The final bell rang and all of the varsity players walked into the gym. Lucas was shooting around while they made themselves comfortable. Lucas turned around and looked at all of his players. Most of the players didn't know he was still as good as he said he was. Lucas put the ball down and turned to his team. "Are you guys ready for tonight?" Lucas asked. "We are playing the Pickmen. And let me tell you this is important game. Anyone know why?" He asked.
"Cuz they suck." Russell said
"Well yeah, but me and the other Coach Scott have always hated them. So tonight I plan on winning." Lucas said as the guys nodded. He looked around at the players. "Alright be back at 5:30." He said. "You guys will be watching the JV team today." He said as most of the players groaned. Jace was actually pretty excited to watch them. "Stop this. We are a unit. I could have you stay for the freshmen game that starts at 4." He said as must of the guys stopped groaning. "See you back here at 5:30." He said as he dismissed them. As they started to leave Lucas stopped Jace. "Follow me." He said as Jace followed his coach to the office.
"Yes, coach?" Jace said as they sat down in his office.
"Nervous?" Lucas asked.
"No." Jace said.
"Why?" Lucas asked as he grabbed the jersey he placed out for Jace. He was giving him Jake's old number. He handed it to him and Jace smiled.
"Thanks coach. I was hoping for 39!" Jace said as he set it down. "Well, I'm not nervous because basketball was the one thing that really connected me and Jake. We are six years apart so we always hit things at different times. He would be involved with things years before I could even do them. Once I could do them Jake wasn't interested, but Jake was always in the mood to teach me everything he knew about basketball. That's what we bonded over." He said as Lucas nodded.
"So me giving you Jake's number means more than I would have known." Lucas said as Jace nodded.
"Yeah! Thanks so much coach!" Jace said as some of the players walked to Lucas' door. Since Jace was only a sophomore it was very obvious when he would stand next to the other players. Lucas' team was made up mainly of seniors.
"Hey coach is Jace done?" Austin asked as Lucas looked up from their conversation.
"Uh yeah. Why?" Lucas asked.
"We want him to come to team dinner at The Shack." Noah said.
"Team tradition." Quentin said as he walked by the door. Lucas nodded as Jace got up. The JV and freshmen teams always talked about going with the varsity team. He watched them leave and then grabbed his things. He was wearing khaki pants and a black ravens polo. His shirt was tucked in and was wearing a black belt. He had his suit in his office. He walked out to the gym and it looked like he had stepped back in time. The chairs were all lined up and the press table was out. He sat down at the press table near the Ravens' bench. As the freshmen game started he sat at the table keeping the scorebook. The game came to an end and it was the first Raven win of the night. He got up and walked to the bleachers where his team normally met. One by one the players started walking out in their black warms ups. They all sat around Lucas and started watching the freshmen warm up. The game was about to start when Nathan walked in with Jamie and Lily. He walked with the kids over to Lucas. Nathan sat down and Jamie walked over to Quentin and sat down. Lily sat down in between Nathan and Lucas. Lucas then looked down at Lily and smiled.
"Did you have fun today?" Lucas asked as Lily nodded. She was a little stressed out with some much switching of who was watching her and Jamie. He smiled as he picked her up and set her down in his lap. He then hand her his pencil and turned to the very back page of his playbook. He smiled as he watched her write and draw. As he was doing this, the players watched him.
"He's a really good dad." Austin said.
"He's so different with her." Russell added.
"What do you mean different?" Quentin asked.
"He doesn't yell at her." Austin said as some of the players nodded.
"Why would he yell at her in the middle of a gym?" Quentin asked. "She hasn't done anything plus I don't think he is the type of dad that yells." He said.
"He yells at us." Mark said as he joined the conversation.
"Well yeah." Jace said. "We are his players not his daughter." He said as they all continued to watch him. Lucas was trying not to laugh. He could hear the entire conversation being held behind him.
"How is he a single dad and a great coach?" Russell said.
"It's like he doesn't sleep." Austin added.
"I couldn't do it." Quentin said.
"Same. Being a dad. That seems like a lot of work." Mark said.
"Oh I was talking about having to deal with us." Quentin laughed. The players laughed as Lucas turned around.
"Enjoying yourselves?" Lucas asked.
"Uhh…" Most of the players said. "Coach we uh."
"Guys it's fine. I know y'all don't see me with my daughter much." Lucas said as the game started. After half time was over the players all went to the locker room. This included Skills, Nathan, Jamie and Lucas. Lucas had told Jamie that he could walk out with the team and sit on the bench with them. By this time Lily had already been with Haley, Brooke and Peyton.
"So what did you do baby Scott?" Brooke asked as she pulled Lily onto her lap.
"Played with nanny Carrie." Lily said.
