Much of this story is unplanned – including the pairings. There is more emphasis on some specific characters and pairings but the final pairings (if any) will be revealed in the last chapter. With this fic, I'm just writing what comes into my head; which is probably why it takes a while for these chapters to come out.

Flashbacks are done in italics.

Lucas Scott: But Never Love Me

Lucas put down his book and rubbed his eyes, as he tried to let the last three chapters sink in. He pulled out his iPod earphones out of his ears and let them soak in the silence throughout the room. He wasn't completely sure what he'd missed while he's been reading but he'd seen Peyton and Brooke talking a little, Haley reading a book, and Nathan was still sulking; although Lucas was sure he had seen a few looks exchanged between him and Brooke.

He didn't know what it meant but couldn't help the twinge of jealousy that raced through him.

Ever since Brooke had discovered that he was Nathan's illegitimate older brother, she had always focused some degree of attention on him. Lucas didn't know if it was genuine or to just rile Nathan up; but either way, he wasn't complaining.

He looked at his younger brother. They had nothing in common except their father and love of basketball.

Lucas could remember the first time he met his father. When he used to play in a junior basketball league every Saturday morning, he would notice a tall, dark-haired man whose steely gaze would always be fixed on Lucas. Sometimes Lucas would see a satisfied smirk plastered on his face when he scored or was made MVP.

At first, Lucas thought he was someone else's father, but it was only when he noticed Keith going up to the man some weeks and talking to him. Sometimes his mother would go, although those conversations would always be heated.

Eventually, Karen told him the truth, but it would still be a few more years until Lucas realized he had a brother.

He was at Keith's apartment and looking for his Christmas presents. He managed to find them quickly while Keith was making dinner, and while looking through them, he noticed one similar to his addressed to a 'Nathan' and from an 'Uncle Keith'.

Lucas frowned, wondering who Nathan was since he wasn't aware of any other nephews Keith had.

Lucas had remained quiet about it for a few hours but blurted it out at dinner, "Who's Nathan?" he asked.

Keith had frozen on the spot. Since Karen was at the café late that night, it was just the two of them and Keith wasn't sure if she wanted Lucas to know the truth. But the inquisitive boy in front of him had not let it go easily.

So Keith had told him the truth that Nathan was his half-brother, and they were the same age.

"Why doesn't he come over?" Lucas asked.

"Because… because your mother thinks it is best that you and Nathan stay apart for a while."

Lucas had thought it was ridiculous. Lucas had always wanted a younger brother, and if he had one – then why wasn't he allowed to play. After all, they were family, and you were supposed to be happy to see family.

It was a few months before Lucas saw him.

They were all at a carnival that had come to town for a few days. Lucas was excited since he'd never been to one before. Along with his mother and Keith, Lucas had been having a good time.

It was at the basketball shooting game where he saw him.

Nathan was beating the hell out of the game and a crowd was forming around him. His interest peaking, Lucas decided to watch the boy, and for some reason, ended up at the front of the crowd.

After the game ended, Lucas went forward to congratulate him, but when Nathan turned around they both froze.

Nathan was the spitting image of Lucas' dad and it seemed that Nathan knew who he was too.

"What do you want… jerk?" Nathan had asked. Lucas had mumbled something and disappeared out of the crowd, running straight into his father.

Neither of them said anything, except stared at one another. Fortunately, Karen had seen the exchange and quickly rescued her son from the potentially dangerous situation.

However, the damage had already been done.

"What states begin with 'A'?" Brooke Davis' voice cut through Lucas' reverie. He looked and saw that she was attempting a crossword puzzle in one of her magazines.

"Alaska?" Peyton asked.

"No, it has eight letters," Brooke told her.

"Arizona?" Haley chimed in. Brooke tried it but shook her head.

"That has seven."

There was a short silence.

"Ass Vegas," Nathan said. Everybody chuckled. "Alabama," he said more seriously.

"Arkansas," Lucas said suddenly. Brooke looked at him and tried it. It fit perfectly.

