Hi everyone! Thanks again for all the kind reviews! I'm glad you guys are liking it. I would really appreciate suggestions of what you might want to read about going forward. It helps a writer out! PS - I don't own any songs mentioned in this chapter.
"And then he just walked out? That little jerk!" Haley shook her head in shock.
"Yup. He just walked out the door. Oh, but not before he made it a point to mention that he thinks we're not ready to be parents." Brooke stood behind the cash register at her store. She was talking to Haley and Peyton who stood on the other side of the counter.
"So let me get this straight. You guys got in a fight Monday night and then you flew to New York for a couple days and just got back this morning?" Peyton asked her best friend.
"Yes P. Jagelski. I couldn't face him, I'm so angry! Plus there's so much going on right now at the New York offices. VIctoria needed my help." Brooke explained.
"Well Brooke that doesn't give you the excuse to ignore problems in your marriage. You're going to have to face Lucas at some point. Are you planning on going to the game tonight?" Haley asked.
"Oh shit, the season opener is tonight isn't it? I forget about that." Brooke looked down at the counter. "I doubt Lucas really wants me there after the fight we had."
"You can't avoid your husband forever. You're going. I'm not gonna let you miss it." Peyton laughed and stuck her tongue out at Brooke. "I don't care if we have to drag you into that gym.
"I'm bringing Jamie and Nathan's gonna meet us there after Bobcats practice. Let's all drive together, it'll be fun." Haley suggested.
"I really don't like you two right now." Brooke pouted.
"Oh you love us don't deny it!" Peyton teased as her and Haley laughed. "Plus you don't want to miss the Raven's getting their asses kicked."
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"Okay listen up!" Lucas clenched onto his clipboard that held the plays he drafted for the first game of the season.
The team sat crowded on the benches in the middle of the locker room. Lucas and Jake stood in front of the team in their suits. The entire room fell silent.
"This is your night. This is the time for you to prove to your family, your friends, and everyone out there in that gym that you can play basketball together as a team, and you can win." Lucas announced.
"Let's get out there and let's win. This is your home court." Jake shouted.
The whole team got up and started chanting and murmuring. The boys and Lucas and Jake came together in a huddle and put their hands in the center.
"Ravens on 3!" Lucas yelled.
"ONE, TWO, THREE…. RAVENS!"
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"Woo I'm so excited! I haven't been to a high school basketball game in forever." Haley squealed as she gripped onto the steering wheel of her white Range Rover.
The group of friends were on their way to the Raven's game. Haley was driving, Brooke was sitting next to her in the passenger's seat, and Peyton, Gage, and Jamie were in the back - Peyton in the middle with Jamie and Gage to either side of her. Jenny was going to the game with Jake's parents.
Brooke sighed and rubbed her hand over her small baby bump.
"You look great Brooke, you're finally starting to show!" Haley glanced over at Brooke while they were stopped at a red light. "When do you go to find out if it's a boy or a girl?"
"Next Wednesday." Brooke mumbled.
"Well aren't you excited?" Peyton chimed in from the back.
"I would be more excited if Lucas was. He doesn't want this baby guys. He made that very clear the other night." Brooke advised.
"Oh Brooke, you know Lucas didn't mean what he said. It was just because he was angry. We all make mistakes." Peyton said.
"Guys would you just stop making excuses for him!" Brooke raised her voice at her two best friends. "You guys wouldn't understand. Your husbands embraced the news of your pregnancies. They were elated to become fathers and were there for you every step of the way."
"Maybe you're right Brooke. Maybe Nathan and Jake latched on to the idea of being a father faster than Lucas. But that doesn't mean he won't ever come around. It just takes time. I mean, we're all still young for God's sakes, can you blame him?"
"Yeah Brooke, you need to give him the chance to grow as a person and come around to the idea. You know how much he loves you and this baby, even if he doesn't know it yet." Peyton added.
"Thanks guys." Brooke said, her eyes cloudy with tears.
"Mama I love this song. Turn it up!" Jamie was referring to "Hot n Cold", a Katy Perry song that was playing on the radio.
"Cause you're hot then you're cold, You're yes then you're no, You're in then you're out, You're up then you're down!" The whole car was singing as loud as they could while Gage just looked up from his car-seat confused.
"This song describes Lucas perfectly!" Brooke said laughing.
"Sing it Gager Rager!" Peyton looked to her right and began tickling her son.
The one year old burst into a fit of giggles as the crew pulled into the parking lot at Tree Hill High.
"Game time!" shouted Jamie.
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"BEEEEEEP" The buzzer sounded signaling halftime. The ravens were down 45-31. Haley, Brooke and Peyton were sitting across the gym on the bleachers directly facing the players bench. Jamie was sitting on Brooke's lap and Peyton was rocking Gage who had just fallen asleep despite the loud atmosphere. Nathan had arrived at the game just in time for the 2nd quarter.
