I pull up in the driveway and slam the door shut.
It's just…y'know….she looked so nice. Just sat there with her legs folded under her. She looked like this beautiful, innocent child but with a kind of wisdom in her eyes… and I felt so ignorant and kind of dirty around her. I felt this crazy urge to justify myself -so I guess all that stuff about my parents came out because I just wanted her to see that there's a reason why I am the way I am.
That night Jake comes over to borrow some c.d's and me, him and Nate end up shooting a few hoops in the late evening light.
If you were to think about it, I suppose I have a pretty odd relationship with Nathan. He's my dads illegitimate love child and you'd think I'd resent him for it. I don't. I hate my dad for what he did to mom. But it's hardly Nathan's fault. Besides, I grew up with him- 5 year olds don't think about the logistics of these things- they just welcome a new playmate. I love him as much as I'd love a real brother. He's pretty much my best friend.
I take a shot….and miss it by miles. Again.
"Man, your game's really off tonight Luke," Nathan laughs, "what's the deal?"
"Thinking about Miss Davis?" Jake asks grinning "You're a lucky man Scott…" he takes a perfect shot and gets it straight in.
I smile but don't reply. We play for a little longer in silence, concentrating on the game. Soon I'm in need of a break- I get tired pretty easily after school.
"Enough…." I say breathing heavily, "enough." I collapse with Jake onto the grass. I think he's glad I called time- he looks pretty tired to. Nathan however, is a ball of energy. He's barely broken into a sweat.
"Geez you're both a pair of grandmas."
We laugh. Nathan's always been like this. The fireball, the one who leaps before he looks. He gets himself into so much trouble.
"Do you know Haley James?" I suddenly hear myself asking- I remember seeing her heading for Nathan's bio class after English.
"Haley James? Ummm…"
"She's in your bio class."
He makes some more uncertain sounds and then Jake buts in "Haley…I think I have maths with her- small, brunette? Kind of cute looking? Incredibly brainy?"
"Oh wait," exclaims Nathan, "I know who you mean. Yeah, really smart and kind of hot. Absolutely zero dress sense though."
"Sounds about right." I chuckle quietly.
"Why?" Nathan asks sitting up- I can hear the curious amusement in his voice.
"Oh no reason…I just talked to her today and y'know…I'd never noticed her before and she's pretty cool." I try to sound nonchalant.
"Oh yeah?" I don't even have to look at Jake to know that he's smirking.
"What?" I ask sounding more annoyed than I mean to.
It's Nathan's turn now.
"Nonchalant Lucas means interested Lucas."
"I have a girlfriend." I say grumpily and I think they realise that this is the end of the conversation.
Later I'm hanging out with my mom on the deck. She's stringing up fairy lights in preparation for the party tomorrow night. Every year my mom and dad have a party for the team and their parents. Basketball appreciation night it's called. Or something lame like that. My dad's stupid idea.
"Hi Mrs Scott" comes a perky voice.
"Oh hi Brooke." my mom says smiling distractedly at her and then getting back to her fairy light stringing.
I've got to admit she's incredibly hot. She has this sexy walk thing- it's all about hip thrusting and long, slow, confident steps- anybody else doing this walk would look pretentious and bizarre but it suits Brooke. It looks like the most natural thing in the world.
She's wearing a tiny denim mini skirt with a tight black sweater and knee high leather boots. Her polished dark brown hair sits on her shoulders framing her face perfectly. The way she looks sums up pretty much everything that she is- glamorous, sexy, expensive, time-consuming and a little bit bitchy. But I like her. She's smart and funny and she can be really nice when she wants. And like I said, she's hot as hell.
"Hi Luke." she whispers it in my ear. Her warm breath tickles gently and she softly grazes her lips against my cheek. She grins that seductive little grin at me, at first I hesitate and for some reason Haley crosses my mind…but then I suddenly feel like I need the distraction. I take her hand and lead her inside and upstairs.
Afterwards I feel disgusted with myself. Brooke's a good girl at heart…. and she loves me. I know it. And to put it plain and simple, I don't love her. I like her- most of the time. I'm attracted to her all the time and she definitely turns me on. And that was enough at first. The only thing either of us wanted was a little fun. But even I can see that it's more then that now. There are feeling at stake here- and their all hers. And even though I know it I keep on finding myself right back here. In bed with a girl I don't love.
I can see myself turning out to be more and more like my father every day and it scares the hell out of me.