Chapter 144: Whitey Durham Memorial Field House

Monday, January 9th, Evening

(Song Lyrics in Italics)

It was over; the night was over, now he could go home and sleep. The game wasn't even close until he put in the underclassmen in the fourth quarter, the only quarter where the opponent outscored them. The final was 53-33, Tree Hill won.

Reluctantly Lucas Scott stayed for the last game, the boys' varsity game. He sat with his family and watched Sawyer and Keni cheered on the boys. It seemed to be the only joy Lucas had, watching his baby girl cheer. He knew her heart wasn't into it; she planned to be the shooter on the court for Brett. That plan failed, as did most of his recent plans.

Once the game was over, Lucas moved out of the field house and towards the Commons. He stopped there and waited, he would bring Sawyer home, stop off maybe for ice cream, or god forbid her and her coffee, she didn't need to be caffeinated anymore, and then he could sleep. Sleep was one of the few things he looked forward to now.

Alone again, alone again
I'm in the twilight zone again
Another lonely star-crossed night
Shivered to the bone again

They never stay, they always leave
I wear my heart upon my sleeve
I won't say what I don't believe
I turn another heart to stone again

"Lucas, are you okay?" Brooke asked as she walked out into The Commons.

"I'm good, Brooke," Lucas said in a low voice.

"You could go ahead, if you're not feeling well, I could bring Sawyer home," Brooke said.

Lucas shook his head, "No, I want to spend some time with her, alone," he said.

"Oh, please, if you stop off ice cream, not coffee, that girl doesn't need any more caffeine," Brooke said.

Lucas laughed a little, "I feel you," he said.

"Are you sure, Luke?" Brooke asked.

Lucas nodded his head, "Yeah, I got this, Brooke, you've done plenty," he said.

"Well, I'm going to talk to a few of those other cheer moms, if you need anything," Brooke said.

"Thanks, Brooke," Lucas said.

"You don't have to thank me, Luke," Brooke said, and gave him one of her million-dollar dimpled smiles, and walked away.

Alone again, Lucas reflected as Brooke walked away. That's been his life, as often told to him, but not until four years ago did he believe it. People always leave. Shaking his head, he looked towards the doors to the field house. Where was Sawyer? He wondered.

"Lucas, I didn't expect you to see you still here," a familiar voice asked him from behind.

Lucas turned around with a name on the tip of his tongue, but he saw who it was. It wasn't who he thought. A wave of disappointment washed over him. For a brief moment, there was a faint glimmer of false hope. He knew all along it was false deep down too.

Alone again, aah
Can't stop the rain
Alone again
Put out the flame

"Oh, Meggy, it's you," Lucas said.

"Gee, Lucas, is that the gentlemanly way of greeting a lady?" Meggy Reuter asked.

"Sorry," Lucas said, trying not to embarrass himself, and he unconsciously scratched the back of his neck.

"Accepted," Meggy said, too enthusiastically.

"So, with my bad manners, I threw you off," Lucas said, "What's new?"

Meggy laughed, "Are you always this smooth?" she asked.

Lucas shook his head, "No," he said, "I'm usually much clumsier."

Meggy giggled a little and touched Lucas' arm lightly. "You don't have to be smooth with me," she said.

"That's good to know," Lucas said, unsure.

"Lucas, come on, loosen up," Meggy said.

"Well, we're at school, I'm a teacher, and Gareth is a student," Lucas said.

"The games are over. Your duty's done, you can relax, now," Meggy said.

Lucas shook his head, "I'm not sure about that," he said.

"Well, if you can't loosen up here, then come over for dinner," Meggy said.

"Meggy," Lucas said.

"Lucas, it's just dinner, and bring Sawyer along. We use to do it all the time," Meggy said.

"Meggy, I'm busy," Lucas said, "And that was then, and this is now."

"S.E. Hinton Lucas? Also, you can't be that busy," Meggy said.

"I have classes I teach, I run the English Department, it's basketball season, and that's just work," Lucas said.

"Don't use Sawyer as an excuse. Gareth tells me she has plenty of time on her hands," Meggy said.

Lucas put his right hand on his chest, "Would you think I would use Sawyer as an excuse?" he asked, partially in false disgust. In truth, he had used Sawyer as an excuse not to go out in the past.

Betrayed again, unmade again
Out of the sun, into the shade again
The silent room, the unsung tune
All the old games must be played again

And all the words we could not say
And all the nights and all the days
We quarreled in the same old ways
And all the same mistakes were made again

Meggy nodded, "I've done the same with Gareth," she said.

