*Thanks everyone for your great comments, i know at the moment the storyline for the others are the same as the ones in the show, but trust me within the next couple of chapters it's all going to become very different.*
LUCAS' HOUSE
(Lucas is tapping his finger against his computer and Haley walks in carrying a picture of him and Nathan's college team.)
Haley: Hey.
Lucas: Hey.
Haley: How's the writing going?
Lucas: Hmm. Slow, sluggish and plodding. Humph. Mostly just messing around with my online thesaurus.
Haley: Mhm. Apparently. So I was doing some organizing and I found two of these and thought you might like one.
(She turns the picture around.)
Lucas: Oh, that was a long time ago.
Haley: That was a great night.
Lucas: Yea. One to remember.
(He looks up at the picture and reminisces.)
FLASHBACK, AT THE GYM AT THE COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Whitey: Tomorrow night, you play for the division 2 title. However, in my opinion, you could go up against any college squad in the nation. Now for those of you who have won a championship, I don't have to remind you how good it makes you feel. The rest of you will just have to trust me. Now I want you to go home and hit the sheets, preferably alone.
(The team laughs then disperses. Lucas walks up to Whitey.)
Lucas: Coach.
Whitey: Go home Luke.
Lucas: Well actually, I was thinking I was going to watch a little bit more tape.
Whitey: Lucas, you've been a great assistant coach this year and someday you're going to take over the team, but for now, you take orders from me. Go home, and go to bed.
Lucas: Alright.
Whitey: Oh, and no late night cyber chats with long distance Blondie.
(Lucas laughs.)
Lucas: Alright.
(Whitey laughs and Lucas walks away. Whitey stands in the middle of the court and looks around.)
THE HOUSE LUCAS, HALEY AND NATHAN SHARED
(Haley is sitting on a chair singing to baby Jamie and Lucas walks in.)
Lucas: Hey.
Haley: Hi.
(Haley yawns.)
Haley: What time is it?
Lucas: Almost four thirty. I couldn't sleep either.
Haley: Yeah, neither could he.
(Haley talks to the baby in baby talk.)
Haley: You just excited about seeing Peyton or the game or what?
Lucas: Actually, Peyton's not coming; she couldn't get away from work.
Haley: Oh, I'm sorry Luke. I guess that's life in the music business.
Lucas: Yeah, I guess. Do you ever miss it?
Haley: Mm. Sometimes. Especially when I see you chasing your dreams of being a writer. But uh, I'm bound to chase my dreams someday.
Lucas: All I have to show for my writing career is a stack of rejection letters. Besides, when I see the three of you together I just want what you guys have.
Haley: Luke, you know we could not have done this last year without you living here and helping. Between school, and basketball and Jamie, but I know it's hard to be away from Peyton.
Lucas: We all make sacrifices. I mean for the first time in your academic career you're getting B's.
Haley: It was a B+, okay?
(He gets up and turns to walk away.)
Haley: Hey.
Lucas: Yeah?
Haley: You're a part of this family. You always will be.
Lucas: Thanks. Night, little man.
Jamie: Ball.
Haley: Yes, I will get your ball.
THE GAME
(Nathan dunks the ball and a buzzer sounds.)
Announcer: This is the ultimate Cinderella Story. For years the Cobras have been proverbial doormats, but this season, under the leadership of Nathan Scott, their fortunes have changed.
(Nathan gets the ball from the other team.)
Lucas: Attack the gaps, Attack the gaps!
(Nathan shoots and scores.)
Lucas: Now get back on D, come on!
(The other team scores and Lucas throws something down and makes a face.)
Lucas: Look, high low. Look, high low.
(Nathan scores again.)
Lucas: Go, go, go! Yeah!
(Nathan scores again and the other team calls a time out.)
Announcer: After a game that's seen seventeen lead changes, we're all tied up with less than a minute to go on the court and Scott's been carrying his team but does he have enough in the tank?
Lucas: Okay guys listen…
(Whitey looks at him funny.)
Lucas: Sorry coach, what's the game plan?
Whitey: You tell me. You know, I told you that someday that you'd be taking over. Well this is it. You're ready. Go on. Bring us home.
