The back deck and surrounding area of the pool were in full effect. Friends, neighbors and co workers had joined the Jagielski's to celebrate Jake's 27th birthday party.

"Bitching party, Mrs. Jagielski", Brooke winked as she emerged into the main part of the house looking like a million bucks in her red bikini.

"Thanks", Peyton managed to smile.

"And how is the birthday boy?"

Peyton stared out at Jake who was manning the grill and trying to have a good time with their friends.

"Tired", she answered softly.

"What did you get him?"

Peyton smiled.

"He had his eye on this Movado watch for a long time. It's pretty expensive but it's beautiful and, hey, you only live once, right?"

"Right on, sister."

"Normally, I go for the more artsy type stuff but this year…well, he deserves it."

Haley smiled as she joined them, nursing a watered down mixed drink.

"The party is great, Pey."

"Thanks."

"Jake having a good time?"

"I hope so."

"What about Jenny?"

Peyton sighed.

"I haven't seen her. She's holed up in her room…as usual."

"How is Rosemary's baby?" Brooke rolled her eyes.

"Brooke!" Haley pinched her.

"Ow! Hel-lo! Human flesh, here. That hurts."

"Well, don't be so insensitve."

"I'm not being insensitive. I'm being honest, right, Pey?"

"I guess. Jenny's okay."

"How's the reading coming along?"

Peyton shrugged.

"Is she improving? Yes. Drastically almost. She needs a lot of one on one attention. You have to sound the words out with her, break them down. Plus, the school therapist diagnosed her with dyslexia."

"I'm sorry…"

"It's okay. At least now we know. But she's a kid and you know how kids are. She's embarrassed and some of them make fun of her, then she lashes out by getting physical. It's calming down. Things are a lot better since she made a friend."

"The little Crypt Keeper has a friend?" Brooke scoffed.

"Brooke! She is still a kid, remember that", Peyton reminded her. "And yes, she does have a friend. Amy. She seems to be a nice enough girl and Jake and I met her parents."

"Well, I still say you're too easier on her. You and Jake. Honestly with that smart mouth, she's like the spawn of Satan. Pey, I don't know how you deal with it. You go to work all day and teach society's rejects, then you come home to an attitude that doesn't even respect you for taking her in."

"It's not that bad, Brooke. It'll get better with Jenny just like it did with the school thing. And until it does, I'll manage. I always do."

Haley gave her friend a sympathetic hug.

"Well, it's time to sing Happy Birthday and cut into that delicious cake. What did you say it was again?"

"Jake's favorite. I had it specially catered. Devils' Food flavor with Almond Butter Cream Icing."

"Sounds delicious."

"Sounds fattening", Brooke frowned. "But oh well. A slice or two…or three won't kill me. I started Pilates last night and I go back to Yoga next week."

The young women smiled at their friend.

"Let me call the girls down. Jenny! Amy! Time for cake!"

The door opened and Jenny, accompanied by her quiet, brunette friend, came downstairs.

"Hey, Mrs. Jagielski."

"Hi, Amy", Peyton smiled. "You guys go on outside."

Peyton and Haley prepared to bring the dessert out as everyone broke into their rendition of Happy Birthday. All 27 candles had been placed in the beautifully decorated and equally delicious four tier cake and the guests laughed and applauded as it only took the birthday boy two tries to blow them all out.

"Did you make a wish, man?" Lucas asked.

Jake put his arm around Peyton and smiled at Jenny.

"I didn't have to", he finally said. "It already came true."

Everyone clapped again as Haley began passing out saucers and forks. Jenny turned to leave, pulling Amy inside with her.

"Where are you going?" Peyton asked.

"To my room."

"Before you've had cake?"

"I don't want cake."

Peyton folded her arms.

"And what about your friend?"

"Amy doesn't want cake, either."

"Jenny, you're being rude. Today is your father's birthday. The least you could do is take ten or fifteen minutes out of your life to be socialable and have a piece of cake with the rest of the guests."

Jenny glared at her stepmother.

"I already told you, Peyton, we don't want any of your damned cake", she said in an icy tone.

"Don't you make a scene", Peyton whispered tersely. "I mean it, Jenny."

Brooke pulled her friend away by the arm.

"You okay?"

"I don't believe her sometimes…"

"She is such a brat!"

