Disclaimer - You know the drill by now right? I do not, in the slightest own or have anything to do with One Tree Hill, or Mark Schwahn. No matter how much, I would love to be, I ask you is it a crime to wanna be a part of that show? And yanno, having Bethany around, not a bad thing.

A/N - So yeah, this chapter is mostly Peyton-centric, with a little Brooke and Haley. And I'll take the time to say thank you muchly for the reviews, I love getting them, so feel free to keep on giving them! And can we all say "Happy Birthday, Bethany." April 2nd. Let's read shall we?

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Chapter 8 - Oh, To Be a Cheerleading, Rock Chick.

She had dated him, and had no idea that he could do that. That he had been capable of his actions towards Haley. When they had been together, sure he hadn't been the best boyfriend, and it was purely a sexual relationship, but he had never seemed violent. Now she just felt sick. Sick to her stomach, that she had ever dated such a monster. A monster, he had to be one if he could do that, and then act like nothing had happened. She felt like she had been thrown off balance. When she had walked into Haley's room, she sure as hell hadn't expected to see Haley like she had been. But Brooke had assured her, when walking her out to her car that, this was Haley getting better. God knows how she looked straight after.

She got Brooke's hostility towards Nathan now, felt the same almost. Haley was innocent in this, Nathan was just an abuser. Whether it be his crappy up bringing or the fact that he was just an ass, he was still an abuser, using his power to get the better of people and to hurt them. But to hurt Haley? That was just damn right outrageous.

Peyton shivered everytime she thought back to her conversation, with both Brooke and Haley.

"What the hell happened? Are you ok Hales?" Peyton questioned urgently.

"Peyton? What the hell are you doing here?" Brooke wanted to know.

"Does it matter Brooke? Look at her, is she ok?"

"I'm fine Peyton." Haley told her.

"Have you seen you? What in the hell happened?" Peyton asked again, repeating her first question.

"Do you want to take this one Tigger, or shall I?" Haley asked, her question souly for Brooke.

"I think I'll take it this time Roo, let's give you a break huh?" Brooke told her with a smile as she moved to sit next to Haley on the bed.

"Do you want the short version or the long version, P. Sawyer?"

"Uh, short?" Peyton guessed, she's take any, just so long as she knew what in the hell was going on.

"Fine, you want to know what happened? All you need to know is that...that," Brooke began, but stalled. Telling someone what had happened to Haley, wasn't as easy as she thought it would be. Taking a breath, she finally told her. "That Nathan did this, like two days ago."

"Nathan?" Peyton whispered shocked, more to herself than anyone else. Of all the answers she had expected, that was not one of them. "Really?" she wondered, finding it hard to believe.

"No, not really Peyton, this was all a prank, congratulations you've been punk'd. Haley here, didn't call me at all, in pain needing my help, nearly passing out over the phone, and I didn't get here to find her in her room, lying on her bed bruised and battered. Nope, you're seeing things." Brooke remarked, sarcasm dripping off of every word.

"Chill Brooke, lay off of the sarcasm, it doesn't become you." Peyton informed her tensely, to her this was whacked out. Nathan hurt Haley, who he clamed to really care about, Haley had called Brooke and Brooke came running and yet they hardly knew each other. 'Am I in some sort of parallel dimension, where everything's reversed and nothing makes sense?' "I need to sit down." she told them both as she walk further into the room and sat down in the chair next to the bed. "Nathan Scott?" she asked, trying to get her head round that thought.

"Yeah Pey, Nathan did this to me." Haley told her quietly, her hand in Brooke's.

"What...I mean how, uh why?" Peyton wondered in confusion. Her mind having had to much to process in the last couple of minutes, and her concept of understanding, was suddenly not there.

"Who knows why Sawyer, he's an ass, think of all the vile things you can and that's him. He had no reason to do this, other than he could, and that makes him less than a man." Brooke told her hotly.

"He got jealous I guess, he didn't like that I left with Brooke when he was calling after me." Haley elaborated.

"He's always been like that, always wanting things his way and if it doesn't...you suffer the consequences I guess." Peyton told them both.

"You're telling me." Haley answered with a sad laugh, at how ironic what Peyton had said and how true it was.

"Why are you here?" Brooke wondered.

"You were acting weird, I was worried so, I followed you and let me tell you that I really wasn't expecting to see Haley like this. You said she was ill, but this...damn Brooke this is crazy."

