A/N: As always, thanks to all the readers and especially the reviewers. You're all awesome. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.

"Peyton," Nathan called out, catching up to her in the parking lot after school. He'd spent the rest of the lunch hour in the gym, just bouncing the ball around and making shots, working out his pent up frustration. The game always managed to calm him down – when it wasn't accompanied by his father's relentless pressure, that is.

The rest of the day, he'd spent pretty much sulking, not paying the least bit of attention in his classes. Not that that was anything new. He had yet to meet a teacher that could hold his attention for more than a few minutes. Well, except Whitey, but that was basketball – an area of interest.

"I'm not speaking to you right now," Peyton answered him. She'd spent the remainder of lunch period in her car, listening to the radio with the volume turned up full blast. Like Nathan, she'd had trouble focusing on the lessons taught, her mind troubled by the brutality that her boyfriend had displayed against another human being. It didn't surprise her, but it disappointed her how he could be so sweet at one time and then turn around and do something like that and not even seem the least bit contrite.

"Babe, come on," Nathan said pleadingly. "Can we just talk about this? I hate it when we fight."

Peyton shook her head vehemently. "If you hate fighting so much, then quit creating reasons to fight."

"Look, I'm sorry, ok?"

"No, Nathan. It's not ok. You can't just fix everything with a fake apology."

"It's not fake," he said with a sigh.

"I asked you straight out if you assaulted Lucas and you lied to me."

"Because I knew you would get mad," he defended.

"But you did it anyway, so really, you're only sorry that I found out. And that's sad."

He sighed again but offered no response.

"See, you can't even deny it."

"Look, I didn't mean to hurt him that bad…"

"But you did, Nathan. You did."

"I know…"

"And don't tell me you didn't mean to. What else did you have in store for him today? What more would you have done to him if Haley and I hadn't walked in?"

"Nothing. I…"

She shook her head and quickened her pace. "You're still lying," she accused.

"No, I'm not."

Stopping dead in her tracks, she whirled on him. "You went in there for a reason so don't try to bullshit your way out of it! Why can't you just leave him alone? Why must you feed into this crazy obsession? This…this…grudge against a guy who's never done anything to you? All because you imagine him to have this grand scheme of taking over your world…"

"I'm not imagining it, Peyton. Everyone else sees it, even if you don't."

"Everyone like who? The guys who practically worship you and back up anything you say and do? Or the girls who nearly fall all over themselves to agree to whatever you want them to?"

He took a deep breath, wishing she would at least try to see his point.

"I get you feel threatened by him, but you don't need to…"

"I'm not threatened by him," Nathan cut her off to deny.

"Right, and I'm a natural blonde," Peyton replied sarcastically.

"What, you mean you're not?"

Peyton felt a smile tug at her lips as his brows creased with uncertainty in the most adorable way. Wait! Adorable? This was the same guy who'd just recently beaten his brother senseless, and then lied about it. Yet she could stand here and think he looked adorable? What was wrong with her? Frowning, she cursed her own weakness and turned on her heel, walking away from him.

But Nathan had caught the hint of a smile and was encouraged by it. He caught up to her in just a few long strides. "Babe, please don't be mad at me. I really am sorry."

"You know what, Nate? I'm not even the one you need to apologize to."

Nathan rolled his eyes at her comment. "I'm not apologizing to Lucas," he grumbled.

"Then, like I said, you're really not that sorry."

He let out a frustrated growl, getting angry all over again. "Not for the Lucas part, no. You're right about that. Just that you're flippin' out over it," he said. "And that I lied to you," he added as an afterthought.

"It figures," she mumbled.

"Look, I'll leave him alone if you want, but don't ask for more than that." He sighed deeply when she just kept walking without offering a reply. "You can't force me to feel something I don't, Peyton."

"I'm not trying to." And that was true. She didn't want to force him to feel guilty. She wanted him to feel it on his own.

"But you want me to tell him I'm sorry when I'm not."

