"There's no shame in being afraid. Hell, we're all afraid. What you gotta do is figure out what you're afraid of because when you put a face on it, you can beat it. Better yet, you can use it."

- Whitey Durham

Karen's Cafe

The streets of Tree Hill lined with eccentric students, and adults, all banding together in support of their hometown Ravens basketball team.

With the team being undefeated and gunning for a state title, who wouldn't be excited to witness a game at Tree Hill High School?

Well, all except one person at least.

"Karen, you ready to go?" Keith Scott shouted as he put his coat on. "I think Jack and Rose are on their way."

"Oh, I'm not going," Karen laughed nervously. "I've decided to stay open, I could use the business."

"Have you talked to Luke about this?" Keith questioned, clearly suspicious.

"No, but I'm sure he'll understand."

"Oh my god, she doesn't want to go." Haley scoffed. "She doesn't want to see her high school sweetheart slash your brother Dan, slash the jerk who abandoned Lucas, slash the father of Nathan, one of the team's star players, slash my wrists. Keith, I've heard the story, let's just go."

"Alright then." Keith laughed before turning towards Karen.

"I think you're making a mistake."

And with that, Keith and Haley exited the cafe without another word.

"So, you seem pretty excited." Keith said, noticing Haley's excitable behavior as they walked towards the school.

"Yeah, I'm just really excited for Lukes first game is all," the James girl replied. "Why do you ask?"

"Sure it's not for something else?" Keith smirked. "Remember last week?"

Previous week

Haley James was working the night of a Ravens basketball game. On nights like these, sometimes players and their friends would come in and celebrate a big win, or drown their sorrows in caffeine and junk food after a loss.

Today however was different. Troy Dawson and his family were in the cafe.

It was no secret that Haley has a massive crush on the Dawson boy, one she's harbored ever since she laid eyes on him the first day of freshmen year.

Nobody could really blame her, Troy was a very good looking boy with his bright blue eyes and perfect blonde hair.

But the one thing that set Troy out from the rest of the popular kids was his caring personality, his selfless attitude, and how he treated other people.

And that's what Haley loved the most about him.

"Haley!" Karen called from the counter. "Do you have a second?"

"Yeah Karen, I have tons of secs......." Haley stuttered as she continued staring.

"Well I don't think I should know that, but good for you honey." Karen joked with a knowing smirk.

Haley looked down in embarrassment, before revving up the coffee maker.

Peeking at the Dawson boy as he joked around with his Dad, Haley proceeded to get lost in his eyes once more.

That is until she ended up spilling coffee on herself, freeing her from her thoughts.

This was going to be a long night.

Flashback end

"I have no idea what you're talking about Keith." Haley blushed. "I only want to see Lucas."

"Whatever you say." Keith snickered as they inched towards the Whitey Durham Field-house.

-

"Troy, how you doing man?" Nathan said as he clapped his friends hand.

"All the same my friend." Troy replied. "You ready for tonight?"

"You can count on it." Nathan said, slipping his headphones back on as he changed for the game.

"Scott!" Whitey called as he walked towards his office, spurning away Nathan as he pointed towards Lucas, who walked towards the coach.

"I can't believe the bastard spawns on our team now." Tim scoffed in disbelief.

"For now." Nathan replied, slipping his headphones back on.

Troy rolled his eyes, fixing up his Jersey as he continued to prepare for the game.

-

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to another exciting night of basketball!" The announcer boomed.

"Let's make some noise for your Tree Hill Ravens!"

Led by Troy and Nathan, the team jogged onto the court for their warmups, meeting the loud cheers of the home crowd.

"Full house tonight." Troy said as he walked by Lucas. "Let's make your first game a good one."

Lucas smiled, at least somebody on the team was being somewhat nice to him, even if he was Nathan's best friend.

"Hey." Nathan said as he shoulder checked Lucas aggressively.

"Wake up."

Lucas scoffed, shooting the basketball towards the net as it hit the rim.

-

"Is that the boy that beat Nathan?" Brooke Davis asked her twin.

"I think so." Kat shrugged. "Why?"

"He looks good from behind." Brooke smirked, causing the other Davis to giggle.

"I'd have to agree." Reagan Taylor interjected, checking out the new boy.

"Finders keepers, Rae." Brooke smirked, leading the cheerleaders to the other side of the gym.

-

Jordan grabbed the ball, dribbling towards the other end of the court as he stopped towards the three point line.

Looking to his right, he passed the ball towards Troy in the wing, who immediately passed over to Lucas, giving his new teammate an opportunity to score.

But instead, the ball glided past his hands, falling out of bounds as the crowd groaned.

"Nice hands." Peyton jeered.

"Nice legs." Lucas retorted as he went back on defense, leaving Peyton alone with her thoughts.

