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

A/N: Hey all. Hope everyone had a Happy New Year! Thanks to everyone who's still reading this and of course, especially to those of you who take time to leave me some feedback. It is very much appreciated. Hope you all like this chapter. Love ya.

"This dance blows," Rachel complained as she sat next to Peyton while Lucas went to get them each a soda. Chaperones were right on the ball making sure the punch bowls weren't spiked and no alcohol was brought in so, to Rachel, the evening so far had been rather dull. "Although," she went on, "both Scott boys are looking hot. Not that that's anything new. You know, I'm kind of jealous of you right now."

Peyton cocked an eyebrow at her friend. "Why?"

"Neither of them can take their eyes off you." She jutted her chin towards the dance floor where Nathan and Shelly were slow dancing and snickered. "Poor little virgin girl's having trouble keeping her boyfriend's attention."

Peyton glanced over at the two – something she'd been subtly doing all night anyway – and scoffed at Rachel's comment. "Not from where I sit," she muttered as she saw Nathan laugh at whatever Shelly had just told him. "She doesn't seem to be having any trouble at all."

Rachel rolled her eyes, wondering how her friend could be so blind to what any idiot could clearly see – that Nathan's gaze hadn't left her for more than ten seconds at a time since she'd walked through the door. And unlike Peyton, he wasn't even being all that subtle about it. Then again, maybe if Peyton wasn't so busy trying to avoid looking at him, she might have noticed.

Lucas returned with the drinks and Peyton stood and took him by the hand. "Let's dance," she said, pulling him toward the dance floor.

When Rachel noticed how close Peyton danced with Lucas, she chuckled to herself. "Looks like this thing's about to get interesting." When Vegas, her date, approached her, she followed Peyton's example and led him onto the dance floor.

–––––

Shelly wrapped her arms tighter around Nathan's neck and drew closer to him, annoyed that Peyton kept glancing over toward them. Did the girl really think she was being subtle? She definitely wasn't. She clearly didn't like the idea of Nathan being with someone else. She wouldn't but Shelly really had a mind to tell that girl that it was too bad, that if she wanted Nathan she should have held onto him instead of dating his brother. It was no wonder Nathan hated him and refused to acknowledge him. What kind of brother did that? She rested her cheek against Nathan's chest, hoping Peyton would get the picture that he was hers now.

Nathan's fists clenched tightly behind Shelly's back as he took in Peyton and Lucas's close proximity. Rage burned within him – rage that two anger management sessions hadn't yet taught him how to deal with. He should just look away, but he couldn't do it. Yet, he knew he had to because if he didn't, if he kept watching any longer, Lucas would wind up sprawled on the gymnasium floor and he would end up back behind bars.

"You want to go get some air?" he asked Shelly before the song even ended.

She nodded agreeably so he led her toward the exit.

They had to pass several of the adults on their way, including Peyton's parents, Karen, Keith and Shari, Tim's step mother. They were all standing by the exit conversing among themselves as they kept a watchful eye on the teenagers.

Nathan sighed when Shari grabbed his arm lightly. Just what he needed, to be surrounded by a bunch of adults who couldn't stand him.

"Oh, Nate," she spoke with an exaggerated sugary tone. "I heard about your mother. How awful."

"Yeah," he replied blandly as he tried to step away.

"How is she doing?" Shari asked, her voice oozing concern.

Nathan rolled his eyes, knowing that concern was just an act. "Do you really care or do you just need something to bring back to the gossip mill?" he asked, not caring that he was probably leaving an even worse impression on the others. But Tim's stepmom was such a phony, it wasn't funny and he wasn't in any mood for her fake empathy.

Shari gasped in offence, missing the exchange of amused glances the other adults shared. No matter their feelings toward Nathan, it was entertaining to have someone call Shari out on her bull. And Karen was glad that it was someone other than her to do it.

Nathan just walked off after his comment, Shelly in tow.

"Someone needs to speak to that boy's father," Shari declared indignantly. "His manners are sorely lacking."

"Well, maybe you shouldn't have brought his mother up," Keith said, feeling the need to defend his nephew against this vile woman. "I'm sure it's a touchy subject for him."

"Goodness, I only asked how she was doing," Shari defended herself. "And how touchy can it be if he's already out and about? You know, I heard he hasn't even been to see her."

"And yet, you still ask him how she is," Keith said snidely, shaking his head and walking away.

–––––

"You always talk to your friends' parents like that?" Shelly asked in surprise.

Nathan shrugged his shoulders and frowned. "She doesn't give a damn about my mom. All she wants is the latest scoop. Fucking wannabe bitch," he mumbled.

He sat on a nearby bench and ran his fingers through his hair, wishing the chaperones hadn't been quite so efficient tonight. He could really use a drink right now.

