The house was quiet, too quiet actually. Nathan and Haley worked for a little while before heading home. Abby, Jenny, and Megan were fast asleep. Peyton didn't move from the kitchen table all night.

Megan woke up at 9:00 a.m. She saw the sunlight flooding in between the slats of her blinds. She picked up her cell phone to check the time, and she jumped out of bed with a start. She rushed downstairs into Abby's room. She relaxed when she saw Jenny wide awake in the crib, calmly playing with one of the toys Nathan gave her last night. She freaked out again when she couldn't find Abby. She looked in the other rooms before rushing down another flight of stairs. She ran into the living room and found Abby fast asleep in the playpen. Once she realized both kids were okay, she went into the kitchen for some coffee. She was surprised to find Peyton slumbering at the kitchen table.

Megan didn't want to wake Peyton but she should have been at school over an hour ago. She tried gently shaking her. She tried rubbing circles on her back and calling her name. Nothing woke her up, so she let her sleep a little longer. Megan made a fresh pot of coffee and poured herself a cup and called Jake.

"Hello."

"Hey Jake. How's everything?"

"As well as can be expected. How's Jenny?"

"She's a little angel."

"You gotta be lying. Well, I'm coming home this afternoon. I gotta stop and get my work from school and talk to Whitey during basketball practice. I would love to keep talking to you, but I gotta talk to the nurse. I'll call you later?"

"Cool. See ya."

"Bye."

Megan had a smile on her face, happy to hear his voice. Now that everything was settled, she went over and smacked Peyton across the back of the head. Peyton shot up and muttered profanities, completely disoriented.

"Sorry to wake you up but you gotta get your ass to school about…oh an hour or so ago."

"I must of fell asleep. Oh crap Jenny and Abby! Are they alright? I swear-"

"Both of them are fine. Now go to school. Scoot!"

Peyton headed home to change and grab her book bag. She thought the morning couldn't get any worse…she didn't know how wrong she was.

Peyton was lucky enough to get to the second half of geometry. The idiot they call a secretary in the office wouldn't excuse her tardy slip and she knew her teacher would be beyond pissed. When she got to class she was given the jackpot, a pop quiz. She gave the teacher the tardy slip, and after he looked over it for a minute he crumpled it up and threw it in the garbage. He handed her a packet that was at least 6 pages thick.

"The class got the whole period to complete it. However, since you can't grace us with your presence until now you only have the remaining time. You may not have any extra time since your tardy was unexcused."

Peyton slid into her desk, hating the world.

By lunchtime Peyton was considering just going home. In English the teacher assigned her partner for a project that was insanely hard. It wasn't the project she dreaded, it was her partner who happened to have blonde hair, blue eyes, and reads and plays basketball.

Peyton managed to avoid Brooke until before her last period class. Brooke came up to her locker with a cold look that put the glaciers to shame.

"There was a mandatory cheerleading meeting at lunch today. You didn't come, so you are benched at the next game. Practice was moved up fifteen minutes today. Don't be late."

Peyton a "whatever," but otherwise completely ignoring Brooke. Peyton heard her huff and puff before stomping off.

Peyton walked into the gym five minutes early, only to find the cheerleaders already practicing. Brooke yelled at her before she could even set her bag down.

"Why are you late? I told you we were starting early."

Peyton was tired, stressed, and now beyond pissed, "You told me practice was starting fifteen minutes late."

"No, I told you we had to start early because the basketball team needs the full gym for part of practice. All the teachers were told to let you out of class fifteen minutes early so you could go to your locker then here. Well then your punishment will be to do cheer laps."

"Cheer laps?"

"Run laps around the gym until I say stop."

Peyton just rolled her eyes and started running, leaving Brooke smirking. After thirty minutes of nonstop running, Peyton couldn't even breathe, but she wouldn't give Brooke the satisfaction of her stopping.

The Ravens were now running into the gym for practice. Whitey walked in and saw Peyton running around and looking completely exhausted. He always had a soft spot for Peyton. He knew her mother well, and seeing all the pain she has gone through he is surprised she can even get out of bed in the morning. He watches over her, a promise he keeps to her mother…

Anna was waiting for her mom to come pick her up from cheerleading practice. Everyone else was gone, except for Whitey. He came out and they ended up talking. While the other cheerleaders feared the coach, Anna enjoyed his company. They got on the discussion of kids, and Whitey secretly admitted he has always wanted a son. Anna told him she wanted a daughter, but she didn't want to get married. She said if she found someone who can step in and be the father figure every kid needs, she would gladly adopt. Whitey promised her, "Well, if I'm still around, I'll watch over her."

Anna's mom showed up, and after Anna complained her mother was always late and she would never be late to pick up her daughter someday, she said goodbye to Whitey and hopped in the car…

"Boys! Suicides! Now!" Once Whitey got the guys practicing, he called Peyton to come over. He told her he needed her help and to go wait in his office. He walked over to Brooke to tell her Peyton's help was needed for a while. Brooke was mad, but put on her fake smile and agreed to let her miss the rest of practice.

Whitey found Peyton half asleep in his chair. He got her a bottle of water and forced her to relax. They chatted a little bit, but Whitey noticed Peyton was just trying to keep her eyes open. He wasn't going to let her drive. He told her to sit tight while he went and checked on the team. He called Lucas over.

"Son, I need you to drive Peyton home. She's too tired. Did you drive today?"

"Umm no coach. Keith gave me a ride."

"Good. Take her car then. Go shower and change. Your done for the day."

Lucas headed in the locker room. He started to get undressed when he noticed Peyton sitting in the coach's office. He suddenly got self-conscious and wrapped a towel around his waist before she noticed. What he didn't know is she was watching him the whole time. She tried so hard not to laugh when she saw him notice her and start blushing, it was adorable. Most guys would be flaunting their assets, but then again Lucas isn't most guys.

After ten minutes and a lot of complaining from Peyton, they were driving out of Tree Hill High's parking lot. Lucas was working up the courage to say what he feels to Peyton. They were halfway to her house when he spoke, "Peyton, listen I really really like you. I've liked you practically since Shakespeare was alive. I wanted to ask you out but you were going out with Nathan. I…" Lucas looked at Peyton and found her fast asleep.

Lucas pulled up to Peyton's house. He didn't have the heart to wake her, so he picked her up and carried her into the house and set her on her bed. He ran downstairs and grabbed her stuff and brought it up to her room. He set the car keys on top of her book bag and covered her up with her blanket. He admired her artwork on her walls for a while before leaving. After a bit of an internal battle, he lovingly kissed her on the forehead. She mumbled, "I love you." and turned so she was facing away from Lucas. Dumbstruck, he got over the shock and practically ran out of the house.

As he was walking home he realized he was in more deep than he thought he could ever be...

Has anyone read the spoilers on fan forum? I can't believe what they are saying. I won't give any spoilers away but it's insane how different it will be.