Peyton rushed to Alicia's room, sliding out of her dress and stockings and slipping into a pair of jeans, black tank top, and comfortable shoes. The funeral and reading of the will had been draining; she had spent most of the time maintaining her composure as they lowered her mother's casket into her grave. While she sat in her friend's room the only questioned that seemed to be on mind was "what did the future hold". Money wise she was set, and her mother had made it clear she wanted her daughter to remain in her godmother's care until she graduated high school. The question was more terms of how she would live her life without her mother. It didn't seem possible. She had always had a mother and now she was gone forever. Peyton checked her suitcase making sure she had everything.

"Pey" Alicia said walking into the room, concern in her voice.

Her ears perk up hearing Alicia's childhood nickname for her. It had led to Alicia's brother calling Pey Day- it irritated her when they would call her that. "What" she asks in a slightly bitter tone.

"Are you alright"?

She frowns, wondering why Alicia would ask her dumb question like that. "I'm fine" she yelled stuffing her dress, heels, and stockings into the suitcase.

Alicia shuts the door and walks over to Peyton. "Stop saying that" she demanded her anger getting the better of her.

"Well Alicia you asked and I answered"! She zipped up the suitcase, setting it on the floor.

"You can't keep doing this...your mother's dead and you need to grieve... not keep it bottled up"!

"I am grieving, I know she's dead and I'm trying to deal with it". She said, inhaling sharply, she wasn't going to cry not, now.

Alicia sat on her bed, pulling Peyton down with her. "Don't lie to me" she whispered sadly.

Sighing she looks at the clock, it's almost time for Peyton leave. "I'm just trying to help why won't you let me"?

"I'm sorry okay! It's not fair Alicia...I don't have a father or my brother and now I lose my mom- the only family I had left. Now I'm leaving the place I grew up".

Alicia's eyes softened. "I know this is hard for you believe me I do. Any ways I need you to promise me something".

"What"?

"I need you promise me that you're going to grieve Ellie's death and move on. Promise me that going let people in and not push them away. I don't want hermit for a friend Peyton".

"I'll try that's all I can promise for the moment! I'll miss you Alicia"!

"We'll keep in touch and I'll visit you in Tree Hill and maybe you can visit me". "I've known you along time Peyton and you're a lot stronger than you think. Before... you go I want to give you something, this is my favorite outfit" she holding up the dress and I want you to have it. That way you'll have a least one outfit that isn't hideous".

Peyton laughed a little as she grabbed the dress. Rolling her eyes she gave her best friend a hug. "Only you Alicia, only you".

Alicia smiled and wiped a tear from her eye. "Come on you know I'm kidding. Bye Pey".

"Bye... Licia" Peyton grabbed her suitcase and walked out the door.

A few hours later Peyton and Karen had arrive at the airport in Tree Hill. They collected their bags and were greeted by Keith.

"Karen" he called walking over to the woman he gave her a quick hug. "You must be Peyton" she gave him a small smile as he shook her hand. "I'm so sorry about mother".

She nodded not say anything, during these past few days she had gotten used to people saying they were sorry- she expected it.

"Well I guess you two ladies are ready to head home". Keith and Karen walked off and Peyton followed. She wondered if Tree Hill would ever feel like home. She wondered if she could survive without her mother.

"Peyton I'm sure you'll like here. I'll let you get settled in today, tomorrow I'll have Lucas show around town, and next week you'll start school". Karen said as she open the front door and the three walked into living room instantly hearing Lucas talk to Haley.

"I'm going to start dating Peyton". They heard him say.

Peyton's folded her arms across her chest, who did this guy think he was? She watched as the two turned their heads at Karen clearing her throat.

"Mom you're home. Um m... how much of that conversation did you hear"?

"I don't know... it was something about you dating Peyton". On cue Lucas turned a deep shade of red.

"Well any ways Peyton I don't know if you remember but this is my son Lucas and this is his friend Haley". She waved at them a forced smile on her face.

"Peyton I'll show you to your room" she followed while Karen led the way.

Lucas had finally stopped blushing and had started glaring at Haley.

"What" Haley said, an innocent smile plastered on her face.

"Hales don't play dumb with me this is your fault".

"This is not my fault, the only thing I said was that it's going to be interesting for you to live in the same house with a girl your age that your not related to, which meant anything. I was thinking along the lines of mutual attraction, you're the one who came up with the conclusion that the two of you were going to start dating".

Lucas frowned and began pacing. "I don't care; you're going fix this, because I can't have Peyton thinking that I'm trying to take advantage after her mother just died. Now I'm going help Keith get the rest of things out the car" and with that he stormed out of the house.

Haley sighed exasperated; she slowly made her way to Peyton's room. She watched as Peyton straightened her bed, Haley knocked on the opened door. "Can I come in"?

Peyton looked up to see Haley. "Sure" she said motioning for her to walk in the room. "You know Haley you look really familiar" she said moving from her bed, she placed clothes in her dresser. "I know why" she declared. "You're Haley James; you went on tour with Chris Keller".

Haley nodded numbly going on tour had been a big mistake. "I was on tour but I quit and came back to Tree Hill".

"Do you mind me asking why? But if don't want to tell me I'll understand". Peyton was glad to talk about something else other than the death of her mother.

"No it's okay" she said as she sat on Peyton's bed. "I came back to fix things with my husband Nathan, he's Lucas' half brother.

"You're married"? Peyton's eyes widened. A married teenager, this came as a shock to her.

"Yep, but if Nathan has his way we'll be divorce soon. I've just made so many mistakes". She frowned at the thought- how quickly things go bad.

"Haley you're human you're supposed to make mistakes and you're suppose to learn from them".

"I guess your right" Haley looked down her wristwatch. "Shoot I have to go. Before I leave I wanted to tell what Lucas said when you got here, it's all a big misunderstanding and I'll explain when I have more time. Lucas wanted me to talk to you so wouldn't think he's a"...

"A jerk" Peyton said cutting her off.

"Yeah..., well bye Peyton it was... really nice talking to you".

Lucas walked into the house after spending time at River Court shooting hoops. It was time to clear things up with Peyton. He wasn't sure if Haley had fix things or made them worse. Looking around the room he saw medals and pictures of what appeared to be Peyton doing gymnastics.

"Snooping are we"?

Lucas turned around to see Peyton leaning against the door way.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't even be in here".

"It's fine Lucas I don't care if you're in my room. Just knock first and stay out of my underwear drawer".

Peyton laughed when she saw the bewildered look on his face. "Lucas I was kidding".

"Peyton about earlier…" he begun.

"It's alright Haley talked to me. It was all a big misunderstanding".

He gave her a small smile and found himself looking into her green eyes. "So are you all unpacked"?

"Just about, I have to finishing putting the rest of my records on the shelf and then I have set up my computer and I will be done". She looked at Lucas and around her room, she didn't feel like procrastinating today. If she kept busy she wouldn't have to think about her mother's resent passing. "Well I'm going to do that now and you can come get me when it's dinner time". With that she gently ushered him out the room closing the door behind him.

Lucas leaned against the wall thinking one thing. "Damn, Haley was right".