My Sweetest Downfall

Chapter 14 – Are you aware the shape I'm in?

Nathan drove Peyton to school the next morning. She insisted on going even though he practically begged her not to. She refused to go to the hospital as well. He thought maybe she was still scared of the place because of her mother. So, Peyton got her way, but he got his way too. He wasn't going to leave her alone until her father came home. He wasn't going to tell her that though….he just wouldn't leave.

Nathan cooked breakfast for her this morning and watched to make sure she ate every bite. Peyton was only slightly annoyed at this because she knew it was for her own good. She was very grateful for Nathan, but she didn't know what would happen when Dan came around again. She hoped Nathan wouldn't be anywhere near her by then. Nathan had to help her walk out to his car because of the pain Dan had inflicted on her. Her ribs were all black and blue from the multiple punches she received, and she was very sore around her middle—she thought maybe he tore something down there—needless to say, she was in bad shape.

When they pulled up at the school, Nathan came around to get Peyton's door for her. "People are gonna think you're having an affair with me Nathan." She said as he as much as lifted her out by her arm. She winced and smiled at him at the same time.

"I don't care what people think, Peyton. Just one person…and she doesn't care about me."

Peyton just gave him a look.

"Okay, maybe she does still care…but she has a crappy way of showing it." He admitted.

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Lucas and Brooke had been talking in the quad when Nathan pulled in. They had both planned to corner him before school and make sure he was okay, but as they watched him come around his car and open the passenger door for someone, they stopped in their tracks. Then, their jaws dropped when they saw that the person was Peyton Sawyer.

"What the hell?" Brooke said at the same time Lucas said, "Why is she with him?" They looked at each other and then back at the strange couple. They were both secretly a little jealous of Nathan at the moment.

They watched as Nathan helped Peyton out of the car. She seemed a little unsteady to Brooke. She wondered if her ribs were still bothering her. Brooke noticed that she limped a little on the way into school, but she wouldn't take Nathan's offered hand. What the hell is going on? Peyton didn't look at her once as she walked past.

"Okay, that was weird." Lucas said.

Brooke just said. "Let's get to class." She wasn't about to betray Peyton's confidence.

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After lunch, they all had a class together. Nathan hadn't left Peyton's side except when they had separate classes, so Brooke had no chance to get near her, nor did anyone else for that matter. Peyton and Nathan sat in their usual seats, which were not very near to each other. Brooke was seated next to Peyton, and Lucas was behind her. Haley's seat next to Nathan was empty.

Peyton didn't want to be here. She was in a lot of pain. Nathan hadn't let her alone all morning, so she couldn't get to her big stash in her room, but she was able to snort the little bit she had in the bathroom; although it wasn't enough to get high. It had dulled the pain a little though. Right now the pain was back in full force and she had a huge headache. She knew it had to be because she hadn't snorted enough coke. She could barely concentrate on what the teacher was saying. Something about a test next class. She took her pencil out to write the details of the test in her notebook, but halfway into the first sentence her head pounded, hard. She dropped her pencil and grabbed her head.

Brooke had been watching Peyton since class started. When she grabbed her head Brooke couldn't hold her peace any longer. "Peyt?" She leaned over and whispered. Brooke put her hand on Peyton's shoulder and Peyton flinched without thought. Brooke tried not to take it personally because she knew it wasn't because of her, but because someone was hurting Peyton. "What's wrong?" Brooke was very concerned for her best friend.

Peyton didn't answer. Her eyes were closed tight and all she could hear was the constant pounding.

Brooke could see that Peyton was in trouble, and she didn't care that Peyton would flinch again so she grabbed her arm, and surprisingly, Peyton leaned into her. "Peyton…" Brooke whispered again.

This time Peyton did hear her. She opened her eyes and looked down at her paper. There was a tiny red spot on it. She looked closer at the spot. It got bigger before her eyes. "Wha…"

"Peyton, you're bleeding!" Brooke whispered strongly. She didn't want anyone else to hear, let alone the teacher.

Peyton put her hand to her nose and pulled back bloody fingers. "Oh, um…" Peyton started to get up, but Brooke held her down by her arm.

"Shh, Peyton! Be quiet." Brooke looked around quickly. "Peyton, look at me."

