Thank you for the kind reviews. Hopefully my computer will stop being so evil and let me update more frequently. It's kind of funny though, I wrote the next two chapters after writing like a page of this one.
Nathan tapped his pencil on the desk as he waited for Lucas to finish checking his answers in the back of the book.
"Pretty good. Only two wrong." Lucas said, handing him the paper.
"Seriously?"
"You're getting a lot better."
"Thanks so much man, you have no idea how much this helps me out."
"No problem." Lucas said, and showed Nathan how to fix the remaining problems.
"You're home late." Karen commented.
"I'm sorry, didn't you get the voicemail I left you? I was tutoring Nathan." Lucas said.
"Yes, I just didn't expect you to take so long."
"I kind of lost track of time. Dad, Nathan and I were talking about the basketball season. The first game is this week."
"Right." Karen said shortly.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Karen said gently.
"Okay." Lucas said, and went to his room.
"Hey Broody." Brooke greeted him.
"Hi…Cheery. Why are you in my room?"
"Waiting for you."
"What for?"
"Just wanted to talk." Brooke said slyly.
"About…"
"Homecoming. I need more people on the committee."
"Oh, um sure, Brooke. I'll help."
"Thank you!" Brooke exclaimed, hugging Lucas.
"No problem." He said, as they broke apart.
"Maybe Nathan can help too."
"Good luck with that." Lucas said.
He stood there for a moment, thinking. He decided to take the plunge.
"Say…would you want to go see a movie this weekend?"
"I would love that." Brooke said.
Friday after practice, Lucas and Nathan got into Lucas' car to go back to Dan's house. Lucas let Nathan drive.
"Any plans this weekend?" Nathan said.
"I've got a date with Brooke." Lucas said, grinning.
"No way! That's so great." Nathan said.
"We're going to dinner and a movie."
"Traditional."
"Exactly. It will be fun."
"Yeah. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks."
"So…I saw Haley today."
"And?"
"And…I said hi, she said hi and I told her about you helping me out with schoolwork and she said that you were a pretty good tutor yourself."
"Thanks Haley." Lucas said.
"It's true man. I think that my grades won't completely suck this year."
"Good, we need you for basketball."
"It wasn't so bad, just a quick conversation."
"Step by step."
"So…how has basketball been for you?"
"I'm glad to be back playing full time."
"And you're feeling better?"
"Yeah, a lot better. I think it was just a fluke or something this summer."
"I hope so. Just be-"
"Careful. Yes I know." Lucas said, getting out the car.
Nathan shut the door and tossed Lucas the keys.
"Just looking out for you man." Nathan said.
"Thanks." Lucas replied, taking his bag from the car.
They were playing in the driveway as soon as Lucas unpacked.
Nathan went for a slam-dunk with Lucas trying to block him. He made it, but landed the wrong way on top of Lucas.
"Ouch." Lucas grumbled. His elbow was pretty scraped up and bleeding.
"Shit." Nathan said.
"You okay?" Lucas moved next to Nathan, who was looking at his ankle.
"No…I think twisted it or sprained it. Shit."
"Okay, okay, let's see…yeah it looks like its swelling up. Lets go." Lucas helped Nathan up and helped Nathan hop into the house and on the couch.
Lucas brought him some aspirin and an ice pack.
"Thanks." Nathan said sullenly.
"Look, if you're careful it will be better in a week or two."
"The first game is this upcoming week though."
"That sucks."
"Damn straight. But maybe it'll be better in time for that?"
"Yeah, if you stay off it."
Nathan tilted his head back and sighed.
Lucas sat down next to him and patted his knee before pulling out a bandage for his arm.
"Sheesh." Nathan commented.
"No big deal. That reminds me, do you have any tape? I need to cover up my arm for the game Friday."
"Rub it in why don't you?"
"Did I not just tell you that you could be playing in that game 30 seconds ago?"
"Still. And yes, I think we have tape."
"Good."
"I forgot about your tattoo."
"A memento of my first date with Brooke."
Nathan chuckled.
"I'm home!" Dan called out.
"In here." Lucas responded.
"I figured you two would be outside…" Dan trailed off at the sight of Nathan's leg propped up on the couch, his ankle swollen.
"What happened?" He asked, putting his hand on Nathan's shoulder and look down at him and Lucas.
"Little misguided landing doing a slam-dunk. Had to use Luke to break my fall." Nathan grinned.
"Glad to be of service." Lucas said sarcastically.
"That's unfortunate, your first game coming up in a week."
"It could be okay by then." Lucas pointed out.
"That's true. Just take it easy." Dan said and went to his study.
"I was expecting him to freak." Nathan said in surprise.
"Me too."
"He's really changed." Nathan said, still awed.
"Yeah" Lucas agreed.
"Dammit" Nathan grumbled, looking down at his ankle.
"Hang in there, little brother."
The next day, Lucas decided to add some of his stuff from Karen's house to his room at Dan's house.
Lucas smoothed out the poster he had put on his wall and looked back at Nathan, who was lying on his bed.
"I don't know these bands." Nathan sighed.
"Snow Patrol is what's playing on my computer."
"Oh."
"What?"
"Pick some different music."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Rule of Lucas' room: Lucas picks the music, and little brother laying all over his bed shuts his cakehole." Lucas said, smiling.
Nathan rolled his eyes.
"So how's the ankle jackass?" Lucas said with a big smile.
"Fine, I think if I just stay off it I can still play in the game."
"That's good."
"If not though, I'm counting on you man."
"Don't worry. I've got your back."
"Thanks man."
"Okay, time for you to get the hell off my bed so I can get ready to go out with Brooke."
"Have fun." Nathan said.
Lucas quickly got ready and went out the door, wondering about whether or not Brooke was ready to become a couple again. They were definitely taking steps, and it seemed like Brooke may be ready.
Hee. Just a bit of a transition chapter, I hope y'all like it.
Please leave me a review, I love feedback )