Anna banged on the door as hard as she could. There was no answer but she could hear the latest track to the Usher CD in the background. Anna knew she was inside.

"Hey! Open up!" she demanded, practically kicking.

Finally the door opened and there was Brooke in a pink nightie.

"Okay, there has to be some sort of explanation as to why you're banging on my door in the middle of the night like a crazy person!"

"Brooke, I need your help."

"Fine", Brooke sighed. "A little less foundation, a little more lipstick and try mascara that doesn't come from the .99 rack. We'll discuss shopping at a later date. Good night."

She shut the door but Anna blocked it with her foot.

"Real cute. I'm totally digging the head cheerleader bitch switch but this is serious."

"This better be good."

"It's about Peyton."

"What about her?"

"She's out with Rick?"

"So? Should we alert the media now or later? Really Anna, what is the big deal? He is her new boy toy, shall I say."

"He isn't a good guy."

"And when are they ever? Mr. Jagielski certainly ended up failing that test as well. Peyton's a big girl. She can take care of herself. Besides, I'm glad she's having fun. So what if the guy is old and a little rough around the edges? He's cute and she's happy and at least she's getting laid, which is exactly what I'm preparing for, considering Lucas will be over in a few minutes. So if you don't mind, could you kindly scoot?"

"Brooke, Rick is doing drugs."

"What? How do you know?"

"Haley saw him giving them to Peyton. And I saw some coke in her purse."

Brooke's expression changed.

"No. No way. P. Sawyer would never do that."

"She's in trouble, Brooke and she needs us. We have to help her. Can you come with me? Please."

Brooke nodded and quickly dressed, calling Lucas and making up an excuse on her way out to Anna's car. Haley was nervously sitting in the front seat.

"You in on this little adventure too, Tutor Girl?"

"I just want to help Peyton", Haley sighed.

"Great! Charlie's freaking Angels. Now what?"

Anna pulled out a sheet of notebook paper she had used to draw maps.

"What's this?" Haley asked.

"I've been casing out Rick's hangouts and stuff…"

"Whoa! Stop sign! Red light! Back it way up!" Brooke yelled. "Anna, have you been following them?"

"Yes but…"

"Super freaky psycho stalker status…dude, I totally could have used your talents back in high school. Impressive", Brooke shrugged. "Now continue."

"There's some underground party going on tonight at this warehouse type place. Totally seedy, nothing but a drug den. We can't let Peyton get trapped in this."

"So what do we do?"

"Go in and get our friend back. I don't care if we have to drag her out kicking and screaming."

"This might be a little dangerous", Haley whispered. "Shouldn't we call Luke and Nate and Skills and Fergie?"

"No. Things might get too heated, too out of control", Anna surmised. "We can do this."

"Hell yeah! Power to the people! Girl power! And why the hell are we whispering?" Brooke asked.

Anna just rolled her eyes as she drove to the location. She parked on a side street she was familiar with. It was close enough to provide a quick exit pattern if trouble arose.

"What do we do?" Haley asked, as they got out.

"Just act like we belong."

"I really wish you would have told me this before I put on these shoes", Brooke whined.

"No one told you to wear those ugly heels", Anna scoffed.

Brooke's mouth fell open as the girls approached the entrance.

"Ugly heels! Hel-lo! They are Gucci, thank you very much!"

Entering the heavily smoke filled room that reeked of stale beer, the three ran into one unsavory character after the next. They walked close together, Anna determined and strangely confident, Brooke holding her nose and clutching her handbag while Haley was on the verge of passing out.

"There she is!" Brooke pointed. "Up there. See her?"

Anna nodded and led the way up a flight of stairs. There was Peyton sitting on a couch, looking groggy and out of it.

"Pey…"

"Hales…" she whispered.

"Peyton, it's okay."

"Wh…what are you guys doing here?"

Brooke's heart broke at the sight of her best friend. She couldn't believe she had missed all the warning signs. It was bad…worse than she thought.

"Come on, P. Sawyer. We've come to take you home."

The girls helped their friend up and began heading for the stairs.

"What's this?" Rick grinned, appearing from the shadows. "More Girls Gone Wild college babes to liven up the joint? Have a seat and get comfy ladies."

