FIFTEEN.
SUDDENLY, I COULDN'T BREATHE

"HALEY, BABY, YOU CAN DO THIS," Jaycee encouraged, sitting on the cold concrete of the River Court. The two girls had been hanging out all day, but Haley couldn't get her mind off of her failing grade in P.E.

               Haley threw another shoot, only to make it right next to Jaycee, "Well, I don't think I can do this," Haley remarked, her hands falling to her hips making Jaycee smile.

              "For starters, I'm not the hoop," Jaycee replied, gathering the rolling ball, "And two, you got your stance all wrong."

              "Oh yeah?" Haley laughed, "Tell me what to do miss cheerleader."

                Throwing the ball back to Haley, Jaycee began to teach, "Square your shoulders towards the basket and bend your knees. And watch how you throw the ball." Once she stayed silent, Haley took another deep breath and ( actually ) aimed this time—which clung aganist the back board, "Okay! Your getting somewhere."

                 Haley groaned, "This is difficult. Where did you learn that anyways? Was it Nathan?" Her tone getting more teasingly towards the end, winking to the dark haired girl.

                  "Cheerleading gets boring, okay!" Jaycee defended, trying not to break her act, "Why have you not asked Luke yet?"

                    "Because he's always with Brooke, now," Haley grumbled, "Or with Peyton, to be honest, I don't know and I don't like it!"

                    Filling up the space, Jaycee started to shoot her own baskets, "Seems like he's got a lot of his plate. Who would've guessed Lucas Scott being the it guy."

                    Haley sighed, "I know. It seems like we aren't even the small little trio anymore, we, well you guys are more in the public eye."

                     Confusion filling her head, Jaycee tilted her head to ask, "What do you mean by that, Hales?"

                      "I mean," Haley started, "Lucas is now on the basketball team, and hes so involved with Brooke. Than theres you, now Nathans in your life so you got more publicity—"

                      Jaycee quickly interrupted, "Haley, I can asure you that there is nothing between me and Nate." But in the back of her mind, she knew she was lying.

                     Haley sparked up a little, her eyes lighteing up as if Jaycee pulled up her favorite subject, "I can't say much, but Nathan looks at you like you've hung the moon up for him—he does it everywhere and anywhere! You can tell that he is wrapped around your finger, it's embarrassing!"

                   Rolling her eyes, Jaycee pulled Haley in by her arm, digging the girl into her side, "Whatever you say, tutor girl."

                    Thankfully, Jaycee wrangled herself out of exposing her actually feelings for Nathan. But it left her with a lot to stir, there was undenying chemistry between the two; they've kissed, they've flirted, they've slept by each other, they even came to each other for comfort!

                    At this rate, neither of them could turn away the questions of looking people.

                    THAT FOLLOWING NIGHT BECAME INTO A NIGHT JAYCEE WOULD NEVER EVER WANT TO FEEL AGAIN. She had been all over town that day; hanging out with Haley, Brooke, Peyton, Lucas, than mostly with Nathan after. She had no time to visit Keith in the shop.

The thing was, Keith had been asking her for a couple of days to see him because her life suddenly got flipped around to the busy life. Keith just missed his babygirl. And Jaycee wanted to spend the whole day with Keith if she could but she got distracted by every little thing.

Once she finally remembered his wish, it wasn't until her and Nathan got to her house. "Oh shit!" Jaycee cursed, scrunching up her curly hair, "Shit, shit, shit."

Widening his eyes, Nathan observed the girl, holding back a laugh, "What is wrong? You forget to study or something?"

"No," Jaycee trailed off, "I was suppose to hang out with Keith today, I told him I was going too. He's really been wanting me over. I have to go."

                 Nathan objected, "I can drive you!" Feeling a little guilty since the girl was with him all day.

                 Jaycee sharply smiled, trying to reassure him, "No, please it's okay. Just stay here so I can see you when I get back," Jaycee tossed her keys, "Brooke isn't here and she won't be so don't worry."

                Getting in her car, she didn't waste no time in speeding to Keith's auto shop. When she arrived, her stomach fell to her feet. One garage door was still open, a small white light casting the area where her father figure was working at.

                 Closing her door shut, she winced and paused her movement. Keith perked his head up, setting the rag down, "Cee?" He questioned out into the darkness.

                 Taking a deep breath, she replied, "Hey, it's me." The coldness of the night taking over, she hugged Nathan's jacket he had previously given her a little tigher.

                 "Where have you been? I was worried," Keith sighed.

                    "I know, trust me, I do. I was hanging out with pretty much everyone today. I spaced the time frame," Jaycee explained.

                   "You could've told me. Were you hanging out with Nathan?" Keith questioned.

                    Jaycee bit her tongue before continuing, "Yeah. I did hang out with him."

                    Keith's demeanor suddenly changed, "I don't like him-"

                   "But I-"

                Jaycee tried to interject but Keith stopped her, "But what? He's changing you Jaycee. I heard that you were hardcore drunk at Dan's and—" Keith slurred.

                "Why are you acting like this?" Jaycee roughly asked, tears glistening her eyes. Jaycee searched the surroundings for anything—and she found it, a bottle of whiskey at his work station already a forth gone. Jaycee fell quiet, "You've been drinking."

                 "Cee, no I haven't," Keith tried to deny it but she saw right through. A tear rolled down her cheek, she shook her head with the energy she had left and got in her car without another word.

                  ON THE VERGE OF CRYING, JAYCEE FUMBLED OPEN HER FRONT DOOR. Seeing the lights on as a comforting thing, knowing that Nathan did not leave. With him being the only person she wants to see right now.

                 She dropped her bag on the floor, sliding her sneakers off—traveling up the stairs she found Nathan on the bed. Immediately, locking eyes with him, he could tell something was off. He pushed himself off the bed and pulled his girl into his arms.

                Once he did, Jaycee fell into his touch as if she was melting under the sun. She sniffled and withheld her tears, Nathan stroking her messy hair to calm her down.

               "What's wrong?" He whispered down to her ear, with their height difference—he always had to bend down more to listen in moments like these.

                "I tried to say I'm sorry to Keith, but like," She choked on her words, "He's been drinking."

                  The phone started to ring but Jaycee didn't move, she stayed in his arms and let the phone go to voicemail. "Jaycee?" Haley James voice echoed, "Pick up, please. There's been an accident. Lucas and Keith are hurt pretty bad."

                 And suddenly, she couldn't breathe.