"You're quiet today." Dan smiled at Ava as they sat outside at the edge of the pool. "What's on your mind?"
It was a nice day and Ava had gotten a little stir crazy inside the house, so Dan suggested that they go for a swim.
"Lots of things." Ava shrugged.
After getting the HCM test, Ava and Nathan found out that they didn't have it. Which, was definitely a good thing and it was a big relief, but Ava wanted to know more about the bullet she dodged.
"Anything I can clear up for you?"
"What's HCM?"
"It's a condition that causes the skin around the heart to thicken." Dan answered honestly. "I've been meaning to bring that up to you."
"You have?"
"I don't want you worrying about things like this. My cardiologist called me and told me that you and Nathan took the test."
The cardiologist wasn't the only one to inform him. Nathan actually spoke to him about it and told him that he was taking Ava to get the test. If he didn't, Dan would have.
This wasn't something to be nonchalant about.
"Yeah, that's why we went to Charlotte." Ava rubbed her hands over her legs, trying to keep from sweating. "Daddy?"
As much as all the adults in her life didn't want her to worry, it was pretty inevitable. She'd been a nervous wreck ever since Lucas said that he wasn't going to take the test and it felt like everything was crashing down around her at the slowest speed possible.
"Hm?"
"Does having HCM mean you're gonna die? I don't want you to die."
If this HCM could kill Dan, then it could kill Lucas, too.
"C'mere." Dan pulled her into his arms, rubbing her back. "I'm gonna be okay, Baby."
"How do you know that?"
"Because when I went to the doctor, he gave me some medicine that helps me."
"So….as long as you take your medicine, you'll be okay?"
"That's right."
"Oh." Ava pulled away from him. "Good."
"Is that all that was bothering you?"
"No, Lucas won't take the test."
"I'm sure he'll change his mind."
"Yeah?"
"I'm positive." Dan flashed her a smile. "Now are you ready to have some fun?"
"Yeah!" Ava nodded, jumping into the pool and doggy paddling over to her beloved tube to keep herself afloat.
Dan refused to give her a vest or wings because he wanted her to know that whenever she jumped into the water, she was going to sink if she didn't know what she was doing.
It seemed harsh, but he didn't want to give her a false sense of security.
"You know, one of these days, you're gonna have to learn how to do something more than doggy paddle."
"I can!" Ava insisted. "I just don't like swimming, it's too hard."
"Well, I think it's about time you practiced and made it easier." Dan raised a brow, his voice taking on a stern tone. "You never know when you're gonna need to swim your way out of a problem. I don't want you falling in this pool or any other body of water with no way to get out. You get me?"
"Yes, Daddy." Ava nodded her head.
"So, from now on when you get in this pool, we're gonna spend some time practicing."
"Aww." Ava pouted before she dunked herself under the water.
"See?" Dan chuckled as he and Ava walked back into the house with their towels wrapped around their shoulders. "That wasn't so bad."
"You dunked me!" Ava giggled, slipping a little one the hard wood floor.
"I take it the two of you had a good time?" Deb smiled as they walked further into the house.
"Yes!" Ava nodded. "Except for when Daddy splashed me!"
"You splashed me first." Dan raised his hands in surrender. "Next time don't start a war."
"I'm glad you had fun." Deb helped dry Ava off as best as she could, catching when the little girl shivered a little.
Even though she and Dan had a rocky relationship, she enjoyed having Ava around and she was glad that Karen was allowing the two to spend time together. She didn't have a daughter, but being that Ava was technically her step-daughter, she was getting a little preview on what she was missing.
"Go on upstairs and take a shower." She gave the girl a squeeze. "When you're ready, come down here and I'll brush your hair for you."
"Thank you!" Ava skittered up the stairs, leaving the two alone.
"She's a good kid." Dan marveled proudly.
"She is." Deb agreed.
"Chris!" Ava called as she ran into the music store.
There was a half-day at school, so she had plenty of time to drop in before dance class.
