Brooke smiled as she watched Jake and Peyton Jagielski slow dancing in a corner. They were cuddled close, her arms wrapped securely around his neck as they swayed to the music and whispered in each other's ears. There were smiles on their faces as they gazed at one another adoringly, lips pecking together ever so often. It was a beautiful, long overdue sight.

"You did a good thing here", Brooke said, draping an arm around Amanda who was also watching the couple.

"I can't take all the credit but just as long as Jake and Peyton are happy."

"They are from the looks of it. Tonight has been a raving success and you should be proud. Now mission is accomplished and the lovebirds appear to be back on track. Quit worrying about them and have a good time yourself."

"I am", Amanda said with a shy smile.

"You sure?"

The younger girl sighed.

"It's just this dress…"

"You look fabulous!"

"Thanks but uh…you don't think it's too much?"

"Of course it is but that's the beauty of it!"

"I, I feel really self conscious…"

"Don't be. You look amazing and you have the body for it so you may as well flaunt it."

"You don't think it's too sexy? Or too old for me?"

Brooke rolled her eyes.

"Heaven's no! Get with the program. And anybody else who tells you different is just jealous! You should see some of the stuff I wore when I was your age. I think you look hot and you know you look hot so that's all that matters. Maybe there are some really cute teenage boys running around here tonight. Cute teenage boys rule!"

Amanda giggled as she and Brooke walked arm and arm much to Lucas' dismay, who was watching from afar. He didn't know what his wife saw in the teen, past hero worship, and he couldn't figure out why she hadn't seen past the act. He wanted nothing more than to expose Amanda for what she was, whatever she was, but he knew he had to go about it carefully.

"Hey, dude, why the frown?" Jake asked, breaking away from his wife long enough to acknowledge his good friend.

"I'm cool", Lucas said, rather unconvincingly.

Jake followed his steely gaze that led right to Amanda and Brooke.

"You're not still on that, are you? Look, I admit her hanging around all the time and living in our house was starting to get on my nerves and stuff but she's not so bad. And she did put this party together for Pey and me."

Lucas sighed.

"Look, man. I'm not trying to ruin your night or anything but let me just say that I'm not convinced and we'll leave it at that."

"Luke…"

"It's a good night, Jake. All the people we care about are here and having a good time. Let's just leave it at that. I don't want to talk about Amanda."

Peyton joined them from across the way, slipping her arm around Jake's waist.

"What are you two all huddled over here talking so seriously for?" she grinned.

"Nothing", Lucas said.

"Yeah…nothing", Jake added kissing her cheek. "Now, are you having a good time, babe?"

Peyton smiled.

"I am having a great time! This is really awesome. We're together and we're with our friends and Jenny…all the right people are here."

Jake's smile quickly faded as his eyes fell upon the person walking over to them.

"Peyton…" he tried to grab his wife and turn her attention away.

"Jake, what's wrong?"

The blonde looked up and she could see what was wrong. And in her eyes it was very wrong.

"Peyton…" the man whispered softly.

She visibly tensed and crossed her arms.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, tears clouding her eyes before she could help it.

"I…I had to see you. You wouldn't take my calls and…"

"Exactly. Can't you take a hint? If I didn't want to talk to you over the phone, I damn sure didn't want to see you. I left Tree Hill to get away from you. Why the hell are you following me here?"

"Peyton…" his voice pleaded, reaching out for her but she had already turned her back and begun to walk away.

Jake intercepted, his heart going out to the man but at the same time the protection of his clearly fragile wife was his main priority.

"Larry, just let it go."

"But Jake…"

"I know, man but she doesn't want to see you. It's too soon. It's still too hard for her."

The elder Sawyer simply nodded and stuffed his hands in his pockets, receiving a sympathetic pat on the back from Lucas. He decided it best to leave. All he wanted was to see his little girl. And for a few brief moments he had been able to watch that beautiful face from afar and see her happy smile. But the smile had disappeared almost instantly the very second she laid eyes on her father. It broke his heart but what could he do? She still wasn't ready to hear him out and the last thing he wanted was to cause a scene.

"Okay, what just happened there?" Brooke asked, as she, Amanda, Nathan and Haley joined Lucas. "My best friend just runs out in tears. What's wrong with this picture?"

Lucas sighed.

"Her dad showed up."

"Larry?" Brooke exclaimed. "What was he doing here?"

Lucas shrugged.

"I guess he found out about it or was invited…"

"How?" Brooke demanded. "He was specifically on the 'Do Not Invite' list! Of course Peyton would freak seeing him. How in the world did this happen?"

Lucas saw a chance. It was an inch but he was determine to turn it into a mile.

"I have no idea…oh wait, weren't you in charge of the invitations, Amanda?"

If looks could kill, the one the teenager gave him would have dropped him dead right then and there on the floor.

"You're right", she said solemnly, looking at the floor. "I…I'm sorry. I guess this is all my fault. Haley gave me a list of random names and I just assumed…"

"Wait a minute", Brooke put her hands on her hips. "Isn't that the list I told you to proofread, Lucas? You know, to make sure we didn't miss anybody."

Luke's face drained of all color while Amanda had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. Oh how quickly the tables had turned.

"Yeah, but…um…"

"Lucas Eugene Scott! For Christ's sake, did you even look at the list?"

"Of course I did, Brooke! And I know the stuff going on between Peyton and her dad. When I looked over the invitations, Larry Sawyer's name was not on it."

"Well, Broody he had to get on the list someway and the invitation didn't just mail itself! God, babe! I put you in charge of one tiny thing for a reason and you can't even do that! Now look what happened!"

Brooke was in a tizzy and her husband was a stunned, stuttering mess. Amanda was loving it but she contained her glee as she slipped back into the quiet, unassuming, innocent role.

"Miss Brooke, Lucas…please don't fight. I'm so sorry. I guess this is all my fault…"

"Trust me, it's not your fault", Brooke sneered.

"I just…I feel awful. I'm sorry…"

She burst into tears, running off.

"Brooke…"

"Lucas, not now!"

"She did it on purpose. She must know what's going on and she invited Larry."

"Lucas", Haley mouthed, absolutely horrified. "Why would you say a thing like that?"

"Yes, Lucas!" Brooke demanded. "She's just a kid and she doesn't know all the drama that happened back in Tree Hill. Besides, what would she have to gain by doing something like that?"

Lucas opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. What could he say? Tell them his hunch? Tell them that Amanda, the sweet, troubled, wonderful, little Amanda they all adored was a manipulative, lying, psychotic witch? Haley and Brooke were already red faced, hands on hips ready to pummel him at any given second. In a last act of desperation, he turned to his little brother for help. Nathan shifted uncomfortably before looking away.

"Come on, Brooke", Haley sighed, shaking her head and grabbing her friend. "Let's check on, Peyton."

The women stalked off, leaving the two brothers. Lucas gave Nathan the death stare.

"What?" the younger one shrugged.

Lucas just shook his head.

"Thanks for the support, idiot", he mumbled, walking off.

That conniving little bitch had managed to turn everything around on him and once again she was the victim. He had given her more than enough rope and hadn't realized the whole time she was looping it around his unsuspecting neck.