A/N:

Thanks to those wonderful people who've reviewed so far, you guys are awesome! Please keep the reviews coming in.. They are what keeps the story going because they keep me creative. So, I need you to review and let me know what you think. You can make suggestions and I may or may not use them as the story is already created in my mind.

Thanks to Vicky who has reviewed my chapters to date and helped pick out any oddball sentances or inconsistancies.

As promised, here is chapter 4, before the weekend... since it will likely be a few days before I update again.. I would like to write a couple of more chapters. just put the finishing touches on 5 and need to review 6 once more... then hopefully Sunday I can write 7 and 8 and give you another chapter...

Jenna

And although I wish the following were not true, I do NOT own OTH. Darn!

"Left and Leaving"

Peyton sat down on her bed in complete shock, tears streaming down her face. How was she going to survive this, she could feel her heart breaking. Luke was her superman, her hero. He was always there for her, saving her.

She picked up her cell phone, just needing to talk to her best friend, when she went to dial the number it hit her. Luke was who she was dialing. "Shit Peyton!" she yelled at herself. "You can't call him, you can't call her either!" Even though they hadn't talked since the insternship in LA, Peyton had still never gotten use to not having Brooke by her side. Adjusting to the fact that now, not only did she not have Brooke as her best friend, the successful brunette was now sitting even lower in Peyton's books. The woman had managed to take her man away without even knowing it. Frustrated with everything at that moment, Peyton flopped down and turned on the TV, not something she normally would have done. And there she was, the woman who ruined everything, and according to Luke, she had done so without even knowing it. "Brooke…"

My city's still breathing but barely it's true
through buildings gone missing like teeth

Peyton was desperate for someone to talk to. A lot had changed over the last couple of years. The girl who would shut herself down emotionally, now felt she would explode if she didn't let everything out soon and cry on a friends shoulder. Haley was one of Lucas' best friends, but she'd always been so wonderful to Peyton after her and Luke got together. They'd become pretty good friends, someone Peyton could confide in. It wouldn't have been her first choice, but who else would she talk to about all this. The only down side to talking to Haley was that she was now Brooke's bestest-buddy so Peyton could only hope that her petit honey-blonde friend would remain a trusted confident as she had in the past.

Peyton picked up the phone and dialled, hoping that if James was sleeping it wouldn't wake him.

The sidewalks are watching me think about you
sparkled with broken glass

"Hello?" Came Haley's voice from the other end of the phone.

"Haley?" Peyton spoke so softly she was barely audible and almost in tears.

"Oh god" Haley was always the first to jump to conclusions, especially after all the tragedies and horrible things that had happened to her loved ones in the past. "Is Luke okay?" Peyton was crying now, she could hear Nathan in the background with growing worry in his voice at the sound of his wife's question.

"No, no Haley, Luke's fine. Well I guess he's fine…" Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe she shouldn't have called Haley Peyton thought to herself. Obviously Nathan and Haley would take Luke's side, Haley was his best friend and Nathan was his brother. No Peyton, she said to herself, they aren't like that. They're your friends. "Luke… Luke…"

"Luke what Peyt? What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Peyton sounded so upset, Haley hated to hear her friends hurting like that.

"Luke left Haley…" Now Peyton was sobbing uncontrollably over the phone. All Haley wanted to do was hug her but she was so far away. Peyton was dealing with this all on her own. So many things when through Haley's mind and in the end, her thoughts about Lucas ended up in one place. Brooke. "Peyt, do you want me to come home? I could take a couple days off classes, we could do some girly stuff, just the two of us…"

I'm back with scars to show.
Back with the streets I know

Peyton hadn't known what to expect when she called Haley, but it certainly wasn't Haley coming home to comfort her. It sounded really nice, it'd been so long since Peyton had a girlfriend around. "That sounds really nice Haley, but it's only Tuesday, you'd miss way too much time. I would love it if you came home for a bit, why don't you come out on Friday. Bring James with you… I miss the little guy."

"Are you sure Peyt? I can come home earlier if you need me you know.

"I'm sure Haley, until then I think I'll just take some time to myself. I feel better already knowing that you're going to come out here."

"Alright Peyt, I'll book a flight right away and then send you an e-mail with when it gets in on Friday. Pick me up at the airport?"

"Sure Haley, see you then."

Will never take me anywhere but here.
The stain in the carpet, this drink in my hand,
the strangers whose faces I know.

Peyton hung up the phone slowly. She didn't lie to Haley exactly, well she did. Although she managed to spit out the very short version of what happened with Luke earlier today, she still felt like she was going to burst. Not only was she crushed over Lucas leaving her… she was completely torn inside emotionally. How could her heart be crushed and free at the same time?

