Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

She wanted to hit snooze again. She wanted to hit snooze, stay in bed all day, and ignore her responsibilities, because once again, that day had come.

I'm sorry, sweetheart, but she's not going to make it...

Karen had offered to drive the nine year old Peyton home, but she'd politely refused. Her mother had promised to take her shopping, and then go out to dinner, just the two of them.

Her phone began to buzz, but she ignored it. She wanted to be alone, why couldn't her friends see that?

Peyton, please. Pick up. I just want to make sure that you're alright.

Anna had been driving to school to pick her up. She was running late, so she'd run a red light in her rush to retrieve her daughter. It was one light at the wrong split second and it had ended for her.

"Peyton?" He pounded on the door again. "Peyton!"

Peyton screamed into her pillow before throwing her covers off. She took the steps two at a time to get to him, swinging the door open so quickly that she sent Lucas crashing to the floor.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah..." He groaned, rubbing the back of his head with his hand. "Fine..."

"Then what the hell are you doing here?" Peyton demanded, grabbing his hand. She pulled him up, and went to sit on the bottom step. "I just want to be left alone, Luke."

Lucas let the door fall shut behind him. "Sorry, but that's not gonna happen."

He dropped down beside her, bringing his arm to wrap around her shoulder and pull her closer to him. She let out a long sigh, giving into the embrace. She'd stopped crying over her mother's death years ago, but that didn't take away any of the pain. Nothing could ever bring her mom back.

"I miss her." Peyton muttered, burying her face into his shoulder. "I just really miss her, Luke..."

"I know." Lucas replied, rubbing her back. "It's okay, Peyt. I'm right here."

"Here we go, Ravens! Let's score!"

Somehow, Lucas had convinced her to go to school. She'd spent the entire day in total silence, no matter how hard her friends tried to include her in their conversations. More than once, she'd caught Nathan watching her out of the corner of his eye.

"Wait." Brooke cut them off, stepping towards her best friend. "Hold on, Peyton, you've got the arms wrong.

"It's not brain surgery, Brooke." Peyton shot back. She was doing her best to remain calm, but in her mind, she was cursing Lucas for convincing her to go out in public that day.

The brunet blinked. Peyton had been acting weird all day long, and she still couldn't put her finger on it. "Okay... What's with the attitude?"

Nathan and Lucas shared a look. Her growing tone was starting to attract a crowd, students at Tree Hill High loved a good girl fight, especially when it involved someone from the inner circle.

"What's with your life?" She demanded, crossing her arms. "Seriously, aren't you embarrassed that the most important thing in your world is some stupid cheer?"

"Look." Brooke drew out. She was starting to get annoyed. "I know you've been Peyton Marie Sawyer all day, but don't go all Mariah on me, okay?"

Peyton laughed bitterly. Did Brooke really not remember? She'd been there the night of the accident, she'd spent the entire night clutching the blonde's hand while she cried. It had been the latest either one of the girls had ever stayed up, and Brooke had gotten detention for falling asleep in class the next day, but she'd never complained.

"You think this is about me being on my period?" She laughed again. "You're not even close! You're not even in the neighborhood of close!"

The cheer captain held her hands up in surrender. "Okay, then... What's wrong?"

Peyton shook her head. "What's wrong is how pointless all of this is."

"Stop saying that!"

"No!" She snapped. "Because it's true. What difference does it make if you sleep with a popular guy, or you go to the right party, or you know the moves to some moronic cheer to do with some lame ass game I could care less about!"

Peyton threw her pompoms down and stormed out of the gym. Nathan glanced at Lucas with a frown. They had a big problem.

What was going on with Peyton?

"Brooke!"

She glanced back at him, slowing her pace so he could catch up. She was surprised to see him out of practice so early, he was usually the last person in the locker room.

"Hey." Nathan greeted. "Have you heard from Peyton?"

Brooke sighed. "Not since she went psycho on me in practice. Why?"

"She must have walked home." He said with a frown. "She won't pick up at home or on her cell."

"Well..." She drew out. "Maybe she's out kicking the homeless."

She left him standing there, and headed for her car. She instantly regretted her comment, Peyton was her best friend, Brooke was just hurt that she wouldn't open up to her.

"What do you call that?"

She jumped. After repeatedly ignoring his calls, of course he'd show up at her house uninvited. He knew where she kept the extra key, hidden underneath the welcome mat.

"Love." Peyton replied bitterly. She continued to paint the canvas black. "What do you want, Nathan?"

Nathan sighed, moving past her to drop down onto the bed. "I don't want this for us, Sawyer. I don't want you to feel like you can't come to me for something, whatever thoughts are running through your head. We used to tell each other everything."

She turned to meet his gaze. They'd been friends for as long as she could remember, he was right, she had gone to him for advice countless times in the past. What had changed?

"We haven't been that way in a long time."

"We could be." Nathan told her. "Come on, Peyton, I'm still your friend, I'm still here for you."

Peyton stared at the floor, she could feel the tears burn her eyes. "Did you know that my mom died tonight? Seven years ago?"

He blinked, unsure of what to say. His memories of Anna Sawyer were far and few, but he knew that she had been a very kind, and a very wonderful woman. He'd gone to the funeral to support Peyton. How could he have forgotten?

"I love you, Nate." Peyton admitted, retrieving her paint brush. "But I kinda want to be alone right now."

"Alright." Nathan sighed, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder as he passed. He was unsure if he'd get to see her the next day, because Peyton Sawyer could avoid life when she wanted to. "Well, how about you come to the game tomorrow? Maybe we could hang out afterwards. I miss you, Peyton... I'll see you there."