AN: Thanks to alysef, CheeryBroody, sunshine, dianehermans, Mars, OTH12, and craxygirl54 for reviewing. This story is rated M for language and for other content in future chapters.
Chapter 1: The Consequence
The days have been hell. Lucas thought that he could skip around on his mother's call on his house arrest. When she slipped into her drunk stupors, he planned on sneaking past her and getting out of the apartment. It wasn't that easy anymore. Instead, his mother was taking her own measures to ensure that she was the one with the authority and control over him. She switched her hours at her job so she was gone when he was and home when he was. It had never been that way or at least she never cared this much about it before. The first few days was when Lucas tried to test his mother's limits because she had never been able to stand behind her own punishments. Actually, he never felt like she was his mother at all.
School was the same exact hell that life at home was. His mother even called the school and asked if Lucas could have an escort to class. If his mother was trying to make a skeptical of him, then she succeeded. All eyes would drift to him when he walked down the halls with his escort. It may as well just be a security guard walking him to his prison cell. Lucas' attitude towards school was that it was a complete waste of time because he already made up his mind that he wasn't going anywhere with the life that he had. He never liked being forced to do thing. The only person he was ever going to listen to was himself because that's the way he learned to survive.
His friends didn't mind making snickering comments at him when they found out what was going on. They were never sympathetic towards each other because they wanted to act tough so they didn't get their asses beat. When Lucas had his freedom back he definitely was going to pay a few of them a visit and beat the shit out of them. Getting caught for it wasn't even on his mind.
"When's your court date?" The named leader of his group of friends, Felix, asked him. He let out a dark chuckle, knowing that it would only raise Lucas' anger.
"You already know the answer." Lucas bit back. He shook his head in frustration. "If I remember, this is your fault."
"And how's that?" Felix crossed his arms across hit chest. "You were the one who ran off like a fucking pussy."
"I didn't think that they would be able to catch me. I had no idea that the police were waiting for me around that corner." Lucas explained as he closed his locker. Then he turned back to Felix. "What did Tony say?"
"What do you think? He's pissed off at the both of us. He already gave me a wailing." Felix looked around the hall before lifting his shirt to show Lucas his scratches and bruises. He quickly put his shirt down when he thought Lucas had a long enough look. "God only knows what he's going to do to you when you show your face again."
"Fuck." Lucas punched his locker, causing a few people to stare at him. Before he could threaten anyone, Felix cleared his throat to let him know his escort was approaching them.
"I guess, we'll talk about this later." Felix muttered to him before leaving.
"You ready to go, Mr. Scott?" The escort asked. He was one of the school's counsellors that Lucas was sent to when he had an outburst in class and ended up pushing another of of the students. Lucas argued that he was being provoked but, the counsellor told him that the school prohibited the use of violence. That was another reason Lucas didn't think he belonged in school. Violence was a way he knew how to protect himself. Nobody understood him and he wasn't going to let anybody try to.
"I don't have any other choice, do I?" His voice dripped with sarcasm as he slung his backpack over his shoulder.
On the way to class, Lucas' mind was trapped on what was going to happen to him if he did see Tony before his day in court. As much as Lucas wanted to avoid going to jail, jail was also a safety net for him when it came to Tony. Tony was a sick and awful man and he used kids, like Lucas, to do all of his dirty work. If anyone was a pussy for being afraid of getting caught by the police, it would be Tony.
He usually skipped this class and wished that he could go off with Felix and the other guys. Anything was better than sitting through a class that made Lucas want to be forced out. For now, it served another purpose. Tony couldn't touch Lucas if he was in school.
"I guess I'll just see you after this." Lucas muttered as he walked into class.
Lucas hated that he had to report back home right after school. He thought that his mother had gone completely insane with her new policy. If he wasn't walking through the door by a certain time, she would call and have him searched for. It was all just a bunch of bullshit to him anyway. She never seemed to care before so what was the point of her stating now? It didn't make too much sense to him because he probably wasn't going to get away with just a slap on the wrist.