She didn't forget when Chris Keller told her to stop by that night they were at Tric.
She also didn't forget that Nathan told her to stay away from him, but she figured that what Nathan didn't know, wouldn't hurt him.
It wouldn't hurt her either.
"What's up, kid?"
"Ava." She corrected him. "I listened to all of 'Tapestry', so I wanted to know if there was anything else I should listen to."
"There's a lot you should be listening to." Chris scoffed, leading her around the store. "For now, how about you try this?" He handed her a CD.
"Eric Clapton?" Ava read. "Sounds cool."
"You're gonna like 'Layla'."
"How do you know?" She quirked a brow.
"I've got a feeling."
"Okay." Ava nodded, pulling some money out of the front of her dungaree pocket. Along with her whole mismatched shoe trend, she recently found she liked to wear overalls and dungarees more often than not.
"Keep it." Chris waved her off. "Buy yourself some candy or something."
"But I didn't pay for the last one.…" Ava trailed.
"When you become a great musician, you look me up and we'll play together." Chris told her. "That'll be payback enough."
"How do you know I'll be musician? I've never played anything before."
"I've got a feeling." Chris winked. "Now get outta here."
"You know." Ava slipped the money back into her pocket in deep thought. "I think I like you."
"I think I like you, too, Cricket."
Maybe Nathan was wrong about him...but where did 'Cricket' come from?
"Alright, what color should we do for your hands?" Jules asked Ava.
Since this was the night of the semi-formal, Karen asked Keith to babysit Ava because she and Dan were both chaperones.
Of course Keith didn't mind watching Ava for the night, it gave him plenty of time to hang out with his favorite niece and have her get to know his girlfriend better.
And they were getting along so well. At first, Ava was a little shy, but when Jules suggested that they paint each other's nails, she opened right up.
Karen wasn't really into painting her nails. She preferred to keep her nails natural, so Ava didn't really have anyone to do that with.
Maddie's mother didn't let her paint her nails, but they did have a good time playing dress up.
"What about pink on this hand?" Ava raised her right hand before raising her left. "And white on this one?"
"I've got an even better idea." Jules winked. "French tips."
"What's that?"
"So we paint both hands pink with a white strip at the end."
"Genius." Ava smiled.
"How's that pizza coming along Keith?" Jules smiled at her boyfriend.
"It'll be here any minute." The man entered the room and sat down on the couch.
"Maybe we shoulda ordered Chinese." Ava giggled. She didn't think that greasy pizza would mix with newly manicured nails. "This could get messy."
"You're really good with her." Keith complimented Jules, watching as she stroked Ava's hair after the child fell asleep during the movie they were watching.
After doing each other's nails, the pizza arrived. Luckily, they didn't start with their hands, instead, opting to do their toes so that they'd be able to eat comfortably.
Once the box was empty, Ava got the two adults to push the furniture aside so that they'd have enough room to dance.
Lucas let Ava borrow his iPod for this occasion, so she didn't have to walk around with twelve CDs at a time. All he asked, was that she take care of it.
She knew that was his kind way of saying that he'd mess her up if anything happened to his beloved iPod.
After a while, all the dancing wore her out. So much so, that it didn't take very long for her to fall asleep right in the middle of a movie.
"Oh, she's a peach." Jules waved him off. "Thanks for letting me hang out with you guys. I know this was your night and I pretty much took up all her time."
"No, I'm glad you guys are getting along." Keith assured her. "I had a lot of fun watching the two of you go at it."
He was surprised at how quickly Ava seemed to gravitate towards Jules, but he wouldn't complain.
Ava had really come out of her shell over the past several months. She was beginning to interact with new people and unlatch herself from her mother's apron strings.
He was so happy to see her personality shine.
"It's nice having another girl around." Jules smiled when Ava cuddled into her a little more. "Especially one as sweet as this."
She lowered her hand to gentle brush her thumb against Ava's cheek, rocking very gently to keep the child in her peaceful and sleepy state.
