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

A/N: Hey all, here I am with another chapter. Thanks again to all the readers and especially reviewers. Love ya. This is a pretty long chapter and I wrote it when I should have been writing my communications essay so I hope you all like it. A small bit of the Nathan/Deb comes from the show. I'm sure most of you will recognize it.

"Hey, you all right?" Lucas asked softly.

Peyton snapped out of her daze, realizing she was still standing by the fountain. She put on a smile and nodded. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"I saw you arguing with Nathan," he revealed.

"Oh. We weren't really arguing," she told him. "Not in true Nathan/Peyton fashion, at least," she added lightly.

"He still trying to get you back?"

She shook her head. "Not really. I'm pretty sure he's given up on that."

"Well, good, that's what you wanted."

Peyton smiled but it clearly didn't reach her eyes.

"Unless, that's not what you wanted," he amended as he took in her silence and forlorn expression.

She forced a laugh and swatted his chest dramatically. "Don't be silly, of course it's what I wanted. I mean, I dumped him, right?"

"Right," Lucas said.

"So then, why shouldn't I be glad that he's finally accepted it?"

"I don't know," he replied. "You tell me."

"There's no reason," she said firmly. "No reason at all."

He really wished he could believe what she said. If he stood any chance with her at all, she'd have to be over his brother first. At times it seemed like she just might be, but other times, not so much.

"So, what about you?" Peyton asked before he could comment. "How goes physical therapy?"

"Slow," he admitted, taking her cue to change the subject. "It almost seems like a waste of time sometimes."

She shrugged her shoulders. "It's gotta be done, right? Hang in there, it'll come," she added when he simply nodded.

"Yeah, you're right, I know. I guess I'm just impatient.

"To play again?"

"Mostly, but you know what? I'm really enjoying being assistant coach. More than I ever thought I would."

"Better than playing?"

"Not better, but maybe just as much."

"Well, there you go, now you have a new career option," Peyton joked. "And it's all thanks to Nathan."

"Right," Lucas scoffed playfully. "I'll be sure to bow down in gratitude for the beating next time I see him," he said. "On second thought, he'd probably kick me in the head while I was down, so never mind."

She looked away, unsure of how to respond. One part of her hated him talking against Nathan like that, but the realistic part of her could totally understand his bitterness toward his half brother. Still, it took all she had not to stick up for her ex- boyfriend.

"So, when's your dad getting home?" Lucas asked her.

"Tomorrow," she replied, her mood instantly lifting. "And never to leave again," she added, her eyes shining.

He smiled at her. "Good, I'm glad. You deserve to be happy."

"Thanks. And speaking of my dad, you'll have to drop by because, for some inexplicable reason, he's taken a liking to you."

He chuckled. "I give you a compliment and I get a jab in return."

"Oh, that wasn't a jab," she joked. "Trust me, you'll know if I'm jabbing you." She closed her eyes a second. "Ok, that just sounded way wrong."

Lucas chuckled again. "Try to keep the dirty talk to a minimum, will ya. That's how rumors get started."

"Shut up!" she replied, slapping him again, only harder.

"Ow," he yelped. "So violent. You pick that up from Nathan?"

"No, actually, he picked it up from me, so you may want to step back." She rolled her eyes when he took an exaggerated step backward. "But seriously," she continued. "My dad loves you so you should stop by some time."

"Yeah, I will. Thanks."

"Sure. And I'll do my best to see that he doesn't blindside you into taking me out again," she teased, recalling when her father had nearly forced them to go to that party together.

"I didn't mind," he said with a shrug. "In fact, it was my pleasure."

"Well good, because I'm not sure there's any stopping him. I swear, he's so embarrassing sometimes."

"I know what you mean. First day of freshman year, I forgot my lunch on the table and my mom hand delivered it to me in front of the whole class."

Peyton giggled. "Oh no," she said with mock horror.

"Yeah, it was humiliating. All week people were asking me what my mommy packed for me today."

"So, what'd you do?"

