A/N: I do not own One Tree Hill


Peyton awoke to the loud noises associated with the city; construction a block away, traffic below her window, and the loud snoring that came from her right. All of these sounds seemed amplified in her head; she supposed this was a result of the reckless amounts of alcohol she consumed the night before. She is not sure when her drinking, promiscuity, or other bad habits became part of her life, but her outlook on life was not one that made her happy. The world was a wicked place, where everyone only cared about themselves. They acted without care of the consequences or hurting the people around them. People were cold and cruel; they liked to see others in the gutter. It made them feel better about themselves. She too was guilty of the ways of human nature, after she brought home the man sleeping beside to release her womanly needs. But he had just as equally used her to release his. Her mind creeps back to the first time she ignored her conscience and sex just became another function, just like doing laundry or bathing.

It had been exactly three weeks after Lucas slept with Brooke, and she had found a band that she really wanted to get signed.

"Peyton, what can I do for you?" Ken said, he was one of seven board members in charge of signing new bands to the label.

She was timid as she walked into the office, but protruded confidence. "I went out last Friday, and I found this really great band. They showed excellent self-identity, musical knowledge, a broad range of variety in their songs. They made me feel what they were playing. They would certainly sell many albums if you would just listen to them I am sure you will feel the same." She said about the band that had brought her out the funk she had been walking in. When Lucas slept with Brooke after the proposal, she was devastated. Her eyes were dead, and she thought nothing could make her feel again, but their music did. She couldn't let them get passed by.

"Why should I listen to them. I have heard that exact speech before." He said seemingly not listening to her words.

"They are the type of band that can make you feel again." She said with emotions escaping in her voice.

"Okay, I'll tell you what I will give them a chance. But you have to do something for me." He stated while staring at her legs.

"What can I do for you?" Peyton said suddenly uncomfortable at the direction of his eyes.

"Let's just say that I haven't been in a relationship for a couple of years now, and I could use some help fixing the situation. You would need to meet me at this address around 9, so we could rectify the matter." He said it as if it were the most casual statement in the world, but could notice her uneasiness. "You wouldn't have to worry about anyone finding out, and we would never discuss it again…Plus your band would get heard, and signed if your performance warranted."

She struggled with the deal placed before her, and ultimately decided to go through with it. While she hated herself in the morning, music was the only things she still believed in. Lucas and Brooke had destroyed her faith in people, even those you could call friends and lovers. The band got signed, and sold a couple million records. Peyton was able to read some of their fan mail and see the effects their music had on people like her. It made it somewhat worth it. And while she didn't go to such extremes often, she had repeated her actions a few more times for the sake of music, a certain James woman comes to mind.

Snapping out of her memories, she could hear the figure beside her begin to stir. She slowly opened her eyes when he spoke.

"Peyton? The door. Someone's knocking." He voiced staring at the curls before him. She arose from her spot on the bed and grabbed a robe. "You should get dressed." She told him before heading to the door. He grabbed his clothes and walked into the bathroom. "Hold on; I'm coming." She was able to spit at the knocking presence, in an attempt to stop the pounding in her head.

Unbolting the three locks, she grabbed the cold brass knob and pulled the door open, startled to see yet another Tree Hill native in Los Angeles.


Nathan awoke the next morning to his phone buzzing.

"Scott here" he whipped out after opening the device.

"Yo, Nate, I am heading to the gym, want to come?" Skillz' voice rang on the other end.

"Yeah, meet you there in ten."

"K, Ten, man." He slammed the phone shut, while throwing on his black sleeveless and

white gym shorts.

Ten minutes later, he had made his way to the gym, and had found Skillz sitting at a weight bench.

"Hey man, you find any ladies at the club last night." Skillz asked wondering if he missed anything after he left the club early.

"Nah, I saw Peyton, but she was gone before I could say 'hi'" Nathan shot disappointedly, still trying to wrap his head around his feeling of jealousy the night before. Changing the subject in his mind "The reporter came by after the club, so it wasn't a completely wasted night."

"I swear man; you get women without even looking. I got them stupid male reporters all over my ass. And they don't quite fit my needs, you know what I say?'

"That's cause all the women want to cover me, and get a shot at all of this" he said displaying his arm muscles and body.

"Yeah, whatever." They continued the rest of their workout in silence, both proud of their bodies, and their positions in life, NBA players.

Leaving the gym, they headed towards the sub sandwich shop around the corner for lunch.

"You gonna try to catch up with Peyton sometime this week?" Nathan asked Skillz as he finished his bite of sandwich.

"Yeah, I don't know about you, but I miss Tree Hill every now and then. It is good to see people. Maybe we should all go out sometime. I'll see if she'd be up for that sometime."

"I know what you mean, I love my life, but we are definitely not in Tree Hill anymore. I would love to find out what's happening with Peyton." This sentence was definitely not a lie. Since seeing the tall blonde the night before he hadn't been able to shake her from his mind.

"So you want to meet up and go to Barley's around 6 to watch the game?" Barley's was a bar and grille downtown that played the college ballgames on a big screen. They had drinks, good food, and plenty of company.

"Yeah, man, see ya then." Nathan returned to his apartment and began scrolling through the internet for comments to boost his ego on one of his many fan sites.


Upcoming chapters: So another Tree Hill native is in town, but who? Don't worry if it isn't who you think. She won't be the last to come to LA. Skillz might get lucky. And will Peyton and Nathan finally meet again? Also don't be discouraged that we still haven't seen Keller, it might take a while but I still plan to bring him into the story.