"So…I'm here with the one and only…Lucas Scott…I know ladies I know…but please keep the screaming to a minimum" he laughed lightly as he watched her through the mirror…hair brush held up to her mouth. She set the brush down on the dresser before sliding in front of him with a sly smile on her face.

"Morning beautiful…" he whispered as he let Peyton take the two ends of the tie out of his hands. He leaned in but she pulled back with raised brows.

"Good morning Mr. Scott. So tonight it the last game of the regular season. The Ravens got off to a not so great start…but have been on a winning streak lately."

"Yes we have" he set his hands gently on her waist as he watched her focus on his tie.

"Are you feeling confident about tonight's game…do you think you'll be able to extend your streak and make it to…the…"

"Playoffs…" he smiled as she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah…that…anyway, do you think the Ravens will make it" she questioned as she straightened the tie then let it rest against his shirt. She picked up her curling iron and began running it through her hair.

"I'm confident in the team…but I must say…I'm feeling kind of tense" his voice was barely above a whisper as he pulled her body closer.

"Shit" dropped the rod back on the dresser as she bought her burnt thumb up to her lips.

"Are you okay" he watched her nod as he place a gently kiss on the pad of her thumb.

"Anyway…you have all day to relax…maybe we'll even cut out of this pre-game party early" She winked up at him before tapping him on the nose lightly. She broke away from his grasp and turned around to face the mirror and turn off the curling iron. His hands snaked around her waist as his lips began trailing along her neck.

"Yeah….and maybe we won't even go" her head fell back against his shoulder as she wrapped her hands around his.

"We have to go" she turned around to face him again as her arms looped around his neck. His lips met hers gently and he found a way to pull her body even closer to his.

"I guess so…but I'm thinking we might be late"

"Just a little" her lisp barely left his and he hoisted her onto his waist and started back towards his bed.

----

"And why are you two late" Peyton looked to her side to see a feisty brunette standing innocently beside her.

"You're talking to me" Brooke shrugged before snaking her arms through Peyton's and leaning her head on the blonde's shoulder.

"Yeah…its like I woke up this morning and this little light went off. I told Broody once that you can't control love…it just happens…the heart wants what it wants Peyton and how hypocritical would I be if I took that all back just because his heart doesn't want me"

"Brooke…"

"Besides…he broke up with me so it's not like you two were sneaking around."

"But…"

"But nothing…I'm cool with it Peyton…deep down I always knew you guys were meant for each other, and people who are meant to be together always find their way in the end" the brunette winked before walking off and leaving the blonde with a smile on her face.

"What was that about…can't be bad since you look happy"

"I think she just gave us her blessing" she wrapped her arms around his neck and he gladly hugged her back

"Hey Luke…we're all headed out back for a team meeting with Whitey…kiss her later" Nathan grabbed his brother's arm and pulled him towards the back. Peyton watched him walk off to meet the rest of the team, her smile beginning to falter.

"Hey…are you okay" Haley came up beside her with a worried expression.

"Yeah…" she let her smile fall slightly as she turned to face the petite brunette.

"Peyton…what's going on…I thought you and Luke were happy…or am I completely wrong and this have nothing to do with Lucas."

"I don't know anymore Hales…I mean….its just always about the game with him now…and if he's not talking about basketball…" she paused as she tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "I just feel like I'm falling right back into the relationship I had with Nathan. I know that its his last season and the game is important to him and all, but I'm starting to feel like the trophy girlfriend again. I wanna be his girlfriend again, not the prize he gets after each win."

"Have you tired talking to him" the brunette questioned as she place a supportive hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Yeah…he just told me I was overreacting…I don't know…maybe he's right…I mean, I can't have him all the time right?" she forced a smile that the other girl hesitantly returned. The old Lucas was never that wrapped up in the game…he could always find time for her…even before they started dating.

"You guys will work it out…plus, the season over after tonight."

"Yeah…unless they win…then the games are gunna be even more important to him." She looked down towards the floor.

"There's something else isn't there"

"It's nothing…today was just…it's been six months. It's not like its some big anniversary date or anything...so…"

"But it's not like Lucas" Haley wrapped her arms tightly around the emotional blonde. "I'm sorry Peyton"

"It's not your fault Haley…I was just expecting too much from him…it's not a big deal…my fault"

"Its not…and hey…maybe he didn't forget and he's gunna surprise you later…think positive Peyton…"

"Maybe…look, I'm not really in a partying mood…tell Luke I went home…that's if he even asks" the blonde forced another smile before turning around and walking off. Haley watched her leave sympathetically before turning to watch the group of guys outside. She caught Nathan's eye and they exchanged a small smile, but Lucas was focused solely on Whitey's speech.

---

"Let's go Ravens…Let's go!" Peyton waved her pom poms in the air…mindless following the choreography her best friend had come up with. "Come on Lucas" her voice echoed through the gym as she watched Luke drive the ball to the net. With ten seconds left on the clock the crowd cheered as the older Scott added three points to the Raven's twelve point lead.

"Extra Extra" Brooke screamed from the head of the cheerleaders.

"Read all about it….Ravens are the best and there's no doubt about it" they yelled out in unison right before the buzzer rang out. Game over…the Ravens were in the playoffs. Haley glanced sympathetically at Peyton, knowing the smile on her face was far from real.

