"Even Dan likes her," Peyton threw her arms up in agitation and displeasure. She didn't know how Brooke was getting all the points in this game but she wanted it stopped, immediately. She turned to Lucas and as usual lately, he appeared to be bored and withdrawn. There were very few things that Peyton knew completely. One of those things was that as Lucas' girlfriend she had the best chance of getting out of Tree Hill. She wanted to be rich, and powerful one day. The best way that she knew of was to keep Lucas Scott by her side. She could sense his ability to pull himself out of the gutter. All of his withdrawal was just as unacceptable as the appearance of Brooke Davis.

"I'm sorry baby," she let her voice soften and caressed the side of face.

He finally looked up at her, "Peyton, why can't we just let it go? We'll still be the most popular people at Tree Hill High and they'll still be nobodies."

"You're right," Peyton whispered huskily, "I can think of much better things to do."

Lucas watched her stand at the end of his bed and slowly removed his old Keith Scott Garage hoodie. He couldn't deny that she had a beautiful body, and he knew that she could work it and use it to her advantage. But still, lately, it was getting harder to get someone else out of his mind.

"Can't we just talk? Does it have to be plot against Nate and Brooke or sex? Are those the only two options?"

"Nate," she questioned his familiarity with the boy he had sworn as his enemy long before she had come into the picture.

He rose and turned his back to her, "yes, Nate. That's his name. And if for no other reason then the fact that we have to win the state championship, I will not haze him anymore. The Ravens need him."

"No you don't! You guys are absolutely fine without him!"

"Peyton, he can get through to the hole like no one I've ever seen in high school basketball. He's our ace when the other team's defense at the line is tight. We need the points he can get us."

Peyton stomped her foot, angry again, "Lucas, you are starting to be way too casual about him. Did you forget that he's the reason that your father left you? The reason your father left you and your poor mother in the dirt like yesterday's garbage?"

He felt the familiar swell of anger but surprisingly he also felt an odd kinship. Their father beat him. Sure, Luke didn't have the money but he had a sober mother, a father figure in Keith and a whole population of his peers who liked him. Nathan truly had nothing. Nothing except the fire wielder from hell packed into the small, lithe body of Brooke Davis.

"We need to let it go. We need Nathan and in order to secure his position on the team he needs to feel accepted. We will leave him alone. And that means you will leave Brooke Davis alone."

Peyton sucked in a deep breath, "this is a bad move Luke. We cannot trust them."

"I didn't say trust," he reiterated, "I said we will leave them alone. That means you will leave them alone. Just ignore them!"

Peyton seethed in quiet anger as Lucas left the room, a clear dismissal.

XOXOXOXO

"Ummmm," Brooke sighed out a contented little litany of pleasure. Nathan was gently nibbling and biting at a particularly sensitive area in the hollow of her neck and she thought it was a lovely way to wake up in the morning.

"Good morning, baby," he whispered right below her ear before kissing her earlobe.

"Mornin," she replied huskily. While her mind was tired her hands seemed to be awake and ready. They made a descent down to greet Nathan in their own way.

He groaned into her cheek, "I wish I could but I have early morning practice with the team."

"Forget the team," she opened her legs gently and he fell in line with her like they were two pieces of one whole. He groaned again as his hardness fell heavily on her damp center.

"Brooke Davis, you are going to be the death of me."

As soon as he said the words he cursed. How could he have been so insensitive?

She went still for a moment before finally placing her hands on his shoulders and pushing him back just a bit. She looked into his eyes, saw her pain reflected in his ice blue eyes, "it was a slip of the tongue, I know it. He's gone and I'm starting to heal. It's okay."

"Do you still love him," he didn't want to ask but he couldn't help himself.

"I think that the naïve Brooke that I was before that tragedy always will. But the person I am now, the person I struggle to be because I want to be proud of myself, is too in love with you to have space for any other man."

He leaned in and kissed her mouth the way he was aching to, "fuck practice," he whispered. He grasped his erection and slid it all the way home.

