shot, only to see her father sitting in the bleachers next to Taylor. She stared at him, not sure if he really was there or if it was only her imagination. He waved and smiled at her, wondering why she was only looking at him and the next thing she knew was that a basketball had been thrown into her chest. Her head whipped around to find the culprit and found it to be none other than Nathan Scott.
"Wake up," he snarled, jogging off to Whitey. She shot the ball and chased after him.
Mouth and Jimmy were speaking into their recorder, starting off their very first podcast.
"So far the Ravens are five-and-0, Mouth," said Jimmy.
"Yes, and tonight, Haley James, Jake Jagielski and Peyton Sawyer play their first game following the suspension of six varsity players," added Mouth. So far, he wasn't such a bad announcer.
A whistle blew in the background by one of the referees and Coach Durham huddled his team up.
Brooke was on the sidelines in her cheerleading outfit (a very, very short skirt and small top) talking to another cheerleader.
"So that's the girl who beat Lucas?" asked Bevin.
Brooke could only nod, too busy staring to really pay attention.
"She looks good from behind," suggested Bevin, smiling and wiggling her eyebrows at Brooke. The head cheerleader smiled and laughed in return.
In Whitey's huddle he told them that Haley, Lucas, Tim, Nathan and Jake were first on the court and Peyton would be sub-ed on a little while into the game.
Tim stuck his hand into the middle of the group and said, "Ravens on three! One! Two! Three!"
The whole team and most of the crowd yelled 'Ravens' with them.
"Haley and Jake," said Whitey pulling them back before the ball-up. "Relax. Destiny has a way of finding you."
In the ball-up were Lucas and a tall guy from Broner High. As the ref threw the ball, Lucas fought for the control of the ball. Haley was the shortest person on the court, not counting the ref. She could hear people yelling in the stands, like Dan 'Come one, Luke. Go Nate!' and Keith and Taylor screaming 'Go Ravens'. Lucas won the ball and Tim caught it, quickly scrambling up the court.
Everyone else was covered and he had no choice but to pass to Haley, who unfortunately missed and the ball went sailing past Brooke, narrowly avoiding her.
"Nice hands!" she yelled.
"Nice legs!" Haley yelled back and she sprinted up the court, leaving Brooke surprised.
Minutes into the game and Haley wasn't having much luck. Being short sure could suck arse sometimes. A player from Broner got passed and Lucas yelled at her.
"Whose side are you on?"
Dan was smiling in the stands, considering that he didn't want anyone to take shots and defensive plays away from Lucas and Nathan, but he was pretty sure that this girl would leave on her own.
Jake had the ball and quickly threw it to Haley to put it up. She missed and Dan grinned like a Cheshire cat. Tim rebounded and Haley put it up again. Number 19 missed again and Lucas dunked it finally.
"Go Lucas!" shouted Dan.
The ref blew his whistle and Whitey yelled over the crowed. "James! Out. Sawyer you're in."
Haley walked over and sat on the bench to hear her coach say, "It's just not your night." Lucas ran past, called her a punk and told her to take some notes.
After the game, Lucas and Brooke were making out in one of his dads cars from the dealership. They had been there for about half an hour and Lucas had already laughed several times and now it was just pissing Brooke off. He started to laugh again and Brooke leaned back and into her seat.
"What? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Hey, I'm sorry," whispered Luke, kissing her again. But he couldn't stop laughing.
"Unbelievable," sighed Brooke.
"What? Brooke, did you see how bad she sucked?" he laughed.
"So?"
"She was horrible. I've never seen someone play so bad," exclaimed Lucas.
"And you enjoyed it?" asked Brooke, sarcastically.
"Well, hell yeah. Didn't you?" he replied, but Brooke looking out the window was only response. "What is this, Brooke? Do you like this girl or something?"
Brooke laughed and moved towards Lucas, "You mean more than my boyfriend, who I'm trying to make out with right now?"
His reply shocked her a little. "Well put some ice on it. You ever think I might want to talk?"
"No, you don't. You want to celebrate a public humiliation and I'm sorry, that's a little played out," Brooke retaliated, moving back again.
"Oh and being with you isn't?" snarled the blonde.
Brooke shook her head, smiled and got out of the car, pulling out her cell phone out.
"Brooke, come on. I was joking," tried Lucas. Brooke walked away at the sound of his voice. "Are you getting in the car? Please?"
