2. Meeting Dipped With Tension

Brooke used her keys to unlock the door to her and Lucas' small house. She had just finished telling Peyton that it wasn't much, but the company made it worthwhile.

"I'm home!" Brooke yelled. Peyton dropped her luggage onto the floor.

Haley came out of a room, her guitar strapped around her. Her eyes remained on the strings, which her fingers were flying over quietly. "Hey, Lucas isn't home yet, and I have to head out to finish up a song so-" Haley looked up and stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes now on the blonde in the room. Haley's face scrunched up as if she was trying to remember something. Suddenly, her eyes widened. "Peyton?"

Peyton nodded, with a huge smile. Haley almost threw her guitar she took it off so quickly and scooped Peyton up into a hug. "What are you doing here?"

Peyton stepped back from Haley to look at her. She was the same old Haley, a little older, her hair a little lighter, but it was still her. "I'm interning at MTV," she told Haley matter-of-factly.

"For how long," Haley asked.

"A whole year."

"Leaving nice and warm Florida to come all the way up here?"

"I don't think I'm going to regret that anymore."

Haley looked her over again, ecstatically. "I really wish I could stay, but I have to go finish laying down a track, and I've been late so many times before," she rambled on. "But it is really good to see you, Peyton."

"You too, Haley", Peyton replied, trying to wrap her head around the whirlwind that was Haley James.

Haley grabbed her guitar again, disappearing back into the room she came from. Emerging with the instrument in its case and a jacket in her hand. She passed Brooke on the way to the door. "Oh- and don't bother leaving any dinner for me, because we probably won't finish until late tonight. Peyton can have my share." She flung open the door. "I'll see ya guys later."

Brooke yelled a bye to her back and turned to Peyton who had her mouth open slightly. "The new Haley," Brooke told her. "Something, isn't she?"

"So she's 'laying down tracks' now?"

Brooke nodded. "Got a record deal about a month ago- that's why she had to move to New York."

"Huh."

Brooke laughed. "Here-" Brooke said as she took up one of Peyton's bags, motioning for her to get the others. "Let's put this in here for now." She led Peyton into the room that Haley kept popping in and out of. "Just shove your jacket here or something," she said, referencing to the bed. Brooke walked out leaving Peyton to shed her coat. From the room, Peyton heard the door open and close. Curious, she walked out of the room. There was Lucas Scott coming through the door. She watched from the background as he placed a kiss on Brooke's lips. He moved to put his books on the table when he saw her. She watched the recognition show on his face as his body froze.

Peyton's heart beat wildly in her chest as she tried to calm the feelings that were overwhelming her. "Hi," she said quietly. A simple statement, but to Lucas and Peyton, it spoke volumes.

Lucas couldn't speak. His mind was clouded by the girl- the woman- that stood in front of him. Her hair was longer than in the summer he had spent with her. If possible, she was even more beautiful than she was then. He slowly took steps towards her, their eyes locked, totally unaware that there were other people in the room, in the world. She took her own steps towards him and they met in a hug. He took in the scent of her hair as she marveled in the feel of him again. After a moment, Lucas released her, taking a step back. Peyton saw that his eyes held fear, and she looked at him strangely. Lucas looked away, trying to hide it: the fear that accompanied the immediate rush of feelings that had stormed him once he saw her, when he touched her after all of these years. When Lucas looked back up at her, Peyton saw that that look was gone.

"Hey," he said in a hoarse voice. He cleared his throat. "What are you doing here?"

Peyton shook her head and cleared her own throat. "I- uh- I got an internship at MTV. Brooke was the one that picked me up from the airport."

Lucas blinked his eyes rapidly, glancing at Brooke like he was just remembering that she was there. In all actually, he had. Lucas scratched his face distractedly. "That's really great, Peyton. How long are you here for- you are staying in the city, right?"

Peyton smiled slightly and nodded her head. "A year."

Brooke cut into the uncomfortable conversation. "We'll get into the details later," she said, waving her hands dismissively. "Honey, do you want to eat out tonight, since Peyton's here, or just stay in?"

"Oh- don't do anything special for me," Peyton told her, wanting to get out of their house, away from the new tension that was just created unbeknownst to Brooke.

"No!" Lucas said quickly, a little desperately. "Stay for dinner, at least- than you can get to where your staying. We'll help you."

Peyton bit her lip, eventually nodding her head in consent. "Alright," she answered against her better judgement.

Brooke walked her way over to the door. "Then I'll get.. chinese food?"

"You don't want me to get it?" Lucas stuttered out.

"Nah, you and Peyton catch up. I had my chance today." She opened up the door. "I might be awhile, you know the lines... bye," Brooke said as she closed the door behind her.

Peyton glanced at Lucas, who turned away quickly. It was just them now.