AN: Thanks for all the support, guys. Thanks to everyone who voted in the Citrus Awards and props to all the great authors that were nominated. Thanks to Spongebob Squarepants who inspired the "I'm spiraling, I'm spiraling..." (he's okay, now, though). Special thanks to Maud, Naijchiqa, Joey and muchtv for personal counseling. This one's done, hope it's been a good ride for you guys as much as it has been for me.

Luke was staying in a motel, not the Mermaid, but a more expensive hotel. He'd talked to his father and explained that he wanted to move back to Newport. His father had responded by giving him full access to his trust fund. Luke was officially on his own. He'd park in Julie Cooper's deserted driveway and Ryan would sneak out of the poolhouse and meet him. They'd started going out every night.

Luke was still worried about his friend but Ryan hadn't talked to him since he'd come back. Ryan wasn't really talking to anyone. He'd climb into Luke's SUV and Luke would hand him a bottle and he'd drink. They were both drinking a lot. After they'd had enough to drink, they'd laugh. Chino could really tell a joke when he felt like it.

Ryan wasn't thinking straight and Luke really didn't feel like forcing him.

They had fun at first. A college party. A bar or three. A few bonfires.

Luke was having pretty good luck with the ladies, but not as much as Ryan. Ryan seemed almost magnetic, he'd have a different girl every night. They'd show up, Luke would hit the bar and Ryan would somehow become attached to some girl's face. It was like clockwork.

Luke started to think that Ryan had reverted to his Chino persona. He'd never seen him so promiscuous and silent. He had never seen Ryan act like this at all.

He missed his friend. But he didn't really know what he was supposed to do to help him. So he was just being his friend.

After the second week of partying and avoidance, he realized that neither of them were making much progress in the depression department. He was still living out of a hotel room and avoiding calling his mother. He hadn't spoken to her in weeks.

And Ryan, in one of his rare, drunken moments had confessed that he still wasn't making progress with Seth or Hailey. He'd said that he couldn't face either of them. He'd said that Hailey still came for dinner every night and he'd spend time with Seth every day but he still couldn't come to terms with them. When Luke had tried to press him, he'd sighed and said that he was dealing with it.

Tonight, they were at a pretty elite party. One of Ryan's 'conquests' had given them the invite and Luke had been drunk when he'd picked Ryan up. Ryan hadn't dressed for the occasion, he was nondescript in black pants and a black shirt but, true to form, he'd started getting hit on as soon as he'd arrived.

The party was at a huge beach house in Newport but Luke didn't recognize the address. He'd recognized a few of the attendants from his parents' circle of friends but because of the massive amounts of alcohol and drugs that he'd passed up, he knew that no one would mention his presence to his mother.

Luke had become tangled up with a freshman at the local college. She was cute and friendly and he'd been making them drinks on the patio for the past couple of hours. She didn't ask any questions and seemed to be satisfied with his screwdrivers and sparse conversation. It was around two before he realized that he hadn't seen Ryan in a while. His freshman had gone to find the bathroom and he glanced around to try and track down his wingman.

He spotted Ryan's shaggy blond hair on a blanket on the beach. He was sitting up and had a girl on each side. Luke shook his head as he realized who he was with.

The twins.

The twins were blonde, homegrown Californians that were notorious in Newport. They were both 'surgically enhanced' D-Cups that had a reputation for sharing.

Tonight they were sharing Ryan. One had his face pressed against hers while the other was nuzzling the back of his neck. His shirt had been tossed aside. Their hands were on various places of his body.

Luke smiled, knowing that Chino was in good hands and making a note to himself to make the kid tell him about this encounter later.

"You're the center of the scenery
No matter where it's taken me
It doesn't change when I'm not there…"
--7 Mary 3

Hailey reluctantly followed her friends outside. They'd forced her to come to this party to pull her out of her 'funk' but she didn't want to enjoy it. They'd been in one of the spare bedrooms for most of the party, comforting her friend, Sharon, about her shitty husband who'd run off with the gardener. Her other friends from work, Tina and Kitty said that homosexuality was becoming a major factor in the marriages of many of the Newport elite lately.

"Look at those sluts. They're so fucking shameless," Sharon hissed as she poured her drink. Hailey followed her pointing finger to the beach where the notorious 'twins' had their latest conquest pinned against the sand.

"Who's the victim tonight?" Hailey asked.

"I don't recognize him. He's kind of hot though. Must be a tourist or something if he caught the twins' interest," Tina said as she handed Hailey a drink.