"What any other kid would do in that situation. I went home and ordered my mom to never pull anything like that again. And then, well, she sent me to my room and threatened to bring my lunch for the next month straight if I didn't drop the attitude."

"Bet that shut you up fast."

"Yep, especially since I knew she'd do it."

"She sounds tough."

He nodded. "She had to be, you know. She's great though. She put her whole life on hold for me and I wouldn't trade her for anything."

"Yeah," Peyton said wistfully. "But anyway, I've gotta go. I'm cutting out at lunch tomorrow to meet my dad, but I'll see ya on the weekend some time, ok?"

"Yeah, absolutely. I'll see you then."

She gave him a smile and a nod before proceeding to the exit doors.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

"So, how come you never talk about yourself?" Shelly asked Nathan later that night as they sat across each other at the local pub.

"What do you mean?"

She smiled at him. "It's a pretty straightforward question."

He smiled back and her stomach fluttered. "I do talk about myself."

"Not really. I mean, this is our third date and I don't really know a thing about you, other than the obvious."

"That being my good looks and hot body," he said smoothly.

"And maybe a touch of arrogance too," she teased lightly. "But seriously, are you trying to be mysterious or…"

"Maybe I'm shy," he offered.

"I think that one can safely be ruled out."

"Or maybe it's too early to show you my assy, self-centered side just yet," he said. "Seeing as it is only the third date and all," he added. Seriously, what did she expect? His life story?

"Point taken," she replied, kicking herself for trying to rush what didn't happen freely. It was just that, from what she'd seen of him so far, she was already falling for him. He was sweet, charming, funny, and, of course, hot. He hadn't yet made any moves on her, he paid for everything when they went out, he kept her laughing all evening, and when the night would end, he wouldn't drive away until she was safely inside. So she could add protective to his list of traits so far. All of this she knew, or felt, without him saying a word about himself. But she really wanted to know more about him – his family, his friends, his goals, his basketball, and most of all, his relationship with Peyton. Well, not so much the relationship, but whether or not he was over her. She truly hoped he was. But he was right. It was too soon for them to be talking about those things so she'd just have to pace herself. "And yeah, best behavior sounds about right," she joked.

"So, you buy that one but not the shy part. Nice," he said, feigning hurt.

"Well, I've not been living in some dark cave away from civilization. I've heard the stories about you," she said honestly.

'And I've heard a few stories about you too,' he thought, recalling what Bobby Price had told him about church camp. If those had any validity, then little miss prude had definitely not been a clean teen last summer. "Yeah?" he asked. "And what have you heard? The truth, the rumors or the lies? Cuz they're pretty much all meshed together and taken as fact."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. It must be worse for you though," she said, as it occurred to her that it truly must be. "But hey, the price of popularity, right?" she added, triggering a memory in his mind.

Flashback

"Oh, the joys of superstardom," Peyton said lightly, poking his side in an attempt to humor him out of his sour mood over the latest rumor going around. "You should be used to it by now."

"I know, but I'm fucking sick of it! It's bullshit!"

"Hey, you don't have to convince me," she said reassuringly. "Or anyone, for that matter. People are gonna say what they want, babe. You know that."

"Yeah, I just wish everyone would mind their own business for once. Or at least get their story straight before they spread it."

"Good luck with that," she replied lightly. "Listen," she added when his anger showed no sign of dying down. "You're way up here to most people," she told him as she held her arm over her head. "It's only natural that some people are jealous of that and will want to tear you down. It's human nature."

"Yeah, well human nature sucks," he mumbled.

Suppressing a giggle over his childish tone, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him in for a hug. "Just don't let it get to you, ok. You're better than that."

End of Flashback

"Nathan? You still with me?"

He jolted, shaking his head at the memory. He couldn't even recall what that particular rumor had been about, only that Peyton, as always, had been there to see him through it. "Yeah, sorry," he said to Shelly. "What were you saying?"

"I was just asking what the truth is."

"The truth? About what?"

She gave him a strange look before going on to explain. "You mentioned truth, rumor and lies being all warped together, and so I figured, you know the truth better than anyone so who better to set the record straight?"

