Comes a time when,
You can't judge no more
Go outside, babe
Can't see the storm
I can't believe that
We're really all good
One of us has gone,
They never should
Comes A Time-Nada Surf

Peyton slowly walked out of the small house and closed the door behind her. The closing door made an echo all through the now empty house. There was nothing left…. Everything was gone; she was gone. She sat on the steps of the house and tried to register everything that had happened. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't grasp it… she couldn't come to terms with any of it. Ellie was gone and she didn't know what to do. With a shaky hand she took out her cell and began to dial a familiar number as she reached the sixth digit she ended the call. Calling on him would be too much, so she dialed another number.

"Hey it's Brooke."

Peyton sighed, thank god for her best friend!

"Hey Brooke I—"

"You know what to do." Beep. It was just her voice mail.

Peyton rolled her eyes and closed her phone, so much for leaning on your best friend.

Flipping open her cell again Peyton dialed the number that she couldn't finish before. As soon as it started to ring Peyton silent prayed that someone would pick up.

"Hey it's me," She sniffed, "No, no nothing's wrong I just—can you pick me up?"

The tone in her voice warned him not to ask questions.

"I'll be there as soon as I can."

Lucas turned around and watched his mom, Nathan, Haley, Whitey, and some other people talk amongst each other. His mom was throwing a New Years Eve gathering at the café. Brooke had been out of town since Christmas. She had been spending the holidays with her parents in California and wasn't due back until Sunday, which was two days from now. They talked everyday on the phone since she arrived in California. She would tell him what new thing she bought and every once in a while he would ask about it and pretend that he was interested. That's what he had been doing the last couple of weeks… pretending. Pretending that he didn't have a life threatening illness, pretending that if he played one more game of basketball it wouldn't kill him, that he completely got over seeing Chris Keller with Brooke… the list goes on.

Looking around once more, he made his way towards the door. Something didn't sound right in Peyton's voice. He hoped everything was okay with her and Ellie.

"Luke!"

Just when he made it towards the door someone had to stop him. He turned around and saw Haley standing in front of him.

"Hey buddy. So what's up, where are you going?"

Luke rubbed the back of his head, "Um… I've just got to um take care of something."

"Need any company?" Haley silently prayed that he would say yes. She couldn't take anymore of this party. If one more person came up to her and asked about going on tour or her music she was going to go crazy.

"Why? Nathan's not entertaining you enough?" He smirked and she hit him on the shoulder.

"Shut up," She rolled her eyes, "It's just all these people here are asking me about my music and the tour and it just gets annoying after the 50th time you know?"

He laughed, "I wish I could help you Hales, but this is something I have to do on my own."

"C'mon Luke," She pleaded, "I'll make it up to you big time if you get me out of here."

Lucas laughed at her begging. He loved seeing his best friend squirm.

"I can't Hales. I'm sorry."

She pouted, "Okay fine. Have it your way, but I'm gonna remember this Lucas."

Chuckling a little he shook his head and made his way out, "I'm sure you will Hales."

And with that he was out the door.

Peyton sat still on the steps with her head in her hands. An hour had gone by and she hadn't moved since. She didn't know where she went wrong. They were having a great time together for the past few days and then she woke up this morning and everything was gone. All that was left was a goodbye letter and an empty house. Ellie's prognosis wasn't really good so she took off to another town with the so-called "Best Hospital in the USA" to treat the cancer. She didn't want Peyton to worry she took off early that morning. Peyton had read the letter over and over and none of really made sense. She wasn't angry with Ellie, in fact she thought something like this would happen, but now that it did she was really hurt.

They had bonded so much over the holidays. The talked about their love for music, growing up, boys, and life experiences… they talked about everything that she never got to talk to Anna about, but most of all they bonded. She never knew how much she and Ellie were alike, but during that time she also saw the similarities between herself and her biological mother, despite that they weren't blood related. These past few days opened up her eyes and she wouldn't trade that experience for anything. She just hoped that wherever Ellie was that she was okay.

"Hey."

Peyton looked up and saw Luke standing there with his hands in his pocket and a solemn face. Not bothering to say anything she got up from the steps and started walking to the car. Luke stood and watched her somewhat broken figure walk to the car. He knew that she didn't want to talk, but he needed to know what happened in order to help her.

