Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, everyone, especially to KK who was way behind but got caught up in one night and still managed to review every chapter. You're awesome although I did feel bad reading your reviews this morning and in the earlier chapters you were so "pro Amanda". I knew you'd be kicking yourself (and probably me) later but it's so funny because as I was writing this, my girl Cathy and I would be on the phone every night and she'd be going on and on about how great Amanda was and I knew once the truth was revealed, she's want to kill her! I was right and she wanted to kill me too for not giving up the spoiler! But you guys keep reading and keep letting me know what you think. Your time and feedback is much appreciated and to clear up the age thing, KK, I am 26. The high school days are long behind me, the other reviewer, Ashton, was just confused.

Lucas sat on the floor of his five star hotel suite absently bouncing a basketball. He desperately needed to clear his mind because a million thoughts raced through it. A huge burden lay heavily on his heart and it had for weeks.

His nickname was St. Lucas, one he had acquired over the years for always being the do gooder peacemaker. He was the one that did the right thing. He stepped up to the plate without having to be asked. He was always there to lend a sympathetic ear or a shoulder to cry on. And whenever any of his friends or family had a problem, he was usually the one to help solve it. There was a problem, a huge one and for the first time, he had no idea what to do.

Ever since the night of the party he had been sick, literally sick. He had been trying for the longest to bust Amanda but when he'd had the chance, he had chickened out. She was the one who had done something wrong but once again the situation had been turned around so that if the secret were exposed, she would once again be the victim.

Obviously the kid wasn't going away. And obviously things weren't going to get better. Amanda was like a tumor spreading her infectious cancer among the people Lucas cared about most. And only he could stop her. But how?

Sighing, he stood and opened the door, traveling a few feet down the hall to another suite. He knocked and after a few minutes, a tired looking Jake answered.

"What's up, man?"

"You sleeping?" Lucas asked.

"Nah. Just hanging out watching some TV. What's going on?"

Lucas nervously shifted his weight.

"Can I come in?"

"Of course", Jake invited him, removing a heap of clothing on a nearby chair. "Everything okay? You look upset."

Lucas sighed. He knew what he had to do. Now or never.

"We have to talk. There's something I have to tell you."

"Okay", Jake frowned. "This doesn't sound too good. What's going on?"

"It…it's about Amanda. Um, has everything been okay lately?"

Jake shrugged.

"I guess. The party was really cool but Peyton was pretty upset about her dad crashing. Other than that, everything has been pretty good."

"Has Child Welfare found another home for her?"

"Not yet."

"What's taking so long, dude?"

"I don't know. It's a process, I guess. It gets complicated dealing with the Family Courts and stuff. God knows it sucked when I was trying to fight Nikki for Jenny back in Tree Hill."

"But are you okay with that? Amanda still hanging around, I mean."

"It's okay. Why, Luke? What's with all the questions? What's going on?"

Lucas took a deep breath.

"I know we've had this conversation before and I'm just looking out for you, dude, but Amanda…she seriously needs to go."

"Luke…"

"Hear me out, Jake. She's trouble. I know you might not like hearing that but she is."

"Look, my hands are tied, man. Besides, she's just a kid. I know you might not like her for whatever reason but what am I supposed to do?"

"It's not about me not liking her. I don't but I have my reasons."

"Why?"

"She's just trouble."

"Man, I need more than that…"

"Why don't you start by asking your daughter?"

Jake's eyes narrowed.

"Jenny? What's she got to do with all this?"

"Maybe you should have a talk. The things that Amanda have done…well, I'm not the only one to see them. Jenny talks to me sometime, about as much as she'll talk to anyone. I know things."

"Things like what?"

"Jake…"

"Lucas, if Amanda has done something to Jenny then I need to know. Did she hurt her? I mean, what."

"That's something you're going to have to talk with Jenny about. No, she hasn't hurt her but I wouldn't put it past her."

"Lucas…"

"You ever see that movie The Bad Seed?"

"Yeah, like a long time ago."

"Remember how that little girl was just evil? There was no explanation, really. She just did bad things to hurt people because she could. And after the fact, she didn't feel pity or remorse. That's a bad combination to be that manipulative."

"It's just a movie, Lucas. Okay, Amanda didn't have the greatest upbringing and she might have a few problems and maybe sometimes she's a little strange but come on. And if she and Jen don't get along, I mean, are you surprised? Jenny doesn't exactly get along with anyone. They're just kids. I need some proof, man, some kind of evidence…"

"Amanda slept with Tim", Lucas blurted out.

Jake's jaw dropped to the floor.

"What?"

"I said…"

"I think I heard you, Luke. Tim? The Tim? Tim Smith?"

"Yeah."

Jake stood with clenched fists.

"That no good son of a bitch! How could he? He's still the same dumb ass he was in high school ten years ago! He had sex with Amanda? I'll kill him! She's only 15! That's sick! It's against the law…"

"Hold on, Jake. Calm down. It wasn't Tim's fault. He didn't know who she was or especially how old she is."

"What?"

"Amanda gave him a fake name and told him she was someone else and she sort of seduced him."

"Tim told you this?"

"Yeah…and Amanda confirmed it."

Jake was stunned. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was like being in an alternate universe as his friend explained everything from his first hunch about Amanda to what Jenny had told him to her threatening him to her flirting with Nathan to the final detailed incident with Tim.

"Luke…"

"I'm sorry, Jake but I had to tell you. I should have said something that night after the party."

Jake shook his head.

"What am I going to do, man? I mean, despite everything, a little bit of me still feels sorry for her. I never saw any of this shit coming."

"You have to get rid of her, the sooner, the better."

"Nathan was right, man. What if I do and this shit leaks out about the Tim thing? Or worse, once Peyton finds out…it will destroy her."

"Dude, she's your wife. You have to tell her the truth."

"I can't…"

"Yes, you can. The truth might hurt now but do you think it's going to get any better if you just sit on it? It'll only hurt worse later and there is no way Amanda is going to just stop what she's doing. I guarantee she has some more tricks up her sleeve. There's no telling what she'll do next or who it will hurt."

Jake bit at his lip.

"You're right, man. You're absolutely right but it's not that easy. Peyton…you weren't there before, Luke. You didn't see what I saw. She lost it. She was over the edge. Depressed…suicidal. It was horrible. And then she turned back to the drugs. I'm sorry but I can't risk that again. I have to protect her."

"So what are you going to do?" Lucas sighed, struggling to understand. "You can't just ignore it."

"I know. I know. I'll…man, I'll figure something out."

Lucas nodded.

"It's your call, man. It's your family. I just thought you should know."

"Okay."

Lucas turned to leave but stopped at the door.

"Hey, Jake?"

"Yeah?"

"Just promise me one thing. Listen, I know protecting Peyton is your number one priority and all. I'm a husband who loves his wife too so I respect that but this is real. The threat is real. Amanda is real. Just don't lose sight of all that. She's playing you, man. She's playing all of us. I'm telling you, something really terrible is going to happen if she sticks around. Just don't fall for her act. She's good but she's not that good. Don't let her keep conning you. Amanda can cry and be sweet and act all innocent and whine about her horrible childhood but she hasn't fooled me, man. And she hasn't fooled Jenny either. Don't let her fool you. I'm telling you, Jake. Man up, put your foot down and boot that kid out as soon as you can because if you don't, you'll regret it. And I have a really bad feeling we'll all end up regretting it."