(A/N: I forget if I've ever mentioned it before, but anything in italics are flashbacks. This is a flashback for Lucas...You could say Marisol too. Also, if anyone thinks that Nathan and Marisol are getting too close, too fast and Nathan's being too nice, please tell me. Not that anyone's pointed it out, but I just feel a little weird about it, but Nathan's jerk side will show up pretty soon. Anyway, I updated with three chapters because I felt bad that I hadn't. This is for my two reviewers, LilyThompson and ilivealie, my newest reviewer. Your name is awesome. I love it and LilyThompson, thanks for being supportive, your kind words make me want to update. Well, both of your kind words. Also, anyone who puts me on their story alerts, thanks. It's not the same as a review but makes me smile just the same. Sorry for such a long author's note but I did make this chapter over two thousand words! You don't want to hear from me, so have at it.)
They were in the Scott's driveway, where Marisol had just told him that she had to get married to Nathan because of her family and the contract. "Lucas? Are you mad at me?" she asked when he had been silent.
"No, why would I be mad at you? I, I can't believe that you're going to marry him. He's a jerk. You know how he treated Peyton. Why not just find some other solution?"
"I've tried. My family has tried and my friends have tried. This was the only and best solution my mom could find. She thinks it'll be good for me. I have to marry him anyway, even if I don't want to, because of the contract. And, yes, Nathan's a jerk. I know that now, especially after today, but I…"
"You what?"
"I like Nathan, okay? I can't explain it! Yes, it's only been a few days, but I've never felt like this since…"
"Felt what? Since when?"
"Since two years ago, when I was fourteen; since… I first fell in love. I don't know the words to describe it. Seeing him smile and laugh with someone else, especially a girl makes me jealous, but happy for him at the same time. I feel everything at the same time and more than that. That doesn't even make sense!" She cried.
"It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy, it is disposition alone."
"What?"
"I'm surprised you don't know it. It's Jane Austen."
"Oh. Right."
"You know what it means? It means that it doesn't matter how long you've known someone, but the feeling that you get."
"Lucas, I don't want to fall in love with Nathan. Do you know how many girls want him at the school? Do you know how many things I've heard today? In one of my classes, a girl I don't even know came up to me and threatened me to stay away from him because he's supposed to be hers! I don't know what to think. I don't know what to say. Hell, when I first met him, I couldn't say anything! He scared the hell out of me. He still does. Only one other person has made me feel like that and I don't want to go through that again. I promised myself I would never let that happen ever again."
"Marisol…
"What am I supposed to do? From what you said, he'll probably cheat on me. It'll probably be worse. I mean, I won't even sleep with him like Peyton has. Sorry." He nodded. "Peyton's prettier than I am too. If he can cheat on her, than he'll cheat on me for sure."
"You don't know that. And you're pretty too, Marisol."
"Right. You're my friend, so you're supposed to say that. It's, like, part of the friend code."
Lucas laughed. "Maybe it is, if there is such a thing as a friend code. But I really think you're pretty. So do other people at school. My mom said so earlier."
"Really?"
"Yeah, she thinks my obsession with Peyton is unhealthy, so when she sees me with a girl-"
"She hopes you like her now instead."
"Exactly."
"Well, who could blame her. Your obsession is a little creepy, almost stalker-ish."
"Funny, funny girl, aren't you?" Lucas asked and Marisol laughed. "But you're the one that's falling in love with Nathan." Her laughing stopped.
Lucas felt guilty. "Look, although I don't like the fact that you think you're falling in love with Nathan, 'cause, well, I think he's a jerk, you're a great person. Maybe he'll realize that and change, if not, tell me and I'll kick his ass for you."
"Really?"
"Not really, but I'll do something."
"I thought as much." Marisol laughed. "Ugh! Why does this has to be so complicated?"
Lucas chuckled. "Well, love is complicated."
"Why?"
"Uh, because it is."
"Why?"
"Okay, this is going nowhere fast."
"I know. I just couldn't resist doing that." She said cheekily and he rolled his eyes. She smirked and, then, she grew serious. "Lucas…" He looked at her. "Do you think this can work out?"
"What?"
"Me and Nathan. This whole…situation."
"I, I don't know, but I hope it does."
