Chapter 2

Secret No. 2: Apparently even home-wrecking bimbos fall in love.

"Hey there, Birthday Girl!" Jimmy exclaimed as he opened the door. "I've missed you all so much."

"Hi Dad," all three girls replied excitedly in unison.

"Come on, give your old man a hug!" The girls entered the apartment. Afterward, they each went and hugged their father. Despite the pain he had caused their family, he was still always good to them. He had agreed to pay for all their expenses. He also tried to visit the girls as frequently as he could. Although Haley was still angry at him for what he did to their family, she still couldn't help but love him. She knew he would one day come to his senses. This whole situation was just one of those mid-life crisis phases.

"So what are we doing today?" asked a skinny blonde figure as she walked into the living room.

"Olivia," Brooke's voice dripped with annoyance.

"How are you girls doing? Oh my gosh, look how big and beautiful you've all gotten!" Olivia complimented them. She was always sucking up to them. But all three girls knew it was an act.

"Did she just call me fat?" Peyton heard Brooke mutter to Haley.

"Olive, nice to see you again," Haley said with fake enthusiasm.

"It's Olivia actually. Happy Birthday, Haley! I took the liberty of baking you a tofu cake," Olivia proclaimed.

"Oh, that's sweet but we won't be needing it. I've already got the whole day planned out. Including the restaurant we'll go to for dinner," Haley stated. There's no way I'm eating that toxic waste, she thought to herself.

"So Haley, what does my little princess want to do on her birthday?" her Dad asked.

"I thought we could go to that new theme park that just opened up. And then after we could go to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner," she replied. While they were discussing their plans, Peyton decided to take a look around the apartment. It was then that she noticed how bare and creepy it was. The walls and furniture were all white. God, this place looks like an insane asylum. I don't know how Dad can stand living here, she pondered. Jimmy had such a good life back at home. Peyton didn't understand how he could have thrown it all away. As she walked around the room, she came across her father's desk. She was just about to keep walking when she saw a something that caught her eye. It was a formal notice in dark black lettering. From the angle at which she was standing, all she could make out was, We regret to inform you that your latest business venture has… Before she could finish reading, Olivia's high-pitched voice caught Peyton's attention.

"A theme park? You can't be serious. Why don't we go to the zoo like you guys have done before? That would be so much more fun!" Olivia tried to reason. "I mean, just think of all the germs that will be crawling all over the place. Not to mention those rides! That's enough to give anyone a heart attack!"

"Well, since it's Haley's birthday, I think that we should do whatever she wants. If she says she wants to go to the new theme park, then we should go. Right Dad?" Brooke stated.

"Sorry honey. It is what she wants to do. I promise we'll come back later and have some of your delicious cake you made," Jimmy explained.

"Fine," Olivia pouted. "But be careful my little Slim Jim."

"Slim Jim. I think I'm going to be sick," Peyton said under her breath as she approached her sisters.

"Whatever. Dad, can we please go now? I want to be able to at least get on the good rides." Haley complained. If she had to watch anymore of her father and Olivia flirting, she might just have to join Peyton in the bathroom later on.

After what felt like forever, they were finally off. The rest of the day had been amazing. Since one of the employees overheard Haley say it was her birthday, he gave her a special pass that allowed her and her family to go ahead of everyone else for all the rides. Even though they got a lot of dirty looks, they all couldn't help but revile in it. They went on the huge roller coasters, and much to Brooke's dismay, the giant flume ride. "Do you know what that water will do to my hair?" they had heard Brooke complain. But nevertheless, their theme park experience had been awesome. At 4:00, they headed to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. That place was usually really packed so they decided to go early so they'd get a good seat for Haley's birthday celebration. Every so often, Haley caught Brooke looking at her phone.

"Sorry, I didn't know the day of your sister's birth was so boring for you," Brooke heard Haley say as she just finished checking her phone for the millionth time.

