Peyton Sawyer - 19 year old Peyton Sawyer was finally a senior in high school; she had flunked one grade back in grade 7 and now she was one of the oldest in her class. She thought by now she would be in College but here she was back at Tree Hill High while all her friends we're off to College. Only thing she had going for in her life was her boyfriend Jake who was also 19 and a senior as well. She thought she had everything figured until one night changed it all.

Lucas Scott - 23 year old Lucas Scott had his first novel published and it became the #1 selling book but after that book he couldn't find inspiration for another book. His relationship with his fiance Lindsay went sour shortly after that; after she called off the engagement and got a call from his old couch Whitey Durham, he got an offer to head back to Tree Hill High to become to new gym teacher and with nothing going for him he accepted. Back in Tree Hill was the last place Lucas thought he'd be, miserable and alone forever; but will one encounter with a striking blonde turn all that around for him?

Nathan Scott was glad to have his brother back in Tree Hill; he missed him when he was living in New York. Ever since he had come back to town Lucas looked depressed and he understood why. Lucas thought he failed in life and he would be forever stuck alone in Tree Hill. After some persuasion from Haley, Nathan offered to take him out to Tric one night to clear his mind.

"Seriously Nate, I dont know why we're here." Lucas said taking a seat by the bar.

"Dude you need to get out of your house. Your gonna suffocate in that place."

"No matter where I go in Tree Hill; it's like it sucks the life out of me."

"I know you feel like you're right where you started but maybe its for a reason? maybe you're meant to be back here. Home where you belong." Lucas just gave Nathan a look

"Really? So losing the women I loved, my book deal. Losing everything I worked so hard to have is what was meant to happen all so I could come back to Tree Hill and become a gym teacher?"

"Common, look around maybe the perfect girl will walk right through that door and you'll forget all about Lindsay." Nate said pointing at the door as they both turned to look at the door. Lucas throat went dry at the beauty who just walked through the doors. She had shoulder length beautiful golden curls, a smile that made the whole world stop with sparkling green eyes that lit up when they locked eyes.

"Earth to Luke." Nathan said tapping Lucas shoulder. He turned and looked at Nathan with a mischevious smile and then turned back to look at the blonde again but he couldn't spot her.

"Hey coach." Jake said standing next to Nathan as Nathan looked at him.

"Hi Jake, how was your summer?" He asked him politely

"It was great actually can't wait to finish my senior year and get the hell out of this dump." He said nodding his head.

"Jake there you are." Peyton said making her way to the three man at the bar.

"Hi Nate, Jake I'm gonna get outta here."

"Hey Peyton, how are you?" Nathan asked her; Peyton was Jamie's babysitter and through the years had become close friends with Haley and eventually Nathan. It was weird at first seeing her at school and knowing each other by first name basis but they had now became really good friends. Peyton would come over to to hang out with Jamie whenever she had free time and sometimes Haley too.

"Could be better." She said laughing. Jake took his drink and went off into the crowd leaving Peyton behind as she watched him leave here behind.

"Still coming over tomorrow?" Nathan asked snapping Peyton out of her trance

"Yeah? at 6 right? That's what Haley said I think."

"Yeah 6 is fine. Have you met my brother yet? He just moved back home from New York." Nathan said nodding his head Lucas's way. Peyton and Lucas locked eyes again for the second time tonight and this time Peyton thought the wind was gonna blow her away at the weakness in her knees.

"Nice to meet you," She said giving Lucas a small smile

"Likewise" Is all Lucas could say not being able to take his eyes off of her.

"Okay well I'm outta here. See ya'll later." Peyton said as she turned to leave. Lucas turned and watched her leave not going unnoticed by Nathan.

"Don't even think about it Luke."

"What?" Lucas asked ignoring Nathan's comment.

"She's .." Nathan began saying when Haley joined them at the bar.

"Hey boys." SHe said as they both turned her way, Lucas mentally cursing Haley realy wanting to know what Nathan was gonna say about the blonde who he couldn't get out his mind.

"Hey babe." Nathan said giving her a peck on the lips.

"What's with him?" She asked seeing a daydreaming Lucas.

"Peyton. He saw Peyton." Nathan said shaking his head. Lucas turned his head at hearing her name.

