'How you holding up buddy?' Haley drops onto the bleacher beside him.

'How'd you know I was here?'

'You're always here when you're brooding about something. Secretly pining for your brother's career?' She nudges him with her elbow and he laughs because they both know he'd never give up music. Not for a game of ball. Besides it was no secret he was a lame shot.

'I'm fine'

'Oh please. I'm queen of pretending I'm fine and that I'm not in love with your brother, you however suck at pretending Lucas Scott'

He swings his arm around her with a sigh. 'You two still not speaking then I take it?'

'Hey don't turn this round on me. I was asking how you're doing?' She prods his knee and looks up into his face.

'I'm fine. Really' He smiles that smile she's come to know means drop it. But she's never been good at listening.

'Yeah? Well you need to work on your acting skills because I'm definitely not the only one that noticed you storming off when Jake made that toast about his darling wife tonight'

'Huh. That' He grins but it's not amusement. 'You'd think I'd be use to seeing her with him by now but it's like a kick to the gut every time'

Haley looks at him sympathetically. 'Well if you ask me that little performance couldn't have been more fake'

Lucas smirks and remembers why this girl is his best friend.

'What happened to Lindsay?' She changes the subject.

'She's got an early flight for some meeting in LA tomorrow. We decided to catch up when she's back'

'How's that going?'

'How's what going?' He cocks his eyebrow at her.

'You two were hanging out a lot on the road'

'We don't all get star treatment when on tour Hales, it's only the privileged that get their own little private bedroom on the tour bus, the rest of us have to bunk it together'

'Oh really? You usually take advantage of your best buddy being said star though don't you darling?' She chimes sweetly. 'I've woken up with you snuggled up to me one too many times'

He pouts. 'Hey, you want these magic fingers playing guitar for you, then you don't get to whine about sharing your oh so comfy sleeping quarters. Those bunks do my back in. I'm getting too old for that shit'

'Mmm well forgive me but as much as I love you there's kinda another Scott I'd rather have in my bed'

'Well how would you know? You've never sampled me, maybe you chose the wrong brother' He grins and she slaps his arm.

'Ew Luke' She grimaces dramatically. 'Don't even joke. That's gross'

'How rude'

'Rude is hitting on your best friend when you're dating someone'

'So not hitting on you Hales' He laughs. 'Just messing. It's far too easy. And dating someone?' He looks at her with bemusement. 'Who am I dating?'

'I got the impression you and Lindsay are a thing' She shrugs.

'A writing music together, work thing?' He suggests. 'Sure'

'A writing music together, work thing that involves you sleeping with her' Haley summarises.

'How do you do that?' Lucas shakes his head bewilderedly because even after all these years he doesn't get how his friend knows the things she does.

'What?'

'You just, you always know who I'm sleeping with without me saying anything...it's actually fucking creepy'

She laughs. 'It's one of my many great talents. That and the girl was so touchy, touchy with you after she saw you with Peyton tonight'

He groans then. Because Peyton always seemed to be a threat to any girl he was seeing. She didn't have to do anything at all. It's like there was a red alarm bell above her head, signalling to all of his possible suiters that she was danger. 'We've slept together a few times. It's just casual'

'Does she know that?'

'What does that mean?'

'It means she didn't look like she knows that it's just causal Luke'

Lucas looks up at the stars above him and sighs heavily. 'Why do girls like drama so much?'

'Us? Dude she's not fucking paranoid for noticing the ongoing saga that is Peyton Wolf and Lucas Scott'

'Jagalski. Peyton Jagalski' He corrects her grumpily. 'There is no saga. We're friends. We've been just friends longer than we were ever together at this point' That revelation makes his heart ache. 'Jesus, that's really depressing' He notes.

'You hurt her bad. I hurt Nate bad. We're suffering the consequences.'

'You don't need to tell me that Hales. I'm well aware of what I did, I'm well aware that I don't deserve her but it's' He stops himself abruptly.

'It's what?' Haley's eyes widen impatiently.

'It's just...always going to be there for me...' He confesses. He's tried to move on. He really has. Many times. He just never quite gets there because as soon as he's in a room with her he can't fool himself for a moment more 'I, I've changed, I'm a better man than I was back then'

'I know. I know that' Haley nods.. 'Luke you're my best friend. I'm your biggest advocate okay? I'll always be rooting for you but she, she married another man. It's not like she's just in a relationship with Jake. She's got kids with him. She's moved on...I just think it's time you did too. I want you to be happy'

'It's not as simple as that. I don't get a choice in how I feel okay? You of all people should be understanding of that...'

'I am. God I am. I just, I dunno Luke. I just think I'd be a shit friend if I didn't remind you from time to time that there are other fish in the sea'

'Noted' He grumbles. 'And that goes for you too'

'Noted'

They both smile. Both know they're not going to be able to let their eyes stray far.

'I like Lindsay. Why not give it an actual shot for once?'

'We'll see. I told you it's-'

'Casual' Haley finishes. 'Right' She rolls her eyes and nudges him in the side as she rests her head on his shoulder. 'It's nice here' She says after a moment of silence. 'I've only ever been down here when Nate's playing a game'

'Kinda the polar opposite when no one is here right?'

