AN: Thanks for all the love and support! I appreciate it. Enjoy!
Description: Haley comes across yet another old friend.
Disclaimer: Nope, still own nothing but the hot guys I created (Alex, Jesse, and Ryan.)
Stormy feelings: by grace
The next morning Haley awoke to find tears all over her pillow. Berating herself (yet again) for crying over a guy, she made her way to the bathroom for her shower. But someone was already in it. She smirked.
"Brooooke? Peyyyyyyyyton?" She called in a sing-song voice. She didn't get a response, so she opened the door and crept in. Sneakily, she grabbed the faucet and turned on the hot water. Half a minute later, male yelping reached her ears.
"W-w-what the hell?" A voice cried out. Haley stood shocked. A guy. In her bathroom. Mores specifically, in her shower. Naked. Maybe it was Jesse, or Alex, or even....she shuddered at the thought...Nathan.
But it was none of those, as it turns out. The shower curtain was thrown to one side (with muttered curses) to reveal a naked......Lucas?
Haley stood, transfixed, openly gaping at Lucas. He stood staring at her for a moment too, and Haley knew she must look horrible, after another night of crying herself to sleep. But she just couldn't take her eyes off of him. And apparently, neither could he.
A second after the shock, he covered himself with a furious blush.
"Lucas?"
"Hey Hales. You look great." Lucas said nervously. Haley raised her eyebrows. "Well, you look tired, but great, and...yeah. Would you mind giving me a second?" He asked her, babbling. Haley nodded, nonplussed, and went out into the livingroom. Jesse was sitting at the table with Peyton and Brooke, eating a bowl of cereal.
"Good morning." Said Brooke, keeping her eyes on Jesse. So it looked like Jesse had stayed the night after all. She smirked. Brooke sent her a nonchalant 'I don't care what you are going to say so you might as well not even say it' look, and grabbed a bagel from the bag on the table.
"Did you know that there is a naked guy in our shower?" She asked, furrowing her brow. Peyton raised her eyebrow.
"Because people shower....naked?" Her eyes lit up. "OH! Did you mean the naked LUCAS in the shower? Yeah, that would make more sense, I guess."
Haley rolled her eyes and looked to Brooke for help. She grinned.
"Lucas stopped by to see....uh, us." She smirked at the flush that rose on Haley's face. She could guess what Brooke meant. "He came in really late last night and I told him he could crash here for a night if he wanted to." Brooke's smirked annoyed Haley.
"Okay," She said, still sounding confused.
"Guess you saw more than you bargained for?" Peyton giggled at her bagel. Haley's flushed deepened. She grabbed a cereal bowl, completely lost in her thoughts. She finished and took her bowl to the sink. She touched her hair, thinking vaguely. Maybe I should clean myself up.
For Lucas? She scoffed. Why? You've known him since you were born. He knows you have your not-so-glamorous moments.
The thought comforted Haley, that someone she had loved for so long was there, someone she could depend on. Someone...well, like Lucas.
She headed back to her bedroom to change and found the door slightly ajar. She stepped inside and found Lucas tying his shoes.
"Hey," He greeted her softly. He stood and enveloped her in his warm embrace. It was like hugging a childhood teddy bear. Happy thoughts flooded her as she looked up at him. He smelled like a freshly showered Lucas, which she had smelled so much, it was its own scent in itself. "How are ya, Hales?"
"I'm good," She said. Which was kind of true. She felt much better with Lucas there, like he was a protective blanket she could wrap around her and shut out the rest of the world. Then she furrowed her brow. She might as well tell him all of it. "Nathan's next door."
"Yeah, I know." Said Lucas, wincing. "He told me. That's why I came over here...to make sure he didn't bother you or anything."
A rush of gratitude came over her.
"Thanks."
"Yup, gotta keep him in check." Lucas teased. Then he looked at her, concerned. "Has he bothered you?"
"No, not really," Said Haley untruthfully. Lucas seemed to know that she was lying to him. He shoved his hands deep in his pockets like he did when he didn't know what to say.
"Are you sure?" His blue eyes were piercing.
"Yeah," Said Haley unsteadily. Then she hit him playfully on the arm and nodded towards the kitchen. "So what say I make you some breakfast, Scott? I'm sure you must be quite hungry from driving all night."
Lucas nodded gratefully and followed Haley out into the kitchen.
