Sawyer fixed her dress and tried to act as normal as possible, "umm Hi mommy. Hi daddy."

Peyton wasted no time she grabbed Sawyer by her upper arm, "Where the hell were you Sawyer?!"

Sawyer's eyes widened, Peyton wasn't known for being aggressive, "I, I can explain mom." she stammered

Peyton took a step back when she got a whiff of her daughter's breath, "Are…are you drunk Sawyer?" she said surprised.

"Sawyer get your ass in this seat, now!" Lucas's voice boomed after he heard Peyton's question. Sawyer jumped at her father's raised voice and walked quickly, slightly stumbling, with Peyton right behind her.

Sam just watched them, too afraid to look at Brooke or Julian. When she saw that Peyton and Lucas were staring at her, she realized she was standing alone by the doorway. Slowly she directed herself toward Brooke and Julian. Brooke's jaw was clenched and it twitched slightly when they made eye contact.

"Get over here." Brooke said in an austere voice that sent a shiver down her spine. Sam walked towards the living room.

Julian pointed to the spot next to Sawyer, "Sit down." Sam did as she was told.

Peyton couldn't stand looking at her daughter in the state she was in,

"I can't believe you Sawyer! Where the hell were you two!? How are you drunk?!"

Brooke interjected, "Don't you dare lie to me." She said staring directly at Sam, burning through her with her gaze.

Sam waited to see if Sawyer would say anything, but she didn't.

"Samantha! Last chance!" Brooke responded to the silence.

Sam took a deep breath, but Sawyer beat her to the punch.

"We went to a party okay, I got drunk there! It's not a big deal. Everyone does it"

Lucas was furious "You lied to both of us Sawyer! You snuck around and tricked us. Do you think you're adult enough for that crap?! What is it Sawyer!? Who do you think you are?! Huh? Answer me!" He yelled.

Sawyer's tears started to roll down her cheeks, "Daddy!" she said desperately, not knowing how else to respond.

He continued, "You know what Sawyer? Maybe it's time I remind you that you're still a child. Maybe you still need to be punished like a child! Get over here." He placed his foot on the couch, ready to draw her across his knee, something he hadn't done since she was 6, and even then it was rare.

Sawyer's eyes started bawling, "Daddy, NO, please don't!" she cried, as Lucas was about to grab her.

Sam quickly looked at her parents. Brooke just stared at her with a face that burned a whole right through her. Both her and Julian were disappointed more than anything. But after what she was about to do that would quickly change.

"WAIT!" she yelled

Everyone stopped to look at her.

She started playing with her hands subconsciously. Sam swallowed, "It's not Sawyer's fault Uncle Lucas! I, umm, I wanted to go. I begged Sawyer to come. She really didn't want to go, but I really pressured her. And she drank some spiked drinks without knowing. I wasn't paying attention sorry."

Peyton closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Soy, is that true?"

Sawyer looked down and nodded meekly. She couldn't believe Sam actually went through with it.

Lucas backed up from Sawyer, too angry at Sam to even answer her.

Julian said what was on everyone's mind, "Lucas, I think it's time for you guys to go. We'll deal with this. I'm really sorry."

Lucas grabbed his coat and stormed out. Peyton grabbed Sawyer's hand, helping with her balance, "Let's go Sawyer Scott. Don't think for a second that you're not in trouble."

She stopped to look at Sam then at Brooke. She directed herself towards Sam, "What's gotten into you Sam?"

She turned to Brooke and looked away.

Once they left Brooke stared at Sam. While Sam stared at her shoes. Her stare was stoic, she was waiting for Sam to look up. Hesitantly she lifted her head, "M-mom?" she said

Brooke's voice was severe, "No. You don't get to talk. I don't even want to look at you right now."

Sam looked back down, "I'm really sorry."

This unleashed a fury from Brooke, "You're sorry?! Are you kidding me?! It's 4 in the morning Sam and you think a sorry is going to be enough?! How could you be so stupid?! You put yourself in danger, you put Sawyer in danger! You know she can't deal with that, she's not like you!"

