Judging by the heavenly aroma circulating through the vents of the Jagielski house, it was obvious dinner was almost ready and whatever Peyton was cooking, Amanda was starved. She pulled her long blonde hair into a bun and headed for the staircase. She didn't see the figure lurking behind the door of one of the bathrooms and when the hand reached out and grabbed her, she had to stifle a scream for help.

"Don't breathe a word."

Amanda looked over and finally smiled.

"Wow, Jake this is cozy", she joked, folding her arms. "What do I owe the pleasure?"

He shook his head in disgust.

"Save it. Look, I need to know what you want."

Amanda scoffed.

"What I want? You're the one that dragged me in here."

"Don't play games with me. Peyton told me you guys had that meeting with the Gillespies when I was on the road."

"Yeah. So?"

Jake rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"So tell me what the hell is going on. What happened?"

Amanda smirked.

"What did Peyton tell you?"

"She said it went well and that they're nice people."

"And? What else?"

"She said they really liked you and that you liked them and the whole move will be good for you."

"I see", Amanda nodded.

"Amanda…"

"Peyton's right. It was a grand old time. We toured the big old house and we sat on the back porch sipping lemonade and eating homemade cookies. It was lovely, Jake. Really. You should have been there. It looked like something out of a country living magazine."

"Cut the bullshit. When do you leave?"

She gave him an innocent look and shrugged.

"Who's to say?"

"I want you to leave right now."

"What else is new?" Amanda rolled her eyes.

"No. I mean it. I want you out. I want you to go downstairs right now and tell Peyton that you really love the Gillespies and you want to move in your new home right away."

Amanda laughed out loud.

"And why would I do something like that?"

"I don't get you. What are you doing this for? You don't care about Peyton or anyone but yourself. What's the point of all this? You staying here and lying and manipulating and playing your dangerous little games, what is it all for?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I want you out, Amanda!"

"I'll leave", she smiled. "When the time is right."

"The time is now. Look, what do you want? Money? Is that it?"

He desperately fished in his wallet.

"What are you doing?"

"I only have a couple of hundred in cash. We can go to the ATM right now and I'll give you whatever you want, however much you want."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Name your price."

Amanda licked her lips.

"As tempting as your little indecent proposal sounds, I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline."

"What?"

"You heard me. I don't want your money, Jake."

He threw his hands up in frustration.

"Then what do you want? Huh? Tell me. Whatever it is, I'll get it for you. I don't care what it is or how much it costs me but I am willing to do anything to get you out of this house."

"Getting a little desperate, aren't we, Jakey?"

"Listen…"

"No, you listen to me. I'll leave but only when I feel like it. You got me?"

She turned to walk away. Jake had had it. All the anger, frustration, and desperation had reached a boiling point. He was on the verge of exploding.

"That's it", he mumbled.

"Excuse me?"

"I said that's it. I'm done. I'm done, Amanda and so are you. You have problems. I don't what fuels you…if it's something really bad that happened to you as a kid or if there is some sort of chemical imbalance in your brain or if you're just plain evil but whatever it is, you have major issues. You need help and I can't help you and neither can Peyton. Something has got to give and you need to leave. Now."

"What are you going to do?"

"I can't go on like this. I've been trying to protect Peyton all this time but it's killing me inside. She needs to know the truth and I can't keep keeping these secrets from her."

"Don't", Amanda whispered.

"It stops here, Amanda."

He turned to walk away but she grabbed him, pressing her firm young body into his.

"No, Jake. Whatever you want, whatever it takes…"

He looked in her green eyes and the huskiness of her voice and the closeness of her body, both knew exalt what she meant, exactly what she was propositioning, and just how far she was willing to go.

"Are you kidding?" he pushed her roughly. "Get off of me!"

"I…I'm sorry", she began to cry. "Look, I didn't mean…I just…don't tell Peyton, okay? Please. I don't want her to hate me. Jake, you can't…"

She grabbed his arm ion a final pleading act but he quickly pulled away, shaking his head.

"No, Amanda! Has anyone ever told you that in your life? You can't lie or manipulate your way out of this one. The answer is no!"

