A/N: As promised, a quick update. A big shout out to E. Christianna and paulinemcc for reviewing the last chapter.

Call The Shots

Peyton was sitting in class with her familiar sketchbook out. Today, her drawings had been clouded with confusion just like her mind. She knew exactly why that was but she didn't want to admit or deal with it. She had spent most of the day avoiding Brooke but she knew she couldn't avoid her forever, not unless she ran out of town again. She wouldn't deny that thought had actually crossed her mind for at least a minute but she decided that she was going to stop her running and deal with things, eventually.

As soon as Brooke reached the doorway, she spotted Peyton. She knew she couldn't run from her this time or she could risk suspension for skipping. Brooke debated whether or not she should approach her. Not willing to get the cold shoulder but also not willing to leave things how they were, she hesitantly walked up to the blonde's desk.

Brooke bent down at the side of the desk and whispered, "We need to talk."

Peyton didn't even look up when she answered. "Now is not a good time."

Brooke reached out and pulled the pencil out of Peyton's hand. "Seeing as you've been avoiding me, this is the only time I seem to have."

"Do you really want to discuss what you did in front…" Peyton span her finger round to emphasise. "…of the whole class."

Instead of responding, Brooke looked down at the ground. Peyton saw this and added, "I guess not." Brooke got up from her crouching position but before she went to her seat she turned and face Peyton, speaking a little louder than before. "It wasn't a mistake and I don't take it back." The students looked at the two girls and then started to whisper. This was how the teacher found them when they tried to quiet everyone down. Throughout the class, Brooke kept stealing glances at Peyton, which didn't go unnoticed by the other girl. It was safe to say that neither girl was paying attention to class.

It was the last class of the day. Scattered around the school were the players and cheerleaders of the Ravens. The players were in their suits and the cheerleaders were in their uniform. They were all watching the clock, not paying any attention to their respective teachers. The excitement was building up and everyone that was going to watch couldn't wait. It was the first game of many this season and the team had high hopes of reaching the State Championship and winning. When the bell rang a chorus of cheers erupted with everyone rushing to get where they needed to be. Certain players had superstitious routines that they needed to go through in order to be fully ready.

Brooke was in the hallway when she met up with one of the players. "Now I heard this rumour that a certain Raven is playing his last game tonight and I thought to myself he wouldn't leave school without telling me, would he?"

"Hi Brooke, I guess you're trying to make me feel guilty."

Brooke cocked her head to the side and smiled. "Is it working, Jag?"

"I'll have to get back to you on that and after all this time, I'm still not impressed with Jag. I'm sure you can come up with something better." He grinned and lifted both eyebrows up. "Come here." He opened his arms out and Brooke walked into them giving him a hug. "You're not leaving town are you because I don't think I can take it if you did."

Jake pulled his face back to face the brunette. "No, I'm gonna be a working man and help around the house while dad is out of action."

Brooke pulled him back into the hug. "I'm glad you're not going. I can't lose my number two guy."

Jake pulled himself completely out of the hug. "Did I ever have a chance of knocking Nathan off the number one spot?"

"He's like my brother, in fact he's the family I've never had so it would have been very hard for anyone to knock him off." Brooke started to walk and Jake followed.

"You might say he's like your brother but he was acting more like a father when he found out about us. It was quite funny having someone younger than me being all protective about me dating you." Jake actually found himself trying to stop laughing at the memory.

"Yeah, well it won't be long before you're doing that yourself." Jake's smile was replaced with the realisation of Brooke's words. She soon found herself smiling at his reaction. Pure shock was how she described it in her head. "How is Jenny by the way?"

"She's oblivious to everything. She loves the purple monkey you got her. She won't sleep without it." Jake stopped walking and fully turned to her. "You haven't been round for a couple of weeks, you should come for dinner."

"I'm glad she loves it and you sir, have a date." She then thought about what she had said and added a bit extra. "Without it actually being a date. Let me know what day is best and I'll come over. Then Jenny and I can have some fun at daddy's expense." Brooke pinched Jake's cheek, messed up his hair and then ran off. Jake was left standing, shaking his head.

It was very close to game time and everybody was finding a seat to watch the action. All the players and cheerleaders were in the gym, with the countdown to game time looming.

Nathan looked around at all his teammates, trying to gage how they were feeling before the game. "You know it's rude to stare Lucas?"

Lucas looked back at him, trying to look nonchalant. "I'm not staring."

Nathan walked closer to his brother and motioned to where Lucas was looking previously. "Your eyes have been glued to a certain brunette since we came to the gym."

Lucas tried to look confused even though he wasn't. "I'm not sure what you're talking about."

