Chapter Text
"You'll be fine, you guys are gonna win." Josie said as she and Richie walked into the gym on Tree Hill High School, holding hands. "I know, but I feel better having you cheering for me." Richie said as the two of them stopped near the bleachers. "I should go meet the team in the locker room," he added. "I'll see you soon." Josie said before he leaned down and kissed her softly before walking out of the gym.
Josie sighed before walking over to where the cheerleaders were stretching. "Hey P. Sawyer." She greeted her curly blonde friend, who turned to her and smiled at her. "Hi J. Carmen." she greeted her back. "Where's B. Davis?" Josie asked as she sat down and stretched. "No idea, probably a party." Peyton laughed. "Probably." Josie snickered before the basketball team arrived into the gym and soon enough the game started.
"Basket by Nathan Scott! He really looks sharp out there tonight." The announcer said as Nathan scored a basket. "Go ravens!" Josie cheered. Tim saw an opening and took the basketball from the opposing team before heading back down towards the hoop. "And now a steal by the ravens, they'll go on the offensive." The announcer said as Coach Whitey shouted to pass the ball."Coach Whitey Durham urges them on." The announcer said as Richie passed the ball to Nathan.
"Richie Myers, he's got Scott! Finds Nathan scott and he hammers it home!" The announcer said as Nathan shot the ball into the basket. "Go Ravens!" Josie cheered excitedly with every other Tree Hill supporter and raven cheerleader "He's already got 14 of the Ravens' 17 points tonight." The announcer said as Nathan got the ball and shot another basket. "
Turn around jumper by Nathan Scott! And i tell you, we haven't seen talent like this since his father, Dan, played for whitey." The announcer said, making Josie roll her eyes as shook the blue and white pom-poms that were in her hands. "Here's Scott again, another long jump shot! It's all Nathan Scott!" the announcer said as Nathan, once again, shot another basket.
"You guys are stinking up the place! Time-out! Time-out" Coach Whitey screamed at his basketball team. "That's a ten to two run and Coach Durham wants to talk about it." The announcer said. "Come on, Hustle, Hustle, Hustle!" Coach Whitey remarked as The Tree Hill Ravens basketball team walked over to him.
Nathan sat down on the bench as the other players went back onto the court and the game began again. "Now with the shot, he misses badly, and the drought continues." The announcer said as they missed the shot. "Fast break hawks and the hawks pull within one and you have to wonder, where is Nathan scott?" The announcer said after one person on the opposing team shot a basket but soon enough Nathan joined the team on the court, making everyone cheer. Nathan walked over to the cheerleaders and Peyton moved from her spot next to Josie and stood next to Nathan.
"Don't bother showering tonight." Peyton said, making Nathan smirk before throwing the ball onto the court and joining the game. "Under twenty seconds to go and it's all tied up." The announcer said as the game was in its last seconds. "Fasten your seat belts, folks. We're going down to the wire." The announcer added. "Davies with... stolen by Nathan Scott!" The announcer said as Nathan stole the ball from the opposing team and everyone who supported The Tree Hill Ravens stood up and cheered.
"The Ravens have it and they're gonna hold onto the ball and shoot for the win." The announcer said as Nathan passed the ball to another team member before moving towards the hop, so he had a better chance of getting it in. "Head it up!" Coach Whitey urged his team. "Ten seconds remaining on the clock. Now Five..." The announcer said as Nathan got passed the ball. "Scott for the game." The announcer said as Nathan shot the last ball of the game, winning it for The Tree Hill Ravens, making everyone cheer and Josie shook the pom-poms like crazy.
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"You were great out there tonight." Josie asked as she and Richie walked out of the building into the car park. "Not as good as you cheering me on." Richie said as Nathan Scott jogged over to them. "Hey, guys, we're taking one of the buses for a party, you in?" he asked, looking between the couple. Richie shook his head. "Nah, we're gonna go get some food." he denied and Nathan nodded before patting Richie on the shoulder before walking off. "He and everyone else are going to get caught." Josie said as they got into Josie's car.
