Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters!
Charity let Tyler hold her as she cried and mourned the loss of her first best friend. As the sobs slowly subsided, Charity pulled back slightly and noticed movement outside of her door. Her eyes locked with Derek's for just a moment before he was gone.
"Was that Derek?" Charity asked, craning her neck around Tyler as she tried to get a better look. Tyler went over to the door and pushed it opening, glancing down the hallway.
"It might have been, but he's gone now." Tyler replied, coming back into the room.
"Why would he come and see me? He cheated on me, he can't care that much." Charity asked bitterly. She looked up at Tyler and noticed the odd look on his face.
"What?" She asked, wondering why he looked so torn.
"Derek didn't actually cheat on you." Tyler admitted, slowly. He eased himself down beside her on the bed.
"What are you talking about Tyler? You're the one who told me that he and Miss Bear Creek were a little more "involved" then they let on." Charity asked pointedly.
"The night that you guys broke up he took Amy home with him. He says nothing happened though." Tyler said, shrugging. Charity stared at him, she was at a loss for words. With everything that had happened so far today, she really needed someone she could trust and now, she wasn't so sure that that person was Tyler.
"Could you please go?" Charity asked softly, laying back against her pillow. When Tyler turned to face her, she turned her face away from him. What she really wanted to do was to ask him if he had lied to keep her and Derek apart, but she was far too tired, emotionally and physically, to fight today. She let her eyes close, and fought the urge to call out to him, when she felt his weight lift from the bed. As the door closed behind him, the sob that had built in her throat found its way out. She cried for Chloe, for her own broken body, but mostly she cried in frustration. She wanted more than anything to get up and DO something. She wanted desperately to find Zach and offer him some comfort, she wanted to go after Tyler and demand an explanation, she wanted to talk to Derek and find out the truth, but most of all she wanted to not be here, lying in this bed, doing nothing.
"Charity? I saw Tyler leave, do you need anything? Your mom will be here in about an hour." Peyton said, giving her a small smile from the doorway.
"Can you snap your fingers and heal me?" Charity asked sarcastically. Peyton raised her eyebrow, but shook her head.
"No, well then I guess I don't need anything that you can give me." Charity continued, her voice hard.
"Charity, I know this sucks, but.." Peyton began.
"No, you don't know. My life is falling down around me and I can't do anything about it!" Charity said loudly, cutting Peyton off. Peyton opened her mouth to respond, when the door flew open and Brooke rushed in, pushing Peyton back.
"Mom?" Charity asked in surprise as Brooke hurried over to Charity.
"Sweetie, are you okay?" Brooke asked, her voice shaking. Charity nodded and hugged her mother tightly.
"I thought you were over an hour away?" Peyton asked, cocking her head to the side. Brooke turned, narrowing her eyes at Peyton.
"I have connections. I called in a favor and got Jake and I bumped to a quicker flight." She replied icily.
"Jake is with you?" Peyton asked, paling slightly, before she hurried out of the room.
"Mom, you didn't have to do that. I'm fine. A few months of physical therapy and I'll be good as new." Charity said. She really hoped her mother didn't plan to be this fussy over her the entire time that she was her.
"I know. It's just that, I can't lose you Charity. I've already lost your father. You're all I have left." Brooke admitted tearfully, as she hugged Charity tightly again.
"I'm not going anywhere, Mom." Charity replied, her words true in more than one sense.