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I Can Be Your Hero, Baby.

Chapter 1

I shouldn't Love You, but I want Too

"You should have seen it," Mouth announced, "Nathan looked like he was gonna snap Lucas like a twig!"

I ignored the comment. I grabbed my water bottle and took a big gulp. The icy water felt good against my dry throat. We had been playing basketball for over an hour and I was getting a little tired.

"Man, that guys gonna get a River Court beat down if he hurts you, Lucas!" Skills said. I chuckled. Skills, Mouth, and I were the three amigos.

"He won't touch me," I informed strongly. I put on my shirt and grabbed the basketball from Junk.

"Why was he gonna fight you anyways?" Skills asked. I ignored that too. I didn't feel like getting mocked or my self-esteem taking a hit. The boys would tell me there was not a chance in hell I'd get Brooke Davis. Sure, they were probably right. A guy can dream though, right?

But, of course, Mouth had to open his mouth, "Well, Nathan snapped and yelled at his object of desire, Brooke Davis."

Skills faced me. I sighed here it comes, "Brooklyn Davis?! Nathan's Girl?"

I nodded as I felt my face turn beet red, "Yes, that's her."

"Lucas, I love you bro, but Davis is way outta your league!" Skills said with a chuckle.

I bounced the ball on the ground to avoid eye contact. I didn't like when they doubted me and made her seem like a girl who just was arm candy. I'm sure she has a great heart and isn't materialistic. Was I crazy? I never talked to her before and I felt like I knew her, rather I wanted too. But something inside me is telling me, she could be mine.

"I don't think so," I replied as I shot the ball. I scored. I smiled triumphantly as I turned to face them. They all just smiled.

"Fine, if you get Brooke, you're hooking me up with her blond friend!" Jake exclaimed we all laughed. Jake was our newest friend. He was a great guy. He had a daughter, Jenny, but no one outside of the River Court boys new that.

"Deal!" I said as I shook his hand. Jake was probably the only one who had faith in me, everyone else thought I was crazy.

BUZZ

I slammed my alarm off. My body was sore from the workout at the River Court. Slowly, I walked to the kitchen. I grinned, my mother had made pancakes.

"Hope you're hungry!" my mother exclaimed excitedly. I sat at our small table and began to eat my pancakes. "Are you going to help Keith in the garage today?"

"If he needs my help," I said as she sat down next to me. I smiled. The pancakes were so good! My mother loved to cook so it was no surprise she got her own café. Well, Dan helped give her some money. So, I guess, I have to thank him for that. The café and the love of my Uncle Keith was the only thing keeping us a float financial wise.

"Well, he does and he asked that you come," she said as she took a sip of coffee. "Mmm…I have to go get the camera and take a picture of my babies first day of junior year!"

I cringed. Why did mothers do that? I looked the same as I did the year before. I just got a hair cut, nothing monumental. She rushed back with her dinosaur camera. That thing was older than me. I smiled as she took the picture.

I grabbed my bag and hopped in my truck before she took more pictures. I pulled up to Jake's house. He was waiting for me on the steps.

"Thanks for the lift," he said as he hopped in. I nodded and began to drive.

"Sorry, mom pulled out the camera and that took a while!" I said with a laugh.

"It's cool. I had to wait for someone to come take care of Jenny," Jake said with a sigh. I couldn't imagine having a baby right now. My mom did it but she had Keith and Jake has no one.

"You find her a babysitter?"

"Yeah, my neighbor said she'd do it for free. Her and her husband can't have kids so…" Jake trailed off.

I smiled, "If you ever need anything, I'm here."

"Thanks, man!" Jake said with a grin. "Hey, I think that you have a shot with Davis."

"Yeah?" I asked as I parked my truck.

"Mhm. She just needs to get to know you," he said as we walked toward school.

"I knew I liked you!" I joked. I smiled as my friend walked to his locker. Maybe this was the start of a beautiful friendship.

I pulled out my schedule and walked to Room 243 English. English was my best subject.

