I can't remember when I stopped breathing. Perhaps it was when Brooke wrapped her hands around my neck and pulled me closer into her body. I can't feel my legs anymore and I'm pretty sure that's Brookes doing. Either that or the three-sizes-too-small whitey tightys I chose over comfortable boxers tonight. My lungs are quivering, my stomach is twisting and at this exact moment I know my organs no longer belong to me. But to this beautiful girl pressing her lips so tenderly into mine. I run my calloused hands over her bare arms and I instantly feel goosebumps. I'm not sure whether they're from me or the freezing water we're waist high in. I'm beginning to lose consciousness from the lack of air so I reluctantly pull away. Her eyelids open slowly as she meets my gaze. Her perfect lips are bruised and her cheeks are flushed. Great going Luke, now she thinks you didn't want to kiss her! Now she's going to knee you in the groin and run off with you car keys. Okay, well maybe not. But still! You've just made the stupi-- Ahh. What was I saying again? This stunning angel just smiled at me, showing off her pearly whites and those dimples I love so much. The words my mind is sending to my mouth and tongue to speak aren't decipherable as I continue to gaze into her eyes. Nothing else matters. Not the fact that we're going to catch pneumonia. Not the thing that just slithered over my foot, even though my mind has insisted to inform me that it was, in fact, an eel. Not even the lightening that could strike the ocean and kill us in a blink of an eye from all the metal elements it contains. Have you listened to yourself lately, Luke? You sound more like a science teacher than a writer.

I'm not sure how long we've been staring at each other but I'm pretty sure that if I spend another moment looking into Brookes eyes, I'm going to drown in them.

"Take me home, Luke." She speaks and suddenly my mind decides to turn me into a babbling idiot. Does she want me to take her home-home? Like back to her hotel? Or back to my home? If this was any other girl, this would mean, 'I'm just looking for a fuck.' But this is Brooke Davis. She's not like any other girl. I make the mistake of looking into her eyes again and once more, I'm drowning. Her eyes tell me everything I'm afraid to ask. They're saying, 'Keep me safe,' and, 'Hold me close, just like you used to.'

I nod my head and grasp her hand firmly in mine. I place one chaste kiss on her lips, one turns into two and two turns into seven. I just want to remember the way her lips feel against mine just in case this is the last time. We trudge out the water and back towards the shore, stopping for her heels before heading towards my apartment. She slips her hands away from mine and suddenly I'm feeling cold. My organs no longer work and I think my heart is threatening to go on strike if I can't feel her touch even for one more second. She takes her newly freed hand and runs it through her hair. She then grasps my hand once again and positions it until my arm is draped over her shoulders. She presses her wet hair into my side and her arms wrap around my waist. And then once again, my organs begin to work as a symphony.

"She's going to be the one that saves you, Luke."

"Keith? Is that you?" His figure surrounded by so much light is beginning to slip away. "No. No! Don't leave!" But he's long gone now. I turn into the white abyss. Around in circles. If I didn't have whatever was chained to my hand, I'd run. I have no idea where to, but I'd run as fast as I could until I found something.

"Luke." I know that voice. I'd know that voice anywhere. "Luke."

"Brooke?!" I shout into the emptiness. I spin around frantically trying to find her. This damn restraint just keeps me going in circles.

"I need you here with me, Luke." I turn around and I'm face to face with her. I'm trying so hard to wrap my arms around her and hold her close to me but my body isn't functioning.

"I'm right here, Brooke." I breathe out heavily. I would never leave her. Who would be stupid enough to leave the perfect girl? I'm sure as hell not.

"You can't leave me just yet."

"I'm not going anywhere." I never am and I never will. I'll be with you forever, Brooke. Forever.

"Open your eyes for me, Luke. You gotta open your eyes." And suddenly her figure is fading, differently from Keith's. Her image is blurring and I can only make out a brief outline before being blinded by lights.

I look around at my surroundings. The room I'm in is nothing special. Small, cramped, and the air has a thick smell of 409. I rub my eyes with the hand I'm capable to move to clear my vision. Once I'm satisfied I look down at the restraint on my left hand. Soft, brown locks. I'd be crazy to mistake the owner. My palm is face up as she rests her cheek against my four fingers. Instinctively, I stroke her cheek with my thumb. Her head jerks up.

"LUKE! You're awake!" She jumps up from her seat and wrapped her arm around my torso, my body aching with each pull.

I would chuckle a little if I wasn't in pain. "You act like I just came back from the dead. What happened, Brooke?" Honestly, as hard as I think back I can't remember anything that happened. Besides, I'd much rather hear it from Brooke.

She sits on the side of her bed and I notice what she's wearing for the first time. Blue and white. Short ruffled skirt showing off her toned legs. Ahh, cheerleaders. Whoever designed their outfits should be thanked and promoted to a God.

"Well. We losing to Jefferson by 6 points and then you somehow miraculously made two three pointers AND a free throw in 35 seconds! And then we were all celebrating and then you, well kind of, like passed out."

Ah, right the game. Memories come rushing back to me. The final buzzer. The ball leaving my hands. Being lifted onto my teammates shoulders. And of course, felling a sharp pain in my chest before falling backwards and hitting my head on the linoleum floor.

"Doc said you had one of those heart palpitations."

"How long have I been out for?" She purses her lips to the side for a brief second before answer,

"A week."
A week? There was no game a week from the Jefferson game. We've got a break due to some complication with the high school basketball association. I'd raise an eyebrow at her if my whole body didn't ache like a bitch.

"Why are you still in your cheerleading uniform?"

She opens her mouth to speak before she is interrupted.

"Ah, Mr. Scott! You're finally awake!" A woman in a long white coat says. I'm guessing she's my doctor by the M.D. stitched into her coat, "Hello Ms. Davis. It's nice to see you're still here. I hate to interrupt, but I'm going to have to check Mr. Scott's vitals." Brooke excuses herself and shuts the door behind her. We sit in awkward silence as she pokes and prods at me. She takes the stethoscope plugs from out of her ear and sits on the side of the bed. "Well Mr. Scott, you seem to be doing just fine. We're going to keep you here for a few more days just to make sure you stay that way. That girlfriend of yours is truly something. She stayed her all week with you! Your mother and I insisted she go home but she just wouldn't budge!"

"Peyton?"

She gives me a strange look."Peyton's the blondie right?" I nod my head, "Oh, well then I guess we're talking about two different people. But she did come by, a couple times. She'd stay for a few minutes and then rushed out. Your mother was here as well. She just left actually, I'll ring her up to tell her you're awake now." She stands up and the bed shifts from the sudden weight change.

Brooke stayed by my side?
The door cracks back open and she pokes her head in.

"Hi there."

"Hey." I reply smoothly, my heart doing somersaults.

I've lost all feeling in my body. Her arms are wrapped around my body and our legs are entangled. Her forehead is pressed against my throat and I maneuver until I can press my lips against it. I lightly run my hand through her damp hair. Her breath has evened out and it's slowly soothingly me to sleep. I hate to fall asleep and not be able to see her. I just want to remain awake and watch her forever. But human nature has other plans for me as sleep envelops me. The first few moments are darkness and then I spy something incredibly familiar. Brown hair, hazel eyes and a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts.

Score.

Cranked out all night working on this. Hope you liked it! Please review! :D A/N: Sorry if there are errors again. I beta'ed it myself.. badly... with my left eye shut haha.