Chapter 6

The game started and within minutes the Ravens took the lead because of Nathan scoring 6 points within 2 minutes. Lucas was trying his best considering he was really feeling the pressure from all eyes being on him, the new kid and to top that Dan Scott's son. He also wondered why his mom didn't seem to be at the game. He had seen Keith, Cassie and Haley come in and sit in the third row of the bleachers, but his mom was nowhere it sight. He kept shooting glances at Cassie who just raised her shoulders at him and gave him a look that said she didn't really know what had happened.

Nathan had been doing his best to keep the ball from getting to Lucas, everytime one of the other teammates got the ball he would get in the open, sometimes directly in front of Lucas and grab the ball. Whitey had decided enough was enough and called a time out.

"Nathan, what is your problem?" Whitey shouted at his best player.

"Nothing, it just seems like I'm the only one trying as usual." Nathan said being his cocky self. Lucas and the of the players just shook their heads saying that wasn't true.

"Let me tell you something Scott, I'm the coach and your the player. You do as I say or I'll bench you, I don't care if you are the shooting guard or that your father is Dan." Whitey directed the direction at Nathan and then addressed all the players. "From now on, if someone is in the open you pass to them, no matter who it is." Whitey shot a sympathetic look at Lucas.

As the halfway point came the Raven's were still in the lead, but things still hadn't improved. Nathan was still a ball hog and the one time Lucas did have the ball he ended up losing it to the opposing team. He really wasn't playing his best. Soon the buzzer rang saying it was halftime. Cassie decided to take this time to talk to her brother who had went into the hall for a drink.

"Luke, you alright?" She asked worriedly.

Lucas shook his head. "You saw me in there Cas, I suck."

"Your just having an off night, it happens." Cassie said remaining positive.

"Cassie when it comes to basketball I don't have off nights." Lucas said.

Cassie nodded knowing her brother had never played as bad as he was playing that night. "Nathan's not helping anything. He's such a jerk." Cassie said as she got a small smile out of Lucas.

"Do you know where mom is?" Lucas asked hoping his mom was inside the gym with Keith and he had just missed her.

"She's at the cafe. She wanted to come tonight Luke, but she decided the cafe needed to stay open to make some money." Cassie said telling only half the truth.

"You forget I'm your twin brother, I can see right through you. I know when you're lying." Lucas said. "So tell me the truth. Mom didn't want to come tonight."

Cassie slowly nodded her head. "I think she really did want to come, but she just got scared."

"Scared of what?" Lucas said sounding a little angry and betrayed.

"Scared of him. Scared of confronting her past and being smacked with a hundred memories in the process." Cassie said.

"Well she's always the one telling us never to run away from our problems and yet here she is." Lucas said.

"Look Luke, just think of how you'd feel in her shoes." Cassie suggested.

Lucas thought for a second and then shook it off. "Whatever, look Cas, I got to go back and play. But before I do I'm supposed to ask you and Hales about coming to a party with me at Nathan's beach house, apparently its a welcome party for me."

Cassie looked at him skeptically. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" She asked.

Lucas just shrugged. "Just think about it and run it by Haley." He said as he jogged off back into the direction of the gym.

Just as Cassie was about to turn and follow him in she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and stared into the face of the head cheerleader Brooke Davis and her best friend Peyton Sawyer.

"What do you want?" Cassie asked Brooke. She had known Brooke since kindergarten and never once had she spoken to her.

Brooke just stared at her and then completely ignored the tone in Cassie's voice.

"You're Cassie Scott right?" Brooke asked as Cassie nodded in response. "Cool, I'm Brooke Davis and this is Peyton."

"I know who you are, I've known you for years." Cassie reminded them.

"Brooke she's in our algebra and Biology class." Peyton explained to her clueless friend.

"Oh right sorry." Brooke said. "Well I just wanted to introduce myself but I guess I didn't really need to."

"No you really didn't." Cassie said and started to walk away.

"Look Cassie, I'm sorry. I really do want to talk to you." Brooke said sounding genuine.

"Well ok, what about?" Cassie asked still keeping her guard up.

"Your brother, Lucas." Brooke said.

"Oh ok." Cassie didn't know what was up with Brooke's sudden interest in her brother.

"Is he single? He's really cute, I can't believe I never noticed him before." Brooke said.

Of course as soon as he join's the basketball team he is suddenly Mr. Popularity. Cassie thought to herself. "Yeah he is single."

"Good." Brooke said.

"Please just don't hurt him. Luke's not like most guys, he actually does have a heart." Cassie said. "Unlike your boyfriend." She said to Peyton.

Peyton just shrugged knowing Cassie was right.

"Hey you know, we should hang out sometime. What do you like to do? Play basketball like your brothers?" Brooke asked.

Cassie shook her head not knowing why they wanted to pay attention to her, not two seconds ago they had been asking about her brother.

"I like to dance and shop when I get the chance..." Cassie said but didn't get to finish her sentence as Brooke's sudden screeching interrupted everything.

"You like to dance and shop!?!" Brooke said excitedly. "So do I. Girl where have you been hiding?" Brooke asked.

"Oh you know, your school." Cassie said sarcastically.

Peyton let out a small laugh, she found herself liking this girl. Why didn't Nathan ever want to pay attention to his sister?

"You should totally join the cheerleading squad. You know I'm captain. And you could definitely fit right in." Brooke squeeled.

"Brooke, don't force it on her." Peyton said trying to calm her friend.

"Ugh I don't know. I mean I do love to dance, but I don't know if cheerleadings for me." She said.

"Oh come on, I could totally teach you all the moves and everything that comes with being a cheerleader."

"Brooke, I'm sure she knows. Her mom was a former cheer captain like you." Peyton said and Brooke's eyes widened.

"Your mom was a cheerleader, well now you totally have to be on the team." Brooke said tugging on Cassie's arms.

Cassie nodded. "My mom, Karen Roe, was a cheerleader when my so called father was the basketball star."

"So its your typical jock falling for the prom queen type of romance?" Peyton asked as Cassie smiled.

"I guess you could say that." Cassie laughed. "But seriously I don't know if I'm cheerleader material. I mean I'm not all that perky and I definitely don't listen to the cheesy pop tunes you listen too."

"What are you into?" Peyton asked curiously.

"Mmm probably bands you've never heard of, The Constantines, Jack's Mannequin, Nada Surf and I also like Led Zepplin." Cassie said as she saw Peyton's eyes widen and Brooke's jaw drop.

"Peyton she's you."

Peyton nodded and Cassie looked confused.

"I love the same bands. Ok now you and I have to hang out." Peyton said.

"Wow, a cheerleader who loves Led. Who knew?" Cassie laughed.

"So will you think about joining?" Brooke asked.

"Fine." Cassie agreed. "Well see you guys later I guess."