AN:let me just say this, i'm a major LP fan, always have been and alwaays will be. but i read this story 'absence of fear by bandmlove' (kudos to you by the way, awesome story.) anyway it had this relationship with Chase and peyton, and that kinda inspired me to explore them as a couple, what they would have been like together, coz i love chase to bits. i also dont like the way Peyton forgave Lucas just like that in season 6, i understand love and all that but he really should have felt some of her pain i think.

anyway pliz review, i would love to know what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not own OTH or any of its characters

Peyton bit her lip hard as not to laugh at the awkwardness in the car. The only person who didn't seem to be aware what was going on was Owen. And Brooke looked like she wanted to die when the friend that Owen had said she was hooking Peyton up with was none other than Chase Adams, her high school sweetheart! Peyton and Rachel had roared with laughter with poor Brooke looking utterly mortified. Now they were on their way to Lucas and Lindsey's engagement party, the one thing that she would have gladly missed, but Brooke was having none of it.

'You are not hiding away, you haven't done anything wrong!' Peyton had just barely refrained from pointing out that she wouldn't exactly be hiding but going to this party would be venturing into the lion's den, so to speak.

'Is there something that I'm missing here?' Owen finally asked looking between all of them. Peyton put her fingers over her lips to keep herself from cracking up again. Chase inched forward in between the front seats.

'Owen mate, d'you remember that girl I told you I was in love with in high school?'

'Yeah, the cheerleader/clothes designer you lost your virginity to in the back of your car?' Owen smiled mischievously

'Y-e-ahhhh.' Chase was blushing furiously. 'Do you remember her name?'

'Yeah it was...uhmm...what?!' he said looking at Brooke and trying to look back at Chase through the review mirror

'Yep.' Chase said patting his shoulders sympathetically.

'How...what?' he was shaking his head obviously unable to believe his ears...his girlfriend and his best mate, erghhhh.

'I...' Brooke opened her mouth to explain, but nothing came out, what could she say?

'Peyton.' She said pleadingly looking to her friend for help.

'It was a long time ago Owen.' Peyton supplied echoing her thoughts.

'Yeah man, it was ages ago.' Chase said.

'Hmm-hmm.' Rationally Owen knew that, but he also knew how his friend had felt about the girl in high school and that the only reason their relationship broke up was because they were in different states at that time. By the time they got to Haley's house Peyton was ready to burst at the seams, she couldn't contain herself.

'It's not funny!' Brooke hissed at her furiously.

'Well you gotta admit. It is just a little bit...just a little, no? Okay, we won't laugh anymore.' She drew an imaginary zip across her mouth and threw the 'key' behind her shoulder. But now that she wasn't laughing at the situation before her, it really brought home exactly why they were here and that feeling of loneliness overwhelmed her once again. As if on cue Lucas exited the house just as they were going in.

'Hey guys!' he said brightly, he barely glanced at Peyton. He shook Owen's hand and kissed Brooke's cheek. Peyton groaned inwardly, what was it that he was mad at her for this time? It was probably something to do with his perfect fiancé. Then he turned to Chase, as if he hadn't seen her at all. 'Chase! My man, it's been a long time. I'm glad you could make it. It's been forever!' he clasped his hands in a brotherly handshake. Was he kidding? How could he be that happy? How could he just barely look at her as if they hadn't been prepared to share their entire lives together, but then again, she reminded herself, they weren't about to share their lives together were they? He was about to marry someone else who wasn't her. Well then, she resolved as she brushed past him to look for a very stiff drink, if he was gonna act like she wasn't there then so could she. It would be a whole lot easier if he wasn't the whole reason she was here in the first place. Damn it! It wasn't like she was asking for him to suddenly look at only her although that wouldn't be totally a bad idea, she mused silently. But it would have been great to be acknowledged the way he did everybody else she had been with. The way Brooke had looked at her she knew that she had noticed it too, so she wasn't being paranoid.

She headed for the bar, that's what she needed at that moment, a very stiff drink. She wasn't surprised when she found Skillz at the make shift bar.

'Hey Skinny girl, how's it hanging?' he smiled brightly at her.

'Make it a very large whisky, the largest you got, straight.' she slid onto the bar stool her eyes wandering around the room taking in everything and everyone.

'That bad huh?'

'Nope but I have a feeling it's about to be reeeeaally bad though.' Lindsey Strauss was heading her way and none of those confrontations had ever ended well, she didn't expect this one to be any different. Skillz followed her eyes to see where she was looking and seeing Lindsey his mouth formed a silent o. He immediately put the drink in the girl's hand noting that she was going to need it if she was to survive the next two seconds. Peyton snatched it from his hand and downed half the drink in one go shocking both Skills and herself.