"Do you like her?" Haley asked as Lily shook her head. The continued to talk until the varsity team came out. The game had started and the Ravens were losing. At halftime Lucas was mad and his players knew it. When the players walked out of the locker room, it was very obvious on their faces that Lucas had spent the entire ten minutes yelling at them for everything they did wrong. Once the second quarter started the players finally started to turn around. The game was quickly fading and the Ravens were down by two. There was ten seconds left as Quentin brought the ball up. He looked around for an open player and saw Jace on the three-point line. Quentin passed the ball to Jace. Jace lined up his shot and as the ball left his finger tips the buzzer went off. The whole gym stood as they watched the ball as it moved towards the goal. The whole gym cheered as the ball went in. The whole team ran over to Jace and was jumping up and down. As Haley and Brooke cheered Peyton saw a familiar face cheering. She ran down to the man and was in shock.
"Jake!" Peyton said as Jake turned. He was a little caught off guard too. He knew she moved back but he didn't think he would see her the first night he was back.
"Peyton." Jake said as the world stopped around them. It seemed like they were the only two in the whole gym. As they talked Lucas went to find Lily. She was with Haley.
"Daddy won!" Lucas said as Lily hugged him.
"Hi Daddy!" Lily said as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He smiled as he hugged her tighter and then unbuttoned his jacket. He then sat down on the bleacher and set her on his lap. He talked to her for a while and then Nathan walked up to them. Haley and Jamie had already left.
"Ready to go Lily?" Nathan asked as Lucas looked up from talking to Lily.
"No." Lily said as Lucas looked at her.
"Lily, I already told you that you are gonna spend the night with Uncle Nathan and Aunt Haley." Lucas said as Nathan looked down. He knew this was gonna end in a very ugly fight.
"No." Lily said strongly. "I wanna stay with you."
"Lily, no. I have to stay here and work." Lucas said as he sighed. He then looked at Nathan. "Let's head out to my car and I'll get her bag." He said as he stood up and carried Lily as they walked out. They got to the car and Mouth grabbed her bag.
"I'm just parked right over there." Mouth said as he pointed at his car. They started walking to the car and Lucas could feel Lily's grip getting tighter. He sighed as they got to the car. He started to rub her back as he sighed again.
"Lily, daddy has to go now. I will see you in the morning." Lucas said as he looked at Nathan to help him. Nathan reached out for Lily and pulled her off of him. Nathan motioned for Lucas to walk away as Lily cried. Lucas sighed as he heard Nathan cheering up Lily. Lucas then started walking towards the gym. He knew he was in for a long night in his office. He walked to his office and sat down. Brooke had followed him. She walked into the boy's locker room and then into Lucas' office. Lucas was sitting at his computer pulling in the camera. He looked up as Brooke walked into his office. She was wearing a black fitted dress with blue heels. He smiled as she sat down in the chair across his desk.
"Hi Brooke." Lucas said as she smiled.
"Hi Luke." Brooke said as he smiled again. "Great game tonight!" She said.
"Thanks." He said.
"Did you see Peyton and Jake?" She asked.
"Ha, yeah I did." He said as he leaned back in his chair. "I'm happy for her. She deserves to be happy. She has missed Jake every single day since he left."
"I know! But the way they locked eyes was just incredible." She said. "She wouldn't have known he was at the game if Jace didn't score the winning goal."
"Yeah, that's why I moved him up." He said.
"So Peyton and Jake would see each other again?" She asked a little confused.
"No." He laughed. "He is great under pressure. He is a lot like Jake. Speaking of Peyton, where did she go? I was expecting both of y'all to come see me." He said.
"With Jake." She said as she looked down and saw a picture of Lily. She looked back up with a smile. "Luke, can we talk about us?" She asked.
"Yeah, I think that is a good idea." He said as he got up and shut his door. Most of the players had just walked into the locker room. He then closed the blinds on both the door window and the window itself. He walked back to his desk and sat down on the front half. He looked at her and smiled.
"Haley said, that I need to ask about your new book?" She said as he chuckled a bit. He then picked up the copy that Haley had given him that morning to make edits.
"Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you've never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can't wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it's like being young again. Colors seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn't exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day's work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there's no need for continuous conversation, but you find you're quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there's a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that's so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate that will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life." He read out of his book. Brooke looked at him with a smile. He looked at her and then started to read the last few sentences of his book. "This is the moment that changed her. The red seemed to be as perfect as lace. She was no longer the little girl hiding behind the red. She was no longer afraid to let others in. She was not the woman embracing the colored that directed her life through everything." He finished and then set the papers on his desk. "Brooke…."
