A/N (hangs head in shame) I know, I know I suck for not updating this sooner, so I won't go into detail with excuses hahaha. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and reviews would be a lovely welcome back :) just saying.
"So, are you going to tell me about the fight, or do you want to just assume I know all about it while I yell at you?"
Grimacing, Lucas stood upright in his bed as his mother burst into his room angrily.
"Mom I-"
"You know when they called me today, I was certain they had the wrong Scott." She continued to fume, coming to stand directly in front of him and he flinched at her tone. "But then they told me they had two Scotts and I could take my pick. Seriously Lucas? Fighting in class? Fighting at all?"
"He's the one who hit me!"
"And you couldn't be the bigger person in all of this? Honestly, Lucas after 17 years, I thought I taught you better than that."
"Well, what was I supposed to do?" he argued. "Walk away while his fist was smashing into my face?"
"Well, what did you do?"
Pausing, Lucas squinted up at his mom, his face a perfect picture of confusion. "What do you mean?"
"What did you do to do for him to hit you first, like you claim?"
"Like I claim? Mom, I didn't do anything! I can't believe you're even asking me that. You know how he is, tell me when has he ever not been a jackass? When has he ever even needed a reason?"
"Either way you're grounded." Her tone was firm and he stared at her incredulously. "After the game you come straight home, and the same goes after basketball practice next week. And don't even think about making any plans this weekend young man."
"But mom that's not even fair!" he protested. "I didn't even start it!"
She ignored his last protest and held out her hand. "Give me your cell phone."
He was about to protest again, but the look she was giving him made him change his mind, and he grabbed the phone from his nightstand and handed it over to his mom wordlessly.
Snapping it open, she pressed the send key until the phone turned off and turned to look at him. "You can get this back next week, along with the rest of your privileges. And until you learn how to better handle these situations then..."
Tuning her out, Lucas slumped down in his bed, beyond angry now. How the hell had all this turned out to be his fault?
Nathan had been the jerk. Nathan had been the one who hit him! And now he was the one being punished?
How was this fair at all? Especially since he was pretty sure, that Nathan wasn't going to be punished for this at all.
He was probably getting a pat in the back.
It wasn't until his mom left, that something she'd said rang out in his mind.
Don't even think about making plans for this weekend.
"What's this I hear about a fight?"
Lifting the weights over his chest, Nathan tried to ignore the sudden appearance of his Dad. "Nothing."
"Did you at least win?
"Dad, it was nothing okay?"
"No, son, it was something. Because if it was nothing, the principal wouldn't have called me at the dealership. Do you realize how fast a suspension or bad reputation could ruin your prospects?"
"He was hitting on Brooke!" Nathan growled, sitting up and setting the weights back in their place. "What the hell was I supposed to do huh?"
Rolling his eyes, Dan went behind his son to spot him. "Nathan, if you're going to get in a fight, get in a fight over something important."
"She is important!" Nathan gritted out angrily, grabbing his towel and wiping the sweat off his face. "Did you really think I was going to sit back and just let your other son, flirt with my girl? No way in hell Dad. The punk deserved every single hit."
"I thought she broke up with you?" Dan shook his head. "Never mind, small details. You need to focus on basketball Nathan."
"Of course Dad." Nathan replied bitterly, getting up angrily and throwing his towel on the bench press. "Nothing else matters right?"
Taking his son's previous position on the bench press, Dan ignored his son's upset tone as he lifted the weights over his frame.
"By the way your mom just called and it looks like her plans are delayed once again. She'll be here only in time for the Charity Ball next week."
"Yeah, of course." Nathan huffed out. "Doesn't even surprise me."
And it wasn't until he left the room, that he remembered that he and Brooke were expected to go to that together.
"Can I be excused?"
Noting the cool tone in her son's words, Karen sighed and nodded as she watched Lucas get up and pick up his half-uneaten plate.
"So I take it he's still mad at you huh?" Keith commented, watching his nephew exit the kitchen and head towards his room, without a second glance to them.
"Yeah." Karen pushed aside the food on her plate and she looked up at him. "Am I wrong in all this Keith?"
"On what? Disciplining him?"
"Well, yeah." she admitted. "He got into a fight..and was suspended for the rest of the day..but still, somehow I feel like I'm in the wrong here. Like I'm the bad guy in all this."
"You only feel like that because he's your son. And you hate to see him so upset with you." Keith pointed out sensibly. "And I may not know the entire story of what really went down, but I don't think you're in the wrong here Karen. Do you want me to talk to him?"
