Nobody's Fault But Mine
Chapter 3 – Lions After Slumber
Author's note – Thank you so much for all your reviews and interest in my story so far. They've all been so nice and have really encouraged me. So thank you and I hope you enjoy the next chapter :)
Peyton had left the club not long after Lucas Scott. She walked her ten-minute walk home from Meth to her own apartment. She was exhausted after having not slept more than a few hours in the last two days. She crossed the street and into her building. Her body and head aching and demanding sleep.
She rumbled with the keys in her purse, her hands shaking as she let herself inside.
Once inside Peyton felt that nagging doubt really start to build inside her. Now that she was alone with no distractions she couldn't hide from it.
Peyton made her way to the kitchen. She knew exactly what she was looking for in the cabinets and of course she knew she wouldn't find it. She'd been sober for a good year and a half now. She'd come so far so why after a single night of passion could she feel that thirst within her, that desperate need to escape from it all.
She told herself that it could never be anything. Not the way the sparks ran through her as he kissed her. Not the way he touched her so gently and tenderly. Like no other man had. No it was sex. Peyton told herself that she hadn't felt anything. Just like she never did anymore. The guy was a total stranger. She'd most likely never see him again. It was crazy to let him get under her skin.
"Damn it," she cursed herself. "Damn it Peyton get a grip."
Those blue crystal eyes, she could still see them so clearly in her mind. Could still feel his embrace. He'd wanted to help her, to save her. He'd even come to seek her out, to return her bracelet.
But she couldn't let herself think for a second that Lucas could help her. Or save her for that matter. She couldn't afford for that hope to exist. Peyton Sawyer was lost. She had to be lost.
"I need a drink," she muttered under her breath. She wanted an escape. She hated that feeling. That helpless feeling. That feeling that consumed her, that took her over.
New York, she thought to herself, New York was supposed to be her break.
It had all happened so quickly and had all gone so tragically wrong. Peyton had come to New York, a big city that she could escape into the crowds in. A far cry from the small gossipy town that she had grown up in. She had been the poor little orphaned girl back home. The tragic girl who was abused by her foster father. The loner who sat at the back of the class room, who sat on her own at lunch. She'd never been anything other than that poor girl. Her move was supposed to make it better. Make it all disappear. Peyton was a bright girl; she'd passed all her classes and graduated with honours despite all the odds. The Big Apple was supposed to bring great things. It was supposed to be the start of a new life.
It hadn't been though. Peyton's lack of money meant that she could never fund a college education. She'd started off with the plan of working and saving for one. She'd waitressed which she liked until her manager began to harass her. She'd left and then began working in a bar downtown. That's when it had all gone wrong. She'd met Donnie and slowly everything went from bad to worse.
Donnie was a bad guy. She knew that right from the beginning. Looking back she guessed she kind of liked it at first; how he was a little dangerous. He of course told her he'd take care of her, that he loved her. And all the while she was introduced to the destruction of a controlling relationship, to drugs, heavy drinking. By the time Peyton reached 19 she had an addiction to cocaine.
Peyton slammed the last kitchen cabinet shut. Her raid had of course left her empty handed. And then she walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower, setting the water to cold.
She had to shock out this insatiable thirst. She undressed quickly not allowing herself a moment the adjust to the cold temperature. She stood beneath the freezing spray. Her body recoiled as she gasped and then raised her face to the shower head her long blonde curls flattening against her forehead.
"One day at a time," she murmured her mantra over and over.
Finally she stepped back out and wrapped a towel around her shivering body. She jumped at the sight of him as she padded into the lounge.
"God, you jackass, you scarred the hell out of me. I thought vampires could only come in if invited them to."
"Very funny. I tried knocking but when you didn't answer I let myself in."
Peyton crossed her arms over her chest as she looked at him reclining on her leather couch. "What do you want Antonio? I didn't even think you were back until the weekend."
"I cut the trip short. I wanted to check that my baby girl was okay. I know this is a bad time of year for you. And judging by the state of you I'm thinking you are slipping."
"I'm handling it." Peyton always tried to put up a façade of being strong and in control even though right now there was nothing much further from the truth.
Antonio Garcia stood up from her couch and walked over to her. His hand brushed back her wet curls. "How was your trip?"
Peyton shrugged, "same as it is every year. Hard."
"Well why don't you let me take you out to dinner tonight. Celebrate you turning 22."
"I'd rather really not. I'd really rather just forget my birthday altogether."
"Okay then we'll stay in." His dark eyes travelled over her still damp skin. His rough hands rubbed over her bare shoulder.
"I just want to be alone Antonio. And you have a wife you can go vent your frustrations to. Or if you'd rather, go find one of your sluts to do that. But I'm really not in the mood"
Antonio frowned at her. "You can be such a bitch Peyton. I mean I give you a beautiful apartment. All the expensive clothes and luxury you ever wanted. And you give nothing in return."
"No," Peyton stated with irritation. "I just can't be your whore right now. So just go home back to your seemingly perfect life and leave me alone."
"You don't say no to me Peyton."
"Just go." She moved herself from him and walked to the bedroom indicating that the conversation was over.
Antonio however had no intention of leaving and followed her, "you don't say to me." He grabbed hold of her wrist pulling her hard to face him. "Do you understand me? " His eyes had clouded with that rage she recognised all to well. He squeezed his vice like grip harder on her small arm. "I said do you understand me?" he roared.
Peyton nodded her throat constricting as she struggled to answer. He only grasped harder and she could only cry out in pain.
"Don't you ever piss me off again Peyton. Now say you're sorry and I'll make the pain stop.'
"I'm sorry," her voice was but a barely audible whisper.
Antonio smiled satisfied with himself. "Good." But instead of releasing her his strong hold snapped her wrist in half. Peyton screamed in agony, black spots danced in front of her eyes.
He let go then and Peyton held her broken wrist in her other hand. Her eyes filled with tears as she sank down onto the bed.
"I hope you learnt your lesson," he said before he left the room. He slammed the door to her apartment.
Peyton curled herself into a ball and just cried.