Lucas Scott is just a boy. He enjoys the simple things in life, like friendship and love. He likes to play sports and hang out with his friends. He tends to excel in school as well as basketball. He's got blonde hair and blue eyes. He's just a boy.
But to Haley James, he's so much more. He's her best friend, her other half. She is not complete without him; he is not complete without her. They were destined to be friends for eternity, and nobody could or would ever challenge that.
That, in its entirety, is why Nathan Scott hates Lucas. Because as much as he hates him, he knows that his life would not be complete without him. Nathan needs Lucas. Because Nathan needs Haley. And Haley is not Haley, without Lucas.
He watched from the side, his lean arms folded tightly against his chest, his jaw stern. His eyes shot daggers into the other boy, silently cursing him under his breath. Haley smiled wildly at the blonde boy, her eyes illuminating as he replied; Nathan could see it from where he stood, several feet away.
Their laughter eventually died down, leaving the two friends in a peaceful silence. Simultaneously the two leaned in, their lips touching briefly. She smiled once again before skipping away from Lucas towards Nathan.
She reached him, her boyfriend, smiling giddily. Her arms wrapped around his trim waist, her eyes dancing happily as they met his. "Hey boyfriend." She greeted affectionately.
He smiled simply, no joy evident in the quick grin. Her brow furrowed at his less than loving greeting. "What's wrong?" She questioned. His eyes quickly flicked to the blonde boy, who now seemed engrossed in a conversation with a brunette cheerleader.
She caught his gaze, her mind instantly clearing up any confusion. A jaded sigh escaped her lips, frustration already taking its place inside her. He seemed to notice that she was catching on. "I just don't get it." He murmured.
Her small hand cupped his rough cheek, smiling gently. "It's Lucas." She replied as though it explained everything. She ruefully shook her head, a bemused chuckle rolling from her tongue. "I don't get why you're so threatened by him."
"I'm not." He scoffed incredulously. His eyes sized the blonde boy up and down from the back, mirth dancing within his own. He mentally assured himself that Lucas Scott was in fact no threat at all to him. "I don't get why you feel the need to be all over him."
A low growl escaped her as she struggled to keep herself in check. She had explained it many times to Nathan, but he never seemed to get it. She loved Lucas, she admitted that to him, but she also explained that it was a platonic love, one shared between family. "I'm not going to have this conversation again."
The infamous Scott smirk graced his stern features, "We're dating…remember?" His large hands engulfed her smaller ones between them, squeezing them lightly. She nodded, her teeth nibbling on her bottom lip.
"I know that." Her face instantly softened, the love returning to her brown eyes. She gently blew the auburn hair from her face, sucking in another breath afterward. "And I love you."
He seemed to visibly shutter at the words that plucked at his heart every time she murmured them. He subtly pulled her closer to his body, his lips grazing against hers tenderly. "I love you too." His breath rolled down her neck as he whispered into her ear.
The other boy suddenly made his presence known, clearing his throat to do so. The couple broke from each other, both turning to face Lucas. "Sorry…" He admitted, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "I just…I'm leaving, you need a ride Hales?"
She glanced back at Nathan, noting the apparent tension that entered his body once again in Lucas' presence. He seemed to sneer at the other boy, not bothering to hide his resentment towards him. "Oh, uh, yeah." She replied gratefully.
Lucas noticed the fire burning behind Nathan's eyes but willed himself to stay in control. He was trying, for Haley's sake, to be civil towards the brunette boy, or at least not fight with him. He couldn't say that Nathan was trying to do the same. "Alright, but we gotta go. Mom is expecting me at the café."
"Right, just one…" She trailed off, her attention turning back to the boy in her arms as the other nodded in understanding and retreated towards his truck. He still watched Lucas go, mumbling something incoherently to himself.
He suddenly jerked his eyes to her, noticing her quirked brow and amused smile. "What?" He fussed.
"Boys." Her hair rumpled as she shook her head. She clucked her tongue, smiling to herself. "I'll see you tomorrow." They met for a brief kiss before she turned, jogging to catch up with the blonde boy. His engine roared to life as she climbed in.
"He's not very conspicuous is he?" Lucas cracked sarcastically towards her. They both laughed, pleased by the rashness of Nathan. He waved invidiously to the watchful boy, receiving another death glance in return.
"He seems to think that there is something more between us." She relented. Again they laughed at the notion. "He won't get it through his thick skull that we are just friends. So needless to say, he's not too fond of you. Obviously."
With a roll of his eyes he responded. "Yeah, well, me either."
"I don't get you two." She groaned, annoyed with the never-ending feud between the two boys. He placed a reassuring hand upon her arm, his thumb tracing gentle circles as he steered the car with the other.
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Nathan arrived to his apartment, dropping his keys onto the counter. He rested back into the couch with a sigh, part of him greeting the silence, the other part resenting it. IT was nice to come home to a peaceful house, but at the same time he wished he had someone to talk to, or at least have someone in the same room as him.
He couldn't help but let his mind wander. It always happened when he was home alone. First his mind would drift to his father and all the abuse he put him through. He would smile to himself, knowing that he got away.
Dan Scott stood menacingly over his son, his tall body casting a shadow over the smaller boy. He smiled, but it wasn't pleasant. It was sinister, evil. He laughed dully as Nathan adverted his eyes from Dan's.
"Look at me." He commanded loudly. Nathan slowly let his eyes wander up his father's body, stopping at his eyes. He braced himself, readying himself for any type of abuse his father was sure to impose upon him. "I'm disgusted to call you my son."
"I'm sorry." He attempted, mentally kicking himself for even daring to speak. He knew better than to try to explain himself. He knew it would ultimately only cause more trouble, that it was just better to let Dan say what he had to say and be over with it.
"Shut up!" He roared, his palm coming into contact with Nathan's cheek, sending him stumbling backward. Nathan's hand instantly cupped his face, sucking in a breath to compose himself. "Twelve points? Twelve measly points! What the hell do you have to say for yourself boy?"
Nathan remained quiet this time, not daring to speak out again. He simply lowered his head, his mouth clamping shut. "Don't you ignore me!" Dan spit out angrily. He once again connected his hand with is son's face, this time harder.
Nathan fell backward against the wall, somehow managing to stay on his feet. He let his eyes meet the soulless ones of his father, the resentment and hate boiling dangerously inside him. "Maybe everyone was right…I should have chosen Lucas instead of wasting my time on a loser like you."
Nathan's fist clenched together, his knuckles turning white. He suddenly swung, his closed fist slamming against his father's jaw. Dan barely swayed, a small cut appearing on his lip. He licked the blood away, laughing amusedly to himself. "Maybe there is a man inside you yet…"
"No." He replied quietly. He straightened himself, his anger giving him the courage to face Dan. "I'm just a boy!" His voice boomed loudly, echoing throughout the empty house. A face of disgust presented itself, his eyes cutting through Dan. "I'm just a kid! And if you think you're a man, then I don't ever want to be!"
"Shut…" Dan tried to control him once again.
"No!" Nathan screamed. "I'm sick of it, all of it! Of you're bullying and name calling and constantly putting me down. I don't deserve it!"
"Then leave!" Dan suggested viciously.
And that's exactly what Nathan had done. He walked out of his father's life, the one that had given him yet another reason to hate Lucas.
Lucas, who was just a boy…who seemed to control Nathan's life.
