She sat in her office knowing what she had to do but dreading it at the same time

She sat in her office knowing what she had to do but dreading it at the same time. She was holding a picture of them. The one Brooke took when they were not looking. They were both smiling and looking into each other's eyes. A tear now rolls down her cheek because she cannot remember the last time she was that happy.

Peyton put away the picture in the album and sighed. "I will always love you Lucas but I will try to do this for you", she said.

Peyton got into her car and for the first time could not think of a song to help lift her spirits. Driving down the road she remembered the first time they met. No one had ever made her feel nervous like that. No one else had ever sent tingles down her spine.

She knew they were made for each other, but she also knew life was not like the fairy tales. Sometimes the princess did not get the prince. Sometimes you just had to settle for less than perfection.

She pulled up to the school where they shared so much. Sighing yet again she sat for about ten minutes trying to gain the nerve. She looked into the mirror making sure the tale-tale signs of tears were gone and walked into the gym.

Lucas was standing in the middle of the gym in silent reflection, a small smile on his face. He was thinking about the game. Not the soon to be played game, his first as the coach of the ravens, but the first game he played in there.

He looked over to the place where Peyton cheered remembering how he always loved to watch her in that uniform which showed her perfect legs. The legs that still plague him to this day. He can't stop thinking about her. He almost wished she never came back. Life would have gone on. The proposal wouldn't have had to happen so quickly.

He tried to switch his thoughts to Lindsay, but being here in the gym where him and Peyton shared so much made it impossible.

He heard someone walk in. "Hey there", Peyton said. "What are you doing here", asked Lucas.

Peyton stood for a moment not sure what to say next. She slowly walked over to him. Why does he have to look so handsome she thought? This would be so much easier if I didn't want to melt when he looks at me.

Peyton stood in front of Lucas and took his hand. "I need to let you know something", she said. "I love you Lucas, I always will. It breaks my heart every time I see you and Lindsay together. I can't stop you from marrying her; I know that. I am done trying", she said.

Peyton could feel the tears starting to build, but she needed to stay strong. Peyton started again, "I was reminded today that the greatest sacrifice in love is burying the feelings and being a friend. So I am letting go for you Lucas. If this is where your happiness is than you should have it. I need to go find mine", she said with tears starting to fall.

She let go of his hand, placed a kiss on his cheek, and turned around to leave. She started walking toward the door but Lucas yelled, "Peyton." She turned around and said, "Luke…I can't." Peyton then ran off.

Lucas stood stunned. He felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. Suddenly the weight of every decision he made in the last several weeks caught up with him. She was gone. He walked down to his office and sat down. He pulled out the emergency bottle that Skills gave him and poured himself a drink. He pulled out the drawer of his desk and picked up a picture under a stack of papers. It was the one that Brooke took when they weren't looking. They looked so happy. He whispered, "I do love you Peyton."

Back at the Peyton's car she was crying. She knew she needed to do that but letting go is never easy. She pulled herself together and turned on the radio. Amy Winehouse's Back to Black was on. How fitting she thought. She drove off with a sad smile, knowing she needed to find her happiness.