Everything changes after high school, Peyton knew that. She'd been told that her whole life. She decided to move to Los Angeles with Brooke for the summer, and start her internship with Sire Records. She was thrilled. An entire summer with her best friend and the job of her dreams. She couldn't wait.
The only thing she'd miss about Tree Hill was Lucas. She'd seen him almost every single day since the championship game. They were nearly inseperable. How she'd spend an entire summer without him, she had no clue. He'd planned to come visit her in September, right before he was off to college.
"Luke, I'm really gonna miss this." Peyton muttered, laying in his arms while they sat side by side in the comet.
"Me too, Peyton. But you deserve an opportunity like this. And it may never come around again."
She nodded, but it still didn't reassure her. She would miss times like this. Nights like tonight.
Lucas kissed her forehead, and squeezed her hand. He loved her more than anything in the world. And he wanted her to know that.
She was leaving tomorrow, and as much as he was heartbroken, he was so proud of her.
"Don't worry, babe. Everything will be fine. I promise."
Peyton left for California the next morning with Brooke. Lucas took them to the airport. The kiss goodbye was filled with hope and passion.
Hope for whatever was to come in the future, bad or good. He knew they could face it together.
Two months later, it was late August. Peyton's new job wasn't as thrilling or fun as she thought it'd be. The people who worked there were rude and uptight. They distributed music that had no meaning, or feeling. Not the music Peyton was accustomed to listening to, at least.
Brooke spent her days designing more items for her new fashion line out by the pool of her parent's Bel Air mansion. They were never home, and Brooke liked it that way.
On one patricularly annoying day at the office, Peyton arrived home to find Brooke sitting out by the pool again, like usual.
"Hey B. Davis. How you holding up today?" Peyton took the seat next to Brooke on one of the lounge chairs.
Brooke looked up and sighed. "Just another day at the office, P. Sawyer. How you feeling today?"
Peyton looked out at the pool, and bit her lip. "It's fine. I just wish it was everything I'd hoped it would be."
"Have you talked to Lucas? He'll be here in a few weeks, won't he?" Brooke set her sketch pad on the table between them.
Peyton shook her head. "I can't tell him, Brooke. I don't want to be a disappointment."
"Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer. How could you even say that? That boy loves you more than anything, and you know it. He'll always support you, through everything."
Peyton looked up at her, solemn. "I just wish I was doing more there. I just get the coffee and make copies and hand out the mail. I'm not going anywhere. At least you have Clothes Over Bros."
Brooke looked down, at a loss for words. "So what are you gonna do, Peyton? Go back to Tree Hill?"
She looked at Peyton, waiting for an answer she wasn't sure would come.
"I don't know. I just need… more. More inspiration, more something. Anything but what I'm doing."
"Peyton, everyone knows that interns do all those things. They make coffee and do what their told by the boss. You have to work your way up. It's gonna take some time." Brooke rubbed her shoulder, trying to be supportive, but honest. She was always honest with Peyton, even in hard times.
Peyton nodded. "Maybe I should just wait it out." Peyton's phone rang. The caller ID said it was Lucas.
Peyton never dreaded a call from him, not once. But today, she couldn't face it. She pushed decline and put her phone back in her pocket.
She couldn't face disappointing him. Not today.
Maybe not ever.
