Thanks to Molly (Hallowed Soul), tickle582 and daddysgrl780 for the feedback on my last chapter and to everyone else as well!

Chapter 9

"The Burning Boat" from Episode #103 "Are You True?"

"Where were you this morning?" Lucas asked Haley as he looked over at her.

"Uh, just tutoring," Haley managed to say.

"Oh yeah, anyone I know?" Lucas asked Haley, curious as to whom she was tutoring.

Haley sighed. She had to tell him. She had been avoiding it for days. "Yeah, that's actually something I wanted to talk to you about, Lucas."

Lucas became concerned. "Ok, who is it you're tutoring, Haley? You can tell me."

"Don't be mad at me, Luke, but it is…Nathan. I'm tutoring Nathan and I'm doing it for you, Lucas. I told him that I would tutor him if he leaves you alone and he agreed," Haley confessed to Lucas.

"Well, of course I'm mad, Haley. Don't you see what he's doing? He's going after you to get to me. This whole tutoring thing is a load of crap! I don't need your help, Hales. I can take care of him myself," Lucas told her.

"So, you don't want me tutoring him," Haley replied to his outburst.

"Of course not, Haley!" Lucas confirmed. He did not want Nathan getting close to her.

Haley nodded. She knew it probably wasn't a good idea to tutor Nathan in the first place, even though she was only doing it for Lucas. "Ok, I'll tell him tomorrow," Haley complied.

"I'm sorry if it seemed like I was yelling at you, Hales. It's just Nathan seems to be going after you, and I don't like it at all. You're my weak spot, Hales, and I want to protect you," Lucas told her sincerely, looking into her eyes.

"It's ok, Luke. I knew tutoring him wasn't a good idea," Haley said, looking down at her bracelet that Nathan gave her. "I'm done with him," she told Lucas as she took off the bracelet.

"It was from him, wasn't it?" Lucas asked her.

"Yes, unfortunately, it was. I really had no choice. He just took my hand and put it on me," Haley replied.

"See, that's what I don't like about him, Hales. He's trying to get close to you. So, what are you going to do with the bracelet?" Lucas asked her.

"I would burn it for burning boat, but since it's too late for that, I'm just going to pitch it," Haley answered, and threw the bracelet into the river in front of her.

"Good for you, Hales," Lucas smiled. He was pleased she did that. She smiled back. They watched the burning boat together for awhile.

"Luke?" Haley spoke after a few minutes of silence.

"Yeah?" Lucas answered, turning to look at her.

"I want you to know that I don't like Nathan. You're more important to me than him. You're my best friend and you always will be, nothing will ever change that," Haley confessed.

"I'm glad you don't like him, Hales because I don't know what I would do. I don't think I could handle seeing you with him. Not only are you my best friend, you're my everything, Haley. You're my reason to see the good in everyone, to live each day to the fullest. I love you, Haley," Lucas confessed.

"Wow," Haley breathed, amazed by his confession. "I love you, too, Lucas."

"So, are we ok?" Lucas checked with her.

"Yeah, no more fighting," Haley answered. "We're better than ok. We're good, really good," she smiled at him.

Lucas nodded and smiled back, "Yeah, just you and me against the world."

"Forever and always," Haley confirmed.

Lucas took her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. They could both feel their deep connection. They felt a pull towards one another as they turned towards each other and their lips met in a soft and gentle kiss. That's all they ever wanted, to feel this connection between them and to be happy with each other. As the burning boat continued to burn in the background, their kissing grew more and more passionate. There were the shadows of two young best friends in the night falling in love by the burning boat.