Prologue

Peyton Sawyer had been through a lot in her 19 years of life. Two moms dying, her dad away for months at a time, and a psycho claiming to be her brother. And through it all, there was her saving grace, Lucas Scott. She didn't know how she would have made it through high school, or life for that matter, without him. He was always there to comfort her, to save her, or just to talk. She couldn't imagine her life without him. After dating for two years and three months, she finally felt like everything was perfect.

Chapter One

"Peyton!" Lucas shouted.

"I'm in the bedroom!" I yell back.

Lucas comes upstairs and finds me laying on the bed flipping through a magazine. "How was work?" I ask.

"Decent. But nothing compares to coming home and being with you."

He lays down on the bed next to me and pulls me to him. I smile and wrap my arms around him and we kiss. "What do you say that I shower and then we go out to dinner?" Lucas asks.

"How about I join you for your shower?" I reply.

"I thought you'd never ask."

I get up and pull off my T shirt and jeans with Lucas watching every move I make. I reach for the clasp on my bra and let it fall to the floor. I stand in front of him wearing nothing but my panties and walk into the bathroom and start the shower. I test the temperature and then stand up, only to feel strong arms being wrapped around my waist. I turn around and we kiss deeply. "C'mon" I whisper.

We step into the shower and let the hot water run over us. "I missed you today." I whisper again.

"I'm here now." he says softly before kissing me again.

45 minutes later, we get out of the shower and dress to go out to dinner. We drive to an Italian restaurant the next town over and talk and laugh over a few glasses of wine and our plates of pasta.

By 2am, we're both exhausted and fall into bed. "I can't remember ever being this...happy." I sigh.

"What do you mean?" Lucas asks.

"It's just...it seems like for most of my life it's just been drama and chaos and being alone. And I finally feel like maybe things are finally going to be okay. We're going to be okay."

Lucas kisses the top of my blonde curls. "I promise that from now on, everything is going to be okay." he assures me.

I get woken up by a knock on the door. I glance quickly at the clock and see that it's 9:30am. I hear the door open and realize that Lucas is already up. I come downstairs in my pajamas and see Nathan, Haley, and Jamie. "Aunt Peyton!" he yells.

I scoop him up into a big hug. "You hungry?" I ask.

"Yes. Definitely yes!" he exclaims.

"Jamie, you just had TWO bowls of cereal!" Haley laughs.

"But I'm still hungry!"

I laugh and put Jamie down. Lucas hands me a cup of coffee and I kiss him softly. "Good morning boyfriend"

We all go into the kitchen and I make french toast for everyone. After that, we go to the River Court and play some basketball, girls against boys. We spend the rest of the day shopping at the mall and playing video games.

Later that night, my cell phone rings. "Don't answer it." Lucas pleads.

"I have to. It's work." I laugh.

I answer the call and hang up two minutes later.

"Ugh. I have to go to the magazine to get my laptop. I left it there and I have an article due tomorrow. Nothing like playing 'Beat the Clock'"

I kiss Lucas quickly and grab my keys.

I won't be long. Wait up for me."

"You can be sure of that." he says.

Little does he know that may be the last time we see each other again.