Haley walked around the quiet neighborhood, unsuccessfully trying to enjoy the fresh air and peacefulness. The only sound was the pitter-patter of a few children playing tag in the front yard. Shifting her eyes toward the familiar street, she continued her excursion, wondering how and why she drove herself to the town that brought too many reminders of the person she wanted to forget. It was as if her body went on automatic pilot, taking her to her hometown and a few minutes later, to the location of her first job.

Peeking through the glass door, she scanned the area for Karen, the woman she often wished was her own mother. Debating on whether it was a good idea to go inside or not, the person behind her asked if she was going in. Not wanting to feel like a bigger fool than she already felt, she hesitantly stepped inside, releasing a sigh.

Relieved that Karen wasn't present, she ordered a cup of hot chocolate and a banana nut muffin to go. As much as Haley adored the woman, she didn't know how she would feel if she saw Karen, a painful reminder of Lucas. Taking a sip of the hot liquid as she walked out, she finally felt warmth rush through her cold body.

---

"Sorry Mom." Lucas shamefully looked down at his hands when his mother came back with a cup of coffee.

"You should be," Karen stated sternly as she handed him the mug.

Surprised by her reaction, Lucas looked up to see a smile across his mother's face. "Mom, how can you be teasing me at a time like this?"

"I'm sorry Lucas. I was trying to lighten the mood." Grinning wider, she added, "Besides, this is what you get for taking your anger out on your wonderful mother."

Rolling his eyes at her when she wasn't looking, he profusely apologized. "I said I was sorry. What more do you want?"

Shifting back to the motherly role, she hopefully replied, "For you to go talk to that girl of yours."

Baffled by her response for the second time, he quizzically glanced at her comforting hand on his arm.

"You obviously still care about her deeply, otherwise you wouldn't be so worked up about this." Pausing for effect, she continued, "I'm not telling you want you should or should not do. It's ultimately your life and you have to live it, but as your mother, I am entitled to give you suggestions. Forgive her Lucas. Let her in your life." She added in a matter-of-the-fact tone, "Sweetie, you deserve happiness and I think she has an affect on your well-being."

"And how do you know that?"

"The fact that you spent the last hour talking about her. Do you really want to live a life where you regret the fact that you let her slip away."

Not knowing how to respond, he sat wordlessly.

---

Once again unsure of how she ended up where she was, she took a seat on the small bleacher. Looking at the place where everything began, her tears overcame her once more. Bringing her legs up, she wrapped her arms around them. Her head came crashing down on her knees as she sobbed uncontrollably. In a world of anguish, she didn't feel a pair of arms cradle her, providing the warmth and comfort she desperately sought…needed. Moments passed until the soothing shushing sound she imagined became all too real, the heat too scorching. Bringing her head up, she saw the intruder who invaded her personal space. Pushing him with all her might, he fell on the cold, hard concrete with a loud THUD.

Haley took this opportunity to escape, but he was too swift. Soon, he was by her side, pulling her toward him once again. Pounding her hands against his chest, she crumbled, ironically on the same spot she remembered hiding in when she was in high school. Clinching his shirt in her hand, he felt her unsettling coldness.

"Haley," he openly pleaded for her to listen. He didn't know why he was the one begging when it should have been the other way around, but there he was doing the thing he sworn to himself he would never do. She wasn't worth this ravage heartache. She wasn't, he tried to convince himself.

"Hales," tilting her chin toward him, he stroked her cheek with the back of his knuckles before comforting her with his lips. Every time her large brown doe eye flickered sorrow, he succumbed to her beck and call. Here he was, the good guy in this relationship, allowing the one person who was able to steal his heart strip it once more. He couldn't come to terms with what he was doing. All he was able to acknowledge was that she possessed traits he never encountered before: compassion, genuine kindness, inner strength even she didn't know she had, and other qualities he couldn't finish listing in his lifetime. Putting all his soul into kissing her for the last time, he continued to hold her even after he finally broke the earth-shattering kiss. All he felt now was physical attraction towards her he advised himself.

Not allowing herself to think about the undeniable kiss, Haley took this opportunity to slap him hard across the face. "How…DARE you!" Haley's voice lacked the venom she sought. Shaking, she took a step back.