When she didn't budge, he threw her pom-poms and cd out the window. "Fine. Take your pom-poms and your lame music and have a nice walk home."
"Dammit, Lucas! That cd was hard to find. It's an import," she yelled as the jackass drove off.
On the playground court by the river, Haley was unsuccessfully attempting to shoot hoops. He last shot was screw because of the voice that spoke.
"I guess misery really does love company," said Brooke, cd and pom-poms in hand.
"What are you doing here?" asked Haley, turned to face the cheerleader.
"Actually, I'm not here. Never was," she explained, walking away towards the road.
"You know, I shoot the ball, it goes in, I don't ask questions, I don't think about it. That's just the way it is," Haley said.
"Or the way it was," added the brunette. "Haley, it's just a game. Who cares if the entire school, most of your friends and half the town saw you suck?"
"Yeah, so...you've obviously come here to cheer me up."
Haley smiled when Brooke laughed and asked her a question.
"Want a ride?"
Back at the Scott Mansion, Nathan had just arrived home after being dropped off by Tim. He walked through the door to be immediately called into the den by his father.
"NATHAN!" yelled Dan. He had a video of that night's game going and was looking for faults by his boys. "Look at this. What did you do there?"
"I was double teamed and I found the open man," explained Nate, knowing already what was going to come out of his father's mouth.
"Wrong. You gave up a scoring opportunity in the post," exclaimed Dan, pausing the video.
"What? Dad, I was double teamed. I scored 28 points," defended his son.
"Thirty points would have looked better to the scouts, don't you thing? Get some sleep. You look winded in the fourth quarter. We'll go for a run together in the morning," said Dan, playing the tape again.
"And you wonder why mum extends all her business trips," Nathan muttered miserably.
Outside the Davis Mansion, which looked like a smaller version of the white house, Haley pulled up in the truck Keith 'lent' to her the day she got her license. He told her to keep good grades, and work for him and Karen and when she graduated it would be hers officially.
"Mind if I ask you something?" asked Brooke
"Shoot," agreed Haley.
"Why'd you decide to do it? Join the team? 'Because you don't exactly fit in here, do you?"
"The game I guess. I love the game," Haley answered simply.
"Right. The same reason I cheer. It's all a big game. Why not just stay on the playground? Why join the varsity?"
"Because I want to know if I'm good," she answered honestly.
"Well, if you asked me, we just wasted a perfectly good night. You, me and everyone else in there," said Brooke.
"Then why do you do it? I mean, what do you get out of it?" asked Haley, leaning forward against the steering wheel.
"If I said I like it, then I'm just another cheerleader. But if I say I hate it, then I'm either a liar or a fraud. Either way I lose," explained Brooke. She went to get out of the car, but turned back to Haley before she did. "Do you want to come in?"
"What about Lucas?" Haley asked slowly.
"What about him?" she replied.
Haley thought about it until Brooke was halfway up the walkway before she followed her to the door. As Brooke unlocked the door, she turned around to Haley, "What are you doing?"
"Um, you just said-," started the tutor.
"I didn't invite you to come in. I asked if you wanted to," said Brooke, pausing before she continued. "Thanks for the ride."
The door was slammed in Haley's face and the porch light went out before she smiled and walked to her car.
At Peyton's house, she unlocked her front door, waving to Keith as she stepped inside. Her father was sitting on the couch waiting for her.
"Hi, honey," he said.
"You came tonight. How did you even know I was on the team?" she asked.
"Taylor called me. Yeah, we were able to come home earlier than what I though. Which is a good thing right?" he said.
"Sure," she agreed, walking towards the stairs.
"Peyt," Larry called out. He was happy that she turned around. "I'm glad I got to see your first game."
"Yeah, me too," the blonde said, before walking away to have a shower. She had had about the same kinda crappy game time and play like Haley had had. Hazed a little bit by Lucas, Nate and Tim, and not a lot of luck with her normally on the spot shooting.
Brooke was now sitting at her computer, webcam up talking to a few people online. Her phone began to ring and she picked it up and hung up on whoever called without saying a word. The phone rang again and she finally picked it up.
"I'm sorry," said Lucas, sounding sincere but not really meaning it.
"Brooke isn't here right now. Just her lame music," said Brooke, referring to herself in third person.
"Look, I'm really sorry. It's just...these guys are on the team now and dad has been hammering me and Nate more than usual," he said, pausing for a second. But I shouldn't take it out on you. I know that."
