(Peyton's House)
Standing at the top of the stairs, Peyton stood paralysed, watching the scene unfold before her eyes. Everything appeared to be happening in slow motion, and she had difficulty taking it all in.
At the bottom of the stairs, Derek was slowly attempting to rise to his feet, still dazed and disorientated from the fall. Moments later, the police descended upon him, forcing him up against the wall and cuffing his hands behind his back.
Derek struggled furiously in the policeman's hold as they led him out of the house towards the patrol car. He fought to break free, turning himself around to look up at Peyton who was still frozen on the landing. He was shouting at her, but Peyton did not hear his cries. Instead she stood staring at the base of the stairs, staring at Brooke, who lay motionless as a police officer crouched closely over her.
Peyton panicked and released the gun from her grasp, dropping it onto the hard wooden floor beside her. She bounded down the stairs, taking two steps at a time.
When she reached the base of the stairs, Peyton knelt down beside her best friend, tears falling from her eyes.
"Brooke?" she sobbed, brushing some of her friends' hair out of her face, "Please don't leave me. Please, I need you."
The police officer tried to move Peyton aside so that he could look at Brooke, but Peyton didn't budge, instead moving in closer towards her.
Just then, Brooke began to stir on the floor beside Peyton, groaning as she attempted to sit herself up from the floor.
"Brooke?" Peyton said again, a wave of relief flooding over her.
Peyton reached forward and helped Brooke up so that she was leaning with her back against the wall. Peyton sat down beside her and rested her head against the wall, suddenly feeling her whole body relax.
Slowly she brought her head back off the wall and looked at Brooke who had her eyes closed, her chin dropped down onto her chest. Peyton reached down and took Brooke's hand in both of hers so that it was supported on her knee. She held it tightly trying to stop it from shaking anymore.
Brooke opened her eyes and looked at Peyton tearfully, before resting her head gently onto her shoulder. Peyton dropped her head on top of Brookes and together they sat in silence.
The police officer looked at the pair of them sadly, both girls showing evidence, not only physically but emotionally, of the ordeal that they had suffered tonight. He looked at Brooke, whose head was still resting on Peyton's shoulder, her eyes closed.
The officer looked at Peyton who was watching him closely.
"I'm going to go and get someone to come and check you both over," he said to her calmly as he stood up.
"I'll just be a moment," he said before walking outside to get some assistance.
Peyton looked at Brooke whose head was still resting on her shoulder. She squeezed her hand once more in her own, before resting her head back against Brookes. She closed her eyes, emotions overwhelming her, and tears falling from her eyes.