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Nathan wandered into homeroom almost in a daze. He was still reeling from his conversation with his father the night before.
"What's wrong?" Lucas asked, not looking up from his book.
Nathan stared at his brother in disbelief.
"How can you do that so well, man? You weren't even looking at me."
"I'm brilliant."
"Or?"
Lucas laughed and looked up at his brother.
"You sighed really loudly when you came in."
"I didn't even notice."
"So what happened? Was it Dad?"
"Yeah. Listen, you're okay right? My mom found some pills behind the sink. Dad is really worried." Nathan said quietly so nobody would hear.
"I already told you I'm okay. It wasn't that many, I just didn't do a good job cleaning up. I'm sorry. Did you tell Dad I'm okay?"
"Oh, not you too." Nathan sighed.
"What?"
"Can you two talk to each other instead of using me as the messenger?"
"I'm not following."
"Forget it."
"Nate."
"Luke, it's okay. Forget I said anything."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I promise."
"Suit yourself." Lucas said, pulling out a notebook and pencil.
"What's up?" Peyton asked, walking over and setting down her backpack.
"Not much." Nathan grumbled.
"What are you working on Lucas?" Peyton asked.
"My life story." Nathan grinned.
"I thought I saw the word dumbass a few times on the page." Peyton grinned.
"Hilarious." Nathan said.
"Is Brooke speaking to you yet?" Lucas asked.
"I think she's focusing her anger towards Jake now."
"Captain 'I Don't Give A Damn'? That's a useless battle." Nathan laughed.
"Tell me about it. I've been trying to get him interested in pursuing music out there."
"I've never really heard him play." Nathan said.
"I want him to play at Tric. Do you think Haley would be interested?" Peyton asked.
"Hell if I know." Nathan replied.
"I can ask if you want." Lucas offered.
"Great. I'll talk to your mom and see if we can do it by the end of the month."
"Hey best friend." Haley greeted Lucas in the hallway.
"Hey Hales. What's up?"
"Hey Tutor Girl. Hey Boyfriend." Brooke said, coming up behind Haley.
"Hello." Lucas smiled.
"Am I interrupting?" Brooke asked.
"Not at all. I was just going to ask Haley if she wants to play at Tric."
"Really?" Haley asked.
"Peyton wants to organize a show."
"Oh great." Brooke sighed.
"What's wrong?" Haley asked.
"Peyton is off to California after graduation to try to take over record companies. Or whatever."
"Really?"
"Jake's going too." Lucas said.
"Crap. I've got to go. I'm sorry Brooke. Come over tonight?" Haley asked.
"Sure. I'll text you." Brooke smiled.
"Great. Oh and Luke? Count me in." Haley said.
"Awesome." Lucas smiled.
"Bye!" Haley called as she ran off.
"How are you doing pretty girl?" Lucas asked, turning back to Brooke.
"I'm okay."
"I heard you were channeling some Brooke Davis rage towards Jake."
"Yeah but he's not fun to fight with."
"Why fight with anyone?"
"I'm just tired of it. Peyton's self-fulfilling prophecy. People always leave."
"Brooke…"
"I just don't want to be left behind."
"Brooke. You're with me always. Peyton has a dream and she wants to follow it. She's going to be your best friend no matter what."
"I want to be wherever you are."
"Is it incredibly selfish of me to want to take you with me wherever I go?"
"Go with that feeling." Brooke grinned.
"You're trouble." Lucas laughed, leaning in to kiss her.
Nathan sat on the bleachers tossing a basketball between his hands. He was early for practice.
"What's up Nate?" Jake asked, putting his bag down and sitting down next to Nathan.
"Just thinking about something my dad said to me last night. I think he's afraid to confront Lucas about stuff. Like he's happy to have Hallmark father/son moments with him, but the tough stuff still scares him."
"It probably does. Luke may be seventeen but Dan is still new at this. With both of you, really."
"That's true. It's all on my shoulders sometime. My dad is afraid to yell at Luke so he yells at me instead. That's familiar to him."
"Well luckily my kid doesn't talk yet." Jake grinned.
"I don't know what to do. I told him that he needs to be a father for the good and bad things. I just hope he listens."
"That's all you can hope for."
"Thanks man. You're so much cooler than I ever gave you credit for."
"Right back at you."
"I'm sorry if I ever was a jackass to you. I'm sure I was."
"Nah you were okay."
"You probably thought I was not worth getting to know after the way I acted."
"I have to admit, I thought being in your circle might be exhausting."
"And now?"
"And now I know it is." Jake grinned.
"Hilarious, man. Really hilarious." Nathan laughed and rolled his eyes.
"Hey sweetie." Karen greeted Lucas.
"Hey mom. How was your day?"
"It was good. So listen, your father is coming over tonight."
"He is? Why?"
"He wants to talk to us."
"Is Andy going to be okay with that?"