"No, it's okay." Karen shook her head, but her hand reached across the table, grasping Keith's hand in her own. "As much as I would appreciate that, I really think he just needs a little time off by himself."
Though she usually was a morning person, and among the first at school, Brooke wished that morning that she'd ignored her alarm and just slept right through it.
"Ugh. Damn it." She murmured to herself, her heels clicking on the linoleum floor as she made her way through the double doors. Rubbing her head with one palm, she blinked against the very harsh lights of the hallways. Had they always been this bright? Or had someone overnight flicked up a couple of extra lights to make her horrible hangover even worse?
Reaching her locker, she blearily spun the combination, ignoring her stomach as it grumbled loudly in protest of the skipped breakfast.
She almost wished that she hadn't gone out with Theresa and Bevin last night. Sure, it wasn't the first time any of them went out and had a couple on a school night, but last night was different.
After a particular nasty shouting match with her mother dearest over the upcoming Charity Ball and her expected date...she'd gone upstairs in a huff and stumbled across what she'd labeled as her Nathan box, any reminder of her ex that she planned to throw out.
Well, needless to say her already foul mood plummeted to absolute shit bottom.
So in typical Brooke Davis fashion, she called her fellow cheerleaders and suggested checking out the new bar on the next town over. With their fake ID's of course.
Though usually her favorites, last night's one too many Mai Tai's and Blue Lagoon's sat heavily in her stomach and it was everything she could do to hold it together without passing out or puking.
Yeah, this day was going to suck royally.
Grabbing her notebook, she shut her locker and looked up in time to see Lucas Scott walk through the double doors, lonesome as could be.
Okay, so maybe this day wouldn't have to be so bad.
Using her free hand to run her fingers through her hair, she ran her tongue over her lips and plastered her infamous dimpled grin on her lips as she leaned sexily against her locker.
"Hey hot-shot." she called out in her low, raspy voice. "How's your eye?"
Lucas couldn't mask the surprise as he spotted the beautiful brunette's gaze trained on him. Noticing he was among the few in the hallway, he knew she must be talking to him, though it still startled the hell out of him. She had never even once spared a glance in his direction before, but this was the second time she talked to him.
Nevertheless, he wasn't one to be rude and he didn't want to question too much why she was suddenly...acknowledging his existence.
Coming to stand in front of her, he lifted a shoulder and gave her a friendly smile. "Doesn't hurt as much as yesterday that's for sure."
She giggled and she lifted a perfectly manicured hand to the site of damage. "It certainly looks better."
Slightly startled at her soft touch, he shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Yeah, I know." he shot her another smile. "But what about you? How are you doing Brooke?"
Blinking back in surprise, Brooke looked to the floor quickly before looking back up to meet his gaze. "Uh...I'm doing great. Everything's fine with me." Ignoring the unconvinced look he was giving her, she took a deep breath and decided to change tactics. "Anyways, ready to tear it up at Beer Creek today?"
"Oh, um yeah of course." he nodded, taking the hint that she obviously didn't want to talk about her. "It's the first away game, and Bear Creek had good stats last season...but I think we have this one. There's an amazing amount of talent in the team this year."
"Oh, yeah. We've got the hottest team by miles." She responded loftily, locking her gaze with his and pushing off her locker slightly. "I can't wait to see you do your thing out there tonight Number 3. I'll definetely be keeping my eye on you tonight."
Pausing, he squinted his eyes at her adorably. Was she...flirting with him?
Clearing his throat, a little uncomfortably he looked away from her intense gaze. "Um...right. Listen Brooke, it was nice talking to you...but I've gotta run..my first class is on the other side of the building and..."
"Oh, but wait, don't run away from me just yet." She pouted cutely and grabbed his arm. "I may not see you the rest of the day and..." She winked at him, "I know you don't need it, but..." leaning towards him, she planted a soft, lingering kiss on his cheek and pulled away, enjoying the blush that crept up his cheeks adorably. "Good luck tonight hot-shot."
Watching him disappear down the hall, Brooke grinned in self triumph. She was good. She was sooo good and soon enough Lucas Scott would be putty in her hands.
And who knows? Maybe she would enjoy this more than she thought. After all Lucas really was cute...and sweet...
And the perfect way to get back at Nathan Scott.
Walking along the crowded hallways at the beginning of lunch period, Haley couldn't help but smile to herself at the way that everyone was so obviously hyped up about that night's game. As much as she liked to tell herself that she didn't enjoy all the madness that surrounded her, in the end it gave her a rush and a feeling of pride as much as it did everyone else.
