A/N: Thanks everyone for your fabulous reviews. This is the last chapter. I hope you enjoy it.
The night ended a few hours later with another slow song. Instead of dancing the night away with the other seniors, Haley and Lucas walked outside to the garden. Along the pathway to the gazebo were rosebushes, quietly displaying their beauty for the public eye to enjoy. Lucas held out his hand and Haley took it, giving it a gentle squeeze as they walked in comfortable silence towards their destination. When they reached it, Haley leaned against a rail, taking in the splendor of their surroundings while Lucas admired one thing in particular.
"Thanks," Haley whispered, her voice as soft as a gentle breeze.
Lucas moved to her side, "For what?"
"For asking me to prom, for making my night memorable, for being my best friend." She continued to look straight ahead before turning towards him, "For being you." She offered him a gentle smile, one he had always been fond of.
"Oh, is that all." He bumped her hips with his. "It was my pleasure."
An uncomfortable silence followed suit. Both looked up at the shining stars above. Somehow, tonight, something about the stars seemed different. A few moments slipped away before Lucas spoke. "It seems like yesterday when I first met you."
"I know. Time flies by way too fast. One day we're kids with no worries and the next we're young adults, about to make our marks in the world. At least, that's what I hope."
"I remember an overzealous little girl with auburn hair confessing her feelings for me," Lucas announced, not making any reference to Haley's comment while watching to see how Haley would react to his.
Feeling her cheeks flame from the mere mention of the situation, she turned away from him. "Are you ever going to forget about that embarrassing moment?"
"How can I?" He asked incredulously. "After all, it's not everyday that I am told that I'm going to be someone's future husband. It only happens about once or twice a week for me since then, but you were the first. So I guess I can make you one of my future wives." He winked at her when she looked at him in shock.
Her expression was quickly replaced with mischief. "And here I thought I was going to be your one and only. I guess I'll have to accept the proposals people having been throwing towards me left and right." She touched the collar of his dress shirt, "I mean, if you can have more than one spouse, I should be allowed the same privilege, don't you think?" She whispered into his ears, before lightly letting go and pushing him away.
"Before I answer that, tell me, who has been proposing to you?" Lucas asked, his arms folded across his chest, waiting for her to reply. He could still feel her hot breath against his ears.
"Just Hayden Christensen, Justin Timberlake, Paul Walker, Shane West, and a few others, but I can't think of their names right now," she lifted a finger for each person she listed.
"I see. And did you tell them about me?" Lucas took her hand in his.
"Maybe," she muttered, unable to think clearly when she saw his intense eyes meeting hers.
"What did you say?" he went along with her story. "Did you tell them how handsome I am and that I have amazing basketball skills?"
"Give me a break! You're not much to look at." Haley scoffed, pretending to gag at the mere thought. Then she rolled her eyes for emphasis.
"Or how about the fact that you loved me from the moment you laid eyes on me?" he pressed, enjoying listening to her remarks.
"Puh-lease. I was five. I wasn't thinking clearly," she answered, confused about where this conversation was heading.
"Or that I'm in love with my best friend!" Lucas proclaimed, making it evident that it wasn't a question.
Unable to believe what she just heard, she asked for clarification. "Excuse me? Would you repeat that please?"
"Did you tell your love interests that you loved me since the day you met me?" He questioned, unconsciously rubbing his thumb in circles against her soft hand.
"Not that part. What did you say after that?"
"Oh, you mean the part where I announced my true feelings for you?"
"Yeah, that's it. Now repeat what you said." Haley gently demanded, hoping she wasn't hearing things.
Taking her other hand in his, he stared into her chocolate orbs. "I, Lucas Eugene Scott, am in love with you, Haley Amber James. I love the way you think, walk, talk, eat and argue. I love the fact that you always say what's on your mind. With that said, what are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking, no, I know that I love you too. What took you so long?" she let out a nervous, happy laugh.
"I don't know, but all that matters now is that I've arrived and I'm not letting you go." He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight.
"Then don't." she whispered, as laid her head against his chest.
He stated protectively, "And I'm not sharing you with anyone, celebrities or not."
"Good, because I feel the same way about you."
"In that case, I think we should seal this conversation with a kiss," Lucas smiled.
Haley titled her head up as Lucas captured her lips in his. They slowly deepened the kiss as Haley wrapped her arms around Lucas shoulders and he around her waist. After several minutes, they parted for air.
Haley smiled as she looked up into his blue eyes. "Wow...that was..."
"Amazing," Lucas replied with an exhale of air.
"Yeah..." she said as she smiled up at him again and placed a tender peck on his lips.
"It's getting late, I should get you home," Lucas replied.
"Okay," she responded.
He took her hand and led her back to the car. All the way back to Haley's house, Lucas drove with his hand entwined with Haley's on the armrest between them, wide smiles on both their faces.
