Disclaimer: I do not own Spashley. However, I own everyone else – especially Lucas. Protect her at all costs, okay?

Also, this is heavy on Lucas's pov. I promise to try and balance it all out between the characters but I need to just go with the flow while it's there. In the meantime, Spashley is making little ripples and small waves in the background.

ENJOY!

Three | In Love With You

~*Lucas*~

The drive was rather quiet as we headed out of Keewatin. I had moved to turn the radio on to help with the slight awkward silence. Dylan and I had our share of arguments but it all felt so foreign at that moment. I could tell she wanted to say something but her brown eyes avoided my gaze since I had returned home that evening. Before I could turn the volume up, Dylan's hand fell on mine.

"I'm sorry." She whispered and I felt her looking at me. I chanced a glance at her and noticed the tears brimming in her eyes. It immediately killed me that I couldn't reach over and hug her because I was driving.

"You couldn't apologize when I'm busy not driving?" I managed a watery chuckle and she snorted, wiping at her eyes.

"I'm a jerk and I know I'll probably continue to be a jerk because that's just how I roll." Dylan shrugged but squeezed my hand. "But I really am sorry Lukey. I don't actually want you to go."

"I know." I sighed and squeezed her hand back. "This is a new experience for me. I'm going to York where Mom went and I was given the same scholarship for hockey. This is a huge deal."

Dylan nodded in understanding with a small smile before we entered the main part of the city. "I am happy for you."

Nothing else was said as we pulled into the back lane lot. It was for employees only but we were family so Chase and Ephiny didn't care. The rest of the family had yet to arrive so we made our way through the back entrance. "Chase? Eph?"

A bright smile from Chase was what greeted me as we rounded the corner to enter the kitchen of Rapture. "Hey my favourite girls!" She kissed us each on the cheek. "Where is the rest of the calvary?"

"You know Momma. She won't even touch the speed limit with kids in the car." Dylan chuckled and bumped my hip with hers.

"Ah! My two favourite girls!" Ephiny came into the kitchen with a tray of dirty plates and cups. "This is an exciting night, isn't it? Doesn't this bring back memories of Jaiden leaving the nest for the first time?"

I swallowed at the mention of the woman's name and put on my bravest smile. I hadn't seen her in over a year when she had come back from her last year of college, revealing she was engaged. I was seventeen and devastated. I didn't exactly keep it a secret that I was crushing on her hardcore; bordering on the edge of being in love. My eleven year old self hung onto the friendly open-minded Jaiden.

My seventeen year old self pretty much shattered that image. Sure, I had girlfriends because maybe a part of me knew I'd still have to wait for my turn to woo that beautiful human being; but it all went down the drain when she brought home Kennedy Trey and introduced her as her fiancée.

"Oh yeah, I remember." Chase chuckled but gave me an apologetic smile. "Dylan, why don't you go and make sure the music choices are up to par."

"Yes ma'am." Dylan kissed my cheek before taking off and into the diner part.

"Lucas, we just wanted you to know that it wasn't planned this way." Chase gave me a sympathetic look and squeezed my shoulder. "Jaiden is here for a while with Kennedy and she wanted to help set up this party for you."

My mind halted because I had ignored Jaiden for a better part of the last year and now she was at this dinner party and since it was for me, I couldn't exactly walk out. I could only nod and let out air I didn't even realize I was holding.

"We're sorry, babe." Ephiny kissed the side of my head before grabbing a cloth and heading out the kitchen door again.

"It was just a crush. I'm okay. Really." I smiled and reached around Chase, grabbing a carrot stick. "But thank you for looking out for me." I walked past her and as soon as I was away from prying eyes, I fell against a wall in a small hallway, fighting back a few stray tears.

"Lucas?" Matthew's voice brought me back with a concerned look on his face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, bud." I nodded and sniffled slightly, wiping my eyes. "Come on, let's go see what's happening up front." I grabbed his hand and we joined the rest of the family.

"Were you ever allowed to have your best friend tag along to something when you were grounded?" Chase asked my moms teasingly, pointing to Dylan and Taesso, talking in hushed whispers.

"Yes, actually. Kyla was pretty much my other sister so she was given a free pass." Mom chuckled and then Momma scrunched her face up. "What?"

"I don't see Dyl and Taes as siblings." She huffed out.

