The long drive to pick up Caleb gives Lucas plenty of time to think, what with the silent car and the fact he doesn't particularly feel like listening to the radio. He actually is glad that he has time to think about what he's doing, so he has all the reasons for the decision he's made thought through.
He could pretend that he hadn't found out about the note, that Caleb was just a jerk who used her and left without a goodbye. He could use the time Hanna would be heartbroken and emptional to set himself up as the nice, dependable guy who was way better than that jerk who broke her heart. He could probably even set himself up in a position where she would date him.
After all, isn't that what he wanted?
. . .well, kind of. But there was something Mona didn't take into account. Something which took away most of the shine of the possibility Mona had brought up.
Somewhere between watching funny videos of animals on the internet, and having his heart broken, he'd actually grown to value his friendship with her. Not even in a douchey nice-guy-syndrome-addled way, either, but as someone who he trusts and who can count on him for help.
Hanna's a great friend, she really is. She's fun to hang out, and regardless of the fact that they have pretty much nothing in common, the time they spend hanging out is always really fun. Sure, half of it consists of him making a nerdy joke which goes over her head, trying to explain it which only confuses her more, and then her just calling him a geek, but it never feels weird or awkward.
That friendship helps him to keep from making what would actually be a really stupid choice. It helps him remember that Hanna deserves to be happy, even if she's not with him, because that's what matters in that situation; her happiness, not his crush being fulfilled.
Besides, what good would lying to Hanna do? The instant she found out that he lied, he'd lose her. Not just the only-in-theory relationship, but the friendship he had grown to actually care about. By lying to her, and trying to essentially trick her into starting a relationship with him, he would really only shoot himself in the foot, setting up a relationship on a foundation that could easily be destroyed. It's something only an idiot would do, and Lucas isn't an idiot.
(Most of the time.)
Not being able to date Hanna isn't going to kill him; he's not that melodramatic. He can live with just being friends with her - though the wording feels weird. The 'just' almost implies that his friendship with her isn't enough, that it's the second rate prize he gets for not dating her, and that's not true at all.
Lucas also thinks up a whole speech to give to Caleb, explaining why he decided to bring him back and help patch up his and Hanna's relationship. It's pretty eloquent and heartfelt and stuff.
Okay, no, not really. It's stupid and emotionally and probably would come across and condescending and weird. Caleb would probably laugh at him. Heck, he'd laugh at himself if he was given that speech.
So after he picks up Caleb and when the guy finally asks Lucas why he decided to do that, Lucas gives the simple truth.
"Hanna deserves to be happy."
title is from love isn't made by jon foreman
