chapter three — are you true?
[ season one, episode three ]
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"Let's go. Let's go Ravens. Let's go." The cheerleaders cheered as the Ravens played their game. "Under 25 seconds to go, the Ravens trailed by." the announcer said as the Ravens huddled around Coach Whitey. "Alright, we're running black Nathan." he said to the team.

"If they double youm, fight through them and take your shot when you have five seconds left. Let's go." he instructed them before putting his fist in the middle of them. "Ravens on three!" Nathan said as everyone else put their fists on top. "One, two, three, Ravens." Tim before they jogged back on the court. "Ravens!" The cheerleaders cheered.

"So a quick timeout and The Ravens take to the court, their undefeated record at stake. Eighteen seconds left on the clock. They need a basket to tie or a three-pointer for the win." the announcer said. Josie bit her lip as she shook her pom-poms. "Jagieslski to inbound, finds Tim Smith out top. We're under ten seconds now, Smith dumps it down to Nathan Scott, and he's double teamed, but he forces up to a seven-footer." the announcer said as the basketball team played the game.

"It kicks off the heel of the rim. Jake Jagielski, though with an offensive rebound, with under five seconds on the clock, Jagielski out to Lucas Scott, he is behind the three-point line. The Ravens are going to win or lose it right here." The announcer voice boomed and as the buzzer alarm went off, the ball that Lucas shot went in and they won the game and everyone cheered and Josie shook the pom-poms like crazy.

"Whoo-hoo!" she exclaimed. "Unbelievable! Lucas Scott with the three-pointer at the buzzer, and the Tree Hill Ravens are still undefeated! And I tell you what, if you're going to play the Ravens this season, you better take note, there is a new Scott in town!" The announcer's voice boomed.

After the game, and there were only a few stragglers left, Josie and Richie were standing with Keith and Karen as Lucas joined them. Keith and Lucas high-fived. "You rock." Keith said. "Thanks, Uncle Keith." Lucas responded before he hugged his mom. "You were great tonight, man," Richie explained, clapping him on the shoulder just before Josie launched herself at Lucas, he caught her and they hugged.

"You won the game Luke!" she exclaimed before stepping back, Richie wrapping his arm around her shoulder. Richie had never had an issue with how close Josie and Lucas were, they were like siblings more than friends. "For a kid that was about to quit, that was something to see." Keith said.

"Yeah, but I picked up fouls too early, and I was slow getting back into it." Lucas responded. "You were great." Karen complimented her son. "Thanks guys, see you soon, mom." he said before he walked away, Richie and Josie following. "See you at Karen's," Josie called out as she and Richie headed to her car, "Okay Jo," he called out.

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Josie and Richie had arrived at Karen's before Lucas had, which upon arrival, they were greeted with hugs from Hayley. The three friends were waiting for Lucas to arrive. "He'll be here hals." Josie said as she stood behind the counter of Karen's Cafe as Haley flipped the sign from 'OPEN' to 'CLOSED' and took off her apron when the door opened and Lucas walked in.

"Here's the man of the hour!" Richie exclaimed, opening his arms wide as if he was gesturing to something. Lucas and Haley stared each other down. "Twelve points, eight assists, and I made the game-winning shot." Lucas said, and Haley smiled wide. "Good!" she said before running to Lucas's arm and gave him a hug as she laughed.

"That is great, right?" she asked. "Yeah, it's alright." Lucas responded. "Shut up luke, it's awesome." Josie said, tilting her head. "I can't believe I had to work! Tell me about it!" Haley demanded. "Not like we didn't offer to play storyteller or anything." Josie shrugged, making Lucas laugh.

"Well, actually, the beginning wasn't so great, I ran into you-know-who." Lucas started explaining. "Dan? I'm sorry. Do you wanna talk about it?" Hayley asked. "Actually, I was thinking about checking out the Burning Boat." Lucas responded. "Ohh," Haley responded. "You wanna come?" Lucas asked, looking at Haley and then the couple behind the counter, who nodded. "Well, I suppose I could be seen with you," Haley said in a terrible fake accent, making them all laugh. "Let me just call home and tell them not to wait up." she added, speaking normally.

Haley picked up the phone and dialed her home number, "Hey, mom, it's Haley. Haley James, your daughter," Haley said before doing a drinking sign with her hands. "Listen, I'm gonna go out after work and I'll be home, okay? Alright, bye." she said before hanging up. "Was your mom drinking?" Richie asked. "No. I got the machine."  Haley responded as she walked off and grabbed her cardigan, making the others laugh before following her.

