A/N: This story mostly focuses on Cameran and how she gets her parents back together. It takes place ten years later meaning that the adults (Lucas, Peyton, Nathan and Haley) are 35, Cameran is 17, Ben and Gavin are 14, Riley and Connor are 11. There probably isn't going to be much Brooke in this story but she could make an appearance.
Chapter One
Through the Eyes of a Child
"Hello this is Mrs. Watson, the principal at your daughter's school. We need you and your husband to come to the school in regards to your daughter Cameran's behavior." This was the third time in the past month that Peyton had received a call from the school.
"I will be there in a few minutes. My husband and I are separated so you will have to contract him at his office." She told the principal.
Begrudgingly Peyton set down the drawing that she had been working on and headed out the door. She drove the familiar route to the high school. A scowl came over her face when she saw her daughter, once again, sitting in the principal's office.
"I'm sorry to inform you that your husband couldn't make it today. We will have to proceed without him." The principal said, she had also begun to grow impatient with the situation.
"It figures. He's never here." Cameran muttered under her breath. Peyton shot her a look before taking a seat next to her daughter.
"What did she do this time and how long is she suspended for?" Peyton asked shortly. She had been through this so many times that she had no use for the petty formalities. The year before Cameran had been getting into trouble at her private school and after a few incidents they had thrown her out. It was only October, two months into the year at her new school, and Cameran was already on the verge of being expelled again.
"During third period we caught your daughter outside with some older students smoking pot." Mrs. Watson told her. Peyton simply shook her head and rubbed her temple, she could feel a headache coming on. "The other students are in police custody and are facing drug charges. We didn't feel it was necessary to impose the same punishment on Cameran because she is still a minor and because of her academic record. We are aware that she is an intelligent girl and received a 1500 on her SAT's. A criminal record would lessen her chances of being accepted to Ivy League colleges, however we are required to site this behavior on her school record. She will be suspended for no less than five days. I also recommend possibly sending her to therapy. This behavior is typical of a child that is acting out. In most cases therapy can help resolve any issues she is having."
"I'm not going to a shrink!" Cameran shouted and charged out of the room.
"I'm sorry for her outburst and all the trouble she is causing. I will take into consideration what you said." Peyton said as she followed her daughter into the parking lot.
The car ride home was silent. Neither of the two dared make eye contact in fear of an argument. The last thing they wanted was to run off the road. When they finally managed to get back home without killing each other, Cameran ran up to her room and slammed the door.
"Excuse me young lady get back down her right now!" Peyton yelled up the stairs. After giving several commands to that effect with no response, she went up to her daughter's room. It wasn't hard to get in seeing as she had taken the door off a month before after she caught her with her boyfriend. Nothing had happened but she had a feeling it would have if she hadn't walked in.
Peyton disproved strongly of Cameran's boyfriend Damien. He was twenty years old and had his own apartment which Cameran had professed was 'so cool'. He dropped out of college and was currently unemployed. The suspicious part was that he drove a BMW and always wore name brand clothes. She hoped that his money came from his parents and not illegal activities. The worst part about him was his overall attitude toward women. He was a player to say the least and Peyton hated that his arrogance was the trait her daughter had fallen for.
"When I speak to you, you better listen." She said angrily to her daughter.
"Yeah whatever." Cameran was too busy instant messaging on her computer. Peyton promptly leaned over and switched off the computer. "Hey what was that for?"
"Don't give me that attitude. Now you are grounded for an extra week."Peyton was on her last nerve.
"Who said I was grounded in the first place?" Cameran shot back.
"You need to have more respect. Maybe Mrs. Watson was right about therapy." She threatened.
"Why don't you ask Dad about therapy? He's a psychiatrist after all. Maybe he can actually do something for once." Cameran said as she got up and grabbed her coat.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Peyton asked. Whenever they got into a fight she would always bring up Lucas.
"I'll be at Damien's apartment while you figure it out." She told her mother as she brushed past.
"You can't leaver, you're grounded!" Peyton yelled after her.
"Try and stop me!" Cameran shouted back before slamming the door. Peyton broke down in tears when she heard her daughters car pull out of the driveway. Where had she gone wrong with her parenting?
Flashback
Ten year old Cameran sat on the steps listening to her parents fight in the kitchen. It wasn't the first time she had done it either, but this time was especially bad. Everyday Lucas got home later and later from work and as the hours passed Peyton would pace around wondering where he was. Cameran would stay up with her mother and comfort her but when Lucas finally returned she would send her back up to her room. Most of the time she lingered in the hallway to overhear their conversation. This night she was sorry that she did.
"Where have you been. It's nearly ten o'clock at night. There is no reason to be at the office that late!" Peyton shouted at her husband when he walked in the door. "Peyton I'm not in the mood to fight with you tonight. I had a patient call in for an emergency appointment. I couldn't turn her away." Lucas told her tiredly. After a long day at work he wanted to avoid confrontation.
"It's that new secretary isn't ?" Peyton asked in a lower tone. "There is nothing happening with Nicolette." Lucas said firmly. "Oh so now your on a first name basis. Isn't that romantic." Peyton spat sarcastically. "Are you accusing me of having an affair?" He asked in disbelief. "If the shoe fits." "I thought you had more trust than that Peyton. I could never do that to you." "I don't see why you're denying it anymore. All those late nights pretty much gave it away."
"I think you should leave." Peyton whispered.
"What? Why?" Luke stuttered.
"I said leave." She said louder and firmer this time. It was something that they both saw coming but were too afraid to ever say. Something about that moment made Peyton finally snap.
"I'll be at Nathan and Haley's house if you come to your senses." Lucas said as he grabbed his briefcase and stormed out the door. She never did.
End Flashback
Cameran sat in her car outside Damien's apartment and remembered that event. It was seven years earlier but she remembered it clear as day. That was the moment when her life fell apart. Her father had thrown himself into his work after that to avoid thinking about his family and they barely saw him anymore. Her mother had become bitter because she knew that she was wrong in her accusations. Both of them were too stubborn to make things right so their marriage continued to deteriorate. Cameran took the separation the hardest out of the four kids. She was the oldest and understood the gravity of the situation. She was never the same after that night. She misbehaved in class but her parents were too wrapped up in their own problems to realize what was really going on.
Cameran wiped a tear from her eye and got out of the car. Being with Damien was the only way she found that could help her forget her pain.
