"I'm the memory you can't get out your head."
~David Gray "Nemesis"

He saw her the moment she entered the bar area and no matter how much she tried to hide it; he knew she saw him too. He'd seen her looking at him and thinking she had been sly about it, but he had seen her and he'd played this game before.

He smiled causing her to blush slightly and he found it endearing as she turned away, a faint smile on her lips.

He felt his heart race as she brushed a loose strain of hair behind her ear, allowing him a glance of her face. Beautiful, that was all that crossed his mind in that moment as he admired her from his seat across the room.

Beautiful.

Grabbing his beer off the table, he made his way across the room to the bar. She pretended not to notice him as he sat down on the stool next to her. He softly chuckled to himself. She was really trying hard to pretend he wasn't there. He had to admire her determination, but he knew it was futile.

Leaning in close, his lips brushing against her ear and softly whispered, "Excuse me, can I buy you a drink?"

She turned toward him, her face inches from his before lifting her drink, with a slight tip his way and raising it to her lips, "I already have a drink."

That she did.

"True," He said adjusting himself on the bar stool. His eyes watching her lips touch the glass and he made a promise to himself that before the night was over those lips would be touching his. "I'll buy the next one."

She raised a brow and sat her glass back on the bar. "Who said I wanted another drink?"

He laughed. She was feisty. "Don't you?"

She cocked her head sideways; a golden brow arched and pretended to think about it. "I really haven't decided yet and I'm not really sure I want you to buy me another drink either."

He shook his head. He was enjoying this, the banter and the way she was keeping him on his toes. "Well, if you do decide to let me buy you a drink, my table is right over there."

With a wink her way, he got up and walked away. He'd give her ten seconds before she came to him. He sat down and started counting; only making it to eight before she was sitting across from him.

"Change your mind?" He asked taking a sip of his beer, a brow arched.

The look in her eyes said he already knew the answer, which of course he did. Women rarely said no to him. At least she never had. "Well, before I buy you that drink, how 'bout a dance?"

She regarded him with a speculative gaze. "Just a dance, nothing else?"

He flashed her a devilish grin and held out his hand. "Well honey, if you want more than a dance, you just let me know, but for right now, a dance is all I'm asking for."

She laughed and took the hand he offered. "Cocky, aren't you?"

He led her to the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. He leaned his head close to her ear and whispered, "Does my cockiness bother you?"

She shuttered and he smiled. A second later, she raised her head and he found himself staring into her emerald eyes. She didn't even bother to hide her desire. "No, it doesn't bother me."

He took that as a sign and never taking his eyes from hers, he leaned in to kiss her. She had plenty of time to turn away, but she didn't. In fact, she raised herself up and met him halfway. The kiss was gentle at first, but as soon as she parted her lips, he took advantage and deepened the kiss. His tongue explored her mouth as his hands pulled her closer, letting her feel how much he wanted her. She moaned and his mind reeled.

Only once before had a kissed affected him this way and he wanted more.

He wanted her, all of her even if it was just for one night.

When he finally raised his head, they were both breathing heavily. She looked up at him and he saw his own desire, want, and need reflected in her eyes. He groaned and thanked god that this was a hotel bar and that his room was right upstairs. "Let's get out of here."

She didn't even hesitate.


He unlocked the door to his room and motioned for her to precede him inside. She looked at him and for a split second he wondered if she was going to change her mind. But then she stepped inside and held out her hand to him. He took it and barely had time to shut the door before she backed him up against the wall and started unbuttoning his dress shirt, making quick work of the buttons, pulling it down his arms in one swift motion. A groan escaped his lips as she ran her hands over his now bare chest, her lips tracing a path along his jaw line to his the curve of his neck.

He wanted her needed her, needed to see her. Spinning them around, he pushed her gently against the wall and in one motion lifted her shirt over her head; his eyes taking all of her in. She was beautiful, just the way he remembered her. He tenderly kissed a path down her neck toward her shoulder, lowering her bra strap as he went and repeating his actions on the other side.

Reaching behind her, he released the strap, watching as she closed her eyes only for them to flutter open a moment later. His breath hitching at the look they held; a look he hadn't seen in the longest of time.

A look he missed and he closed his eyes, needing to block it out.

This was just a moment in time, a fling. An escape from a life he'd been running from and that look in her eyes made it suddenly seem like so much more.

