Hi all! Sorry this took like, 9 years to publish. But life gets in the way, ya know? I've been super busy and honestly, sort of unmotivated, but here it is! Hopefully next chapter won't take as long!

Disclaimer: Yeah I don't own nuthin'.

Oh, and the title of this chapter is named after the song "Whatever It Is" by Zac Brown Band. Listen to it; it's an adorable song that I think describes Hanna and Caleb almost perfectly.

Here we go! Hope you all enjoy it!

"Will, you need to take a breath. Caleb is an adult. He can make his own decisions." Claudia placed her hand on her husband's shoulder. "You need to let him go to whatever college he wants to go to. Columbia is a great school."

Will sighed, anger from his and Caleb's fight only a few minutes before still brewing in his chest. "Claudia, he doesn't realize how much he's giving up by not choosing Stanford."

Claudia narrowed her eyes, chewed her bottom lip and shook her head. "No, Will. He does." The couple sat on the loveseat in the living room that overlooked the front garden and driveway. Together they gazed out the window and watched as Hanna and Caleb walked up the driveway, back from their trip to the boardwalk. A small smile appeared on Claudia's lips as she watched Caleb tenderly kiss Hanna's temple as the couple strolled to the door, his arm wrapped tightly around her shoulder. "I don't think you realize how much he's giving up by not choosing Columbia."

"Caleb, sweetie, can we talk to you for a moment?" Claudia smiled gently from the loveseat in the living room as Caleb and Hanna stepped in the house.

Caleb looked down at Hanna through desperate and tired eyes. Reassuringly Hanna smiled and nodded her head, whispering quietly, "Go," before gesturing towards his mother and stepfather.

Even the smallest of Hanna's assurances made Caleb feel better. Caleb smiled back at her before he walked into the living room and took a seat on the couch opposite his mother and stepfather. Before anyone began speaking, Hanna poked her head in the room.

"I'll be with James and Clay at the basketball court."

Caleb nodded before returning his attention back to his mother and Will. He avoided eye contact with Will and instead opted to stare at the floor a few feet in front of his feet.

"Look, Caleb, I'm sorry for what happened." Will said, breaking the momentary silence. "I still think you're making a mistake, but I was out of line. And I apologize."

Caleb looked up, his eyes darting between his mother and Will before settling on Will. "You were out of line," he replied, his voice cold. "You insulted me, my hometown, and most importantly, my girlfriend." Caleb narrowed his eyebrows in calloused anger and shook his head. "I can't just pretend like you didn't."

"Look, Caleb, everyone says things they don't mean when they're angry," Will replied, his voice even. "I only want what's best for you, and in my opinion, Stanford is what's best for you."

Caleb inhaled and exhaled slowly, settling the anger he felt beginning to boil once more. "That's what you don't understand, Will," he said. "You don't understand that what's best for you might not be best for me."

"What school is Hanna going to?" Claudia interjected.

"She's thinking either Parson's or The Fashion Institute. But she's leaning more towards Parson's. For fashion design."

Will nodded slowly. "And both those schools are in New York City?"

Immediately Caleb knew where the conversation was going, but he had already dug himself too deep to get out. "Yes, Will. Both are in New York City. Where Columbia happens to be located as well." His voice was lathered with sassiness.

Claudia laced her fingers together and leaned her forearms on her knees. Her voice was gentle as she spoke. "Caleb, honey, I need you to be honest with us. Is the only reason you're so set on going to Columbia because Hanna will be closer to you?"

Caleb sighed heavily, crossing his arms over his chest. He knew this was going to be brought up at some point. "I'd be lying if I said no, but I'd also be lying if I said yes."

Will's eyebrows knotted. "Care to elaborate?"

Caleb relaxed into the sofa, running his hand through his hair and smoothing it down at the nape of his neck. "Look, mom, Will, I love her."

"Caleb…" Will began to shake his head.

"Will, please. Let me finish." Caleb cleared his throat and leaned foreword, his forearms resting on his knees like his mother. "Look, I love Hanna. You guys have to understand that. You have to understand that…that it's not some stupid high school puppy love that I'm going to get over with a snap of my fingers at the end of the summer." Caleb shook his head. "No, it's not that." He bit his bottom lip, his voice gentle as he thought of Hanna. "I love her, mom, Will. I'm in love with her. I knew it the moment I met her." A smile crept up his lips as he paused, contemplating his next words. "When I'm with her, I feel like I have a reason to live. She makes me happier than I've ever been in my entire life. She makes me a better person." The smile curled up, growing as he continued to speak. "There's never a moment when I look at her that I don't think about how much I love her. There's never a moment when I hold her that I don't think about how lucky I am that I'm the one who gets to do that. To hold her, comfort her, keep her warm…" Caleb's cheeks flushed a soft shade of pink. "We've had time apart, and we've all seen how well that's worked out." A grimace flashed through his features. "But our time apart has made it clear to me - not that it wasn't already clear before - that Hanna is the one person in my life I can't stand to lose. We've been through more together than anyone can really understand, but I guess what I'm asking is that you guys try and understand." Caleb exhaled loudly and relaxed his tense muscles.

"Caleb…" Claudia wiped a tear that had welled up as her son spoke. "That's very beautiful."

"But, that all being said…" Caleb continued.

"There's a but?" Will asked incredulously.

"But," Caleb looked to Will as he spoke; "I've wanted to go to Columbia since I was a kid. Since before I met Hanna. So yes, while it is a plus that I'd be closer to Hanna, it's not the reason I chose the school."

"Uh…" Will hesitated. "That's all well and good, Caleb, but it still doesn't change my feelings on Stanford. Won't you just meet with Phillip, one of the Stanford alumni's, for one hour? That's all I'm asking. One hour of your time."

