CHAPTER FIVE.
in the stillness of dreaming

( nathan's dream )

        A YOUNG BOY BY THE NAME OF NATHAN LEE DRIBBLES A BASKETBALL ON HIS WAY TO HIS MOTHER'S DINNER, THE GREY HOOD FROM HIS JACKET COVERING HIS HEAD. Different thoughts ran through his head after recently learning he had been accepted as a finalist for High Flyers, something he had been dreaming of since he was a small boy. If he ever got the position to play for them, he'd really hate to leave his mother behind. The single woman had done everything for him, a large thing he's forever grateful for.

        The door above him chimes, alerting his mother of his presence. A big red sign behind her reads, Deb's Den. She smiles up at her son, a coffee pot in her hand. "Hey, sweetie."

        Nathan takes a seat directly in front of her at the bar. "What's up, mom. I got the mail. Some bills, uh, a letter from Uncle Cooper and uh, this." He sets the magazine on the counter. "Thinking about taking some classes?"

        Deb grabs it, taking a long look before setting it back down. "If they offer a course in making ends meet."

        "You ever regret it? Your folks cutting you off?" Nathan randomly asks, flipping through the pages of the magazine out of boredom.

        "Not for one second, Nate." Deb takes a hold of his hand. "Otherwise, I wouldn't of had you. Besides, money buys you nothing but misery. I mean, look at Dan, Karen and Lucas."

        Nathan snickers, "You know, you could have more people in here if you just hired some hot girls to dance on the bar."

        "What, am I not hot enough for you?" The voice of Lola spoke up, a grin on her face as she grabbed some cups from the counter.

        Lola Hernandez is a new girl that has been working with Deb for about a week now. She and Nathan had became close friends after he accidentally spilt a drink on her from when they bumped into each other one day whilst at the dinner. They were also neighbors, which was a plus.

        Nathan chuckled, shaking his head. "If we're being honest, you're the ugliest one here." He joked, grinning at her opened mouth.

        "Oh, how you wound me." Lola clutched at her heart, pretending he had just stabbed her with a sword.

        Deb gasped, catching their attention as she glanced down at a letter. "Nathan, this is from that basketball camp. I'm really, really proud of you."

        "Me too!" Lola snatched the paper from the older woman's hand, skimming through it. "Wow, this is amazing. Nate, you're gonna be a basketball star!"

        "I think it's a little early to know that." He laughed, watching as she tossed the letter away before grabbing her dishes.

        She looked over at him, "Well, whatever. But, we're celebrating tonight. On me." With that, she walks into the back to do the dishes.

        Deb saw the admiration that shined on her son's face. "You know, you two are gonna end up getting married one day."

        "Stop it. We've only known each other for a week, we're just friends. Plus, you know I'm with Haley."

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.

( real life )

        Lola currently slept on the chair right beside Nathan, the girl refusing to leave his side. Because even though he was going to get better, fear still ran in her bones, afraid of she's gone for just a split second, he'd decide to leave her and never come back. It was weird, to be honest, the black haired girl had only known him for a short amount of time, but cared so much for him. Even if half those days he had been a jerk.

        Brooke Davis walked into the room and shook the girl awake, "Lola, you need to wake up." She watched as the girl shoots awake, eyes searching around the room. "Calm down, he's still sleeping. I just came to bring you a fresh pair of clothes. You've had those clothes on for two days now, any sooner, you'll stink."

       "Uhm, thanks." Lola grabbed the bag from her hand, her eyes moving towards Nathan's bed, hesitant to leave him.

        "Just go. I'll stay back and watch him." Brooke promised, lightly pushing the girl to the brown door.

        Lola's teary eyes glance back at her friend, "Thank you." She whispered, voice scratchy from the lack of water.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.

( nathan's dream )

        Nathan and Lola sat on his couch, popcorn being shared between the two as they watched a movie together in his house. The girl could tell something was on his mind, so she turns the television off and turns her body to face him. "What's up?"

        He let out a sigh, knowing nothing could get past her. "It's Haley. She ditched me again to hang out with Chris. You know, I took her back after the first time she cheated on me, and trusted that she wouldn't do it again. I think that's what's secretly happening behind my back."

        Lola grabbed his hand, "If you think she is, just ask her. Haley's a good person, I don't think she'd make the same mistake twice. Plus, you're a great fucking guy, and if she doesn't see that, then you deserve better."

        "You're a really great friend, Lol. I'm glad you came into my life when I need you the most."

        She smiled, "Of course. Don't say I was never there for you."

