Chapter One: Crossroads of Highroads and Lowroads

"I love you." the words coursed from Julian Baker's lips with uncertainty as he searched the eyes of the beautiful blonde that straddled him at the hips. He bit down on his lip as he awaited her response fearing the worst when silence hung between them.

Peyton Sawyer paused for a moment, something she had tried to no longer do. If she paused, she questioned things. When she questioned things they usually turned out worse than if she had just followed her instinct. Yet she paused looking back into the uncertain gaze of Julian, the sincerity of his words catching her off guard. She searched within herself, fighting the raging monster caged inside her chest. Then a smile formed upon her lips and she spoke four simple words.

"I love you too."

Julian smiled broadly meeting her lips in simple kiss, one they had shared a thousand times before, though this one never felt as sweet. Had Peyton doubted herself in the truth of her words, it was all but gone now as his firm hands pulled her close to him.

She had been more than cautious with Julian letting him guide their relationship. Eventually, all the pain and heaviness in her heart lifted and she felt free once more. Julian was like coming up for air. He saved her when everyone had all but jumped ship. He was there when everyone seemed to turn their backs.

He pulled her down on top of him, letting their bodies melt into the intimacy of the contact between them. Fingers entwined in her blonde locks, committing every touch and every graceful movement from her to memory. Kisses deepened coupled with a complex dance of their tongues as they moved in unison. Each article of clothing was removed with care and longing then easily tossed to the side like nothing mattered.

Their hands locked enlacing their fingers as naked flesh melted as they became one. A spark issued to ignite the fire that raged between them already nearing a need to jump out of control. They had had sex many times prior to this, but those instances were not quite as passionate in the wake of a beautiful revelation. Tonight Peyton and Julian made love.

---

Morning sunlight poured through the space between the drawn curtains causing light to fill the room. Peyton lay awake upon Julian's bare chest simply listening to the sound of his even breathing. The morning was peaceful, they way it used to be in Tree Hill. Now she and Julian had but not a care in the world as they lay spooned together.

Julian stirred slightly, his eyelids fluttering open after a few moments. Immediately his eyes sought Peyton, smiling when he saw she was looking up at him. He groped blindly for her hand, entwining their fingers when he found it.

"What are you smiling about?" he asked pressing a soft kiss to her forehead causing her to nestle close to his chest.

"I was just thinking of a happy memory." she responded softly tracing circles idly upon his chest.

"Really? And would this happy memory include me in it?"

There was a deep rumble in his chest as he spoke causing a light vibration against her ear as she listened to him speak. She gave a light nod. "Do you remember the first time we met?" her voice was barely above a whisper, had he not been listening for it, he would not have heard her.

"I remember both occasions quite vividly." he began stealing a glance to Peyton. "You were crying both times." she glared at him teasingly. "I tried the copy machine line the first time but that didn't work. Then I think it was like a year later we met again after you left a book signing, carrying around that damn book of yours."

She smacked him playfully with the back of her hand. "Hey that book is important to me. Maybe if you bothered to read it you would understand."

"Reading is for squares besides, I don't need a book when I've got the main character right here in bed with me." he jokes pressing his lips to the top of her head.

She chuckled lightly turning so she is resting on her forearms so she could look at him. He does not speak, only looks back with a gaze that resembles confusion. A smile tugs at the corners of her lips as she moves closer towards him still. He knows she is about to kiss him, yet as she presses her lips against his, ecstasy shoots through his veins. Immediately he is completely lost within her. She can feel his firm hands take their on her hips as she moves up his body. It takes him only another moment to flip them over his lips running along the skin of her chest. Time does not seem to matter as they lose themselves once again, the morning slipped away without them caring at all.

---

Lucas Scott lay awake at night his eyes boring into the ceiling. He had not been able to sleep much for writers block plagued the author in recent weeks. His editing company had not pressured him to begin writing a new book, but he still felt some sort of obligation to try given how successful his first novel was proving.

