And she said

Alyssa Lies
To the classroom
Alyssa lies
Everyday at school
Alyssa lies
To the teacher
As she tries to cover every bruise

My little girl laid her head down
That night to go to sleep
As I stepped out the room I heard her say
A prayer so soft and sweet
God bless my mom and my dad
And my new friend Alyssa
I know she needs you bad

"Peyton lies to everyone dad. Her step-mom hits her." Lucas breath caught in his throat. He didn't realize how much Haley had seen. He knew why his little girl was so broken.

Peyton and Haley walked back into the classroom. A bruise was showing on Peyton's wrist, she didn't cover it very well before walking back into the school. "What's that?" One of the students pointed out.

Peyton looked down at the bruise. "My step-mom caught me from falling down the stairs." That was the lie Alice had made her stepdaughter rehearse. The bruise was in the shape of a handprint and she needed a good solid lie.

"Alice didn't catch her. She was threatening to push her down the stairs." Haley looked up at her father, both unaware of Brooke standing in the door way with tears in her eyes. "Why would someone do that daddy?"

Lucas couldn't answer her. How do you explain to your innocent ten year old about all the evil in the world? His heart was breaking even more with each word she spoke if that was at all possible. How could someone do that an innocent ten year old? Watching his daughter he couldn't picture anyone doing that

"Peyton?" Miss Gattina called out before everyone had left the room. Haley stopped when Peyton did. "May I have a word with you?"

"Can Haley stay?" Peyton took a hold of Haley's hand, scared. She saw the teacher hesitating. "Please. I don't want to be without her."

"Okay." She caved in. She knelt down in front of her young student. "Peyton is someone hurting you at home? It's okay to tell me. I want to help you."

"No." She felt Haley squeeze her hand, silently asking her to tell. Peyton refused to. She stood her ground and told her believable lies. She was scared it would get much worse if anyone found out. "No one is hurting me. Can I go now?"

Rachel nodded her head slowly. "Yes you can go." She didn't fully believe the little girl but there was nothing she could do if she wouldn't tell her anything.

"I wanted her to tell but she wouldn't." Haley fell into Lucas' chest and sobbed loudly. She was too innocent to have to know about this.

PL

"Goodnight mommy." Haley snuggled further into her pillows as Brooke tucked the blanket around her. "I love you."

"Goodnight baby. I love you too" Brooke kissed her forehead and walked out of the bedroom.

"I love you daddy."

"I love you too." Lucas handed Haley her teddy bear and kissed the top of her head. "I love you."

"I love you too." Lucas walked out of the room and stayed by her door. He leaned against the wall beside her door, Brooke walking up beside him. He pulled his wife to him and together they listened to the prayer their little girl said. "God I don't know if your listening but if you are I really need your help. I need you too look after Peyton. She really needs you. She's hurting really bad. And thank you for mommy and daddy. I'm happy that they both love me. Goodnight God." Her parents both had tears in their eyes as they listened to Haley say her prayer.


A/N: I must say that writing the prayer was hard. I'm an Atheist and trying to make the prayer believable was a little difficult.