One Month Later

Lucas was glad that practice was cancelled for the day. He walked across the parking lot towards his car. He went to open the door when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to find Haley with a bi smile on her face.

"Well Mr. Scott you have two weeks until life at Tree Hill High is done. Anything you wanna share." Haley haled her hand out as though she were holding a microphone in front of him.

"Well Miss James, all I have to say is I won't miss this place. I can't wait to move upstate and get away from Tree Hill and its drama." He said sounding slightly relieved.

"You won't even miss me?" Haley dropped her hand and put a sad face on, sticking her bottom lip out and bowing her head. Lucas swung his arm around her and brought her close to his body.

"Of coarse I'll miss you Hales. You would be one of my few reasons for staying" He kissed the top of her head.

"What do we have hear? Are you trying to steal my girl Scott" The two turned around to see Nathan's car come into a stop in front of them.

"What if I am Scott" Lucas stepped up next to Nathan's door and glared down at his little brother. Nathan opened the door and got out. He had grown over the year and was now eye level with Lucas when he stood.

"I'm gunna have to kick you sorry ass" Nathan said in a grave town. He peered at his brother looking straight into his eyes and then let out a laugh. "Actually you can just have her, no fight necessary." He gave Haley a look.

"Nathan!" She said with shock apparent on her face.

"I don't want her. She is all yours man." Lucas also turned back to look at his best friend with a grin on his face.

"Luke! I can't believe you two" she said hitting them both in the arm. Nathan grabbed her and pulled her body into his before wrapping his arms around her waste.

"You know I love you Haley."

"You love basketball. That's were you've been all week" She said turning her head away from him and putting a look of defiance on her face.

"You're my world Hales, don't ever forget that." He leaned in and kissed her.

"Oh come on, get a room you two" Lucas said, rolling his eyes. He turned his head to look around and spotted one his reasons for leaving. Peyton. There she was, walking towards her car with that jackass Ricky. She was a constant in his life, and so was the pain she brought. He hadn't been with anyone since Brooke, considering her never actually got together with Peyton. Every time he tried to form a relationship she would come to mind and stop him. He still carried around the hope that one day she would come back to him. But, every day that hope diminished slightly. She looked happy with Ricky and a part of him was happy that she seemed to finally find something good. His only problem was that he thought would have been good for her. He was ripped away from his thoughts as Haley's vice rang through his head.

"Luke we're gunna go. I'll see you later, okay" Luke looked at the smiles that his best friend and brother were wearing. At least they were happy.

"Alright. See you later." Haley jumped into the car with Nathan and the two drove off leaving Luke once again lost in his thoughts. He climbed into his car and started it. "I gave it time, and what did I get from that?" he muttered to himself. He pulled out of the parking lot and headed home.

Peyton walked lazily into Ricky's room. She sat contently on his bed. "So Peyt what are we doing today" he asked coming to stand in front of her.

"I don't know. I'm kinda in the mood to just sit here and relax" She said looking up at him. She watched him straddle her on the bed and lean into her neck.

"Well we can always relax afterwards" he kissed her neck and the traveled down.

"Rick…I really don't want to…"

"Come on baby. Don't be like this" He ran his hand along the edge of her shirt.

"I'm sorry if I'm annoying you. Maybe I should just go" She sat up only to have him push her back down.

"Why do we always have to go through this? I don't like hurting you Peyton but sometimes you just leave me no choice." He voice was a little to calm for her comfort. She pushed him off her and got off the bed.

"WHY DO WE ALWAYS GO THROUGH THIS" she screamed at him. She immediately regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. But before she even had to think about apologizing she found herself against the wall with his arm to her throat.

"See Peyt, it's things like that that cause problems. When are you gunna learn." He removed his arm from her throat and hit her across the face. Her hand reflexively went up to cup her now bruised cheek.

"I'm sorry" she whispered without any emotion. He grabbed her shoulders and held her close.

"Sorry doesn't quite cut it Peyton" He tightened his grip and slammed her against the wall. The force was so strong her head flew forward before she slid down to the floor. Rick kneeled down next to her. "There is only one way to make you learn Peyton" he stood up and looked down on her briefly before his foot connected with her side. Peyton gasped as the wind was knocked out of her. She tired to crawl towards the door but was stopped when he stepped on her back pushing her face first into the floor.

He bent down beside her again and turned her body so she was facing him. She looked at him with unreadable eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out something she couldn't see. "Here's what you need" he said grabbing her arm. Her whole body was numb and she couldn't really feel what he was doing, but she knew, and she hated him for it. It had only been twice and she was already feeling its impact. She felt his first hit her jaw, and she began to taste the blood in her mouth. He hit her two more times, each one causing the blood to fill her mouth more.

Rick took her in his arms and held him close to his chest. "I'm so sorry Peyton. I hate hurting you, you just…" she cut him off by squirming out of his arms the best she could. "Fine you ungrateful bitch." He aid slapping her one last time. He rose to his feet and grabbed her arm pulling her to her own feet. Peyton could barley stand, her body felt so weak. Rick dragged her out of his room and stood at the top of his stairs. He got ready to pick her up and carry her down but stopped to say something. "I'm through with you Peyton. You're not worth it" As soon as he said it he pulled her to him and kissed her. He then pushed Peyton back and watched her tumbles down the stairs like a rag doll. "Find your own damn way home." He walked back into his room and closed the door quietly as though nothing had happened.

Peyton struggled to pick herself up. She got to her knees and nearly collapsed as she tried to get to her feet. She dragged herself out of the house and over to her car. She fought with her door handle but eventually pulled herself into her car. She sat in the seat trying to calm her nerves. After nearly ten minutes she started the car drove home. She pulled into her driveway and slowly made her way to her house. Peyton just wanted to lay down. She started to climb the stairs but her legs gave out as she put too much pressure on her right ankle.

"Get up Peyton" she muttered to herself. She got to her feet again and started upstairs. She limped the best she could using the rail for support. Getting to her room seemed to take forever but she finally made it and when she did she collapsed onto her bed.

She was glad her web cam wasn't on. Peyton rarely turned it on anymore. She couldn't risk coming on home and having someone she her the way she was now. Although it had never hurt this bad, she usually had bruises. Peyton fell asleep laying horizontally on her bad. She had a sense of relief as she slept. Ricky had broken it off and that meant things might start to get a little better.