'Tell me what really happened, Nathan. I don't care what anyone else says.'

He shook his head again. This was getting ridiculous, the way she kept popping into his head. "Yeah, I, uh, I was just generalizing. I wasn't referring to anything specific."

"You ok?" Shelly asked him. "You seem a bit out of it."

"Just tired, I guess. My dad likes to wake me up early for morning runs."

"Oh ok. Should we call it a night then?"

"Yeah, probably. Sorry."

"Not a problem," she said, hiding her disappointment. "My parents want me in by 10:30 on school nights anyway."

He glanced at his watch. "Well then your ass is grounded, cuz it's quarter to twelve."

"Uh huh," she said, indicating she already knew that. "Maybe I thought the company was worth it," she added with a timid smile as she stood from the booth.

He smirked. One step closer.

He held her hand on the drive home, and this time, before he left, he gave her a real kiss – one that made her knees buckle and her insides turn to jelly. She was definitely in trouble.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

"Dude, are you still hungover?" Nathan asked Mouth Monday evening during tutoring. "My party was two days ago."

"No, it started two days ago, but technically only ended yesterday," Mouth corrected, rubbing his temples. "How do you do this every weekend?"

Nathan chuckled and went to the medicine cabinet to retrieve some Tylenol for his friend. "I don't," he said as he handed the pills over.

"Practically," Mouth argued, swallowing the medicine with a bottle of water.

"You know, you don't have to get wasted at every party."

"Well, what else is there to do while you guys are all off hooking up with some girl?"

"You could hook up with one of them too."

"Yeah, who would want me" Mouth asked. "I'm not exactly Nathan Scott."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I'm not the kind of guy girls go for."

"That's not true. The girls at these parties, they'll pretty much hook up with anyone."

"Meaning even me, the ugly guy."

"No, that's not what I meant."

"And the reason they'll hook up with anyone is because they're drunk. So even if one of them did want me, I wouldn't go for it because girls are more than just a piece of meat."

"Ok, what's up with you?" Nathan asked in wonder.

"Nothing. I just don't like the way you treat women. Especially Shelly. She's a nice girl and you're gonna screw her over for your own entertainment. It's not right."

"Ok, I'll tell you what. When I'm done with her, I'll pass her over to you so you can comfort her."

"That's exactly what I mean. You're gonna hurt her and you don't even care. It's just a big joke for you."

"Alright, look," Nathan began with a sigh. "We're friends, right?"

"Yeah."

"Ok, but seriously, you're kinda out of line here. What I do with girls, how I treat them, has nothing to do with you and really isn't any of your business. I'm just saying," he finished with a shrug.

"Yeah, ok, I just thought, as your friend, I could be straight with you."

"And that's fine," Nathan said. "Just as long as you don't shove your opinions on me. Like you said, you're not me. And I'm not you. We don't think the same way. Ok?"

"That's not what I'm doing. I was simply stating my opinion, that's all."

"Ok," Nathan said with a nod.

A short while later, Deb came in to offer the boys some juice.

"No thanks, we're good," Nathan told her.

"Sweetie, are you sure? All that studying must make you awfully thirsty."

"I said we're good," he repeated impatiently.

"Ok, well, if you change your mind…"

"I won't."

"Actually, I could use a glass of juice, Mrs. Scott," Mouth said.

She handed him a glass with a smile. "Here you go, Marvin. Made with 100% real fruit."

"Oh, did you squeeze it yourself?"

"Yeah," Nathan scoffed. "She's a regular June Cleaver."

"Oh, no, I…I bought it," she answered disheartened before going back to the kitchen.

Mouth just shook his head. This was a few times now that he'd witnessed Nathan disrespect his mother. He would never even think to do that to his.

"Don't say it, alright," Nathan demanded, knowing what Mouth was thinking. "She doesn't deserve me to be nice to her."

Whether she deserved it or not, Mouth couldn't help feeling bad for her. "I wasn't going to say anything," he told Nathan. "I wouldn't want to, you know, shove my opinions on you or anything."

