It's 3 am before I finally crawl into bed, and wouldn't you know it, I can't even get to sleep. I'm the most tired I've ever been in my life and I can't sleep. My mind is filled with images of Lucas. The smirky jock. The shy smile. The hurt little boy. The shirtless Lucas (oh my god the shirtless Lucas…). Lucas after a fight…. A fight he got in for me…
OK FINE. I like him. It's official- I'm just another Lucas Scott groupie- those of which me and Charlie used to mock constantly. He's gonna be so disappointed in me…Charlie I mean.
I sigh heavily and reach over to my desk, fumbling in the darkness trying to find the lamp switch. I find it and then pick up the photo frame on my desk.
Memories. Me, Izzy and Charlie. The summer before high school. That was the summer we pretty much lived out of each others pockets. Izzy looks as mad as usual- just smaller and with shorter hair. She's wearing a long, floaty, multi-coloured skirt, a white peasant blouse and no shoes. Her hair is cut into a chin length bob and it's uneven, dirty blonde waves fall awkwardly around the impish heart shaped face I know and love so well. She looks every inch the wild child. Charlie and I met Izzy when we were all 11. She was new at school and I was enchanted by her. She was so different and so much more interesting than all the other kids at school.
As for Charlie, I've known him since I was a baby. He looks quite different. He's tall and skinny…same as now, but he isn't wearing glasses and his jet black hair hasn't got any product in it. In this photo his outfit consists of a baggy pair of jeans and a white hoodie- 14 year old Charlie wore the staple uniform of any other 14 year old boy. 17 year old Charlie is the most stylish guy I know. His green eyes are filled with happiness and his head is thrown back in laughter. Charlie doesn't really laugh so much anymore. His first year of high school was hell for him. He came to Tree Hill High last year cause he…well cause he got bullied I guess. He'll never say that though. He's so ashamed of "not being able to stand up for himself". Charlie used to be the most colourful person I knew- so confident and easy going. But freshman year changed him a lot. He's grown very cynical of the world and he hates the whole popularity thing.
What would happen to my friendship with Izzy and Charlie if something ever happened with Lucas? Not that it would of course… I mean, he has a girlfriend-but just if… Izzy probably wouldn't care. But Charlie? I don't know.
I put the picture down and groan loudly. Of all the guys in all the world? Why Lucas Scott?
Sunday morning I wake up ridiculously early and stumble into the kitchen.
"Good morning my darling." my overly cheery mother greets me with an overly cheery smile.
What is wrong with the woman? Who gets up at 6:30 am (fully dressed and with a bright smile) on a Sunday?
"You're up early" she carries on, turning over another page of the newspaper and taking another sip of her coffee.
I grunt in reply. And shuffle over to the fridge.
"Sit down," she orders rolling her eyes, "I'll make you some breakfast."
I try to say thanks but it just comes out as another grunt. I know, attractive right?
I sit down at our large oak dining table and watch mom work her magic with the pancake mix. I love my family- their absolutely everything to me. My dad worked so hard to provide everything for us kids, and mom worked just as hard at home- cooking, cleaning, washing….6 children cant have been easy, and I really appreciate all they've done for us. No matter how busy with work he was, dad always had time to play ball in the park with us. No matter how busy mom was with housework she always had time to read us a bedtime story. The house is so big it feels quite empty now- with only me and the parentals living there…but people are always dropping by. At least one of the James clan will always be round on a weekend. And we try and get together for Christmas and Thanksgiving. I want a household like this when I have a family- the kind of warm comforting place where people always randomly drop by. A house just filled with love.
"Becca's coming down with Jerry and the kids today." mom says as she sets down a plate full of pancakes in front of me.
Becca is my eldest sister. She's 27 (married Jerry at 21) and has 3 kids.
"Great," I reply, with a mouthful of pancake, "they've not visited for ages."
Mom sits down opposite me and props her elbow up on the table, resting her chin in her hand. She's so beautiful, my mom. She looks all warm and soft, she doesn't look her 50 years…more 45.…and there's still that youthful spark in her green eyes.
"So, how was work last night?"
Crap. I practically got raped by a fat jock. But then there was Lucas….
"It was ok."