9. With Arms Outstretched

After fighting with his father and Haley, Nathan succumbs to the pressure he is feeling and takes amphetamines to help his game doing so to beat Dan's scoring record. However, he isn't prepared for the destruction the drugs do to both his body and his family. As he begins taking more and more, he begins to treat Haley badly and pressures her to hook up with him. Brooke takes Lucas out and gets him drunk and a tattoo which angers Keith, who feels Lucas is taking advantage of him. At the game, Nathan is two points away from beating Dan's score and collapses.

He awakes in the hospital, with Dan not admitting he would ever take drugs. Feeling like he can't go back to normal, Nathan sneaks out of the hospital and spends the night with Haley, apologizing to her. Dan conveniently forgets to call Deb and she later throws him out of the house. After Nathan's collapse and near-death experience, Whitey posts a sign on the gym that reads "Basketball canceled until further notice". Peyton goes to Lucas to rekindle their relationship and tell him that she wants what he wanted too, but when she arrives at his house, Brooke is there with him. The episode ends with Lucas in the middle of both women, unsure who to choose. This episode is named after a song by Rilo Kiley.