Sam's head snapped up, "What do you mean she's not like me?! You mean she's not some fucked up foster charity case? Is that what you mean Brooke!?"

"HEY! Don't you dare talk to your mother like that." Julian said authoritatively.

"Don't you dare start your pity party Sam. You know damn well that's not what I meant. Both you and Sawyer wouldn't be in this situation if you hadn't been so adamant about this party." Her voice was low mixed with fury and disappointment.

Julian interjected, "Sam, I don't understand. You don't even like parties. What possessed you?" he asked with a sincere confusion.

Sam stood up feeling double-teamed and helpless. "Sit down!" Brooke demanded.

"Why should I?! You don't even believe in me!" She said with a hurt that was backed with anger.

Brooke crossed her arms, "What are you talking about Samantha?! You said it yourself! You're the one that started all of this. How the hell do you expect me to react?!"

Sam just wanted to tell them the truth, but Sawyer was certainly dead if she said anything. She just shook her head, "Forget it! It doesn't even matter. It'll always be my fault anyway!"

She pushed past Julian, but Brooke grabbed her hand, "Where do you think you're going? We didn't excuse you. We are NOT done!"

Sam pulled her hand away, "Who cares! There's nothing else to say. I'm the screw up in this house, I get it!"

"We NEVER said that Samantha! It's the last time I tell you to stop saying that about yourself!" Brooke said.

Julian attempted to ease the yelling, "Samson-"

Sam didn't want to deal with them, "NO! Let me go with Rebecca! She'd understand me!"

Brooke narrowed her eyes and paused a moment, composing herself after that comment. Her voice became grave, "You are not going with that woman."

Sam was adamant, "Let me go! Or I swear I'll leave anyways! You guys didn't even defend meat all! Do you think I'm that bad!?" She said with tears rolling down her cheeks."

Brooke walked closer to Sam, "You know that's a lie… And I don't care if I have to lock you in your room. You're not allowed to go with her."

Sam grew infuriated, "I hate you! I hate you so much!" Sam was angry. Angry that she couldn't tell them the truth. Angry that they were so ready to accept her lie. Angry at everything.

Brooke threw her hands in the air, "Oh so now you hate me? Fine! Get your ass and that mouth of yours to your room, before you make me do something I regret!"

"Stop!" Julian yelled.

"Brooke, let her go, just for the night." Brooke was taken aback, "Are you kidding me?"

Julian looked at Sam whose eyes wanted to kill both of them. He sighed, "We checked out her house. It's an okay neighborhood. She'll be miserable here either way. And you both need to calm down."

Brooke blinked twice and turned around, "Whatever. I just. I just can't…do what you want. Bye Sam." She said as she walked outside to her backyard not bothering to look back at Sam or Julian.

Julian turned to Sam who looked hurt and confused at the same time. "Call Rebecca, if she wants you to go now, I'll take you."

Sam called and was happy that Rebecca agreed. She packed a couple things and some changes of clothes. Julian led her to the car and he drove in silence.

When he got to Rebecca's house he turned to Sam, "We love you Sammy. But I don't ever want to hear you tell your mother that you hate her. Got it?"

Sam rolled her eyes, "Yeah. Thanks, bye." She just wanted to leave. Rebecca let her in and Julian waited until she closed the door to drive off.

"Sammy I want you to meet Mark. He's my fiancé." Sam was surprised, she had never mentioned him. He seemed a little scary, but she smiled and said hello.

Rebecca then whispered in Sam's ear, "Don't tell Brooke or Julian about him." Sam nodded, wondering why she wanted to be so secretive. Rebecca showed her the room she'd be staying in and the moment she laid down she instantly fell asleep.

… … … …

Lucas unlocked the door as Peyton carried a drunk, sleeping Sawyer inside.

"Lucas." She said seriously.

