12 Memories

Author's Note: I know I'm mean with the way I ended the last chapter, but don't worry, the epilogue will clear things up. This is the last chapter of the story which will be followed by an epilogue. So, enjoy this one and tell me what you think!

Chapter 13: Some Sad Song

She packed her last suitcase in a huff, she wanted nothing to do with her father at that moment. He would be arriving to pick her up in an hour and a half, it was like the last hour and a half of her life. Lucas said he would be around, but still he was nowhere to be found. Haley and Nathan had offered to come too, at least they were happy. Brooke had been there that morning but she had to run out, though she did say she was coming back with Jake. She was all alone in the last half hour, and honestly, it sucked.

– 'In the church, one day you'll get hurt. In the school, teacher's such a fool' –

He took his time making his way to her house. He just couldn't comprehend the fact that she would be gone forever, his best friend was leaving him to grow up alone. He didn't understand how her father could just rip her away from her whole life, from everything she knew and loved, to be with him. She only had two years of school left, he couldn't get another job for a little while, just to make his daughter happy?

He approached her big house, knowing full well that it could be one of the last times he would ever walk in. He could hear her music blaring from where he stood on the steps and he remembered the many days they would just lay on her bed with the volume as high as it would go and they would just listen. It was just something they enjoyed doing together, and now that it was no longer an option he was going to miss it.

– 'And if they would ever come 'round here, they would ever come, blame it on my style, take a pill, don't tell me how to feel ' –

He stood in her near empty room in awe, it had never been that empty, or undecorated, or clean for that matter. She hadn't noticed him yet, the music was still too loud to hear him talking. She was burrowing through the stuff in her closet, taking the necessities and throwing the rest in boxes that would be shipped later. Instead of announcing his appearance he made his way over to the closet and immersed himself in it as she was doing. She looked over to see him and a smile appeared, though she didn't acknowledge him just yet. They both continued looking through her closet, but Peyton didn't remember what she was looking for anymore, she just knew Lucas was there, and it was all that mattered.

Twenty minutes later she picked up her remote, lowering the stereo to an acceptable volume, or at least so she could hear herself think. When he heard the loud music cease he turned around and made himself comfortable on her floor in front of the closet. He leaned his back against the wood that made the frame of the small structure, she mimicked his actions so they were sitting across from each other.

Peyton was first to try to break the silence that lingered around them, "He-"

"Don't..." she gave a baffled look towards the boy who had just cut her off for no apparent reason.

He smiled, "You'll ruin it."

She let the smile appear on her face, even if it was only for a minute. The sounds of Keane played lightly in the background, it seemed haunting at the moment. They're slow melodies surrounded the two blondes, encasing them in their misery. Peyton averted her eyes from him, she glanced around the room making a mental note of other things that she wanted to take with her and the things she could leave to be shipped. He continued to stare at her, as if he wanted to burn her image in his brain, even though that had happened long before that moment.

– 'Bad news in twos, sing it from the highest hill, sing me some sad song' –

It was fifteen minutes later that Brooke, Haley, Jake, and Nathan all entered Peyton's half-empty room. Lucas and Peyton had remained in their positions, they still hadn't spoken, the only difference now was that the music was a little louder. We Might As Well Be Strangersplayed through her speakers, and Peyton lost herself somewhere in her mind. What if we become strangers? What if we don't know each other the way we do now? What if we lose everything we've gained over the past fifteen years? What if we fall apart? What if I don't understand him anymore and things fall apart? She was plagued with worries while her other four friends crowded her room, looking through the things she had packed. Jake and Nathan both looked sad to see her go, but Haley and Brooke looked like they were on the verge of tears. Yet, Lucas, he just continued to sit in his spot, staring at her, his eyes refused to waver as she fidgeted under his intense gaze.

"Thanks for coming," she finally spoke to the other four people in the room, the boys nodded in understand while the girls protested.

"We wanted to come..." Brooke began.

"You don't have to thank us, we would've come no matter what," Haley finished Brooke's thoughts and smile sadly at the blonde.

"Do you need any help putting your bags downstairs?" Nathan broke the girls circle of smiles as he stood near the door where her few suitcases were piled. Peyton nodded her head while the two boys grabbed two bags each, Lucas still hadn't moved. She flashed him a sad smile before following everyone out of the room, while he had no intention of moving.

They all got to the foot of the steps, Haley and Brooke were complete basket cases, but Peyton had prided herself on keeping things together. Jake and Nathan put the bags down by the door as they all scanned the emptiness of her house, a place that they had all spent a large portion of time in.

"I don't believe you're leaving," Brooke's tears were centimeters from falling but Peyton shook her head, no.

"Don't start that yet I've still got a good forty-five minutes left here, I'm going to enjoy it."

– 'Uncle Sam, playing in the sand, understand, hold my hand' –

Those forty-five minutes had managed to decrease down to ten. They all sat in her living room, everyone but Lucas, it was decided that he wanted to be alone, but Peyton knew she would go to him once they all left. Brooke was the first to speak, startling them all and grabbing their attention.

"So, Blondie, I think it's time we all head out, I know Broody wants some time with you," she winked at Peyton before standing as they all followed suit.

