Peyton sighed as she crawled towards her bed. She slipped under the covers and reached towards her side drawer, retrieving a sketchbook. She had shoved a bunch of loose sketches in to it one day, when she was in an organizing mood. SOPHOMORE YEAR was written largely on the cover. She opened it slowly and picked up the first sketch. A heart around the number 23. She picked it up smiling slightly. She put it away quickly and turned to the next page; Peyton was sitting at a restaurant along with Nathan eating a pizza. The caption DINNER WITHOUT THE MOVIE, was written underneath the picture. Peyton relaxed on to her bed thinking about that night.

School had been in session for two weeks and basketball tryouts had been occurring in the gym everyday, along with cheerleading. It was a new school year, and the four friends who had met in detention around a year ago had formed a group around themselves. And, had immediately become popular at their highschool, yet little did they know that along with the title came the territory.

"So..Pey, I was thinking that we should go to that party tomorrow night," Brooke stated loudly.

"Whose? Tim's?" Peyton said.

Brooke stared at her, "Um. Yes. Who else's?"

Peyton shrugged," Whatever. We'll walk from my house at 7."

Brooke laughed, "I'm not walking in heels. But, you get your permit this summer. So..we can drive after that."

Peyton laughed as she reached down on the floor to grab her pompoms, "Brooke, its still September."

Brooke glared at her, "P. Sawyer, you're a dream crusher."

"P. Sawyer, huh?"

Peyton turned around to see a six foot, Nathan Scott towering above her.

"Um, I can only call her that," Brooke stated nonchalantly.

Nathan rolled his eyes, "Whatever. Peyton, can I talk to you?"

"You are talking to her, Nathan," Brooke smirked.

"Can I talk to you alone, Peyton?" Nathan said exasperatedly.

"Uh..Yeah.." Peyton smiled at Brooke before following Nathan outside of the gym.

"Scott! Where the hell do you think you're going?" Whitey exclaimed across the gym.

"Take five, Whitey!" Nathan laughed.

Nathan stopped and leaned against a navy blue locker, " Hey."

Peyton laughed as her right hand settled on her hip, " Hey. Okay. So, what's up?"

Nathan turned to her and scratched his head," Do you wanna' go out tonight? Like, the movies. Or dinner. Or like both?"

Peyton sighed exagerratingly, " Well, I have nothing else to do.."

Nathan smiled at her, " Well..I guess I could ask Theresa or something.."

Peyton shrugged, "I'll see if Tim wants to come over then."

Nathan laughed, " So, I'll pick you up at 7."

Peyton nodded, "You drive?"

Nathan smiled, " Perks of having a dad who owns a car dealership. And, well a permit."

Peyton smiled, " Yeah. So..Seven?"

Nathan nodded as he took her hand in his and watched her expression turn to an even larger smile.

They walked towards the gym and stopped in their tracks as they saw all the people in the gym staring at them.

Nathan smiled awkwardly, " This is weird."

Peyton nodded, " Um. Yeah."

Peyton looked up at him smiling, " Later."

Nathan however pulled her closer to him, and brought his hand to her face. Surprising her as he brought his mouth towards hers and kissed her softly on the lips, deepening it slightly before hearing a shrill whistle near his ear.

" Suicides, Scott. NOW!" Whitey said with a satisfied smile on his face.

Nathan sighed before running towards the center of the court, and Peyton stood in her spot, still shocked. She watched as Brooke waved at her and walked over slowly.

" Oh my god, Peyton! When did that happen?" a jealous Theresa asked.

Peyton shrugged with a smile on her face, " I don't know."

Brooke paced around Peyton's bedroom.

"You have nothing to wear, Peyton!" Brooke screamed.

"Sorry," Peyton said blankly.

"Well, it's a good think I bought extra clothes tonight, huh?" Brooke said with a devious smile on her face.

"What?" Peyton said.

"One sec-Ah! Found it!" Brooke smiled as she set the outfit out on the bed.

"What is that?" Peyton said softly.

"A Missoni halter and denim skirt, that you're about to get your skinny ass in to. You know, I haven't even worn that top yet. You're lucky I'm your best friend, P. Sawyer," Brooke said sweetly.

Peyton rolled her eyes as she slipped the outfit on and threw her hands in the air, "Happy?"

Brooke smirked, "Not as happy as Nathan will be when he takes it off."

Peyton laughed as she slapped Brooke's arm, "It's our first date,"

Brooke smirked once again, " He kissed you when he asked you out, which was so sweet by the way, he probably thinks he's getting a blow j-"

A doorbell rang and interrupted Brooke.

Brooke smiled giddily, " I'll get it."

Brooke skipped down the stairs and opened the door.

"Hello, Mr. Scott," Brooke said happily.

"Brooke?" Nathan questioned.

"She's coming. God, don't sound so happy to see me. Peyt!" Brooke screamed up the stairs.

"Coming," Peyton said as she walked down the stairs.

Nathan smiled as he saw Peyton walking down the stairs in the dark purple, extremely low cut halter, and very short denim mini skirt.

"Hey," Peyton said to Nathan nonchalantly.

"Uh..Hey. You look…really good," Nathan said.

Brooke smiled, " Okay. See you guys later."

Brooke slammed the door on the two of them and Peyton laughed.

"Is she always over?" Nathan questioned.

Peyton nodded, "She's pretty much the only person who is ever home with me."

Nathan looked at her curiously, "What about your mom? Or dad?"

Peyton avoided his gaze as she stepped in to the passenger seat of his car, " My mom died when I was younger. And, my dad is on business trips a lot. He works on a boat. He makes a good amount of money, but in order to that, he has to go away. For like weeks at a time. Sometimes months. "

Nathan nodded slowly as he backed out of her driveway," ..Sorry."

Peyton shook her head, "Don't be."

Nathan softly," So, where do you wanna' go for dinner?"

Peyton shrugged, " I don't care."

Nathan laughed," Is pizza, okay? Because I'm mad hungry."

Peyton smiled as they entered the restaurant and ordered a large pepporoni with onions. And, they talked for hours. About everything, her mom, and his dad, her lonely childhood, and Brooke, and his slightly abusive childhood, and Tim. And, they laughed. And, she smiled. She smiled more than she could ever remember. She blushed as well, when he was giving her a compliment, or when he slipped his hand on her bare thigh.

He drove her home and turned off the car as he sat in her driveway.

"So, sorry that we missed our movie," Nathan said.

"Don't be. I was glad we got to talk, you know. Get to know each other a bit," Peyton said looking at him.

Nathan nodded before abruptly placing his lips on hers, and cupping her face in his hands. She now knew how to react and unbuckled her seatbelt, lessening the space between them. She pulled away grinning and closed the car door.

"Brooke's waiting," she said before closing the car door.

"Wait, Peyton. Um..Are you going to Tim's tomorrow night?" Nathan said.

Peyton nodded.

"I'm going early, otherwise I'd offer you a ride. So, I'll see you there?" Nathan asked.

Peyton smirked, " If you're lucky."

Peyton examined the sketch again, she remembered their first date well, and laughed at herself for remembering every bit of it. But, she did. And, she did because at that time, a couple years ago, she was unknowingly falling in love with him.