It was midnight and Sawyer was cold, hungry, and tired….but she couldn't sleep. Her mind replayed the events of only hours before. Her yells and insults, her mother's tight embrace, her father's menacing determination. The blur of the moment was becoming clearer and clearer. Her craving had subsided, but she realized how far she had gone.
She tiptoed out of her room. Hoping to get something to eat. She hadn't left her room since Lucas had pushed her in.
"Go back to your room Sawyer." Said an angry voice from the dining room table.
Sawyer almost jumped out of her skin. She didn't expect to hear her mother this late.
"Mom, I was just, I was just gonna get something to eat."
"NO ONE gave you permission to leave your room. Go back." Peyton said resolutely.
Sawyer's voice remained meek, "Mom I'm hungry."
She slammed her fist on the table, "Damn it! Just go back Sawyer. You'll eat in the morning."
Sawyer didn't move from her spot, she hesitated, "M-mom why are you up? You have work tomorrow."
Peyton finally looked up to her daughter. She was wearing the same clothes she took out for her in the morning. She looked so much smaller, as if suddenly Peyton saw the pills wasting her daughter away.
She pushed her hair back exasperated, "Get. To. Your. Room. NOW. I don't want to see you until the morning." Peyton said through clenched teeth.
Sawyer looked at her mother desperately, but she didn't budge.
"I'm sorry Mom. I know I screwed up." She said lastly, but Peyton didn't respond. With her head bowed she went back to her room.
Peyton went outside got a hold of a flower pot and threw it onto the floor until it crashed into a million pieces.
"DAMN IT!" She yelled; sliding down the wall she began to cry. She felt a strong arm envelop her and a kiss on her cheek.
"I know baby. I know." Lucas said on the verge of tears himself.
… … …
The next morning Sawyer left her room to find her parents waiting for her in the kitchen.
"Sit down Sawyer." Lucas said pointing to the stool. She carefully sat down, trying not to see her parent's faces.
Peyton saw how scared she looked. She took a deep breath.
Lucas took initiative, "Sawyer if you take another pill we're sending you to rehab."
Sawyer looked up astonished. Rehab's for junkies, for drug addicts, and people who were too poor, too messed up, and too misguided. It couldn't possibly be for her.
"Rehab? I'm not an addict." She said confidently.
Peyton eyes darted towards her, "If you take one more pill you're showing us that you are. Would you prefer we send you now?"
"No m'am." She said embarrassed.
"What do you have to say for yourself Sawyer?" Peyton asked.
Sawyer wasn't prepared for that question. "Ummm."
"Is that it?! Ummm?!" Lucas responded.
Sawyer eye's widened, "NO! It's just that I don't know what to say. I'm sorry! I just, I started and I liked it. I'm sorry."
Peyton shook her head in disgust, "Who knew about this besides Justin? Did Sam know?"
Sawyer said nothing.
"Sam knew about this?! Oh my God just perfect!" Peyton said throwing her hands in the air.
"It's not her fault mom!" Sawyer tried defending Sam, "I told her not to tell anyone."
"You don't get it do you Soy?" Peyton suddenly asked.
"What do you mean?" Sawyer asked.
"You could've died! You could've gone further and further down. Do you know how many people I know who have struggled with this all their lives?!"
"Babe-" Lucas tried to interrupt…"Mom I didn't-"
"No you don't know Sawyer! You don't know anything at all!"
Sawyer swallowed back hard, "MOM!" she said with a burst of courage.
Peyton stopped and Lucas looked at Sawyer surprised.
She continued, "I get it. That's why I tried to stop. Okay?!"
Lucas checked the clock, "Alright. We all need to cool off here. Sawyer we'll discuss your punishment after school. Let's go we're gonna be late."
Sawyer got up and avoided her mother's glare.
In the car Lucas clarified some things for her, "Just to make this clear you're not allowed to see Justin."
She said nothing, but still planned on seeing him.
… … …
Brooke was in her office early morning sending some e-mails before she left to work. Julian was staying with Sam. Before she left, Brooke went into Sam's room to say bye.
She opened the door. Sam was already up on her computer.
"Kind of early don'tya think?" Brooke said.
Sam looked up from the computer, "I was looking to see if the police had found anything yet…on Jack."
Brooke sighed and took a seat by Sam, "Any news?"
She shrugged, "No. Aren't the police supposed to call or something? Are they even looking?! It's so stupid! It's not even his fault and now he's gone."
Brooke put her hand on Sam's knee, "Sam."
"Brooke you know it's true!"