A few hours later, the gang had packed up all of their stuff and made their way over to the beach, where Ryan and Alex were supposed to meet them for a game of beach volleyball. Haley hadn't exactly told Lucas about Ryan. Lucas was always really protective of her, and she didn't want him to jump Ryan or anything. So when they arrived on the sunny beach, along with the hundreds of other people there , enjoying the weather, Haley prayed for a pleasant day, with no problems.
A pair of tan, toned arms wrapped around Haley's waist and whisked her off the ground. Haley squealed delightedly, and turned to kiss Ryan on the lips. Lucas looked stunned for a moment, but managed to cover his surprise. Ryan surveyed Lucas wearily. Haley watched Lucas nervously, waiting for him to ask questions Haley didn't want to answer. But he simply stared at Ryan, looking completely lost.
"Uh, this is Ryan," She told Lucas, gesturing to Ryan. She looked at Ryan semi-apologetically. "This is Lucas," She told him. "He's an old friend of mine."
Lucas smirked. At least he was that much to her. Haley was his. Haley watched as the stare-down continued, until a volleyball came hurtling through the air and smacked Ryan square in the back.
"What the hell?"
"Hey, are we gonna play, or what?" It was Alex. Peyton was near him, smiling more broadly than Haley had ever seen her.
"Yeah, let's play." Ryan walked away from Lucas and towards the rest of the gang, but not without one last warning look towards Lucas. Lucas leaned close to Haley.
"You seeing him then?"
Haley flushed. "Come on Scott," She said, ignoring his question. She gave him a playful shove in the direction of the court. "I still have to kick your ass."
It was an intense game. Brooke, Peyton and Ryan were on one team while Haley, Lucas, and Jesse were on the other. Lucas was good, as it turned out. But not nearly as good as Ryan. There was a silent war between the two, and Haley watched, horrified, at the tension mounted.
They took a break, slathering more lotion on each other's backs and drinking from the water bottles they had brought. Lucas sauntered up to Haley.
"I don't like this guy." He muttered.
Haley grinned. "If I didn't know better, Luke, I would think that you were jealous. Come on, aren't I allowed to have a little fun?"
Lucas scowled. "Not with him. He seems a little....sketchy to me."
"Sketchy?" Scoffed Haley. "Sketchy how?"
But just then there were arms around her waist again and Lucas's scowl deepened.
"Hey baby. Wanna walk up to the concessions with me? I'll buy you an ice cream..." Ryan was smiling at her. Haley smiled back, feeling warm. She shot a warning look at Lucas before turning and walking through the white sand to the concessions a ways up.
"So what's with your friend?" Ryan asked when they were out of ear shot. "Another jealous ex-boyfriend that I should know about?"
Haley winced. There was something innocently accusatory in his voice.
"No," She said in a small voice. "Although I think he would gladly rip your head off given the chance. He's my best friend, and insanely protective of me."
Ryan put on a face of mock fear.
"Please don't sick him on me," he pleaded. Haley shook her head with a grin, sending her now blonde-streaked locks into the relief of sunlight.
"If you promise to be good," She teased. Ryan slid his arm around her waist, kissing her warm hair.
"Promise," He murmured.
Back on the beach Brooke and Jesse were playing an intense game of one-on-one, diving gleefully in the sand and giggling with every missed hit. Brooke was fierce, but obviously horrible at volleyball. Alex and Peyton were watching from the sidelines, amused. Lucas looked on, sulking slightly.
It wasn't exactly the kind of reunion he was hoping for. If he was honest with himself, he had been imaging something quite different. His brother, harassing Haley and him, coming to the rescue, finally proving that Nathan was a horrible person who didn't deserve Haley. Receiving a huge hug in welcome, and then spending the rest of the week in her company. Now it seemed that he would be spending the time as an unwilling third wheel.
Peachy. Lucas shook his head. Here he was, giving up the road trip with him and his roommates back home, to come and hang out with his best friend. And this is what he gets. Figures.
He watched as Haley and Ryan walked back, their hands full of sticky ice cream cones, giggling as they attempted to lick up the mess. Ryan licked Haley's shoulder, pretending that he had seen ice cream there. Haley laughed, her beautiful face lighting up. Lucas's knuckles cracked themselves threateningly. Peyton and Brooke saw the commotion and glanced at Lucas nervously. But Lucas didn't move. He wanted her to be happy.
But mostly, he wanted her to be happy with him.