Especially now that she had a special someone to cheer on.
She hadn't yet seen Lucas, and come to think of it she hadn't heard from him last night either. She'd heard at yesterday's practice, this was Tree Hill High after all, and gossip traveled fast...that he and Nathan had come to blows in the only class they shared. She'd tried calling him, a little concerned, but his phone had just kept going straight to voicemail and even Peyton, hadn't really known what had really happened.
A strange feeling arose in her chest and she stopped for a second and chided herself. It really was so unlike her and almost unnecessary to fret about something like that. She was sure that he was fine and the fact that she hadn't heard from him last night or that entire day for that matter didn't have to mean that something was seriously wrong.
Almost laughing out loud, she shook away those thoughts and made her way down towards the quad, waving to familar faces as she passed by and showing the same enthusiasm as her classmates for that night's game.
As she rounded the corner, she spotted Brooke and the rest of the gang sitting by their usual table, minus Nathan and Tyler. Her stomach fluttered nervously as she took a deep breath and made her way towards them.
"Hey guys, how's it going?" She greeted them cheerfully, and she almost winced at the way her tone came across, a little too chirpy.
Brooke immediately stopped laughing and her eyes darkened as she caught sight of her. She pursed her lips in a tight, unhappy line as the others chorused their greeting.
"Hey Brooke."
Swiftly ignoring her, Brooke stood up. "Well, looks like this table suddenly got a little too crowded."
At her cold tone, Haley flinched and she took another shaky breath. "Hey, Brooke actually I was wondering if-"
"And I also just lost my appetite." Flicking an icy glare her way, Brooke turned her attention towards the other girls. "Lay off the fries Bev." she warned critically. "At least for tonight. Or I'll designate you to the very bottom of the pyramid and you all know what that means." Looking around them, her gaze landed coldly on Haley. "I mean, we're already carrying enough excess weight on the squad as it is...y'know with lies and secrets weighing on certain someone's shoulders..."
Muttering a good-bye, Haley turned around and walked away. The tears she was trying desperately to hold back, blurred her vision and she quickened her steps, wanting to get away from Brooke's line of fire.
She knew her best friend could be really hurtful and vindictive when she wanted to be and though it saddened her to no end that she was now on the receiving end of the Brooke Davis wrath, Haley knew she couldn't really blame her. If anything else, she knew she deserved it.
Still, it didn't keep it from hurting any less.
Not really paying any attention to where she was going, Haley gasped in surprise as she collided against another solid form.
"Whoa, damn shorty where you off to so fast?" A familiar, arrogant tone filled her ears as a pair of arms reached out to steady her. "Well, if this isn't luck, I don't know what is. You're just the person I was looking for."
"Hey Felix." She returned, blinking back the tears as she tried to recollect herself. "I hope that means you've got something to show me."
"You know it." Pausing, Felix narrowed his eyes as he took a second to study her, noticing her glassy eyes. "Yo, Haley you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." She gave him what she hoped was a convincing smile. "How did you do on your test?"
"Umm...well..." Rubbing his hand over his forehead, he winced playfully. "I don't really know how to say this Haley but well...here it goes." Reaching into his back pocket, he slowly pulled out a sheet of paper, enjoying the way she was staring at him expectantly.
Smoothing it out, he held it in front of her, unable to hide his gleeful grin any longer.
"Oh!" Looking at the huge red marking scribbled across the sheet of paper, she flicked him on the arm. "You suck!"
"Uh-uh, Ms. Tutor extraordinaire...you see this nice, large A+ says exactly the contrary."
"I just meant you had me thinking the worst there, with your little show and all." She shook her head, smiling up at him brightly. "Wow, an A+...you did even better than I thought! Congratulations Felix...see all it takes is having a little confidence in yourself."
"My very first one actually." he laughed. "Wow, who would've thought...Felix Tagaro...an A+ student! And I owe it all to you." Extending his arms out, he motioned towards her and she laughed.
"Oh, what the hell." Leaning up on her tippy-toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck, returning his embrace full-force, well un-aware of the pair of blue-eyes trained on her.
"Yo man what's up? You ready for tonight's game?"
Shoving his books into his locker, Nathan didn't even bother to dignify Tyler with a response. He simply turned around and gave him his infamous smirk and shrugged, as if to say what do you think?
"Oh, I'm stoked man." Tyler replied enthusiastically as they started to make their way out towards the quad. "But then again, I do have a little incentive to tear the motherfucking roof off today."