"What?" Brooked asked. "Sorry, there was just something I had to check. And be quiet or I won't give you your fabulous birthday present I bought you!"

"Oh, can I have it now?" Haley begged. She loved getting presents. It was one of the only types of surprises she liked.

"Not yet, Sweetheart," Jimmy stated. "Let's open them up once we get back to the apartment. We'll do it after we have cake."

"But Dad, we just had a full meal plus a giant piece of cheesecake. There is no way I can eat anything else," Peyton explained.

"Yeah, I am not eating that slop," Haley agreed.

"Now girls, be nice. Olivia is trying her best to be a good mother figure to you girls."

"Well, we already have a mother. Or have you forgotten?" Brooke spat out a little nastily. Jimmy was about to scold her when Peyton cut in.

"Everyone stop please! Let's just put that all behind us and go. Ok?" Peyton reasoned. That's just like Peyton, Haley thought. Always playing the peace maker. Haley really looked up to Peyton. It wasn't easy forgetting what their father had done. But somehow Peyton always found it in her heart to put the past behind her. At least when it came to keeping what was left of their family from killing each other. Jimmy just nodded while Brooke crossed her arms and sunk back into the booth. He then called the waitress over to get the bill and handed her his credit card. A few minutes later, she returned and announced to Jimmy that his card had been declined.

"That's strange," he muttered. "Take this one, instead."

"Dad, is everything ok?" Haley questioned with a concerned look on her face.

"Yeah. It's just those stupid oversea banks. They never can transfer the money correctly without somehow screwing it up," he huffed. "Why don't you girls get ready and wait outside for me, okay?"
Haley and Brooke got their purses and made their way out of the restaurant. Peyton waited until they were out of earshot before speaking to her dad.

"Are sure everything's alright? I have money if you need it," Peyton offered to her father.

"Don't worry about it, Pey. It's just a mix up," Jimmy reassured her. With one final worried glance, Peyton nodded and left the restaurant to meet up with her sisters. The waitress returned soon after with Jimmy's second card and said that it had also been declined. Instead of having to go through another hassle, Jimmy pulled out his wallet again and paid for the meal in cash.

"Honey, we're back!" Jimmy called from the doorway of the apartment.

"Slim Jim, I missed you!" Olivia shouted as she came running into Jimmy's arms.

"I know that Dad has lost some weight, but is it necessary for her to call him that?" Brooke whispered to Haley and Peyton.

"How was the theme park? It's nice to see that you came home alive," Olivia commented as all three girls rolled their eyes. "So who wants cake?"

"Actually, I'm stuffed. That dinner really filled me up," Haley said trying to make an excuse.

"But you're always hungry," Brooke said offhandedly.

"Well not right now I'm not," Haley replied while elbowing Brooke in the ribs.

"Ow, that hurt, Tutor Girl!"

"Will you two just stop it?" Peyton pleaded.

"I'll have some," said a strange voice from down the hall. All of sudden, there was a young man standing right in front of them. He was tall, had brown hair and eyes, and the sweetest smile. Peyton had to give the guy props. He was a looker.

"You will?" Olivia asked hopefully.

"Who's this?" Brooke asked confused.

"Oh, sorry. I'm Jake. Jake Jaglieski," he greeted. "I'm Olivia's nephew."

"Dad, you didn't say you had a visitor," Haley stated.

"He's just staying with us for a while," Olivia answered. "It's only temporary until he and his parents…um…who wants cake?" All three girls looked at each other even more confused. That was random, Peyton thought curiously.

"Not me. That's for sure," Haley hissed under her breath as Olivia went to set everything up. Brooke and Peyton snickered. Even Jake cracked a little smile. Wow, he is so hott! Where the hell did that come from? Peyton was never really the type to be boy crazy. Sure, she'd had a few boyfriends in the past. But she never once got really excited or girly over any of them. I'm just delirious from such a long day. Yeah, that's it.

