Dan and Deb are hosting the annual basketball appreciation party, as they usually do every year. This time something is different, though. Deb did invite Karen and Lucas, who, by the way, doesn't seem that eager. He eventually changes his mind as soon as Peyton describes to him the book she has been reading. "It's about this girl and this guy, and they've got this really weird vibe thing going on, but there's all this drama, cause the girl has got this ex-boyfriend who turns out to be none other than the guy's brother. So the whole thing comes to this great, big climax and this big party at their evil dad's house".

Meanwhile, Brooke meddles between Nathan and Peyton in order to get them back together. Fresh news for Lucas: Haley finally admits to him that she might feel something for Nathan. Lucas isn't exactly enthusiastic.
Party time. Keith, Lucas and Karen choose a signal - "caw!" - in case any of them wants to leave, but the night has some hidden surprises. Even though Lucas and Peyton are willing to talk to each other, Brooke's manipulative schemes get in the way. It turns out Brooke's plans totally backfire: Peyton and Nathan don't get back together and Lucas rejects Brooke's advances once again.

Oddly, it seems that Karen and Deb are becoming friends, thanks to sincere speeches about their past. But someone else is definitely not ready to get over their differences: Dan and Keith, of course.

Meanwhile, a very drunk Brooke doesn't plan to give up. She dares Peyton to kiss Lucas in front of everybody and Peyton does it, before walking away embarrassed. Minutes later, Haley shows up and, as soon as Nathan is getting her a drink, Brooke lies that Nathan passed around the message that Haley wrote for him. Haley is hurt and storms off.

Elsewhere, Lucas catches up with Peyton, and everything finally seems to be falling into place for the two. At least, until Lucas admits how much he really cares for her. Of course, Peyton gets scared by the intensity of his ardor and it's her turn to storm off.

Later, the party is over and Lucas enters Karen's café, where he finds a stricken Haley crying because of what she thinks happened. Lucas would like to help her close up the cafe but she wants to be alone for a while. As soon as Lucas leaves the shop, Nathan shows up but Haley doesn't want to listen to him anymore. "Calling All Angels" - by Train -is playing in the background and there are some last scenes. Jake is kissing a little baby (yep, it turns out he has a "secret" daughter), Dan is drinking alone while Deb is staring at him, Peyton is throwing the sweater over her webcam, blacking it out, while a sad Lucas stares at the screen of his computer.