She bowed her head and in the few seconds it took her to make eye contact again, the tears and all traces of them had vanished.

"Who the fuck do you think you are? Lucas put you up to this, didn't he? This is right up hips alley, just his style. All brains and you're just his little bitch front man. Is that how it is, Jagielski? You always do the Scott brothers' dirty work?"

"What?"

"Tell me how it feels to be inferior. I know your little Tree Hill stories. Seems like Peyton got it on with both Nathan and Lucas before you got third dibs. Then Nathan goes on to fame and fortune in the NBA, taking his savvy older brother with him and then when your life is in the shitter, when your so called career is going nowhere and you've driven your unhappy wife to the brink of suicide, the Scott brothers feel sorry for your ass and throw you another bone."

"Shut up. Just shut up."

"Truth hurts, huh? You know I'm right. Lucas has been pulling your puppet strings for years and you know it. You're being manipulated alright but it's not me."

Jake laughed out loud as he clapped his hands.

"Great job. Really Amanda. You deserve an Oscar for that little performance but it doesn't work. Not this time."

"So what are you gonna do? Tell Peyton?"

"Yeah."

"Tell her what?"

"Everything."

"Everything, huh? You're gonna expose me, let her know who the real Amanda is."

"Exactly."

"It will devastate her."

"Yeah it will but she needs to know and she'll only be hurt worse if I keep my mouth shut and keep letting you get away with everything."

"Wow. So in the name of all that's good and truthful, you're willing to let Peyton get hurt. Gee, I never thought you'd do such a thing. Frankly, I'm surprised. I mean, your wife really loves me. I'm like a little sister to her and all this breaking tragic news might really push her over the edge…again."

"Peyton will be fine. She has me and Jenny and her true friends, the people that really care about her. Trust me, she'll get over the hurt and over you."

"I see. You're right, though. She will be hurt but uh, I know something that will hurt her a lot worse. Man, I tell you, I'd hate to see that look on her beautiful face when I have to break down and explain everything. See, she will want an explanation, Jakey, I know you've thought about that. You know, all those horrible things that happened to me in all those homes, all those disgusting things those creepy men did to me…every time I told Peyton, you could just see a little piece of her die. And now I have to tell her that my life is falling apart because I've been raped…again."

Jake's eyes narrowed.

"What? Amanda, what are you talking about?"

"You mean, you don't remember? Was it not a significant event in your life? The night Tim Smith, your country bumpkin Tree Hill friend, raped me and you knew about it yet you did nothing. In fact, you just swept it under the rug, you, Nathan and of course Prince Lucas."

Jake couldn't believe it.

"You, you are sick! You know that, Amanda? What the hell are you talking about? You weren't raped and you damn well know it."

Amanda shrugged and played coy.

"Well, maybe not technically but in the eyes of the law…yes, I was. The state of Florida says it is illegal for a grown man to have sex with an underage girl. It's a little felony called statutory rape and it carries one heck of a prison sentence. Prison…gosh. That would suck. I'm sure it's nothing like the luxurious accommodations here. And wait a minute, the fact that you knew about it as an adult and did nothing."

"Amanda…"

"And the scandal that would evoke. Wow. Nathan Scott, the star player and his flashy agent brother. Damn. That could end a career. The tabloids would certainly be all over it. The coaches, the very Miami franchise would be publicly humiliated. No more basketball. No more endorsements. No more parties or private jets. And what would Haley and Brooke say? Not that it would matter, you three, excuse me, four will make nice butt buddies in jail. I hear they have nice basketball courts though or at least that's what it was like on that TV show Oz."

"Amanda, look…"

"There is a bright side but not for you. With all the media attention, I'll be a star. I wonder how much The Enquirer will pay me for my story?"

"You sick little bitch! Get the fuck out of my house."

"I may be a sick bitch but I'm not a dumb one. I've been miles ahead of you and Lucas since day one anyway. Apparently you're dumber than I thought. You must think I'm fucking around. News flash, I'm not. And if you think so and you want to call my bluff, then just try me. I beg you. I dare you. I will make your life a living hell, worse than it already is or ever has been. You can bank on that one."