Tree Hill's summer heat was brutal, especially mid afternoon, a lesson Lucas Scott was learning all too well. The back of his tee shirt, soaked with sweat, pressed against his body but he trucked on down the sidewalk, hands shoved in his pockets, frown etched across his worried but handsome face. What was supposed to be a summer of fun had been anything but. It had turned out to be a never ending nightmare. Peyton was still missing and none of their many combined efforts had been successful in finding her. Added to the stress, Lucas was consumed by guilt and thoughts of what might have been. It was all too much and the entire situation had begun to take an obvious toll on the young man.

"Hey."

He turned around to see Brooke quickening her pace to catch up with him.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing much. You look like crap."

He gave a little smile.

"Thanks."

"Sorry. I didn't mean it like that. It's just that you look really tired."

His face was pale and gaunt, traces of bags loomed underneath exhausted blue eyes.

"I'm alright", he shrugged.

"You always were a bad liar."

"Well, maybe I'm a little tired but it's okay. I'll manage."

Brooke bit her lip.

"No news, huh?"

He sadly shook his head.

"No. Not yet."

"I'm sorry. I mean, this just really sucks."

"Tell me about it."

"I just don't understand how someone can just disappear without anyone seeing or hearing or knowing anything. It doesn't make sense."

"I know", he sighed.

Brooke looked away for a moment.

"And I feel bad", she began quietly. "You know I was really mad at Peyton and at you about what happened before but now…I don't know. I guess it seems kind of silly. I mean, I forgave you but I was too petty to talk to her. I, I regret that now because who knows if I'll get that chance again?"

"Don't even think like that, Brooke. You're gonna get the chance to make it right. You'll see Peyton again."

"For what it's worth, I know she really loves you."

He nodded.

"I, I know. I love her, too."

The conversation fell silent as they approached Karen's Café.

"Hey, isn't that Derek's car?" Brooke frowned, looking over at the light blue Chevy beater.

"Yeah, that's him. What the hell is he doing around here?"

"Judging from the looks of things, he's grabbing something to eat."

Lucas' eyes narrowed as he looked inside his mother's restaurant. Sure enough, at the counter stood Derek.

"He's got a nerve."

"Weirdos need to eat, too."

"He's more than weird. He's…"

"Don't tell me you still really think he's involved with what happened to Peyton, do you?"

"Come on", Lucas grabbed Brooke's hand before she could protest. "Sit at the counter and look through a menu like you're going to order something."

They walked through the doors and took a seat close to where Derek was standing. Brooke grabbed a menu, as instructed, her eyes pretending to search the contents as her ears strained to hear the conversation.

"Hey, honey", Karen looked up and smiled as she saw her son.

"Hey, Mom", he kissed her cheek and patted her belly, aware of the steely stare focused on them. "Need some help?"

"Sure", she shrugged. "Derek's order is almost ready. Would you mind ringing it up for me?"

Lucas turned right to Derek, their eyes locking.

"Gladly", he replied coolly.

"How's it going?" Derek mumbled, trying to sound casual.

"Pretty good. And you, man?"

"I can't complain", he smirked.

Lucas studied him hard, never peeling his eyes away.

"So. What are you having?" he asked as he prepared to tally the order.

"Two cheeseburgers, two fries, two teas, oh and a side of egg salad."

Lucas felt a distinct chill on his spine.

"Um, that'll, um, come to 14 even", he cleared his throat as Derek paid with a twenty and Lucas gave him his change.

"Can I get a lemon in one of those teas, man?" Derek asked.

Lucas again nodded as he went about preparing the drinks.

"No problem. So….you working tonight?"

"Nah."

"Hot date?"

Derek made a face before his lips curled into a smile.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Two of everything, the food order, I mean."

"Just a little takeout between friends. Besides, Karen's Café has the best food in town. Everybody knows that."

Lucas inconspicuously glanced over at Brooke, whose eyes briefly met his. Derek was smirking, cocky almost. Maybe he was aware that Lucas was trying to test him. If so, he was seeming to enjoy every second of the cat and mouse game. Lucas decided to turn it up a notch.