"Hey…maybe things won't get any worse" the brunette offered hopefully.

"Yeah…but that doesn't mean they're gunna get any better either." The smile never left her face as she made her way over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Congratulations"

"Thanks…god this feels so much better then last year." She laughed lightly before he kissed her gently.

"Let's go out and celebrate" She leaned her forehead against his as he lifted her on his waist.

"That sounds good…anywhere you want"

"Surprise me" she bit her bottom lip before leaning in to kiss him again…maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad.

"I'm gunna go get changed alright." He kissed her again before setting her down and taking off towards the locker room.

---

She looked around his room before sitting quietly on his bed. What a surprise…he wins the game…the takes her back to his house. Peyton sighed to herself as she watched him come back into the room. "So…" she starts.

"So…my moms not here and she probably won't be all night since she's out with Keith. We've got the house to ourselves all night." He looked down at her…god he loved her…he knew he didn't always tell her as much as he should. He had gotten so wound up in the game lately…he didn't mean to…but once his playing started to get better he was determined to keep it up. He was just glad she knew how he felt.

"Sounds good…but first" She got of the bed with a small smile playing on her lips as she made her way over to his computer desk. She picked up her sketch pad and took out the drawing she had tucked away this morning. "Okay" she turned around to face him with her hands behind her back.

"What do you have" he smiled as he tried to peak behind her back, but she twisted away from him.

"It's nothing big…but…here" she handed him the drawing. It was of the two of them on the beach…where they had made their relationship official…given each other the title of boyfriend and girlfriend. He had even asked her out on a first date and everything. The caption was simple…it was her saying that she loved him.

"Thank you" he leaned in a kissed her lightly. "I kinda feel bad for not getting you anything…what's the occasion." Her smile tightened and his face fell as he watched her. She had actually let herself believe Haley…she thought that maybe…just maybe he had remembered…that she would catch a glimpse of the old Lucas Scott…the one she had fallen in love with.

"No reason." He watched as her eyes glazed over.

"Hey…did I do something…" he tried to wipe a tear from under her eyes but she pulled away.

"No…it's me…not you…you didn't do anything…at least nothing out of the ordinary. Actually I take that back…it is you…or some form of you that emerge over the last few months." Tears cascaded down her flushed cheeks.

"Peyton…" he reached out for her, but she wouldn't let him touch her.

"No it's fine Lucas….I'm sorry…I'm just over reacting" she wiped roughly at her face as she walked backwards towards the door. He looked down at the drawing a noticed the date and the words happy anniversary on the back. He silently cursed himself…how could he have forgotten. He rushed out of his house after her but she had her car from the previous day and all he saw was her tail lights as she rounded the corner. He got in his car and drove after her…praying that she was at the café talking to Haley…more so praying that he knew her as well as he thought he did. He was glad to see her sitting in a booth near the window of the café and he quickly made his way over to her.

"Peyton look I'm sorry okay." He pulled her body into him as he ran his thumbs under her eyes. "I've just had so much on my mind lately…look I'll make it up to you…I was gunna tell you later…but…tomorrow night…I made dinner reservations at Capriccio's…six o'clock." He smiled at her hopefully.

"You're kidding right" she watched him in disbelief and she knew from the bewildered look on his face he was serious. "My art exhibition…tomorrow night…six o'clock….you know…that one I've been stressing over for the past month."

"I'm sorry…I'll move the reservations….god…Peyt…"

"Forget it Lucas…I just…I know you mean well…but sometimes I just feel like I'm a very high second priority to you…and that hurts" she pulled away from him as she hung her head.

"I don't understand" he lifted her chin with his finger and watched as her green eyes slowly turned more red with each tear that fell.

"I know…it's what kills me" She shook her head as she took a step away from him.

"Pey…"

"If there was just one day…where nothing else mattered but us…it should have been today…I would have been happy with just tonight. I don't know…maybe I ruined that"

"Peyton I adore you…" He reached his hands up and cupped her face, but she moved away and let his hands fall.

"I don't wanna be adored" her voice was bitter as she shook her head and continued to move further away. "I wanna be loved." Her voice cracked more with each word. She blinked back more tears before turning around and walking out of the café.

"Peyton…wait" he called out after her, but she was already in her car and pulling away. He watched as the light turned green and she sped thought the intersection. He closed his eyes until her heard the screeching tires and the harsh sound of twisting metal and breaking glass. He looked up to see her black car crushed on the driver's side and people running and screaming towards the intersection.

---

Three long and excruciating hours at the hospital…all of them waiting hopelessly. Now he was home…curled up in his bed that suddenly seemed so large compared to last night when she had been curled up next to him. How could she be gone...the thought seemed unbearable as he felt his heart aching through his chest. His phone had been unplugged, his cell turned off…both of his doors locked. He didn't want anymore hugs and I'm sorry's. He didn't wanna see any of his friend's in tears…or listen to them tell him her death wasn't his fault. He had spent so much time whispering to Haley as she held her best friend. "I really wanted to be with her...I didn't mean to be so..." She told him it was okay, but it didn't console him. He stayed in the center of the bed…her sketch book tucked tightly in his arms against his chest. What killed him most was that she didn't know how much he loved her…how could you love someone so much and not know how…how to…love them.