It was Thursday and Peyton was getting increasingly worried that Sadie was going to tell her no or worse never even bother to answer. They have been extremely awkward around each other since Sunday and had not spoken yesterday or today; they had not even seen each other since Sadie had stopped going to the lunch time detention all together.

Peyton was singing along to Rixton's song Me and My Broken Heart which she was playing on repeat for the past half an hour.

♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

All I need's a little love in my life

All I need's a little love in the dark

A little but I'm hoping it might kick start

Me and my broken heart

I need a little loving tonight

Hold me so I'm not falling apart

A little but I'm hoping it might kick start

Me and my broken heart

Shotgun, aimed at my heart you got one

Tear me apart and then some

How do we call this love

I tried to run away but your eyes

Tell me to stay oh why

Why do we call this love

It seems like we've been losing control

Somebody tell me I'm not alone

When I say

All I need's a little love in my life

All I need's a little love in the dark

A little but I'm hoping it might kick start

Me and my broken heart

I need a little loving tonight

Hold me so I'm not falling apart

A little but I'm hoping it might kick start

Me and my broken heart

Maybe some part of you just hates me

You pick me up and play me

How do we call this love

One time tell me you need me tonight

To make it easy you lie

And say it's all for love

It seems like we've been losing control

Somebody tell me I'm not alone

When I say

All I need's a little love in my life

♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

In the middle of the song her phone sounded off with a text message. She was not going to bother to check it but decided that it would be the wise thing to do.

Her heart fluttered in her chest when she saw Sadie's name. 'Oh my god she answered!' She rushed to open the message only to have her heart hit the floor.

Hey, I was thinking of taking Casey on Saturday. That okay with you?

Everything in her was screaming to not answer but she knew that was wrong and impolite so she decided to play ignorant in her answer.

Yeah why wouldn't it be? Just give me her directions so I can pick her up. I don't know where she lives.

No... I meant Casey instead of you...

Peyton could not comprehend the feeling she now had. Her entire insides felt weak and queasy, her hands grew cold and she just saw black.

You don't have to ask me you know. It's not as if we're a couple or anything. You don't need my permission even if we were. Just tell me the truth. You don't want me there. You don't want to be around me. I won't get mad for the truth.

Yeah but I don't want to hurt you.

You already have.

Peyton could not take anymore. She tried her best but she could no longer hold back her anger. She screamed as she threw her phone to the floor and lost complete control as she began tearing her notebook and throwing and destroying any and everything she could get her hands on.

She was so caught up in her rage that she did not notice when Kimberly and her parents entered her room and tried to get her attention. When that did not work Mr Dexter stepped forward and took hold of Peyton by the shoulders turning her around quickly and wrapping his arm around her.

Peyton struggled against him as she tried to break free of his hold on her but he was too strong. "Let me go!" She yelled.

"Not until you calm down." He said in an even, caring tone.

It took Peyton several minutes to calm down but she did and when she did Mr Dexter walked her over to her bed and sat them down. Kimberly and her mother joined them.

"What is wrong with me?!" Peyton cried to no one in particular.

"What happened boo?" Kimberly questioned; her voice full of worry.

"Am I that terrible? I thought she would have said yes."

Peyton was crying now and Mrs Dexter pulled her into her arms as she spoke, "you are speaking of Sadie right?"

Peyton nodded.

"You asked her?"

Peyton nodded once again leaving Kimberly and her father confused.

"Asked her what boo?"

"I... I asked her to be my girlfriend. I'm so stupid! I should not have! I should have left things the way they were. Everything was fine and now I've gone and fucked it up!"

"WOW! The bitch said no?!" Kimberly exploded.

"Kim! Language!"

Mr Dexter scolded but Kimberly paid him no mind, "how dare she! Just wait till I get my hands on that fucker!"

"KIMMY!" Peyton screamed to get her attention, "she did not say no."

"So what the fuck happened then?!"

"She did not answer..."

"What? That's just as bad as saying no. As a matter of fact, it's worse!"

"Leave her alone Kimmy. It's not her fault. I should never have asked her when I did. She has her own shit she's dealing with. I should have waited. I should have given her more time."