"That's the most honest you've been in a while," she commented dryly.

"Look, you talk about my 'fake' apologies. Well it wouldn't get any more phony than that. I wouldn't mean a single word of it."

"I know you wouldn't," Peyton acknowledged dejectedly.

"Well then? Can't you just be satisfied that I at least agree to lay off him?"

"Yeah, I think I would be," she said sincerely. "If I believed you."

"Peyton, I promise."

She simply rolled her eyes at his declaration. How many promises had he broken thus far?

He knew exactly what she was thinking. "You can check my hands daily for bruises. Ok?" he suggested pleadingly. Putting a hand on her shoulder to halt her steps, he turned her toward him. "Come on, babe, just say ok."

She sighed, hating how weak she was to him – how the intensity in his voice, his touch, got to her. She felt powerless to deny him what he wanted. But just as the word he begged to hear nearly escaped her lips, she caught sight of him staring off ahead, his features suddenly hard, his eyes cold, his jaw rigid. She didn't need to turn around to know what had captured his attention. She knew he'd spotted her car. And Haley and Lucas standing by it. "I offered them a ride home," she explained.

"Why?" he asked with a frown.

"To be nice, Nathan. Unlike you, I do feel bad for Lucas."

"So, why can't they take the bus?" he griped.

"Why, when they have friends who can drive them straight home instead of three blocks away?"

She noticed his hands instantly clench into fists at her words. Right then she knew he would never back off Lucas despite what he claimed. He was ready to beat him this very second. "Do it and I'll report you myself," she threatened.

"So, you're what? Hanging out with these losers now?" he asked irritably. "Friends with them?"

"You know," Peyton began, "I get that you have unresolved issues with Lucas, but seriously, what's your problem with Haley?"

"Oh, is that her name?" Nathan replied snidely, clearly insinuating that if the girl were worth knowing, he'd know her name. "I don't actually have a problem with her," he added upon Peyton's penetrating glare. "She's just a loser by association."

Emerald eyes flashing with fury, Peyton put her hand on her hips. "Well then, I guess you can call me a loser too because I happen to enjoy their company."

She stalked off toward her car and this time Nathan made no attempt to follow her, but rather headed to his own vehicle.

Hey guys," Peyton said. "Sorry I took so long. I got sidetracked."

"No problem," Haley and Lucas responded simultaneously. They had both seen Nathan approach her.

"You could have waited inside," Peyton remarked. "It's not locked."

Haley and Lucas both shrugged, indicating they didn't mind. Truthfully neither of them had wanted to just assume they could enter her vehicle without her permission. They didn't know her that well yet.

"Everything ok?" Haley asked as they settled in the car and buckled up.

Peyton gave her a weak smile, knowing she was referring to her and Nathan. "No comment," she answered. And then afraid she sounded a bit standoffish she amended her reply. "He's just being a jerk."

Haley nodded in understanding, but kept quiet. She really didn't know what to say.

"Again, Lucas," Peyton said, turning toward the back to look at him. "I'm really sorry about Nathan."

"Don't be. It's not your fault," Lucas assured her. "It's not like you didn't warn me, right?"

Peyton chuckled at his response. "Right. So I'm off the hook then." She faced the front again, smiling a little, but it quickly faded when she noticed a girl talking, and obviously flirting with Nathan, and then hop in his car with him. "Unbelievable," she muttered. Putting the car in gear, she pulled out of her parking spot, wanting nothing more than to just get out of there. But just as she was about to round the corner onto the road, Nathan whipped right out in front of her, forcing her to slam on the brakes.

Lucas groaned loudly as the sudden motion shot a pain through his wounded ribs.

"Asshole!" Peyton hollered, pounding the steering wheel, while Haley turned to Lucas with concern.

It had momentarily knocked the breath out of him, but he was otherwise fine.

