FOUR.
HE'S KIND OF A BAD GUY

         "UNDER TWENTY-FIVE SECONDS TO GO, the Ravens trail by two."

            As normal, another basketball game night at Tree Hill High while Jaycee took stance next to her twin sister and best friend, Beatrice Sallow. Ending a cheer calling out to the boys, Jaycee fiddled with excitement watching them in a huddle. She knew that once Coach Whitey told them to get their head in the game, it would be turned around which was the exciting part.

             They did their handshake and chant before running back onto the court leaving Jake Jagielski to handle the ball in the beginning. The crowd sat at the edge of their seats, waiting for the game to continue.

              "So, a quick time out and the Ravens take to the court, their undefeated record at stake, eighteen seconds left on the clock. They need a basket to tie, a three-pointer for the win."

               Beatrice shifted her weight to one leg, nervously chewing on her lip before whispering to Jaycee, "He's getting his big shot tonight."

               Jaycee was rather confused on who she was talking about, furrowing her eyebrows down in confusion, she replied, "Who?"

               Beatrice rolled her eyes, "Jake. He's been talking about this game for a week and here we go."

                Shaking her pompoms, the corners of Jaycee's mouth turned upward, "Don't worry, lovergirl. Your man has this in the bag, you're acting like you guys are married."

                Slapping Jaycee's slim arm causing her to giggle, Beatrice defended, "Don't start that with me. You know you're concerned for Nathan."

                "No," Jaycee immediately denied, "No, I'm not.

                  Beatrice had her chin held high knowing she got into Jaycee's thoughts and feelings. They've been best friends since kindergarten, Beatrice knew Jaycee like the back of her hand. She also knew that Jaycee had a thing for the one and only, Nathan Scott since forever. Beatrice was just waiting for her to admit it.

                 "Jake Jagielski, though with an offensive rebound, under five seconds on the clock, Jagielski out to Lucas Scott, he is behind the three-point line. The Ravens are going to win or lose it right here."
                  
                 Jaycee stood in shock as Lucas successfully made his shot, killing the Raven's losing streak. Her mouth was to the floor softly once someone tugged on her arm, "Can you go home with Keith tonight?"

                 The girl glanced over her shoulder to see Brooke, "I probably could," she nodded, "Why?"

                  Her twin sister had a devil look on her face as her smirk grew wide, "I am so getting in Lucas' backseat."

                     ANXIETY SEEMED TO OVERWHELM Jaycee as she watched Keith wrap his arm around Karen Roe, Lucas's mom. They seemed to have plans, to her knowledge it looked like it. She didn't want to barge in, she already did that half of the time. Nothingless she always felt bad because of it.

                   Jaycee readjusted her bag sling that wrapped over her shoulder. She took the biggest breath her lungs could give her before shuffling her way over to Keith in her famous slippers she always wore after games.

                   Though just as she was about to reach the two, she was stopped abruptly. "Hey, Cee," A deep voice greeted, only meaning that it was Nathan.

                    "Hey 23," Jaycee teased, her smiled making her nose scrunch up, "What's up!"

                     Nathan couldn't help but break a smile. After a horrible game he watched the girl display happiness, it only seemed to wash over him. "Just wondering if you needed a ride. Seems like a common occuring with Brooke ditching you."

                   "How could you tell?" Jaycee itched the back of her head.

Nathan laughed, glimpsing towards the floor before making eye contact again, "Well the offer is here if you want it." Jaycee narrowed her eyes at the boy. She searched to see if he was lying within his eyes but it looked truthful, "I'm not lying when I asked, Cee."

Jaycee shrugged, "Had to make sure. Thought it was some trick, let's go!" Jaycee jumped up, basically dragging Nathan out to his car.

                     WHILE GRADING PAPERS OF A HIGHSCHOOLER under the help of tutoring from Jaycee, unexpectingly a chair was pulled from the table she was currently sitting at and there behold a bewilded face of Haley James.

                       Jaycee clicked her pen, setting it down on the paper, clasping her hands to interlock, she rested on them before taking sight of Haley, "Hello Haley?? You seem very stressed today—did you get an A again?"

                      "What? No?" Haley questioned, "How would that make me stressed?"

                       Jaycee reached forward, softly grabbing Haley's hands, "I was just kidding. We may need to practice you knowing when I'm teasing."

                       Haley's confusion seemed to wipe from her face quickly, only with her stressed look still noticeable, "I need your help, like majorly."

                        "Why does the smart, loving, Haley James need my help?" Jaycee announced, she wasn't always like this but during the first grade—this was how Jaycee treated Haley, it's their thing nowadays.

"Enough," Haley playfully groaned, "I can't tutor someone. Not because they are super dumb, well, debatable on some parts. But because, I just can't—or I just won't."

"Okay?" Jaycee drew out her word, "Who is it?"

Haley squeezed her eyes shut, "Nathan Scott." Jaycee's mouth formed an 'O' shape before she continued, "I'm super close with Lucas, not saying you aren't! Me and him are like you and Beau! I can't do that to him. And you know him better than I do."