Sighing, he dismissed his thoughts and followed her to the car.

I can't believe how
Far we have gone
One of us has none
Now come along,
Get up and tell the sun
That you don't feel loved

The car ride was silent with exception of the radio playing softly in the background. Peyton kept her gaze up ahead and Lucas kept his gaze on the road, but would stare over at her every once and a while. The car came to a screeching halt moments ago but neither of them bothered to move. Peyton was still in her registered shock and Lucas was trying to think of the right words to say. Finally after much debate, he decided to speak up.

"Goodnight Lucas." She beat him to the punch as she made a move to open up the car door, but Lucas stopped her.

"Peyton wait… aren't you gonna tell me what happened?" He asked desperately trying to help her.

"You wouldn't understand." She jerked away from his grip and got out of the car.

Lucas watched her walk away. What was wrong with him? He had to go after her; he wasn't about to let her slip away from him again.

Hurriedly getting out of the car he ran after her. She got as far as the steps to her house before he caught up to her.

"Peyton!" He called after her, but she just kept on walking.

He grabbed her arm to keep her from moving, "Damnit Peyton! Talk to me!"

"I can't." She said in a weak voice.

He grabbed her again and turned her around so that she was facing him.

"Something happened up there Peyton and it's obviously bothering you and I need you to tell me so that I can help you. Peyton please… what happened?"

She stayed silent as she felt her eyes brimming with tears.

"Did you guys have a fight? Is Ellie okay, did—"

"She's gone Luke!" She shouted in a mix of frustration, sadness, and anger.

"What?"

"She's gone… okay," He voice cracked, "She left some time this morning and I don't think I'm ever gonna see her again."

"Peyton," He whispered, his voice full of pain, "Peyt I'm so—"

"Please don't say that you're sorry. You know I'm not even that upset." She turned her head from his gaze so he wouldn't see that she was lying. She had to be strong.

"Peyton its okay to be sad about this—it's okay to feel." He tried to reach out to her, but she just moved away.

She shook her head and ran her hands through her short, blonde hair, "You know she was sick Luke—she was really sick. The whole time I was there she tried to pretend that everything was okay, but I could tell it wasn't. On Christmas Eve, she got so tired that she didn't even have the strength to get up and go to her own room. She tried to play it off and make a joke about how she was getting old, but whom was she fooling? There were even a couple of days that she went without eating and I guess I was just too caught up in my happiness to fully notice. That letter… it said it all. She lied to me. She told me that she was in remission, but she wasn't. She hasn't been in remission for the past couple of years so you know here we are, a few days after Christmas and this morning I wake up and there was nothing around me. There was just the stupid couch that I was sleeping on and a letter." Her last words came off as bitter, but he knew that she wasn't. He could see how hurt she was. Her face and her actions said it all.

"Do you know where she is? We could go on another road trip and find her, Peyton."

She shook her head again as a stifled laugh escaped her lips, "We can't Luke, she just disappeared."

"Well then we'll search for her."

"I don't want to."

"What?"

"I've spent my time with her and those were some of the happiest moments I've had in a while. So I'm a little angry, I have every right to be, but I'm not gonna go and look for her Luke. She wouldn't want me to. You know spending all of this time with her made me see how much we were alike. She's stubborn as hell and she loves to push people away and I'm like that, too. She's sick and it hurts like hell that this is happening, that I can't help her, but I have to accept it Luke. My life is a fucking train wreck and it's not gonna get better until I stop wallowing in my misery."

"Peyton." He knew she wasn't completely telling the truth. This was the girl that just practically broke down in front of him less than a few minutes ago and now she's suddenly fine. He didn't believe her. He just wanted her to say how she really felt.

How long can you
Keep circling round'
Like Paris Texas
'til she found out

"Don't okay. Let's just… let's talk about something else, please." She pleaded as she sat down on the front steps of her house. She looked down at the ground and then back up at Luke when she realized he wasn't next to her.

"Anything… please." She looked up at him with a weak expression in her eyes.

He sighed as he took a seat next to her.