        He laughed, pulling her body closer to his, the two cuddling up to finish the movie.

        The next day, the two found themselves whispering in class about the game Lucas Scott challenged him to. Lucas was the town's popular and dickhead of an IT boy. Everyone loved and admired him accept Nathan and Lola, they were the only two smart ones.

        "Nate, you have to play this game. You can't let him stop you from chasing after your dream. You've gotta put yourself out there, nothing will just come to you from sitting everything out all the time." Lola whispered, glancing at the teacher every now and then.

        He didn't say anything, instead just shaking his head. "What about you? What are your dreams?"

        That seemed to shut her up. "Me? No one has ever asked me about that." She fake laughed, picking her pencil up, not wanting to meet his eyes.

        "Yeah, well, I'm asking. So, what are they?"

       She shrugged, writing down some of the words their teacher spoke. "I'm not sure. I've never thought about it before. I guess, modeling? It's free clothes I get to wear, showing off someone's design and it's a pretty good paying job. And you can't deny that I don't walk amazing."

        He quietly snickered, "Okay, you got me there. Don't think I'm weird for saying this, but the way you move your hips could definitely help you get the job."

        Lola's head quickly snapped in his direction, "Really?" Her cheeks tinted pink at the though of him watching her hips and she was suddenly glad the lights had been out. "Thanks."

        The two smiled at each other, before going back to their school work.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.

( real life )

        Lola had just finished getting dressed and as she left the bathroom, she came across Lucas standing in a corner of he hallway, his phone up to his ear. She walks a little closer and listens in, trying her hardest to be quiet.

        "I figured I'd call and let you know. Yeah. Alright. Love you too, Haley."

       Haley. The one person Nathan told him not to call. Lola rolled her eyes before making her way back to Nathan's room. Brooke stood looking through a magazine, so Lola cleared her throat to get her attention.

        "Well, you definitely look a lot better. But, your face still needs cleaning. Do you mind if I help you?" Brooke didn't wait for her answer, her hands digging through her bag for the things she'd need. "Here, come sit."

        She did as the other girl said, but in a slow pace. Her feet dragged against the floor and she honestly didn't want anything done to her face, but the thought of snapping at Brooke caused her to listen and do whatever the girl wanted.

        Brooke helped her sit down before she started wiping the girl's face with makeup removers. "I stopped by your house to tell your brother. He's worried about how you're doing, Lol."

        "I didn't mean to make him worry." Her voice was quiet, but Brooke still understood. "I just can't leave Nathan's side. If I do, I'd never forgive myself if something happened while I was gone."

        Brooke offered her a sympathetic smile, knowing the girl was scared to lose someone else from Andre telling her. "That's understandable. But, he's doing fine, he'll pull through. The way that you care for others is cute, but it'll be your downfall."

        Lola glanced away, brown eyes landing on Nathan's sleeping form. Brooke had a point because caring always had a way of biting you in the ass.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.

( nathan's dream )

        The night of the game had come quickly, everyone from town at the River Court as they waited for Nathan Lee to arrive. Lola was worried, but it was typical of Nathan to show up late, he always does. She bit her lip anxiously before she hears commotion coming from the court, Skills punching Lucas' friend in the mouth.

        She rushed down the steps and stood beside Deb, watching Coach break up the fighting that had followed after the punch. She linked arms with the blonde and offered her a small smile, hoping to soothe her worries.

        The sound of a car pulling up snatched their attention and Lola breaks away from Deb and towards Nathan. He gets out and she grabs his arms, scanning for any possible injuries.

        "Hey, I'm fine." He pulls her hands from his body and gives her a side hug. "Wish me luck." Kissing the top of her head, he rushes to the court before its too late.

        Coach passed the ball to him, "Let's get this game started. Four on four. Let's hustle." He clapped, before someone stops him.

        "No." Nathan spoke up, the cold slightly hitting against his skin. "Me against him." He pointed at his half-brother. "That's the way it's always been, right? Why should tonight be any different?"

        Lucas smirked, "Your funeral."

        Ew, he looked gross smirking like that. Lola thought, grimacing to herself.

        "Game to 11 by ones. Let's go!"

        Lola and the other town's people move off to the sidelines, watching as Lucas made the first point, some of them cheering for the blonde leech.

        Nathan made the next shot and Lola screamed as loud as she could, ignoring everyone else as they gave her looks. The game continues on and soon enough, it's 10-9, Nathan Lee in the lead.

