Merry Christmas everyone! I know this is a weird time to be updating but I haven't for a while and just figured "What the hell."
So this chapter is more laid back, kind of a space between big events. Little bit slower, but it will definitely speed up. So read and review!
Flashbacks in italics.
Morning filtered through the kitchen windows, the early spring sun casting a glow over the patchwork family of three. They sat around the table, the young girl chomping happily on her cereal, and the two adults drinking their coffee together. He watched the scene for a moment through the glass kitchen door, smiling contentedly, before opening it sheepishly and alerting them to his presence.
Lily hit Lucas first, nearly bowling him over in her leap into her brother's arms. Karen came in a close second, with Andy slightly behind her. Lucas shifted Lily into one arm and took his mom in a hug with the other. He acknowledged Andy with a shake of his head and a smile. Brooke sidled into the kitchen behind Lucas, giving the family their moment.
It was the second Friday since Brooke and Lucas's Saturday night date; he had spent nearly two weeks in the hospital for observation. His family and Brooke had been in every day, while Nathan and Haley had dropped in every few days. Everyone else had seen him at least once or twice after the first night, including Rachel and even Millicent with Mouth. It had gotten to the point where doctors and secretaries could put names to faces.
"You're a pretty big part of everyone's lives, Luke," Skills had said, "Almost as important as me."
Lucas grinned again, remembering Skills' words and his other attempts at making Lucas laugh. Karen pulled away from the hug and looked up at her son.
"Hi Mom."
Returning home after his long, boring stint in the hospital felt good; returning home with Brooke at his side and his family there waiting for him had to be one of the best feelings in the world. Lucas had always loved the feeling of comfort and warmth and safety in his family, his heart, his home.
Karen smacked him.
"Lucas Eugene Scott, don't you ever neglect to take your medication ever again, you hear me!" Karen bellowed into his face. Lucas brought his hand to his cheek in a daze, still taking in what happened. An angry red handprint was already forming.
"Mom, I'm sorry—"
"You scared us. And I swear, if I ever find that you haven't been taking your medication again, I'll—"
Lucas interrupted. "The slap was enough, Mom. Don't worry."
"Good," Karen said, falling into his arms once more. She gave him a reluctant, relieved smile, but there was still anger simmering under the surface. "I didn't want to have to do it again."
It wasn't much later that they were all sitting together again. Brooke nuzzled her lips around a second cup of coffee, completely spent from the past week. Lucas supported her head on his shoulder. Across the table, Andy had his arm around Karen, mirroring the younger couple. Lucas had known about them as a couple for a few days; he thought back to when he had first found out.
It was Tuesday, a few days after his…incident. Andy and Karen sat together across the room from his bed, talking in low murmurs. Lily sat on the bed with Lucas, giggling with Brooke. Lucas watched them, thoroughly entertained by his girlfriend and younger sister's antics; Lily was just like a younger version of the older brunette. Brooke was just getting to the part in the story where she "jumped to the front of the stage, not even caring anymore, and started doing the robot."
"Lucas," begged Lily, "Can I be a cheerleader when I grow up?" She looked at him with endearing eyes, while Lucas gave Brooke a 'You've corrupted her' look. She beamed.
Lucas had looked back at his younger sister. "What, you don't want to be a writer?"
Lily shook her head. Lucas sighed.
"Fine, I'll let you, just as long as you stay away from all those boys who'll be chasing after you, ok?" Lily nodded eagerly, promising.
"Yeah," Brooke put in, "You don't want to end up like me, with some loser for a boyfriend." Lucas opened his mouth to protest; Brooke bit her tongue playfully and subdued him by putting a hand on his chest.
Just then, Karen and Andy stood up together, looking resolute and determined. Decided. Brooke threw them a quick glance, then back at Lucas. He barely caught her fleeting glimpse before Brooke picked up Lily and climbed off the bed.
"C'mon, Lily, I'll go buy you a snack." The older brunette led the younger one out the door, barely responding to Lily's questions about Brooke's boyfriends. Lucas watched them go with a smile on his face, before his eyes slid towards the two adults in the room. The mood became more serious, for some reason.
"Are you guys alright?" Lucas leaned back onto the pillows, his gaze flicking back and forth between their faces, waiting for an answer.
Karen tapped the edge of the metal rail of his bed. "Actually, Andy and I are… fine, Lucas. We're together." It came out a lot blunter than it had sounded in her mind.
