Season 1 Episode 2
The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most

"Come on, Haley. I don't want to be late." Lizzie yelled, as she gathered things into her purse.

"Just a sec, I can't find my jacket." Haley called out,

"You can borrow mine, just hurry up."

Haley and Lizzie had been spending a lot of time together recently and had grown quite close, they had been staying over at one another's houses, studying together, they even compared the students they tutored.

Right now, they were at Haley's house about to go to the basketball game to watch Lucas play for the first time with the Ravens.

"Okay, okay. I'm ready." Haley confirmed,

"Finally!" Lizzie teased.

~~~~~~~~~~

The two girls were sitting in the stands, when Keith arrived and sat next to them.

"Thanks for saving me a seat Haley." Keith said,

"No problem."

Lizzie then decided to introduce herself, "Hi, I'm Lizzie Davis." Lizzie announced, holding out her hand.

"Keith Scott." Keith stated, shaking her hand.

"You're Lucas's uncle?" Lizzie questioned,

"Yeah, I'm really excited to see him play." Keith proudly stated.

The game was about to start and the ravens were warming up.

Dan walked past the three and patted Keith on the shoulder, "Finally come to see your nephew play huh, big brother?"

"Uh yeah, I guess you could say that." Keith responded, with a slight roll of his eyes.

Haley and Lizzie slightly smirked at Keith's response to Dan's assumption.

The game had officially started, Keith, Haley and Lizzie were all cheering for Lucas.

Once the ball was passed to Lucas, his hands slipped from the ball, nearly hitting Peyton.

"Nice hands." Peyton grumbled,

"Nice legs."

Lucas had been unable to shoot any hoops throughout the game and had been benched.

Lizzie hoped that it was just nerves and that he'd become better throughout the game.

~~~~~~~~~~

"You know, early in his career, Hemingway was frustrated. He was a good writer who wanted to be great." The teacher explained,

Lizzie was in English class, which she shared with Lucas, Peyton and Nathan.

The teacher continued with his explanation, "And eventually, he discovered that less was more."

He looked around the classroom, choosing which student to call on.

"Elizabeth" He called out,

Lizzie kept her head down, "It's Lizzie."

The teacher chuckled, "Okay, Lizzie. Describe Nathan using just one word."

Lizzie thought about what word she could use that would best describe Nathan. She could think of a couple words, but she knew that the teacher wouldn't appreciate those answers. She finally thought of one that fit Nathan's personality.

"Afraid." She responded quietly,

The whole class "oooed" at her response, no one thought that someone like Lizzie could be so blunt.

"Okay, quiet down." The teacher instructed, "Nathan, care to respond and describe Lizzie in one word?"

Lizzie didn't know why, but she was nervous as to what Nathan would say. She knew that he wouldn't of been happy about how she described him, so she was sure that he was going to say something that was sure to embarrass her.

But his answer was something that no one thought anyone especially him would ever use to describe Lizzie Davis.

"Unique."

Nathan looked over at Lizzie with a slight glint in his eyes, Lizzie looked down as soon as he looked at her. She didn't realize it, but she was blushing from Nathan's gaze.

The teacher clapped his hands together, "Okay, who's next? Peyton! Describe Lucas in one word."

Peyton pondered for a second on what to say, she has told Lizzie about what had happened with Lucas the other night, how he had opened up to her and how she thought they had a slight moment. Although she pushed those memories to the back of her head and answered the question.

"Choke."

More than half of the class laughed at Peyton's response, Nathan laughing the loudest.

Once the laughing stopped, the English teacher looked to Lucas, "Lucas, could you describe Peyton in one word?"

Lucas looked at Peyton so deeply, you would think that he was looking into her soul. He was still looking at her when he gave his answer.

"Lonely."

Peyton's face dropped from the response Lucas gave, Lizzie leaned over from her desk and rubbed Peyton's arm to show that she was there for her if she ever wanted to talk.

Nathan put up his hand, indicating that he wanted to say something. The teacher looked at him, "Yes, Nathan?"

"I can describe Lucas in one word. Bastard." Nathan stated, with a smug grin on his face.

The class "oooed" once again at what Nathan said. Lizzie rolled her eyes at Nathan's constant digs at Lucas, she didn't understand what the two brothers had against each other. Since she had been spending a lot of time with Haley, that meant that she also spent quite a bit of time with Lucas and he seemed like a good guy from her point of view.

Lucas sat behind Nathan, silently fuming until he couldn't take it anymore. He quickly jumped out of his seat and tackled Nathan to the floor. The teacher yelled at them, yelling at them to knock it off, though neither Scott boy listened.

Lizzie quickly got out of her seat and ran up to the boys who were still throwing punches at each other. She held onto Lucas's shoulders and used her upper body strength to pull him off of Nathan, although Lucas was stronger than her, she managed to pull him off of Nathan but fell down in the process.