She made a grab for the button on his jeans, causing his eyes to fly open as he caught her hands between his. His voice low, full of lust and that feeling; that look long forgotten, "Babe, you do that and this will be over way too soon."

She grinned sheepishly, her hands traveling up his bare arms and wrapping around his neck. "We wouldn't want that." She whispered huskily causing him to groan.

"No we wouldn't." he whispered as he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed and laying her down gently before making quick work of the rest of their clothes. Once they were both naked, he lowered himself over her and kissed his way down her neck toward her breast, running his tongue across her nipple as she cried out in pleasure. She arched her back, her hands clinging to him, pulling him close, and urging him on as he captured her breast in his mouth.

"Oh god," She moaned out as her nails dug into his back, holding him close.

Slowly he pulled away and raised his head, smiling at the look on her face and lifted a hand to her cheek, "Let me look at you." He whispered softly.

Her pout faded as her brow furrowed in question. "What are…"

Running his thumb across her lips, stopping her flow of words as he leaned down and gently brushed his lips against hers, whispering as he went; "I've missed you Peyton."


One Year Later…

Lucas Scott walked into the Café, the day after his ex-girlfriends wedding to one Julian Baker and ordered his morning coffee before settling down to read the paper. A photo of the happy couple, locked in a kiss, graced the front page. Along with an article about how one of Tree Hill's own had landed her very own prince charming.

Shaking his head, he stared at the photo. Amazed that she had done it; gotten married, especially without her best friend by her side. He hadn't thought she'd do it but she did. She walked down that aisle, her arm tucked his, and to the man she said changed her life.

He genuinely liked Julian. He honestly did. Thought he was prefect for her and he told her that. Told her Julian balanced her out and she laughed, pulled him in for a hug, telling him he was the one that taught her what love really was and she was thankful for that.

Lucas took a sip of his coffee, skimmed the article, a smile crossing his lips at the mention of names he recognized, never noticing Nathan and Haley enter the Café until he felt Haley's lips against his cheek.

Startled, Lucas looked up as Nathan pulled a chair out for Haley before sitting himself.

"Hey guys. What are you doing here?" He asked, leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed against chest.

"We're just stopping in for a quick bite to eat before heading out to Charlotte." Haley replied, her dark eyes watching him from across the table.

"Ah yes, the start of another basketball season and many nights apart."

"Which is why Deb has taken Jaime for the weekend," Haley said smiling, her eyes bright.

"Thank god for grandmothers." Nathan said with a smirk. "Hey!" he cried when Haley elbowed him and arched a brow his way. "I'm just saying."

Shaking his head, Lucas leaned forward watching his brother and wife interact. He wanted that. To be in love; to have a family and he almost had it; she just wasn't the right girl.

"You want to come?" She asked learning forward slightly, her dark eyes full of concern.

He smiled. She'd been doing that a lot lately, asking him to tag along to places and he knew she was concerned, worried about him and it made him feel good knowing she did. Still, he knew Nathan had been looking forward to having some alone time with Haley. It was written all over his face, "Nah thanks for the offer thou Hales. Besides I've got things to do."

"Like what?" She asked, ignoring the groan that escaped her husband lips. "Mope around the house? Stare at a blank computer screen? Find some random woman to bring home?"

Squinting, Lucas leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "I don't want to go, Hales. You guys need this, time on your own before everything gets crazy and you get all hormonal about the lack of time Nathan doesn't have."

Narrowing her eyes, Haley tossed her napkin down with a huff. "Fine. Stay here and be lonely. I don't care."

"Who says he's going to be alone?" Nathan asked before taking a drink of juice and nodding his head at his older brother, "I saw him talking it up with one of the bridesmaids last night. In fact, I saw her slip him her number."

And he grinned. Fake as it was, he smiled. He had gotten a number. A few but none turned his head. None made him want to call.

"If you really need to know," He said, shaking his head at Nathan. "I was going to look at a few houses. I think its time I moved out and got my own place. I appreciate you guys letting me crash as long as I have but no offense, living with you guys kind of cramps the love life." He added for good measure.

Rolling her eyes, Haley shook her head, "Who are you?"

She asked him that once before, the night after finding a strange woman walking out of his room. She had given him the silent treatment for hours, mumbling under her breath about destroying the man she once knew, when he begged her to talk to him.

