note: I'm a little sad because no one has reviewed yet--or maybe even read? I hope someone will take the time to read my story--it means a lot to me. Anyway, if you do stumble upon me, please R & R!

Second Chances

Lucas had made it home and was walking into the house when he heard quiet sobs coming from the kitchen.

"Mom?" he called out, concern tingeing his voice. When he came to the doorway he found his mother at the table.

"Lucas!" she exclaimed, quickly wiping the tears off her face, trying to look as if she hadn't been crying.

"What's wrong?" he asked. He was not so easily fooled. Karen laughed, brushing her hair out of her face.

"Can't get anything past you, can I? Oh Lucas," she sighed staring listlessly out the window, "I've really screwed things up this time."

"What do you mean? What did you screw up?" Lucas asked, question written all over his face and with worry in his eyes.

"I've just been thinking—I was wrong about my feelings for Keith. Maybe I wasn't wrong—I was just denying them. Lucas, I told Keith I wasn't in love with him, but….I am. I am." She looked down at her hands, which clasped a Kleenex she had almost wrung to shreds. A silent tear fell down her cheek.

Lucas smiled slowly. When Karen saw this she glared at him.

"Do you think this is funny?"

"No, Mom! I think it's great! Why are you so upset about it?"

"Keith is leaving, Lucas! He's got a new job—a new life ahead of him. What am I supposed to do? Go to him and say 'Oh Keith, drop everything for me because I take it back?' I can't do that to him."

"I don't know," he replied uncertainly. "I think you should at least tell him how you feel. Let him decide what he wants. You have to at least give him the option. He's crazy about you." Lucas took her hand in his and squeezed it. Hope shined dimly in Karen's eyes as she said, "I'll think about it." Then both were silent.

Across town Nathan and Haley were sprawled out on his bed, surrounded by papers and books. Nathan had his head in his hands and was moaning. Haley had an amused look on her face and was trying to stifle her laughter.

"If I have to learn one more branch of government or bill I'm going to crawl in a hole and die," Nathan whined, peering out at Haley between his fingers.

"Nathan, it's your final test! Yeah, it's important," Haley paused giving him a stern look, then her face brightened, "but think about it this way-you're almost done with your nightmare of a U.S Government class. Which means…school is almost over… which means summer is almost here…. which means lots of fun for all, but specifically for you and me!" Then she winked giving him a seductive look before bursting into laughter again.

"Well when you put it that way…" Nathan trailed off, wiggling his eyebrows at her. "Come here, we can take a tiny break," he said, pulling her closer to him and giving her a light kiss.

"Hmm…ok. Maybe just a little one," Haley agreed. After a few moments, they pulled apart and she looked at him.

"Nathan, I can't imagine what my life would be like without you in it. Things have changed so much. It's crazy."

"I know what you mean. I can't believe we're even here though—how did a nice girl like you ever become interested in a jerk like me?" he laughed, thinking back and then, "Well, the jerk I was back then anyway."

"I guess I just saw something in you that you didn't let others see."

Nathan smiled at her and gave her one more kiss. "Ok, back to studying I suppose. I don't want to disappoint my tutor; she's a freak about these tests."

"Shut up, Nathan!" Haley said. She grabbed a pillow and whacked him with it.

"So much for studying," he replied as he grabbed his own pillow and went after her.

Brooke walked silently down the street towards--towards who knows where. She wasn't really paying attention to where she was going. She had been so sure that Peyton and she were going to work things out. Well, they had, but not the way she wanted things to work. How could Peyton be the one with the boy Brooke wanted? She always got everyone and everything she wanted, but somehow Lucas had slipped through her fingers. At first Brooke had wanted Lucas back because she really cared about him. In fact, he was the first guy she ever really cared about. But now…now it wasn't about that. Lucas was a trophy to be won and Brooke was never the loser.

She sighed as all these thoughts raced through her head.

"What am I going to do?" she said out loud to herself. Suddenly she stopped and looked around. She found herself outside of Nikki's home. She hesitated and then turned to go up the walk. She rang the doorbell, then stepped back as she waited for someone to answer the door. A few minutes went by and Brooke was about to leave when she heard the door open.

"Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. Crawling back so soon?" Nikki sneered.

"Haha, I might die from laughter," Brooke replied sarcastically.

"What are you doing here? Seemed like you made it pretty clear Saturday night that you didn't want anything to do with me anymore. Did your little Peyton-kins make you mad again?" she asked pouting. Then she grinned and stepped away from the doorway inviting Brooke in with a sweep of her hand. "I know just how to fix your little problem."