It had been a bad day for Jenny Jagielski. She had woken up late, gotten a D on her Math test, been sentenced to an hour of after school detention for falling asleep in Social Studies and Field Hockey practice had been the worst of her life. Yes, it was a bad day but it had started way before school had. That was the reason she hadn't even heard her alarm clock as she was exhausted from a night that had been virtually sleepless.

It had started with that stupid nightmare she often had. She was being chased in a forest with dark shadowy type figures coming after her. The hands were everywhere and they had chased her to a point where she could no longer run. Just when she was being enveloped, she woke up like always…

"No!" Jenny had yelled, sitting straight up in bed, her tiny body drenched in a cold sweat.

Jake and Peyton heard her scream from their room.

"She must be having a bad dream", Jake mumbled sleepily as he swung his long legs over the side of the bed, already up and on his way to his daughter.

Peyton grabbed his arm.

"No…let me."

Jake held his breath as he nodded. Peyton went down and across the hall, softly knocking.

"Don't come in", came a frightened voice.

"Jenny, it's me. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Peyton sighed.

"Do you mind if I see for myself?"

"Whatever", she finally said, code for 'it's okay, please come in'.

Peyton opened the door and shut on the bedside lamp as she sat down.

"Bad dream?"

"It was stupid. I'm okay."

"You're shaking and you're soaking wet. Want to talk about it?"

"No."

Peyton nodded.

"You know, when I was your age, I used to have nightmares too…"

"So?"

"I'd keep having the same dream over and over again that these people were trying to get me. And I'd wake up screaming and afraid and trembling all over. It was…it was right after my mom, Anna…my mom passed away. I remember being so scared and my dad would have to come and sleep in my room with me."

"Bummer", Jenny mumbled.

"You want me to stay with you? I could if you want. I don't mind."

The thought of an adult staying, having that warm body next to you that provided comfort and security made Jenny instantly feel at ease. But she couldn't. Not with Peyton. Not yet.

"I can sleep by myself. I'm not a baby."

"Okay", Peyton nodded. "You sure you're alright?"

"Yeah", Jenny sighed.

"Hold on one second. I think I know something that will help."

The older blonde disappeared for a few minutes before coming back with an object in her hand.

"What the hell is that thing?" Jenny asked.

Peyton revealed it to be a stuffed animal. A beat up, tattered, old purple monkey.

"You remember this little guy? When you were a little baby, you couldn't sleep without him."

"Like I said, I'm not a baby anymore. Get that away from me."

Peyton nodded knowingly.

"Okay. I'm gonna go back to my room now. If you need me or your dad, just knock, alright? And uh, as for this little guy…I think I'm gonna leave him right here."

Peyton placed it on the nightstand beside her. She smiled as she turned off all the lights. The minute she was gone and Jenny heard the door shut to the master bedroom, she grabbed the stuffed animal. She had no recollection of it but like so many other things, it brought an almost surreal calm and peace to her. She put it in her arms and was out like a light minutes later. She knew that even in the land of dreams, the monkey would protect her like a shield and keep all the bad things away…

The mini van pulled up in front of the Jagielski residence.

"Thanks for the ride, Mrs. Cooper. See you tomorrow, Amy", Jenny said as she hopped out.

She used her key to let herself inside. To her surprise Nathan, Haley, Lucas and Brooke were over along with a few of Peyton's students.

"Hi, Linda Blair", Brooke fake smiled at her. "Linda Blair, you know, from the Exorcist. I call you that because I think you must be possessed by ungodly spirits that make you unnaturally evil."

Jenny couldn't resist. It wasn't that she didn't like Brooke…okay, so she didn't like Brooke but the brunette was such an irresistible and easy target. She fake smiled her right back.

"Hi, Anna Nicole…as in Smith. You know, overly made up country bumpkin bimbos who have no real talent except for gold digging and convincing extremely wealthy yet stupid men to marry them."

Brooke stuck her tongue out, pouting that as usual, once again, Jenny had the last word.

"Hey, Jen", Jake said from the living room. "How was practice?"

"It sucked", Jenny said. "What's going on here?"

With both sets of Scotts over, the grill fired up and the smell of one of Haley's delicious home baked desserts overtaking the kitchen, something was sure to be going on.

"We're having a party."

"Again?" Jenny frowned. "Damn. You people have more parties. What's the occasion this time? The sun is shining particularly bright today?"

"No, wise ass", he grinned. "Even better. Somebody is celebrating a birthday today."

Jenny looked over at Amanda who was sheepishly smiling in the corner.

"I told you guys not to go all out for me. People have birthdays everyday. It's no big deal."

"Of course it is", Haley smiled. "Today is a special day and it's your day and we are going to celebrate."

"I…I don't want anyone to go to any trouble. Really. Jake and Peyton are nice enough to let me stay here. I don't want to ask for anything else."

Peyton wiped her hands on a dishtowel and gave Amanda a big squeeze.