He stopped in confusion as he looked into the parked cars that were in front of the apartment complex. His mother beat down car wasn't in her spot. There were at least two possibilities that he could think of. She was either stuck working late or already out scouting for him. As much as Lucas wanted to keep walking, he might as well respect his mother's authority, or lack there of, at least this one time.
His only plan he had during how mother's absence was to smoke. Early that week, she had searched his room for his lighters and cartons of cigarettes. Lucas knew that she was going to act like a snoop so, he kept one lighter and one carton in how pocket. Once he walked up to the door and walked up the staircase to their floor, Lucas entered the apartment. He had to hurry fast if he wanted to be able to calm himself by smoking.
He threw his book bag down by the door and headed straight back the way he came in. Putting his unlit cigarette into his mouth, Lucas zipped up his grey sweatshirt. The summer weather was now turning into a brisk fall.
Outside, Lucas flicked his lighter to try and get a flame. It was his last one and he was running low on the lighter fluid. His frustration grew when he couldn't get a spark. After struggling and failing, he tossed it in the bushes. The cigarette landed on the ground and Lucas felt like stomping on it, even though it was just a waste. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he leaned on the cold bricks.
If he hadn't been stupid and gotten caught Lucas would be walking around town with Felix and his other friends. They walked the town everyday and still were able to entertain themselves. Here and there it was in the form of causing a ruckus but, at least, it was a good time. Other times, the group of boys would sit around the park and just talk. It never was about anything serious. It was just something to do when they knew that there was nothing in life that was gong to change them and make them better people.
When they weren't freeloading their time Lucas and the small group would pay Tony a visit. Felix was the one that introduced Lucas to Tony a few years ago. Lucas had no idea what he was getting himself into. Felix always talked high of what Tony was capable of doing and once Tony learned about you, there was no getting out. All he knew was that Tony could provide him with the rush he wanted to feel in his life.
Lucas wanted nothing more than to impress Tony. He always followed his rules and did whatever jobs he was set up for. At first, it was simple stuff like shoplifting. Lucas got tired of doing that and wanted to do things along with Felix. Tony was a drug dealer but, he used younger kids to do his deliveries. He even gave away a small portion of his profits if things went smoothly. It was very risky stuff that Lucas had gotten himself into. Since Felix had been doing runs longer than Lucas, he was the one that carried a gun just incase runs didn't go as planned. After Lucas' recant run, Tony had promised Lucas that he would hit him up with a gun. Now, that Lucas had failed, he couldn't help but think the first bullet would be for him.
The sound of screeching tires forced Lucas to push himself off of the wall. A black SUV sat a few feet away from him.
"Shit." Lucas whispered to himself. He knew exactly who the owner of the car was and it was just who he was hoping to avoid.
The window rolled down to reveal a man wearing sunglasses. His head was shaved and he had a bandana tied to his wrist. On his finger, he wore a large gold ring.
Checking around, Lucas began walking towards the vehicle. With each step he had to bury his nerves and show no fear. Tony had no problem with teaching him that fear was for the weak.
"Where have you been?" His deep voice asked him.
"My mom's got me on house arrest." Lucas told him.
Tony shook his head. "This isn't good for you, Lucas. I have clients and I'm losing my runners. I'm guessing Felix mentioned to you that I know about your last delivery?"
Lucas nodded. Tony would beat his ass in broad daylight. He guessed that he was only hear to give him one warning. Lucas decided not to tell Tony that Felix showed him his marks at school earlier. Actually, he said nothing at all.
"You're lucky that the police aren't going to investigate anything." Tony turned to his driver and placed a cigar in his mouth. He puffed the powerful odor at Lucas.
You're the one who's lucky. Lucas felt his eyes tear up and sting when the smoke reached his face. He turned his head away and let out a cough.
"It's better that you go to jail than me. I just came by to let you know that if you screw up next time, I'm not going to be so nice." He tapped the cigar on the windowsill and the ashes fell to the ground.