Sighing heavily, Caleb leaned back on the soft pillows. "Fine," he said, his voice reluctant. "Fine. I'll meet with him. For one hour, that's it."

Will smiled. "Great, that's great Caleb. I think he said he's free the day after tomorrow. Oh, and maybe you and Josh, his son around your age, can meet up too."

Caleb crossed his arms, his lips turning into a deep frown. "Will…"

"Phillip told him about you. Most of his friends are gone for the summer. He said he'd love to meet you tomorrow. Please, Caleb?" Will clasped his hands together, pleading his stepson. "He would love it. Phillip would love it. I would love it."

It took all of Caleb's strength to not roll his eyes. "Only if I can bring Hanna."

Will's smile widened as he nodded vigilantly. "Yes. Yes, of course. Bring whoever or whatever you want." He sighed happily. "Phillip is going to be thrilled."

Caleb looked at his mom. "Can I go back to Hanna, now?"

Claudia's gaze softened as her and her son made eye contact. "Yes, go to your girlfriend."

Caleb pushed himself off the couch, heading out back to the basketball court.

"Well, that wasn't as terrible as I thought," Will remarked as Caleb shut the door.

"No, it wasn't," Claudia replied. "He really loves her, Will."

Will sighed, forming his lips into a small circle and blowing out the air in a small puff. "I know," he said. "Now, I know."

"What's my score again?"

"Seven." Clay giggled as he dribbled the basketball. "I'm at twenty and James is at eighteen."

Hanna smiled at Clay's melodic laugh. "And we're playing to twenty one?"

"Yeah," James replied instead of Clay, concentrating as he watched his younger brother dribble the ball in preparation of take his shot. "That's why the game is called 'Twenty One'."

"Oh." Hanna blinked. "That makes sense."

"If I make this shot, I win the game." Clay's smile broadened as he spun the basketball in his hands, bending his knees as he positioned his arms, ready to fling the ball into the net. A moment passed as his arms locked, his wrists loosened, and he let the ball fly. Hanna and James watched with intent as the ball soared through the air before bouncing off the rim and rolling onto the grass behind the court. Hanna smiled sympathetically as Clay frowned. "Dang it," he whispered.

"It's alright, bud." Hanna wrapped her arm around Clay's tiny shoulders. "At least your score is in the double digits."

Clay's frown faded as another giggle escaped his lips. "That's true."

"Ugh, now I have to take my shot from here, thanks Clay!" James' voice dripped with sarcasm as he stood on the grass behind the court, arcing his neck to see just how he would attempt a shot when standing directly behind the net.

"Sorry James." Clay shrugged as James flung the ball over the net, missing the basket completely.

"Air ball," James muttered as he walked back onto the court. "That means Hanna, you get to shoot from wherever you want."

Clay handed Hanna the ball. Hanna smiled as she walked up directly in front of the net. Dribbling twice for good measure, she took the shot, watching as the ball effortlessly swished through the basket.

"Yay!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands as she caught the ball and turned to James and Clay. "So now I have eight points?"

"Right," James replied. "Now you have to shoot from the line we drew at the beginning of the game and if you get that in, you get two more points and you get to shoot from the line again until you miss."

"We told you this before we started playing, Hanna," Clay said knowingly, although a sweet smile played on his lips.

"Clay, don't be rude," James shook his head at his little brother.

Clay blushed, looking sheepishly up at Hanna. "I'm sorry, Hanna. I didn't mean to be rude."

Hanna smiled at the little eight and ten year old boys, ruffling Clay's hair. "Don't worry, bud, no offense taken." She took a step back so her toes were just behind the white, chalky line. Looking at the net before dribbling twice, Hanna shot the ball out her hands, watching as it hit the side of the backboard and bounced away. She giggled at her complete lack of athletic ability as she watched Clay chase after the ball and snatch it before it could get too far away from the net.

"Okay, once again, if I make this, I win." Clay chewed his bottom lip as he dribbled the ball, his eyes boring into the net as he concentrated on making the basket. Letting the ball fly from his hands a moment later, he, Hanna, and James watched as the ball soared through the air, landing directly in the basket with a crisp swoosh of the mesh.

Hanna grinned as she watched Clay's face morph into an expression of complete elation. He cheered and clapped his hands, his smile beaming with pride and joy.

"Yay, Clay!" Hanna exclaimed, laughing as Clay ran into her arms, hugging her tightly.

"Congrats, Clay," James patted his brother's back, straining his voice to not sound entirely bitter. "Although you're younger than me, you're a great basketball player."

"Really?" Clay's eyes lit up at the sign of approval from his older brother, who Hanna assumed he held in high esteem. "Thanks, James!" Clay hugged his big brother before picking up the ball and dribbling it with a newfound vehemence around the court.

"You still did awesome, James." Hanna wrapped her arm around James' shoulder, comforting the little boy.

"Thanks, Hanna. It means a lot." James smiled up at Hanna. "I like having you here."

The already wide grin on Hanna's lips grew. "Thanks, James." She squeezed his shoulder and felt him place his arm around her upper back. "I like being here."

"Hey, get your hands off my girlfriend, James."

James giggled as Caleb walked onto the court and began tickling him, causing him to run away to the other side of the court where Clay was, practicing his three pointers.

"Hey." Hanna smiled as Caleb wrapped his arm around her lower back. "How long have you been standing there?" Hanna gestured to the patio overlooking the court.

"Since James had to take that shot from behind the net," Caleb chuckled, kissing Hanna's temple. "You're not the best basketball player, sweetheart," he mumbled against her head.

Hanna sighed, her cheeks flushing a faint shade of pink. "I know, I know. I have zero athletic ability."

