It had been two weeks since Summer and Lucas had met, and the two had spent every day together. Strangely enough, they also hadn't run into anyone but Karen and Deb. They had flirted heavily, but they had yet to do more than kiss. It was a sunny morning when they headed over to the Rivercourt.
The Rivercourt was deserted when they arrived. Lucas played the perfect gentleman and offered his hand in support as Summer climbed the seat of the picnic table to sit on top.
"OK, show me some mad basketball skills." Summer ordered as she leaned back on her hands and thrust her chest forward flirtatiously.
Lucas tore his eyes up to her face and grinned at the twinkle in her eye. "I'll do my best," he promised as he turned on the spot and shot across the court – nothing but net.
For the next half hour Lucas dribbled around the court shooting and dunking into the basket with his own personal cheerleader there cheering him on. Deciding he could use a breather when his heart started pounding, he sat down next to Summer.
"You're really good at this." Summer commented.
"Thanks. Do you play?" He asked.
"No, I've never tried it." Summer shook her head.
Lucas grinned. "Would you like to?"
"Who's gonna teach me? You?" Summer flirted.
Lucas shrugged. "I'd be willing to offer my services."
Summer looked at him skeptically. "What do you get in return?"
Lucas chuckled. "Nothing more than the privilege if basking in your presence and maybe even getting to wrap my arms around a beautiful girl."
"Hmm… good answer." Summer replied as Lucas gallantly escorted her off the table and onto the blacktop.
He positioned her in front of the basket just short of the free throw line and stood directly behind her. Wrapping his arms around her, he showed her where to place her hands on the ball and slowly took her through the motion of a shot, demonstrating how to follow through and get the backspin she would need on the ball.
He was trying very hard not to focus on how good she smelled – like a cool ocean breeze and honeysuckle – or how her head fit perfectly under his chin. He worked to ignore how soft her hair felt against his neck as she leaned back into him, or even how every curve seemed to mold itself to his own form. His heart was pounding, but it had nothing to do with too much exertion and everything to do with the beautiful creature in front of him.
After showing her everything to the mechanics of shooting a basketball, Lucas stepped back and let Summer make her first try at it. He was shocked when it went in the first time. Summer squealed and jumped into his arms.
"I did it!" She exclaimed.
"You sure did! I don't think I've ever seen anyone get it on the first try before." Lucas replied, laughing.
"It's just because you not only have mad basketball skills, but mad teaching skills too!" Summer pulled back slightly while remaining in his arms. She tilted her head to the side and looked up at him. "Have you ever considered coaching?"
It took a moment for Lucas to catch up with her. "No, I can't say that I have – why?"
Summer chewed on her bottom lip for a second. It made Lucas want to chew on her lip himself.
"I know it's none of my business, and I absolutely hate it when someone tries to tell me what to do." Summer hesitated.
"Go ahead." Lucas encouraged her.
"How realistic is it to just keep playing until you just drop dead one day? I understand that you love the game, but is it just playing basketball that you love so much, or is it the game itself?" Summer asked.
Lucas sighed and backed away from Summer. Summer wrapped her empty arms around herself, suddenly cool without him against her.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. It's just that I'm starting to have feelings for you and I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you." Summer rushed to explain.
Lucas stared down at the blacktop of the court and sighed again.
"Lucas?" Summer whispered, scared that she had ruined everything.
Lucas looked up at her. "I'm not angry my Lady Jade." He told her sweetly. "I'm starting to have feelings for you too." He took a step towards her and reached out to brush a stray hair away from her face. He placed his palm on her cheek and leaned down to brush his lips against hers. Just like it always did, the contact caused that warm comfortable feeling to flare up like a brush fire.
He pulled her against his body and took his time exploring her mouth. When breathing became necessary he ended the kiss and panting, he leaned his forehead against Summer's.
"I don't want to die Summer, but I can't just quit playing yet. I promise that I will think about what you said." Lucas assured her.
Summer smiled. "That's all I ask. However there is one thing that I think you need to definitely continue doing."
Lucas looked at her in confusion.
"I think you need to see how your heart can handle a serious make-out session." Summer grinned cheekily.
Lucas' smile widened across his handsome face. "I think I can definitely get into that form of exercise." He agreed as he leaned down to capture her lips with his own.
Karen was sitting on the porch watching in amusement as Lucas and Summer washed Lucas' new car that he had inherited from Keith. Although it looked like they were getting more soap on each other than the car. The chore had quickly dissolved into a free-for-all water and soap fight.
Summer was currently in a futile attempt to stop Lucas with the water hose after he had thrown down his sponge and was braving the onslaught of water to wrestle for control of the hose. Lucas had taken off his sodden shirt, and Summer was in a bikini top and shorts. Karen would normally be worried, but Summer and she had talked about Summer's fear of getting pregnant after what happened to Theresa.