'Easy there snowflake.' Skills gently took the glass off her hands and set it next to her as Peyton coughed and sputtered trying to catch her breath and ease the burning sensation on her throat.

'Peyton, you okay?' Lindsey was immediately by her side rubbing her back. Peyton froze and barely refrained from visibly recoiling.

'Yeah, just drank a little too fast.' She said wiping the tears that had formed in her eyes. Then she turned and plastered on a smile as she faced the other woman. Skills watched them warily, he wasn't sure whether to run and hide or to stand there and hide all the sharp objects and be ready to referee.

'You sure?' Peyton wasn't sure whether it was genuine concern in the other woman's eyes or whether she was faking it. She didn't know any more. She had been guilty of seriously misjudging the other woman previously and after their somewhat sort of truce the other day in the library, she wasn't that eager to stir the waters, as much as she didn't like her. The only thing they were both guilty of was loving the same man. Although in her case she had no right coz not only did he not belong to her, he didn't want to, he had made that clear on more than one occasion that he had moved on and he didn't love her anymore, instead he loved the woman in front of her.

'Yeah.' She moved off from the chair to stand a few feet away from Lindsey.

'Well I'm glad you came.' She said wringing her hands nervously.

'Wouldn't have missed it.' She said cocking her head to the side.

'Well you look good.' Lindsey said after a minute of unbearably awkward silence.

'Thanks.' This was ridiculous, why were they even attempting small talk, everyone knew they didn't like each other, and especially because of their 'common interest' they were actually excused from making small talk.

'Well there is Nate, I'm gonna go talk to him.' She made her escape before Lindsey had the chance to recover. She breathed a sigh of relief when Nate immediately walked through the door heading her way, at least she wouldn't look like a liar just in case Lindsey was starring after her.

'Nate!' she cried out desperately.

'Hey Sawyer, you made it.' He swivelled towards her surprise written all over his face.

'Don't sound so surprised.' She said defensively but immediately retracted when he shot her a look that clearly asked her if she was seriously surprised that he was surprised. 'Okay fine, you are right to be surprised, just a little, how you doing?'

'Oh you know, so-so.' His eyes automatically wondered till they settled on Haley who had Jamie hot on her heels. He seemed to be begging for something but Haley wasn't budging

'Hang in there Scott.' She patted his arm sympathetically. Clearly Haley still wasn't talking to him.

'Easier said than done.' He said so sadly that her heart completely went out to him. She wanted to hug him tight and take away all his pain. She didn't agree with the way he had handled things but Haley was taking this whole punishing thing too far. Besides ever since she got back Haley had given her nothing but grief so she didn't owe her anything.

'Forget about me, how are you doing Sawyer?' trust Nathan to put everybody else before himself; she laughed as she remembered how she had described him in high school- a martyr.

'Better than you by the looks of it.' She attempted a laugh but it came out hollow and empty. She didn't want to talk about her, anything but. She knew people were whispering, talking about her, the poor rejected girl who wanted a guy who didn't want anything to do with her, she would be damned if she spent the remaining of her time here thinking the same. Now all she had to do was survive the next hour and then she will be gone. 'Just to show your face.' Brooke had said, and an hour was plenty of time to 'show one's face' as her friend so delicately put it.

'Daddy can we play rock band with you and momma?' Jaime said solemnly looking up at his father with huge pleading eyes.

'Not now Jaime.' He said flippantly not even looking at him. He set off as he followed Haley. Jaime followed him hugging his little guitar to his chest and a few seconds later he was tugging at Haley's skirt.

'Hey.' A voice said behind her. She turned and her lid automatically stretched to a smile when she saw Chase behind her.

'Hey you.' She smiled briefly at him before her eyes returned to Jaime. From where she was standing she could guess what the conversation was about, she saw Haley shaking her head and waving him off. Jaime's arms fell to his sides dropping the guitar in his arms. His face fell to his chest and Peyton was sure he was crying. She let out a string of curses under her breath. Damn them, they were so busy with their stupid fight that they didn't even realise the one person they were hurting the most.

Hearing her swear Chase asked her if she was okay. He didn't think he had ever heard her swear the entire time he had known her. Instead of answering him she grabbed his hand, 'Come on.' she said leading him upstairs.

'Oh but Sawyer shouldn't you buy me a drink first before you drag me up stirs?' he said quirking hi eyebrows mischievously. Peyton stopped, shocked and speechless, and then she burst out laughing.

