Nathan peeled off the Miami Heat tee shirt and his tanned muscles exploded out of it. He tossed it to the side, leaning down to set up the brand new grill he had recently splurged on. As far as the young superstar was concerned, that was one of the best thing about living in Florida…the weather and that meant year round barbecues. Manning the grill out by the pool, hanging with his friends and their wives was more relaxing and enjoyable than any industry party or high profile nightclub.

"Babe, do you need me to get the instruction manual?" Haley appeared in shorts and a tank top, tiny hands planted firmly on her hips.

"What did you just say to me?"

"You heard me, Nathan."

"Yeah I did and that's grounds for a divorce."

"What's all this divorce talk on the day of my wedding anniversary?" Lucas demanded as he joined them.

Nathan dramatically shook his head.

"My wife here had the nerve to offer me the…the…damn, dude, I can't even say it."

"The what?" Lucas asked.

"This", Haley laughed evilly, producing the owner's pamphlet.

Lucas' eyes grew wide.

"You offered a Scott man directions on how to set up a grill? Nate, you're right. You are the master of the grill."

"At least someone recognizes the truth around here", he quipped. "Now big brother, you go get the steaks and the burgers and the dogs and the chicken marinated. This baby will be fired up and ready to go in a minute."

"You boys and your toys", Haley walked away and shook her head, giggling as Nathan gave her ass a playful pinch.

Determine to work his newest obsession, Nathan completed the setup in minutes and laughed a satisfied laugh as soon the flames were raging, just waiting for the meat to begin cooking. He used the tongs to place the entrees on the grill. It was a normal afternoon cook out that just so happened to be celebrated by the friends on Lucas and Brooke's wedding anniversary. With the rigorous demands of the season, a trip or vacation of any sort was damn near impossible so until the off season, the Scotts were content to commemorate their marriage with family and close friends.

Nathan looked around. The women were in the kitchen preparing the salads, the drinks and the desserts. Jake and Lucas were out and about getting various things together while the girls sat by the pool. A solemn looking Jenny sat with her feet dipped in the water while Amanda swam. Nathan immediately recognized one of Peyton's black bikinis and for a 15 year old, she certainly did a good job filling it out. From the corner of his eye, he watched her dive and cannonball into the pool.

Amanda could feel the blue eyes bearing a hole into her. She smiled to herself, pretending not to notice as she backstroked the length of the Olympic size pool. For almost an hour she swam, letting the cool water soak against her hot, tanned skin.

"Steaks are ready!" Nathan called out.

Amanda made eye contact and gave him a smile. It wasn't the normal, sweet, innocent smile of a young girl. It was more teasing and even sexy. She went under one more time then rose from the depths dripping wet like a modern day teenage Marilyn Monroe. Slowly, deliberately she emerged, hands on the rails walking up the steps but making it look like she was walking on water. The top barely contained firm, ample, young female breasts and the bottoms cut low and hugged the shapely curves of her body. Blonde hair had already curled in the dampness, clinging midway down her tanned back.

She grabbed a nearby towel to dry off, making sure the cotton material wiped away every trace of water from her body. She seemed to enjoy it, almost get off on it. Her eyes never left Nathan's. He swallowed hard. Sure she was cute but she was a kid and he was a happily married man. It was harmless flirting, even if that but the look she was giving him suggested more.

"Steaks look good, bro. Just make sure there's one cooked rare for Brooke and…" Lucas stopped mid sentence.

He had walked up just in time to witness what was going on. Amanda quickly turned away while Nathan struggled to load the food onto the waiting platter his brother had brought out.

"Careful, man. They're hot."

Lucas couldn't believe it.

"I need some help. Take these over to the table with me", Lucas volunteered.

A red faced Nathan followed.

"I'll go tell Peyton she can start toasting the buns now…"

"The hell you will", Lucas grabbed his arm. "Dude, what the hell was that all about?"

Nathan shrugged and looked away.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't give me that. I'm talking about you and Lolita out there."

"Bro…"

"What's wrong with this picture, Nate? How about everything? The fact that she is 15, the fact that she is basically Jake and Peyton's foster kid, or the fact that you are happily married to a wonderful, beautiful, amazing woman in there…"

Nathan rolled his eyes.

