Title: The Middle
Author: xoapassionateblue
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Rachel's detoxing, Brooke's over bros., and Peyton is somewhere in the middle of it all.

Note: Yes, I'm excited to be posting my first story on this site. I'm hoping you all enjoy this. Hero is a single by Chad Kroeger of Nickelback. Totally refurbished this chapter!

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Hero

Peyton Sawyer sat at the kitchen table, a glass of steaming coffee in front of her. A full cup of something she didn't want at the moment, but it was all she had. Brooke Davis and Rachel Gatina had finished off the milk, which was for some reason what she had been craving the whole day before, after they had gotten back from New York, only hours before. At first, she had been angry, but it was useless. A lot of things seemed useless nowadays, at least to her.

For example, attempting to have Rachel sleep on the couch was useless because she had ended up in Brooke's bed, hiding her sick and shaking body under the sheets - her second stop, the first being the bathroom. Peyton knew that the drugs Rachel had taken had to have been strong, and taken more than they ought to have been - abstinence, notwithstanding. She was going through a painful withdrawal and it had only been a couple of hours since she had gotten to the house. Well, whatever. At least it wasn't Peyton's bed that Rachel was stealing.

Peyton couldn't help but smile at the thought as Brooke walked down the stairs. She planted herself on the couch, her hand diving out to retrieve the remote for the television.

"Sarah, my love. I can't marry you. I'm in love with Joshua."

Oh, please.

Peyton frowned and got up from the table, joining Brooke on the couch.

"Is nothing sacred anymore?" Brooke asked quietly, keeping her eyes fixed on the television.

"First Buffy, now this. I'm going to say no." Peyton answered, mimicking Brooke.

Brooke turned to look at Peyton. Peyton couldn't help but frown at the sight of fear in her friend's eyes. It was so powerful, so raw. It shook her to the core to see Brooke so afraid, for once.

"I wasn't talking about this." Brooke motioned to the television.

"I know, Brooke." Peyton agreed.

"How could I have let this happen?" Brooke asked, frowning. "She was my friend - she is my friend - and I wasn't there for her when she needed me the most."

Peyton could hear the anger and sadness in her voice, though she knew Brooke was trying to hide it.

"Drugs, P. Sawyer?" Those words sounded so familiar in her head that it scared her to hear them again. "Drugs are not a way out, they provide no satisfaction whatsoever. She told me that they made her feel, and I know that I'm responsible for what she did and that I'm the reason she turned to drugs to make her feel alive."

"No, Brooke. You're not." Peyton jumped at the chance to react to her words. "This is not your fault, and this is the first thing you need to realize. What she did - it isn't because of you. It's because she doesn't feel good about herself and she thinks that she needs something to make her live and be happy, but that's not true. You know that she had issues back in high school, and she hasn't dealt with them yet. They've gotten bigger, and now she's here. The good thing is, you're a good enough friend to take her in and help her become a better person. You've given her the courage to be sober, and to think about being happy again."

Peyton paused for a moment, wrapping her arms around Brooke as she wiped fresh tears from her face.

"This is not your fault. You are not the enemy, Brooke. You are the hero."

That seemed to be enough to squash Brooke's insecurities for the time being, as she smiled and pulled away. "Thank you, P. Sawyer."

"That's why I'm here."

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I totally revamped this chapter, because to be honest it sucked before. Hopefully you all like it better. Please review to let me know how I'm doing, and feed my muse. :)