"I know." he answered as they drove out of the Tree Hill High School parking lot. "Karens?" he asked and she nodded. "Of course." she answered as she drove down main street. "God I need caffeine." Josie groaned as she parked her car, the trip not taking long because the school wasn't far from the main street of Tree Hill. "And I'm sure Karen will give you coffee." he said amusingly as they entered the cafe.
"Hey guys." Karen greeted them, Lucas turned to see them, he smiled and waved. Lucas Scott and Josie Carmen were neighbours, their mothers were friends, so they both grew up close, and it's not much of a surprise that he and Richie were close either, since Josie and Richie met in kindergarten.
"Coffee, Coffee, Coffee, Coffee." Josie chanted as she skipped to the counter and stopped in front of Karen with her wide smile, making Lucas and Richie laugh alongside Karen, who poured her a cup of coffee into a to-go cup. "Thank you Karen, you are a goddess." Josie said before taking a sip of her coffee. "How was the game?" Lucas asked. "It was good, we won." Richie answered. "Of course you did." Karen responded with a smile as she handed him a bag of food, knowing what they'd want.
"Well, we should get going, but I'll meet at the court tomorrow Luke," Richie said as he and Lucas did their handshake. "You joining us?" Lucas asked Josie who shook her head. "Nah, plans with Haley." she answered and Lucas nodded and bidded them a goodbye as the couple left Karen's Cafe.
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Richie was at The River Court with Lucas and their friends, they were playing basketball. Lucas shot a basket. "You guys remember Tom Dugan from grade school?" Junk Moretti asked and Richie nodded his head. "Yeah, he used to live next door to you, right?" he asked. "Yeah, some guys snapped him with a wet towel and he lost one of his testicles." he told them, making Richie grimace. "God," he uttered as the others laughed with disbelief. "Come on." Fergi Thompson said, "Okay Junk." Jimmy Edwards teased from where he sat with Mouth and Fergie.
"Just saying what I heard." Junk said as he passed the ball to Richie. "Anyway, man, what you reading these days, man?" Skills Taylor asked Lucas. "Steinbeck, The Winter Of Our Discount." he answered as Richie passed the ball to him. "Let me hear some." Skills asked. "Nah, No." Lucas said. "Come on, Dawg, you know I be reading vicariously through you." Skills responded, making Richie laugh. "It's true, he is." he teased with a laugh, making them all laugh as well before Lucas shot another basket.
Hearing music, they turned to see Peyton Sawyer driving past. "Peyton Sawyer!" Junk remarked as Lucas stared at her. "You seen her webcam?" Junk asked. "In her bedroom, I hear she's naked on it, like, all the time," he added with a laugh, and everyone laughed, but Lucas and Richie. "What? I hear things." Junk remarked, defending himself before tossing the ball to Lucas.
"You know I saw her the other night." Lucas told them. "Really?" Richie asked and Lucas nodded. "She almost ran me over, of course." Lucas added with a laugh. "Yeah, she pretty fine, huh?" Skills spoke, "Ah, she's alright." Lucas said nonchalantly. "Okay," Junk scoffed. "Yeah, Alright." Mouth remarked. "Look, just shoot for teams, alright?" Lucas asked as he shot another basket.
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Lucas and Richie walked into 'Karen's Cafe' after walking back from The River Court. "Hey Mom." "Hey Karen." They greeted Karen as Lucas shut and locked the Cafe's door and switched the 'Open' sign to 'Closed'. "Hey Hon, Hey Richie." She greeted them back. "Mm, it smells good in here." Lucas said. "Did you change your hair?" he asked as he and Richie stood at the counter. "If by 'change' you mean, dragged a brush through it, then yeah." Karen responded, causing Richie to laugh quietly. "Well, it looks nice." Lucas complimented her. "Thank you." She responded as Josie and Haley came out from the back while Lucas served himself from food that his mom had made. "All of the magazine pages are sticky again, little pervs." Haley said, walking up to Lucas and Richie as Josie walked around the counter and the two shared a kiss.