Grabbing her IPOD and throwing on a light jacket and shoes, Peyton decided that a walk might help to clear her head. With no general direction planned out, the curly blond started out. Soon enough, she found herself at the River Court. One thing Peyton never understood was why her and all her friends ended up here every time they had some thinking to do and to add to it, how was it always deserted when they needed some time to themselves. Surely they couldn't be the only ones in this town to make use of what some might call a sanctuary.

We meet here for our dress-rehearsal to say " I wanted it this way"
Wait for the year to drown.

As Peyton slowly walked over to the Picnic table and sat down, the tears once again started to flow freely. Nothing could ever go right in the girl's life and however depressing it was, the one constant in her life was knowing that people always leave. As the realization of this hit the girl like a bag of bricks, she sobbed even more, completely unaware of the presence standing just a few feet away.

As he stood there watching her from a safe distance, his heart broke for her. Having no idea as to why she was so visibly upset, he could only wonder where her hero, his friend, was at a time like this. How could he not be here? The kind man thought to himself as he observed on, wondering how long he'd actually be able to stand there and watch the beauty cry her heart out before running over to her and taking her in his arms to comfort her as best he could. He wasn't her superman, but he was her friend, well sort of, if you could really call them friends, they hadn't seen each other for a long time now as he happened to be in town to take care of some family matters.

Spring forward, fall back down.
I'm trying not to wonder where you are.
All this time lingers, undefined.

Peyton started to breath a little easier as the gut wrenching sobs began to subside. Although she could feel a presence behind her, watching her, she wasn't quite ready to face whoever it was. She could tell it was someone who knew her as it didn't feel like their eyes were boring holes into her back. Drifting back to here thoughts, silent tears began to flow freely once more, her heart was flawed, her world, upside down.

The man watched as once more the curly haired blond broke down and deciding he'd had enough walked over to her. Placing a hand gently on her back he rubbed soothingly hoping she would be able to deal with whatever was causing her so much grief, still not understanding why Lucas wasn't there to take care of her.

Someone choose who's left and who's leaving.
Memory will rust and erode into lists of all that you gave me:

"Peyton?" He asked softly.

Upon hearing his voice, she found herself both disappointed and relieved that the man watching from a distance was not Lucas. Disappointed because he didn't care about her enough to be concerned about the pain he had caused her, and relief because she didn't want him to see her this weak.

"Hey" She replied meekly. They hadn't talked in what felt like forever so it was weird him being the one here comforting her.

"What's wrong Peyt? You're breaking my heart with your tears…" His words were truthful. He had always hated to see a girl crying, it killed him inside to see anyone going through that much angst.

a blanket, some matches, this pain in my chest,
the best parts of Lonely, duct-tape and soldered wires,
new words for old desires,

She sat there thoughtfully for a minute, a small but genuine smile playing on her lips at his sincerity. "Just going through some stuff right now…" she replied, her voice uncertain as to how much she not only wanted to but was able to get into at this point. All she wanted was for the pain and the tears to stop and talking about everything right now was probably not the best way to keep that from happening.

"C'mon Peyton, you can talk to me y'know?" He needed her to open up to him. He needed to be close to someone right now as much as she appeared to need the same.

Peyton just shrugged. Knowing she would explode if she didn't talk to someone, but uncertain if she could keep it all together if she spoke more than a word or two.

and every birthday card I threw away.
I wait in 4/4 time.
Count yellow highway lines that you're relying on to lead you home.

"Where's Luke? He should be here with you. Why isn't he here for you?" Looking into those innocent, unknowing words, Peyton felt herself start to fall apart once more. As the words left his lips and he watched her reaction set in, he instantly regretted speaking. "Is something wrong with Luke Peyt?

"Luke is fine…" she managed to get through sobs.

"Oh god, he didn't…" The man couldn't believe it. If this was what he was thinking, he knew it was bad. Peyton never had done well with people leaving and this could be the straw that broke the camel's back.

"That he did…" She remarked snidely. "He never could truly make up his mind, could he?" Without actually having to say what happened, Peyton knew her friend understood what had occurred.

The man, always a gentle soul, pulled her into a strong and caring embrace. He never could understand how Lucas had a problem choosing between the two girls. He didn't get how he could be so in love with both women and continuously break their hearts. It infuriated him.

As he and Peyton pulled away from their meaningful embrace, they looked into each other's eyes, instantly sensing the need to be wanted from the other.

Sitting there staring into each other's eyes, the next thing they knew, his lips were crashing on hers in a kiss that expressed the need for another person they were both experiencing at that moment. Even if it wasn't the right person...

that you're relying on to lead you home.

that you're relying on to lead you home.

So there's chapter 4... I know, you're all furious with me for leaving such a cliff hanger when I won't be able to update for a couple of days... But, that of course is what I hope will draw you all back for more..

Anyways, you know the drill R & R