A/N: Long time! Must I always say something of that sort before presenting my recent stories? I'm really sorry for the lack of stories. Really, I post much less than I want to. Well, I shall stop moping now and strive to post more once my exams finish (on June 15). Why complain about your problems when you can just solve them, right?

Okay then, let the chase begin ;)

"Sometimes people run away just to see who loves them enough to follow"

x-x-x

Sitting silently, hugging my knees, I look around. Nobody's there. Still, I search and search, whilst in the safety of my hiding place. The silence attacks my ears, the suspense and tension of everything growing louder and louder. I take deep breaths, trying to calm my wild, racing heart. Where is he?

The breeze picks up, sending chills down my spine from its suddenness. I almost scream, but I don't. It has only been a few minutes, and I'm a grown girl now. I shall not be afraid of darkness and isolation, anymore. But still – where is he?

How long has it been since he has reached a hundred? I look at my bare wrist, expecting a watch to magically appear. Maybe it will also talk to me, keep me company. But no, seven years old is old enough, right? I can do this. I repeat it several times in my head, rocking back and forth.

But it does not work.

I quit taking deep breaths, as my racing heart takes over, bringing a hollow feeling in my stomach along with it. Fear engulfs me, as I feel my pulse catching up with the speed of my heartbeat. Everything rushes inside me, but me. Where –

"Gotcha!" he screams, and I scream all the tension out, deafening him. Well, at least, that's what I want to do after he causes my heart to leap out my throat. But of course I'm smarter to keep it in. I'm only seven; I have my whole life ahead of me.

Lucas Knight at seven years-old: annoying.

Ten years later: still annoying.

Conclusion: Lucas Knight, adding the "knight" in "knight in rusting amour"

I hide behind the tree, taking a bite off my sandwich, although I'm not hungry anymore. My stomach gets the hollow feeling as I stay still there, hoping to disappear: maybe by turning invisible, by camouflaging with the tree, oh or by turning into a tree myself…

"Gotcha!" he half-screams in my ear.

I jerk forward, and almost fall, dropping my sandwich.

"You owe me a sandwich" I stare at him blankly, pointing to the ground, meeting his eyes as I narrow mine at his.

Butterflies replace the emptiness in my stomach, as flashbacks run in my head. Flashbacks I really wish didn't arrive now. But then again, unlike that day, two days ago, I can save myself from the embarrassment now.

Like now, before he realizes the shade of my cheeks overpowering my light blush-on. Why do I wear only small amounts of make-up again? Oh yeah, to go with the natural look. But looking natural isn't really helping right now, maybe next time I will wear clown make-up. Yeah -

No.

Wait, what?

Just go already!

"On second thought, I'll go grab something else from the caff," I walk to the opposite direction as fast as I can, as if afraid the food will run out before I reach there when, really? I am just afraid my consciousness will run out before anything else happens, which will just add to the endless list of my mortifying moments.

"Wait, San -" he begins, walking after me.

"Uh, ah - congrats on the big game!" I remark with as much excitement as I can gather, feigning a smile, nervous laughter follows as I walk faster.

"Yeah, thanks. Hey, listen -" he says, following after me.

"Hey, aren't those your friends? I think they're looking for you" I suggest, pointing to the first group of people I see.

"What?" he looks in confusion at the drama club, practicing awkwardly across the field for an action play.

The first guy swings an awkward sword (seriously? brown Styrofoam?) awkwardly at the legs of the second guy. He jumps way too late, causing him to trip over, and a catastrophe takes place in the form of a gawky domino effect. An awkward pile of awkward people build up. I take back the action genre, perhaps they were going for a tragedy.

Oops. Of all groups to point at?

Where are his football friends? I wonder, not really bothering to look around. If they were there – you will know it. They have the gift of a loud presence. Or maybe a curse, more than a gift. Perhaps they have practice, but then why is he here?

Pushing away my questions, I make my way out as he takes his moment to laugh at the beauty of drama.

x-x-x

"I – I – " I stammer, taking in a deep breath to steady myself.

It's now or never.

"I like you, Lucas" I manage to say with the utmost sincerity.

I can't believe it. I just said those three words.

The very same words he has heard from just about every other girl in school. I promised myself I would not be one of them, but I'm not. I have liked him since we were in grade school, before all of them.

