The music blared as Peyton Sawyer pulled her car into the parking lot. She'd heard it miles away and it made her smile. So many times she had pulled into that same spot in that same lot. For a year and a half TRIC had been a huge part of life and in a matter of days it would all be ending. For one so skeptical who liked to contemplate everything, she could relax in the driver's seat and reminisce with a smile. So much had happened. So much in 18 years. So much in the last two years. More than some twice her age could imagine. But anything was possible in a town called Tree Hill.

She had grown up the only daughter of Larry and Anna Sawyer, her mother deceased when Peyton was nine years old as the result of injuries from a tragic automobile accident. Torn between a dark, lonely world where music and art were her only escape and the outside's perception of a pretty cheerleader, Peyton had grown up to be a strikingly beautiful girl, playing all the roles as she kept up her grades, ran with the popular crowd and dated the school's most wanted jock, Nathan Scott. Keeping her sane in the world of teenage riddled angst was the love and loyalty of her zany, wild and equally beautiful best friend, Brooke Davis. Together they lived in their bubble where all was safe. But junior year at Tree Hill High that bubble was punctured by a mysterious and broody blonde haired boy from the other side of the tracks and soon nothing would ever be the same again.

His name was Lucas Scott, a troublesome youth with a familiar last name. The rumors had run rampant for years, small town stranger than fiction gossip that proved to be true when it was revealed that Lucas was the illegitimate son of Tree Hill's most successful car dealer, one Dan Scott, father of Nathan. But the name wasn't the only thing the boy had inherited. With it followed an impeccable basketball pedigree, one only seen on the court by the river for the first 16 years. But at the urging of Lucas and Nathan's uncle, Keith, Dan's brother, Lucas' undeniable talent had been discovered. Despite protest, suddenly there was another star Raven on the team.

Nathan hated him, that was for sure. Or maybe it was jealousy, a new threat. But whatever the rationale, he was out for blood when it came to the peer that was his flesh and blood. What was supposed to be harmless teasing and "boys will be boys" hazing had turned into a much deeper vendetta with Peyton the surprising pawn in the middle. Who wouldn't want Nathan Scott? He was the token handsome, popular jock the guys envied and all the girls wanted. And Peyton had him. But she desperately wanted more. His dastardly behavior was nothing more than a mere excuse to finally execute the breakaway she had desperately been yearning for but it turned out to be more…a lot more.

They say some people are just drawn together. Some people share an unexplainable chemistry that draws them together. It runs deeper than physicality or kismet or even love. Peyton never believed in such connections until she unexpectedly developed one with the most unexpected person. It was the way he looked at her. It was so brooding it was almost annoying until she realized she walked around with that same permanent mystery filled scowl etched on her face. But she couldn't shake him…or the way he made her feel. Maybe it was the way he insisted upon talking to her when she made it more than clear she didn't want to be bothered. Maybe it was the genuine interest he took in her art. Maybe it was the way he listened or the good guy in him always so eager to help. But it was a force stronger than life itself. When things were long over with Nathan, Lucas made his intentions known, intentions Peyton rebuffed until it was too late.

Change is a funny thing and it happened quickly. Nathan was using his tutor Haley James, good friend of Lucas, just to piss off his brother. How did they manage to fall in love? And Brooke had been on the prowl to get in Lucas' drawers ever since his Raven status was officially confirmed. Life was moving on all around Peyton but she couldn't let her guard down. Never mind she was secretly crazy about the guy. Never mind she had managed to get herself drugged at a stupid frat party and Lucas Scott of all people had been the one to rescue her. Never mind the fact they had made out at one of the Scott's parties. She was Peyton Sawyer, independent and self sufficient. She didn't need anyone…or so she thought.

He had told her he wanted a real relationship with her. She had scoffed and left him alone. But when she realized, when she finally listened to her heart it had been too late. She drove to his house in a giddy frenzy and Peyton Sawyer usually did not get giddy. But it was a glorious night, one where she would confess all and she and Lucas would live happily ever after. But it wasn't to be. In her excitement, she hadn't noticed the too familiar Volkswagen Bug parked around the corner. Instead she knocked on the door and surprised Lucas as well as herself by blurting out the truth she had been so stubbornly concealing. He was supposed to grin and swoop her up in his arms. Instead her half dressed best friend slinked around the corner. Too little, too late. The snoozing Peyton had lost out…big time.

When feelings are real, they do not go away and it's often hard to conceal them. For Peyton it became a way of life. After all she had moved on to Jake Jagielski and his darling little daughter, Jenny. And Lucas and Brooke were a couple. But an overnight stay looking for Peyton's father and then an accident that nearly took Lucas' life revealed a hidden mutual passion that wouldn't die. But in the process they hurt the one they loved most. For the first time in forever, Peyton didn't have Brooke. She didn't have Lucas either.

