Hey, this is first story so don't be too mean!
Basically here's the idea:
This story is Lucas centric and really angst filled- isn't Lucas so cute when there's angst going on in his life!?
Anyway, it starts when all the characters are 16. Lucas and Haley are best friends, they don't know Peyton and Brooke yet. Nathan hates Lucas at this point and he and his friends do everything they can to make his life hell. Lucas is dating a girl called Sarah, but she just messes with his heart- but he's in love with her at this point so he puts up with it.
This story is slightly AU: Lucas has a little sister called Lilly- but at this point she is 7. He, Lilly and Karen live in their small house with ONE of Karen's TWO boyfriends- Matt, who is very abusive towards Lucas. Karen is also dating Keith, who is a raging alcoholic and can also get abusive towards Lucas when he'' drunk, although he doesn't mean to.
I think that's all I need to cover so far…. Feel free to ask any questions. Here's a little teaser:
Lucas awoke to the annoying beep of his alarm clock, signalling his start to the day. He groaned slightly as the time came into view: 5.30AM. Sure, school didn't start until 9.00, but that didn't mean he was free to have the option of sleeping 'till 8.00, like all the other kids did. Lucas swung his long legs around the side of his bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with the back of his hand. Blinking his eyes one more time, he headed quietly to the bathroom to quickly shower and dress.
Lucas emerged from the bathroom later, dressed in a pair of faded black sweatpants and plain grey T-shirt and proceeded with his mourning routine. Upon entering the kitchen the sight of once previously full alcohol bottles came into view, scattered messily over the countertops and tables. Lucas sighed again. No matter how many times in his young life he had been met with this sight, he never really became used to it, mostly because he wanted so desperately to believe that one day all of this would stop…. but he wasn't so conceited as to fully believe that. Lucas shuffled sleepily over to the toaster, where he placed two slices into the slots, re-wrapped the no-brand name bread, placed it as neatly as he could in the bread bin, and pulled the leaver down on the toaster, which was at mark 2. He couldn't risk the toast burning and giving off a strong smell or setting off the fire alarms… he had learned that the hard way. While waiting for his breakfast, he continued with the rest of his daily routine… making lunches. He made Karen's first, making sure that everything was perfect, then proceeded to do Matt's and Lilly's, placing the last bit of chocolate in Lilly's bag. He loved being her big brother, but regretted not being able to give her more than some cheap, measly chocolate bar, while all the other kids in his year were able to get their younger siblings expensive toys, bikes, anything… yet he could offer nothing. Finally he made his lunch. By this times most of the sandwich filler had gone, as had the crisps and chocolate cookies, but this was nothing he was new to, he didn't even care anymore because he had grown used to it.
It was when he had finished packing all the food into all the appropriate bags that he realised the time: 6.30. He was a bit too tired for his liking today, and it was showing because he was running behind. Before he could even think about leaving for school, he still had to clear the beer bottles, wash the dishes help Lilly get ready for school and then drive her there. As fast and as quietly as he could, Lucas began to clear all the empty bottles and placing them outside in the recycling bin.
Lucas silently crept into Lilly's room. He silently cursed himself for having to wake the sleeping child as she had struggled to get to sleep the night before.
"Lilly," Lucas said barely above a whisper, "Lilly, come on, it's time to get up and get dressed for school." Lilly tossed for a bit in the bed, slamming a pillow over her head.
"Lilly…" Lucas sighed, "please get up. Don't make this hard for me."
"Go away!" came the muffled reply from beneath the pillow.
Lucas sighed again before ripping the sheet back, exposing Lilly to the coldness of the morning air. When she didn't move, Lucas simply gathered her in his arms and carried her to the bathroom. He was way too tired and it was way too early in the morning to be feeling this stressed!
"Don't make me do this…" Lucas smiled sleepily, turning on the cold water faucet. Lilly immediately stopped playing dead and squiggled in her big brothers arms
"Don't Lucas!" she squealed.
Lucas smiled and placed her on the floor before squatting down to meet her level. : Think you can help me out and get ready for school without a fuss?" Lilly nodded in response, still smiling, "thanks kid. There's some cereal waiting for you when you've finished getting ready O.K? Lucas ruffled her hair before turning back towards the kitchen to do the dishes.