"Like…Together, together?" His brow furrowed. "Like me and Brooke?"
But other than polite curiosity, Karen could detect nothing different about his tone of voice, no hostility, no shock. She breathed a hidden sigh of relief. "Yes," Andy said, "I love your mom. And, look, I know I'm not Keith—"
Lucas interrupted. "Andy, I'm fine with you and my mom being together. For me to be against my mom being happy because the person she's with isn't Keith would be selfish, and lately, I've been trying to appreciate what I have more." He looked towards the door involuntarily. Like Brooke. "So, you don't need my blessing or anything. But, if you really want it, it's fine with me if you two are together."
Andy simply put his arm around Karen's shoulder, beaming as any man would.
When Karen went into her room after breakfast, Lucas followed her. It was a few minutes after ten; Andy was outside taking a business call, Brooke was getting dressed in her room, and Lily was playing with a doll dressed in a cheerleader outfit. It had been a while since Lucas had had a long heart-to-heart with his mom, and he figured now was the best time for one.
"Hey, mom, I—" He stopped short.
It was really the last thing he expected to see, especially now. At the foot of Karen's bed, there were four bags, packed and zipped closed. He recognized them as his mom's and sister's, and noticed that the room seemed much barer than usual.
"Are you going somewhere?" asked Lucas blankly, already knowing the answer. Karen looked at him in the mirror and laid her hands on the counter pensively.
"Andy and I, we're together now. He was talking the other day about how much he missed traveling with me, and I suddenly realized I missed it too."
Lucas sat on the edge of the bed. "So you and Andy and Lily are leaving again? Where?"
"Yes." She smiled. "We'll be stopping in New Zealand, then continuing on to Europe. I miss it, Lucas, and Lily was practically raised abroad. We are going to travel for another year or so, until she is old enough to start kindergarten."
"When are you leaving?"
"Possibly as soon as tomorrow." Karen came out of the bathroom, and seeing the slightly pained look on Lucas face, added, "We wanted to see you coach your first playoff game tonight." A smile graced her older features, one echoed on Lucas's face.
It came as no surprise to him, really. Ever since the failed wedding Lucas had seen the look in his mom's eyes, how badly she wanted to tour the world again. He had almost been expecting an announcement of this kind ever since he found out she was with Andy.
Karen's voice took a considerably lighter tone. "Smile, my boy, you and Brooke will get the house to yourselves! And I can get Lily away from Dan, and we can be happy again. Trust me, this is for the best. It'll work out, and we will be back in less than a year."
"So, my mom is traveling again." Lucas laid his head on the backrest of the chair in the kitchen, waiting for Brooke's reaction. It was mid-morning, and she was using the relatively quiet time to sketch out a few more designs. She had been telling Lucas over the past two weeks how she had been falling behind.
Brooke put down the pencil. Biting her tongue, she said, "I know. Karen told me a few days after they got back together. She just said that she wanted to tell you herself, and made me promise not to say anything." She gave Lucas an apologetic smile and shrug. Lucas laughed.
"Never thought I'd see the day when my mom is telling secrets to my girlfriend over me," he said, grinning at Brooke. She giggled as well.
"Your mom likes me better Luke; deal with it." She stuck her tongue out. "And the good part is, now we get the house to ourselves." Her voice lowered, grew raspier. Brooke draped an arm over his shoulder and drew Lucas closer.
After a moment of consideration, Lucas admitted, "That is pretty good." He leaned in and kissed her gently.
"Yeah." She paused. "Except for when I spend the night at Peyton's. Then you'll be all alone while we watch old 80's movies until three am."
"So you guys are really friends again?"
Brooke nodded.
"So you and Peyton weren't ripping each other's throats out today," he casually observed, poking at some Chinese food. Brooke sat across from him; they were the only two in the hospital room.
"Actually," she said, "We're not ripping each other's throats out at all; Peyton apologized, and I apologized to her."
"So you're friends again?"
Brooke nodded. "You two are stuck with me." He rolled his eyes at her self-deprecating humor and popped a piece of spicy chicken in his mouth.
"It seems the cheerleaders are back again," Lucas said sagely. There was a knock at the door.
"Coach?" Q's soft voice came from the hallway. "You busy?"
Quentin Fields entered the room cautiously, as if afraid that his tall, well-built frame might break something. He seemed almost comically out of place with his Raven's warm-up on.