"Not here." Mom scolded playfully and their eyes shared an intimate moment

The chimes above the door went off, signaling company. I turned my head to see Jaiden, in her glorious tight jeans and a loose shirt that hung off her shoulders. She had sunglasses perched up on top of her head, holding back her long, so long, dark wavy hair. My heart started to beat erratically and I knew I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready to face the questions of why I ignored every email, every text, every facebook message. It was obvious but never addressed as to why.

Then Kennedy walked in behind her, her layered red hair tucked perfectly behind her ears, her green eyes popping against her freckled cheeks, her hand slipping into Jaiden's as they approached the table. "Sorry we're late. Someone had to make sure they had the perfect outfit on."

Jaiden just pouted before looking down at her outfit. Her very sexy and form fitting outfit.

Why must the universe punish me?

"Looks normal to me." Chase shrugged at her daughter before giving the new arrivals hugs.

Jaiden's keys jingled in her hands and then I felt her eyes on me. "Lucas." It was like melted honey dripping from her voice and I hated her for it.

Hated may have been a strong word.

Finally, I looked up at her for the first time in what felt like years and gave her my best smile. "Jaiden."

Everyone could feel the tension but Jaiden just ignored it and slid into my booth, sitting beside me. Her sweet perfume was intoxicating and it wasn't fair to be me at that moment. "How have you been? It's been a long time, we have a lot to catch up on."

I could feel Dylan's eyes on me and I could almost feel her concern for me in waves. After all, she knew my feelings for Jaiden more than anyone. "Hockey and school, you know. Just finished graduating and I'm heading for York in two weeks."

I felt her hand on my shoulder and I swallowed, casting a glance at my parents. Momma gave me a small smile before taking over the conversation.

Dinner went by without any hiccups. Matthew, Dylan and Taesso were in the book section playing a board game while I sat in the corner with Momma, who was playing piano. That was when she approached me, her grey eyes so soft, her smile so sweet. "May I steal Lucas away for a bit?"

Momma nodded and patted me on the back while I shuffled off the piano bench and followed Jaiden towards the front door.

"Jai, where are you going?" Kennedy grabbed her hand as she approached us, a loopy smile on her face. I didn't really know the woman to judge but she seemed like a lightweight.

"I need some fresh air and I wanted to catch up with an old friend." The brunette grinned at me and pleaded with me silently to agree.

"Yeah. It's been over a year since I've seen her and well, I need to hear about the wedding plans and all of that." I smiled, winking at Kennedy, who just stepped back and gave us a half grin.

"Oh, is this the girl you wanted to be your Best Man?" Kennedy asked excitedly.

I could feel Jaiden tense slightly but instead of confirming her fiancée's question, she just grabbed my wrist softly and dragged me out of the diner. We started to walk down Second Street and toward the Harbourfront in silence. We finally reached the water front and found an empty bench on the boardwalk.

"So," I started awkwardly because what was I supposed to say? "Best Man?"

Jaiden huffed out a laugh and pulled her hair to the side, not having her sunglasses on her to help with her unruly, sexy hair. "She has everything planned already. Everything except that."

"And why are you hesitating?" I asked, seeing the cute worry frown she always wore when in thought or stressed.

"Why are you ignoring me?" She finally asked, her eyes finding mine and then I felt her hand holding the side of my face lightly. "We used to talk about everything and you were my best friend, Luc."

I stood up and leaned against the railing overlooking the lake. I could feel my heart just beating so fast and hard. "When I was fifteen, I was supposed to have my first date with Kylee Strecker. Moms wouldn't let me go alone so you said you'd chaperone us, do you remember?"

"They didn't like the fact that she just turned seventeen." I felt her beside me, her arm brushing against mine.

"And I was going to be sixteen within that month so..." I laughed a little and shook my head. "Anyway, you were inviting Natalie and called it a double date. You made this whole ordeal for us to get ready together. We picked out our clothes and did each other's hair but then Kylee canceled last minute and I remember feeling upset, so disappointed."

Jaiden chuckled softly and looped her arm around mine while we both stared out at the scenery before us. "So I decided to cancel on Natalie and told you to wait where you were."

"Like two minutes later, you knocked on my bedroom door and when I opened it you held out a flower and kissed my cheek then asked if I was ready for our date." I smiled at the memory of myself feeling very giddy inside because even though she had been my 'date' to my parents wedding, that moment felt so different.