"But you're so good with them," Caleb looked towards his little brothers, watching as James gave Clay dribbling tips before looking back down at Hanna. "So, so good with them."

"They make it easy." Hanna shrugged lightly, a smile dancing on her lips. "They're practically angels." She closed her eyes as Caleb planted another kiss, this time on her forehead. "Hey, what did your mom and Will want?"

Caleb sighed. "Stupid Stanford stuff, of course. I have to talk with Phillip, one of the Stanford alumni and I think one of the guys Will works with, the day after tomorrow."

"Isn't that the day you see if you got your scholarship to Columbia?" Hanna asked.

"Yeah." Caleb let out a heavy breath. "Oh, and Will wants us to hang out with Phillip's son, Josh, tomorrow. He's around our age and apparently most of his friends are gone for the summer." Caleb pursed his lips. "I guess he's lonely or something."

Hanna nodded. "Alright, that's fine." She twisted the ring on her right hand around, changing the subject to her new piece of jewelry. "I love this, Caleb. I know I said it like, a hundred times on the way home from the boardwalk, but I want you to know, really know, just how much I love it." She looked up at him, her eyes full with adoration. "And just how much I love you."

Caleb's lips curled up into a grin. "I love you too, princess."

Hanna paused, her jaw dropping. "Princess?" She let out an incredulous, teasing laugh. "Wow, I haven't heard that one since grade eleven detention!"

Caleb blushed. "Well, I always call you sweetheart, so I thought I'd change it up."

"Why? I like sweetheart." She leaned her head on Caleb's shoulder, closing her eyes as warm satisfaction rushed through her body feeling his hand rub her back.

"Okay, sweetheart." Caleb laughed. "Sweetheart it is."

Hanna giggled softly, wrapping her right arm around Caleb's lower back and her left one around the front of his torso. She lifted up the bottom of his shirt and gently rubbed the scar from when he had gotten shot on his lower abdomen.

"You know, after eight months, that still tickles." Caleb giggled softly as he felt Hanna's delicate fingers run over the scar.

Hanna looked up at him. "Really?"

"Yeah. It's a weird sensation." He chuckled as a big yawn escaped Hanna's lips. "Am I boring you?"

"No, no." Hanna shook her head. "I'm just tired, that's all."

Caleb looked at his phone for the time. "Oh yeah, it's almost eleven. That means it's almost two a.m. our time." He slipped his phone into his pocket. "Want to go to bed?"

Hanna nodded sleepily, resting her head back on Caleb's shoulder and closing her eyes. Caleb smiled at her sleeping face and kissed the top of her head before turning his neck towards his little brothers.

"Hey, guys, time for bed. You have to be up early for camp tomorrow."

James and Clay nodded obediently and set the ball down in the bin beside the court before running into the house. Caleb sighed contentedly and turned his attention back to Hanna, whose eyes were still closed and whose head was still resting on his shoulder.

"Hey, did you fall asleep on me?" Caleb whispered quietly. Hanna didn't open her eyes but shook her head, her hair ruffling against his shoulder. Caleb chuckled as the couple walked up the patio and into the house, Hanna only opening her eyes when he told her they had to go upstairs.

"Where am I sleeping?" Hanna asked, standing beside Caleb's bed as they walked into his room and he collapsed on it.

Caleb wrapped his arms around Hanna's legs and pulled her down onto the bed with him, wrapping his arms tightly around her body as a quiet giggle left her throat. "If I had it my way, right about…here."

"But, we're doing it my way." Claudia walked in Caleb's room carrying a pillow, smiling at the laughing couple. "Hanna, there's a guest room just across the hall from here." She pointed to the room directly across from Caleb's room. "You can stay in there."

Timidly Hanna smiled and blushed as she nodded and stood up, releasing herself from Caleb's embrace. Taking the pillow Claudia handed to her, she grabbed her luggage and looked back at Caleb before exiting the room. "Goodnight Caleb. Goodnight Claudia," she said, smiling at both mother and son before turning her back and walking into the guestroom.

"Goodnight sweetheart," Caleb replied, watching as Hanna twisted her neck and winked at him before closing the door to the guestroom.

"Alright, time for bed, mister," Claudia patted her son's shoulder before turning around and exiting the room. "Goodnight," she said as she stepped into the hallway, smiling sweetly at Caleb.

"Goodnight mom." Caleb waited until his mom closed the door before stripping off his shirt and shorts, leaving only his boxers on. He walked to the bathroom down the hall, leaving the door open as he splashed his face with water before picking up his toothbrush and toothpaste, brushing his teeth.

"Fancy meeting you here." Hanna walked in the bathroom carrying her toiletries bag, groaning as she eyed her boyfriend's shirtless body. "Damn," she whispered in his ear.

Caleb grinned teasingly as he rinsed his mouth and placed his toothbrush back in its cup. Turning around, he took in Hanna's appearance. Her wavy blond hair was up in a high messy ponytail, and she was wearing a skintight grey tank top with plaid, short pajama shorts. "You're quite damn yourself, my dear." He snaked his arms around her waist and kissed her gently, slipping his tongue through her lips.

"Alright, Rivers, time to get out," Hanna spoke gently when they parted a minute later. "I really have to pee."

Chuckling, Caleb kissed her forehead quickly before exiting the bathroom and closing the door behind himself. He climbed into bed and pulled his phone out, waiting until he heard Hanna tiptoe back into her room before typing a text message to her.

Open your door.

A moment after he sent the text, the door to Hanna's room opened. Hanna grinned as, from her bed in the guestroom, she clearly saw Caleb in his bed in his room. She waved as she laid her head down on the pillow, her and Caleb gazing lovingly at each other across the hall from their respective beds in their respective rooms.