Nathan glanced up to see if that had actually offended Mouth, but noticed him smiling, which made him smile in turn.

They did more talking than actual studying, which seemed to be the case lately; the subject eventually turning to bowling and how Mouth had missed his league play last night because he was too hungover.

"There's actually leagues for that?" Nathan asked curiously.

"No, I'm making it up."

"Really?"

"No, dude, I'm being sarcastic."

"Oh, well, you're not very good at it."

"Or maybe you're just not good at picking it up," Mouth challenged.

"I dated the queen of sarcasm for almost a year. Trust me, man, I'm an expert at picking it up."

Mouth just shrugged, accepting defeat.

"I went bowling once," Nathan said. "Me and my friends."

"Yeah, I know. I was there."

"Were you? I don't remember seeing you."

"That's probably because you were too busy glaring at Luke."

"Oh yeah," he recalled. "He was gawking at Peyton all fucking night. I was ready to kill the bast…" He stopped short, knowing Mouth would be offended by the word since Lucas was his friend. "Habit. Sorry."

Mouth wasn't offended though. It was no secret that Nathan despised Lucas, for whatever reasons, and the fact alone that he'd cut himself off mid-word, for Mouth's sake, was progress in itself. "So, how did you enjoy it? Bowling, that is."

"It was fun, actually. Yeah, I didn't think it would be, but turns out, I liked it."

"And how'd you do score-wise?"

"Good," Nathan responded confidently. "We bowled, four games I think, and by the last one, I got like, almost a hundred. What? What's so funny?" he asked when he noticed Mouth snickering.

"You," Mouth replied, unable to hide his mirth. "Dude, you'd better stick to basketball cuz you're surely not a bowler."

"Ok, what's a good score then?"

"Not that," Mouth answered, still chuckling. "A perfect game in five pin is 450. My average is 218."

"And how long have you been doing it?"

"Since I was a kid."

"So, I didn't do that bad then," Nathan said. "I mean, that's only a little more than double what I got and it was my first time. Plus you've been bowling for years and your average isn't even halfway to a perfect game. I think you're the one who sucks."

"If that makes you feel better about yourself," Mouth joked.

"Shut up. It actually does."

"So, out of curiosity, if that was your best game, what was your worst?"

"I'm not fucking telling you, man."

"Oh, come on. Tell me."

"Why? So you can laugh your ass off some more?"

"Yeah," Mouth admitted. "Seriously, you're like this big basketball hero, but you can't aim a little bowling ball?"

"You realize this isn't making me want to tell you, right?"

"Ok, ok, just tell me this. My peewee average, when I was four, was 43. Tell me you at least beat that."

He laughed harder when Nathan just glared at him. "Oh, man, this is hilarious."

"Yeah, laugh it up," Nathan said playfully, shoving Mouth off his chair.

Mouth curled up in a ball, holding his stomach as the uncontrollable spasms continued.

"So this is what happens when I don't stand guard," came Dan's angry voice. "This is what I pay you for? No wonder my son's grades are dropping again," he said harshly.

"Dad," Nathan protested. "We were just goofing around."

"I can see that. That's the problem. All you want to do is goof around. And meanwhile your basketball career suffers for it," Dan said disapprovingly. "Get back to work," he demanded in a sharp tone, taking a seat at the table to ensure his orders were followed, effectively ending all light heartedness.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

It was now Friday night and Larry had been back a full week. He and Peyton had gone to Karen's café to pick up dinner, leaving Ellie and Haley at the house, awaiting their return.

"Can I ask you a question?" Ellie asked.

"Yeah, sure, of course," Haley replied.

"I might be out of line, but I'm curious about this Nathan boy. Do you know anything about him?"

"Not really, other than he's a class-A jerk who Peyton defends to high waters."

"Funny, that's what Larry said, only he had a few more choice words."

"I can imagine. Apparently he never did like him."

"I gathered as much the first time he called him a no good punk," Ellie said. "He really hurt her, didn't he?"

Haley nodded her head. "He's hurt a lot of people."

