"All I'm asking is for you to hear me out," Peyton Sawyer stated. She stared at EJ, pleading with her eyes. "Please," she added softly.

EJ stood stiffly, her hands on her hips and shaking her head in disagreement. "We're very busy, and we don't usually take the time to 'hear people out'." She quickly turned away, starting down the hallway with sass.

Peyton followed behind. She knew that this lady wasn't listening to her, but she couldn't give up that easily. "Please! It's for a good cause!"

Stopping, EJ turned back around to face her current annoyance. She was glad to see the blonde-haired girl jump back a little, obviously startled. "Listen to me. We are not interested in whatever you're trying to sell," she stated sternly.

Peyton let out an exasperated sigh as EJ started walking away again. "I'm not selling anything!" Peyton called out. Defeated, she threw her head back and let out a tired groan. As she slowly leaned forward and looked down at her feet, she muttered, "I'm trying to do something good…"

"Well don't let EJ stop you," Kwest remarked as he passed the young lady. He smiled at her, trying to lighten her mood. "EJ's pretty feisty, but don't let her bring you down. You do your thing."

Smiling back, Peyton felt a little better about someone being on her side. His words was like a breath of fresh air to her after all the negativity she was receiving. "Thanks," she said. "I'm Peyton."

Kwest held out his hand for a shake and stated, "I'm Kwest." He shook her hand with a giant grin on his face. He wasn't sure what it was about her, but she seemed pretty nice to him. "So what is this good you're trying to do?"

Almost instantly, Peyton started shaking her head. "No. You don't want to hear about this." She sighed, thinking about all the people she's already talked to about her cause. "You don't need to think I'm a joke too."

"I don't judge," Kwest stated simply. He stood in front of her patiently, demonstrating his open ears. "I want to know what you're up to."

Peyton sighed once more. "I'm putting together a benefit concert and CD for depression awareness." She shrugged and added, "And apparently I'm the only person that has time for this, because nearly everyone else I've talked to could care less."

"Well, you haven't talked to me about it yet," Georgia stated from behind Peyton.

Turning around, Peyton found a taller woman with dark features, and an entourage-esque troupe behind her. Georgia Bevans had Tommy Quincy on one side of her, and EJ Li on the other, slightly behind her. It was slightly intimidating, but starting on a positive note made Peyton feel a little better. "Does that mean you're willing to listen..?" Peyton asked nervously.

Georgia nodded with a faint smile. "Come to the conference room," she stated.

Peyton's eyes grew wide with surprise. She was actually getting a chance to be heard. And it was an extra treat that the EJ looked a little surprised by Georgia's words as well. "Yeah! Sure!" Peyton noted.

As soon as Georgia turned with EJ and Tommy, Peyton turned back to Kwest and gave him an excited facial expression. She turned back to follow the three of them into a large conference room. It was an oversized table for the four of them to sit around, making Peyton a touch more nervous.

"So you're having a benefit concert for depression..?" Georgia questioned as she stared over to Peyton.

Nodding, Peyton couldn't seem to find her words. She didn't know why it seemed more intense than the rest, but it was. She started to motion with her hands like she was going to say something, but took her hands back into her lap.

Georgia stared at her with a raised eyebrow. "You want to tell me more, sweetie..?"

Peyton nodded again. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She started to motion again, but was once more defeated. Finally, she dropped her head into her hands and let out another groan. "I'm so nervous," she mumbled.

EJ rolled her eyes and sighed. "Well, while you work those nerves out, can the rest of us get on with the meeting we were going to have?" Her bitter undertone and subtle glare at Peyton was just another EJ trademark of her fast-moving business tactics.

Peyton raised her head slightly to glare at EJ, but she was right. Peyton knew that she was wasting their time, and she hated that. "I'm sorry… I should just go," she was finally able to speak.

"No," Tommy said from a reclined state in his chair. He had stayed quiet and simply observed. He wouldn't have said anything at all, but he wasn't going to let a good cause go sour, especially by EJ's words. "This benefit; what can we help you with?"

"Umm…" Peyton could feel her words getting lost again. She had given this speech to so many different bands and record executives in her time, she needed to get it out one last time. "I need some good bands to perform, as well as be featured on the CD." She breathed deeply, a little excited that she got that statement out with any problems. "The other bands I have so far are just hitting the mainstream. And of course, it helps to be passionate about the cause."