From the sound of Lizzie's body falling to the ground, the two boys turned around to see what had happened but Lizzie was already dusting herself off.

"Well, now that you two gentlemen have stopped with the foolish behavior, let's get back to class." The teacher exclaimed.

The three students all returned back to their seats, refusing to look at one another.

~~~~~~~~~~

Peyton, Lizzie and Brooke were all sitting in Peyton's room, Brooke was shuffling through CDs, Peyton was drawing in her sketchbook and Lizzie was reading the latest book that she had bought, "Pride and Prejudice."

"You know, it's too bad Lucas is poor and he can't play cause he is fine." Brooke stated,

"Not everything's about money, Brooke." Lizzie lectured, flipping the page of her book.

"Well, of course not." Brooke sarcastically replied, rolling her eyes.

Peyton watched the two sisters bicker with a small smile. Spending time with them always cheered her up.

"Anyways, I think it's really good that you're fighting with Nathan again." Brooke said, looking through the CD's again.

"You do?" Peyton questioned,

"Yeah! Every time you guys fight, we get to hear new music." Brooke said, gesturing to herself and Lizzie with a cheeky smile.

Peyton pretended to be offended and playfully kicked Brooke as well as throwing a pillow at Lizzie.

"Oi" Lizzie called, throwing the pillow back at Peyton.

The three best friends giggled, enjoying their girl time.

"Hey, have you bought the new Beyoncé?" Brooke asked, excitement written on her face.

Peyton slightly raised her eyebrows from the question, "No."

Brooke sighed, "You know, Peyton, I know you're all Gwen Stefani, plaid skirt, "I'm a badass." But we love you anyway and you know why? Because Friday night, when it is game time, there you are. One of us. And Lizzie, you're my little sister so I have to love you."

Lizzie chucked, wrapping her arm around her sister, "Gee thanks Brooke, feeling the love."

"P.S, Gwen Stefani is not a badass." Peyton commented before continuing, "Do you guys ever look past it?"

"Past what?"

"All of it. High school, basketball and just the whole drama that comes with popularity." Peyton answered.

"Well, yeah. I mean, I think about the future sometimes and it scares me. But then I think, that I'll go to college, I'll join the best sorority, marry a rich guy. Unless I get fat." Brooke joked.

"What about you Lizzie?" Peyton asked, looking over at the younger Davis.

"Hm?" Lizzie hummed, completely engrossed in her book.

"Do you ever think about the future?" Peyton asked,

Lizzie shut her book and turned to her two best friends, "Yeah, I think about it all the time. But I like to think that it'll all work out somehow. I hope someday I'll find a guy and fall in love and have a family and I'll be happy. That's all I hope for in this life."

Peyton thought about what Lizzie had said, she wondered if that would happen for all of them.

"What if it doesn't happen?" Peyton asked, looking at the brunette who already had her head back in her book.

Lizzie looked up and furrowed her eyebrows, "If what doesn't happen?"

"The "happily ever after." What if you don't get it?" Peyton asked, once again.

Lizzie pondered the thought of never having her "happily ever after" ending, before answering, "I honestly don't know."

None of them knew what would happen in the future, so all Lizzie could do was hope that she would get her "happily ever after" someday.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next day meant another English class.

Lizzie was now sitting in front of Nathan and subtly tried to make sure that Lucas was nowhere near Nathan.

"Okay people, we're going to try our little Hemingway project again but in order to avoid a bar fight, we're gonna do it on paper. Now you don't have to put your names on these, just write one word. One single word to describe what you want most in your life right now." The teacher instructed as he handed out square pieces of paper to the whole class.

Lizzie thought about what she would write on that small piece of paper, there were many things she wanted in the life. Love, health, happiness, but she didn't know what she wanted most.

She finally decided on what she wanted most in the world and scribbled it down on the small piece of paper.

Acceptance.

Little did she know, that a certain Scott boy behind her had just seen what she had written.

~~~~~~~~~~

Haley, Lucas and Lizzie were walking down the sidewalk after having gone for lunch.

"Did you ever figure out your porn name?" Haley asked the two,

"What are you talking about?" Lucas questioned his best friend.

"Your porn name. Um, you take the name of your first pet and uh-" Haley cut herself off, forgetting the other part.

"Ohh and then put your mothers maiden name and you put them together." Lizzie finished.

"Yeah exactly." Haley confirmed,

"I remember Brooke telling me about it in sixth grade." Lizzie recalled.

"Right." Lucas slowly said, still not fully comprehending the meaning of it.

"Okay. So what was your first pets name?" Lizzie inquired,

"I had a dog named Rocket." Lucas answered,

"Oh, Rocket! I loved Rocket!" Haley exclaimed, remembering the brown Labrador.