"What?"

"You have to calm down, she's your daughter."

Lucas sighed, "Exactly. She's my daughter. And look at her. Look at my baby. She went to a party and got drunk. But yet she still needs her mom to hold her and carry her inside. It's just confusing."

Peyton laid Sawyer down on the couch. It reminded her of all the times she laid her down for a nap, except those times she hadn't snuck out and gotten drunk.

She went to Sawyer's room and grabbed some pajamas. Carefully, she began to change her daughter into clean, comfortable clothes.

"Do you believe what Sam said?" she asked Lucas simultaneously.

Lucas shrugged, looking at Sawyer's peaceful face, "I don't know."

Peyton stayed quiet for a second, "In the car, I thought about it, and I don't know. Sam just seemed so quick to respond right before you were about to grab Sawyer."

Lucas exhaled, "I, I can't believe I was going to spank her. I don't know, I was just so angry."

Peyton started to fix Sawyer's hair that was messed up at the party and it slowly turned back to her soft curls , "I can't believe I was actually going to let you. We were both worked up. It was a freak moment." She turned to him, "What are we gonna do?"

Lucas answered sternly, "We'll talk to her when she wakes up."

Once Peyton finished she got up from the couch and pecked Lucas on the cheek. Without the short dress and untamed hair, and in her favorite pajamas and soft curls, she still looked like a small vulnerable child. Lucas smiled, then picked Sawyer back up, "I'm going to take her to our bed. I'll sleep on the couch, so there's more space for both of you."

… … … …

It was eight in the morning when Sam woke up to the smell of weed all around the house, and the sounds of two men arguing. Suddenly she heard a fight break out. She heard Mark's voice,

"Give me my fuckin' money Paul! That was ten pounds you damn fool!"

Then a loud punch and the sound of a man losing breath reverberated,

"Mark come on, I'm sorry!"

The beating continued and it brought Sam back to another flashback, except this time Brooke and Julian weren't there to comfort her.

She backed up into the corner of the closet and started sucking her thumb as silent tears rolled down her cheeks. She waited for the sounds of the man's cries and Mark's fists hitting him to stop. Finally it did. She waited a long time before coming out.

Slowly she opened the bedroom door. Mark was watching television.

"Umm Mark?" she asked nervously

He grunted, "Whadya want?"

She swallowed, "Where's Rebecca?"

"She's comin' went to the store I think." He said, taking a swig of his beer.

Sam sat down on the other couch and waited anxiously for Rebecca. Her phone rang and it was a text from Brooke,

We gave you the night. Come outside. Now.

Sam sighed and walked out. She wanted to go home, but she was still angry and unwilling to concede. In her mind, she would tell Rebecca what happened and Rebeeca would definitely put a stop to it.

Brooke was waiting outside of the car,

"Get in Sam." She said the moment Sam came to view.

"I brought extra clothes I can stay a few more nights."

"Sam I'm not playing around. Get in the damn car."

Sam tightened her jaw, "Mom" she said more sincerely, almost desperately. "Please, just leave. You don't understand how screwed up everything feels for me. Give me space. Just two or three days. Please. I'll accept your punishment for being an idiot and a jerk to Sawyer, but please give me these couple of days."

Brooke was exasperated, "You mean to tell me I came over here for absolutely no reason?" Sam said nothing, exasperated Brooke threw her arms in the air, "Three days Samantha. Three days with her and that's it. Then you're coming straight home and you're grounded, no privileges, whatsoever. No life whatsoever. You're stuck with Julian and me. And Sam I'm sorry, but I don't trust her, and frankly I'm having trouble trusting you."

With that she went back into her car and drove off. Sam felt a sadness as she watched Brooke leave.

"What about my kiss?" Sam said quietly to herself.

'She always asks for a kiss on the cheek after we argue.' She thought. Sam shook the thought away and steeled herself as she went back into the house.

