Disclaimer:  Usual disclaimers apply.

            Karen started to go after Lucas, but Keith grabbed her hand telling her to let him go and cool off.  Karen hesitated for a moment.  She wasn't used to seeing Lucas so angry, but it wasn't the first time he had needed some space and deep down, she knew Keith was right.  As soon as Lucas was out of her line of vision, she whirled around, her eyes blazing.

            "What the hell is going on?"

            Keith buried his face in his hands. He suddenly felt very tired, as if the past month had aged him by fifty years.  He glanced up at Karen and then averted his gaze to the shabby carpeting. 

            "I guess he has a right to be upset."  Keith's shoulders slumped.  "I was being a hypocrite.  I told him if he stayed away from Brooke I wouldn't call you in Italy and tell you everything that was going on."

            "But you called me the other day."

            "Lucas didn't know about it.  And Karen, I thought we decided you were going to stay for the class.  There was one week left."

            "It looks like I came home just in time."

            Keith shrugged his shoulders.  "Maybe."  He rubbed his day old beard.  "I caught Lucas sneaking around with Brooke a few weeks ago.  He was still grounded from that tattoo incident.  He'd cut class, gotten detention and a whole bunch of other little things.  I told him if he didn't want me to call you, he had to stop seeing Brooke.  It seemed like a good idea, because all the trouble kept leading back to her.  But I don't know what I was thinking.  I mean, if my dad had tried to tell me I couldn't see a girl, I would have done the same thing Lucas did."

            "That doesn't make it right."

            "No.  Lucas did wrong, but I did some bad parenting."

            Karen sat down beside Keith, and hugged him to her side.  "You did fine.  If he had gotten a tattoo when I was around, you could be sure he wouldn't have shown it to me.  He showed it to you because he trusts you.  And if you hadn't known about the tattoo, he could have gotten a lot sicker, possibly even gone into septic shock.  What just happened is normal."

            "Not for Lucas."

            "Maybe he's just a late bloomer Keith.  It doesn't matter.  I don't want him running around town so upset.  He's bound to get hurt.  I'm going to look for him."

            Keith stood abruptly, shaking his head.  "Let me look for him."

****

            For the first ten minutes, Lucas wandered blindly, rage building up behind his eyes, making his head hurt.  He hadn't wanted his mom to give up the cooking school. It was a once in a lifetime chance and she had come home early because of him.  He banged his forehead with the heel of his hand, "Idiot.  Idiot.  Idiot," he muttered to himself.

            He needed to talk to Haley or Nathan, but neither was home.  They were probably out together, having fun, making out.  Lucas cringed at that thought.  Haley was like a sister to him.  He didn't like to think about her kissing anyone.  Even if it was his brother.  Lucas pulled out his cell phone and dialed.

            "Hello?" 

            His heart leapt when he hear the sound of Brooke's sultry voice on the other end of the phone.  "Brooke, it's me."

            "Lucas!  Are you okay?  I didn't think I would hear from you in a while.  You don't sound too good.  Did your uncle chew you out?"

            "No.  Brooke, I really need to see you."

            "Okay.  Where are you?  Home?  Is that such a good idea?"

            "Meet me at the playground.  You know which one?"

            "Of course I do.  Will you be okay until I get there?"

            "I'll be fine.  Just get there as quick as you can."

            He pushed the red button on his phone, ending the conversation.  He took a small jump and broke into a sprint. The wind whipped against his face and for a moment the cool air made him forget.  The playground was deserted.  Skives, Mouth and the other guys weren't around.  The games always slowed down during this time of year, when they were bogged down with schoolwork and the weather was cold.  Even so, Lucas found a ball rolling around the middle of the court.  It was a bit deflated, but it had enough bounce left in it for Lucas to dribble and throw.  Mindlessly, he repeated this until he heard Brooke drive up in her Volkswagen Beetle.

            "Lucas.  What happened?" she said slamming the door shut behind her.  "Are you okay?"

            Luke fell into Brooke's embrace and buried his head in her shoulder.  It took most of his self-restraint not to cry in front of her.  "My mom came home," Lucas finally said in a choked voice.  He walked over to one of the picnic tables, dragging his feet, kicking litter to the side.  "I pretended that I wasn't seeing you because Keith promised he wouldn't tell my mom.  But he lied.  He called my mom days ago and tonight she came home."

            Brooke chortled.  "That's why you're so mad.  It's not like you ever kept your word to him.  You never even tried to stop seeing me."

            Lucas ducked his head and smiled.  "Do I sound ridiculous?"

