FOURTEEN.
QUITTING? WHAT?

WALKING INTO KEITHS AUTO SHOP WAS MORE INTIMIDATING NOW THAN IT SEEMS FOR NATHEN. There was no lie that the boy had certain feelings for Jaycee, and everybody knew she meant the world to Keith. It was as if he had to impress her dad, but really his uncle.

          "My mom said you wanted to see me," Nathan began, walking into the shop, fiddling with his hands.

           Keith shinned a look of surprise, breaking a smile, "Yeah. Hand me that ratchet, would you?" As doing so, Keith took the ratchet, spun it in his hand and continued, "So how you holding up?"

            "Why, are you gonna report it back to my mom?" Nathan replied with a little bit of sass behind it, making Keith furrow.

             "It's not like that, Nate," Keith answered, his upper body lowered over the engine, "Look, I know you and I haven't talked very much and I'm sorry about that, but thats just, uh, that's just fallout from your dad and me. I know you're going through some tough times, so, uh.. If you need anything.."

                Suddenly, Nathan chimed in, "Let me ask you something. You played basketball in high school, right?" Keith nodded, "And you didn't enjoy it?"

                 Keith chuckled, "What, are you kiddin me? I loved it. But there was no pressure then. And then I didn't love it so much anymore. Your dad came up and he just... eh, made everything a competition."

                  "So, you just walked away?" Nathan shrugged.

                   "Only looked back at the cheerleaders," Keith winked, "I see you eyeing Cee." Nathan widened his eyes, making Keith laugh, "It's just a game, Nate. Not a life."

                   Nathan signed, leaning his body against the car as well, "I just feel like I have to uphold his standards."

                 Keith placed a reassuring hand on Nathan's back, "Than don't. I know you love the game, Nate. You can't have your father taking that away from you." Telling by the look on the boys face, Keith quickly changed the subject, "I have never seen my Cee look more happy than she does with you."

                  "Really?" Nathan eyes lightened up in a instance, even forgetting about the moment before.

                   Keith grinned, cracking the wrench as he spoke, "She gets this kind of spark when she's around you.. like she has a different light shining instead of her—you know, like love."

Nathan felt giddy inside, realizng he had never felt this before. Jaycee was different, not in a bad attention way, as in a way he wanted to do anything in the world to keep her the way she was. She's perfect, she was his dream girl.

He took a deep breath, as he began to think deeply. Maybe she was his dream girl, but it's all so new to him. "Trust me, Keith. I will keep that girl safe, I'll protect her more than I'll do for myself. I made that promise years ago, it won't stop now."

Keith furrowed his eyebrows, "Your promise?" Asking his question in more of a sweet tone, loving how he was unrevealing his nephew's feelings.

"Ever since me and her were kids, I made a promise to myself that I will always protect her," Nathan explained, his voice trailing off silently, "I will always love her."

But it didn't go unnoticed from Keith, if you mentioned Jaycee or talked about your feelings towards her—suddenly Keith had super hearing. As he worked on the car, Nathan began to ramble on about him and Jaycee.

And years after hating every boy that ever liked her, since Keith only wanted the best guy to treat his "daughter" right. It seems that his heart was warming up to let Nathen through.

               "YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME TRAVIS WAS A GROUP," Brooke scowled at Peyton, trying to keep a serious face which she was failing at.

                  Jaycee couldn't help but giggle. Peyton had given Brooke a CD for Lucas, but clearly she messed up since she was beating herself up over it at practice. "It's not like it's a big secret," Peyton snickered.
  
                 "Lucas gave me the weirdest look when I said that," Brooke cringed, "I felt so stupid."

                 Jaycee added, "Hey, I don't know them either so I think your solid."

                  "Yeah maybe because your all Britney Spears and NSYNC," Peyton remarked playfully, "Brooke, you guys just don't like the same things."

                  "That's the problem!" Brooke sighed, "He brings up art and.. books, and I've got nothing."Whitey blew the whistle and the team ran out of the locker rooms. "Hey you," Brooke smirked as Lucas ran past.

                   "Hey you," Lucas then looked at Peyton and Jaycee, "And you, and miss superman." Jaycee giving him the bird after his comment.