"Iiieeewww, perv", Brooke rolled her eyes. "As tempting as the offer is, we really can't stay and neither can Peyton. We just came to get our friend and now we'll be on our way."

"Oh I don't think so", he smirked. "Peyton isn't going anywhere. She still owes me."

"Owes you what?" Haley asked.

"Three hundred but hey if you're willing to work off her debt…

"Gross! Not even in your dreams, grease ball!" Brooke interjected. "We're leaving."

"No you're not", he said, grabbing Brooke by the arm.

"Hey! Ouch, that hurts! Get your hands off of me, you asshole!"

"Or what, rich bitch? Huh? Who's gonna stop me?" Rick sneered.

"I am", Anna said, roughly pushing him. "Don't put your hands on my friends!"

"And just who are you, huh? Look Wonder Woman, you better slow your roll before you get hurt. This ain't the country club. Now if you holes want to leave, who's stopping you, but Peyton stays."

"You don't own her!"

"She's been staying at my house doing my drugs and not dropping a dime. I say I do own her…mind, soul and body…ass to be exact", he laughed.

"Look, settle the debt later. We're not leaving her alone with you."

"Yeah, I've heard that before. There are no laters. It's here and now. I don't mess around when it comes to money. Whether you owe me five dollars or five grand, I want it! You don't have it? Well, they're consequences and Peyton will just have to learn to pay the piper. I'll work her sweet little ass up and down Market Street with the rest of the River Rat whores."

Anna dug in her pockets and pulled out a wad of cash as she tossed it at Rick.

"It's more than three hundred, asshole. Consider your little debt even and some extra to stay the hell away from Peyton."

Rick picked up the money immediately, briefly counting as he laughed.

"Okay. Hell, you can have her. She wasn't that important anyway.But if you ladies still want to stay and party, the invitation is open."

"Fuck you", Anna spat as the girls turned to leave again.

"Hey Brownie, what was your hard on about Peyton anyway? What are you, her overprotective lesbian lover?" he joked.

Anna stopped and turned slowly.

"Anna, no", Haley whispered. "Come on. Let's get out of here. He's so not worth it."

Anna marched right up to the towering, smirking man.

"I'm not her lesbian lover but if you keep fucking with my friends, I will be your worst nightmare. You want to keep with the Brownie and Brown Sugar jokes? I've got connections and trust me, you will get seriously fucked up. You got that?"

And with that, she punched him in his mouth, a blow hard enough to draw blood.

"Fucking cunt", Rick said, holding the sore spot.

"Oh and if I was her lesbian lover, I guarantee that I could satisfy her better than you."

Anna gave a smirk of her own before spitting at him and walking away. The girls were silent as they walked to the car and helped a passed out Peyton inside.

"What the hell was that, the Mexican Mafia?" Brooke finally asked.

"Brooke! That is racist!" Haley admonished.

"What? I'm not a racist. You guys know that but damn. Anna morphed from the Country Club to Fight Club in like two seconds."

"Sorry but that guy is a chump. He's bad news and I don't want Peyton getting caught up in that. I don't like people messing with my friends. I would have stood up for any one of you…even you, Brooke", Anna smiled.

"Cool. I did the Xena Warrior Princess deal."

"So what now?" Haley asked nervously.

"She's just high. She needs to come down. You guys go home and I'll take her back to my place and watch her. She'll be fine and just in time for you guys to come over in the morning and lecture her ass."

"Sounds like a plan. Anna, if you need us before then…"

"I'll call. Promise."

Haley got out but Brooke lingered behind a bit.

"Anna, that was pretty amazing back there."

It had always been an awkward tension between the girls ever since Anna had moved to town and Brooke thought she was forcing her way into their inner circle.

"It's no big deal."

"You really care about her, don't you?"

"Of course. She's my friend. Friends stick up for each other."

Brooke nodded as she patted Anna on the shoulder upon her exit.

"It was a big deal. That was pretty cool. Peyton's lucky to have you. I guess we all are. Thanks."

Anna smiled before driving off to her new apartment. She could be tough when she wanted to be and had no problems proving it. Still there was a fragile and vulnerable side to her as well. Sometimes it was hard to take care of herself but when it came down to the people she cared about, there wasn't anything she wouldn't do.