Summer's squeal woke Karen from her musings and she laughed out loud to see Summer bent over Lucas' shoulder. She smacked his butt in a futile attempt to get him to release her. Lucas just laughed and stood calmly and rinsed the car with Summer still over his shoulder.
"Skywalker! I'm getting light headed." Summer complained.
"That's just my animal magnetism." Lucas replied nonchalantly.
"You got the animal part right you big jerk!" Summer growled, smacking his backside again. Then she got an evil grin. She looked up at Karen and winked before she reached down and caressed his butt through his shorts.
Lucas yelped and nearly dropped her. He did flip her back up on her feet so quickly that she got dizzy and plopped down on the ground. "What are you doing? My mother is right there!" Lucas exclaimed in shock as he pointed at his hysterically laughing mother.
"It's nice to know you're aware of your surroundings Skywalker." Summer remarked sarcastically. She took advantage of his distraction to reach down to a discarded soapy sponge and throw it at Lucas. It made a splat sound as it struck his bare chest and soap ran down his front.
Lucas narrowed his eyes. "This means war." He growled.
Summer's eyes widened as he picked up the bucket of soapy water. With a shriek, she turned and raced for the front porch.
"Not on the porch!" Karen warned.
Summer winced and turned to face her boyfriend. Holding up her hands to show herself unarmed, she smiled sweetly. "Now Skywalker, you wouldn't be so cruel would you? I mean it could be bad for you if you pour that on me."
Lucas raised his eyebrows. "And how exactly would it be bad for me to pour this soapy water on you?"
Summer chewed on her lower lip in thought for a moment before she got an idea. Lucas could literally see the light bulb go off in her head. "If you get me wet with that filthy water then I'll just have to go home and take a shower. That means not only would I have to leave, but I would have to put on other clothes besides this bikini, and you did say that you liked my bikini."
Lucas groaned. "Do you have to say things like that in front of my mother?"
Summer shrugged. "Why not? You obviously think I'm hot – which your right, I am – and I find you very yummy myself. It's not like we're secretive about it."
Lucas pushed his wet hair back off his face and sighed. He glanced up at his chuckling mother.
"She's got a point son." Karen stated.
"She always has a point." Lucas grumbled.
"Oh lighten up Skywalker." Summer exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around his waist. She went up on her tip toes and kissed his lips. "Now let's get this car washed so you can take me out in it." She declared, walking back towards the car.
Lucas watched her with a soft smile playing on his lips. He was beginning to think that he was in love with Summer Roberts. They had spent every day of the last three weeks exclusively together. She eased the pain of missing Haley and Nathan, and he hadn't even thought about Brooke or Peyton. Summer looked up from rinsing the fender and smiled sweetly. Lucas returned her look with a loving smile of his own. No, Lucas knew that he was in love with Summer Roberts.
Karen watched from the porch as her son and his girlfriend gave each other loving looks. She smiled wistfully as she remembered when Keith would look at her like that. Karen was very grateful for Summer. She sat and rocked in the swing as she remembered her conversation with her son a few weeks before.
Lucas had come in from another day spent with Summer and she was waiting for him in the living room.
"Lucas?" Karen called out.
"Yeah, I'm home." Lucas replied from his bedroom.
"Can you come in here please?" Karen requested.
A moment later her son appeared before her, nervous and uncertain. Karen winced internally as she realized how uncomfortable she made her son. It was a far cry from the years of closeness they had shared.
"Honey, come sit for a minute. We need to talk." Karen invited.
Lucas eyed her warily and sat on the edge of the chair. Karen sighed. "Lucas I owe you an apology." She began.
Lucas looked down at the floor, uncomfortable with the conversation already.
"Please look at me." Karen begged.
Lucas raised his soulful blue eyes to meet hers. They were swimming with tears – just like her own.
"Honey I had no right to blame you for what happened to Keith." Karen continued.
"But it was my fault. If I hadn't gone back in…" Lucas cried.
"Oh Honey no! You did exactly what Keith did. You went back in to save your loved ones. You were so brave and honorable. Because of you we didn't have a funeral for Peyton. I know that Keith would have been devastated if she had died instead of him. Don't think for even a minute that what you did was wrong. And what I said to you about Dan… Lucas you have always been a better person than Dan Scott. He would never have thought about going into that fire to save anyone, let alone someone who he disliked as much as you dislike Dan. I am so proud of the man that you're becoming." Karen told him.
Lucas looked at her with tears flowing down his cheeks.
Karen crossed the room to kneel in front of her son. She wiped his tears away and smiled up at him through her own. "You are a great son Lucas Scott. You have such a good heart and such a kind nature. I am so grateful to have you in my life. I love you." She whispered.
"I love you too Mom." Lucas cried as he buried his head in her shoulder and sobbed out all his anguish of the last few months.
It had been a healing night for both of them. They had sat up late talking, and Karen had seen the light in Lucas' eyes when he talked about a certain transplant from California. Ah, young love.