It's been roughly three weeks since Peyton's first visit to Dr Kruze and she has seen him twice since. Slowly she is beginning to feel the difference. She is learning things about herself that she did not know and very slowly she is coming around to see things about herself differently. She is learning that she is not such a bad person after all.

Things at home have been good. She is still trying to come to terms with the fact that someone is always around and asking after her well being. She still feels trapped and it is still a burden to her to account to someone when she leaves the house. But, all in all, she is learning to deal with it all thanks to Dr Kruze's help.

School has been quite the challenge for her but only because of Sadie. Every time she sees Sadie it kills her a little more inside. She is yet to broach that topic with Dr Kruze.

"Hey, you okay?" Kimberly whispered to her since they were currently in class.

She nodded, "yeah..."

"Boo, come on, what's up?"

"Sorry... it's just... I don't think I'll be eating lunch with you all today."

"Why not?"

"I... I just can't..."

Peyton refused to say any more on the matter. It was a very touchy topic for her. On the one hand, she loved to see Sadie. Part of her actually looks forward to it. She loves to admire Sadie, see her smile, hear her laugh. But then on the other hand, part of her dreads seeing Sadie because it is just too painful. Her harsh, judgemental words always repeat over and over in Peyton's head and it saddens her.

How can people be so cruel? Why did I have to fall for the straightest most homophobic girl?

After class, as they made their way to the cafeteria Kimberly brought up the topic again, "it's because of Sadie right?"

"Kimmy. Please, just drop it."

"Awww come on boo. It's me, you can tell me."

Peyton sighed, "fine, yes it's because of Sadie. I can't take the rollercoaster of emotions I go through when I'm around her. I want to be around her because I'm fucking in love with the bastard but at the same time I can't stand to be around her because I know she's judging me and chastising me in her head. I can see it on her face. She hates me. She despises my very presence. I disgust her Kimmy. And I know she only bears my presence because she's friends with my friend and I'm friends with her friends. It just... it hurts..."

Kimberly wrapped an arm around Peyton's shoulder, "I understand boo. We'll eat somewhere else from now on okay?"

"No, it's fine. Don't inconvenience yourself because of my quirkiness. I'll just go to the library today, I have a lot of studying to do."

"You can't eat in the library."

"I know. I'm not hungry."

"You've got to eat. Please Peyton, just a bite at least."

Peyton shook her head, "I'll see you after school Kimmy."

She turned and left Kimberly in the line at the cafeteria and made her way to the library. Once there she could not concentrate on her studies so she resorted to listening to some music on her phone and doodling in her notebook.

Later that very night Peyton was in a comfortable sleep for once when her phone jarred her awake with its persistent ringing.

With a loud groan she reached for her phone and squinted at the extra bright screen, "Private"

Who the fuck calls someone with a blocked number in the middle of the night?!

Peyton groaned again as she checked the time and saw it was 2:23 in the morning. She rejected the call and turned to try and get back to sleep. The phone began to ring again.

Fuck!!!

"Who the fuck is this?! Are you insane?! It's after two in the morning!!! I have school in the morning geez!"

She paused for a moment and when she heard nothing she mumbled some curses under her breath and hung up. Before she do anything else the phone rang again, "WHAT?!"

This time she heard sniffles. This caught her attention and she calmed a bit. "Hello? Who's there?"

The sniffling came again and Peyton suddenly got a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Who's this?"

"Peyton?" The person whimpered.

There was no way in hell Peyton could miss that voice anywhere. "Sadie?"

"I know I'm the last person you want to hear but..."

"What's wrong?"

Sadie began to sob and Peyton's bad feeling just worsened.

"Where are you?"

"I... I don't know..."

"Sadie, are you hurt?"

She just continued to cry.

"Don't worry, I'll find you. I'm on my way."

Peyton threw herself off her bed, plugged in her headset so she could have her hands free and pulled on a shirt and jeans over her t-shirt and boxers and made her way downstairs.

"Peyton?"

"Yes?"

"I was just checking to see if you were still there..."

"I'm here. It'll be okay."

"Will you stay on the line please? I don't want to be alone."

"Yeah, don't worry I'm not going anywhere. You have any idea where you are?"

"No..."

"Sadie, please, you have to help me out..."

Peyton wrote a quick note and left it on the fridge:

Hey guys, I couldn't sleep so I went to clear my head.

I borrowed your car Kimmy. Hope that's okay.

See you guys soon.

Peyton.

Peyton was grateful in that moment for Mr Dexter insisting that she got her driver's licence. When she got in the car and pulled onto the road and had no idea where to go she asked again, "Sadie? Come on you have to give me something to work with."

"I really don't know Peyton... I was with Adam and he took me to some house party by some friend of his in his town but I don't know where the house is. I don't know this town... It's like an hour away from home... I'm scared Peyton..."

"It's okay Sadie. I'll find you."

That information was all Peyton needed. Her mind began to work overtime.

There is only one of three places she could possibly be. Wait, today is Wednesday... okay, so there is only one place she could be. There is only one idiot who has house parties in the middle of the school week.

"Hey Sadie?"

"Yes?"

It broke Peyton's heart to hear Sadie's voice right now. It was so broken and scared.

"I know where you are okay? I'll be there in about half an hour okay?"

After another bout of sniffles Sadie responded, "really? Thanks Peyton..."

By this time Peyton was speeding like a maniac way above the limit but she did not give a damn. The love of her life was in trouble and she was going to her rescue.

"Sadie?"

"Yes?"

"Are you some place safe?"

"Yes. I'm in a closet."

"Okay."

Ten minutes passed in silence before Sadie broke it, "I owe you one."

"You owe me nothing."

"Why are you even doing this? You must hate me."

"I don't hate you and even if I did, you're in trouble I will never leave you, or anyone, to suffer when there is something I can do to help."

"But I was such a bitch to you..."

"It takes two to tango. I wasn't exactly an angel in the situation."

"You sure are something else... I've never met anyone like you."

"There's always a first time for everything love. Um... sorry..."

"It's okay."

"But if you thought I hate you and I wouldn't have come, why'd you even call me? Why not Casey?"

"Because... I... I don't know... You were the first person I thought of... and I... I..."

Peyton decided to put her out of her misery by interrupting, "I never gave you my number."

"I know..."

Peyton decided to leave that statement to die. She thought it would be wise not to press that particular topic although she was dying to know how Sadie got her number and why.

I guess Casey gave it to her. Obviously... How else would she get it. Kimmy would definitely tell me if she gave Sadie my number.

"Why'd you block your number though?"

"Well... I wasn't sure if you have my number and if you do, I thought you wouldn't answer if you knew it was me..."

"Well I don't have your number and I honestly do not know the answer to that..."

They fell silent again for several minutes until Sadie spoke again, "Peyton?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you almost here?"

"Yes. Don't worry, I'm only five minutes away."