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"Come on, come all! To the Tree Hill Annual Burning Boat Festival. Burn your bad karma, bad luck, or bad choices and start anew. We'll be collecting items all week. Nothing is too big, too small, too tragic or—" an announcer said, as the four friends walked around the Burning Boat Festival. "Nice game Lucas," someone said as they passed the group. "Hey, thanks." Lucas responded. "You are just blowing up." Haley said, amused.

"He is, isn't he?" Josie asked, sharing a laugh with Haley. "Well, yeah, man. I'm a big star now." Lucas responded. "You better hope I keep you around, " he joked. "You know, I'm gonna try not to lose sleep over that. Thanks." Haley scoffed, making the couple laugh. "So last night, I'm watching, uh, Scandinavian week on the History channel and I–" Haley started. "Why?" Richie asked. "Because blond Viking guys are hot." Josie said and Haley pointed to her in agreement as Richie wrapped his arm around Josie's shoulder. "Wow." Lucas uttered.

"Anyway, this Burning Boat thing is a total rip-off of a Viking funeral. Did you know that?" Haley asked. "Yes."  Josie answered. "Did you know you're the bomb." someone said, walking up to them. "Thanks." Lucas responded. "Check it out." he said, handing something to Haley, who laughed and Josie looked over his shoulder to see a B+. "B plus! Brandon, alright! You did it!" Haley exclaimed in excitement.

"Yeah, I just threw all my bad grades into the pot. I'm not going back to that." Brandon responded. "I know you're not." Haley responded before Brandon looked at Lucas, Richie and Josie. "I've had, I don't know how many tutors, this girl is a miracle worker." he said. "No, this is all you, man." Haley said, giving him his test back. "Congratulations." she added. "Thanks, Haley. See you." he said before walking off.

"Yes! I knew he could do it!" Haley said excitedly. "Nice work, Hales." Richie said, patting her on the shoulder. "Thank you." Haley responded. "So, what bad mojo are you burning this year?" Haley asked them and Lucas showed them the 'Scott' name from the back of his jersey. "Not wearing that on my jersey," he said. "I'm burning this," Josie said, pulling out a photo of her and her dad. Her dad left her and her mom before she was even born, and they haven't heard from him in years, not that they care. "I'm not burning anything." Richie shrugged.

"So," Lucas said. "So." Haley said, "we're gonna watch this together, right?" he asked, looking at his friends, who nodded. "Of course." Josie said, smiling. "Hmm, maybe. I have to, uh, check my schedule." Haley said, "you know, the word around town is that I'm, um... the bomb. oh." Haley said before walking off and Josie laughed and she and the boys followed Haley. "Wow." Lucas muttered.

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Josie walked through the halls of Tree Hill High School with Brooke as they approached Lucas's locker, where Peyton was, who looked pissed. "If I wanted your help, I would ask for it." Peyton said before Brooke cut in. "Hey girl." she said to Peyton before turning to Lucas, who opened his locker. "Hey, you didn't happen to find my, um..." Brooke trailed off as Lucas pulled a bra out of his locker, holding the strap on his finger.

Josie snickered, covering her mouth and nose with her hand, trying to stop herself from laughing. Brooke took her bra back. "Thank you, gorgeous." she said before Brooke and Peyton walked off and Josie stared at Lucas. "Brooke?" she asked and he shrugged, making her laugh before she walked away to catch up to Brooke and Peyton.

"Whatcha got there?" Josie asked, smirking at her friend. "What?" Brooke asked innocently. "You know what, the   Brooke Davis leopard bra. Dude, that thing's like a welcome mat." Peyton said and Josie and Brooke laughed. "Anyway, I heard you were naked in his car." Josie said, remembering when Lucas told her what happened. "No. I was partially naked." Brooke corrected her. "At one point, I had mittens on 'cause it was cold." she added.

"Oh, did you see my–" she started, moving to open her bag but Peyton stopped her. "Okay, focus. You're a slut in mittens. You're in the car. Then what happens? " she asked, wrapping her arm around Brooke's shoulder. "Well, then nothing." Brooke answered, confusing Peyton. "He was really sweet. He drove me home, said 'Goodnight', and waited till I got inside." Brooke said. 

"Maybe he's gay." Peyton said and Josie laughed. "No, he's just nice." She said, "Anyway, it's gonna be so great when he sleeps with me." Brooke said, laughing before she walked away, Peyton and Josie shared a look. "I'm gonna find Richie." she said and Peyton nodded before they went separate ways.

