Peyton continues to be coaxed by Derek who encourages her to take risks in her life as she admits that she has very strong feeling for Lucas. He points out that this is obvious to everyone to which she replies that Lucas remains unaware. She attempts to take his advice and asks Lucas to be her partner for the special basketball banquet dinner being held before the highly anticipated final game of the season where the Tree Hill Ravens will attempt to win the championship.

Nathan finds himself in more trouble with Dante despite having completed his end of their bargain. Whilst he is practicing at the riverside court Dante and Bear pay him a visit and Dante tells Nathan that he will loose the final basketball game or risk the exposure of his cheating in the previous game where he shaved points to keep within the 10 point win limit Dante had ordered in their initial bargain.

Rachel finds herself pleading with Haley for help as reports cards are sent out. Rachel is failing maths, due to missing too many classes and falling behind, and attempts to get Haley to help her out. Haley initially laughs her off and points out that she can’t stand Rachel. A speech by Lucas later about how everyone should be given a second change, sees Haley reluctantly approaching Rachel to tell her she will help. Haley lays down three ground rules before agreeing, that Rachel will work around Haley’s schedule rather than the other way around, a missed class will result in the end of tutoring and that not matter how nice Haley appears she will always dislike Rachel.

After discovering that Nick was cheating on her Brooke seeks out Lucas and attempts to build bridges. Her first efforts end quickly as she enters Lucas’s room and spies Peyton in the bathroom brushing her teeth. Buoyed by further spats with Peyton Brooke invites Lucas to the basketball dinner event. Brooke’s seating plan proves interesting as she forces Peyton to sit with her and Lucas, however at the end of the evening – and thanks to a speech by coach as he accepted a lifetime achievement award for his activities as a coach Whitey about true love - both Lucas and Brooke share the realisation that they do not belong together.

Nathan snaps at Dante as he finds him sitting with Bear in Karen’s coffee house being served by an unknowing Haley. He follows them into an alley as they leave and tells them that their deal is off. He gets a shock as Dante turns on him ordering bear to restrain Nathan. Dante picks up a metal pipe and raises it telling Nathan that he is going to smash his knee so he will never play basketball again. In the end Dante just destroys the box Nathan’s leg had been hoisted on for the deed, however the message that Nathan cannot turn his back on their deal is clear.

Derek finds himself called up for deployment by his commander and has to leave Tree Hill. Peyton is still fairly vulnerable given the chance that Lucas and Brooke may return to being a couple, which would effectively cut Peyton out whilst hostilities between her and Brooke continue. Derek keeps this news from Peyton for as long as he can but is forced to tell her as the basketball dinner evening draws to a close. Peyton thanks him for helping her through a difficult time as she recovered from dealing with Psycho Derek. He promises that he will return to her safely once his deployment is over.

Nathan comes clean to Dan about the trouble he is in with Dante. Dan is shocked as Nathan tells him that he cheated in the last game and this deepens when Nathan reveals the names of those who have trapped him. Dan agrees to help sort things out however his attempt to simply buy Dante off with a check receives ringing laughter from Dante, Bear and the girls they are with in the strip club that Dan tracks them down to. Dante makes the influence and power he has clear and Dan is forced to return home without a resolution. When Nathan asks Dan what they are going to do, Dan replies that Nathan will have to throw the championship game.

Peyton finds herself alone in her room once more. She stands contemplating the capture of Psycho Derek and the exit of real Derek. Lucas joins her a while later after he had dropped Brooke back at Rachel’s. As they chat Lucas tells Peyton that he and Brooke finally decided to move on from each other that evening. Peyton seizes the opportunity and tells Lucas that, now he and Brooke are definitely over, she wants him to know that she loves him.