Chapter 13

Summary: Nathan comes toe to toe with Damien West.

Note: Thank you guys so much for the reviews of last chapter, it was the most reviews I had for a single chapter in this story. I really was pleased with how this chapter and last one came together. As you'll see in this chapter, it'll focus more on Nathan, just like last chapter was mostly on Haley. As with the overall plot of this story, I took pieces of mostly of season 1 and revamped it in this story. However, with the introduction of Damien West in the prologue, did borrow a little bit from season 3 as well as a touch of season 4, those very loyal OTH/Naley fans should easily recognize these moments. Please enjoy and review!! I'm going to wrap up (at least in draft) this story this weekend so you'll reviews help make me type faster.

Enjoy..

--

"You looked great out there." Damien smirked.

"Thanks .. I'll take that as a compliment." Haley kept walking through the lobby, trying to ignore Damien.

"You knew what would like even better?"

She stopped and glared at him. "What?"

"Me?" He smiled. She rolled her eyes and continued to walk.

"What?" He asked.

"Don't you have a game to lose or something."

"So little faith in me."

"You're wrong, I never had any faith in you."

"That hurts, Haley .. after all these years."

"You don't even know me .. you didn't even know me back when you still lived in Tree Hill."

"Well, I want to get to know you now, like in my hotel room, for example."

"You're unbelievable.. I have to go and meet some of my friends." She started to walk off but he pulled her back and slammed his lips onto hers. At the same time, Nathan was walking through the lobby and saw from a distance, Haley and another guy. He walked closer and saw the guy take her arm and they kissed. Immediately, his heart dropped and his blood began to boil, he turned around went outside, desperate to get some air.

Haley managed to push him off and then she slapped him in the face.

"That was for kissing me."

"This was for making me do your science project in 7th grade." She slapped him again before she stormed off. "Jerk!" She yelled out.

--

The clock ran out and the Ravens won. Haley sat in the stands next to Karen. With Theresa feeling better, she joined the rest of the squad. Although the girls didn't place in the competition, Brooke did win for "Best Chorography." The girls on the squad thanked Haley for coming in last minute and Brooke offered her a spot on the squad, but Haley declined.

Haley was too far interested in the game, in particular one player. Throughout the game, she felt as though something was bothering Nathan. The way he moved and played, it felt as if his heart wasn't in it. Sure he did score 20 points, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with him.

The buzzer rung and Nathan sighed, another victory. After seeing Haley kiss Damien, he hasn't been the same. At first, he didn't know who the guy was but later on, he saw the same guy but this time more up close and immediately recognized him as the guy that kissed Haley and worst, he knew him.

--

Flashback

"Well, well Nathan Scott." Damien said in the hallway of the arena.

Nathan clenched his jaw and wanted nothing more than to pound this punk to the ground.

"Still missing your free throws West."

"Still a daddy's boy? It's a shame I don't go to Tree Hill anymore, (Damien touched his lips) I forgot how friendly the locals can be."

Damien had overheard rumors from some of his old friends at Tree Hill that there was something that happened between him and Haley. When he saw Nathan in the lobby, he immediately grabbed Haley's arm and kissed her. He always disliked Nathan, mostly because he dominated him when they were in basketball camp over the summers while they were kids. He didn't like any of the Scott boys. One time in junior high, he was placed in intramurals with Lucas on the same team and he hated him too. He used to tease and taunt him and when the intramurals were finished, he was glad he never saw that kid again. Shortly there after, he moved away.

"Well I can show you some Tree Hill hospitality." Nathan clenched his fist.

"And I'll school you on the court tomorrow.. that is, if you even make it to the championships." Damien scoffed and walked off.

--

Everyone rushed to the court. The ravens were now heading towards the tournament championships and if they won, they were guaranteed a spot in the post season. It took some time but Haley and Karen finally made their way to the floor. They spotted Lucas and immediately gave him a hug.

"Congrats Luke."

"Thanks Mom."

"Yeah, Luke great game."

"Tutorgirl!" Brooke called out.

"I'll see you guys later." Haley said as she made her way over to Brooke who was busy celebrating with the other cheerleaders. Just then she stopped as she came face to face with Nathan. She bit her lower lip and hated how incredibly handsome and sexy he looked right now. "Congratulations." She said with a smile. He looked at her quickly and muttered "Thanks" before walking away. That was weird, she told herself. She didn't have time to think though as Peyton pulled her over and joined the rest of the squad.

--

Nathan and Lucas were in their hotel room. Correction, they were trapped in their hotel room, as Whitey imposed a strict curfew on the team. They didn't mind though, they were going to the championship game the following morning and they needed all the rest they could get. Lucas lied in bed reading a book while Nathan was in the bathroom on the phone, with who he assumed to be a very pissed off Dan Scott.

