Lucas used his key to let himself in the house. He breathed a sigh of relief at the quiet. The last thing he wanted was to run into either one of his parents. He was only there to pick up some of his belongings. Opening the refrigerator, he helped himself to some juice right out of the container. Setting it back inside, he started upstairs to his old room.

He sat on the bed and looked around. He closed his eyes and tried to remember a time when life was simple. But had it ever been simple really? He shook his head and sighed, wondering how he had gotten to that point, wondering if anything would ever really change, especially for the better and if he had the power and the strength to change it. Shaking the thoughts off, he piled his things into an old gym bag and threw it over his shoulder. On the way out, he ran smack dab into his uncle.

A surprised and red faced Keith was coming from the direction of his parents' master bedroom. His jacket was in his hand, his tie was loosened, and he was struggling to tuck his rumpled shirt into his pants.

"Luke!"

Lucas folded his arms.

"Uncle Keith", he said sarcastically. "Fancy running into you."

"Oh yeah. I was just um…I was…"

The door behind him opened as he was stammering to come up with an explanation. His mother, looking equally disheveled as his uncle, looked like she had seen a ghost when she found herself staring into her son's icy and piercing blue eyes.

"Lucas! Honey, you're home. What…what a surprise."

"I bet", he muttered.

"What are you doing here?"

"Maybe I should ask you the same question."

She ran her fingers through her stylishly short cut dark hair.

"I forgot some things, some uh, important papers were missing from my brief case so I came home to get them for a meeting. And I ran into Keith and I realized I had a broken lamp in the bedroom that needed fixing and he helped me."

Lucas rolled his eyes. Still keeping up the charade after all the years.

"Whatever. I'm out of here", he said.

It was easier to just leave as opposed to dealing with a near impossible situation.

"I should be going, too", Keith said, finally getting himself together. "The dealership has been pretty busy later. There are always sales to make, work to do."

"Well, thank you, Keith", Karen cleared her throat.

He nodded and scurried out of the house. Lucas shook his head in disgust. All he wanted was away from that house…and that family.

"Later, Mom", he mumbled.

"Lucas, honey, wait!" she called out after him.

"What?"

"That…that wasn't what it looked like."

"Whatever you say, Mom."

"Lucas…"

"Look, you and Keith aren't fooling anyone…except Dad."

She looked almost on the verge of tears as her son's words hit like a powerful verbal punch to the gut. And with those final harsh words, he turned away and headed downstairs, the front door his destination. But it opened before he could touch the handle. It was Dan.

"Son", he smiled surprised, although not nearly as surprised as his wife. "I thought I saw the truck outside. It's good to see you."

"Well, I'm on my way out. I can't stay. I just had to pick up a few things."

Dan nodded before turning his attention to his flustered wife.

"Honey, what are you doing home so early?"

Karen managed to maintain her composure.

"I forgot a few things", she said in her best businesswoman voice. "You're home early as well, dear. Everything okay?"

"Everything is fine, dear. My last class finished a test early. I wanted to come home before practice started."

"Looks like you were a little bit late anyway", Lucas muttered under his breath.

"Excuse me?"

Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Nothing. Look, I have to go."

"Son, wait", Dan reached for him. "Can't you stay for a while? Your mother and I haven't seen you."

"I'm busy."

"Too busy to bounce the ball around with your Old Man and the team?" he asked hopefully.

"Yeah. I've really got to go…"

"Where are you staying now?"

"Over at Deb's."

Both Dan and Karen winced at the fact.

"Lucas, you have a home here", Dan said with tight lips. "You don't have to stay…well, there, with her."

"Her? You mean your other son's mother?"

"I know who and what she is, son. I don't need you constantly reminding me."

Karen stood between her husband and her only child.

"What your father means, honey, is you always have a home here but if you'd just talk things over with your wife, you could go back to your permanent home where you belong."

Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Not this again…"

"Lucas…"

"What are you two not comprehending? I don't have a home anymore and I don't have a wife either."

"Don't say that. I'm sure if you make an effort, things could be worked out…"

"Mom, Haley served me with divorce papers. I got them the other day. She's serious this time."

"But…"

"There are no buts. I screwed up. I'm the one who cheated. This one is all on me. Haley wants out and who could blame her? After all, some people get tired of turning the other cheek all the time", he said, making sure the last part wasn't lost on his father.

Dan sighed and nodded knowingly. There was no getting through and no use in even trying. Lucas had definitely inherited the infamous Scott stubbornness.

"Well, we're here for you, son. I mean that. Whatever you need and whenever you need us. We'll always be here."

Lucas responded by hopping in the truck and cranking the engine as well as the stereo. He pulled away, the tires screeching and leaving their mark on the beautiful paved driveway. He made it a few blocks down the street before pulling over.

"Damn!" he swore out loud, hitting the steering wheel.

He hated seeing them. He hated his father's feeble attempts at sincerity. He hated the way his mother was fucking his uncle. He hated that he had to go over there to get his things. He wished he had a permanent home to go to. But he didn't and he hadn't figured all that out yet. And he knew he couldn't stay at Deb's forever. Eventually something would have to give.

There was one more stop to make, he thought as he circled the once familiar area. He half expected to see the rest of his things tossed outside where they probably belonged. But they weren't. He should have known better. That wasn't Haley's style. No way, no how. That was something he may have done in the heat of anger but not Haley. She was way too classy for that.

Lucas took a deep breath and turned the truck around quickly before someone saw him. He'd deal with it all later. He had no choice as that familiar sickening feeling crept into the pit of his belly. He always got that feeling whenever he left his parents. As much as he detested them and their way of life and some of the things they did, the most ironic part of all was, he became more and more like them every day. And that was one inner dragon he just couldn't slay.