"Huh?" He asked. As they both laughed at him; they wanted to tell him she was in high school but just then Brooke came on stage and announced the next band that was about to perform. Lucas took his cue as he got up and called it a night.

-

Lucas didn't wanna head back home yet so he decided to drop by his mom's Cafe. As he entered the shop his eyes caught the blonde again. He smiled to himself.

"Luke what brings you by?" Karen asked.

"Nothing Ma. Just didn't feel like going home just yet."

"Want a cup of coffee?" She asked and he nodded.

"Peyton sweety you want another one?" Karen asked pulling Peyton up from her book.

"No I'm good Karen. I can get my own since I work here anyways." She said smilling at Karen as she returned to her book.

"She works here?" Lucas asked dumbfounded not understanding why he hadn't met her till tonight.

"Yeah been a few months. She usually closes for me. She has schol during the day so it works out for the both of us." Karen explained as Lucas took his cup and sat down at her table. SHe looked up feeling his eyes on her.

"Can I help you?"

"Um No just thought Id introduce myself."

"I think Nathan already dd that. You're Lucas and I'm Peyton. Anything else?" She asked a bit annoyed.

"Your reading my book." He said looked at what she was reading.

"Your book? I baught this book myself I highly doubt its your book."

"No I mean I wrote the book." She paused looked up at him then to the back of the book and there he was Lucas Scott, the author of the book was sitting right across from her. She had a dumbfounded look and then felt guilty for being so rude to him.

"I'm... I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to be.."

"A bitch" Lucas asked cutting her off.

"excuse me?"

"I didn't mean to call you a bitch I just mean you we're being a little rude before."

Peyton didn't say anything, she looked at Lucas and then closed her book picked up her stuff and turned to leave.

Lucas felt guilty so he ran after her.

"Wait hold up. I'm sorry I didnt mean to be an ass." He said running after her.

"Don't worry about it. Can I go now."

"I guess. Don't wanna force you to stay if you wanna go, you can leave." Lucas said this time he turned to leave.

"I'm sorry." She said stopping him in his tracks.

"Can I ask you something?" He nodded his head as he turned to look at her.

"Who's your book about? I mean if you don't wanna tell me that's fine I ..it's just it's like this big great love story it's so inspiring." Peyton said

"Inspiring?" Lucas asked

"Yeah I mean, everyone dreams of finding that one person that loves them with every fiber of their being and I mean your book makes it seem like you have that."

"No, I wrote it for the same reasons. I always dreamed of finding that one person who I can't live without and who can't live without me but it just hasn't worked out for me yet" Lucas said as him and Peyton locked eyes. It took everything in her to look away and after a few minutes she finally did.

"Well goodnight" She said as she turned to leave.
"Can I walk you home?" Lucas asked knowing there was something between them, he knew she felt it too.

"I guess" She answered hesistantly.

-

Lucas and Peyton talked the whole way back starting from his book, to growing up in Tree Hill, to Peyton having inspirations to leave Tree Hill. He walked her to her door and stopped as she reached the doorknob.

"Do you feel it too?" He asked as Peyton looked at him confused. Lucas made his way up her stairs.

"I know this is weird and trust me I've never done anything like this before but I feel this pull towards you. Everytime I look into your eyes I feel this connection and I think you feel it too." Lucas had never done this before but he knew something was different about Peyton. He never believed in love at first sight or anything like that so he didn't know what it was; all he knew is he didn't want her to walk through those doors.

Peyton felt it too; whatever connection he was feeling she was feeling it too. She had been so lost lately and going back to high school again was just bringing her down even more. She looked at Lucas and took a deep breath as she thought what's one meaningless one night stand gonna change? it'll make her better for one night, that;s what. She took a step closer to him.

"Yes I feel it." She said as she stood inches from Lucas. She locked eyes with him and then crashed her lips with his. He immediately gave into the kiss as they made their way into her house and inside her bedroom.

Next morning, Peyton woke up with a smile on her face. Her night with Lucas was so much more then she imagined; as they had sex. Meaningless sex she told herself she nerver felt all those emotions. She closed her eyes remebering the feel of his lips all over her body and no matter how hard she tried to deny it was simply meaningless, she knew it was far from the truth. She brushed it all away as she felt the emptyness from the where he laid simply hours ago. The smile dissapeared from her face when she realized he was gone.

