BRIEF NOTES:
Again, many thanks for the reviews and for those who hooked me up in their favorites section. :D Means a lot.
for the delayed update. My schedule got a little hectic over the past few days, but I'll try my best not to delay this for a long time.
Things are going to get a little tangled up from here. But, of course, I'll be putting in things that'll eventually iron everything else out.
Enjoy.
DISCLAIMER:
Nope. Still don't own One Tree Hill.
CHAPTER FIVE
Lucas Scott had never been so tightly wound in his entire life. It was as if all of his muscles had stiffened the moment he stepped onto the gravel in front of his brother's house.
It still looked the same, and to most people it was still the house their father built. What they didn't know was that even if this place didn't exactly hold the best memories for his brother, Nathan Scott had fought, tooth and nail, to keep this house and have it placed under his name. Dan had tried to sell it, Deb had tried to die in it. But his brother knew how much of a home this place could be, if the right people lived in it; he told him that once upon a phone call.
It was amazing to feel how different it was to be talking to someone over the phone than having to actually converse with that person face-to-face. He, Haley, and Nathan had remained in constant touch all throughout the four years that they didn't see each other; and each one was no stranger to another's life. But even with that knowledge, he knew there were things that still hung between their air – things that needed clarity and resolution.
He was so focused on getting to the door that he barely noticed the black convertible parked beside the minivan. All he knew was he needed to ring that doorbell and talk to his brother.
He muttered, "Carpe diem" to himself as his finger pressed the button.
He was greeted by widened eyes and a gaping mouth.
"Hello to you too, Nate."
Nathan snapped out of his astonishment. "Lucas, you're back. Since when?"
He had never heard his brother with such a tentative voice. "Just this morning. I had my mom drop me off here coz I wanted to see how you guys were."
"Yeah. We're good, thanks." Nathan held on to the door as tightly as he could.
"Well, if you aren't gonna invite me in then I might as well just stay here outside. Listen, Nate, I was wondering if we could talk… today."
"Luc, now's really not a good time. I just got back from the river court and --"
Lucas cut him off. "Shit. Were you and Haley in the middle of something? What was I thinking? It's you and Haley, of course you were! Sorry! Sorry! I was just a anxious and I guess I just wanted to get this over with that I --"
The sound of running footsteps and squealing approaching, followed by Haley James-Scott's voice interrupted his babbling.
"Ryan Keith and Robert Lucas! You better pray that I don't catch up with you or else I'm going to --" The sight of her best friend stopped whatever false threat she was about to ensue.
For a moment, everything seemed to stand still. Lucas, Haley and Nathan stood motionless at their respective spots, but their eyes were focused towards the two boys that stood in the middle of the freeze frame they were in. More specifically, Lucas Scott's blue eyes were locked with the little blonde boy's own.
He vaguely remembered all the pictures he had looked at for the past 4 years. Pictures he denied seeing, but had secretly sneaked peeks into each time his mother logged off of her email. Up until this very moment, the boy that stood in front of him was nothing but a figure that only existed in pictures. Though he had known, he was too caught up in his anguish to give it a second thought. Until now.
The taller boy, Ryan, broke the silence with a lively chirp.
"Look, Robby! Your daddy's standing at the door."
For the first time, Lucas Scott came face-to-face with his son.