Haley needed to grasp the reality of what was actually happening. This seemed like a nightmare, a whirlwind of emotions she couldn't control. All this heartache was exactly the reason why she didn't want to become involved with Lucas. Deep down, she knew he affected her in ways no other man would be able to and this scared the hell out of her. She couldn't let herself experience what it was like to be with him romantically. The amount of pain she felt now was unbearable, but loving and losing him would destroy her. Maybe things worked out for the best Haley told herself. In time, she'd get over him. Sending him a convincing smile, she continued to sweep across the dance floor in his arms, enjoying their last moment of closeness.

A pandemonium of clapping caused Haley and Lucas to stop dancing as they tried to catch a glimpse of what was causing such a commotion. Surprised and mortified that a crowd of people surrounded them, staring, Haley groaned inwardly. Lucas took her hand in his, bowing to the enthusiastic crowd and then placed a gentle kiss on her hand. The crowd clapped once more, then resumed dancing as the next song played.

"Thanks for the dance," Haley said as she was about to walk away, not wanting him to see how he can affect her.

"How about another one? I forgot how much fun dancing is," Lucas flashed his charming smile.

She was about to tell him that she would rather sit this one out when she saw the vapid person approaching them in the corner of her eyes. "Sure. Why not?"

Lucas placed his hands on her hips as Haley embraced his shoulders. Wishing the orchestra wasn't playing a slow song, Haley focused her attention on how lovely the ballroom was. The cream patterned walls and marble floor added a rich, elegant feel to the vicinity and the exquisite crystal chandeliers provided the perfect lighting.

Following her gaze, Lucas interrupted her thoughts. "This whole fancy atmosphere isn't my sort of thing."

"I must admit it's not mine either."

"I would much rather be sitting on the couch watching football and pigging out on some junk food."

"I agree on the pigging out part but not the football. I was and will never be into sports."

"Have you ever joined any sports team in high school?"

"No," Haley admitted. "I had trouble just trying to pass gym let alone bounce a basketball."

"Don't you mean dribble?"

"See what I mean?" she said rhetorically.

"Yeah," he laughed, a rich, smooth baritone. "Did you ever join cheerleading, color guard or band?"

"No, cheerleading and color guard is not my thing. No coordination what so ever, not that I really tried doing it before. I don't like performing in front of people so that rules out all three."

"No school spirit then?" he teased.

"I had school spirit, but just not the obvious kind."

"Like how the popular crowd flaunts everything?" He stated more than questioned.

"I guess you can put it that way. I was never really concerned about what other people thought about me. I know I'm one hundred percent myself. What you see is what you get."

Thinking back to his high school years, Lucas remembered being the same way, before he joined the basketball team. He got caught up in all the popularity hype everyone else was into. What sport you played and how good you were at it made you or broke you. Luckily, or maybe it wasn't so lucky, that his basketball skills made him the idolized basketball player everyone crowded around. He lost many of his friends on the river court because of it. That's one of his regrets in life, because now he didn't have anyone he could turn to. His so-called-friends in his life disappeared as soon as they all graduated from high school and/or college. At first they kept in touch almost everyday until their friendship gradually diminished into nothing. He had no one to talk to about his problems except for his mother. She was the only constant in his life.

"So do you still keep in touch with your high school friends?"

Looking slightly sad, she explained, "Not really. The only person I always keep in touch with, my best friend, is teaching English in Japan."

"Wow. That's great. Does she like living over there?"

"She loves it. She's so busy teaching and preparing her lessons, we hardly get a chance to talk. Not to mention the time difference doesn't help either."

Sounding a little jealous, Lucas smiles midway, "That must be nice to have someone you're so close to."

"Yeah it is. But I'm sure you feel the same way."

"It's different for me."

"How so?"

"I haven't kept in touch with my high school or college friends for a few years."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I have my mother. She's the best best friend and mother anyone could have."

"I'm glad," Haley verbalized giving him as sincere nod. "I think I'm going to go outside and get a breath of fresh air."

Releasing her, Lucas watched as she made her way out the door.