Chapter 6

A.n. it seems that I have disappointed some of my readers with the past two updates, I know have confused TV Crazed with where the story is going, and I'm really sorry about that. The lack of reviews kinda shows that lol. I'm really sorry I guess I kinda wanted to show some background information on her before I really get into it, and as for Haley blowing up, I didn't like the way she handled things in the first place so I'm really not on her side on this. Hope you like the next updates. Please review, would really appreciate your own views and as I'm kind of new at this, I think I'm about to sink without your help.

She didn't know what day it was anymore, she had lost count and days were starting to merge into one another. But night after night she found herself here with her best friend Jack. Oh but what a man he was, the only man she could trust, the only man who wouldn't let her down. She lifted another shot and downed it quick and fast relishing the way it burned down her throat. She tilted the half empty bottle filling the small shot glass. With a flick of the wrist and a tilt of the head the contents were gone where the half of that bottle had disappeared to. She slammed the glass down with satisfaction.

'How long has she been here?' Chase asked his best friend leaning against the bar. Owen glanced at the blonde in question shaking his head, 'since five. Same time everyday for the past two weeks.'

'And you are still serving her?' he said disapprovingly.

'I'm a bartender not an AA sponsor.' Owen said coolly. Chase stared at him shocked. He knew that his friend wasn't an ass, so why was he acting like it?

'You of all people should know what alcohol does to your life.' Chase pointed out.

'You can't save everyone Chase, some people learn better from their mistakes than being told.' He picked up another wine glass polishing it furiously.

'Oh you mean like you had to?' Owen shot him a hard look.

'Relax, after the first night I've been diluting it, a lot.' He remembered the first night that the blonde had come to his bar. By the time she had left she had been legless, throwing up all over that Owen had to carry her all the way to Brooke's. When she came back the next night after downing half a bottle, Owen had tried to take it away from her; he still had the cut right above his eye from her response to that one. On the third night, as soon as she sat on the bar ordering her usual – brother jack, he had diluted it. The first four shots were the real thing, after that it was 50/50 of jack and water. When she hadn't seemed to notice he had done it since. He had tried to take care of her as best as he could, bit seeing the disappointed look on his best friend's face made him feel like scum none the less. He knew what alcohol did to you, but he also knew that when you were feeling really low and felt like was the only option, there was nothing anyone could do to make you stop.

'Look would you rather she was drinking at some dive somewhere, where somebody would probably take advantage of her?'

Chase shook his head turning towards her. He didn't even want to think about that. And he had to admit that Owen was right. She was in a bad place right now, and who knows what could happen to her with her defences down.

'At least here we can look after her.' Owen was saying.

'Yeah you are right.' He said grudgingly.

'Owen!' Peyton shouted lifting the bottle and looking through the tiny hole of the bottle as if playing hide and go seek with the contents. 'I need a refill its empty, see?' she tilted the bottle upside down. A few heads around her turned around whispering softly between themselves.

'That's you queue Romeo.' Owen teased lightly. Chase grunted as he made his way to Peyton.

'Hey Peyt.' He took the bottle from her hand tossing it to Owen who caught in one hand.

'Noooo!' she slurred grabbing for it, but chase caught her hands in his.

'I think you've heard enough.' He said softly as if speaking to a child. Right now she was worse than a child.

'hmm-hmm!' she shook her head which apparently want a good idea because she tilted off balance almost falling off the chair.

'Whoa! Easy there Ace.' His arms shot out and caught her. He guessed her head was swimming like crazy right about now.

'You came.' She stated looking into his eyes but not really focusing on him. Chase nodded. She always said that. Every day, all the time.

'You knew I would.' Ever since the first time he had found her slumped over the bar he had come for her every night after that. The first few nights had just been a coincidence but after that he had come here just to check if she was here and to his disappointment she had been, religiously, every night.

'Come on, let's go.' He urged of the chair but she tried to stand her ground but failed miserably. The alcohol had stripped away all herself will. Seconds later she was collapsed against his chest. He sighed heavily as he scooped her up in his arms carrying her out the door bundling her unconscious form into his car.

Brooke heard him shuffling outside her door and rushed to open it before he had the chance to knock. He eyes immediately went to his arms. He shrugged sadly. He just like her wished that he didn't have to be here, at least not for this reason.

'Hey.' She smiled at him and held the door open for him. He made his way to Peyton's bedroom. He didn't need directions anymore. He had done this often enough.

He found her sitting on the thick rug leaning against the couch. She was starring absently into the fire seeping on a steaming mug of hot cocoa with another beside her. He lowered himself next to her taking the mug she offered him quietly. This had become their little ritual for the past two weeks. He would go to find Peyton and bring her home to find Brooke waiting for the pair of them with a cup of hot cocoa for him.

'You don't have to stay you know.' She said starring right into the fire. He chuckled, she always said that and just like every other day before that he told her that he wouldn't be anywhere but here. They stayed like that, silent, starring in space like every other day. He turned his eyes to her when she wasn't looking. He felt like he was seeing her for the first time in a long time. She had changed so much yet not at all. She looked more confident, sure of herself yet she still had that air of vulnerability about her. He wanted to reach out and touch her but he kept his hands firmly by his side. He didn't have the right, not anymore.