"It's no trouble doing this or having you at all. We want to."

Jenny looked around. If she blinked, she feared she'd be taken back to a Pleasantville-esque type scene where everything was hunky dory, in black and white an a laugh track in the form of a studio audience was there to provide the appropriate reactions. Everyone had grins on their faces like they had just hatched from alien pods. Peyton and Haley were wearing aprons and the three men were gliding around like Mike Brady.

"Jen, go get washed up for dinner", Jake told her.

Jenny rolled her eyes, went upstairs and changed. She came back down and joined everyone for barbecue out by the pool. She ate a hot dog and some potato salad, pretending not to watch as all the adults fawned over Amanda and the fact that it was her birthday. Peyton excused herself to go clean up but returned minutes later with a homemade chocolate cake. There were candles and everybody broke out into an off key rendition, thanks to Brooke, the Scott brothers and some of Peyton's students, of Happy Birthday.

"Blow out your candles and make a big wish."

Amanda did as she was told and they all applauded.

"Thanks", she smiled. "But I didn't need to wish for anything because all my dreams have come true. I can't thank you all enough for everything you've done for me. Especially Jake and Peyton…and Jenny. I've never had friends like you guys and it's really nice."

Peyton smiled and hugged her.

"Well, the fun isn't over yet. Here. Open this."

Amanda accepted the neatly wrapped box with the pretty bow.

"What's this?"

"A little something from Jake, Jenny and me. We think you'll be able to use it."

Amanda opened it and gasped. It was a set of professional oil paints.

"Oh Peyton. Oh my God! These are great…"

"I know you wanted to do oil paints for a while. So here's your chance. No excuses now. Your very own set."

"They're beautiful but I can't accept this. You guys have been so good to me already. This is too much."

"Happy Birthday."

"But they must have been so expensive…"

"Don't worry about that. Just work on your craft…and enjoy your day."

Jenny watched Amanda smile. She couldn't help but stare at the set. It was nice and it was certainly expensive. Peyton had gone all out. What artist wouldn't die to have supplies like that? Jenny shuffled her feet thinking about her own art box upstairs that consisted of two black markers, a couple of pencils, paper and some Crayola water colors.

"Paints and oils are all fine and good but Broody and I here did you one better", Brooke squealed. "I can barely contain myself. This is gonna be so good, right, babe?"

"Sure", Lucas grinned, going along with his wife as usual.

"Okay. Remember that day you were at my house Amanda and I was showing you all my pictures and home movies of me winning the Miss Tree Hill High, Miss Tree Hill, Miss New Brunswyck County, Miss Apple Blossom and Miss Jr. North Carolina pageants?"

Jenny laughed out loud. That was a lot of pageants but then again what could one expect from someone as vain as Brooke Davis Scott? There could have been a Miss Chitterling pageant and Brooke would have entered just for the sash and crown.

"I remember, Miss Brooke. You were so beautiful."

"I know", Brooke grinned as she handed her a box. "Open it up. Now you can be almost as beautiful as me."

Amanda removed the lid on the box and pulled out a gorgeous tiara.

"Oh it's beautiful! Lucas, Miss Brooke! Thank you! Wait, are these…"

"Real diamonds. You know it. Tiffany to be exact. Broody and I here go balls out on everything. You're in a Cubic Zirconia free zone, babe."

Jenny wanted to gag. How vain! How worthless! How superficial! How Brooke!

"I'll cherish it forever, Miss Brooke", Amanda smiled, putting it on her head. "I already feel like a real life princess."

"And I feel like puking", Jenny muttered.

"Well", Haley said. "Nathan and I had no idea what to get you but at the last minute we found something we hope you love. Babe…you'll bring it in?"

Nathan appeared lugging a wooden crate. Amanda opened it and out toppled a puppy. Everyone ooohed and aaahed and raced to pet it.

"Oh thank you so much! He's so cute!" Amanda smiled.

Jenny tensed and out of reflex grabbed the arm of the chair. She was not an animal lover. In fact, she'd had experiences with dogs. To her they were anything but Man's Best Friend.

The last gift was presented. It was a mural painted on large bulletin board by the class.

"It's gorgeous", Peyton had beamed. "I know just where you should hang it in your new room."

Jenny looked at her father and abruptly stood up.

"Can I be excused?" she asked.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, um, I have homework and I wanted to call Amy and ask her a question about the assignment before it gets too late", the child lied.

"Alright", Jake shrugged. "Come back down when you're done or I'll come up later to say good night."

Jenny nodded and ran upstairs. She closed her door and fell on her bed. It had all been too much. Sickening and suffocating almost. Then the dog. That damned dog. Of all things for Nathan and Haley to buy.

Jenny lay back on the bed and sighed. Her heart raced and it was a struggle to catch her breath. She felt anxious, afraid even. Her eyes darted around the room and she found the only thing that brought her comfort…the torn and battered stuffed monkey.