Chapter 1

I'll Remember, I Just Can't Forget

I see your face and I can't help but stare
I feel your touch, you're with me everywhere
The sound of your voice and when our eyes first met
You know I'll remember, I just can't, just can't, just can't
I just can't forget, I just can't forget
I'll remember I just can't forget

I'm haunted by the beauty that I see
I look in your eyes and they won't set me free
Wanting to call, just don't know what to do
Can't deny this love between me and, you and, me and you
Between me and you
Can't deny this love between me and you
Can't deny this love

As we danced in the night with the moon and the stars
We created just one silhouette
I will always remember the wind in your hair

And I just can't, just can't, just can't
I just can't forget, I just can't forget
I'll remember I just can't forget

I just can't forget
This love between me and you, between me and you
I'll remember I just can't forget
I just can't forget
This love between me and you, between me and you
I'll remember I just can't forget
I just can't forget, you........

That song reflected Lucas's life like he had written it himself. He could not for some reason forget anything about the love of his life that he had to leave behind in Tree Hill. Were they ever going to become more than just friends? Could they? Would it last? Who would ask who first? All those questions kept pouring in his head. Was him and Peyton meant to be?

He drove for hours trying to get back to that old formiliar place that he lived in for 18 years of his life.

Lucas is finally there back in Tree Hill to find out everything he had left behind. To find out if all his feelings for the one girl he loved so much still remained.

The new school year had just started. Lucas had to start a week into the the year. As he steps out of his car he walks towards the door as he was walking he looks over to see Nathan's mustang and him and Haley stepping out of it. Lucas hurried up to get inside, cause he never liked talking to Haley while Nathan was around. He walks into the school to find Peyton with her arms crossed talking to Jake in the lobby.

"Oh no I'm to late. Peyton finally said yes to Jake. Why? Why did I come back?" Lucas thinks to himself.

He sees Jake pointing over to him and then Peyton turns around. She looks at him, but doesn't move a muscle. She just smiles at him then turns back around. Lucas is so confused.

"Does she not recognize me? I mean its only bean 6 months. How much can people change in that period of time?"

He decides to ignore it and walk to the office to get his schedule and his locker number.

"Lucas Scott." Lucas hears from behind. He turns around to find Haley.

"Hey Hales." Lucas says hugging her.

"What are you doing back?"

"Long story. Besides I missed you and the gang to much."

"I missed you to. You have no idea. I have been so lost. I have had so many conflicts that Nathan just couldn't understand like you could."

"I'm sorry Haley. Do you still hate me for leaving?"

"I never hated you Luke I was just upset. I couldn't understand what drove you to the point to just run away."

"I don't even know myself Hales, but I'm back now. I have a question."

"What?"

"Peyton was in the lobby and I walked in and she looked at me and just smiled. She didn't walk over to me or nothing."

"I think she is still upset from you leaving her the way you did. And plus her mom died a couple of weeks ago in a car accident."

"Oh really and noone called to tell me?"

"Lucas to tell you the truth you shouldn't have came back."

"Why?"

"Cause everyone has moved on and we're all actually getting along. Brooke is with Tim and Peyton is with Jake and I'm, with Nathan."

"What are you saying Haley I screwed up everyone's life. Huh?"

"No Lucas."

"Save it Haley." He walks to his first period. When he walked in everyone looks at him then looks away like he wasn't anything new. Lucas sits down.

'WTH when I left everyone was in tears begging me to stay and now noone cares' Lucas says to himself. He starts to think of him and Peyton's conversation before he left.

Flashback

Peyton and Lucas that night at dinner.

"Haley's not taking me leaving that well."

"Well do you blame her. You've been her best friend since she was 2."

"I guess I can't. But I can't just not leave cause of her you know? I got to make my own decisions now."

"I feel like your leaving the whole Brooke situation all on me now. I thought we was going to talk to her together remember."

"I don't think it matters anymore she's gonna say she hates us and she'll never talk to us again. She's never going to forgive us Peyton."

"She has too. She's my best friend."

"But wasn't I worth it." Lucas says with a smile.

"I'm glad you think this is all funny cause it's not I hurt the person that was always there for me and you expect me to let her hate me forever."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah."

"So what do we do now?"

"Just stay friends."

"I don't know if I can do that Peyt."

"Well your gonna have to, cause I can't do that to her again."

"I know I wanna be with you again so bad."

"Yeah..... When you were in the hospital Brooke came everyday more than I did. She left you flowers and cards and you should have heard everything she said to you. If you would have heard her you would of regretted ever messing around with me."

"I doubt that."

"She came and kept Karen company. She told her she loved you so much and how you bettered her life. She said she wished she could just marry you now and get it over with."

"Please Peyton."