(He winks, pats Luke on the shoulder and then walks away.)
Announcer: It appears Whitey Durham is heading to the locker room, I guess that leaves the Cobras under the leadership of assistant coach, Lucas Scott, who used to play for Durham once upon a time.
Lucas: Okay, heads up. Alright, we're gonna go man to man. Four core press. Force the ball sideline, and spit those passes over the top okay? When we get the ball back, they're gonna double team ya, so I want you to stagger screens here, and here. Nathan, the ball's in your hands.
Nathan: Whatever you say, coach.
Lucas: Alright, let's win this. On three. 1, 2, 3…
All: Cobras!
(They disperse.)
Lucas: Nate. Maybe you want to consider the fade away.
Nathan: Fade away's week man.
(The team plays for a bit and gets the ball back.)
Lucas: Inside out, inside out!
(Nathan gets the ball, shoots and scores.)
(Everyone cheers.)
LOCKER ROOM
(Whitey watches the monitor and smiles.)
GYM
(Nathan runs up to Lucas and they hug.)
Lucas: Nice!
(Confetti falls down and Lucas looks over at Haley, Jamie & Nathan hugging.)
FLASHBACK TO THE HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP
Lucas: It's you.
Peyton: What?
Lucas: When all my dreams come true, the one I want next to me. It's you. It's you, Peyton.
(They kiss.)
THE GYM
(Lucas stares again at Nathan, Haley and Jamie.)
THE CHANGING ROOM
(Whitey walks up to Lucas.)
Whitey: Good job, son. You ran that final play just like I would have.
Lucas: Maybe so, but you sure do know how to kick a guy out of the nest.
Whitey: Lucas, you were always a great player, but you're an even better coach. There's nothing more I can teach you. Which is why this is my final game.
Lucas: Coach?
Whitey: No, I've already talked to the dean and the A.D. about it. They've never had a student Coach before, but, then again, they've never had a championship before either. They both agree that you're ready.
Lucas: I don't know what to say.
Whitey: Just promise me you'll always remember that there are more important things in life than basketball.
(They smile and shake hands.)
Lucas: So what about you, I mean, what are you going to do now?
Whitey: I don't know, now that I'm retired, probably go to basketball games, and yell at the coach.
(He winks.)
(Lucas laughs.)
ON THE BUS
(Lucas is sitting in his seat and his phone goes off. It's a note from Peyton that says "Hey Luke, play this song when you win the championship. – Peyton". The song is "Heartbeats.")
(Whitey sits down next to Nathan.)
Whitey: That was a hell of a move tonight.
Nathan: As soon as the ball left my hands I knew it was going in.
Whitey: I'm talking about after the game. Look, I didn't put off my pension so you could beat up any jack ass that hackles you.
Nathan: I know. I'm sorry.
Whitey: You've worked hard this season. A lot of eyes are on you, but you've got to be careful. If you're not, that temper of yours will be all you have left.
Nathan: I just don't know if people are ever going to forget the mistakes I've made.
Whitey: The important thing is for you to get past them. I mean this is not going to go away just by playing better. You've got to live better.
Nathan: Oh… You're right. I get it, coach.
Whitey: Nathan, I just don't want you to look back down the road in a couple of years and wonder what might have been. We all know where that path can lead a man.
Nathan: Dan.
Whitey: For the record, that last shot was a hell of a move.
(Whitey laughs and gets up and walks up to sit down next to Lucas.)
Lucas: Hey coach.
Whitey: Hey.
Lucas: So, 37 years of coaching. Where's this night rank?
Whitey: Eh, this would be number 3. Number two was you're high school championship.
(Lucas laughs.)
Lucas: What was the first?
Whitey: The first was the night Camilla agreed to join a scrawny kid just embarking on a 37 year coaching career.
(He smiles and Lucas looks down at his phone to a picture of Peyton.)
Lucas: There's more important things in life than basketball.
Whitey: That's right.
Lucas: Coach, you wouldn't mind dropping me by the airport would you?
Whitey: I'd be happy to son.
PEYTON'S WORK
(Peyton hits a copy machine and another worker comes in.)
Worker: Hey Sawyer, you got a call on line 1.