I like every bit of his annoying personality.

And no, I don't like him because he's so cute or he's so hot as the other girls squeal about. I like him because despite his annoying words, he's straightforward and honest, behind the foolishness of his actions, is intelligence, and although he has broken hearts, he actually has a heart, even if it is hidden - saved for those who matter.

I stare at him expectantly, waiting for his reply.

Now, you might be wondering why it took me five years to tell him when he could have been mine all this time. But you see, I have never realized this until five months ago when I shared my first kiss with my ex-boyfriend of three months, Cameron. It was supposed to be like fireworks, like heaven, or like every cell in your body beams with bliss, you can almost explode. But all I could think about was how Lucas kissed one of his girls when I accidentally caught them beneath the bleachers one day.

His face is blank, expression unreadable

That was not all. Every time I went out on a date with Cam, I found myself wondering if Lucas would do the same things had he been the one I was on a date with, or if he would also wear the kind of clothes Cam did if we went out…worst of all?

You know you've got it bad when you're relieved to find your ex-boyfriend cheating on you - with two other girls - while you're still together.

Tension floods my system. Why isn't he replying? It's just a yes or –

"Sandraaa!" Ashley comes rushing in, her pompoms bouncing with every step, "I have someone you should meet" she tugs my hand, dragging me across the field, away from him.

I looked back, his expression still unfathomable. Perhaps I'm not one of those who matter.

x-x-x

I hurry away from Ashley and her new boyfriend, happy that she has finally found someone who likes her for who she is, and not just someone looking for a "good time".

"Go chase your happily ever after!" she calls out with a giggle as I rush towards the exit of the field where Lucas and the other players are – where my happily ever after is.

"Oh, come on. It's so obvious you like Sandra. You talk about her all the time" West states as a matter of fact.

"I talk about girls, all the time" Lucas says in his defense

"Yeah, but their name always changes. Yesterday an Alice, the day before a Samantha, and now there's Brianna. But you know what has always been the same? Sandra" West argues back, always meddling with people's business.

"Obviously, she's my best friend" he replies in the matter-of-fact manner West had used earlier.

"Call on the cabbage and Brussels sprouts. I will like her the day I eat a carrot."

That ends the conversation.

Everybody knows Lucas doesn't eat carrots. It was not out of the common repulsion to our fine healthy, green friends, as everyone thought. It was actually because of his pet rabbit that died when he was just nine; the first thing he cared about.

Sandra died choking on a carrot. Way to die, huh? Okay, I know it's ridiculous to name your pet the same name as your best friend, but we had won it together at a drawing competition for pairs. I let him keep it on the condition he name it after me, which he happily did. He called it his first love.

Well, there goes my happily ever after.

A sob escapes as tears stream down my cheeks, causing Lucas to turn around. I turn away abashed, not wanting him to see me crying over him, like most of the other girls have already done after a few dates with him.

"Sandra wait!" he calls after me, but the whistle blows.

The other players rush towards the field.

The game has started.

I run and run…

x-x-x

I love the smell of coffee. Actually, who doesn't?

I smile in my seat as I look around basking in the warm, comfortable atmosphere of the café, waiting for Ashley to arrive with the frappuccinos. The only thing I can't stand about coffee shops are long lines.

A cold breeze enters from outside, disturbing the warmth of the area, as someone enters. Why did I sit near the entrance? I freeze, not because of the sudden change in temperature, but because I see who entered - Lucas.

I grab the menu, and try to hide my face. Now, this would have worked out, if there was actually a menu. Instead, I grab the tissue and bring it to my face, advertising the café with its logo in front, making myself even more obvious.

Surprisingly, he sees me.

No. He's making his way over. In panic, I grab the first thing within my reach – my phone. How useful. Finally, something works out.

"Yes, hi Ashley" I speak loudly into the phone to show him I'm busy.

"Oh my gosh, I know. He is so cute" I gush into the phone, ignoring him when he reaches over and grabs the seat across me. Who invited him?

"I know right" I nod excitedly, "Can you believe it? He asked me out!" I exclaim, pouring out the energy in my words. That's right; show him you've moved on.

"Ooh! Who?" a voice behind me asks with enthusiasm.

Ashley.

"Hey Ashley Cooper!" I greet her, gripping my phone in embarrassment.

