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

A/N: Thanks once again to all readers and especially reviewers. You all rock.

To anonymous reviewer hmm: I respond to each signed review personally, but I just wanted to tell you that I absolutely do care what you have to say. I've got the whole story pretty much mapped out, so it might not seem like I'm listening with the Nate/Peyton thing. But I'll keep it in mind whenever I write another story. And I'll definitely try to work on the over explaining thing. Thanks for the feedback.

"There's my hero," Nathan said the next morning at school, plopping down between Peyton and Bevin at the picnic table they, and several other girls, were sitting at. "I was gonna leave the thank you card in your car, but I couldn't find it," he joked. "Your car, that is, not the card."

"It's still in the shop," Peyton explained.

"Uh, hello," Brooke huffed, giving Nathan a pointed look. "Can you not see that this bench is entirely populated by females?"

"Yeah," he acknowledged. "What? Oh, I should have said heroine, right?" he asked with his trademark smirk. "Sorry, didn't want to start a scandal. With all the wagging tongues around here, I'd be pegged as a junkie by lunch time."

"With me as your dealer," Peyton added flatly.

"I don't get it," Bevin said when the other girls laughed. "Why would a hero be a drug dealer? Peyton, if you need money, you can always come to us. Right, girls? And Nathan."

"Bev," Nathan said while laughing. "It was just a joke."

"Oh," Bevin replied. "Well, you should probably stick to basketball," she said innocently. "You're no Jay Leno."

Nathan heard Peyton chuckle beside him. "Right, no comedy acts in my future," he said. "Got it."

"Back to what I was saying," Brooke jumped in. "Nate, there are, let's see, ten cheerleaders and one jock at this table. What do you suppose that says about the jock?"

"That he's the luckiest guy in school," Nathan responded with a grin and this time Bevin did giggle with the rest of them.

"Well, that's true, but no," Brooke stated firmly, though her lips twitched in amusement. "It says he's intruding on a cheerleader's meeting and if he wishes to be included, he'll need to put on the gear. Otherwise, he should go join his little jock buddies over there," she said, pointing toward the table where the guys sat.

He scoffed at the comment, but stood up good-naturedly. "Can I drive you home after school?" he asked Peyton softly.

"Cheer practice," she replied. "Hey," she said, grabbing his wrist when he started walking away. "Rain check?"

He nodded, glad she hadn't completely shot him down. And his hopes went up just a little bit more that maybe she would be his again really soon.

Once Nathan left, Peyton turned back to the girls, and found Rachel smirking at her from across the table. She rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what the redhead was thinking and attempted to concentrate on the meeting at hand.

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"Dude, you got to get that tape," Tim said the moment Nathan reached the table.

"Good morning to you too," Nathan replied, sitting in the space his friends had shuffled around to make for him.

"Nate, I'm serious," Tim told him, his expression one of unusual forlornness.

"Don't worry about the tape," Nathan told him. "It's not gonna be a problem."

"Ok, what'd you do?" Tyler asked with suspicious humor.

"Nothing," Nathan returned. "Well, me and Mouth sorta made a deal," he amended and went on to tell the group of the arrangement.

It was no surprise when they stared at him as though he'd suddenly grown three heads.

"You're gonna back off Lucas?" Vegas asked in disbelief.

"I don't have a choice," Nathan said. "And another thing, it goes for all of us so I'm gonna need you guys to lay off him too."

"I have a better idea," Tim said. "We jump the geek in the parking lot and snatch the tape…why not?" he asked when he saw Nathan shaking his head.

"No one touches Mouth," Nathan ordered sternly.

"Dude, you realize he could nail your ass to the wall with this, right?" Tyler pointed out.

"Not if I hold up my end of the bargain."

"Ok, seriously, who are you and what have you done with our friend?" Vegas joked. "Because I know Nathan Scott would never stand for this, let alone be so passive about it."

Nathan scowled as his friends all agreed with the comment. Their reactions were expected, but it didn't make them any less irritating. "Well, maybe I want to do things the level headed way for once," he said.

"Right," another team member scoffed. "Or maybe you got a soft spot for this loser."

"So what if I do?" Nathan challenged. "Look, the guy's been helping me out. He's cool."

"Cool? Nate, he's blackmailing you," Vegas pointed out. "And what's to stop him from reneging on this 'deal' any time he wants?"