Shelly sat beside him, not really knowing what to say or do. She'd never seen him like this. And though he was obviously upset over the woman's words, Shelly suspected that his sour mood had more to do with Peyton and Lucas. She didn't want it to be so but she had a feeling that he wasn't over Peyton by a long shot. How painful it must be for him to see her with his brother.

After several minutes of uncomfortable silence, they went back inside. Just in time for Nathan to see Larry put a friendly arm around Lucas's shoulder, obviously teasing him good naturedly about something. It took his mind back to the words Peyton had told Lucas that day they'd all gone to the café. 'I thought you were better than them.' Nathan swallowed painfully. It seemed Lucas had not only impressed Peyton, but had also gotten into the good graces of her father as well – something he had never managed to do.

–––––

Ellie observed unnoticed as Nathan watched the interaction between Larry and Lucas. She remembered Haley telling her of the beating Nathan had given Lucas not too long ago – for simply talking to Peyton – and she had to wonder what was going through his mind at this very moment. Judging by the way his fists clenched at his sides, it certainly appeared as though he was ready to tear Lucas's head off. But his eyes told another story too. He was angry, to be sure, but there was an underlying sadness there too – a pain that could easily go undetected by most people, and probably would for her too if it weren't for years of trying to capture that very emotion on paper.

Ellie had figured out early on why Peyton had taken such pains with her appearance tonight. Earlier Ellie had teased her about going all out to look good for Lucas, but the second Peyton had walked in that gym and met eyes with Nathan, Ellie knew better. It wasn't Lucas Peyton had dressed for, it was Nathan.

She thought of the night she'd asked Peyton about the good points of her relationship with Nathan. Peyton's eyes had lit up as she spoke of those occasions and she'd laughed more times than Ellie had seen since she'd met her. There was no doubt the girl loved that boy. It was reflected in all of her drawings and in the way she jumped to help him, defend him, and stand up for him, against her own father and even his.

As for Nathan, before Ellie had met him, she'd assumed that he was a major player and that his ego was what probably kept him pursuing Peyton. She'd dumped him and obviously that wouldn't sit well with a guy who was used to girls falling at his feet, so he'd set out to prove he could still have her anytime he wanted. But she had to question that motivation now. After all, he had come to Peyton in a most vulnerable state and even tonight, the way he looked at her…well, it was the same way Peyton looked at him. And Ellie had to wonder; did Nathan genuinely love Peyton too?

She noticed Nathan lower his head as the blonde girl with him said something. He nodded absently before she headed toward the ladies' room. And then Jake, whom Ellie had met a few times, went to stand by Nathan. He glanced over to the object of Nathan's attention and then turned back and gave his friend what seemed to be a sympathetic look and a light punch in the arm. Nathan's focus finally shifted when Jake urged him over to the punch bowl.

Meanwhile

Shelly entered the ladies' room and found herself in the presence of Peyton, Bevin and Rachel, who were all standing at the mirror, fixing their hair and makeup. She shifted uneasily and made her way to the opposite end of the mirror to check her own appearance.

"I love your dress," Bevin told her enthusiastically.

"Thanks," Shelly replied faintly.

"Yeah," Rachel piped up. "Clean teen wardrobe sure has changed. Maybe I do want in."

"Funny how standards change when you dress to impress the star basketball player," Peyton sneered.

"You should know," Shelly replied, her defenses instantly going into high gear.

"You don't really think you're gonna be able to hold onto him, do you?" Peyton asked cattily.

"Hopefully better than you did," Shelly bit back.

Rachel snickered. "Oh, please," she said. "The only reason he's with you is because Peyton won't take his sorry ass back, but guaranteed, if she'd so much as snap her fingers, he'd come crawling back to her."

"Oh, right," Shelly scoffed. "Because she doesn't want him. Explains why she's been eyeing him all night."

"Honey, you might want to look to your boyfriend for that. He hasn't taken his eyes off her since she walked in," Rachel said.

"Maybe if she hadn't walked in on his brother's arm…and speaking of," Shelly said, directing her statement to Peyton. "You might want to start paying more attention to your own date and less to mine."

Peyton laughed mockingly. "You hear that, Rach?" she said condescendingly. "She thinks he's hers now."

"Yeah, too funny," Rachel agreed. "I wonder how many other girls are thinking the exact same thing."

"Ok," Shelly said as she put away her brush and closed her purse. "This argument is pretty much pointless. You obviously hate me for no other reason than the simple fact that I'm with Nathan now." She turned to walk toward the door.

"Word of advice," Peyton said before she made it all the way out. "Abstinence and Nathan don't go hand in hand."