"How dare I?" He shook his head and started laughing uncontrollably.

"You heard what I said." Giving him a quizzical look, she inquired, "And why are you laughing? This isn't a joke. Maybe I should knock some sense into you."

"Oh, that's a good one. You're the one who lied to me straight to my face about who you are. So Miss James, I should be the one saying, how dare you," he stated in a cool, even tone while watching her react to his revelation.

Perplexed, she stood quietly in shock. Deep down, she knew that he would eventually discover her secret because the truth always comes out in the end, but she didn't assume it would be this soon.

"So what do you have to say for yourself?" Folding his arms, he unconsciously grinded his teeth.

"Don't turn this on me. You're the one who committed the greatest sin," she pointed her finger at him accusingly.

"What are you talking about?"

For a split second, Haley almost believed that he didn't have an inkling about what she was talking about. "Don't play Mr. Innocent because it won't work."

"Hales, I really don't know what you're talking about." He instantly regretted using his nickname for her. It brought back too many memories, including their most recent kiss.

"That you have a fiancée," she stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Staring at her like she was a crazy person, he shouted, "What?"

"You're engaged. I can't believe you had the nerves to cheat on her and me. You are a no good, two timing-"

Seeing her raise her hand once more, Lucas grabbed it.

"Let go Luke."

"Not until I make you believe that that ridiculously story is a bunch of crap. Wait, is that why you ran away?"

"Yes," she replied meekly, trying to take in everything he said. He wasn't engaged. The truth was evident in his eyes.

Taking a seat on the ground, she covered her face with her hands. Rubbing her hands up and down, she wished this whole ordeal would just vanish. "Just go away Luke. I've caused you enough trouble ever since the day I met you."

Oddly enough, seeing how much he affected her made him want her even more, a forbidden desire he couldn't seem to control. "Believe me Haley, I tried and tried, but you are just too darn irresistible."

Giving him a look of disbelief, she waved her hand for him to return to his life that was probably perfect before she turned it upside down.

Taking her hands in his, he tried to convey his feelings to her and to himself. "Although I forgive you for lying to me, I don't think I'll ever be able to forget." Smiling at how his mother was able to read his feelings better than he could read his own, he continued, "I need you to clear something up for me though. Why would you lie to me about your true identity?"

"I honestly don't know," her voice quavered.

"There must have been a reason." He trapped her gaze, his stare intense.

Thinking hard, Haley thought hard about his question. "I guess I was scared."

"Of me?"

Nodding her head, she explained, "I walked into the office hoping that this secretary job would lead me to getting an editor position. I never expected to see the person I fell in love with in high school." She avoided his eye contact as she admitted to him her high school crush. "I know you must think I'm crazy for loving someone who didn't even know I existed, but I did. I thought I was over you. As embarrassing as this is to admit, especially to you of all people, it took years after we graduated from high school for me to get over you. But then a few years later, long and behold, you once again entered my life, or more accurately, I entered yours. Then all this feelings I thought I no longer had resurfaced. I now know that they just didn't disappear, but were repressed. It was actually right here on this spot that I fell in love with you. I was watching you befriend and encourage a little boy." She added in a whisper, "And this is all your fault Lucas."

"All my fault? What did I ever do to you besides being honest?" She couldn't think that he was guilty of anything.

"You made me fall in love with you." Seeing the smile play on his lips, she boldly laid the blame on him. "This all wouldn't have happened if you weren't so darn irresistible."

"Irresistible huh? Well in that case you should blame my mother. She helped me become the person I am today."

"I knew you would find a way to use your charm to get out of taking the blame."

"What about you?" he charged, shifting his stance.

"Me?" She gave him an innocent look.

Her unawareness of her own magnetism as a person stunned his senses. "You made me fall back in love with you a countless number of times."

She blinked, and he saw a shimmer of tears. "And what about now? Do you still love me after everything I put you through?" Holding her breath, she apprehensively waited for his answer.

"I don't know." He flashed her a roguish, seductive grin. "I think I need another kiss to answer that question."

Responding quickly to his demand, she wrapped her arms around him as she settled her lips on his.

A/N: Thanks everyone for your continued support. I appreciate it more than I can ever express. The next chapter is going to be the last one.