"Julian!"

He'd been avoiding his brother all weekend. Ever since he'd sent that text, withdrawing from Nathan's plan, the younger Scott had been texting, and calling him nonstop.

Nathan Scott did not like taking no for an answer.

Lucas had been on his way to meet Haley for a movie when he saw the brown haired Mathlete walking down the alley. Brooke was one of his best friends, he owed her that much.

"Umm... Hi?"

"Hey..." He replied, awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other. "Umm... Look, man, I know this is weird, but-"

Julian held up a hand to cut him off. Weird was an understatement, the conversation they were currently having was unbelievable.

"What do you want, Scott? You gonna threaten me too?"

Lucas blinked, he wasn't used to anyone using such a harsh tone with him. Thanks to Nathan, the Scott brothers were usually both respected, and feared. Julian could judge people without even realizing he was doing it, and normally, that would have pissed him off, the way the guy was once again making assumptions.

But he had Brooke to think about.

He let out a long sigh. "Okay, first: retract the claws. Second: Look... Nathan is planning something, man. I don't have any specifics, but, he will do anything to make sure that you learn your place."

Julian couldn't find the right words to say. Lucas Scott, brother of that asshole Nathan Scott, was actually warning him about something? He must have been dreaming.

"What's he gonna do?"

He opened his mouth to reply.

"Hey, Luke!"

Tim was there, slowly approaching him. His eyes widened. He wanted to yell out, to tell Julian to run, but before he could say anything, his arms had been forced behind his back.

"Let's go! Let's go! Get him in! Get him in!

Team members charged at Julian from behind the building. Everything went dark as a sack was pulled over his head. He was pushed into the van.

He couldn't believe he'd just been kidnapped.

They'd driven around for no more than fifteen minutes, and during that time, he had listened to the older Scott try to reason with his crazy friends.

Nate. We don't have to do this.

Whose side are you on, Luke? Huh? This guy isn't one of us.

Was Lucas Scott a victim in this too?

The van stopped, the back door sliding open. Julian felt two pairs of sweaty hands grab him again, pulling him out. The sack over his head disappeared.

He could finally see what Nathan had planned for him.

"Oh, come on!"

He tried to drag his feet as he was yanked forward, towards the swamp. The basketball players were stronger, a lot stronger.

"Oops."

Julian was thrown face first into the muck, his hands still tied behind his back. He tried to stand up, only to fall again.

The guys laughed. They were always too happy to back Nathan up, no matter what was happened, because they got to be involved with the inner circle.

Slowly, Nathan approached him, Lucas in tow. His hand was wrapped around his older brother's arm, holding him there with the help of Tim.

Lucas looked angry. Yes, he'd done this to the new guys on the team a million times before, because it was an initiation, a joke. Never had it ever been used to hurt someone.

"Well, well." Nathan drew out. His smile was cold, dangerous. "The gang's all here."

Julian stared him down, his expression unreadable. He wasn't about to let some ass hole, who thought he owned everything, and everyone, see his fear.

"I told you it was gonna get worse, man. I warned you." He continued, crossing his arms. "Now, see, normally this is when you become one of us. We'd have a keg, tell some war stories... But you had to know that wasn't going to happen, right?"

Do you think they're gonna, like, let up anytime soon?

No chance. And you want to know why?

Why?

Because Nathan controls the team. And there's no way in hell he's gonna back off

"Nathan."

Nathan held up a hand to cut him off. He knew his actions seemed extreme, and maybe they were, but he wasn't finished, not by a long shot.

"Look." He said. "These guys made a choice to back me, but we're going to be nice, and we're going to let you walk away. Just learn your place, man. Otherwise, it's going to get ugly."

Julian blinked, suddenly very aware of what Nathan was talking about. Brooke. He was supposed to be at her house, helping her study, instead of 'hanging out' with the guys.

So this was Nathan's plan.

He was going to make it seem like he'd stood Brooke up. Julian would look like the bad guy, while Nathan would be there to pick up the pieces.

It was genius, and Nathan Scott truly was an ass hole.

"So this is all about Brooke?" Julian demanded, struggling to untie his hands. "You did all of this for her?"

Nathan's eyes flashed at the mention of her name. "It seems you and me have something in common."

He knew the elite of Tree Hill High found him to be judgmental, but he couldn't help it. He was also a grammar Nazi.

"You and I, moron."

Lucas held back a laugh.

"What?"

Julian remained silent, and he scoffed. Finally, the nerd was leaning to keep his mouth shut, a very smart move on his part.

"Look." Nathan said again. "I've known Brooke for a long time. She's gone through a lot, but she's finally in a good place, and nobody's gonna screw it up for her. Especially not you. So like I said: I'm gonna be nice, and let you walk away. Stay the hell away from her. Haley and Peyton too."

Lucas shook his head, angry at himself for not sticking up for Julian. Nathan was his brother, he needed to show some loyalty there, but the whole situation was getting out of control.

He didn't know whose side to take.

"Speaking of the devil."

Nathan laughed as he pulled his phone out of his pocket, pressing it to his ear. Right on schedule.

'Brooke Davis Calling'

"Hey, Davis." He greeted, grinning coldly at Julian. "B? Slow down... What's wrong? Oh, Brooke-I'm sorry. Yeah. I'll come over in just a little bit. It's alright, B. I promise, I won't say I told you so."

Lucas and Julian shared a look.

"I'll see you in a bit."

Closing his phone, he turned his attention back to the team, still smiling. He had won, just like he always did. Brooke thought that Julian had stood her up, she now hated the mathlete.

His plan had worked.

"Let's get out of here, huh?"

Tim eyed Julian warily, a wide grin spreading across his face. He had an idea, a thought to up the prank by at least 20%.

"We should take his clothes!"

"Tim." Lucas sighed, shooting his a disgusted look. "What is wrong with you? You pitch that every time we kidnap a guy."

He shrugged, already over the stares he was currently receiving from the other team members. "I mean... I... I... It'll make it harder for him to get home..."

Nathan smiled again. For a moment, he'd been afraid that Lucas had lost his voice after being forced along on the outing. Tim did have a point.

"And so will this."

He walked forward, the smile still on his face as two of his team mates grabbed onto Julian's arms.

Julian raised an eye brow as he felt Nathan's hand slip into his pocket. "Getting your jollies?"

With a smirk, he pulled the mathlete's phone out, tossing it into the water. Now, the plan had been perfectly executed. He had won, he was happy.

"You tell anybody about this, and you're dead." Nathan hissed. "Let's go."

Lucas paused, his eyes lingering on the boy in the swamp. He could have stayed, the two boys could have walked home together.

He could have called Peyton for a ride.

He could have called Brooke, and told her the real reason behind Julian standing her up, but he didn't.

Instead, he allowed his brother, and his brother's best friend to throw their arms around him and lead him back to the van. He listened to Nathan, and the guys laugh about what they had just done, and he found himself agreeing not to ever tell Brooke, Peyton, or Haley about the prank.

Lucas could never tell them the truth, because once again, Nathan had gotten his way. He'd made sure that his older brother played a part in the cruelty, and Lucas couldn't take that back.

No matter how hard he tried.