Hailey blinked. She didn't believe it. It wasn't Ryan.

"Hailey?"

She blinked again. He had his arm around one of the twins. She knew that arm. It was Ryan's arm.

Ryan's arm. Ryan was here. Ryan who wouldn't leave the poolhouse unless it was because he was eating in the dining room. Ryan who wouldn't be alone with her. Ryan who had gone through four therapists because he wouldn't talk to anyone outside the Cohen family. Ryan was letting the twins dry hump him on the beach.

"Hailey, do you know him?" Sharon was worried now.

"Hailey, wait…" Tina called after her.

But she had to do something. The twins were nasty skanks and she'd be damned if she'd let them get their paws into Ryan.

She stopped cold beside the trio. She kicked sand and immediately the blonde on top of Ryan rolled off with a snort.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Get the fuck away from him," Hailey replied.

"I don't see your name on him anywhere," The twin underneath Ryan remarked.

"Hailey?" Ryan's eyes were unfocused. He was shirtless and out of breath and she could see that his pants were unzipped. But she thought that she was in time.

"You're drunk," Hailey realized, reaching down to try and grab his arm but accidentally getting one of the twin's limbs instead.

"Step off, bitch, he didn't come here with you…" One blonde said.

"But he'll be coming in a few minutes," The other grinned, pulling his startled face against hers before Hailey could do anything.

Ryan was laughing now, but she could read in his eyes that he was stunned to see her. He knew he was busted. He pulled away from the slut and let Hailey drag him to his feet.

Kirsten and Sandy were going to kill him. He'd been so depressed, so fucking silent at home, and they were at their wit's end. She knew they didn't know he went out at night but she knew just by looking at him that this wasn't his first excursion. She knew that he was hurting but this little rebellion was not healthy for a kid that had been through what he'd been going through.

"Hailey, what are you doing here?"

"Don't talk to me until you put some clothes on," She snapped, picking up his shirt and throwing it at him.

He was fumbling now and at another time, she would have found it cute but the fact that he couldn't button his pants and pull his shirt on at the same time only reinforced her worry. He was wasted.

"What's your deal, bitch?" One of the twins snapped.

Ryan was no help, he was staggering behind her as she pivoted to face the sluts. "You better stay away from him, bitch or they'll be hell to pay…"

"Hailey, stop…what's wrong?" Ryan asked, taking her arm and turning Hailey back to face him. He had this strange innocent look on his face that Hailey just couldn't take.

"What's wrong? You're asking me what's wrong?"

"No, I mean…what are you doing here?" Ryan asked.

Hailey glared at the sluts again before shoving Ryan and knocking him back several steps. He was drunk and let her push him. She walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. "What are you doing here?"

"I…I was invited, I came…"

"You're drunk…do Sandy and Kirsten know you're out? Have you been doing this a lot?"

Ryan's face was hard and Hailey realized that he wasn't going to open up to her. Not here, not like this. He was pretending. She had to make him stop.

She softened her tone and put her arms around him. He didn't pull away but he didn't return the gesture. "Ryan." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "This isn't the way."

"The way? I'm just trying to relax…"

"You're not relaxing, kid, you're spiraling…"

"I am not spiraling…"

"You are so spiraling…this isn't you…you don't drink like this…" She spoke into his ear softly and she knew he was listening. "You don't act like this…"

"Maybe I do…maybe I need this…"

"You don't need this…"

"I need something…" He whispered. He started to pull away but she wouldn't let him. She kept her arms around him.

"You need to accept that everything is not your fault. That you can't control everything. You need to accept that some things are not in your control and that you can't control everything around you…"

"I can't control everything…I'm out of control…" Ryan murmured.

"Listen to me, Ryan…please…you're not helping yourself by doing this, you're making it worse…"

"Maybe I like it worse…"

"You like this?" She pulled away and shoved him again. "You like being drunk and sleeping around? You like being like this?"

Ryan seemed surprised he opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He took a step back and she immediately rushed him again, squeezing his arms. She didn't care that people were staring, she only cared about getting him to listen to her.

"Because this isn't you, this isn't how you're supposed to be…" She said urgently.

"How I'm supposed to be? What the hell does that mean?" He snapped.

"You…"

"You don't know me…"

She grabbed his arm when he turned away. "I'm the only one that knows you, Ryan. Just stop."

He jerked his arm away and staggered back several steps. "Just leave me alone…"

"I won't leave you alone, not like this! You're too important for me to just let you go!"