-

As the game went on, Lucas felt the pressure heat up.

And along with that, came the jeering of Nathan.

After several misses towards the rim, Whitey subbed Lucas out, bringing in Tim off the bench.

"Just not your night, son." Whitey sighed as he patted Lucas's back.

"Start taking notes, punk." Nathan spat as he jogged over to Lucas's spot on the bench.

"Nate, just get back on d!" Troy yelled at his friend, who was clearly enjoying his half brothers demise.

Needless to say, it was not a good first game for Lucas Scott.

By any means.

-

"You might as well tell him to quit." Dan jeered towards his brother. "The kid clearly doesn't belong on the team."

"You really enjoyed that, didn't you Dan?" Jack scoffed. "Why don't you go ahead and make your son's life more miserable the same way you do with everyone else?"

Dan turned to look at his old teammate.

"Jack Dawson, surprised to see you here." Dan smirked. "Nice fifteen points your son had tonight."

Dan Scott and Jack Dawson played for Tree Hill back when they were in high school. The two never got along, and it transpired into their adult lives.

"The team won tonight." Jack shrugged. "What more can you ask for?"

"I'm sure the scouts were all thrilled with Troy's performance." Dan replied. "Maybe even the blind ones."

Jack got into Dan's face, glaring towards his old teammate.

"Are we really still doing this, Danny boy?" Jack asked. "Are you still hung up on this high school bullshit that you feel the need to bring my son into it?"

"I'm just saying, man." Dan scoffed. "A performance like that won't get him any scholarships, but then again, he can always work in a dead end factory like you did."

"I made a choice to stop playing," Jack growled. "Troy will be fine, why don't you worry about your family and I'll worry about mine, okay?"

"Okay Jack." Dan smirked. "Good seeing you."

-

Jayden and Mikayla were working late at the body shop. Keith had decided to go and watch Lucas in his first game, leaving the two to close up shop at the end of the night.

No need to complain about extra cash.

"You know." Mikayla said seductively as she wrapped her arms around him.

"I can't help but notice how sexy my boyfriend looks while working on that muffler."

"Oh really?" Jayden smirked as he turned around, placing his hands on her waist.

"We could close up a few hours early, there is a nice Lamborghini that's currently not in use."

"Oh?" Mikayla asked. "And what might you be thinking exactly?"

"Why don't I show you?" Jayden smirked as he leaned in to kiss her.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed from his pocket.

"Fucking cockblock." Jayden growled as he pulled out his phone. "It's Peyton."

"We're her friends, you should pick it up." Mikayla replied.

"What's up Peyton?" Jayden asked in irritation. "Please let this be important."

"Have I ever told you how big of an asshole your brother is?" Peyton asked.

"About twice every day." Jayden sighed. "What did Nate do now?"

"He left me at the Rivercourt, trashed my new CD, and now I have to walk home!" Peyton growled.

"I'm guessing you need a ride?"

"Come on Jay." Peyton coerced. "It'll only take like five minutes."

"Alright, Mikayla and I will leave in a few minutes."

"Great, I'll see you in a bit." Peyton replied.

"Later, Pey."

As Jayden put away his phone, Mikayla got the message and started her pickup truck.

"Your brothers a dick." Mikayla scoffed. "I've never liked him."

"Not alone in that." Jayden shrugged as they pulled out of the lot.

-

Rose Dawson knocked on the door of Karen's Cafe with her daughter holding her hand.

"It's open." Karen called from the outside as she opened the door.

"Hi, Ms Roe!" Chloe said excitedly.

"Hey cutie." Karen smiled.

"Why don't you go play for a little bit while I talk to Karen." Rose said as Chloe nodded, running off to the back of the building.

"Is he okay?" Karen asked, pouring her friend a cup of coffee

"He just had a bad game." Rose shrugged. "Troy's had some of his own."

"Well it doesn't help that Keith went to Whitey and got him on the team." Karen replied.

"Didn't you support this?"

"I supported Lucas." Karen said. "But I really should have been there."

"What's wrong, Karen?" Rose asked. "You know you can talk to me."

"I thought I was over it Rose, I really did." Karen spoke. "I can't go back there, the place knows too much."

"Yeah, I know how you feel." Rose sighed as she sipped her coffee.

                                                -

"You're late." Dan scolded Jayden as he walked in the door. "Where have you been?"

"I told you." Jayden replied. "I was out with Mikayla."

"Of course, you've always cared more about that trailer trash then your own brothers basketball future." Dan scoffed.

"Don't say that." Jayden said angrily. "She doesn't deserve that."

"Where the hell is Nate anyway? Why aren't you mad at him for being late?"

"Don't bring him into this!" Dan yelled. "It's not my problem you don't have the decency to go and support him."

"You know what? Fuck this." Jayden scoffed. "I'm going to bed."

