Hey all! Long chapter since it's been awhile and things have been drama-ish. Thanks for everything with this story. I know that some may feel like some of the stuff that Peyton is doing is out of character, but what I am trying to portray is how something such as depression can alter people so greatly. Their views, their actions. She is not supposed to be "herself". I luv u all, like seriously, really though, I do.

xoxo Jules

Chapter 5: "Take these sunken eyes and learn to see"

Jakes mind raced. What was he going to do? Why was Peyton bleeding from her wrists? … why had none of them noticed it sooner. Lately, … well more that lately she had seemed down, not herself, distracted, reserved… He had to find everyone else. Find out what they knew. He saw Brooke and Lucas across the school yard and hastened his pace to a jog as he approached them.

"You alright man?" Lucas asked standing up, Brooke following.

"No, I think that something is wrong with Peyton." He said.

"What, where is she?" Brooke asked looking around.

"She left."

"How do you know that something is wrong?" Lucas asked

"I went to visit her the other day… I went into her room and she was in bed with Jaggar…"

"YOU'RE SLEEZE-BALL BROTHER?!" Brooke yelled.

"Yeah." Jake said.

"Well, that doesn't mean a lot." Luke said.

"Well in the room there was also this smell… this metallic smell…"

"Maybe it was one of Peytons art supplies." Lucas tried to rationalize.

"Dude, it smelled like blood."

"Like someone was dead?" Brooke asked.

"No, Peyton cuts her wrists and god knows what else. I saw blood on her sleeve a couple of minutes ago."

"That is the biggest lie I've ever heard! I would have known! She is my best friend!" Brooke yelled, her voice rising.

"I know, but think about it, hasn't Peyton been a little off the past like… wow, since I can remember. I should have picked up on it sooner." Jake said

"I see her all the time. I should have." Lucas said

"She is my best friend!" Brooke yelled. "If anyone should have known it is me!"

The three stood there for long mentally beating themselves up.

Peyton stormed into the girls bathroom, slamming the stall door.

"Shit!" She said seeing how the blood was slowly appearing on her shirt. She wanted to do it again, but it was already obvious enough, and then she though… "What do I care?" She said rolling up her sleeve, taking a razor out of her pocket." Right then all that she needed was release.

Haley James zipped up her pants in the next stall over. She looked down, at the blood slowly dripping to the floor… Someone was just a little leaky with the period juice… right? She tried to reason… And then she saw in, the bloody wrist reach down to clean up the mess.

She waited until the girl exited the bathroom stall before she retreated from her own. She was shocked by what she saw.

"Peyton?" Haley said in a small voice.

"Um… hi Hales…" Peyton asked her eyes shifting back and forth.

"Are you alright?" Haley asked shifting from foot to foot.

"Peachy." Peyton responded looking past Haley rather than at her.

"I…um, I saw-" Haley began.

"Look, whatever you think you saw you didn't!" Peyton said in a threatening tone as she headed out of the bathroom. Why was this day completely sucking. She went out back of the school and pulled out a cigarette.

After school that day Lucas shot baskets with Nathan. Nathan watched him miss another shot.

"Dude, what's on your mind?" Nathan asked

"What do you mean man?" Lucas asked passing the ball back to him.

"Your hearts not in it. Look we gotta practice so get whatever is up off your chest." Nathan said passing the ball back.

"It's Peyton." Lucas said as the two headed over to the bleachers.

"What about her?" Nathan asked him

"You know anything about her and cutting?" Lucas asked

Nathan took a deep breath and looked away.

"What man?" Lucas asked "WHAT! Come on Nathan this is serious."

"I knew that she used to… awhile, I guess that it was early last year… the first time we, yanno, I noticed scars on her thighs. She told me that they were from slid tackling in her soccer days… I was a jerk back then, I just let it go."

"But she didn't cut her wrists?" Lucas asked

"No." Nathan said.

"I guess she's gotten bolder." Luke said looking at his brother.

"Or more desperate." Nathan said glancing back

That night Jake was on his computer, a chat box popped up.

Tutor4scott: Jake, it's Haley and Nate.

Cheer4lyfe: And me Brooke, and Luke

Kindaoff: Hey

Teenpappa: Hey guys! So what's the deal?

Kindaoff: We need to talk to Peyton

Cheer4lyfe: Yeah all of us. The people that love her

Tutor4scott: an intervention

Teenpappa: It's better than nothing, we can't do it here, Jaggar's 'round

Kindaoff: We can do it at her place since she is always alone there

Cheef4life: Is it gonna be alright there? On her turf and all?

Tutor4scott: This is Nathan now, we can do it at my place

Teenpappa: I can ask her to watch Jenny. I'll say she was there with Haley and for her to pick her up.

Kindaoff: good deal

Teenpappa: Imma go call her. Tommorw about 4?

Tutor4scott: Alright cu there

Kindaoff: Night

Cheer4lyfe: See you guys

Jake signed off and then went and picked up the phone, dialing Peyton's number.

"Hello?" He heard a groggy voice ask

"He, it's me."

"Jake." Peyton said.

"Yeah. Sorry to call so late, but I was wondering if you can watch Jenny tomorrow."

"Even after the fight?" Peyton asked not surprised he didn't seem to care

"Yeah. I really need to go to a study session."

"Alright." Peyton said

"So can you pick her at about 4:30 from Nathan and Haleys?"

"Why there?" Peyton asked skeptically.

"We have practice and Haley is watching her. She has work at 5."

Peyton was hesitant about going to see Haley after everything in the bathroom, but it had been awhile since she spent time with Jenny.

"Alright."

"Thanks Peyton."

"See ya." She said hanging up.

Jake heard the dial tone at the other end… this was going to be interesting.