Sorry this story took so long for me to update. I really apologize to swiminchix88 because I've promised her for weeks that I would update. I hope she can forgive me. ;) I've just been going through a lot since me and my bf broke up on New years. His mom is being a BI and moving him away from me too. A lot of drama I really don't wanna deal with.

Please read and review, Thanks for the mast load of reviewers yesterday too. That really got me wanting to update!!!

Thanks to Ally C too for helping me on the hole Microsoft works problem. I owe you!

Lucas heard his friends calling. With his hand that was holding the box he brought it to his mouth. He placed the small yellow box in his teeth so he could grab onto the ceiling with both hands.

"Crap," Lucas said with his teeth clenched around the box.

The water was now up to his shoulders and he was about 10 feet away from the steps. He was going to have to swim over to the steps.

He looked towards the steps and prayed in his head he made it with enough air. He let go of the ceiling bars and plumaged into the deep salty water. Now he only had to swim to the steps.

"Lucas!" Yelled Haley. She was worried because he hadn't surfaced yet. He just had to be the guy though. What was more important? Seriously men and their priorities.

Lucas heard the fear filled scream coming from his best friend. He currently couldn't talk under water so he couldn't relieve her worries with a simple yell. He just paddled through the chilling, salty water with speed, knocking into a few objects on the way. The ocean's mast supply of salt had a burning affect on his eyes that he wasn't so happy to contend with. This was twice in one night he had to deal with it.

Lucas still couldn't get over the fact that his baby, his boat was sinking. Lately that had been his pride and joy when Brooke wouldn't have anything to do with him. He was hoping to change that however.

Haley leaned over the edge of the stairs and looked down. Water… just water filling up quickly. There was no sign of her brooding best friend and that worried her.

"Do you see him?" Nathan asked nearly jumping out of his seat.

"Don't know," Haley answered honestly.

"I'm going down after him!" insisted Nathan. He got up and went walking over to Haley when Brooke stopped him.

"You need to guide the boat or were all goners," she insisted. "He'll come up give him a second I know it. Please just guide the boat Nate."

Nathan sighed at Brooke and sat back down. In his mind he counted the seconds. Luke had till the count of 100 before Nathan dove out his seat and went after him.

Meanwhile…

Lucas reached the bottom step and grabbed onto it with his arm. Lucas had no air left in his lungs, resurfacing was his only shot. The water was filling in his mouth between the cracks of the box so he needed to get the water out his mouth before he mistakenly swallowed it.

He grabbed onto the bottom step and used his strong vice like grip to pull himself up the steps. The heavy water pressure definitely wasn't in his favor. It wanted to pull him away to the left side of the boat. Lucas just assumed that's where the boat had hit the sharp rocks and the hole was just a big reminder they all had to get their asses in gear in less they wanted to go for a big swim.

Peyton, Brooke, and Nathan all fidgeted in their seats. They all had a major bone to pick with Lucas when he resurfaced.

Lucas was nearly to the surface. He saw the shining light from above the deck and it was like throwing a piece of meat in front of a shark and saying go get it. He wanted to show everyone he could make it to the surface unattended. He had no air left however. His lungs were weak from his previous adventure and making it up two steps seemed like the hardest of tasks.

That's when he saw her, his true inspiration. She was the girl who gave him the will to grab that last receding step before they all saw him and could help him.

"LUCAS!" all three girls yelled in unison seeing his arm reach up.

Haley, Peyton, and Brooke all latched onto Lucas and helped pull him up onto the deck.

The yellow box went flying out his mouth and flung across the deck of the boat. He started choking up the water instantly.

Heaving up the water through his lungs he began to release yellowy phlegm over the wood flooring of his deck. He propped himself up on the deck in a kneeling position as he spit up the water.

Peyton kneeled next to Lucas worried.

"Are you ok?" she asked biting her lip and rubbing his back softly.

Lucas nodded.

Peyton slapped him across the back of the head with enough power for him to get the hint. "Don't you ever scare us over something stupid like that," she yelled as she took off back towards Nathan almost in tears.

Lucas grabbed the back of his head and looked up as she stormed off. He looked up at Brooke but she looked just as pissed, maybe even more.

Brooke in a fiery frenzy stormed off as well.

"Sorry," Lucas whispered quietly trying to get his wind.

Haley held out her hand for him to grab.

He grabbed it weakly and searched the floor for his prize.

Haley handed him the box knowing exactly what he wanted.

"I know why you wanted it but you should be more careful," Haley said more comforting.

Lucas nodded; gripping the box in his right hand he wrapped his other around Haley. Resting his head on hers he kissed her forehead, the sweetest of gestures.

"Love ya Hales," he whispered.

"Love ya too Luke," she whispered grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the others.

Nathan ripped off his shirt and threw it to Lucas. "You're going to be seriously sick if you don't stop diving in that water." He shook his head annoyed by his brother for the moment. "I need you're ass to get to shore so don't pull any more stunts! "

Lucas chuckled a bit as he slipped Nathan's tank over his head.

"Nice to know I'm loved," Lucas mocked . "Move, let me control the wheel before you tip the boat. We have enough problems as it is without having to swim 6 miles to the island." Nathan nodded and moved for Lucas to sit down. Instead he walked to Haley and wrapped his arms around his wife in comfort.