Tommy nodded slowly, somewhat like he found a beat in his head and bobbed with it. "You know, what you're trying to pull off takes a lot of work."

Peyton smiled faintly and nodded in the same manner. "I sort of already put a benefit concert together last year. It was called 'Friends with Benefit' for breast cancer."

Raising her eyebrows in an impressed manner, Georgia released, "Wow." She smiled and nodded, trying to think of why that sounded so familiar. "Peyton Sawyer in the flesh."

Blushing slightly, Peyton nodded. She had gotten some recognition in Tree Hill, but most people never knew her name. If anyone knew anything, they'd know the bands involved or the infamous breasts of Brooke Davis. It never made Peyton angry that she didn't get the fame, but it just made the times she did even more awkward.

EJ was surprised that Georgia knew her name. She had never heard of Peyton herself, and just thought she was another teenager sulking around G Major to promote a garage band. And true to her character, EJ still had her fair share of doubts. "So, 'Friends with Benefit'..? You just find a different cause each year?" she questioned.

"Well, my mom—my biological mom—found me when she was diagnosed with breast cancer." Peyton shrugged off that last statement, thinking about her situation and how much she missed Ellie. She continued, "It took us the longest time to just get along and accept each other. When we finally did, we realized that we didn't have much time left together, and we'd have to spend our time wisely. One of the strongest things we had in common was our love for music. Just how a song can be so powerful to drown out the rest of the world was the biggest bond for us… I guess that's how it started… And we're always going to have problems in the world, so might as well try and help the ones we can. Cure it with music."

Watching that glimmer in Peyton's eyes while she spoke of music, he knew that was she genuine. He felt that exact same way, and it was nice to know how many different people were tied together in that way. "I'd like to help out in any way I can," Tommy offered. He smiled at her warmly and added, "Jude would do great with it too."

Georgia looked at Tommy and knew that including Jude would be a great idea. Even EJ had a look of approval on her face, knowing the publicity would do wonders for Jude. Everyone at the table seemed pleased, except for a somewhat sullen Peyton.

Clearing her throat to call the attention towards her, Georgia moved a little as well to break Peyton from her trance. "We'd like to help, Peyton," Georgia restated to Peyton. She didn't know if she heard it he first time, expecting the girl to be happier with their agreement.

Once she heard the words, Peyton smiled. "Thank you," she said in a brighter disposition. "People haven't exactly been as willing to help the cause this year."

"Well, it is kind of weird," EJ blurted.

Yet again, Peyton glared across the table. "It's not weird," Peyton bit back defensively. "So many people are affected by depression, whether it be going through it yourself, or seeing a friend or family member through it." Peyton took a deep breath, thinking about her own personal encounter with the depression monster. "Or seeing people not making it through as the case may be."

"What is your case?" Georgia asked curiously. She kept her tone calm, letting Peyton know that she could talk and she would listen.

Peyton stared down at the table and her hands folded together. She wouldn't let strangers see her cry, but it was a hard subject not to get emotional about. Usually, she'd just avoid the subject altogether, but there was something about the people in the conference room that made her want to talk. They made her want to explain herself. "I, uh, I was shot in a school shooting last year," she finally managed to say.

Georgia raised her eyebrows once more, letting out a, "Whoa." She took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair slightly. "Is there anything you haven't been through?"

With a shrug of her shoulders, Peyton let a tear slip from her eye. She quickly brushed it off of her cheek and sniffled back, ignoring that it ever happened. "My entire resume is life experience," she joked.

Nodding, Georgia looked at Peyton. "So, you went through a depression yourself," she remarked as if it were only her and Peyton in the room.

Instantly, Peyton shook her head. "No. It was the boy that started the shooting that was depressed," she said simply. Peyton looked around at the curious faces and decided to continue before anyone asked another question. "He was hurting so much… And it wasn't that he wanted others to hurt in return. He just wanted it all to stop." She stared down at her hands again and shrugged. "I guess I just want people to know that they're not alone… That a lot of people hurt and that a lot of people get through it."

"You have G Major's support," Georgia stated with ease.

Peyton looked up at her with a faint smile on her face. "Thank you," she cooed.