Somwhere I Belong

Lucas POV

Nathan spend the rest of the lunch hour with Glenda and I, talking about everything and nothing. Glenda took to Nathan a lot easier than expected, but I’m glad none the less. When I first told her about him, she thought I was joking, that was until she saw how serious I was. I told her how I’ve always felt about Nathan, and what he’s really like. I was shocked but pleased to see Nathan wanting to join Glenda and I for lunch. Nathan was very careful on what to say around her knowing that she wasn’t a huge fan of the popular kids, and I decided to throw him a bone and tell him that I told her the truth about he and I. Though it didn’t help that Nathan accidentally blurted out that we had sex, it did end up easing the tension between Nathan and Glenda.

I think as lunch went on, Glenda’s opinion of Nathan did a complete 180 from what it used to be. I couldn’t help but smile as Nathan and Glenda got into a serious discussion regarding music tastes. I caught a glimpse of something in the corner of my eye, and looked to see Nathan ‘friends’, for a lack of a better term at the moment, casting confused looks at their leader sitting at our table, and glaring the hell at Glenda and I, for taking Nathan from the masses, I suppose.

My guess is that Nathan’s friends think that I’ll cower under their glares and stares. Those people have a lot to learn. And lesson #1 is that I don’t get intimidated easily. Which is a lesson that’s about to be tested, considering that Tim was fast approaching our table.

“Nathan?” Tim asked tightly.

Nathan turned from his conversation from Glenda politely before addressing his personal shadow.

“Yes?” Nathan responded nonchalantly.

“Can we talk to you for a moment?” Tim gestured to the precious wastes of space that make up the jocks and cheerleaders.

“Uh… sure.” Nathan said before turning back to us, “I’ll be right back.” he said, winking at me, causing me to grin as he got up and left.

Glenda and I kept a close eye on Nathan as we both guessed what was being discussed between Nathan and his friends.

“How much do you want to bet, that they aren’t to happy with Nathan at the moment?” Glenda spoke.

“I don’t think a bet is necessary. By the looks on their faces, they definitely aren’t happy campers.”

“No kidding. I mean, look at Tim, I didn’t think a face could get that red.”

The Goth duo watched on as the group assaulted Nathan with one question after another, as well as casting an occasional glare in their direction.

Nathan’s POV

You know, I have a weird sense of calmness washing over me at the moment. I’m currently on my way to Lucas’ as I speak. I’m suddenly thinking of the events that lead to me heading to my boyfriends’ house in a car filled with my belongings.

It was bad enough having to defend myself to people I thought were my friends. It was weird…soon after my confrontation with Tim and the others, I felt a disturbance in the Force, and I couldn’t quite shake the feeling. It lingered with me for the remainder of the day. That unsettled feeling I had was unexplained the moment I saw my father’s car in the driveway. I always manage to beat him home everyday. By the time I walked into the house, Dan was already in a fit of rage. It was hard to decipher what Dan was telling me since I’ve developed a unique ability to phase Dan out the moment he starts spewing words out of his mouth. But from what I gathered, it turns out that Tim opened his fucking mouth, and told his mom about Lucas and I, who in turn told her husband, and he felt it was his duty as a snobby asshole to inform daddy dearest about the newest developments in my life concerning Lucas. I thanked God I had enough sense to not tell my former friends about my college plans.

It’s about this time that I have the sudden urge to tell Dan off.

“You know what? SHUT THE FUCK UP!” I yell.

My little outburst seems to have shocked him a bit, so I decide to continue before he can say anything. As soon as I started talking, I couldn’t stop. Every single resentment, every annoyance, every single thing that pissed me off about the man came out of my own rant. About how I knew exactly what his agenda with me was, what his true plans were. I made sure to confirm to him that yes, I was gay, and have been for some time.

The fight must’ve returned in him and he started going off saying shit like ‘If I didn't straighten up literally, he would toss my ass out in no uncertain terms’ and ‘Duke doesn't generally allow fags on their basketball team’. My personal favorite was ‘I’m going to personally make sure you don’t get into Duke’. I almost busted up laughing at that. Little did the dip-shit know, I had absolutely no intention of attending that school. And him cancelling my enrollment would only be a positive to me, but I wasn’t going to let him know that.

