Chapter 2

People always get caught up in the moment and they never look forward or back to what this moment shapes. I have had many moments that shape my future. Everyone, I, believe can see at least one.

At this current point in time the moment that shapes my future is when Lindsey Strauss left me at the altar. You would think that my world would crumble around me and everything that I knew would change. The world did change, but for the better because even if I never wanted to admit it to myself and to everyone else I was never in love with her. She had everything a sane man would want, but for me that wasn't enough because she was safe.

True love is something that isn't safe. It has many aspects of it, but it could never be safe because truly loving someone means you had to give your whole self to that person. I never gave Lindsey any of myself because my whole being was with another. Her name is Peyton Elisabeth Sawyer and one day I hope to make her Peyton Elisabeth Scott. That day will hopefully be soon.

One Week Later

I walk into my office and look around to see if anything had changed.

I set my bag down and look at all the things that covered the walls. So many memories from high school just come rushing back every time I come back on Monday. The State Championship is defiantly the first one that comes to mind.

I sit down at the desk and wonder where everyone is. Normally when I walk in Nathan, Skills, and I are walking in with me and Haley is normally walking behind us because she is in her own world before she goes to teach every day.

I pick up my phone and dial Nathan. He has been late before, but something is telling me that's not it.

"Hey, Luke" I hear Nathan say.

"Where are you?" I ask.

"I'm at home" he says and I can hear the realization in his voice.

"Luke, it totally slipped my mind. I just figured you would still be on your honeymoon and I wouldn't have to worry about this" he says.

"Worry about what?" I ask with concern.



"Haley and I need to be somewhere for a few hours, but I'll be there in time for practice" he says and I can tell he is hiding something from me.

"Where's that?" I ask chuckling lightly because after Jamie was rescued by Dan. Haley and Nathan got back together. Everything with the Scott family was in its rightful place. Well for me I need to have the person I love back at my side for my world to be in its rightful place.

"The airport" he says finally let out his breath slowly.

"Airport?" I ask.

"Yeah the airport" he says and I can hear him joking with me because he and I both know I understood that.

"What for?" I ask even more confused.

"Umm… Peyton is leaving for a couple of weeks to L.A. and we were just going to say goodbye" he says and all I can think is that if Peyton goes to L.A. she might not come back.

"When is she leaving?" I ask in desperation. I can't let her leave without at least saying goodbye.

"Well she needs to be there in a half an hour, so if you would like to come I would be there by then" he says as if I don't want to go. Nathan must be angry with me for almost marrying Lindsey when in fact I'm more in love with Peyton then I was when we were in high school.

"Nathan you make it seem like I don't want to be there" I say annoyed, even if I had married it doesn't mean that I wouldn't have just not cared about Peyton anymore.

"It's not it's just I know you been going through a hard time since the wedding I didn't want bother you about this" he says and the sounds like honesty.

"You didn't think I wanted to know, Nathan. The love of my life is getting on a plane to L.A. again" I say infuriated. Nathan should have told me this early. No I take that back Peyton should have told me because she said she wanted to be friends. All I want is her back in my arms again. Maybe even so I can ask her to marry me, but I'm almost positive that I have to work to even be remotely worth of Peyton Sawyer's heart.

"Luke, I'm sorry" was all he got the chance to say before I hung up the phone. I know that was a little mean, but I'm angry that everyone things I'm broken because Lindsey left me when in reality I don't even care anymore. I've wasted months planning a wedding to the woman I don't even love. I also used Peyton's ring so now even if I wanted to propose to her I can't give her it. I really hope Keith isn't looking down on me because I feel like such a screw up.



I look up at the clock. I would have to hurry to get to the airport on time because the airport is on the exact other side of town.

I know this is totally juvenile, but I'm now running down the hallway toward the front of the building where my car is parked. I feel like I'm running towards the life I know I should have, the life that I want with Peyton, where she and I get married and spend the rest of our lives together.

I hop into the car and drive off to the main road. As I drive I see all the places in this town that has memories involving her. Almost every place has a story.

I look up and see that Tric and Clothes over bros are just ahead. There are so many memories in at club and especially in café. I can almost remember when it use to be just Haley and I best friends against the world. Now it's Haley and Nathan against the world. Haley and Nathan been married for almost six years and they have gone through so much together. They prove that true love can conquer all.

Just a few more long miles to the airport and I might be able to stop Peyton. Well maybe not exactly stop her, but convince her to come back after L.A. and not stay there for another three years I don't think I could handle it. Even though for three years I was angry with her and trying to fall out of love with her. It never really worked, but now that I think about nothing every turns out the way I plan. Sometimes that works out for the better, but most of the time it makes things worse. In the case of last week it turned out for the better even though until the moment Lindsey left me at the altar I thought I was in love with her.

People change, but true love never dies it just gets buried underneath all the things going on in your life. Peyton may never be girl I knew back in High school, but in some ways she has changed for the better. She has defiantly learned how to care for herself. Lately I've wondered if she even still needs me. Maybe she moved on, but how I am suppose to know that when she is leaving for L.A. and I don't even know for how long that will be.

The airport is just ahead off the main road and toward the west, away from the ocean. I've seen so many people leave from this airport and very few have come back. I just hope she is one of those few.

I drive up and park in a short term park spot and I hope out of the car. I start to speed walk when I see the entrance coming into view.

As I cross the street I see Haley, Nathan, and Jamie entering through the white double doors. A cab passes in front of me and I stop just for a moment before walking across.

After walking in the entrance I look for the departure time's and see that flight to L.A. leaves in an hour. I'm just in time to catch her before she leaves.