Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing!
A/N: This is set when the characters are in their mid-twenties and is completely AU. The only thing that is similar to the show is the very first episode until the Lucas-Nathan basketball game. In this story, Nathan won and Lucas never joined the team. And to avoid confusion I want to explain that this chapter opens from Lucas' point of view and he is not an author in my story because if he hadn't joined the team, then his book obviously would never have been created. However, he is an editor for other authors. Each new chapter will feature a new main character from the show and then I will flip-flop points of view. Reviews are appreciated.
Chapter 1: Lucas Scott
"I liked it," Lucas Scott said half-heartedly. He set the rough copy down on his desk, sliding his name template out of view.
"Why do I get the feeling that you don't really mean that?" a twenty-something author replied. He leaned back in his chair. An annoyed expression etched on his face.
"It was decent plotting, well-articulated prose, and entertaining characters," Lucas explained, leaning forward.
"But?"
"But," Lucas continued, "It lacked substance. As interesting and well-written as everything was, it was very bland. There's no personal connection to be made. There's no relatability."
"Well, of course there's no relatability. It's pure fiction."
"That's your problem," Lucas said, standing up to better make his point. "You don't think there can be a connection between your characters and your readers. You think they just want to escape in your fictional world. I disagree. I think that if properly executed you can reach people on a variety of levels. You just have to want to."
"I'll bear that in mind," the writer said, picking up the copy off the table. "And if you think you know so much about it, why don't you just write your own book?" He walked out of Lucas' office and shut the door roughly behind him.
Lucas sat back down at his desk, contemplating the suggestion. His whole life he'd loved to read. He'd just never considered writing his own story. And in all honesty, he had absolutely no idea what he'd write about.
A knock came at his office door that pulled Luke from his daydreaming. Lindsey Strauss, his co-worker, walked in with a stern expression on her face.
"Lindsey," he acknowledged, smiling. "How goes things?"
Lindsey sighed, pulling her hair back. "Luke, you know I adore you. You've been a shoe-in ever since you came to New York, but I have to tell you that the bosses are worried."
Luke craned his neck to the side to avoid looking at her. "What about?"
"You're just too smart for your own good," she said, sitting down in the chair across from him. "You're opinionated and intuitive. You're a fantastic editor."
"But?" Lucas asked, hating the irony of this situation.
"But you can't keep telling the authors that their writing style isn't good enough for you. I know you have a great voice, but your job is to bring their voices to the center, even if that varies from what yours would be."
"I know," Lucas agreed, getting out of his seat and moving toward the other side of his desk. "It's just easy to forget that my vision is slightly different than the writer most times."
"It's a mistake anyone can make," Lindsey said lightly. "I've been known to voice my opinion and have it's less than welcoming reception."
"Do you now?" Lucas said, eliminating the distance between them. "And how's my reception here?" He coyly grazed her arm, smiling into her eyes.
"I'll let you know this weekend." She went up on her tiptoes and kissed his upper lip. She wrapped her arms around him and let his travel down across her shoulders.
"That sounds heavenly." Lucas breathed, breaking their kiss. "But I actually have plans this weekend." His demeanor changed and a frown formed on his face.
"You get a better offer?" Lindsey teased.
"Hardly." Lucas said, pulling away from her. "I'm heading back to Tree Hill tonight. My mom's been bugging me to visit for months now."
"Oh, the mother," Lindsey said ominously. "I'm assuming that you aren't ready to introduce me to her yet?"
Lucas gave her an apologetic look. "You know it's not like that. My mom will love you. I just don't want to go through my whole backstory yet."
"Right. The infamous Lucas Scott backstory. I'm very intrigued," she taunted. "How long will you be gone?"
"A week if all goes according to plan. I already cleared it with the higher-ups. I'm going to go catch up with some old friends, and then later in the week I have my first high school reunion. That's sure to be memorable. Wouldn't want to miss that," Lucas added sarcastically.
"I bet it'll be great," Lindsey offered, kissing his cheek. "And when you're done, you get to come back to me." She smiled widely.
"Reason enough." He kissed her again. "Tree Hill," he whispered to himself. "Here I come."
"Who's that?" Karen shouted, running out of her house. "I know that couldn't possibly be my baby boy."
