KNOCK.KNOCK.

Lucas turned in his sleep. Maybe the knock on his door was in his dream. He dosed off again.

KNOCK.KNOCK.

Lucas stumbled around for his alarm clock. 5:45 a.m. Who in the world would be at his door at 5:45 a.m. He tried going back to sleep but it was pointless, the early bird kept knocking. Lucas drug his feet to the door and opened it.

"What do you – DUDE! Oh my god what are you doing here?" Lucas was shocked to see who the mystery knocker was.

"Hey man. Sorry I know its early, but I heard what happened. I saw Peyton on the news. God Luke please tell me she's okay." Jake looked absolutely defeated. No one in Tree Hill had seen him since he left to find Jenny.

Lucas gave Jake a comforting smile and invited him in.

"Yeah Jake, Peyton's okay. Actually Brooke and I are picking her up from the hospital at 11. You should come with us."

Jake sat down in the chair opposite of Lucas, who was reclined on his bed.

"I would love to man, but I don't know…"

"What! Why wouldn't you?" Lucas was confused. Wasn't the whole point of Jake coming to see Peyton?

Jake hung his head. "Because man, I haven't found Nikki. I still have to get Jenny back. If I go see Peyton and then just leave her again…man I don't know. I've never felt as much pain as when I told her I had to leave her…again. I can't hurt her like that again Luke."

Lucas looked across the floor at his friend. He never realized it, but he had missed Jake. As hard as his life was, he always made time for his friends. And Peyton.

"Dude that's got to be rough, but I know Peyton would love to see you. She misses you like crazy. "

Jake looked at Lucas hesitantly. He missed Peyton too, more than anyone would ever know. On one hand, his heart was telling him he needed to see her. He loved her. But his head was telling him he was just in Tree Hill to confirm she was okay, not to see her and hurt her. Of course, his heart won that battle.

"Alright man, but can we go early? I want to spend as much time as I can with her."

Lucas smiled. "Sweet man. Let me call Brooke."