So I have the whole day off today, and instead of doing coursework I figured my time would be better spent writing about my favourite couple ;-) So here is the first of hopefully many chapters, enjoy! :-D

Chapter 10: Five Minutes

Lucas

I couldn't handle being around her. I wished I had never confided in her last night. The caring thing had gotten out of control; I had been unable to stand seeing her that sad.

I ran through the green forest, desperately trying to get away from her presence. It didn't feel like I would ever be able to put enough distance between us. She was everywhere I looked. The sky was suddenly the exact same blue as her eyes; the long grass seemed as wavy as her hair. I kept running, further and further; my legs screamed at me to stop, begging for a rest.

I didn't stop until I got to the stream. Just seeing the dead Slashers were enough to make me want to get back to her; remind me of what our separation could bring. I had to get her back to Terra Nova. There I knew she would be safe and happy. Although I would miss her she would no longer be a distraction. Besides, I planned to pay Terra Nova another visit in the upcoming months. I would see her then, piss her off, remind her of whom and what I really am and then she would hate me again. Everything would be back to normal. She would wish me dead and I would be on my own, looking out for me and me alone.

But now there was a problem. She had seen what was in the bag. I hoped she believed them to be rocks, boring old grey rocks. If she had recognised them, if she told my father she would ruin everything...again.

I knew there was a simple way to prevent her from telling my father; kill her I told myself. Deep down though I knew I would never be able to. I could probably leave her again. I had done it once before; though she had almost died.

"I can't leave her..." I whispered to myself.

I slumped down on one of the rocks by the stream. Why couldn't I leave her? She was just a stupid girl. Nothing more. I hated feeling like this. It was like I had completely lost control over myself. I couldn't afford to screw up again. She had to stay away from me.

I remained on the rock for about half an hour before I finally decided it was time to go back. When I returned Skye was pulling beetle grubs from the trunk of a tree. It hit me that I had forgotten all about the food. I considered sneaking back and going to get some, but Skye turned around and looked at me. Noticing my empty hands she held out my wooden bowl to me.

"Grub?" She asked.

I shook my head and went over to retrieve my backpack. Everything, except for the bowl, was neatly packed in there. I turned to face her.

"You alright to walk and eat?"

She nodded.

"Why the rush?" She inquired.

Because I want to get as far away from you as soon as possible I thought. I couldn't say that too her though. So I shrugged and began walking, hearing Skye following me.

"Thought you would want to get home."

She didn't say anything, so neither did I. The only time we spoke was if we had a disagreement in which way to travel or what to do next.

"Can I please just have a five minute sit down?" She begged me.

I swear I would have moved faster if my partner was a snail. I looked at her and registered the pain on her face. She was black and blue from the rover accident and was probably still recovering from the Slasher attack. I put my hands up in surrender.

"Fine." I grumbled.

I removed the backpack, placing it next to me, and sat down on the floor, my back leaning against a tree. Skye mirrored my position on a tree opposite me. Although I wasn't looking at her I knew she was watching me. I could feel the warmness of her gaze.

"Lucas?"

My eyes automatically met hers. I could not distinguish the emotions on her face. She looked neither sad nor happy. I hated not knowing what she was feeling. Most people wore their emotions on their sleeves. Skye did a good job of concealing hers, especially when she was in my presence. That was part of the reason I found her so intriguing, because I couldn't read her. She was a mystery to me, and my mind craved to work her out.

"What are the rocks?" She asked.

"None of your business." I snapped back, turning my gaze away from her.

I could feel the air around us begin to tense up. Things were about to heat up for sure. Skye could stand people snapping at her almost as much as I could. I knew I would get an ear full, but that was probably for the best. We needed to remind each other how much we despised one another.

"Have I done something to upset you or something?" I could hear the emotion begin to rise in her voice.

I glanced back her way and shrugged. I did not know how to express my feelings about this whole situation to her. It was easier just to shut her out along with everything else in my life. I heard her mutter something to herself, but I could not make out what she said. She sounded pissed off though.

"You're impossible! Did you know that? Of course you know that...I bet everyone tells you...Y'know last night, I actually thought I was starting to break through that wall of yours...I actually thought that you...you cared about me." I forced my eyes to remain fixed on a blade of grass. It whipped about in the wind, offering me a small distraction from her words. "But I forgot...you're Lucas Taylor...you're incapable of caring..."

Her voice faltered, just slightly. I risked a peek up. She wasn't looking at me. Her words told me that I wasn't the only one who had felt something spark between us last night. Maybe she had thought that would have changed me somehow. Changed who I was and what I wanted to accomplish. What a stupid, naive, little girl she was. One night could not change years of hating my father. I saw no other ending for me. My father and I could not survive in the same world. One would kill the other. I was sure of it. Though, knowing our luck, we would both die and would be forced to put up with each other in hell. I smirked at the thought.

I pushed myself up onto my feet and stretched my back. I threw my rucksack back over my shoulder and looked at Skye. She was eyeing me suspiciously. I shrugged back.

"It's been five minutes."

She rolled her eyes and glared. I started walking, and quickly heard her scramble up and begin to follow. She knew how vulnerable she was out here with that wound on her arm. Every predator would be drawn to the smell of the blood. She probably figured her best chances were if she remained with me. Otherwise I have no doubt that she would have remained sat down for as long as she wanted, proving to me that I didn't own her. Part of me wished that there were other reasons for her wanting to remain with me. But I was not going to even consider the thoughts of my weaker self. Skye was better off with that Shannon boy.