Lucas woke up late and forgot he had to be at school early, this was his first day. He really didn't wanna leave without telling her how much he enjoyed last night but she was sleeping so sweetly like an angel and didn't wanna wake her. He saw a notepad next to her bed and quickly wrote something on it and left it there beside her as he got dressed and snuck out.

Peyton was making her way through the hallways of Tree Hill High; sadden by the thought of last night. Sad that her amazing night had left this Lucas guy running the first chance he got but happy at the memory of having had the best night of her life. She was running late but didn't really care as it was only gym. None of her teacher's ever gave a damn since it was only gym so she took her time. Class had started 10 minutes ago and she still didn't care as she opened the gym doors and walked in.

The gym teacher was taking attendance when the door's behind her slammed. She froze hen she heard that voice saying her name.

"Peyton?" Lucas said frozen at seeing her making her way towards the rest of the class.

"Lu..." she started saying

"Mr Scott" He said interrupting her. As she looked at the rest of her class. Jake made his way towards her and kissed her hard before whispering that the new teacher was an ass.

Peyton looked at Jake and then Lucas; she tried her hardest to make the best of the situation. She saw the look on Lucas's face when Jake kissed her. What did that mean? The guy just walked out before she even woke up and now here he was. She took a deep breath as she smiled.

"Yea Peyton's my name." Jake grabbed her hand and went to join the rest of the class. She turned to look at Lucas who just stared at her.

The gym class was a bit too much to handle, she ignored Lucas as much as she could and when the bells rang she couldn't run out of there fast enough.

"Miss Sawyer, stay behind." She heard Lucas yell out making her stop in her tracks. When the class was gone, Lucas approached her.

"You're a high school student?" He asked her stunned at the revelation that he slept with a high school kid but Peyton just stood there trying to avoid his eyes.

"Seriously? How old are you 17? I slept with a minor?" Lucas started talking to himself while holding his head.

"Not that you need any sort of explanation but I'm 19 so no you did NOT sleep with a minor; I just slept with a jackass." She retorted which got his attention

"What? How am I an ass?"

"I don't know how about the fact that you just left before I even woken up. That's a very jackassy thing to do wouldn't you say?" She said approaching him.

"I left you a note." He started saying but then stopped himself as he realized that didn't matter she was still a minor and a high school student.

"You're in high school?"

"For your information, yea im in high school. I flunked a few grades so no I'm not 17, i'm 19 so that makes me an adult in the state of North Carolina so you did not have sex with a minor."

"SEX" they both turned to a stunned Nathan.

"Nate." Lucas said stunned.

"You two had sex? I told you last night not to even think about it. Why the hell would you go there?" Nathan asked stunned pointing to Lucas.

"Nate, it's not his fault." Peyton jumped in defending Lucas; she was just as much to blame.

Nathan turned to look at Peyton.

"I introduced you to him last night Peyton, what did you think he was your age too or something? or do you get the thrill of sleeping around with someone you just met?" Nathan said harshly; he instantly regretted his words not meaning them.

"Whoa Nathan calm down man. No need to insult anyone." Lucas said jumping in her defence

"Seriously Luke?, you just met the girl. And you Peyton, why would you cheat on Jake? You two have been together for years and you'd just throw that all away? What about his scholarship? What about his career?" Lucas just looked at Peyton shocked to hear she had a boyfriend, yeah some guy had kissed her but he didn't think she was actually dating the guy.

"You know what Nathan. I'll tell you the same thing I told you last year. I'm not gonna stay with Jake just cause you want to win a state championship. That's not a reason to stay with a person and I'm so sick and tired of this. Of all this shit. I'm 19 and in high school. Do you know how embarassing it is to see all my friends in College and me stuck in this shit town with you nonetheless." Peyton was fuming

"No more, I'm done with this. With you. You can tell Haley I'm not coming tonight or any other night. You're an asshole." She said storming off before she reached the door she turned around one more time and said.

"And if I wanna have sex with Lucas I damn WILL!" Lucas spit out his water as Nate looked at her as she walked away.