Sawyer was having a blast at Brittany's house, but Michael sent her a text asking if he could walk her home. He said he was only five minutes away so Sawyer said her goodbyes and decided to wait for him outside. It just so happened that as she was waiting, a friend of Brittany's brother got to their house. He was dropped off in a sleek new car, and when he came out he was wearing a dress jacket, black pants, and a white shirt.

'He's obviously rich.' Sawyer thought to herself.

Looking dapper as ever the boy with hypnotizing looks went up to Sawyer and extended his hand, "Nice to meet you stunning beauty. I'm Chase." He said in a voice that could lull any girl.

Sawyer eyed him suspiciously, but did not offer her hand, it was obvious he was beginning to flirt with her.

"What's your name?"

"Sawyer." She said plainly.

He pretended to grab onto his heart, "Ouch." He said, "Blown off by a Tree Hill Cheearleader. What a shame. I could show you a good time." He flashed her a smile of pearly whites.

She put her hair behind her ear and squeezed her bag, "I have a boyfriend." She looked down the street, but Michael wasn't there. 'Hurry up.' She thought.

Chase chuckled, "Wow, you're more uptight than some of the girls at Buckley."
She rolled her eyes at him, trying to ignore his words.

He got closer and leaned over her, "Then again most girls in private school are actually freaks."

She got out from under him, "Can you leave me alone?"

He put his hand in his pocket and then changed his strategy, "Sawyer. It's Sawyer right?"
She nodded, but then looked down the street again, still no sign of Michael.

"You just seem really frazzled. You probably got a lot going on. And I don't like to see beautiful girls like you look so weary. I hoped that I could make you smile, but it looks like I've failed in my endeavor. Accept my apology?"

Sawyer looked at him funny and then it was her turn to chuckle, "You're weird."

He flashed her another smile, "Well it worked."

"Whatever." Sawyer responded.

He then saw Michael coming, "He your boyfriend?"
She felt relieved, "Yeah."
He then extended his hand once more and she took it, "It was a pleasure meeting you Sawyer. There's a Buckley party coming soon. I would love for you to come."

He looked up at the approaching Michael, "Your boyfriend can come too." He said.

Chase then winked at her and let go, "My house on Friday at 9pm." He said and walked away towards Brittany's door.

Sawyer looked confused, "I don't even know where you live!" She said before he went in the door. He laughed, "Google my family. The name is Chase Hamilton."

Before she could say anything else he went in, and Michael appeared.

"Who's that?" He asked. Sawyer jumped, startled at his voice, "Oh Geez. You scared me!"

"Sorry." He said giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"One of Oliver's friends, I guess."

"What'd he want with you?" He asked not really liking this guy.

She shrugged, "He's from Buckley and invited you and me to a party on Friday." There was a silence, "We should go." She added.

Michael grabbed her hand, "Buckley's a bunch of uptight, rich kid jerks. And even if I wanted to, I couldn't."

They started to walk, "Why?" She asked.

"I promised Julian I'd help him on set."
Sawyer dropped it after that. There was something enticing about Chase.

Michael started talking about his day, but Sawyer paid him no mind.

"Hey, do you know who the Hamiltons are?" She said abruptly putting a halt to his talking.
Michael looked at her annoyed, but he then thought for a moment, "Uhhh, Soy Robert Hamilton's the mayor. He was like partner in some law firm, and there's rumors that he's gonna run for senate."
Sawyer was in a bit of shock, "Oh."

"Why?" He said turning to her, "Wait, is that kid a Hamilton?"

She looked at him guiltily, "Yeah."

He shook his head in disapproval, "Soy, I don't want him befriending you."

She let go of his hand, "You can't tell me who or who I can't be friends with. You're my boyfriend, not my dad."

Michael rubbed the back of his neck, "Those kinds of kids are nothing but trouble!"

"How would you know?!" Her voice began to elevate.

He scoffed, "Sawyer stop acting so naive. You've been sheltered so you think everyone's motives are good." His brutal honesty only made Sawyer angrier.
She scrunched her face in anger, "And you don't act like you can tell me what to do! God, you know what I can walk on my own!" She stormed off. She hated being called naive. 'Maybe I will go to this party.' She thought bitterly.

"Soy!" He yelled as she walked away.