Lucas turned to follow Jake and the rest of the players as they ran towards the locker room but not before he stopped and locked eyes with Brooke for the fifth time that night. Then he turned and walked away.
"I can decide if he's doing that cause he's glad I'm here or just really pissed because I didn't tell him I was going to New York." Brooke smirked.
"Well you would know the answer to that if you would just talk to him." Haley said as she turned to look at Brooke.
"I promised you guys that I would after the game!" Brooke remarked. "I can't interrupt his coaching."
"How do you feel seeing him after a couple of days?" asked Peyton.
"I'm not as angry anymore." Brooke answered "Plus he looks hot as hell in that suit and tie. I've missed seeing him on a basketball court."
"He's really doing a great job with the team. I know that they're losing but hey, they look pretty good and that's all thanks to Jake and Lucas's coaching skills. I won't be surprised if they do pretty well this season." Nathan exclaimed.
"Since this is coming for Mr. NBA superstar, I think we can take his word for it." Brooke laughed.
"Can we go down and shoot Daddy?" Jamie asked tugging on his dad's arm.
"Yeah bud, you can show me your improved jump shot." Nathan said as he took Jamie's hand and the two of them head down to the empty court to shoot around while the teams were in the locker rooms.
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"You guys should be damn proud of yourselves." Jake said as he pointed to his team who were panting and sweating as they sat on the benches. "You guys are putting your everything into this game and that's all Coach Scott and I ever ask of you to do."
"That's right boys. Now let's get out there and turn this game around!" Lucas shouted. "One Two Three, RAVENS!"
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"Holy crap I can't watch!" Haley groaned as she covered her eyes.
"Mama don't say crap!" Jamie laughed. "That's a bad word!"
"I'm sorry baby I just can't believe we're one basket away from winning this game. It's like a miracle!" Haley announced.
There were 7 seconds left on the clock. The ravens played outstanding in the second half of the game. They were down by one and the other team was taking possession. Lucas and Jake called a timeout and this was the last opportunity to win this game.
"Okay listen here. Nobody fouls. Nobody! You're gonna press defense and get the ball back, ya hear?" Jake yelled over the loud cheering in the gym. No matter what happens in the next 7 seconds, win or lose, I could not be more proud of you guys. Ravens on three - one, two, three…
"RAVENS!"
The entire crowd was on their feet, waving blue and white streamers and rally towels. No one could believe that this team was so close to winning their first game.
The whistle blew and the opposing team inbounded the ball. Everything in the gym was moving as if it were in slow motion. The ball bouncing on the hardwood gym floor echoed in the air. A couple dribbles and the team was moving closer and closer to their basket down court.
"They're just gonna pass it around! Lucas yelled from the sidelines. "Go for the ball!"
Just as the scoreboard's clock clicked down to 3 seconds remaining, a Ravens player sprung from the back of the court and intercepted a pass.
The Ravens forward, Anthony Butler, took control over the ball and dribbled straight for the basket. He didn't have time for a lay-up so he stopped, squared up, and took a jump shot from behind the 3 point line.
Everyone's head followed the ball as it swished through the hoop.
The crowd erupted into a fit of cheers. Everyone left the bleachers to storm the court. The Ravens won by two. They actually did it!
Peyton and Jake found each other through the sea of people and kissed as Peyton held a glassy-eyed Gage on her hip. Nathan had Jamie on his shoulders and was laughing at Haley as the little family danced around in the chaos. Brooke tried to move past the six foot tall basketball players and the fans that were swarming them to get to Lucas.
"Lucas!" Brooke spotted him and ran over to where he was. "I'm sorry I just want to tell you that…
Lucas grabbed Brooke's face and kissed her passionately. When the two finally broke apart he said, "Brooke whatever happened the other night, whatever was said, I'm sorry. I love you so much and I love this baby. I promise I'm gonna be there through it all."
"I love you too Lucas." Tears streamed down Brooke's face as she leaned up to kiss Lucas again.
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One Week Later
Brooke ran her hand over her small baby bump as Lucas held onto her other hand sitting beside her. The two of them were waiting for Dr. Harlow and the ultrasound technician to come into the room. Lucas looked around the fairly tiny exam room, glancing at the posters of unborn fetuses that hung on the walls. Just then there was a knock on the door.
"Hello, how are you guys today?" The doctor and technician walked through the door. The young tech handed the doctor Brooke's chart and began washing her hands at the sink.
"Big day for you two. Are you sure you don't want to wait and be surprised?" Dr. Harlow asked as he reviewed Brooke's folder.
"Yeah we can't wait to know." Answered Lucas as he squeezed Brooke's hand who laid on the examination table.
"Any ideas of what it could be? Any preference" The tech chimed in as she dried off her hands.
"We just want a healthy baby." Brooke said smiling.
"Well let's take a look." The technician slipped on a pair of gloves and picked up the liquid gel and squirted it onto Brooke's bare stomach. The image of Lucas and Brooke's unborn child appeared on the screen.
"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs Scott. You're having a…
TO BE CONTINUED