Shelly just shook her head and returned to the gym, but some of the girls' words echoed in her mind as they really hit home. It was true that Nathan had been blatantly staring at Peyton all night, but the way the girl spoke…like she had some kind of claim on him just because they used to date. But what hit her the most was Peyton's last comment. It got Shelly thinking, even more than she'd already been, that Nathan Scott might be the guy she'd change her mind for. If she wanted to keep him, she may have to put her own rules aside. And she did want to keep him, not to mention she was so attracted to him that her reservations were faltering anyway.

The first thing she did when she came upon Nathan again was plant a lingering kiss on his lips.

"What was that for?" he asked because in the short time he'd known her, she hadn't yet been so forward.

She shrugged and gave him a smile. "Just because. That for me?" she asked, regarding the drink in his hand.

He smiled a little guiltily because he hadn't thought to get her one. "It can be," he answered before handing it to her.

She took a sip and handed it back to him. "We can share."

–––––

About an hour later

"Get a room already," Peyton mumbled under her breath as she looked over to find Nathan and Shelly once again lip-locked.

"What was that?" Lucas asked.

"Nothing," Peyton said, shaking her head.

"You ok?" he asked with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, biting back a nasty comment about Nathan and Shelly sharing yet another drink. Seriously, couldn't they each get their own? How pathetic can you get?

"You want something to drink?"

She nodded so he went and got them each a punch while she sat at a table, watching as Nathan led Shelly out the exit.

"Thanks," she said when he returned.

"You're welcome," Lucas said, sitting down next to her.

A few minutes later an announcement was made over the microphone that some of the parents were taking pictures by the side wall and wanted the kids to gather around.

––

"Oh, now where's Nathan?" a parent of one the basketball players asked as the team and cheerleaders posed for a picture. "We can't take a picture without the captain."

"He's outside," Bevin said. "He said he'd be here in a sec."

"Oh there he is," the mother said when she spotted him heading their way a few minutes later.

He apologized and needlessly explained where he was.

"That's ok, sweetie," the woman said. "Why don't you go stand at the end next to Peyton."

Without a word, he did as he was told.

"It's about time," Peyton mumbled in a low voice. "We've only been standing here forever."

"Sorry," he returned snidely. "I didn't hear you snap."

Peyton rolled her eyes. "Someone's got a big mouth."

"Yeah, Bevin."

"All right, everybody smile!" they heard before the picture was taken.

"Ok, we done?" Nathan asked impatiently several pictures later and was told they were.

"In a hurry to go swap more spit?" Peyton asked tartly.

He didn't reply, just turned away from her. She knew he was upset over the snapping comment and she grabbed his arm to tell him that she hadn't been the one to make it. "Listen, I didn't…"

"You know what, Peyton?" he barked. "It's one thing to be a bitch to me. I'm used to it. But leave Shelly alone," he ordered before storming off. "You too," he added when he passed by Rachel.

Neither Peyton nor Nathan were aware that Ellie watched them, noting the explosive chemistry between them. Talk about sparks, Ellie mused. Even in that short exchange of words, the smallest of touches, the fireworks created were nearly tangible. It was unfortunate that stupid mistakes had torn them apart because if Ellie knew one thing, it was that that kind of passion was almost impossible to find.

Peyton blinked in surprise and swallowed the pain that his unexpected words brought on. He was taking Shelly's side?

"What was that about?" Brooke approached Peyton to ask.

Peyton hesitated a moment but finally answered. "Rachel and I had a run in with his girlfriend earlier," she said simply.

"Uh oh," Brooke said knowingly. "Were you a total bitch?"

"No! I was just trying to be honest with her," Peyton replied until she met Brooke's amused gaze. "Ok, I may have been a little unpleasant." She met Brooke's eyes again and smiled guiltily. "I was a total bitch," she admitted.

"That's what I figured," Brooke said, putting her arm around the blonde's shoulder. "But don't worry, P. Sawyer. We still love you."

Peyton smiled and nodded her head, but obviously not everyone had just brushed off her behavior like Brooke had. Nathan had certainly not been amused by it. Did that mean he really cared about this girl?

The idea would haunt her for the majority of the evening, especially when every time she looked over, Nathan and Shelly's lips were attached. Well, ok, not every time. She did catch him glancing her way several times, however, she wasn't sure what that meant. Did he just want to flaunt his new girl in front of her face? Well, two could play that game.

So she stood on tiptoe and did what she'd never done since she'd started dating Nathan.

She kissed another boy. She kissed Lucas.

And that's when Nathan, for probably the millionth time that evening, looked over.

A/N: There was more to this chapter but it was getting too long so I had to break it into two. Hope you guys don't hate me too much for that ending. LOL.