Change. Only in Tree Hill…

Nathan and Lucas became friends, Nathan divorced his parents and married Haley James all before the end of junior year. Lucas moved away for a day, returned and he, Peyton and Brooke slowly began to rebuild the shattered fragile pieces of friendship. Jake and Peyton grew closer before he and Jenny had to leave…just like everyone else she had ever loved had left her. Then there was the biggest shock of all. The mother who had shaped her life was dead but the mother who gave her life was very much alive. Introduce Elizabeth "Ellie" Hart. The apple cart was turned upside down once more as Peyton rejected, then accepted her birth mother only to have cancer rear its ugly head and take her away, too. Months later there was a hostage situation at school that claimed the lives of two after a bullet seared through the blonde's tender flesh. Lucas had been there to rescue her and when she feared death was just around the corner, she fulfilled her last mortal wish, placing a kiss on the lips of her true beloved.

They say the truth shall set you free but all it did was cost Peyton her relationship with Brooke again…this time permanently. And at the end of senior year as she walked across that stage there was no Anna or Ellie or Jake or Jenny or Brooke. There was her father and her friends…friends that included Lucas. Tree Hill harbored so many memories for her, good, bad and ugly. But a summer internship with Epic Records in Los Angeles was about to change everything. Afterwards, she would attend the University of North Carolina and only the promise of greatness would lie ahead.

And with the future Peyton could finally leave her past behind…

"Hey you, I was wondering when you were gonna get here!"

Peyton smiled as Haley James Scott rushed her with a hug. Two years before no one would ever imagined they would have become the close friends they were. Haley was a wonderful human being, warm, personable and genuine. She would make an excellent mother to the baby inside her due to make his or her arrival four months later.

"You know me, dude, I have to make an entrance. Better late than never, right?"

"I'm just glad you're here."

She grabbed her and they walked over to a nearby table on a night that had waited on for 18 years.

"Looks like the whole gang is here."

The club was packed. Nathan, Mouth, Gigi, Erica, Tim, Teresa, Skills, Bevin, Fergie, Junk, Rachel…the usual crowd. In fact, it seemed like the whole school was in attendance, at least their graduating senior class.

"Of course. It's weird. We've all been together so long. This is quite possibly the last night we'll ever all be together like this. It's sad and weird and exciting and frightening all at the same time."

"What better way than to say good bye than a kick ass party?"

Haley sighed.

"You mean to everyone, right?"

Peyton didn't even have to follow Haley's gaze. She already knew what her friend meant.

"Almost everyone."

"Peyton!"

"What?" she looked over at Brooke, life of the party who was doing a fine job of ignoring her.

"You guys have been best friends forever. Don't you think it's time to end all the bickering?"

"Haley, I'm not the one who's bickering."

"She's just hurt", Haley gently rubbed her stomach.

"No, she's being a stubborn, unreasonable brat. Brooke didn't even want Lucas and I'm just a convenient excuse to justify how she feels. You know more than anybody that I love that girl to death. I have apologized a million times and I do mean it. But if Brooke wants to continue to be mad, then that's her prerogative. Haley, I'm tired of begging her. Yeah, it sucks to lose a lifetime of friendship but maybe it's better that way. We're not kids anymore. It's time to move on."

Haley fought back tears as her naturally soft voice quivered with raw emotion.

"I, I know but it's hard and it's just so sad and…"

"Dude, why are you crying?" Peyton smiled.

"Because I'm pregnant and I can", Haley wailed, wiping at her eyes. "Sorry. I cry over everything these days, especially commercials. It drives Nathan crazy."

"It's okay."

"I'm gonna miss you though, Peyton. California is gonna be so exciting and I'm so proud of you. I know you're gonna knock them dead but I'll miss you just the same."

"I'll miss you, too. But we'll chat on the phone and the e-mail and I'll be back just in time for little Naley Jr. to be born."

Haley giggled as she did with any mention of her pregnancy and baby. Peyton smiled as well but the expression quickly froze as she gasped for breath as her eyes gazed at the club entrance. Haley turned as well.

"He's here", she said simply.

Peyton cleared her throat.

"He is."

"So…"

"So what?"

"So how do you feel about that?"

Peyton shrugged and looked away, forcing a quick and unconvincing smile.

"I feel fine, Haley. I mean, how am I supposed to feel? It's the big party celebrating our end of high school years at basically the only place in Tree Hill for a bunch of 17 and 18 year olds to party. Of course Lucas would be here and I'm cool with that."

"Okay", Haley smiled.