'I don't think I can do this anymore.' She muttered quietly under her breath that for a moment he thought he didn't hear her right. He took her hand in his then, squeezing it comfortingly.

'I'm not strong enough, I can't... I', afraid that I'm not going to be enough for her coz I don't know what to do.' The only sign that she was crying was the tear that fell on his hand. She smiled at him apologetically quickly wiping away any signs of tears. She had always hated anybody to see her cry.

She will be fine brook.' He tried to sound reassuring but even he wasn't so sure. He remembered her in high school when she was going through a bad patch. She didn't seem this bad, but then again how could he know, he hadn't known her then, only seen her from afar.

'She can't keep doing this. This is not good for her, or healthy, she could have serious health problems, or worse. They both knew what the worst part was, but neither one of them wanted to consider it, let alone say it.

'I know I know that Luke really hurt her, I know that, but this...' she said pointing towards Peyton's bedroom door. 'I don't know this person anymore. And I don't think she does either.'

Chase squeezed her hand again. When she began to tremble he pulled he into his arms.

'What can I do, tell me what to do.' He wanted to take all the pain away from her. Do something, anything to make this better for her.

Brooke smiled against his shoulder. 'You have done more than enough; I couldn't do any of this without you. The only person who could help is not here, and even if he was, he wouldn't.' Lucas. That's who she was talking about. Chase didn't know what to say then so he didn't say anything. They stayed like that, her head on his lap. They must have fallen asleep because the next time Brooke woke up she was sleeping in a very awkward position her neck very stiff. She groaned stretching trying to relieve the ache. She made the couch up and woke chase to get him to sleep properly otherwise he wouldn't be able to turn around in the morning with his body all twisted up like that. She had meant what she had said to him before. She was really grateful for his help. She wouldn't be able to do this without him.

He was woken up around seven in the morning by banging pots in the kitchen. He groaned stretching his limbs for a second forgetting where he was, he twisted and found himself on the floor with pain shooting in all sides in his head.

'Oww.' He rubbed the spot where he had banged his head furiously. He tried to get up but a sudden wave of dizziness overtook him and he collapsed back down against the couch. There was a snicker behind him. He would have turned but his head was already spinning and he already knew who it was.

'How is it that you do this every day?' Brooke asked leaning against the door frame waving around a wooden spoon.

'Go away.' She chuckled at him

'Good morning to you too.' She went back to the kitchen and came back with a cup of coffee.

'thanks.' she accepted grudgingly. 'And what's good about it?'

'I forget how grumpy you and sawyer are in the morning. It's like you were cut from the same cloth or something.'

'how is she?' he had been up during the night right along with her every time she woke up to throw up, and it had been a lot.

'She was asleep the last time I checked on her. She will probably be up any minute now.' As if on queue they heard the door to her room opening. Seconds later she was sitting on the couch between them her legs drawn up under her.

'Morning.' Brooke said quietly not looking at her.

'Keep it down will ya?' she said rubbing her temples. Chase silently offered his coffee to her but just when her fingers were touching the handle, Brooke snatched it away.

'What the hell?' Peyton shot her a murdering gaze.

'You need real food.' She said getting up and heading for the kitchen.

'I'm not hungry' she muttered under her breath but unfortunately it was loud enough for Brooke to hear.

'Yeah I know, you haven't been hungry for the past two weeks, living on nothing but coffee and booze.' She pulled her off the couch dragging her to the kitchen and depositing her on the bar stool. Peyton didn't really have the energy to resist so just allowed herself to be pulled forwards. Chase had no choice but to follow, sitting himself right beside Peyton. He didn't even know what he was doing here anymore but he knew two things, his back couldn't take anymore sleepovers on the couch and at this rate, he would do some serious bumping his head every morning like that. But looking at them right now, Brooke so angry, frustrated and looking defeated; Peyton so forlorn, lost and broken, he knew that no matter what he could never leave them, not as long as they weren't okay. Question he still yet had to answer was why? He bet his mother would gladly answer that one for him. She had been calling him all week asking him when he was coming home. He had tried to deflect her telling her that he was helping out a friend who needed him, which was the truth and she had accused him of once again collecting strays.

'Here.' Brooke was shoving a plate full of toast and scrambled eggs in front of her. Peyton looked at it her face full of disgust before glaring at her best friend.

'I don't want it.' she said coldly starring down.

'I don't care.' Brooke said equally as coldly. She had tried reasoning with her, bargaining with her, hell she had even tried begging, every morning. But nothing had worked and she didn't know what to do anymore. Maybe she didn't understand or know anything about like Peyton kept pointing out every morning, but she knew one thing for certain; she loved Peyton way too much to watch her destroy herself like that, lose herself like that.

'This has to stop Peyton. I can't begin to understand what you are going through, but this has to stop. You can't do this to yourself anymore!' Brooke ground out glaring back at her.

'You don't know what you are...'