Peyton: Thanks.
(She walks over to the phone and picks it up.)
Peyton: This is Peyton.
Lucas: Hey, it's me.
Peyton: I've been trying to cal you all morning. I watched the game highlights online. I wish I could have been there.
Lucas: Yeah, me too. So uh, what are you wearing?
Peyton: Luke, I can't do that right now! I'm at work.
Lucas: Well, I'm thinking the Pink Floyd T over the long sleeve white shirt, maybe those sexy jeans with the hole in the knee.
(Peyton looks down as he describes her outfit.)
Peyton: Wow, you are good.
Lucas: Yes, I am. Really good.
(He walks up behind her.)
Peyton: Luke!
(She runs to him and hugs him.)
Peyton: Hi! I can't believe you're here!
Lucas: Yeah, well since you couldn't come see me.
(They kiss.)
Peyton: Hi.
Lucas: Hi. So uh, this is marketing and distribution?
Peyton: Um…
HALLWAY
Peyton: So I might have painted up my job description just a little. Basically, I work in the mailroom.
Lucas: Well, that's Hollywood right? It's always about the spin. I bet you know more about music than most of these tools.
Peyton: Shh, you are going to get me in trouble. And they are not all tools, okay.
Blake: Not in the box, on my desk!
Peyton: Right, I'm sorry.
Blake: And you, onion bagel, light on the cream cheese.
Lucas: Right away, Carl.
Blake: It's Blake.
Lucas: Well, it's good to see they're nice.
Peyton: Yeah.
Lucas: No, seriously, why do you put up with this?
Peyton: I'll show you why. See that girl right there? Three months ago, she was in the mailroom and now she's a junior ANR exec.
Lucas: Yeah, but I bet she didn't produce two albums before she graduated high school.
Peyton: Okay, you're going to have to go before you get us both fired.
Lucas: Alright, look, I got dinner reservations for us at 8. Is that too late.
Peyton: No, actually, it's kinda early. We usually go til at least nine.
Lucas: Okay then, its 9:30.
Peyton: Perfect, I'll meet you at the restaurant. Just text me the address, okay?
Lucas: Alright.
(They kiss.)
Peyton: God Luke, it's so good to see you. Bye.
THE RESTAURANT
(Peyton is late but finally walks in.)
Peyton: Hi. I'm sorry I'm so late. I got stuck going over the canyon.
Lucas: its okay, I'm just glad you're here.
Peyton: God look at you.
Lucas: What?
Peyton: No, I haven't seen a suit on somebody in so long unless they're an agent or lawyer or a successful novelist.
Lucas: Well, I don't know about that. I get a new rejection letter everyday.
Peyton: Luke, you're book is good. It's going to happen, I know it.
THE RESTAURANT – LATER IN THE MEAL
Peyton: So, when the executives blow off the shows, we get the tickets. Like Monday I went and saw Ryan Adams at the Viper room, and Wednesday was Tegan and Sara at the Roxy, and I dunno, it blows my mind ya know, these are bands I grew up listening to and now I've got a front row seat.
Lucas: That's great. You know we've had our fair share of bands too, in Tree Hill, thanks to you.
Peyton: God, anyway, enough about me. You won a freaking championship. I wanna hear everything!
Lucas: Well, Whitey's gonna step down as head coach. He wants me to take over the team. I mean this will be good for Nathan, and he thinks I'm ready.
Peyton: Luke, that's incredible.
Lucas: Yeah, the salary, benefits, big office space.
Peyton: Wow, it sounds very… adult.
Lucas: I got that song you sent.
Peyton: Oh, you know what I have something else for you too. I made you a mix of a bunch of stuff that doesn't street for a couple of months.
Lucas: Thank you… I got you something to… um…
(Peyton's phone rings.)
Peyton: Oh crap, I'm sorry. It's work.
Lucas: Don't answer it.
Peyton: They're just going to keep calling back. Hello? Well, yeah… right now? Yeah I'm… of course I like my job. Okay. Right away, sir.
(She shuts the phone.)
Peyton: I'm sorry.
Lucas: Well can't you just stay for desert?
Peyton: I'll tell you what. How bout we have desert back at my place.
