Author note: Just so you know I start to write this in august, so it's been awhile, I'm still writing it at the moment and i'm not so sure where it's going. I have to tell you that it's my first English fic so my English is probably not the best, but I hope you will be able to forget this little detail (althought it can be a big detail), anyway I hope you'll like this story. Don't forget to review it'll let me know if I should post the next chapter.

The torments of life

Chapter 1

Peyton woke up that morning feeling empty, it had been like this for a long time, probably since Lucas was gone to Charleston with Keith, which meant she'd feeling like this for more than two months. She felt like nothing was worth living for, except maybe her art, that was probably what was keeping her alive at this moment. She didn't know why she hadn't realized sooner how much she loved Lucas. Guess what they say is true, you never know what you have until it's gone.
She got out of bed and walked to her dresser. She opened the first drawer and took out a worn piece of paper. She got back to her bed and sat on a corner. She unfolded the piece of paper, like she'd done every morning and started to read.

Dear Peyton,
I know you're certainly wondering why I am writing to you. Well, I'm not so sure myself. I could say that it's because I'm sorry, but sorry for what, that wouldn't be really honest if I was writing something like this. Truth been told I'm not a bit sorry about what we shared. If there's one thing I should be sorry for, and believe me I am, it should be about how I screwed up your friendship with Brooke and how I hurt her.

The moments we shared were a pure joy, I felt like there was nothing in the world that could stop me, stop us. I felt so carefree, I had the feeling I could fly and that's the best feeling ever, I'm sure you experienced this feeling at least once in your life whether it was when you were drawing or with me (sometimes I like to think that you experienced this feeling with me) and you know like me, how good it feels.

Before signing off, there's one last thing I need to tell you, but I don't really know how to, it'll probably be better if I was getting straight to the point. When you're finished reading this letter, I'll probably be gone for a long time. I decided to leave Tree Hill, for good, or at least for a moment. You'll probably think that I'm running away from my problems, that's probably right, but I see it as a way to clear my mind. In case you were wondering, I'm leaving with Keith to Charleston

I sincerely hope you have a nice life, Peyton. Keep on drawing for your own pleasure.

With all my love,
Lucas XXX

She then stared at the letter. She remembered when she first got the letter, she couldn't believe he had have the nerve to write her. He had even written a letter to Brooke. At first she didn't want to read it, but her curiosity won the best of her. Since then, she couldn't believe he was gone…for good. He had left her, no that wasn't right he hadn't left her, she had simply let him go.

She got up again. Just when she was about to open her drawer and put her letter back in, her phone rung. She put the letter on the top of her dresser and run to answer the phone.

"Hello?"
"Hey Peyt ! It's Brooke. Did you forget me or what ?"
"What are you talking about ?"
"You were supposed to pick me up, like 10 minutes ago. It's our first day back to school, remember ?"
"God! I can't believe I forget !"
"You can't believe, I can't believe, now that it is all set, get your ass over here, right now ! As much as I hate school, I don't want to be late, for the first day."
"Give me 15 minutes and I'm here."
"Okay.", she heard Brooke say before she hung up.
Peyton ran to her closet and grabbed the first clothes she saw. She put them on, she looked at herself into the mirror, put some lipstick on, fluffing put her hair in place.

Lucas was eating his breakfast with a thoughtful look on his face. He was preoccupied by his past life. He missed his mom, his best friend Haley, he even missed Nathan, but more than all he missed Peyton. He missed everything about her, her curly blond hair, her ocean blue eyes, her pretty face, her spirit, her laugh…

"Hey Luke ! You ready ?" asked Keith when he entered in the kitchen.
"Huh, What?"
"I asked you if you were ready, but seeing that you're still eating your breakfast, I'll say that you're not."
"Give me 10 seconds and I'll be ready." Lucas said, taking a last bite of his toast.
"I'm ready, now!"
"Great ! So let's go!"

Lucas follow Keith out of the kitchen. He took his school bag and followed his uncle outside. They got in the car.

"So…What were you thinking about?" said Keith while he was driving out of the driveway.
"Nothing."
"Come on, Luke, I know you. I know you were thinking about something back there, you had that look on your face that says you're deep in thoughts." said Keith, giving him a side glance.
"I told you, I wasn't thinking about something. And what look?"
"oh, you know, that look!" said a laughing Keith.
"You're not funny!"
"Actually, I think I am. But seriously, Lucas, I could swear you were thinking about something back home and I'm sure it has something to do with Tree hill."
"Maybe" said Lucas looking out the window.
"your mom?"
"Not really."
"I taught so too, I would say it had something to do with a broody curly blond girl, am I right?"

Lucas gave a side glance to Keith and return his gaze to the window.

"So, I'm right."
"You know Keith, I miss her so much. I didn't know that leaving Tree hill would have that effect on me. I had expected it to be so much more easier."
"Nothing is keeping you here. You could go back there at anytime."
"I know."

Karen was walking through the halls of the hospital, a paper bag in hands. She entered a small room.

"Deb?"

The blonde woman stood up from her chair to welcome Karen.
"Karen! I see you didn't forget me." Deb said, her lips curving in a smile.
"How could I?" Karen asked, looking down at the sleeping Dan. "Are there any changes?"
"Nope. He still in coma, nothing have change since your last visit."
"I see. I brought you breakfast" said Karen. She gave the bag to Deb.
"Thanks, Karen."
"You're welcome, by the way, you wouldn't even eat if I didn't bring you something everyday"
"You're right, I wouldn't." said Deb. She sat back in her chair and stared taking out what was in the bag.
"How's Nathan?"
"I wouldn't know, I haven't saw him since he last came to see his father."
"Which was when?"
"More than two weeks ago."
"I see."
"How's Lucas?"
"I talked to him yesterday. He says, he's fine. That he loves Charleston, but he misses his friends."
"And Keith?"
"Lucas told me that he enjoys himself and that he can't wait to start teaching."
"That's great"

They stayed in silence until a long sharp noise erupted in the room. They both turned their heads towards Dan, and saw the monitor by his side. Deb rushed to his bedside.

"Dan…noooo!"

Karen got out of the room, in the hall and screamed for someone to come help them.

Nathan knocked on the wooden door of his bathroom.

"Come on Hale, you've been in there for the last 30 minutes."
"I'm coming."
"That's what you said 5 minutes ago. We're gonna be late."

The door opened.

"See, I told you I was coming." Said a shining Haley.
"Took you long enough…" said Nathan under his breath.
"What did you say?"
"Me?"
"Yeah you, who else?"
"I said, let's go!"
"Yeah…right. You really think I'm…"

Nathan shut her up with a kiss.

"Did I ever tell you how much I hate when you interrupted me in the middle of my sentences."
"No, but I'm sure that deep down you like it"
"Oh gosh, you're so full of yourself" she said with a smile.
They started walking out of the apartment and headed toward school.
"I can't believe the summer is already over."
"I can't either."
"It's gonna be strange not having Lucas around. I always thought we would stay around each other for our whole lives, but since last year, so many things have changed."
"I know."
"It's gonna be tough without him"
"You know, I'm here for you, right?"
"Yeah, but that's not the same thing"
"How come?"
"You're my boyfriend… I mean husband. There's some things that I can't tell you."
"Like what?"
"Stuff…"
"Well, there's still the phone, you know."
"Yeah, but it's different."
"And he's gonna come back once in a while"
"That's what he said…"
"See… no need to worry. Even if he's not here in Tree Hill, you will still be able to talk to him."

They walked a little more in silence until they were in front of the school. They saw Peyton and Brooke heading their way.

"Look who's coming" said Nathan to Haley.