"Where were you?" Haley asked angry "We wanted to have fun together but you vanished after I showed up"
"I didn't feel well" it wasn't a lie "I saw you dance with Nathan" he changed the topic and winced inwardly. He was his brother's boyfriend. That meant he snatched him away from her. Nathan may not be interested but it wasn't right because he knew how she felt. Though she knew how he felt and that didn't stop her to lay her hands on his brother.
"He left after the dance. I hoped he would stay with me and you know…" she looked so innocent it almost hurt. Lucas realized she was so blind from love she wasn't aware of the things she did. "Next time" he wanted to slap himself, there wasn't a next time.
Payton listened to their conversation and felt the urge to hit Haley, how could she be so oblivious? But what disturbed her most was the guilt in Lucas eyes and there was something else she couldn't identify.
"I hope so" Haley beamed "I have to go, see you later"
Lucas waved at her before he took his books out of the locker "Okay, what happened between Nathan and you?" Payton blurted out.
Her jaw dropped as he blushed furiously "Oh my, you got him?" she put her hand over her mouth.
He gave her a small nod "We kissed, he said he loves me"
She squealed "Oh that's wonderful" and pulled him into a sisterly hug "You deserve this don't think otherwise"
"Thank you" he patted her back "I think you should let me go he sends daggers into your back"
She released him and turned around; she looked right into his icy eyes. She gave him and thumbs up and fled into the classroom.
"What was that?" Nathan frowned.
"I think your death glare scared her" the blond smirked "You know she's only a friend?"
"I know" he sighed "but it was a disturbing sight. I'll get used to it, promise"
"Well I think she'll get over it. The main problem is Haley"
"What's the problem?" the brunette tilted his head and glared at Tim who tried to eavesdrop.
"Your glares scare me too" Lucas confessed while he watched Tim leave, whistling an old rock song.
"I thought you're scared of nothing" Nathan joked.
"I don't like to seem weak but something in me cringes when you look at me like that"
"Good we are brothers now" he slapped his back "Come we're running late"
It was an absolute boring day at school lunch was the only highlight. Nathan sat with his brother and his friends they talked and joked about this and that.
Nathan realized what friendship could be like. He had his own friends but they were different. Most times they drunk and harassed people or talked behind their back, days they actually talked, really talked, were limited. Training wasn't something he was looking forward to, Lucas was their main victim.
He stood in the locker room and watched his teammates.
'What are you thinking about?' Lucas had asked, what should he say? I'm afraid they'll hurt you? That was a fact Lucas knew. It's my fault? That too Lucas knew. It wasn't an easy task to protect his brother. Lucas was his older brother but for Nathan he was his baby brother. He was the one who needed protection. He was the one who hadn't a mighty father by his side. He was only older by age and he behaved older than he was but only because he had to grow up fast.
Lucas had to help his mother; he had to defend himself there was not much space left for childlike behavior. Nathan was sure Lucas had joy but he lived a life no one had to endure.
So he said 'Our talk a few days ago' and winked at him. He couldn't tell the trough. He had to figure out what he thought and felt first.
~ Where is Lucas? Is he waiting again 'till the others stroll into the hall? ~
He shut the locker "Is your brother lurking in the shadows again?" Skills grinned.
"I wouldn't want to spend more time with you than necessary either" Nathan wasn't sure why he said this. He had to play the game for Lucas's sake.
"Sounds someone has a weak spot for his brother" Skills licked his bottom lip.
"I have to act like a brother even when he's not around. What if someone overhears and tells him what I said? Right, it destroys my plan" he whispered.
"You're more intelligent than I thought" Skills laughed, Nathan really could be calculating.
"Now go so he comes in" Nathan shoved him to the exit, Skills continued to laugh.
"They know you're hiding, maybe it's better to change your tactic" the younger said as Lucas slipped into the room.
"They can't hurt me when I'm not around. Do you know how hard it is to hide something from my mother? Sometimes I think she has cameras installed everywhere I go"
"I can't make them stop" he brushed his hand against the blonds' waist.
"You don't have to. They won't break me. I don't let them. I decided long ago that no one will ever break me" the blond smiled self-confident. He had his friends and Nathan that was all that mattered.
"Good boy" Nathan ruffled his hair "I'll catch you if you fall" with that he left a stunned Lucas behind.
He remembered the last time Nathan held him in his strong arms after the team attacked him, it was the moment he started to let his guard down. He still hoped it wasn't a mistake. With a deep sigh he made his way to the court.
"Lucas don't stand around run" Whitey yelled "and you give him the ball when he's free, damn it"
Lucas hoped training would be over soon. He felt flabby and his performance was everything but great. The blond was almost happy he hadn't to run that much but it was irritating to be ignored. They had no right to interfere with their training. They had to work together when they wanted to win the next game.
"Nathan stops glaring you make me nervous" Whitey said as Nathan stopped in front of him.
"Can't you stop them?" he asked "They ignore him and he has to train too or he has to sit on the bench during the next game"
Whitey nodded and sent him back on the field, the Scott boy was right but he wondered since when he had an interest in his brother.
The team changed their tactic too, not for today but for the next time. They decided to initiate a few accidents. Whitey couldn't forbid them to play especially not with Dan Scott by their side but their trainer grew more and more unpleasant.
After training was over Lucas joined them in the locker room. Hiding was a weakness Dan would never appreciate. As much as he despised him he loved him. He was his daddy and that was a fact Dan and even he couldn't change. It was stupid to seek love from someone who never wanted him but he couldn't change the way he felt. He envied Nathan's relationship with his father. Lucas loved Keith but he wasn't his dad and would never be.
