New chapter.

A little bit of a filler, but still enjoyable. :)

Ten

Lucas tossed and turned in the hospital bed, wrestling with the thoughts and images that were running through his head.

How's mommy…

You're a smart kid, figure it out…

You'll hear from me soon enough…

"Luke, Luke you okay?" Peyton shook him.

"Huh. Oh, yeah." He snapped out of his trance.

"I just wanted to drop by before school." She said. "So you ready to go home tomorrow?"

After a week or so, the doctors finally medically cleared Lucas and gave him the okay to be released.

"Tomorrow? That far away."

"Aww c'mon. It's only one more night." She sat up on the bed. "Plus, I have a little surprise for you." She leaned in, whispering in his ear.

"Mmm, really?" Lucas naughtily grinned.

"No, not that Fabio" Peyton slapped his shoulder. "I promise you're gonna love it though."

Lucas smiled, "I'm sure I will."

"I should get going. Alex is waiting for me outside." She told him, kissing him on the cheek. "Call me if you need anything, k."

"Yup." He replied. Hearing her say his name unsettled him a bit. He didn't want to make any prejudgments before actually meeting the guy, but he couldn't help to do so. With his luck, or lack there of these past couple of months, all he seemed to find in himself and others nowadays were negativity… who can blame him.

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"Read chapters nine and ten for Monday." Mr. Tillman shouted as the students started to file out of the classroom.

…

"Hey missy." Haley ran up to Peyton.

"Hey Hales." Peyton gleamed.

"So how's everything. You ready for the big night tomorrow?" She asked.

"I wish." Peyton flinched.

"Still haven't found a band?"

"Nope." She shook her head. "I've tried calling everyone, but no takers."

"You'll find someone." Haley assured her.

"I hope so. I just wanna make Luke's first day officially back home a memorable one, you know." She confessed.

"It will be Peyton, with or without a band." Haley wrapped her arm around her.

"Yeah, you're right."

"Plus we can always just get Mouth to DJ." Haley stuck out her tongue.

"Haha." Peyton laughed sarcastically.

"I gotta go to 5th period. Good luck with finding a band alright." Haley told her before dashing down the hallway.

"I'm gonna need it…" Peyton whispered to herself as she opened her locker.

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It was Peyton's free period and like any other ordinary day, she was cooped up in the school's art studio. Instead of her normal routine of drawing or painting however, she was set out on a new mission. One way or another before she left today, she was going to book a band for tomorrow night.

"Hi, my name's Peyton Sawyer. I'm a local club promoter for this all ages club down here in Tree Hill. Anyways, I was wondering if…" She started to say.

"No thanks." The voice on the other end interrupted her, proceeding to hang up.

"Great." She replied, slamming her phone down in frustration.

"I take its not going so well?" Alex asked walking into the room.

"Is it that obvious?"

Alex picked up her battered phone, "Well…"

They both let out a chuckle.

"So, I came with snacks." He continued, laying the contents inside his bag onto the table.

"Good, 'cause I'm starving." Peyton pointed out.

He handed her a sandwich and the two sat there munching on the food in front of them.

"You know if you're all out of options, I know a friend of a friend who may be able to help you." Alex mentioned.

"Really?" She replied quite interested, she really was in a bind.

"Yeah, he's friends with the drummer of some band called Interpol." He told her smirking. "Something like that."

Peyton looked on at him in disbelief, "You know this information could've been useful oh I don't know, a couple days ago."

"Where's the fun in that." He joked. "I still wanted to give you a chance to do it on your own."

Peyton nodded. "Well, there's only one thing left to do then."

"What?" Alex asked somewhat puzzled.

"You got that friend's number?" Peyton grinned.

He smiled, "Yeah, it's somewhere in here." Pulling out his phone, he scrolled through his list of numbers.

"Thanks for this Alex. You don't know how much this means to me."

"Sure thing, anything to help." He told her.

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The next day…

It was finally the day Peyton had been waiting for what seemed like months now. She and Haley were setting up the club, putting the finishing touches on the place. Peyton wanted everything to be just perfect, this wasn't just any other Saturday night at Tric.

"Ice cubes Haley!" Peyton screamed.

"Peyton slow down, take a deep breath." Haley grabbed her. "Nathan is on his way with the ice."

Peyton laughed, "I just feel like I'm forgetting something."

"You're not. Just go and pick up Lucas. I'll be fine here." Haley insisted.

"You sure?" Peyton asked hesitantly.

"Yes, go."

"Ok, but call me first thing if anything goes wrong." She told her.

"I will. Now go…" Haley shoved her out the door, shaking her head in amusement as Peyton finally did begin to leave.