He froze. She took a step toward him and he raised his hands. "So…so you think I let you go because you weren't important to me?"

"No, Ryan…"

"Because you are…that's why I had to let you go…I won't take your family from you…I won't take your life away…look what I did to Teresa trying to make things right…I got her killed…"

"Ryan, that is not your fault, you couldn't control what happened to her, it's not your fault!" She spun him around to face her. And she could see in his eyes that he heard her. He didn't believe her but he heard her words.

"You are everything to me, you're everything to your family, please. Let me take you home," She whispered.

He opened his mouth to speak but simply shook his head. "I'm not ready."

"You are ready. You have to face your problems. You can't fuck them away, you can't drink them away, you can't just ignore them and hope that they go away…you have to face them. Let me take you home. We'll talk to Kirsten…"

"You're going to rat me out like that?"

"Hell, yes. Because you need help." She looked into his eyes, searching for the man she knew. But all she saw was a scared little boy. "Please, kid."

And he gave in. She took his hand and led him towards the house.

Tina and Sharon clapped as they walked past her. They knew all about her 'jailbait' affair and didn't stop her from leaving with him.

Ryan stopped in the hallway of the beach house.

"What?"

"Luke. I came with Luke."

"Luke from Portland?"

"He's staying here, now."

"Get him. We'll take him home…"

"He…he stays at a hotel. His mom doesn't know he's here," Ryan replied quietly. He pulled away from her. He started staggering toward the bedrooms.

"I'll get him," Hailey said, stopping him and taking his hand again. She took a deep breath. "LUKE!"

One of the doors swung open and a very startled Luke Ward stepped out in nothing but a t-shirt and boxers.

"What the hell?"

"You guys are busted. Get some pants on and get out here," Hailey said.

"What?" Luke muttered, totally confused. "Who the hell are you?"

"Hailey," Ryan said.

"Oh," Luke realized, his eyes clearing. "Hey…"

"Pants. Now," Hailey ordered.

"You sound like Kirsten," Ryan smiled slightly, swaying.

Luke turned to try and find his pants but emerged several minutes later with his jacket tied around his waist.

"Where are your pants?" Hailey asked.

"Don't ask," Luke muttered.

"Dammit, Luke, that's, like, the third time this week you've lost your pants…" Ryan chuckled.

"What the hell are you talking about, Chino, Shit, last night…" Luke started but stopped when Ryan glared at him.

"I'm taking you both home," Hailey said, taking Luke by the wrist and keeping Ryan's hand clasped tightly with hers. "You're both so fucking busted…"

Luke glanced at Ryan for guidance but he realized that Ryan was holding Hailey's hand tightly in response. "Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"I…I think I have to be, Luke. I mean…I think maybe…"

"I found him under the twins. Luke, you know Newport, you know the twins…"

"I wish I knew the twins like he knows the twins," Luke muttered. Ryan gave him a sly smile.

"Shut up," Hailey shoved him. "They're dirty whores…"

"Sexy, though," Luke muttered. Ryan gave him an amused look as they stopped beside Hailey's car.

"Get in. You're just digging a deeper hole for yourselves by talking," Hailey held open the back door and Luke climbed inside.

"What about my truck?" Luke asked.

"You are not driving anywhere like this. We'll come back for it tomorrow. I'm sure it'll still be here," Hailey said.

Ryan took the front seat and immediately lit a cigarette.

"So, if you're our official chaperone, you're going to let him smoke?" Luke asked Hailey as she pulled onto the road. He had sprawled out across her backseat.

"Fuck you," Ryan snorted.

"What are you doing in town, Luke?" Hailey asked.

Luke was suddenly silent.

"He wanted to come home," Ryan said quietly.

"But…"

"I haven't called my mom, Hailey. I just…needed some time to unwind first."

"You guys…this isn't the way. Drinking, partying all night, it's not going to make anything in your life any better…I've done it, it doesn't make your problems go away, it just gives you a hangover…"

"We don't get hangovers anymore," Luke muttered.

"You know what I mean. Why haven't you called your mom?"

"I…I don't know what she's going to say. I've just been putting it off…"

"Yeah, while you and Ryan are out drinking and partying, I bet your mother is flipping out…"

"I haven't talked to her in weeks. I doubt she cares…" Luke muttered.

"Luke. It's all over now. You know the Cohens are going to call your mom…and you told me that you want to talk to her…" Ryan was twisted around in the seat to face his friend.

"I do, but not like this…"

"We'll work something out, Luke. But you're not going to be at the top of Sandy and Kirsten's list once they find out that you've been smuggling Ryan out every night."