Lucas shrugged, "I don't know, how about next Wednesday. I can bring Sawyer over, and we could catch up," he said.

Meggy's face lit up, and her smile grew bigger on hearing Lucas' statement. "That's perfect, Lucas," Meggy said.

"Well, I'll see you then," Lucas said.

"Of course, you will," Meggy said, with her big smile.

Before Lucas could respond, Meggy's fifteen-year-old son, Gareth, took the space of the air next to her. Lucas' first thought, saved by the bell. He's watched Gareth grow up with his daughter, niece, and Brooke's daughter Keni. They were sort of this little click that even in high school stayed together. On some of the girl's wildest ideas, Gareth went along, usually holding the video camera. Lucas reflected; he's turning into a fine young man.

Alone again, ooh
Despair and pain
Alone again
Can't break the chain

"Hi Mom, are we ready to head home?" Gareth Reuter asked.

"Gareth, can't you see I was having a conversation?" Meggy asked.

Gareth shook his head, "No," he said.

"I was," Meggy said, "I'm speaking with Mister Scott."

Gareth turned around and looked over to Lucas. "I'm sorry, Mister Scott," he said.

"It's okay, Gareth," Lucas said.

"No, it's not, he needs to get better about interrupting," Meggy said.

"I'll try, Mom," Gareth said.

"We were arranging a dinner date between us and Mister Scott and Sawyer," Meggy said.

Gareth's face lit up upon hearing that news, "Really, Mom?" he asked.

Meggy nodded, "Yes, next Wednesday," she said.

"That far off?" Gareth asked.

"It was the first time they were free," Meggy said.

Lucas used this moment to move away from the Reuters. He just wanted to get his daughter and go. Walking across The Commons, he looked for someplace he could hide. Well, at least until Sawyer came out of the locker room.

Alone again
Despair and pain
Alone again
Can't break the chain

He found a spot and pressed his fingers tips onto his forehead, with his thumb resting on his cheekbone. Meggy wasn't the only woman asking him to dinner; lately, he reflected.

"Are you okay, Uncle Lucas?" Chase asked as she saw him when she was starting to pass by.

"I'm fine," Lucas said, removing his hand from his head.

"Okay," Chase said, in her way that made you believe she believed you, but you know she didn't, "Does this have to do with Meggy Reuter?"

Lucas canted his head, "You saw that?" he asked.

"Saw it, heard it, and sniffed it out," Chase said, in the tone, only a woman could have when referring to other women, "She's been sniffing around you for a while now."

"How do you know about that?" Lucas asked.

Chase laughed, "Uncle Lucas, I've been among the parents for long enough to know that, and what single moms talk about the male teachers, also I'm not stupid," she said.

"I never thought you were, Chase," Lucas said.

Chase nodded, "I know. You don't, but you've not been yourself for a while," she said.

"I know," Lucas said.

Chase nodded, "Well, don't worry, your best girl is coming," she said.

Lucas looked over to see Sawyer walked over. With a nod, Lucas smiled at Sawyer. Chase looked over the dad and his daughter. Lucas and Sawyer just stood there and looked at each other. Somehow Chase just knew that Sawyer and Lucas got each other better than most daughters and dads.

Alone again, alone again
To sit beside the silent phone again
And all the words we spoke were knives
And so I'm here on my own again

The days are dark and drowned in tears
I know the game the rules are clear
I walk alone through all my years
I know you never will come home again

"So, we're heading home?" Sawyer Scott asked.

Lucas nodded, "Yes finally," he said, "Maybe stopped for ice cream on the way home."

"I'd rather have coffee," Sawyer said.

Lucas shook his head, "I was asked not to get you coffee," he said.

"Aunt Brooke complained?" Sawyer asked.

"She said you tend to be way too caffeinated," Lucas said.

"Fine," Sawyer said, with a huff, "You look stressed."

Lucas shrugged, "Not feeling one hundred percent," he said.

"Head or the heart?" Sawyer asked.

"Both," Lucas said.

"What were you and Chase talking about?" Sawyer asked.

"Meggy Reuter," Lucas said.

"What does Ms. Reuter want?" Sawyer asked.

"Us to have dinner with her and Gareth," Lucas said, as they headed towards the parking lot.

"Wow, she finally wore you down," Sawyer said.

"Yeah, well, it's next Wednesday," Lucas said.

Sawyer sighed, "I just want to go home and get some sleep," she said.

Lucas nodded, "Me too, but ice cream first," he said.

"Okay, ice cream first," Sawyer said, as they walked toward Lucas' veteran Ford Explorer to go home.

Alone again
Shot through the heart
Alone again
Tear me apart!