"You drove all the way here to tell me that this time you're not going to kick the shit out of me? Lucas asked defensively.
He took off his sunglasses. "Why would I do that? I wouldn't even tell you that you were going to get it. You won't be the only in danger, Lucas. Why don't you run along inside before your mommy sees us talking, hmm? Why don't you listen to your mommy, Lucas?" He let out a dark laugh.
Lucas clenched his jaw. "If you're threatening my mom, you son-of-bitch, I swear-"
Tony's laugh became stronger, as well as the driver's. "What do you think you can do to me? You're just a stupid fucking kid who just pissed off the wrong guy. Have fun in the slammer because I can promise you that when you're free, you wished that you never walked out of there alive." He tossed the cigar out the window and rolled it up. The car drove away, leaving Lucas wishing that he hadn't wasted his last cigarette.
All he knew at that moment was that his mother couldn't find out about Tony or what he had been doing. He didn't know how he was going to be able to make sure that his mother remained clueless but, Tony was going to make him fight for it.
"Lucas, hurry up! You can't be late for this!" His mother shouted as she knocked on his bedroom door. She had no idea what Lucas could possibly doing and she wasn't going to bother to find out what it was. She was already stressed out from so many things and the judge's possible design was at the top of her list.
Looking in the mirror, Lucas watched himself as he attempted to tie his tie. With a huff, he gave up on it. It was his mother's idea to waist their money on nicer looking clothes to wear to the courthouse. To Lucas, it didn't matter what he wore because the final say was going to be the same. Plus, Lucas couldn't stand they way that he looked and as soon as he walked out of the courthouse or was cuffed and sent to jail, he would rip the tie offend mess up his shirt.
His thoughts were torn between jail and Tony's threat from a few days ago. Tony knew that Lucas was going to get some sort of punishment and that he would be able to still control him, even while he was behind bars. The man was good that way.
"Lucas!" Her voice came out more shrill.
"Hang on a fucking second!" He shouted back.
He walked over to his bed to pick up the belt that his mother made him wear because he wasn't going to get away with having low pants around her or anyone else. As a joke he began tucking in his shirt. After looping the belt through the loops on his pants, Lucas finally emerged from his room.
"I thought you were never going to come out of there." She told him. She turned to her son and took in how appearance. In all of her years of seeing Lucas, he had never looked so clean. "Seems like you had some trouble with your tie." She noted.
Lucas shrugged and looked down to his feet. When he lifted his head back up, his mother was standing in front of him. He could smell her strong perfume and the mint gum she always chewed to hid the liquor on her breath. Her hands reached behind him to lift up his collar and even out the tie. Then he felt a tug around his neck as she finished it.
"I used to do this for my father all the time after my mom died." She told him in her daze.
"Let's just get this over with." Lucas brushed against her as he walked around her. He shoved his feet into his black sneakers and opened the door. Then, without waiting for his mother, he left.
Leaning on the car, Lucas tapped his fingers against his thigh. He only turned his head when he heard the door close. It was followed by the jingling of his mother's car keys.
"Get in," she said. She opened her door and closed it.
The ride was going to be a long and silent one. At this point, it seemed more dreadful than his hearing. He got in and sat beside her. Her hands rested on the shell and her eyes stared straight ahead yet, she didn't put the car into reverse to take him to the courthouse.
"We're going to be late. I thought you were set on leaving." Lucas tried to joke with her.
"This isn't funny. None of this is funny." Her voice was stone cold.
He knew that it wasn't. Nothing was going to change the way things were the last few years. His mother couldn't look at him like he was still her little boy. Lucas had grown up because he had to. It was just the way it had to be.
"I just hope you understand that this is serious. Putting you on house arrest and everything else I've done. Things have to change, Luke."
He nodded, only to get her to pull out of the parking lot and drive away. "Can you just go? I don't feel like talking about anything."