Lucas: Or, how bout at our room at the Beverly Hilton.
Peyton: Luke, you did not have to do that.
Lucas: I wanted to.
Peyton: Alright, this is going to be quick. I'll be there by 11. I promise.
Lucas: Alright.
(They kiss.)
Peyton: Bye.
THE HOTEL ROOM
(Peyton is late and Lucas walks around the room and then falls asleep, dropping a small box on the floor.)
THE HOTEL ROOM
(Lucas wakes up and Peyton is there, sitting in a chair.)
Lucas: Hey, when'd you get here?
Peyton: Oh, I don't know… Like an hour ago.
Lucas: You know, you could have woke me up.
Peyton: Luke, what is this?
(She's holding the little box.)
Peyton: I couldn't bring myself to open it but I've just been sitting here thinking about how much I love you.
(Lucas gets up and walks over to her and gets on his knees.)
Lucas: Well, I wanted it to be a surprise but, um… Peyton I love you and I want us to be together forever.
(He starts to open the box but Peyton covers it up.)
Peyton: Luke, wait, okay?
Lucas: I know it was a bit sudden okay, but you know yesterday was a great day. And I'm sitting on the bus and I realize that none of my great days in my life matter without you. You're the one I want next to me if my dreams come true. You're the one I want next to me if they don't. As long as I have you, nothing else matters.
Peyton: There's… It's just not as simple as that okay, there's a lot we have to talk about.
Lucas: I know but we'll figure out the details when we get back to Tree Hill.
Peyton: Okay, I know that's home for you, and I miss it sometimes, I do, but for me Tree Hill is two dead moms and a psycho stalker and some really painful memories. You know, I actually had to move out toHollywood to get away from all the drama. So right now, this is my home and the only thing that's missing is you…
Lucas: Then I'll move here.
Peyton: No, Luke honey. Whitey believes in you and Nathan needs you. And if I ask you to walk away from your dream you're going to wake up one day and you're going to resent me for it. The same way I would feel if you asked me to leaveL.A.
Lucas: Peyton, you get people coffee and you deliver mail. You were doing more than that in Tree Hill.
Peyton: Well, I love you for believing that, but I have to prove that to myself. Now you see that's the thing; we both have so much we want to do with our lives. And we're only nineteen.
Lucas: And Nathan and Haley were a lot younger than that.
Peyton: Yeah, okay and we see how easy that's been. Come on, in another year.
Lucas: Peyton, we've seen each other three times in the past year. We go days without talking. We trade a few emails. We've already grown so far apart. Who knows where we'll be a year from now.
Peyton: Luke, if you can't trust that our love can make it one year, I don't understand how we can be talking about forever right now.
Lucas: You're saying no.
Peyton: No. I am not saying, no. I'm saying not now. I want to marry you someday.
(He pulls his arm away from her.)
Peyton: Hey, don't do that. Don't pull away from me, okay. I want us to be together. I love you so much.
Lucas: Just not enough.
Peyton: Okay. Can we take this back? Can we just pretend like you never woke up? Please?
Lucas: I don't think that we can.
Peyton: I'm afraid that this conversation is going to end with…
Lucas: Goodbye.
Peyton: Luke, don't. Come here. Our dreams are going to come true, Lucas. My music and your novel. It's going to happen, I know it.
(They lie down together.)
THE HOTEL – NEXT MORNING
(Lucas is watching Peyton sleep. He gets up and kisses her cheek and puts her CD on the pillow then leaves the hotel room.)
Lucas: Bye, Peyton.
(She wakes up.)
Peyton: Luke?
(She picks up the CD and realizes that he's gone.)
THE AIRPORT
Attendant: Hi.
Lucas: I'm sorry to bother you, but I have to get back a little sooner than expected.
Attendant: We'll see what we can do.
Lucas: Thanks.
(His phone goes off.)
Lucas: Excuse me one second.
(He answers the phone.)
Lucas: Hello?
Lindsey: Hi, is this Lucas Scott?
Lucas: Yeah, who's this?
Lindsey: My name is Lindsey Strauss; I'm a junior editor at Putnam and Pratt. I uh, read your novel.