"We had a really great time." Jaiden recalled softly, her laughing had died down and soon it was quiet. "You were the best date I have ever had."

I pushed back and really looked at her for the first time. "Sometimes when you say things like that, it confuses me." I finally confessed and turned my head back towards the lake. "You cannot be that blind, Jaiden." I muttered, looking down at my hands and they were shaking with nerves.

"Lucas..." there was her honey laced voice again.

"I stopped talking to you because I couldn't...I can't stop this feeling of being so in love with you; and I thought that if I just made you hate me by completely ignoring you, then I could just move on and you wouldn't have to deal with a kid being in love with you!" I forced out and my body decided to move on its own, further down the boardwalk.

"Hey!" Jaiden caught me and spun me around, her grey eyes blazing at me. "I've never once called you a kid. I've had nothing but respect for our friendship. I could never see you as a sister because you were always, on some level, more than that. And when I walked into Rapture tonight and I saw you sitting there with your perfect face and ... it was not a sisterly feeling I felt."

I froze and breathed through my nose deeply. "For years I have been in love with you and I'm sorry but it's not that simple anymore."

"Luc..." She whispered again, her plea almost desperate but I couldn't deal with it.

I was the one left to apologize. "I'm sorry." I barely managed out before I walked away without looking back.

It had been a long night. I had walked back to Rapture with a heavy heart and tried to stay away from the crowd but since the party was in my honour, I couldn't dodge the attention for long. It had been an hour since I came back and there was still no sign of Jaiden.

"Hey," Mom sat down beside me on one of the couches, her hand playing with the ends of my hair, "everything okay?"

"I'm fine." I nodded and bit into a piece of cake that Chase and Ephiny had made.

I felt her study me before ducking her head to get my attention. "Are you sure?"

I shook my head and tried to put on a brave face but I could feel the tears surfacing. I quickly wiped them away before they managed to make an appearance and then nodded. "I'll be okay."

"Lucas?" Kennedy stepped up behind me, her hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry to interrupt but I can't get ahold of Jaiden. Did she say where she was going?"

I swallowed, taking a deep breath. "Um, she mentioned something about going for a quick drive. She ate too much."

I heard a soft 'oh' and then she walked away.

"What happened?" Mom asked in her concerned voice.

"I can't talk about it yet." I replied politely. "Can I go home now?"

Mom studied me for a second before nodding her head. "Sure." She smiled softly and kissed my forehead. "If you need to talk, you know I'm here, both your Momma and I are here."

"I know, thank you." I returned the soft smile before getting up and tapping Dylan on the shoulder. "I'm heading home now, does Taes need a ride home?"

Taesso grinned and gave me a half hug. "That would be awesome, Carlin." Then he hugged both my parents, thanking them for the invite before high fiving Matthew. "I'll call you tomorrow and don't worry about Mason, he's a jerk anyway." He muttered to Dylan as he squeezed her tight.

"Thanks, Tae." Dylan hugged him tighter, a smile on her face.

I knew she liked him. She may not have known it but it would smack her in the face harder than a mack truck. I couldn't wait to watch that one unravel.

It was another silent ride towards Taesso's house but he broke the silence with a soft confession. "I'm in love with your sister."

I had to smirk because well, I knew that. "I know." I patted his leg before turning into his driveway. I stopped the car and put it in park, turning to look at him. "You're a great guy, Taesso."

"But she's in love with Mason." He shrugged, defeated. I knew that feeling all too well.

"No," I snorted a bit and shifted in my seat, "she's not in love with him. She's in love with...being in a relationship. We both know Mason is not good enough for her and in time, she'll learn to realize that too."

Taesso laughed quietly and nodded his head. "You think she likes me? Even just a little?"

"Yeah, bro. I know she does." I shoved him and his boyish grin came out to play. "If I were in any way straight, I'd date you." I winked and he just chuckled.

"Well my moms are probably wondering where I am," he took off his seatbelt and then gave me a fist pound, "thanks for the ride home."

"Anytime."

"Jaiden's blind as well, you know." He poked his head through the passenger door before giving me a final wave and making his way up to his door.

I sighed heavily, rubbing my temples from the headache I had forming and decided sleep would numb the feeling - for awhile anyway.