Peyton reached for her phone in her purse, her eyes never leaving the road. When she found it, she pressed one to connect to Nathan's cell. "You jackass!" she exclaimed as soon as he picked up, not even giving him time for the customary greeting. "Are you trying to kill us?"

"Sorry, didn't see you there," Nathan responded.

"That's not funny, Nathan!"

"Good, cause I wasn't joking," he said, glancing through the rearview mirror at Peyton directly behind him.

"You know, just because you're pissed off, that doesn't give you the right to put everyone else on the road at risk."

"Whatever, Peyton. You're exaggerating. You weren't even on the road yet, and you were practically parked so I think the risk factor was pretty low."

"For you maybe. But thanks to you, I've already got an injured passenger who you just made worse."

"Oh, I'm tearing up over that," he replied caustically.

"Yeah I bet," she answered, matching his tone. "So who's the skank in the passenger's seat?" she ventured to ask, though she was sure she didn't want to know.

"Uh, you said her name was Haley, didn't you?" Nathan mocked. "But you shouldn't talk about your new friend like that. It's not nice."

Ignoring his snide comment, Peyton went on to say. "If you sleep with her, we are seriously done for good."

"Don't worry, I wouldn't touch Lucas's leftovers with a ten foot pole."

"Nathan, I mean it!"

"So do I." When Peyton didn't respond, he sighed, knowing she was looking for reassurance. He was pissed as hell at her, but he could not ignore the crack he'd heard in her voice. "Look, I won't, alright?"

"Prove it," Peyton challenged.

"How?"

"Pull over and let her out."

"You're kidding, right? Peyt, we're in the middle of…"

"Just do it!" she shouted. "Or I swear we're done forever this time!"

"Fine, you win," he grumbled, pulling off to the side of the road.

Peyton passed him, but she slowed down and watched in the rearview mirror as Nathan leaned over, opened the passenger's side door and very nearly pushed the girl out of the car.

Getting back into traffic, Nathan put his phone back to his ear. "So now you're not the only one calling me a jackass," he said, referring to the fact that the girl was currently screaming all sorts of obscenities at him. Not that he cared. "Happy now?"

"Blissfully," she said sarcastically.

"Well good, that makes one of us," Nathan snarled. "And don't worry, I won't ask you to do the same. Cause I know you wouldn't do it."

Peyton made to reply until she heard the dial tone, indicating Nathan had ended the call. "Jackass," she muttered once again, flipping her phone closed and tossing it back in her purse. "He hung up on me," she explained when Haley gave her a questioning look.

"Oh," Haley responded, unable to think of an appropriate reply.

"So, you ok back there?" Peyton asked. "You still breathing?"

"Oh yeah," Lucas replied. "It'll take more than what he's got to make me close up shop."

"You realize that makes no sense," Haley said in amusement. "It implies that you're in some sort of business and had to close your doors…"

"Well if I quit breathing, then that's closing the doors on my life, so in that way, it does make sense." Lucas quickly replied.

"Uh huh, ok, and where does the business aspect come in?" Haley asked.

"My life is my business, isn't it?"

Peyton chuckled as her two passengers continued to bicker playfully. "So listen, I'm really sorry to drag you guys into all our crazy drama," she felt the need to say.

"Nah," Lucas said. "I'm sorry I caused so much crazy drama."

"Hey don't blame yourself for Nathan's mistakes. He's at fault, not you."

"I could say the same to you," Lucas pointed out.

"Yeah, you could," Peyton agreed.

"Can I ask you something?" Luke asked.

"You just did," Peyton joked. "No seriously, shoot."

"Why do you stay with him?"

Haley turned around to give her best friend her 'that's none of your business' glare, but he just shrugged it off.

Peyton glanced in the mirror at him. "Sometimes it's good," she answered. "He's not always like this. I mean, yeah we have our problems, but what couple doesn't? Right?"

"Right," Luke replied as convincingly as he could, considering his brother had most likely had every intention of having sex with the girl he'd thrown out of his car. But if Peyton didn't realize that that gesture proved nothing about his initial goal, then who was he to tell her?