"Oh, yeah? And what's that?"
Unable to keep the grin off his face, Tyler clapped his friend on the shoulder. "She said yes man."
Staring at him for a moment, Nathan shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Lay off the fucking drugs till this weekend bro. What the fuck are you talking about?"
"Have you not been paying attention at all dude? The hot blonde ring a bell to you?" When his friend just stared at him blankly, it was Tyler's turn to roll his eyes. "I asked Peyton Sawyer out on a date for today. After the game." he elaborated, missing the way his friend suddenly frowned. "And she said yes man." he paused. "Well not exactly. But she did agree to go with me to Tim's party after the game. You gotta start somewhere right?"
Moments earlier...
"Okay, so let me get this straight.." Peyton frowned, trying to grasp the whole situation as she walked alongside Lucas. "He just attacked you? Out of nowhere?"
"Yeah, that's what I said." He shot her a look. "Don't Peyt." he warned at her questioning gaze. "I swear you sound just like my Mom."
"But-"
"No! Why is it so hard to believe that I did absolutely nothing to provoke him? Seriously, this is Nathan we're talking about...when has he ever needed a reason?"
"Yeah, but he's never actually physically attacked you...it just seems a little I don't know..."
"The whole thing was strange."
"Yeah.." she agreed. "So, I guess that's why you didn't answer my calls or texts last night."
"Yeah, if you can believe it my Mom is punishing me and Whitey...well I talked to him this morning and he wasn't pleased to say the least."
"Is he going to let you play today? Lucas...is he-" Cutting off, she realized he was no longer paying attention to her and she stopped, directing his gaze to where he was staring. Frowning as well at the sight ahead of them, Peyton tried to get his attention before he flew off the handle, knowing that he would only make things worse if he created a huge scene in front of the entire student body. But before she could even say a word, he was already making his way towards the embracing pair a few feet away from them.
Letting out a resolute breath, she hurried to keep up with him, knowing that this might not end up too well and she might have to play referee.
"What's going on Haley?"
Startled, Haley pulled away from Felix abruptly, only to come face to face with an angry looking Lucas Scott.
Looking back at Felix quickly, something that Lucas didn't miss, she shot him a nervous smile. "Hey, Luke. What's going on?"
"Why don't you tell me?"
"Um...what do you mean?" Letting out a nervous, unsure laugh, Haley looked at him strangely. "Are you...okay?"
"Yo, dude why don't you chill?" Felix suggested, though secretly he basked in the basketball player's angry, unsure gaze.
"Yo, dude, why don't you mind your own business?" Lucas snapped, unable to mask his growing annoyance. "Better yet, why don't you just leave?" he suggested, his tone hot-red. "I need to talk to Haley."
"Don't." Peyton warned, seeing that Felix was about to protest and Lucas shot her a grateful glance. "Let's leave them alone."
Once the other two left, Haley turned towards Lucas, her mouth slightly agape. "Lucas...what the hell..you want to explain to me what all this is about?"
"No, better yet, how about you explain to me what's going on with you and that...that jerk?"
"What's going on with me and..." Pausing, she stared at him wide-eyed as the accusation in his tone hit her full-force. "Wait...are you actually asking me what I think you're asking me?"
"Hell yeah, I am."
"Oh, my god. You're jealous?"
Glowering at the amused glint in her eyes, he clenched his fists and shook his head. "It's not funny."
"Lucas.." Biting her lip to keep from laughing, Haley held out her hands and reached for his. "There is nothing going on between me and Felix okay? And the fact that you even..think that there's something going on…well it's actually kinda funny...and almost insulting."
"Well, what am I supposed to believe Haley?" He demanded, not understanding why she was finding this amusing. "You say you hate the guy and yet after everything that he's done to you…every time I turn around you're with him!"
"That's not-"
"Y'know after all the crap he's pulled on you, after the way he's acted, you'd think you'd steer clear off the guy, but no I catch you hugging him like..like well like you want to!"
"It's not what you think Lucas."
"Then what is it?"
"It's.." Pausing, she looked at the ground quickly, remembering the promise she'd made to Felix that she wouldn't tell anyone what they were doing. Sure, she didn't understand what the big deal was, or why he'd even asked her to keep it a secret, but she wouldn't question it, and everyone had a right to keep whatever they felt they needed to private. So she wouldn't say a word.
"I can't tell you okay. But I can assure you that it's not what-"
"You can't tell me?" He stared at her incredioulously. "Then what are we doing here Haley? Why are we even together?"