"God, just go home Michael!"

Angry at her for being so ignorant, he spoke without thinking, "Fine Sawyer, do what you want! But Sam's not always gonna be there and I'M not always gonna be there to help you!"

She turned swiftly around, "Fine! Let's start that now!" And turned back around.

Michael felt bad for his words. He crushed the water bottle in his hands and threw it at the street, "Damn it!" He said aloud.

She got home, still fuming about Michael's words, and sad that they had fought.

"Hey Soybean. How was school?" Peyton asked, not aware of what had went down.

Needing to lash out, Sawyer directed it to her mom, "God! Would you STOP calling me that. I'm not a little girl anymore, and I wish everyone would just back OFF." She stalked off leaving Peyton stunned, "So I'm guessing it went well then!" Peyton responded sarcastically, to which Sawyer answered with a door slam.

Peyton sighed, "Sawyer get back over here!"

She saw her daughter come out with an angry look on her face.

"What?" She asked dismissively.

She looked at her daughter with a raised eyebrow, "Would you like to explain the unnecessary attitude missy?"

Sawyer rolled her eyes, "No. I wouldn't. Can I go now?"

Peyton stared her up and down, confused at what had gotten into her daughter. Just yesterday she seemed perfectly fine. "Sawyer Brooke Scott. You're not making it any better."

She saw Sawyer's hardened face soften slightly.

"Did something happen at school today? Is it Michael?"

Sawyer wanted to tell her mother that she and Michael had gotten into a fight, but then she'd have to tell her about Chase too.

"It was just a long day mom. I'm sorry." She said swiftly, hoping to get out of a lecture, "I'll cut the attitude, okay?"

Peyton was no idiot, Sawyer was hiding something, but she was no longer in high school, she was the mother, someone not fit for secrets, "Fine. You can go. But I don't wanna hear it anymore today, got it?"

Sawyer nodded, "Yes m'am."

"Alright. Now come here."

Sawyer trudged her way to Peyton, and Peyton gave her a hug.

"You're dismissed." She said giving Sawyer a small pat on her butt, and a kiss on the cheek.

Once inside her room Sawyer pushed Michael out of her thoughts and googled the Hamilton family. Their home and their address came up. She found herself smiling as she imagined herself at a Buckley Party. Her, out of all the people at Tree Hill, she was the one invited.

"I'm so going to this." She said to herself as she looked over the picture of his home.

…. …. …..

Michael walked in feeling angry as well. He opened the door and threw his backpack on the floor, not realizing that Brooke was already home.

Brooke came out of Sam's room and saw his small outburst, "Bad day?" She asked sympathetically.

He looked frightened when he saw her, "Oh geez Brooke. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

She put her hand up, "Bud you're allowed to get mad. It's okay. You wanna talk about it?"

He realized that she was coming from Sam's room, "Wait is Sam home?" He asked.

She looked confused thinking he would've already known that, "Yeah, she got here early, and ended up falling asleep watching tv, so I took her to her bed." She looked at him, and then at Sam asleep, "Wait, is this about Sam."

"NO!" He said quickly thinking about the blade in his pocket, "I mean, no, no it's not about her. It's just Sawyer and me got in a fight." He said looking back down.

Brooke now completely understood, "Come on sweetheart, let's sit on the couch.

They both sat down. Brooke looked at Michael, he was like a little man in a teenager's body. He was so loving towards Sawyer, so protective of everyone he cared for, and so willing to sacrifice his own happiness for others.

"What happened buddy?" She asked softly, rubbing his arm.

He shrugged, not wanting to tell her about the party, "I, uh, I messed up and called her naive, because I didn't want her to hang around some," He stopped himself, "I mean, some..person..she, uh, met."
Brooke gave a sly smile, "A person huh?"

"Yeah, a person."

"Does this person happen to be a guy?" She said knowingly.

Michael cleared his throat, "Well...yeah, but that's not the point. He's bad news!"
Brooke nodded, "I agree. Sawyer's a bit naive, but she has to learn. You warned her, and I know that you're there to protect her. If she's in any danger, I know you'll to go to her parents." Michael cringed. She expected the same when it came to Sam, and he was definitely not holding up the end of that bargain.

"But you have to let her make her own mistakes, if not, she'll accuse you of being too controlling. She was just talking with him right? Was she planning on doing anything with him?"