Peyton held her hand to her nose to keep the blood from running everywhere. She was breathing hard.

"Look at me." Brooke repeated. Peyton met her eyes. "I got this." Brooke had a determined look on her face.

Despite the pain in her head, Peyton felt a swelling in her chest at Brooke's words. She gave her best friend a small nod, and watched as Brooke took charge.

Brooke raised her voice and interrupted the teacher. "Excuse me? Uh, my friend here needs a bathroom pass, and…so do I." She smiled at him. Brooke always got what she wanted with her winning smile.

Peyton continued to watch Brooke. Her best friend was amazing. She was helping her when Peyton had walked away from their friendship. She so loved this girl. Fuck, my head hurts so bad! Brooke helped her out of her chair.

Nathan sat up in his chair, and looked closely at Peyton. She only took her hand away from her nose for half a second, but he still saw the blood. He started to rise as well, but the teacher had other ideas.

"Mr. Scott, I don't believe I gave you permission to go along." The teacher said. Nathan sat back down reluctantly and watched as Brooke led Peyton out of the classroom.

Brooke had Peyton by the arm and was leading her toward the bathroom. Peyton's eyes kept closing of their own accord, but she opened them again each time. Now wasn't the time to pass out. She needed to get out of there.

Peyton kept leaning on Brooke more and more as they walked down the hall toward the restroom. Although Brooke loved the feeling of Peyton's closeness, she didn't like what it meant; Peyton was getting weaker by the second. Brooke's hands were busy holding up Peyton, so she had to kick open the door to the restroom with her foot. As soon as they walked in Brooke saw another girl fixing her hair in the mirror. The girl looked at the limp blonde in Brooke's arm and just starred. "Freshman, out!" Brooke didn't spare the girl another glance as she left hurriedly.

Brooke picked up Peyton's light body and set her on the counter. She lifted her chin with her hand. Brooke gasped at the blood that had now covered Peyton's chin and ran down her neck. "Peyton, honey, look at me." Peyton opened her eyes. "How're ya doin' huh?"

Peyton moved her mouth, but no sound came out. Her eyes closed and her head rolled forward. Brooke caught her before she could fall off the counter. "Okay, okay. Just hold on for me P. Sawyer." Brooke said soothingly, but inside she was super worried. Should she call 911? Should she just take her to the hospital herself? Should she wait it out? She didn't know what to do. She grabbed a paper towel and wet it so it was damp. She held Peyton's body up with one hand, and with the other she cleaned the blood off of her best friend's face and neck. "Peyt, you're burning up!" She said as she touched the skin on her neck. Her nose had thankfully stopped bleeding for now. Brooke wet another paper towel and held it against Peyton's forehead and then put it over her eyes, and then moved it down to her cheeks.

She didn't think Peyton could hear her but she spoke anyway. "You are a mess P, you know that?" Brooke still dabbed the cool paper towel against Peyton's face. Peyton's eyes opened a bit, but she couldn't focus on anything. Her breaths came in short huffs. She became aware of Brooke and tried to smile, but it only worked on one side of her mouth and it was barely there. Brooke still saw it. She put her hand to Peyton's cheek. "Peyt, if you can hear me…I think I'm gonna take you to the hospital." Brooke said softly.

Peyton's eyes went wide and she shook her head the tiniest bit. "N-nooo." She huffed out. She had no strength. "I c-can't-tt." She pleaded with Brooke.

Brooke was not having it. "Peyt, you're hurt bad. I'm still your best friend…even though we're not on great terms right now." Brooke looked her over and gestured with her free hand. "And…well, look at you. You need to see a doctor, for real."

Peyton tried to scoff, but all that came out was another huff. "Don't you huff at me! You're going. End of discussion." Brooke had her most serious face on.

Peyton looked as if she was about to try and reply when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She saw Peyton try to reach for it, but her feeble attempt was cut off by Brooke's hand reaching into her pocket first. "I got it, P." She said, and read it quickly.

It was from 'Asshole.' Why would Peyton put that as someone's name on her phone? As Brooke read the text her eyes got wide. 'Im n the parking lot. Meet me n 5. NOW.' This must be the clue she had been missing. Whoever this 'asshole' person is must hold the key to why her Peyton is so messed up. She closed the phone and looked at Peyton. Now Brooke had a dilemma: she couldn't leave Peyton alone, so she could take her out to the parking lot and confront this person, or she could take her to the hospital and just ignore the text.