"Luke, I'm tired of this," said Brooke, covering her webcam with a cloth, scribbling on a piece of paper in her lap.
"I know. I just...look, I haven't been very good to you lately and I just wanted to say...that I'm sorry," he paused again, letting it sink in for her. "Just say it's okay so that when I see you tomorrow that we can start being us again. Okay, Brooke?"
"Okay," she said, hanging up. She looked down at what she had scribbled on the paper. "It's not okay' started back at her.
For the whole weekend Haley was out on the river court alone shooting hoops, all say long, slowly getting her mojo back.
Monday morning English with Mr Kelly came quickly and everyone was bored, hung over or actually paying attention, Haley and Jake being the only ones for that last point. They enjoyed Hemmingway's writings.
"Early in his career, Hemmingway was frustrated. He was a good writer who wanted to be great. And eventually he discovered that less is more. Ahh, Brooke. Describe Haley in one word," said Mr Kelly.
Several people turned to look at her from the front row, Haley and Lucas included.
"Choke," she said, smiling at Haley sarcastically.
The class and around her laughed and Haley herself sunk into her seat. Jake chuckled with everyone and number nineteen kicked him playfully.
"Haley, care to respond?"
Haley took a moment to stare at Brooke, as if she was trying to figure the cheerleader as if she was a jigsaw puzzle. "Lonely."
Then there was a lot of 'oohh's' from the students. Lucas was sick of their 'flirting' and decided to cut in and give his own two cents, so he raised his hand.
"Lucas," said Mr Kelly, pointing at him.
"I can describe Haley in one word," he started, waiting for permission for their teacher. Receiving it in the form of a nod, he continued. "Dyke."
"Alright, alright, alright, alright," said Mr Kelly.
The look on Brooke and Jakes faces was of pure shock. Even Brooke wouldn't resort to that to undermine a person. That was also the second time Lucas had called Haley that in two weeks. Haley and her friends hated that word, so she defended herself and for the very first time got into trouble for fighting in class. Slaps were thrown by Haley as Mr Kelly separated them.
"I'd stand up to yell at you, but every time I do, someone kicks me in the arse for putting you on the team. Sit down!" screamed Whitey. Haley did as she was told. "Girl, I must be getting senile. Because I thought just maybe you were different. I stuck my neck out for you. Damnit! I trusted you."
"I shouldn't have hit him, you're right," said Haley, hopping a little bit of sucking up might help her get out of her situation with minimal trouble.
"You're damn right, I'm right," agreed Whitey.
"I don't think I can do this," explained Haley, leaning closer to the desk.
"Right. One bad game and you run away," suggested the coach.
"I didn't run away. That's why I'm here in your office," explained Haley, looking sincere.
"So what happened after you pinned her? She like it?" asked Tim.
"Kelly broke it up. Any longer and I'd be in juvie," said Lucas, playing it off.
"Or she might've beaten your arse," suggested Peyton, sitting next to Jake tying her shoes ready for practice.
"What would you know about it Sawyer?" asked Tim.
"What do any of us know about anything?" asked Jake. Peyton slipped into the gym as Whitey was about to walk into the locker rooms. "I'd say, she attacked you first and if I can remember right, you were on the bottom, when Mr Kelly broke it up."
"Well, you must need glasses 'cause you saw wrong. Why don't you grab a rebound every now and then, huh?" replied Lucas, harshly.
"What are you putting on make-up?" yelled Whitey. "Get out in the gym and start warming up!'
Lucas and Tim leave as Jake pulls his shoes on. Haley walked in and ignored them.
"Jagielski, when you find the pumps to match your skirt you might meet us in the gym," he said sarcastically. Jake smiled. Whitey knew about Jenny and the pressures of being a young father.
"Hey! This is just the start of it for you!" warned Lucas, pointing his finger at Haley.
"Didn't mummy ever teach you not to point? It's rude," smirked Haley, sighing and throwing her lock into the top of the locker.
"Lucas!" yelled the coach. Lucas left and Haley began to get ready with a pat on the back from Jake.
Haley was sitting in the library doing homework in her free period when Peyton walked up and pulled up a chair opposite her. "Any side affects?"
"From what?" asked Haley, dumbly.
"Your amnesia," said Peyton, simply pulling out a math book.
"What the hell are you talking about?" asked Haley with a WTF look on her face.
