Lucas turned the radio up as the station played a song by The Doors. Normally it wasn't a song he would have played and Nathan and Skills and the guys had given him plenty of flack for it but it was one of Peyton's favorites. It was, You're Lost, Little Girl from their 1967 Strange Days album. It wasn't one of their bigger known hits but Lucas knew the words by heart courtesy of so many times of lying on Peyton's bed listening to Ellie's old records. He was so into his groove that he didn't even his phone ring, catching the unfamiliar number one ring away from sudden voice mail.

"Hello?"

"Lucas?"

"Speaking. Who is this?"

"I go away for a few days and you already forget about me. It's Larry."

Lucas smiled. Over the years he had become friendly with the father of one of his best friends.

"What's up? How is New Zealand treating you?"

"Working my ass off but I can't complain. It's a sweet gig and it sure is beautiful down here. How about Tree Hill? What am I missing?"

Lucas looked around and couldn't help but smile.

"Nothing much, man. Same old, same old."

"So I take it you are enjoying those last lazy, hazy days of summer before college in the fall."

"You know it. Summer is always great but this one is gonna be different for sure. No Keith and now my mom has a baby on the way and so do Nathan and Hales. No Brooke and uh, no Peyton."

Larry sighed.

"Yeah, life can change on you in an instant. Speaking of my baby girl, though, did you get a chance to see her before she left?"

"Yeah. She dropped by. It was nice but uh, she left something behind at my house."

"What's that?"

"It was a paper with all her flight itinerary on it. I tried to call her cell later on when I found it but it went straight to voicemail. She didn't call back or anything so she probably had it memorized and made another copy."

"I was hoping she'd let you take her to the airport."

"I tried, Larry but you know Peyton. Her mind was already made up and we both know what that means."

The older man couldn't help but chuckle.

"Yeah. Peyton was born stubborn. I talked to her a few nights ago but she has decided to rough this little adventure on her own or at least until she gets settled in L.A. so she asked me not to call her and said it would be a few days before she got in touch with me."

Lucas frowned.

"And how do you feel about that?"

"I don't like it one bit but you kids are growing up and I'm trying to respect Peyton's wishes. I'm still her dad, though and she has me worried sick."

"Peyt is a strong girl and she's gonna be fine."

"I know but I'll feel a lot better once I know that she left okay and everything is fine."

Lucas thought as he came to a stop sign at the corner of a familiar street.

"Hey, Larry, I'm just two blocks over. I could ride by the house if you want. Don't know how much good it would do but I wouldn't mind."

"Would you, son?"

"No problem", Lucas stated as he put on his left signal.

"Just make sure everything is okay and the house is locked up. Peyt can be forgetful as all hell sometimes. Listen, there's a spare key underneath that birdhouse in the backyard. Would you mind taking a look around inside?"

"Sure thing. I'll give it a quick look over and call you right back. Is this number good?"

"Yeah, it's an international cell phone. And thanks, Lucas. I really appreciate this. You're a good kid."

A few seconds later, Lucas pulled up in front of the Sawyer home, parking his car right behind Peyton's. All was quiet in the peaceful neighborhood as a few trees rustled, giving a welcoming breeze to the already scorching hot North Carolina morning. Getting out, he walked around the passenger side of her vehicle. He kneeled down and looked at the grass. A small muddy path had been indented as if something had been dragged across it. Lucas chuckled to himself and shook his head. Poor Peyton. She probably had tons of bags packed to the brim. He could just imagine her dragging them all over the front yard. Why hadn't she just called him and asked for help and a lift to the airport.

Standing up, something else caught his eye. He peered closer in the window and saw what appeared to be her keys lying on the floor as if they hadn't been pulled securely from the ignition and had simply dropped. He shook his head again. Peyton must have been in quite the rush and if she had realized what she had done, he could only imagine the four letter words that had spewed from her mouth. He checked her doors, which were locked. Going back to his car, he retrieved the ever faithful wire clothes hanger. It was a trick to opening most cars, and one Keith had taught him as a young boy. A few grunt filled and sweat soaked minutes later, he had the driver's door open.

