Chapter 1. Is It Real?

Tick. Tick. Tick. Haley stared at the clock, sick of its incessant ticking. She just wanted the bell to ring. Her heart was in her throat at the thought of what would happen after. She would be seeing her best friend Lucas after class, and that was all she could think about during chemistry. Ding! The bell rang out, and Haley was the first out of her seat. She practically flew to her locker, and then tried to calm herself down and relax so she didn't look overeager. Once she thought she had herself under control, she spotted him and it all rushed back. Her cheeks flushed, and her hands started shaking. Her heart raced as she looked into those beautiful blue eyes once more. She was still staring until she noticed his lips were moving, and she blushed even harder.

"Hales? Hellooo? Anyone in there?"

"Hey Luke! Sorry, my mind is just all over the place today," Haley watched as his eyes stared deep into hers, as if Luke was looking into her soul. She shuddered from the intimacy and tenderness held in that one simple gaze.

"It's okay Hales. So, movies this weekend?"

Haley felt herself grow warmer inside as she nodded her head. "Yeah sure! Any certain one in mind?"

As Luke rattled off a short list, she started looking at him closely again. He was wearing a light brown jacket with the zipper unzipped so it showed off his plain gray T-shirt. He was wearing some slim fit jeans that hugged him tightly. Haley's eyes caught on his area, and she bit her lower lip as lust rose within her.

"Haley? Are you okay? You completely zoned out on me again."

Haley's eyes snapped up. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine! I'm just exhausted. So much work to do you know?"

Luke smiled knowingly, "Hmm. Not really, but then again I'm not the one who signed up for all the hard classes like a nerd."

Haley hit him on the arm playfully. "Hey! I am not a nerd!"

Luke smiled warmly at his lifelong best friend. "I know Hales, but I'm still gonna say it anyway."

Looking at his smile, all Haley wanted was to bring those lips down and press them to hers. She wanted his body pressed against her own, his hands roaming all over her. She wanted him, and in more ways than one.

"Haley, you're doing it again."

"Doing what?" She silently reprimanded herself for letting her mind wander so much today.

"Zoning out again. Do you want a raincheck on the movies so you can sleep over the weekend?"

Haley's heart dropped. She wanted to spend as much time with Lucas as possible and she was definitely not skipping out on the movies because she couldn't focus.

"What? No no no! I'm sorry Luke, I'm really out of it today but I'll be fine by Saturday. But no, I don't want a rain check. I will see you on Saturday." Her words were rushed, but after she was done she flashed him her bright smile.

Luke brushed a stray strand of hair away from in front of her eyes, and an electric shock ran through her body at his gentle touch.

"Okay Haley James. I love you."

Haley's knees got weak. She could've sworn the hallway started spinning. Luke had no idea how powerful an effect his words had on her. Just simple things like that got Haley's heart racing a million miles a minute.

"I love you too Lucas." She said it with another smile, but was thinking to herself that he couldn't even begin to comprehend how much she loved him.

Luke was always different from the other guys. He cared about her deeply. No one else compared to him in her eyes. He knew everything about her inside and out and still stuck around. She loved talking to him whenever she could. She remembered all the times they stayed up late into the night on the phone talking about every topic under the sun, or just sitting in silence as they both lived in that moment. She loved everything about the man who stood in front of her. He did things to her no one else had. No one made her so happy. No one made her feel so wanted and alive. No one made her heart soar like he did by simply saying her name. When they first met, she had liked him right away. As the years flew by and they became closer and closer, that liking deepened into full blown love. Haley James was completely in love with Lucas Eugene Scott, and he didn't have the slightest clue.

"You keep this up Hales and I'll just stop talking" Luke said teasingly as he noticed Haley was staring intently. He knew that look well and he knew something was on her mind. But he also knew that she would tell him when she was ready, and he was perfectly comfortable with waiting.

Haley yet again was wrenched away from her reverie and brought back to this moment. She had to stop doing that! "I'm so sorry Luke! Don't stop talking please. I'm just a little out of it, but I promise I'm listening."

"Ah it's alright Hales. So I was thinking…"

Haley couldn't help but smile. "You're ALWAYS thinking Luke! Don't you ever take a break and just relax?"

Luke grinned, and Haley's heart started melting at the sight of it. If only I could tell him! She thought to herself.

"Hales, you've known me for years. You know the answer to that." Luke wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a tight hug and placed his chin on the top of her head. Haley swore he could probably feel how fast her heart was beating through her chest. She could barely concentrate as she breathed in his scent. She loved him so much, but she was too afraid to ever tell him and ruin the friendship. She had to remind herself constantly every single day that Lucas was just her friend and nothing more.

As Luke held her in his embrace, he voiced the thought that had been consuming his mind all throughout the day. "Haley James, would you do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend?" Haley's body froze in complete shock. Her breath caught in her throat. After about a minute, Luke let go, held her by the shoulders, and looked into her eyes and said "I love you Haley Bob James, and I want you to be mine, and mine alone." He leaned in to kiss her, and water crashed all around them.