"Thanks," she smile widely at him and he returned it shyly.

"It could have been 'Alabama'," Nathan grumbled.

"It only has seven letters, Nate," Brooke told him, after she'd counted the letters in her head. Nathan gave an indifferent shrug.

"Whatever," he replied.

Lucas shifted in his seat and put his head down, pretending to read his book again, but instead his mind flashed back to five years ago.

"That boy," Lucas said to his mother as she drove him to school the day after the carnival, "That was Nathan, wasn't it?"

His mother remained silent.

"Mom?" Lucas prompted, "I can handle the truth. I'm eleven years old. I've known about Nathan since I was eight. I just didn't know that he'd look so much like Dad-"

"He's not your father, Lucas," Karen snapped. She saw the hurt look in his eyes and immediately apologized, "Sorry, Lucas. But Dan and I have a very… it's hard to explain okay? Maybe when you're older."

"But I am-"

"Lucas, I didn't want him to be around you. He's not a good person. That's why we have Keith to look after us."

Lucas nodded in comprehension, "Okay."

"Have a nice day at school, honey," Karen said as Lucas let himself out of the car. He gave her another nod and smiled, shutting the door and walking up to the school building.

A few hours later, Lucas was hanging around the Rivercourt with some of his friends when Nathan Scott arrived with some of his own friends.

"What do you want?" Lucas asked him. Nathan shrugged.

"Nothing," Nathan replied, "I just wanted to see the boy that my father never wanted. I can see why."

Lucas struggled to keep his cool composure.

"You know, he never talks about you," Nathan continued, "As far as he's concerned, he only has one son, and that's me. You're nothing to him."

Nathan continued taunting him, until Lucas had enough.

"If that's true," Lucas challenged, "Then why does he come and watch me play every Saturday?"

Nathan froze as if he'd been caught out. He gulped and shook his head.

"You're a liar. You probably just want him there but instead, you're dumped with your mom. What a slut!" Nathan laughed out loud. Lucas clenched his fist and went for Nathan.

The two boys scuffled on the court for a little while until Nathan's fist connected with Lucas' mouth, and Lucas kicked Nathan in the shin.

The two were quickly pulled apart by their respective friends.

Lucas looked at his lip that had begun to bleed and stared daggers at Nathan Scott.

"We're not brothers!" Nathan said angrily, "The only thing we share is our last name, and even you don't deserve that."

With those words, Nathan left the Rivercourt surrounded by his friends.

A few days later, Lucas saw Nathan walking with a limp, and couldn't help the satisfied smile spread across his face.

"Hey, Lucas," Brooke Davis said, "I hear you're a pretty good basketball player. Guess it runs in the family, huh?"

"Brooke…" Peyton warned, hoping her friend didn't start anything between the two brothers. She loved Brooke, honestly she did, but she just didn't appreciate her need to create drama wherever she went.

"Shut up, Brooke!" Nathan snapped. Brooke feigned innocence.

"What? I'm just interested in the basketball," she said, "Anyway, don't get your panties in a twist over it. I've heard of sibling rivalry, but this is something out of Jerry Springer or something; 'my daddy impregnated another woman and I'm in denial about the existence of my brother!'", she said envisioning a potential tagline. "It'll be a ratings killer," she joked.

"You can be a real bitch, you know that?" Nathan told her.

"Thank you," Brooke said almost proudly.

"What is your obsession with him? Why don't you just go in some stupid closet and get it over and done with? That's what you really want, isn't it? To screw us both over."

"You know nothing about me, Nathan. I, however, know plenty about the two of you."

"Yeah, right," Nathan mumbled.

"Well, considering the whole Dan Scott love triangle is pretty famous around these parts… and my mom's still a very active member in the local country club… sometimes certain people hear things," she added cryptically. Nathan rolled his eyes.