"You need to hear it. Lucas, Brooke loved you more that I ever have. I have never been able to give you the love that she has given you. She gave you something that I was to scared to give. She has never let anyone in like she let you."

"Are you saying I was her first?"

"Yeah."

"Wow I didn't know that."

"Yeah you didn't give her the chance to let you know her."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Bringing up all this stuff about Brooke. Don't you want us to be together?"

"Yeah more than ever, but I want you to know what you left for me."

"I know what I left and I don't regret it."

"Well I did."

"I cannot believe your saying that. Peyton you wanted this. You wanted me as bad as I wanted you that night in the hotel and you knew what you were getting into."

"I know that Lucas. I know I did and I still what you like that, but we can't."

"Why can't we?"

"Cause your leaving and nothing else matters."

"But it does Peyton. I just want to know what I'm leaving back in Tree Hill."

"My heart."

"No I'm taking that with me."

"Sorry Lucas it's all or nothing."

And that was it she stood up and walked right through the swinging doors. No more words between with them was said. He left the next morning without a call to noone.

Flashback Ends

Lucas hears the bell ring and walks out and down to his locker. He finds that Peyton has a locker right beside him.

He casually walks over to it and puts in his combination and opens it. He keeps looking in the corner of his eye at Peyton,

"Wow your actually back." Peyton finally says breaking the aquornace.

"Yeah." Lucas says shutting his locker.

"Why?"

"Cause I wanted to."

"Oh. Well I guess I will see you around." Peyton says walking passed him.

"Wait stop Peyton." Lucas says turning around and walking over to her.

"What?"

"Why are you acting like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like you don't care."

"Cause I don't." Peyton says trying to walk away.

"Why don't you?"

"Cause I can't. I can't care about someone who left me for something he thought was better. You know what Lucas my life is so much better now. Me and Brooke are actually talking again, me and Jake are about to get together, and my grades are unbelievable high. I don't want any of that to change. I'm sorry Lucas."

"You know what I don't need you people. I came here to come back to the only place where I felt safe and protected. Where I felt like people actually cared about me, but I was wrong. I am out of here." Lucas turns around and walks right back out the door and back home.

"Mom I wanted to come back so bad. I was so excited, I was finally coming back to my home. I was coming back to the people that I loved and I thought loved me back, but they didn't care. They didn't want me back mom. What am I suppose to do with that?"

"Accept it."

"How mom? How do I accept my friends not wanting me back?"

"I don't understand. The other day Haley came by just crying her eyes out cause she came across your pictures and letters and she missed you like crazy. I think she's just upset with you leaving without a goodbye."

"Yeah maybe. I don't know what to do I want to go back to Charleston."

"Don't Lucas you can't."

"Why not? People cared more about me up there then they do down here."

"They care just give them some time to show it k."

"I dunno. I am so tired I am going to go take a nap."

"Ok."

Lucas goes to his room and takes a nap till 7:30 then walks down to the basketball court. He walks onto the court to find chalk marks with his team number and hearts around it. "Peyton." He says to himself.

"I drew those last week hoping it would bring you back."

Lucas turns around to find Peyton.

"It worked." Lucas says turning his head to her and smiling.

"Yeah."

Lucas turns back around and looks at the heart. "And you still seem not excited."

"Lucas I missed you I really did. I just don't think it's fair that you decide to come back and expect me to drop everything for you."

"I'm not asking you to do that Peyton." Lucas says walking over to her. "All I wanted was a welcome back hug. When I came back this morning I felt like I was coming to some foreign place and noone could understand why I was there and what I was saying. It was scary."

"I'm sorry Lucas. I really am."

"It's ok Peyt. So you and Jake are together?"

"Kinda sorta."

"What do you mean?"

"We're not official yet I just wanted you to think we were."

"Why?"

"Cause I didn't want you to know that I have been down here stuck in my room crying myself to sleep and dyeing inside everytime someone mentions you."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes Lucas."

"I've been crying myself to sleep thinking about you up there moving on with your life and moving on with someone else."

"There's noone else Peyton."

"Really?" Peyton says with a smile.

"Yes really." Lucas says swiping her hair behind her ears. "Come on let me walk you back home."

"Ok."

Lucas puts his arm around her shoulders and she slid her arm around his waist.

Dan was in his beach house reviewing all his past memories of him and Deb and him and Karen. He thought about how he screwed things up with both of them. He loved being with Karen, cause she gave him Lucas, but he loved Deb, cause she gave him Nathan.

He went to grab his drink and he started shaking. It got to the point where he fell on the floor. He grabbed his chest hoping it would take the pain away, but it didn't. It got worst and worst. Dan Scott was having a heart attack and noone was around to help him. He just laid there and shook till finally he stopped.