The first thing Haley did when she left her tutoring session with Nathan was head to the café to see Lucas. The last thing she needed was for him to find out she was tutoring his brother from someone else. The bell jingled as she opened the door and Karen, who was standing at the coffee pot, turned at her entrance. She gave Haley a smile. "Hi, Haley."

"Hey," Haley said, walking up to the counter and sitting down. She placed her bag on the stool beside her. "Is Lucas here?"

"No, but he's on his way. He stopped in right after school, but he was so wrapped up in the book he was reading, he headed straight home to finish it. Everything OK?" Karen asked.

Haley sighed. "Yeah," she said thoughtfully. "I just need to talk to him. You know, fill him in on some things before any one else does," she explained.

Karen laughed softly and started wiping down the counter. "Teenagers. They do love to gossip," she said dryly.

"Sounds like you're speaking from experience," Haley observed.

"Oh, yes" Karen said. "I was dating the captain of the basketball team. A natural by product of that— is that you're fodder for everyone else."

Haley nodded slowly. "What was it like dating the captain of the basketball team?" she asked carefully.

"At the time? I thought it was wonderful."

"And now?"

Karen sighed. "I can't regret it, because…otherwise you wouldn't have your best friend," she said in a teasing tone. "But I wish I'd concentrated more on school and friends."

Haley nodded. "Like me?" she asked.

"You have a good head on your shoulders, Haley," she commented.

"Thanks," Haley said, not at all certain of that fact.

"Here comes my son now," Karen said her gaze moving to the front window.

Haley's eyes flew to the entrance and she quickly jumped down off her stool. "I'll be right back," she said, sprinting for the door. When she reached it, she threw it open and burst through it.

Lucas laughed. "Whoa, Hales. Where's the fire?"

Haley took a deep breath. "I have to tell you something," she said seriously.

His facial expression immediately turned to one of concern. "Are you OK?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," she assured her friend. "It's nothing like that."

"Good," Lucas said relieved.

"Yeah, you might want to take that back," she said.

He put his hands in his pockets and studied her face. "What's going on?" he asked.

She bit her lower lip. "I got a new student today," she said brightly.

"That's great, Hales. Anyone I know?"

Haley nodded uncertainly.

"Who?" Lucas asked harshly.

She took a deep breath. "It's Nathan," she admitted. She watched as Lucas' jaw started to tick.

"You're tutoring Nathan Scott?" he asked.

She pursed her lips and nodded. "Yeah. I'm tutoring your brother."

"Don't call him that!" Lucas snapped.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "Look, I—I tried to get him reassigned, Lucas. But Principal Turner told me that if our history got in the way of my tutoring, then he would reassign him. But I wouldn't be able to tutor anymore."

"What history?" Lucas asked.

"I—I didn't mean…that I had a history with Nathan," she lied. "I meant that I have a history…with you. You're my best friend and I didn't want to put our friendship at risk," she explained, doing her best to think on her feet.

Lucas shook his head. "Haley, you're not going to lose me as a friend. Especially because of my brother," he said emphatically.

Haley nodded uncertainly.

"Promise me one thing?"

"Anything," Haley said.

"Don't fall for him, Haley."

"I won't," she assured him.

"I'm serious, Haley," Lucas said insistently. "He's got a gift for getting what he wants from women and then just casting him aside. Be better than that."

"I will be," she told him as guilt filled her entire being.

777

Haley had been tutoring Nathan for a full week now, and one thing was painfully obvious to her. He needed help with every single class that was on his schedule. She wasn't sure if he hadn't been paying attention just so far this school year, or if he'd been getting by on his charm and athletic ability for a long time. But one thing was for certain—this wasn't going to be short term. Nathan had a lot of work to do before he was fully caught up. "So," he said, pulling her from her thoughts. "Try outs start tonight. You nervous?"

Haley shook her head. "I never get nervous for try outs," she informed him. "Now study!"

"You don't get nervous for try outs?" he asked surprised.

She shook her head. "No, I don't. Listen—you have got to finish those problems so that we know where your weaknesses are."

Nathan scoffed. "In Algebra? Pretty much everywhere," he conceded.

