Thank you for reading the first chapter of Show Me How to Live!
Be sure to leave a review, favorite, and follow this story for more updates!
**FYI**
In this story, Nathan and Lucas are COUSINS, not brothers. Karen married Keith, and they had Lucas. Dan and Deb are still Nathan's parents.
Haley is a single mom to her 5-year-old son Jamie. The identity of Jamie's father will be revealed in later chapters. She owns and manages Karen's Café, with her partner Karen Scott. Haley and Lucas have been best friends since they were kids.
"Reporting live from Time Warner Cable Arena, I'm Josie Kent. Breaking news from the NBA's resident bad boy, Nathan Scott of the Charlotte Bobcats. After his second drunk and disorderly arrest in the past six months following a bar fight last weekend in Miami, Scott has been suspended from summer practices and the first two preseason games.
Adam Silver, NBA commissioner released this statement, "The National Basketball Association will not tolerate players who exude violence, on the court or in the personal lives. NBA players are public figures and role models, and need to present themselves as such."
With the NBA cracking down on punishment for Scott, what does this mean for the Bobcats? Only time will tell. Back to you, Todd."
Haley James grabbed the remote control and switched the channel to a gardening show, erupting a loud groan from the customers in her café.
"Oh, don't boo who. They'll still be talking about Nathan Scott on your own TVs when you get home. We don't watch that here," she said, wiping the counters down as she smirked at the regulars.
"Come on Haley, what do you have against that guy?" Joe Turner asked, wolfing down his second burger of the afternoon, "He's a Tree Hill legend."
"Just because he uses this place as a crutch for his sob story, doesn't mean he's from here," Haley replied, "I don't like people who act like they're entitled, Joe. He's been in bar fights since college, and this is the first slap on the wrist he's gotten."
"Nathan, you've got to work with me here," Clay Evans, sports agent, pleaded, "You've driven off your publicist and your personal assistant. You're lucky they didn't file sexual harassment complaints. I'm trying to juggle all of this stuff because I'm your friend. But you have got to shape up man."
"Ah, come on Clay, I was just having fun," Nathan said, as he laid out on the chaise lounge by the pool at his home in Charlotte, "That guy had it coming; he was being a prick."
"You were making out with his fiancé!" Clay exclaimed, running his hand through his hair, "Dude, do you have a death wish? The guy was twice your size!"
"I didn't think this would happen," Nathan insisted, now sitting up from his previous relaxed position, "I've done things like this before, Clay. All I've had to do is release a public apology and pay a fine. Why are they cracking down now?"
"Because you're a public figure now Nate," Clay replied, "Kids are watching you, wanting to be like you. The NBA is trying to maintain a squeaky clean image, and you are not helping with that."
"Clay, come on, isn't there anything you can do?" Nathan questioned, "I know you can find a way to fix this."
"Lucky for you, I already have," Clay smiled mischievously.
"I don't like that look, why don't I like that look Clay?" Nathan asked.
"Tomorrow morning, you are going to issue a public apology at a press conference. And then you will be announcing what you plan to do this summer," Clay explained.
The Next Day…
"I would like to thank you all for coming today," Nathan said, as cameras flashed and reporters eagerly scribbled things down in their notebooks.
"I would first like to say how incredibly sorry I am for the actions I displayed in Miami," he continued, "My temper has gotten me in trouble in the past, and for the past four months, I've been seeing a therapist, trying to better myself and get my anger under control. Miami was a relapse, and I am going to take full responsibility for what happened."
Nathan turned to look at Clay, who was standing off to the side. Clay widened his eyes slightly and nodded. Nathan sighed, turning back to the microphone.
"The NBA was right to punish me for my inexcusable behavior. I accept this punishment, but I also want to make things up to my fans. They have been there for me since I first got drafted, and I am so grateful that they have stuck by me, through all of my shortcomings," Nathan said, taking a deep breath.
"Which is why I will be spending my summer back in my hometown of Tree Hill, North Carolina. I was born there and resided there until I was nine years old. It's where I developed my love for basketball, where I discovered the true meaning of the game," he relayed, "I will be hosting a kids basketball camp in Tree Hill, as well as volunteering at the local youth center. I want to give back to the community who gave me so much as a child, who has supported me through my successes and my failures. So that is what I will be doing for the duration of my suspension. Thank you."
"Nathan, Nathan," the press called, as Clay switched Nathan spots, taking the microphone.
"Thank you all for coming, we would love to answer your questions, but Nathan has a flight to catch," Clay said, as he and the bodyguard escorted Nathan off the stage.
"Hang on Clay, before we go, there's someone I have to call," Nathan explained, pulling out his cell phone.
He dialed an all-too-familiar phone number, listening to the dial tone as it rang.
"I must be dreaming because Nathan Scott is not calling me right now, is he?" the voice on the other end of the phone answered.
"Haha very funny, Luke" Nathan smiled, "Look, I know it's been too long since I've been back to visit, but I thought I would come bug you for the summer."
"My favorite cousin, what would you want back here in Tree Hill?" Lucas Scott asked.
