I must have looked like a complete idiot, standing there rooted to the same spot long after Brooke's plane had taken off into the darkening night sky. I wasn't so out of it that the curious looks and baffled stares went unnoticed, which is probably more of a curse than a blessing. I could have always pleaded some type of temporary loss of consciousness or something, that would at least explain the fantasy like goodbye I just shared with my best friend. Or well not 'just', more like an hour ago.

Shit! A whole hour?

I shake the daydream induced cobwebs away and bolt for the nearest exit, praying that my car is still where I left it.

Double parked in front of the terminal.

Thankfully it is, although the big ticket hanging off the left windshield wiper is sure to be anything but cheap. I jump in, without opening the door, something I don't think I've ever done before, even though I've had the convertible since I turned sixteen. I can't imagine why I did it either, considering that Brooke just left for more than three months. Never mind the little visit from the nut job I got right before heading out to the airport. But I don't want to think about Ellie or whatever her real name is right now. I don't want anything to bring my mood down.

Curiously enough, I have a slightly euphoric feeling rising up in me. And I refuse to pay any attention whatsoever to the inadvertent kiss Brooke and I shared. Because it has absolutely nothing to do with my current state of mind.

None whatsoever.

Nope.

Speeding down the coast headed back towards Tree Hill I realize I'm coming up on Wrightsville Beach. Instead of continuing on to home I pull into the parking lot, expecting it to be empty. I'm not sure if I'm really that surprised to see Luke's car parked right next to the dunes. I debate for a moment whether I want to stay, really not wanting to let his sure to be sour mood bring down my unusually good one. I finally let my conscience get the best of me and shut off my engine, quietly getting out and traipsing down the beach towards his lone silhouette near the water's edge.

As I approach him those deep brown eyes reach up to meet my own, radiating his pain outward across the beach. I realize that he feels Brooke's absence maybe just as much as I do. I try not to let that little devil that sometimes takes up residence on my shoulder whisper in my ear that my parting with Brooke was infinitely better than his.

I smile half heartedly as I take a seat in the cooling sand next to him, fixing my gaze out at the crashing waves on the shoreline. "Looks like it's just you and me this summer."

Luke turns towards me, returning a sad smile, before pulling me in for a hug. I'm a bit hesitant at first, not used to such close contact with him after all these months we've seemingly been avoiding one on one interaction with each other. I guess it was a safeguard on my part, no sense in tempting fate that I'd let myself lose my head once again and betray the person that means the most to me for a second time. Not that I'm really attracted to Lucas anymore, but no sense in taking chances I figured.

I'm shocked to feel my shoulder becoming damp, the realization that Lucas is crying hitting me like one of the waves breaking on the surf. Sure, I haven't known him all that long, but I've never seen him cry.

Pout, sure. Brood, all the time.

But never have I known him to break down the way he seems to be doing in my arms. It's really disconcerting. And if I'm being completely honest with myself, a tad on the creepy side too.

God, he really must love her.

A shiver creeps down my spine and for a moment I wonder if the May breeze is really that cool. The thought of Brooke and Lucas together can't be that unnerving to me. I mean, why would it be? I'm not in denial about my feelings for Luke. He's a good guy and I do still care about him, but the teenage angst filled make out days of ours are long gone, and I really don't have a desire to ever have a repeat. I'm completely sure of that.

I've lost track of how long we've been sitting here together, in fact I'm not even sure Lucas is still awake. So much for not schlepping anything else this summer. I better not have to drag his heavy ass back to his car to sleep it off.

"This is even worse for you." I guess that answers the is he or isn't he conscious question.

"What makes you say that?" I mean he's the one supposedly in love with Brooke after all.

Lucas sits up a bit from his prone position in the sand, resting on his elbows and giving me that all knowing half smirk that I've grown to loathe. "Come on Peyt--"

"Don't call me Peyt." I interrupt him, already having a bad feeling where this might be going.

He gives me a condescending look before continuing. "Stop trying to bullshit me Peyton, I was there, I remember what it was like."

I give him a blank stare, still refusing to acknowledge the path this conversation is suddenly turning down.

Seeing that I'm not about to give him anything to work with, Luke exhales a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his virtually nonexistent hair. "You do realize it yourself don't you? I mean you're not still in denial after all this time, right?"

Denial about what? I'm really not. At least I don't think so.

Apparently seeing the perplexed look I'm sure is washing itself over my face, Lucas lets out a humorless laugh, shaking his head and sitting completely up, crossing his legs Indian style and facing me now. "Apparently you are. Deeply in denial." He looks out towards the black ocean, searching for what, I have no idea.

Suddenly I find myself extremely curious as to what he thinks he's so clued in on that I'm not. It is MY life after all, not his. "Just what is it that you think I'm in denial about?"

It takes him forever to pull his gaze away from the darkness of the water. But when he finally does, meeting my increasingly impatient stare, I'm a bit frightened by what I see. He's as earnest as I've ever seen him and yet he looks almost angry at me.

"You're scared out of your mind, that's why you can't admit it, even to yourself."

"Of what!" Yes please Mr. Wannabe Psych Major, enlighten the clueless blonde here.

"The fact we're both in love with the same woman."

AN: Thanks for the feedback gang. I realize I switched up the beach scene a bit, but for the way I want to take this, I had to slide a bit into alt-ness. I hope you all continue to enjoy this and I'll try and have another part out later on in the week.