A/N: I feel like I need to let this thing get bit more of a momentum going, plus I never did give you an update over the weekend. So here are two new chapters for your enjoyment.

Lately, Ch, 12

Lucas woke up first the next morning. Visions of the night before entered his mind before he even opened his eyes. Kissing Haley, her hands on his skin, and the closeness between them. He smiled briefly until he opened his eyes and saw Haley asleep on the other bed. Only then did the full extent of what transpired come back to him, and he felt a knot in his stomach tighten.

He knew he had upset her last night, although he hadn't meant to. He cursed to himself as he thought about the look in her eyes when she walked away from him.

Slowly sliding out of bed, he walked over to the other bed and sat down on it carefully. He watched Haley sleep, and grinned reflexively at the sight. Without thinking, he wiped a strand of her hair from her face so that he could see her entire face, and his breath hitched as he looked at her.

Feeling movement near her, Haley slowly opened her eyes, and as her vision cleared, she saw Lucas sitting next to her. He wasn't wearing a shirt, and had his usual smile on his face, where his eyes crinkled- something she had always secretly loved about him.

"Good morning, Sunshine." he whispered, his voice a little raspy.

Just then, Haley remembered what had happened only hours before, and the look on her face changed and became distant, "Morning," she answered quietly, sitting up in bed.

There was an awkward silence, then they each spoke simultaneously.

"Listen-" they both said.

Lucas' mouth turned up into a smile and Haley looked back and forth between his eyes and down at her hands.

Lucas' intention was to tell Haley that he wanted to discuss how their relationship had changed last night, and explain to her that he wanted to take their friendship to a romantic level, something he had thought about before, but had never been brave enough to speak to her about.

Haley continued first, however, "Look, Luke, I just want to say 'thanks' for not letting last night get out of hand. I'm sorry for what happened- or almost happened, and-"

"Haley, you don't have to apologize. I-"

"No, I do. You were right. I'd been drinking. I wasn't thinking clearly. You'd been drinking. It was a mistake from the start." Haley said quickly, wanting to let Lucas know that she wasn't harboring any feelings for him other than friendship, which was a lie.

"Is that what you really think?" he asked, more than a little disappointed.

"Absolutely. We just got in way over our heads, and swept up in... whatever it was. It would have completely ruined our friendship if we'd slept together." she nodded, finally looking up at him.

For a split second, she thought she saw a look of hurt on Lucas' face, but it was gone immediately, and she was sure she had imagined it.

"Okay, then. I'm glad we sorted that out." Lucas said, trying to make his voice sound as normal as possible, although to him it sounded hollow.

"So- friends?" Haley asked brightly.

"Of course. Friends." he replied, and she hugged him.

"Good. Now we can forget it ever happened." Haley said, getting up and walking to the bathroom, closing the door.

Lucas watched her as she retreated, and his heart sank as her words struck him, How can I forget that it ever happened when it's what I really want? he asked himself, glancing out the window and then closing his eyes.

Once hidden in the bathroom, Haley leaned against the door, and exhaled, closing her eyes. Looking at herself in the mirror, she spoke to herself, Forget it, girl. You're never going to be anything more than a friend to him.

--

Both of them managed to act reasonably normally as they met up with the rest of the group for breakfast an hour later. Peyton sat between Haley and Lucas, and sensed a weird kind of tension between the two of them.

When everyone decided to go skiing once more before packing up to head back home, Haley was set to join the rest until she saw Holly approaching with her equipment. Pausing suddenly, she made up an excuse to stay behind, "You know what, guys? I'm a little hung-over from last night. I think I'm going to hang out here and finish my book." she said casually.

Most of the group said okay, and waved to her as they walked to the door.

Peyton watched as Lucas observed Haley carefully, as if wanting to say something. Instead, he just turned and walked with the others. Peyton stayed behind briefly, and asked Haley, "Is everything okay?"

Haley nodded emphatically, "Sure. Just a little dehydrated." she joked.

"Is something up with you and Lucas? You two seem to be avoiding each other a little."

"Everything's fine." Haley shrugged, avoiding eye contact.

"Uh-huh. Well, I'll get it out of you somehow..." Peyton said, not giving up that easily.

"Go have fun. I'm fine." Haley said, rolling her eyes, trying to seem unaffected.

Peyton nodded and walked away, turning once to look at her friend. She knew something was up, but she wasn't sure what exactly.