Disclaimer: I don't own anything in One Tree Hill

Everything was going as planned. Or not. Peyton wasn't exactly sure yet. Looking around the masses of teenagers that flooded TRIC that night, Peyton could not spot the dreaded face she sought. But, somehow she knew he was there somewhere. Hiding in the shadows, maybe, following her with his squinted eyes…Peyton quickly glanced at the corners of the room. Nope, not there.

"Where the hell is he?" she muttered to herself. She could safely rule out him not being there…she knew he was there, she could feel his eyes upon her. But, what bugged her was that he was hiding and watching, stalking even. Just then, a pair of hands grabbed her from behind.

"What the!" Peyton turned around herself in Felix's arms. "Oh…hey."

"You ready?"

"For what?" What the hell was Felix talking about?

"Jimmy Eat World…what else?"

"Oh," Peyton quickly responded. "Yea, of course I am."

"Peyton, are you sure you're okay?" Felix asked, worried.

"What wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know, you just seem kind of…distracted today."

"I'm fine…really."

Felix didn't believe her, but reluctantly mumbled, "Ok."

Felix let go of Peyton, leaning against the bar's counter, and watched her walk up to stage to announce the band.

"Hey y'all. Okay, so I know you guys have been waiting for this all—" She stopped. There he was. In the back, watching her intently. For some reason, even though she had known he was there all along, she was speechless.

"Lucas," she thought, as everything else faded out. But (fortunately) seconds later, someone stepped in front of Lucas, blocking her view. Quickly snapping back into reality, Peyton choked out, "Here's Jimmy Eat World" and stumbled off the stage and disappeared into the applauding crowd.

Jim Adkins, the lead singer, announced the first song. "This song is called Kill."

Well, you're just across the street
Looks a mile to my feet
I want to go to you
Funny how I'm nervous still
I've always been the easy kill
I guess I always will

Peyton tried as hard to she possibly could to hide herself from him, but he knew he could see her perfectly. She didn't have to look at him to know that his piercing eyes were focused on her.

Could it be that everything goes 'round by chance? (chance?)
Or only one way that it was always meant to be (be)
You kill me, you always know the perfect thing to say (hey hey, hey hey)
I know what I should do, but I just can't walk away

Felix was concerned. What had caused Peyton to stop speaking. He had tried to find the person who she had been staring at, but couldn't get a good enough view. Then, his eyes landed on someone else.

"Rick," he muttered to himself.

I can picture your face well
From the bar in my hotel
I wish I'd go to you
I pick up put down the phone
Like your favorite Heatmeiser song goes
It's just like being alone

Peyton closed her eyes. He was approaching her, she could feel it. She wanted to move, get away before he reached her, before he could talk to her. But, she just…couldn't.

Oh God, please don't tell me this has been in vain (vain)
I need answers for what all the waiting I've done means (means)
You kill me, you've got some nerve, but can't face your mistakes (hey hey, hey hey)
I know what I should do, but I just can't turn away

Felix watched intently as Rick slid out one of the many doors of the club and disappeared into the empty hallway. He hesitated for a moment, then followed. However, when he got there, Rick had disappeared.

Did he turn left or right? Felix looked around, then turned left.

So go on love
Leave while there's still hope for escape
Got to take what you can these days
There's so much ahead
So much regret
I know what you want to say
(Know what you want to say)
I know it but can't help feeling differently
I loved you, and I should have said it
But tell me just what has it ever meant

His touch was like electricity, shockingly powerful. She felt his hand clasp hers as a thrilling shiver traveled up her spine. Her eyes now open, she found herself just inches away from his face.

"Peyton."

Peyton looked up at those ocean blue eyes in which she had gotten lost into so many times… Peyton blinked. What the hell was she thinking? Peyton took a step back.

I can't help it baby, this is who I am (am)
Sorry, but I can't just go turn off how I feel (feel)
You kill me, you build me up, but just to watch me break (hey hey, hey hey)
I know what I should do, but I just can't walk away

"Peyton!" Grabbing Peyton's hands once more, he managed to stop her from leaving. "Peyton, look…before you go and before you slap me like last time, I-I have to tell you something.

Peyton didn't know what to say. She hated the effect Lucas had on her...wait, no, Lucas had no effect on her. No guy could have an effect on Peyton Sawyer. She was independent, she was happy, she was with Felix. No guy could waltz back into her life and leave her breathless. She wouldn't let them.

"What do you want?" Peyton asked coldly, regaining her composure.