Pulling away from the apartment, she began the drive to the place where she might be driving home alone from.
The judge cleared his throat and put on his reading glasses. The old man began flipping through the report. "Lucas Scott," his name echoed through the room, "it says here you were arrested September 4th, 2010 on the accounts of possession of illegal drugs and resisting arrest. Other claims of the same offenses, as well as theft are also listed. Are all of these correct?"
Lucas heard the gasp escape from his mother. "Yes, sir."
"You're still seventeen, which means that you are still considered to be a minor. For charges like these,I usually rule that you spend time in the juvenile correction facility. I don't know why that this is your first time standing in a court room when you have admitted that you have committed these acts multiple times."
Lucas swallowed as he waited for the judge to just tell him that he was going to be behind bars for quite some time.
"Since this is your first charge offense, I'm going to give you the option. If there is a next time my ruling will be final, do you understand?"
"Yes, sir." Lucas repeated. He felt his palms become sweaty.
"You can spend up to 8 moths in jail, two for each offense, with bail," he paused, "There's a family that works with the county's juvenile facility and they could take you in during you sentence and you can have your correction there. Note, that at anytime they feel that you're better off here, they'll contact us and send you back. I'll give you a few minutres to speak with your mother about your decision."
Lucas took in his every word. The answer seemed so obvious that he would choose to go to some youth center because it beat being in jail. Plus, he doubted that his mother could afford to bail him out again. He just hoped that his mother had the same thought as he did.
He turned to look at his mother. When she caught his eyes she shook her head in disappointment. She stood up and walked over to him. "I want you to choose what you think is best for you." Her hand rested comfortably on his shoulder.
Lucas turned his head back to the judge. "I've made up my mind, sir."
The judge nodded and folded his hands. "What will it be?"
As Lucas finished up packing, he could feel his mother's presence in the doorway. With a sigh, he dropped his folded up shirt and turned to face her. She was leaning on the doorframe and held a tissue as she ripped at her mascara stained tears.
"Even though we fight all the time and don't act like we're family, I'm going to miss having you here." She choked out.
Lucas shook his head. "As much as I want to believe you, I just don't. I'm not saying that to hurt you."
She slowly nodded. "All I want is for you to find a way back to get your life together. I know from experience that, that is one of the toughest things a person can do." She added with a soft smile.
He shook his head again. "Whatever. I don't think that this place is going to change me." Lucas went back to throwing his clothes into his bag. "The only reason I'm doing this is so I don't have jail time on my record."
His mother let out a sigh. "When are you ever going to just realize that you can't take the easy way out? I don't understand you, Lucas. How the hell did you get involved in all of these things? Did your friends pressure you into this?"
"No," Lucas told her angrily. She was always blaming his friends when it was only his fault. Admitting that out loud would just cause her to try and pry more answers out of him. Neither of them were ready for the revelation of everything that he has done.
He would be leaving his mother alone. She was vulnerable enough already and Tony was a mastermind when it came to messing with human emotions.
His mother walked over to him, turned him around, and wrapped her arms tightly around him. Her tears hit his shoulder as she pulled away. "Baby, why can't you ever just talk to me? And without this rude and disrespectful attitude?" She was practically begging him.
Before Lucas could answer, he heard the bell ring. It caused his mother to jump and he watched as she left the room to see who it was. A moment later she walked back into his room. "Your ride's here. I guess you better get going." She sent him a soft smile. Walking over to his bed, she finished up his packing and zippered his bag closed.
Lucas stopped his mother from carrying his bags and took them from her without saying a word to her.
Taking one last look, he walked out of his room. He had no idea how things were going to be at the Davis' Youth Home. Anything was better than staring at off white walls and having his brain bore itself out. The simple thought of Lucas coming home changed baffled him because this was the only way he saw himself: unworthy.
AN 2: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. In the next chapter Brooke will finally be introduced, as well as some other characters. Please Review! I appreciate all feedback.
-kaill
