At the cafe, Lucas, Haley, Karen and Keith had just finished eating breakfast. Karen began collecting the plates. As she reached over for a plate, Luke leaned over and gave his mother a peck on the cheek, bring a smile to Karen's face.
"Thanks, mom. That was delicious,"
"You're welcome, honey," Karen replied.
"Here, let me help you with that," Keith said as he got up.
Keith helped Karen carry the dirty dishes to the back, leaving Lucas and Haley alone at the table.
Haley looked at Lucas with a devilish grin on her face. Lucas returned her grin with a curious smile?
"What? Do I have something on my face or something?" Lucas asked.
"No," giggled Haley.
"Then what is it? Why are you looking at me that way?"
"What way,"
"Oh, you know that, 'I have surprise for you' look. Come on, Hales tell me what you got planned,"
"I have nothing planned at all," Haley said innocently. "I just want to get one last good look at my best friend before he leaves Tree Hill,"
"Hey, it's not like I'm leaving forever. You know I'll come back,"
"Yeah, when you come back for Peyton,"
At the mention of Peyton's name, Lucas's face fell. He leaned back into his chair as he scratched his brow with his right thumb.
"Hales…"
"What? You know it's true,"
"Maybe it is for me. But it's not what she wants,"
"How do you know that?"
"Because Hales, I know. I know that she's not ready,"
"Ready for what?"
"For us. For a serious relationship,"
"Well you guys are only 17. There's no need to rush into a serious relationship,"
"Oh, and you're one to talk…Mrs. Scott," Lucas laughed.
"Alright, so I'm not the best example," Haley laughed. "But seriously, Luke. Nathan and I were both ready,"
"That's what I mean. I'm ready for the commitment…not necessarily marriage, but a serious relationship at the least. And I want that with Peyton. But she's not ready. I get that,"
"Did she tell you that she's not ready?"
"Well, no. Not exactly, anyway. But what else could it be? I mean everything just feels right when I'm with her. It's like nothing else matters. And I know she feels the same way because it's like her walls just crumble and I see this…this woman who has the most amazing smile and personality. But once she realizes she's free these walls like rebuild themselves and keeps me from getting to her. The thing is…as frustrating as it may be, I still want to be with her,"
Peyton was back at Rivercourt. She sat on top of the picnic table with her feet resting on the bench. She nervously played with her hands and occasionally looked around the park. A cool breeze blew around her making her shiver slightly. She clutched her fitted brown jacket tighter around herself.
Apprehensively, Peyton looked at her watch. It was past noon. Realizing that Lucas was long gone from Tree Hill, tears began to fill her eyes. Peyton felt empty inside. Her heart never felt more alone. She tried wiping the tears away with her trembling hands, but the tears began to flow faster. Peyton's shoulders trembled as she began to cry harder. Lucas was gone, for good.
Karen walked into her dark empty house later that night. She flipped on the lights and put today's mail on the kitchen table. She set her keys down and pulled out a chair. Karen picked up the pile of mail and began to sort them.
"Bill…bill…hmmm Lucas?" Karen said to herself as she looked at a legal sized envelope. The front of the envelope had Lucas's name printed boldly across in a black marker. She turned the package over to see if there was a return address. Nothing.
"Hmm…This looks interesting. Well, I guess I'll have to bring it up with me next month when I visit,"