Heat engulfs my body, especially in my cheeks, my heart threatening to jump right out of my chest. Really, now? Of all names to pretend-talk to, I just had to choose my best friend, the person steps away from where I was.

Smart.

"Have you met Ashley Olsen? She's, this new girl in town, and-" I mumble, before logic catches up with me. Ashley Olsen? Really? Of all surnames. Where are we in, Hollywood?

"Oh, sure, and I'm facing Sandra Bullock now, and where's Mary-Kate?" Lucas comments sarcastically.

"Yeah!" I reply in my defense at his disbelief, "She exists, okay"

"Her - her dad's a but – a but –" I begin.

"A butt?" he interrupts with an innocent face, as though he was trying to be helpful, trying to hold back a snicker.

"No!" I say in a high-pitched tone, my face reflecting his crimson red shirt deeper and darker, as the seconds tick by.

"A butter" I declare with confidence, before realizing my mistake.

"No, that's not what I mean, I mean a butler! A-" I defend myself in vain, suddenly wishing I was the butter, melting away from him.

"Never mind," I throw up my hands in exasperation, "you don't need an explanation"

I grab Ashley, and we storm off the café, as she stares at him with the same annoyance in my face, failing as she lets out her suppressed laughter as we exit.

x-x-x

I hug my knees, trying to stop the tears, trying to drown out the cheers from the game…

I bump into someone as I make my way to the car, my vision blurry. "Sorry" I manage to mumble, just barely choking from the tears.

"Sandra?" she asks in her high-pitched voice.

"Mm. Yes, Brianna?" I reply, wiping my tears. It's really embarrassing to cry in front of people.

"Was it Lucas?" she asks in curiosity, without concern in her voice.

I nod, wondering why a small trace of surprise hits her face momentarily.

"Oh, I know, hun" she says with feigned concern, Queen Fake hugging me.

"Listen to me," she says, looking into my eyes.

"I understand how you feel. He also rejected me. Can you believe it? Me! I'm the most popular girl in school, he -" she stops herself from ranting when she notices my bored expression. I just want to go home.

"Anyway, you shouldn't like guys like Lucas. You know playboys. I think he's on his second phase. First phase was playing with the girls; second phase is usually when they're on hiatus, rejecting girls left and right. You know, hot and cold?" she says, sounding like one of my teachers. Well, I guess she would know that type of people.

"Uh - thanks," I tell her, not really knowing why, and I make my way to the car.

"Good luck," she waves.

"For what?" I turned back, perplexed.

"Well, from experience I can tell you that he will make fun of you, make you wish you had never admitted it" she replies with a devilish grin, showing off her true colors.

"H-" How? I was going to ask, but I didn't really want to know.

x-x-x

I browse through the rent store, not really finding anything interesting. But I have to find something, anything to stop me from thinking of him. After letting the eenie-meanie-mynie-moe decide for me I grab a DVD and head towards the counter.

A bell chimes and my head automatically shoots up, with a sense of foreboding. Lucas. I kick and curse myself inwardly for going to the rent store. Of all times and days to go, I choose the time and day we usually choose something from the rent shop for our movie nights. Sometimes I myself wonder if I really want to run way…

Sneaking quietly, I move to the last shelf at the corner of the store, right at the back. Just as I was about to reach the safety of the last shelf, he calls out "Sandra!"

I hide behind the shelf anyway, hoping that he thought I was just a figment of his imagination, or that maybe he was the figment of my imagination, or that there was someone else named Sandra, or -

"Hey" he calls out, and I turn into a statue.

My heart does all the wild racing, when it should be me running outside the store, my cheeks turn red, when it should be his cheek from the slap he deserves and my pulse throws frenzy inside me when it should be something else in this store, so he can get distracted and I can make my escape.

Using the quick wits I sometimes have, I grab the first DVD that I can on the shelf, and shove it in his face.

"Here, I recommend this" I say, trying to disguise my agitation.

"It's amazing," I beam, commanding myself to go, but my feet won't listen.

"I've seen it over, uh – five times." Come on, feet, it's just a few steps to safety.

"Yeah, and I just can't get tired of it, I almost know all the lines," I finally find my confidence, and I take a step away from him.

"I'm sorry I can't make it tonight for movie night. Uh, homework and baby sitting stuffs" I paste an apologetic smile, and walk away as fast as I can, putting back the DVD I was supposed to rent.