"Your book is about me?" She said as she looked at him. "Lucas…"
"Brooke…I should have never broken up with you. I was in such a dark place after my mom died. You were there for me when Keith died, and you were there for me when my mom died. But, I didn't want your help. The day I broke up with you is a day that keeps playing over and over again in my head. I have loved you since the day I really met you. The day you showed me the real you, was the day I fell in love with you." He said as some tears streamed down Brooke's cheeks. He smiled as she wiped the tears. "You are gonna ruin your mascara." He said as she started to laugh.
"Lucas…" She said as Lucas' phone started to ring. He sighed and looked at it.
"This is the third time this number has called me." He said as she nodded. He picked up his phone and talk to the person on the other end. As he ended the call he looked at Brooke. "That was Glenda, Lily's teacher."
"Oh what does she have to say?" She asked.
"She wants to know why Brooke Davis yelled her over a child that isn't even hers." He said.
"I didn't exactly yell at her." She said as he sighed.
"But you yelled." He said as he groaned. "Brooke, I trusted you to just pick Lily up not yell at her teacher."
"She said Lily has a learning disability." She said as she got up.
"Has or might have?" He asked. "She's a teacher. She knows the signs for things like this. Why would you have done something like this?" He asked.
"Luke…" She said as he cut her off.
"She's my daughter. My daughter." He said in an angry tone.
"I'm sorry." She said as she opened the door. "Luke I just wanted to say I love you and that I think you are incredible father to that little girl. I love that little girl." She cried as she left. As she left the door slammed closed.
"Brooke…." He said as he opened the door but she was already gone. Lindsey had never said she loved Lily, but only hinted at it. A voice in his head told him to go after her and the other voice told him to stay. He opened the door again and ran out to the parking lot. As he got to the parking lot he watched Brooke leave. He sighed. He put his head down and then walked back to his office. He got to his office and he saw a familiar figure in a chair.
"Coach." The voice said as Lucas walked into the office.
"Coach Durham." Lucas said as he swallowed his feelings and smiled.
"I just wanted to come and say congrats on winning the first game of the season. Little Jagielski was a big surprise." Whitey said as he set a bottle of whiskey down on the desk. "Your uncle Keith used to come to my office after every game and we would talk for hours." He said as Lucas chuckled.
"I miss him." Lucas sighed as he sat down on his desk chair. He sighed as he then looked at Whitey.
"What's going on?" Whitey asked.
"Brooke and I finally, I mean just now finally told each other how we felt." Lucas said. "I then got a phone call and I…I…I blew up at Brooke for caring about Lily. I thought she was just being a bitch. She used to be one of the biggest bitches that walked these halls. Why did I do that?" He asked.
"Luke, you did it because Lily is the most important thing in your life." Whitey said as he noticed a picture of Lucas and Brooke in the confetti from the state championship game. Whitey picked it up and smiled. "This, right here." He said as he pointed at the picture. "She is the second most important thing in your life. Maybe and honestly she is starting to tie with Lily and that scares you. Maybe Brooke has always been the most important thing in your life. Since she is back old emotions are being kicked around. Since your mom died you have been using Lily as an excuse for everything in your life." He said as Lucas nodded.
"Maybe you're right." Lucas said.
"Don't wait." Whitey said. "I spent most of the best years of my life in this office. I should have been at home with Camilla. Go after her. You know her; you know where she would be. Go get her." He said.
"But I need to watch film…and she crossed a huge boundary. She shouldn't…" Lucas said as Whitey held up his hand to stop him.
"She crossed it because she loves you and your daughter. At some point you have to make a decision. Boundaries don't keep other people out. They fence you in. Life is messy. That's how we're made. So, you can waste your life drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them." Whitey said as Lucas got up and grabbed his coat.
"Coach I gotta go." Lucas said with a chuckle. He then ran out to the parking lot and got into his car. As he drove out of the parking lot he continued to call Brooke over and over again. He drove to the beach house and her car wasn't there. He then drove to the store. He saw her car parked out front of the store. As he parked a strange figure dressed in all black ran out of the store. "STOP!" He yelled as he chased the figure but lost it. He then ran back to the store and found Brooke on the floor. "BROOKE!" He yelled as he ran up to her. He helped her up from the floor and turned the lights on. Her arms were the only things that had bruises on it. "Are you okay?" He asked as she shrugged. "What did he take?" He asked.
"Money and my sketches." She said as he sighed and hugged her.
"I'm so sorry." He said as he continued to hug her.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I realized something I always knew. The day we broke up I put up boundaries around everything. But I would rather have someone that breaks every boundary down. Brooke, I want you. I love you. I need you." He said as she looked at him.
"Lucas…" She said as she held her face. Tears started to pour from her eyes. He held her as she cried. "I want you too. I love you too. I need you too." She said.