Lucas: Oh, well it's nice of you to call. Everyone else just sends the rejection letters first class.
Lindsey: Actually, I loved it, and I passed it onto my boss and he feels the same way. Hello?
Lucas: I, I, I… I'm still here.
Lindsey: What I'm saying is, we want to publish you're book Lucas. How soon can you be in New York?
Lucas: Uh… I'll figure it out. Yeah Okay, I look forward to seeing you too. Bye. I need to go to New York. They're publishing my novel.
Attendant: Congratulations. Must be a dream come true.
(He looks at his phone and thinks about calling Peyton but doesn't.)
Attendant: All set.
(He takes the ticket and leaves.)
PEYTON'S WORK
(She's pushing a mail cart and crying.)
Blake: Okay, I need you to go on a coffee run.
Peyton: Okay, in a minute.
Blake: I don't have a minute. Hey!
Peyton: I said I need a minute!
BAR
(Lucas is meeting with the editor and Lindsey.)
Man: Don't get me wrong, you're writings good. I'm not going to lie to you, but to find out your father was a convicted murder, that's exactly the kind of hook we need in today's market.
Lindsey: I think our newest literary talent needs a drink.
Man: When you're done, let's talk about changing that title.
Lucas: What's wrong with the title?
Lindsey: They say that about every book. I love the title. A murder of crows, a parliament of owls…
Lucas: You seem a little young to be an editor.
Lindsey: Yeah, well you seem kinda young to have a book being published.
Lucas: Fair enough.
Lindsey: The truth is your novel's my first. I graduated last year, my dad runs the company, but I need to prove myself like everyone else, maybe more.
Lucas: Mhm. I know how that is.
Lindsey: Luke, I don't care who you're father is. I read a lot of manuscripts but yours was the first one that actually spoke to me. I mean yeah, there's some rough parts, but your writing has truth, soul…
Lucas: Rough parts?
Lindsey: Look, I promise as your editor, I'll always be faithful to your voice, but there's some work to do. It'll take six months before it's ready for publication, maybe longer.
Lucas: That long?
Lindsey: We're talking late hours, long nights, heated arguments. It'll probably feel like we're married. That was a joke.
Lucas: It's just been a long day, that's all.
Lindsey: Well then, you better get some rest because you start on Monday.
Lucas: Hey, Lindsey, wait, um… I just want to say thank you for changing my life.
Lindsey: That was all you Lucas. But can I ask you something?
Lucas: Yeah.
Lindsey: The Luke and Peyton in the novel…
Lucas: No.
Lindsey: Huh… I'm sorry… I was rooting for them. See you Monday.
(Lindsey walks away and a hostess comes up to Lucas.)
Hostess: Excuse me Mr. Scott, there's someone here to see you, she says to tell you she's from Tree Hill.
Brooke: Well, Well. Lucas Scott.
Lucas: You got my message.
Brooke: Oh, did you think I was going to miss the chance to spend a night on the town with a soon to be best selling author?
Lucas: God, it is good to see you Brooke.
Brooke: Yeah.
BROOKE'S HOUSE
Brooke: So then my mom moved up here with me fromL.A. So they wouldn't travel so much. I think they should just call it what is trial separation. I can't believe you're books going to be published. You're going to be such a rock star.
Lucas: Come on, you're the one with the big clothing line.
Brooke: True, but my mom thinks that we can do better with that too. Check this out. It's her plans to take Clothes over Bros to the next level. We have high end couture, a cosmetic company and my own magazine.
Lucas: B. Davis? Hey wait; you could give my book its first good review.
Brooke: You know sometimes expanding seems like a good idea. Sometimes I don't know. This is the most time I've spent with my mom since the maternity ward but I'm scared if I let her in that Clothes over Bros isn't going to be mine anymore ya know.
Lucas: Yeah, I know what you mean. There's this editor girl, Lindsey, she just wants to make all these changes to my novel and…
Brooke: Pretty high class problems we got… we should be celebrating not complaining. Where's Peyton? She should be so thrilled for you.
Lucas: We broke up.
Brooke: Shut up. Oh, Luke… I'm sorry. What happened?
Lucas: I went toL.A., asked her to marry me and she said no.
