Chapter 3

A/N: Thanks for the reviews!

Lucas cautionary opened the door to his mother's café. He looked around for his mom. When he couldn't find her, he assumed she was in the backroom. As Lucas stepped in, he noticed a swarm of blond curls sitting with his back to him. Lucas backed out. He was really not too interested in meeting Peyton after what happened. One of the reasons he left was because of her.

Lucas ran out to his car and started the engine. He somewhat resented the fact that he didn't have the bravery to walk across the room to go into the kitchen to see his mother. Lucas decided that another time would be much better. Still, he cursed himself for not being brave enough. Lucas drove the car to the one place that he could stay at.

"Nathan, could you get the door?" Haley called, while making breakfast.

"Yea, sure." Nathan got up from watching a NBA playoff game. He walked to the door and opened it.

Lucas stood there, bags in hand. "Hi. Can I stay with you for the summer?" Lucas meekly asked.

Nathan didn't know what to say, but hey, he didn't have any hard feelings against the guy. "Sure, why the hell not?" Nathan said as he led Lucas in.

Haley shrieked (that seems to be her thing) when she heard Lucas' voice. She put the bacon down and gave him a big hug. Lucas laughed good-naturedly at her antics.

After a certain point, Lucas was sure that he stopped breathing and was starting to suffocate. Nathan, realizing this very quickly, had let Haley hug him for about five minutes to see his brother start to turn blue. When a sufficient amount of time passed, Nathan separated Haley from Luke. Luke gave him a very grateful smile and mouthed "Thanks" when Haley's back was turned.

The threesome sat down to eat breakfast. After some silence, not an awkward one though, Haley spoke up, trying to start some conversation at the table.

"So. . ." She started, a little uncomfortably.

Silence again ensued.

"I think I still have feelings for Brooke." Lucas stated suddenly.

Nathan choked on his eggs. This landed him in a wheezing, state of panic for about ten minutes. After he calmed down, and had a glass of water, he glared at his older brother for causing his sudden attack. Scrambled eggs vs. Nathan's esophagus to battle it out. Lucas laughed.

"You okay there man?" Lucas asked good-naturedly, poking fun at Nathan.

"No." Nathan answered truthfully.

Lucas turned to Haley who had been watching Nathan with an amused expression.

"You married a pansy of a husband." Lucas told Haley.

Nathan feigned hurt.

They calmed down and resumed eating.

Lucas brought up the forgotten subject at the moment, again. "I said, I think I still have feelings for Brooke." Luckily, Nathan wasn't eating thing, but Haley almost spit out her coffee.

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Seriously, people, what is with you guys?"

"Sorry, Luke, it just gets us every time." After a thought Haley continued. "You do know that you cheated on her with Peyton, so you are basically number 2 in her hit list."

"Next to Peyton." Nathan chirped in. Nathan expected Lucas to give him the signature "Lucas look", but all he did was look remorsefully at his plate.

"Cheer up, Lucas, there are plenty of other great girls out there." Haley said patting Lucas' back.

"Yea, and at least Brooke, she hasn't been trouncing at parties with all different guys. In fact she really doesn't drink. Which is really weird, because. . . she's Brooke."

Haley nodded in assent at Nathan's observation.

Brooke and Jake were fiercely making out on the couch. Suddenly, Brooke got up. "I'm hungry." She looked at Jake's crestfallen face. "We have all summer." She got up and kissed Jake on the cheek.

Jake was a bit disappointed, but he himself was a bit hungry. He grabbed his shirt and followed Brooke out the front door.

Lucas lounged next to his brother, a bag of potato chips lying in between them. "Who do you think is going to go to Olympics?"

"I dunno. Jason Kidd, Tim Dunkin, people."

"I don't think they would go. I mean they're already injured and the top players already have medals. So who do you think really would go?"

"I don't know. Just watch the game and shut the hell up." Nathan said irritably. He liked summer days, he was lazy and then Haley came back from the extra AP classes she was taking in some summer place and then they would spend quality time together. But now Lucas was going to be staying here, on their couch, and Nathan was sure that he wasn't going to get any action from Haley while he was around. Even if he did, Lucas was bound to come in and punch the daylights out of him. Not like he could. . .

Nathan measured up Lucas. He was way too short. No way Luke could beat him up. Impossible.

Lucas, feeling Nathan's eyes on him, grew slightly uncomfortable. "Hey man, I don't go that way."

Nathan was unabashed. "Well, at least I can keep a sexual relationship with a girl."

Lucas' eyes flared up. Damn he was right on that one. "I'm leaving." He announced.

"Bye." Was the reply he got.

Sighing, Lucas got up and left the apartment.

Jake and Brooke sat across from each other looking at the menu. The café was airy and there was a positive buzz. They at one of the tables near the window, sneaking furtive glances at each other.

"Why are you looking at the menu? You work here." Brooke asked.

"Why are you looking at your menu? You get the same thing every time." Jake countered. "And I would know because I take your order."

Brooke smiled, her dimples showing. "Will you get the food?"

Jake nodded, and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

Brooke looked at his retreating figure. He had a really nice body. Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by the jingle that announced the door's opening.

"Lucas?"

"Brooke?"

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