Peyton did realize it. She just didn't care to discuss it. "So, I don't know where either of you live," Peyton said, swiftly evading the topic.

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Mouth rang the doorbell of the Scott family mansion and waited anxiously for someone to answer it. To say he was nervous would be an understatement. Tutoring Nathan Scott, a guy who'd bullied and taunted him from time to time, just for the hell of it, was not on his list of top priorities. And knowing what he'd recently done to Lucas, along with what he'd put him through in the past months, didn't help. He wasn't sure how Nathan would take to him and the guy had proven, several times over, how ruthless he could be. As cowardly as it may seem, Mouth feared getting his ass kicked. But more than that, he despised him for everything he'd done and had no desire to help him. However, the money was too good to pass up, so he could be professional about it.

When no one answered the door, he wondered if he had the right place. Considering Nathan drove a fancy sports car, he should have arrived at the house much quicker than Mouth, who had ridden his bicycle.

He stood awkwardly at the door, debating what to do. Should he leave? Wait? Luckily he didn't have long to ponder it as a Mercedes Benz pulled into the driveway and Dan Scott stepped out.

"Nathan's not home yet?" he asked, stating the obvious.

Mouth shrugged uncertainly. "Maybe he forgot tutoring sessions were to start today?"

Dan chuckled, humored by the comment. "He didn't forget," he said knowingly. "I'm generally at the dealership until 5:00, so my guess is his plan was to come strolling in at about five to, thinking I'd be none the wiser when he told me his tutor never showed up." He laughed again, figuring he'd hit the nail right on the head. "He's a sly one that boy," he added. He unlocked the door, opening it wide. "Come on in," he invited. "You can have a soda while you wait."

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"Chasing Pavements."

"Adele."

Peyton chuckled. "Dude, you totally rock at this! I'm impressed."

Lucas laughed. "My life ambition is complete," he said with amusement, not letting on how close to true that was. Impressing Peyton Sawyer was definitely one of his most significant accomplishments.

Haley had already been dropped off, since her house was closer, but Peyton and Lucas had continued the game the three had been playing. One would name a song and the other would have to name the artist. So far Peyton hadn't missed any and Lucas, much to her surprise, had only missed one.

"Ok, American Boy," Luke said.

"Estelle," Peyton easily answered. "Vision of Love," she quipped back, sure he would get this wrong.

"Mariah Carey," he said with a smile.

"I think I'm in love," Peyton joked, not knowing how his heart skipped a beat at her words.

"Jessica Simpson," he responded, amazingly without missing a beat. "But, I believe it was my turn. Too Lost In You."

"Sugababes," she said. "Leave Right Now."

"Will Young."

"No seriously, leave right now," Peyton said grinning. "This is your house right?"

Lucas looked around, and sure enough they were parked in front of his house. How had he not noticed they'd stopped moving? "Yeah, it is," he said meekly, disappointed that they were there already.

"Do you need help inside?" Peyton asked him.

As much as he would have loved to say yes, his pride wouldn't allow it. "No, I can manage. But would you like to come in for a coffee or something?"

She thought about it for a second. She probably shouldn't. Nathan would be furious.

Sensing her hesitation, Lucas quickly added. "As a thank you for the ride home."

"You don't need to thank me," she said. "I was happy to do it."

"Well then as two new friends, sharing a cup of coffee."

Peyton smiled at him. Hell, it was just coffee. No harm in that. "Sure, why not?"

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Just as Dan predicted, Nathan arrived home just before 5:00. Having seen his father's car in the driveway, he slowly made his way inside. He shuffled his feet uneasily when he opened the door to find his dad and the nerd he assumed would be his tutor, sitting on the couch watching a basketball game on television. There went telling his dad that the guy never showed up.

"Hello, son," Dan said, turning around. "Care to explain why you're an hour and a half late?"