                   After Whitey gave the guys a speech after not having basketball for a little, Jake ran in with Jenny, "Better be a basketball in that thing, Jagielski."

                   "Come on, Coach. It's either this or I miss practice," Jake pleaded.

                    Whitey sighed in defeat, he couldn't yell at Jake for that one, "Alright, well, find her a spot with a good view so she can watch her daddy throw up."

                     "I'll take her Jake," Peyton smiled, walking up to take the carrier.

                    Jaycee had to ask, "I thought Beau was taking care of her today?"

                     "She was, until she got sick," Jake explained. Jaycee nodded, taking a mental note to see her best friend later.

                    Peyton had started to play with Jenny, moving her fingers about that her soft eyes followed. Jaycee sat next to the duo, watching the guys practice but after a while she began to notice that Nathan wasn't there.

AFTER PRACTICE, JAYCEE WAS ON HER WAY TO THE TUTORING CENTER BUT WAS STOPPED ONCE SHE SAW NATHAN ROAMING AROUND. The most confusing part was Nathan was talking to Lucas, and not yelling?

"Someone pinch me," Jaycee declared, walking up to Nathan, "Did I just see Nathan Scott talking to Lucas?"

Nathan shrugged, "I can be a nice guy sometimes."

Jaycee breaking a smile couldn't help but ask, "Where were you at practice? I had nothing to look forward too."

"Just not ready to face it all," Nathan answered, Jaycee opened her mouth to ask something more but he had already beat her to it, "My dad already knows. It was rough. But it's whatever."

Jaycee bit her tongue, but still had a sweet loving smile as she watched the boy, "Well, I'll see you later, I have time to see you after this period."

"About that.." Nathan muttered, making Jaycee tilt her head in confusion, "I think, I'm gonna cut out of here a little bit early. Want to join me?"

Jaycee contemplated in her mind for a second, she knew it wasn't the smartest idea. She had never skipped before, but it was more time with the boy she had strong feelings for.. so whats the worse! "Why not!" Jaycee finally agreed.

Nathan smiled, "I'm glad you said that." Pulling her into his side, resting his hand on her waist, "Let's swing by my dads work to get a better car than what I got. Can't be driving you in something this boring."

Nathan opened the car door for Jaycee, than drove them to Dan's dealership. He parked the original car nearby and the duo scoped out the cars available. Since Nathan can't say no to Jaycee, she ended up deciding which car and that was an old mustang which was very clean and shiny.

"Okay, I'm freaking out over the car—but where are we going?" Jaycee questioned, adoring the car under her fingers.

"The beach house," Nathan chuckled, "Dad's in Charlotte."

ONCE THE DUO HAD ARRIVED TO THE BEACH HOUSE, NATHAN HAD SWIPED A BOTTLE OF VODKA. And the two had made their way to the beach to start pouring. Fun fact, Jaycee is a light drinker. he

"Are you sure your dad won't be here," Jaycee slurred, "I can not have him tell Keith on me."

Rolling his eyes playfully, Nathan replied, "I told you, my dad's in Charlotte. It's okay. I've never seen you like this."

Jaycee burped ( accidentally ), which made Nathan laugh—waving his hand to move the air away from him. Jaycee quickly place her hand to her mouth before mumbling, "So sorry."

"You're beautiful, Cee," Nathan muttered out, cursing under his breath for the random outburst.

The dark haired girl's face flushed quickly, picking up the sand—letting the grains fall in between her fingers. "Your strange, Nathan Scott."

Confusion flooded Nate, "What do you mean?"

Jaycee coughed, "I thought you were cold hearted recently. Like you've closed your heart off to everyone."

"Maybe to everyone else," Nathan whispered, "But not towards you." Jaycee drunkly tried to take in the sweet nothings of his but she was fading, "Let's go inside."

Nathan picked up the girl, carrying her on his back. He stumbled a little trying to make it up the wooden stairs, which made Jaycee grip his arms a little tighter. Looking up, Jaycee saw the devil man that she desperately wanted to avoid.

"Charlotte, my ass."

FINALLY POSTED!!