"Nate," her gasp was cut off as her back arched.

"Wrap your arms around me," he commanded as his body took over hers, demanding everything she had to give him. She obeyed immediately, holding him close, biting his shoulder and swirling her tongue around the tender area after. He went deeper, took her up higher until she was stretching beneath him begging him. He drew her up closer, holding her, "tell me you love me. Tell me that you need me."

"I love you, I need you," she was moaning and in moments she was coming so hard that her body shook in his arms as she held him to her like a vise.

"Fuck," he swore into her neck. He gripped her hips tightly and pumped furiously until he broke. He felt his body release and his eyes squeezed shut as he held back the tears that suddenly wanted to fall. It had been years since he had cried. Years since he had broken and he'd be damned if the first time in years would be in front of this woman. She was strong for him and he in return would be strong for her. So he held her. He held her until she went limp in his arms. When he was certain that he had himself under control he looked into her eyes.

She had been staring at him since her orgasm had subsided. She had seen his struggle in when he had been at his most vulnerable. She gulped hard, "do you love me Nathan?"

He looked surprised, "don't ever doubt it."

"Say it," she whispered.

Before he could speak Brooke's house phone went off. They let it go to the answering machine but both of them were surprised when Lucas' voice was heard, "Nathan, this is Lucas. Practice started five minutes ago. Where are you? We need you so get your ass to the gym. Oh, and good morning Brooke."

"I have to go," he rose and went into her bathroom, closing the door behind him.

XOXOXOXOXO

Nathan was distracted and everyone knew it. He was still making plays but also making careless mistakes. Everyone was fed up, their next qualifying game was in three days and they couldn't afford for anyone to fuck up. Finally Lucas pulled Nathan aside.

"What man," Nathan spat out as sweat dripped down his nose. He wiped his forehead with irritation. Brooke's face when she asked if he loved her was stuck in his mind. Why couldn't he repeat the words he had said so easily a few weeks before?

"I don't know what's going on between you and Brooke or you and Dan but put it in the back of your mind. We have a chance to win the state championship. We need you to be at your peak for this game."

Nathan looked at Lucas incredulously, "yeah right! I won't even get a chance to get the ball until you command it so!"

"No, you'll get the ball when you're open if you can manage to get your head out of your ass and play like a champion!"

"Are you serious," Nathan couldn't believe he'd even asked. Of course Lucas wasn't serious. He was just fucking with him again.

"Yeah," Lucas took a breath and wiped his own sweat away, "we need you. You're a valuable member of this team. I don't give a fuck if we never get along but as long as we're on the road to the state championship you have my word that you will be left alone."

"What's your word worth nowadays," Nathan questioned sarcastically.

"I've never given it to you before so I guess you'll have to take it at face value," Lucas replied quickly.

Nathan wasn't sure. He didn't trust Lucas as far as he could throw him. Then again things had been changing lately. It had been subtle but it was enough for Nathan to nod curtly. Luke grabbed the basketball, "let's do a real practice now!"

XOXOXOXOXO

Peyton watched as Brooke closed her car door and stopped for a moment to stare at her phone and text. She had devised the perfect plan to get rid of Brooke. It would take some things that some might consider devious. But if everything went according to plan no one would ever know that she had committed the actions running around in her mind.

"What are you doing," Peyton spun around at the sound of Haley's voice.

"Nothing and since when do you sneak up on people like a ninja," Peyton asked.

"A ninja," one of Haley's shapely eyebrows conveyed her point very well. She walked over until she could see Brooke walking toward the school as Peyton had, "what's on your mind P. Sawyer?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking that things have changed since she strolled in a few months back," Peyton replied nonchalantly.

Haley nodded, so much had changed. More than Peyton knew, and if it were up to Haley she would never know. Sometimes you had to keep some things close to home where you could protect them.

"Let's get to class, we can't be late again or Mrs. Harris will kill us," Haley murmured.

Peyton nodded and spared one last glance at the now empty parking lot. Brooke Davis would get hers and so would Nathan. If it was the last thing she would ever do.