"Was it love, or the idea of being in love?"

The next morning, I needed to be alone. I woke up at 8 and put on my bathing suit. I grabbed my usual necessities off my night table. I grabbed a beach towel from the closet before I crept quietly down the stairs. I didn't want to wake Nathan or Lucas up.

FLASHBACK:

Nathan walks up the stairs and down Brooke's hallway.


"Nathan," she calls from her room.


"Not now, Brooke," he says as he begins to walk away, angrily. Brooke gets up and walks toward her door.


"Nathan, just listen to me... I'm... I'm sorry," she says standing at her doorway.

"What if I tell you sorry's not enough?" Nathan walks into his room.

END FLASHBACK

I got to the beach and laid out my towel. I sighed. I'd been here for a week, and already things were complicated. I wanted Lucas, but I couldn't understand why I didn't want Nathan. He had been nicer to me this entire time while Lucas had just been sarcastic and cocky. I sighed again and then decided not to think about everything, just for today. After shutting off my cell phone, I walked down to the ocean to swim.

I swam for a few minutes. The water was calm, which was ironic, since I felt like I was going insane. I took a deep breath and held my nose. I dunked under the cool water and stayed there for a few seconds. Nothing could hurt you in the water. No one could make you feel bad for doing what you wanted. You could just be happy, even if it was for a few seconds.

I slowly made my way to shore. Halfway back to my spot, I saw someone hovering over my towel, their back to me. As I got closer, he turned around.

"Love is something far more than desire for sexual intercourse; it is the principal means of escape from the loneliness which afflicts most men and women throughout the greater part of their lives."

"Trying to escape the madness?" Lucas said smiling at me.

"Something like that..." I shyly smiled at him.

He then grabbed my hand, pulled me in and kissed me hard.

I pulled back, in shock. "What was that for?" I said.

"Just 'cause I couldn't help myself, so I figured I'd get it over with. And babe, we both know you didn't mind it at all... Now get your stuff together and put it in my car. We're going for a drive."

Without speaking, I grabbed my towel and clothing and put it into his trunk. When I got to the passenger side, Lucas opened the door for me. I felt myself blush and looked down at my feet. "Where are we going?" I said as he walked around the front of the car to the driver side.

"Don't ask questions... just relax." We got into the car and he started the ignition.

"There's a few rules to this little adventure," he said as we began to drive. "One: no cell phones. Shut it off, you don't need it. Two: no thinking. Just relax. Lastly: I'm the D.J.. Are we clear?"

"Yes sir," I said saluting him and giggling. I reached into my pocket and shut my cell phone off. I grabbed a clip from my shirt and put my hair up on top of my head. My hair blew around my face. The small town of Tree Hill transcended into trees as we drove further and further away from civilization.

I put on my best cute, sad puppy dog face. "Where are we going?! Please please please tell me!" I pleaded.

"Just because you put on a cute little face doesn't mean I'm gonna tell you... I'm tempted, but I won't do it," he smiled but kept his eyes on the road ahead.

Finally, I saw a red barn. "Where are we?" I said confused.

"C'mon, let's go." Lucas pulled into a make-shift dirt parking lot. Dust flew up around the car as we each stepped out.

We walked closer to the barn. You could hear horses crying. "What is this?" I whispered to myself. We walked into the barn. There were five horses. A chocolate colored one caught my eye. I walked over and stood in front of its pen. "Can I pet them?" I asked.

"Yeah, of course. My family owns them."

"No way... All of them?"

"Yup, the one your petting is Sugar. That one," he said pointing to a gray one at the end, "that's Ace. He's mine." He walked over to the horse and put his face up to its nose. The horse licked him. Lucas reached into a pail on the wall and picked out two apples. He threw me one and held one for himself. He fed his to Ace. "Go on, give her it," he laughed seeing me confused on what I needed an apple for.

"Oh!" I laughed. I handed Sugar the apple.

"Wanna ride them?"

"Can we!?" I said excitedly.

"Yeah. I'll get Antonio to set everything up. Wait here," he said as he walked past me. He came behind me and kissed my cheek quickly before walking out. When I saw he was clearly out of sight and wouldn't see or hear me, I started jumping up and down. He was amazing and the perfect guy.

Fifteen minutes later, we were up on the horses.

"You look like a good rider," he winked at me from the top of Ace.

"You're pretty sexy too, cowboy," I said smirking. We went down a trail side by side talking. I couldn't stop smiling the entire time. Everything was perfect... Until Lucas's cell phone rang.

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Sorry for the lack of updating! But amazing job reviewing, everyone! I can't believe how many reviews I've been getting on each chapter! I'm sorry for not updating... I either write or draw, and for the past day or two all I've been doing is sketching. I also am gonna update my other story so get ready for that! Reviews!!!! Thanks again! xxoxoxo