"How much more time does she need?! She has the most amazing girl all to herself and she fucks with you like this?! No! She can't do that Peyton! Not on my watch!"

"Kimberly! Leave her alone! Please!"

Kimberly knew Peyton would not give in so she did. "Fine. But only because you begged me to."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kimberly ran down the stairs frantically the next morning. "Mom! Dad! Peyton's gone!"

When she got to the kitchen where her parents were preparing breakfast she was in tears. "She left this on her bed."

She showed them a piece of paper with Peyton's handwriting that simply read:

I'm so sorry

"I should have stayed with her last night! I knew she was lying when she said she was fine. Why am I such an idiot?!"

Her mother hugged her tightly as she assured her that it was not her fault but Kimberly could not believe that no matter how much it made sense. She blamed herself.

"She left her phone. The screen is cracked but it still works and she left it. We're never going to find her!"

"We will find her sweetheart. She probably just needs some time to clear her head a bit. She'll be back don't worry okay?" Mr Dexter said and hoped he hid his worry and concern for Peyton well. He had to convince Kimberly because he did not need her to know that he was worried sick as well.

Kimberly picked at her breakfast before leaving for school. She could not concentrate on anything due to the sick feeling she had in her stomach that just would not leave.

"Hey baby, what's wrong? You've been so distant all morning." Kirk asked as he wrapped his arm around Kimberly at the lunch table.

"Yeah, we're getting worried now." Casey added. "Did you and Peyton have a fight or something? Because I noticed she isn't here."

Kimberly shrugged and glared at Sadie, "why don't you ask her?"

"Huh?" Justine asked confused. "What does Sadie have to do with this?"

Kimberly got up out of her seat and walked around to stand next to Sadie, "I promised Peyton I would leave you alone but I can't. Not when you're fucking with her like this!"

"Wow! What the fuck Kimmy?!" Sadie exclaimed as she too stood.

"It's Kimberly to you!"

"Fine! Kimberly! What the fuck are you talking about?!"

"In case you've forgotten, Peyton is MY best friend. I know her and I know that she's been suffering all week because of you!"

"Me?! What the fuck did I do?"

"You know damn well what you did! And in case you were wondering, I do to. Why are you doing this to her?! Just fucking give her an answer!"

Sadie was taken aback and it showed in her voice, "she... she told you?"

"Not exactly... it kind of just came out last night after she talked to you and flew into a murderous rage!" Kimberly was not entirely certain of that fact but she was almost positive that Peyton did speak to Sadie just before she lost her temper.

Sadie's knees suddenly grew weak and she practically fell back down to her seat. "I... I never meant to hurt her. I... I just... I'm confused..."

"Confused?! Confused about what?!" Kimberly was dumbfounded by Sadie's apparent stupidity.

"It's complicated okay!" Sadie said defensively as she felt herself being brought to the verge of tears. "Where is she?" She practically whispered.

"I don't fucking know!" Kimberly was in tears now and Casey stood and guided her to sit as she rubbed her back.

Casey, Kirk and Justine said nothing because they were truly lost in the situation. They had their suspicions of what was going down but they did not know for sure and in fear of making anything worse, they kept silent.

"This is all my fault..."

Sadie meant her words to be to herself but Kimberly heard and retorted, "you're damn right! I may never find her now!"

"You think she's run away?" Casey asked concerned.

Kimberly shrugged, "she just left a note saying that she is so sorry and she's gone. She didn't even take her phone."

"Is there somewhere she might go? Maybe you guys' last town or something?" Justine asked in a very worried tone.

"She won't go back there. I know she always has some place she goes when she's upset but she never tells me where it is. I just hope she comes to her senses soon and doesn't hurt herself before she does."

Kimberly's words hit Sadie hard and she only just grasped the gravity of the situation. She remembered what Peyton had told her about overdosing on pills and being suicidal. 'Fuck! What did I do? I've got to fix this!'

She stood from her seat quickly and ran to her locker where she got her bag and began heading for the door but not before Casey stopped her. "Where are you going?"

"I know where Peyton is."

"You do? How come Kimmy doesn't?"

"Because she never showed Kimmy her secret hiding place but she showed me. That has to be where she is. I'm going to make things right Casey. I just hope I am not too late."