Lucas ran a hand through his sandy blonde, naturally bed- head of a hair as he can towards the last of the dishes. He seriously had to fight to keep his eyes open more than usual this morning, and it wasn't helping him get his work done on time. He finally finished washing the last plate, but as he moved to place it on the rack with the rest of the dishes, his tiredness got the better of him. He completely missed the rack, but knock the wall instead, sending the plate flying from his hand and crashing loudly to the floor into a thousand pieces. Lucas grabbed the sink and inwardly winced, snapping his eyes shut as he waited. He waited to see if his recklessness had caused a stirring in the room opposite. He waited, but all he heard was the ticking from the kitchen wall clock. Lucas opened his eyes and slowly bent down to pick up the mess before Lilly would come bounding in and hurt herself. Gathering the pieces up and placing them in the bin, Lucas turned around to check on Lilly, but was met be a strong, powerful blow to the stomach. Lucas grunted and fell to his knees.
" I thought I told you NOT wake me in the mornings you fucking idiot!" came the sneering voice standing above him.
"Matt," Lucas grunted, "I'm sorry… I never meant to…" a pair of strong hands yanking him to his feet by the back of his hoody cut him off. "Mark come on," Lucas pleaded, "Lilly's up, she might see!" Matt softened his grip for a while, seemingly to let Lucas go, but instead he grabbed Lucas' hand and twisted his arm up behind his back. Lucas bit down on his lip. It took everything he had in him to now scream out in pain, as it would draw attention from both Lilly and his sleeping mother.
"Don't EVER talk back to me," Matt spat through gritted teeth.
"Lucas?" came a tiny voice from the doorway. Lilly stood dressed in a pretty white dress, her pink bag over her shoulders. Matt immediately released his grip on Lucas.
"Hey," Lucas forced out, trying to sound as normal as he could. He could see the little girl was scared as to what she had just walked in on. Lucas bent down and picked her up, ignoring the protests of his arm and forced a smile, "let's get you to school O.K? You can have your chocolate cookie for breakfast, but just this once." He wanted to get Lilly out of that house as quickly as possible. She didn't need to be around Matt when he was like this.
:I'll be back after practice," Lucas mumbled to Matt, avoiding his gaze. Matt grunted in response, taking full notice of the little girl's presence before turning back to his room. Lilly rested her head on her older brother's shoulder as he carried her out to his car.
"Did he hurt you ?" Lilly asked as Lucas drove towards her school. Lucas turned to face her. Her innocent brown eyes burned into his. He hated lying to her, but this was for her protection. To tell the truth would surely corrupt her youth. He couldn't inject unhappiness into her life.
"Don't be silly," he laughed, "we were just messin' around. You know how guys are sometimes."
"You're face was all scrunchy" Lilly argued, " like that time I stubbed my toe… and that REALLY hurt!" Lucas smiled at her innocence as she munched on her cookie.
"We just got carried away, that's all." Lilly nodded so Lucas concluded that she had bought the story.
They continued to drive in silence.
"Listen," Lucas sighed, breaking the silence, "has Matt ever…" He scrunched his eyes briefly to relieve his tension. He had to make sure his sister was sake though.
"Has Matt ever… has Matt ever messed around with you like that?" Silence followed for a few seconds afterwards as Lucas waited for his answer.
"No," came the confused reply, " I thought you said only boys play like that?"
Lucas pulled up into Tree Hill's first school. Before unlocking the doors to let his sister go, he turned towards Lilly, looking right into her eyes.
"it's O.K for Matt to do that to me, 'cuz I'm a guy, so I can handle it…." He paused for a moment making sure he had her full attention, " but it is NOT O.K for him to do that to you. You understand that right?"
Lilly nodded.
Lucas continued, "if he ever does you'd tell me right?"
Lilly nodded again, still looking confused.
"And just one more thing…there's no need to tell mom about this O.K? She wouldn't understand all this guy stuff."
Lilly nodded a third time and Lucas smiled in response, unlocking the door for his sister to climb out.
Lilly slammed the car door shut and turned to face her big brother through the open window.
"But I understand all this 'guy stuff'," she pointed out, using her fingers as quote marks.
Lucas laughed slightly at her silliness. " Yeah… but you're smart."
Lilly beamed proudly at her brother before turning and heading to her school.
"Bye Lucas!" she called running to join her friends.
Lucas watched her for a few seconds as she joked around with her large group of friends. Upon seeing the huge smile plastered on her face, he became convinced that she was telling the truth, Matt wasn't laying a hand on her. That small piece of comfort was enough to keep him going, for now anyway. Satisfied with Lilly's state of safety, Lucas reversed away from his sisters' school, and began the journey to his own.