Lucas continued to get out of the car, setting his duffle bag on the ground. "Hey, Mom." He held his arms wide open as he waited to embrace her.
She ran right into him and he nearly buckled over from the amount of force behind it.
"I've missed you, too," Luke joked, hoping those weren't actually tears that he could feel soaking into his shirt.
"Eighteen months!" Karen yelled at him, refusing to let go. "It's been a year and a half since you've been home—a year and a half before I've gotten to see my baby boy."
"Mom, please," Lucas begged, smiling. "I call you all the time." He carefully unwound her arms from his body.
"That doesn't count," she insisted. "I need the physical form."
"I'm here now." He picked up the bag again. "And thrilled to see you."
"Right," she said, taking his bag from him. When he tried to pull it back, she held on tightly. "You're our guest, Lucas. I'll take it."
"Are you sure this isn't some ploy to make me come home more often? You think if you're extra nice and hospitable, then I'll come back whenever you want me?"
"A mother can dream," she answered, opening the door to the house.
He walked in after her, enjoying the nostalgia he felt as soon as he was through the door.
"You've cleaned up the place," Lucas observed. "Much more livable than when I was here."
"Just don't look in any closets." Karen threw the bag down, whistling.
Luke barely had any time to process his return when five people came through the entryway to the kitchen. They all shouted, "Surprise!"
Lucas could barely contain his elation at seeing his friends again. He moved forward to greet them all.
"My, man," Skills said first, bumping his knuckles with Lucas'. "How's our favorite New Yorker?"
Lucas laughed. "He's good—not quite as cool as you Tree Hill natives."
"No doubt," Skills said. "But you ain't too bad."
"Appreciate it." Lucas turned to the entourage. "Junk. Fergie. It's great to see you guys again." He pulled them both into a hug simultaneously.
"I hate to tell you this, Luke, especially since this is your first night back and all," Mouth began, standing behind them.
"What's up?" Luke asked, turning his attention to his scrawniest friend.
"Your uncontested winning streak from high school has been challenged," Mouth continued, with his professional sports-announcer look taking over.
Lucas eyed Skills. "Is that so?"
"We'll have to insist on a rematch," Mouth finished, crossing his arms. "Oh, and I've missed you." He hugged Luke enthusiastically.
"Back at you."
Lucas turned to the last person there. He smiled boyishly at him. "Uncle Keith," Luke greeted.
"Lucas Eugene Scott, do you have any idea how much—" Keith paused, eyeing Karen—your mother has missed you?"
Lucas moved toward him, grin widening. "I'm guessing it wasn't nearly as much as you." He pulled his uncle in for a hug, slapping his back.
"Oh, you're right about that," Keith conceded, wrapping his arm around Lucas' shoulder. "I don't think being apart that long works for us."
"I'd have to agree."
They both mocked Karen's motherly concern.
"You both suck," Karen proclaimed, picking Lucas' bag back up and bringing it to his old bedroom. "This is yours for the time being. Until I decide just how undeserving you are to be here."
Lucas just shook his head and laughed. "I sure have missed this place."
"And it's missed you," Keith added.
"It brings me back." Lucas ran his hand through his hair, recalling nearly two decades' worth of memories.
"Back to the river court," Skills interjected. "Let's go. The basket won't score on itself."
Lucas rolled his eyes, turning to Keith. He nodded in permission.
"Go on ahead. I'll make sure your mother survives another couple of hours without you."
"I heard that," Karen called from the other room.
Lucas and Keith both laughed, enjoying how much it already felt like old times.
"You heard the man," Skills started. "Let's head." He started towards the door, with Fergie, Junk, and Mouth in tow.
"Dibs on Lucas' team," Junk called as he followed.
"I get him next time," Fergie demanded.
"I guess you're going to 'head'." Keith smiled, watching their retreat. "We won't wait up."
"Thanks, Keith." Lucas pulled him in for one more hug and followed his friends out the door.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to another night of historic basketball in Tree Hill. Here we have river court legend, Lucas Scott. It's been over a year since Scott ran a full-court game here," Mouth announced in his typical fashion from his spot on the bench. "Will he continue his unrivaled scoring title? Or have we seen the last of his hometown glory?"
Lucas stepped back, aiming carefully. He released the ball and watched as it effortlessly went into the basket.
