Nathan was standing in the driveway, shooting free throws. Now that he was living back at home, he had been able to quit his job and was able to devote more time to the quickly approaching basketball season.
"Ready for Masonboro?" a voice called from the yard.
Nathan rolled his eyes, never turning his head away from the basket. "I think the real question is, are you ready?"
Lucas shrugged, "I'd say so."
Nathan turned to look at him, "I wouldn't…talk is cheap if you can't knock down those shots."
"I've been practicing," Lucas said with a faint smile.
"We'll see," Nathan said snidely, returning his stance to the basket.
"So, have you talked to Haley?" Lucas asked.
Nathan shook his head, cutting his eyes to Lucas, "you got some nerve man," he snapped. "You --coming here, to my house and asking about her. She put you up to this?"
Lucas sighed, "no man, she didn't…it was just a question."
"Well, the answer is no. I haven't…and I don't plan to," Nathan said.
"Ok," Lucas simply responded. "How are things with Rachel?"
Nathan's anger was out in full force now – he threw the basketball as hard as he could into the yard past Lucas. Lucas jumped aside to prevent being hit.
"What the hell is this? Do you not get it? I don't want to talk to you…about anything. All I need for you to do is get out on that court in the first game and not completely suck. That doesn't require any talking about Haley or Rachel or anyone else…so just stop acting like you're my friend."
"I am your friend," Lucas said.
"Well, as far as I'm concerned, you're not," Nathan said.
"I just don't get what I did that was so wrong…it's been four months, Nate," Lucas said referring to his New York visit with Haley.
"You were lying to me – about digging up dirt on Dan and about going to see Haley…I have enough of that in my life," Nathan replied.