"You know Luke," Nathan sighed, "I guess I just want to remember why I chose the life I did. When I was in Tree Hill as a kid, everything seemed so simple. And after everything happened with my mom, and Dan and I moved away, basketball was my whole life, the only important thing. I miss having a family, I guess. The way things used to be."
"We've missed you too Nate," Lucas smiled, "Brooke will be thrilled. You'll be here when the baby is born."
Lucas' wife Brooke was pregnant with their first child, a little boy due at the end of the summer.
"Yeah, it'll be good to come back Luke," Nathan said, "My flight gets in tonight. I'm renting a house on the beach. I'll text you the address."
"Seriously, though, Nate, why are you coming back?" Lucas asked, "Does this have anything to do with you getting suspended?"
"Can't get anything past you, Scott," Nathan smiled, "Look, you've seen the news. I got into a little trouble. Again. I'm trying to fix everything. Clay came up with the idea to run a kids basketball camp in Tree Hill. Getting back to my roots, you know."
"Kids camp?" Lucas questioned, "If you need any help, Nate, I'm sure you could find a qualified, intelligent, ruggedly handsome basketball coach."
Lucas was an English teacher at Tree Hill High School and coached the varsity basketball team.
"Yeah, I already talked to Whitey," Nathan laughed, thinking about their pee-wee league basketball coach when they were kids. He'd kept in touch with Whitey Durham over the years.
"He'll be there too, but I think it'll be good to have you there Luke, if you're up for it. Keep me grounded. Keep me focused."
"You know I'd do anything for you, Nate," Lucas said, "We're family. We've got to stick together, through good times and bad."
Haley was just cleaning up the café, as the door swung open and the bell sounded.
"Sorry, we're closed," she said dully, not looking up from the tables she was wiping off.
"Wow Hales, I thought we were friends," Lucas smiled, clutching his heart.
"Haha very funny, Luke," Haley said, tossing him a rag, "If you're gonna be here, you've gotta at least pull your own weight."
Lucas began wiping down some of the tables, as he said, "So, Hales, is Jamie doing any activities or anything this summer?"
"I don't know Luke," Haley sighed, carrying a tray of dishes to the back with Lucas following her, rag now slung over his shoulder, "With your mom and Keith traveling, I'm so swamped with everything here at the café and helping Peyton at TRIC. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with him this summer. I've never had this much on my plate before. I just…."
"Hales," Lucas cut her off, "My mom chose you to run this place because she trusts you and she knew you could do it. You've worked here since you were 15. You have raised an amazing son by yourself. If anyone can handle this, it's you."
"Thanks, Luke," Haley half smiled, now finished with the nightly clean-up, "Chef Jeff made extra chocolate chip cookies today. Payment for your slave labor?"
"You know me too well Haley James," Lucas replied, taking a cookie from the plate that Haley was holding out, "So, I was thinking, there's going to be this basketball camp at the high school for kids Jamie's age. I said I'd help out, and I know he would love it."
"Yeah I guess…" Haley began, before pausing for a moment, and then pulling the plate away from Lucas just as he was reaching for another cookie, "Lucas Eugene Scott, this doesn't have anything to do with Nathan and his suspension does it?"
"Serves me right for trying to pull one over on the valedictorian," Lucas mumbled, "Look, Hales, I know how you feel about the guy, and I know you're my best friend, but he's my cousin. And yeah, he's made mistakes, but haven't we all?"
"Lucas, I don't want my five-year-old son idolizing some lunkhead basketball man who goes around starting fights and getting wasted in his down time," Haley sighed, "You've already got him loving basketball and the Bobcats, and I think it's great that you guys have that to bond over, but I don't want Jamie around someone who's so unpredictable."
"He's been going to therapy Hales, and I'll be there the whole time," Lucas insisted, "He's been through a lot in his life that I haven't told you about. I can't turn my back on him. He's trying to change."
Haley closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, "I'll think about it."
"Alright," Lucas said, "Thanks, Hales. I'll be by to pick up Jamie in the morning. Camp starts tomorrow afternoon. Please think about it, Haley. He loves the game."
Lucas took a few more cookies, before hugging Haley and walking out the door of the café, bells jingling once again.
Haley drove home, first stopping to pick up a now sleeping Jamie from her friends Peyton and Jake's house. As she carried him into the house and laid him on his bed, she ran her hand through his sandy blonde hair. He was still wearing the oversized Nathan Scott jersey that Lucas' assistant coach Antwon "Skills" Taylor had given him a few weeks ago.
Haley sighed, leaning down and placing a kiss on Jamie's forehead, before turning to walk out.
"Good night mama," Jamie muttered sleepily, "I love you."
"I love you too Jimmy-Jam," Haley smiled, "Sweet dreams."
Hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of Show Me How to Live!
The idea came to me for this story and nagged me for weeks before I finally relented and sat down and wrote it. I haven't written any fanfiction for over a year, so I apologize for any mistakes or for this not being very good.
I recently discovered One Tree Hill on Netflix from the suggestion of a friend and watched the first 8 seasons in a month and a half (I know, I'm pretty ridiculous!)
Leave a review with any suggestions, comments, or ideas you want to see in future chapters! J