Think Something Starting With an L…

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill.

A/N: I know that so far for OTH I've written an AU fic, then a rewrite, then another AU and now another rewrite, but this isn't going to be a pattern or anything - I just got an idea and I had to write it. Although my first fic had some Jeyton I've never written that much of it before so bear with me. This story will be five chapters long, and I'm dedicating it to Naley is LOVE because without her comments in the review of my second OTH fic I never would have thought of this.

Details: Everything up to 'Spirit in the Night', plus Haley has already got her tattoo and Nathan has seen it (although, like in the show, he didn't know she was getting one). Nikki has not shown up, so Jake is still happy and carefree (as far as a 17 year old single dad can be, anyway).

Chapter One: Auction Bids and Plans

Peyton stood in front of the gymnasium and nervously checked her watch. What was taking Jake so long! She didn't know what had possessed her to bid on Jake – well, actually she did, but when she'd decided to she hadn't thought she actually had the guts to go through with it. Her and Jake – or was it 'she and Jake?' She'd have to ask Haley later – were sort of in an awkward place. They were close, sort of, anyway, but they were still getting to know each other.

"Hey," a voice whispered from behind her.

Peyton turned around and saw Jake standing there, "Hi-i."

"I didn't know you were going to bid on me," he smiled.

"Yeah…spur of the moment decision." Yeah, right. She was totally lying. "I thought we could hang out since, you know, with Jenny you don't get much of your own time." Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. "That's okay, right?" Before Jake could answer she blurted out, "Oh my God! I'm so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking! Of course you wanted to go somewhere with one of those girls in the audience – I just thought -"

"Peyton!" Jake interrupted her, "You were right earlier when you said I don't get a lot of nights off like this, but I'd much rather be hanging out with you than with one of those girls."

"You would?" Peyton bit her lip to keep from grinning.

"Yeah," Jake said emphatically. "We'll have a lot more fun. Plus," he said in a mock serious tone, "on my way over here I saw Lucas with one of them and she was practically slobbering over him already." Jake shuddered. "It was pretty disgusting."

Peyton laughed.

"So…where are we going?"

"Actually…" Peyton faltered. "I hadn't decided."

"You realize that since you bought me I have to do whatever you ask tonight, right? And you had no plans?"

"Well," Peyton tried to explain. "I bought you so you could have fun and I thought you might like to choose, so I didn't pick anything specific."

"Hmm, I see." Jake raised his eyebrows. "So, I'm not worth a whole 83 dollars or definite plans either?"

"Wha-" Peyton began, before recalling that she paid $82.57 for him. "I didn't have the extra 3 cents," she explained hurriedly, "and Haley had to keep all her money to fight off the rabid skanks for Nathan so –"

"Peyton its okay, I'm just kidding. And that was really sweet of you," Jake told her.

"To pay 82, 57 for you?" Peyton asked, confused.

Jake laughed and shook his head. "No, I meant to let me choose."

"Oh." Peyton smiled, then looked away when he made eye contact. 'What's wrong with me?' Peyton scolded herself mentally. 'I don't get embarrassed by boys. Oh, crap, I'm turning into Haley.'

"So…" Jake led her away from the gym and towards the car park where her car was waiting, not noticing her mental struggle, "how do you feel about bowling?"

……………

Haley grinned as her boyfriend walked up to her. "Hey, you."

"Hey," Nathan grinned back before leaning down to give her a quick peck on the lips. "So…112 dollars? I didn't realize I was worth so much to you, Hales."

"Hmm…" Haley rolled her eyes at him, "The only reason I had to pay that much for you was to keep you away from all those other girls."

"You know, I think Whitey said I brought in the highest bid of the night."

Haley rolled her eyes again. "And with that show you put on out there – did you expect anything else?"

Nathan smirked. "You jealous?"

"Oh, please. Me, jealous? You gave those girls one free show for tonight. I can get one every night."

"That's true. You know, I think you don't take advantage of that often enough."

Haley giggled. "Come one, let's get going."

"Okay, where to?" Nathan asked as he checked his jean pocket for the key to his car.

"The mall," Haley said excitedly.

"The mall?" Nathan exclaimed.

"What's wrong with the mall?"

"Well…nothing. It's fine."

"Then why did you say it like there was something wrong with it?" Haley inquired.

"Haley, you now own me till midnight. You can make me do anything - at all – and we're going to the mall?"

"Well, I have to get something there and I want you to help me," Haley explained.

Nathan shook his head. "This is night totally wasted on the girls. Next year, I'm gonna suggest we auction off some of you."

"And what would you make me do for the night?" Haley teased as Nathan opened the passenger door for her. She was about to step inside when she turned back around worriedly, "You would buy me right? I mean, -"

"Of course, I would buy you. There's no way I'd let anyone else buy you." Haley grinned and kissed him on the cheek before sliding into her seat. Nathan shut the door behind her and went round to the driver's side. "And as for what we'd do? Well, for starters we'd have to get you back that cheerleader's uniform from Brooke."

"Nathan!"

"What? You asked!"