"Come on, man. You know me better than that. First of all, I love my wife. You know what Hales means to me. Everyday I pass up the chance to sleep with cheerleaders and fans and groupies and super models…I do that because I want to and because my heart belongs to my wife. No 15 year old kid is gonna change that. She's jailbait anyway. Besides, I like my house. Been in the drunk tank a few times and jail didn't sit too well with me. I don't think prison would be too nice."

"Alright. Sorry, man. I just saw you looking and…"

"I looked? Hell, yeah. Like you haven't ever checked her out. I'm human and you have to admit Amanda is hot. But there's where it ends. I promise you. I don't know what she was trying to do."

Lucas bit his lip. Something didn't set right with him. Somehow he got the impression it was more than harmless flirting…on Amanda's part. He looked over and saw that Jake was alone and he'd have a chance to talk to his old friend and see what was really going on.

"Hey, man. What's up?"

Jake looked up and smiled.

"Nothing much. Happy Anniversary", they bumped fists.

"Thanks. Thanks for coming out and doing all this."

"No problem. There's nowhere I'd rather be."

"Yeah. Um, it's cool you and the girls could come out and stuff."

"Yeah…"

"Uh, how…how is that going?" Lucas stalled.

"What do you mean?"

"Just everything. Stuff with Jenny and…"

"Oh Jen is great. I am so glad she's home to stay, dude. It's tough sometimes and she definitely has her own personality but it's cool. She's still my little girl and you've got to make it out to one of her games. I don't mean to brag but the kid is really good."

"What about Pey? You guys okay?"

"We're cool."

"That's good. I just haven't seen you talk much. I don't know. Things look kind of tense or whatever."

Jake sighed.

"It's nothing, man. We had a fight a couple of weeks ago and said some crap we shouldn't have. We made up and stuff. I guess there's a lot going on and we haven't had the time to really talk. I'm gonna try to take her out to dinner or something this week, you know, be romantic, just the two of us without the girls."

Lucas nodded.

"So um, Amanda is sticking around?"

Jake shrugged.

"For now, I guess."

"You're okay with that?"

"It's not that bad actually."

"Yeah but you and Peyton are taking care of her and all. It's cool, I just thought the state would have found somewhere for her to go by now."

"They're working it. We just talked to the social workers the other day. Besides, it can't just be any home. It has to be the right one, a good one."

"That's nice of you."

"It's important to Peyton so it's important to me. Besides, Amanda deserves something good."

"I know, it's just…"

"Just what?"

"Look, I've known you and Pey for a long time, right? We're all friends. You guys are good people and you're doing a great thing but just…I don't know. Be careful."

"Of what?"

"Everything, man. Just don't get too attached because eventually Amanda is going to have to leave for another home. And, I don't know, it makes you vulnerable letting someone into your house like that."

"Amanda is harmless."

"Is she?"

"What are you saying?"

"Nothing. I'm sure she's a good kid. I, I just get a weird vibe from her, that's all."

"She's just a kid, dude", Jake said as he walked away to join the others. "We're just trying to help."

Lucas nodded and sighed, hoping he hadn't overstepped his bounds but nevertheless unable to ignore that sinking feeling churning in his gut. Maybe he was overreacting. Obviously no one else had a problem with it. Haley liked her and Nathan thought it was innocent. Brooke seemed to adore her and Peyton had taken on the role of surrogate big sister. Even logical, sensible Jake didn't mind. Maybe it was Lucas who had the problem, he thought. But as his blue eyes scanned the perimeter, they locked across the pool with the one person Lucas thought he could talk to. Grabbing a plate and loading it with food, he walked over and sat down beside Jenny.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"You looked lonely by yourself."

"I'm not."

"Hot dog?" he offered.

"If you insist", she rolled her eyes, making him laugh out loud.

"They're good, aren't they? Nathan is a hell of a chef."

"Whatever."

"Why don't you like him? Why don't you like any of us?"

Jenny shrugged.

"You're okay, I guess. Not your fault you married a superficial, self absorbed idiot. And Nathan? He's just a dumb jock. And Haley? She's too nice and too perfect. She kind of gets on my nerves. Other than that, everything is okay."

"Well, at least you're honest, kid."

"What can I say?"

"What can you tell me about Amanda?"

Jenny's eyes narrowed.

"Can I go one day, scratch that, one hour without having to hear our wonderful Princess is?"

Lucas took a leap of faith.

"Personally, I don't think she's that wonderful."

"What do you mean?"

He shrugged.

"Seems kind of fake to me. I don't know. What do you think?"