Lucas waved at the elderly neighbor as he went around back to retrieve the house key. It was where Larry had said it would be and he opened the front door. It was almost weird. Peyton hardly ever locked the door and Lucas couldn't remember a recent time visiting where he had to use a key or knock. But all was well and quiet. He walked through each room downstairs to make sure everything was safe and secure. Then he headed upstairs.

The bedrooms were quiet and orderly and he opened the door to check Peyton's. It creaked as it always did as he walked over to her bed. He smiled. It was so…Peyton. The art, the décor, the pictures, just the whole atmosphere. Complicated and smart yet brooding and interesting. Adjectives that described his pretty blonde friend to a tee. He could even smell her still, that light but delicious smelling perfume that seemed to linger ever time she left a room. It was almost like she was going to walk in at any second.

Lucas reminisced. They had always shared a special relationship. The chemistry had always been there but the timing and circumstances had never been quite right. But she was a wonderful girl and one of his best friends. He couldn't help but think what would have been had he not been so lonely and horny that night two years before that he had called Brooke over. Truthfully, he had just wanted sex and a little companionship. Brooke was an amazing girl and in another time perhaps he would have had true feelings for her but at that time, his heart belonged to another, her best friend. Peyton had his mind reeling. He wanted her so bad, he could feel it. But she didn't want him. So he had called Brooke and she had come over. Then so had Peyton. And it had been a drama and heartbreak filled love triangle ever since.

He snapped back to reality. The past was the past. So much had happened since then. They had all changed so much. But through it all, he would forever have a soft spot in his heart for Peyton. That night she had come to his room to say good bye, he had been tempted to tell her so. He had no idea exactly what he would say or even how he felt. He just wanted to say something before she left, tell her how special she was and that maybe the future would hold something more for them. But it wasn't meant to be. The stars somehow just weren't on their side, he thought as he pulled the door together. Everything looked good to go upstairs but he had failed to walk just a few feet to the other side of the bed. If he had, he would have seen her packed luggage still sitting neatly on the floor. Sighing, he closed the door and locked up the house. Taking a seat on the front steps, he made a call back to Larry.

"What's up, Luke? Everything alright?"

"Everything looks good to go. Looks like our girl made it to California safe and sound."

Larry breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"That's good to know. Hopefully she will call soon."

"Hopefully."

"So my house is still in one piece? The stove wasn't left on or anything unusual?" he half joked.

"Everything looked fine except one thing…"

"What's that?"

"Peyton's car."

"What about it?"

"For starters, she left it on the curb. I kind of thought with her being gone so long she would park it in the driveway."

"She probably forgot…or got rushed. Damn, I have her spare here with me so there's no way you can move it. I guess it will just have to wait until I get back to town."

"Actually, that's the other thing I had to tell you."

"What?"

"Peyton must have been in one heck of a rush. Apparently she locked her keys in the car. I found them on her floor."

"Great", Larry sighed. "Poor kid."

"Don't worry. I got them out. Do you want me to move her car?"

"If you don't mind. And another thing…could you keep looking in on the house until I get back?"

"Sure."

"Thanks, son. I appreciate it. Now I have to go. Call me if you need me or if anything goes wrong…or if you hear from Peyton."

"Will do, Larry", Lucas hung up.

He walked over and sat in her car, cranking the engine. Oddly her stereo was turned down and when he adjusted the volume, there was that Doors song playing again. How ironic, he thought as he put the car in reverse but then it hit him like a ton of bricks. He hadn't smelled it before but what in the hell was that god awful smell? It was like ammonia, but worse…stronger. It almost choked him as he had to roll down the window just to move her car a few feet.

Getting out, he gave the house one last look see. Everything looked alright, he just hoped Peyton was. The summer had just begun and she had just left but he missed her already. In fact, he couldn't wait for her to get back. Who knows, when she did, maybe everything would be different?