"SAM." She said a bit louder. Sam stopped. "You need to calm down okay. I assure you they're looking. Okay? We know that they're in Charlotte. When more information comes they'll contact us before it even gets to the news. So I need you to trust me. Everything is going to be okay."
Brooke closed the laptop and put it on her bedside table. "Do you trust me?" She whispered.
Sam stared at her suspiciously but gave in and nodded, "Yeah. I trust you mom."
She patted her knee and gave her a kiss, "Good. I'm going to work. Julian's staying with you. If you feel scared or anything like it tell him, or call me. I love you Sammy."
Sam laid back down, "Love you too."
It was around 9' O' clock when Peyton showed up at Brooke's door. Julian opened the door. He knew something was wrong.
"Peyton, are you okay?" He asked allowing her to come in.
"Julian is Sam here?" She asked hastily.
Julian put his arms on her shoulders, "Peyton what's going on? You need to calm down."
Sam heard Peyton and came out.
"Aunt Peyton what's up?" She asked.
Peyton saw Sam and felt anger towards her niece. She got closer to her, "Why didn't you tell me Sam?" she said coldly.
Sam instantly knew, "Aunt Peyton she told me not to-"
"Does it look like I care what she told you to do?! Sam she's practically addicted. You could've stopped this! You out of ALL people should know what drugs can do to a person! You lived it didn't you?!"
That comment hurt Sam. She did her best to protect Sawyer and now she was the one being blamed.
"WHOAH!" Julian exclaimed, "Sam why don't you go to your room. Peyton and I need to talk."
She ignored him and walked swiftly towards Peyton, "Don't do that! That's not fair! You can't just bring up my pa-" She had forgotten to be careful when she walked and felt a crippling pain from her healing surgery. She doubled down, "Damn it!" She squeaked. Julian jumped in and got a hold of her, "Oh my God. Sam are you okay?
She nodded and managed to say "I'm fine" although tears from the pain made their way down.
"I'll get you some of your pain meds." He led her back to her room and laid her down. When he came out Peyton was apologetic.
"Julian I'm so sorry. I'm just going crazy here."
He looked at her confused, "Can you tell me what's going on. What was that all about?"
"We just found out that Sawyer's been popping Vicodin pills for a while now. Sam knew and kept it a secret. I'm sorry she didn't deserve that. Let me go apologize."
She was walking towards Sam's room but Julian caught her, "Peyton it's okay. I get it. I'm really sorry P." He said sincerely, "We'll talk to her."
Peyton nodded.
"Go talk to Brooke." He said.
She sniffled, "I can't she's working right now."
"GO. Peyton. She's at the local store right now. There's no meeting scheduled for today."
… … …
Peyton came into Clothes over Bros. She managed to stay composed until Brooke asked her what was wrong. She fell into Brooke's arms.
"Honey what's going on?" Brooke asked sympathetically. They both sat down on the couch.
"You were right Brooke." She said.
"I'm right about a lot of things. You're going to have to be a little bit more specific." Brooke said trying to be playful.
Peyton looked at her hands, "Sawyer's been taking Vicodin…for fun. She tried to stop on her own, that's why she's been sick. It's the reason for her grades and the cheerleading fiasco."
Brooke was confused, "Wait. What? She quit cheerleading too?!"
"BROOKE! We have bigger problems here!" Peyton said exasperated.
Brooke placed Peyton's head on her shoulder, "Sweetie come here. I'm so sorry. She'll get through it. She has amazing parents. And an even better aunt. Tough love P. Sawyer. You're gonna have to dish it out….have you thought about Rehab?"
"We told her that if she takes another pill we're sending her to rehab."
Brooke rubbed Peyton's back, "I know it's hard sweetie."
"She's 14 Brooke!" Peyton exclaimed.
"I know. I know. Do you want me to talk to her?"
"Could you?" She asked sitting back up.
"Of course P. Saywer! I'm only your best friend!"
Peyton looked remorseful, "Well, umm, don't get mad at me but I may have yelled at Sam today. I said some things I shouldn't have and…"
Brooke raised her eyebrows, "What does Sam have to do with this?"
"Sam knew." Peyton said.
Brooke sighed heavily, "Oh Peyton I'm so sorry!" She said sympathetically, "I'll talk to her and make sure she apologizes. I can't believe her!"
Peyton looked back up at Brooke, "I think I owe her an apology. I may have brought up her past and blamed her just a bit."
Brooke bit her lip, but put her hand on Peyton's shoulder, "It's okay Peyton. I know you were mad. Just take it easy on her ya know? She kind of did just get shot."
