"You ready to go?" Lincoln asked, standing on my front stoop. "I have everything in the car."

"The car?" I asked, "No fancy limo this time?"

Lincoln shook his head.

"I wanted this to be a special thing, just the two of us. No drivers, nothing fancy. Just us."

I blushed.

"Let's go."

After his interview the day before, Lincoln had knocked on the window and asked me out for the following night, saying that he had a special evening planned. He wouldn't give me any details, but told me to wear something casual and be ready at 6:00.

"I must say," I commented as he opened the passenger door for me, "I find it strange to see you at the door instead of the window."

Lincoln rolled his eyes as he closed my door and walked around to the other side.

"I can occasionally be a gentleman, you know." He said as he climbed into the driver's seat. "Do you have any guesses as to where we're going tonight?"

"Well, since I saw a basket in the backseat when I got in, I'm going to guess a picnic."

"Too smart for your own good." Lincoln shook his head as he reversed out of my driveway, "You've hit the nail on the head."

I blushed as we drove out of the neighborhood. The security at the gate nodded to Lincoln as we left, and Lincoln waved to them like a giddy schoolgirl, causing me to burst into laughter. He turned on the radio after we had departed from the neighborhood, turning it up to an unreasonable volume and grinning at me.

"Think you can handle it, White?" he had to yell to be heard.

"I think so!" I responded.

Lincoln started singing along to the music at the top of his lungs, dancing in his seat as he did so. I couldn't sing because I was laughing so hard; the award-winning singer sounded like a dying cat trying to audition for the school musical. He sang along to every song that came on the radio from my house to Valley Park, seeming to find more fun in making me laugh than in actually trying to sound like a good singer.

"So is this what I am supposed to expect at your concerts from now on?" I asked after we had parked and Lincoln had turned the car off. "Because I must admit, it is different."

Lincoln laughed and looked over at me.

"I gotta say, that wasn't even my worst singing." he opened the car door. "You ever heard of autotune, White?"

I gasped.

"You do not use autotune in your recordings."

"I know. But I like to make people think that I do." Lincoln laughed as I reached over to slap him, jumping out of the car before I could.

We walked over to a spot in the park that was empty and free of couples having picnics; the park seemed to be a popular place to do so. Lincoln set down a blanket and our basket in a clear spot and sat down, taking my hand and leading me closer to him.

"So White, how am I doing so far?"

I took a chocolate-covered strawberry out of the basket and looked at Lincoln in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"With the whole being a good date thing?"

I rolled my eyes.

"We have to finish the date before I know that."

Lincoln shook his head.

"No we don't. You can tell me right now so I know if I have to be less or more of a gentleman."

I leaned over and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.

"You're doing wonderfully."

"Thank goodness." He grinned. "Now I can stop trying so hard."

***

"How did you get to be so beautiful?"

De ja vu was kicking in as we laid on the blanket after the picnic was over, cuddled together and breathing in the crisp air. I felt like I was about to be in a food coma from how much I had eaten, but I still looked up at Lincoln after he asked that question. I knew he had asked me that before. I just couldn't remember what my response had been.

I didn't want to repeat it.

"It's probably on my mother's side, honestly. My dad is kind of ugly."

Lincoln laughed, a true and genuine laugh.

"I was definitely not expecting that response." He squeezed me closer to him. "You always surprise me, White."

"I'm glad." I grinned, even though I knew he couldn't see it. "As long as that surprise isn't guys hiding in my closet?"

I could feel his chest shaking with laughter.

"You're right about that one."

We laid in silence for a few more minutes before I could hear it.

Rustling, whispering, shushing.

I knew Lincoln could hear it as well, and he tensed up from beside me.

"You recognize that noise?" I asked.

"You bet." He sighed. "And I was just getting to the part of the date where I give you more mushy compliments."

He sat up and I sat up with him, which seemed to be the signal for the paparazzi that were hiding in the bushes just a few feet away to jump out and run for us.

"I'll just have to hear them next time." I laughed as we packed up the picnic basket as quickly as humanly possible and started running for the car. The paparazzi could be heard behind us, shouting at Lincoln as they ran.

"Lincoln Carter, who's your girlfriend?"

"Lincoln, are you two engaged?"

"Lincoln Carter, weren't you out with someone else last week?"

"Lincoln, is it true that you're dying of cancer?"

We continued running until we reached the car. We both jumped in and I threw the picnic basket in the backseat as Lincoln started the car and tore off, leaving the reporters in the dust as he went.

"Well, that was exhilirating." I laughed. "Is that a normal part of your life?"

"Unfortunately, yes." He laughed. "I've become rather good at outrunning them." He looked over at me with sympathy. "I'm sorry, though."

"For what?"

"Well, for one, your picture will be on the cover of every tabloid in America tomorrow morning. And for another thing, we were having a nice time, and then this happened."

"It's totally fine." I assurred him. "I don't care, honestly. As long as I'm with you, I'm on cloud nine."

"The feeling's mutual, White." Lincoln grinned as we approached a red light, stopping long enough to lean over and kiss me. As the car began to move again, I sat in awe of the turn my life had taken.

Three years ago, I would never have believed this to be real. I was with Lincoln Carter, and he knew my real name, my real friends, my real life. He still wanted to be with me.

I knew, on so many levels, that things could take a bad turn at any given moment. He could say something or remember something, I could become weak and tell him everything in one fell swoop...or it could all turn out fine. He might never find out.

But then again, what kind of relationship would that be? In trying to escape a relationship of lies, I was essentially building my new one on just that.

A/N: Just saying, if anyone wants some super energizing and exciting writing music (I say writing music because it doesn't have words and that makes it easier, for me at least, to write without being distracted) I would highly suggest any Lindsey Stirling songs. I've written five chapters of Recalling Lincoln Carter, planned out the entirety of Three's Company and written thirteen chapters of it, and finished Part One of Dear Sydney with her songs playing on my phone next to me, and it has definitely given me the motivation and energy to get this stuff done.

I'm hoping you guys are excited for Three's Company and Dear Sydney coming in print, and be sure to check them both out! (Dear Sydney on Wattpad for the time being, but that won't be the only platform for long!)

Any thoughts on if/how Lincoln will find out about his and Olivia's past? Comment them below!

Thank you guys for your continuing support!

-Katherine