A/N: This is going to be a short story. I had this idea and have been working on this story for awhile now. Updates should be twice a week. Love it/Hate it, review and let me know.

Chapter 1: From the Sidelines

Cameron Indoor Stadium was at capacity; around nine thousand fans packed the arena to see the Duke Blue Devils play their rivals, the North Carolina Tar Heels. The crowd was deafening and the band played only further encouraging the student section, the Cameron Crazies. Duke's arena was nothing short of amazing with its fans packed showing off their Blue Devil pride. Several fans wore their blue and white.

It was the fourth quarter with two minutes and forty-six seconds remaining. The Blue Devils were down by five points and stood in a huddle around their leader, Coach K. A slight tension hung in the air around the team. Every player knew how close the team was to victory and as the seconds ticked off the adrenaline coursed through each of him quicker. Every season they looked forward to playing North Carolina and this season was no different. What made this game crucial was that they were playing at home.

Coach K held his dry erase play board and spoke animatedly as he showed the boys the next two plays. Nathan Scott listened as a play was drawn up around him and his older brother Lucas Scott. As long as the Blue Devils could get a stop, the plays would at least tie the game. If not, they were still in a good position. Nathan had no doubt that Lucas and him could execute the plays.

Two possessions Nathan silently reminded himself as sweat splattered on the hardwood floor running off his raven hair. He blinked his baby blue eyes as they stung from the sweat that trickled down his brow into them. He had a nervous energy enveloping him in the final minutes of the game. The atmosphere ignited him, yet it intimidated him since this was their final game heading into postseason.

"Nathan, are you listening?" Coach K placed his hand on Nathan's arm jolting him back to the discussion. He simply nodded and looked up at the older man. "The first shot should be Lucas'. We need to create the opportunity for him to get open beyond the arch." Coach K handed the board off to one of his assistants and continued to animatedly motion with his hands. "We then need a defensive stop. If that works out Nathan you'll get the ball for two. We are looking for the tie. There's still plenty of time on the clock. If the offense breaks down and any of you have the shot, take it."

Nathan wiped his mouth with the inside of his jersey. The sweat continued to pour and for the first time in ages a short episode of anxiety coursed through his body. He didn't recall being so nervous even as a starting freshman. The buzzer went off signaling the end of the timeout and he could hear his pulse in his ears. He stood straight up placing his hand in the huddle as he heard his brother call out, "Blue Devils!"

"You all right, man?" Lucas Scott was a stark contrast to his younger brother. He had dirty blonde hair and was about two inches shorter than Nathan. His frame was leaner as well. Some had referred to him as scrawny Scott as a freshman. He managed to put on some muscle, but his body still appeared lean compared to Nathan's build. The younger Scott's muscles were more defined though both spent comparable amount of time in the weight room.

"Yeah, let's win this." Nathan patted his brother on his back before walking to set up for the out of bounds pass. His eyes quickly swept across the crowd not searching for anyone in particular just wanting to soak in the moment. This might be his last game against the Tar Heels in his Duke career. He wanted to commit the game to memory.

The ball was inbounded and a screen was set to create space for Lucas. He easily sunk a three pointer and the crowd erupted. He nodded toward his brother silently telling him he had the next shot.

The Scott brothers had developed a silent communication on the court. It worked to their advantage and had strengthened over the past four years at Duke. Both read the defense well and when a play fell apart either could create their shot or create the shot for the other to take. They had become the dynamic duo of the Blue Devils and the fans loved the Scott brothers.

Nathan back peddled setting up on defense. There was still plenty of time left in the game — almost two minutes. He stayed close to his guy, but not too close. He didn't want to lose the player. He watched the point guard and read the read the play. He outstretched his arms attempting to cutoff the pass. He barely deflected the pass, but the force of it caused an excruciating pain in his ring finger. The whistle blew as the ball fell out of bounds and Nathan winced. He shook out his hand hoping it was just a sprain.

"What happened?" Lucas asked as they set up for the in bounds play at their opponent's goal. He noticed his brother holding onto his hand after the whistle.

Nathan rested his hands on his knees and his breathing was a little erratic. He held up his right hand. "I hurt my finger."

Lucas crinkled his forehead then turned his focus back to the play. The Tar Heels inbounded the ball and Lucas remained trained on his man. Nathan played between the ball and his man. As the guard swung the ball to the left Nathan dropped a step back. As his man cut through the lane he ran in front cutting off the possibility of a play. Instead the guard threw the ball to Lucas' man and the dirty blonde intercepted. The Blue Devils quickly headed toward their goal trying to catch the Tar Heels off guard.

There was still a throbbing pain in Nathan's finger. He wasn't sure he could shoot the ball. He blinked attempting to block out the slight sting. He silently prayed for an easy lay up — left-handed even. In an instant he lost his defender spinning around toward the basket. Lucas led him to the rim with the pass. Nathan effortlessly caught the pass and lay the ball in the basket with a reverse lay up not wanting to chance the shot with his finger hurting.

