THE BOAT

Hanna "Lucas what are you doing"

Lucas had stopped the boat and was staring just past Hanna.

Hanna "Lucas… come on let's just go back… forget the fireworks.."

Again Lucas was just silent

"Lucas you're scaring me… and I'm getting cold. Please Lucas can we just go back?"

Lucas reacted a bit to that. He bit his lip obviously wanting to say something.

Hanna "Lucas…"

Spencer "Hanna?"

Lucas "Don't answer that"

Hanna "Lucas what's going on? What aren't you telling me?"

Lucas looked down at his lap "Hanna…"

Spencer "Hanna?"

Lucas "I need you to listen to me. Don't answer your friends okay? Just trust me."

Hanna just nodded and Lucas began to talk.

Lucas "I'm not A, but I am one of their helpers. Tonight I'm supposed to kill you, but I want you to say you knocked me over with one of the oars okay? Don't ask me why just trust me. I can swim. I'll see you in 4 days. Oh and don't row all the way back… I need it to look like there was a struggle… as a show for A."

Before Hanna had time to question anything Lucas shot forward and captured Hanna's lips with his. It was slow and sweet. The first few seconds were awkward because Hanna didn't fully register what was happening, but when she did she kissed him back. When Lucas pulled away he gave Hanna this look of happiness and sadness. Then he jumped over the side. Hanna did as he asked her to. She lied to her friends and told them what Lucas asked her to say.

Hanna ignored all the harassment that flew at her over the next 4 days. She wasn't sure how they were to meet up, but she knew he'd know a way. He had a plan. On the 4th night Lucas was in her room. He looked like he had been through hell. "I'm sorry Hanna." Hanna shook her head and pulled him into her arms. "Sorry for what? For doing what you had to do?" She asked. She didn't let him go until he let his arms fall.

"I'm sorry for everything. For the memorial, for torturing you" He almost added kissing to that list, but he wasn't entirely sorry for that. "Lucas?" Hanna asked. Lucas looked up at her not sure when he looked away "I'm just glad you're okay". Lucas's face fell "were you worried?"

Hanna nodded "Of course I was. I'm still not sure what exactly happened that night." Lucas nodded "I can't exactly tell you … anything. I'm sorry." Hanna nudged him gently "Stop apologizing." Lucas sat on her bed "No Hanna you don't understand." Hanna sat beside him "I know the kind of power A has over people. I know when A gets something on someone they use it to the greatest advantage."

"I can't stay for much longer Hanna…" Hanna just nodded "I'm glad you're okay." Lucas got up and started to leave, but he stopped and turned to look at Hanna "I'll see you around, but don't tell anyone, not even your friends, that I was here." Hanna nodded.

The next day at school Hanna was surprised to see that Lucas wasn't there. She figured that sense he had seen her that he would be there. She looked for him the whole day, but not once did she see him. When she got home she began working on her homework which went as well as it usually did. She did it all, but she wasn't confident she got anything right. She always tried though. She was determined to beat a small part of the dang blonde stereotype.

She put her stuff up and put on some music. She began to dance and sing along with the song. She didn't notice Lucas slip into her kitchen. He leaned against a wall and watched as she just jammed out waiting for her to notice him. When she noticed him she smiled and pulled the ear buds out. "Hey… you weren't at school today."

Lucas grinned "How do you know? You could have just not seen me." Hanna shook her head "I looked." Lucas couldn't help the bigger smile that plastered his face. Hanna turned and grabbed a bottle of ICE sparkling cherry drink before sitting in a chair. Lucas continued leaning against the wall.

"So….?" Hanna began. Lucas had been thinking about something for a long time, so he finally said something "You kissed me back." There was a moment of silence before Hanna nodded "And?" Lucas shook his head… he didn't know what answer he was expecting, but at least she did answer. "Nothing."

Hanna stood "Lucas… I thought I'd lose you that night. So of course I kissed you back. I'd do it again too." Lucas felt his entire body light up with a new emotion. He found he couldn't say anything.