Author's Note: Flashback sequence written in Italics...
The private car pulled up to the corner and the driver opened the door for Jake, Peyton, Lucas and Brooke. A few reporters stood outside the building and they quietly snapped their shots. A Public Relations expert hired by the Miami Heat quickly ushered the foursome into the courthouse to a private room where Haley was already seated. The group exchanged hugs.
"Where is Nathan?" Lucas asked.
"He's being questioned again. Ms. Copeland is with him."
Lucas nodded.
"So after that, he gives his statement, turns himself in and waits for the bond hearing?"
"Yeah. Actually, there is going to be some kind of hearing as soon as he turns himself in. Amanda will be there", Haley looked at the floor.
The friends were silent and a few minutes later, Nathan, clad in a suit and accompanied by his attorney entered the room. It was time for him to face the music and face the world. An antsy Haley shifted her small weight from foot to foot.
"They're late", Haley whispered to Peyton, checking her watch. "What if they don't come?"
Peyton tried to keep her col.
"It's okay. They'll be here. Just give it a little time."
"We don't have much more time."
Haley was right as the group was escorted into the room where members of the local and national media had gathered. Vanessa Copeland spoke first, leaning directly in front of the mic.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the press. My name is Vanessa Copeland and I am lead counsel representing Mr. Nathan Scott. We have chosen this forum as an opportunity to speak out on a very complicated matter that will soon become very public. With rumors and innuendo, this is Mr. Scott's chance to briefly tell his side of the story. It is expected, as we are dealing with a criminal case, the presiding judge may issue an immediate gag order as early as this afternoon so Mr. Scott will make his statement and at this time, we will not be accepting any questions. Thank you."
The small room buzzed with whispers and anticipation. There had been so many rumors concerning why Nathan Scott had summoned reporters to the Miami courthouse to give a statement. Whatever it was, it was big and juicy and just seconds from being announced publicly. Like salivating vultures, they could not wait.
Nathan took a deep breath and straightened his tie as he nervously approached the microphone. He read from a prepared statement Haley and Lucas had helped him write.
"Um, first of all, I would like to thank everyone for being here. This is concerning an unfortunate matter where criminal charges are being pressed against me by the state of Florida based on the false statements and accusations of a minor female acquaintance that has come forward and accused me of statutory rape. I'd like to take this time and apologize to the court, to my family, to my friends and especially to my wife, Haley Scott. What was an innocent and harmless situation has now been tainted and twisted by savage lies. Over and over I have cooperated fully with the Miami Police Department and all other involved investigative authorities. I have answered their questions time and time again truthfully and to the best of my recollection. No matter what, my story, the truth, still stands. I am an innocent man. I would never intentionally hurt or take advantage of a child, especially for my own sexual pleasure. And I would never stray from my marriage or hurt my wife. There is not much more I can say except that I hope justice will prevail one way or the other. I fully expect my name to be cleared of any and all wrongdoing. I also sincerely hope that the young woman at the center of these allegations will find it in her heart to do the right thing and tell the truth. Also, one day I hope she seeks the help she so desperately needs. Obviously, love isn't enough…I think that point has already been proven. Thank you."
Nathan stepped away from the podium and the journalists went crazy with their questions. The group was ushered into another room where an officer, a detective and the assistant District Attorney were waiting. Nathan took a deep breath and looked straight ahead.
"My name is Nathan Scott and there is a warrant for my arrest", he said.
Immediately the cop set in on him, reading him his rights and placing the cuffs tightly around his wrists. Haley whimpered and reached out for him but Vanessa grabbed her hands.
"It's okay. He'll be okay."
But it wasn't okay as they led her husband away to be booked. They were taken upstairs to where the first hearing would be held as a tearful Haley held onto Brooke's hand. It was well over an hour later when the bailiff brought Nathan into the room. Gone was the expensive tailored suit. It had been replaced with an orange County Jail jumpsuit.
Haley immediately began to break down sobbing.
"Why do they have him looking like a common criminal?" she cried to Vanessa who calmed her down.
Then a side door opened and Amanda was walked in. If Nathan had been made to look like a criminal, Amanda has been dressed like a choirgirl. She wore a plaid skirt below her knees, simple loafers and a long sleeved cream shirt. Her blonde hair had been parted in the middle and it lay limply down her back. Her face was void of all make up.
