+12

Recap:

"So, I'll walk you," Lucas offered.

"Actually I'd like to be alone," she told him.

Lucas nodded. "Alright. I'll see you later then."

"Thank you," Peyton said. "Bye Lucas." Peyton left Lucas' bedroom and walked out his front door. She bounced down the steps. It was chilly out tonight. Here she was walking alone on a Friday night. Peyton zipped up her jacket and shoved her hands in her pocket.

Part 12

Lucas realized he was never going to that girl out. Every time he started to get close she pushed him back. But sometimes you have to take two steps back, to take one step forward. He was starting to think it was a game with her. That she enjoyed toying with him, because she knew she could. But he didn't want to believe that, not about her.

"Morning mom," Lucas greeted her, as always dressed in his hoodie, sweats, and sneakers - with the ever present basketball in hand.

"Morning, off to the park?"

"Yeah, going to go shoot some hoops with the guys," Lucas told her.

Karen looked a little surprised. "Been awhile?"

Lucas sighed. "Yeah."

Karen wasn't going to say anymore. "Ok, hun. Have fun. Meet me at the café for dinner," she said.

"Thanks. Love you mom," Lucas kissed her on the cheek. "Bye."

Lucas left the house with his earphones in, bouncing his basketball all the way to the park. Lucas walks onto the court and takes his earphones out.

"He shows," Junk commented as Lucas appeared on the court.

Lucas rolled his eyes.

"The legendary Lucas Scott returns," Mouth announced.

"It's been awhile," Skills noted.

"Yeah," Lucas started. "Sorry about that -," he began to apologize.

Junk grinned. "Noticed you been hanging around one Peyton Sawyer lately."

"And of course the team and the upper class parties us peasant folk are not invited to attend," Skills added to Junk's Peyton comment.

Lucas bounced the ball repeatedly. He could tell Skills was a little angry, but more hurt than angry. "Guys, I didn't mean to just stop out games. It's just that between practices and games -,"

"And following Peyton around like a little lap dog," Junk smirked at him, obviously with questions he would ask later.

"You just don't have time for the people who stood by you before you became Mr. Big Shot the big basketball star," Skills commented, his words dripping with disdain.

"Skills," Lucas called when he turned away.

Skills turned around. "It's like I don't know you anymore man."

"What are we not good enough to play with anymore?" Ferguson asked. "Too good for us?"

Lucas knew he deserved this. He had been world class jerk to them since he joined the team. They didn't let up at all and he's apologized twice already. "You know its not like that," Luke protested.

"Do we now?" Skills asked pointedly.

"What because your back today we're supposed to forget the last couple weeks, where you ditched us?" Junk asked Lucas.

"Look guys," Lucas pleaded. "I really am sorry. It's been crazy, other worldly," he tried to explain to them. "But I'm back now, back to normal. I promise." He wasn't counting on hanging out with Peyton anytime soon. She made it clear what she wants between them; nothing. And Hales was sure to be with Nathan. "Can we just shoot for teams?"

Skills looked at the others, and seemed to come to a nonverbal agreement. Lucas was waiting, hoping they'd forgive him. He's been a huge jerk to them.

"Well?" Lucas asked, after what seemed like forever.

"Shoot for teams," Skills told him.

Lucas smiled. Things in his life were starting to go back to normal - minus the Haley dating my ass of a brother thing.

END PART 12