"Okay, what?"

"Nothing, just okay."

"Oh don't get like that."

"Get like what? And by the way, I'm only getting like that because you're getting like that."

Peyton frowned.

"You've been watching Gilmore Girls too much. Come again."

"You know what I mean, Peyton. You talk all fast and get all nonchalant whenever the subject of a certain you know who is brought up."

"Who?" Peyton asked casually.

"Lucas", Haley grinned as she spoke loudly. "My Buddy and favorite brother in law. Lucas Eugene Scott."

"Quiet!" Peyton frantically tried to hush her. "I don't think they heard you over in China."

"Blushing, are we?" Haley teased.

"No. Why would I do that?"

"Because you still like him."

"So? I like everybody."

Haley rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Not that. I mean, you like him like him, like love him."

"I do not."

"You do, too."

"Do not."

"Do, too."

"No way."

"Way."

"You're out of your pregnant mind."

"And you, Peyton Sawyer are a terrible liar."

Peyton sighed and put her head in her hands.

"Am I that bad?"

"Oh yeah."

"That obvious?"

"Totally. You got it bad, girlie."

"Okay, okay. I'll give it you. But this is our little secret."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why does it have to be a secret?"

"Because I'm leaving soon and I don't want anyone to know."

Haley raised an eyebrow.

"Most especially the one that should know."

"You take one Psych class and you think you know everything, huh?" Peyton quipped.

"Laugh all you want but class or no class, it doesn't take a genius to know that you are in love with my best friend."

"Haley…"

"You've loved him almost two years, Peyton. That's a long time to keep such strong feelings all bottled up inside. You have to tell him."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Truth? Because I'm a chicken shit", she sighed. "Look, Lucas is a very important part of my life. Our friendship means everything to me but things are different now. So much has happened, Haley. Telling him now would only complicate things."

"How do you know?"

"Because he doesn't feel the same way."

"Peyton…"

"Look, I will always love Lucas. We'll always be connected, we'll always be in each other's lives…as friends."

"Are you okay with that?"

Peyton took a deep breath.

"I'm great with that."

Haley opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted.

"Drinks for the two finest ladies in the house. Water with lemon for the missus and Coke for the hot blonde."

Peyton grinned.

"Aren't you a sweetie?"

"Oh you thought you were the hot blonde? I was talking about myself", he joked.

"Derek!"

"Okay, okay. Just kidding. This is for you on your big night. I know it isn't much but see me later and I've got the good stuff. All night Coronas, babe."

"You're the best, D."

"And don't forget it. Don't forget me or this place when you're living it up this summer in Hollywood."

Peyton gave her friend a hug. She had only known Derek Helm a short six months when the 22 year old had been hired to bartend at TRIC. They had become fast friends, though and she considered him like an older brother.

"I'll try my best to remember all the little people", she tossed her head back.

"Little people?" a fourth voice interjected. "She's not even on the plane yet and she's already got a big head."

"Lucas!" Peyton smiled, hugging him as Haley's grin increased and Derek's faded.

"Hey. What's up, Peyt? Hales, Derek."

"Hey, Buddy", Haley winked.

"What's up?" Derek mumbled.

"I was hoping I'd see you here", Peyton continued.

Lucas looked right in her eyes.

"Yeah? Me, too."

"I, um, I had something to tell you."

Haley waited with bated breath while Derek folded his arms.

"What's up?" Lucas asked.

She opened her mouth but the words just wouldn't come.

"Uh, I just wanted to say…it's been fun and thanks for everything and for being an awesome friend and um, I…I'm just gonna miss you."

Lucas reached in for a hug.

"I'll be holding down the fort this summer and hell, this fall at Tree Hill U but UNC isn't too far away. We'll still hang out."

"Promises, promises", she smiled.

"Well, I'm gonna go mingle. We'll dance later?"

"Bet your ass we will", she said as they hugged again and then he was off.

"Peyton, Peyton, Peyton", Haley shook her head.

"Don't start…"

"You're gonna end up missing your man…again. Tell her, Derek. The early bird catches the worm, right?"

Derek shifted uncomfortably.

"Yeah, I guess so", he mumbled. "Anyway, I've got to get back to work. I'll see you around."

"And before you lecture me the rest of the night, I'm gonna go to the bathroom. Be back in five minutes, I promise. Then you get to let me have it all night."

Haley grinned.

"Thank you. The baby and I can't wait."

Peyton rolled her eyes, smiling as Nathan came over and kissed his wife while patting her expanding bump. She stood in the restroom at TRIC thinking about all the crazy memories. Despite it all, only a smile came to her face. For the first time in a long time, she finally recognized the reflection staring back at her through the mirror.