"Don't make your final decision until she forces you to watch 'Lady and the Tramp' for the millionth time in a row."
"I love that movie." Jules scoffed. "It's a classic."
"Not another one." He playfully rolled his eyes before taking notice of the time. "I should probably put her to bed."
"Can you leave her here for a little longer?" Jules asked. "I wanna enjoy this."
"Sure."
"Hi, Luke!" Ava burst into his room without warning, stopping short when she found Nathan lying on the floor. "Did he sleep over?"
Because he had to go to work, Keith dropped her off at home early that morning. Ava was sad that their fun weekend was over, but she was happy to see her brothers.
Now she could make up for lost time and torture them in any way possible.
"Yeah, he and Haley had a little argument." Lucas explained, throwing a shirt on. "Why don't you go and jump on him?"
Ava didn't need to be told twice as she sailed across the floor and landed right on top of Nathan, making him flinch in surprise and then groan in pain.
"Good morning." The child smiled innocently as if she hadn't just thrown all her body weight on him.
"Ava, do you ever just sit down and relax?" Nathan growled. "Man, you're like a tornado that never stops."
Of all the ways to be woken up out of a deep sleep, this wasn't a very favored one.
"Sorry." Lucas chuckled. "I thought that you should experience it at least once."
Ava always made it a habit to jump on him to wake him up, and now that all three of them were getting along, he figured that Nathan should experience the morning joy that is Ava.
"Thanks a lot." Nathan rolled his eyes and looked at his sister. "Well? Get off me, you little rugrat."
"Fine." Ava huffed and stood up. "But you're no fun."
"I try not to be." Nathan shot back as Lucas' phone rang.
"Why didn't you sleep in my room?" Ava asked.
"Because it's your room." Nathan told her.
"Yeah, but I wasn't home. You didn't have to sleep on the floor."
"Alright, next time. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Hey." Lucas answered the phone.
"Hey." It was Haley of course. "Hey, I'm sorry to bother you so early, um, Nathan and I had a fight last night and he didn't come home and—"
"—I talked to him. He's okay."
"Oh, well, do you know where he is?"
"No." Lucas lied.
And it felt really strange to him. He didn't like lying to her, she was his best friend. Besides the whole HCM thing, Lucas didn't make lying a habit with her.
"Okay, well, the next time you talk to him, can you…ask him to come home, please?"
"Okay, I will." Lucas smiled. "Alright, well look, don't worry yourself okay, Hales? I'm sure he's fine. Alright?"
"Okay, bye." Haley sighed and ended the call.
"Thanks for covering for me, man."
"You're welcome, but it sucked. I don't wanna lie to Haley."
"You just did."
"You're not supposed to lie." Ava spoke as a matter of factly. "Cause then when you tell the truth, nobody's gonna believe you."
"Ava, shut up." Nathan rolled his eyes.
He didn't need a life lesson from a nine year old right now. What did she know anyway? She still had to ride in a carseat.
"It's true!" Ava insisted. "She won't believe you soon. Lying is really bad, Nathan. And Haley's your wife. That makes it even worse."
"You know what, Havana? I'll start taking advice from you as soon as your shoes start to match."
"I like the way my shoes are." The girl looked down at her feet. Today's combination included pink converse on the left foot, and red on the right.
They matched the shirt she was wearing under her overalls.
"There's nothing wrong with your shoes." Lucas rolled his eyes. "He's an idiot and he's deflecting."
"Oh." Ava shrugged. "You shouldn't make fun of me like that."
"Whatever, Punky." Nathan chuckled. The mismatched shoe thing was a little adorable, and it was Ava's own little unique style.
"Who?"
"What kind of stuff do you have this kid watching?" Nathan scoffed. "Really? She doesn't know about Punky Brewster? I feel old."
"You are." Ava smirked. "You're ancient."