Haley handed Lucas a chocolate ice cream, his favorite. By the way Haley's eyes glittered, he thought she might have given it to him as a peace offering. He accepted it, even with a small smile. He wasn't one to hold grudges. He wasn't looking for a fight. Although, as he surveyed Ryan over his dripping ice cream, he would gladly be up to one if provoked.
Still, his heart ached as Ryan kissed Haley's neck and they sat in the sand, licking each other's desserts and watching the scenery. Brooke came over to where Lucas was sitting in the sand.
"Hey there, grumpy." She greeted in her bright tone. "How goes the sulking?"
Lucas grunted. "Seems like I've wasted my time coming down here." He said the words without really thinking, and suddenly realized what he was saying. He was wasting his time because he wasn't with Haley? What did that mean? He didn't know. Brooke looked amused.
"I didn't peg you as the jealous sort," She said airily, glancing over at Haley and Ryan. They looked so happy. Then she looked at Lucas's face, and her features softened with sympathy. "Listen. We came down here to get away from all of our problems. Haley wanted to forget about Nathan, and so that's what she's doing. She's changed, you know. She's a lot more outgoing now, and she's loving it. So whatever you do, don't upset her. She's having the time of her life, and I know that you don't want to take that from her."
Lucas knew she was right. He knew that she had every reason to say what she did. He even saw the difference in Haley just then. Her hair flipping over her shoulder, uncharacteristically like Brooke, her position in the sand just innocently tempting. Maybe that's why Lucas was feeling the way he was. He was coming to see a new Haley, coming to appreciate her as...a woman? A beautiful, amazing woman? It didn't seem possible.
Brooke stood and brushed herself off.
"Think about it," She warned. "I mean it."
Jesse was motioning Brooke over, and Brooke ran to him and jumped into his arms. Lucas watched with a pang of jealously. He wanted that. Quite possibly with Haley.
The final traces of light were grazing the water's edge, trickling into the warm tones of oranges and reds that outlined the dark palm trees littering the sand. There was a bonfire that was warming the huddled figures on the otherwise very deserted beach. They were singing and laughing, lost in the warm tropic breeze that brushed hair away from their faces.
They had all had at least a few drinks, and the conversation was turning tipsy. Blankets found their way from the depths of bags and the back of cars, and shoes were lost in the white sand.
Haley was sitting between Ryan and Lucas, across from the other four. Even Lucas was smiling, with the aid of the four drinks he had consumed. He was laughing at a joke Jesse had told. Then there was a silence that they all fell into, comfortable and lenient.
"So Lucas, where are you from?" Ryan asked kindly, his arm draped loosely over Haley's bare shoulders. The gesture drove Lucas wild. But he contained his anger for Haley's sake.
"Tree Hill, in North Carolina?"
"That's a long ways to drive."
"Well," Said Lucas uneasily. "I drove from Venice, this place on the gulf a few friends and I were staying at."
"Oh." Ryan nodded. Silence. This time it grew awkward, shining a light on things that weren't supposed to be revealed. Like the way Haley's eyes were lit with a sudden understanding and appreciation for Lucas's actions, or the way Ryan looked on with mistrust. Or how Peyton and Brooke glanced at each other uneasily. This time no one dared to break the silence.
Suddenly there was a drop of rain that landed on Lucas's nose. He stared at it for a second, confused. Then more followed, sizzling as they landed in the fire, which was slowly lowering. The girls squealed as they hid their stuff from the rain, and the guys started to grab towels and such.
They ran back to their car in a fit of laughter, drinking in the warm air, now heavy with cool droplets. Lucas stopped dead.
"Shit."
"What?" Asked Haley as Ryan jumped in the car. Everyone piled into the first car quickly, leaving Haley and Lucas standing outside.
"I forgot my shoes," He said, looking down at the beach. "They were the only pair I brought."
The window rolled down. Peyton stuck her wet head out.
"Hey you two, you can both ride in the other car, okay? I forgot to shut the windows at the condo, and the whole place is going to be soaked. I gotta go."
With that she rolled up the window and peeled out as another clap of thunder sounded overhead. Ryan's worried face was lit up from the back seat. Haley waved encouragingly at him.
"Well, I guess we should go get your shoes." She said, and they started down the hill in the rain.
"You can stay in the car," Lucas said half-heartedly. "I can go get them."
But Haley shook her head.
"No, I'll come with you."
"Okay."