I would say something, but I don't want to be too loud and wake James and Clay. Hanna typed to Caleb, still gazing at him as she sent the text.

It's okay. Just wanted to see your face. If you need anything in the night don't hesitate to wake me up.

Hanna smiled at the text, nodding at Caleb across the hall. She began to type again.

I will. I'm really tired; I'm going to sleep. Love you xxx She smiled at Caleb one last time before setting her phone down and closing her eyes. As Caleb received her text, he smiled at her peaceful, sleeping face.

Love you too, sweetheart. He knew she was already asleep, but he texted her back anyways. Setting his phone down as well, he gazed at Hanna, watching her chest rise and fall in serene rhythm before eventually he too, fell asleep, his last sight and his last thought of her.

"So his name is Josh?" Hanna and Caleb walked along the boardwalk the next day, the noon sun beating down on their bare faces and shoulders.

"Yeah," Caleb replied, carrying the beach bag that contained water, sandwiches, towels, and sunscreen. "I'm sorry we have to do this, it's just, Will was basically groveling to me. He wouldn't have stopped unless I said yes."

"Don't worry." Hanna linked her arm through Caleb's as they strolled onto the sand. The beach was already packed, crowded with children, teenagers, adults, and even elderly people in the more shady areas. She scanned the beach before she spotted an open patch of sand about fifteen meters away from the water. "Wanna go there?"

Caleb nodded and the two of them padded through the sand. He laid two towels out, one for him and one for Hanna.

"Spray me?" Hanna asked, holding out the sunscreen after she displaced her tank top and shorts. Caleb raised his eyebrows at her black string bikini, winking as he snaked his arms around her waist, ignoring her request completely.

"I may have to do a little more than spray," he whispered huskily, his breath tickling her lips. Before Hanna had the chance to reply, Caleb's mouth was on hers, tackling it with a force and passion that initially shocked Hanna. As she recovered from her shock she smiled, returning the kiss and deepening it as she pressed her body close to his.

"We should stop, people are probably staring," Hanna mumbled against his lips. As he groaned and leaned in for another kiss, she felt his hands creep closer and closer to her bottom bathing suit.

"Let them stare," Caleb whispered before capturing Hanna's lips in his once more. He felt Hanna's arms wrap around his neck, her fingers toying with the neckline of his tank top.

"Alright, spray me before I burn," Hanna said as they parted for the second time. Elatedly Caleb smiled at her before taking the sunscreen from her hand and spraying it on her back, gently rubbing it in.

"Your turn." Hanna turned around and watched as Caleb removed his shirt. She tried not to stare at his abs, but she couldn't help stealing one glance. She hoped Caleb wouldn't notice, but he did.

"Enjoying the view?" He winked, his voice teasing. Hanna blushed as she motioned for him to turn around. She sprayed his back thoroughly and as he turned back around, she sprayed his chest and his abdomens as well.

"Alright, time to relax. Josh is coming at twelve thirty right?" Hanna asked as she laid down on one of the towels. Caleb took a seat on the towel beside her.

"Yeah. Will told Phillip that we'd meet him at the snack bar."

"Well, we still have a bit less than half an hour before we have to go meet him." Hanna sighed as she placed her sunglasses over her eyes and rested her hands down by her sides, the sun's rays soaking into her skin.

"We do," Caleb nodded and stared out into the ocean, watching the surfers ride the waves. "Hey, want me to teach you how to surf later today?"

Hanna immediately sat up. "Uh, is it safe?"

Caleb chuckled. "Yes. I've been surfing for a long time. Only if you want to, though."

Hanna chewed her lip, hesitating. "Well, I kinda have a fear of getting stuck underwater. And surfing those big waves," she gestured towards the ocean, "wouldn't really help that fear."

Caleb smiled and nodded, reaching over and patting Hanna's shoulder. "It's alright, don't worry. I can surf on my own."

Hanna smiled back at him and laid back down on the towel. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry." Caleb laid down too, twisting his neck so his left ear was resting against the towel and he was gazing at Hanna, whose eyes were closed underneath her sunglasses. They sat in silence, comfortable and loving, for the rest of the time until they had to meet Josh at the snack bar.

Exactly twenty-five minutes later, the young couple walked hand in hand to the snack bar, Hanna wearing her tank top and shorts once again and Caleb wearing his tank top and bathing suit bottoms. Standing a few feet away from the line, they waited, searching the crowds of people.

"Apparently he'll be wearing a Stanford baseball cap." Caleb tried not to roll his eyes, but Hanna caught the slight flick of his brown orbs.

"Alright," she replied, searching for a Stanford baseball cap in the crowd. After five minutes of searching, however, she turned towards Caleb, wrapping her arms around his torso and resting her head against his chest. "I'm tired of looking."

Caleb grinned and wrapped one of his arms around her lower back, his other arm angled up so his hand could shield his eyes from the sun beating down as he continued to search. Another five minutes passed and the Stanford cap was nowhere in sight.

"Where is he?" he muttered, groaning as he continued to search. Another five minutes passed before he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Caleb Rivers?" the voice said before Caleb had a chance to turn around. When he did, however, he was met with a Stanford cap and a pair of bright blue eyes. "Hi, I'm Josh."

Caleb smiled as Hanna detached herself from him and smoothed the front of her shirt down. "Hi, Josh, nice to meet you." He kept his hand on Hanna's lower back. "This is my girlfriend, Hanna."

"Hi," Hanna said, waving as she took in Josh's appearance. From under the Stanford cap she could see wisps of blond hair sticking out by his ears. He had dazzling blue eyes and a wide, white grin that reminded her of Sean. But his smile was more genuine and easeful than Sean's ever was.

