Update time! This one's pretty long, since I didn't update yesterday. I'm getting my sister into this show. We've been watching season one together for the past few days and she's OBSESSED. I feel so accomplished.

Thanks for the reviews, and enjoy this chapter. I have a feeling you will.

Lucas woke early the next morning, trying his hardest to be quiet as he searched his closet for something to wear. He was unsuccessful- as he pulled out his famous gray sweatshirt, Peyton stirred. She opened her eyes slowly, watching him pull the hooded sweater over his head, and then sat up and gave him a quizzical look.

"Where're you going?" she asked in a tired voice. Yawing widely, she rubbed her eyes with her right hand.

Lucas groped around the closet for a pair of jeans. "School," he responded groggily, pulling out a suitable pair of stonewash pants. He noticed that Peyton was staring at him with a slightly confused look on her face. He smiled. "I still have two months, remember?"

Peyton ran her hand through her messy curls and bit her lip, looking exhausted. "Yeah, I remember. It's just…" She attempted to smile at him. "Everyone I knew in New York was a high school dropout. Hearing the word 'school'- it's kind of unfamiliar."

Lucas gazed at her for a moment, then threw the jeans on the chair beside the bed and walked over to her. He had almost forgotten that she was the same age as him- that if she hadn't left for New York in the first place she'd be going to school with him at this very moment. With everything he had just found out about her, his mind had tricked itself into believing she was an adult. It frightened him to think that Peyton, at the young age of eighteen, had been through more than most adults.

He took a seat on the edge of the bed. "I don't have to go if you don't want me to," he offered, putting a comforting hand on her cheek. "I mean, if you're uncomfortable being alone here I could stay. We could just hang out."

Peyton looked into his eyes for a moment, and then slapped his arm off her cheek and grinned. "Yeah right," she replied sarcastically. "I'm not doing you any favors. If you don't like school then drop out, don't use me as a reason not to go." She stuck her tongue out at him jokingly.

Lucas's jaw dropped in mock surprise. "You're evil," he told her, glaring playfully. She shrugged and nodded slightly. Lucas backed off the bed and grabbed his jeans off the chair. "Okay, I have like ten minutes to get ready and eat breakfast. Cover your eyes or something so I can change my pants."

Peyton moved her eyes up and down his body teasingly before bringing her hand to cover them. Lucas made sure she wasn't looking, and then slipped off the sweats he'd slept in and pulled on the jeans. As he zipped them up, he heard her giggling slightly and noticed that she was shaking. "Did you look?" he demanded, but she just shook her head and continued to laugh.

Lucas smiled, grabbing his shoes and socks. "Alright," he began. "I'm gonna go eat breakfast and then go to school. Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"

Peyton looked up. "Not for a minute," she laughed. "I'll be fine. I think I'll just go back to sleep for a bit, then maybe have some breakfast and lie around. Go on the computer or listen to music…maybe even read."

Lucas nodded, then turned to his dresser and began rummaging around for something. A second later he tossed his I-Pod to her. "I still have a lot of your music on there," he informed her. "It's full battery. Should last you the entire day." Smiling, he walked to the bedroom door and pulled it open. Peyton watched him go, his music player at her side. He paused in the doorway and glanced back at her.

"See you later."

--

Peyton fell asleep soon after and slept for two more hours. When she finally awoke, the house was completely empty. Lucas was still at school and Karen had departed for the Café half an hour after he'd left. There was a plate with eggs and sausage on the kitchen table when Peyton entered, along with a note from Karen with heating instructions. Peyton smiled to herself. It was strange, feeling like someone cared for you, but she was rather enjoying it.

She was going to take a shower after she ate, but the presence of thousands of thoughts in her mind changed her plans. She tried to sit and listen to music for a while but found herself restless as she'd never been before. She used to be able to sit with her headphones in, simply listening to the music in her ears. But now she constantly felt the need to move.