I left him without a word, and headed towards my bedroom. I grabbed a hold of a couple of duffle bags and filled them with clothed and my most sentimental possessions. I grabbed a box and filled it with my laptop and movies, and high-tailed it out of there. After all, the man did say that if I didn’t ‘straighten’ out, then I was gone. I’d be stupid not to take advantage of such a gracious opportunity. When I came back downstairs, Dan was in the same place I left him. He seemed shocked that I was actually going through with leaving, choosing my alternative lifestyle over him.

“Who is this faggot that you think is more important than Duke and your basketball career?”

I wanted to punch him for the faggot comment, but I knew that would make things worse. I instantly weighed the pros and cons of telling Dan who my boyfriend was, and knew with a little investigating, he would find that it’s Lucas. I decide against telling him, though I’d love to see the look on his face when he learns that Lucas is about to become the step-son to one of the richest men in the state.

I walk out without saying another word while I still have a chance.

So now here I am, finding myself parked outside Lucas’ home. I got out of my car, and debated on whether I should knock on the main house door or the door leading to Lucas’ bedroom, but before I could get the chance to decide, a brunette woman came out of the house and approached me.

“Can I help you?” she asks.

“Uh, yeah…I’m here to see Lucas.”

She instantly smiled at me, “You must be Nathan. I’m Karen, Lucas’ mom. Please, come in.” she gestured to her house. I already like her. Her kindness was practically radiating off her.

“Has Lucas told you about me?” I ask her.

“He told me you were coming over today.”

Whatever Karen had been cooking, it smelt great. The aroma had filled the house. Karen told me Lucas was in his bedroom, and pointed me in the right direction. I didn’t think I should tell her that I’ve already been here before, and know full well where Lucas’ bedroom was.

I found Lucas with his back to me on his computer, with the headphones on, instant messaging some people. I couldn’t resist such an opportunity, so I quietly walked toward him, hoping to surprise him.

“Hey, Nate.” He says without turning around, much to my surprise.

I stand there frozen. When the hell did he know I was there?

“I knew you were there the moment you entered the room.”

What is he, a freaking psychic? How could he have possibly known?

“My webcam’s on.” he turns around to face me, smirking.

Sure enough, I can see myself in the webcam window, and Lucas is still sporting that smirk, the smug little shit.

He powers down his computer so as to give me his full attention. Once done, he sits on his bed next to me.

“So…you wanted to talk college?” Lucas asks.

“Yeah, Dan’s on the warpath. He found out about my sexual preference, and let’s just say, he’s not a happy camper.”

“What’d he do?”

“He threatened to cancel my enrollment in Duke, which I’m pretty sure he already did.”

“Well considering that he’s doing everything he can to make sure you don’t get into a college you never planned on attending anyway, I’d say that’s a good thing.”

“Yeah, but that’s not what I’m worried about.”

Lucas was confused for a second, before it apparently dawned on him.

“You’re worried about him doing the same thing to any college you plan on attending.”

I love having a smart boyfriend. I smile at his perceptiveness.

“Exactly. I may have a scholarship to Boston University, but Dan could and would try to get them to take it away from me. Then what?”

“Maybe Andy can help. If we plead your case to him, he could pay for you tuition, in case Dan interferes.”

“I don’t know, it’s kinda’ weird asking a guy I’ve never met, to help pay for my tuition.”

“Don’t worry about it, Andy’s generous like that. Unlike your Dad, Andy likes spreading the wealth to those who need it.”

I still wasn’t sure, but I decided to give Lucas the benefit of the doubt.

“Wait a minute, how did Dan find out you were gay?” Lucas suddenly asked me.

“Tim.”

Lucas nodded, fully understanding.

“News spreads like wildfire in this town.”

“Yep.” I say.

