Because, as if today hadn't been something out of an old Twilight Zone episode he used to watch when he was a kid, he was topping off the night with Hanna is his car, with full intent to come to his house. Lucas stopped at a red light and looked over at her – she was staring out the window, a million miles away, and he started to think of something he could say to make her laugh when her phone rang.

She was fumbling around in her purse for it by the time the light turned green. He was still a few blocks from his house when she finally flipped it open, pressing it to her ear. Then almost as quickly pulled it a few inches back, and Lucas could understand why. All he could hear was loud, loud music.

"Sean?" Hanna questioned in a loud voice. "Sean? I can't hear you... Okay, yes, that's a little better."

Lucas tightened his hands on the steering wheel. Why did reality always seem to have to intrude upon his fantasies? He took a quick, sidelong glance at her and she was pulling her hand through her long, blond hair in frustration.

"I'm with... a friend," Hanna said, shooting Lucas a smile of apology. He shrugged in response. "Sean, are you drunk? What do you mean, tonight's the night?"

Lucas swore mentally, using the "f" word, and then pulled into a parking space on the side of the street. Hanna gave him a questioning look, but he just stared out the windshield, knowing full well this was probably a little creepy. But clearly Sean was wasted and he needed to be ready to step in, just in case Hanna needed him.

"... what?" Hanna's voice was a deadly calm – no traces of the playfulness of sarcasm that he had come to associate with her. "What did you just say to me? I am not a slut."

Grabbing her phone from her, Lucas made a noise that resembled static and then snapped her phone shut smartly. He stared at the phone in his hand, aching to throw it, but knowing he couldn't. It wasn't his phone. And it wasn't any of his business. But... how was he supposed to just sit there like that hadn't happened.

"Well, I don't know whether to be mad at you for commandeering my phone from me, or thankful that you cut him off before I verbally castrated him."

But Lucas wasn't in the mood to joke. He blew out a frustrated breath, then tried counting to ten, but images of strangling Sean still danced in his mind. He tried counting to twenty. No difference.

"Why?" Lucas asked her.

"Why what?" Hanna replied.

"Why are you still with him? I mean, I get it, he's the perfect popular boy for your perfect popular arm. But where is he when you need him? That's twice now I've had to fill in for him, not that I mind, but I just don't get it! I don't get why you're with him when he's never around when you need him, or when you do need him you feel like you can't go to him, or when he talks to you like you're... you're trash!" Lucas exploded.

"I love him," Hanna replied softly.

"It's not enough. It can't be enough. You're Hanna Marin. There are a million guys lined up who would treat you right, who would be there when you needed them, who would love you."

But really, what he was saying is, here I am. I would treat you right, and I already do treat you right. And I would be there for you like I've always been. And if you'd just let me, just give me a chance, I would love you the way you deserve because it's all inside of me already.

"You're only seeing the bad of him. You're not there for the good... there's a different side to him, Lucas," she was turned towards him now, eyes shining, trying to explain.

"I know his type, and they only have one side, Hanna. And it's not a nice one, and even when they seem nice, they're just gearing you up to give you a swirlie. I mean, haven't you ever heard that saying... a guy who's nice to you but mean to his waiter isn't a nice person? Well, you're his girlfriend and he isn't even being nice to you."

"He was drunk," Hanna replied sharply.

"Big deal," Lucas said. "Listen, I know I'm crossing a line here, and that this is none of my business. But you were the one who called us friends. And... how can you not see where I'm coming from? If it was anyone of your other friends, you would be exactly where I am, telling them the exact same thing."

"It's not the same though," she replied. "And I don't think we can be friends if you don't respect my decision to stay with him."

"Well... I'm sorry then, Hanna... but I just can't... not after that," he said inclining his head towards her phone.

"Fine!" she exclaimed angrily at him. Suddenly she opened the door on her side and was out on the sidewalk.

"Hanna, at least let me drive you home," he said to her as she was holding the door open, ready to slam it in his face.

"I don't need this," Hanna said to him, and he wasn't even sure what she really meant, so he apologized and she just shook her head. "Have a nice night."

And despite the fact that he followed her back, intent on making sure she got home safely, Hanna didn't acknowledge the car next to her and everything was back to normal in his world:

He didn't exist to Hanna.