I just want to thank everyone who reviews, you have no idea how much your kind words mean to me.

Chapter Seven – Fires

"This is going to be a good night." Sawyer said, as she and Alex hauled several cases of beer down the beach.

"It's just another bonfire, we have these every year."

"I see someone is in a bad mood."

"I'm sorry, you're right."

"I usually am."

"I just need to have some fun tonight. Maybe drink a little, dance with some pretty girls." Sawyer laughed.

"Save me one of those dances. I'm going to make sure the music is all set up, but I will come and find you at some point, and when I do I expect a moonlight dance." To Alex the thought of a moonlight dance was amazing. He and Sawyer would spend the night under the stars, no one would ruin his night.

Sawyer on the other hand, was scanning the crowd for Johnny. The party was already in full swing, with the fire burning bright and red cups scattered about in the sand. She was going to find Johnny and they were going to have an amazing night, they would find somewhere to be alone and they could finish what they had started earlier in the café. They placed the beer in the cooler and stood up. "I'll come for you soon." Sawyer said jokingly.

"I'm looking forward to it." He told her, meaning every word.

Sitting by the fire, wearing her new outfit, Lydia held a bag of marsh mellows popping several into her mouth. "Shouldn't you be roasting those?" Lydia tried to answer but her words came out as a mumbled mess. "Swallow first, I don't want you to choke." Davis took a seat next to her in the sand and grabbed a few marsh mellows out of the bag. He placed them on the end of a long stick and held them near the fire.

"And how is the captain of the Tree Hill Ravens?" She asked. Davis smiled widely. Earlier at practice Whitey had told everyone that Davis Baker would be this year's captain of the team.

"It feels good, like all my hard work has paid off."

"I'm happy for you Davis, you really deserved it."

"Thanks Lydia, but what about you, how's it been being on the squad?"

"Other than my incident with your girlfriend, it's been good." Davis laughed.

"I didn't know you had that much fight in you, and for the record, she's not my girlfriend."

"Oh come on Davis, she's all over you half the time, and when she's not, you can find her hitting on Jude trying to make you jealous."

"Someone sounds bitter. Maybe you should punch her in the nose again." Lydia rolled her eyes. She caught a glimpse of Jude standing next to the keg, talking to a bunch of guys from the team. He was wearing a pair of cargo shorts and a button down red flannel shirt.

"Have you ever been in love Davis?" He didn't even have to think about it.

"Nope."

"How do you know?"

"I think love is wanting one person for the rest of your life, it's thinking about a person every single day. You would do anything for them even though they make you completely crazy. But it's a good crazy, and most importantly, you have to miss them like hell when they're gone. I've never felt all of those things about one person. Why do you ask?" She looked back to the boy next to the keg.

"I was just wondering if to be in love, someone had to love you back."

"They don't even have to know you're alive."

"Manager boy!" Alex looked up to find Casey Hawk standing in front of him wearing very little of what he was sure was once a skirt.

"Hi, Casey."

"Dance with me." It wasn't a question but more of a command. Alex was weary, this girl had only spoken to him twice, and both times she was kind of a bitch. But then again he did want to have fun tonight, and dancing with a pretty girl sure would be fun. He offered her his hand and she pulled him away from the fire and closer to the water.

"It's really nice out tonight." Alex said trying to make conversation.

"You're cute when you're nervous." He smiled, taking in his surroundings. He was dancing with a pretty girl under the stars, it just wasn't the girl he thought it would be. He looked over at the large stereo system trying to find Sawyer, but she wasn't there, he hoped she wasn't looking for him, the last place she would want him to be is with Casey. "Actually, you're pretty cute all the time." Alex was only faintly aware that she had been hooking up with one of best friends for a while now, but he still couldn't try anything when his mind still drifted to Sawyer. When the song ended, Alex thanked her for the dance and went off in search of the girl he arrived with.

Jenny walked along the shore, the waves just reaching her ankles. The sun had set a long time ago and now the moon was shining bright. She couldn't find Johnny anywhere and eventually gave up looking for him. As she walked away from the bonfire she saw a figure coming towards her. "Johnny?" she asked.

"No, sorry, it's just me."

"Oh, hi Davis, what are you doing this far from the party?" She asked.

"I could ask you the same thing." Jenny smiled and lightly shrugged. "Honestly, I had to pee," this got a laugh out of her, "and I didn't think anyone would be too happy if I did too close to the fire."

"That is such a boy thing to do. There are portable outhouses you know."

"Are you kidding, it's way more sanitary for me to pee in the ocean."

"Gross."

"Oh come on, it's not that bad." Davis dipped his shoe into the water and lightly kicked some at Jenny.

"Hey," she cried "that wasn't very nice." Davis smirked at her and shrugged. She gave him her best evil eye before scooping up a handful of water and throwing it directly in his face. She turned and began running down the beach, but Davis was too fast. He grabbed her around the waist and carried her kicking and screaming into the surf. "Davis, stop! It's so cold." The two splashed around for a few more moments before wading back to the shore. "That was just mean." She said, making her way to the large fire in order to warm herself up.

"I'm sorry, but you shouldn't have joined a war that you couldn't win." Jenny saw Johnny as she approached the fire, she may have lost the war with Davis, but she was not about to lose her battle with Johnny.

Jude sat in a folding chair next to the fire while sipping a beer. The party was still going strong, but Jude had checked out a while ago, he just wanted to relax by the fire. On the opposite side of the fire Jude saw Lydia talking to a tall guy. He looked like an athlete, but he wasn't on the basketball team, he must have been a football player. Jude looked up at the sky and noticed the dark clouds beginning to form over the ocean. "Come one, cut it out." Jude thought he heard someone say, but it quickly became quiet. "Seriously, can you please stop?" He defiantly heard that one, and he knew the voice. His eyes darted to Lydia who was now backing away from the football douche. He then hooked his fingers through her belt loop and pulled her towards him. She put her arm out to stop him, but he was stronger. Jude quickly rose to his feet and made his way over to them.

"Get your hands off of her man." The kid looked at Jude, and then went back to reaching for Lydia. Jude grabbed the guys shoulder and spun him around so they were face to face. "Touch her one more time, and I'll break you." The guy reached out his hand and smacked Lydia's ass. Without thinking, Jude punched him square in the jaw. He fell to the ground, wimpering in pain.

"Oh my god Jude, what are you doing?" Lydia exclaimed.

"That douche deserved it, no one gets away with touching you like that okay?" Lydia was shocked to say the least, but glad that Jude stepped in when he did.

"Okay."

"Come on, I'm walking you home." Lydia quickly fell in to step next to him as he headed in the direction of her house."

Sawyer climbed into her car, thankful to be out of the cold that was now creeping through the air. She grabbed her black sweater from the back seat and put it on before starting up her car and looking for something good on the radio. She settled on a station put on her headlights, ready to drive home. Her lights illuminated the whole parking lot and some of the beach. She could faintly see two shadows making their way to a car, arms wrapped tightly around each other. Sawyer watched the figures as the climbed into a Ford Escape, she knew that car. Johnny must be taking Jenny home. Jealousy shot through Sawyer before she realized that he wasn't hers, and if she didn't do something soon, he never would be.

I know this chapter is kind of short, but keep reading. Chapter Nine is the Boy Toy auction, so drama is ensured.