And when she did finally speak to him, she yelled. Screamed that he was no longer the boy she loved, the boy she knew, remembered. Cause if he was still that boy, that man, he'd find a way back to where he belonged, find a way back to who he belonged with and not allow himself to become someone he wasn't.

Only he didn't do that. He just shut himself off, closed off his heart and convinced those around him he was fine. He was, fine for awhile until he saw her. Six years after he asked her to marry him and she said someday and he took it as no. Three years after another said no and left him standing at the alter because she had seen the truth and he couldn't face it.

He had watched her for hours, following through the city. Mesmerized by her movements, her actions and the way she smiled. She was happy and it killed him, cause he wasn't a result of it.

His heart had broken that day. Watching as another leaned forward and captured her lips with his and the way she brushed her hand lovingly against his cheek, the other clinging to his shirt. She used to do to him and he always thought it was meant just for him.

He had been wrong.

That had been three years ago and he never once told Haley he had seen her. That just seeing her from a distance made him want it all back. To go back to that moment when he walked away when he should have stayed. He just buried his feelings and became what Haley hated.

Someone he hated.

"You're such an ass." She said. "One of these days, Luke some woman is going to come along and give you a taste of your own medicine and I hope to god the man that I know and love comes back. Because this one," waving a hand his way she lowered her voice, the harsh tone gone. "I don't like him."

One already has, he thought, unable to stop the smile from forming on his face at the memory from a year ago in New York. He couldn't get it out of his head, that night, her.

He had woken to an empty bed and the fading scent of her. It was a first for him, waking alone. Usually it was him slipping away and leaving the girl before she woke. He hadn't expected her to leave but then again he did it to her years before.

He hadn't told a sole about their encounter, keeping the memory to himself and he often wondered if she mentioned it to Brooke.

"That's some smile, Luke." Nathan said, interrupting his thoughts. "So who is she?"

"What makes you think there is someone?" He asked avoiding Nathan's gaze and looking down at his coffee.

"Because you're staring at your coffee like it's the most fascinating thing in the world." Haley said. "So who is she?

Plastering on a smile, Lucas gave her a mischievous grin. "Which she are you referring to, Hales? There's been more than one over the years."

Laughing, Nathan leaned back his chair. "That's true but the last time you smiled like that was when you were with Peyton and that smile? I smile the same exact way when I'm thinking about Haley. So there is someone new Luke all you have to do is tell us and we'll be on our way."

Glaring Nathan's way, Lucas groaned inwardly. Why did he have to mention her, say her name? "There is no one. Just a…why am I discussing my love life with you anyways? Thanks for mentioning her name by the way, Nat."

"Because you're lacking one or so we thought." Nathan said with a grin. "And you're welcome."

"Luke," Haley drawled out, reaching out and placing her hand over his. "Why is it so hard for you to admit you miss her and…"

"I don't miss her." He growled out, cutting Haley off. He did miss her but he wasn't about to tell them that. He didn't need, nor want them getting involved in something that didn't exist because it didn't. No matter how much he wished it did.

"You do, Luke." She whispered. "If you'd just…"

Yanking his hand out from under hers and narrowing his eyes her way, Lucas leaned forward, his face inches from hers. "I don't miss her. I don't need her and I don't need anyone in my life. I'm not cut out to share my life with just one woman. We've established that."

"What's so wrong with wanting to share your life with someone, Luke?" Haley asked. "You use to want to that."

"I didn't say anything was wrong with it." He replied, looking to Nathan for help and only receiving a shrug in return. So much for brotherly love. "I just said I'm not cut out for it. I think we all figured that out when Lindsey left me at the alter. Besides I'm perfectly happy with my life the way it is."

"If you say so." With a huff, Haley leaned back, a smile on her lips. "But I know there's someone that you're not mentioning and I intend on finding out who she is."

Squinting his eyes her way, Lucas shook his head, listening to Haley and Nathan go on about who they thought it was that had him smiling. Since he had moved back to Tree Hill, from New York a year ago, Haley had been determined to help him get on with his life and find him the perfect woman. He tried telling her there was no such thing, but she laughed and told him he met her, only he had let her go.

Lucas rubbed his temples, his eyes closing when Haley mentioned how funny it would be if it was Peyton. If only they knew how right they were, he thought opening his eyes and faintly smiled.

If only they knew.