"Oh, man," Mouth howled. "He's back and better than ever."
"Shut up," Skills told Mouth, rebounding the ball. "Let's do this."
He went to the mid court line and checked the ball to Lucas before bouncing it over to Fergie.
Very quickly the game fell into its old patterns: Lucas on the offensive; Skills always on the defense. The games were friendly but competitive. Fergie and Junk aided in any way they could as Skills and Lucas continued their game with perfect skill until the winning shot was sunk by Lucas.
"Woo-ey," Mouth preached loudly when it was over. "And the Scott-Moretti team takes it."
"Damn it." Skills chucked the ball to the side. "Next time it's you and me," he said, pointing to Lucas.
"Whatever you say." Lucas bowed ungraciously in good humor.
"But that means..." Junk voiced the opening of his concerns out loud.
"That you two will fall on your scrawny asses from a lack of talent," Skills finished for him.
Fergie and Junk exchanged nervous glances. The rest of the boys just laughed.
"What do you say, Luke?" Skills asked a few minutes later after they'd taken their water break. "Rematch?"
"Actually, I think I'm going to call it a night, boys," Lucas said, yawning.
"Like hell you are," a high-pitched voice cut in.
Luke turned sharply, with the other boys following suit. One of Lucas' favorite people in the entire world stared back at them from the other side of the court, visibly angry. She had beautiful light brown hair and a hopelessly friendly face even when she was pissed-off like she was now.
"Haley James," Luke called to her. He soaked in all of her, feeling completely awake now.
"Lucas Scott," Haley shrieked back, throwing herself at him in a hug. "You don't come back to town after this many years without telling your best friend!"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He tried to temperate her anger. "You knew I was coming back for the reunion."
Haley scoffed. "Really? Well, then why did I have to learn from your mother today that you were on your way back? Huh? Your mother,Luke. As much as I love Karen, which is a lot, I should've learned it from you." She narrowed her eyes at him.
"If I said I'm sorry a hundred more times would you forgive me?" Lucas asked, working to console her.
"No," Haley answered immediately, but softened right after. "See what happens when I'm not in the know. I go crazy and take it out on you." She pouted sadly. "I've missed you, Lucas Scott."
"I've missed you too, Haley James." Lucas brought her in for another hug. "Too much."
"Dog?" Skills interrupted, coming up next to them. "We're going to take off. Enjoy your catching up." He scrutinized Haley. "We're rematching tomorrow though." He held out his hand to shake goodbye.
"Yeah, alright." Luke grasped his hand and watched as Skills walked off the court.
"Night, Luke," Fergie called as he walked by, following Skills.
"Are you sure you won't be on my team again tomorrow?" Junk asked as he came next to Luke.
"Junk, shut up," Skills called from where he stood next to their car.
"Fine, night."
"Night, Luke," Mouth said finally, bring up the rear of the group. "We'll see you tomorrow." He turned to Haley. "Night, Haley."
"Night, Mouth," she said happily, sounding much more like herself.
"Now what do you say we break into Karen's cafe for old times' sake?" Haley suggested as soon as the guys drove away.
"I can think of no better way to celebrate my arrival."
Lucas laid in bed, feeling completely drained. He hadn't realized how late he'd stayed out with Haley until his watch alarm had gone off, declaring it five a.m. It was a first occurrence for them—staying out that late. She was always a stickler in high school about getting a full night's worth of sleep. Apparently that was no longer a priority.
Lucas recalled all the reminiscing they'd done the night before. While playing their private version of mini-golf on the roof, they'd talked about Lucas' youthful obsession with a certain moody blonde, Haley's tutoring days, Lucas' summers helping at Keith's Body Shop, and even Haley's years spent at Karen's Cafe.
Lucas could not think of a better return to the town that he escaped at the early age of eighteen. That was as long as he could wait—through high school—to get away.
The town was riddled with a history that Lucas rarely liked to think about anymore. How could anyone deal with such a twisted backstory in such a small town?
Lucas was the son of Karen. That was what he liked to remember. But he was also the son of Dan—the man who had abandoned him when his Mom was just eighteen for a college scholarship. It was all made worse by the fact that just a few months later Dan had impregnated another girl at college. That boy he'd claimed.