"His word," Nathan mumbled in reply, knowing how crazy it must sound. It seemed insane to him too, but, for some reason, he believed Mouth would keep his promise.

"Come on, man," Tyler said. "You're not that naïve. You've known him what? Three weeks? And he hangs out with Pucas, remember?"

"Look, it's been a month since the beating," Nathan argued. "Don't you think if he was going to use the tape against me, he would have by now?"

"Why, when he can use it as leverage?"

"Ok, guys, guys, let's drop this," Damien spoke up for the first time. "I think if Nate trusts this guy, then as his friend, we need to respect that and just back off like he asked."

Nathan gave Damien an appreciative nod, glad at least someone understood.

"And of course we will, if that's what he really wants," Tyler said defensively. "Nathan, you know we're gonna back you up no matter what. We just want to be sure that you know what you're doing."

"I'm sure."

"Ok, then, no one touches Mouth," Tim said with finality, slapping Nathan in the back. "Or the bastard spawn."

Nathan chuckled. "That'll be the tough part," he admitted.

"Think you can handle it?" Vegas joked.

"We'll see," Nathan replied with a shrug.

"Well, if you change your mind, say the word," Tim told him. "Think about it, man."

Nathan smiled, wondering now why he'd been so irritated with his friends when all they'd been doing was looking out for him. He threw Tim an amused look. "You'll be the first to know," he promised. "I know you must be dying to wear your Zorro mask again. It must be getting dusty."

"Hey," Tim protested. "It was Darth Vader," he said, making Nathan and the others laugh.

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All morning Nathan pondered his friends' words. He had to admit their views made a hell of a lot more sense than this blind faith he was putting in his tutor. Maybe he should take their advice and get that tape. Just in case he was wrong. This was no small matter, after all.

The altercation during lunch period had him questioning his decision all the more. He and Jake were about to go to the gym for a little one on one game, but had stopped at Nathan's locker to put his books away.

He'd just opened it when it was suddenly slammed shut on him. Nathan turned his head to find Lucas standing there with a murderous expression on his face, fury in his eyes.

"It's one thing to mess with me," Lucas spat before Nathan could even ask what his problem was. "But it's a whole other story when you start in on my friends."

"Don't know what you're talking about," Nathan replied with a casual shrug, reopening his locker door.

Once again it was slammed shut. "Bullshit! Jimmy told me what happened."

Nathan turned to face him with a smirk on his face. "Jimmy? Oh, is that fat ass buddy of yours?"

Luke's eyes narrowed, rage burning within him, as he pointed a finger in Nathan's face. "Leave my friends alone."

His own temper rising, Nathan pushed his hand away. It took all he had not to pound him right then and there. "Or what?"

"Or I'm done taking the high road. You want a fight, man, I'll give you one."

"Oh, I'm scared," Nathan scoffed. "Can you see me shaking?"

"You ought to be."

"What are you gonna do? Beat me with your cast?"

Ignoring the taunt, Lucas replied, "Well, if you can play dirty, so can I. Consider yourself warned," and then he walked away.

Nathan watched his departure, feeling like his end of the bargain was going to be near impossible to comply with. And because his anger was all powering, it was easy to ignore the small part of him that admired a guy who could withstand, with quiet dignity, whatever was thrown at him, but yet come up fighting to protect a friend.

"What was that about?" Jake asked, cutting in to his thoughts.

"Nothing," Nathan answered, opening his locker for the third time and setting his books in.

"Didn't look like nothing. That's one pissed off guy."

"Yeah. Look, don't worry about it," Nathan said, knowing Jake wouldn't approve. Their whole gang had long ago learned that Jake wasn't into the games most of them liked to play and thus had quit trying to include him in their less than moral escapades. But he could always be counted on to bail them out of trouble if need be.

"Right, I probably don't want to know anyway," Jake acknowledged.

"Probably not."

"And this tape I've been hearing about? Something else I'd probably rather not know?"

Nathan just gave him a look that said it all.

"All right, then, let's play ball," Jake said, heading toward the gym.

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Wednesday, Lucas had the day off school so Karen could take him to get his cast removed. Mother and son still weren't as they were before he'd discovered her lies about Dan, but she had apologized and they'd called a truce. For the life of him, he couldn't stay mad at his mom. She'd given up too much for him, and all the while smiled and insisted she got everything she ever wanted.