"Smuggling?" Luke laughed.

"It's not his fault. He was just hanging out with me…"

"Seth hangs out with you, but I don't see him with you…"

"It's different. Luke doesn't have any expectations…" Ryan started.

"And Seth does?"

Ryan shrugged and leaned his head against the window.

"Can't you just let us go?" Luke asked, meeting her gaze in the rear view mirror.

"No. Luke, you're Ryan's friend…do you think this is a healthy way for him to be? After all he's been through, do you think this is better?"

Ryan's eyes were closed and he didn't move.

Luke sighed. "No. But he's trying…"

"No, he's not trying, he's making a bigger mess. He won't talk to the shrinks, he hasn't said anything about his little night-outs to his family and he's in trouble. You should be able to see that," Hailey snapped.

"This has nothing to do with Luke. He's just doing what I asked him to do."

"What did you ask him to do?"

"I asked him to be my friend without dragging me down with a bunch of bullshit, he's not always asking if I'm okay, he's not always looking at me like I'm about to break…"

"He's just keeping you drunk and making sure you have condoms before you fuck random girls? Huh?" Hailey accused. "You know this is wrong…"

"God, lady, give him a break, he's fucked up and you're trying to have an intervention?" Luke jumped in.

"That's enough out of you, 'Mr. I've Lost My Pants'," Hailey snapped.

Ryan started to laugh. After seeing Luke's devastated expression, Hailey joined him. By the time she parked the car, they were all laughing.

It was after two am when they went inside.

"Are you going to wake them up?" Ryan asked quietly.

"Hell, yes. Luke, maybe you can find some pants?"

"Chino's pants are too short…" Luke sighed, sitting down beside Ryan on the couch.

"What about Seth?"

"He's too skinny…"

"Dammit, Luke…" Hailey snapped. Ryan was laughing at them.

"I'll be back in a second." Hailey left the drunken pair and went to Kirsten and Sandy's room. She knocked gently.

"Hailey?" Sandy answered the door with bleary eyes.

"I have something to show you," She said. "Kirsten, too."

Sandy seemed to sense the seriousness and closed the door. They emerged moments later dressed in robes.

"Hailey, Jesus, It's like, after two…" Kirsten yawned.

"I went to a party tonight and ran into someone," Hailey said as they followed her down the hall.

"Ryan? Luke? What the…" Sandy saw them first.

"Oh god…you're drunk, I can smell you from here," Kirsten gasped, glaring at them.

"Luke, when did you come into town?"

"Before you start the interrogation, you should know who I found Ryan with…" Hailey turned to Kirsten.

"Who?"

"The twins."

"The twins?" Kirsten gasped.

Sandy gave Ryan an awestruck look. "The twins?"

"Lori and Tori?" Kirsten asked, turning to Ryan.

"I didn't really catch their names," Ryan replied quietly. Luke snickered.

"Luke, where are your pants?" Sandy asked. Kirsten blushed a deeper red.

"He's been sneaking out for days and partying with Luke…" Hailey said finally. "But he came home with me."

"Thank you, Hailey. For bringing him home," Sandy nodded.

"Luke, does your mom know you're back?"

He shook his head.

"Sandy, take him to the guest room and find him some pants to wear tomorrow. You'll stay here tonight and we'll figure out what we're going to do tomorrow morning, okay?" Kirsten nudged Sandy.

"Come on, Luke." Sandy and Luke left the living room.

Kirsten sat down beside Ryan on the couch.

"I'm sorry…"

"I don't care," Kirsten whispered. "I just don't know what to do anymore, Ryan. You promised that you'd try…"

"I am trying…"

"You're drinking again. And the twins? I'd never forgive you…"

Ryan raised an eyebrow.

"At least Hailey's mildly respectable, but the twins? Ryan, what are you thinking?" Kirsten asked, taking his hand.

"I…"

"You aren't thinking, are you? You're trying to run away from your problems again. It doesn't work, you know that…what are you doing, Ryan?" Kirsten asked.

"I…I don't know. I just wanted a break…I didn't want to have to think about anything…just for a little while…"

"How long have you been sneaking out?"

"Since Luke got here…" Ryan whispered.

"But you…"

"I can't explain it. When we go out, it's like…I'm not Ryan Atwood, I'm not the punk kid from Chino, I'm nameless…"

"You are Ryan Atwood. And it's nothing to be ashamed of," Kirsten said. "But we can't let you do this to yourself…"

"It was just a party…"

"The twins had him pinned, Kirsten," Hailey interrupted.