            "Only slightly."

            Laughing, Lucas fell forward into Brooke's shoulder.  He felt Brooke shiver.  "Are you cold?" he asked.

            "A little."

            "We can go into your car and turn on the heat."

            Lucas opened the door and helped Brooke climb into the driver's seat.  He went around to the passenger's side and slid in next to her.  Brooke turned on the ignition and Lucas fiddled with the heat and then the radio.  Avril Lavigne's Complicated filtered through the speakers.  Lucas leaned his head back against the leather headrest.

            "Talk about complicated.  I can't go home."

            "You don't have to go home right now."  Brooke turned to her side and reached her hand out under Lucas's shirt.  "You can stay away for a little while."

            He turned to face Brooke.   "I wasn't planning to go home.  Not now."  He took her hand and in his and said, "About the other night Brooke, I'm sorry if I freaked you out.  You don't have to feel the same way.  I'm not sure how I feel."

            "Are you trying to take it back?"

            "No!"

            "Good."  She leaned forward and kissed Lucas full on the lips.  "Maybe we'd be more comfortable in the back seat.  Without the gear shift between us."  Lucas watched Brooke climb into the back seat.  His gazed lingered on her taught round bottom.  "Your turn," she said, reaching out for him.

            Lucas followed her.  Immediately, Brooke grabbed him by his shirtfront and started kissing him.  She had one hand on his chest and with the other she maneuvered out of her sweater, exposing her lacy black bra.

            Lucas held up his hands and let her take off his tee shirt.  When his hands were free, he fiddled with the back of her bra until he managed to unclasp the little hook and eyes.  The straps fell from her shoulders and Lucas helped them off until he was staring at Brooke's supple round chest.

            For the first time since he had started dating Brooke, Lucas didn't let any thoughts about family, friends, school, or being responsible enter his mind.  He only let the vision he had before him crowd his head. 

            Brooke's hands went for his belt and Lucas didn't stop her. He pushed her back on the cramped back seat and kissed her hard.  He let his hands glide to her slacks and reached for the button that kept them close. 

            "Do you have protection with you?" Brooke asked.

            For a moment, Lucas froze.  Then he nodded.  "My wallet," he mumbled, kissing her lips. 

            Later, when they were done, they sat cuddled together in the back seat.  Lucas took Brooke's sweater and wrapped it around her shoulders because she was shivering.

            "I'm sorry," he said softly.

            "I'm not."

            "They wouldn't give me that HIV test today.  The doctor said I had to wait another five months."

            "I don't care about that Lucas.  You were wonderful."

            "You were amazing," he whispered into her hair.  He closed his eyes and squeezed away a tear.  "I didn't mean to use you."

            "Use me?  How?"

            "To forget about how complicated everything was.  How much I screwed up.  How mad I am at Keith."

            "Maybe your anger made you finally throw caution to the wind, but we've been down this road a few dozen times since we started going out.  Tonight, you decided not to put the breaks on it.  But I don't feel used.  So please don't make this feel cheap."

            In the back seat of a car, Lucas thought to himself, how could she not feel cheap?  But he didn't say anything else.  He didn't want to hurt her feelings or make it worse.  They were sitting, listening to the music, holding each other, when they heard a car drive up.  Quickly, Lucas handed Brooke her sweater and he pulled on his tee shirt and pants.

            They were barely dressed when Keith knocked on the window.

            "Excuse me," he was calling.  "I'm sorry to bother you."

            When Lucas stuck his head out of the backseat, he could make out a flush creeping into Keith's face under the dim park lights.

            "Uncle Keith," said Lucas, trying to hide his surprise.

            "Lucas.  I've been looking all over for you.  Your mom and I were worried sick."

            "Well I'm fine."

            "Good."  Keith swallowed and looked away as Brooke emerged from the back seat. Her top was on all skewed and she quickly ducked into the front seat.

            "Luke, come home, okay.  Let's talk."

            "I don't want to talk," Luke said belligerently.

            "Then we won't talk," Keith said, an edge creeping into his voice.  "But you're coming home.  Not for me, but for your mother."

            "And if I say no?"

            "Then I'm going to drag your ass home by force, but let's not make it so difficult."

            "Lucas," Brooke said softly.  "Go.  I'll catch you at school tomorrow."

            Luke turned to Brooke and stared at her intently.  He thoughtfully chewed on his lip.  She nodded reassuringly, urging him to go.  Finally, Lucas turned to his uncle, stepped out of the Beetle and followed Keith to his truck.