A dozen other guys followed him inside, and soon Lucas's bed was surrounded by his high school basketball team. They all muttered small greetings. Brooke stood up and made her way towards the door.
"Well Boyfriend," she said, "You've heard from the cheerleaders, now I guess it's time for the basketball team. I'll be back in a while." Brooke strolled out the door, completely at ease.
"Can't I just keep the cheerleader?" Luca called after her, and her laughter could be heard in the hallway. A few of the guys grinned. Q stepped forward.
"Well, well," he greeted, shaking his head, "You can't go one pick-up game without dropping?" He smirked at his blunt hello.
Lucas shrugged nonchalantly. "Actually, I kicked three guys asses for insulting my girlfriend. We all got thrown out, and my heart basically malfunctioned."
"Right," Tyler, the second string point guard said, "If that's what you want us to believe." The rest laughed, but Lucas had been expecting this of his team. Q continued on.
"So look, Coach Scott. We got our first playoff game in a week, and we know that you'll probably be close to another heart attack." He motioned to Tyler, and the boy ducked out the door, "So we decided we'd make it easy on you until then." Tyler came back in, rolling an electric motorized scooter for older people. "This way, you can keep up with us as we're running. We know you're getting on in years." Quentin grinned a winning smile, almost like a salesman. The team behind him broke out in a fit of laughter, and Lucas grimaced. He suddenly felt remorseful for all the stuff Nathan had pulled on Whitey back in high school.
"Very clever, Quentin." Lucas grabbed his phone from the table beside him. "But, I think that I won't have much of a problem keeping up with you, considering how tired you are all going to be during your running." He said this very casually, pressing buttons on his phone while he talked. The enjoyment of the team gradually faded to silence. "Extra running, I mean." He held up the phone, showing a text message to Nathan.
Extra laps for them today.
The room erupted in a sea of protests and groans. They immediately turned on Q, berating him for his idea. Lucas grinned, deaf to it all and folding his hands behind his head. "See you at practice," he said enthusiastically. He was the subject of many glares as the team filed out of the room. If his team was going to mess with him, he was going to mess with them. Lucas put the phone back on the table as soon as they were gone, deleting the unsent message with a smirk.
Derek had gone. A plane roared down the runway and she somehow knew it was his, but Peyton didn't look back as she strode through the mechanical sliding doors into the airport parking lot beyond. It was a test of the new her.
Her brother had come into her life to save her at the last minute, the opportune time. He had picked Peyton up off the ground where she had been perfectly content to lay, dusted her off, and stood her back on her feet to let her do it herself. Derek had forced her to mend her almost destroyed friendships with everyone; he had given her the opportunity to fix herself while he acted as a spotter. Now that he was gone, to look back for him would be taking a step back. Peyton would miss him, and she wouldn't see her brother for a while, but this new independence felt good.
Her phone started ringing as she got into the car. Peyton grabbed it and threw her purse in the backseat. "Hello?"
"So what's this, my boss only talks to me when I call her?"
"That's a little presumptuous, Mia, I haven't even decided if I'm going to talk to you yet." But a wide smile broke over Peyton's face, and she could picture Mia Catalano rolling her eyes on the other end of the line.
"Of course you do. Everyone wants to talk to me."
The phone was put on speaker, and Peyton laid it down next to her as she pulled out of the parking lot. "Right. Forgot about that one." This time, she was the one who good-naturedly rolled her eyes. "So you were in Dallas a few days ago, right?" she added, checking the calendar in her car.
"Yeah. Funny place. There was this guy who snuck backstage after the show and had me autograph his forehead," she laughed, high and clear, "Dallas is kinda weird."
Peyton pulled onto the freeway. "Nice," she said, and checked the calendar again. "And you're on your way to Houston, right?"
"Yep, we're on the bus right now." Mia paused. "Did that one guy I told you about ever come up your way?"
"What— Oh, the musician from Atlanta. Nope, I haven't signed anyone for a while."
It was true: there had been maybe one or two small bands that she had signed and recorded, but they hadn't produced anything yet. And the influx of new bands had gradually slowed over the past few weeks. She suddenly remembered the complete lack of demo CD's that she had received that day. Usually she got at least two or three. This was becoming a problem.
Then a possible solution presented itself to her.
"I could sign Haley," she said, almost as if realizing something. "I know Haley has been wanting to sing again…"
Mia considered it silently. "You could…" she decided slowly, then beamed. "Peyton, you totally could, that's a great idea! Haley would be great for this record."