"Well Andy had to head off to Charleston for a meeting so it's okay."
"If you say so."
"Hey son." Dan said when Lucas opened the door later that night.
"Hey Dad. I'm surprised you're here."
"Me too. But I felt that I needed to talk to you. And your mom."
"Well come on in."
"Hello Dan." Karen said as they entered the kitchen.
"Hey Karen. Thanks for having me."
"Of course. We're having lasagna."
"Great. My favorite." Dan said.
"I remember. Your son agrees." Karen smiled.
They all sat down around the table and made small talk for a few minutes.
"So, I guess Deb told you she found some of my pills on the floor?" Lucas blurted out. He knew what this was about, so he might as well get it over with.
"What?" Karen gasped.
"It's okay. I promise. I just had a moment of frustration and threw my bottle of pills. It was stupid but I didn't lose that many."
"Lucas you need to take care of yourself." Karen said.
"I know. I'm sorry."
"The reason I wanted to talk to you both is because I was afraid to confront you about it myself Lucas. I'm sorry."
"You were afraid to confront me? Why?"
"This is all new to me, Lucas."
"I don't understand."
"I feel like I don't have the right to lecture you."
"Oh." Lucas said quietly.
"Your brother once gave me great advice. He told me to stop being a dick. I thought that was the hardest part. Once I got over that hurdle, I thought it would be smooth sailing. I'm not really sure why."
"I'm still a kid, Dad. I'm going to screw up. I have screwed up plenty of times."
"Yeah but I always got to you first." Karen said.
Dan laughed.
"It would be so much easier if I could just talk sports with you and let your mom do the tough stuff. But that's not what being your dad is about to me. When we started this relationship I promised myself I would be a real father to you, and I'm not keeping up with that promise. For that I apologize."
Lucas swallowed hard.
"I apologize to both of you." Dan said pointedly.
"Thank you Dan." Karen said.
"Thank you Dad."
"So what happened the other night son?"
"I don't like being told I'm sick. I hate people treating me like I'm fragile. I just got mad and it was stupid. I won't do it again."
"Do you really think we treat you like you're fragile?" Karen asked.
"Sometimes."
"You might not be sick, but you have a heart condition and that means your life won't ever be completely normal. I know that I didn't have to give up basketball, but you do remember that I also have HCM?"
Lucas was silent.
"Lucas?" Karen studied her son's face.
"I'm sorry Dad. I've been wrapped up in my own experiences. I actually kind of forgot you had it too."
"It's okay. It really is. My point was that you can talk to me about it. You're not alone in this."
"Thanks Dad."
"I'm glad we did this." Karen said to Dan while Lucas was in the kitchen clearing dishes.
"Me too Karen. Thanks for letting me do this. And thanks for letting me have a second chance with him. I in no way deserved it but you'll never know how grateful I am for the opportunity."
"I really didn't want to give you a chance."
"Understandable. I know I hurt you, and I hurt Lucas. I'm so sorry Karen."
Karen didn't say anything, but she took Dan's hand and smiled tearfully.
"I should have told you years ago."
"Thank you Dan."
"I've had so much regret. I'm incredibly lucky to be able to try and fix things."
"I'm glad you're taking the chance. I really am."
"That means a lot Karen. You did an amazing job raising him. You definitely didn't need me, but I wish I was there."
"I wouldn't say you weren't needed, but thank you Dan."
"Getting to know him has been incredible. Getting to know Nathan has been too. I didn't know him before. It's amazing."
"Nathan is wonderful. Lucas loves him so much."
"I love that they're best friends." Dan agreed.
"Who would have thought we'd end up here?"
"I never had any idea."
"This has been really great." Dan said again.
"It really was."
"I want to be friends Karen."
"I think we can do that. We were close once."
"What about Andy?"
"I'll see what I can do."
"Sounds good. By the way, Luke I can see you so you might as well come join us." Dan called.
Lucas laughed from the kitchen.
"Thanks for everything Karen." Dan said as he was getting ready to leave.
"It was my pleasure. Truly. I'll let you two say goodnight."
"I guess I'll see you Friday at the game." Dan said to Lucas.
"Definitely."
"I hope you don't feel like we're smothering you. We all just worry because we love you."
Lucas widened his eyes. Dan had never said that to him before.
Dan smiled and pulled his son into a hug.
"I love you kid."
"I love you too Dad."
Lucas went upstairs and immediately got his medication out from under his bed and took it. He was being ridiculous and he was not going to hurt his family with his pride.
Nathan sat at his computer staring at his email.
He looked down when his phone vibrated. It was a text from Lucas.
"Greatest talk with Dad. You're the best. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow."
Nathan smiled for a minute, but his smile fell prey to his nerves when his eyes went back to the email he was reading.
Someone from Duke was going to be at the game on Friday. This could change everything.
Oh Nate. I'm looking forward to writing about this away game.
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