While Luke was with the doctor, Karen tried again to discover who had paid his last medical bill. But she didn't learn any more than what she had the last time so it seemed she would be left to wonder about that.

"Feel good to have it off?" Karen asked as they drove away.

"It feels weird, actually," he admitted. "A good weird though. All I got to do now is build up enough strength to play basketball again."

"And in the meantime, you'll act as Whitey's assistant coach."

He nodded in response. "I start that next week."

"Nervous?"

"Kind of. I'm not sure how the team will react. I know it shouldn't matter, but…"

"It does," Karen finished knowingly. Of course it did. All any kid ever wants is to feel a sense of belonging.

"Hey, you think you can drop me off at Keith's garage? Peyton was asking about her car yesterday and I told her I'd find out how much longer it's gonna be."

"You two are really hitting it off, huh?"

"We're just friends, ma."

"Did I say it was more?" she teased lightly.

He laughed and shook his head. "So? Keith's garage?"

"As long as you're not there working," she stressed. "The last thing you need is to overstrain your arm."

"You really think uncle Keith's going to let me work? He's almost as over protective as you are."

"Hey, I'm a mother. It's my job to be protective."

"Ok, and what's his excuse?" Lucas joked.

"He just loves you," Karen replied.

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Lucas stood over Peyton's car and curiously picked up the folder that lay across the seat. He opened it up and found a letter she'd typed to Thud Magazine, asking them to look over the sketches she'd included. He looked at the date. It was months ago. Why hadn't she submitted them? He went through all the sketches and again wondered why. His mind went back to their conversation when she'd told him her art didn't matter to anyone but herself. But she was wrong. And he wanted her to know that.

"Keith," he hollered. "I'll be right back." And he headed off down the street, Peyton's folder held firmly in his hand.

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Thursday, Nathan went up to his room, as his father had irritably yelled at him to do. Tuesday and Wednesday's tutoring sessions had been a bit tense, but otherwise problem free. However, Mouth was a no show today and his dad was pissed about it. He'd told Nathan to do his schoolwork on his own, but his mind wandered, as it always did, to Peyton. Saturday would have been their one year anniversary had they'd stayed together. And just on time too since Friday was the last day of his lockdown. He thought back to their six months…the necklace, which she'd given back, the carnation, that had long ago died, the chocolates she'd wolfed down immediately. And then there had been her present to him.

Flashback

"Ok, so my gift's gonna seem really lame compared to all that you gave me," Peyton said, biting her bottom lip insecurely.

"No, it won't. Come on, you're anything but lame," Nathan assured her.

"Well, it's just that…I didn't have a lot of money and…"

"Babe, you know I don't care about that."

"But this necklace is obviously expensive, whereas mine is just some cheap, hand made…"

"Hey," he said, wrapping his strong arms around her tiny waist and pulling her close. "Whatever it is, I'm gonna love it because it came from you. Ok?"

She wasn't convinced. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."

"No, I'm not," he denied. "But if I was, would it be working?"

She smiled for a split second before telling him to be serious.

"Come on, Peyton," he urged, the slightest hint of annoyance creeping into his voice. He didn't mean for it to be there, but he really hated it when she got down on herself. "Why don't you just give me the present and let me judge for myself whether it's good or not?"

"You won't think I'm corny?"

"Cornier than what I already think you are?" he teased. "No. But if I do, I promise I won't tell you."

"No, you have to be honest," she said. "If you hate it, I want you to tell me."

"Fine," he agreed, even though they both knew he was lying.

She nodded and pulled away from him, coming back with an envelope and reluctantly handing it to him.

"A Hallmark card?" he joked.

"Just open it," she said anxiously.

He did as she said. Inside the envelope were six cards, each decorated with her hand-crafted designs. Inside contained more of her drawings and some fancily printed words.

"Kiss," he read the first one.

"There's one for every month we've been together," she explained. "Whenever you hand me a card, I have to do what it says."

"You have to?"

She nodded, feeling extremely foolish at this point.

"So, no matter if you're busy or whatever, if I give you this, you have to like, drop everything and do what I say?"

"What the card says, but yeah, you get the picture," she replied.

"Cool." He smiled at her and leaned in for a kiss, which made her smile in turn.

"Now you have to give me the card," she told him when he pulled back.