        Lucas suddenly jabs Nathan in the eye with his elbow, causing the boy to fall down, giving him enough time to score a point on him. Nathan gets up and spits, blood coming from his mouth. "No foul, the basket counts."

        "Really?" Lola's heart stampeded like different horses were having a commotion in her rib cage as she realizes the next basket wins.

        The blonde boy hands Nathan the ball, his hands going on his knees as he waited to block. Nathan jukes him out, going around his body before shooting the ball in mid-air, the circular object making its way through the chain net.

        "Yes!" Lola cheered, jumping up and down from where she stood with Deb.

         The one's going for Nathan all surrounded him, congratulating the brunette for his win.

        Nathan watched them leave before a smaller body wraps their arms around his waist.

        Lola pulled away and smiled at him, "I knew you could do it. Now, it's time for you to come back to us. Don't say I was never there for you."

       Don't say I was never there for you.

       Don't say I was never there for you.

        Those words echoed through his head as he finally comes through, realizing he'd been in a dream state this whole time. Glancing around, he noticed everyone had disappeared, not a person in sight. He blinks, which suddenly brings him back to the real world, his eyes burning from how bright the room was lit up.

        He looks around and saw he was in the hospital. Confusion bubbles through him, but he remembers the accident. "Hey," Someone lightly speaks up in a whisper, causing him to look over and see Lucas. "Welcome back, little brother."

        Nathan glances over at the chair and sees Lola curled up into a ball, sleeping. "How long has she been here?"

        "She hasn't left your side besides to pee. I think she was scared of leaving." Lucas mumbled, taking a seat at the end of his brother's bed.

        He just nodded, but kept that in mind. Lucas offered him a sip of water before asking him a question, "What was this anyway, huh? Some sort of messed up anything Lucas can do, I can do better?"

        "No." Nathan shook his head. "Want to hear something really messed up, though? I thought I died and went to heaven. Only... heaven was a place where... Dan chose your mom over mine. And Lola wanted to be a model. Turns out it was only a dream. I did kick your ass in one-on-one, though."

        "Well, then I guess it was a dream then." Lucas let out a small laugh, Nathan following suit. "I know you asked me not to, but I called Haley. She's your wife and she loves you. She needed to know."

        Lola grumbled, coming out of the dreamless sleep, rubbing her eyes as she sits up in the chair. She glanced up at Lucas, "Hey, Luke," She saw Nathan sitting up in bed. "Hey, Nathan. Wait, Nathan!" The black haired girl rushed over towards him. "Oh my gosh! How are you feeling?"

        "Still groggy, but good as can be, considering."

        "That's good." She faked smiled, slapping his upper arm. "Don't you ever pull a stunt like that ever again! No dudaré en patearte el trasero!"

        Nathan stared at the girl with wide eyes, having never heard her yell at him in Spanish before. "Okay, okay, whatever you just said, I won't."

        "Great." Lola grinned.

        Just as the words fall from her lips, the door to his room is thrown open, Brooke and Peyton rushing in. "He's awake!" The brunette shouted as she took a seat on the opened chair, Peyton following to sit on the armrest.

        "Thank you, guys. You know, for staying with me when I was out of it."

        They all shared looks, "We wouldn't be anywhere else."

        "Visiting hours are over, you four." Some doctor interrupts their moment, standing at the end of his bed.

        Lucas sighs, standing up and making his way to the door. The girls all take turns kissing him on the cheek, which causes Nathan to grin at them. "I know you three want me."

        They snickered, "Yeah, in your dreams." With that, the four walk out of the room, the doctor following after shutting the lights off.

        Lola stops short, "I'm gonna use the bathroom, I'll see you guys in a bit." She watches them nod, continuing their walk back to the main waiting room.

        She runs back to Nathan's room and opens it, "You got any room for one more?" She gestures towards his bed.

        Nathan slowly scoots over and lifts the covers to let her in, her smaller body slipping into it. Once she's situated, he wraps his arm around her, hugging her close to him, wanting to cuddle. She lays her head on his chest, her arm going around the end of his torso, just below his stomach.

        And as Nathan takes in her vanilla scent that travelled inside his nose, he realizes something. The dream had been fake, but one thing stood out that he finally knew would always be true.

        Lola Hernandez would always be there for him, even if Haley James wasn't. And that meant everything to him.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

another shitty chapter, hehe! writing this was so funny as i watches the episode back bc you can clearly see how it's not chad michel murray trying to block james. in case you were wondering, the spanish is translated to i won't hesitate to kick your ass, at least, that's what it's supposed to be, i had to use translate. anyways, hope you liked.