Nathan laced his fingers through Haley's and squeezed her hands into his as they sat on the couch in her living room. He leaned over and kissed her lightly. She smiled and looked into his eyes.
"Whoa! Please! Wait til I leave, would ya!" Lucas called to his sister as he entered the room.
The three laughed as Haley and Nathan rose from the couch.
"Lookin good, man! Where you off to?" Nathan asked him as they greeted each other in the same secret, macho handshake-hug they'd made up so many years ago.
"He's got a date with Alex." Haley informed him.
Lucas nodded, looking in the mirror as Haley came up behind him, straightening his jacket for him.
"A whole year…" Lucas said, referring to the anniversary date he was taking Alex on that night.
"Ooh! Yeah! The one year anniversary! What'd you get her!" Haley asked him excitedly.
"Why should you get to see it before she does?" Lucas asked her laughing.
Haley hit him playfully on the shoulder and stood up on her tiptoes, bringing herself face to face with him.
"Because you love me, remember?" she told him playfully.
He sighed and pretended to remember.
"Well, I guess so…" he said slowly, taking a small black velvet box from the pocket of his jacket.
She quickly took it from him and opened the small box carefully.
"Luke! That's gorgeous!" she gushed, taking the small ring from the wrapping.
She held up the small white gold ring and turned it slowly, reading the inscription on the inside.
"To Allie, I Love You With All My Heart. –Luke" Haley read dramatically. She traced the outline of the heart-shaped diamond with her finger and placed it back in the box, giving it back to Lucas.
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"She's gonna love it. Have fun tonight, Lucas. I'll see you later."
"Thanks, Hales. I'll see y'all later."
He did the handshake again with Nathan and left the door, skipping down the front porch steps.
"Bye Hales. Love you." He called, climbing into his truck.
"Bye Luke. Love you too." She waved back, going back into the house with Nathan.
Nathan closed the door behind him and turned, grinning at her.
Haley squealed and turned to run but Nathan was quicker. He scooped her up and flung her over his shoulder taking her into the living room. He flung her onto the couch and rolled over top of her. She giggled wildly as he tickled her.
"Stop! Stop!" she managed to get out through her giggles.
Nathan finally rolled over and laid beside her placing his arms around her waist.
She turned her head and smiled, kissing him.
He closed his eyes and smiled back at her, silence filling the room.
"Let's go out somewhere." Haley told him, breaking the silence.
"Hahaha. You really have a short attention span. Alright, let's go babe." He said, giving her his hand to help her off the couch. He put his arm around her and they walked out the front door of the house.
---
Lucas sat on the quiet bench with Alex wrapped up in his arms. It was tradition. After every date they went on, they came to the infamous rivercourt to talk. She shifted and sighed, looking down at the new ring on her finger.
"I love you Allie." Lucas whispered.
"I love you too, Luke." Alex told him.