"Hanna and I are set up down on the beach if you'd like to join us," Caleb said, linking his hand through Hanna's as the three of them walked down to the beach. Once they reached their spot, Josh laid his towel down beside Caleb's and removed his shirt.

"So, you're thinking Stanford, huh?" Josh said as he laid down beside Caleb.

"Uh, well…" Caleb glanced at Hanna before looking at Josh. "Not really. I'm actually really thinking Columbia."

"Ah, I see. Is your stepdad pushing you towards Stanford?"

"Kinda, yeah."

Josh rolled his eyes. "My dad is doing the same. I really want to go to Duke, but he wants me at Stanford since he went there. He practically forced this thing upon me this morning." Taking the Stanford cap off his head he tossed it aside, ruffling his short blonde hair that had flattened slightly because of it.

Caleb let out a hearty, relieved laughed. "My stepdad is exactly the same, dude!" He leaned up on his elbows as him and Josh chuckled together. "I find out tomorrow if I get a scholarship to Columbia. If I do, I'm going."

Josh crinkled his eyebrows. "And if you don't?"

Sighing and running a hand through his disheveled hair, Caleb shrugged. "Then, I don't know. I won't have enough money to put myself through four years at Columbia. And my stepdad is only willing to help out if I go to Stanford." He tried not to get angry all over again at the ultimatum Will had pushed him into. "So it's kind of a sticky situation."

"Well, I'm sure you'll get the money from..." Josh trailed off, twisting his neck around, as if he was looking for somebody. "...somewhere."

Hanna had noticed the twist of Josh's neck, but Caleb hadn't. She'd found it sort of strange. She narrowed her eyes at him as she contemplated the meaning behind his action as his neck twisted back and his bright blue eyes landed on her narrowed ones. She immediately relaxed her facial muscles as he smiled that genuine, easeful smile at her. But as she smiled back at him, she noticed something underneath the smile. Something underlying, something masked that, Hanna couldn't quite figure out why, sent a crippling chill down her spine.

"Be safe."

"I will." Caleb smiled at Hanna, the surfboard he had rented secured underneath his right bicep as he turned on his heels and walked towards the ocean. Hanna sighed as she watched him walk away, admiring the way his muscles flexed as he treaded through the sand.

"So how long have you and Caleb been together?" Hanna, Josh and Caleb had been lounging around for a few hours, the couple bonding with Josh almost immediately. As he spoke, Josh pushed his sunglasses up onto the top of his head and looked over at Hanna. Caleb's towel was in between them, separating them by a foot.

"About two years." Hanna leaned back on her elbows, allowing her toned stomach to get tanned. She looked over at Josh. "We've broken up a few times but," she secretly twisted the ring around the fourth finger of her right hand, "not anymore."

"That's nice." Josh leaned back on his elbows as well, tilting his head towards Hanna. "So I hear Caleb is really into computers?"

Hanna nodded. "Yeah, he's a computer and cellphone whiz. And just a genius all around." She smiled. "He's pretty great. I'm lucky to have him."

"Hmm." Josh pursed his lips as his gaze shifted to the ocean. "He's lucky to have you, too."

Hanna shifted on her towel, her cheeks flushing faintly. She began to shake her head. "Nah..."

"He is." Josh looked over at her, his stare piercing. "You're gorgeous."

"Thanks." Hanna blinked and looked away; suddenly feeling uncomfortable and too revealing in her bikini as Josh continued to stare at her. She looked out into the ocean, hoping to catch a glimpse of Caleb, but he was out of sight - too far deep into the waves.

"You live in Rosewood, right?"

Hanna stopped herself from replying as her mind questioned exactly how Josh had known her hometown. "Uh, yeah. How do you know that?"

"William mentioned it to my dad."

"Oh."

"Got any siblings?"

"No, I'm an only child. Well, I have a stepsister, but we don't really…" Hanna trailed off, searching for a word to aptly describe her monster stepsister, Kate. "We're not close."

"Ah," Josh nodded. "I see. That's unfortunate."

"I guess."

"Where are you planning on going to college?"

"Parson's, it's a fashion design school in New York City."

"Close to Columbia?"

"Yeah, close to Columbia."

"So if Caleb doesn't get this scholarship, what are you going to do?"

Hanna raised her eyebrows as she sat up and crossed her arms over her bare stomach. Josh's questions were becoming too uncomfortable, too intrusive. "I don't know." She narrowed her eyes, testing him. "Why?"

Nonchalantly Josh shrugged. "Just wondering." He paused, the nonchalant demeanor shifting. "Just wondering how deeply you two love each other, how far either of you would go to stay together."

Hanna winced, her voice tense. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Josh leaned close to Hanna, his arm now resting on Caleb's towel as his head cocked towards her body. He spoke in a low voice, its menacing undertone frightening Hanna to her core. "What if I told you that I could guarantee Caleb the money he needed to go to Columbia?"

"What…" Hanna looked to the ocean again, Caleb nowhere in sight. "What do you mean?"

Josh narrowed his eyes. "I'm saying, if Caleb could do something for me and my buddy Steve, he would have enough money to get him through four years at Columbia. And then some."

"What would you want him to do?"

"My buddy Steve and I have some charges that we'd like erased from the Montecito PD's files." Josh's lips curled up devilishly as he kept his voice low, his face uncomfortably close to Hanna's. "If your lover Caleb could erase those files with whatever voodoo computer hacking skills I hear he has plenty of, Steve and I could pay his way through college."

A chill crept through Hanna's skin as she pushed herself up, crossing her arms as she stood up. "No way in hell is Caleb doing anything criminal for you and your friend. Besides, he's going to get the scholarship and won't need to."

Josh put his hands up defensively, sliding his body back onto his own towel. "It's just an option." He winked seductively at Hanna. "Think about it, sweetheart."