"He's a real player then?"

"You know what? I don't even know. Word is he sleeps around a lot, but, to his credit, he does seem to be genuinely hung up on Peyton."

"Is he really or is his ego just bruised because she kicked him to the curb?"

"Good question, and I don't know him enough to answer it. But Peyton seems to think it's real, so who knows, maybe he really does have a heart buried somewhere in there. Way, way in there. Why else would he get so possessive while they were dating, right?"

"Possessive?"

"And Peyton hasn't told you," Haley suddenly realized.

"I can see in her eyes and her sketches how much she's hurting, but she doesn't talk about him. I'm not sure if it's just me or…"

"No, no, it's not. It's just hard for her to open up about Nathan. She told me once that she would always love him and she had to live with it. I guess this is her way of doing that."

"How was he possessive?"

"You know, I've probably said too much already."

"Haley, she's my daughter. I'd like to know."

Haley sighed, struggling with the decision of telling or not, finally deciding that Ellie was genuinely concerned for her daughter. "He just…he didn't like any guy showing any hint of interest in her. Now, this is directly from Peyton. She and I only started hanging out shortly before they broke up for good."

"For good? Meaning they were back and forth before that?"

"Yep. She just kept taking him back even though he made a habit of cheating on her."

"So basically, his jealousy was his own guilty conscience coming out."

"Maybe. I don't know. I think he really was jealous. And definitely took it to extremes."

"How so?"

"You know Lucas."

"That handsome blond kid who's obviously infatuated with my daughter?"

Haley chuckled. "Yeah, that'd be him. Anyway, his price for talking to Peyton was a couple cracked ribs and a broken arm, courtesy of Nathan Scott."

"I see that didn't stop him."

"No. See, the thing with Luke is, yeah, he can be a pushover sometimes, but he's not easily intimidated. He's not about to let a bully control his life. And nothing, and I mean nothing, would stop him from talking to Peyton. It scared me at first because I wasn't sure what Nathan would do next, but I understood it. It's not who Lucas is.

"How long has he had a crush on her?"

Haley laughed now. "Oh, only since forever ago."

"He seems like a good kid."

"Yeah, he is. And he would treat Peyton like gold, I know he would. If only she saw him that way."

"Well, if Larry had his way, she would," Ellie joked.

"Yeah, he's always been good with parents. Mine love him too."

The front door opened, Peyton and Larry emerging with bags of take-out.

"Hope you're hungry," Larry said. "Because there's enough food here to feed a small army."

"Good, I'm starving," Haley piped up, already rummaging through the bags.

––––––––––––––––––––

Meanwhile, Nathan sat on his bed, thinking of his upcoming trial, which was exactly ten days away. To ease his mind of that worry, he stared at the one thing that managed to give him any sort of comfort. Peyton's work. He hastily closed the magazine when his bedroom door burst open.

"Come on in," he said irritably before noticing it was Brooke. "Sorry, I thought you were my mom."

"Yes, cuz the resemblance is just that strong," she said caustically. "Are you reading Thud Magazine?" she asked in surprise. "I thought you said that magazine's stupid and anyone who reads it is a moron?

"It is and they are and I'm not reading it. I'm just looking at it. Page 14."

"Peyton's sketch."

"Yeah. Why is she drawing for them anyway? She's too good for them. They should at least put her on the cover."

"I don't know, Nate. I guess she enjoys it." His words nearly made her abandon her purpose for coming, but not quite. She'd waited over a week and he still hadn't told her that he was dating again. "Anyway, guess who I just talked to," she said. "I'll tell ya. Vegas."

"Wow, call the news station," he mumbled sarcastically.

"Oh no, that's not the news worthy part," she responded snidely. "See, he wanted this favor."

"I'll bet."

She glared at him before continuing. "He wanted me to run something by you."

"Ok."

"There's a school dance coming up."

"Yeah, and?"

"And he's thinking of asking Peyton to it. He wanted me to find out if you'd be cool with that."

Nathan's body instantly went rigid. "Well, you told him to go fuck himself, I hope."