"Porn, huh?" he remarks with amusement painted all over his face.

I look back at the DVD I gave him. Pour Some Sugar On…

My eyeballs threaten to jump out my eye sockets, and jaw extends to meet the ground.

"Yeah" I almost scream out in panic.

"I like the – the – uh -"

"Yes?" he asks with a raised eyebrow, the amusement in his face growing by the second, it almost seems to glow.

"The um, how the guy…" Yeah, the guy does something…but what? No, I don't want to know. Uh –

"Do you want me to do those to you?" he winks as he flashes me an impish grin, closing the distance between us with every step.

"No…" I reply, losing my voice, close to fainting.

"No!" I repeat with confidence in my voice this time.

I can't lose to him.

"Ah! I didn't mean how…" I begin, nervous laughter choking the ha-has to huh-huhs.

"I meant, the guy, I – I like the…the design of his…" I rack my brain for anything relevant to say, but it abandons me.

"His sheets!"

His reaction changes from curious-amusement to sheer amusement itself, laughter bursting from his vocal chords. I hope it chokes him.

Mortified, I walk away, not bothering to argue anymore. That could not have been more embarrassing. As I open the door, I miss the step to the pavement, and land there on my bottom instead.

Never mind.

He stops laughing and puts the DVD back. Smiling at my clumsiness, he walks over to help me up. Thanks to the fast reflexes I don't have; I fail to get up before he reaches me, extending his hand. I just stare at it, trying to burn a hole through it. I would rather sit here all evening than get help from him, and get tormented by his teasing in the end. Well I don't need it, I already regret my confession.

"Oh, come on," he says, beckoning me up.

I just look away to the opposite direction of his hand, acting like I heard nothing.

"Sandra," he calls out, killing me with the gentleness in his voice.

Stay strong. I remain where I am, pretending like he does not exist.

"Come ooon," he pleads.

No. I shake my head at him in defiance

"Sandra, damn it!" he says, giving up.

Wow. Now, he has the right to get angry.

"Why are you mad?" I exclaim, looking at him in exasperation, "I'd rather hang out here on the sidewalk than –"

I don't get to finish the statement as he lifts me up the pavement then carries me by literally throwing me over his shoulder, and all I can do is slam my fists against his toned back in vain.

"Let me go!" I protest as he walks across the road, heading for the small park ahead. I squirm and wiggle away, but he just holds me even tighter.

My anger dissipates with his every step as I meet the butterflies in my stomach, small waves of electricity sends sparks of delight all over my body, and my heart revels in the realization that he was holding me - in an awkward position, yes – but that's the closest I can ever get. I will take what I can get.

Finally, he puts me down on one of the benches in the small park.

"What was that, Lucas?" I ask, demanding for an explanation, bracing myself for the torture Brianna had told me about.

Ignoring my question, he puts his arms on opposite sides of the bench to trap me. "Don't run away" he commands, bringing his face closer to mine with fierce intensity in his eyes, it can already burn holes through mine.

I stay there, silent, dumbfounded. I scowl at him as he grabs his backpack and takes something out. Something…that looks like a carrot. But of course it can't be, he never eats carrots, let alone carries them around with him.

Oh, but it was.

I watch him, flabbergasted as he takes a bite out of it, grimacing. Flashbacks return to me.

"Call on the cabbage and Brussels sprouts. I will like her the day I eat a carrot"

My heart almost stops as it skips a beat. He comes forward to meet my gaze, and he confirms the reason for it.

"I like you too, Sandra"

Must he murder me all the time?

My head whirls in confusion at those words calling upon a tsunami and tornado, in disbelief, wanting to believe. But I can't. I…

Being unable to handle the intensity of the situation, the eagerness in his eyes, I push him away. The surprise of my action causes him to lose balance, and I run. I just run, not knowing where to go, not knowing what else to do…

I hear footsteps behind me.

"Come on, we're already in high school! Don't you think we're already too old for these games?" he calls after me, grumbling and pouting, foolishly adding irony in his statement with his actions.

I whirl around, panting, "Well it takes two to cha-cha, dear," or however the proverb is phrased, "If you stopped chasing me, it would have been already over. You had to call on the carrot!" I turn back to my escape.