"Don't tell Luke about this, please Peyton?" Haley asked her.

'How am I meant to keep this from Lucas? That's gonna be impossible.' she thought to herself.

Sighing, she answered. "Sure you got it, anything you want, you got it." Peyton promised.

"Thank you."

Looking at Haley, next to Brooke, Peyton felt she was intruding on something. "I should go, you probably need your rest. If it's ok, can I come back and see you?"

"Yeah sure, you do have to go though." Haley told her.

"Yeah Blondie, you can stay." Brooke agreed.

"Nah, I'll go but I will be back." she told them as she got up off of the chair she was in.

"I'll walk you out," Brooke said as she stood up. "I'll be right back Roo." she told Haley with a smile, that was mirrored on Haley's face as, her and Peyton walked out and down to Peyton's car.

"She looks bad." Peyton stated.

"Yeah, well you should have seen her, when I found her. I had no clue what to Peyton, God I was so scared. That asshole did this to her, I want to kill him." Brooke told her.

"Yeah well, I'll give you an alibi, the guy's got it coming to him."

"You won't tell anyone will you?" Brooke wondered.

"I promise I won't Brooke, you can trust me, always." Peyton told her, stressing the word trust.

"I guess I can," Brooke answered, relieved. Then looking at Peyton she gave her a smile, that for a change wasn't false. "Thanks Peyton."

"I guess that's why you were like that at lunch," Peyton started, then as if realising something, her eyes widened. "You did that to his hand!" It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

"He deserved it." Brooke told her, not denying it.

"Yeah, he did." Peyton agreed, moments later. "Does she know?"

"No, not yet anyway."

"I won't tell her." Peyton told her, getting into her car.

"Thanks. I guess I'll see you around." Brooke said.

"Yeah, later Brooke." Were her parting words as she drove off.

Her friendship with Haley was new, but she knew she'd never want that girl hurt, not now, not ever. Then to find out that she was, by Nathan no less, it was mind boggling. Other than Brooke, Haley was really her only other girl friend, and having one of the two most important girls in your life hurt, it just did not bode well with Peyton. She wasn't sure she was past the shock yet, how did you get past your ex-boyfriend, beating up his girlfriend, who had fastly become important to you, yourself. The fact that it was her ex-boyfriend threw her still, Nathan Scott - abuser. It chilled her, she didn't want to sound selfish, but what if she had stayed with him and it had been her. She wouldn't have stood up with his shit, but if he could do it to Haley, with seemingly no remorse, then couldn't he do it to almost anyone. That creeped her out the most, not scared her, creeped her out, that if he wanted to, he could hurt anyone, and to Peyton that wasn't something she'd like to see happen, let alone think.

Haley being hurt, wasn't the only thing on her mind. But Brooke and Haley, themselves. She had no idea they were as close as they seemed to be, outside of school, she hadn't a clue they went out of there way to hang out. A few weeks back she didn't even think that they even socialised at school together, apparently she was too focused in her relationship with Lucas to notice, and that just wasn't like her. She noticed things, people, that was her thing. She'd have to take a step back and actually open her eyes to see what was going around her, than just what was happening with her and Luke, she had seen the way Brooke had been acting with Nathan, rightfully so to, so it wouldn't be a losing battle.

She knew Brooke was the sort of person who tried her best to help you if you needed it. Except only if she knew you really well, she wasn't the sort of person who opened up easily, at least not about her feelings, and yet she had been so protective of Haley, that she had actually gone after Nathan and hurt him the only way she knew how. It wouldn't have been the first time either, Brooke had done it for her before as well. Smirking as she remembered that day in Kindergarten so long a go, yet it seemed like it had just happened yesterday.

"Peyton, what's wrong?" a child like Brooke had asked.

"Nothing." a little Peyton had answered with a scowl on her face.

"I'm your bestest friend Peyton Sawyer, you can tell me anything." Little Brooke had told her.

"Pete Whiteman, came up to me and said I like stupid music, then he said, it was just like my hair, stupid and curly! Then he pulled it!" Little Peyton told her friend.

"Pete Whiteman?" Little Brooke asked.

"Yes." Little Peyton answered sourly.

"Fine." Was Little Brooke's parting words as she looked around the playground, seeking out her prey, and as her eyes sought it out, her mouth transformed into a dangerous smirk - as dangerous as a six year old's smirk could get at that age - then stomped across the busy playground, as little Peyton stood watching.