"So Luke anything interesting happened in Tree Hill while I was away?" She asked in a desperate attempt to avoid the Ellie situation.

"Uh not really. My mom's throwing this party thing at the café… you know for New Years Eve."

"So you left the party for me?" She asked with a small smile growing upon her face.

"Well before you left I told you that if anything happened I'd come and get you and I just want to be that guy for you. You know one that you can count on, one that can keep his promises, and one that'll always be there for you."

She lowered her head so he wouldn't see the faint blush on her cheeks, "Thanks Luke."

"Besides I was glad to get away from that so-called party. I could've died of boredom." He joked, which made her laugh a little.

"It couldn't have been that bad." She gave him a little nudge.

"Oh it was," He paused to look at his watch, "So the new year starts in a few minutes."

"Yeah… so you've got any New Years resolutions?"

"I've got a few, but there's one I'm gonna try to follow through with. What about you?"

"I don't know," She shrugged, "I guess… I want to be able to trust again."

He nodded, "Good one."

"What about you?" She asked referring to what he had said earlier about his resolution. The one that he said he would try to follow through with.

He sighed and then looked her straight in the eyes, "My New Years resolution is to follow my heart… see what's been in front of me all along."

Once again she avoided his intense gaze, "Well I hope that works out for you."

"Yeah," He finally tore his gaze off of her, "Me too."

She stayed silent for the next couple of minutes as she became wrapped up in her thoughts again.

"Hey, so did you ever get a chance to open that gift I got you?"

She covered her mouth with her hand as a feeling of guilt washed over her, "I forgot all about that!"

She hurriedly reached into her jacket pocket and took out the gift.

"Go ahead and open it." He insisted.

"I just wish I would've got you something." She said guilty.

He shook his head, "Don't worry about. You could always just get me a high five again."

She smirked at the distant memory, "Yeah…"

"Open it." He urged.

She nodded as she tore off the wrapping paper and opened the small box, which revealed a silver bracelet.

She picked the bracelet up and examined it. It was the same bracelet that she lost; it was Ellie's bracelet! She could feel the tears ready to fall and the overwhelming feeling of emotion that suddenly came over her.

"Lucas… oh my god! How did you—where did you?" She was speechless. She didn't know what to say.

He smiled in satisfaction. He was glad that she liked it.

"You left it in my room a couple of weeks ago and when I was cleaning it I found the bracelet right under my dresser. I wanted to give it to you sooner, but we hadn't talked and when we finally did we were on that road trip and I had forgot to bring it so I figured with Christmas coming up this would be a decent gift. So… there it is."

"Lucas I don't know what to say." She stared at him in disbelief. She couldn't believe he did this for her.

"Well you could give me that high five now." He said with lopsided grin on his face as he shrugged.

Without warning Peyton through her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Without hesitation he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her just as tight. He rubbed her back as he heard her hushed sobs. He knew this day had to be exhausting for her.

"Thank you Luke… for everything." She whispered as she clung to him. She felt so safe in his arms right now that she never wanted to let go.

"Don't worry about it." He whispered as she pulled away.

"I'm sorry," She sighed as she wiped her eyes, "I didn't mean to cry it's just—"

"You don't have to explain Peyt. You've been through a lot. You need to get it all out." He reached over and brought her closer so that she could lay her head on his shoulder.

"Yeah," She wiped her eyes again, "So… is it 2006 yet?"

He looked down at his watch as it struck midnight, "As of right now."

She nodded, "Happy New Year Luke."

He placed a chaste kiss on her forehead before replying, "Happy New Year."

They sat on her front steps for a few minutes in silence until Peyton spoke up again.

"I just wish… I wish I could've said goodbye," She spoke and then she added in a low voice, "They always leave without saying goodbye."

"Well I'm not leaving Peyt," He looked down at her and tilted her chin upwards so that she was looking at him, "I'm always gonna be here for you."

And whether she wanted to admit it or not he really was that guy for her. He was the one person she could count on and the only one that she knew would never leave her. He was always gonna be there for her no matter what.

Well that's it for this chapter. Sorry it took so long I've just been swamped with schoolwork. I'm already working on the next chapter so that should be here soon. Thanks for the awesome reviews guys.