Kirsten wrinkled her face as she returned her attention to Ryan. "Ryan."

"Okay. I know…you're right…"

"We don't want to punish you, we want you…"

"I know, Kirsten. I…this sucks, you know? I listen to the shrinks, I listen to you guys, but nothing…it's not getting better…I'm not getting better…"

"Do you want to get better?"

"I…"

"Aren't you tired of feeling this way?"

"Yes," Ryan said.

"Then stop. Stop it. Stop wallowing in your guilt and pain and just get over it. You think we want you to have to see a shrink? You think we want to have to watch your every mood? We just want you to be okay…" Kirsten pleaded.

"I know…I know, Kirsten, and I'm so sorry for doing this to you…"

"You're not hurting us, you're only hurting yourself." She took his face in her hands. "Please, Ryan."

"Okay. Okay, Kirsten. I'll call the doctor tomorrow. I'll talk to him. I won't drink anymore. I won't sneak out…" Ryan said slowly. Hailey was watching him from her perch on the edge of the couch.

"I believe you, Ryan. And we'll be here…" Kirsten started.

"You guys have always been here. It's not that…it's me. I have to do this myself. I've been stuck…since Teresa died…I don't think I really cared what happened to me…but…I…I know you're right. I can't keep living like this…" He whispered.

"I know, baby, but it will get better…you just have to let it…" Kirsten said, pulling him into an embrace.

He returned her hug.

"But you're still grounded. And we will be talking more about the twins…" Kirsten said as she released him. "You'll call the doctor?"

"First thing. I promise, Kirsten."

She released his hand as she stood up. She turned to Hailey. "Will you make sure he goes to bed?"

"I think I can handle that," Hailey replied.

Ryan raised an eyebrow at their dialogue.

"She knows what I mean," Kirsten said to Ryan with an amused smile. "I should wash your mouth out with soap for messing with the twins…"

"What about Luke, he lost his pants!" Ryan protested.

"He's not mine. And I'm going to bed before I find out any more about Luke's pants," Kirsten said, blushing again.

Hailey took Ryan's arm and pulled him to his feet. "Let's get you tucked in."

"Tucked in?" Ryan smirked.

"I don't like you drunk," Hailey said as they walked out onto the patio.

"What?"

"I don't like you drunk. You're an asshole," She continued.

He smiled. "I'm an asshole?"

"Yeah. And I'm not used to you being an asshole, I don't like it on you…" She continued as they walked.

"What do you like 'on me'?" He asked as he opened the door to the poolhouse.

"Me," She whispered after a pause. He turned to face her.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Hailey…"

She kissed him gently on the lips and then took a step back. "I'd like us to try and have something, Ryan. When you're ready."

"When I'm ready?" He whispered.

"Yeah. When…when you're okay with me again…" She started.

He stepped toward her and put his hand on her cheek. "Hailey, I am okay with you. I'm in love with you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I have been for a while. You know that…"

"I…"

"I love you, Hailey. And after all this…it hasn't gone away…I can't make it go away…I know it's wrong but I can't…I can't stop…" He said.

She kissed him. "Then don't. Don't stop…"

"…Held my breath as the water rushed in
I was drowning in the man I used to be
A castaway, but you were there for me…"

--7Mary3

"Ryan, are you ready, yet?" Kirsten's voice echoed through the poolhouse.

"Kirsten, have you seen those…"

"You look amazing," She interrupted as he walked out of the bathroom. He was dressed in a tuxedo in preparation for the senior prom.

"Thank you. I'm looking for those shoes you bought me, with the little tassels on them? Hailey said that…"

"They're right here, honey," She leaned down beside the bed and picked up the shoes he was talking about. "Nervous?"

"Why would I be nervous?" He smiled as he sat down to put on his shoes.

"I guess you wouldn't be. Living with us has probably trained you pretty well on going to formals."

"True. But I am a little nervous. Luke picked out the dates," He admitted.

"Ouch. You don't trust his taste?" Kirsten asked. Ryan raised an eyebrow at her. "Dumb question."

He smiled. "So? Do I look presentable?" He stood up and pivoted for her.

"Definitely. Let's get you inside so we can start with the pictures," Kirsten linked arms with him and they walked out of the poolhouse.

"Pictures?"

"Of course! My sons are going to the prom, of course there will be pictures," She grinned.

The kitchen was packed with people. Seth was leaning against the counter beside Luke while Summer stood on her tiptoes and was arranging his hair.