Rebecca finally came in and went to the kitchen to put groceries away. Sam went to the kitchen,

"Rebecca." She said in a low voice, "Mark had some guy here. He smelled like weed and other stuff. They were arguing about drugs."

Rebecca went to her and grabbed her by the arm, "You don't say anything!" She whispered furiously, "I'm not into drugs anymore, but Mark, well he needs help. Leave him alone, got it? Just don't ask about it Sam."

Sam was taken aback. "Rebecca he's dangerous!" she whispered back.

Rebecca shook her head, "No! I love him! There's nothing wrong with him Sam."

Sam couldn't believe it. Rebecca changed her habits, but her mind was still as weak before. She would never stand up for Sam, she would never stand up for anyone. Sam suddenly had an epiphany.

"Rebecca, yesterday I went to a party and let my cousin get drunk."

Rebecca shrugged, "Well if you wanted to go that's fine with me. As long as you're happy."

Did she not care for her well-being? Sam tried again, "Well what if I got like really drunk?"

Rebecca didn't seem phased, "Everyone experiments at your age Sam. I wouldn't be surprised anyways, I was pretty wild myself." She said laughing slightly.

Brooke was right. Sam knew it. But she was far too stubborn to accept it, and she wasn't about to call Brooke and beg for forgiveness either.

… … … …

Sawyer woke up in her parent's room. Slowly, she got up to a raging headache. "Damn!" she said aloud.

She found an aspirin and water on the bedside table with a note that said drink it. Once she did, she opened the door and found her parents and Brooke at the kitchen island. They had been talking about Sam's breakdown after they had left. Peyton looked up and her face turned serious when she saw her daughter,

"Sawyer, come here please."

Sawyer was scared, would her dad still carry out his threat? "But, dad are you gonna-?

Lucas turned around, "No I'm not, now come sit down."

Sawyer sat on the stool.

"Did you take the aspirin Soy?" Peyton asked.

"umm…yes I did."

Sawyer looked at Brooke and felt so much guilt. Brooke looked so withdrawn and sad.

Peyton nodded, "Sawyer…was Sam telling the truth yesterday? Was it really all her doing?"

Sawyer looked at her mom, then at her dad, and her lips started quivering, "Momma I don't want to say!"

Both parents' hearts fell, that was enough for them to know that Sam had lied to protect Sawyer.

Brooke bit her lip replaying all the things she had yelled and everything Sam had yelled back.

Peyton continued, "You're already in as much trouble as it is Sawyer Scott. Now tell the truth or you'll regret it. I promise you."

Sawyer felt nervous, "umm no. Sam lied."

Lucas rubbed his neck in exasperation, "Well what really happened?" He said trying to contain his frustration.

Sawyer looked at Brooke. She smiled weakly, "Soy, sweetie. I just need to know what happened because Sam is not okay right now."

Her aunt's reassuring words helped her, "Okay." She paused for a long while, "Well, Sam was the one that tried to stop me from going, but I didn't listen. It was a cheerleader party. The only reason she went was to protect me. She, umm she actually got me out of the drinking game before it got really bad. She called Jack to help her. And when we were going back I, I freaked out and she told me that she would cover for me so I wouldn't get in so much trouble because it's expected of her to get in trouble anyway." Sawyer hung her head, too ashamed to look at anyone.

Peyton went over and stood her up,

"Mom I'm really sorry." She looked at Brooke, with tears in her eyes "Aunt Brooke I'm sorry Sam lied for me. It's my fault. Don't be mad at her!"

Peyton gave Sawyer a sharp smack to her bottom,

"Ow!" Sawyer squealed.

Peyton pointed to her bedroom door, "Go to your room! We'll deal with you later."

Peyton turned to Brooke , "Brooke, I am so sorry! Let's go get Sam."

Brooke was holding back her tears as she nodded and squeaked out, "No it's okay. She needs her time."

Please Review Guys! Thank you so much for those who faithfully review my story. You don't know how much it means to me….So what do you think?