Nathan got out of the bathroom and crashed onto the bed, looking extremely pissed.

"What did Dan want?" Lucas asked, surprised in himself that he actually cared.

"Well I told you the baseball story, this is the same crap… he found out I only scored 20 points today.. could you believe that? He's pissed about that, saying how it's going to drop my average.. and all this other BS.. God he's unbelievable."

"Sorry to hear that." Lucas said sincerely.

"Speaking of jerks.. did you see Damien West?"

Despite Dan, Nathan's mind kept wandering over to Haley. He was still unable to shake off his encounter with Damien earlier and seeing him kiss Haley played over and over in his mind. Nathan had to get to the bottom of this.

"Yeah, he was almost as big as an ass as you.. keyword being almost." Lucas said, trying to liven up the mood. Being serious with Nathan was something new to him.

"Funny.. do you know he's here?"

"Yeah, I saw him earlier.. still the same ass."

"You know we play his team tomorrow."

"Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it though he sucks, especially in his .."

"Free throws." They both said at the same time and laughed.

"I used to be in basketball camp with him."

"I was on his team for intramurals in 7th grade, God he made my life a living hell .. such a jerk, I'm surprised you two aren't best friends."

Nathan only glared back at him.

Lucas started laughing. "What?" Nathan asked.

"Nothing, I remember that Haley used to have a crush on him."

"What!?"

Lucas knew he struck a chord with Nathan. He almost wished he didn't say that. "Yeah in the 7th grade, wasn't a big deal.. I remember they got paired to do an assignment and then after that she never mentioned him again.. I wouldn't worry about it." He tried to reassure Nathan. Despite his feelings towards Nathan, he wasn't as opposed to him and Haley as he was before. He saw the way he looked at her and acted around her to know that his feelings for her were true. He really didn't think Haley had any feelings, that was until the whole tattoo incident. Then he remembered how Haley was freaking out over the cheer competition and he saw Nathan slip out and make his way to the girls locker room. He knew he must've talked to Haley, because on stage, he never saw her more confident and radient. It was a complicated situation and Lucas wondered how on earth he got in the middle of it all.

They went to sleep shortly thereafter, but Nathan couldn't get what Lucas said out of his mind. Dangerous thoughts crept into his mind. Maybe she still likes him? Maybe she loves him. The thoughts plagued Nathan all night and had a terrible sleep.

--

Haley wondered how on earth she was stuck in a cheerleader outfit, once again. Theresa celebrated a little too much last night and gotten sick.. again. Haley agreed to fill in, knowing that it was useless to fight Brooke on this one. She was having a miserable time though. The Ravens were losing and Damien West kept annoying her every chance he got. Nathan saw the whole thing but was too caught up with the kiss and what Lucas said to register that she wanted nothing to do with him. Needless to say he played like crap and the team was suffering for it.

The buzzer rang, signaling half time. The team went inside the locker room, where Whitey gave them all a proper yelling. Once he was done, Nathan lingered. Lucas came up to him.

"Are you ok? We need you out there."

"Nothing .. Damien's an ass."

"Don't let him get to you." Lucas said before walking away.

"I saw them together you know." Nathan said softly, looking at the locker in front him. Lucas stopped and turned around. "Him and Haley, kissing in the lobby yesterday."

"I'm sure it was nothing."

"Yeah, whatever." Nathan said slamming his locker.

Lucas walked out and Haley came up running to him. "Hey is everything ok? Nathan.."

"Nathan.." Lucas cut her off. "..saw you making out with Damien West yesterday."

"What? Ew, I tried to pull away but he kissed me, I slapped him as soon as I was able to break free."

"Well, Nathan kinda saw that.. well not the slapping part at least."

Her heart suddenly dropped, realizing why he was so distant from her.

"And I kinda mentioned that you had a crush on him a few years back." He said quickly walking away, leaving behind a flustered Haley. Just great, she thought to herself.

--

Nathan started to make his way out to the court. Most of the team was out there already. He walked through the empty corridor and was about to make it out to the arena when a voice from behind him stopped him in his tracks.

"6 turnovers, that's not the Nathan Scott, I know." Haley said, leaning against a white pillar.

She was in her cheerleading uniform and Nathan tried his best not to stare.

"Yeah.. well, I was distracted… shouldn't you be out there.. I'm sure your boyfriend Damien is waiting for you.."

She could feel the pain in his voice. Haley bit her tongue. "Can I tell you a secret?" She said softly.

"What?" He walked closer to her.

"I used to have a crush on him."

"Really." Nathan tried to sound disinterested.

"I know right, me Haley James falling for someone like Damien West.. a complete jerk, self centered, with the biggest ego.. but he wasn't bad on the eyes either.. tall, dark haired, blue eyed, athlete.. what can I say? I am a girl."

Nathan clenched his jaw. He obviously didn't see the comparison, Haley thought to herself.