They walked in silence for a moment, soaking up the beauty of the beach, even in the stormy weather. The air smelled sweet.
"So are you okay?" She asked him.
"Yes. And no." He said honestly. He tended to talk more honestly when he had consumed a lot of alcohol, which this time was the case.
"What's going on?"
"Do you remember that summer when you spent a few weeks at my house, when your parents were out of town?" Lucas asked. Haley nodded, a smile forming on her lips.
"Yeah. We had planned to play outside, but it rained the whole time."
"But we eventually got sick of waiting around for the rain to stop, so we went outside anyways and played in the rain."
"Do you remember our mud fight?" Haley said, now grinning. She looked beautiful, even in the dark. Lucas nodded.
"Yeah, I kicked your butt."
"Did not!"
"Did so!"
The heavens were opening up now. They had reached the bonfire, which was now nothing more than a pile of wet logs. They dug for his shoes, but found nothing. Suddenly Haley felt a splat on her back.
"Lucas, you better HOPE that wasn't you." She turned to find Lucas with an innocent smirk on his face, his hands covered in wet sand. "Oh, you are gonna get it!"
She chased him around the beach, and soon a war was on. They chucked sand and ducked as large clumps flew through the air. They laughed as the rain poured down on them, and soon they had forgotten about the mud and were just dancing in the rain. They held hands and spun in a very fast circle, the world around them blurring as they held themselves together against gravity.
Then one of them broke it, and they toppled over each other. Lucas landed on top of Haley, but he stayed there, grinning and breathing hard.
"I missed you," He told her. Something possessed his hand to reach and push a strand of hair behind her face. He had been holding most of his weight on his hands, but in his unsteady alcohol-induced state he toppled over and laid beside Haley. But he hitched himself back up, to find Haley giggling. Then she stopped and looked at him seriously. He was very warm on top of her.
"I've missed you." She said quietly. Then it happened. He kissed her. He kissed her full and hard, and with 20 years of love in it. She answered back, slowly at first, but then faster and faster as they gained momentum along with the storm and night around them.
AN: I hoped you liked it. I love storms, don't you? Hehehe.
Next time: One arrogant Nathan One jealous Lucas One protective Ryan One confused Haley = More trouble than they ever thought possible.
Review if you want more! I live for them, I really do!
Description: Haley comes across yet another old friend.
Disclaimer: Nope, still own nothing but the hot guys I created (Alex, Jesse, and Ryan.)
Stormy feelings: by grace
The next morning Haley awoke to find tears all over her pillow. Berating herself (yet again) for crying over a guy, she made her way to the bathroom for her shower. But someone was already in it. She smirked.
"Brooooke? Peyyyyyyyyton?" She called in a sing-song voice. She didn't get a response, so she opened the door and crept in. Sneakily, she grabbed the faucet and turned on the hot water. Half a minute later, male yelping reached her ears.
"W-w-what the hell?" A voice cried out. Haley stood shocked. A guy. In her bathroom. Mores specifically, in her shower. Naked. Maybe it was Jesse, or Alex, or even....she shuddered at the thought...Nathan.
But it was none of those, as it turns out. The shower curtain was thrown to one side (with muttered curses) to reveal a naked......Lucas?
Haley stood, transfixed, openly gaping at Lucas. He stood staring at her for a moment too, and Haley knew she must look horrible, after another night of crying herself to sleep. But she just couldn't take her eyes off of him. And apparently, neither could he.
A second after the shock, he covered himself with a furious blush.
"Lucas?"
"Hey Hales. You look great." Lucas said nervously. Haley raised her eyebrows. "Well, you look tired, but great, and...yeah. Would you mind giving me a second?" He asked her, babbling. Haley nodded, nonplussed, and went out into the livingroom. Jesse was sitting at the table with Peyton and Brooke, eating a bowl of cereal.
"Good morning." Said Brooke, keeping her eyes on Jesse. So it looked like Jesse had stayed the night after all. She smirked. Brooke sent her a nonchalant 'I don't care what you are going to say so you might as well not even say it' look, and grabbed a bagel from the bag on the table.
"Did you know that there is a naked guy in our shower?" She asked, furrowing her brow. Peyton raised her eyebrow.
"Because people shower....naked?" Her eyes lit up. "OH! Did you mean the naked LUCAS in the shower? Yeah, that would make more sense, I guess."
Haley rolled her eyes and looked to Brooke for help. She grinned.
