Hi! Not sure if anyone remembers me :') I'm Emma, I have a few (so far unfinished) stories on here, but haven't been active for quite a while. A lot has happened in this time, I am now a university student, studying to become a primary school teacher, and I have a son! I eventually hope to finish some of my older stories, but definitely no guarantees I'm afraid. I've been sat on this story for a few months now. No idea if there are any Leyton fans around, but hey ho! I've changed some of the storyline in this: Peyton/Nathan/Brooke are best friends and have been their whole lives. Pathan as a couple never happened. The B/L/P love triangle did, as did psycho Derek, and how their love lives turned out. Botched proposal and all. Naley are still married, Jamie storyline is the same (high school pregnancy etc) and they have a 6 month old daughter called Janie. Any other details I am hoping will be self-explanatory, but if anyone needs anything then just ask!

Prologue - Cry.

The wind billowed around her, catching her dark blonde curls in an eddy around her head. She sighed, pulling our her cellphone and tentatively scrolling through her contacts. She found her way to 'S', and hesitated. Five Scotts, five lifelines, only one real option. She tapped, then lifted the device to her dainty ear.

It rang, once. Twice. Then, "hello?"

"Hey," she whispered. "It's me… Peyton." She added on as an afterthought. It had been five years after all, she couldn't expect her voice to still be a recognisable feature.

"Yeah," the voice on the other side of the line was gruff; indicating the recipient had just awoken. "Wasn't expecting to hear from you, well, ever really. I've missed you. When are you coming back?"

She laughed, unable to contain the giggles that escaped her lips. She wasn't expecting to be here, in this town, let alone have to see anyone from her old life. She didn't expect to have to ring anyone, with her tail between her legs. She supposed she could thank her beloved car for that. Well, the car and this cursed road where she always seemed to have an engine malfunction. "I'm in town now actually, I've had some car trouble and no internet connection. I was hoping you could just give me the number for a tow?"

"I'll come get you, where-?"

"No." she cut the voice off, "I just need a tow. There's no need for you to come out."

"Peyton, please. Let me see you, let me help. You can't just come back after god knows how long, ring me for a number, and expect me not to care." Another sigh.

She ran her hand through her locks, her head in a state of turmoil whilst she thought through her options: either walk the 3 miles to the town; or accept his help. She uttered one word, "Lakeside." Then swiftly hung up.

LPLPLPLPLPLP

By the time he made it to Lakeside Lane, the sun was just starting to rise. He recognised the familiar comet that the girl he had known his entire life so often used to cruise through town in. As his brand new, silver Range Rover pulled up alongside her, he stepped out and looked around. The years had been good to Nathan Scott, after graduating Tree Hill High with a guaranteed spot at the highly coveted Duke University; playing under no other than the highly regarded Coach Krzyzewski (or Coach K for those who couldn't be bothered to learn how to spell it.), he went on to be drafted for the Charlotte Bobcats, straight out of college. He had a beautiful wife, two amazing children, and the best family he could ask for – though not all through blood, and some who shared his blood who didn't count. He squinted, a trait he had picked up thanks to his brooding older brother, and spotted her. She was standing a short way away, looking at the lake with her signature leather jacket wrapped around her slim frame as the wind howled around her.

"Sawyer, you'll catch your death stood in this cold!" he shouted and walked towards her in ten short strides. He grabbed her by the shoulders, intending to swivel her round and envelop his best friend in a huge bear hug; but he stopped short, gasping at the sight of her pretty face.

Her right eye was swollen completely shut, a newly-formed black and purple bruise making its way from her brow bone, right down to her cheek. Her neck was red, the tell-tale marks of fingers standing stark against her pale skin. She had a split running down the centre of her bottom lip and a look in her eyes which hurt his very soul. "Who the fuck did this to you?" he asked, holding her firmly.

"I'm fine." She averted her gaze, not daring to look into his cerulean orbs.

"Are you hell. Get in the car, I'm taking you to my place."

"Nate, I can't… My car."

"I'll ring Keith to get it, get in now." His voice dropped as he growled at her, trying to look her in the eyes she so desperately averted. Her head dropped, and she resignedly started walking to her car. "Is this why you came back? Are you running from something… someone?"

"No." she muttered, "I'm here for the funeral."

He stopped, confused. "Funeral? What funeral?"

She finally looked up at him then, a single tear breaking free from her avocado green eyes. When she spoke, it was with a broken voice. "My dad, my dad is dead. I killed him." She whispered, wiping her eyes, removing all emotion; then opened the passenger door and sat down, staring stoically ahead.

Hoping to have chapter one up soon, but I think I'm going to wait to see if I get any response first, so please do review :)