"I'm talking about how you got amnesia because I know you would have mentioned that you got into a fight today," she stopped for a second as Haley realised what she was actually talking about. "You okay, Hales?"
"Yeah. You ever wake up from a really good dream and you try to get back to sleep and back to the dream? Or you've got the flu and you promise yourself that you'd appreciate normal so much more if you could just get back to it?" said Haley, trying to explain her point of view.
"Yeah," replied the blonde slowly, not sure if she wanted to go there in this conversation.
"That's the way I feel. I just want everything to go back to normal," she confessed.
"With basketball?" question Peyton.
"With everything," she sighed.
In Brooke's room after school, she was sitting on her bed with Bevin sitting in her big chair opposite, hanging out going through music.
"You know, it's really too bad that Haley is poor and she can't play, 'cause she is fine," observed Bevin. "Hey, I think it's really good that you and Lucas are fighting again."
"You do?" asked Brooke, one eyebrow raised.
"Yeah. Every time you two fight, I get to hear new music," she laughed, receiving a playful kick. "Hey did you buy the new Beyonce?"
"Nope, not yet," answered the brunette.
"You know, Brooke, I know you're all Gwen Stefani, plaid skirt, I'm a bad arse, but we love you anyway, and you know why? Because on Friday night game time, there you are. One of us," said Bevin.
"P.S. Gwen Stefani is not a bas arse," whispered Brooke. "Do you ever look past it, Bev?"
"Past what?" asked Bevin, reading the back of a cd.
"All of it. All the high school popularity drama, cheerleading, basketball," said Peyton.
"Well, yeah. I mean, I think about the future sometimes and it scares me. But then I think I'll go to college...join the right sorority...marry a rich guy," said Bevin, her eyes glazed over as her imagination went into overdrive. "Unless I get fat."
Brooke looked shocked at the girls shallowness and just nodded.
Haley was at the body shop again, working with Keith talking about her flop of a game.
"Haley, look. It's only one game. Even Jordan played lousy in his first pro game," offered Keith, trying to make her feel better.
"Michael Jordan scored sixteen points in his first pro game," said Haley.
"I knew that. I just didn't think you did," said the shop owner. "All I'm saying is you gotta shake it off."
"What if I can't? I mean, what if I can't play at this level?" said Haley, suddenly saddened by her thoughts.
"You can," he said.
"Well, maybe not. And plus, it's all of them. I don't fit into their world. I never will and it's stupid," said Haley throwing her rag at Keith.
"Even Jordan got cut from his high school basketball team. And he did okay," suggested Keith, eyebrows raised as he and Haley pulled back the dirty cover on the topless car to see McDonalds cups and burger wrappers strewn through the car with cd's all over the place. Keith whistled at the mess. "It's a rule of life. The prettier the girl, the messier the car. Turn off, huh?"
Haley saw a book in the back seat and pulled it out as Keith walked away. As she opened it, she saw a letter to the head of a large clothing company based in Tree Hill and several sketches of clothes drawn onto people.
"Hey! Those are my sketches!" hissed Brooke, snatching them from Haley.
"Umm...I wasn't looking," tried Haley, looking to Keith for help who just crossed his arms.
"This is personal. I don't read your diary!"
"I don't have a diary," lied Haley. She did and it was hidden under the mattress on her bed.
"No? Dear Diary, mum and daddy don't love me. P.S. Stay out of my stuff!" yelled Brooke, storming away.
Outside by the pool, Nathan and Lucas were doing weights when Dan walked up to thm.
"What's this I hear about a fight?" he asked.
"Nothing. I just insulted the new girl on the team," he said, playing it off.
"Did you win?" asked Dan.
"Dad! It was nothing. She's a girl," exclaimed Luke.
"No, son. It was something. Because if it was nothing, the principle wouldn't have called me at the dealership. Do you realize how fast a suspension or bad reputation can ruin your prospects?"
"She was hitting on my girlfriend! What do you want me to do?" Lucas yelled back,
"Your girlfriend?" laughed Dan. "Lucas, if you're going to get into a fight, at least get into a fight over something important. Did you get hurt?"
"You mean besides a bruised ego? No," answered Lucas, watching his father walk away.
"Good!" yelled Dan. "Your mother would like to yell at you though!"
Haley, Peyton and Taylor were sitting down at the table ready to eat some dinner when Taylor mentioned the fight at school.
