Lucas's head was bent over his work, his prose. For the last two years, since he graduated high school, he was writing diligently. He didn't know why he began writing. In fact, through out high school, he hated English. But somewhere in between then and now, he fell in love with writing and it seemed to come naturally to him. College didn't agree with him. He found that out after freshman year at North Carolina State University. Writing became his part time job, along with mechanics at --Keith Scott's garage.

He was sitting on a bench over looking Bent Tree Lake. The sun was setting…he wouldn't be able to write much longer. He glanced up towards the sun's reflection on the water…a blurred canvas of oranges…reds…purples…

Peyton loved the light that the sunset was giving off. She looked through the lens of her digital camera and paused. There were some pictures better taken with a conventional camera. She picked up her trusty, old Pentax and took several black and white shots. She couldn't wait to get to her dark room to develop these. Along with drawing, Peyton feel in love with photography. In fact, any type of art attracted Peyton. She walked along the bank of the lagoon, snapping away…

Lucas turned just then, to the sound of a twig snapping to his right. His demeanor changed from calm to hostile in mere moments. He put his pen down, and put his hands in his lap. He watched her…with her blond, curly hair pulled up high into a messy bun, as her eyes, filled with wonderment, looked over the lake. He watched her stop, her eyes changing slightly, as she put down the camera. She stood still for a moment, as if listening, before she turned to her left and stared at Lucas. She titled her head, staring, before her gaze hardened.

"Stalking me now?" She said bitterly.

Lucas laughed and turned back to his prose. He frowned, realizing it was now to dark to write.

"Hey, you're the one invading my space…"

Peyton rolled her eyes. She turned to leave and stopped. Instead, she sat down on the bench, beside Lucas. She put her camera on the bench and turned to Lucas.

"What's the matter with you?" She asked candidly.

"What in the hell are you talking about?"

Peyton shook her head. "You know what I mean. Why are you so bitter with life?"

"Oh shut fuck up, Peyt. Don't you dare try to psychoanalyze me."

Peyton laughed cruelly. "Me? Psychoanalyze? Get over yourself. I just think you should work on some quiet introspection time for yourself. Cause you, um, need it."

"If anyone needs introspection, it's you. Maybe you can figure out WHY you are latching onto my brother. Maybe you can realize that the only reason you are with him is because you are afraid of being alone, you are afraid of basically being abandoned again like your father is doing to you."

It took Peyton a moment to let what Lucas said sink in. And then…anger. Lots of anger.

Peyton stood. "You don't anything about me, you self righteous asshole."

Lucas stood and shrugged. "Whatever you say…you're a classic case."

"I don't need to take this from you. You don't even have a father, so don't you dare get self-righteous on me."

Lucas's jaw tightened.

"Well, you're one vicious bitch, that's for sure."

"And don't you forget it."

Peyton reached for her camera at the same moment Lucas was reaching for his notebook.

Their hands touched, and both froze.

Lucas could feel his heartbeat pounding in his ears as Peyton was very aware of her shaking hands.

Lucas's index finger slid over hers in the silence of their darkness. Peyton could feel the electric current over the entire path of his touch. Oh my God…

And then, as if they snapped out of a trance, they grabbed their respective items and stared loathingly at each other.

Lucas turned and began walking away.

"Don't crash in that hot ride of yours," he called over his shoulder.

"Oh no," Peyton called out, "If anything, my tires will be running over that big head of yours…"

Peyton stayed a while longer after Lucas had left. She hugged herself and breathed in.

Why was she feeling so strange?