Chapter Seventeen

Lucas was ready to throw in the towel. When he took over the job as coach he didn't believe that the players would be as bad as everyone made them out to be. He thought they just needed structure, better plays, and a different coaching approach. Oh how wrong he had been. Weeks. He'd been trying everything he could think of for weeks but to him, they were getting worse not better. He really hoped Nathan had ideas because he was tapped, he didn't have anything left.

"Run it again! Run it until you get it right!" Lucas yelled at his team. He was beyond frustrated, he was ready to give up. He didn't want to let the team sink, he wanted them to feel the pride and accomplishment of winning a State Championship. It was definitely something he would never forget.

Lucas could still hear the roar of the crowd as he took that final shot. As soon as the ball made it though the basket he felt like he was on top of the world. With the help of his brother and their team they had won the schools first State Championship, they did it for themselves, but also for their coach Whitey. He had come so close when their Uncle Dan played for the Ravens years before, but after refusing to play, the team lost.

"Wow, they're really bad," Nathan said not long after he walked in and the basketball rolled towards his feet. His statement broke Luke out of his trip down memory lane.

"You have no idea," Lucas groaned then blew his whistle. "Bring it in!"

"So, what do you think?" Lucas asked a while later, after the teens left, half afraid of what his brother would say.

"Truth? They're bad, but I don't think they're a lost cause. I'd recommend re-holding tryouts," Nathan replied.

"Re-hold tryouts? Why?" Luke asked confused, ready to reject the idea.

"Hear me out. If you make them try out for the team again with the chance they won't make it, it may give them motivation to try harder. They may practice more on their own and surprise you. It could also bring in some new kids. What have you got to lose? And if you want help during practices I can try to help," Nathan offered.

Lucas looked thoughtful for a few moments before smiling. "Sounds like a solid plan little brother, thank you."

"Glad I can help."

With a frown, Lucas debated on bringing it up but thought why not. "Nate, how are you with Haley being back?"

"That's the million dollar question. I have a date tonight," he said and at Lucas' confused look continued, "with Hales."

"When did that happen? Last I knew you were going to stay away from her."

Nathan spoke to the ground unable to see the pity he knew would be in his brother's eyes with what he had to say. "I can't, I can't stay away from her. There's this pull, the second I seen her I had to talk to her. She gave me an out, she offered to walk away so I wouldn't have to talk to her, but I couldn't take it. I miss her, I have since she left, but there's so much to work through, I don't know if its even possible."

Luke put his hand on Nathan's shoulder, "All you can do is try Nate, but anything is possible, except my team winning," he laughed trying to lighten the mood. Nathan was many things but open about his feeling wasn't one of them. It threw him off kilter to hear what his brother said.

"Thanks Luke, I'm gonna head home. I have a few things to do before tonight," with that Nathan headed for home wondering just how hard tonight would be.

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After getting Brooke's help Haley headed home. With butterflies in her stomach, she took a long bubble bath to try and relax, which didn't help but it did use up some time. As an added benefit, her skin was also silky smooth, she thought with a small smile. She took extra care curling her long hair and applying her make-up. She painted her nails a dark wine color to match the dress Brooke had picked out for her to wear.

The dress was gorgeous, it was a wine colored backless skater dress with a sweetheart neckline. It wasn't the kind of thing she would have worn when she lived in Tree Hill before, not without a lot of pressure anyway, but after some of the things she'd had to wear on tour there was no convincing needed. She was in love with it, and she was sure Nathan would be too. She paired it with a pair of black strappy heels, small silver hoops in her ears, and a choker necklace.

She was taking one last look in the mirror when she heard the door bell. She threw a quick glace at the clock and smiled, he was exactly on time. Carefully, she walked down the stairs and opened the door a smile she couldn't help on her face. He took her breath away, he was in black slacks and a dark blue button down that brought out his eyes, which were apprising her from top to bottom not so subtly.

"Uh..Um…these are for you," Nathan said pulling flowers out from behind his back.

Haley took them from him gingerly. She inhaled their scent as her heart fluttered. "Thank you, you remembered Lilies are my favorite, I'm going to go put them in some water and then we can go."

"You look beautiful Hales," Nathan told her when she walked back into the foyer.

Haley froze, he called her Hales, it was silly but that small simple thing gave an abundance of hope. Hope she knew she had no right to have but there it was. Maybe there was a chance for them after all. "You look very striking yourself Mr. Scott. Do you have any plans on where we're going?"

"The whole nights planned, though it's easy enough to change if needed. Are you ready to go?" he asked a small smile making his eyes crinkle just a little at the corners. Haley nodded and he led her to his SUV and opened the door for her. Let the night begin, he thought as he walked around the front to get into the drivers side.