"I know but Jake is still taking it easy with the punishments and whatever. I don't know…"

"Listen, you need to calm down. Relax. Don't let the Bad Seed over there ruin your night. Go over there and celebrate with your husband."

"Brooke…"

"Go. It's okay."

Peyton nodded and walked over to Jake's waiting arms. It was Brooke's chance as she saw Jenny sulking while Amy nervously munched on cake.

"You eating cake?" Jenny observed. "Can your thighs handle it? Or let me guess, are you like all the other society broads around here corrupting our septic systems with your bulimic acid overflow?"

That was it. Brooke had had enough.

"Amy", she pleaded through gritted teeth. "May I have a word alone with Jenny, please?"

The darker haired girl nodded and walked away.

"You've got less than a minute so make it fast."

"Oh no you don't. Don't talk to me like that. I am the adult and you are the child."

"You're not my mother."

"And thank God for that one. But you know something? If I were your mother, you wouldn't be the rude, smart ass, disrespectful little monster you are now, that's for sure. You have it real easy here. Jake and Peyton love you and they spend time with you and they're there for you and they give you everything. How do you repay them? With nothing but your snotty little attitude. It's a shame but someone needs to put you in your place. They may walk around here on eggshells for you but I won't. You are not going to ruin this night with your sulking and your huffiness and your funkiness. Trust me, I am married to the world's number one brooder and it stops being cute after a while. So tonight and every night hereafter, you need to pull your head out of your ass, learn some manners and start appreciating and respecting the people who love you. Got me?"

Jenny was fuming. How dare Brooke talk to her like that? Standing up, she flipped the plate so that the cake landed right in Brooke's face. The divine Mrs. Scott was flabbergasted.

"You little shit!" Brooke screamed, cake everywhere.

Everyone's attention had turned to them as Jake and Peyton hurried over.

"What happened here?" he asked.

Brooke was so angry she was shaking.

"That little heathen trapped in a child's body just smashed this cake all over me!"

"Jenny, is that true?" Peyton asked.

"She started it. She was being mean to me."

"Jenny, what did I tell you about that?" Peyton demanded. "What did I tell you about disrespecting adults? And what did I tell you about acting out physically just because someone says something you don't like?"

"Whatever."

"No, it's not whatever. Apologize to Brooke, say good night to Amy and go upstairs to your room. Your father and I will deal with you later. Until further notice, you are grounded!"

"No, I'm not."

"What did you say to me?" Peyton hissed.

"You can't ground me. If I want to watch TV or listen to music or draw or play video games, then I will. You can't stop me. And if I want to go somewhere and you say no, then I'll sneak out anyway."

"Jenny, calm down…" Jake pleaded.

"No, she is not the boss of me! I don't have to listen to her!"

"The hell you do", Peyton said. "My house, my rules. Your little games and outbursts are getting real old, Jenny. We can do this the easy way or the hard way."

Jenny was furious.

"You're not my mother!" she screamed for everyone to hear. "I hate you! You're nothing but the stupid whore bitch who fucked my dad and took him away from my mom!"

There was a collective gasp. Peyton couldn't believe what she had just heard. In a state of shock and perhaps out of reflex and pure anger alone, her hand drew back and landed hard against the younger girl's cheek.

"Peyton!" Jake grabbed her. "What the hell are you doing?"

Peyton was still shaking, devastated by the evening's events, about what Jenny had said and worse, how she had reacted. Jenny, still holding her face, ran into the house and up the stairs.

"Oh my God…" Peyton whispered.

"It's okay", Haley said, guiding her into the house as Nathan struggled to turn everybody's attention back to a more festive mood.

They went inside.

"Oh God…"

"Peyton, what the fuck was that?" Jake asked angrily. "You hit her?"

"I…I…"

"Don't apologize", Brooke said. "She got what she deserved. Someone should have popped her in that smart mouth a long time ago."

"Shut up, Brooke!"

"Okay, everybody calm down", Lucas sighed. "Brooke, stay out of this and Jake, man, don't talk to my wife like that. Please."

Slamming his fist on the counter, Jake turned in the direction of the stairs.

"Jake, baby, I'm sorry…"

He looked at his wife with contempt and disgust.

"So am I, Peyton. So am I."