Wow! It's been awhile! Did you all miss me? Anyway, I worked my butt off and got a chapter out. I'm suffering a chronic case of writer's block so it's hard for me to update. Also when it comes to my stories I think I have ADD because I always get sidetracked. For instance, instead of updating my current stories I've started a sequel to a story that isn't even finished yet!

Anyway, let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions let me know. The more reviews I get the faster I'll try to update!

"Oh god, I miss him so much." Madison sat at the river court tears pouring down her cheeks, "Why me?"

"Madison is that you?" Lucas asked stepping closer to the broken girl in fetal position.

"Luke," Madison wiped away her tears, "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to play basketball so I came to the court." Lucas revealed his basketball.

"Aren't you supposed to be in school?" Madison hid her face hoping he wouldn't see her tear streaked cheeks.

"Let's not tell my mom about this." Lucas began dribbling the ball. He wasn't stupid. He knew she was hurting but obviously she didn't want to talk about it.

"I'm no tattle tail." Madison promised still not making eye contact. She didn't have any desire to talk about Ephram right now. Her wounds were still too fresh to talk about.

"Nice to know." Lucas said shooting the ball and it made a swoosh noise as it passed through the net, "Up for a game?"

"Not really." Madison shook her head, "I'll just watch if that's okay with you."

"How could I refuse a beautiful audience?" Lucas began shooting from different spots on the court only missing once and that was only because he shoulder couldn't take it anymore.

"You okay?" Madison asked as Lucas sat down next to her massaging his shoulder.

"Just an old injury acting up." Lucas didn't feel like sharing his miserable past with the new stranger.

"You're really good." Madison broke the uneasy silence.

"I used to be better." Lucas didn't except the compliment. He didn't have the game he once had and it killed him that the injury could've ruined his chance at going pro.

"Must've gotten Dan's basketball genes." Madison added thinking it a compliment.

"I'm so excited." Lucas said sarcastically, "I'm just like good ole dad."

"I didn't mean it like that." Madison realized that no one wanted to be like Dan. He was really that bad.

"I know." Lucas softened a little, "It's just everything that's been happening lately is driving me crazy. I don't know what to do about anything anymore."

"It can't be that bad." Madison reassured him, "I know people going through worse."

"Oh really who?" Lucas eyes penetrated her soul, "You? What's so bad that you came here to get away from?"

"That my friend is for another time." Madison stood to leave.

"I'll tell you if you tell me." Lucas offered wanting to know her story.

"That's okay." Madison didn't want all of Tree Hill to know her story. She wanted to stay that mysterious stranger. It was easier that way.

"I like the chase." Lucas winked.

"You're like my cousin when you think about it." Madison got dirty thoughts just imagining that her cousin was hitting on her.

"Not technically." Lucas tried to prove his point, "You're related to Deb and I'm not."

"Still you're Nathan's brother." Madison scrunched her nose, "Plus even if you weren't I'm not looking for a boyfriend and if I was he'd be older than you."

"Who said I was interested? I was just trying to be nice." Lucas defended himself. He wasn't looking for a girlfriend either; just someone to talk too.

"Okay, let's say we both jumped to conclusions." Madison was a little embarrassed.

"So why aren't you looking for a boyfriend?" Lucas tried to pry her story out of her, "Is he why you ran away?"

"You're not going to give up are you?" Madison sat back down next to him, "If I tell you, you can't tell anyone."

"Don't worry not many people talk to me anymore." Lucas was all ears.

"Well there was this guy and we were totally different people. If just didn't work out so I had to leave. We were just too different." Madison finally gave up but still leaving out the biggest detail to her story.

"Me and my ex were completely different but we didn't end because we were different. I screwed it up." Lucas offered a bit about himself, "You can work through differences."

"He was sixteen and I'm twenty." Madison knew Lucas knew that that was a real problem.

"And the plot thickens." Lucas nodded in agreement, "So that was worth you running away?"

"That and other stuff." Madison was getting annoyed with Lucas' drive for answers, "How'd you screw things up with your girlfriend?"

"I cheated on her." Lucas hesitated, "With her best friend."

"You're horrible!" Madison playfully slapped him knowing how much that hurt; seeing your boyfriend with another girl.

"Now tell me why you left." Lucas knew she was hiding something.

"Do you really want to know?" Madison eyes welled up with tears that were threatening to fall, "Is it that important to you to be the first to know about the new girl?"

"Whoa, chill out." Lucas didn't understand where the sudden outburst came from.

"I'm pregnant okay." Madison stood up and pulled at her hair, "And my baby's father is sixteen and somewhere in Everwood with his new girlfriend."

"Oh, wow." Lucas soaked up all the information, "I wasn't expecting that."

"Well there you have it." Madison said stomping away, "You figured out the big mystery."

"I'm sorry Madison." Lucas stood up too, "I didn't mean to push."

"Well you got what you wanted." Madison collapsed in the middle of the river court, "Now could I just be alone?"

"Um, sure." Lucas said walking slowly away. He didn't mean to be so pushy. He just wanted a friend. Obviously Lucas was not meant to talk to any girls. Was this his punishment for screwing things up with Brooke?

Not sure of what else to do Lucas headed back to school. He couldn't help but think about Madison the whole day though which was a worthy distraction from school work. He didn't understand how someone so sweet and normal could have all that hate building up inside her. She hated herself so much for the mistakes she's made and it was killing her; tearing her up inside. Lucas knew exactly how that felt.

"Hey man," Nathan sat next to Lucas outside for lunch, "Where were you fourth period?"

"No where in particular." Lucas shrugged his mind still on other things.

"I thought I was the rebellious brother?" Nathan stretched out his back.

"I guess we can switch." Lucas answered absently.

"Who said I want to give my title up?" Nathan joked and then saw Haley trekking across the lawn, "Hey Hales."

"Hey baby." Haley kissed Nathan as she sat across from him.

"Hello to you too." Lucas glared at his so called best friend.

"Aw, is Lukey feeling left out?" Haley leaned over the table and kissed Lucas' cheek.

"Hey just because he's feeling down doesn't mean he gets my wife." Nathan said defensively, "She's something I'm not going to trade…for free."

"Nathan Scott!" Haley exclaimed smacking her husband with all her might.

"Okay, okay." Nathan laughed hysterically at his own joke.

"So not funny Nathan." Haley tried to keep a straight face.

"Kids, kids be civil." Lucas was finally getting used to the whole marriage thing. It had been weird at first, of course but it was growing on him.

"Okay daddy." Haley batted her eyes innocently, "He started it."

"No I didn't!" Nathan exclaimed, "You did!"

"I don't care." Lucas stood up, "I'll leave you two lovebirds alone."

"No Luke, stay and eat and talk." Haley reached for him to sit back down.

"Nah, I got to go make up some work anyway." Lucas walked back towards the school.

"Bye Lucas!" Haley yelled across the lawn as he disappeared recognizing only with a wave.