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Amanda's character: Hailey Nichol

Hailey is the rebellious little sister of Kirsten Cohen and daughter of Caleb Nichol. She is always on the run, doing nothing really constructive with her life. She usually just returns home for a visit in order to get more money from her dad. So one day she arrives just in time for New Year's Eve in order to challenge the Cohens once more. She takes up residence in the Cohens house and on New Year's Eve, when everyone leaves for a party she decides to throw a secret party of her own in the Cohen's home with disastrous effects. Kirsten wants her to take responsibilities but Hailey just doesn't want to listen.

Hailey always kind of a had a thing going for Kirsten's ex-boyfriend Jimmy Cooper - so they slowly approach each other, bonding over their failures in life and watching a "Golden Girls" marathon on tv. After she derides Kirsten's career selling McMansions and paving over paradise, Sandy snaps and points out she's been staying for free in one of those houses, using the money that comes from building those houses. Hailey isn't really the type to accept criticism well, and the whole thing ends in disaster. Once Caleb returns from his trip to Europe, Kirsten suspects that Hailey will soon hit up daddy for a blank check and head out of town. Caleb is very interested to see how Hailey is who definitely not on the Julie Cooper (her dad's new fiancee) bandwagon. Hailey and Caleb start catching up while Julie and Kirsten talk about what Hailey is really up to. Julie says Kirsten is the only one Caleb really listens to. Maybe she should say something - and she does, suggesting to cut Hailey off.

Hailey demands to know what the hell Kirsten said to Caleb. She yells at Kirsten for interfering and threatens to leave for good. Kirsten wants to know where she's going with no money. Stay here and work for dad! No, Hailey thinks she needs to have her own life by getting as far away from Caleb and Kirsten as possible.

Aletter in the mail arrives at the Cohens home from Hailey. Apparently she's an aerobics instructor at Club Med. But in reality as Ryan and Marissa discover, she is working in a nightclub in Hollywood as a dancer. Ryan then calls home with the news that he found Hailey working as a dancer at the club. Jimmy, overhearing the phone call, becomes concerned about Hailey. Jimmy drives to Hollywood to rescue Caleb's daughter from a life of stripping and wrinkly dollar bills. Seth spots Hailey and pleads with her to come home with them, but the club owner pushes her back onstage and kicks the kids out into the alley. Later, Ryan and Marissa are again begging Hailey to come back home with them when the club manager and bouncer grab all three of them and toss them outside. Just about as a fight is to ensue, Jimmy Cooper comes up to save the day. He takes Hailey home to the Cohens.

Some time liter she drops by Jimmy's with a basket of all the leavened foods Sandy had to clear out of his house, plus an invitation to dinner. Oh, and plus a little smooching. But Jimmy backs off. He can't do this. Kirsten's his best friend, Sandy's his partner. There's too much risk! If that's so, Hailey wonders, why did he come to L.A. to get her? Why did he drop by the Cohens' earlier? And what does he care about more, the restaurant and Kirsten, or Hailey?
Jimmy shows up for dinner and lets Hailey know he's been doing some thinking. She was right, he shouldn't be afraid. Thing is, Hailey's been doing some thinking too and figured that Jimmy was right, it's too risky right now. Then they decide together to just go for it. They keep their relationship secret for the time being though.

At a party, Hailey and Kirsten observe their newly cheery dad who plans on proposing to Julie Cooper, then Kirsten inquires about Hailey's own love life. But she's plenty coy. Hailey spots Jimmy across the room and can't help but rave about how great he is now, a fact that Kirsten can't help but notice.

Over at his apartment, Jimmy and Hailey are making out on the couch when he suggests a move to the bedroom. Hailey points out that Marissa will be home soon. And you know what? Here she is. They try to cover Hailey's visit, but pretty clumsily. Marissa ain't buying. But she assures Jimmy that she's happy for him.

Jimmy and Hailey decide it's finally time to break the news of their…lust. But then they decide it isn't the right time after all. A little more kissing, which is interrupted by Julie and Kirsten opening the front door. So, maybe now is the right time?

Hailey, Marissa and Summer are watching a marathon of The Valley. Summer is crying over this particularly sad episode, but Hailey is complaining that the boys are enjoying a raging bacchanal while they're immersed in melodrama. Marissa claims this episode touches Summer because she broke up with Seth. Hailey says girls are better off when their fathers don't approve of their men, so don't fret too much. Doorbell. It's Kirsten. She needs to talk to Hailey. Alone. Umm, Hailey, can you get us a stripper? Julie a stripper? Hailey says she'll do it, even though she hates Julie. Hmm.
At Julie's party Hailey tries to set her up by testing whether Julie would take off with a stripper and spend the night with him or whether she would not go. Julie senses that something's up and confronts Hailey - a catfight ensues and both ladies eventually end up in the pool.

Jimmy and Hailey are helping Marissa move into her new, much, much bigger digs. Julie comes out and tells Jimmy he shouldn't be here with Caleb coming home soon and the sniping is underway. Jimmy is with Hailey because he can't have Kirsten, Julie is a shameless gold digger, Hailey is a former stripper and coke whore, Caleb is a criminal. But the fight is ended by Marissa.

...to be continued