After a while of fidgeting she decided to go for a jog. She was sure the exercise wouldn't affect her arm, which was still heavy in its cast, and was positive that the running could help clear her mind. Brooke had always told her that exercise made people happy. Peyton was sure that the one thing she needed most was happiness. For almost a year she'd been feeling lost and alone, more so over the past six months. But now she was back in Tree Hill, ready to start over and get her life back on track.

She threw on a pair of black sweatpants she'd grabbed from her apartment, along with a dark green sweater with a large hole in the bottom. She only had one pair of shoes with her, the high-tops she'd worn when she left New York, but she didn't care. Slipping into them, she clipped the MP3 player to the waistband of her pants, put in the headphones, and stepped into the cool morning air.

The neighborhood was still quiet, even though it was nearly nine in the morning. There were only a few people outside- she saw two adults in business suits hurrying into their cars and a few young children playing in their front yards, but other than that it was completely deserted. She started at a brisk walk, the music blaring in her ears much louder than needed. She glanced around the street, which was warm and welcoming. She hadn't felt so at home in a long time. It was as though the entire area had its arms open, ready to embrace her. I really belong here.

Her thoughts slowly went back to the night before. She remembered Lucas asking her why she'd went to him. She remembered lying awake for what felt like hours, knowing all along the answer but too afraid to speak up. The truth was, Lucas was the only person in the world who made her feel safe, save for her father. When she'd walked out on Kyle, she'd considered everyone she could go to. Brooke, Haley, Nathan, and Jake were all considered, but the second her mind reached Lucas she knew he was the right choice. And so when she reached the airport that night, she was already planning what she'd say to him.

Peyton's thoughts now shifted to that night. The night she showed up at Lucas's house. The night she'd boarded a quick flight from New York to North Carolina. The night she'd walked out on Kyle. The most frightening night of her life.

She broke into a fast jog now, the sound of her feet on the concrete somehow breaking through the blare of her music.

Peyton pulled open the closet door in the foyer. Glancing across the living room, she could see the back of Kyle's head bent over a book. He was completely immersed in the story. He wouldn't notice her.

Reaching her hand into the right pocket of his black coat, she pulled out a brown leather wallet. If felt thick and heavy in her hand. Her wrist, now completely black with bruises, throbbed painfully. It'll all be over soon.

Not wanting him to see her, she hid the wallet at her side and crossed into the hall leading to their bedroom. She turned at the first door on the right, into their small but perfectly decorated bathroom. She closed the door behind herself, trying her best not to make any loud noises. As the door shut, she heard Kyle flip another page in his book. He still hadn't noticed her.

She turned the water on at a high level. He would think she was just washing her face. Instead, she held the wallet in both hands and pulled it open. Inside were a number of bills of numerous values. He'd obviously gotten paid recently. And obviously he'd forgotten to mention it when she'd been hassling him about the bills that morning.

She pulled out two hundred dollar bills and two fifties. The flight would only cost about two-hundred, but she wanted to be sure she'd have enough money for a taxi. It was a long ride from the airport to Tree Hill.

Peyton felt horrible stealing money from Kyle. It wasn't because she honestly cared, but she got a sick feeling in her stomach when she though about what he'd do if he found out. She wouldn't have had to take the money from him if he hadn't destroyed her ticket. The morning after their fight about her visiting her home town, she'd found the ticket torn into a thousand pieces on their bedroom floor. She didn't have enough time to save up for another ticket. She needed to get out as fast as she could, and if that meant taking his well-earned money, so be it.

She shoved the money in her back pocket and closed his wallet, doing her best to make it look as though no one had opened it. She was sure she was just being paranoid, but she kept seeing tiny things out of place, like too much of a dollar bill sticking out over the top. Taking a long, calming breath, she glanced in the mirror.

Peyton had aged at least five years in the last few months. There were strands of gray in her blonde locks and heavy bags under her eyes. She could see wrinkles in her forehead from all the times she'd frowned. She looked as thin and frail as an old woman. But most of all, she looked entirely defeated. Not for much longer.

