"Okay, this night has been disastrous with a capital D", Brooke sighed.

It was getting late and the party had winded down, the last of the guests were filing out and most were oblivious to the prior incident that had led Peyton Jagielski to flee the hall in tears, her husband hot on her heels.

"Everything is pretty much taken care of", Haley sighed. "We tipped the staff for cleanup."

"Where are Peyton and Jake?" Luke asked.

"In the car with Jenny. I guess we're ready to go."

"Good", Brooke huffed. "Now where is Amanda?"

"Isn't she with Peyton and Jake and Jenny?"

Brooke shook her head.

"No. In fact, Peyton asked me to come in and get her so they could go home. But I haven't seen her in hours…have you guys?"

Everyone murmured and shook their heads.

"Gosh, where could she be?" Haley breathed. "She was pretty upset when she ran off."

"I don't believe this", Brooke started. "This is just great! As if the night weren't perfect enough, now I get to go out and tell my best friend, 'oh by the way the teenage girl you have legal and physical custody of is presumably missing'."

Lucas rolled his eyes. He had no idea where Amanda was but he could pretty much bank that she was up to no good.

"Brooke, quit being so dramatic", he spat, causing every eyebrow to raise as the normally passive, peacekeeping, compliant member of the group raised his voice to his wife. "I'm sure she hasn't gone far. We'll split up and look for her. That's the logical thing to do before we go upsetting Jake or Peyton."

Brooke bit her lip and gave him a look that let him know she wasn't done with him.

"Fine", she answered tersely, as the men and women split up into two groups.

Nathan and Lucas in their rumpled suits began combing the corridors in search of Amanda.

"Let's see, if I were a twisted, psychotic, evil, teenage bitch, where would I be?" Lucas sighed.

Nathan smirked.

"Yeah, I guess she is kind of weird."

"Weird? That's an understatement, bro. Don't tell me she pulled the wool over your eyes, too."

"No. I know something's not right with her. And I did see how she tried to play you back there in front of Brooke and Haley tonight."

"Thanks for the help by the way", Luke muttered.

"What do you want me to do?"

Lucas took a deep breath.

"I don't know. Look, I'm tired. It's been a long, rough night and when I finally get home it still won't be over because I get the pleasure of hearing shit from my wife for the next few hours. I don't know where Amanda is and I really don't care but let's just find her so we can get the hell out of here."

Nathan nodded in agreement. They walked the halls, asked around, checked the pool area, lounges and bars. After nearly an hour and a thorough search of every square inch of the place, they were still no closer to finding her.

Lucas pulled out his cell phone to make contact with his wife and Haley. They'd had no luck either and were beginning to panic. After a few seconds of calming the women down, Lucas hung up and stuffed the phone back in his pocket.

"They're wigging out?" Nathan asked.

"Big time", Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Now what?"

"We go room to room. I saw her talking to a few people at the party and we all know how she loves to lay on the charm to strangers with her innocent act."

Nathan shrugged and followed his brother. They knocked on the doors of their families and friends, mostly from Tree Hill, who had rooms at the hotel. Most everyone remembered the pretty, young blonde in the black dress but no one had seen her in hours. Almost ready to give up hope, there was one door left to knock on. After a few minutes, a yawning Tim answered, wearing his boxers.

"What up, Scotts?" he gave his trademark nod.

The brothers just rolled their eyes.

"Where the hell did you disappear to?" Nathan asked.

Tim stepped outside and grinned.

"I got lucky", he practically squealed.

"Tim…"

"No, it was cool. I met his hot college chick. Her brother works for the team and we got it on! Man, all those porn DVDs I have don't lie. College chicks rule! They are the biggest freaks!"

"Dude, we're 27", Lucas shook his head. "When are you gonna grow up and quit chasing the young meat?"

Tim laughed out loud.

"Don't hate on the Tim just because Brooke has your dick under lock and key. I am a free man and speaking of which, I'd like to get back inside and start round 4. What brings you two losers by?"

"We're looking for Amanda, Jake and Peyton's foster kid, or whatever the hell she is", Nathan mumbled. "You seen her?"

"Nah. I don't think I met her. Was she hot?"

"Man, she's like 15."

"Oh", Tim shrugged. "Sorry."

"Alright", the bumped fists. "Sorry to bother you. Get back to your coed porn slut and we'll check you later."

Tim giggled and rubbed his palms together in anticipation before starting to shut the door.

"Hey, Tim is that room service?" called the voice from inside. "We're out of booze."

"Coming, baby", he said.

Lucas and Nathan stopped dead in their tracks and looked at each other. It couldn't be! But then again, they'd recognize that voice anywhere.

"Tim", Nathan stopped the door with his foot. "The chick in your room…does she have long blonde hair, greenish eyes…"

"Petite and she's wearing a black dress?" Lucas added.

"Was wearing the dress", Tim joked. "Yeah, that's her. What's up?"

The brothers cursed and barged into the room past their bewildered friend. The sight Lucas saw caused his blood pressure to rise.

"Amanda!"

She looked surprised and covered her naked upper body with the thin sheet.

"Lucas…"

"What the hell?" Tim scratched his head. "Mandy, you two know each other?"

Nathan grabbed Tim's arm.

"Man, that isn't Mandy and she isn't in college and her brother doesn't work for the team", he explained. "Her name is Amanda…"

"Okay…"

"And she's the girl we're looking for…"

"Alright…"

"The one who lives with Jake, Peyton and Jenny…"

"Yeah…"

Nathan felt like smacking his friend across the head. With all the years that had passed, he hadn't gained a lick of common sense.

