Sorry chapter 3 was so short. I figured I would put up chapter 4 right away to keep you guys happy!! Thanks so much for the reviews—keep 'em coming!!
Chapter 4
"LUKE!" Lily screamed and went running towards her brother.
"Hey, beautiful," Lucas said scooping Lily up. Karen hugged Lucas while giving him one of those "what in the hell are you doing here" looks.
"I thought you weren't flying in until Monday?" Karen asked.
"I caught an earlier flight," Lucas said while scanning the group. Peyton sat back down next to Jake and grabbed his hand. Brooke looked down at her lap. Haley and Nathan stood up to greet Lucas, followed by Skillz and Mouth.
"We missed you, man," Nathan said while hugging Lucas.
"Haley, you're huge!" Lucas commented after reaching his arms around her, "I feel like I've missed so much."
"You have," Haley said, pointing to James and Grace. Like most people did, Lucas noticed that Jamie was a spitting image of Nathan. When he had left Tree Hill, Jamie was only two and beginning to form sentences. Now he was five starting preschool. And Grace! She was about a month old when Lucas split from Tree Hill. Grace was beautiful. She had long curly sandy blonde hair and big smile—just like her mom.
"God, I missed you guys," Lucas smiled at his best friend.
"You still got game, dawg?" Skillz asked while wrapping his arm around Bevin.
"You better believe it. I could still take you any day, Skillz," Lucas laughed. He then noticed the happy couple sitting at the table. He turned to Peyton and Jake. "Congratulations, guys. Really."
Jake accepted Lucas' congratulations with a handshake, while Peyton showed a quick smile and an even quicker "thank you."
"Hi, Brooke," Lucas nodded.
It took all of Brooke's inner strength to force herself to say, "Hello."
Soon after Karen grabbed his arm and lead him into the kitchen. Lucas explained to his mother that he couldn't wait a whole weekend to see her and Lily. He had grabbed the earliest flight and headed out of New York.
"Lucas, I love you, but what is wrong with you? Coming to Tree Hill the weekend Peyton is getting married," Karen scolded her son.
"Mom, I know, but don't worry. I'll stay clear of the whole event. I'll be busy anyways—with Ava," Lucas said while sticking his hands in his pockets.
"Ava? Ava is here in Tree Hill? Where?"
"She's at the Maple Inn down the street—we'll be staying there," Lucas told his mom.
"The inn? Why don't you come home?" Karen asked.
"Mom, you and I both know our house will be wedding central tomorrow, and I'm telling you—I'm not going near the wedding. I just came for a week to spend time with you and Lily," Lucas assured his mother before the café door closed. "Who was that?" Luke asked.
"Probably the girls. I'm sure they're heading off to the bachelorette party. I'll be heading down later myself. I just have to close up here and drop the kids off by Deb," Karen said.
"Luke," Nathan poked his head in the kitchen, "you, me, Skillz, Jake, and Mouth. Down at the River Court. Right now," Nathan challenged.
"I'm there, little brother," Lucas smirked.
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As Lucas, Nathan, Skillz, Jake and Mouth pulled up to the River Court, a rush of emotions came over Lucas. Two things stuck out in his mind—his first game with Nathan and the night before everyone separated. Lucas breathed in the fresh air and moved his hand against the familiar feeling of the old picnic table.
"So," Lucas began while stepping onto the court, "the girls get strippers and limos and champagne, and we get what…a basketball game. This is almost as bad as Nathan's bachelor party when Tim got arrested." The guys laughed as Jake pulled Lucas to the side.
"Hey man, before we start this game, I just want to know that I don't hold anything against you—because of Peyton, I mean. We were friends and I still think of you that way," Jake said.
"Look, Jake. What happened between me and Peyton," Lucas paused, "I loved her, a part of me always will. But I just didn't think we were right for each other. We were just too good of friends," Lucas replied.
Skillz butted in, "And now who do you have your eyes on dawg? Brooke? She's single, you know."
"I actually do have my eyes on someone. She's pretty and smart—probably for her own good. She's really…something—"Lucas waited.
"Who is it, man?" Nathan asked.
"My girlfriend, Ava."