"So were you going to mention that you got into a fight today or do you just want to assume I know while I yell at you?" asked Taylor.
Haley glared at Peyton, who immediately stood up as soon as Taylor spoke, "Is that the phone? I'll get it."
"Still here, Haley," snapped Taylor, looking her sister in the eye.
"Tay, he had it coming. You know what he said-," started Haley. This was the first time that Taylor had ever come down on Haley. Ever.
"No. When they called my today, I was certain they got one of my transcripts by accident or were making crank calls. Honestly, Haley, fighting in class. Fighting at all?" yelled Taylor.
"The guy was being a jerk," was her defence.
"And this is suddenly a surprise to you? It's a child from Dan Scott. He hasn't been a jerk before?" asked the elder James.
"No, he's always a jerk," said Haley, looking at her hands.
"So why go down to his level?" Taylor paused in her yelling session. "This wouldn't have anything to do with playing poorly, would it?"
"How would you know? You weren't even there?" snapped Haley.
Taylor looked shocked at her sister. "I was there," she whispered. "I was sitting with Karen and Keith and Larry." Taylor walked past Peyton who tried to stop her but was shrugged off.
"I'm sorry. Tay...Taylor! I'm so-," tried Haley, feeling disappointed in herself. She went for a walk and found herself watching Brooke hesitate to go it to the clothing store to hand in her sketches. Instead she dumped them in a nearby trash can and walked off. Haley crossed the road and pulled the book out looking like a bum, and took it home as it began to get dark.
The next morning, Haley walked out onto the porch to see Taylor on the swing with a cup of coffee and her legs tucked under her.
"How did you sleep?" Tay asked.
"Not so good. I had this really bad dream where I was a jack-arse to my sister," explained Haley.
Simultaneously, they both said, "Listen."
"Ooh," laughed Taylor.
"Jinx," said Haley, lightly punching Taylor on the shoulder.
"Hey," Taylor playfully warned, punching her sister back.
"Sorry," apologized Haley. "For being a bitch."
"It's okay. Sorry I didn't yell loud enough for you to know I was there," smiled Taylor, pulling Haley into a hug.
Nathan and Dan were walking after a three mile run and a two-hundred meter sprint home. Lucas was working at the cafe after being grounded for a month. No parties, no phone, no computer. Go to school, go to the cafe, come home, do homework, go to bed.
"Look, I want to talk about what's happening with the team. I know you think I've been hard on you and Luke, but that is because I see the big picture here. Whitey isn't going to bench these kids because of one game," explained Dan.
"So what? Let them embarrass themselves. I mean, James did a pretty good job of it herself," said Nathan.
"No, it's more than that. Back when I played for him, his word was law. He was always right, even when he was wrong. So I eventually called him on it," said Dan, his warped sense of things revolving around him coming out in a story.
"And he benched you in the state championship," added the youngest son, mentally rolling his eyes at how many times he had heard this.
"Yeah, so he claimed. He covered and acted like he benched me. But you should know the truth. I refused to go back into that game. We were ahead in the fourth quarter, and Whitey wanted to stall. What did I tell you guys about playing with the lead?" said Dan.
"Be aggressive," answered Nathan.
"Exactly. Be aggressive. Plus, there were scouts to see me play. This guy was checking me. He was going to some college in Tinkham, so I disobeyed Whitey and scored on him," finished Dan.
"Nice," said Nate, letting his father to help him stretch.
"Yeah, so Whitey called a time-out and started screaming about how it's his system that got us there and no one player was bigger than the team. So I sat down and called his bluff."
"And they lost the championship," added Nathan.
"Yeah. I felt bad for the guys. But he needed to know I was the one who got us there, not him and his system. Listen, Nathan, I don't want you and Luke to back off these kids. No matter how poorly they play," started Dan.
"Jagielski isn't too bad. But James and Sawyer could kill our chances," Nathan cut in.
"Yeah. Whitey is just using them to get back at me. I'll deal with him eventually, but for now, it's you me and Luke, okay?"
"Okay," replied Nate.
"Okay," he heard his father say as he walked into the house.
The next day in the library, Jake fell into step beside Haley.
"Hey, Hales," he said. "Tough game the other night, huh?"
"Yeah, maybe not for you," she smiled.
"It happens. You still reading?" he asked.
"Course," answered Haley.
"Got something for you. Listen, we haven't had much time to talk since the game, but I wanted to give you some chill time, seeing as you played poorly. But, we gotta stick together," Jake explained.
