Hey, so I realise I should probably be updating my other story 'Good To Be Home' but my muse just ran away with this instead, so sorry if you're reading that, but I hope you like this story anyway. Story Title from "Heartless by Kanye West" So here goes... Enjoy!

Chapter 1 - Broken

Sometimes, I don't know why I do it, why I continue to be so masochistic. I loved him, I still do. I just wasn't ready to take that step in our relationship. Hell, I've only just stopped jumping at shadows from the whole 'psycho-Derek debacle' as Brooke likes to call it. I haven't got a clue where she got that word from. Oh god, I'm actually rambling.... I didn't know it was even possible to ramble in your own thoughts, like, to yourself. I mean thoughts are to yourself and all, right? Am I asking myself questions? Yes, I am. And I'm answering them too. This is so unreal. What am I saying, are we even real anyway? I honestly wouldn't be surprised if 'God' was a big toddler, and we his toys. He probably has favourite toys too! My best friend, Brooke, probably falling into that category; she's so successful at such a young age.

And if my 'toy' theory is true. I am almost definitely hated; that big guy likes making my life absolute hell. No doubt about that. In no particular order I've had: two dead moms, a psycho stalker, I've been shot in the leg, and I've been a major home-wrecking whore (again Brooke's wording not mine) and... well that's it. But, it is still more drama than the average person has in their life, let alone before they turn twenty.

I'm barely nineteen and I'm a mess. I guess I've been a mess most of my life, but I've been worse the past four months or so. Well four months, two weeks and three days. I'm not going to pretend I haven't been keeping count. It's been four months two weeks and three days since I last saw him- the love of my life. Four months two weeks and three days since he left me in that hotel room, broken and scared. I thought we were finally getting our happily ever after. And I had to say no, didn't I?

Wait, back-up. I never said no. I said someday. Someday. God, how pathetic is this I have to convince myself that I didn't completely reject him. It's them, all of them. Luke's friend and family. He's been telling them that I said no. And they all believed him, calling me up and having a go at me for something I didn't do. Well, almost all of them, the exceptions being: Karen, the fairest woman I know, she listened to both of our stories before making final judgement, but I know her loyalty will always lie with Lucas- he is her son after all. Brooke, my bestest friend in the entire world, she will always be 'team Peyton' she said so her self. And finally but by no means the least, Nathan. Lucas' very own brother sided with me.

He told me that Lucas and Haley had been speculating and coming up with wild reasons why I would say no. Nathan told them to let it go; it's my life. He came out to visit me around then, he said it was to cool off, but we both knew he didn't need a reason to visit. I thanked him so many times; he always was a great friend, just as good as Brooke actually. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if we'd never broken up. Ha! We'd probably hate each other by now. I'm glad we ended it when we did, not too late to ruin, what is now a twelve year friendship. He is definitely in my best friend ranking, alongside Brooke of course.

God, how long have I been thinking for? Where am I anyway? All I know is that it is really dark, like, pitch black darkness. Oh my God, am I dead? I don't remember anything. What's going on? I... what was that? It sounded like Brooke. Brooke!

A brunette woman is sitting at a hospital room, in a side ward, next to a bed. There is a tall raven-haired man sitting next to her. The man says something and gets up, leaving the room. As soon as the man had left, the woman leaned over and grabbed hold of the hand of the curly-haired woman lying in the bed.

"Come on . Wake up!" she almost cried in frustration, just as she broke down in sobs, putting her head on the bed. Right next to the woman's hand.

She was sobbing hysterically by the time the man re-entered the room, holding two cups of steaming hot coffee. He hastily put the cups down and rushed over to the crying woman; he lifted her out of the chair and hugged her.

"Brooke, calm down." He told her forcibly yet soft at the same time.

"But, but, but she- she looks so b-broken. I don't. I don't know. Sh- she has to be ok. She has to be ok." She sobbed into his shoulder. And he rubbed her back soothingly, letting her soak his shirt.

The man sighed. He had been thinking exactly what his friend had voiced. He looked over at the bed. At the woman he'd know as a little girl. Since the tender age of seven, whose arm he'd accidently caused to break when she was nine as he convinced her to climb a tree, which she had subsequently fallen out of. The girl who he thought he loved, and who thought she loved him back, and they weren't wrong, they definitely loved each other. They just weren't in love. He looked at her, and then he turned away. He didn't want to see his best friend like that, small, covered in bruises and wired up to a load of machines.

"Brooke, she'll be fine. Don't worry. Sawyer here is most definitely a fighter." He kissed the top of her head.

"Yeah, I guess so. Thanks for calming me down, Nate." She pulled away from him and sat back down.

"No problemo, anytime. Have you called Luke?"

"I don't think he deserves to know do you?" she spat out.

"No I guess not" he nodded his agreement. They sat in silence after that.

An hour later...

"Brooke... Nate?" her voice was coarse, and not full of her normal sarcastic, witty self.

Brooke sat there and stared at her, mouth gaping open.

Nate was the first to break the tangible silence. "Peyt? Are you ok? Do you need anything?"

"Erm, no" she coughed. "Actually, could you get me some water please?"

"Sure thing." He poured her a glass of water then said. "I'll go get a doctor."

The silence returned, and it was starting to get awkward. "Hey B. Davis."

"Hey P. Sawyer. How ya doing?"

"Alright I guess." She squirmed then whimpered in pain. The normally bubbly brunette jumped up in worry and started looking around the room, for someone or something. "Brooke, I'm fine. Just hurts a little when I breathe." Brooke nodded. "Brooke?"

"Yes?" she half-whispered.

"What happened?"

Brooke squirmed. She sooo did not want to answer that question. She was hoping her dad would be here to tell her that. But then she decided it was probably better that he wasn't. She very much doubted she would want to hear this from her father, of all people. She deliberated calling Nate, or even getting a doctor telling her as well. But she and Nathan decided the previous day it would be best to come from Brooke, her bestest friend in the whole wide world and all.

"Peyton..." she started timidly, unsure of herself. "You were raped."

Well. What did ya'll think? I know it's kinda short but I think it's pretty damn good if you ask me. But you're not, I'm asking you... so R&R pleaseeee.... Btw, I'm hoping I'll be quicker at updating this story. I think I'll try writing some chapters in advance. Chapter Title is from "Broken by Lifehouse."