A/N: I sort of forgot the timeline for Ellie/Peyton stuff… so just pretend you don't know anything about that storyline. =P


Lucas awoke to find Peyton gone. He wondered if things had gone too far last night. Although he was drunk, he was able to remember everything that had happened from the horrible dinner to the dancing that was probably too intimate.

He got out of bed and decided Peyton probably just needed some space.

They had barely spent any time apart, it was a good thing for them to get a break from each other.

The living room was looking a tad messy. The couch cushions had made their way onto the floor, and empty glasses and bottles were on the coffee table.

Lucas figured he should clean up. It wasn't like he had anything better to do.

When Peyton woke up next to Lucas, she felt trapped. Not trapped with Lucas, but trapped within herself.

Last night, in her drunken stupor, feelings were reawakened that she wasn't quite sure how to deal with. She wasn't sure if she even wanted to deal with them. The only thing she was sure of was that she needed some space. Some time to think.

She just got in her car and drove.

For Peyton, driving around on a summer's day with the top down, and the music blaring was all the therapy she needed.

She stopped at a convenient store just out of town, to grab a drink when her phone rang.

It was Brooke.

Oh shit. Peyton thought.

Dancing and holding hands doesn't have to mean anything, that could happen between two friends. There was no need to get worked up over nothing. Peyton explained to herself, trying to feel less guilty about the happenings of the night before.

Hey Brooke!

Hey bitch. What are you up to? Peyton realized it had to have been 7 in the morning in California. Brooke had never gotten up that early in the summer. Beauty sleep she always said, was essential if she was going to be partying all night.

Just driving around. You?

I just got in. I was out all night at this party.

Typical Brooke Davis behavior.

There was this guy…. and that was when Peyton stopped listening. If it was okay for Brooke to be dating other guys, and having fun. Maybe it would be okay for Peyton to do the same, with Lucas.

She shook the thought from her head, craziness. That would never be okay.

When Peyton got back to Lucas' house, he wasn't home.

It felt weird being in Luke's house without him, but Peyton was moved in for the summer so she decided to wait for him.

In the kitchen, she found a note taped to the fridge, it read:

At the Rivercourt with the guys. I hope I'll see you tonight

Lucas.

She took the note out from underneath the cow magnet that had been holding it in place. She read it again.

Peyton couldn't help but think by sneaking off that morning, without leaving a note upset Lucas. She wanted to drive to the Rivercourt, to apologize, but she stopped herself, realizing she was just being ridiculous.

Its not like she and Lucas were married. She didn't have to tell him when she was going and where she was going.

Peyton was bored out of her mind. She tried to find things to do around the house, to keep her mind off of Lucas and off of Brooke, but there wasn't much to do, apart from the previous night's dinner dishes.

She waited.

Dark came and Lucas wasn't back yet.

She waited.

It was almost midnight, and Peyton was getting tired. She decided to just go to bed, and hope he'd find his way back before the sun rose.

She couldn't sleep. She was starting to get worried.

The blonde picked up her phone, and scrolled through her contacts. When she got to Lucas' name, she considered not calling him. Afterall, Lucas is a big boy. He can take care of himself.

Her phone rang. Its Lucas.

Luke?

Her heart sinks, talk about kismet.

Where are you? He asked her with a hint of worry in his voice.

I'm in your bed. Where are you?

At your place. I thought maybe you decided to go back home.

Did he want her back home? She hoped he didn't.

Why would you think that?

He paused.

Last night, things got a little… intimate. His voice struggled with the last word.

We were both drunk, Luke. It was nothing.

This was familiar, she felt it.

They both knew it wasn't nothing. They both also knew, acknowledging that could cause yet another catastrophic fallout between their small group of friends.

Come home.

I'll be there in 5 minutes.


Peyton used Lucas' laptop the next morning, while he was still sleeping. It had been a while since she logged onto anything. The blonde had been avoiding a person by the screen name of WatchMeWatchU, who had instant messaged her.

She signed onto her messenger, and waited for the creepy messages to start. When they didn't come, she decided maybe it was time to start hiding, and start confronting.

She was going to talk to Ellie, even though it hurt her to even think about what the woman was saying.

This time, she left Lucas a note on the pillow beside him. It said she would call if she was going to be back later than noon.

The motel Ellie had been staying at was the lowest-grade one in town. It was where all infidelities in Tree Hill took place.

