"Uncle Keith? Mom?"

"In here," Keith called out from the kitchen.

"Is everything alright?" Karen asked as Lucas joined them in the kitchen

"Yeah, fine. Umm. I was wondering if I could borrow the truck," Lucas asked Keith.

"What for?" questioned Keith

"Umm…to run some errands,"

"What kind of errands?" Asked Karen.

"Mom…"

"Lucas, this may not be my house or my rules, but I and still your mother, remember?"

"Alright, alright," Lucas replied, "I want to go back to Tree Hill,"

"Tree Hill?" spat out Keith. "But your mother just got here,"

"I know and I'm sorry. I love that you're here mom, but…"

"But, there's something that you have to do,"

"Yeah and its important that I do this now,"

"More important than your mother?" Keith asked. Keith couldn't figure out what was so important to Lucas that he had to go back the Tree Hill. Keith also couldn't understand Karen's calmness.

"Keith, it's alright," Karen stated, "Lucas, if it's really important to you, then you can go,"

"Yeah?"

"Yes, go. But you owe me big. I mean a mother just doesn't drive five hours just to see her son for five minutes,"

"I know. I'm sorry, mom. Really I am. I promise I will make it up to you." Lucas said, giving his mother a quick kiss and a hug. "I love you," And with that, Lucas left the house with the keys to the truck in hand.

Keith sat in his chair, trying to make sense of just went on in his kitchen. "Now, do you mind explaining what just happened here?"

"Well, I'm guessing that it has something to do with that package. Had I known the effects of that package, I would have given it to him a lot sooner. Maybe he wouldn't have left Tree Hill in the first place,"

"What was in it?"

"I'm not sure. But I only have one guess to who it was from,"

"Who?"

"Who else would Lucas drop everything for?"

Keith still sat across from Karen with a puzzled look on his face.

Karen shook her head and couldn't help but laugh and Keith's confusion, "Keith, really. If you're going to take care of my son, I think you should pay a little more attention,"

Lucas ran up the steps to Karen's café in Tree Hill. When he entered the café, he didn't see anyone behind the counter or in the room.

"Haley!" Lucas called out, looking for his best friend. But instead of Haley, Deb Scott emerged from the kitchen.

"Lucas? What a pleasant surprise,"

"Oh, hi, Mrs. Scott. Is Haley around? I kinda need to talk to her, it's kinda important,"

"Oh, I actually gave Haley the night off. She should be at home with Nathan,"

"Thanks, Mrs. Scott," Lucas said as he turned to leave.

"Anytime Lucas. And please, call me Deb,"

Lucas smiled and nodded at Deb before he left to find Haley.

"Alright, already! I'm coming," Haley yelled as she reached the pounding door.

"Oh my God, Lucas! What are you doing here? I missed you so much," Haley exclaimed as she bear hugged her best friend.

"Hales, where is she?" Lucas desperately asked, pulling away from Haley.

"Real smooth, Lucas. No, 'hey Hales', 'how you doing, Hales'?" Haley said, pretending to be offended.

"Haley, I really need to find her," Lucas replied, ignoring Haley's sarcasm.

"And by her, I assume you mean Peyton," Haley said grinning. Although Lucas didn't reply, his brooding face said it all. "Alright, geez. Lighten up. Come on in and I'll fill you in. You know it's about time you came to your senses about her," Lucas was quickly becoming frustrated with the lack of answers. But before he could voice his frustration, a shirt-less Nathan appeared from bedroom.

"Hey, Lucas! Long time no see! What brings you back to Tree Hill so quickly?"

"Hey," Lucas nodded at his half-brother.

Jokingly, Haley backhanded Lucas on his chest. "What? He gets a 'hey' and I don't know? Hmph, well I guess we'll see if you ever find Peyton," Haley stated as she crossed her arms, pretending to pout.

"Peyton? Isn't she on that fishing trip with her father?" Nathan said.

"Peyton…fishing trip?" Lucas questioned.

"Yeah, I know. It's strange to put Peyton and fishing in the same sentence, but that's what happened. She left with her father yesterday," Haley confirmed.

"If she left for a fishing trip, then why is her house up for sale?"

"What?" questioned Haley.

"Well, as soon as I got into Tree Hill, I drove straight to her house and I saw a for sale sign hanging on the front lawn," a panicked Lucas replied.

"But that doesn't make any sense," Haley uttered.

"So you guys didn't know about this?"

"No, man. She didn't say anything at all, right Hales?"

"Yeah. We had dinner with Peyton and her dad before they left and they didn't say anything about selling the house. Are you sure you got the right house, Lucas?"

"Haley, I've only been gone a month, not an eternity. I think I know how to get to Peyton's house,"

"Just checking," Haley said with a smirk. "But seriously, she did say that she'd be back in about three weeks,"

"Well if she's coming back in three weeks, then why would she sell her house? This doesn't make any sense," thought Lucas.

Nathan shook his head, "No way, man. It's Peyton. She wouldn't leave just like that," As soon as Nathan said it, he realized it wasn't true. It was exactly like Peyton; to take the first opportunity that came along that would temporarily take away her pain.

Haley, trying to reassure everyone, said, "It's alright. Peyton will be back in three weeks like she said and will explain everything. She WILL be back,"

Lucas shook his head, not believing Haley or Nathan. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed, "I'm too late. She's gone," Sensing that her best friend needed some comforting, Haley walked up to Lucas and wrapped her arms around her. Lucas returned the hug and closed his eyes as he felt the tears forming in his eyes.