Chapter 19

"Smiling on the Outside but Hurt Beneath my Skin"

Haley was washing the counter at the café when Brooke entered. "Morning, tutor girl," Brooke said in her cheeriest tone as she took a seat. She noticed that Haley wasn't too happy. "What's wrong?"

"Do you really want to know that?" Haley asked. Brooke nodded her head. "I went to Tim's party last night…even though I didn't want to go. I went so that I could keep an eye on Lucas, but you guys never showed up."

"I'm sorry about that," Brooke replied. "But Lucas and I had a great night together." Haley simply rolled her eyes. "Aren't you going to ask what we did?"

"Do I really want to know?" Haley asked.

"I know you do. Lucas and I sat on the beach, and we talked. He opened up to me about his mother, Dan, and what it was like growing up for him. He told me everything, Haley."

Haley knew that it was a big step forward in their relationship. Lucas was a very private person, and he didn't open up to just anyone. Her attitude began to melt. "I'm happy for you, Brooke, but you could have called me and told me you weren't coming."

"What did you do there?" Brooke asked.

"I watched Peyton and Jake hang all over each other and nearly threw up my dinner. Then I hung out with Tim and Bevin."

"I'm really sorry, Haley."

Haley shrugged her shoulders. "I'd rather Lucas hang out with you rather than getting drunk at some party."

"Hey girls," Deb said happily as she entered from the back room.

"Hey," Haley responded. "What has you so happy this morning?"

"I just got off the phone with Nathan, and he's coming home next week," Deb replied with a smile.

Haley's eyes lit up as a big smile spread across her face. "I can't wait; I've missed him so much."

"Me too," Deb replied.

"I know Lucas will be excited when he hears the news," Brooke said. "I can't wait to tell him."

Lucas was glad when he woke up and found that Dan had gone into work early. He hadn't spoken to him since their confrontation the previous night, and he didn't plan on talking to him anytime soon. Lucas looked forward to enjoying a quiet breakfast without having to worry about pleasing Dan.

When he was done eating he went upstairs to get dressed. Then he popped his last two pills. It was beginning to be his everyday routine. He found that he wasn't able to function without his pills. He'd have to pay Benny a visit. He opened his nightstand drawer to get the money, but found that he'd run out. He needed those pills, and he couldn't borrow cash from anyone without explaining what it was for. He'd have to make a deal with Benny. He grabbed his car keys and then headed out of the house.

"He must not be home," Brooke said as she put down her cell phone. She had been trying to call Lucas to let him know the good news.

"He's probably down at the rivercourt," Haley responded. "We both know it's his second home."

Brooke smiled. "You're probably right."

"How's Lucas been doing?" Deb asked as she poured herself a cup of coffee, and then sat down next to Brooke. "I haven't seen much of him since he's moved into the beach house."

"He's doing great," Haley quickly responded. She didn't want to worry Deb by telling her how he's changed.

Brooke quickly caught on to what Haley was doing so she played along. "I love spending time with him."

"I'm glad to hear that. I was concerned about him living with Dan, but I guess it's working out okay."

Lucas found Benny and his crew hanging out in an alley a couple of blocks away from the café. He nervously approached them with his hands in his pockets. He wasn't sure how Benny was going to react when he asked for his favor. "Benny…can I talk to you for a second?" he asked nervously.

Benny didn't look too happy, but he approached Lucas anyway. "What do you want, Scott?"

"I…I need a favor," Lucas whispered.

Benny's interest was peaked. "What kind of favor?"

"I need some more stuff, but I don't have the cash to pay for it."

"What do you expect me to do?" Benny asked.

"Could you give me the stuff and I'll pay you back when I get the money?"

Benny let out a laugh. "Why would I do that?"

"Look…Benny…I really need it, please…"

"Lucas Scott, straight A student, star basketball player, and…a junkie. You've been a good customer, Scott, so I'll give you the stuff." He handed Lucas a packet. "One week…you have one week to pay me."

Lucas nodded his head and started to walk away, but Benny rudely turned him around. Before he had a chance to react Benny's fist connected with his midsection. Lucas sank to the ground in pain. Benny motioned to his crew and they approached. Then he looked down at Lucas. "It'll be much worse if you double cross me." He kicked Lucas in the ribs before he and his crew walked away. Lucas lay on the ground and grimaced in pain.

Brooke and Haley were sharing some girl talk with Deb when Lucas walked into the café. Brooke jumped off her stool, ran up to him, and threw her arms around him. "Hey boyfriend…did you miss me? I know you did." She noticed Lucas wince in pain. "What happened?"

"It's nothing," Lucas said as he held onto his side.

"It's not nothing or you wouldn't be trying to hide it from me." Brooke lifted up his shirt and gasped when she saw the bruise. Deb and Haley also saw it. "What happened to you?"

Lucas had to come up with a good lie. "I fell down the stairs this morning."

"Are you okay?" Brooke asked as the two of them rejoined Haley and Deb.

"It's no big deal; I'm fine, Brooke."

Haley handed Lucas a soda as he helped himself to a muffin. "Leave it to Lucas to fall down the stairs," she said. She pinched Lucas' cheek. "You are such a klutz." Then she turned to Deb and Brooke. "He's always falling down."

"You should talk," Lucas responded. "You're the reason for most of my falls."

"That is so not true."

"Why don't you tell them about the time you fell in the pond at the park, and you took me with you."

Brooke and Deb couldn't contain their laughter as they watched the two friends argue back and forth. "I'd like to hear about that," Brooke stated.

Haley pretended to pout. "Why is everybody picking on me?"

"You know I love you, Hales," Lucas said.

"Yeah, and for some strange reason I love you too."

"Lucas did you hear the good news yet?" Deb asked.

Lucas raised his eyebrows. "What news?"

"Nathan's coming home next week."

"That's great," Lucas responded. There was a moment of silence between them, but Lucas broke it. "Where's he going to stay?"

"He'll probably go back and forth between Dan and me."

Lucas nodded his head. It would help having Nathan there, if not always, but for sometimes. Nathan would be able to get Dan off his back, and hopefully his life would get better. He was interrupted from his thoughts by Deb. "How are you doing, Lucas? Is everything okay with Dan?"

"Everything's fine," he responded. He had gotten pretty good at lying, but that didn't mean he liked doing it. "I have to go to the bathroom…I'll be right back."

Lucas went to the bathroom, and when he came out he peaked into the back room and noticed the safe was open. He needed money to pay Benny, and he had no way of getting it, so he decided to take some more from the safe. He grabbed a pile of twenties out of the safe.

"What are you doing?" Deb asked from the doorway.

The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song "Wounded" by Good Charlotte.