With a brave face, Peyton knocked on the door.

Be right there. She said.

And to her word, she was right there. Ellie answered the door, she was still in her pajamas.

Peyton… hi. Come in. She offered.

Despite Peyton's instincts, she took her supposed birth mother's offer and entered the motel room.

What are you doing here?

Peyton crossed her arms, and looked at the woman before her with hate brewing beneath the surface.

I wan the truth.

About…

About it all, Ellie.

Ellie sat down, and motioned for Peyton to do the same. Instead, Peyton kept her stance, and awaited a response from Ellie.

As Ellie began her long story, Peyton's emotions got the best of her. She was sobbing by the time Ellie was done explaining how everything happened. How she was a druggie that just didn't want a baby, how Anna and Larry were the only people she could see giving her baby up to.

When Ellie was finished, Peyton left without saying a word.

Lucas, I need you. Peyton rushed into his arms.

He was shooting hoops at the Rivercourt, alone when Peyton came along. Her appearance was worrisome. She continued to cry as he held her.

Lucas knew there was nothing to say, so he just held her. He planned on holding her as long as it took to take the pain away.

After a few minutes, Peyton managed to get her tears at bay, at least enough to speak.

Will you come with me?

Anywhere.

He thought they were going to go to the graveyard, or something along those lines. He didn't think they'd be going to a beauty parlor.

Are you sure you want to do this, Peyton? He asked, reaching for one of her curls.

Yes. Was all she said.

Lucas watched as the beautiful tendrils that made Peyton look like Peyton fall to the floor. It was cathartic, but incredibly heartbreaking. She must have felt the same way.

Her curls were gone, but she still looked like Peyton.

While he laid in bed with the skinny girl, who was watching some old horror movie on his small tv, Lucas realized it was her green eyes that made her Peyton. They said everything about her.

You look beautiful. He claimed as he gazed softly at the girl.

She smiled back at him, then focused back on her movie.

Are you glad you cut it?

Peyton muted the movie and turned to face Lucas.

I really am. It just felt so good watching my hair fall to the ground, you know?

Lucas leaned in, closer to Peyton and stroked a tendril of hair that was hanging in front of her eyes.

Like I said, you look beautiful.

His words were crying for a response, preferably a physical one.

I talked to Brooke yesterday. She blurted out, quickly bringing them back to reality.

Oh?

Lucas was upset. He seemed more upset about what was going on between he and Peyton than the fact that Brooke had yet to call him. He figured his declaration of love would have created a cause for much discussion between he and the brunette girl who held a piece of his heart.

Yeah, she's having a great time.

Good, I'm glad.

It was obvious that he was upset. Usually Lucas fairly stoic, but in these quiet moments when it was just he and Peyton, every emotion was written on his face.

I wish we could go visit her.

As the words escaped her lips, Peyton knew they weren't true. The three of them together, with the way things are right now would be a horrible mess.

The summer will be over before you know it.

Peyton nodded in agreement.

Guilt was slowly becoming a normal part of his existence. Each moment she spent with Lucas added onto the guilt she was feeling. Yet, she knew she wouldn't want to spend her summer any other way.

What's your movie about? Lucas asked, in an attempt to start a new conversation.

The blonde started to explain the plot, there was a fire in her eyes that kept Lucas' attention more than her words. He wanted nothing more than to lean over and kiss her lips in that moment, instead he smiled and nodded in the appropriate parts.

Sounds pretty….

Weird?

Lucas nodded.

Yeah, I know. But its really good, Luke.

He looked up at the television. Its over.

Peyton was confused, until Lucas pointed at the television to show Peyton he had meant the movie was over.

Oh… well, do you want to watch something?

Lucas jumped out of bed, and grabbed a DVD off his shelf, that was hiding underneath a few books.

What's that?

You'll find out. He said, sticking his tongue out at the skinny girl who was sprawled out on his bed.

The boy joined her back on the bed, and hit play.

The movie started and Peyton recognized it right away. Luke, you seriously own a copy of The Notebook?

He laughed and laid back onto the bed.

Lie with me, Peyt. He whispered.

She couldn't resist the invitation.

Peyton bundled herself up against Lucas' warm body. He wrapped his arm around her with contentment.

I love this movie. Lucas uttered.

Dork.

They both chuckled and then settled into one another.