"I'm glad you two finally found each other again." Nathan said sarcastically. "I saw you two together in the lobby… it's okay really.. you don't owe me an explanation."

"Well I wished you stayed around, you would've seen me slap him .. twice."

"What?"

Haley laughed to herself. "I'll tell you another secret."

"You're in a sharing mood." Nathan smirked.

She shrugged. "Well, in 7th grade Damien and I worked on a project together and back then he was very.. charming .. but it turned out that he played me the whole time, used me to do the project all by myself and he took the credit .. needless to say I was devastated, I guess I sort of developed trust issues after that especially to dark haired, blue eyed basketball players."

"If I couldn't be anymore obvious, then this boy is totally clueless." Haley told himself, but it looked like he was finally catching on.

"Oh…" was all Nathan managed to mutter.

"So like I was saying before .. this is not the way the Nathan Scott I know plays."

"I don't know if I had if he has it in him." He replied back.

"Someone once told me that they just needed someone to believe in them."

"That person must be wise." Nathan stepped closer.

"Maybe," She smirked, not giving him the satisfaction of a compliment, "..but I believed in you when I tutored you and I believe in you now.. you can do this Nathan.. so go out there and kick Damien West's scrawny little ass." She said walking up to him and giving him a kiss on the cheek. It happened so fast that he almost didn't register it. He swore he would never was his cheek again.

It took all of Nathan's strength not to grab her arm and pull him back towards him. Instead, he stood there, paralyzed by the touch of her lips on his cheek. She walked by him, but before leaving, she squeezed his butt, how she always wanted to do that. By now Nathan was completely taken off guard.

"For good luck." She said, winking back at him as she made her way to the rest of the cheerleaders.

"I bet." He replied back with a huge grin. Nathan stood there for a moment, taking everything in, the biggest smile forming on his face. He walked out there a minute later with renewed confidence and new determination.

The 2nd half started and needless to say Nathan Scott was on fire and especially teamed up with Lucas, the Scott brothers were unstoppable. They managed to gain some ground but Damien's team persisted. With a minute left, Lucas ran into foul trouble and was forced to sit out the last 2 minutes of the game. That didn't bode well for the Ravens and with a minute left they were still down by 9 points.

"You're seasons over, Scott." Damien said as Nathan took the ball.

"We'll see about that." Nathan responded as he shot a 3 and made it in, now down by 6. Next Damien had the ball and Nathan managed to deflect the shot. They ran across the court and the ball was passed to Nathan. He took a step back and took the shot, another 3.

With half a minute left, Nathan now taunted Damien.

"What's wrong West? Afraid to take the big shot." Damien tried to shrug it off and he was fouled by Nathan. He went up to the free throw line, where Nathan continued to taunt him.

"Don't break it now." Nathan said as Damien missed his first shot.

"Nice and easy, don't think about it." Nathan said as Damien missed his second shot.

And with 18 seconds left, the Ravens had the ball. "Foul him" Damien's coach yelled at him, but being stubborn and selfish, Damien told his team to hold off. With no time left, Nathan managed to make a 3 and get fouled.

With no time left on the clock and the score tied, Nathan had one free throw to end the game. With Lucas out, Nathan knew he needed to make this in. He lived for moments like this, but this time it was different. This wasn't for him, this was for his team not just for himself. Before, it was easier to be selfish, it gave him confidence but now with all these people depending on them, Nathan wasn't as confident as he used to be. Taking the ball in his hand, he dribbled it, thinking about all the times he practiced his free throws as a little kid. His eyes wondered towards Haley, who only had the biggest smile on her first. Their eyes locked and her smiled widened and she wiggled her noise and he could almost hear her say that he could do this. He smiled at the thought and he looked over to Damien, who looked extremely uneasy.

"You got nothing Scott! Nothing!" Damien taunted.

He could only look at him and smile. He had nothing? That was ridiculous, he had Haley in his heart and for him that was enough. Never taking his eyes off of him, he took the shot and the crowd roared when he made it in. Nathan pumped his fist, taking in the moment of victory. The Ravens fans went wild and started to make their way to the court. But Nathan's eyes drifted to Haley, who came rushing towards him. She jumped into his strong arms and he spun her around.

"You did great… you did it!" She said as he put her down.

"No, we did it." He responded. She looked so hot right now, all Nathan wanted to do was kiss her. However, the moment was cut short when the rest of his teammates descended upon him and hoisted him up.

"Haley!" He called out. He tried his best to get down but the team was still wild from the win. But Haley was already walking away behind the crowd.

"I'll be seeing you." She said as she continued to step back and just like that he was out of his sight.

To Be Continued . . .

Hope you enjoyed, again this chapter and last chapter were really important, as you will see next chapter.. prepare for some ups and downs, again please review !!