Reaching her prey, in the form of a seven year old Pete Whiteman, little Brooke reached up, tapped him lightly on his shoulder, waiting till he turned around. When he did, she gave him a big smile, lifted her foot off of the ground and brought it down on his foot, hard. Her smile only got bigger as Pete started hopping about.

"That's for calling her stupid!" Little Brooke had shouted, then reached her hand back as far as she could, bringing it forward with as much force as a six year old could, and slapped him across his cheek. "AND THAT'S for pulling her hair!" she told him, turning on her heel and skipping back to Peyton as she left Pete crying behind her.

Brooke had gotten into trouble for it, but she had told her, that it was more than worth it, to have seen him cry and that she'd do it always for her best friend and the people she loved.

Was that it, was Haley, Brooke's new best friend? Had she lost out because she wanted Lucas, more than Brooke had wanted him, if it was, then she was deeply disappointed. Her and Brooke's motto of Ho's over Bro's, had never rang more true than it did at the prospect of actually losing one's best friend. She didn't hate Haley, for taking her place and she didn't hate Brooke, for giving someone else her spot as best friend. It was her own fault, but maybe it could be like it had been before, but with a minor difference of there being her, Brooke and Haley instead of just her and Brooke.

Her thoughts were getting her no where. She needed air. Getting up off of her bed, she grabbed her car keys off of the night stand beside her and headed out.

xxxx

Driving down the road, with the top down and the wind blowing in her hair, was an old cliché, but Peyton never felt freer than when she was driving, nothing could touch her. Her thoughts were left outside the car door when she got into the driving seat and she just drove, drove to where the car took her. The car took her, she didn't take the car, it took her places she had never seen before. Sometimes she drove to forget, and that was what she was doing now, forgetting. Or trying to anyway. Tonight driving didn't seem to be doing much for her, and she hated that, because that meant the problem was big and it was. She just couldn't get over the fact that Haley was hurt, it sent an underscribable feeling through her. Haley had been helpless and she wanted to help in anyway she could, but to Peyton, she felt like she was sticking out like a sore thumb. She never thought the day would come when Brooke, had a handle on the situation more than she did. Not that Brooke was useless at it, she just panicked. A lot. Now it was her turn.

She wasn't panicking though, she was more in a daze of sorts, struggling to straighten her mind out, of the entanglement she found it to be in. Feeling the car pull to a stop, she took in her surroundings with a sigh. This was not going to end well. Almost against her will, she got out of her car, walked to the door and was knocking on it.

"Peyton?"

"Hey Mrs. Scott, I was wondering if Nathan was in?"

"He's in his room, do you want me to go get him for you?" Deb asked her.

"If it's ok with you, can I just go up and see him? It won't be long, I just need to tell him something. So can I?" Peyton wondered.

"Sure, you know where his room is, just go on up." Deb answered, as she stood aside letting Peyton in.

"Thanks." Peyton thanked her with a smile, making her way up the stairs and to Nathan's room.

As she got closer to Nathan's bedroom, she could hear music, and not the good kind either. Pushing his door open, she saw him lying on his bed, not paying attention, looking towards the ceiling. Walking over to his stereo, she hit the power button and the whole room was in silence.

"What the -" Nathan muttered as he jerked up. "Peyton?"

"How could you do that?" she asked him.

"Do what?" he wondered.

"Cut the BS Nate, you and I both know what the hell I'm talking about." she replied, her tone angry.

"Ah," he began with a sigh. "So I'm guessing Brooke told you huh?"

"Well yeah, kinda wanted to know what the hell was going on, after seeing the state of Haley."

"You've seen her? Is she..."

"No! No, you don't get the luxury of know how the hell she is, not after what you did, you asshole." Peyton raged at him. "You know I've disliked a lot of people before Nathan, but I've never hated someone before. Congratulations, you're the first."

"Peyton..."

"Don't Peyton me," she interrupted him again. "I have more respect for a rabid dog, than I do for you. That's always been your problem Nathan, you can't get what you want, so you act out. You're pitiful." Peyton degraded him.

"Do you want me to hit you to, cause I will!" Nathan raged, at her words.

"Oh try it Nate, take your best shot, cause I won't hesitate in telling every single person about what you did. So do it, I dare you." Peyton goaded him. "Come on!" she shouted.