Mustering all her courage, Peyton turned the tap off and put the wallet in her left hand. She opened the bathroom door quietly and tip-toed back to the foyer. The closet door was still wide open. She hurried toward it and reached her left hand inside, her hand groping around for his jacket pocket, eager to put the wallet back.

"What're you doing, babe?"

Peyton jumped, her heart pounding, and shoved the wallet in the left pocket of his coat.

"N-Nothing," she responded, her voice shaking slightly. She mentally kicked herself and regained composure. "I'm just grabbing my jacket. I was gonna go out and pick us up some pizza. I'm not really up to cooking." She attempted to smile at him as he closed the book and gazed at her.

Kyle got to his feet and grinned. "That sounds great. Let me get you some money." He started walking toward her.

Her heart stopped.

"No, its okay," she argued weakly. "I can pay for it. I got my paycheck two days ago. I'm loaded." There wasn't much else she could say. She prayed to God that Kyle would listen to her.

Instead, he continued to smile and walk toward her. "Listen, I'll handle the food. You've been doing too much lately. Besides, I just got paid yesterday. I guarantee I have more than you." He stopped in front of the closet and pulled his coat out. Reaching his hand into the right pocket, he fumbled inside it for a moment before withdrawing it, looking confused.

Peyton couldn't breathe. Wrong fucking pocket, she scolded herself.

Every part of her was telling her to run. The door was a step behind her. She had her keys in her pocket. Her shoes were on. Her bag was already in her trunk. And she had the money. Her mind was screaming at her to turn and flee. But her legs had turned to stone and she couldn't move at all. Her body wasn't listening. She was paralyzed with fear.

Kyle reached his hand into the left pocket of the jacket and pulled out the wallet. If there was a small suspicion in his eyes from the wallet being in the wrong pocket, it was nothing next to that when he opened the wallet. His dark eyes immediately widened as he noticed that money was missing. He fingered at the bills inside for a moment, counting. After a long silence he looked up at her. The pure hate Peyton had become familiar with was on his face again. He was beyond all reasoning.

Peyton stumbled backward, her legs suddenly working again as Kyle took a heavy step closer to her. Her mouth was open in an 'o' shape, her eyes wide as she took in his menacing stature. She managed to choke out a few words. "Kyle, no…I didn't-"

She was cut off by his fist pelting across her face. She instantly felt a burning pain in her upper cheek, near her eye. She reached her hand up to protect herself, but he merely knocked it away. She felt his hands close tightly around her shoulders before shoving her harshly against the wall. A second later his face was an inch from hers, his breathing hot against her face. Peyton closed her eyes tightly, tears pouring out.

"You are one stupid bitch, you know that?" He pulled her forward slightly, then knocked her back against the wall again and began to shake her. Peyton whimpered slightly as his hands moved to her throat. Just fight back!

He now had one hand on either side of her neck, his thumbs pressing hard down on her windpipe. She didn't remember his grip getting that strong, but suddenly it was hard to breathe. She forced her eyes open, but everything around her was a hazy blur of colors. Her mind was clouding. She took as deep of a breath as she could, but only a tiny trace of oxygen entered her body. His grip on her throat was so tight that it was hurting. Her eyes started to water and she began to feel light headed.

And then, out of nowhere, she kicked her leg out between his and brought her knee up. Kyle's hands immediately unwrapped from her neck and moved to his groin as he doubled over in pain. Peyton's head spun for a moment as she tried to comprehend what was happening, but her body acted on its own. She brought her knee up once, twice, three more times. Kyle let out a yell of pain, bent over so much that he was nearly sitting. Peyton felt herself reach out and hit him across the face. He fell backward, landing on the floor with a loud crash, still groaning.

Everything was suddenly coming back to her. Her head was throbbing, her eye stinging and her neck sore. She was shaking from head to foot as she stared at Kyle on the ground below her, rolling around in pain. Peyton gazed at him for a few moments, her heart racing again. And then, almost instinctively, she pulled her leather jacket from the closet, put it on, pulled the door open, and ran out.

