the other two.

⁽⁰¹⁻⁰²⁾ ᵖˡᵃᶜᵉˢ ʸᵒᵘ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ᵗᵒ ᶠᵉᵃʳ⁻³

-tree hill, north carolina.

lucas trailed behind keith, who was walking into the garage of his body shop, going to prep peytons car for repair. "its only one game, luke." he assured his nephew, "even jordan played lousy in his first pro game." he continued.

lucas furrowed his eyebrows, "michael jordan scored sixteen points in his first pro game." he corrected, calling out his uncles bluff. "yeah, i know that. i just didnt think you did." keith told the boy, walking towards peytons car with a smile. "all im saying is, you know, you gotta shake it off." the older man explained to the boy.

"what if i cant do it, keith?" lucas asked his uncle while leaning on peytons car, "maybe i cant play at this level." the boy said, now doubtful of his own skills. "or maybe not." lucas told his uncle after keith tried reassuring him. "i dont fit into their world, and i never will. this was stupid." lucas scoffed, looking away from his uncles work for a moment.

keith sighed, "even jordan got cut from his high school varsity team. and he did okay." the man tried reassuring once again, shutting the hood of peytons car closed. "what does your mom say about it?" the man wondered, "i havent talked to her yet." lucas clarified. "well you should, and maddie? whatd she say?" keith asked.

lucas sighed, "the usual. she tried giving me a pep talk about how i should play for myself and mom and stuff. or to remember that its just a game." keith raised his eyebrows, "well shes right. if anything else doesnt help you always have to have the voice in your head telling you, its just a game." keith smiled.

"where is she anyway?" keith asked, looking around the area where his niece usually is. "shes hanging out with skills. apparently they always steal bee- you know. i actually dont know where she is." lucas smiles awkwardly at his uncle, seeing the expression on his face. "ill just.. pretend i didnt hear that. mostly so she wont beat your ass" keith laughed.

moving on, the pair began taking the cover off of peytons car, revealing the mess of junk food, cds, and other stuff she had scattered all over her back seat. keith whistled, "its a rule of life. the prettier the girl, the messier the car. its a real turn on, huh?" keith bluntly asked lucas before walking away to attend a customer.

_____________________________________________

dan stormed up a set of steps outside of his home, walking up to nathan who was currently working out. "whats this i hear about a fight?" dan sauntered up to the boy. "its nothing." nathan waved his father off, not stopping his current rep. "did you win?" dan wondered, staring at the back of nathans head.

nathan scoffed, "dad, it was nothing." it seemed as though nathans current attempt to get his dad to lay off him wasnt working for a second. "no, son, it was something. 'cause if it was nothing your principal wouldnt have called me at the dealership." the man corrected, calling nathan out for his tone. "do you realize how fast a suspension or bad reputation can ruin your prospects?"

nathan decided to stop putting off the situation, standing up to face his father, "dad, hes hitting on my girlfriend. what do you want me to do?" nathan asked, as if asking the man to think of it as if he was in his shoes. "your girlfriend." dan scoffed. "nathan, if your gonna get in a fight, get in a fight over something important." dan made sure to tell his boy, "did you get hurt?" he asked.

nathan glared at his father, "no." he stated. "okay good." dan assured before going to walk away. "did you?" nathan called to his father, causing the man to turn around in his spot. "me? why?" dan asked, as nathan shrugged. "he wasnt swinging at me, dad. he was swinging at you." the boy clarified, his eyes never once leaving his fathers.