"Lucas stopped by to see....uh, us." She smirked at the flush that rose on Haley's face. She could guess what Brooke meant. "He came in really late last night and I told him he could crash here for a night if he wanted to." Brooke's smirked annoyed Haley.
"Okay," She said, still sounding confused.
"Guess you saw more than you bargained for?" Peyton giggled at her bagel. Haley's flushed deepened. She grabbed a cereal bowl, completely lost in her thoughts. She finished and took her bowl to the sink. She touched her hair, thinking vaguely. Maybe I should clean myself up.
For Lucas? She scoffed. Why? You've known him since you were born. He knows you have your not-so-glamorous moments.
The thought comforted Haley, that someone she had loved for so long was there, someone she could depend on. Someone...well, like Lucas.
She headed back to her bedroom to change and found the door slightly ajar. She stepped inside and found Lucas tying his shoes.
"Hey," He greeted her softly. He stood and enveloped her in his warm embrace. It was like hugging a childhood teddy bear. Happy thoughts flooded her as she looked up at him. He smelled like a freshly showered Lucas, which she had smelled so much, it was its own scent in itself. "How are ya, Hales?"
"I'm good," She said. Which was kind of true. She felt much better with Lucas there, like he was a protective blanket she could wrap around her and shut out the rest of the world. Then she furrowed her brow. She might as well tell him all of it. "Nathan's next door."
"Yeah, I know." Said Lucas, wincing. "He told me. That's why I came over here...to make sure he didn't bother you or anything."
A rush of gratitude came over her.
"Thanks."
"Yup, gotta keep him in check." Lucas teased. Then he looked at her, concerned. "Has he bothered you?"
"No, not really," Said Haley untruthfully. Lucas seemed to know that she was lying to him. He shoved his hands deep in his pockets like he did when he didn't know what to say.
"Are you sure?" His blue eyes were piercing.
"Yeah," Said Haley unsteadily. Then she hit him playfully on the arm and nodded towards the kitchen. "So what say I make you some breakfast, Scott? I'm sure you must be quite hungry from driving all night."
Lucas nodded gratefully and followed Haley out into the kitchen.
A few hours later, the gang had packed up all of their stuff and made their way over to the beach, where Ryan and Alex were supposed to meet them for a game of beach volleyball. Haley hadn't exactly told Lucas about Ryan. Lucas was always really protective of her, and she didn't want him to jump Ryan or anything. So when they arrived on the sunny beach, along with the hundreds of other people there , enjoying the weather, Haley prayed for a pleasant day, with no problems.
A pair of tan, toned arms wrapped around Haley's waist and whisked her off the ground. Haley squealed delightedly, and turned to kiss Ryan on the lips. Lucas looked stunned for a moment, but managed to cover his surprise. Ryan surveyed Lucas wearily. Haley watched Lucas nervously, waiting for him to ask questions Haley didn't want to answer. But he simply stared at Ryan, looking completely lost.
"Uh, this is Ryan," She told Lucas, gesturing to Ryan. She looked at Ryan semi-apologetically. "This is Lucas," She told him. "He's an old friend of mine."
Lucas smirked. At least he was that much to her. Haley was his. Haley watched as the stare-down continued, until a volleyball came hurtling through the air and smacked Ryan square in the back.
"What the hell?"
"Hey, are we gonna play, or what?" It was Alex. Peyton was near him, smiling more broadly than Haley had ever seen her.
"Yeah, let's play." Ryan walked away from Lucas and towards the rest of the gang, but not without one last warning look towards Lucas. Lucas leaned close to Haley.
"You seeing him then?"
Haley flushed. "Come on Scott," She said, ignoring his question. She gave him a playful shove in the direction of the court. "I still have to kick your ass."
It was an intense game. Brooke, Peyton and Ryan were on one team while Haley, Lucas, and Jesse were on the other. Lucas was good, as it turned out. But not nearly as good as Ryan. There was a silent war between the two, and Haley watched, horrified, at the tension mounted.
They took a break, slathering more lotion on each other's backs and drinking from the water bottles they had brought. Lucas sauntered up to Haley.
"I don't like this guy." He muttered.
Haley grinned. "If I didn't know better, Luke, I would think that you were jealous. Come on, aren't I allowed to have a little fun?"
Lucas scowled. "Not with him. He seems a little....sketchy to me."
"Sketchy?" Scoffed Haley. "Sketchy how?"