"I know," she said. "You, me and Pey."
"You know, Lucas and Nathan...they're both unbelievable players, but they buy into all of this nonsense and you got them scared. Fear changes everything, Hales," he said, pulling a huge book from his bag.
"Atlas Shrugged?" asked Haley.
"Yeah, read it before?" he asked.
"No," she answered.
"It's good. Anyway, Hales. We're gonna be fine. Just remember...don't let them take it."
"Don't get cryptic with me, Jagielski," she laughed.
"You'll get it," he said, leaving.
In English, Mr Kelly was talking about their Hemmingway project they attempted on Monday. "Okay, we're going to try our Hemmingway project again. But in order to avoid a bar fight, we're going to do it on paper. Now, you don't have to put your names on these. Simply write one word, one single word, to describe what you want most in your life right now."
As he read them later on, he was able to tell who wrote what because of handwriting. He was pretty sure that Brooke had written 'Truth', Lucas 'Revenge' and Haley 'Answers'.
Down on the river court, Haley was attempting to shoot hoops, but she was having about the same amount of luck she was during the actual game. Nathan pulled up and grabbed the ball as she missed. Since Lucas was grounded, it was up to him to get rid of Haley, Jake and Peyton
"It's like this," he said, smirking, putting it up easily. "You can't do it can you? That's beautiful. I've always wondered about it. We all do, right? What happens when it's gone? But see I've never seen anyone lose, like really lose it...until now."
"Go ahead, Butch," he said, grabbing the ball as it swished. "Prove me wrong."
"I don't have to prove anything to you," she spat.
"Now, that's pathetic. And it's too bad, really. I mean, I was looking forward to talking you down slowly, but now? Hell, what's the point? You already know it'd over," he said, slowly walking away smirking. "I'd say see you at practice, but we both know you won't be there, right?"
Haley was angry with him, with Lucas, everything so she threw the ball and hit his car.
"You missed again," he laughed.
In the gym, Whitey was taking attendance as the team warmed up.
"JAMES! HALEY JAMES!" he yelled, looking around. "One more time! Haley James!"
He went back to his list, shaking his head.
Haley was actually working in the body shop at the counter, Brooke there to pick her car up.
"What? No practice today?" she asked.
Haley didn't answer, choosing to ignore the question, and put Brooke's sketch book on the counter bench and tossed the keys on top.
"Are you my stalker now?" she yelled.
"I thought someone should see them," said Haley.
"It's none of your business," said Brooke, snatching her keys.
"You know what? You're right. It is none of my business. I wouldn't know a thing about it," agreed Haley, chasing her out to the car. "Look, just tell me why you won't submit them. Your stuff is good."
"Not good enough," she yelled back.
"Why not?" Haley asked.
"I want to make something that could mean something to someone. It's too important to me," she revealed.
She got into her car and started it up, looking back at Haley before putting it in drive.
"Hey, what about your sketchbook?" Haley yelled over the engine.
"What about them? They don't mean anything to anyone, do they?" she asked, driving off.
The door to Coach Durham's office opened and a person walked in.
"People who value their lives, usually knock first," he said, before he turned around to see who it was. "Oh. That explains it."
"It's like a time capsule in here, Whitey," said Dan.
"What can I do for you, Danny?" asked the old coach.
"Well... you can let it go. If you have a problem with me, Whitey, don't take it out on Nathan and Lucas," said Dan.
"And what problem would that be?"
"Oh, I think you know. State Championship. Now you've gone and humiliated two kids in some feeble attempt to get even," said Dan, accusing Whitey of trying to get even.
"Two kids, huh?" started the aging coach. "It might interest you to know that one of those kids has taken herself off the team. Does that make you happy, Danny?"
"Hey, move Lucas back to shooting guard and you might finally win that championship title," laughed Dan, taking himself out of the office.
"You're destroying kids lives right and left, aren't you?" asked Whitey.
"Well, you've made a career out of it," quipped Dan.
Haley was sitting on the bleachers at the river court, looking from the hoop to the ball in her hands. She was still there half an hour later when Whitey Durham pulled up in his car to talk to her.
"Missed you at practice," he called from his car.
"I can't do it. Not in that gym, not at that level," explained the student.
"You want to know something?" he asked, taking a seat next to Haley. "I have had thirty-five winning seasons. Do you know what keeps me up at night? College jobs I never took. Could've been's have a way of doing that to a person."
