Chapter 11

Eugenia hummed as she poured the melted cheese over the macaroni in the silver pot. She felt strange, a little chirpy, lighter than usual in a way. It was Thursday and it was her day to cook dinner. It was part of the agreement when Lucas agreed to move them back to Tree Hill. He would cook dinner on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, she would cook on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Saturday they would order in and on Sunday they would go to Karen's for lunch. Eugenia liked Karen, she was a nice grandmotherly figure. She cooked much better than either her or Lucas, but that was the agreement. No cooks in Tree Hill.

'Hey Lukey,' Eugenia said quietly one Sunday evening.

'Yep,' Lucas replied from his armchair, scribbling notes on a piece of paper.

'I was thinking... can we go back to Tree Hill?' she asked. She added "back" in awkwardly, considering she'd never been there. But her mother had talked about Tree Hill so much, shown her all the photographs that it felt as if she had been there many times over, and probably had, in her dreams.

This time Lucas looked up from his work. He didn't say anything, just looked at her in a manner that seemed half-confused and half, strangely enough, scared.

'You see,' she began. 'Mother always spoke of her days in Tree Hill so fondly. She talked about how she loved the places, the school, the parks and the people. She said that Tree Hill had the best teachers and the best students; that the people she met in Tree Hill had given her the confidence and determination to do what she loved most – sing. She also said that the people there made her the mother, friend and wife that she is.'

Eugenia paused after this, almost as if to regain the energy it took for that short speech. She mentally applauded herself for getting through it, it was necessary to make him understand. Somehow she could sense that he wasn't keen on going back to Tree Hill. If mentioning her mother helped, it was worth that nagging ache in her heart sharpening a little for a few hours.

'Alright then,' he said. 'We'll go back.'

Eugenia walked over and hugged him around the neck. 'Thank you,' she whispered.

Lucas cleared his throat uneasily, it had been the first time she had ever hugged him. 'You know that, you won't be able to have the life you're used to right Eugenia? Tree Hill is a simple town, no cooks or maids.'

'I'm fine with that,' she said.

'Alright then. We'll start making preparations tomorrow.'

'You seem happy today,' Lucas said laying out the cutlery.

Eugenia just smiled and brought out the plates of macaroni and cheese.

'Anything to do with the boy that left through the basement door?' he grinned.

'Lukey!' Eugenia cried in shock. 'You saw? You didn't say?'

'Ah... so I was right,' he nodded severely. 'I was a teenager too once Miss Keller. I know the sheepish 'I've just had a member of the opposite sex around the house' look.'

Eugenia smiled her sheepish smile and sat down opposite Lucas.

'Well, anything I should know about this young man?' Lucas inquired.

'Well...' Eugenia said playing around with her macaroni. 'He goes to Tree Hill high... and he's very nice.'

'Well that was a helpful observation,' he teased.

'I'll let you meet him soon enough,' she promised. 'May I be excused?'

'You've barely eaten!' he said.

'I'm not really hungry...' she said. She stepped up and touched his arm. 'I have something I really wanna do... do you mind?'

'Alright then,' he sighed with a smile. 'Off you go...'

Eugenia bounced down the stairs into the basement, she paused for a few minutes at the half-formed figure that was meant to be Shane's face. She gave an amused smile before pushing it aside onto a work table. That piece was for another day, today she had some important stuff to do. Carefully she carved out 3 pieces of solid white wax, she pummeled it with her experienced hands to three roundish long figures, making two rather long and one around half the length. She then chiseled in dents around the top of the figures and made some small markings in the three top portions. She worked on them for about three hours before she was tired

She breathed a happy sigh.

'Almost done,' she smiled to herself.

-----end of scene------

'Hilary?' Chad called from the doors of the studio.

'I'm over here, in Peyton's old room...' she called.

Chad walked through the doors into the studio room with a faint scent of nostalgia. They had spent so many scenes in here, her and him that it almost became a part of his own memory. More than just the "Lucas Scott" part of his mind.

'What are you always doing in here?' he asked, bewildered.

Hilarie was sitting upright on the bed, cross-legged. She had re-stuck up several pieces of Peyton's art work and had a record softly playing. In front of her were three pieces of art – Ellie, the dark angel and people always leave. If not for her upright sitting position, Peyton usually lounged or slumped, it could have been a scene from any OTH episode. Hilarie was even dressed like Peyton today, blue jeans and a loose brown spaghetti top with a checked shirt over it.

Strange how out of all the girls he's been with, Chad mused. He never found anyone more sexy than Hilarie, no matter what she wore.

'Thinking...' she frowned, more to herself than him.

'At this time?' he said. 'Everyone's left hours ago... the security wants to pack up.' He walked over and sat down in front of her. 'What's bothering ya' Hills?'

She didn't respond, she just stared down at the rough sketched in front of her. He thought he'd try again, with a bit of humor. 'Where's ya' head at Peyt?'

This time she looked up, rolling her eyes.

'I'm thinking of asking Mike to let me re-shoot the last episode, the one where Eugenia starts sculpting,' she said decisively.

'But that was a great episode,' he argued.

'But it didn't have the "peyton" feel,' she said. 'I couldn't get it right... it just, just wasn't good enough.'

Chad felt slightly thrown off guard. He'd never seen Hilarie like this, she was always bubbly, talkative, making jokes. She had always been the easiest to play "Lucas" with, his scenes with her just flowed out. She was really upset about this.

He reached over to touch her cheek, 'you're fine Hills... really.'

'I hate her,' she said pulling out the dark angel picture.

Chad laughed, leaning in. 'You realize you're her as well as Peyton and Eugenia right?'

'I know...' she said. 'I just hate her. She's coming back in the next episode as well.'

They were silent for a moment, thinking about the next few episodes, where the drama really set in. Chad felt strangely closer to Hilarie than he had ever been before.

'I've got to go,' Hilarie said jumping up. 'I just remembered I have to do something. Thanks for the help Chad.'