Title: Things Unspoken
Author: Jayta
Rating: PG18 - may contain some coarse language
Show: One Tree Hill
Summary: May Scott has passed on. When Dan finds out that his mother has died, he is confronted by change. With his wife gone, Royal opens his eyes to see the world crumbling down for his son. Will Dan listen to him? And will Royal's desire to know his first grandson cause untold chaos?
Prologue
The day was all too perfect for the sea of black that billowed throughout that serene landscape; and the stark emptiness of that color seemed to intrude upon the airy blue sky and rolling green grass. A world of opposites. How fitting.
It was early afternoon as the sleek, cherry-stained oak casket sunk into the cold unfeeling abyss in front of him. The sad, sordid sobs of resident neighbors and so-called friends of his family rang hollow to his ears. In fact, everything seemed surreal, even imagined, as he tried to picture his mother's feisty, yet cheerful disposition trapped in that ungodly box.
Just don't think about it.
He scanned the crowd of mourners. He barely recognized any of these people's faces. They were supposed aunts and uncles he had met at one time in his life - at the last pathetic attempt at Scott family unity, which ended badly as any and all Scott family get-togethers did - and they were bawling uncontrollably, with their heads hung prostrate. Part of him just wanted to smack them upside the head and tell them to get it together - show some dignity.
Many attendees to this low-key, and in his opinion, low-class internment kept glancing his way and throwing disingenuous looks of sympathy. All the while, they were probably ponderig a decision between turkey or chicken for lunch.
Everything about this service made him want to leave - find an escape. The whispers were almost unbearable. He looked around at the simple arrangements of white lilies and wild flowers - Keith and his father's doing. He wanted the best, and Keith and his father berated him, saying that it was not what his mother would have wanted. Now here these 'family' members and 'close' friends probably muttering about why the rich son would treat his mother's memory in such a tacky display.
I could have given you such a better burial service, Mom.
Part of his consolation was that Nathan had come, though not alone. He had brought his wife, as well as Lucas.
He hadn't spoken to his son since he returned to Tree Hill married to that middle-class goody-two shoes; and Nathan didn't care to hear what he had to say about the reality of his marriage. Or soon to be ex-wife. It was only a matter of time.
Lucas was probably just another added dig. The boy had never met his mother. It was a choice that had been made when it was decided he would never truly know his first son.
It was the only time he had ever seen his mother cry.
He glanced at his father, who stood by his side now. Of course this was for appearance's sake. The old man still had not forgiven him for lying to him all those years. The selfish jerk couldn't even pick up the phone to call him and let him know that his mother had died. His father's excuse had been that he thought it was best that Keith told him in person. Right. That was code for: You don't deserve anymore consideration than you gave me.
What a bastard!
It was all a game to his father - part of the dance he and Royal did. Keith refused to play - that was what had kept him the black sheep of the family until that fateful night his mother opened her mouth. But now, Royal kept up the personna that Keith had made him proud all of those years.
He shook his head. Keith could never really be his father's favorite. He and Keith both knew that. But his self-righteous and know-it-all brother didn't seem to mind soaking it up while he had the chance - standing on their father's right-hand side.
It was pathetic. But that was all Keith was - mediocre and pathetic - in the light of him. Dan Scott.