Sweetheart. Another chill, more crippling than the one before, rushed through Hanna's body as her mind processed that he had been listening. He had been there. In the bushes, near Caleb's family's basketball court. How else would he have known Caleb's nickname for her? A wave of nausea settled in her stomach as Hanna looked away from Josh, desperately searching for Caleb, her security blanket, in the ocean.

"Oh and Hanna?" Josh's voice returned to it's normal, less threatening tone as he slid his sunglasses down onto his face once again. "You have to be the one to tell Caleb about this little, prospect, if you will."

Hanna's jaw clenched. "Why can't you? Too afraid?"

Josh scoffed. "No, not afraid. But the chances of him doing it if I ask him are low. The chances of him doing it if you ask him are almost guaranteed."

Hanna rolled her eyes, masking the fear of Josh she felt slithering through her veins. "Let it go, Josh. He's not going to do this for you, because he's not going to have to. He's going to get the scholarship and he's going to be fine."

Again, Josh put his hands up defensively. "Like I said, think about it."

"Hey guys, oh man that was incredible!" Caleb ran up to Hanna and Josh, his surfboard underneath his dripping wet bicep. His long hair was soaked, strands sticking to his cheeks as he came to a halt beside Hanna. "The waves are awesome today. Why are you standing up, Han?"

Hanna sighed, relief washing away some of the fear of Josh she felt as Caleb kissed her temple quickly. "I…I don't feel well." She looked towards Josh, her stare callous. "Can we go home?"

Caleb ran a hand through his wet hair as he looked from Josh to Hanna. Josh shrugged lightly at Caleb as they made eye contact. "Uh, sure, Han. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just…" Hanna grabbed her shirt and slipped it on. "I need to get out of the sun and into some air conditioning."

"Okay, give me a second." Caleb placed his surfboard down and grabbed his towel from beside Josh, drying his body off. "Sorry Josh. Want to hang out another day?"

Josh's eyes flickered to Hanna. "Sure. How about tomorrow afternoon?"

Caleb looked to Hanna before answering, but she avoided his gaze, looking down at the sand. "Sounds good. We can do lunch at the pier. How about around noon?"

Josh smiled. "Great. See you guys then. I'm just going to stay here and get some more sun. I'm too pale," he chuckled. "Nice meeting you guys."

"Nice meeting you too, dude." Caleb threw his shirt over his body as Hanna quickly packed up their beach bag, turning on her heels without a goodbye to Josh.

"Bye, Hanna!" Josh shouted as Hanna and Caleb began to walk away. Hanna closed her eyes as she heard his sickening voice and leaned her head against Caleb's shoulder, pretending not to hear him, pretending, just for this moment, that she had never met him.

"Are you ready?"

"I think so. Are you?"

"I think so."

Caleb grabbed Hanna's hand on his lap, gripping onto it tightly. It was the morning after their day at the beach with Josh. Hanna had woken up that morning with an unshakable fear rushing through her body. In the first moments of her waking up, she had forgotten why. Then, as she blinked groggily and the gears of her mind began turning again, she had remembered that for two reasons, she had a sustaining, growing fear swirling through her body: Josh, and Caleb's scholarship. Yes, it was the day Caleb found out if he got the scholarship to Columbia. She had stepped out of bed and peered into his room, finding him sitting at his desk with his laptop, nervously fiddling with his thumbs. Slipping on her socks, she had padded into his room, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissing him on the cheek. He had told her he had been waiting for her to wake up before he checked his email. So, she had taken a seat beside him, and he had smiled anxiously at her. He had told her that he hadn't let his mother or Will come in, because he wanted, for the first few minutes, for it to be just him and Hanna. He had then asked her if she was ready, and gripped onto her hand tighter than he ever had before.

"Here we go," he muttered under his breath, closing his eyes as he clicked on the email he had received in the wee hours of the morning from Columbia. Hanna squeezed her eyes shut, too, her heart thumping hard and fast against her chest.

"Are your eyes open?" Caleb asked.

"No, are yours?"

"No." His voice was sheepish. Hanna giggled, although she was shackled by fear.

"Surely the email would have loaded by now." She kept her eyes shut. "Should we open ours eyes?"

"Okay. On three?"

"Okay. One…"

"Two…"

"Three." Hanna and Caleb's eyes flew open, Caleb leaning forwards immediately as he read the email. Hanna looked away, her breathing turning shallow and quick as Caleb silently read the letter.

"I…I got…"

"You got it?!" Hanna looked back up to find a completely foreign expression on Caleb's face. His face was twisted in either a look of bliss or devastation. She couldn't tell.

"I got a partial scholarship." Caleb's voice quivered as he slammed shut his laptop.

Hanna's heart dropped. She felt intensely nauseous all of a sudden as she watched tears well up in his eyes. "What - what does that mean?"

"It means I…" Caleb wiped a tear that slid down his cheek. "I got a hundred thousand dollars, but I need another hundred thousand to be able to get through four years. A hundred thousand only gets me through two." He lowered his face into his hands, weeping silently as he muttered "shit, Han," under his breath.

Hanna wrapped her arms around his shoulders, resting her head in the crook of his neck as she watched him cry, her heart cracking into little pieces as his sobs began to fill the room. "Hey, hey. Caleb, it's okay." But even she couldn't believe her own words. Tears sprouted to her eyes as she breathed in his warm, familiar scent.

"It's not okay, Hanna." Caleb lifted his head from his hands, his eyes bloodshot. "It's not okay."

"I know." Hanna felt tears run down her cheeks as she rubbed his shoulders. After a few moments of silence, Caleb shifted and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around her body and burying his face into the hollow of her collarbone as he continued to cry.

