"Welcome back, stranger," Nathan greeted as he closed his car door behind him. He walked towards her with a smile on his face. After everything that had happened in Tree Hill lately, he was glad to see her again. Even if there were good events as well, it was always a little more comforting to see a friendly face.

Feeling a little guilt for her sudden escape from Tree Hill, Peyton wanted to avoid the subject. "Thanks," Peyton replied bashfully. She smiled back before staring down at her feet. She shifted her weight slightly, still leaning back on her stalled car. Completely changing the subject, Peyton started, "Thanks for coming. I'm sorry I even had to call--"

"It's alright," Nathan interjected. "You can call me anytime you need anything, Peyton."

Peyton gazed at him strangely. She knew he had changed greatly since he's been with Haley, but it was always shocking to hear him say such things. "What about a booty call?" Peyton quickly witted, trying to lighten up the serious talk.

Nathan raised an eyebrow, considering the thought before shaking his head. He ignored her last statement and commented, "I'm just surprised you called me instead of Luke."

Peyton forced a dry chuckle. "Don't be surprised," she stated simply.

Curiously, Nathan thought about her words. He hadn't realized much had changed since he was still enjoying his renewed vows with Haley. He didn't know if something was really going on and he was blinded by his own joy, or if things were the same as usual. "What is that supposed to mean?" Nate asked, trying to read Peyton's body language.

With a shrug, Peyton stared up at him. "You honestly don't know?" she questioned back. When she could tell he was sincerely confused and curious, Peyton straightened up her posture to face him and explain. "Some stuff went down while you were being all groom-like… I kinda told Brooke I still have feelings for Lucas, and she freaked. Now things are over between her and Luke and he blames me."

Almost instantly, Nathan started to laugh. The only thing that stopped him was a quick slap on the arm by Peyton. He straightened himself out and replied, "Sorry. It's just ironic."

"Ironic?" Peyton inquired.

"Yeah," he answered. He looked her in the eye and continued, "I'm pretty sure it was only a little while ago when this guy was so madly in love with you that he was challenging me and cheating on Brooke. Now he's mad at you for being in love with him..?"

Tucking her hair behind her ear, Peyton crossed her arms over her chest. "So maybe he doesn't technically know that I love him…"

"So tell him," Nathan stated, without any hesitation.

He was able to shrug it off like an easy task, but Peyton saw it as anything but. She couldn't stand putting herself on the line like that. All she could really think about was how messy things always got. It was horrible, but everyone couldn't be happy at once. People always had to suffer, and Peyton didn't want to be that bad person, leaving another in pain.

Looking down at her feet, Peyton broke their eye contact. "It's not that simple," she retorted, still thinking about the possiblities that they'd repeat history.

Nathan nodded his head, noticing the Peyton Sawyer look-away. And from that, he also knew that her heart was with Lucas. He knew what would make her nervous, and when she'd hide her heart. Peyton never acted that way with him, but when it came to Lucas, she was scared of being able to love him back. "Did you ever think maybe it's because you don't make it that simple?" he questioned. Nathan honestly didn't mean any harm by asking, just simply trying to prove his point.

Peyton eyed him with a bit of uneasiness. She put a brave smile on her face and asked, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I think you know," Nathan remarked. He turned around, reaching to the backseat of Peyton's car and grabbing her bag. He started back towards his car, still talking to her. "You get scared, and you hide. It's classic Peyton."

Shaking her head, Peyton tried her hardest not to listen to Nathan. "You don't know me," she commented, following him with her arms crossed. "Even when we were together you didn't know me. Especially then."

Nate tossed her bag into his backseat, then turned around to face her. "When we were together, things were different. I was pissed at my dad and at life and I couldn't care less what happened to you."

Once again, Peyton looked down at the ground, hurt by Nathan's words. She hugged her arms a little tighter around her, trying to keep her feelings from showing. "Thanks, I guess," she mumbled.

Rolling his eyes, Nathan realized he fumbled with his words. He put a hand on her shoulder and remarked, "That's not what I meant." He waited for her tension to ease slightly before he continued, "I was only thinking about me. But ever since Lucas and Haley, everything changed. The world isn't about Nathan Scott, and I get that now."

Peyton exhaled deeply. She knew Nathan was being sincere, but she couldn't help putting that wall up and shielding herself. "That still doesn't mean you know me."

In the distance, Nathan noticed the tow truck near. He waved his hand in a friendly manner, making sure they were spotted. He turned his attention back to Peyton and stated, "But I do." Nathan leaned back on the hood of his car, both for a more relaxed way to talk to Peyton, and to wait for the tow truck to take care of her car. "You never let anyone get close. That's why your best friend is someone that you hardly have anything in common with and why you dated me for so long. And then you find someone that completely gets you and gets into your head. He's already in your heart, but you're afraid of letting him know that because you're afraid he won't feel the same way."

Tears formed in Peyton's eyes. She fought them back, biting her bottom lip. She looked and Nathan and shook her head. "That's not it at all." She sniffled back, still trying her damnedest not to let those tears fall. "Everything with Lucas is just too complicated."

Nathan let out a hallow chuckle. "Are you kidding me? He's the bilogical son to my father, and the adopted son to my uncle. He's my brother that I've hated for most of my life, only because I never really knew the guy." Nathan shook his head with a smirk on his face before glancing back up at Peyton. "And you think what you guys have going on is complicated?"

Turning away quickly, a few tears slipped from Peyton's eyes. She wiped them away, making sure none of it would show. She turned back to Nathan and exclaimed, "So everyone here is screwed up! Is that your point?"

Shaking his head, Nathan replied, "No, it's not. My point is that you're hiding because of something bigger than things being 'complicated'." He looked her dead in the eye and finished, "Come on, Peyton. Tree Hill is complicated."

Peyton pressed her lips together, nodding with understanding. "Maybe I don't want to be part of Tree Hill anymore," she stated with a shaky voice.

For a moment, all Nathan could do was stare at her. He had never expected Peyton to react in that way. It was almost funny how the times that they really talked about serious things, they'd always end up fighting. The one thing was, even if they did argue, he didn't want her to leave. Nathan had no clue that Peyton even wanted to leave, and neither did she. Both of them just knew that whatever drama is there, just got a bit more complicated.