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Josie and Richie were sitting in the courtyard of Tree Hill High, and Richie was explaining that the basketball team had taken Lucas's clothes. "This is getting absolutely ridiculous." Josie sighed, annoyed. "I tried to stop them, but you know them, everyone but me and Jake bow down to Nathan like he's some sort of god." he added, opening his drink bottle, taking a sip.

"I know. It's ridiculous." Josie responded, crossing her arms and leaning them on the table. "I feel like this is just going to go on forever, and you know, in the end, none of it is going to matter in five years." Josie added, shaking her head. "Tell me about it." Richie scoffed.

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The next day, Richie was at basketball practice with Lucas, who threw the ball into the net and Coach Whitey walked up to Nathan. "Nathan!" he called out, and Nathan walked up to Coach Whitey, who was standing near Lucas and Richie. "I'm tinkering with the offence. You'll be playing more small forward." he informed him.

"Forget it. I'm the shooting guard." Nathan dismissed and Richie rolled his eyes. Coach Whitey laughed. "That's funny. I thought I was the coach." he responded. "As a matter of fact, you can call me that and I'll call you 'Small Forward'." Coach Whitey said, "Nathan Scott, Small Forward. Has a nice rings to it." he added before walking away.

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Jake and Richie were sitting in the changing rooms, listening to Nathan's bullshit speech to the team. "Look, you guys are the ones I feel sorry for. Me? I'm gonna get my minutes. But you guys have been busting your tails since the junior leagues," he said, causing Jake and Richie to share a look, they couldn't believe the stuff Nathan was saying.

"Now you finally get your shot, and Whitey gives a starting spot to this guy?" Nathan scoffs, meaning Lucas. "It's not right. If you aks me, he shouldn't even be on the team." he added. "So then what are we gonna do?" Tim askes, the ever loyal lap dog, as Josie called him. "We're gonna make him earn it. At least make him suffer like we did." Nathan respondes just before the door behind him opens and everyone turns to see Lucas enter.

Lucas just ignored them, walking to his locker, but when he opened it, water leaked out from it, meaning they soaked his clothes. As the team laughed, Richie rolled his eyes, finding their attitude childish. Lucas looked at the team, who were staring at him. "It's only gonna get worse, man." Nathan said before the team left, leaving Jake, Richie and Lucas.

"So the hazing begins... right on schedule." Jake said, going to his locker, near Lucas's as Richie stood, arms crossed as Jake pretended to sniff the air. "Can you smell the desperation?" he asked, making Lucas laugh a little before Richie handed Lucas some spare clothes. "Here." he said, "Always keep them on me. Incase." he added as Lucas took them. "Thanks Rich." he said, nodding his head. "We all went through it. Hang in there." Jake said, giving Lucas some advice before both he and Richie left so Lucas could get changed.

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"You know she'll never go for it." Brooke said as she laid on a table as someone put wax on her legs while Peyton and Josie sat on either side of her. "So how is your Lucas quest going?" Peyton asked. "Fine," Brooke responded, smirking. "Ow!" She said as the lady ripped a wax strip off. "Hand." She said, moving her hand out to Josie, who grabbed it and let Brooke hold on to it. "Let me ask you something," Peyton said.

"Why are you being so persistent with this one? I mean, normally you would have moved on by now." Peyton asked, flipping through a magazine. "Why? Are you jealous?" She asked and Peyton let out a laugh. "No." She responded, causing Josie to raise her eyebrows. "Do you like him, P. Sawyer?" She Asked, "No. See there's this guy named Nathan who's also called my boyfriend." Peyton responded mockingly.

"Yeah, Ow!" Brooke said as another wax strip was ripped off. "Well, maybe I want a boyfriend, too. Someone reliable for once, steady."  She said, and Josie Knew She Meant It. "Without all the drama, anger and pettiness kinda like you and Nathan have." She Said, looking At Peyton, And Josie And Peyton shared a look before Peyton leaned over and ripped off a wax strip, causing Brooke to Complain. "Ow!" before they all shared a laugh

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Lucas, Richie, Josie and Haley were walking through town, and Lucas explained that the basketball team had trashed the court. "They trashed the court?" Haley asked, in disbelief. "Yep." Lucas responded. "I'm sorry Luke." Richie said and Lucas shook his head. "It's not your fault Rich." he said as Josie wrapped an arm around Richies waist to comfort him. "What else?" Josie asked, looking over at him, making Lucas sigh. "Broke in my locker, soaked my stuff." he listed before sighing.