Peyton was looking very pale. She was sweating, breathing hard, and shaking. Brooke decided that she really didn't have a choice after all. They were going to the emergency room. "Peyton, listen to me." One thing at a time. "I'm going to help you down, and then we're going to walk to my car."

When Brooke lifted her down from the counter she had to support most of the blonde's weight; which thankfully, wasn't much. She couldn't think about how nice it felt to hold Peyton so close; they had to hurry because Brooke knew there were only a couple of minutes before the bell rang, signaling the end of the current classes. Brooke and Peyton passed through the halls without incident and burst through the double doors that led to the quad—she had to kick it open with her foot again because her hands were busy holding up Peyton. She glanced around the parking lot for the mysterious person from the text message, but she didn't see anyone at all. She was really hoping to find out what this was all about, but she had to wait. Peyton's head was resting on her shoulder by the time Brooke got them to her car. She opened her door very carefully while propping Peyton up against the side of the car and maneuvered her body inside. She had done this for Peyton and others many times in the past, but they had been too drunk to stand up then. Brooke buckled her in and quickly walked around to the driver's side and had them on the road to the hospital in no time. She didn't notice the black SUV that had followed them from the school parking lot.

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Her phone buzzed. She tried to reach for it inside the pocket of her jeans, but Brooke fished it out first. Peyton closed her eyes. She had always trusted Brooke completely with her cell phone…and with everything else in her life. That was her default mode, so she wasn't thinking about who the text might be from. Her head was in a fog. What was I supposed to be doing? Something…I'm sure. Who is talking? That voice sounds…like someone I like.

"Peyton, listen to me." She heard Brooke pause and then, "I'm going to help you down, and then we're going to walk to my car."

She opened her eyes slightly and watched her best friend put her arms around Peyton's frail body. Peyton didn't have the strength to protest, or to ask where they were going. She had completely forgotten about the text message. All she knew were Brooke's strong arms. They were holding her close and tight, and she felt so at peace in them. She watched Brooke's face as she helped her down the hall; it was all she could completely focus on.

Suddenly a bright light made her squint her eyes, but she didn't want to close them for fear of losing sight of Brooke. Brooke was her focal point for keeping her sanity right now. She was so tired. She closed her eyes. All she wanted to do was sleep. She looked up again to find her Brooke, but she found that she was seated in a car. She glanced out the window to see if they were moving because she couldn't feel her body. She saw buildings going past. She looked over at the driver, but she couldn't see that far. What the hell is happening to me? She panicked. She reached down to open the door but it wouldn't budge, it was locked. Something was restraining her chest and holding her down…her seatbelt. She couldn't get that off either, it seemed to be stuck. Her breathing came harder and faster.

"Whoa there, calm down Peyton." Brooke put her hand on Peyton's shoulder and pushed her back into her seat. "It's Brooke, you are in my car. I'm taking care of you." Brooke said soothingly.

Peyton looked over at the driver…Brooke. "B, I can't see you." She said, panic evident in her voice.

Brooke took Peyton's hand and brought it over to touch her face. "You can feel me can't you?" She let out a giggle when Peyton's fingers brushed her ear. "See that's me. Nothing to be scared of." She saw Peyton visibly relax, but Brooke kept Peyton's hand in her own. She told herself it was only to reassure her best friend.

They were pulling up at the hospital when Peyton's hand went limp in her own hand. Brooke looked at Peyton, alarmed. "Peyt?" She shook her hand. Peyton's head rolled forward and Brooke shot out her arm to keep Peyton from hitting her head on the dash. She quickly parked her car and unbuckled both their seatbelts. Brooke held Peyton's unconscious head in her hands. "Oh God Peyton!" Brooke yelled. "Wake up!" She shook her head some more, but Peyton was out cold. Brooke held Peyton's head to her chest. "You better not be dying because I haven't told you how in love with you I am." She paused. "I…I am…so in love with you baby." She said with fiery passion. "Now, I'm gonna get you to a doctor, and you're gonna wake up and be just fine, you hear?" She had tears in her eyes that she wouldn't let fall just yet.