The Tar Heels called a timeout with the game now tied and just under two minutes remaining. For anyone not familiar with basketball that was still enough time to blow this game wide open. Within thirty seconds the game could be won or lost. The tide could easily change.

"Coach K," Nathan said staring at his finger. "I need this looked at." His finger was slightly purplish. He didn't know how exactly the ball hit off his finger, but it hurt.

"Haley!" Coach K yelled nodding for a petite auburn-haired girl to come over to the end of the bench.

The girl ran over carrying a first aid kit. Her hair was pulled back loosely in a low ponytail. She wore her Blue Devils athletic trainer shirt with a pair of khaki pants.

"Yes," she said loudly trying to be heard over the pumped up crowd. He motioned at Nathan and she followed his gaze. She furrowed her brow confused. She hadn't seen him go down or anything. There was no visible blood.

Coach K yelled over his shoulder at a young man on the bench telling him to go in for Nathan.

"Coach I can play," he said holding his hand out for the girl to look at knowing the timeout would end soon and if he weren't ready he wouldn't be able to go back out on the court.

"Nathan it's one play then I'll get you in." He looked at the time clock. "We have two timeouts, one one-minute and a thirty second, and a minute forty-nine left. Haley is he all right?"

The buzzer went off and the Tar Heels cleared out onto the court. Coach K looked at the young girl who carefully touched Nathan's ring finger trying her best to assess the injury quickly.

"Nathan, sit this one out. Let Haley take care of you." He sighed frustrated. This game was so important. He had quite the night with a double-double and was leading the Blue Devils in scoring.

"Does this hurt?" she asked while pressing down on the bruise that had begun to form on his finger. He grunted and she took that as a yes. She moved her fingers nimbly over the injury and looked at him. Out of her four years on the sidelines she had never noticed his deep, ocean blue eyes. She had never been this close to him.

"Well," he gritted out his facial features as harsh as his voice. He was annoyed that the girl was taking so long.

She came back to reality and took the dry towel that was hanging from her back pocket. Quickly she wiped the sweat from his hand then opened the kit taking out the tape.

"I'm going to anchor your ring finger to your middle finger." She swiftly wrapped the tape around his fingers while he paid attention to the game on the court. Lucas sunk another three putting them up by one with fifty seconds left. Tar Heels coach Roy Williams called for a timeout.

As Haley looked back up at Nathan a strand of hair fell in her face. She blew her breath out attempting to move it as her fingers double-checked her work.

Nathan couldn't focus on anything as the band played during the timeout. He brought his left hand up and tucked the stray hair behind her ear finally noticing her soft features. His hand lingered and as she lifted her head once again to look at him his breath got caught in his throat. He hadn't concentrated on her before this moment. He allowed his adrenaline to get the best of him. His mind had stayed on the court.

As he continued to stare at Haley he noticed her beauty. His mind raced as his thoughts traveled away from the game. He licked his lips feeling parched. What just came over him? Suddenly his nerves had nothing to do with the game.

"Thanks," she said shyly still holding onto his right hand. He surprised her with his action. One minute he was upset the next he was calm. She knew Nathan's commitment to basketball so his harshness didn't faze her. She understood the importance of the game. Hell she knew the importance of Duke basketball so she took his attitude in stride.

"James!" Coach K called out. Looking in their direction.

Haley jerked her head around. "He's good coach!" She answered without having to be asked. Four years on the sidelines, working closely with the coaching staff, she knew Coach K well enough to know what he wanted when he called her by her last name. She turned her attention back to Nathan.

"This should work. I think you'll have to anchor your finger for a week or so. It will have to heal and we both know nothing is going to stop you from picking up a basketball." She smiled at him holding his now soft gaze.

"Come on Scott!" Nathan smirked at her before backing away onto the court. He almost tripped over his own feet while still locked in on the girl. If he had fallen he would have made a fool of himself in front of her, which was the last thing he wanted to do.

"Come on, Nate," Lucas said realizing his brother was in a daze. His blue eyes followed Nathan's gaze. He smiled when he realized what — rather who — grabbed his younger brother's attention. "Get your head in the game. Less than a minute then you can hit on her."

Nathan laughed and returned his focus to the game. He inhaled deeply quickly refocusing on the game. He looked up at the scoreboard and shook his head, less than a minute.

As the action on the court resumed, Haley moved back down the bench carrying the first aid kit. Her cheeks were warm. She bit the inside of her lip. She took a seat on the fold out stool and watched the game. She felt silly for blushing at the way Nathan had looked at her. She was Haley James. Athletes didn't impress her. To her they were as normal as the rest of them. Yet she caught herself somewhat intrigued by the brief moment.