To everyone who gave me the feedback on my first chapter I greatly appreciate it. I apologize for the slow build up but I promise that I have big plans for this story. I'm doing my best to get the first few chapters out in the open to give you guys a feel for my writing style before I dive deeper into the story. As I do I also promise beefier chapters. Until then, any feedback at all is so helpful. I can use all the guidance I can get! Thank you to Brucas4ever12, Callison, dianehermans, and xXalienatedXx for your reviews :) Hope you guys like the update!

Lucas tapped his finger on his knee as he waited for his mother to lock the house. He heard the jingle of her keys and looked over at him with a warm smile as she entered the car and started the engine up.

"You ready for your big day?" She lovingly looked over at her baby boy sitting tall in the passenger seat. Lucas nodded with an eager grin. She rested her hands on the steering wheel.

"Are you ready for my big day?" Luke joked, gesturing to her hesitation. She let out a soft chuckle before turning to him, reaching out to gently stroke her son's cheek.

"I can't believe the man you are becoming, Lucas. You're so wise beyond your years. If somebody had told me when you were born that you would resemble the person sitting beside me now I…" She broke off as her hand dropped. Lucas waited patiently, willing her to continue.

Her mouth held open, but her gaze became unfocused. Suddenly blood began to pour from her mouth. It seeped from her eyes and was spilling into her lap. Luke was locked in his seat, horrified by the sight. Her skin began to wither in burns and she crumpled into herself as the car continued to fill with her blood.

Lucas attempted to escape but the door was sealed. He kicked at the window that was impenetrable. The blood filled to his neck line as he banged to get out. It filled up to his chin and he took his final breath before being submerged.

Luke jerked awake, landing heavily on the floor next to his bed. He groaned, his head still pounding from the nightmare. Drenched in sweat he lay there with his face pressed against the carpet. After pausing for a moment he sat up and checked the time. Like clockwork, it was six in the morning. His alarm never even got a chance to go off anymore with this patterned harsh awakenings.

He was becoming veteran at in fact. Making his way to his closet he slipped out of his sticky clothing and could feel his skin was still fire hot. I stood in front of his closet with his shoulders sunk in defeat. He got dressed, pulling his gray hoodie over last as he hesitated by his bedroom door.

Lucas opened it quietly, aware of every creak inbetween his room and the hallway. He paused only briefly to listen by Lily's door for the soft pattern of her breathing before continuing down the stairway and out the door.

The sun hadn't made it's appearance yet and the morning air was crisp. It pierced his lungs in a welcoming manner and he felt his body begin to relax. Grabbing the basketball from the side of the house, Lucas headed down on to the river court, allowing the steady rhythm of the ball's contact with the concrete ease his mind and drown out his nightmare.

X

Brooke couldn't help but admit her curiosity in the boy next door. At first it was just his appearance and his calm demeanor that sparked the interest. But as she peered out her bedroom window and saw the blonde dribbling his basketball down the street at the same time he had every morning this week she got lost in his mysterious presence.

At first, she interacted with him as she would with any boy she took interest in. Test out the treaded waters and figure out what sort of person she was meeting. He was the brooding type, for sure. Something she had called him out for. But there was crack in his smile that she was trying to understand. She reminded herself not to meddle, that she couldn't get lost too far into Lucas' psyche. But it was hard not to wonder about him.

She turned back from the window and started her own morning routine. Today was especially important, because today was also her chance to get on the cheerleading squad. It wasn't nerves necessarily but Brooke had to admit there was a heavy tension between herself and their tyrant captain, Rachel.

Peyton had assured Brooke that she would be given a fair chance and that equally she would talk to Rachel. The tryouts had already went underway two weeks prior to Brooke moving here but Theresa had broke her ankle drunkenly at a party a few days ago and there was a spot open. It was opportune that Brooke had arrived now and she had every intention on getting on that squad.

As she headed out to her Volkswagen bug to grab a cup of coffee before classes she saw Lucas dribbling his way back up, a gray hoodie hiding most of his face. She paused, her car door half open as she watched him make his way up towards his house. As he passed by hers he looked over only briefly in the direction of her window. She caught his gaze and he seemed taken aback.

"Morning, Brooke." He muttered, clearly caught off guard. She studied him for a moment as his blue eyes trailed to the ground and then back up over to her.

"Good morning, Lucas. Are you practicing?" She motioned towards the ball in his hand. She had heard about the Scott boys and their heavy hierarchy on the Raven's team. Admittedly she was excited to see him in his element after school during tryouts.

"Huh?" he looked at her quizzically before remembering that he had the basketball in his hand. "Oh!" Lucas looked back up at her his face etched in something she couldn't read, "something like that." He stood for a moment longer before giving her a small wave. "I'll see you at school, maybe?" Brooke opened her mouth to respond but he had hurried off to his house before she could confirm seeing him later that day.

X

After running a few more basic drills, Whitey called the boys to take a much needed water break. Luke jogged over to the bleacher as he grabbed his water bottle and took a big swig. Nathan joined him, wiping the sweat from his forehead onto his shirt.

"You're locked onto today, Luke. It's paying off out there." Nathan gestured to the court. Lucas looked over at his younger cousin and gave him an appreciative smile.

"Thanks, Nate. I think we've got this upcoming game in the –" he cut off as he noticed a brunette clad in the blue and white cheerleading uniform. Looking over Nathan's shoulder, Lucas' gaze lingered on her as she met the rest of her new squad. She tilted her head back in laughter as Peyton said something apparently funny and her coppery brown hair spilled across her shoulders.

"Good talk, cousin." Nathan stood up, slapping Lucas on the back breaking him away from his Brooke Davis hypnosis. "However I am going to have to take back the whole 'locked on' comment seeing as you now have officially checked out." Nathan folded his arms across his chest as he stood beside Luke and watched the cheerleaders began to run over some of their routines for their newcomer.

"She's my neighbor." Lucas shrugged in an attempt to seem nonchalant. Nathan wasn't buying it.

"Oh, well in that case let me take a look at my neighbor." Nathan turned to dreamily stare off at Tim as he batted his eyelashes dramatically. Luke shoved him with his shoulder and shook his head.

"Shut up, Nate. It's not like that." Nathan gave him a cheeky grin as Luke pulled his eyes away from the direction of the cheerleaders and back to practice. She's just your neighbor. Lucas repeated this in his head trying to will himself to buy it. As he glanced behind his shoulder one last time and caught her hazel eyes for a brief moment Lucas knew there was no way she could ever just be his neighbor.