Chapter 1 - People always leave/Taking things for granted

He went away, Peyton couldn't quite believe that he had gone. Sure they hadn't spent much time together recently and yes she was still mad at him because he slept with Nikki, but she couldn't imagine her life without him in it. Deep down she still loved this guy, she knew it but she hated to admit it. She was good at keeping her feelings bottled up and shutting people out…..but not when it came to Lucas. He had a way of breaking her walls down and getting inside of her, a place no one else she knew could ever reach. The walls that she had worked so hard to put up, yet he managed to slip through them so easily. He was the only one she has ever let in and now he was gone. He wants to be a better person, he doesn't like who he has become that's what he said to me. Why can't he do that here? Why does he have to be in Charleston to be a better person? He's only been gone a day and I already miss him. I miss his presence, his broody blue eyes and the way he makes everything seem okay with a hug. Being in his arms is a place I always feel safe no matter what I am going through his embrace makes it okay. But people always leave she thought, that's what her life came down to, everyone she ever cared about always seemed to leave. Her Mom died, her Dad was always working away, and now Lucas had gone too, all she had left was her best friend. However he did say to her once that sometimes people come back….I wonder whether he'll ever come back?

"P. Sawyer you up for some fun cause ever since Lucas has left you haven't left your room." Brooke said walking into the blonde's bedroom and interrupting her thoughts.

"I'm okay Brooke"

"You don't look okay. I mean Lucas leaving must've been hard on you." Brooke said sympathisingly.

"Why do you care? I mean he cheated on you with me Brooke. Why are you being so nice about it all?" Peyton asked not quite understanding how Brooke could be so cool about her feelings for him.

"Cause you're my best friend P. Sawyer and I know now that me and Lucas were never meant to be, we're just too different. I don't know what I was thinking going after him in the first place, it never would've worked even if he didn't have feelings for you. We just weren't compatible. I know I freaked out at you about it but I'm totally over it all now. You should be with Lucas Peyton I know you want to be and he has always wanted to be with you. Let him in."

"You're my best friend too B. Davis but I can't see me and Luke ever getting together now. He's gone…..just like everyone in my life."

"He might come back Peyton….he never said he was going for good. And I will never leave you."

"I don't do hope anymore…..hoping people are gonna come back only makes it harder to carry on living my own life. He's gone and that's that."

"Peyton a little hope might not be such a bad thing."

"Look you wanted to do something fun so what did you have in mind? I'm up for anything to change this conversation and get him out of my head."

"Okay well I think some retail therapy should do the trick. And then maybe some relaxation therapy you know some facials, a massage." She said cheerily, shopping was her fave past-time and Peyton was her best shopping buddy.

"Lets get going then." Peyton said grabbing her jacket and purse.

Meanwhile in Charleston Lucas was sat in his 'new bedroom'. I've been gone for one day and already I miss Tree Hill, Mom was right there's only one Tree Hill. Yet I took that for granted. This room, this bed it doesn't feel the same, it doesn't feel like home. I wonder what everyone's up to. Mom is no doubt working at the café, and it's a Saturday so I'm guessing Brooke would be shopping, the mall was like her second home. But what about Peyton. What would she be doing right now? she could be with Brooke or she might be in her bedroom drawing or listening to music, the usual. I miss her….I hurt her so bad by sleeping with Nikki and I wish I could take it back but I can't. It eats me up inside to think that I could cause the blonde so much pain. Me leaving maybe that will make things easier for her, or am I just hurting her more? I hurt Peyton…..I hurt Brooke….I've got to change and maybe this is the only way I can do that. But God do I miss that girl. I miss her beauty, her sea green eyes that I can get lost in for what seems like forever, I miss just talking and hanging out with her. Again things I took for granted.

"Hey Luke" Keith said walking into his room and interrupting his thoughts. "How you settling in?"

"Okay I guess. I just miss Tree Hill. I guess you don't realise what you've got until it's gone."

"That is very true. But Luke if you want to go home you can, I don't want you to feel like you have to stay here because of me."

"No as much as I miss Tree Hill and the people there. I know I need to be here right now…..I've hurt so many people this year, and I don't like the person I am becoming. I need to be here I need to make a change."

"As much as that might be true Luke…..its not the place that matters. If you want to be a better person you do it, if you don't want to hurt people you don't. You don't have to be here to do that."

"Maybe you're right but I don't think I'm ready go back there yet." Lucas replied, knowing that yes he wanted to go back to Tree Hill but he knew he wasn't ready yet.

"Maybe not but you can't run forever."