"Peyton Sawyer, are you ready for another year of hell at Tree Hill High." Brooke Davis questioned.

"Let's just get there and get it over with." Peyton told her as they walked out of her house.

After getting in the car, Brooke looked straight into Peyton's eyes. "Is it going to be strange with Lucas being back here?"

"I guess so, I mean he hurt both of us. We almost lost our friendship, Brooke, and I will never let any guy get between us again, never."

"He did not even say goodbye, Peyton. He at least owed us that." Peyton knew this was not the truth. She pulled into the parking lot and then reached into her bag.

"Brooke, this was left at my door the day that Lucas left. It's a goodbye letter. I did not read it, but I figured you might want to."

"How long have you had it Peyton. You waited to give this to me until now. I mean, you probably did not even want me to know it existed, did you." Brooke slammed the door and walked into school, fuming over what just happened..

"What a great way to start the school year." Peyton thought out loud.

Peyton walked into school trying to find Haley. She needed someone who would be able to understand and listen to what she was feeling. Scanning the hoards of people around the campus, Peyton continued to walk forward. All of a sudden she turned and ran right into someone. Books and papers went flying and Peyton could not believe this was happening. She bent down and recognized the hands picking up the papers. Those same hands had held her when she thought her dad had died and had touched all over her that night in the hotel. She imagined him kissing her, falling to the bed and giving into the passion that had taken over them. It was Lucas.

"Peyton, are you okay." Suddenly she came crashing back to reality.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Look I got to get going, I am going to be late for class."

"You never cared about that before. Why don't you stay and we can talk."

"People change Lucas. I am really trying to focus on my studies this year and plus there is not really much to say." Looking hurt, Peyton gathered the rest of her papers and ran off, pretending as if she had not seen him. She did see him though and he was gorgeous, buzzed head and all. "Why had she run away" Lucas wondered. Then his mind went back to the day he left Tree Hill and what had transpired between him and Peyton.

Lucas "Hey. You okay?"
Peyton: "I've got some stuff going on."
Lucas: "I know. Look I just wanted to apologize, again, for not being a better person lately. I'm trying, Peyton. I don't know what else to say. "
Peyton: "It's not about what you say, Luke. It's about what you do. You don't like the person you've become? Then do something about it, cause no one's going to do it for you."
Lucas: "I know. That's why I came by. I'm going to be making a few changes. And I just wanted to see you before I do. I'll be seeing you, Peyton."

He had left her and Brooke a note, apologizing for the mess he caused. He knew that the note could not make her angry, then he realized what the problem was. She had not read the note. Before he could even contemplate why, his best friend and brother came up to him.

"Why is it Lucas Scott, my brother, who had supposedly left and was never coming back."

"Hey someone had to stay around to watch out for Haley." Lucas smiled and hugged both Haley and Nathan.

"Lucas, I am really glad you came back. I like having relatives around, brother in law." Haley laughed as she said it.

"Please, that's just a little weird. I mean in one year my best friend became my sister in law."

"Weirder things have happened."

The three of them went their separate ways to class.

There was a knock at her door. Maybe it was Brooke coming to make up, but it wasn't. Lucas Scott was standing at Peyton's door. He was determined to figure out why she had blown him off and if she had really read the note.

"Hey,.. Lucas I really don't have time for some heart to heart right now."

"I am not here for that, just doing what I promised in the note."

"Look.....about the note. Truth is I didn't read it. When I found it I was still pissed about the Nikki thing and just couldn't push myself to open it."

"That's what I figured. I came here to tell you that I want to be friends. I changed in Charleston and want to show that to you and Brooke. So...friends?"

"We'll have to see. I need to see the change, not just have you tell it to me."

"Put your walls back up, I see." Lucas muttered as he walked down the stairs.

"What did you say?" Peyton questioned but all she got was a "nothing".

After Lucas left ,the Sawyers door got another knock. Frustrated, Peyton went downstairs and whipped open the door.

"Lucas, I thought I said ....Brooke."

"Talking to him are you. Could not wait to start things up again, was he ready and willing,"

"Brooke, I am sorry about the note. I just figured you would not want to read it, but I should of given it to you anyways."

"It doesn't matter, I ripped up into a million pieces anyways. This afternoon, Lucas came to my house and told me he wanted to be friends. After that I figured there was no reason for me to read it."

"Do you believe him....about him changing"

"Truth, I am probably still not over him, but I think that he probably saw what a dick he was. I am willing to give him a chance. Are you?"

"I don't know."

"You are over him, right. I mean if he told you he wanted to be with you, you would turn him down because of how he treated me, right."

Peyton looked straight into Brookes eyes, "Yeah...., I would turn him down." She felt bad for lying to her best friend, but she knew she had to. In truth, if Lucas came to her and professed his love, Peyton did not know what she would do. However, she would not have to worry about that, at least for now.