They were all there. The RiverCourt gang. That's what they called themselves. Nathan Scott was playing basketball along with Junk and Fergie and Mouth was as usual doing his imaginary broadcast. Peyton Sawyer and Haley James were having a chat on the river-side bench.
''Five times!'' exclaimed Peyton.
''Five times, what?'' asked Haley, confused at Peyton's random words.
''Nathan. It's the fifth time I caught him staring at you tonight. You're telling me you haven't noticed?''
''Yes, I have noticed. Okay, he was looking but I'm not interested. Nathan and I have been friends for a long time and I mean to stay that way.''
''Whatever you want, Haley.''
Haley couldn't help sneaking a glance at Nathan and in that flicker of a second their eyes met and what she felt was indescribable.
Here goes, thought Lucas as he went up to Brooke's doorsteps and rang the bell. Brooke opened the door and was going to close it in his face but he stopped her.
''Look Brooke, I'm sorry, I really am,'' he said, pushing his way inside.
''Oh, really? That's exactly what you said the last time, the time before that and before that, too. Doesn't sound like you mean it much.''
''Brooke, I'm trying here, alright?''
''Well, you can quit trying because we're done. I can't keep up with all this crap any longer so I mean it this time, we're done.''
With that, Brooke and Lucas were finished, both with the same question in their heads.
Should I be feeling happy or sad?
''Haley, are you feeling okay?'' asked Nathan as they were walking home. Haley was being really quiet which only happened when there was something worrying her.
''Yes, of course. Really'', she added, watching his face. Why did she feel so attracted to him all of a sudden? She knew the answer to that. Her mind zapped back to that night…
Peyton was on the river-side bench waiting for Haley when she saw him walking over to her.
''Hey Peyton!'', he asked her with a smile.
''What are you doing here, Lucas?'', she asked him looking around for any sign that Haley might be near.
''I just miss you, Peyton.''
''Lucas, I talked to you about this already. We can't do this anymore. I can't betray Haley, even more, I can't betray Nathan.''
''Nathan, huh?''
''Yes, Lucas. He and Haley are pretty much all I have now that Brooke's out of the picture-
''Peyton?''
''Yes?''
''I love you.''
She looked at his sparkling eyes and without thinking she found her lips against his and she was kissing him.
Brooke made her way to her favourite spot, a beautiful place under the bridge. She sat and looked around. She wasn't alone that night. Sitting a few meters away was a guy who seemed too lost in his thoughts to notice her. She decided to go talk to him. Company won't hurt tonight, she decided.
''Hi, I'm Brooke. Are you okay?'', she asked him.
He turned around to face her. ''Hi, I'm Julian. Not really, I guess or else I wouldn't be out here alone. It's my favourite place to come out and think.''
''Yes, it's pretty peaceful out here. How come I never saw you?''
''Last time I was here you were with your best friend, Peyton, I guess?''
''Oh yes. Ex-best friend actually'', she added. 'So what brought you here today? Mind sharing?'
'Sure. It all started when my dad left my mum. They had been arguing a lot and he couldn't take it anymore so he just left. I still see him in the weekends but it's not the same. Anyway, my mum was always a bit of a boozy', he told her with a grin, 'but lately she's been worse. She's out late all nights and when she's home she does nothing but yell at me and call me useless. Yesterday, she even hit me!''
'Wow, I'm really sorry for you. I'm not that good at discussing parents since mine don't give a damn if I'm alive or not. I hardly see them, they're always travelling around.''
'No, it's okay, at least I shared my troubles with someone', he told her with that grin that made her heart melt. 'So are you going to tell me what's bothering you?'
'Actually, it doesn't really matter now', she told him, smiling.