"Nathan—you have a big test on Friday and if you don't get at least a C, there's no way we'll be able to bring your grade up to passing for the quarter," she informed him. "Which means no basketball," she said quietly.

He sighed in resignation and forced his attention back to the problems in front of him.

777

After school that afternoon, Haley walked into the gymnasium during the boys try outs and smiled at Lucas, who was at the free throw line. She gave him a subtle wave and he flashed her a quick grin. She made her way to the bleachers then walked up a few of them. After sitting down she opened her book bag and pulled out her trigonometry book and began to study. But it was hard for her to concentrate.

For one thing, she was dying to see Nathan on the court again. The guys had usually played later than the girls at High Flyers, and she'd always made her way to their gym to watch him play as they finished up. He'd been so graceful on the court, every move deliberate. She'd loved to watch him play.

She looked up and was glad to see Lucas holding his own. They were rotating at the free throw line, five shots each. If you missed one, it meant three laps around the gym, but if you made all five, you rotated to the right until it was your turn again. He was the first one to make all five of his shots and she silently cheered him on.

She looked down at the basket that was at the other end of the gym and saw Nathan take his spot at the free throw line. Not wanting to be obvious, she sighed and forced her eyes back on her homework. She was able to concentrate for a little while until she heard a whistle blow and saw the guys take the floor to scrimmage. Knowing it was no use she slammed her book shut and moved her attention to the floor again. She made a face as she realized that Nathan and Lucas were on the same team. Well, this is going to be fun to watch, she thought sarcastically. She didn't notice at first, but after a few minutes into the game, it became glaringly evident that everyone else on his team was trying to freeze Lucas out from getting the ball. The others would pass it to him if there was no other option, but Nathan would turnover the ball before he'd pass it to his brother. At first, Haley found it amusing and wondered if Nathan was feeling threatened by Lucas being on the court with him. But the amusement soon faded. Twenty minutes in, she sure her face was beet red, and as Lucas yelled to Nathan that he was open, Nathan stood there dribbling the ball and looking around. He was back to her, standing right inside the out of bounds line at the bottom of the bleachers.

Before she could even think about it, Haley rose to her feet and stomped down the bleachers. Nathan wasn't expecting it, so she took him by surprise when she came from behind and stole the ball. Immediately, she passed it to Lucas then put her hands on her hips and turned to glare at Nathan. "It's called finding the open man," she spat. "And if you really expect to make the team, you might want to perfect the concept!" She spun back around and practically flew up the bleachers. She hastily gathered her things and left the gym, leaving the boys standing there in shock.

Whitey was the first to speak up. "Well, she's got spunk," he said. "And she's right, Nathan. You've already made the team. Now play like you're part of it. This isn't a three ring circus where you're flying solo. Was High Flyers a waste of time?" Whitey asked angrily.

Nathan's gaze flew to the doors Haley had just exited. "No, it wasn't a waste of time," he said with conviction. He could have been angry and embarrassed at by what she'd done, but he wasn't. Even though he'd never admit it out loud, she'd been right. And the fact that she'd had the nerve to stand up to him in front of a bunch of guys she didn't know? Well, all that did was turn him on.

777

Lucas didn't even bother to shower after practice. He was in too much of a hurry to find Haley. He sprinted across the gym, his bag slung over his chest, and headed for the tutor center. It was deserted except for her, and she looked up as he walked in. She immediately looked contrite. "I am so sorry, Lucas!" she said quickly. "I didn't even think!"

He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. "If you're apologizing for giving Nathan Scott a dress down, take it back, Haley James."

She stood up and walked over to him. "You're not mad?" she asked with relief in her voice.

He shook his head. "No, I'm not mad," he assured her. "I'm pretty sure that all the guys in there thought I had the most amazing fake girlfriend in the world," he teased.

Haley laughed.

"And you know what?" he asked.

"What?"

"I have to admit, it was kind of hot seeing you like that."

"Lucas? Did you just say you think I'm hot?" she asked in a hopeless tone of voice.

"I did for just a fleeting second," he admitted. "But don't worry. The moment's gone."

She sighed. "Thank God!"