Later that night, Andy came over for dinner. After a bit of polite conversation, Lucas and I decided to casually mention college. From there, things just took off. I explained my situation, and once I told Andy and Karen who my dad was, they instantly understood all too well. Apparently, Karen dated my dad back in high school, and towards the end of their senior year, they had a pregnancy scare. Without finding out whether or not if Karen was pregnant, Dan fled, and chose basketball over her. Choosing his own selfish desires over his responsibilities, yep, that sounded like Dan alright. Despite the fact that Karen didn’t get pregnant was beside the point.

I suddenly get a thought into my head. What if Dan had knocked Karen up, and Lucas ended up being my brother? Can you imagine that? Lucas and me…brothers? Now that’s a strange thought.

Like Lucas said, Andy was more than willing to help. He said that in the event I should loose my scholarship in any way, I could call him. I was so stoked. Another weight was lifted off my shoulders. But I still had a problem finding a place to stay, what with Dan kicking me out.

“You can stay with us until you boys leave for Boston.” Karen spoke. Fuck, did I just say that out loud?

“Why did your father kick you out, if you don’t mind me asking?” Andy asked.

“He found out through the grapevine that I’m gay. He said that I either become straight again, or leave. So I took the best option available.”

Lucas’ POV

Though it would have been nice to wake up next to Nathan first thing in the morning, I didn’t think my mom would appreciate Nate sleeping in the same bed with me, and we didn’t want to risk it. Besides, Nathan’s sleeping bag was empty when I woke up, but it did have a note on it saying he went with Andy to put the finishing touches on Nathan’s college payment plan. The note also said something about coming up with a few other surprises just in case.

Since my mom was working the Sunday morning breakfast and lunch hours, which were surprisingly busy, I had a good portion of the day to myself. I decided to pump out a sketch or two, and I figured what better place than the river court, which is where I am at the moment. I sent Nathan a text message telling him where I am, in case he came home from Andy’s early.

I was just about to put the finishing touches on my sketch when a shadow fell over me, blocking my sunlight. I looked up to find Dan Scott staring down at me. To be honest, I was expecting this. The moment Nathan told us that he got kicked out for being gay, I knew at some point in the near future, Dan would approach me, trying to convince me to break up with his son. Dan spend years controlling every aspect of Nathan’s life, and he wasn’t going to let Nathan simply walk away from his plan without a fight.

He started off by pulling the concerned father act, which I didn’t buy for a second, going on and on about Nathan has never been good with relationships, and that he thought it would be better for me to know now before Nathan broke my heart. I told him flat out that I’m not buying into his crap and to skip to the veiled threats of this confrontation so that he could leave me be. Dan instantly dropped the act, and proceeded to do so.

“You honestly think he’ll choose you over me in the end?” Dan sneered.

“You honestly believe Nathan will come back to you after the way you’ve treated him all these years?” I countered.

“I know what’s best for Nathan.”

“No. If you did, Nathan would still be living with you. Besides, what you think is best for Nathan, is really best for you. Everything you do is for your selfish desires.”

“Don’t involve yourself in business you don’t understand.”

“What’s there to not understand? The fact that you’ve been bullying him about basketball ever since he could hold one? The fact you’ll dictate every single thing in Nathan’s life ‘til the day you die? The fact that you’re only using your son to claim your chance at fame? Tell me Danny boy, what don’t I understand?”

“Without me, Nathan has no future.”

“Without you he does. He‘ll have a chance to live life the way he wants to.”

Dan was silent for a moment, quietly seething I’m assuming.

“You know, it would be in your best interest to end things with Nathan.”

“Why’s that?”

“I have a lot of pull in this town, and as such, it’s very easy for people to capitulate to my needs.”

“Yeah…and?”

“It’d be a shame if something were to happen to your mom’s café, her only source of income.”

I looked at Dan in shock. He must have thought he had finally gotten through to me, cause a nasty smirk appeared on his face. In reality, it wasn’t the threat that shocked me, it was the fact that Dan didn’t gather more intel about my mom and I, or he would have found out that she was marrying someone far more rich and powerful than the mighty Dan Scott himself.

“I’m hoping that you’ll make the right choice concerning Nathan, for your sake and your moms.”

“Nathan and I will stay together for as long as he and I wish it.”