Jenny didn't know what to think. On one hand, she never let her guard down or trusted anyone. On the other hand here was the one person who seemed not to be under Amanda's spell.

"She's a bitch", she finally said.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I don't like her?"

"Why not?"

Jenny stared down.

"Because she's mean."

"Amanda is mean to you?"

"I don't know. She just does stuff sometimes. But then she goes right back to trying to be nice and she turns it around like whatever bad thing she did was an accident and it wasn't her fault."

"How do you feel about her staying in the house?"

"I hate her. I wish she would leave but that won't happen anytime soon."

"It will. The State is moving slow but it will happen."

Jenny rolled her eyes.

"Yeah right. Peyton is attached to that chick at the hip. Amanda's not going anywhere."

"They're close, huh?"

"I guess."

"That's weird. I mean, I see right through Amanda. But Peyton is smart too. She's usually a really good judge of character. She can read people pretty well. I don't know what's up."

Jenny took a deep breath.

"I guess Peyton went through a lot of bad stuff. She used to take care of me when I was little."

"She did."

"I guess I was some cooing, sugary sweet angel baby back then or some crap. I guess her and my dad thought that's what they'd be getting back. Instead, they got me."

Lucas studied the sad look on her face.

"You're not so bad, Jenny. Even with that big old mouth, you're a pretty cool kid. Jake and Peyton love you very much. They're happy you're back."

"Dad is, I guess."

"And Peyton, too."

"Doubt it", Jenny muttered. "She likes Amanda better. Amanda knows it too. That's why she does things so everyone will think she's the good one."

"What kind of things?"

Jenny reluctantly found herself opening up to yet another stranger about the whole incident with the dog as well as what Amanda had done.

"…She said she didn't do it on purpose but I don't believe her. That's why I hate her."

"Did you tell your dad?"

Jenny's eyes widened.

"No. And you better not either."

"Okay. You can trust me, Jenny. I promise I won't say anything, okay?"

"I know you don't believe me. You probably think I'm stupid."

"You're not stupid and I do believe you. I can't put my finger on it but there is something about that girl. She gives me the creeps."

"Yeah", Jenny hugged her knees to her chest. "Me too."

As if on cue, Amanda grinning and smiling bounded around the corner.

"Guess what?" she said loudly to all who could hear, including Lucas, Jenny, Peyton and Haley. "We just played volleyball and Miss Brooke was on my team and we beat Nathan and Jake!"

"Awesome!" Peyton grinned. "Girl power! The ladies are officially kicking ass and taking names."

"Well, let's move on over to the patio and I can tease that husband of mine about getting his ass handed to him by two girls", Haley quipped as everyone followed her lead to the other part of the yard.

Lucas lingered behind, carefully watching as Amanda put fresh salad on her plate.

"Mr. Lucas, do you have any French dressing? Miss Brooke said you did and all I see out here is Ranch, Vinegar and Blue Cheese."

Lucas just shook his head as he looked right at her.

"I'm on to you", he finally said. "I don't know what your deal is, but I'm watching you. I won't let you hurt my friends."

Amanda looked up at him with sad, tear filled eyes. Her expression was one of hurt and innocence and for a split second, Lucas regretted approaching her in such a way. Their eyes met and a chill ran down Luke's spine as her child like blue green eyes turned into a dark almost indescribable color. The sweet and innocent smile was replaced with a sinister almost evil grin that gave the grown man the creeps. She sauntered up to him until their faces and bodies were mere inches apart. Although he was tall, lean and muscular and she was just a teenage girl, that strange look in her eyes literally frightened him.

She leaned in close, her hot breath tickling the sensitive skin of his neck as she stood on the tips of her nose to reach his ear.

"Don't fuck with me", she whispered.

For a moment time stood still and as abruptly as the scene had started, it was over. Amanda backed away, smiled again and hurried off across the yard to join the others. Lucas stood there absolutely stunned. It was as if he was in a bad episode of "The Twilight Zone". His suspicions had been right after all. Jenny proved that and any lingering doubt was erased by the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde personality switch Amanda had just performed before his very eyes. Something was up. Something was going on. He couldn't make a move yet or even share his feelings with Brooke. He'd have to know more in order to figure out her twisted angle and perhaps his only realistic inside that house and in the young woman's world was Jenny. Taking a beer, Lucas sighed. More than ever he was determined to get to the bottom of things.