"Dude, the 15 year old!"

"15…" Tim stuttered, putting it all together. "Wait a minute, I slept with a…"

"Yes!" they both exclaimed.

Tim turned ten colors.

"What? Dude, I…oh man! I swear I didn't know! She said…"

"Amanda, get up and put some clothes on!" Lucas demanded.

"Okay. This…this isn't what it looked like", she said. "I'm sorry…"

"I don't want to hear it! Get dressed!"

The frightened girl wrapped the covers around her and scurried off to the bathroom. Lucas was seething, Nathan was stunned and they were both trying to comfort Tim who was on the verge of a stroke.

"I didn't know", he kept repeating as he explained how everything had started in the first place. "…You guys have to believe me!"

"We do", Lucas sighed.

"Man, I don't want trouble. I don't want to go to jail! And I don't want to be killed by Jake or Peyton either!"

The door opened and a sheepish Amanda emerged.

"I'm sorry", she said in a little girl's voice. "I…I didn't mean for this to happen and please don't blame Tim. He's right. It's not his fault. He didn't know because I lied to him about my age and everything else. I don't want to get in any trouble…"

"You should have thought about that before you decided to play Lolita", Lucas reprimanded. "What the hell were you thinking? This is not a game!"

"I know. Look, I messed up, alright? I was lonely and I needed attention…

Lucas laughed bitterly out loud.

"Save the act, Amanda! You're caught, kid and you're going down. Game over!"

After promising Tim that they would call him in the morning, Lucas stormed out, Nathan on his heels, Amanda lingering behind. Fresh tears fell from her eyes.

"Nathan, wait", she tugged at his sleeve.

"Amanda…"

"Please talk to Lucas. I know he hates me but don't let him tell Jake and Peyton."

"Why not?"

"Because I'll lose everything. They'll send me back to foster care or another group home. And Peyton would be so disappointed in me…"

"Dude, you should have thought about that before. Sorry but I can't help you."

"Wait…what about Tim?"

"He didn't know. You admitted that yourself."

"Yeah but he could still get in a lot of trouble. And you too. Think about…a big scandal involving a party thrown by the Miami Heat."

"Amanda, it's not like that and you know it."

"Yeah but will the press see it that way?"

"Are you threatening me?"

"No", her eyes softened. "Please…just help me. Nathan, you're my only hope. I'm sorry, okay? It was a stupid mistake that I wish I could take back but I can't. You can relate to that…can't you?"

Her voice was still sweet but the last comment stung a bit to the tense basketball player. He looked at Amanda and he couldn't tell if he was dealing with a confused, troubled, scared kid or a ruthless Lolita.

"What am I supposed to do, Amanda? Lucas won't listen to me."

"Yes he will. At least try. Please. Make him listen."

It was too late and too much had happened. The fresh night air of the outside felt good against Nathan Scott's face. He was forced with a dilemma but there was no time to even think. Haley and Brooke, relieved, rushed them as soon as they got out of the door.

"Luke, can I talk to you?" Nathan whispered, motioning for his older brother to linger behind.

"What's up?"

"Don't…look, I don't know, I don't think we…you should say anything."

Lucas' blue eyes widened.

"Are you insane? Nate, we have to tell!"

"Maybe not. Amanda…"

"Amanda is crazy and dangerous and a list of other things. It's time for the truth to come out. I'm not protecting her anymore."

"Well, what about Peyton then? Man, this is gonna hit her like a ton of bricks. And she and Jake just started getting back on track…"

"Nathan…"

"And Tim. He didn't know man and he could still get in trouble. And us too. If this shit gets out and the press and the cops find out all this took place at a party attended by you and me and Shaq and Dwayne and the rest of the guys…"

"So you just want me to cover it up? Keep my mouth shut and pretend it never happened?"

"Yes…no, listen, I don't know. We'll figure it out later. Just tonight…"

Lucas bit at his lip as he watched Brooke and Haley fawn all over Amanda.

"Sweetie, you had us scared to death", Haley hugged her. "We looked all over. Where have you been?"

Amanda looked at Lucas, waiting to see if he would rat her out.

"We…we found her out by the pool", he said, wanting to vomit as he couldn't believe the ridiculous lie had come from his mouth.

"The pool? What were you doing there?"

Amanda shrugged.

"Just thinking, I guess. I'm sorry I ruined everyone's night."

"You didn't", Brooke said. "It's okay. Everything is fine but you can't disappear like that, Amanda. We were about to call in the CIA and the FBI."

"I'm sorry, Miss Brooke."

Lucas closed his eyes, ignoring the look from his brother as everyone began to file to their respective cars. As Brooke said her tired good byes to everyone, a sullen Lucas went to bring their Corvette around.

"Lucas…"

"Amanda, get away from me!"

She nodded as she looked at the ground, tears still in her eyes.

"Look, I know we haven't seen eye to eye and I know you hate me but…thank you. I mean that. I messed up but it won't happen again. Thanks for not telling."

Lucas responded by starting the ignition and rolling up the window. A few seconds later his wife joined him and they pulled off headed back to their mansion. A million silent thoughts raced through his mind and he would never forget the image of the blonde in the black dress that remained in his rear view mirror until the sports car pulled out of sight.