Starting a new story is about the last thing I should do, but I've had better luck writing this so far than I've had for my other stories. Academics and extracurriculars are a pain in the ass. And I have to tutor and volunteer so I rarely have time to write. The good news is I have a few chapters lined up for this story and the updates should be a little more frequent until it hits the point I have to start writing again. Anyway, here's the story.

"Wrap it up Lucas, I'm closing up shop."

"Yea, Keith, I just need to screw in the last few lug nuts," Lucas shouted back.

"You work too hard, Luke. We're going to stop for a bite and have a good talk about this."

"There's nothing to talk about Keith."

"Oh, we have tons to talk about. Like you not going to college for one. You've got a whole world to experience, yet you show up here every day at 7 to do minimum wage work."

"Come on Keith, you know I can't afford to go to college. Besides, I'm a mechanic and I don't need to go to school for that."

"I promised I was going to put you through college. And you're not a mechanic, Luke. I am; you just work for me,"

"I told you I'm not going to let you pay for it. You've got enough of your own expenses. It's time you stop taking care of me Keith, you deserve a life of your own."

"I made a promise to your mother. You're like a son to me Luke. I'm supposed to take care of you."

"You can't take care of me forever, Dad. Tree Hill's home and I can't imagine anywhere else I'd rather be. I'm happy here Keith. I live a simple life and I'm happy. And that's what you want for me right? I don't need to go to college."

"You remind me so much of your mother, you know that? The two of you are always looking out for everyone else. Sometimes, you need to let someone do the same for you."

"That's where you come in Keith. I'm the man I am today because of you."

"So what are you going to do for the summer?"

"I'm going to work at the shop. Play basketball. Nothing much."

"Now I know you don't want to hear this, but it's my job to tell you. You need to go to college. Your mother would've wanted you to get a proper education."

"Well she's not here, is she?" Lucas said bitterly.

"No she's not Luke. But don't you dare blame her for it. She never asked to leave this world, especially since she had you to worry about. I know for a fact that she loved you more than anything in this world. She wanted the best for you and staying here, working a second-rate job is far from it. I'm not going to let you walk down the same path I did son."

"There's nothing wrong with the path you took. You make an honest living. Honestly, you're the greatest man I've ever known. Knowing I could be like you would be the greatest achievement in my life."

Keith stared back at Lucas with tears welled in his eyes, "That means a lot to me son. You know, your mother was the only woman I've ever loved. I was willing to my life on the back burner for you and her. She made me the happiest man in the world by just letting me be there. Your mother was a great woman. It's going to be hard to find someone like her Luke. Make something of yourself. I don't know many girls who would settle for a mechanic, no matter how big your heart is. Just go to college Luke. One day you'll find a girl who you'll love as much as I loved your mother. You're going to want to give her the world. Trust me, I wanted to give your mother the world, but I was just a mechanic. All I would be able to give her is a second-rate life."

"You gave her the best life she could ask for. She loved you too Keith. I appreciate you looking out for me, but if that girl, who's out there somewhere, truly loves me, she wouldn't care about what I do for a living. Just like mom never cared about what you did for a living."

"I'm not going to force it anymore. I hope you know what you're doing Luke."

"Yea, I hope so too, Keith, I hope so too."

Lucas lay in bed thinking. His life had never been easy. His mother died when he was twelve years of age. He never knew his father. All the family he's ever known was his Uncle Keith. It was just the two of them as far as he could remember.

He remembered coming home from school one day and finding his mother on the floor. As soon as the paramedics arrived, she was pronounced dead. She was a perfectly healthy woman. No one had an explanation as to how she died. Lucas went through several phases after her death. He became an angry and confused kid and had it not been for Keith, he would've ended up walking down the wrong road.

Keith was there his whole life. He was an extremely selfless man. He never once pushed Karen into a relationship for he was happy to be able to take of her and Lucas. In the end, he regretted not telling Karen how he felt, for leaving so many things unspoken.

Lucas wanted to go to college and make a career out of writing. However, he wouldn't be able to afford it nor would he ask Keith to help him. Keith had already given up so much for him and his mother. To be honest, he was happy living as a mechanic. Sure, he didn't make much, but he didn't need much. He didn't drink, gamble, or smoke. He had clothes on his back, a roof over his head, and food to eat. Keith made sure of that. The money he slaved over was forwarded to his bank account. Money had never been steady, even when his mother was alive. College would never be an option, not with his income source.

He would never fit in the big city anyway. He was and would always be a small town guy. Tree Hill was home. He couldn't imagine leaving it or Keith. This arrangement was probably for the best. Maybe he would spend the rest of his days in Tree Hill with Keith. And that girl Keith was talking about? Lucas wouldn't stress over it much. She would or wouldn't show up; it wouldn't really matter. Life never dealt him the right cards, so he made it a point to never hope. Yes, it was a pity. He was only eighteen and he had already given up the ability to hope. The best assurance he could have was his own hard work. That was bound to get him farther than hoping ever would.