Summer was beautiful in a long flowing green gown that matched Seth's boutonnière in his pocket. Seth and Luke were wearing their tuxes and there were three boxed corsages on the counter waiting for Summer and their dates.

"Finally, dude, she's killing me, here," Seth said when he saw Ryan.

"Shut up, you have to look nice," Summer snapped.

Ryan slapped hands with Luke and leaned against the counter between his friends.

"Where's Hailey?"

"She's in the living room with Jimmy," Luke responded.

"Someone talking about me?" Hailey stepped in with a smile. She walked over and gave Ryan a quick kiss on the cheek before moving to stand beside Kirsten.

"Don't they look nice?" Kirsten grinned, looping an arm around her sister.

"Of course they do. You think I'd let him go looking like a slacker? As if Summer would stand for that?" Hailey laughed.

"Don't even joke. They'd be wearing jeans if we let them," Summer sighed. She was satisfied with his flower and turned her attention to his unruly hair.

"Stop it, Summer…" Seth whined. "Help, please?" He looked to Ryan.

"There is no help for that hair," Ryan replied. Seth shoved him.

"So, Luke, who have you lined up for the dates tonight?" Hailey asked.

"Jealous?" Luke grinned.

"Don't get her started," Ryan warned.

"Well, I think their names are Tori and Lori…"

"The twins?" Summer gasped. Kirsten and Hailey were pale.

"Not funny," Ryan murmured.

"No, seriously, they're freshmen, they just started Harbor a few months ago and they don't really know anyone. We're picking them up on the way. They both have boyfriends at Pacific, so it's totally platonic, ladies," Luke smiled at Kirsten and Hailey.

"Not funny, Luke. I'm going to pay for that later," Ryan shoved him.

"You're already shacking up with your girlfriend, let the rest of us have a little fun," Luke laughed.

"Hey!" Ryan laughed, shoving him again.

"They're fighting already?" Jimmy walked in with Sandy.

"They're always fighting," Sandy rolled his eyes.

"Kaitlyn's in the living room…" Jimmy started.

"Kaity?" Luke called loudly and the girl rushed into the kitchen, squealing.

"Luke! Ryan! Seth!" She rushed over and gave them all desperate hugs.

"How's our little Cooper?" Ryan asked, picking up the thin girl and swinging her around.

"Nauseous, now…" She laughed as he released her.

Jimmy's new wife, Sharon, stepped in and put an arm around him. "Who says you can never get a babysitter?"

"They're boys, they can't baby-sit…" Jimmy protested.

"I'm not a baby," Kaitlyn pouted.

"Of course you're not a baby, and I'm sure the boys would make great babysitters," Sharon replied with a smile.

"Last time 'the boys' stayed with Kaitlyn, they came back with painted fingernails and mascara on," Summer replied.

"How did I miss that?" Hailey asked.

"They were hounding me for my nail polish remover for hours the next day," Kirsten added.

"Cherry-berry red looked good on them," Kaitlyn snickered.

Luke picked up the small girl and Ryan and Seth began to tickle her. Finally, Summer had to intervene so Kaitlyn would stop giggling and breathe again.

"Can we get started on the pictures, guys? Let's get you into the living room," Sandy announced.

Hailey caught Ryan's arm as he started to follow his friends and family.

"Hey. Can I talk to you a minute?"

"Sure, what's up?"

Once the kitchen was empty, she pinned him against the refrigerator and kissed him deeply.

"What's that for?" He smiled as she let him come up for air.

"Nothing."

"You're jealous," He grinned.

"Of some high school chick? Never…" She replied.

"Hailey…" He had his arms linked around her waist, keeping her close to him. They still had electricity between them. They'd been together for months, only recently when he turned eighteen, had they begun to share the poolhouse. "Hailey, it's just the prom."

"I know. But I want you to have a good time. And come home to me. I don't like it when you're too far away."

"I'll be at Harbor, Hailey. It's like three minutes from here by car," Ryan laughed.

"I know. I love you, Ryan."

"I know. I love you, too…" He kissed her.

"Chino, you better not be kissing your aunt in that kitchen!" Summer's voice interrupted them, echoing through the house.

Hailey laughed and released him, mussing his hair. "There. Now you can go."

"I have your permission?"

"As long as you come home. If you get drunk at the afterparty, you have the limo so don't try to drive."

"I know. I doubt the chauffeur would allow it," Ryan joked.

"Chino, come on!" Luke called.

Hailey took Ryan's arm and they went to join their family.

FIN