Jake stepped up first, pulling her into a suffocating hug, "Take care of yourself, and don't get with any assholes like me," she laughed at his attempt to lighten the mood. "Have fun and you keep in touch with us small town kids," he kissed her cheek gently, then headed to the door to grab her bags and put them outside near the curb.

Nathan walked up next, also pulling her in for a hug, "It's gonna be weird here without you. But I wanted to say thanks for everything with Haley and just being a friend. I'll miss you," he flashed his trademark Scott smirk.

"I'll miss you too, Nate," she hugged him again and planted a kiss on his relatively smooth cheek. He winked at her, also walking to the door and grabbing the rest of her bags, following Jake's lead and going outside.

"P. Sawyer, I don't believe you're leaving us. Now, I'm stuck with Tutor Girl," Haley stuck her tongue out at Brooke upon hearing her words, "I don't know what I'm gonna do without you," she hugged Peyton also, holding her tightly for a minute.

"I'll call, I'll write, I'll visit, B. Davis. Don't you worry, I'm not falling off the face of the earth," her eyes watered as she remained in her friend's embrace.

"Hey, anything outside of Tree Hill is falling off the face of the earth," the brunette commented with a laugh and finally pulling away from the blonde, giving Haley room to walk up.

"Hales," Peyton said softly, seeing her friend's eyes full of tears.

"You're really leaving?" Haley whispered. Peyton nodded, the tears now burning her eyes at full force, but she fought hard to keep them back. "What am I gonna do when I fight with Nathan?"

Peyton laughed, "You've got Brooke," she nodded her head to the girl standing by the door.

"It's not the same..."

"I know, but you can call me. It's the best I can do right now," she smiled gently at her slightly shorter friend.

"Yea..." it wasn't Haley who motioned a hug like the other three had done, it was Peyton. She felt like they both needed that hug, she wrapped her arms tightly around the small girl, and Haley wiped at her tears. When they finally both pulled away they were both red eyed and Brooke laughed at their appreances.

"You two are horrible," she teased from her spot and they both stuck their tongues out at her. She laughed, walking over she wrapped an arm around Haley's shoulder, pulling her away. "C'mon Tutor Girl, let's give broody artist and broody jock some time alone," she winked at Peyton once more and walked out the front door with Haley.

– 'Time is never gonna stop running, never gonna stop. Take me to the top of the tree, don't take me for a cracked window pane' –

The trip up the stairs was excruciatingly long as the tears fell down her red cheeks. When she finally peeked in her empty room he was sitting on her bed, his elbows were down on his knees while his head was balanced in his hands. She could see he was upset, and it broke her heart to know that she caused it.

"I'm sorry," she spoke so softly that he strained to hear her, and when he lifted his head his eyes were also filled with tears.

"It's not your fault," he answered, his voice was hoarse as he struggled to speak to her.

"I know...but I wish this wasn't happening," she kept her eyes trained to her shoes, she couldn't bear to look at his disheveled appearance, it hurt too much.

"Yea, me too."

A car horn sounded from the front of the house, her hand flew up to her mouth as her tears came faster, this was it.

"I can't do this," she walked away from the door that lead into her bedroom and back toward the wall on the opposite end. He stood and walked to her.

"You have to," he encouraged her, even when it was something he didn't want he managed to make her feel a tiny bit better.

"I can't leave you," she cried harder as she fell into his open arms. He held her tightly, rubbing small circles along her back to calm her down.

"We'll be okay. You'll always be my best friend, Peyt, always. You moving won't make the fifteen years disappear. I love you so much," he whispered, soothing her frazzled nerves.

"I love you too, Luke. You'll always be my best friend too," she told him gently, pulling away and furiously wiping at the tears with the back of hands.

– 'Bad news in twos, shout it from the highest hill, sing me some sad song. Don't rehearse, this is the last verse' –

The two blondes stood outside, in front of the taxi her father had sent, he couldn't even get away to pick her up. The tears still ran down her cheeks, but he stood strong and somber, devoid of all emotion. He helped pile her bags in the trunk and made sure she had everything she needed - though the one thing she really needed was the one thing she was leaving - him.

Again she threw herself into his arms, she tightened her hold around his neck, her chest heaving along with her sobs. He kissed her cheek, pushing her back towards the taxi even though she shook her head vehemently, refusing to leave him.

"You have to go," he opened the door.

"I don't want to."

"We have no other choice, Peyt. Now, go ahead, get in the cab," he motioned for her to go but she shook her head again.

"Please, Peyton, don't make this any harder than it already is," he pushed her again and finally she gave in.

"Don't forget me," she spoke, getting into the large car.

"I could never forget you. This isn't the end of our friendship, it's just a bump in the road," he winked, flashing a fake smile at her. She laughed, sticking her tongue out at him as the driver pushed on the gas and sped away, taking Peyton away from Tree Hill, her house, her friends, her school, and him, forever.

Ok, it's not exactly what I wanted but I like it. It's a little depressing as the last chapter, but the epilogue is next and that will hopefully end it the way we all want it to end, but who knows? Haha, so I hope you enjoyed this story, and I hope you got some form of enjoyment out of reading it. Stick around for the epilogue, the final ending. REVIEW!

Next up in the epilogue: Do they see each other ever again/ And if they do see each other, will their friendship have faded/ The full ending of the story...