"Take a number," Mrs. Allison said as she held a bowl with paper in it. I grabbed a piece of paper. 13. I sat down in seat thirteen. This was an odd way to seat everyone.

"What are we in kindergarten?"

I turned around. I gasped. Brooke Davis was sitting right next to me. Finally, I could talk to her. "I was just thinking that."

She smiled, "Hey, aren't you the guy that Nathan threatened?"

I smiled, "Yeah." She remembered me!

"Thanks sticking up for me," Brooke said. Her dimples were so big and cute. Her smile captivated me. I was in a trance. "Nathan can lose his temper. He doesn't like to be told what to do."

"I noticed," I muttered. I was shocked. I was having a conversation with her and I didn't embarrass myself.

"I'm Brooke," she said as she placed her purse on the desk. She rummaged through it and pulled out lip gloss. Why did women put on makeup when they are naturally beautiful?

"Lucas Scott," I introduced myself. Her face fell. Oh, no, Nathan had probably told her horror stories about me.

"Nathan's half-brother?" she asked. I nodded. Bye, Brooke. "Your lucky, Dan's an asshole and Deb's on something. Your mom seems completely normal."

Lucky? Was she kidding? "Yeah, I'm lucky, I guess? But what kid wants to grow up knowing there father left them? Even worse, left there mom to fend for herself and support me with no money!" I snapped. She fell silent. I had made her uncomfortable. Good job, Luke.

"Well, you still have your mom. Some people don't have either of their parents," she said. My stomach flopped. I realized she was talking about herself.

"I'm sorry," I said. She didn't respond. "If I let you hit me, will that make you feel better?"

The beautiful smile returned and a laugh escaped her lips, "Oh, goody I have always wanted to try out my brass knuckles!"

My eyes widened, "Ugh…"

"It was a joke, Lucas," she said with a smile. I smiled back at her.

"Class, partner up with someone and both of you will write a report on each other. It will be due at the end of the week," Mrs. Allison said. I sighed. There was no one in here I knew.

"But it's the first day!" Tim whined. I laughed. Tim was Nathan's best friend and I wondered why he was even in this class.

"Yes, but I get to see your writing ability and you get to know a class mate," Mr. Allison said.

"How good are you at writing?" Brooke asked me.

"My best subject, I'm very good," I answered.

"Instead of hitting you, you help me get an A, partner," she said with a grin.

"Deal," I said happily. I pinched myself. I had to be dreaming, right?

"Lucas Scott?!" a voice boomed. It was Whitey, the basketball coach. I turned to face him. "Get your stuff and come with me."

I grabbed my bag and waved bye to Brooke. Was I in trouble?

"No, you're not in trouble incase you are wondering," he said as if he had read my mind. I raised a brow at him. If I wasn't in trouble then why was I with him? I kept quiet as I had followed him into his office. I sat down in the big leather chair facing him.

I looked around he had a lot of trophies and plaques on the wall. He was a very good coach. The Ravens were always in the finals and even if we didn't win the title of champions, one of our players got MVP.

"Lucas, I saw you play basketball the other night. You have amazing talent and even better, good grades." Whitey said with a laugh.

I blushed, "Thank you, sir."

"Look, don't go formal on me, Scott. My name is Whitey. Listen, Lucas, I want you to play for the Ravens," Whitey said. I gasped. The Ravens were a hard team to get into. I felt honored that Whitey wanted me to play but what about Nathan?

"I feel very honored, and thank you for the offer. However, I don't think that I can be on the same team as Nathan," I said softly.

"You're going to give up on something you love, that not to mention is an amazing thing to play for the team, because you are scared of Nathan Scott?" Whitey asked. When he said it like that, I felt stupid and embarrassed.

"I just don't need the drama from him," I said as I glanced at my hands.

"Lucas, you have so much potential. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think that you could do this. Nathan is a great player but I think you might just be what we need to be state champions!" Whitey said.

"Alright, I'll do it," I said with a sigh. I was excited, I really was. I just didn't want any crap from Nathan.

AN: I'm sorry if it seems to be going so slow but it will pick up soon, promise. Review. (: