Disclaimer- I own none of the OTH characters

Nobody's Fault But Mine

Chapter One - We might as well be strangers

Lucas Scott held out his arm in a vein attempt to hail a taxi cab. The busy city traffic raced past him at such a speed that he was not used to. The yellow car in question instead passed him stopping to pick up a business woman just a few yards away.

"Damn it", Lucas cursed under his breath as he looked at his watch. He was running late already to meet his brother. Admitting defeat Lucas started to walk figuring he'd make the club quicker that way due to the heavy rush hour traffic.

New York City. Lucas had moved to the Big Apple almost five months ago now. He'd moved there for work. As a rookie cop he knew that the best way to further he career quickly was to move away from his small comfortable home town of Tree Hill, North Carolina and into the big time. The job was great and he was doing good, but aside from that and the fact that his little brother Nathan and wife Haley lived there, Lucas had to admit he did still have doubts whether his move was really for the best. The city was so cold and ominous, not somewhere he could ever call his home.

Moving his way through the throngs of the crowd, Lucas felt his cell vibrate. Picking it from the pocket of his leather jacket Lucas read Nate's ID on the screen.

"Sorry, Nate," he shouted against the noise of the roads. "I'm running a little late."

"No problem bro. Haley said you'd still be at work knowing you. Saving the world one slime bag at a time."

"Well we can't all be big time basket ball stars can we," he teased his little brother. He was however proud as hell that Nathan had made it into the big time, following his dreams of playing pro ball. "So where's this club anyways?"

"Its on Fifth, you want us to come and find you?"

"Nah its cool. Stay put and I'll meet you at the club." Saying their goodbyes Lucas hung up.

Club Meth, Lucas read the green neon sign and walked towards the doors. Being that Nathan Scott was one of the club's VIPs meant that Lucas could bypass the crowds that spilled from the doors.

"Hey," he said to the hulk of a bouncer "I'm with Nathan Scott."

The guy nodded and Lucas made his way into the club. He scanned the room for a familiar face in the mass of guys and girls but couldn't see them anywhere. Maybe the VIP room Lucas guessed. He decided to get a drink, the smoky stale air drying his mouth, and weaved his way to the bar to buy a beer.

"Thanks," he said to the bartender who returned with an insincere smile. Lucas took a large gulp of the cool amber liquid and then turned around to continue his search. Maybe a little too fast as he collided with something.

Or someone, as Lucas heard a surprised gasp as he realized his beer had spilled, he looked up to find himself face to face with a strikingly beautiful young blonde woman.

"Oh," he said feeling stupid and embarrassed now as he reached for some napkins and handed them to the girl so she could mop up the spilt beer. "I'm so sorry."

"No, its ok," she said trying to laugh it off. "Just what I needed to complete my already horrible day."

"Sorry," Lucas said again.

"Its ok," she smiled the most dazzling smile. "You could buy me a drink."

"Sure. Um, beer," he joked feebly.

"Water, I don't drink."

Lucas nodded purchasing them both drinks.

"So this your first time to Club Meth?" she asked sipping on her water.

"What makes you say that?"

The girl eyed him up and down, "you just don't some like the rest of the Club Meth clientele. You new in town?"

"I moved to New York about half a year ago."

"Small town," she enquired.

"Tree Hill, North Carolina."

She smiled sadly, "well this must be quite an adjustment then. This city can hollow you out if you let it."

Lucas smiled taking in the young woman's sad smile. She was absolutely gorgeous, tall with a slender shapely figure, long dark blonde hair that hung halfway down her back in loose silky curls. She looked like she could have come straight from a fashion magazine. It was only her big shining green eyes that betrayed her as they held a certain sadness.

"How long have you been here?" he asked not wanting their conversation to end.

"Too long," she stated simply. She smiled again and ran a hand through her hair. "I'm sorry. You wanna dance maybe?"

Lucas forgot all about meeting Nathan and Haley in that moment as he followed her to the dance floor. He didn't usually like to dance but there was something about this girl that drew him in now. They danced a few songs and Lucas felt himself lost watching her move.

"You're staring," she whispered in his ear.

"You're beautiful," he stated. He'd never been so bold before with any girl he'd just met before.

"Thank you," she said simply. She cast her eyes somewhere amongst the crowds and then back to him again. "You wanna get out of here?" She took his hand and began to lead him through the crowds.

Lucas nodded and followed the mysterious blonde out of the club. The cold night air stung his face as he pulled his jacket. She just stood there bare arms in her black dress. She hugged her thin arms around her body in effort to keep warm. Being the gentleman that Lucas was he took off his leather jacket and draped it around her shoulders. "Here," he said.

She laughed, "now you're going to be cold."

"I can take it."

She shook her head as she moved closer to "I know a good way to keep us both warm." She stood up on her toes to kiss him. Her lips were soft against his as she kissed him a little tentatively at first. Lucas felt a spark ignite between them, his arms wrapping around her slim waist, and he deepened their kiss. They kissed passionately now stopping only to take in ragged gulps of air.

Lucas had never been one for going to a bar and picking up a girl. He'd had a few steady relationships in his time but this was new territory. He felt some strange pull towards this woman like he was losing his own control over his mind. "Who are you?" was about all he could manage.

"Who ever you want me to be," she stated. She looked into his blue eyes and smiled sweetly. "Its freezing," she said moving closer to him. Lucas wrapped her into his embrace again; she nuzzled at his neck then lightly kissed his throat. "Take me home."

"Ok," he asked not wanting to be presumptuous, "where's home."

She smiled, a little shyly Lucas thought, "no take me back to your place."

Lucas lay awake staring out of his window as the night's storm raged, rain and wind tearing through an otherwise peaceful night. He turned his head slowly as he felt her shift slightly nestling closer to the warmth of his body. Her features were so angelic as she slept peacefully, her head resting gently on his chest. He traced his fingers along the soft skin of her arm.

"Hey," she whispered quietly.

"Hey. Sorry did I wake you."

"Uh uh. The storm. It's pretty crazy."

"Yeah," Lucas pressed a kiss on her forehead. "So last night was amazing."

She sat up now covering herself in the sheet. "Look last night was last night. It was great but this isn't going to go anywhere."

Lucas swallowed hard and tried not to show the hurt that that blow had given. "Wow you really know how to dent a guy's pride."

She shrugged her shoulders "it was a one night stand. What do you expect me to say?"

"I don't know." Lucas sat up and ran his hand through his short sandy hair. "I just don't think what you wanted last night was a one nighter. The way you were last night. The way we were. That wasn't just sex."

"No," she said fiercely shaking her hair. "How would you know? You don't know me."

Lucas reached for her "no, but I want to."

Her pretty green eyes glistened, "I'm sorry. I just……I can't." She stood up shakily. "I should go."

Lucas wanted to protest, he really didn't understand the sudden change in her. He didn't understand the fear that he could see so clearly in her eyes. But she was right he didn't know her and he knew he couldn't push her.

Sighing he said "well at least let me call you a cab."

Nodding she moved across the room to where they'd so carelessly disguarded her dress just mere hours before.

"Can I at least know your name?" Lucas asked. He had to know one thing about her.

She looked over her shoulder as she zipped her dress back up. "Peyton, my name is Peyton."

"Ok well I'll get you that cab." He grabbed the sheet wrapping it around himself and left the room to call her a taxi.

She followed now dressed and stood in the doorway "you going to tell me yours?"

"Why it just was a one night stand right?" He didn't want to be mean but he felt a certain uneasy satisfaction as he saw the sudden stab of pain his words caused.

Peyton walked over to the couch and sat down avoiding his eyes now. Lucas booked the cab and told her it would be about five minutes. They sat in uncomfortable silence, those few minuets now seeming an eternity. Peyton stood after awhile and walked over to the window staring out at the storm. "I love storms like this. They seem to just wash everything away. Like they're cleansing everything. I just wish it was that easy in real life, you know."

Lucas stood and moved over to her. Slowly he took her into his arms. She rested her head against his chest. "Talk to me Peyton. Maybe I can help."

"No you can't. I'm in trouble and I don't know what to do anymore." She started to cry.

"Hey," he soothed. "I help people every day. It's my job. How do you know I can't help you until you tell me?"

"What you're like a super hero? My knight in shining armour? I had plenty of those guys telling me they can save me from everything."

"Well actually I'm a cop. But I do want to help you if you'll let me."

Peyton stiffened in his arms "a cop?"

"Yeah." She pulled away and then she ran.