"Extraordinary Girl" is a song by Green Day.


Peyton watched as Haley began to talk, overly feeling very intruded from the secret she didn't want the others to know about. But they'll always know, she thought. They'll always be trying to figure me out—that's how I have my way with them. Something about Lucas not being himself lately. Wait, who does that remind me of?

"So, would you be up for talking with him at Karen's?" she asked solemnly.

"Umm…" Peyton thought out loud, deciding whether or not to let her and Luke's complicated relationship come out into the open yet. Not just yet, I guess. "Well, no, but thanks for the offer, um, we're good, me and Luke."

"Okay, but the offer still goes if you're interested."

"I'm not, thanks," Peyton added with a hesitant, nonchalant laugh. She couldn't bring herself to say what she was about to do. Just not until…

"Sure," Haley replied, just as casually as Peyton did. Though Haley, flushed with Peyton's rejection, seemed to be a person who Peyton used to know. That person, who seemed to be plagued with loneliness. That person, whom Peyton was the only one who could relate to. That person, whom Peyton probably was the only one who could understand. That girl was me.


As Lucas clutched the note yet again, he smoothed his hands over the overused crisp creases in the paper. Haley, he thought, breathing in the luscious scent she always brought with her. He had read and reread the paper countless times, but still could not bring himself to tell her the facts. Peyton, he mused, I could die for her. He couldn't live without her, even if it meant explaining those crucial facts to Haley. He continually read the letter:

Dear Lucas,

I wish you would call. I haven't heard from you in ages—what happened? I know you need your time for your father's death, but you always know that you can call me and talk about it. Lucas, you're my best friend, what's happened to that? I've resorted to writing to you 'cause you're so busy all the time (not that it's a problem; I know you have basketball and other things), but I miss you, and we need to just hang out and be normal for once. You still know what that word means—normal—don't you? Anyway, would you please call me? I really do hope you and Nathan and I could hang out more. After the funeral, and all… Well, please pick up your phone sometime soon. I hope you're feeling better.

Your friend,

Haley

P.S. I really do feel for your father's death; my greatest sympathies go out to you and your mother.

Lucas finally folded the letter and set it on his nightstand. He set a pen on it so it would stay and a reminder to write something back––another letter or something while he was figuring out this relationship out with Peyton. He had thought it over countless times, but still no conclusion. Maybe I'll never figure this out… Maybe it's not supposed to…

Things don't have reasons, I guess, and maybe if I go explain that to her, she'll finally see. That is, unless she doesn't understand, but then again, who would? Lucas continued his thoughts, hoping against all hope that she would understand someday.

Someday she will, and someday I'll be able to tell her that. Just then, Lucas came to a final conclusion. Wait, if I first was with Brooke, then went to Peyton for my heart, then now I leave Peyton after… Maybe our relationship problems don't have to do with her; maybe they were all me in the first place. Lucas thought of how he had cheated on and hurt Brooke and how he left Peyton so alone––maybe it wasn't them that was troubling him; maybe he had abandonment problems of his own to deal with.

Lucas began to go over everything that he was thinking when he hurt Brooke and Peyton...and Nikki. He finally made up his mind on going to Brooke's house to apologize for everything that had happened; he did hurt her and she deserved an apology.


Meanwhile, Peyton and Haley came to Karen's to find it empty and closed.