How the hell am I going to fix this mess? Lucas Scott thought as he surveyed his room.
Boxes of his stuff were still all over the place and some of his clothes were strewn across the floor.
After hearing about Dan Scott's heart attack, he and his uncle, Keith, decided to go back to Tree Hill after a few days stay at Charleston.
That was two days ago.
Now, his room was still a mess.
Lucas heard the doorbell ring and the opening and closing of the front door followed by footsteps towards his room.
"Luke, Haley's here." his mother poked her head in the room, smiling. Karen Roe was definitely happy his son was back. At least someone is happy, Lucas mused, thinking of the other things he had to do and the task of finishing everything. Argh, too much work! Lucas thought to himself.
"Thanks mom. Just tell her to join me in here," he replied. "So someone could help me clean up," he mumbled under his breath so her mother wouldn't hear.
"Okay," his mother smiled at him, "Haley come on!" Karen yelled down the hall as Lucas started to open boxes and return his books in the bookshelves.
"So, the rumor is actually true. Lucas Scott is back." Haley said as she came in through the door.
"Rumor?" Lucas stopped what he was doing, eyed his best friend with eyebrows raised and a hint of smile on his face.
"Actually your mom told me last night, and I decided to see for myself before I actually believed it. So… you're here, but does that mean you're really back or just visiting? Or whatever…"
Both of them just stood there with their arms crossed at their chests, trying to outlast each other's stare, willing the other to break eye contact first. Suddenly, not being able to contain her elation, Haley smiled, practically jumped and yelled "You're back!" her arms opening for a hug.
"Yeah I am." Lucas replied as he gave Haley a tight hug. He couldn't help but laugh with her as he shared that intimate moment with his best friend.
"Why didn't you call me?"
"We arrived really late two nights ago. I slept until afternoon yesterday and I had to move my things back in. I had so many things to do and much more in my mind. I'm sorry."
"Whatever, it's okay. I would have appreciated a call, but what matters is you're here."
Haley pulled back suddenly from the hug, looked at Lucas in the eye and said "Run away again and I'm gonna bust your ass." she told him seriously.
"Okay. Sheesh, and I thought you'd be happy to see me"
"Of course I'm happy. I just can't hold that thought back. You ran away Luke."
Lucas avoided Haley's eyes by looking at the floor. "No I didn't."
"Yes you did. After what happened with Peyton and Brooke, you decided to leave. You ran away from your problems instead of solving them," Haley pressed on. Lucas sighed, turned his back to Haley and started to arrange his books again.
"Look Hales, I'm not ready for this. Not now, okay?"
Haley eyed Lucas while he was working and she sighed. "Okay."
"Now could you please help me with these?" Lucas gesturing with his hands on the mess in his room.
"Sure," Haley replied as she started to open another box, then she suddenly paused "But you know that you have to do something about it."
"I know." Lucas said as he realized that his room wasn't the biggest mess he had to resolve.