"This is th…the worst." Caleb squeezed his eyes, feeling his wet eyelashes against his skin. "I failed, Hanna. I failed you."

"Hey, look at me." Hanna gently pulled Caleb's face up so she could look into his eyes. "You did not fail. You did not fail you, me, or anybody. You did the best you could, and it's Columbia's loss, not yours."

Caleb bit down on his bottom lip as the tear poured down his cheeks. "God, I just…I would do anything to be able to go to Columbia."

Hanna swallowed a rising lump in her throat as her mind flashed to Josh. "Anything?" she asked tentatively, hating herself immediately for venturing into bringing up Josh's prospect to him. But he had to know. He had to know so he wouldn't trust Josh, so he could turn him into the police, or his father, or anyone. Hanna couldn't carry the burden of Josh's ultimatum with only herself.

Caleb nodded distraughtly. "Anything, Han. I would do anything."

Hanna sighed, wiping the tears that fell down her cheeks with her right hand, her left hand caressing his cheek softly. "Caleb, I need to…to talk to you about something Josh told me yesterday."

He had wanted to go to lunch with Josh alone that afternoon, but Hanna hadn't let him. Hanna didn't trust Josh, and frankly, she was afraid of what Caleb might do to him.

"I can't believe that son of a -" Caleb stalked towards the pier, Hanna in tow. "I can't believe he would look at you like that, wink at you like that…I can't believe he called you sweetheart. Oh my god I'm going to throw up if I don't punch his face in first."

"Caleb, breathe. He was just trying to get to me…I think." Hanna had to lightly jog to keep up with Caleb's pace. He was boiling mad.

"No wonder you wanted to leave the beach so soon yesterday." Caleb could feel his heart pounding with rage in his chest. "Why didn't you tell me?" His voice was hard, demanding.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to put that on you! Especially if you had gotten the full scholarship!" Hanna picked up her pace. "Caleb, slow down!"

Caleb stopped in his tracks, turning around to face Hanna who had slowed her pace until she was at a walk again. "Sorry, I just…" He shook his head. "I can't believe I thought I could be friends with that low life scumbag. Anyone who makes you feel like that should be…should be…" His breathing turned ragged with fury.

"Hey, breathe." Hanna rubbed her hand up and down Caleb's arm. "Can you answer my question from a few minutes ago that you seem to be ignoring?"

Caleb sighed, staying silent as he looked down at Hanna.

"Are you going to do what he wants you to do, Caleb? Are you going to hack into Montecito's PD files?" Caleb stayed like he had when Hanna first asked him the question in his bedroom after telling him about Josh: silent. "Answer me, Caleb." Her voice was shaking as she spoke.

"I…" Caleb shook his head. "I don't know. I hate the fact that he made you feel the way that you did, and believe me, I will make him pay for that." Caleb's eyes narrowed in anger as he thought of some stranger making Hanna feel uncomfortable and unsafe. "But, I told you I'd do anything to go to Columbia…"

"Even something criminal Caleb?" Hanna shook her head. "Look, I don't care about the way Josh made me feel yesterday. You don't have to go to this lunch, Caleb. You don't have to defend me. You don't have to do something you'll regret later." She ran her hand through her hair. "Don't give in to this loser, Caleb. Don't break the law because he's tempting you with money."

"I haven't exactly abided by the law in the past, Han." Caleb's tone was borderline snarky. "And this stuff isn't nearly as bad as the stuff I did in Allentown." He sighed and softened his tone as Hanna sternly looked at him. "Look, Han, if I can just do it, I would be able to go to Columbia. We would be able to be together. I think that's worth it. And I don't care what you say, I would like to talk to him about how he made you feel yesterday. You can't expect me, as your boyfriend, to just sit back and watch as someone makes my girlfriend feel unsafe. Sorry."

Hanna dropped the argument of Caleb defending her. The issue of him potentially partaking in an illegal action was far more fear inducing and imperative to argue about than her merely feeling uncomfortable. "And for the rest of your life you'll have to live with the fact that you didn't pay for your time at Columbia completely legally." She could feel anger begin to race through her veins. "Caleb, that's a big burden to carry around for the rest of your life."

"Hanna, look, this is my problem now. Let me deal with it, okay?" He looked to his right. They were standing on the boardwalk, only a few meters away from the restaurant.

Hanna crossed her arms over her chest and stalked away. "Whatever. Have a great lunch," she called angrily over her shoulder, stalking in the opposite direction, back to the Dawson estate.

"Hanna!" Caleb called after her. Hot with anger, Hanna refused to turn around. She heard footsteps behind her and felt an arm grab her upper arm and twist her around. "Han, please. I'm sorry."

"Tell me you won't do what he wants you to do, Caleb!" Hanna ripped her arm out of his grasp, her voice a muddle of anger and desperation. "Please!"

Caleb ran a hand over his face. "Han, let me just talk to him."

Hanna's bottom lip quivered with anger and fear. "Fine, do whatever you want, Caleb." She turned on her heels once again, not wanting to be with him for the moment. "I'll be at home."

Caleb walked up to her again, his eyes softening as he took her hand and pulled her back towards him. "Hanna, I'm doing this for us. For our future."

"Are you sure?" Hanna let her hand fall limp in Caleb's, her voice still icy cold. "It doesn't seem like it."

"Just…let me handle this, okay?" Caleb let go of her hand and kissed her cheek. "I won't do anything stupid."

Hanna crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine."

"I'm not staying for the whole lunch, just for a few minutes. Wait for me out here?"

"Fine."

Caleb nodded, kissing her cheek one last time before turning and jogging into the restaurant. Hanna sighed heavily as she turned towards the ocean, resting her hands on the sides of the wooden boardwalk and praying, harder than she had ever prayed in her life, that Caleb wouldn't do anything to mess up his entire future.

