Preface

1925 – Tree Hill, North Carolina.

There he rested against an overthrown tree trunk with his arms crossed against his chest. He was clothed in a charcoal coloured waistcoat and pants, a white shirt and a matching charcoal tie. He was staring down at the floor but not really seeing anything – he was deep in thought. The sound of light footsteps a small twig breaking brought him out of his daze. He turned his head and looked across to the petite opening to the secluded area. There she was – the vision of beauty. He watched her carefully as she slowly made her way into the isolated woodland area.

She was determined not to look up from the ground below her feet until it was absolutely necessary. She didn't need to look up to see where she was going; this was after all their place, where they had shared those precious stolen moments together. She was dressed in a slim line green, sequined bustier dress covered by a waist length green jacket. Her long blonde curly locks were hidden in the small side-bob she was sporting and an emerald coloured, beaded headband, not the kind of headband which would keep your hair locked back into place but rather a headband shaped like the bottom of a crown; the thickest part of the headband at the forefront of her forehead, the material reaching around slimming as it joined together at the back of her head. Her slender neckline was bare – she wore no jewellery today, there wasn't need for it with such a busy outfit. She wasn't dressed in her usual day wear; she was sporting her evening clothes.

He pulled away from the tree trunk and stood up straight watching as she made her way to stand in front of him, her attention still on the floor. Inside his heart rejoiced, she had come to him. "Peyton…" He greeted her breathlessly; because that's what she did to him. Her emerald green eyes finally looked up from the floor, meeting his gaze. The corner of his mouth tilted up ever so slightly, looking into her bewitching eyes it was easy to forget the outside world, it was easy to forget the past.

"I haven't got much time, I'm shopping with Jacob and father…presents for the bridesmaids." They stood two feet apart from one another and yet the distance between them felt greater. "So, what do you want?" She asked in a detached voice, getting straight to the point.

"I had to see you," He shot back instantly.

"Why?"

"Do you love him? Really love him?" His voice rang out with desperation. Maybe he was a gluten for punishment but he needed to know. Lucas watched her carefully, analysing every movement. Her body stiffened ever so slightly and her eyes peered off into the corner. He had his answer. "Then why are you marrying him?"

"Jake's nice…" She answered back honestly; it was easier to speak to him when she wasn't looking into his sincere baby blue eyes. "He'll look after me," And she knew that he would. He had a gentle soul and had never given up on her, even when she had given no reason to hope for anything more than friendship, he waited throughout.

Lucas shook his head disbelievingly. "And what about love, Peyton? How can you go through life without love?" He closed the distance between the two of them and raised his hand to her face, stroking the side of her cheek. She still didn't look at him, but her eyes closed in response to his touch. "I still love you, Peyton…"

"I love you Lucas, so much it hurts…" Her skin burned where he touched her, she had closed her eyes to keep her tears at bay. She opened her water bound eyes and looked up into his agonised baby blues. Leaning in closer to him, she felt his nose skim the side of her cheek as his lips brushed ever so gently against hers. But he didn't kiss her, no, instead she felt him pause and pull back.

"We would be ruining too many people's lives."

She swallowed the trapped air inside of her throat and turned her head so that she didn't have to look up at him and face rejection, again. She reached inside the pocket of her beaded green jacket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Reaching up she touched the side of his hand which was still resting on the side of her cheek. Turning his hand over she looked down into his palm and bit the inside of her lip to stop herself from trembling. She looked up once more into his eyes which were watching her every movement. "Don't try and see me again." She pulled back from him touch and left the note in the palm of his hand. Quickly she turned on her dolly shoes and began to race towards the exit of the secluded woodland area.

"Peyton," He called out after her, watching as she turned only her head back to look at him. "You can't marry him…"

"I am marrying him," She said defiantly. She had come here today, holding onto her last thread of hope. She loved Lucas Scott, mind body and soul but he had left her, he had taken her heart captive when he had made her fall in love with him…and then he had left her, breaking her heart into a tiny million pieces along the way."And I will forget about you Lucas Scott, I swear I will." Peyton turned and walked away from him, hoping that that would be the last time she ever sawn Lucas Eugene Scott again.

Lucas looked down at the piece of paper in his head and unfolded the note. There in his hand writing was his note:

Peyton,

I must see you –

Please meet me tomorrow in our usual place in the park.

Lucas