Part 2: Chapter 6

Nathan frantically searched the hotel for Jamie. He couldn't believe Jamie ran off like that. He ran over to the front desk and rang the bell like crazy until a worker finally came over to him.

"May I help you?" the worker asked.

"Yes!" Nathan panicked. "My son! He ran off and I can't find him! He's a teenager with short blonde hair like my brother's! Wait! You don't even know my brother! His name's Lucas! My brother's name is Lucas! Wait! Why am I telling you about my brother?! My son's name is Jamie and I'm really scared that he ran away and..."

The hotel worker pointed over to a couch. "Is that your son?"

Nathan turned around to see Jamie sitting on a lobby couch.

"Thank you," Nathan said. "I could just hug you! But I won't because I don't even know you and that's weird. Thank you!"

Nathan ran over to the couch. Jamie got up and they hugged each other tightly.

"Don't scare me like that," Nathan said.

"I'm sorry I threw a fit," Jamie said.

"Are you ready to talk about what's been bothering you?" Nathan asked.

"Not really," Jamie said.

"I know it's hard but I need you to talk to me," Nathan said.

Nathan and Jamie sat on the couch next to his son and Jamie burst into tears.

"What's been going on?" Nathan asked.

"Oh Dad," Jamie sobbed, "I want to quit basketball."

"You do?" Nathan asked.

"Ever since Coach Spencer took over I just don't enjoy it anymore," Jamie sobbed. "I know coaches push their team members but he goes way too far. He's been attacking me, verbally and physically for the past month. Tonight he told me he was going to destroy me and that he didn't like you or me because he didn't get into the NBA and you did."

"He's been physically harming you?" Nathan asked.

"Yes," Jamie.

"That makes me so mad!" Nathan shouted. "He's the reason you've been having a meltdown! Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was afraid he'd get worse," Jamie sobbed. "You don't hate me for wanting to quit do you?"

"No," Nathan said. "You're my son and I love you. Whatever you decide I will support. And besides, you're a junior and you've already beaten my score record. I'd say you've had a good run and you'll find something else you're good at."

Nathan embraced his son tightly.

"It's okay," Nathan said softly. "You don't ever have to answer to that man again."

Nathan held his son in his arms until he stopped crying. Nathan was feeling a range of emotions. He felt happy that his son was finally opening up to him about his feelings again. However, he felt guilt that he didn't figure out about the abusive coach sooner and sad because he didn't want his son to be going through something so hard. The biggest emotion he felt anger towards the abusive coach because he knew what it was like to be physically and verbally abused.

Before they went to bed that night, Nathan told Jamie the plans for the next morning.

"When we get back to Tree Hill," Nathan said, "I'm going to take you by the school gym and help you clean out your locker. If that horrible coach is there, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."

"Thank you Daddy," Jamie said. "But please don't do anything that will get me expelled."

"I'll try not to," Nathan said.

Jamie got up and climbed into the rollaway bed while Nathan stayed on the hotel bed.

"Good night son," Nathan said.

"Good night Daddy," Jamie said.

Nathan turned out the light.

"Daddy," Jamie said.

"Yes son?" Nathan asked.

"I snorted a little bit of cocaine at a party!" Jamie shouted before hiding under the covers.

"You did what?!" Nathan shouted.

Nathan tuned on the light and sat on the rollaway bed.

"Talk to me," Nathan said.

Jamie got out from under the covers.

"Remember when I snuck off to that party at the end of August?" Jamie asked.

"Yes," Nathan said.

"Well, I was mad because Coach Spencer had been really tough on me," Jamie said. "Someone from the debate team brought cocaine and asked if I wanted to try it. So I did. But I only did it that one time and I promise not to do it again."

"Does your mother know?" Nathan asked.

"I told her last night during my breakdown in the café," Jamie replied.

"I'm really disappointed in you Jamie," Nathan said. "Cocaine is a really dangerous drug. But I'm glad you haven't done it since then. I love you."

"I love you too Daddy," Jamie said.

Nathan got up and lied down on the big hotel bed and got under the covers.

"Hey son," Nathan said, "that rollaway bed doesn't look very comfortable. There's room on this bed."

Nathan moved to one side of the bed and Jamie lied down on the other side and got under the covers.

"Good night son," Nathan said before turning off the light.

"Good night Daddy," Jamie said.