Hi everyone! Sorry I didn't post yesterday, I wasn't completely happy with the chapter and wanted to do a few little tweaks before posting, but here it finally is!
I won't be posting this weekend as it's my birthday, but I will try to post at some point during the week, but it will most likely be the 17th that I next post a chapter.
The next chapter will be the last one before we find out how Haley and Nathan became a couple, but for now, I hope you enjoy this one! :)
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Chapter 12 – Revelations
Lucas glanced over his shoulder towards the stairs and then down at his watch.
'Haley's been gone for a while, hopefully everything's okay up there' he thought to himself.
A shrill tapping on a glass caught his attention, as Jimmy James stood by the fireplace in the dining room ready to begin his speech.
"If I could have your attention please," he started. "As you all know, we're here tonight to celebrate my beautiful daughter's 25th birthday."
Jimmy continued his speech, talking about Quinn as a child and how she'd grown into the woman she was today, occasionally tearing up at a special memory. The room was filled with 'awws' and laughter at the stories, accompanied by Quinn blushing.
Standing at the back of the room, Lucas smiled to himself. So many of these stories were familiar to him, often taking place here at the cabin. He looked over at his mother and Keith, the perfect couple, smiling, with Lily stood by their side. One day this will be Keith making a speech and sharing the stories of Lily's childhood. The thought scared him, sure she was still young, but before anyone knows it, she'll be starting high school, with the problems that come with it, especially the boys.
Lucas chuckled, his thoughts coinciding with a story Jimmy was telling of how Quinn's brothers scared away her high school boyfriends. He wouldn't be like that, but he would protect his sister, just like he would Haley. His thoughts were interrupted by the feel of a hand on his back, causing him to jump slightly.
"Hey" Haley whispered, smiling at him as he turned to see who it was. "Did we miss much?"
"Not really, your dad was just telling some stories about Quinn when she was younger, you've probably heard them all before" he replied, matching her smile. He noticed her hair was slightly messed up and the red mark on her neck, causing his smile to fade.
"What took you so long?" he questioned.
"Oh, I…. erm…" Haley started, looking slightly startled.
"I was still feeling a bit wound up, so she just listened to me talk" Nathan interrupted.
Lucas glanced at him. "Oh right, you okay now man?"
"Yeah kinda" Nathan replied, placing his hand on Luke's shoulder.
"Good, oh and you might want to wipe the lipstick off your neck" Lucas responded, smirking at Nathan.
Nathan blushed and quickly wiped his neck with his hand, and began listening to the end of Jimmy's speech.
A short while later the cake had been cut and photos had been taken. Besides the usual James family photos, they had included the Scott's and then asked the photographer to continue walking round taking photos of the guests.
Lucas had made his way into the kitchen, looking for another beer in the fridge. He tutted at the empty box, closing the door with a little frustration. He turned and was met by Nathan holding out a bottle towards him.
"Thanks" he said, taking the bottle from his brother and swigging the cool ale inside.
"Karen moved them into the other room earlier, she thought it would be easier in there" Nathan said, explaining the lack of beer in the fridge.
"Oh right, makes sense I suppose" Luke replied, looking down at the bottle. "It's funny isn't it?"
"What is?"
"How we have so many hopes and dreams, and in a second they can be taken from us…" Luke replied, sadness flashing across his eyes.
"Luke, why are you talking like this? You've still got another year before applying to college, you can get a scholarship for basketball and still take the literature course you wanted to do" Nathan replied, looking slightly confused at his younger brother. "Brooke isn't pregnant is she? Because you know, you can both still go to college and all that, you can make it work..." Nathan continued, jumping to conclusions.
"Nah, things haven't been too good in that bit of our relationship recently. Or in most of it come to think of it. I thought coming here without her would make us closer, but I've never felt more wrong" Lucas replied, sighing at the thought of his rapidly deteriorating relationship.
"Dude, get your head out of your ass. You're dating Brooke Davis, how can things not be going well? She adores you and would do anything for you, you need to stop pushing her away." Nathan began to feel slightly angered. He'd always been fairly close to Brooke, with her being the head cheerleader and him the captain of the basketball team, and felt a little bit protective of her, especially when it involved boys. She was the sister he'd never had. Nathan shook his head, and stepped out onto the side porch. The cool night air hit him, it felt refreshing; he always liked it like this. He felt Lucas join him.
"Nate, you don't understand."
"I do Luke, I do. I get it, you're scared because you're in love, and you're scared you're going to get hurt again, but she's not like that. You're the one who hurt her and she took you back despite it. If you don't want to be with her, tell her."
"That's the thing though, I do want to be with her, but…" Lucas trailed off, looking down at the bottle again.
"But?" Nathan asked, pressing for him to continue.
"I'm only going to hurt her. She's hurting enough right now, I don't need to add to that" Lucas continued, sighing once again.
"This is because of Peyton isn't it? I knew that you becoming friends again was a bad idea. How could you be so stupid Luke after everything that happened between you?!" Nathan started, lecturing Luke on his past relationship with Peyton. The thought of Lucas going back to that kind of relationship angered him and he continued, not allowing Lucas to interrupt him.
Dan stood in the kitchen, by the cupboard. He couldn't see his two sons, but he could hear them arguing, or rather Nathan lecturing Lucas. They reminded him so much of himself and Keith, when they were younger, before basketball got in the way. He hoped that this wasn't a case of a girl getting between them, they were too close for that and, more importantly, they were brothers.
"Hey Mr Sco-"Haley started, cut off by Dan gesturing for her to stay quiet. He pointed towards the door, silently telling Haley that the two boys were on the porch arguing. Haley nodded and remained by Dan's side, listening to the conversation.
"So tell me Luke, why would you even consider going back to Peyton?" Nathan said, finishing his lecture.
Haley looked up at Dan slightly worried, who glanced back and gave her a reassuring smile. Lucas hadn't mentioned anything to her about wanting Peyton back, but it was evident from Nathan's tone that he was angry and that it seemed a possibility.
"Will you let me speak?" Lucas said, becoming slightly angered, running a hand through his sandy blonde hair.
"Why should I? Just so you can tell me how perfect everything is and how you still love her? Well I'm sorry Luke, but I can't watch you throw away something perfectly good for-"
"I have HCM," Lucas shouted, cutting Nathan off. He let out a small sob. "I have HCM."
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So now we know why Lucas has been so pre-occupied!
Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter, please leave me a review and let me know what you all think!
Until next time...