"Havana, I've had it with—"
"—Why don't you go home?" Lucas cut in, still a little down about lying to his best friend. "Work it out…..it didn't sound like Haley was going to school anyway."
"Yeah, why would they have the formal on a Sunday?"
"I dunno." Lucas shrugged. "To keep the students from partying, getting wasted….arguing with their wives."
"Yeah, well it didn't work." Nathan joked. "How'd it go with Anna?"
"Well, let's just say we didn't end the night together."
"Who'd you end up with?"
Before Lucas could answer, the door opened, revealing Brooke on the other side.
"Only in Tree Hill." Nathan shook his head.
"Ew, you two realize you're related, right?' Brooke screwed up her face.
"Hi, Brooke."
"Double ew if Tutor Wife is here."
"Huh?"
"Never you mind." Lucas ruffled his sister's hair. "She's not. What's up?"
"Um…..my car is now out of commission, thanks to my jealous, spiteful stain of a neighbor…and I was sort of thinking that you might wanna walk to school together…unless of course you're waiting for your 'one true love' here."
"Go ahead." Nathan waved them off. "I'll catch up with you guys later."
"Alright. Go home, Nate. Work it out."
"Hey, Cutie, why the long face?" Brooke asked Ava.
The girl had her eyes fixed on Lucas with a large pout on her face.
Clearly, she wasn't happy.
"I promised her we'd walk to school together today." Lucas explained. "Look, I'm sorry—"
"—No, don't worry about it! I'm sorry, if I had known—"
"Go." Ava told the two.
"Ava, honey, don't feel like you have to do that."
"It's okay." Ava brightened at the fact that her feelings hadn't been brushed aside. "You can have him, he's annoying. Maybe you can fix him."
"I'll definitely do my best." Brooke laughed.
"And I'll make it up to you." Lucas promised as they left, shutting the door behind themselves.
As soon as they were gone, Ava huffed and crossed her arms.
She guessed she was walking to school alone today.
"How about I walk you to school?" Nathan suggested.
"You?"
"Why not?"
"Everyone's gonna laugh at me."
That's just what she needed. Her estranged older brother bringing her to school.
The kids would have a field day with that one.
"Oh." Nathan sighed. "How about if I promise to beat anyone up that laughs at you?"
"You can't do that." Ava couldn't help but laugh herself.
"No, but I can scare them, can't I? What do you say, Rugrat?"
Ava had to roll her eyes at that nickname. Out of all the things Nathan could call her...
"Okay. You can come….but you have to go home right after, okay?"
"You've got a deal."
"Haley!" Ava threw her arms around her neck. "I missed you."
"You see me everyday." Haley chuckled, but hugged her back nonetheless. "How was school, Trouble?"
"Boring. I had a math quiz." Ava made a face.
Math wasn't her best subject to put it lightly. All those numbers and figures just didn't stick. Ava would much rather sit down and read a good book, than solve a math problem.
When was she going to use all that stuff anyway?
"Bring it to me when you get it back. I'll see if I can help you."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"You know, this used to be a private room?" Lucas rolled his eyes.
"Can I give you a piece of advice?"
"Great. Nice to see you, too."
"Next time you wanna lie about something, you might wanna make sure your mom is in on it. She told me about Nathan sleeping here last night."
"Haley, Nathan just needed some time. If you were here, I'd've done the same thing."
"I told you not to lie." Ava scolded him.
"Lucas Eugene Scott." Karen barked from the hallway, interrupting Lucas and Ava's budding argument.
"Mama's mad." Ava whispered cautiously as if any loud noises could set the woman off.
"Ooh, that sounds bad." Lucas winced.
"Eugene?" Haley almost laughed at his expense.
All these years she had known Lucas, and she had never known that his middle name was, 'Eugene'.
She was totally using this to her advantage.
"Why would you lie to me?!" Karen burst into the room with her hands on her hips.
Classic 'Mom' position.
Ava had been on the receiving end of this look many times, so she knew to keep her mouth shut.