“Wow, sacrificing your mom’s business for a doomed relationship with my son, how very selfish of you.”

“I’m not being selfish when I know my mom’s café will be fine. And we won’t know if it’s a doomed relationship until we try.”

“You think I won’t follow through with my threat?”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll try.”

“What makes you so sure I won’t succeed?”

“My soon to be step-dad.”

“Really? There isn‘t a person alive in this town that would go against me.”

“I’m surprised Dan, surely if you were going to try to blackmail me, your research about me and my mom would have been more thorough, or else you would have found out that my mom is marrying Andy Hargrove.”

Dan's face was absolutely priceless, and I decided to go in for the kill.

“What kills you more? The fact that you didn’t end our relationship, that all your plans for Nathan have been shattered, or that I am able to support your son in more ways than you have ever dreamed of.” I say as I leave the man to his own thoughts.

I suspect if Dan Scott had known my soon-to-bed dad was wealthy beyond his wildest dreams, he would have rolled out the red carpet for me and planned a big fat gay wedding for Nathan and I. Of course it is too late for all that now. He showed his true colors and I vow to spend my life protecting Nate from the Dan's of this world. Looks can be deceiving. If it hadn't been for a simple class assignment, I would have misjudged Nathan and he me.

Nathan’s POV

My business with Andy finished early and I managed to beat Lucas home, but not by much as he walks into the house 10 minutes after me, looking a bit exhausted.

“Hey man.” I greet him with a chaste kiss.

“Hey.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah. By the way, I met your dad…nice guy.”

I stiffened at the thought. Alarm bells were suddenly going off in my head.

“Oh God, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be, I knew it would happen sooner or later.”

“What did he say.”

“Despite the fact he threatened to shut down my mom’s café if I didn’t end things with you, it was a rather pleasant conversation.”

“He did what!” That son of a bitch!

“Nathan, relax. Everything will be fine. But man, you should have seen his face when I told him who my step dad was going to be, his expression was fucking hilarious.” Lucas laughed.

We spent the rest of the day goofing off. I told Lucas that Andy and I managed to find an apartment for the two of us about a block from Boston U, and we started making plans, ranging from when we would leave Tree Hill, to what kind of furniture we were going to decorate the place with.

The next thing Lucas and I know, it’s morning and school awaited us, must to my dismay. I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m going to assume that Tim made it his personal mission to tell everyone at school that I’m gay. After picking up Glenda, the three of us arrived at school. I was filled with a bit of apprehension the moment we parked.

On the way here, Glenda told me to just phase all my former friends out, just ignore them, cause they will to one of two things, harass you, or ignore you. She told me that if I disregard them while they snub me off, it’ll seem like they don’t bother me.

I was shocked to find that Peyton was waiting for us in the courtyard. I was unsure how things would be between us after our break up but she seemed to take things in stride. What was even more shocking was that she and Glenda instantly clicked when Glenda made a comment about Modest Mouse, and Peyton responded with statement about Fall Out Boy. Things just sort of took off from there.

I actually found it much easier than expected to ignore my friends, and if they were ignoring me, I didn’t notice or care. I was having a great time hanging out with Lucas, Glenda and Peyton. I was right to think that Peyton and I are better together as friends. Haley joined us at lunch and has been hanging out with us since. Sitting around watching the four of them converse, I couldn’t help but wish this had been us at the start of high school, just the five of us, no mooching fake friends, no social ladders to contend with, no dad whose a sociopath as well as a control freak bearing down on you every chance he gets. Just us. High school would have been more enjoyable, more memorable. But it’s too little, too late now, and all we can do is live in the moment before it’s gone.

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AN: I want to apologize for taking too long to update my fics recently. Writer's block coupled with family issues have gotten in the way. That being said, I'm looking for a beta writer to help get my updates posted much faster. If anyone is interested please contact me. The epilogue is next for this story, 'Three's Company' has hit a bit of a dead end and I may need to redo the whole story...again to get it to work, hopefully a beta writer can help with that. 'Fraternal'...there are two chapters left, and I'm kind of confused on how to continue. Thanks for your patience...if you have any left. :)