Her enthusiasm cemented Peyton's plan. "Alright, I'll talk to her when I get home."
"Speaking of, how is everyone else in Tree Hill? What about that one guy, the one that you were trying to get back together with?"
Peyton bit her tongue. "Everyone is pretty good." She left out the part about the recent hospital visits and returns of psychotic fake brothers. "As for Lucas and I… it never worked out. He's with Brooke."
Peyton was surprised to hear Mia breathe sigh of relief. "Good. That guy was way too much like you, it was freaky. And he squinted way too much. I picture you with someone lighter and less demanding. Like… and artist, or something."
"An artist?" Peyton gave a dubious snort.
"Or… or a musician!" Mia was having a field day with this. She was clearly very bored on the bus. "Yeah, like Pete Wentz!"
Peyton dropped the CD she was holding, staring at the phone. Had she been walking, she would have stopped in her tracks. She snorted again, managing to keep her voice very level as she held back laughter. "Pete's married, and besides, we didn't work out in high school. He wanted me to jetset around the world with him, and I wasn't ready for that."
It was Mia's turn to fall silent. After a moment, "Sure, Peyt, if that's what you believe. Imaginary Pete…"
Laughing, Peyton remembered that weekend in the woods, as well as her friends' nickname for Pete before he showed up. "Whatever. It's true, anyone can vouch for me." She took the exit off the freeway.
The conversation turned to other things as Peyton made her way through downtown Tree Hill. Mia's second album. Haley's participation in the label. The hot poolboy at the Embassy Suites in Fort Lauderdale. Mia's other fan encounter stories.
Eventually, Peyton rolled into the driveway of her and Brooke's shared house. Peyton said goodbye to Mia. "Alright, so I'll definitely call you after I talk to Haley about it. But anyways, I gotta go get ready, Brooke is dragging me to this basketball game tonight. I'll talk to you later."
"Dude, this place is a mess!" Skills threw piles of clothes off chairs and countertops, frantically searching for the Raven's playbook.
"Stating the obvious," Mouth muttered, tinkering with his video camera in the corner of the room.
Fergie and Junk casually played video games on the couch, unconcerned. "You never had a problem with it before," Junk said. Fergie shrugged.
"It's our first playoff game tonight, man! I gotta have this ready!" He went to throw a pizza box away, thought better of it, then started digging fruitlessly in the trash can. Junk pressed a button to shoot a three on screen as the buzzer sounded; Fergie groaned and dropped the controller.
"Did you check in the bathroom?" Mouth asked him, standing up and grabbing the camera. Millicent appeared in the doorway of their apartment.
Skills jumped up from the trash can. "Oh yeah!" He took off towards the bathroom.
"Aren't you guys ready yet?" asked Millicent, checking her watch. "The game starts soon."
"Skills has to find the playbook," Junk replied, grabbing a soda from the fridge. "Why're you bringing that thing?" he added, nodding at the small news camera in Mouth's hands.
"Uh, I'm supposed to interview Lucas tonight after the game."
"Got it!" Skills reappeared in the doorway, clutching the blue binder and interrupting further conversation. He looked at Mouth and Millicent, who were the only ones coming to the game. "You guys ready?" They nodded. "Ok, let's go. First game."
"First game. How're your nerves?" Andy shut the refrigerator and handed Lucas a soda. Lucas took it, barely glancing at the can but keeping his eyes level on Andy's face.
"Shaky." He shrugged. The two men were waiting in the kitchen for Karen, Lily, and Brooke to get ready so they could go to the game together. It was almost six-thirty, and the game would start at eight. "I suppose I'm a little nervous about the game as well."
Andy let out a small chuckle, looking down. "I'll take the best care possible of them. You know that, Lucas, I need you to know that. Trust me." Lucas nodded.
"I'm just afraid of two of the most important girls in my life being on the other side of the world from me."
He understood Lucas' misgivings; Andy was much the same way. They always felt the need to protect the people around them as best they could. Not being able to do that and leaving the job in someone else's hands must have been difficult.
"Karen and I just need time to work things out, and this would be the best way to do it. We both love the world and love traveling. We also decided that since you and Brooke are so close, it would be best if we give you space and the world to yourselves."