Charging off of his bed, he grabbed a hold of her t-shirt, and pushed her forward, until her back was against one of his walls and raised his fist, that was covered in a cast.

"Come on Nate, do it, do it, do it!" Peyton repeated over and over, almost like a martyr.

Sneering at her he lowered his fist. "You're not worth it!"

Not knowing what possessed her, Peyton's fist was flying up through the air, and caught Nathan's jaw, round about the same place where the basketball Brooke had flung at him had hit, and then pushed him with all she could to the floor.

"You sicken me, I can't believe we ever dated, that I ever felt for you. You're scum Nathan, scum! Your dad is a saint compared to you." she informed him. "I really hope karma hits you ten fold and bites you on the ass." Peyton spat at him, contempt lacing her voice, but surprisingly she felt better, than she had. "If you think me and Brooke were bad enough, just wait till Lucas finds out," she told him with a smirk. "You're life won't be worth living, and when he finds you and he will, I'll be watching and I'm pretty sure both Brooke and especially Haley, will be to, and it'll be nothing you don't deserve." Peyton told him, walking out of his bedroom leaving him lying on the floor.

xxxx

Pulling up to the James house for the second time that day, Peyton shut off her engine and got out of her car and walked up the to the front of the house, only this time instead of barging in like last time, she knocked and waited for an answer.

"Can I help you?"

"Taylor right?" Peyton asked.

"Yeah, do I know you?" she asked.

"Nah, Brooke mentioned you at school today, said you were looking after Haley." Peyton explained.

"Oh you're a friend of there's, well Haley uh..." Taylor trailed off trying to think of an excuse.

"You don't need to make something up, I came by earlier and saw what had happened to Haley, I can't believe what that dick did to her." she told Taylor.

"You knew him?"

"Dated him."

"Oh, all these twists and turns, it's like a tv movie." Taylor joked. "Come on in."

Stepping inside, Peyton already knew she like Taylor, she seemed like the sort of girl that she could get along with. "Where are they?"

"Last time I checked, they were talking in my bedroom."

"You're bedroom?" Peyton questioned.

"He hurt her in her own bedroom, she feels kinda weird going in their." Taylor elaborated.

"Well, that's totally understandable. Can I go up?" Peyton wondered.

"They're you friends, I don't think I can stop you either way, not that I would want to anyway." Taylor told her with a smile.

"Thanks." she replied, heading up stairs, along the hallway, till she got to the door of the room, of where both Brooke and Haley were. Pushing the door open, she was surprised to find them sleeping, whether it be a nap or full on sleeping. What go her attention the most was how Haley was cuddled up to Brooke, catlike, leg tangled together, Haley's arm across Brooke's midsection, and her head on top of Brooke's shoulder. In the amount of times herself and Brooke had shared a bed, they had never, not once, ended up like that. Was there something going on here, that she didn't know about?

With a frown on her face, Peyton turned around and headed back downstairs, and as she was coming down them, she saw Taylor look up at her.

"What's up?"

"They were sleeping."

"Ah." Taylor replied, in understanding.

"Ah, what do you mean ah?" Peyton asked her.

"I know why you have that look on your face." Taylor explained.

"Care to explain?"

"You got up to the room, they were sleeping, asleep like they always are whenever they're around each other, together." Taylor enlightened her.

"They're always like that? Together-y?"

"Why, does that make you uncomfortable?"

"No. No, it doesn't, I just didn't think Brooke was like that, I guess it's kinda obvious now, her being like that with Nathan and being all cold towards him. I wish Brooke had told me that they were together." Peyton said, causing Taylor to laugh.

"Oh they're not together, hell knows why though, stubborn I guess. But no, the actual togetherness, is not happening." she explained. "I'm trying to work on that part, but it's proving to be troublesome."

"Need some help?" Peyton asked with a smirk.

"I'd love some." Taylor told her gladly. "Who's Nathan?"

"The ex, on both our accounts, he was the one who did this to her." Peyton explained.

"Nathan who?"

"Scott, Nathan Scott."

Taylor didn't know why that name sounded so familiar, but it was. Did she know him, why did it seem his name was flashing in front of her, like a bright neon sign. How did she know Nathan Scott?

End of Chapter 8.

So there you have it folks, what did you guys think? Love it...hate it...kinda in between? Let me know, you know where the review box is right? You can use it yanno, it ain't there to look pretty D, so be kind, rewind...no that taking a video back...be kind, leave a review! That's it!