"Miss Marshall, raise your right hand", the judge commanded softly. "Promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
"I will", she said in a voice barely above a frightened whisper.
A courtroom sat in shocked silence as the teenager calmly and sometimes tearfully recounted her version of the story, memories of a torrid and forbidden love affair.
"Can you tell us what happened next?"
Amanda looked down.
"He…he put his arms around me and he kissed me. I was shaking. I was so scared but at the same time, I kind of liked it. He said I was pretty and I just wanted him to like me. Then he pushed me down on the bed and he was kissing me and I kept telling him to stop because what if someone walked in? Like, what if his wife found out? I didn't want anyone to be mad at me but he said it was okay. Then, um, he…he…"
"He what? I know this is difficult for you, Miss Marshall."
"He unbuttoned my pants."
"Who is he?"
Amanda looked up and pointed right at Nathan.
"And then he took them off and my underwear and he told me it would only hurt for a minute and that he was doing it because he loved me and he wanted to make me a woman."
The courtroom gasped.
"Order!" the judge hit his gavel.
"She's fucking lying!" Nathan yelled when he could no longer just sit there and take what Amanda was saying.
"Ms. Copeland, please instruct your client to remain silent and calm during proceedings or I will have him removed from my court and held in contempt."
Peyton sat in her own disbelief. There was Amanda. Her precious, sweet Amanda. The one she had taken in to her home and her heart. The surrogate sister. The one she had tried to help. The one she had loved and believed. She could now barely believe her ears and eyes. The lies, the deceit, the coldness of it all. Amanda was a lying, little manipulator. And she did her dirty work with ease and without remorse. It hurt Peyton. It hurt her deep but it also made her angry. Amanda couldn't win. Peyton wouldn't let her. She had already taken so much from all of them.
"Can you believe this bullshit?" Jake whispered to his wife, shaking his head.
Peyton kept staring back at the doors to the courtroom. Come on, she thought. Please. Where the hell were they?
Amanda's dramatic testimony continued, leaving the spectators riveted. You could hear a pin drop then the door opened. A man and a woman stood, talking with one of the court officers. Peyton and Haley looked at each other. It was it. The moment they had waited for…
"I can't believe we're doing this", Haley whispered.
"It's the only way", Peyton repeated.
"What are we looking for again?"
Peyton shrugged.
"Anything."
And that summed it up in a nutshell. They were desperate women looking for the truth that would vindicate one of their own. They had "borrowed" master keys to the school where they both taught and after hours, after it was dark, they had slipped away from their husband and friends and into the school. They had rummaged through the dean's office and were in the file room looking for any information on Amanda Marshall.
"I've got something!" Haley shouted. "Pey, bring that flashlight over here."
Peyton walked over as Haley pulled out a file six inches thick on their subject. Academic and behavioral records.
"We can't do anything with this", Peyton shook her head in frustration.
"Wait", Haley said.
In the back was a file within a file. It was sealed and most of the information had been covered with white out.
"This is it", Peyton said excitedly. "This is part of her sealed juvenile record. Haley get me something to scratch the white out off."
Haley did as she was told and they sat on the floor reading pages and pages of private information. Hours later, they were left speechless. They made copies and neatly put everything back exactly the way they had found it. But the night wasn't over. There were phone calls to make and people to see. They had everything they needed. In their hands was the proverbial smoking gun. It was time to take Amanda down!
"Your Honor, two new witnesses have come fort with information concerning this case", the court officer announced.
"We were not aware of this, Judge", the prosecution objected.
"The defense had no prior knowledge either", Vanessa added.
The judge sighed. His courtroom was quickly becoming a circus.
"May I have your names and your relevance to today's proceedings?" the judge asked the two people standing in the aisle.
The woman, a pretty, petite, strawberry blonde spoke with a soft voice.
"Yes, Your Honor. My name is Carol Lawrence and this is my husband, Wayne. We are the parents of the young woman here today currently going by the name, Amanda Marshall. It's an alias. Her real name is Melanie Nicole Lawrence."
As if anymore could have hgappened. Peyton and Haley exchanged small and nervous smiles as they held their breath. Peyton turned and looked Amanda right in the eye. Now it was her turn to smirk. Amanda looked right back. She grinned, too. Her look seemed to say that she had indeed been caught but she seemed satisfies, almost proud. She had been playing games for years. Now she had finally met her match.