But just then there were arms around her waist again and Lucas's scowl deepened.
"Hey baby. Wanna walk up to the concessions with me? I'll buy you an ice cream..." Ryan was smiling at her. Haley smiled back, feeling warm. She shot a warning look at Lucas before turning and walking through the white sand to the concessions a ways up.
"So what's with your friend?" Ryan asked when they were out of ear shot. "Another jealous ex-boyfriend that I should know about?"
Haley winced. There was something innocently accusatory in his voice.
"No," She said in a small voice. "Although I think he would gladly rip your head off given the chance. He's my best friend, and insanely protective of me."
Ryan put on a face of mock fear.
"Please don't sick him on me," he pleaded. Haley shook her head with a grin, sending her now blonde-streaked locks into the relief of sunlight.
"If you promise to be good," She teased. Ryan slid his arm around her waist, kissing her warm hair.
"Promise," He murmured.
Back on the beach Brooke and Jesse were playing an intense game of one-on-one, diving gleefully in the sand and giggling with every missed hit. Brooke was fierce, but obviously horrible at volleyball. Alex and Peyton were watching from the sidelines, amused. Lucas looked on, sulking slightly.
It wasn't exactly the kind of reunion he was hoping for. If he was honest with himself, he had been imaging something quite different. His brother, harassing Haley and him, coming to the rescue, finally proving that Nathan was a horrible person who didn't deserve Haley. Receiving a huge hug in welcome, and then spending the rest of the week in her company. Now it seemed that he would be spending the time as an unwilling third wheel.
Peachy. Lucas shook his head. Here he was, giving up the road trip with him and his roommates back home, to come and hang out with his best friend. And this is what he gets. Figures.
He watched as Haley and Ryan walked back, their hands full of sticky ice cream cones, giggling as they attempted to lick up the mess. Ryan licked Haley's shoulder, pretending that he had seen ice cream there. Haley laughed, her beautiful face lighting up. Lucas's knuckles cracked themselves threateningly. Peyton and Brooke saw the commotion and glanced at Lucas nervously. But Lucas didn't move. He wanted her to be happy.
But mostly, he wanted her to be happy with him.
Haley handed Lucas a chocolate ice cream, his favorite. By the way Haley's eyes glittered, he thought she might have given it to him as a peace offering. He accepted it, even with a small smile. He wasn't one to hold grudges. He wasn't looking for a fight. Although, as he surveyed Ryan over his dripping ice cream, he would gladly be up to one if provoked.
Still, his heart ached as Ryan kissed Haley's neck and they sat in the sand, licking each other's desserts and watching the scenery. Brooke came over to where Lucas was sitting in the sand.
"Hey there, grumpy." She greeted in her bright tone. "How goes the sulking?"
Lucas grunted. "Seems like I've wasted my time coming down here." He said the words without really thinking, and suddenly realized what he was saying. He was wasting his time because he wasn't with Haley? What did that mean? He didn't know. Brooke looked amused.
"I didn't peg you as the jealous sort," She said airily, glancing over at Haley and Ryan. They looked so happy. Then she looked at Lucas's face, and her features softened with sympathy. "Listen. We came down here to get away from all of our problems. Haley wanted to forget about Nathan, and so that's what she's doing. She's changed, you know. She's a lot more outgoing now, and she's loving it. So whatever you do, don't upset her. She's having the time of her life, and I know that you don't want to take that from her."
Lucas knew she was right. He knew that she had every reason to say what she did. He even saw the difference in Haley just then. Her hair flipping over her shoulder, uncharacteristically like Brooke, her position in the sand just innocently tempting. Maybe that's why Lucas was feeling the way he was. He was coming to see a new Haley, coming to appreciate her as...a woman? A beautiful, amazing woman? It didn't seem possible.
Brooke stood and brushed herself off.
"Think about it," She warned. "I mean it."
Jesse was motioning Brooke over, and Brooke ran to him and jumped into his arms. Lucas watched with a pang of jealously. He wanted that. Quite possibly with Haley.
The final traces of light were grazing the water's edge, trickling into the warm tones of oranges and reds that outlined the dark palm trees littering the sand. There was a bonfire that was warming the huddled figures on the otherwise very deserted beach. They were singing and laughing, lost in the warm tropic breeze that brushed hair away from their faces.
They had all had at least a few drinks, and the conversation was turning tipsy. Blankets found their way from the depths of bags and the back of cars, and shoes were lost in the white sand.
