PRESENT
Lucas pulled his classic Ford Mustang into the parking lot of his Uncles garage. He had really messed up two years prior and as his reward for being a good "boy" he had been rewarded the car on his birthday. His parents had gone on that whole "earn our trust back and until then you are treated like a prisoner." He loved that car more than anything and honestly it had been a total surprise. After, having everything so restricted for so long he had seriously thought that he would get something hokey and a promise that if he kept up the good work than maybe he would get a car. Instead, he had woken up with that jewel parked in the driveway. Of course his father had been the first to tell him if he screwed up the car was gone.
Which he hoped that his current action would not fall too much into that category.
It was later in the afternoon and he was supposed to be at basketball practice. However, he made different plans. Luke was about to head to the gym when this sense of dread hit him. It wasn't that he didn't love basketball, because he did, it was just that he was tired of that being his whole life. It was drilled in his head do well in school and play great ball. So on his way to the gym he did a complete 180 and headed towards his car. Luke could guarantee that Whitey would call his Dad. He just hoped Nate would cover for him with Whitey and that the coach wouldn't call his father.
The teenager stepped into the garage and breathed in the smell of cars and old oil. The smell always made him feel at home after spending so many of his childhood years in there. His eyes immediately began to scan for his Uncle finding the older man no where in sight.
"Hello?" he called out. "Hello...Keith are you here?"
Lucas picked up a screwdriver and twirled it. He could remember as a child coming to his uncles' shop and playing with the tools. He could remember thinking that the screwdriver was meant for the process of digging holes. He would steal his uncles' tools and go behind the shop and start to dig. That was until Keith told him what the tool was meant for. Then he would just simply use it on the sly. He could remember his mom and Keith just laughing at him as he used the instrument. That was when things were better... before she died.
"Well, well, well who do we have here it has been along time since you have graced me with your presence!" His uncle called out suddenly appearing from the back. Lucas grinned at the man who was covered in grit and grim. Something's never change and Keith had always been a hard worker.
"Uncle Keith..." Lucas said reaching his hand out.
Keith looked at his hand and pulled his nephew into an embrace. "We can do better than that, Kid"
Lucas chuckled and returned the hug.
"So what bring the Tree Hill basketball star to see his lowly uncle?" Keith asked laughing.
It was true it had been awhile since he had been down to the garage. Plus, it had also been a little while since he had seen Keith. The last time would have to have been when his grandparents had been in town and Keith had come for dinner. Whenever Royal Scott was in town there were always many Scott family theatrics. Inevitably someone always left angry and unfortunately it was never Royal.
"I'm sorry I haven't been out. I just haven't had a lot of time. With school, Basketball practice, and my dad riding me it seems like I barely have time to think let alone do anything else." He tried to explain always feeling torn between the two men.
Keith gave his nephew a sympathetic smile "Speaking of your dad how is he?"
Lucas looked at the floor and kicked an invisible piece of dirt. "Dads still the same. He is always on my case about something. It's like all I do is piss him off. I just wish he would lay off. I know I screwed up but I'm tired of him on my case."
"Lucas I hate to hear that. Are you doing ok though? Going to your appointments?" Keith asked concern written all over his face.
This was what Lucas hated. It wasn't any of there fault no one realized they were doing it. No one thought about how for Luke it felt like everything he did was analyzed and he felt like he couldn't do anything without everyone freaking out.
Instead he just put a grin on his face and told his uncle" Yeah, I'm fine just Dan being Dan."
"He has always been that way. Do you want me to talk to him? Maybe he would actually listen." Keith offered
Lucas gave him a sarcastic grin. "I am so sure. It always goes so well when the two of you communicate." That was the last thing he needed was for his Dad to get pissed about Keith giving him tips on how to raise his sons.
Keith laughed. "I guess you are right. Where's Deb, how does she take it?"
Luke just shrugged "She really hasn't been there. I mean now supposedly she is not going anywhere for awhile. She tries to intercede but I don't think she sees a lot of it. It's not just me he rags Nate to, but I guess I have a worse temper. I don't want to bug her with it and seem like some whiny kid. I mean she has been so great to me."
"Luke I don't think she feels that way. She thinks of you as her own son." Keith said patting his nephew back.
"Well she has problems of her own."
"What do you mean?" Keith questioned scanning his nephews face for any tell-tale signs.
Lucas cleared his throat. "Well they argue ALL THE TIME. It's like they are always at it. I know she has been trying to get him to go to marriage counseling but that's not his style. He basically refused and they sleep in different bedrooms now."
"I had no idea. Lucas I am really sorry that you have to put up with that." He could sympathize with the boy. Royal and Mae for the most part argued constantly. It could be very stressful for all those concerned.
"It sucks... but can we not talk about it anymore?" Luke asked making a pleading voice. He didn't want to divulge too much of his home life. At least the portions that seemed to eat away at him. He was forced to talk about his feeling to much anyway.
"Sure kid...if you don't want to we don't have to."
Lucas let a huge grin spread across his face. "So what were you working on before your bratty nephew came in.?' he asked attempting to lightening the mood.
Keith chuckled "Well I was fixing this ladies carburetor….."
"You need some help?" Lucas said excitedly. After he went to live with his father he had still managed (that was when Deb was around) to ride his bike down to the garage and help his Uncle.
Keith laughed "I don't know a rich kid like you might get his hands dirty!"
Lucas smiled at his uncle grabbing a set of pliers from a nearby table "Watch this old man!" Keith laughed at his nephews' antics. It felt good to joke with the boy who seemed too serious for such a young age.
