Chapter Three: Mystery Shoe

LUCAS P.O.V.

"Come on! Make it…" I whispered quietly as I shot the basketball down at the Rivercourt. Unfortunately, I didn't make the shot, and the ball bounced off the rim and then rolled behind me.

I turned around and there was Nathan, holding the ball in his hands. Oh-oh, here comes trouble, I thought to myself as Nathan walked up to me, trying to crush the ball in his hands.

I wouldn't normally think of Nathan as trouble (like I used to), but lately, he had been different since Haley left. It was almost like he went back to the way he used to be (a jerk), but this time, it was a little more profound, deeper (as in a major jerk).

"Hey, Bedroom-stealer," Nathan slurred at me. He staggered as he haphazardly jogged up to the hoop and tried to make a shot. He didn't make it.

I sighed, wishing that I didn't have to deal with him at that moment. "Are you drunk?"

"Yeah, but why would you care?" I started to protest but Nathan turned around and grabbed the front of my shirt. "And don't say you do because if you did care, 'Brother', you wouldn't have moved into my room just so you could be closer to Daddy." He spat right next to my left shoe.

"Look, Nathan, I don't want to start a fight, but I might have to if you don't let go of my shirt," I threatened through clenched teeth. I guess I was feeling a little mean that day, but I had just gotten in another shouting fight with my mom over the phone. She keeps telling (actually, threatening) me to move back with her. But, even though Jules ran off because of Dan at her and Keith's wedding, there are still things I want to find out about Dan that I can maybe use in the future. Which, unfortunately, means that I still have to live with him.

"Oh you wanna start a fight? Well, I'll have the pleasure of the first hit, then…" Nathan brought up his fist and was about to hit me in the face (which I so would have blocked), but he was suddenly hit in the back of the head with the basketball and fell to the ground, clearly knocked out.

I looked up and didn't see anyone. But, when I turned around, I saw someone running off, darting back and forth between trees. It looked like a girl with long brown hair, and for a minute I thought it was Haley. But whoever it was, they were too far away to tell now.

I sighed, and, after looking around to see if anyone was there, I picked up the blacked out Nathan and heaved him over to the new car that Dan had given me (another bribe that Dan felt the need to give me). I ran back and picked up my basketball, then almost tripped over someone's shoe that had been left in the middle of the court.

That wasn't there just a minute ago…? I was confused. Maybe I just didn't see it, I decided as I shifted my basketball to my right hip and bent down to pick the shoe up.

It was definitely a girl's tennis shoe. "It must have been that girl that I just saw…" I walked over to my car, holding the shoe out in front of me and inspected it. "Whatever," I shrugged my shoulders and got in, throwing the shoe and ball in the backseat.

I looked over at Nathan, who appeared to be somewhat in with it, but was just sleeping now. Weird…I never knew you could get knocked out from a hit to the head with a half-flat basketball. I thought as I turned on the car. At least I won't have to deal with him for the next couple days.
I sighed as I drove to Nathan's apartment to drop him off (Once I had brought him upstairs, he attempted to hit me again but with no success. "What are trying to do? Mowlwest me?" he had slurred). After that was done, I thought about calling Brooke to see what time I should be at her house to get ready to go camping. But, as I drove passed the post office, I saw Brooke walking on the sidewalk, alone.

I slowed down and pulled over to the curb. She smiled and walked over to my car, as I rolled down the passenger window by pressing a button.

"Hey! How are you?" Brooke flashed her beautiful smile at me.

I grinned back at her. "Good. You want a ride?" She nodded and got in.

She sighed and said, "So, are you totally happy about leaving tomorrow for four fun-filled wilderness days?" She clicked her seatbelt and I pulled back onto the road.

I chuckled and said, "Actually, I am. I just had to deal with a drunk Nathan, who tried to hit me twice. He accused me of being a 'bedroom stealer' and then a 'mowlwest'-er."

Brooke laughed. "A what?"

"I think he was trying to call me a molester, but it came out slurred."

She nodded, saying, "So, he's still not over Haley leaving then? Drinking a lot?"

I sighed, feeling frustrated. Haley leaving was another thing that had been bugging me, along with my mother, Dan, and Nathan. At least this camping break would be good. For all of us. "Yeah, and I don't think he's going to let up on it."
"Well, maybe we should do an intervention?" Brooke suggested.

I frowned, shaking my head. "I don't think that would work. I think it would make him more P.O.ed. But this time, at everyone."

She nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"So, do you want to go get a bite to eat?" I changed the subject.

I looked over at Brooke and she looked at me. We both laughed, embarrassed for some reason. "Sure, I'd like that," she said, brushing an invisible piece of hair out of her face.

"Cool," I said as I drove to the nearest fast food place, "Taco Bell".

"Care for some Mexican?" I asked as we laughed.

"Sure," she said, as I pulled up to a parking spot.

As we walked into Taco Bell, Brooke smiled shyly at me and took my hand, and held it all the way until we sat down in a booth with our food. Now this is how it should be… I thought happily.

It seemed that this camping trip was going to be a little more than just s'mores, ghost stories, and swimming in a freezing lake…