Lucas smiled, showing his reluctant acceptance of Andy's plan. Just then, his mom and sister came out. Lily had little blue and white bows in her hair, no doubt a collaborative effort of both Brooke and Karen. She looked adorable.
"Is Brooke not ready yet?" Karen asked when they got to the table. "We should be going; it's almost six thirty."
Lucas leaned in the chair so that he could look down the hall towards his bedroom. "Brooke!" he called, "Pretty Girl, we're going to be late!"
Her voice was muffled when it came back: "Calm down, Broody, they can't start the game without you anyways."
Rolling his eyes back to his mom, Lucas smirked. "She's one speed only."
But soon enough Brooke came out, wearing a deep blue shirt and white earrings. "Step up from my cheerleader uniform, right?"
"In a way, yeah. But I liked the cheerleader uniform." Lucas winked and took her hand. "Everyone ready? We gotta go."
"Nate, are you ready? We have to go!"
Haley dropped the grocery bags on the floor in the kitchen, and threw the mail on the counter. It spread out like a fan across the granite, stopping to lay forgotten and barely glanced at. She waited impatiently at the bottom of the stairs.
"Not really, Haley, I'm still trying to figure out what tie matches!"
Jamie skipped down the stairs, wearing his usual Raven's jersey and missing-tooth smile. The anticipation and excitement were heavy in the air. Haley gave him a knowing look.
"He's having some trouble, isn't he?" she sighed sorrowfully. Jamie giggled and nodded. "Nate, which shirt are you wearing?" Haley called up the stairs, rolling her eyes at Jamie.
"The white one—"
"Blue jacket?"
"Black."
"Blue tie then, the solid blue silk one."
Jamie looked at his mom. "You have to help him with everything, don't you momma?"
"Oh yeah," she laughed just as Nathan came down. "You're tie looks nice," she added to her husband. Together, the three of them went into the living room before leaving. Haley went into the kitchen and Nathan and Jamie could hear the rustling of plastic bags.
"Daddy?" Jamie asked curiously.
"Yeah, buddy?" Nathan strapped on the fancy silver watch Haley had gotten him for his 22nd birthday.
"Why is your jersey up in the gym?"
"Because I was good," Nathan sighed. The mention of his retired jersey made him so nostalgic for those days. He would give almost anything to play again.
Jamie raised an eyebrow. "You mean because you are?"
Nathan laughed, the nostalgia vanishing when he looked at his son. "Yeah, because I am, I guess."
Haley came in just as Nathan stood up from the couch. "The tie looks good," she said absently. She tucked something, a small, thin box, into her purse then looked at Jamie. "You ready for the first game?"
"Let's go!"
It was crunch time. Down by two. Eight seconds left. Bear Creek turnover, Raven's timeout. The pounding rhythm of hundreds of feet stomping in the stands, the bass line for the chants and cheers. Urgent-looking coaches, players looking for that last bit of grit left in them to battle through. This is what it comes down to, Nathan thought, these are the make or break moments in life.
I love this.
The Raven's huddled in a tight circle after the referee's first whistle. Lucas addressed them with intensity. "Ok, you guys know the play. I can't coach you anymore. This isn't about me, this is about you, and your heart. Your spirit as a team, playing basketball. This is up to you. So go out there and decide that you want this. Fight for it."
"Hands in, guys," Nathan said, tying it up. "Fight on three."
"123 fight!"
Everyone seemed so different. The team wasn't the same group of guys who had presented Lucas with the joke scooter last week; this was a team, a team of panting, dying guys ready push as hard as they could for the next eight seconds. Lucas wasn't the same sweet, tender guy he always was with Brooke and his family; now he was hot blooded and remote, almost like a living statue on the sidelines.
The ref blew his whistle. Tyler threw the ball in to Frank. Jace cut hard to the strong side. Six seconds. Shaun screened at the top of the key, freeing up Q on the left. Four seconds. The ball passed hands like clockwork, zooming in a crazy design across the court. Finally, Q got it in his hands with a foot of free space. Two seconds. He put it up like he had every day of his life.
To anyone outside, it may have sounded like a small explosion had taken place. The Whitey Durham Field House erupted in cheers as the net swished and the ball fell through.
"Ravens win!" Mouth bellowed into the camera, amidst the general euphoria. "Ravens win their first playoff game for the first time since four years ago, when coaches Lucas Scott, Nathan Scott, and Antwon Skills Taylor played for the Ravens themselves! Amazing!"