"Oh, hey, Luke, Rich," Haley greeted them teasingly, making Josie laugh as she leaned into Richie. "You been reading this?" Haley asked Lucas. "I don't know, Haley, Is that 'Why do I hang out with these people' issue? Because you're on the cover of that, right?" Lucas asked sarcastically. "No, actually, it's the 'my best friends are idot' issue.." Haley responded as she opened the magazine and showed Lucas the page. "And there you are." she finished.
Lucas laughed before heading to sit down at a table. "Girls, Richie, would you like to join us?" Karen asked and The other three teens nodded. "Hell, yes," Haley said and they all quickly served themselves some food before sitting down with the mother and son. "So, honey, how was your day?" Karen asked. "Good! Thanks." Haley answered Karen's question, even though it was meant for Lucas.
"I mean 'good' is relative, right?" she answered as she sat down next to Karen on her right side while Josie was on her left and Richie was in between Lucas and Josie. "Considering a third of the world is starving." she asked, making the others share an amused look as Haley ranted. "Which does not change the fact that I am clumsy as hell." she said. "Did I tell you I fell down today? Yeah. Slipped off the curb, totally bit it, face down, butt in the air." Haley said as everyone laughed. "Haley," Karen said through her laugh. "Too graphic? Sorry, I'll be quiet." She apologized.
"It was hilarious." Josie whispered to Lucas and Richie as Haley shot her a playful glare. "So, I got something for you, Lucas." Karen said. "Actually, I found it." Haley interrupted, "I mean, sorry, not that I was like, looking for something specifically, which implies some hideous sort of 'Joey loves Dawson' scenario and completely creeps me out but, you know, we saw it, and.." she trailed off as Lucas stared at her amusingly. Haley bit her lip before looking at Karen. "Give him the book." she told her.
Karen pulled out a book from beside her and handed it to Lucas. "Wow. Julius Caesar." Lucas said, impressed. "There's a tide in the affairs of men." Josie recited, making everyone look at her. "Or something like that." she muttered, pressing her lips together. "Nice." Lucas complimented her. "Thank you, guys, thank you very much." He thanked his mom and Haley. "Whatever. If that's what you're into." Haley said, clearing her throat, making Josie laugh.
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Josie, Richie and Lucas were sitting in the school library the next day, Josie was doing her homework as Richie read and Lucas was doing either one. Josie looked up to see Lucas and Peyton share a look, making Josie kick his shin gently, making him turn to her and she raised her brow making him shake his head with a little laugh. "Scott." someone called out, making everyone look up to see Coach Whitey. "What's up, coach?" Nathan asked, thinking he was talking to him, since he was the only Scott on the basketball team.
"Not you." he scoffed and pointed at Lucas. "You." he said, shocking everyone. Coach Whitey motioned with his finger for Lucas to come with him and he shared a look with Josie and Richie before getting up and joining Coach Whitey. "You..." he looked at Nathan. "Read a book or something." he scoffed before walking off with Lucas following after him, making Josie let out a laugh which caused Nathan to turn to her and glare but she kept laughing, Richie had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing.
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After school Lucas and Richie were at the River Court with all the others. "So were you gonna tell us, man?" Skills asked. "It's nothing." Lucas brushed it off, but Richie knew that was a lie. "Luke, Coach asked you to play on the team, and it's nothing?" he asked as he held the basketball to his side. "It's nothing 'cause I'm not playing." Lucas responded as Skill shot a basket. "Not with those guys. No offense Rich," Lucas said and Richie waved his hand. He knew Lucas didn't mean anything by it.
"Luke, man, I've been guarding you almost every night since we were like 12 years old, right? And I won how many games?" Skill asked. "I don't know. It just seems like a waste to me, man." Skills responded to his own question. "Well, It doesn't to me." Lucas said. "I mean, don't you guys ever think maybe we belong here?" Lucas asked them, Richie sighed. He may have been on the team but he wasn't close with any of them, he only talked to Nathan because he was Josie's friend's boyfriend and they have to hang out sometimes.