"I don't know guys, I don't know how much longer I can put up with this." he said, frustrated and Josie felt bad for him. Lucas deserved to be on that team as much as everyone else. "Do you think they're gonna, like, let up, anytime soon?" Haley asked, making Lucas laugh. "No chance, and you wanna know why?" he asked. "Why?" she asked, sharing a look with Richie and Josie.

"Because Nathan controls the team. Minus Richie." he said. "And there's no way in hell he's gonna back off." Richie added, and Lucas nodded. Josie noticed Haley's far-off look. "What are you thinking?" she asked, "these weird things happened at the tutoring centre." she responded as they four friends stopped walking. It looked like Haley was gonna say something but shook her head. "It's not important. Never mind." she said quickly. Josie and Richie shared a look, Haley was hiding something.

"You sure?" Lucas asked. "Yeah. Mm-hmm." she responded, nodding. "Are we still gonna go to the movie tomorrow night?" she asked, looking at Lucas, since Richie and Josie already had a date planned. "Yeah, that sounds like fun." Lucas responded. "Okay, cool." she responded, smiling and let out a breath.

"Luke, how far do you think he's really gonna go? Nathan?" she asked softly and Lucas let out a big breath. "I don't know," he said. "As far as he wants to go until somebody stops him," he added. "Hey, if he does anything serious, I'll kick his ass." Josie offered, making them all laugh as Lucas shook his head, smiling. "I know JoJo," he said, using his nickname for her

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Richie was at basketball practice and watched as Lucas tried to get Tim to pass to him, but wasn't going to, so Lucas decided to take the ball from him and he shot the basket and as he went to jog away, Tim didn't like that. "What the hell was that?" he exclaimed, shoving Lucas, making Richie's eyes widen as he shared a look with Jake as Lucas pushed Tim back while Coach Whitey blew the whistle.

"Here! Second Team!" he shouted as Jake and Richie moved to stand between Tim and Lucas. "But he stole the ball from his own team." Tim said, like that was an excuse for shoving Lucas. "He but nothing! That guy has hit seven in a row and you won't pass him the ball!" Coach Whitey shouted before turning to Lucas. "And you! This is a team game." he said, and Richie noticed Nathan had a subtle smirk on his face, making Richie roll his eyes.

"If you guys don't get your head out of your asses, I might be forced to suspend my second team this season." he said, hands on his hips. "Go home!" He finished before walking out of the gym. "So much for the high road, huh?" Jake asked, laughing a little before he, Richie and Lucas headed out of the gym with the rest of the team.

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"I cannot believe they did that." Josie sighed as she and Richie sat in the courtyard. "I know, like they've passed the point of hazing, that harassment." he said before eating some of his apple. "Nathan's never gonna stop, is he?" She asked softly. she'd always known Nathan Scott to be a jerk, the way he treated others, including his own girlfriend were examples. "I don't know," Richie sighed, moving to kiss the crown on Josie's head.

"Forget about Nathan Scott, okay," he said, and she turned to him, smiling softly before pulling him into a soft kiss, quick, neither a big fan on PDA. "Are we still going to the burning boat with Luke and Hales?" she asked, and Richie nodded. "Yeah, of course. it's a tradition." he responded with a nod, and Josie smiled before resting her head on his shoulder.

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Hayley, Josie and Richie were sitting on a table across from the burning boat, watching it, silently. It wasn't awkward, it was comfortable. Josie looked at Haley's wrist, noticing she was wearing a tacky charm bracelet. "New bracelet Hales?" she asked, making Haley turn to her, and nodded, an awkward smile. "Yep." she said, popping the 'P' but before Josie could respond Lucas walked up to them and joined them. Richie moved to sit behind Josie, so she could rest against his chest and Lucas could sit next to her.

"Hey," he greeted them, sitting beside Josie. "Hey," Haley responded as Josie waved in greeting, Richie too busy looking down at Josie. "Nice bracelet." he said, also noticing the new bracelet Haley was wearing. Josie raised her brow at the back of Haley's head. Her friends had never been one of bracelets, nevermind ones like she was wearing. Haley never responded to Lucas, but laughed it off, looking at the burning boat.

"Where were you this morning?" Lucas asked Haley. "Uh, just tutoring." Haley responded. "Oh, yeah? Anyone I know?" Lucas asked, "No." Haley responded, but Richie had a feeling that wasn't the truth as he looked at Josie, who had a look on her face like she didn't believe her.

⎯ AUTHORS NOTE
new chapter <3 | i'm so sorry that i haven't updated in such a long time, i've been so unmotivated for one tree hill lol