Nathan was swept into the tide of students who stormed the court, flocking to the team to celebrate. He looked up into the stands; Haley was sitting there, beaming at him. He smiled and waved back. Jamie was jumping up and down next to her, his words drowned out but his mouth forming "Ravens win! Ravens win!" Brooke sat with them, and Peyton, Karen, Andy, Lily and Millicent were there as well. Nathan was just wondering where Mouth was when he heard the reporter's voice from behind him.
"So Luke, do you think your team can make it to the State Championship this season?" Mouth had to shout to be head of the shouts and cheers.
Lucas rubbed the back of his neck, but the joy on his face was evident. "You know Mouth, we were kinda the underdogs from the beginning, but we have so much heart and will, and I believe this game is evidence of that. I think that the guys have a great chance of making it to the State Championship."
"Great. And now, off the record…."
Nice generic answer, Luke, Nathan thought to himself, laughing. But he didn't hear the rest as he walked up the stands towards his wife and son. Jamie saw him and took a flying leap into his father's arms
"Raven's win!" his son shouted with joy, sounding like Mouth. Nathan balanced himself on a seat of the bleacher and hugged Jamie. They really had won; they were moving on to the quarter finals. They could do this. Nathan beamed and looked around for his wife.
"I can't believe you're really leaving again," Haley was telling Karen in mild disbelief. Karen sat in the center of the circle of Millicent, Peyton, Brooke and Haley. The girls, aside from Brooke, had obviously just found out about Karen's plans.
Karen nodded. "We're leaving tomorrow, Andy and I just decided." Four heads swiveled towards Andy who was sitting inconspicuously off to the side. He looked up when he heard his name.
"So where're you going to go?" Peyton asked, turning back to Karen.
"We'll stop in New Zealand and see Andy's mom, then onward to Europe. We're thinking Italy again."
"I would love to go to Italy," Brooke mused. The girls all seemed to be daydreaming, lost in their traveling future. They still sat huddled on the rapidly emptying bleachers, with Andy off to one side and Nathan and Jamie standing awkwardly in front of them. Nathan finally cleared his throat, and Peyton jumped back to life.
"Need something, Nate?" she asked blithely. She looked up at him with smiling eyes, and five other heads swiveled around to face him.
"Uh, I was just wondering if I could have my wife back? I don't want that idea of Europe to get back into her head."
Haley spoke up. "You know you loved it though." She tilted her head onto her shoulder, speaking sweetly.
"I think it's time for us to go too," Karen interjected, after a pause. She stood up. The gym was growing quieter as the revelers left, bringing a more somber attitude.
"Aunty Karen, will you send me more postcards? I need a lot to cover my wall," Jamie said from his father's arms. This caused Karen to laugh, and everyone gradually eased themselves into standing positions. Lucas and Mouth came up the bleachers towards them.
"Everyone leaving?" Mouth asked, rubbing his hands together. The whole gym was empty, save for their small group. Gradually fading cheers and shouts echoed from outside. There were murmurs of assent and everyone slowly started moving down to floor level.
Andy picked up Lily, ruffling her blue and white bows. Karen walked with them. Haley quietly teased Nathan, getting Jamie to join in. Mouth started telling Millicent about the interview, dropping his voice low near the end. Lucas looped a hand around Brooke's waist and kissed the side of her head. Peyton came down last, pulling on her jacket; she stood alone and slightly behind everyone else as they headed to the door in a group. Brooke looked over her shoulder.
"So what'd you think of the game?" Lucas asked his girlfriend. Brooke's eyes slid back to his face.
"Good. First night back, and your heart is still going slow."
"Well, that can be easily remedied," he said in an undertone into her ear. Brooke grinned coyly.
"Oh, you wish, Broody." She adopted a more serious tone. "But it was good. The team played like you guys used to." Her hazel eyes sparkled, but Brooke seemed more subdued as she glanced over her shoulder yet again. "Luke… give me a second, ok?" She pulled away from him and walked back to Peyton.
"How're you doing, P. Sawyer?" She held out a hand. Lucas looked on for a moment, then fell into step with his mom and family, smiling.
After Brooke had forgiven Peyton, they had fallen right back into their lives together again as if nothing had happened between them. While Lucas was in the hospital and Brooke felt lonely at night, she was at their old shared house. They would talk for hours, just like they had when they were younger. Neither friend had said anything about Lucas, accepting an unspoken truce. After Brooke had reconciled with her friend, everyone else did too, it seemed; all the girls would talk and laugh together as if Brooke and Peyton's major fight had been nothing but a mild inconvenience, a bump in the road.