"You do that." Dan grumbled as he continued to watch the game tape.

"No wonder Mom takes all these business trips."

                                              -

Tree Hill High School

"Earlier in his career, Hemingway was frustrated." Mr. Kelly spoke to the class. "Can someone tell me why?"

Troy raised his hand.

"Mr. Dawson?"

"He was a good writer that wanted to be great, and he figured out that less was more." Troy answered.

"Exactly." Mr. Kelly said before turning towards Reagan.

"Reagan, why don't you describe Troy using one word?"

The class turned towards the Taylor girl, anticipating what she would say about her ex boyfriend.

"Delusional." Raegan said sadly as she continued her drawing, making the class laugh.

"Alright settle down." Mr. Kelly scolded. "Troy, care to respond?"

"Imaginative." Troy replied.

"Good one." Mr. Kelly said before turning towards Peyton.

"Peyton, describe Lucas using one word." He said.

"Choke." Peyton said as the class laughed, including Nathan.

"Alright settle down." He scolded once more. "Lucas, your turn to respond."

"Lonely." Lucas responded, causing the class to gasp.

"Quiet please." Mr. Kelly said as Nathan raised his hand.

"Yes, Nathan." He sighed.

"I can describe Lucas using one word." Nathan smirked.

"Bastard."

The class gasped once more as Lucas jumped up, tackling Nathan to the ground.

"Knock it off!" Mr. Kelly yelled as Lucas drew a punch.

Troy leapt from his seat, pulling the Scott boys away from each other in an attempt to break up the fight.

"The hell is wrong with you two?" He said.

"He started it." Nathan defended as Troy held them away from each other.

"Both of you to the principals office, now!" Mr. Kelly scolded as Nathan scoffed, grabbing his things to head out the door as Lucas followed.

                                                -

"So what happened after you tackled him?" Tim asked as Nathan slammed his locker.

"Troy broke it up." Nathan sighed. "Any longer and I would have destroyed him."

"Or he could have beaten your ass." Jake Jagelski remarked, sitting next to his brother.

"What do you know about it Jagelski?" Nathan asked.

"What do any of us know about anything?" Jake replied. "From what I heard, he tackled you first, and I'm pretty sure you were at the bottom when Troy broke it up."

Nathan scoffed.

"Why don't you catch a rebound every now and then?" Tim shot back, making Nathan laugh.

"Says the glorified bitch boy." Jordan said, making Tim look at him angrily.

"What did you say, Jordan?"

"I mean, you can't think you're on varsity because you're good, right?" Jordan asked. "Everyone on the team knows that you're Nathan's certified bitch."

Tim growled, pinning Jordan against the locker as he glared at him angrily.

"We putting on makeup ladies?" Whitey said. "Get out to the gym and start warming up."

"Just having a talk with my friend Tim, coach." Jordan smirked. "We'll be out shortly."

Suddenly, Lucas walked into the locker room, swinging his jersey over his shoulder.

"Hey!" Nathan said. "This is just the start of it for you."

"Can you stop with this shit?" Troy asked his friend as they jogged to the gym.

"What, are you friends with this kid now?" Nathan shot back.

"Dude, this stupid 'rivalry' you and Lucas have is ridiculous." Troy said. "That's all I'm saying."

                                               -

Kat, Brooke, and Reagan were over at Peyton's house, going through her CDs and hanging out in her room.

"You know, its really too bad Lucas is poor and he can't play because he is fine." Brooke smirked causing Peyton to roll her eyes.

"Peyton, I think it's great you and Nathan are fighting again." Reagan said as she emerged from Peyton's closet.

"You do?" Peyton asked.

"Yeah, because every-time you guys fight we get to hear new music." Reagan teased, holding up an old record she found in the closet.

Peyton threw a pencil at her friend, causing Reagan to giggle as she jumped onto the bed.

"Can you guys cool it?" Kat asked. "I'm trying to do my bio homework."

"Ah sissy, you're no fun." Brooke pouted as Kat smirked. Closing her book as she jumped on top of the bed.

"Much better."

"You buy the new Beyoncé?" Reagan asked.

"No?" Peyton replied.

"You know Peyton." Brooke spoke. "I know you're all Gwen Stefani, plaid skirt, I'm a badass, but we love you anyway. You know why?"

"Because Friday night when it is game time, there you are, one of us."

"Gwen Stefani is not a badass." Kat remarked from the bed as Peyton nodded.

"You guys ever look past it?" Peyton asked.

"Past what?"

"All of it. High school, basketball, the popularity drama..."

"Yeah, I think about the future sometimes." Kat said. "I always just figured I'd go to Harvard."

"I look at the future sometimes." Brooke followed. "It scares me, but I think, I'll go to college, I'll join the right sorority, and I'll marry some rich guy."