Nathan shook his head at the fact that Lucas wouldn't admit it. "Brunette cheerleader over there that you've been drooling over and I can see why."

Lucas didn't look impressed at the fact that he was rumbled and Nathan's comment, but Nathan continued anyway. "Don't worry nothing has happened between the two of us so you won't be having my leftovers."

Lucas looked at him surprised and spoke in a mocking tone. "You mean there's someone you haven't slept with."

"It's a shock isn't it?" Nathan turned in the direction of the cheerleaders. "You should ask her out. What's the worst that can happen?"

Lucas looked back at the cheer squad. "She could say no, laugh and make a fool out of me."

"See how positive you are. Go for it and use some of the Scott confidence." He hit his older brother on the back.

"Why haven't you slept with her?" He wondered.

"We've been friends for so long, I've just never looked at her in that way. I'm not saying she isn't attractive coz she's in the top three for the whole school but don't tell her I haven't ranked her first or she'll kill me."

"Will you two stop talking and focus?" Whitey shouted interrupting their conversation.

"Yes coach." The Scott brothers answered simultaneously.

"As I was saying, this will be Jake Jagielski's last game for the Ravens so not only will we want to get off to a winning start, we also want Jake to leave on a high. Now come in boys."

All the players put one of their hands on top of each other, in the middle of the circle. "Ravens on three. One, two, three, Ravens."

Mouth had been commentating on the entire game and it was at a crucial stage. "The Ravens have the ball with 30 seconds to go. They're two points down, it's all or nothing. Jake has the ball and he passes to Nathan but he's got two players on him and is unable to make the shot. He fakes left, and then passes the ball to Lucas on his right. He's open and he takes the shot. Everything seems like it's in slow motion. He's thrown for three and it hits the rim before hitting the backboard. Nail biting stuff as the ball then rebounds into the net. The full time buzzer sounds and the Tree Hill Ravens win by one point. Everyone is jumping up and cheering at the first win of the season."

Brooke stood waiting in the gym, watching a couple of people that were still sitting in the bleachers. She immediately turned to an approaching Nathan. "Good game out there Nathan."

"Like you were paying attention."

Brooke put her hands on her hip. "I always do. I noticed that you scored twenty five points tonight and you set up the winning shot."

Nathan smiled. "Point proven. So what's on the menu tonight? I hope you haven't given Maria the night off coz you cooking spells my death." Brooke hit him. "Why do you keep doing that?"

"Because you deserve it. She left us some food that she cooked earlier and she's off having a life tonight. Having her around is the only thing I'm thankful to my parents for, and the money of course." Brooke paused for a moment and then an idea popped into her head that she immediately said out loud. "I had a thought. You're nearly eighteen, you can't stand your parents and I'm in an empty house. You could move in with me."

"Let me think about it. Constantly being bossed around by you or generally ignored by the parents and listening to them constantly rowing. That's a really hard decision." He said sarcastically, putting his hand under his chin to look like he was thinking seriously. Brooke hit him again. "I forgot to add physical abuse to the list." He rubbed the arm that she had hit.

"I should take back my offer." Brooke turned her back in mock hurt. "Well if you did then it would be pointless saying yes then." He replied.

She turned around and slowly a big smile formed on her face and she jumped on him. He was fumbling with his bag, as he had to support her weight with his hands. Nathan slowly walked out the gym with Brooke attached.

Peyton and Haley were sitting on the bleachers when Lucas walked over to them.

"They seem excited." He said while pointing at the exiting Nathan and Brooke.

"Have they ever slept together?" Haley asked.

"No." He stood directly in front of them, deciding not to sit down.

"Have you?" Peyton asked.

"Well seeing as he's my brother, I take it you're not talking about him." He saw the look on both of their faces and realised that they didn't find him funny. "I haven't slept with her either."

"Have you wanted too?" Peyton questioned.

"What guy wouldn't, unless he was gay? I'm even pretty sure that some girls would want to also." Haley chuckled at his response. "Are you both ready? Mum called and dinner will be ready in five."

The three of them walked out the gym, to the car park where they saw Nathan and Brooke getting into their respective cars. Brooke shouted, "Bye guys," as she drove off.

Nathan and Brooke had crashed in front of the television after they finished eating. She had been debating when she was going to start her confession session. She picked up the remote control and switched the television off.

"Hey, I was watching that." Nathan grumbled.

Brooke turned to face Nathan, lifting her legs onto the couch. "I'm gonna tell you everything Nathan." Brooke took a deep breath before she continued. "I kissed Peyton last week."

Nathan looked shocked. "Is that why you act that way, because you like her?" Brooke nodded. "That's so first grade." He said.

"There's more."