"What..." Staring at him, she wished she could decipher the look in his eyes just then. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that..." Closing his eyes briefly, he took a deep breath. "I'm saying I can't be with you if you can't be honest with me."
Pressing her lips together, she started shaking her head, at a loss for words. She wanted so badly to tell him what was going on but she wouldn't. And not only because she'd promised Felix, but because she realized that he just wouldn't understand if she did tell him. And honestly, how would she explain it to him? How would she explain that she'd agreed to tutor the guy who'd been such a jackass to her, because of moral obligations, but something else that she couldn't quite yet pinpoint?
"I am being honest with you Lucas." She finally spoke, gazing at him evenly. I'm telling you truthfully that there is nothing going on with me and Felix. And what you just saw...was something not worth arguing about. It wasn't a big deal...and while yes, I can't stand the guy...he..." Shaking her head, she exhaled. "That isn't the poing anymore. The point is that obviously you can't trust me and if that's the case then...then I don't know what we're doing either."
Staring at her heavily, he let out a sound of disbelief. Seriously? She was turning this around on him? After he'd just seen her hugging a guy who wasn't him, and who she claimed she hated and then refused to give him an explanation? Well, he wasn't having it.
No way.
"Okay." He nodded, setting his gaze firmly on hers. "That's fine Haley. Obviously I'm in the wrong here. How dare I not trust you after walking out and seeing you hugging Felix?" Watching her open her mouth in protest, he held out a hand and he chuckled. "No seriously, you don't have to explain. You've made it perfectly clear that I shouldn't even ask, much less get upset. So I won't ask you again, in fact why don't we pretend I didn't even see anything? It's obviously what you want. For me to ignore it. So I will."
"Lucas-"
"I'll just see you later."
On the other side of the school quad, sitting on one of the scattered benches, Peyton watched with almost concern the interaction between Haley and Lucas. She obviously couldn't hear what they were saying, but years of knowing Lucas told her that his stance and the way he kept balling one fist over and over again, meant that he was trying very hard to contain his anger.
She tried to get back to the drawing, which she'd started, but she couldn't and she looked up once again, to see him stalk off, leaving Haley standing there alone in what she could only describe as disbelief.
Slamming her sketchbook shut, she stuffed it in her bookbag hurriedly and stood up, her green eyes following his departing form.
"Hey Sawyer."
Jumping startled, she closed her eyes and swore under her breath. Swiveling around, she glared at Nathan. "What the hell?" she demanded. "You scared the living daylights out of me! What are you doing, coming up behind me like some...some sort of creepy stalker?"
"Oh, funny. See, I forget how amusing you could be." He grinned, shaking his head. "But listen...now that we've run into each other." At her glare, he held up his hands innocently. "You think I can talk to you real quick?"
"Yeah, I don't have time right now." Her eyes scanned the quad quickly in search for Lucas, but she didn't see him anymore.
"Oh c'mon, Sawyer. You the girl who has all the time in the world for the rest of the Ravens, but you can't spare a second on me?"
She frowned. "And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, got your attention now huh?"
"Listen Scott, just tell me what the hell you want." She snapped. "In case you haven't yet gathered, talking to you is something that I really don't like to do. And quite frankly, you're wasting my time because there's other actual important things weighing on my mind right now."
"Oh, you mean like your little date?"
Pausing, she narrowed her eyes as she studied him, his words confusing her at first and then it dawned on her. "So, that's what you wanted to talk to me about 'real quick'?"She crossed her arms in front of her and smiled. "You wanted me to confirm it or something? Because y'know I can, if that's what you want me to do."
"Do you like him?"
She exhaled and rolled her eyes. "And why is it your business? In fact why do you even care? Unless.." Tilting her head to one side, she smirked. "What's the matter Scott? Don't tell me you're...jealous?"
"Jealous?" He scoffed. "You're kidding right? Nah, Sawyer, it's not even like that."
"Then what is it?"
"It's just..." He paused and frowned, and for a moment he actually wondered what it was about. "Well, y'know Tyler is kind of-"
"Oh, hell no. Don't you even dare try to go there with me right now." She fumed, taking a few angry steps closer to him and pushing him back. "Listen you jackass, I don't need you to come over and try to warn me about what kind of guy Tyler is and blah, blah blah. Why don't you just mind your own damn business and leave me the hell alone? Like I've asked you to time and time again!"
Before Nathan even had a chance to take in everything she had just spewed at him, she was gone...and he was left there to stare after her departing form, almost in disbelief.
What the hell had just happened?