Before Haley could ramble on, Jaycee intervened, "Haley.. I don't know. I got Dylan to worry about," Jaycee excused, talking about a random kid she knew from her english class.

"Does he even get tutored?" Haley got side tracked, her eyes widening as she realized, "No, he doesn't. Please! Please Jay, I need you to help me with this."

Jaycee gave in at her pleads, "Fine. Whatever, I'll do it. Just tell him to meet me Saturday at the dock to study."

Haley squeeled excitedingly, getting up quickly, "Thank you so much. You don't understand how greatful I am for you, I owe you one big time."

Just as Haley was about to leave the center, Jaycee called out to her, "Haley!" She turned around to look at the girl, "Tell Nathan not to be a dick when he arrives."

Breaking a smile, Haley gave her two thumbs up before skipping outside of the classroom which made Jaycee chuckle.

SATURDAY MORINING CAME AROUND fast, Jaycee was sitting at the Market Street Dock with her textbooks all layed out, waiting for Nathan. She agreed to help him in order to take a weight off of Haley's shoulders, in the back of her
mind she knew that Lucas would reach the same fate and be upset with her. But, painfully, that was a risk she was okay with taking.

                      "Breakfast of champions. Want some?" Nathan asked as he finally showed up, holding a cracker jack box.

                       "You're late," Jaycee stated, trying not to yawn. Normally on the weekends, she was not up this early—she loved her sleep.

                        "Says you," Nathan sassed back, setting down his stuff and taking a seat, "You out of all
people should know that its crazy to be studying at seven."

                          Jaycee eyes lightened up, "You are so right," She let out an exhausting breath, "This better be worth it, Scott."

                         Smiling like the bright sun, Nathan ripped open the cracker jack box and pulled out a small package, "Ugh, please let this be a cheat sheet,"
He joked. As he tore the package open, he was met with a bright colorful beaded bracelet. Nathan looked at Jaycee softly told, "It's for you."

                       "Nathan," Jaycee murmured.

                       He grabbed her hand and gently slid the bracelet onto her wrist. "Don't say I never gave you anything.

                        Jaycee scoffed and rolled her eyes, pushing Nathan back she grabbed her math book and displayed it to him, "Nathan, your cool and all but math doesn't shoot hoops like you do, so it won't play the game."

                       "Well, that's a shame," Nathan pouted, "Does English? Because I was hoping I could shoot my way to being good at that one too.."

                        Jaycee scoffed sarcastically, pushing the book towards him, "Page 81, cheap shot."

                       Nathan gasped in shock, "That hurts, Jaycee Maybell Davis—you know me better than that. Wait, what the hell is this?"

"Shapes, Nathan," Jaycee stared at the boy, "Numbers, equations, it's math."

The joy from his face washed away, his pencil sitting blanky in his hand, "Cee, I'm afraid we are going to be here for a while."

"I know," Jaycee muffly giggled, "Glad you know it too."

Writing the problems out, he didn't know where to start. So he tried to distract Jaycee, "I thought you had curly hair?" Nathan questioned.

  Looking up Jaycee breathe got stuck in her throat, "Well, I, uhm, I do."

                          Nathan took off his varsity jacket, "Why do you hide it? I like your curly hair."

                        A flush of blood rushed to her cheeks unexpectedly, Jaycee hid her face down to her books, "Get back to work, 23."

          "THIS IS KEITH SCOTT'S BODY SHOP," Jaycee answered the phone with her customer service voice, "We would rather you bring the problem in," Keith stopped his work to eye the girl, "I mean, how can we help you!"

           "I'm calling for Jaycee Davis," the voice confirmed through the phone.

             Looking away from Keith, she answered, "Yeah, this is her."

              "Hey, this is Nathan," his voice trailed off, "Um, I really need your help.

              "Sorry, this isn't her. She doesn't work here," Jaycee made up an excuse, ending the call and setting it back down roughly.

                Keith threw his washrag over his shoulder before asking, "What was that?"

                Jaycee bit her tongue, "Wrong number."

                "You just said this was her. Did you forget your name?" Keith wondered, his questions made Jaycee tense up making him wanting to know more, "Whats up with you?"

                   The girl wiped her clammy palms against her oil covered jeans, "I'm tutoring this guy. But I think I should say no, because, he's kind of a bad guy."

                    "You know him?"

                     "Yeah, a little too well," Jaycee spoke, "Just the things hes doing—"

                     "Dangerous?"

                   "No," Jaycee responded, observing Keith's face, "What? You've got that look, that I never thought you would have."

                     Keith raised his hands in defense, looking around the room in joking to see what he did wrong, "What look do I have?"

                      "The mother look when she wants to say something," Jaycee accused.