"Hanna Marin?"

Hanna turned around, her eyes locking with a man's she'd never seen before. He looked around her and Caleb's age. He had short brown hair and wore tan khaki shorts with a plaid button up shirt.

"Uh, yeah?"

"Hi." The man stuck his hand out, and Hanna shook it tentatively. "I think you know my friend, Josh?" He gestured towards the restaurant where Caleb and Josh were. "My name is Steve."

Hanna froze. Steve. Immediately she recognized his name as the other guy who needed charges erased. She crossed her arms over her chest, retreating into herself as she took a step back. "What do you want?"

Steve smiled the same smile Josh had smiled at her yesterday. Pleasant and easeful on the surface, but menacing and threatening in its undertone. "I couldn't help but overhear you trying to convince Caleb to not take us up on our little…offer to him."

"You mean your 'prospect'?" Hanna quoted Josh from the day before. "Yeah, I would have to be an absolute idiot to allow him to do what you losers want."

"Well, you see, Hanna, sweetheart," Steve stepped forward, closing the distance between him and Hanna. Hanna looked down as he stepped closer, a nervous lump rising quickly in her throat. "That's not really what Josh and I had in mind. We thought you would be encouraging him to do this. To show how much you love him." His voice was nauseatingly dangerous. It terrified Hanna.

"I…" Hanna's breath caught as Steve's hand reached up to her cheek, caressing it gently. She smacked it away immediately, her voice quivering as she tried to yell, "Get away from me!" But through the lump in her throat, it just came out in a helpless, pathetic whisper.

"I won't get away from you until you tell Caleb to take us up on our prospect." Steve lifted up the bottom of his shirt to reveal a gun nestled in the pouch hanging from his belt loop. Hanna gasped, tears of striking fear immediately stinging her eyes as he pulled it out of the loop and pointed it towards her. "The consequences may be…fatal. For you, for Caleb, and for your families."

"Caleb!" Hanna screeched, jumping so she could see the restaurant over Steve's shoulder, feeling the gun against her torso. No one was outside, and there was no way Caleb could hear her from where she was. Hanna's heart pounded as Steve roughly covered her mouth with his hand, his eyes flickering with anger.

"Shh, sweetheart. We wouldn't want to interrupt their business meeting in there now, would we?" He cocked his head towards the restaurant before dropping his hand from her mouth and concealing the gun with his shirt once more. He wiped away the tears of fear that fell down her cheeks. "Don't cry, sweetheart." His lips curled into a haunting smile. "Everything will be okay."

"Get away fr-from me." Hanna mustered up the strength to speak with her full voice instead of just her whisper. She let out a breath as Steve stepped backwards, the haunting smile still dancing on his lips.

"See you around." He winked as he turned on his heels, disappearing down the boardwalk. Tears fell furiously down Hanna's cheeks as she closed her eyes briefly before she reopened them and, through blurry vision, quickly made her way to the restaurant. Just as she was about to open the door, Caleb stepped out.

"Hanna?" Caleb gasped as he ran into a hysterical Hanna, her sobs taking him off guard. She automatically wrapped her arms tightly around his torso, bawling into his chest as he protectively wrapped his arms around her as well and pulled her off to the side so they weren't standing directly in front of the restaurant door. "What's wrong, Han?" His voice was tight with concern as she continued to cry, soaking the front of his shirt. "Tell me what's wrong, sweetheart."

Hanna shivered at his nickname for her that now resentfully reminded her of Josh and Steve instead of him. "Y-you have to do this."

"Do what, Han? What you just told me not to do? I just told Josh that I wasn't going to help him or his friend Steve." His voice was gentle, but dread spread through Hanna's body as she processed his words.

"T-they have a-a…" Hanna choked on her words as she lifted her head from Caleb's warm chest and looked into his eyes. "A…"

"A what, Han?"

Hanna inhaled shakily. "Steve cornered me while you were in there and said that if you didn't do it there'd be...fatal consequences." She watched as confusion, fear, and rage crossed through Caleb's features. "He pulled a-a gun on me."

Caleb froze for a split second before the eruption. "WHAT?" His grip on Hanna became bone-crushingly tight as, like adrenaline, anger rushed through his veins. "He did WHAT to you? Oh my God, Hanna, I am going to absolutely MURDER them!" He unwrapped his arms from around her and pulled her into the restaurant where he had left Josh, his grip tight and defensive around her hand. But as he searched the restaurant, Hanna still hysterically crying next to him, Josh was nowhere to be found.

"Caleb," Hanna whispered, the people in the restaurant staring at them as they turned and exited once again, "He said that he would hurt us and our families if you don't do it." Hanna shuddered before Caleb rewrapped his arms around her. He didn't speak for a long time.

"Hanna, I am not going to let them hurt you." He kissed the top of her head repeatedly as her tears finally began to slow. "Or your family."

"But how, Caleb? They're dangerous." Another round of tears welled up in Hanna's eyes as she nuzzled her face deeper into his chest. She listened to the relaxing beat of his heart as he paused, caressing the top of her head with his hands.

"They're not the only one with a gun, Han."

I can't believe this was longer than last chapter. I think I promised I'd make this one shorter…and it was longer. Like I said, I suck at ending these things. If you stuck around this far then, just…thank you. This was one freaking long chapter. And again, sorry this update took so long!

Hope you guys liked the action in the second half of this chapter. I thought the first half was getting a bit too fluffy and boring so I decided to whip out the action in the second half haha.

Reviews are lovely! You guys rock with your reviews, seriously. You're way too nice to me.

Thanks for everything! See you next chapter.

- coldplaysout