"I'm really worried about her," Lucas stated, putting his lunch tray down on the table and sitting next to Peyton Sawyer.
Peyton only looked at him, silently taking a bite of her apple and waiting for him to continue.
"She's been back for a few weeks and people are treating her like she has the plague," Lucas said.
"People in general or just Nathan?" Peyton asked.
"From what I can tell, both—I don't think he's even spoken to her since she got back," Lucas said.
"Can you really blame him?" Peyton couldn't keep the bitter tone out of her voice.
Lucas just looked at her.
"I mean, I can't stand it -- people vanish and then come back and expect to be instantly forgiven…that's just not realistic. Haley abandoned Nathan, Lucas. What did she expect him to do, greet her with open arms?"
"I don't know, maybe. After all, they were married…" Lucas trailed off.
"Yes, they were married…'were' being the operative word in that sentence," Peyton replied.
Lucas shook his head. Bringing those annulment papers back from New York had been the hardest thing he had ever had to do. He was still haunted by the expression on Nathan's face when he found them in Lucas' backpack.
FLASHBACK
Nathan had gripped the manila envelope, rushing past Lucas and down the stairs.
"Nate, Nate, let's talk about this!" Lucas had called, rushing after him.
"There's nothing to say, Lucas. You're a liar and a fraud…that needs no explanation," Nathan ground out bitterly.
"You have to understand—" Lucas started to explain but Nathan whirled around and interjected.
"—I don't want to hear anything you have to say…not now, not ever. I'm done," Nathan said hotly. "As far as I'm concerned, Haley is dead to me…and so are you."