"So Jake, do you go to Bear Creek?" Peyton found herself asking.

"No, I already graduated high school. Right now I'm just taking some time off and concentrating on my music and other things."

"Music? That's cool. What kind do you play?"

"Oh, please. I don't think I can bear hearing the two of you talking about tragic rock bands," Brooke complained as she looked up from checking her phone, once again.

"I second that," Haley agreed.

What am I going to do? It's already 8:00 and I'm supposed to meet Theresa at the club at 9:00. Brooke saw no way out. She could practically see her perfect year slipping through her fingers. She had to come up with some kind of plan to get out of here—and fast!

"Ok, Haley. Make a wish!" Olivia proclaimed as she carried the birthday cake over to her with the candles already lit.

Haley got a thoughtful expression on her face for a moment. "I wish my dad would go back with my mom," she uttered quietly.

"What was that you murmured, dear?" Olivia questioned with an astonished face.

"Oh, I just said that this cake is da bomb!" she exclaimed with fake enthusiasm.

"Well I'm glad you like it so much! Now blow out your candles."

The truth was, the cake looked awful. It had ugly "grass green" frosting on it, the lettering was all wobbly, and it actually looked as if it was going to implode. There is no way I'm eating this crap. I'm supposed to look beautiful when I see Felix tonight. Not look like the poster child for food poisoning, Brooke contemplated. Judging by the look on Jake's face, even he didn't seem so sure about wanting a piece, either.

"Olivia, this looks delicious! I think I'll have a little piece," Jimmy said.

"Ok, but make sure to subtract that from your allowance of daily calories," she replied. "We'll just make up for it when we go jogging tomorrow."

"Since when do you go jogging?" Haley asked her father. "I thought you hated that health nut stuff?"

"Since he went to the doctor's and they told him his cholesterol was high. That and he's turning over a new leaf. And it's not health nut stuff. I'll have you know that living this way can add an extra ten years onto your life." Olivia responded defensively.

"Whatever," Haley muttered back. She took one bite of the cake—much to her dismay—and almost choked. It not only looked like grass, but tasted like it, too. When no one was looking, she quickly moved her head near the giant fern that was next to the couch and spit the remnants of slop in her mouth into the pot. "Well I'm full."

"Haley, you hardly touched your cake," Jimmy pointed out.

"Sorry. I'm still stuffed from dinner." Just then, Brooke's cell phone made a loud beeping sound. A message appeared on the screen. It was from Felix.

HEY SEXY! R U COMING 2NITE? WON'T B MUCH FUN W/O U! XX.

After reading the message, Brooke could do nothing but smile. Don't' worry Felix, I'll be there. There is absolutely no way I'm leaving you there by yourself with that fat whore Claire roaming around.

"Could you excuse me for a minute? I have to make a phone call," Brooke said as she got up to go outside to the balcony for more privacy.

"Is that a new phone?" Jimmy questioned getting a good look at it.

"Yeah, it's a Razor. Isn't it awesome! You can check your e-mail, send text messages, download songs and videos…"

"What was wrong with the old one?"

"Dad, it was so last year. Besides, Mom said it was ok for me to get a new one."

"So just because Mom approved it, it's ok. You didn't think to ask me? I am the one paying the bills, after all! I'd like to think that my money is going towards the actual necessities that you girls need! I'm not made of money you know?" Jimmy stormed.

"Dad, I'm sorry. We didn't think you'd mind…" Brooke tried to apologize. She had never seen her father so angry. It actually scared her a little.

"Forget it," he said as he calmed down. Everyone was now staring at him. "I'm sorry, Brooke. It is a very nice phone. Go make your call,"

"Are you sure?" She didn't want to cause another outburst. Her father was usually a nice, calm guy. He never flipped out unless something was really wrong.

"Yes, go."

"Ok," she commented warily. She then turned around and went out onto the balcony. Now she really needed some air.