[i]I knew it. I freaking [u]knew[/u] it. You stupid idiot! I [u]knew[/u] you would mess this up! Now look...one innocent compliment and she's gone running. Face it dude, you suck at romance. You suck at everything.[/i]

Lucas was mentally slapping himself over and over again, having an internal argument with himself.

[i][u]It wasn't even supposed to be a thing![/u] It was just a compliment...[/i]

[i]You know full well that there's no such thing as "just a compliment", moron. You botched it. C'mon dude, you barely met her![/i]

[i]Ok. Did you even [u]see[/u] what the scene looked like? It was perfect. Man, it was perfect...[/i]

[i]SHUT UP. Look.[/i]

Lucas let his crestfallen face look up to see the girl running away. [b]"So much for that,"[/b] he said in the most pitiful voice ever.

And then the girl extravagantly tripped over herself and landed face first in the sand. He could have almost laughed...but then she didn't get up.

[b]"Oh for crying out-"[/b]

[i]Second chance.[/i]

[i]Shut UP![/i]

[b]"Claire?!"[/b]

He sprang into lifeguard mode without thinking, sprinting over to her. He hesitated when he got to her...she probably didn't want to be touched at this point. So he went with the verbal approach.

[b]"Claire? Are you okay?! Look, I'm...sorry for what I said, I was just...um..."[/b] his voice trailed off. [b]"Please don't be hurt..."[/b]