"Listen up, Brooke," Nathan said loudly, "I don't care if my dad made a mistake in the past. As far as me, my mom and my dad are concerned; he doesn't mean anything to us. Lucas is not my brother; never was, and never will be. And I don't care what some shabby café slut claims-"

Lucas lunged out of his seat and headed straight for the younger Scott, who didn't realized what was happening until he was knocked right out of his seat. They both fell to the floor, hitting the various chairs and desks that were in the way. Their scuffle alarmed all three of the girls, Brooke in particular, who only had wanted to see Nathan sulk.

"Oh my god!" Haley cried, "Guys, stop it!"

They three watched almost numbly for a few moments as Lucas and Nathan kept on hitting and kicking each other.

"Brooke! Do something!" Peyton hissed.

"Me? Why me?" Brooke asked.

"Because you caused it all!" Peyton pointed out. Brooke opened her mouth to argue but decided that her friend was right. She should be the one to diffuse the situation.

Brooke hadn't really been around physical fights that often so she did the only thing she could think off; take off both her shoes.

"If these break…" she muttered as she approached the fighting siblings.

Peyton and Haley watched in both confusion and horror as the brunette hit Nathan's spine with the heel of her stiletto. He groaned in pain, and Brooke did the same to Lucas.

The two boys stopped fighting each other and writhed in pain on the floor. Brooke gave a satisfied smile as Peyton and Haley looked at one another in disbelief.

"I cannot believe that actually worked," Haley said.

As the two brothers slowly sat up, they faced each other, their anger still seething. Nathan went to hit Lucas since he had an advantage, but Brooke saw it coming and threw her shoe at Nathan in a bid to stop him. It connected with his shoulder and he groaned in pain, before glaring at her.

"Okay, now both of you just stop fighting, because those are really expensive shoes and if either of them are damaged – both of you are paying for them.

"He started it," Nathan said through gritted teeth as he clutched his shoulder and sat back in his seat.

Lucas glared and sat at the very back of the room.

"Maybe next time you won't diss my mom," Lucas told him.

"Calm down, boys," Brooke said taking charge. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have got Nathan going," she apologized.

Those who knew her looked at Brooke in disbelief. She rarely owned up to anything.

Haley began rearranging the fallen chairs and desks and put them all in their original positions, getting a look from Nathan.

For a moment, their eyes connected and Haley thought she saw him smile. But he looked away before she could be sure.

As she returned to her seat, Lucas looked at her and wondered just when they'd stopped being friends.

They had been friends for quite a while before High School and Lucas wondered if she still liked cookie dough ice cream. He personally hated the stuff, but whenever they had ice cream, she would insist on getting it – despite his remarks.

Lucas' mind wandered to eight years ago where the two eight year olds used to hang out at the Rivercourt. She wouldn't play, but would watch as Lucas played with his friends.

All his friends used to tease him with having a girl best friend and ask when the wedding was. But it wasn't like that.

She was never anything more than just a friend to Lucas. He'd never ever felt the desire to kiss her, and he certainly never held hands or did any lovey-dovey stuff with her.

They were just friends.

Haley caught his stare and offered a small smile.

"Bunny," he said. Her eyes darted around the room as if she was really surprised that he was talking to her.

"What?"

"Bunny," he repeated, "You named your bunny rabbit, Bunny."

Haley's face broke out into a smile before she became embarrassed.

"Oh God… I'd almost forgotten," she covered her face with her hands.

"But you had that dog called Rocket," she told him. He nodded.

"I loved Rocket," Lucas said.

"Yeah, me too. Too bad he died though."

"He did not die! He just ran away to find his parents," Lucas defended. Haley gave him a look as if to say 'You don't really believe that still, do you?'

"Lucas…"

"Yeah, I know he died. Scared you though, right?" Haley let out a small laugh and a nod. "It's been a while, Hales," Lucas told her.

"Yeah, it has," she agreed.

Lucas knew that even though he would never have a brother who would accept him, or a father that would love him; he still had other things.

A mother's love.

An uncle's support.

And a friend in Haley James.

And, for now, that was enough.

To Be Continued…