'Mm. It's so quiet'

'Yeah' He softly agrees. '...I first saw Peyton here. Did I ever tell you that?'

Haley's eyes skitter away from the twinkling stars and back up to him.

'She was thirteen. All legs. Smoking a fucking cigarette' He shakes his head because they'd just been kids but they'd felt so grown up. 'I thought she was oh so cool'

'I bet she was cool...She's still pretty badass mind'

'She was angry at thirteen, up to mischief, looking to get attention from her Mum and Dad'

'I'm sure you gave her attention'

'Mm... I never understood how a girl like her could like a guy like me'

'Luke, stop' Haley pleads. They're treading a dangerous path that she's been down with him one too many times. She knows the destination and doesn't want to end up at that morbid place. 'Don't torture yourself'

He blinks. Licks his lips. Retreats; she's right.

Silence.

If he's not going to sit here dwelling on the past he's going to have to focus on the present. 'Hales?'

'Mm?'

'I might as well tell you something while you're here...you're not going to like it' He exhales.

She waits patiently for him to elaborate.

'She asked me to stay tonight'

'What?' He's definitely got her attention.

'Peyton-'

'I know who she is!' Haley hisses.

'Loads of shit has blown up with Jenny...it's going to have a domino effect on the label and-'

'She's asked you to tour with her' Haley assumes.

'How...'

'How'd I guess?' Haley snorts. 'Because I know Julian, I know that he was your guys biggest fans way before he started managing Peyt and working with her on the label. He loves that album you two did together. He's always seeking out ways to get you singing together again but Peyton shuts it down every...' She trails off.

Lucas squints at her. He's not surprised by Peyton's aversion to the idea. He knows why. But it only emphasises how desperate she is now if she's been asked to do this before.

'Sorry you didn't need to know that...actually you did' She vents. 'We all know why she's never even comprehended working with you in that way again Luke'

'Because her husband would hate it' He smirks at the thought, the school boy in him can't help but feel satisfaction at the thought of upsetting the man in question.

'No...well obviously but-'

'Hales we work together all the time' He cuts in. 'It's not a big deal'

'You playing with her every now and again in her band doesn't count. You know what I mean- she doesn't fucking trust herself to work with you!' Haley spews. 'Writing music together is so fucking intimate'

'We're not going to be writing an album together'

'No just singing one. God Luke, Ravens, that album is a fucking love letter to each other. You think she can stand on stage and do that with you without remembering those feelings'

'Why're you saying that like it's a bad thing? My feelings haven't changed since we wrote that god damn album Haley. Not for a single day'

'She's married! She's got kids Luke. She's got a family. This isn't just about the two of you anymore'

He pushes his tongue to the roof of his mouth and stands up. 'No. It's not...'

'Don't stay. You said you'd come back out with me'

'You don't need me. You're a big girl'

'Lucas! Come on think about this-'

'I could make her happy!' He bleats. 'If she'd let me, I know I could make her happier than him!'

Haley drops her head into her hands in despair. '...When I slept with Kris and Nate found out what did you say to me?' She quietly murmurs.

He grinds his teeth together. '...That if he forgives you he'll let you know...that you need to stop chasing and let his heart heal...'

'Right'

'I've given her space Hales. Since she said I do to Jake I backed off. I've done everything she's ever asked of me. She's told me to fuck off I've fucked off. She's asked me to stay, I've stayed'

'Well maybe you should grow a pair and stop crawling on your hands and knees for her. It's not fair on you or Jake'

'Don't make out like she's been a bitch, you know everything she's done for me Hales. I'd have zero career right now. I'd probably be on the fucking streets. I owe everything to her. She's the reason I'm sober, the reason I have a roof over my head, the reason I have a relationship with Mum after everything that happened'

'I know. I fucking know. And I fucking love her for that. I do. I love Peyton, she's my friend, I'm just, all I'm saying is there's got to be a point when we accept their choices Luke. We can't live our lives waiting for the day that they might forgive us and take us back'

'My situation isn't the same as yours Hales! I never fucking cheated! I didn't betray her!' It's a low blow and he literally watches her freeze.

'You know what' She rises to her feet. 'If you can't see what a huge fucking mistake this is then fine go ahead. It's your fucking funeral. I'm telling you now, touring with her is a bad idea. For you and for her'

'Hales wait-'

'No Luke. Your cheating whore of a friend wants to be alone right now'

'I didn't say that, Hales come on, I'm sorry!' He hollers after her, his face crumpled because he didn't mean to upset her. He didn't mean for his words to come out as they had.

She doesn't turn back. He doesn't go after her. Knows not to go after her. She needs space. His hand delves inside his pocket. Seeks out the green coin. His fingers curls around it tightly for a moment before pulling it free from it's hiding place.

11 years sober. He reads the engraving. Memorises the well rehearsed steps that have aided his recovery. Because right now he wants a god damn drink. But he's not going to do that. He sinks back down onto the bleachers and does what he always does when he wants a drink. Thinks of the reason why he got sober. Why he's stayed sober. Thinks of Peyton Elizabeth Wolf. Only it's not Wolf. It's Jagalski.