He turned his head to look to Lindsey Strauss who was sleeping peacefully to his left completely oblivious to his dilemma at hand. She of all people had been his biggest supporter and fan encouraging him as much as she could when he initially sat down and began to write his second book.

The first night the outlook seemed promising as began the first chapter. He made an attempt to write through the night though most of what he started never made it passed the delete button. Lindsey was sympathetic and she continued to be only irking Lucas farther. Recently, he had taken to lying about his progress and stated numerous times that he was not sure if he wanted to publish this book and that he would begin on another.

A vital piece of him felt like it was missing. There was something in his life that never had closure, something that still left a pang in his heart. The answer was there it was his book signing in L.A. almost a year and a half ago. He had called Peyton not just because he missed her, but he truly wanted to see her. When she did not show a vital piece of him began to feel empty. He could recall that day almost perfectly, he was absolutely excited to be in L.A….

The sun was bright out. L.A. never looked more beautiful. He was in high spirits despite the nervousness that had already begun to eat away at him. Lindsey came into his view after her brief conversation with the store owner. He had been counting down the minutes since they had arrived eager to get on with the day. He and Lindsey stood behind a table overlooking the many people milling about, people he hoped wanted him to sign their copy of his book.

Lindsey looked to him with optimism shining in her gaze. "You ready?"

He sighed, "I guess so."

She pressed her lips innocently against his cheek. It was a simple kiss of reassurance and good luck. She wanted great things for him and this was only the start and she truly believed it.

People approached him, simply gushing over the story he told asking numerous times about Peyton. Peyton. He was distracted straining to see of over the crowd of people hoping she would show. Person after person approached the table, he signed and posed for pictures. He would look towards the next person with optimism only to be disappointed when they did not resemble Peyton.

The last of the crowd cleared out leaving himself and Lindsey completely alone. She turned to him with a smile radiating upon her face. "That was amazing Luke." she gushed throwing her arms around him.

He chuckled softly wrapping his arms around her. "Thanks, couldn't have done without you though."

She pulled away from him. "Your writing was always amazing Lucas. I just paved the way for your greatness."

A true smile molded upon his lips and his cheeks burned a light shade of blue. Working with Lindsey had been nothing short of a pleasure. She was kind and caring and whipped him into shape when editing needed to be done. Maybe what he had been missing was right in front of him the whole time.

He cleared his throat, "What do you say you and I go celebrate for a night on the town."

Lindsey's eye lit up, "Of course."

Though he meant for his intentions to be pure he could not help but look for Peyton everywhere they went. At dinner his eyes wandered constantly, double taking when he thought he saw her blonde curls. After a few drinks he no longer cared.

From then on Lucas and Lindsey were a couple. Sometimes he lay awake at night much like this one and wondered what would have been different if Peyton had showed up had he gone out on the town with Peyton that night. Lindsey was there she was there every step of the way since she stepped into his life. She loved him and he loved her and he would never deny that. Yet there were still things that bothered him and made him wonder.

His eyes sought the clock which flashed two am. He sighed deeply rubbing his eyes and turning over to his side hoping sleep would take him. The silence, however, drove him insane. He threw the sheets from his body carefully rising from bed as not to wake Lindsey and made his way to the bathroom.

With a quick flick of the faucet he splashed cold water upon his face. Maybe he was losing it, but he really could not be sure. Lies and deceit, though it was petty, was eating at him. He could not keep lying to Lindsey about his progress with his book. But he could not keep telling himself that he did not want to know. He wanted to know why she never showed. He needed to know why.

"Come on Lucas you're fine." he whispered to himself rubbing his eyes furiously. He took one good long look at himself in the mirror and immediately needed to look away. Tired lines were forming beneath his eyes coupled with dark circles. He had not realized how his late nights were affecting him.

Closure was needed and questioning himself was not going to settle his restless curious mind. He needed to know and he knew how he was going to do it.