'Talking about? Yeah I know, you have said that over and over again. And you know what? Maybe I don't, but I know that THIS has to stop.' She was bordering on shouting.

'Brooke...' chase warned, putting a hand on her arm. He understood her frustration, her helplessness, he really did but looking at Peyton now, she was shaking and on the verge of falling apart.

'no.' she shrugged his arm off and pushed the plate closer to Peyton her gaze never wavering. 'Eat!' she said forcefully.

'No!' Peyton shook her head but it began spinning so she clutched it with both hands. Brooke yanked the stainless steel tray off the kitchen sink and held it in front of her like a mirror.

'Look at this, look at her!' she said forcing Peyton to look at her reflection. 'Do you recognise her? Cos I don't!' Peyton shut her eyes trying to look away but she couldn't as Brooke's hand held her captive.

'Now eat.' Brooke ground out through clenched teeth. Peyton's eyes snapped open finally meeting Brooke's defiantly.

'What are you, my mother?'

Brooke corked her head to the side and studied her carefully before replying very quietly.

'No, I'm not. And you are lucky she is not here cos not only would she be extremely disappointed in you she would slap your skinny ass all the way to Soberville.' Brooke watched her friend rear back and knew that mentioning her mother seeing her like this was hurting her more than anything and she immediately felt bad but she didn't know what else to do. She needed to snap her out of it and fast!

Peyton blinked rapidly trying to blink away her tears but failed miserably. A few seconds later they were flowing down her cheeks as she stared blankly in space. Brooke moved back leaning against the sink in defeat. As much as she wanted to help she didn't want to add to anymore pain to her friend. Chase got up going round to Brooke.

'Hey, it's okay, go to work. I got this.' He rubbed her arm soothingly.

'I...' she started to protest but he cut her off.

'We'll be okay.' He promised. She stared into his eyes quietly and he smiled down at her reassuringly. 'There is nothing more you can do here.'

'If anything happens...'

'Yeah I know, I have your number.' She sighed before casting one defeated look at her best friend; and then she grabbed her bag and was out the door. Chase waited until he heard the door close before moving. He sat next to her facing her.

'Peyt.' She didn't move, just sat there silently starring forward. He sighed and pulled her to face him; she still wouldn't look at him.

'Peyton, come on look at me.' Just like he expected, she didn't look at him, or move either. It was like dealing with a child. He pulled the plate towards him scooping a forkful of the eggs that were now growing cold.

'Come on Ace, just a little.' He coaxed holding up the fork for her. She looked up then right at him, her eyes meeting his. For a moment he was shocked by how green they looked, yet they looked blank, bleak and desolate.

'Just one bite.' He cajoled. She looked at him as if not trusting him, he smiled encouragingly at her. 'You need to eat.' he said to her. When she looked from the fork to his eyes and back he raised his eyebrow challengingly and smirked at her. She closed her mouth over the fork defiantly. He averted his gaze downwards as he scooped another forkful trying to hide his smile. Trust her to be unable to resist a challenge. She must have been a handful as a child. He presented the fork to her. She shook her head. 'You said one.' she reminded him.

His eyebrow went up again. Her gaze hardened as if saying that she couldn't believe he was pulling that crap on her but like before she closed her lips over it, engulfing the eggs into her mouth. And that's how it happened with the next forkful and the next and the next till there was only toast left.

'Now that wasn't so bad was it?' he smiled at her proudly. Her eyes snapped down to the plate in surprise. She looked up at him and he smiled at her when a red blush crept up her pale cheeks.

'Now we must go and shower.' He smiled at her again and deposited the plate in the sink. He turned to find her starring up at him pointedly.

'What?' he asked shifting from one foot to the other uncomfortably. He felt a little antsy under her scrutinizing gaze.

'Together?' she asked quietly. For a moment he was confused not exactly sure what she was talking about so he asked her. 'You said we were going to shower. Are you suggesting we shower together?'

'No-no, that's what I meant. I meant you-and-I shower. But not together, I mean. Separately.' He stammered his face red with embarrassment. He was trying to look at anything but her. How had he got himself tangled in this stupid web? She was staring at him; eyebrows raised obviously waiting for him to explain.

How exactly was he supposed to explain when he didn't know himself? He was searching all corners of his brain when he saw a glint of something in her eyes - Mischief? Well well, what do you know?

'Ha-ha, very funny sawyer.' He pushed himself off the sink bringing his face directly in front of hers. Now scoot, off you go.' When she quirked her eyebrow again he shook his forefinger at her. 'In your own bathroom Sawyer and I will use the main. Meet me down here in fifteen. If you are not here then I will be up there to flush you out.' She glared at him before spinning around on her heel to her room.

As much as she had tried to hide it he had seen, the faint glimmer of a smile that had graced her lips.

He smiled to himself as he watched her go. He had spent more time with her in the past two weeks than he ever had in the entire time and he had grown to care about her, a lot. And he hated to see her in this much pain especially over someone he felt was stupid enough not to realise how lucky he had been.

A.n: well here it is the latest update. Sorry it was late, but hope you like it. please please review!!!