                      Keith stepped closer, letting a small chuckle out while resting his hand on Jaycee's shoulder, "Well, Cee, I think you have pretty good instincts. So I won't try and tell you what to do but just to play the devil's advocate, if this boy came for tutoring, maybe he's trying to change.." Jaycee gritted her teeth towards Keith, knowing he was right, "Maybe there's something worth saving."

                 "SO WHAT DID YOU PUT IN THE BOAT?" Jaycee brought up to Beatrice. The duo were standing in the section, waiting for the ceremony to start.

                   "Your friendship bracelet you gave me in kindergarten, annoucing the beginning of our friendship," Beatrice answered with the most serious tone ever, it made Jaycee believe she wasn't kidding.

                     Jaycee choked out, "You're lying right?"

                     Beatrice pushed down her smile and replied with, "Nope! I'm not a liar." Making Jaycee freeze in place, Beatrice bursted out laughing and reassured her best friend, "I didn't put it in there. I put my old shoes that my ex boyfriend got me."

                    Feeling a weight lifted off her shoulders, Jaycee looked towards the sky, "Thank you."

                    "What about you?" Beatrice shot the question back.

                     Jaycee grumbled, "My parents letters they sent once I reached honor roll. It's fake, they were never there and still aren't."

                      Right as Beatrice was about to say something, Whitey began, "Good evening! Usually the master of ceremonies at this deal is Red Legner. But, uh, well, Red died. So what are you gonna do?"He paused for a moment, the crowd snickering around, "Now, every year we have a Burning Boat and every year people find things to toss into it. I guess if everything was perfect, we wouldn't be human."
    
                       The girls slowly fell off in listening to Whitey ramble on about the Burning Boat. A pair of hands gribbed Beatrices waist, lifting her off the ground, spinning her around in circles. Beatrice giggled and starting kicking her feet. From the moment she was lifted off the ground, she knew it was Jake. She knew the roughness of his hands that only felt gentle around her.

                       "Jake! Put me down!" Beatrice demanded, trying to be serious but she just couldn't.

                        Jaycee cocked her head, she had a broad smile observing the two. "Would say this is a cute couple but Jake.. that hair is not serving you right next to the Beatrice Sallow," Jaycee bellowed sarcastically.

                       "Oh really?" Jake let go of Beatrice to slowly lean in towards Jaycee, "I might have to go bald just to despise you."
 
                        Jaycee gave him a tiny shove, right as she did—Jake wrapped his arm around her neck, playfully rubbing Jaycee's hair to make it messy. In the middle of all the laughter, Beatrice snickered, "Guys, you got an audience. Surprisingly, other than me."

                       Stopping in her tracks, Jaycee's eyebrows drew together, looking around to find the answer. It didn't take her long to notice Nathan Scott was drawing fire holes into Jake whenever he even touched the girl. He made contact with Jaycee, his jaw jutted with confidence, anger, and forceful.

                       Jake shortly waved towards Scott, fixing his collar, "Well, that tells me its my time to go." Jake slipped his hand within Beatrices', "You coming?"

                         Beatrice swallowed sharply, Jaycee shook her head saying it was okay, "Yeah, I'm coming with you." Beatrice rubbed her bothered best friends shirt, kissing her forehead before walking away.

                          A cold chill ran down Jaycee's back, crossing her arms across her chest, looking back towards Whitey but not without feeling Nathan's stare within the mix. "I guess not everyday, we get a shot at starting over and putting our feet on the right path. That said, I guess we've better get to the rat killing," Whitey finished his speech, moving to the boat with a light torch. The crowd erupted in cheers, clapping, and hollers as the boat burst into orange-redish flames.

                       Everyone slowly faded away, leaving the scene after a couple minutes—finding it was oddly boring. Jaycee gathered herself up, making her way out, waiting for Lucas. "You left that at the court," Lucas sneered.

                       Her eye caught onto the situation, deeply staring at the brothers. "I don't know what you're talking about," Nathan scoffed.

                     "Than call it a gift. Besides you're gonna need it to paint over your scoring title in the gym cause I'm taking it" Lucas elaborated.

                      Tim added in, "Yeah, in your dreams."

                    "I don't care what you do to me. Whatever you got, you better bring it cause I'm not going anywhere," Lucas stood his ground, pulling a bag and rope from his bag and shoving it on Nathan's chest, "Burn these for me, would ya?"

                     Getting the last word, Lucas shoulder checked his brother, walking away to meet up with Jaycee. Nathan watched the only thing, he took note of her giving him long hatred before turning around to Lucas.

                     "He really is a dick, huh?" Jaycee whispered, her mind racing like no other.

✶ YEAH I TOOK A HALEY AND KAREN SCENE, WHAT ABOUT IT! LMAO 😭, I had too—its really going to help later in the season when Nathan actually starts catching feelings for Jaycee, because we all know he's gonna want keiths opinion so I had to slowly introduce it.

✶ The chapters seem a little slow but now because Jaycee is tutoring Nathan, the amount of scenes yall are gonna get of them!!!!!!

✶ please vote and comment your opinions! I love to read them and honestly, they just help motivate me.