Chapter 13: Boston Celtics

"Damn is it crowded in here!" Brooke complained, as she sank into the empty seat beside me.

"Feels like Déjà vu, doesn't it?" I smirked at her. "Except, you and Peyton would be down on the court in cute little cheerleading outfits.

"If I remember correctly, Ms. James, you actually participated in a certain cheerleading competition yourself." Peyton replied, nudging me playfully in the shoulder.

"It's a good Déjà vu." Brooke beamed. "All of us girls together again, here to watch the guys play."

"Well, except I'm not on the court either." Jake piped up from Peyton's other side, Jenny situated on his lap.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR THE BOSTON CELTICS, BEING LED BY THEIR NEWEST MEMBERS, NATHAN SCOTT, LUCAS SCOTT AND TRENTON "SKILLS" JACKSON!" The announcer shouted, as the lights dimmed and the spotlight lit up the far corner.

Lucas, Nathan and Skills jogged out side by side, followed by the rest of the team, to riotous applause, especially from where we stood, cheering at the top of our lungs.

"You know, they look pretty good in green." I commented, eyeing Lucas appreciatively.

"Ooh, Haley's having lusty, wrong thoughts!" Brooke teased.

"No I'm not!" I protested, feeling my cheeks begin to burn.

"No, you're not." Brooke suddenly looked thoughtful.

I spared another glance at Lucas. "Oh I so am!" I exclaimed.

"No, I mean, they're not wrong thoughts. I keep thinking of you still as the shy, virginal tutor girl from Tree Hill, but you're not a virgin and you an adult, he's an adult, you're dating, it's allowed." She laughed. "Oh and just in case you're curious, he's a twelve out of ten in the bedroom!"

"Brooke!" I admonished, feeling my cheeks burn even brighter, while Peyton and Jake laughed heartedly.

"Is this something I should worry about?" Tim asked, as he sat on Brooke's other side, handing her the popcorn and soda he had purchased.

"Oh no Babe, you're definitely a fifteen, at least." Brooke smiled impishly at him, before giving him a chaste kiss.

"May I remind you that a six year old girl we all know and love can hear you." Peyton mock scolded, tugging gently on one of Jenny's pigtails.

I felt my face return to its normal color. "It's so great to have the whole gang back together again."

"Yeah, I'm actually happy to have a job at the Herald, I'm not loving New York so much anymore. I miss the two most important people in my world." Peyton leaned into Jake's shoulder.

"Yeah, London really was too faraway. I need to be here." Tim wrapped his arm around Brooke's shoulders.

I smiled and looked out on the court, where the game had started. My gaze immediately settled on Lucas, who was waiting for the ball. Nathan stood on the other side of the court, directly proportional to his brother, ready to pass the ball or receive it. It was perfect.

Flashback

"And it's Lucas Scott for the win..." I held my breath as Lucas darted past Nathan and went into a lay-up.

Swish! Nothing but net. "Ahh!!!" I screamed, rushing out onto the court. Lucas turned just in time to catch me in his arms, while Nathan looked on in shock, as well as defeat. "You beat him!"

He laughed, lifting me off my feet and twirling me in a circle. Once my feet hit the ground, Skills was practically on top of us. "I told you, you could do it, Brah!" They knocked fists.

"This changes everything Lucas!" I exclaimed happily.

"It changes some things." He corrected.

"Whatever, the point is, you won!" I squealed again and hugged him. "I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks Hales, I couldn't have done it without you or Skills or mom." He wrapped his arm tightly around my shoulders. "Come on, I'll walk you home."

"You wouldn't rather celebrate?" I peered up at him questioningly.

"Haley, this Dude wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but with you." Skills shook his head in laughter. "I'll catch up with you two later, I've got to go collect from some of them bets I made tonight."

"Later." Lucas and I called in unison, before grinning at each other.

"Home Jeeves." I teased.

"Yes Ms. Daisy." He mocked, leading me away from the crowd.

End of Flashback

"AND IT'S LUCAS SCOTT FOR THE WIN..." I snapped out of my memories just as the game came to and end, Lucas making a short from the three point line, just as the buzzer went off.

"SCORE! THE CELTICS WIN!" I dimly brought out of the moment, by Peyton and Brooke squealing and hugging me tightly from both sides.

"They won! They won!" Brooke chanted, breaking away to hug Tim and Peyton hugged Jake excitedly.

I laughed and looked back down at the court, where Lucas and Nathan were standing, celebrating with their teammates. Then Lucas looked up into the stands and beamed at me. Impulsively, I blew him a kiss, before waving.

He grinned and turned back to his teammates, as they headed for the locker room. I turned back to the group. "Let's go meet them, shall we?"

"Let's get this girl to her man!" Brooke ordered, grabbing Tim by the hand and leading the way down the stairs towards the exit.

A half an hour later, we waited patiently off to the side, while the fans and reporters swarmed around the locker room doors, pouncing on every player, looking for the notorious Scott brothers.

Skills came out first and was immediately hammered by questions. He politely answered a few of them and signed a few autographs before apologizing and saying he had to go. He grinned at me and made his way over, enveloping me into a big hug. "Haley James, it's been to long!"

"Hi Skills!" I laughed and returned the friendly hug. "Yeah, ver since you arrived it's been all work and no play."

"Got that right." He pulled back and nodded at the rest of the group. "Hey guys."

They all greeted him, when the crowd suddenly went nuts. We all looked over to see Nathan and Lucas emerge from the locker room, knocking fists and laughing at some private joke. They were both stunned when reporters began to shout at them and fans began to beg for autographs.

"We should probably go wait in the car, this could take a while." Peyton muttered, as the Scott brothers were lost in the crowd.

"You go on ahead, I'll wait." I offered, waving them off. "Go on." They shrugged and headed back down the hallway, while I retook my post, leaning against the far wall.

I must have been standing there for maybe twenty minutes, when Nathan finally made his way through the crowd. He grinned when he saw me. "It's a freaking madhouse."

"That it is. Did you leave your brother behind?" I joked.

"Lost him in that mob, barely got out myself, he would have slowed me down." Nathan chuckled. "The other's out by the cars?"

"Of course. You can head out if you want, I'll wait for Lucas." I offered.

"Thanks Hales." He gave me a one armed hug before heading down the hallway.

"Oh, great game Scott!" I called after him, causing he to beam at me from over his shoulder.

"What about me?" A deep husky voice said from behind, causing me to jump.

"Lucas!" I slapped him on the arm. "Not cool."

He laughed and leaned down for a chaste kiss. "Sorry but it was impossible to resist. Now, let's get out of here, before we get assaulted by the mob, I just broke free of."

Laughing, I let him lead me at a jog after Nathan, and the three of us escaped out of the building, into the luxury stretch limo, Nathan and Lucas had hired for the special night and what a night it was.