"Oh, they're not reusable?" he asked with a grin. "How about a freebie then, since it's our anniversary?"

"Fine," she said rolling her eyes. "So, this is kind of childish, right?"

"Uh, I wouldn't say that," he stated, as he read the next one, which was sexual in nature. "You know, I think I'm gonna cash this one in right now," he said, handing it to her.

"Huh," she mused. "So not the one I expected you to pick first."

His brow rose at the implication that there was another he'd prefer in there. Quickly going through them, he read them off. "Hug, cuddle, massage." Finally he reached the last one, which she'd purposely put at the bottom. His eyes darkened instantly as his body temperature suddenly increased. "Ok, you're right," he said hoarsely. "Definitely this one."

"I thought so," she said smugly, revelling in the fact that he was already turned on.

"And then that one," he muttered.

He proceeded to put his hand out for a handshake. "Hi, I'm Nathan Scott," he said when she complied.

"Uh…" Completely baffled, she didn't know how to reply.

He shrugged at her confused and lost expression. "I just thought you must not know me if you thought I could ever hate this."

"Oh," she laughed. "Well, after six months, it's nice to finally catch your name," she joked.

He chuckled and again brought her in close. "I want the same thing for our one year, ok."

"I don't know," she said. "I don't want to become predictable."

"Hey, predictable's underrated," he insisted. " I love you," he added, smiling down at her.

At that moment, she didn't think she could ever be happier. "I love you," she returned, rising on tiptoes to capture his lips with her own.

End of Flashback

Nathan sprang up as it suddenly occurred to him that he still had some of those cards somewhere. He searched every inch of his room, nearly destroying it in the process, finally finding the envelope among a pile of discarded junk papers stuffed in the back of his closet.

"Idiot," he mumbled to himself, not only because the cards were all bent and deformed, but also because he still had four of the six. He'd used the two sex related ones that very day, and the rest he'd tossed aside without a care. Was there any wonder she always accused him of being all about sex?

To top it off, he'd completely overlooked, even on that day, how much time she must have put in to make these for him. There wasn't a single blank space on the paper – every inch was covered with her personal mark. And only now did he take the time to notice, let alone admire and appreciate the artistry.

He took one of the cards and tried to bend it back in place, frowning when it didn't work. So he cleared his dresser of his various basketball trophies and laid the cards down, putting the trophies atop of them, in the hopes of eventually flattening them out again. And then he went about haphazardly cleaning the disaster he'd just made of his room, mostly by kicking everything under the bed.

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"Where the hell is he?" Dan thundered late Friday afternoon.

"I don't know, Dad," Nathan replied. "Maybe he's sick."

"Has he been at school the past few days?"

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? You go to the same school."

"So do a lot of kids. It's not like we hang out."

Nathan sighed as his father continued to rage about Mouth's absence.

"He shows up late on Monday, without a proper explanation, and then he takes Thursday and Friday off? Not exactly a good work ethic. He should at least be calling."

"Maybe he doesn't know our number," Nathan offered with a shrug.

"It's in the book."

"Well...I don't know what else to tell you."

"You didn't do anything to him, did you?" Dan asked.

"Why would I?"

"I don't know. Why do you pull half the stunts you do?"

Nathan rolled his eyes in response.

"Well?" Dan pushed. "You gonna answer?"

"I didn't do anything," Nathan replied.

Dan nodded. "Ok, well, you may as well get to work on your own again. I'll find out what's going on on Monday."

"Well, wasn't today supposed to be his last day?"

"That's what we'd agreed on, because I figured a month was plenty of time to bring your average up. But since not, I was going to talk to him about staying on."

Ignoring the thrown in jab, Nathan stuffed his hands in his pockets and took a deep breath. "So, this is probably not a good time to mention this, but you remember it's also the last day of my punishment, right?" he asked, hoping his dad didn't decide to add more time since he still wasn't back on the team yet.

Despite his current temperament, Dan chuckled. "Of course, you don't know anything else I asked you, but you know that. Yes, Nathan, I remember. That doesn't mean everything stops though. You still have to keep in shape and do the tutoring."

"I know," Nathan acknowledged. Of course he had to keep training. He'd always been in training, long before his dad had imposed that brutal schedule. But after today, he would no longer be on house arrest – the part that had driven him the most crazy.