Summary: He tells her that he can't stay and she can't go with him. He doesn't know how long he'll be gone so he tells her to forget him and move on but, how can she when she's had the same reminder for the past sixteen years?
Disclaimer: First time using one of these 'disclaimers' and it's mandatory to say I own nothing.
It's easy to forget someone after a few years of their departure and not look back. It's easy to leave what two individuals had behind when you've moved on. It should be easy shouldn't it? It's always easy to forget someone you loved and worked so hard to get isn't it? Sometimes it is, but only when part of them is still a part of your life is this harder to achieve.
The perfect combination of Lucas Scott and Peyton Sawyer had to be sixteen year old Andrew Lucas Scott. The "broody", as Brooke would refer to it, tortured athlete and the tortured artist. He was more of a mirror image of Peyton, after living with one parent for quite some time and losing all hope that he would ever be able to meet the man he could call dad. He gave up hope and bonded with his surrogate father figure instead. Nathan was around a lot for Andrew kind of like how Keith was around for Lucas. Peyton appreciated the time that Nathan would spend just dedicated to his nephew. Sure Nathan had his son James but he felt as if it were a responsibility for him to be there to help Andrew because seeing what heartache it could cause to children living with one parental figure he wanted to make sure he protected his nephew from that. Andrew knew that Lucas was his father. If he asked his mom about him if she was in a good mood she would rant about the kind of ideal person he was, but if she was in a bad mood she usually ended up crying until the late hours of the night. Andrew knew she cried and when she did it he was able read between the lines and look for the obvious, puffy eyes that were red and a drained mood in the morning. She would usually put on a happy face to hide the pain from him but he's sixteen now and even though she's done it in the past he's more aware of it now. When in the presence of his cousin and uncle he would ask about his father. He and his cousin both being only a year apart never really knew Lucas but when they asked Nathan about him Nathan would point out all his great traits and his personality quirks. Andrew never understood why he would leave if he was such a good person. He asked Nathan one night after a game of one on one basketball three years ago and Nathan had no reply. That was the last time he asked.
Graduation was approaching fast and Andrew was waiting for that day to arrive. He and his cousin James were both excited about it. They'd be able to leave the chains of High School rankings behind be able to go onto College. Well at least James was going. Andrew had HCM like everyone said his father and Grandfather had. Funny how he never had once seen either of the two. Andrew was pretty sure that they didn't have enough money for him to go and that he couldn't get a basketball scholarship. What school would take a basketball player who can only play fifteen minutes a game? Sure he loved basketball but he never wanted to play it so that he could get recognition. He played because everyone told him that he was a Scott and that it was in the Scott genes that he was an excellent player. What they said was true but he didn't want to play just so he could be compared to his father and grandfather, but his mother insisted. If he loved the game then that was all that mattered.
A cloudy day would come very rarely in Tree Hill. It was Andrew's favorite kind of weather and it was even better when the clouds were dark. The perfect scenario for rainy weather. He had been used to disappointment and being let down so when he needed something to describe his mood the rain and dark clouds best described it. Teachers were disturbed by the emotions in the pictures he drew and the different scenarios he would portray. Some teachers tried to refer him to many different therapists and drug him for his depression but when asked why he was so depressed he would tell them that it's not depressing to like rainy weather or darkness he's just a very unique individual. That's what differentiates him from all others.
Peyton never agreed to him going to therapists for his problems because she knew he had none. He was different and that was that. If he'd rather paint a portrait of rainy clouds of darkness she'd let him because she understood. There was nothing anyone could do. She could only hope that he wouldn't end up like this for the rest of is life.
This Saturday morning was dark and cloudy and today was Andrew's ideal day. He slipped out of the house after checking that his mother was still asleep and then makes a quick call to his uncle before heading out. He was already expecting the black envoy in the driveway. It was days like this when him and his cousin James would take out of town road trips to enjoy the day. It was a tradition to the two Scotts that was known to be common on these types of rainy days. It was suggested by James after a week full of dark cloudy days and his broody cousin. He decided that it would be easier to take his mind off of what seems to trouble him on these seldom cloudy days if they took mini road trips.
They don't have a specific place to go. They usually fill up the tank and drive until they find somewhere interesting to stop. They drive in silence except for the sounds of the radio. They only speak when they agree on a destination and they stop there. After they reach their stopping point they start conversation, usually with James trying to find out what's bothering Andrew and with him ignoring it and trying to forget why they take these trips.
Driving past the Tree Hill lines Andrew decides that today is the day. He's been doing this with his cousin for the past two years without confronting what really bothers him. With graduation coming up and him undecided on his future after college he decides to talk, he could have talked to anyone but with James being the only person in the car and the closest thing he has to a brother he knows he can trust him.
"Hey James"
James turns to look at Andrew before placing his eyes back on the road with a confused expression plastered on his face.
"That's funny, I though this was a quiet car ride" he chuckles light as Andrew does the same
"I know but I just feel like talking and you're the only one here to listen"
"Ok, what do you want to talk about?"
"Everything"
"What kind of everything, hot cheerleader from gym class everything or my family has issues everything?"
Andrew chuckles lightly at his cousin's comment
"No more like our family history everything"
Without even turning to look at James, Andrew can tell that the mood in the car has changed drastically
James sighs and continues to stay focused on the road
"More specifically you want to know about the two missing Scott clan family members and their past lives, aka your father and our grandfather"
Dan was never a widely talked about subject. Whenever he was mentioned or talked about the subject was abruptly changed and the conversation would continue on.
