Lucas didn't see Peyton the rest of his time in Tree Hill. He explored the little town while Karen was at work and spent as much time as possible with his biological mother. She would offer small tidbits about Liam and he would listen intently. There were times he would want to tell the woman he was tired of hearing about him, but he knew how callous that sounded. But there were times he felt he was in competition with his dead brother and Lucas was lacking.
The afternoon after his talk with Peyton, at the river court, Lucas told Karen about meeting her. He told her thought she was slowly healing and the older woman's face grew soft and she smiled.
"It was good you came, Lucas," Karen said softly. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it. "Good for me to see my son and good for Peyton to face Liam's death." She turned her head and swiped away a tear.
If it was such a good thing he came, Lucas wondered. Then why were people always crying around him?
On his last day in Tree Hill, Lucas had a leisure breakfast with Karen. They talked about how great his visit was and he promised he would stay in touch.
"After all, you are family," Karen told him. "And you always have a home in Tree Hill."
A home in Tree Hill? That sounded strange and at the same time, inviting to Lucas.
Before he left, Lucas shocked Karen by asking where Peyton lived. He told her he wanted to say goodbye and check up on her before he left.
Karen nodded her head and scribbled Peyton's address on a piece of paper. "Just be careful with her, Lucas," Karen told him.
Lucas cocked his head and squinted. He was confused but took the piece of paper. "I am just going to say goodbye." He folded the piece of paper and slipped it into the back pocket of his jeans.
He hesitated not sure to initiate the goodbye and then decided to just go with his gut. Lucas leaned in and kissed Karen on the cheek and pulled her into a hug. "Thank you," Lucas told her.
Karen hugged him tightly and returned a kiss on his cheek. "No," she told him. "Thank you for coming."
"Bye," he waved and walked out the door of Karen's café. But he got the feeling it wouldn't be his last visit there or to Tree Hill.
Lucas plugged in the address to Peyton's house in his GPS system and drove the 15 minutes to there. He should have been surprised, but wasn't, the house was surrounded by a sedate white picket fence. It was a pale yellow with white shutters and it was the typical small town home. And for some reason, he felt it didn't fit Peyton at all.
He unfolded himself from the car and made his way up the walkway, after opening the small gate in the fence. He took a deep breath and then knocked lightly on the door.
A minute later, Peyton answered. She was dressed in faded jeans, with holes in both knees, and wore a blue plain T-shirt that hugged her slight frame. Her blonde hair was wild and curly and her face was absent of make-up. She was the most beautiful woman Lucas had ever seen.
"Lucas," Peyton said in mild shock. "Hi," she offered.
"Hey, Peyton," Lucas said shifting his feet again like that shy school boy. "I didn't mean to bother you, I just came to say goodbye."
"You are leaving?" She genuinely seemed shocked and a little disappointed.
"Yeah," Lucas told her. He pushed both his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "School starts back on Monday and I am trying to graduate and get out of there."
"Oh," Peyton said and cocked her head. "I didn't know you were still in school."
"Yeah, trying to finish my doctorate." Lucas blushed a bit, but he didn't know why.
"So, you will be Dr. Scott," Peyton said. It surprised her that she made that comment. Was she teasing him? Yes, she thought she was.
"Are you teasing me," Lucas said calling her out. He smiled at her.
Peyton felt her heart seize when he tossed her a smile. She tried to tell herself it was because Liam would smile like that, but if she was truthful with herself, that wasn't the reason. It was Lucas Scott that caused it. She shook her head to try and clear her thoughts.
"Oh, why don't you come in," Peyton said. "I have no manners today."
"No," Lucas pulled his hands out of his pocket and held them up. "I can't stay. I have to get back on the road."
Was that a bit of disappointment that crossed Peyton's face? No, Lucas was sure he imagined it.
"Are you sure," Peyton said. She swung the door even wider.
Lucas got to peek into her house. It was quirky and quaint and all Peyton. There was artwork everywhere and he could hear music playing in the background. That was Peyton, he thought. There she is, inside the house.
"Yeah," Lucas nodded his head. "I just wanted to stop by and say goodbye and check on you."
"I am fine," Peyton said. Lucas could feel her guard go up a little. He needed to find a way to get her to drop it again.
"Listen," he said and was kind of surprised when his voice cracked. Was he going back in time to puberty again? "I wanted to ask you something."
"Okay," Peyton drawled out. She was intrigued.
"I was wondering if I could maybe email you from time to time," Lucas rushed out. "You know, see how you are."
"Uh, sure," Peyton said. She didn't want to admit she kind of liked him asking her this.
"I mean, we are kind of family," Lucas continued. "And Karen said I would always have family and a place in Tree Hill."
"That would be nice," Peyton said. She leaned her cheek on the doorframe.
"Great," Lucas smiled like a school boy. "Look, I gotta hit the road." He pushed his thumb behind him.
"Of course," Peyton said moving from the doorframe and straightening up. "Be careful."
"Always," Lucas said as he moved away. He waved. "I'll be seeing you," he told her as he left.
"I'll be seeing you." The phrase stuck with Peyton well after Lucas drove away. "I'll be seeing you."
Three days later, Peyton got her first email from Lucas.