Now, don't start hurling things at your screens, but I take Peyton's point of view here. I've never understood the idea of letting friendships suffer because of stuff like this, just like Peyton is sort of saying; if you're friends, that bond should be able to withstand dating someone your friend hates -- but I know this show can't have everyone just getting along next week, so we're back into the ridiculous mentality that if you date someone who's a mortal enemy, you can never be friends again. And Peyton's also right -- why should Haley have to suffer her happiness just because Luke can't stand Nathan? When Luke's obviously not prepared to do the same when it comes to Peyton. For once, the girls are portrayed as mature and reasonable; usually they're about to get into some catty wickedness right about now. Anyway. Haley asks, "Did he ask you out?" Peyton laughs, "No! But that's not the point. He wouldn't ask permission, so why should you." Haley wants to know what Peyton would say if he did ask. She replies, "It depends on what song is playing, am I in a good mood when he asks, is he smiling or is he doing that goofy, brooding thing he does." Heh. Haley turns to face Peyton: "Oh, you know I think he's definitely doing the brooding thing!" They laugh about how he makes that face all the time. Haley continues, "It's strange, a night away from school, it feels like you and I actually live on the same planet." Peyton: "It plays tricks on you like that." An owl hoots in the background. Heh. An owl, that's a nice touch. At least it's not a claw scraping and Brooke's not dead like in some bad teen-slasher flick. Here, the night's all innocent and stuff; the only thing it's changing is the strange border that exists between different groups of people during high school.

Keith's sitting in the hotel bar with some whiskey. You go, Keith, way to drown your sorrows, buddy. Way to leave Karen at the table with Dan and Deb all by herself; probably not the best way to win her heart. Anyway. Deb comes into the room and asks him if she can "bankroll" another drink for him. Keith apologizes for dragging Deb into his pissing match with his brother. Deb says Dan's got a gift for that sort of thing. Then she says, "You know," and she sits down, "you and Karen really go nicely together." Man, I like Deb more and more each week; she's a supremely decent human being. Keith takes a sip of his drink: "I don't think she sees me that way." Deb: "How do you see her?" Keith replies, "She's amazing. She's strong and she's beautiful, and you know, she's a great mother to Lucas." Pause. Deb leads him on with a quiet, "So?" Keith answers, "A relationship would just complicate things." He asks why she stays with Dadzilla. We're hoping it's because he drugs her, but instead, it's a fair answer -- she still catches a glimpse of the boy she fell in love with every now and again. But on the whole, she just doesn't know, but she's also got Nathan to consider. In another wholly good-hearted way, Deb jokes, "Come on, let's go rescue Karen." I think they've done such a good job with the character; she truly balances out Dan's evilness. He seems even more damaged now that you know he must have been a different person before, because Deb's so cool that she couldn't have fallen in love with a complete asswipe.