"No, actually, I told him to go ahead and ask her."

"You're kidding, right?" he asked, staring at her expectantly. "Brooke, why would you do that?" he questioned further when she didn't answer him.

"Well, I figured since you've apparently moved on, there's no reason why she shouldn't. But I guess maybe you prefer her to be at home crying over you."

"What? In case you've forgotten, she dumped me."

"Yeah, and last I heard, you were pretty torn up about it."

"Last you heard? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't bullshit me, Nate. I know about Shelly."

"What about her?"

"Why didn't you tell me you were dating her?"

"It didn't come up. What's the big deal?"

"You tell me. Because you normally only don't tell me the stuff you don't want Peyton to find out or if you're doing something you're not so proud of."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm single," he said pointedly.

"You don't see anything wrong with using Shelly?"

"She's a big girl. And you're the last person who should be lecturing me on this. Didn't Chase start off as a bet between you and Rachel?"

"So not the point."

"What do you care anyway? You don't even like Shelly."

"But I love you and Peyton," she argued. "I thought you were going to keep fighting for her."

"She doesn't want me, Brooke. And I'm tired of trying."

"You're the one who messed up."

"I know that, but it's not like I can go back and change it. Anyway, I thought you were staying out of it from now on."

"Right, ok. So basically you're telling me to mind my own business."

"You're the one who told me to stop putting you in the middle."

"But I didn't say stop talking to me altogether."

"I haven't."

"Hello, you've been dating her for two weeks, and I had to find out through Theresa, who, by the way, is pissed at you for rubbing off on Tyler."

"Whatever. It's about time he took his balls back anyway. She can blame me if she wants. As for Shelly, like I said…"

"It's no big deal."

"Exactly. I mean, it's not like it was some big secret. I just haven't seen you that much."

"You see me every day."

"Yeah, but you're usually with Peyton or Chase."

Brooke smirked at him, putting her hands on her hips. "Are you missing your best friend time?" she asked. "You totally are, aren't you?"

He chuckled. "Yeah, a little bit," he admitted. "You know, it's weird. I have tons of friends, but sometimes it feels like I don't have anyone."

"Yeah, I've been there."

"At least you still have Peyton. And me too. I mean you have Peyton and me, not I have Peyton too cuz obviously I don't. My fault though, right? I fucked it all up."

"She still loves you, you know."

"Yeah, that's why she wants to be friends."

"It's a start."

He shook his head. "I can't just be her friend, Brooke. It would never work."

She nodded in understanding, but there really wasn't anything left to say about it. "So, Shelly, huh?"

He shrugged his broad shoulders. "Why not? She's good for a diversion and she's a challenge. Not like the rest of these sluts around here. And pretty soon, she's gonna be kicked out of her own club for breaking the rules."

"At least she wouldn't be recruiting any more members," Brooke mumbled. "It doesn't seem like much of a challenge though if you already know the outcome."

"Well, I don't know when," he joked. "I'm pretty irresistible though so it shouldn't be long."

"I'd wish you luck if my inner conscience weren't screaming at me that this is wrong."

"First of all, I don't need luck, and second of all, the Brooke Davis I know would normally have fun with this. Actually she'd be staking bets by now.

"Well," she piped up at the prospect of a wager. "While I do have complete confidence in your ability to fulfill your mission, I definitely think my clean teen will sleep with me before yours sleeps with you."

"Meaning he hasn't yet? Wow, Davis, you getting rusty?"

"No, horny is what I'm getting, minus the getting part."

He laughed. "I can take care of that if you want," he teased.

"Ok, tempting, but, down boy."

"What?" he asked innocently. "Just trying to help. I hate to see a friend suffering."

"Right, has nothing to do with you being a total horn dog."

"No, just trying to lend a hand."

"Huh, keep dating Shelly and you might just need that hand for yourself."

"I've got two of 'em."

"Oh, well, in that case, come to mama, sugar."

There was a knock on the bedroom door and Deb poked her head in. "Nathan, sweetie, dinner's in five minutes."