"No. we belong here." Skill motioned to the other guys, minus Lucas and Richie. "You've never belonged here." Skills said to Lucas. "Thanks a lot, skills." Lucas deadpanned. "Just shoot for teams," he said before shooting a basket. "Yo, Luke, man," Skill said, walking up to Lucas. "You know you're one of my best friends, right?" he asked. "And ain't nothin' never gonna change that, man, but keep it real, we ain't shooting for teams, we're shooting to be your excuse and I ain't about to be a part of that." he said to him. "Luke, I'd love to have you on the team, if that means anything." Richie said before shooting a basket.
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"Wait, so, he offered Lucas a spot on the team, but he won't take it?" Jennifer Carmen asked her daughter as they sat down in the kitchen of their house. "Yeah. I mean I get It, not wanting to be on the same team as Nathan Scott." Josie responded. "Dan Scott." Jennifer scoffed. "Always hated him, always knew Karen could do better." she added. "I think Lucas should take the spot. He's great at basketball, and being on the team could help him get a future as a basketball player." Josie said and her mom nodded in agreement. "I know honey," Jennifer said as she ate the rest of their dinner with mindless chit-chat.
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The next day, Josie, Richie, Lucas and Haley were walking down the street. "So, Nathan challenged you? Are you gonna play him?" Haley asked after Lucas had explained what had happened the night before. "I don't know, It's not like I have anything to prove." Lucas responded. "Yeah, I guess. But don't you just wanna show him sometimes—" Josie started but was cut off by a bunch of birds flying past them, making Josie and Haley gasp and jump back as Lucas and Richie moved to dodge them.
"Damn it! Bird's man." Josie scoffed. "What is up? I was attacked by a flock of crows last week!" Haley exclaimed, making the others laugh. "I'm totally serious!" she laughed as she pushed Lucas. "By the way, it's a murder." he said. "What?" Haley and Josie asked, confused. "More than one crow is a murder." Lucas informed them and Richie nodded, already knowing this information.
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about." Haley said through a laugh. "A parliament of owls, an exultation of larks, " Richie explained, giving them examples. " A murder of crows." Lucas added. "I think that is why people think you guys are weird, right there." Haley pointed out, making Josie laugh. Even though he was a basketball player, Richie was quite the nerd. "Ah.." Lucas sighed heavily.
"I would like to show him sometimes though. What a mistake he's made." Lucas said. "Dan?" Haley asked. "Mostly for mom. And... sometimes for me." Lucas responded. "So, Luke, what are ravens? I mean, you know, more than one?" Josie asked. "An unkindness." he responded and she laughed at the irony of it all.
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Richie and Josie stood on the sideline and watched as Lucas shot some practice baskets as they all waited for Nathan scott. "Just moments before the stroke of twelve, and still no Nathan Scott." Mouth said into his hand that he pretended to be a microphone. "And the natives are getting restless, Mouth, judging by the crowd that envelops our booth." Jimmy adds. "You don't have a booth." Junk said as he joined then, making Richie laugh. "He's right Jimmy, Mouth." he said as he wrapped an arm around Josie.
"Junk Moreti joins us now." Mouth said. "Junk, you care to make a prediction?" Mouth asked. "Sure, I predict you guys will be the two biggest morons out here." Junk said as an engine revved nearby, making everyone look to see a car approaching. "And it looks like Nathan Scott has arrived, driven by car right onto the court." Mouth said. "This is gonna be a shit show." Josie whispered and Richie nodded as people started chanting Nathan's name over and over. The doors to the car open and Nathan, Tim and Peyton get out. "Pey, don't look happy." Richie noted and Josie sighed, "Wonder what Nathan did now." she said. "By the way, I hope you don't mind, but I told a few people." they heard Tim say to Nathan as he took his jacket off and smirked before handing it to Tim. "I'll be back, I'm gonna speak to Pey." Josie said and Richie nodded before Josie moved through the crowd to get to Peyton.