He thought of the party, but decided to lie, "No." He replied, "But he's bad news! And I know it Brooke!"

"Then you're gonna have to suffer the consequences of telling her what you know." She said gently, while looking into Michael's worried eyes, "We don't like to hear the truth, because it's usually a harder pill to swallow."

"Thanks." He said simply.

Just then they were both startled by someone behind them, "Stop it!" Sam yelled, "Mom, he's lying!"

Michael shook his head rapidly, trying to get her to stop. Brooke stood up, surprised, "Samantha what are you doing?!" She asked clearly confused.

She pointed at Michael, but his stare told her to shut up. Brooke didn't give her a chance to speak, "Are you trying to protect Sawyer? Because let me tell you-"
Sam realized her mistake, and figured it'd be best to let her go off, "You and Sawyer have been getting into too much trouble young lady!"
"You're right!" She blurted out.

"What?" It was never that easy with Sam.

She cupped her hands and kept them in front of her, "I don't wanna fight with you." She said meekly.

Brooke bit her lip, Sam had been very sullen today, and didn't even bite at the chance of an argument, "Then why are you calling Michael a liar, when he's clearly just worried about Sawyer." She said gently, studying Sam's face in the process.

Sam had no idea what she was talking about, but she just went along with it, "I-I don't know. Just a gut reaction I guess." Brooke's face shone a bit of anger,

"Please mom, don't be mad at me." She pleaded with her. Sam was at her wit's end. Everything was falling apart, and today her mother kept her together, she didn't want to ruin it now.

Brooke sighed, "I'm not mad. Just don't let it happen again, okay?"
Sam nodded with relief. Brooke looked over at Michael, and then back at where Sam was, she had already left back into her room. She heard her phone ring, "I'm sorry Michael, I have to take this call."
"No, no, it's okay. Don't apologize. I'll go talk to Sam."
She smiled and gave him a hug, "Please do." She said hoarsely.

Michael went into Sam's room and then sat on Sam's chair. She was sitting near her windowsill absentmindedly looking outside.

"I'm not gonna rat you out Sam."
She turned to look at him, "Michael what's going on with Sawyer?" There was concern in her voice.

Michael scoffed, "What's going on with you?"

She turned back towards the windowsill an thought of the conversation she had with Rebecca, "We all have bad days Michael. Just drop it."

"Why can't you just tell me if its just a bad day you had then? You think I'm gonna judge you? Because you know that I won't." He pressed further and further which only annoyed Sam.

"God Michael can you just LEAVE?!"

He got off the bed abruptly, "FINE." He spit back. It seemed like no one wanted him around today. He slammed her door shut to which she just closed her eyes and took a breath. After her stressful day she realized that she would have to get Rebecca out of her mind.

'One less thing to worry about.' She thought. But the thought of visiting her in prison made her nervous. She looked towards the trash can and went over hurriedly making sure to lock her door in the process, but when she looked down the blade was gone.

'Damn it Michael!' She said aloud.

She thought for a second and she remembered that she had one in her old school backpack. She went over and held it tight in her hands, while Rebecca's phone call rang fresh in her ears,

FLASHBACK

..."Baby I just need to see you."

Sam felt a lump in her throat, "Wha-why'd you call me collect and why'd it say you were in prison?" She suddenly felt small and inadequate.

"Sammy I-I got into some bad things. They uhh, I was just selling dope, I never took it, I swear!" Her attempt to qualify her crime fell on a crest-fallen Sam. She couldn't believe that Rebecca would be so stupid again, she had tried so hard, even after all that had happened, to not blame her.

"Sammy?" Rebecca said once more.

"What?! I'm not going to go see you." Sam said in a cold voice, when in reality she just felt like crying.

She heard someone heckle Rebecca, "Ayy we needs the phone too white girl."

"Look Sam I have to go, but please come see me, just give them my name, and if you can bring me money baby."

"Rebecca-" Sam tried stopping her. Her voice was high and it seemed like she would cry at any moment.

"Buttercup lemme finish," Rebecca continued, "...because I only have a bit of time left. But mommy needs to start saving her money for when she gets out okay? That's why I need money. Please Sammy. I love you so much. Bye-bye."