"Ok," he responded simply.

"Alrighty then," Brooke said after Deb left. "I guess that's my cue."

"You could stay for dinner if you want."

"Can't. Big date tonight."

"Oh really? So what game is it tonight? Monopoly?"

"Why? Is that what Shelly's got you doing?"

"Are you kidding? I'm almost at third base."

"Almost? Getting rusty, Scott?" she asked, repeating his words to her.

"Hardly. I'm just getting started."

"Ok, well, I'm warning you right now. If you fall for that fake virgin, we are so not best friends anymore."

He chuckled at her statement. "No worries there. I prefer real virgins. Oh, and Brooke? You didn't..."

"No, I didn't actually tell Vegas to ask Peyton to the dance," Brooke said, knowing what Nathan was about to ask. "I just said that to watch you squirm. Total payback for the Shelly secret," she added before flouncing out.

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Once Brooke left, Nathan took his seat at the dining room table. By himself. He waited a good ten minutes before going into the kitchen, frowning when he noticed his mother chopping vegetables.

"Called me down a little early, didn't you?" he said. "Dinner's not even started yet."

"No, actually, I think I was right on time. What would have happened up there had I not walked in?"

"What?"

"You and Brooke," she said. "That's a horrible thing to do to Peyton. Is that why you're not together anymore?"

"What the hell are you talking about? There's nothing going on with me and Brooke."

"It didn't sound like nothing to me. In fact, it sounded very much like something. Like you were about to…"

"What were you doing? Listening?"

"I was bringing laundry up and I overheard the two of you."

"Right, well, if you knew us at all, you'd know that that was nothing more than harmless and innocent flirting."

"There was nothing innocent or harmless about that."

"Says you. Me and Brooke flirt all the time and it's never gone beyond that."

"Maybe not yet."

He scowled in anger. "Not ever. We've been friends since fucking kindergarten."

"Don't speak to me like that please."

"Why? Cuz you're my mom?"

"Yes," she said, putting her cutting knife down in exasperation. "As a matter of fact, that's exactly why."

"Right," he sneered. "Just because you spread 'em for Dad, doesn't make you a mom."

He'd barely gotten the sentence out before her open hand connected with his cheek. It only served to fuel his already boiling temper. "You fucking bitch!" he shouted, slamming his fist on the counter. "What? It's not enough to try to be Mom? You want to be Dad too?"

"Nathan, stop it!" she cried.

"You want to know what happened with Peyton? Huh? Yeah, ok, I fucked around on her. Not with Brooke. But guess what? Peyton got fed up and she dumped me. Guess not everyone's as forgiving as Dad, huh?"

"That was a long time ago and is between your father and me."

"Right, cuz it didn't affect me at all," he said loathingly. "Dad was a nightmare that summer, Mom. You know that. And all those nights I called you to tell you how he was, you didn't come home because you were with some guy."

"Nathan, please understand, I was confused and I was selfish. As soon as I realized I might risk losing you forever, I called it all off and came back. That's why I came home. For you."

"No, you didn't come home for me, Mom. You came home because your fling ended."

She was shaking her head, denying the accusation.

"How could you do that? How could you cheat on Dad?" he demanded to know.

"I could ask you the same thing about Peyton," she pointed out.

"You were married."

"And you don't know how hard it's been for me to live with this guilt."

"Yeah, so guilty you just kept leaving over and over again."

"For work, Nate."

"That's what you say. And even if it's true, it doesn't matter. You still weren't here."

"I know I've failed you as a mother, but I'm trying to correct that. I'm here now."

"Sure, now, but for how long?"

"For good. I promise you, Nathan."

"Well, that's great, Mom. But guess what? I don't want you here so you may as well go back to your fucking charity cases since they've always been more important than me anyway."

"No, sweetie, not more important. Just more needy."

"I needed you."

Deb sighed in frustration. "Ok, if I go, you're angry that I'm gone. If I stay, you're angry that I'm here. So which is it, Nathan? Because I feel like I can't win either way."

