A Way of Working Out

Chapter 7

Lucas was sitting in the living room watching Sportscenter when he heard a knock at the door. "Hello?"

Skills poked his head in the door, "Be ready in five minutes. We're going out."

"Where to?"

"Dinner, then 4th Street."

Lucas was thankful for an excuse to get out of the house. Hopefully Skills wouldn't pester him about Haley. He needed to free himself, be prepared for her to never come back to him. He finished changing, clicked off the TV and walked outside. He found Skills leaning against the car, with two people sitting in the back. This could be interesting.

When Haley saw Nathan pull up, she smiled at Peyton, and waited for him to come to the door, he was such a gentleman. He rang the bell, and she grabbed her purse before greeting him, "Hi handsome," and she kissed his cheek lightly. She motioned to the girl behind her, "I hope you don't mind, I invited Peyton."

"Nice to meet you Peyton," he smiled at Haley, "You both look beautiful."

Peyton whispered to Haley, "He's hot, and nice."

"I told you," she hissed back.

Nathan looked at Peyton again, "You know, this will be great. Now Jake won't be complaining quite so much that we drug him along."

Peyton looked at Haley, and mouthed, "Jake?"

"Yeah, one of his best friends. Nice guy. I've known him forever."

Once in the car, introductions were made, and Jake squeezed into the front seat while Peyton sat in back with Nathan and Haley. Tim looked in the rearview mirror, Sweet Fanny's fine with everyone for dinner?"

"Sounds great," was unanimously uttered.

Meanwhile, at the Rib Shack, Skills along with the others was trying to wriggle out of Lucas the real reason for his break-up with Haley. Skills had yet to divulge what he'd learned from his conversation with Tim.

After an hour of eating and drinking, Edwards was getting fed up, "So did you move out voluntarily, or get kicked out?"

Lucas shot him a glare, "I moved out."

"But you seemed so happy," Fergie commented.

"We were, but we both were beginning to wonder if it was meant to last."

"Just like that?" Barry questioned.

"No, not really. I've thought about it, and I probably never should have moved in. That decision was made for all of the wrong reasons."

"Was she cheating on you again?"

Lucas looked at Barry, then the others, "No. As far as I know, it's just been that one guy."

Skills spoke now, "But it was another guy, wasn't it."

Lucas almost looked like he was going to cry, "Yes."

Fergie's jaw dropped, "Who is it? I can't believe this. She definitely isn't the girl we thought she was when she sat innocently with us in the dugout all those years ago. Do we know him? How did it happen?"

"She wasn't going to do anything about it. But I didn't want it to become an issue of resentment, or have her be tempted to cheat again. I couldn't stand in the way of her having a chance with someone she's always wanted…"

"But I thought it was you she'd always wanted," Fergie said, "Didn't she say that was the real reason she ever did the baseball thing?"

"Yeah, she did do the baseball thing originally because of me. But later it became about him too. She did do it a second season. Anyway, he approached her, knowing we were together." Lucas shook his head in disbelief, "He thought it protected him from rejection or something. She hated the idea of hurting me again. So, I suggested the break, and didn't give her the option to argue. She has to decide who she wants."

"So are you saying it's one of the guys from the team?" Barry questioned.

"Nathan Scott."

All eyes turned to Lucas again, "You're not serious."

He just shook his head.

Skills spoke up now, "Yet I don't think he ever expected it to turn out this way. He just had to tell her how I felt. Not that I'm defending him."

Lucas looked at him puzzled.

"I talked to Tim the other day," Skills responded.

Edwards asked, "So you're going to let her go, just like that?"

"She knows I'm here for her. That I love her."

"But does she? There's someone new paying attention to her. She could forget about what you mean to her."

"You really think so?"

"Yeah! You need to fight for her."

"How do I do that?"

"Call her."

"Stop by the house."

"Remind her how you feel."

Lucas liked the sound of this, "Maybe I will."

After they finished eating, Nathan looked at Haley, then Peyton who seemed to be hitting it off with Jake, and turned his attention to Tim who asked, "So, would you ladies like to do some dancing?"

Teresa looked at Haley and Peyton and they responded in unison, "Definitely."

The guys paid the bill and the group of four walked out onto the sidewalk. "So where to?"

"Tailgaters seems to be hoppin'."

"Sounds good."

Skills picked up Lucas's bill as they finished up at the Rib Shack. He turned to the guys, "4th Street?"

Lucas wasn't so sure now, he needed to figure out how he was going to try to win Haley back. But after some persuasion, he changed his mind, "Sure, why not." Silently he thought, 'My plans can wait. Maybe this will be a good distraction.'