Peyton weakly smiled, "Trust me I know."
… … …
"Hey babe. Did Peyton talk to you today?" Asked Julian.
Brooke frowned, "Yeah she did. We have to talk to Sam about keeping something like that a secret."
Reluctant to add more to Sam's burden they trudged to her room.
When Sam saw them come in she started apologizing, "Look guys I'm really friggin' sorry that I didn't tell you. I thought I got her to stop. I didn't know she'd go crazy please don't yell at me. I have the biggest headache right now and my side hurts, and-"
"SAM." Brooke said stopping her tirade. She crossed her arms and continued, "We're not gonna yell. But if something like this ever comes up again you have to tell us. Do you understand? I don't give a damn if you're sworn to secrecy if someone's life is in danger secrets don't matter."
"Yes m'am." Sam said.
Julian continued, "And Sam the next time this happens there will be yelling and grounding and plenty of punishment."
"Sammy?" Brooke said in a softer tone.
Sam turned to her.
"You didn't deserve all that stuff Peyton yelled at you. She was just mad. Okay? It wasn't fair to you." Brooke told her.
"Yeah I know. But thanks anyway. Do you guys think she could come over."
Brooke thought about it, "Maybe next week. I don't think her parents want her out right now Sam."
She shrugged, "Whatever."
Julian looked at Brooke and hinted that they should leave her be. They both went out. Sam turned over thinking of Sawyer. Hoping that everything was okay on her end.
… … …
Brooke waited until the next day before she went to Peyton's house. When she got to their house only Lucas was home. Peyton was still in the studio.
"Hey Luke." He said giving him a hug.
"You know don't you?" He said returning the hug.
She gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Yes. I do. I came by to talk to Sawyer if you don't mind."
"Go ahead." He said sadly.
"So what was the veredict?" She asked him.
"She's grounded obviously. But after cheer practice Haley is tutoring her and we're having her do community service at the homeless shelter. Maybe their stories will inspire her."
She smiled sympathetically, "Basically she has no time to do anything else."
Lucas smiled, "I prefer a tired Sawyer then a Vicodin addicted Sawyer."
Brooke chuckled and walked towards Sawyer's room. She knocked
"Can I come in?" She asked. There was no answer, but she opened the door anyways.
"Well if it isn't my drug addicted niece." Brooke said cheerfully.
Sawyer stayed quiet.
" Awww. Did the cat get your tongue too?" She continued sarcastically.
Sawyer winced, "Aunt Brooke I'm not a drug addict!" She said annoyed.
"Oh of course you aren't. You just enjoy popping pills 'till you grow so desperate for them that you think it's okay to call your mother, my BEST friend, a bitch." She raised her eyebrow at Sawyer.
Sawyer felt exposed, "Aunt Brooke. I, I said I was sorry. And it's not like I died! Geez."
Brooke scoffed and got closer to Sawyer. Turning Sawyer's body by her shoulders to face her, "No, you didn't die. You're alive, but you're also really stupid."
Sawyer frowned. Brooke wasn't playing the nice aunt. She attempted to get up and leave, but Brooke kept her down, "Sit. Your. Bony Ass. Down. Sawyer." She did as she was told.
Brooke sat down next to Sawyer and warmed her voice, "What the hell was going through that damn head of yours when you decided to start? Don't you dare lie to me either. It might fly with you parents, but I'm not an idiot. Sam is my daughter after all."
Sawyer sighed, "Everyone was mad at me. I failed an assignment in Aunt Haley's class. I just felt overwhelmed I guess. And Justin, well he helped me. Or at least I thought he did."
Brooke noticed the droop in her shoulders when she talked of Justin, "What happened today?...with Justin."
Sawyer looked at Brooke, "I saw him sweet-talking another girl. And he avoided me the whole day. It's all my dad'd fault. He scared him away."
Brooke put her hand up, "No, no, no. Wait just a minute young lady. Justin got you into trouble. Justin got you hooked on pills. Your father saved you."
"He just doesn't get addicted so they're not bad to him!" Sawyer weakly defended him.
"Sweetie, Justin needs to get kicked in the ass. I ruled high school and I knew plenty of people like him. And you missy, if I ever find out that you're still trying with him or you're trying pills or any other drugs, I will smack you across that pretty face of yours…metaphorically speaking…maybe."
Brooke pushed Sawyer's hair behind her ears, "Sweetie if you ever need to talk I'm here. You don't need to resort to that horrible stuff."
With that she gave her a kiss on the cheek and headed out.
I hope I did it justice! Review. Tell me what you think!