"And your mothers maiden name is Roe." Haley continued on,

So, Rocket Roe." Lizzie confirmed.

Haley laughed at the name, "Nice."

"What's yours?" Lucas asked Haley,

"Oh, I had a bunny named Bunny."

"You named the bunny, Bunny?" Lucas repeated,

"Yes I did. And my mothers maiden name is Brigard, so..."

"Bunny Brigard." Lizzie once again confirmed,

The trio chuckled, "What about you Lizzie? What's yours?" Haley asked.

"Well I had a cat who Brooke insisted on naming Sparkles."

"Sparkles?" Lucas questioned,

"Oh, don't even get me started." Lizzie snickered before continuing, "And my mothers maiden name is Montgomery which makes it.."

"Sparkles Montgomery." Lucas verified,

"Dawson's freak, starring Rocket Rowe, Sparkles Montgomery and Bunny Brigard." Haley joked.

Lucas had started to walk up to the gate of his front house before Haley stopped him,

"You know, there's a game tonight. You're not playing anymore?"

Lucas sighed before answering his best friend, "No. You know.. I've never walked away from anything before. But I can't do it and the worst part is, I don't know why I can't do it. It's like no matter how confusing or screwed up life got... The game always made sense. It was mine, you know and in a lot of ways it's who I am, but I can't be that person in their gym or in their uniforms or in the world." Lucas ranted.

"Luke, just because the game isn't yours anymore doesn't mean that it'll change who you are. It's not about who you are on the gym, it's about how you play. I've seen you play and I know that you're good, you're just letting the expectations pull you back." Lizzie encouraged him.

She knew what it was like in the world of basketball and cheerleading. Just because she wasn't apart it, didn't mean she knew nothing about it.

Haley interlocked her arm through Lizzie's as they walked away from Lucas's house,

"You know, I kinda had a speech planned as well." Haley joked,

"Shut up."

~~~~~~~~~~

"Lizzie! Someone's here to see you!" Brooke's voice echoed throughout the large house.

Lizzie looked up from her English homework as she heard her sisters voice she shouted, "Coming."

Lizzie sighed as she pulled herself off of her bed and trudged down the stairs.

She walked over to the doorway to see Brooke and Nathan talking,

"Hey. Uh... what are you doing here?" Lizzie questioned the Scott boy, confused at seeing him on her doorstep.

"I'll leave you to it." Brooke said with a slight smirk, as she walked past Lizzie she gave her a sly wink that could only indicate something dirty making the younger brunette roll her eyes.

Nathan shoved his hands in his pockets, "Are you going to invite me in or.."

Lizzie ran a hand through her messy hair, "Uh right sorry. Come in."

Nathan followed Lizzie into the lounge room, Lizzie sat on the sofa as Nathan seated himself in the armchair.

It was awkwardly silent between the two teenagers until Lizzie slightly cleared her throat, "Do you want something to drink?"

"Uh no, I'm good." Nathan replied,

"Um, so why exactly are you here?" Lizzie asked, for the second time that night.

"Right, well I wanted to uh apologize about the uh thing in English class a couple days ago." Nathan slightly stuttered.

Lizzie tried to keep a straight face before she bursted out laughing, "I-I'm sorry, I'm r-really sorry but I-I j-just can't b-believe that you, Nathan Scott are actually a-apologizing." Lizzie stuttered out as laughs continued escaping her mouth.

Nathan tried to keep a straight face but he couldn't help it as he let out a small chuckle which turned into a laugh. Soon enough, both Nathan and Lizzie were laughing hard.

After a while, it became awkward once again, the air filled with an indescribable tension. The pair tried to look anywhere other than each other.

Nathan thought about the reason he had come over, it wasn't to apologize. He didn't really have an actual reason, he just wanted an excuse to see Lizzie. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to think of what to say next.

"I've uh been reading that book you lent me, 'The Great Gatsby' I'm actually enjoying it."

Lizzie beamed at him, "That's great! I'm so glad you like it, you can keep it if you want, I've got another copy anyway."

Lizzie waited for a minute before she spoke up again, "Nathan, can I ask you something?"

Nathan nodded, allowing her to continue.

"What did you mean in class when you described me as unique?"

She had been wondering the answer to that ever since he said it, she'd mostly been known as Brooke Davis's little sister and if she was ever described as a person, the word was never something like unique.

"Well, Brooke's one of the most popular girls at school. As her sister, you could easily be just as popular as her but you're not and you choose not to be. I mean, you're not a cheerleader, you do well in school and you don't even care about your social status." Nathan explained, slight awe in his voice.

Lizzie was speechless at his small speech, she never thought that someone like Nathan even knew she existed.

"I'm surprised you actually noticed me." Lizzie breathed,

"I know, right." Nathan scoffed, a smug smile on his face.

But if he was being honest,

He'd noticed her from day one.