"Unless you get fat." Reagan remarked, causing the friends to laugh.

                                               -

Keith Scott Body Shop

"It's only one game, Lucas." Jayden said. "Pretty sure MJ was ass in his first game too."

"Michael Jordan scored sixteen points in his first game." Lucas remarked.

"Shit, that analogy won't work then."

"The point is, you're over thinking." Mikayla spoke. "You can't be good all the time."

"What if I can't do it guys?" Lucas asked. "I don't fit in their world, and I don't think I ever will."

"Even Jordan got cut from his varsity team, and it worked out fine for him." Keith interjected as he pulled a cover off Peyton's car.

"Damn, prettier the girl, messier the car?" Keith joked. "Real turn off, huh?"

As Jayden slid under his best friends car, Lucas spotted Peyton's sketch book in the seat.

Breezing through the pages of drawings, he was pulled from his train of thought.

"My sketches!" Peyton shouted as she snatched the book from Lucas's hands.

"I wasn't looking." Lucas replied.

"This is personal!" Peyton yelled. "I don't go reading through your diary!"

"I don't have a diary." Lucas retorted.

"No? Dear diary, my daddy doesn't love me." Peyton mocked.

"Okay, just calm down." Jayden interjected.

"Just stay out of my stuff." Peyton said angrily nodding towards Jayden before walking off.

                                               -

Kat and Jordan walked down the street of downtown Tree Hill after practice, passing by numerous shoppers as they walked and talked.

"She's adorable, Jordan." Kat awed as he showed her pictures of his niece Jenny.

"Can you believe she's talking now?" Jordan said.

"I honestly don't know how you and Jake pull that off." Kat said.

"Me neither." Jordan replied. "Yesterday I couldn't get her to stop crying, I don't know how I'll handle my own kids one day."

As they walked towards the Thud magazine publishing store, they saw Peyton throwing something in the nearby trash bin.

"Wait up." Jordan said. "I need to check something."

Jordan walked to the trash bin, pulling Peyton's sketch book out of the trash and looked at the well drawn illustrations.

These were really good.

Was she trying to show them to the magazine?

Jordan opened his backpack, sliding the book inside for later use, before meeting back up with Kat.

                                              -

"Sup Lucas." Jake asked as they walked through the Tree Hill library. "Tough game the other night."

"Yeah?"

"It happens." Jake replied. "You read a lot, don't you?"

"Yeah?" Lucas replied.

"I got something for you." Jake said as he led Lucas to a shelf in the back of the library.

"Listen, I know we haven't had a chance to talk much since you joined the team, I just figured I'd give you some space to chill out.......I'm Jake by the way."

"Yeah, you're Jordan's brother." Lucas responded as the Jagelski nodded.

"Yeah, Jordan's a good guy." He said. "Lot of talk about your one-on-one with Nathan."

"Eh, it was no big deal."

"You know, Nathan's one hell of a player, he really is,"Jake said. "but you've got him scared."

Jake then pulled a book from his backpack, titled "Atlas Shrugged."

"You read it?" Jake asked.

"No."

"That's good, and anyway, you're gonna be fine." Jake replied.

"Just remember, don't let him take it."

"I don't know what that means." Lucas said in confusion.

"You will." Jake said, gesturing towards the book as he left Lucas with his thoughts.

-

"Lucas Scott!" Whitey called as the team started practice.

Receiving no answer, Whitey tried again.

"Lucas Scott!"

"I don't think he's coming coach." Troy said she later the ball into the net.

Whitey sighed, blowing the whistle to signal the start of practice.

"Alright, I've got some offensive sets I want to run." He said. "White ball up top, Troy at the top of the key."

"Got it coach." Troy said, grabbing the basketball as he dribbled up the court.

As the whistle blew, Troy swung the ball over to the corner towards Jordan who grabbed the ball and signaled for a pick.

Issac set the pick, allowing the Jagelski to swing the ball to Troy for an easy lay up in the post.

"Run it again!" Whitey yelled as he called them back.

-

After finally getting Jenny to calm down until his parents came home, Jordan ran out of his house, hoping to get to the game on time.

But he had something to do before that.

Parking his car, Jordan ran to Thud Magazine. Trying to catch the editor before he closed up for the night.

"Wait!" He yelled, handing him the book.

"Would you take a look at these?" Jordan asked.

"Yeah, sure." the editor said.

"Great, you won't be disappointed."

-

Karen Roe entered the Tree Hill High School gym, and the first person she saw was her high school boyfriend Dan.

The man who left her all those years ago with their son, who he abandoned.

Her thoughts were cut off as the voice of Keith called her up to the bleachers, sitting next to Jack and Rose.

Karen smiled, making her way up the bleachers to sit down.

It was time to forget the past, her son was playing a basketball game. That was all that mattered.

-

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! See you next week!