She couldn't help it, seconds later they were both laughing as Chase joined her

'Oh my God.' She said gasping for air, trying to stop but unable to as her stomach echoed in spasms of laughter.

'Well at least that got that deadly serious look off your face.' He was smiling at her now as she wiped tears of laughter from her cheeks. She couldn't help but note that ever since she met him today she had laughed more than she had in as long as she could remember.

'Shut up, you'll ruin my make up.' She playfully shoved him.

'I don't know what you are talking about.' He said feigning innocence as they ascended the stairs.

They found Jaime in his room his rigid little back to the door.

'Hey buddy how are you doing?' Peyton said sitting behind him to see what he was doing, she motioned for Chase to come in. Jaime vigorously ran the back of his hands on his cheeks, to hide any evidence of his tears Peyton suspected.

'I'm okay.' He sniffed.

'Really, then turn around and look at me.' Peyton prompted but as she had expected Jaime shook his head no.

'No? Alright how about you come and lie here with me and Chase, we won't talk if you don't want to. We'll just lie here and say nothing.' She motioned for Chase who hesitated as he stared at the tiny bed. Jaime hesitated also before he moved back and laid his head quietly on Peyton's shoulder with Chase on the other side of him. Like she promised Peyton didn't say anything, the all just lay there saying nothing. Five minutes later Jaime finally shifted and sat up looking at both Peyton and Chase then finally his eyes landed on Chase.

'Who are you?' Chase chuckled at his directness.

'I'm Chase.'

'I'm James Lucas Scott.' He offered his hand for Chase to shake.

'Nice to meet you James Lucas Scott.' He smiled taking his hand. Then suddenly his whole demeanour changed.

'I just wanted to play rock band together as a family so that momma and daddy would talk and we'll be happy again like on TV.' he said so sadly that Peyton could have sworn she heard her heart break there and then he snuggled back on Peyton's shoulder. Peyton looked at Chase again for help through a veil of tears.

'It will be okay little man, you'll see. They will be happy again. They just need some time apart. Right now they are busy helping uncle Lucas and Lindsey get ready for their wedding.'

'How do you know?' Jaime turned that little adorable face of his toward him and Chase faltered a little. This time it was he who looked at Peyton for help.

'Well coz they belong together, that's why.' She supplied helplessly. What was she supposed to say?

'Well everybody used to say that you and Uncle Lucas belong together but he's marrying Lindsey.' He pointed out matter of factly. Peyton felt as if she had been sucker punched right in the gut. A giant smouldering boulder logged in her throat and she couldn't breathe. A fresh wave of tears rolled down her cheeks. For a long time she had believed that she and Luke belonged together, hell she still did, and she hoped that by some miracle they would be together once again, someday. But hearing it from the mouths of the babes, it was like a confirmation.

'Well people were wrong about Luke and me; he didn't love mesas much as your daddy loves your mum.' She said soothingly though she felt like she was being ripped apart as she came to the realisation how true her words actually could be. Peyton felt Chase squeeze her shoulder in comfort. She grabbed a Kleenex on the night stand and dabbed away her tears.

'Okay how about since we are all sad, we go and cheer ourselves up with rock band.' Chase suggested cheerfully.

'No, I'm okay.' Jaime said sadly.

'Fine, just thought I would let you prove that you are better than me, but if you wanna be chicken about it and prove me right, then s'okay.' Peyton looked at Jaime hoping that he would take Chase's bait, she didn't know how else to help him.

'You're not better than me!' he cried out in mock horror.

'Are too!'

'Fine! I'll show you!' Jaime said jumping off the bed.

'Race you.' Chase lunged for him. Jaime squealed and took off down the stairs with Chase hot on his heels. Peyton laughed at their antics. Chase was just another six year old. She took a deep breath to calm herself. She gasped when she bumped into someone-Lucas! She would have lost her balance if his hands hadn't shot out and caught her. Her heart skipped a beat and suddenly she couldn't breathe. She felt sparks of electricity emanating from his body right into hers through where he was touching her. It shot right through her to her toes and straight to her head making her feel a little light headed.

'Sorry.' She said abruptly stepping back as far away from him as much as the hallway would allow.

'I uhmm, was looking for Jaime.' He explained.

'Well he just went downstairs with Chase.' What? He was talking to her now?

'Yeah I saw them.' the few seconds of silence between them was making her squirm like an ant in a frying pan.

'Well I gotta go find them.' she escaped before he had the chance to say anything, if he had been about to say anything at all. It wasn't fair that he was able to make her feel this way, even after he was supposed to marry someone else tomorrow. A part of her hated him for it.