Haley was sitting between Ryan and Lucas, across from the other four. Even Lucas was smiling, with the aid of the four drinks he had consumed. He was laughing at a joke Jesse had told. Then there was a silence that they all fell into, comfortable and lenient.
"So Lucas, where are you from?" Ryan asked kindly, his arm draped loosely over Haley's bare shoulders. The gesture drove Lucas wild. But he contained his anger for Haley's sake.
"Tree Hill, in North Carolina?"
"That's a long ways to drive."
"Well," Said Lucas uneasily. "I drove from Venice, this place on the gulf a few friends and I were staying at."
"Oh." Ryan nodded. Silence. This time it grew awkward, shining a light on things that weren't supposed to be revealed. Like the way Haley's eyes were lit with a sudden understanding and appreciation for Lucas's actions, or the way Ryan looked on with mistrust. Or how Peyton and Brooke glanced at each other uneasily. This time no one dared to break the silence.
Suddenly there was a drop of rain that landed on Lucas's nose. He stared at it for a second, confused. Then more followed, sizzling as they landed in the fire, which was slowly lowering. The girls squealed as they hid their stuff from the rain, and the guys started to grab towels and such.
They ran back to their car in a fit of laughter, drinking in the warm air, now heavy with cool droplets. Lucas stopped dead.
"Shit."
"What?" Asked Haley as Ryan jumped in the car. Everyone piled into the first car quickly, leaving Haley and Lucas standing outside.
"I forgot my shoes," He said, looking down at the beach. "They were the only pair I brought."
The window rolled down. Peyton stuck her wet head out.
"Hey you two, you can both ride in the other car, okay? I forgot to shut the windows at the condo, and the whole place is going to be soaked. I gotta go."
With that she rolled up the window and peeled out as another clap of thunder sounded overhead. Ryan's worried face was lit up from the back seat. Haley waved encouragingly at him.
"Well, I guess we should go get your shoes." She said, and they started down the hill in the rain.
"You can stay in the car," Lucas said half-heartedly. "I can go get them."
But Haley shook her head.
"No, I'll come with you."
"Okay."
They walked in silence for a moment, soaking up the beauty of the beach, even in the stormy weather. The air smelled sweet.
"So are you okay?" She asked him.
"Yes. And no." He said honestly. He tended to talk more honestly when he had consumed a lot of alcohol, which this time was the case.
"What's going on?"
"Do you remember that summer when you spent a few weeks at my house, when your parents were out of town?" Lucas asked. Haley nodded, a smile forming on her lips.
"Yeah. We had planned to play outside, but it rained the whole time."
"But we eventually got sick of waiting around for the rain to stop, so we went outside anyways and played in the rain."
"Do you remember our mud fight?" Haley said, now grinning. She looked beautiful, even in the dark. Lucas nodded.
"Yeah, I kicked your butt."
"Did not!"
"Did so!"
The heavens were opening up now. They had reached the bonfire, which was now nothing more than a pile of wet logs. They dug for his shoes, but found nothing. Suddenly Haley felt a splat on her back.
"Lucas, you better HOPE that wasn't you." She turned to find Lucas with an innocent smirk on his face, his hands covered in wet sand. "Oh, you are gonna get it!"
She chased him around the beach, and soon a war was on. They chucked sand and ducked as large clumps flew through the air. They laughed as the rain poured down on them, and soon they had forgotten about the mud and were just dancing in the rain. They held hands and spun in a very fast circle, the world around them blurring as they held themselves together against gravity.
Then one of them broke it, and they toppled over each other. Lucas landed on top of Haley, but he stayed there, grinning and breathing hard.
"I missed you," He told her. Something possessed his hand to reach and push a strand of hair behind her face. He had been holding most of his weight on his hands, but in his unsteady alcohol-induced state he toppled over and laid beside Haley. But he hitched himself back up, to find Haley giggling. Then she stopped and looked at him seriously. He was very warm on top of her.
"I've missed you." She said quietly. Then it happened. He kissed her. He kissed her full and hard, and with 20 years of love in it. She answered back, slowly at first, but then faster and faster as they gained momentum along with the storm and night around them.
AN: I hoped you liked it. I love storms, don't you? Hehehe.
Next time: One arrogant Nathan One jealous Lucas One protective Ryan One confused Haley = More trouble than they ever thought possible.
Review if you want more! I live for them, I really do!