After all, Lucas was the one in trouble, not her.
"Yeah, get in line."
"Mom, what're you talking about?"
"Dan's heart condition. Is it genetic?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me? What kind of doctor doesn't call me?!"
"Mom, I told him you were in Florence."
"Why?! When there's a fifty percent chance you have a genetic heart defect!"
"Nathan..." Haley nearly panicked.
"No, he's fine." Lucas called her fears. "He doesn't have it. He took the test."
"But you didn't?" Karen looked like she was ready to burst.
"Who told you?"
"You're taking that test, the both of you."
"Mama, I—"
"—No! I'm not." Lucas refused.
Even Ava knew that was a stupid thing to say. Nothing good ever came from telling Karen, 'no'.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Karen roared, making Ava flinch. "How can you be so reckless and cavalier about a potentially fatal condition?!"
"I'm gonna go home." Haley knew it was time to take her leave before it got any worse.
"Can I come, too?" Ava didn't want to be here for this either.
She loved to watch Lucas get yelled at, but this wasn't funny anymore.
"Havana-Rose Scott, if you go out that door, you will never leave this house again." Karen warned.
"I didn't do anything!"
How was she in trouble, too?
"You were involved in this somehow." The woman pointed to the empty space next to her brother. "Sit down."
"One more hug while you're still in one piece." Haley gave her a squeeze before rushing out the door.
Ava watched her go before she sat down with an indignant pout.
She had nothing to do with this.
"You're gonna give me the name of the doctor that you've spoken with and you're packing a bag, because I'm driving you both to that test."
"Mama—"
"—Havana-Rose, you would do well not to test me."
"Mama, I already took the test." Ava explained.
"She did." Lucas voiced for her. "She doesn't have it."
Karen's features visibly relaxed at the news. "Thank goodness."
"Before you yell at Luke again, can I go?"
"Go ahead. Find Haley if you can." Karen spoke tightly.
At least one of her children had enough sense to take their health seriously.
"Yes ma'am. Bye, Luke."
There was a point where you had to draw the line at the end of sibling solidarity.
For Ava, this was that point.
Lucas was on his own now.
"What're doing out here by yourself, Shorty?" Skills asked Ava as he and the guys walked onto the River Court.
They were going to play a couple of games before heading back home, like they usually did, but Skills caught sight of Ava.
She was never usually on the court at this hour, so he figured something had to be wrong.
Truth is, she was supposed to have gone to Nathan and Haley's, but she figured that they were arguing again, and just opted to go to the Rivercourt instead.
"Mama and Luke are fighting." Ava shrugged as he sat down next to her, while Junk and Fergie played a little one on one.
"Really?" Skills furrowed his eyebrows. "They never fight. It must be something big."
"Yeah, you remember how my daddy's heart got hurt?"
"Yeah. HCM."
"There's a fifty-fifty chance that me and my brothers have it, too. Me and Nathan took the test and we don't have it…but Luke won't take it."
"Well, I'm glad you don't have it." Skills threw an arm around her. "That's a serious thing."
"Then how come he won't take the test?' Ava looked up at him with big, watery, doe eyes.
She was just as confused as Karen was in that respect.
At first, when Lucas asked her not to say anything, she convinced herself to think that he knew what he was doing.
He was older, so he must know better, right?
But now that their mother knew about it and was kicking up such a fuss, she was beginning to think that she was wrong to keep the information to herself.
"I don't know, kid."
"But what if something happens to him? What if he gets hurt? I almost lost my daddy…..what if I really do lose Luke?" The tears in her eyes finally fell.
She couldn't lose Lucas.
She couldn't.
He meant too much to her.
"You're not gonna lose him, Shorty." Skills rubbed her arm. He hated to see her cry. "He's gonna take that test."
"But he said he won't! And now Mama's mad at him and he—"
"—He's gonna take the test. I promise you that." Skills spoke firmly.
And he meant it.
Lucas would take that test.