If he just wasn't so confusing with his "I don't like you, but I like you", if he just wasn't so annoying with his teasing and winning against me all the time, if he just wasn't so lovable with all his small gestures from a simple wave to when he messes up my hair like I was a puppy head being caressed. If he just didn't give me these feelings…

His footsteps grow louder with every step I take, nearly catching up to mine. This won't do, he is too fast for me to outrun. With this knowledge, I head towards the nearest alley, hiding.

I hiss in success as he passes by me, "Yes!" Finally, I win for once.

No!

That was too loud, wasn't it? Louder footsteps confirm my doubts as I see his shadow growing smaller and smaller as his footsteps grow louder and louder. I back myself to the wall, hoping he will not see me. Well, you know how such plans of mine go…

"Sandra!" he calls me, taking a moment to catch his breath.

"What were you doing there, Lucas?" I ask him.

"Running after you" he replies playfully.

"Oh, you know what I'm taking about. Stop that, I'm tired." I reply bluntly.

"Confessing that I like you too. No. Hell, I love you, Sandra" he admits with extreme sincerity, I can almost believe him "…since we were young. It was not Sandra, the rabbit who was my first love" he scoffs at the absurdity of his words from when we were younger.

"Then why are you telling me now - not before? Not through all these years?" I challenge him, crossing my arms, on the verge of believing him.

"Because I never realized it until you got together with Cameron. I was jealous, and all I could do was wish it was me who was with you during your dates, doing the small things he did that made you smile. You had no idea how relieved I was when you two broke up, except for the part where he cheated on you."

He is such a good liar.

"Earth to Lucas, that was about two months ago" I snap my hand across his face to prove my point.

"Well, I thought you needed time to get over him. And…" he replies, scratching a spot behind his head, looking down.

What? Lucas Knight? Embarrassed?

"…I was afraid you'd reject me, considering the fact that you've always called me annoying," he admits with his cheeks slightly turning to a light shade of red, almost unnoticeable under the dim light in this alley, but I have seen that very same beautiful face for eighteen years.

I know every feature: the way his lips curved upward when he smiled, the way his nose would crinkle when he laughed too much, but the way his eyes glitters now is another thing altogether.

"What about Phase two? Brianna said -" I object.

He scoffs at her name, and then looks at me incredulously.

"Do you seriously believe anything Queen Fake says?" Yeah, we made the nickname together.

"She said that you were on phase two when you continuously reject girls then make them wish they never confessed to you. The cold stage" I explain, realizing how the idea sounded dumb.

"No, what phase two? This isn't a game" he explains, "the only reason I couldn't stay with a girl for months is because…because they weren't you.

They didn't have that same wit of yours that never fails to make me laugh, they didn't have that same smile of yours that would always send my heart fluttering, they didn't have the same appreciation for my annoying personality" he concludes with a wink.

I open my mouth to throw more objections, but he lifts a finger in front of my face.

"I have stopped dating for two months now, 'the cold phase' since I realized my feelings for you. The only reason I denied it to West was because I want you to be the first one to know" he explains, convincing me.

Feelings of euphoria and other complex, unnamable feelings rush to me. Out of instinct, I look longingly away from the alley, towards the street where –

He puts an arm against the wall near my face and looks down to meet my eyes, a devilish smirk appearing. "You can't run, and you can't hide anymore"

With his other hand he lifts up my chin to bring me closer to him, close enough so he can kiss me, and he does – gently, just at first, to see if I would protest.

But…how can I?

It was like fireworks, like heaven…like every cell in my body beams with bliss, I can almost explode…and more.

Eventually, I ease into the warmth of his strong arms around my waist, and do what I have wanted to do for an excruciatingly long time. I kiss him back, caressing his spiky soft hair pulling him closer.

"Gotcha" he whispers, breathlessly.

I smile onto his lips in defeat, inevitably feeling like a champion.

A/N: There you have it!

The story idea actually came while I was supposed to be studying for my Biology exam. It's funny how all my interesting ideas flood in when I'm supposed to be studying. Lovely attention span, huh?

Anyway, I just finished it now, and published it immediately. I was just so excited to post again, so spelling and grammatical errors will be corrected real soon. It might undergo some editing here and there.

You know the drill: comments and criticisms are very much appreciated. Happy summer!