With that Sam heard the phone click. She stared at her cellphone for a while. She thrust it into her pocket and heard Brooke honk her horn. She stood up straight and tried to shake it off.

Once again, Rebecca succeeded in ruining her day. But she felt a responsibility to help her, and was torn between helping her and leaving it alone.

END OF FLASHBACK

Sam slid down the wall of her room and held onto the teddy bear that Rebecca gave her when she was young, and had kept and used up to this point. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she gently put her bear down and lifted up her shirt, with practiced ease Sam let the blade slice into her, then did the same on her thigh. She took measured breaths to ease the pain. Her wet tears, the blood, the pain, it was all a release.

After slowly calming down Sam heard the hustle and bustle outside her room, reluctant to leave the safe spot of the corner, she got up and unlocked her door, then cleaned herself up. She carefully laid on her bed with her back to the door and held onto her teddy bear. Feeling vulnerable, she started sucking her thumb.

… … ….

It was around ten at night when Julian came into Sam's room with Brooke behind him.

Sam was at her desk working on some homework and turned her chair when she heard her door open. The sight of her parents made the cuts under her shirt and her shorts come to mind. She pulled her shorts down as they walked closer.

"What's up?" She asked nonchalantly.

"Hey Samson." He said bending and giving her a kiss on the top of her head, "How was your day?" He asked taking a seat on her bed along with Brooke. She looked over at Brooke who was staring at her as well, "It was…." She wasn't sure how to respond, "bearable." She finally said, but the look of worry that fell on her parents made her change her response, "I mean it was fine and all, just kinda boring and stuff."

Julian nodded, "Well kiddo I just wanted to tell you that I love you and that I'm sorry I've been gone so much, but just know that I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't important-"
Sam stopped him, "Julian."

He looked at her and gave her a loving paternal look. She looked down at her hands and then back up, "...Dad, it's okay. I went a whole 12 years without parents, I can survive, and I get that it's for work."
He smiled at her, "Good." He said decisively, "And uhhm, well actually your mom has some fun news for you."

Sam looked over at Brooke and raised her eyebrow, "What is it?" She asked suspiciously.

Brooke's face lit up, "Well, with the opening of the new youth line, Style magazine wants to do a spread on us."

Sam looked surprised, "US?" She said pointing at herself, Julian, and then Brooke.

Julian shook his head, "I'm gonna be busy, but you and Michael."
"WHAT?

Brooke's smile turned into a frown at Sam's noticeable disapproval, "It'll just be an interview and a short shoot."

Sam looked disgusted, "So you want to capitalize on Michael's grief? Really classy Brooke."

Julian gave her a furious glance, "HEY. Young lady watch it."

Sam crossed her arms and then looked at Brooke, "Sorry." She said in a forced mumble.

Brooke took a deep breath, "No. They wanted to talk to my whole family, and I consider him family. He doesn't have to talk about anything that he doesn't want to, and it's the same for you Samantha."

Sam stayed quiet, but gave up, "Fine. Whatever. When is it?" She asked clearly annoyed.

Brooke put her hand on Sam's knee, "Sam...if you don't want to do this, we don't have to. I guess I jumped the gun."

Sam knew how important these new lines were, and her pregnancy was something that deserved to be known to everyone so she took it with stride, "No, no. It's cool. I just, I just thought, well, it doesn't matter what I thought. Let's do it." She forced herself to eprk up, "So when is it?" She was now giving her parents a smile.

"It'll be next Friday after school." Julian responded.

"Cool." Sam answered.

With that both of them got up and gave Sam a goodnight kiss.

"Night, night kid. I love you." Julian said.

Brooke watched as Julian walked out and then sighed as she bent to Sam's level, who was sitting on her chair, "Thanks Sam." She said quietly.

Sam smiled, "Any time." She responded.

Brooke chuckled, "Goodnight Sammy. Actually sleep today, okay?" She said joking.

Sam rolled her eyes, "Always."

She turned back to her work, but could no longer concentrate, she hoped to God everything went as planned on Friday, and didn't get caught visiting her mother on Wednesday after school.

Hey guys! Please review! I'm aiming for at least five. And tell me what you think :D. Is Sam overreacting, should I make a fiasco out of the interview?Should Sawyer get caught going to the party, or sholead the party lead her to the "other" siproof private school life?...