Maybe it wasn't even love; it was more the urge of being accepted. Money, the name that were things he never wanted. He wanted to feel appreciated.
Skills bumped into Lucas "Watch were you're going, idiot"
"You're the one with lousy grades. I'll get a stipendium with basketball or without" Lucas glared.
"Watch your mouth, freak or your mommy doesn't recognize you when you get home" they stood face to face.
"What do you want to do? Hurt me with your stupidity? I think it's little too late for that"
The others chuckled what pissed Skills off even more he wanted to launch himself at Lucas as Nathan grabbed him and dragged him into the shower. He turned the cold shower on and held him in place.
"Ahhhh, are you stupid man, what the hell" he yelled and choke on some water.
"Leave him alone" Nathan stepped out of the shower room as he saw the escalating argument. He didn't bother to think; he acted by instinct and dragged him away from his brother.
"YOU!" he hissed while he looked at Lucas who stood near the door and watched the show.
Nathan let go of him "Come on Lucas time to go home"
That evening the bet turned into something very, very personal.
"That was stupid" Lucas told him "You should be careful or you're his next victim"
"Don't worry" Nathan took his brother's hand and rubbed his thumb over his knuckles. It was dark outside and no one was in sight "I'm who I am, he will not act against me"
"I'm not so sure" the blond sighed and squeezed the hand he held "Something says me this will have consequences"
"May there be consequences I'll not give in" he smiled at his older brother encouragingly.
"I hope you're right" he didn't think they would hurt him physical but mentally.
Lucas let go of his brother's hand as Haley turned into the road "Hey guys" she stopped.
"Hey" Lucas put up his fake smile, Nathan noticed how good his brother was.
"Uhm, would you like to go to the cinema with me next Saturday?" she spoke to Nathan.
"Lucas and I want to watch the new action-comedy movie" he decided spontaneous.
Lucas played along "We made plans for the whole weekend" he tried to keep her away from him.
"Cool I want to see the movie too. I come with you. When you have nothing against it" she beamed. She saw a chance.
Nathan looked at his brother and read the look on his face. They couldn't say no to her. Sorry I have a date with my brother? I try to bond with my brother so we watch a movie while holding hands "Sure" he turned back to her.
"Great, see ya tomorrow at school" she sped away.
"So we had a date planned for Saturday" the blond grinned.
"Yeah, don't you remember? I'm hurt" he placed his hand above his heart.
Lucas laughed "Oh, now that you mention it"
"Maybe …" he wanted to say that they could get rid of Haley after the movie as Lucas mobile phone rang.
"Mom?" he frowned "Mom not so fast. Mom! What happened?" his face fell and shock was written all over his face "What? When?" he stuttered. Nathan put an arm around his shoulder to offer comfort which Lucas accepted gladly "Okay, I'm on my way"
"What happened?" his brother's expression worried him terribly "Talk to me"
"Keith had a heart attack, he's at the hospital and I have to…" he paused, he had problems to work with the information he got.
"I'll accompany you. You don't have to do it alone" Nathan pulled him closer and kissed his temple "Hush" he whispered soothing words.
His mother awaited him "Lucas" she pulled him into a hug "He's okay, he has to stay for a few days" she rubbed his back and nodded at Nathan.
"He scared me for a while" she whipped a tear away "but he'll be alright"
Lucas was relived "Thank god" he tried to calm himself down for his mother's sake.
"Miss Roe you can visit him now, he's only allowed to have one visitor tonight" an elderly nurse said. Karen nodded "I tell him that you're here" Lucas nodded.
Nathan hugged him after Karen left "You see he's okay" he felt Lucas nod against his neck.
"Are you relatives?" the nurse asked friendly "Yes we are" Nathan answered for them.
"We have to test you, he has HMC it's a sickness which affects the heart and it's possible that you have it too" Lucas froze in Nathan's arms.
"We could have it too?" Nathan swallowed; she nodded "Come by tomorrow morning, please"
Nathan clung to his brother for dear life
~ We could be sick too. What does it mean to have a sick heart? No basketball, no running.
Is everything strenuous forbidden?
What does it mean for me? I lose Dan's approval; will I lose his love too? I love basketball I don't want to quit. What if I leave him alone in this world? I don't want to die.
What if Lucas is sick? He loves basketball as much as I do. He's bright he has not to worry for his stipendium but what if I lose him? My brother can be hotheaded when threatened.
What if he dies? ~
His heart clenched painfully at this thoughts. Both had much to lose.
He clung to his brother's back and was sure it would leave bruises.
Lucas didn't feel the pain as his brother's fingers dug into his flesh he was too lost in his thoughts
~ It can't be true, it can't! Isn't our life uncomfortable enough?
What if Nathan has to quit basketball? It would ruin his life, he wouldn't get a stipendium, Dan would be angry.
Would he hate me for playing basketball while he sat on the bench? Of course he would.
I don't want to lose him. He's my brother, my love, my lifeline.
What if I'm sick? My mom would cry and worry. It would hurt her deeply.
Dan would be happy to get rid of me.
…
The symptoms I have, are they related to HMC? ~
"Stay with me tonight" Nathan offered, Karen wouldn't leave the hospital and Lucas would be all alone at home and brood "Sit down and I tell your mother, okay?"
The blond nodded and settled down on a hard plastic chair. He had a lot to think about.
Nathan pocked his head into the room "Lucas will stay with me tonight, maybe even tomorrow so you have all the time you need" he almost whispered.
"Thank you" she mouthed and turned back to Keith.