99- Comfort Me
Summary: After the events of, Support Me, Will and El track down Lucas to talk to him.
Requested by: Elvenheart65
"Lucas!"
"Lucas!"
Lucas kicked a rock towards the pond, watching it make ripples across the water. He didn't feel like talking to anyone, especially his friends. But he'd take Will and El over Mike and Dustin right now.
So, with a sigh, he shouted, "Over here!" And immediately, he heard pounding footsteps racing to him.
"There you are!"
"Are you okay?"
Despite himself, Lucas felt a small smile tug at his lips. It felt nice to hear the genuine concern, making sure he was alright. "Yeah, I'm okay." Lucas cleared his throat. "What are you guys doing here?"
The twins stopped at the beginning of the clearing. El arched her eyebrows while Will looked astounded. "We're checking on you." he said slowly, as if Lucas had lost all his marbles. "Why else would we be here?"
Lucas shrugged and tossed another rock into the pond. "I don't know. But I'm good guys, really."
"Uh-huh." El crossed her arms and stood defensively.
Squinting at the girl, Lucas asked, "Have you been hanging around my sister? Is that where you got this sass?"
"You really want to quit basketball?" Will changed the subject.
Lucas hesitated. He'd already spilled half of his guts, hasn't he? Why not just let it all out. "No. Not at all. It was a good outlet for me, I enjoyed it."
"Then why?" El asked. "You said some stuff earlier that I'd like some clarification on."
"Well, first of all, Jason was such a jerk. Yes, he's in jail now, but being apart of something that he'd lead at one point? I don't know, it just feels wrong." Lucas looked up from where he was digging his toe into the dirt and saw that his two friends were looking at him with sincere curiosity. "And no one really liked that I was apart of the team. Dustin and Mike were always frustrated that I was missing campaigns. And Max, well I don't really know if she didn't like the fact that I was doing basketball. She was going through some stuff but even after everything, she was a little rude to me. And also, how can I trust any of my teammates when one of them literally attacked an 11 year old. My sister! I mean, come on."
The trio stood in silence for a few moments, before Will spoke up, "Why did you join in the first place?"
This question made Lucas pause. Why did he join? "Well, I think I'd say that I joined because I wanted to fit in. But it turned out to be something I really enjoyed doing."
El nodded. "I get that. I was always trying to fit in at California. I never got the opportunity to find something I enjoyed doing out of the whole mess. You did though. I always wanted to see you play. But if it makes you uncomfortable, or you really do't want to continue with it, I understand."
Lucas breaks out in a big smile, and tries not to cry. He believes her, he truly does. "Thank you, El."
El smiles and goes for a hug. He hugs back, and Will gives him a nod over his shoulder. Lucas reaches over El and gives him a fist bump of thanks.
After breaking apart, Lucas realizes that there was one more thing to tell the twins.
"There's actually another reason that I want to quit."
AN: Hope you enjoyed it, Elvenheart65! I realize that Will would probably hug Lucas too, but I wanted it to be a Lucas and El thing. Please R&R!