"Anyone I know?"

"Maybe", he teased. "Anyway, how is the search for Peyton going and everything?"

"Great. We've got a lot of new leads the cops are following up on, you know with the new tip line and all."

Derek swallowed hard.

"Tip line?"

"Oh yeah, we have a tip line installed now, you know, for concerned citizens to call in with any leads. I got the hook up on that one, one of the perks when your old man is the mayor."

"Yeah", Derek muttered.

"Whether it's a runaway or kidnapping, people don't just disappear into thin air. I mean, somebody has to know something, right? Somebody's bound to slip up, make a mistake. People are watching. This is pretty big news for a little place like Tree Hill. The reward money has been raised so it's only a matter of time before we find Peyton."

"You really think so?"

"Oh I know so. I have faith."

Derek nodded as his face began to relax again.

"That's good, man. Confidence is good."

"Oh yeah."

"I hope you do find her but if she did run away she's probably gonna be pissed."

"No she won't."

"Why wouldn't she? She takes off and you go through hoops to find her like this? No way. Peyton wouldn't be happy with that at all, especially if she doesn't want to be found."

"That's the thing, man. I think she does want to be found. I think some twisted sicko has her against her will and that's she waiting to be rescued and I'm gonna be the one to save her."

"That's noble of you, playing the hero, I mean."

Lucas grinned.

"That's what I do. In fact, you could say I'm Peyton's white knight."

"You really like her, don't you?"

"I did. I mean, Peyt is a cool girl. We're friends, we always have a blast hanging out but I've been doing some thinking lately and I figured out it's more than that."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I love Peyton. I always have. We're soul mates and unfortunately I never got the chance to tell her that. But all that's gonna change. I know in my heart I'll see her again soon and when I do, it's gonna be one hell of a reunion. I'm gonna swoop her up in my arms and tell her exactly how I feel. And it'll be great, I'm telling you. It's just the beginning of forever for us."

"What makes you so sure Peyton wants that? What if she's way over you?"

"Are you kidding? Peyton is just is in love with me as I am with her."

"How do you know that?"

"It's kind of personal but the last time I saw her at my house, she left something behind for me. Let's just say it explained everything. Before there was always something in the way to keep us apart but not this time. No more."

"Yeah…"

Lucas looked Derek right in the eye.

"I'm gonna find her. I promise you that."

Derek stared him down, face red, nervous as anything.

"There you go, Derek", Karen walked up and handed him his bag. "Hope you enjoy."

"Thanks", he mumbled, gathering everything.

He walked to the exit, Lucas' eyes never leaving him.

"Hey Derek?"

Derek turned around.

"What?"

Lucas just gave him a big smile.

"I'll be seeing you."

He left without another word and as soon as he was out of sight, Brooke jumped up and ran over to Lucas.

"Holy shit."

"Brooke, I'm sorry about all that", he sympathetically turned to her. "All that stuff I was saying about Peyton…"

"I know you were just trying to get under his skin but I also know you did mean it, right?"

"Yes", he whispered honestly.

"I know. It's okay."

"I didn't want to hurt you."

"It's fine. Really."

Lucas took a deep breath.

"So what do you think?"

Brooke rolled her eyes.

"That guy is officially beyond creepy."

"Did you notice anything? About his order?"

"A cheeseburger with egg salad on the side? Kind of sounds familiar doesn't it?"

Lucas sighed, his worst suspicions confirmed. It was something Peyton had always ordered regularly from the café.

"Brooke, I know you think I'm crazy but I have a feeling about this."

"Not anymore. Now I have a feeling, too."

"Derek did something. He knows something."

"Should we go to the cops?"

He shook his head.

"A burger and a cup of egg salad is not enough for probable cause. They're not going to do anything now. We need more."

"Like what?"

"I don't know."

"Okay, how are we gonna get it?"

Lucas bit his lip, still staring out the door.

"I don't know but I'm gonna figure it out."