"Peyton—"

"Lucas, can you stop stalling? Just get to the point, I have work to do."

"O-ok…" Lucas stopped. What was he going to say? They was a millin things he should say, a million things he needs to say, a million things he anted to say…but somehow he couldn't form any of these million thoughts into sensible words. He opened his mouth, closed it again, trying to figure out a way to describe what he was feeling, what he's been feeling for a while now.

"Lucas, if you're going to waste my time—"

"Peyton, listen—"

"No, Lucas, you listen!" she interrupted, causing a few people to turn around and glare at her. "You can't come back in here and do this. It's not fair!"

"I know—"

"No, you don't know. You know why? Because you left…because you weren't here."

She twirled around, and quickly exited the room. Reaching the vacant hallway outside, she leaned against the brick wall and took a deep breath. She hated him. Why did he have to come back? Why did he have to ruin everything when it finally seemed that everything will be okay? Sighing, she aimlessly started walking down the hallway, turning right and entering a small compartment, still lost in her bitter thoughts.

"Thought you needed to see me tonight."

Peyton looked up, alarmed. "Rick."

Lucas paced around, still not sure what to do. Should he follow Peyton or should he not? He wanted to, but what would he say?

I felt for sure last night
That once we said goodbye
No one else will know these lonely dreams
No one else will know that part of me
I'm still driving away
And I'm sorry every day
I won't always love these selfish things
I won't always live...
Not stopping...

"Why did I leave?" Lucas thought to himself. "Why the hell did I leave? If only I had stayed…"

But he knew he couldn't have, not at that time anyway. Not when the doctors claimed that there was a 90 chance that Peyton will never wake up again. He couldn't have faced that…it was easier to walk away, it was easier to leave.

It was my turn to decide
I knew this was our time
No one else will have me like you do
No one else will have me, only you

He turned towards the stage for the first time that night. No one else will have me like you do, no one else will have me, only you…

You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine

And, then, he knew what he would say. He would say everything…no lying or leaving out parts. Just everything. She had to understand, she just had to…

Amazing still it seems
I'll be 23
I won't always love what I'll never have
I won't always live in my regrets

Felix was opening door after door, from the janitor's closet to the girl's bathroom, but still no Rick. Then it dawned upon him…he had come the wrong way.

"Rick, what are you doing here?" Peyton asked, after the initial shock was over.

"I think that would be obvious," Rick answered, smirking. "I told you, Miss. Sawyer, I'll be there when you need me, and by that introduction you just gave out there, looks like you need me." He opened his fist, revealing a small container with something white inside.

It was drawing her in again. She thought she wasn't addicted to it anymore, but just seeing it dangling in front of her, she couldn't help but reach out and grab it. And, when he did, she couldn't let it go.

"What is this?" she thought. "I stopped months ago…" She tried to loosen her grip and throw it away, but instead found her pocketing it.

Just then, the door fling open, surprising both Rick and Peyton.

"Get the fuck away from her!" In an instant, Felix had jumped on Rick and was tackling him down to the ground. Rick fought back, throwing in a few punches and kicks in self defense.

"Felix! Felix, stop!" Peyton did the best she could to keep them apart, but failed. "Felix, stop it! You could get hurt! You could get a cut, you could die!"

"Get off of him."

Now, all three of them turned around.

"Lucas," Peyton sighed, exaggerated. She couldn't take any of this anymore.

Felix stood up. "Who the hell are you?"

Peyton got between them. "Felix, it's not worth it, ok? You could get it."

"Peyton, don't worry about me, I'm fine." Turning to Lucas, he repeated, "who are you?"

"Lucas."

Felix's eyebrows narrowed in confusion, then rose in anger. "Oh, so you are the guy that left Peyton—"

"I didn't leave Peyton!"

"Oh, so skipping town and never contacting again is called not leaving, right?"

"Hey, why don't you mind your own business? Ou don't know what the hell you're talking—"

"I know damn well what I am—"

"Will you guys just stop!" Both of the guys stopped, alarmed at Peyton's outburst.

"Look, Peyton—" Lucas started.

"I don't want to hear it, Lucas. I just—I just what it all to stop. Just stop." She shook her head, confused, frustrated, and what not. She just needed to get out of there, she just needed it all to go away…

You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine


You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine...

All of the songs are by Jimmy eat World. The first oneis Kill, and the second one is 23. The title of the chapter is also from Jimmy Eat World, but it's a different song: Polaris.