DISCLAIMER: I do not possess the magic that is Mark Schwann, therefore, One Tree Hill is not mine.

Last time:

Finally, she made the one phone call that she was simultaneously excited for, and yet dreading. She got anxious as the phone continued to ring, until the person at the other end answered. She froze, but she told herself that Jessie needed her, and she would not let her down. It took a few seconds before she could speak, but she took a deep breath and rushed through it.

"Luke, I need your help."

Chapter 2 - The Choice

Lucas had been at war with himself all day. He had just gotten his tour schedule the other day and his first signing was in L.A. next month. He wanted to call her; he wanted her to be there for his first signing, especially since she lived there anyway. After all, if it wasn't for her, nobody would have ever read Ravens for it to be published in the first place. They weren't together anymore, and he knew that it seemed irrational, but he wanted her to be there with him when he did his first book signing for his first novel.

However, she had said "No" to getting married, and that still hurt. He had thought they would be together forever, and he was hesitant to bring the woman who crushed him back into his life. After all, that was why he left her alone in that hotel room; he couldn't bear to face her after she rejected him. So here he sat, alone, at the River Court, staring at his phone, waiting for some sign of what the right decision was.

He had originally come to the court to shoot around as he thought, but after missing more 3 point shots then he could count, and having Skills' words about him shooting 3's when he has a woman problem ringing in his ears, he stopped shooting and just sat on the picnic table, lost in his thoughts, memories, and his answerless question; should he, or should he not, call her?

After a few more minutes of contemplation, all he had decided was that he was getting nowhere. He was just getting up to head home and deal with this situation in the morning, after all, it was nearly midnight, when the phone began to ring. He glanced down to see who could be calling at this time of night when he saw her face flash across the screen.

He hesitated, thinking of just ignoring it, but he knew that for her to call this late, especially after everything that happened six months ago, it had to be important. It would hurt, hearing her voice after she rejected him would be like a stab through the heart, but he just could not help himself. It looks like the choice was taken out of his hands after all. He took a deep breath and answered the phone.

"Hello."

A/N: Hello all! Yes I am back, and I am so sorry about the wait, especially with such a short chapter to come back to, but there is at least one more chapter written at the moment, so you all will be seeing that soon. I know there is no Peyton or Jessie in this chapter, but they will be in the next chapter.

I hope you all do not hate me, and whether you do or don't, please take a minute to let me know what you think!

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