the other two.

⁽⁰¹⁻⁰³⁾ ᵃʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵗʳᵘᵉ⁻³

-tree hill, north carolina

simultaneously, across town, nathan and his father were having a very, very different conversation. "i hear whitey gave your spot to lucas." dan called to nathan, his voice very distinguishable in the very much furnished, but seemingly empty room. some would say it was missing the love a regular home usually had. nathan stopped, head turning to face his father, "do you even care that its slipping away?" dan stated before letting out a heavy sigh.

nathan could feel the anger his father was trying very hard to hold back, their eyes never meeting. "all the work weve put into it, all the plans that weve made." nathan rolled his eyes, pausing for a moment before stalking up to his dad. "all the plans youve made, dad. all the work ive done." the younger scott in the room stated, stopping in his steps just before stepping on the rug in the living area.

the pair finally locked eyes, "fine. quit the team. hell, quit school for that matter." the older scott placed his drink on the side table, standing up. "ill tell you what, ill give you a job working at the dealership. you can spend the rest of your life haggling over free floor mats with morons with bad credit. how does that sound?" dan spoke menacingly towards his son, his eyes full with fulfillment, a look which nathan scott knew all too well. truth.

truth. there was truth behind dan scotts words. and, behind the tough exterior, that scared the shit out of nathan. "because thats where youre headed. and thats if i give you the job!" dan raised his voice, pointing a stern finger at his son. "i just want more for you, nathan." dan spoke after taking a short breather. "more than a nine to five and the feeling you could have had a better life." the older counterpart specified as nathan looked at his father without a word.

"and i want you to be happy. i do. but you need to tell me if you still want to do this. do you?" dan continued after a moment of silence. nathan nodded without a word. "okay. good" dan stepped towards his son, whos eyes never strayed from his. "but happiness doesnt come cheap. hell, if it did, wed all be smiling." dan looked to his son, nathan understanding that what his father was saying in this moment was not a lie. at least in his eyes it wasnt.

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"didnt i tell you this was gonna happen?" dan spoke to his son during an early morning the following day, "whiteys using you to get back at me." nathan sighed with a roll of his eyes, "and i apologize nathan, because its not your fault." nathan, now annoyed at his fathers words, threw his arms out, "what do you want me to do, dad? its whiteys team." nathan told his father.

dan shook his head, "no its not. whitey didnt understand when i was playing for him. he doesnt get it now." dan looked to his son. "this is your team, not his." the older scott in the room reminded him. "what position do you wanna play?" dan asked. "i think im stronger as shooting gaurd." nathan told his father confidently. the tense air in the room caused by dans deminishing stance now more palpable.

"i agree. so if this new kids taking your position, hes no longer your teammate, is he? hes your opponent." the scott told his son, reminding him of his more prominent role on the basketball team. "identify his weaknesses and attack them. the only way to defeat an opponent." dan reminded nathan, a stern finger pointed at the latter.

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later that day, in the locker room before after school practice began, nathan began his 'speech' which serves as the start of his reign of terror on lucas as people called it. with ethan leaning on the door frame behind him, arms crossed over his chest, nathan began. "look, you guys are the ones i feel sorry for. us? were gonna get our minutes." nathan pointed to himself, then motioning to ethan behind him, who nodded in agreement. "but you guys have been busting your tails since the junior leagues." nathan made sure to point out.