She had waited, worried and fretted over seeing him all day

She had waited, worried and fretted over seeing him all day. She had chosen her outfit carefully. A pale yellow dress she had bought ages ago but never felt like wearing. It was tucked in the back of her closet, but when he called to ask her to his book signing, she knew she finally felt like wearing it.

Now she stared down at the offending garment and cursed its existence. She had to remind herself to breath as she stepped out onto the busy sidewalk. People brushed by her, so busy in their own lives, cell phones stuck to their ears, or lost in their own thoughts.

Why had he called? She was doing okay, or at least pretending to be okay. It hurt more then she cared to admit to wake up in that big bed alone in that hotel room in LA. Waking, hoping he had just stepped out only to realize his suitcase was gone, and the mixed CD she had so carefully put together for him, lying beside her.

And then hope sprang again when he called her out of the blue. Come to my book signing, I want to see you he had told her. She was so proud of him when she walked into the crowded books store and saw all the people there to see him. And then she saw him – Lucas Scott, the love of her life, just as handsome as she remembered, but part of the boyish features replaced by the maturity of a man.

She hesitantly walked toward him, rehearsing over and over in her mind what she would say. That is when she saw her. The tall, mature and confident woman beside him, and then she leaned in and kissed him. It was then Peyton began having trouble breathing. Watching her dreams, her life, pass before her eyes.

Why was she such a fool to believe he would not have someone in his life? He had moved on and she had stood still. She quickly backed away from him and walked out of the bookstore.

So, here she was on the streets of LA. It was where all her dreams were supposed to come true, but it was a nightmare. She walked briskly down the street and passed a trendy bar. Peyton rarely drank but at this moment it was all she could think of. Drowning her sorrows, erasing the past, she had to stop living in what could have been. She had to face her future without Lucas Scott. He had found one without Peyton Sawyer.

She sat at the bar and quickly ordered a drink. The bartender sat it down before her and she stared at it.

"You gonna' drink that or just stare at it," a voice beside her said.

Peyton turned to see a well-dressed man sitting beside her. He twirled the glass of his own drink and the ice clinked together as he did.

"Me?" He said as he lifted his glass. "I am celebrating closing my first movie deal." He gave her a wide toothy grin.

"How about you?" He continued. "Let me guess, drowning your sorrows?"

"Something like that," Peyton replied. She turned back to her drink and picked up the glass draining the contents.

"Wow," she heard the man say. "A girl after my own heart."

He moved closer to her, taking up residence in the bar stool next to her. "The name is Julian." He held out his hand to her.

Peyton wasn't going to give him her name but she suddenly had a, what the hell attitude. How much longer did she have to put her life on hold for Lucas Scott?

"Peyton," she said taking his hand.

"How about we do a little drinking," Julian asked her. "You can help me celebrate and I can help you get over your sorrows."

"Maybe you can," Peyton said as she gave him a slight smile. "Maybe you can."

The drinks flowed and the time passed until Peyton lost track of both. When the haze of the alcohol faded a bit, Peyton found herself being led out of the bar, the attractive man who said his name was Julian leading her out the doorway. The bright L.A. sunshine was now replaced by darkness illuminated by the night-life that now surrounded them.

"Where are we going," Peyton mumbled. She stumbled a bit.

"I am taking you home." Julian raised his hand and hailed a cab. A bright yellow cab pulled up and Julian opened the door and folded Peyton inside. He scooted her over and joined her inside the car. He asked Peyton her address and she mumbled it and then lay her head against the seat.

"I think I drank too much," Peyton admitted.

She heard Julian chuckle beside her.

Before she knew it, the car came to a halt and they were in front of her apartment building. She tried to refuse Julian's help but he said it was the least he could do, helping her to her apartment.

After opening the door, fishing out the key from her purse, Peyton walked backwards into her apartment. She looked into Julian's eyes and then his features and shook her head. For a moment, oh just a fleeting moment, she saw Lucas in him - her Lucas, the boy, the man who would forever own her heart.

"Want to come in," Peyton invited boldly.

"I don't think it would be a good idea," Julian said as he contradicted himself by walking into the apartment and then shutting the door. "Wouldn't want you to say I took advantage of you."

"Who says you are using me?" Peyton questioned as grasped the collar of Julian's shirt and pulled him to her. "Maybe you are just what I need."

She kissed him long, kissed him hard and closed her eyes tighter as she did so. The path from her living room to the bedroom was a speedy journey and before Peyton knew it they both were naked and in her bed.

Julian kissed her deeply and was poised above her. She knew this was some random guy, she knew this wasn't what she normally did. But after seeing Lucas again after a year apart and seeing him move on with someone else, Peyton was sure she would never be that Peyton Sawyer again.

So, she closed her eyes and felt Julian enter her all the while mourning the loss of Lucas and the girl she used to be. And realizing the woman she was becoming.