Peyton took Brooke's offered hand. "I'm fine, B. Davis." The brunette rolled her eyes and pulled her friend along.
"That's what you said before you did cocaine. I'm not taking your word for it yet."
Up ahead, Lucas pulled away from his mom. He slowed up, and waited for Brooke and Peyton. When they got to him, he slid his arm over Brooke's opposite shoulder. Brooke put one hand around his waist, and kept the other tightly folded into Peyton's fingers. Lucas greeted the blonde with a dip of the head and a small "Hey, Peyt." The three walked together, Brooke in the center keeping them close.
Outside, under the lights in the hallway seemed to be where everyone was parting ways. Karen was hugging Haley; Jamie was chasing Lily; Mouth and Millicent had bidden everyone goodbye and were now halfway to his car. Peyton, Lucas, and Brooke made their way back into the group, where Brooke reluctantly let her friend's hand go.
"Are you going to be ok tonight, Peyton?" She seemed almost anxious, like she was guilty for not being there for her friend after Derek had gone. Brooke barely glanced at Lucas as he tactfully excused himself to let them talk.
"Brooke," Peyton groaned, rolling her eyes. "I love you for caring, but I've got a tub of ice cream and 'Donnie Darko' waiting for me at home. I'll be fine. I'll see you in the morning. Now, go be with your boyfriend." She gave Brooke a wink and encouraging push. The brunette stuck her tongue out and couldn't help but smile at Peyton. We'll be ok, she knew, as she went back and laid her head on Lucas's supportive shoulder to watch Peyton's black convertible roar to life. They headed in the opposite direction after a moment.
"Damn, some game," Haley announced, throwing her jacket over the arm of the couch and flipping her hair back slightly. "What'd you think, buddy?" she asked Jamie.
"Q scored!" he shouted, pretty much summing the game up. Haley laughed as Jamie went to get his basketball and Nathan came into the room.
His eyes followed Jamie upstairs. "Jeez, where'd my fans go?"
Haley moved to the kitchen counter, flipping through envelopes. "Truthfully, I think I cheered louder for Quentin than you," she admitted, glancing up for just a moment. Nathan looked very betrayed, but then he smirked.
"I'm pretty sure," he said, moving forward to encircle her waist and pull her towards him. She didn't look up again. "I'm pretty sure that you still cheer for me. That I can still get you to cheer for me." He gave her a little kiss on the neck.
Her face fell.
"What's wrong?" Nate obviously felt something was off in his game; Haley seemed to be in a trance. "Hales?" He noticed a letter in her hand.
"These," she said, staring at something particularly interesting on the blank wall, "are Jamie's HCM results."
"His—" Since a few days after the test, Nathan had kept the thoughts of Jamie's possible HCM smothered in the back of his mind. He had buried them, but they were suddenly brought back to life just at the sight of the white envelope. "Open it." The fear showed in his voice. Haley, on some level, found it funny that champion Nathan Scott, who'd suffered racecar and motorcycle accidents, who had been in countless fights and had had as many black eyes, turned to jelly at the possibility of his son having HCM.
And she loved him even more for it.
But her face was blank as she broke the seal on the envelope. Her eyes scanned the lines. Nathan searched her eyes, but nothing could be seen but emptiness. Nothing from the brown orbs he usually read so well. His heart sank.
Her eyes focused at the bottom of the page for a long time without reading. She remained perfectly still and silent. Nathan could have shouted. Finally, she sighed. "This is going to cost a lot of money, Nate."
His heart sunk even more, if possible.
"We'll need to take good care of him; we don't want to be at the doctor's office or hospital every other week." Her voice was somber, and even though she tried not to, her eyes kept sliding back to his face. "We need to make sure he never gets injured, because our son is going to be a basketball player. He's going to be great."
He lifted his bowed head, mildly confused, questioning her with his searching gaze. Haley's face broke into a smile.
"He's fine, Nathan."
About that Mia /Peyton conversation, no offense to anyone from Dallas :P
So anyways, check back soon for the next chapter! Big stuff is coming. Also, I have a new Bl fic (M-rated for a reason) that's out, you can see it on my profile. Himerus and Eros, it's called. Check it out!
Hope you enjoyed, and review please!