"Oh, now you know how I feel. When I wanted you home, you wouldn't come, and now that I don't fucking need you anymore, you want to hang around. So why don't you just go ahead and leave. I'll even pack your bags for you – that's how fast I want to get rid of you. Oh, and how about you don't come back at all this time?"

"Nathan," she whispered brokenly.

But he left the room, paying her no heed.

She followed him, catching him just as he was heading out the front door. "Where are you going?"

"Out."

"Nathan, we're not done. We still need to talk. Come back here."

"Stop it. You're not a mom, alright so stop trying to pretend you are. Just stay the hell out of my life."

He slammed the door behind him, literally shaking with rage.

He was supposed to pick up Shelly in an hour, but instead he ended up at Charles Bennier's house where there was always a party and an abundance of alcohol, drugs, and girls. Exactly what he needed.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

"They're really getting along, aren't they?" Haley mentioned.

Peyton glanced over to the kitchen where her parents were and nodded happily. "You should have seen them yesterday. My dad was totally flirting with her."

"That wouldn't be so bad, huh?"

"It'd be great, actually. He deserves to have a love interest in his life. He's been alone a long time. And the fact that it's Ellie makes it all that much better."

"Ok, Cupid, slow down," Haley laughed. "It's just flirting." She said it as a joke but she was concerned about her friend possibly getting her hopes up for nothing.

"I know," Peyton acknowledged. "But it's something, right?"

"Yeah. Hey, listen," Haley began. "I just thought you should know, she was asking about Nathan earlier."

"What about him?"

"Nothing specific. She just wanted to know more about him."

"So, what'd you tell her?"

"I just answered her questions. Look, you might want to talk to her about it. I think she's worried about you."

"Why? I'm fine."

"I really don't think you are, Peyton. I know that's what you'd like us all to believe, but…"

"Look, I appreciate the concern, Haley, but I'm fine. Nathan and I are done and I'm ok with that."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," she said firmly. "I mean, he doesn't even want to be friends so why should I waste my time pining over him, right? I'm the one who dumped him and I am totally over him. I am."

"You trying to convince me or yourself?"

"Neither. I'm stating a fact."

"Well good," Haley said, deciding to test that fact. "It's about time you get over that asshole. He never did deserve you."

"How would you know? You don't know him."

Just as she'd suspected. Peyton had jumped to his defense. "Yes, clearly you're over him."

Peyton just looked away, not surprised that she hadn't been all that convincing.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

Nathan wasn't exactly sure why he went back home that night. Something about needing more alcohol if he recalled correctly. Of course his drug-induced mind couldn't be certain. But whatever the reason, when he opened his door, his heart started pounding heavily in his chest at the scene before him and he was left shaking even more than he'd been before he'd left.

Only this time it wasn't from anger.

–––––––––––––––

Meanwhile, Peyton, Haley and Ellie stood around the downstairs computer, bidding on Bon Jovi tickets on e-bay. Larry had long ago retired for the night, laughingly leaving the girls to their thing.

"Man, I can't believe it's almost 3 a.m.," Haley whined. "I swear, if we don't get these tickets, I'm gonna cry."

"Me too," both Peyton and Ellie replied together.

There were several curses coming out of Peyton and Ellie's mouths, and even occasionally Haley's, as they continued to get outbid.

And then came a frightening, steady banging on the front door. Peyton and Haley each grabbed hold of Ellie as though she could somehow protect them, as the three of them stared at the closed door.

"Peyton," Ellie said as calmly as possible. "Go get your father. Haley, go with her, bring the phone and call the police."

"What are you gonna do?" Peyton asked frantically.

"Just do what I say," Ellie commanded, wanting the girls upstairs and out of harm's way. "Now!" she muttered silently yet firmly as the teens both stood frozen.

"Peyton, open the door!" they heard as the incessant pounding continued. "Please, just open the door."

"It's Nathan!" Peyton exclaimed, taking the phone from Haley's hand so she couldn't make that call to the police. "Something's wrong," she said knowingly, sensing it in every fiber of her being as she rushed over to let him in.