She sprinted down the long stretch of concrete between her apartment and the stairs. Her breath was coming in short gasps, her heart beating a mile a minute. Peyton flung herself down the stairs, taking three at a time, eager to reach the bottom. At the last step, she landed on the side of her ankle and felt it twist. A second later she heard a loud crack and came crashing to the ground.

"Agh!" Peyton cried out in pain, grabbing her left ankle with her hands. It was throbbing. She could instantly tell it was sprained. It felt limp even without any pressure on it.

She forced herself to look back up at her apartment. The door was still wide open, a light on inside. Peyton could see Kyle's shadow cast on the door. He seemed to be on all fours now, as though trying to stand up. A second later, she saw him getting to his feet. Reaching her hand into her pocket and pulling out keys, she forced herself to stand up. The pain was immediate in her ankle but she willed herself to run, putting as little pressure on it as possible. Her car wasn't very far.

As Peyton reached the car, she could tell Kyle was close behind her. She could already hear his loud footsteps. Hand shaking, she tried to shove the key in the hole but missed. "C'mon, go in," she was muttering, her hand still shaking uncontrollably. A second later, almost as though God had done it himself, the key finally went into the lock and Peyton turned it. She wrenched the door open, threw herself inside, slammed it shut, and pressed down on the lock. A moment later Kyle was beside the door, pounding on the window with one hand, the other trying to open the door. He was screaming at her.

Peyton shoved the key in the ignition and quickly backed out of her spot. It took only a few seconds before Kyle had run in front of the car. He put his hands on the hood, his face screwed up in anger as he continued to yell.

"Get out of the car, Peyton!"

She gave him the middle finger. "Move!"

Kyle slammed his fist on her vehicle and let out a stream of cuss words. Peyton glanced in her rear view mirror, looking for another way out. A few feet behind her was the curb, and a few feet behind that was a fence. Cars were lined to her left and right. Kyle was in front. She was trapped.

"Peyton, get your skinny ass out of the car!"

"Get out of my way!"

"Get out of the fucking car, Peyton!"

She stared at him for a long moment, into those hating eyes. Her blood was boiling now. She wasn't going to let him stop her. She was getting out of there no matter what it took. Shifting the car into drive, she screamed back, "Move!" Kyle simply pounded his fist on the car again and let out an angry noise.

Peyton shut her eyes tightly and pressed her foot down on the gas. Her tires squealed loudly for a moment, and then she felt the car moving quickly. A second later she heard something heavy hit the windshield, then flip over the top of her car and roll off. She immediately pressed down on the brakes and opened her eyes. Glancing in the rear-view mirror, she felt her heart stop.

Kyle was lying in a heap on the ground a few feet behind her. It wasn't clear if he was alive. There was no blood or visible large injuries, but he wasn't moving at all. Peyton's breath caught in her throat as she stared at his form. A moment later she opened the car door and stepped out, one foot still inside. She turned and stared at his body over the top of her car, her mind racing. Part of her was screaming to check if he was okay. She was about to pull herself out entirely when she stopped.

Her cheek was still stinging. Her head was still throbbing. And her wrist hurt like hell.

Peyton climbed back into the car and shut the door. Pulling her seatbelt over her shoulder, she shifted the car back in drive. She took one last glance at Kyle in her mirror. He still hadn't moved. Biting her lip, she moved her eyes to the window in front of her. Peyton pressed down on the gas and sped off, her tires screeching loudly as she rounded the corner.

Peyton slowed into a walk, grasping a stitch in her side. There was sweat all over her face. She realized that the I-Pod hadn't been playing any music for a long time. She was breathing very heavily.

She threw herself down on the ground. She was back in front of Lucas's house. She had run the entire neighborhood without noticing. Her mind was still clouded with terrible memories. She felt a warm, prickling feeling behind her eyes. Pulling the headphones out of her ears, she felt her entire body shaking. Tears were threatening to fall from her eyes.

Leaning against a tree, Peyton let out a loud sob.