Andrew hangs his head low and answers 'yeah' in a barely audible voice
"I don't know how we'll find this information, more importantly if we should even be looking for this information"
"I know, but if no one will give us answers I think it's up to us to find the truth"
"If they're keeping the truth from us I'm sure they have good reason to"
"They probably do but your going to be leaving for college soon and I'll probably move out of my house and we'll be left with unanswered questions"
"So?"
"If we don't know the truth well assume because of what people say and I just want to know if everything that was said is true or if it's just a rumor"
"But even if we do research them, it won't help us to get the answers to our questions"
"But it will help us find them"
"Andrew if you really want to do this I have your back, but just so you k know once we start you can't back out"
"I know, and I won't"
The car ride continues on and Andrew turns his attention back to the window. He knows that doing this will open some unhealed wounds but in order for them to heal permanently he needs the truth and that's exactly what he heading for.
Peyton wakes up to a quiet house. Usually she is woken up by Andrew's loud music and the sound of his footsteps pacing up and down the stairs. It's very quiet so Peyton's suspicious. When she turns her attention the window and catches sight of the clouds she has her answer to why it's quiet. She's gotten accustomed to Andrew spending cloudy days with James. Even though James doesn't like this type of weather he'll bear t for his cousin.
She makes her way for the bathroom when the phone rings. She doesn't feel like answering it so she let's the machine pick up while she takes a shower. After spending twenty minutes in the shower she heads downstairs for a quiet breakfast to be met with Nathan. She can tell that he has just gotten here a few minutes ago otherwise he would have answered the phone. He hands her a cup of coffee and watches as she takes a seat in front of him. Her eyes are red and Nathan can tell that she's been crying. He assumes it's something she's seen since Andrew has stopped talking about Lucas completely.
"What are you doing here" she asks after a few minutes of silence
"I had to check the car for James before he left this morning and Andrew called"
"Figures"
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm ok Nate" she smiles and goes back to drinking her coffee
He looks at her skeptically before she catches his look and rolls her eyes
"Really, Nate I'm fine" he shrugs it off and decides to change the subject
"Graduation is in a few weeks and the boys are going to be out of the house, are you happy"
"Would I be a bad parent if I said yes?" Nathan smiles and laughs
"No, just a normal average parent"
Nathan looks out at the window and watches the dark clouds that seem to get darker by the minute
"I wonder why Andrew finds this weather so fascinating"
Peyton looks down at the countertop and Nathan realizes that what he said might have hit too close to home.
"I'm sorry Peyton I didn't mean it like that" she laughs at how quick he is to apologize when he feels he's done something wrong
"It's ok Nate, I mean what'd you expect from two not so cheery people" she says as she turns her attention to the window. She suddenly realizes why Andrew likes this type of weather.
Driving for over an hour now Andrew and James pull up at a gas station and Andrew nudges James in the passenger seat. James awakes and looks toward the gas station and back to Andrew with confusion written on his face.
"I filled the tank this morning and we've only driven about", he glances at his watch," an hour"
"I know I just want to grab something to eat, you want anything"
"No, I ate this morning"
"Alright, I'll be back"
Andrew heads inside of the convenience store inside the gas station and ends up by the donuts. He looks through the glass and sees a variety of flavors and it seems impossible to choose. A man comes up on his right and seems to be looking at the donuts also. Andrew finally makes his decision and goes for the last jelly doughnut at the same time the man next to him reaches for it. They stop mid reach and laugh at their awkward situation.
"I'm sorry" Andrew says, he hates the word but it's the first thing he can think of right now that he's hungry
"Its okay" the man to the right of Andrew says to him. Andrew turns to get a better look at the man who's dressed in jeans and a button down shirt with blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Um...You can have the doughnut if you want" Andrew says even though he'd rather say otherwise
"No, you were here first and you look pretty hungrier than me" Andrew shares a laugh with the man next to him before reaching for the doughnut
"Thank You"
The man replies with a head nod and grabs a sprinkled doughnut and heads to the front to pay. Andrew heads to the back to grab a bottle of water and then heads back up front to pay. He sees the man he had previously been talking to head out and he brings his items up to pay. While paying the cashier he notices that the man has left his wallet on the counter. After paying and grabbing his things he runs outside to find the man to give him his wallet but the man is no where to be found. Andrew thinks it's best to go back inside and give it to the cashier incase the man comes back but something familiar about this man makes him curious. He heads back into the truck and sits motionless in the driver seat next to his cousin who's listening to music and not paying attention to him. After James realizes they haven't moved since Andrew has gotten back in the car he removes his headphones and looks over to his cousin who is currently staring at a wallet in his hands.
"It's called a wallet just in case you didn't know" James jokes
"I know what it is moron but…"
"What"
"I met a man inside and he looked familiar almost as if I knew him or I've seen him before"
"So"
"He left his wallet behind and I want to look to find out who he is but I don't think it'd be right. It's invading personal privacy"
"But if he doesn't know, it does no harm"
Andrew doesn't respond but just continued to look at the wallet in his hands before he finally opened it. His manner is calm until he comes across a driver's license. James is confused and worried when he sees the look of befuddlement cross upon his cousin's face. Without speaking her reaches over and takes the driver's license from his cousin's hand and at a first glance he understands why his cousin is shocked. The man that Andrew met not more that five minutes ago was his father.