"We could ditch." She offered, slipping her arm through her best friend's. "If you're not ready to do this, Curly, then we could just..."

"Brooke." Peyton laughed and tightened her grip on her. "I love you for caring, but I'm fine, okay? I know I can't sit around and pretend that nothing happened, but I also can't avoid my life forever. Not gonna happen."

The two girls maneuvered down the hall together, trying to ignore the stares. They were almost used to everyone watching them, after the psycho Derek/Ian attack, but it was still annoying.

"Why don't you take a picture." Nathan snapped as he passed them, Haley in tow. The two freshman boys he'd yelled at buried their faces into a science book, holding it upside down. "It'll last longer."

Peyton shot him a grateful smile.

"See you guys in class." He said, pausing to squeeze her shoulder. He ruffled Brooke's hair, earning her famous don't you dare do that again glare before turning the corner to reach his locker.

Haley offered both of them a small smile.

This is so tragic. You two don't actually think you're gonna be friends tomorrow... Do you?

"You okay, girlie?" She asked, rubbing the blonde's back. "If you're not ready to do this, then we could ditch..."

Peyton looked from Brooke to Haley, cracking a smile. It was the greatest thing in the world, having a best friend, and she was lucky enough to have two of them.

"I love you guys." Peyton began. "So I'm only going to say this once. I am fine, I just want to get back to our normal, boring lives. Is that too much to ask?"

In response, Brooke slipped her arm through her best friend's, Haley following suit.

"Peyt."

That voice made her blood run cold. She felt Brooke tense, her grip tightening slightly. They tried to keep going, but he wasn't about to give up that easily.

"Peyton."

His hand landed on her shoulder, spinning her back around. Suddenly, she was pulled away from the safety of her friends.

"Haley." Brooke said through clenched teeth. She gave her friend a gentle shove. "Go get Nathan, or Lucas, or anyone you can find. Go. Now."

Running like her life depended on it, Haley disappeared around the corner before Ricky could stop her.

"I've been calling you." He began, his tone emotionless. "Why haven't you called me back? We've got a lot to talk about, Peyt."

"We're got nothing to talk about." Peyton replied. She reached out to touch Brooke's shoulder, signaling for her to lead the way. "I meant what I said, Ricky. We're done. I'm done."

Ricky's hand shot out, locking around her wrist in a painful grip. He spun her around again, his eyes darkening.

"We're done when I say we're done." He hissed. "Don't walk away from me, bitch! I'm the only person who's ever going to love you, Peyton, so the sooner you accept that, the better. Maybe once you get that through your thick head, I'll think about taking you back, but you're really gonna have to work for it."

He smacked her across the face with his free hand, yanking her up before she could slump to the ground. Brooke pounded on his back in a weak attempt to get him to let her go, but he shoved her away.

Ricky's hand wrapped around her upper arm, dragging her down the hallway behind him.

"Brooke!"

Lucas was beside her, his hand resting on her knee as he tried to decide what to do. Both girls meant something to him, for entirely different reasons, but they were both hurt.

"Luke." Nathan snapped, appearing behind him. "Go. I'll take care of Brooke."

Not even pausing to shoot his little brother a grateful look, Lucas got up and chased after them.

"Go." Brooke begged, finally sitting up. Haley and Mouth dropped to their knees, trying to support her.

"Go!" She said again, weakly raising her arm to point in the direction her best friend had gone. "Nate, please! They need you."

Nathan squeezed her arm and stood up, following Lucas out the double doors. They weren't far behind.

"Get in." Ricky snapped, shoving her up against the car door. He'd dragged her out of the school by her hair, stopping every few seconds to hit her again.

Promise me that when you pick the boy you're really going to be with, that he'll be someone who respects you and treats you well. And, it's someone who makes your heart race and that he's someone you love because of what he is, not what he does. Because, that's how I felt about your mother, and that's how I want you to feel one day. Use your head and follow your heart.

"Peyton."

His hand gripped her hair again as he delivered a blow to her stomach. He punched her, blood dripped from her nose, but he gave her no time to react as he slapped her across the face.

"Peyton!"

"Peyton!" His brother echoed. Their voices grew nearer, and suddenly she was pried away from him.

Lucas took one look at the girl in his brother's arms, and his blood boiled. He realized that he may have been more like Dan Scott than he'd ever care to admit, but he was also like Keith, his one true father figure. If there was one thing that Keith had taught him, it was to protect the ones you loved, no matter what it took.

So he hauled off and beat the shit out of his former friend. Every time his fist connected with Ricky's face, he told himself that he was doing it all for Peyton. It was for her, every single hit.

You're safe with me, I promise.

You're always saving me.

"Luke."

A firm hand wrapped around his own before he could get another hit in. Skills was there, holding him back before he could do anything he'd regret.

Lucas allowed his long-time friend to help him up. He moved to stand beside his brother, reaching out to rest a hand on his shoulder.

"What the hell is going on here?!"

Peyton winced. She knew that voice, and it almost made her cringe more than Ricky's harsh tone.

Whitey stood there, his expression unreadable as he watched his two best players stand side by side. His gaze moved from the Scott brothers, to his newest player who lay on the ground, bleeding, to Peyton, who was still being held up by Nathan.

"I..." She began, weakly lifting her head. "Whitey, I can explain everything-"

He held a hand up to cut her off.

Haley and Mouth finally joined them, supporting Brooke's weight. Her head was pounding, but she was finally stable enough to walk on her own.

"Lucas." Whitey said, addressing the oldest member amongst the group of teens. "Get her home, and watch over her. Nathan, take Miss. Davis, and your wife with you. Taylor, McFadden, get back to class. I'll take care of this."

Wordlessly, Nathan passed off his curly haired friend to his brother and reached out to lace his fingers through his wife's. He squeezed her hand before bringing his free arm to wrap around his friend's shoulder, pulling her back into a protective embrace.

"We'll come over." He offered.

Peyton groaned in pain, her arms winding around Lucas's torso. She buried her face into the crook of his neck, unaware she was turning his white shirt pink.

"Maybe come over in a few hours." Lucas replied, wrapping his arm around her. "Make sure Brooke gets something for her head, alright?"

"Boys." Whitey snapped, leaning over Ricky. "I said: Go. Now."

Following his order, Lucas swung her up into his arms so he could carry her away from everything bad in her life. Peyton remained silent as he once again slid behind the wheel of her car and tore out of Tree Hill's parking lot.

"We can go to my house." He offered, turning the music down. She always drove with her favorite songs playing too loud, he'd replaced the speakers in her car at least twice.

Peyton managed a small nod and a weak smile. Ever since the psycho Derek attacks, his house had become her home away from home.

Lucas drove with one hand, his free arm stayed wrapped around her shoulder as she leaned against him for support. He'd get her back to his house, get her cleaned up and changed into a fresh pair of clothes. Then he'd tuck her into his bed, and stay beside her as she tried to get some sleep.

He wouldn't leave her. Ever again.