"Yeah," nodded Haley.
"We got a game tomorrow. You're on my team until tip-off. The rest is up to you
"Look, kiddo, there is no shame in being afraid. Hell, we're all afraid. What you have to figure out is what you're afraid of. Because when you put a face to it, you can beat it. Or better yet, use it. Think about it," explained Whitey, patting Haley on the back, who was clearly thinking about it as the old man left.
In Brooke's bedroom, the house occupant was lying back on her bed while her boyfriend, Lucas Scott, did the good obedient thing and painted her toenails for her to make up for the fight they had.
"You've got some ugly toes, babe," he said.
"No, I don't," defended Brooke, sitting up to look at her toes.
"Yeah, you do. They're practically like fingers," Lucas explained.
"Well, then just focus on the middle one," Brooke smiled.
"Aw, come on. I was just joking. I love your toes," said Lucas, laughing. "So I'm thinking about quitting the team."
"Right," chuckled Brooke, going back to her magazine.
"I'm serious," he said. "I don't even like it anymore. Whitey can't stand me. It's never good enough for my dad."
Brooke was beginning to get excited about it. She could see herself and Lucas quitting their respective sports.
"I think you should. Why not, right?" she asked. "I mean, you can quit the team and I'll quit cheerleading and then...we can just walk away from it. Lucas, let's do it."
"Yeah, right. Like I'm gonna do that. I gotta go. See you at the game," he said, waving goodbye.
Haley and Peyton had decided to take the scenic route home Friday afternoon from school. Walking down Main Street, Tree Hill, arms linked, bags over opposite shoulders.
"Hey, um, this game tonight. You're not playing anymore..." Peyton drifted off.
"No," paused Haley. "You know, I've never walked away from anything before, Peyt?"
"Yeah," nodded the blonde.
"I can't do it and what's worse is that I don't know why. You know, it's like, no matter how confusing or screwed up life got, the game always made sense. It was mine. And in a lot of ways, it's who I am. But I can't be that person in their gym, or in their uniforms or...in their world," Haley explained, looking at the trash they walked past on the ground.
"I hear you, Hales. But I know you and I know that no matter what happens you will still be the same girl you always were. No uniforms, no ...whatever is gonna ruin that, you know?" defended Peyton. "Call me later and we'll go for pizza with Jake and Jenny."
"Hey. I was thinking of checking out a basketball game tonight," said Taylor, dropping clean laundry onto the chair by the door.
"Sorry, Tay," apologized Haley, looking back to Brooke's sketches of clothes and little symbols over pages.
"I remember when you were in the junior leagues and they issued you you're first jersey. Took mum weeks to get you out of that thing. And then you just quit. Why?" asked Taylor, leaning against the frame.
"Mum and Dad never showed up," answered Haley.
"Mum and Dad. Well I say they took away enough of our youth. I have the night off from work and school and I plan on taking in a game, watching my sister play the game she loves," said the elder James.
"Tay. Thanks," said Haley, smiling at her sister.
"It's hard to fight the things we fear," started Tay. "Sometimes, we just need a little help."
Haley didn't have long until tip-off. She sprinted down the street towards the CLOTHES offices to see a guy closing up. She tapped him on the shoulder and handed him Brooke's sketch book. "You won't be disappointed."
Haley ran past the cafe, Jake inside about to leave for the game. As soon as he spotted her he ran out and offered her a ride, smiling.
They made their way to the gym, being stopped by Dan after he thought Jake was Nathan. Tim took Nathans bag and handed it to him.
Haley was sitting with Peyton slipping their jersey's on, when Peyton realized that the names on the back were Velcro-ed on. She pulled the SAWYER off and put it into the bottom of her locker.
As the team lined up and began chanting, Lucas stepped into line behind Haley again.
"Don't choke," he said.
Out on the court, Haley ran to Brooke. "Your art matters. It's what got me here."
She received a smile in return and ran off for warm ups.
"RAVENS!" yelled the team.
Haley walked out to the centre as Whitey asked if she was going to be okay.
"Yeah, I am," Haley answered.
As her and Peyton walked out Taylor, Keith and Karen were sitting together when Taylor saw the name tag missing from Peyton's jersey.
'Her mum is dead and her dad is never around. I don't blame her,' thought Taylor, cheering with the rest of the crowd.