Dan was walking toward the kitchen to see what his wife was making for dinner and see if the boys were home, when the phone started to ring.
"Hello"
"Hey Danny this is Whitey." Dan inwardly groaned. He and the man had never really gotten along and having to talk to him at any point was a strain "I was wondering if Lucas was okay?"
Dans' brow creased at this news. "Is he ok? Why? Did something happen at practice?"
"Well actually he wasn't at practice and Nathan said he was really sick. I was wondering since we play tomorrow if he was feeling better."
Dan could feel heat rising up his neck at the news. If the boy had been sick he would have been home a long time ago. He and Deb had a rule with Lucas that they needed to know his whereabouts at all times. All Lucas's' after school activities had to be approved before he was even allowed to contemplate them. He knew the kid felt like a prisoner but they would not have a repeat of a few years ago. It was that car; he knew it would cause problems. When the boy had turned sixteen he had been adamant in saying no to the car however, Deb had insisted, saying that the boy had worked hard to make a turnaround and that they had to start trusting him some time. So he had gone along with the plan even picking out the car himself but now he had doubts.
"Oh he will be there... thanks for calling!" Dan hung up the phone heatedly. Dan turned around glaring at his wife they had been arguing until he just walked off holing up in his office. That is until his stomach got the better of him and piqued his curiosity.
"Who was that? Are one of the boys hurt?" Deb said panic rising in her voice.
"No Lucas skipped practice today... like you would really care though."
"You are right I am more concerned about him than that stupid game. That's all you care about! Basketball, Basketball, Basketball! There is more to life."
"Whatever, Deb. I am sick of you always questioning my intentions. I can't stand living here anymore! It's like you are a totally different person.'
"I am Dan that's because people grow up! You ought to give it a whirl! You know what I can't stand you living here anymore either! You make me sick! I can't even stand to see you face! I can't stand to see what you put those boys through!"
"Big words for an absent mother Miss always having some big meeting to go. I have basically been those boys' sole parents for years. You spend a few days home every other week. I scarcely would say that qualifies you for mother of the year."
Deb huffed at that remark. "Dan it's my job! Nathan and Lucas know that any time they need me I'll be there."
Her husband gave her his typical smirk that made her want to bludgeon him. "Really Deb, Your there for them? Let me see you were in Houston last week and the week before that you were in Boston. Kind of hard for you to be there when you're always on some trip or in a meeting."
Deb had to admit that one hurt. When Nathan was a younger she had done a lot locally but had stayed close to the home base. However, she kept getting promoted at work and given more responsibilities which of course meant more travel. When Lucas came into the picture she had said she was going to cut back and it just never happened and then when Luke got into all that trouble a few years ago she had once again vowed to lessen her travels. She knew it was selfish but she loved her job and she felt that by cutting back she would in essence tell all those who thought she couldn't do it because she was a female they were correct.
"Well, I am cutting back. The next trip I have isn't for a few weeks and then I'm going to keep them few and far between."
"I'll believe it when I see it, dear." Dan bit back sarcastically.
Just then the feuding duo heard the front door close. They both made haste towards the huge oak door to spot Lucas obviously trying to sneak in unnoticed. When he saw his parents it was obvious he was upset at being busted.
Dan, of course, was the first to speak. "Where have you been? You only had practice you should have been home thirty minutes ago." He was purposely setting the boy up to test some of his old habits.
Lucas felt relief at the assumption that Nathan had covered for him and his dad had no clue he had skipped practice. He wanted to tell his parents that Nathan wasn't even back yet so why was it such a big deal. However, he knew the answer he would get. The answer he always got, that Nathan didn't have the same rules, that Nathan didn't have his past. Instead he just said the first thing that popped in his head. "I stayed a little after and shot more hoops."
He saw Deb grab the bride her nose as if to relieve tension. Then he saw his fathers face flush. "That's funny because Whitey called and said that you weren't at practice. That your brother said you were sick."
Lucas felt his stomach turn a flip. He knew what they were thinking that the past was repeating itself. That they would both jump to conclusions. He had no idea what to say, that wouldn't get him in any deeper. He knew the rules that only applied to him. Everything he did had to be cleared with Deb and Dan. It really put a hamper on his social life because parties weren't really allowed for the screw-up son. It was frustrating some times that so much so that he just wanted to start screaming at the top of his lungs.
Then it was Debs turn to speak. "Lucas, do you anything to say for yourself?"
"I doesn't matter what I say. You're going to think what you want to think." Luke finally answered.
Dan just glared at the boy before angrily telling him, "Give me your Car keys. You are completely grounded. One of us will pick and drop you off from school."
Lucas felt the anger overwhelm him, "This is BS, Dad! I'm sorry. I just didn't feel like going I just wanted some time to think."
Dan just held his hand out waiting for the boy to give over the keys to the Mustang. Lucas, looked at his step-mother for support usually she was the voice of reason.
"Luke, I'm sorry you just lied to us after not letting us know where you were going to be. You know the rules; I have to agree with your father." Deb told him in that soft voice she used when he and Nate had been kids and she would try to calm them down after a fight.
He dug into his pocket and pulled out the car keys thrusting them at his father. "Dinner should be ready in twenty minutes. We are going to have a discussion afterwards, now go to your room."
"Whatever." Lucas mumbled taking two stairs at a time. When he got to his room he slammed his door as hard as he could. He was so angry his felt like he might get sick. He hated this house and all the judgment that stood behind its suburban walls.