Nathan Scott. The name was poison on Lucas' tongue. Just thinking of him made Lucas furious. He hadn't seen him in years, but the memory of him was lodged in Lucas' mind—the memory of him making that winning shot all those years ago at the river court.
Lucas also wondered how different his life would be if he'd won, but destiny had something else in mind.
"Lucas Scott, get out of bed this instant before I have to send reinforcements after you," Karen called from the doorway to Lucas' room. "Don't think I don't mean that just because you're a big-shot adult in the workforce now."
Lucas smiled brightly at his mother. She looked sohappy. It was a wonderful sight to behold. He'd always worried that his departure would make her despise the town she'd grown up in, but apparently that wasn't the case. If anything, she looked even more content than when he was younger.
"Got it," he replied gruffly, slowly crawling out of bed. "Can I at least shower first?"
Karen gave him an if-you-must look.
He quickly complied, walking into the bathroom and shutting the door behind him. He looked into the mirror, taking in his entire disposition. He looked tired and worn-out, which was just how he felt. But there was something hidden in his eyes—some desire for more.
He just didn't know what it was.
"So who is she?" Karen asked, taking another bite of pie.
Karen and Lucas sat at the kitchen table, eating their dinner and discussing Lucas' life. Lucas leaned back in his chair, smiling. They were already on his love life. Right on schedule.
"Come on. Spill." She took another sip of water, eyeing him expectedly.
"Her name's Lindsey," he said evasively.
"And?" Karen urged him on.
"And..." Lucas continued, searching for the right answers. "She's great. She's beautiful. An editor, so you know we have a ton in common. She loves the classics—Pride & Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, Scarlet Pimpernel."
"She's a romantic," Karen noted, approving. "Any Shakespeare?"
"Not a fan per se, though she understands the appeal. She's so sweet, Mom. You'd love her. She's considerate, passionate, hardworking..."
"Sounds a lot like someone else I know," Karen said, smiling proudly at her son.
Lucas grinned back. "She's so real. She doesn't play games with me. There's no drama or stress. It's easy with us." He conjured the image of her in his mind, realizing his picture really didn't do her justice. "I think she could be the one."
Karen's jaw nearly dropped. "The one?" she asked; her tone registering disbelief.
"I know. It sounds crazy. We've only been dating for a few months, but it works when I'm with her. We work together. It just makes sense. I'm getting to that age you know."
Karen looked disappointed. "Luke, you shouldn't think a girl's the one just because it makes sense. It should be head-over-heals, over-the-moon type love. Love isn't easy. I'm almost concerned that your relationship is. It's not very normal."
Lucas frowned, affronted. "Like you'd know?" he said, instantly regretting it when he saw her face.
So much for her happiness and his consideration.
"I'm sorry, Mom."
He tried to take her hand in his to apologize. She pulled it back.
"It's okay, Luke." She stared down at her food. "I haven't been in a relationship since I was in high school, so what would I know?"
"Mom, that's not what I meant. I took it too personally. I value your opinion always, you know that."
Karen smiled half-heartedly. "Sure."
"I really do." He worked to assure. "Besides, Keith seems to have been here a lot. I thought that maybe..." he trailed off, insinuating.
"Me and Keith?" Karen asked, shocked. A smile broke out on her face. "Please, Luke. We're just good friends."
"Oh, come on," Luke ragged. "We both know that's not true."
"I thought we were talking about your relationships." Karen avoided, standing up and taking her dishes to the sink. "There's nothing worth mentioning about Keith."
"Keep telling yourself that, Mom." Luke chuckled at his Mom's discomfort.
"Enough of me. Tell me about life in New York." Karen changed the subject.
Lucas raised an eyebrow, deciding to return to the subject later. "Where to begin?"
A/N: I know everyone's pissed at me for putting Lucas with Lindsey. I didn't like them as a couple, I promise. HOWEVER, if Lucas had never joined the team, then it would logically make sense for him to be with someone in the same profession as him. Also, in this version, Keith is still alive. In my mind, if Lucas had never joined the team, then Dan would never had been so involved in Keith's life, so he'd still be around and Karen would never have left Tree Hill. The next chapter will be from Haley's point of view and the one after that will be from either Peyton's or Nathan's. So don't worry, if you stick with this, then you'll be rewarded with the entire story from all your fav characters points of view. Stay tuned and leave reviews. ;)