"Alright," Deborah said, walking into her house and sitting down at the kitchen table. "You want to explain to me why I had to leave work to come pick you up from school for fighting?"
"I fought," Nathan replied.
"Yes, Nathan, from what the principal told me, I understand that you fought. I even understand that you fought with Lucas. What I don't understand is why."
"He started it," Nathan said, just like a five year-old would.
"Nathan even if that was true, that'd be a lousy defence for being involved in a fight. But it isn't true. Your principal told me that you threw the first punch."
"Well he started it when he accused me of seeing Haley and called me trash."
"I should have known a girl was involved. Who's Haley?"
"Just a girl. Lucas's girlfriend. It doesn't matter, Mom, what matters is that he's always giving me a hard time about everything."
"Nathan," Deb sighed. "He's not a good kid. That's understandable, since he wasn't exactly raised by the best people. But you, you're better than that. You never used to get in trouble before…"
"Well, he's been on my case lately…" Nathan began his already lame argument. "With basketball and Haley and such."
"Honey, I know," Deb said, changing her tone of voice slightly, from one of anger and outrage to one of concern. "It's partly my fault that things are this bad between the two of you. I mean, I'm sure that Dan had something to do with the way Lucas has been treating you. But that is not an excuse for you to stoop down to his level. I barely recognized you today."
"What do you mean?" Nathan asked.
"I mean that you're better than that, Nathan. I know that for a fact because I raised you better than that."
"You're right," Nathan sighed, beginning to feel a little bit of remorse for the first time that day. "I'm sorry, Mom. This kind of thing won't happen again. I'll… control my temper next time."
"Good," Deb got up and gave her son a hug. "That's what I like to hear."
"Thanks, Mom," Nathan said, getting up to go.
"Don't thank me yet. The school let you off with a warning, but I won't be that generous. I'm grounding you for the rest of the week. That means three days of nothing outside of school or practice."
"Fine," Nathan grumbled. "I guess I deserve it."
Deb smiled, amazed that this wasn't met with a fight, like it had been in previous instances. Nathan really was growing up.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Dan was talking to Lucas.
"What's this I hear about a fight?" he asked, coming up to Lucas while he was lifting weights.
"Nothing, Dad," Lucas said, trying to get away from the topic as quickly as possible.
"Well, it wasn't nothing if the principal called your mother at work to come pick you up. Why were you fighting with Nathan?"
"He started hitting on my girlfriend in class. Dad, do we need to talk about this now?"
"No, Lucas, we do need to talk about this now. Because do you not realize how quickly a stain on your records could ruin your chances of getting a scholarship to UNC?"
"Dad, I know, but he-"
"I don't care what he did!" Dan cut him off. "This is about you… If at least you were fighting about something related to basketball… But your girlfriend? Luke, don't you understand that you need to have your priorities straight?"
"Dad, I do, but he threw the first punch! What was I supposed to do, just stand there and do nothing?"
"Lucas, the kid has no right to be on the team in the first place. No one knows that better than me. However, you're still supposed to stay away from trouble while the college scouts are looking for you. How can you not understand that?"
"Dad—" Lucas started.
"Save it, Luke. Just don't let it happen again."
"I won't, but—"
"Find another way to get him off the team…"