"P. Sawyer." she said, greeting her friend, who smiled at her before Josie pulled her into a hug. "What's up babe?" she asked as she linked arms with her. "Nathan said whoever wins this, gets me." Peyton said and Josie's mouth dropped open in shock. "Are you serious?" she asked and Peyton nodded. "Jackasses." She whispered, making Peyton nod. "You should go back to Rich, I'll be fine here." she said, looking towards Richie who was with Mouth, Jimmy and Junk. "Are you sure?" Josie asked, "Yeah. go." Peyton said and Josie squeezed her hand before walking back to Richie as the game started.
Lucas shot a basket and Nathan caught it once it fell through the hoop. "Come on, let's go baby!, let's go Nathan!" Tim shouted. "Sometimes I think Tim loves Nathan too much." Richie said and Josie laughed in agreement as Nathan dribbled the ball before shooting the ball onto the court before running up to and dunking it making everyone but Lucas's friends cheer.
"Okay, folks, here we go– 15 by ones. Make it, take it, win by one, and you can feel the intensity in the air." Mouth narrated as Nathan walked up to Lucas, giving him the basketball. "You ready for this?" he asked him. "Why not?" Lucas asked in response as he gave the ball to Nathan. "It's your life." Nathan shrugged, giving the ball back to Lucas. "Yeah. It is." Lucas said before he shot a basket, making everyone else cheer as Josie linked her arm with Haley.
"Oh-ho! A 25-footer rips the silk like Jimmy Edwards in a size 3 dress." Mouth said, making Josie laugh as Nathan passed the ball to Lucas. "Go ahead, man. I'll give you that all night." Nathan said as he and Lucas bent down to eye level before Lucas shot again and cheers and applause sounded around them, Nathan gave the ball back to Lucas. "What happened to all night?" Lucas asked as Nathan glared at him before Lucas dribbled the ball but Nathan stole the ball. "Is that all you got, man? If that's all you got, this is over." Nathan said before moving around Lucas and shot a basket and he scored.
"Yeah! All right!" Peyton cheered as cheers surrounded them. "This looks to be a battle, mouth." Jimmy said into the hand-microphone. The game goes on with both boys making great shots until Nathan elbows Lucas in the face, making a shot. "Are you serious!?" Josie yelled out, glaring at Nathan as everyone watched, worried. Lucas spits blood on the ground, worrying everyone before he stands back upright, walking back to Nathan.
"No foul. Basket counts. Besides... You won't score again." He said, taking the ball from Nathan, moving before passing it back to Nathan. "Oh, the basket counts, and it's 14-12, game point for Nathan. He could win it all right here." Mouth commented as Nathan ran with the ball. "Nathan for the win. Holy crap!" Mouth shouted as Lucas made an unbelievable block and everyone else cheered for him.
"Did you see that?! Someday men will write stories about that block. Children will be named after it. Argentinean women will weep for it." Mouth rambled as Lucas scored. "Luke gets a basket, and he's down one." Mouth siad. "Come on Luke, come on." Richie muttered under his breath. "You're down by one, man. Don't choke now." Nathan said as Lucas made another basket. "Another dagger, and it's all tied up!" Mouth exclaimed. "Come on, Nate! Come on, shut him down, Nathan!" Tim shouted out.
"This is it, folks, no going back now. The next basket wins it." Mouth said. "He's never mentioned you, man. Not once in all these years." Nathan said, trying to rile up Lucas but Lucas didn't seem fazed. "This is for my mom." Lucas said before he dribbled the ball. "Luke for the win!" Mouth shouted before Lucas made the winning shot, making everyone cheer. Josie, Haley and Richie ran towards Lucas and he managed to catch Josie and they hugged. "It's good! Lucas Scott takes it 15-14, and there is bedlam and delirium and felicity for all!" Mouth shouted as everyone surrounded Lucas.