Brooke: Are you stupid? You stormedL.A. and you went all Naley on her? Did you even buy a ring?
(Lucas shows her the ring.)
Brooke: Oh!
Lucas: She never even saw it.
Brooke: How do you propose to someone without them seeing the ring?
Lucas: Well, I got down on one knee and
(He gets down on his knee.)
Lucas: um, I said, I want us to be together forever.
(Victoria walks in and sees Lucas on one knee. She gasps and drops her bags.)
Brooke: Never mind, you definitely did it right.
RESTAURANT
(Brooke and Lucas are at a table.)
Brooke: Did you see the look on her face? It looked like someone spewed on her tennis shoes.
Lucas: I'm really glad you're enjoying this.
Brooke: Oh come on Luke, you and Peyton will work it out.
Lucas: I don't think so, Brooke, not this time.
Brooke: Well, it sounds to me like you gave her an ultimatum, and trust me there is no quicker way to paralyze a girl.
Lucas: Okay um, how many times have you talked to Peyton since you leftL.A.?
Brooke: That's not fair. We're both really busy.
Lucas: And today she broke up with her boyfriend. Has she called you yet? Things have changed.
Brooke: I think you're saying that because your hurt, and I get it, but I don't think you really mean it. You know what; I think we need to get drunk. Really, really, good and drunk. First let me see the ring again. I'll give you a designer's opinion.
(Lucas gives her the ring.)
Brooke: I think it's really nice.
(A woman walks by and sees the ring and thinks Lucas has proposed to Brooke.)
Woman: Well, well, congratulations!
(She claps and so does everyone else.)
Brooke: Oh, no.
Woman: Champagne on the house. We have an engagement.
Brooke: No… Champagne on the house…
(She puts on the ring and smiles.)
LUCAS' ROOM
Brooke: Alright Boozy… Let's get you to bed. Come on.
(She helps Lucas to the bed.)
Brooke: Alright.
Lucas: The bed is spinning.
Brooke: You're going to be okay. I'm going to get you into some jammies and I'm going to take a cab home and you can sleep it off.
(She unbuttons his shirt.)
Brooke: Here.
(Lucas pulls her forward)
Lucas: Or you could stay.
(He kisses her.)
(She pushes him away.)
Brooke: Okay, I think that might be the second stupidest thing you've done in the past 24 hours. Luke, we're not in high school anymore. And I love Peyton, and even if you don't want to admit it right now, so do you. Okay?
Lucas: I feel lost Brooke. I don't know what to do without her.
Brooke: Alright, you remember when I started Clothes over Bros? It was right after we broke up and I was trying to mend my broken heart by focusing on my work. And you need to do the same right now. You need to go out there and become the best person, the best writer that you can be, and then you approach Peyton, and if she comes back to you, then you know it's meant to be. Okay?
(She takes the ring off and hands it to him.)
Brooke: I'm going to go, and you probably won't see me for a while. Lucas Scott is going to change the world someday and he doesn't even know it yet.
(She kisses his forehead.)
Brooke: Bye Luke.
(Lucas looks down at the ring in the palm of his hand.)
END OF FLASHBACK - LUCAS' HOUSE
(He's looking at the ring then puts it back in the top drawer.)
(He sighs and looks at the picture again. Grabbing his keys he walks out.)
NATHAN AND HALEY'S HOUSE
(Haley is putting up trophies and Nathan comes in, still on his crutches.)
Nathan: What are you doing?
Haley: Oh, just thought it was time to get these out of Jamie's closet. He's proud of his daddy. So am I.
Nathan: That's the first Cobras championship.
Haley: Yeah, you were so great in that game. You should never be ashamed of your achievements.
Nathan: The only thing I'm ashamed of is the person I've been for the past few months. That's all going to change. Hey… I know we're not the couple we used to be, but we're going to get there. I know it.
(They kiss.)
THE BEACH
(Peyton is sat on the beach watching the waves. Lucas walks up to her and sits down beside her.)
Peyton: Do you ever wonder if we chose the right paths?
Lucas: Always. You?
Peyton: Sometimes.
(They sit in silence.)
Lucas: I miss you.
(They both turn and look at each other.)