"Its goona be ok," Nathan whispered to Haley. He didn't know if he said it for her or himself. He still had little faith that they would get a miracle and make it to shore.

Lucas shoved the box in his shirt pocket and sat down at the wheel. He looked over at Peyton and Brooke but they wouldn't meet his eye. He instead looked straight and pumped the gas pedal for a little extra speed. They needed all they could get!

"By the way what did you go under deck for?" Nathan asked looking back to where the water was emerging from the stairs already. The boat was beginning to sink and that worried them because they had at least another 4 miles before a hint of shore.

"Something Keith gave me before he died," Lucas whispered looking up at the sky. He knew his uncle would have killed him for such a stunt but he didn't care. He wasn't going to give up some of his last remains of his "father."

Nathan nodded and left it at that. He knew that was a tight spot for Lucas and figured he'd just better let it be.

Lucas looked down at the GPS system in worry. They had exactly 3.321 miles left before they hit land. Then there they could try and figure a way to get to shore. By morning his mom and Nathan's would be so worried he knew they would check every inch of the waters for them. The problem was making it to the land to start off with.

"Lucas, what happens if the water starts to overfill and we end up sinking?" asked Nathan curious.

Lucas looked back at his brother. "We just follow the plan then."

"What's the plan?" asked Peyton finally looking up at Lucas.

Lucas shot his head at the blonde and smiled.

"I'm kinda still working on it, I'll let you know if something comes to mind though."

Brooke let out a small laugh at Lucas.

Peyton turned and looked at Brooke and for the oddest of reasons she found herself chuckling as well. Both girls smiled briefly at one another.

"Nathan go get the life preservers, there are 2 in the compartment under my legs," told Lucas. That was his all mighty idea!

Lucas made sure to keep everyone focused for the moment. The water wasn't wasting any time filling the boat.

Nathan did as his brother instructed and grabbed the 2 lifejackets from underneath the wheel.

"There are only 2 though," whispered Haley.

All three girls looked at each other wondering who would get them.

Lucas looked back at them as well.

Lucas looked saddened then spoke. "Here is the deal!" he insisted. "Those two lifejackets are for Peyton and Brooke. Haley, you and Nate can have the ring that we used before to pull me and Nate out the water."

All of them looked back at Lucas sadly.

"What about you Luke?" asked Haley.

"I'm fine, I can swim through the water with you guys," he lied. "The water isn't that bad."

Nathan shook his head no.

"You nearly drowned last time, no way am I going to let you go without one!" insisted Nathan.

"Nathan for once listen to me ok," yelled Lucas. "The girls will be ok if they have the life preservers and Haley needs you man. I'll be fine!"

"I'm not leaving without you," Peyton began crying.

"Neither will I," Brooke began.

"Don't be stupid guys," Lucas yelled. Brooke you can't swim and Peyton I don't think you can swim all to well either! You need them"

"Then you can share with me and Nathan, the tube is big," began Haley.

"It's not that big, it won't support all three of us," knew Lucas. "It would end up sinking all of us."

Brooke shook her head bawling. "NO Lucas!"

Lucas jumped up from the wheel for a quick second and embraced Brooke in his arms." Don't worry yet ok, we still might make it to shore in time."

Brooke looked back at the water beginning to flood up from under the deck. "No, and you know we won't make it that far! YOU'RE A LIAR. You're lying to me and you know it." She began bawling into his arms.

Nathan got up and grabbed the wheel for the moment as Lucas tried to calm Brooke down.

Lucas looked next to Brooke at Peyton. He wrapped his arms around her as well. "Listen to me both of you!"

Peyton and Brooke both looked up at him in tears.

"I won't let anything happen to you," he promised. "Either of you! I love you both so much!"

Haley wrapped her arms around Nathan and began crying as well. "Nathan I won't leave Lucas behind either."

Nathan hugged her back as she sat on the seat next to him." I won't either. If he goes down I'm going down with him!"

"We're going down with him," corrected Haley. "I go down if you go down!"

Nathan shook his head at his wife. "Never!"

Haley held her hand up to Nathan's mouth. "You wont change my mind on this Nathan! If you go I go! Don't argue with me!"

"If you go I go Lucas," bawled Brooke.

"I won't lose another person Lucas, I'll go down with you too!" insisted Peyton.

Lucas looked back at Nathan and frowned. They both shook their heads at each other.

Lucas stood up and backed up from both girls. He had to get back to the wheel.

Nathan and Haley moved out of the way for Lucas again. Lucas took the wheel and pumped the petal hard. "Come on baby, get us to shore."

Brooke and Peyton grabbed each other in a loving hug.

"I love you P. Sawyer," cried Brooke.

"I love you too B. Davis," Peyton cried back.

Lucas looked back at his girls and smiled. He was glad hey were getting along, but was is too late?

Nathan looked towards the steps and the water was beginning to fill up badly. He watched as a puddle of water came towards his feet. His big toe felt the chill as the water finally made it their way.

"Lucas," yelled Nathan.

Lucas looked back at the water.

Haley went over to Brooke and Peyton and invited herself into the hug.

"Get the girls ready!" Lucas said pumping the wheel one last time. He looked down at the GPS.

2.56 miles left until shore.

Ha ha ha… another cliffy. This chapter was originally longer but I wanted to change the ending and break the long chapter into 2 so my next update wont be as far in between. It's kinda hard updating seven stories all the time. 

Thanks for reading, stay tuned