"Thanks, Lucas, That means a lot, especially coming form you, since you guys hate each other." She said, hugging him. He laughed and hugged her back. When he pulled back, he stared into her eyes. He could tell that she was still distraught. "What is it, Lu-"
She was cut off by him kissing her. "Uh, I... I should go inside. See you tomorrow, Lucas." and like that, she was rushing to the front door. Lucas sighed and leaned against his seat.
"What?" Nathan managed to stutter.
"Yeah, Marisol likes you. Besides, didn't you both sign another contract yourselves?"
"Yeah, uh, but…" Nathan lost his train of thought, not knowing to believe Lucas or not. "If you step up, then it can be nullified. I researched it earlier."
Over with the girls, Brooke was saying, "Nathan doing research? Now this, I really don't believe."
Peyton glanced over at her and then at Marisol, who appeared grim. She looked back at Nathan and Lucas, thinking about earlier,
(A/N: This is a flashback for Peyton, if you don't know...but I hope you do.)
"Nathan, what are we doing in here?" She said, gesturing to the library.
"You know how my parents made a deal with Marisol's?" She nodded. "Well, I think I found a loophole."
"You found a loophole?"
"Hey, don't sound so surprised. My dad's not the only conniving person in my family. I picked up some things in the last few years."
"I'll say." Peyton watched him log onto one of the computers.
"So, in the contract, it says that the son of Dan Scott, meaning me, is to marry to the daughter of Jessica Santorini, Marisol. But what the contract doesn't say…"
"Is which son!" Peyton finished. "Nathan, that's great! I didn't know you had it in you. But wouldn't that just mean that Lucas has to marry Marisol?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, but what if he doesn't agree?" Peyton said, secretly hoping that Lucas wouldn't do it if Nathan told him.
"Yeah, but I saw them together last night. He kissed her. I know you liked him, Peyton. I'm sorry."
She shrugged. "What do you have to be sorry for?" Sighing, she asked, "So, what are we looking for anyway?"
"Nullification laws on contracts made by minors."
"Wow, you really know what you're doing."
"Well, I am the son of Dan Scott. Or one of them, at least." He smirked and Peyton rolled her eyes, settling at a computer.
"Well, I'm not going to do it."
"Why the hell not? Don't you want to help Marisol?"
"Of course I do! But she doesn't want me, she wants you. Get it through your thick head! Haven't you heard what I've been saying? She likes you! Man, she thinks she, she's… She really likes you. Or is it that you don't like her? Do you even really care for her?"
"Now who's the one not listening? Yes, I care for her and I really like her too. You think that on any normal day I would come up to you like this? You think I like doing this? You think I like trying to convince the guy who's my brother, because of what my dad did in high school, to marry the girl that I like, even though he could have my old girlfriend because it's so obvious they like each other?"
"If you really like Marisol, then why aren't you trying to be with her? You're the one going around, telling girls to give you a call at night if they get lonely. Everyone knows what that means, Nathan; especially with your reputation."
"Yeah, my reputation. That's why I don't want to get involved with her. My reputation will hurt her and so will I. And you say that I scare her? She scares me! I'm doing things I don't understand and I'm saying things I don't understand, like I held her hand and… and I'm talking to you!"
Lucas was taken back. "You're saying that you really care for her? And, I mean honestly care?"
"Yeah, I think I might even…even…"
"Even what? Love her?"
Nathan stuttered. "No, I…There's no way. I don't know what I feel."
"'It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy, it is disposition alone.'"
"What?"
"It's Jane Austen and I'm not sure you know who that is, but she's a famous author. It means that it doesn't matter how long you've known someone, but the feeling that you get."
"You know what, if you're not going to marry Marisol, then this conversation is over. I have nothing else to talk to you about." Nathan stomped off, out of the gym and to his car.
The group that had been watching them went over to Lucas. "You okay, Luke?" Haley asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. How's Marisol? Did she hear all of that?"
"She heard the whole thing and she's doing okay for now." Jake answered.
Lucas frowned. "Where is she?"
"She's right…" Brooke started and looked behind her. "Uh, never mind?"
"Brooke! How could you lose her? She was right behind you!" Haley berated her. "And where's Peyton?"
"Calm down, Haley. They probably left together." Jake soothed, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Then, Peyton came running to them. "You guys, Marisol left! I tried to catch up to her and stop her, but she outran me. You'd think with all the complaining she did during practice, she'd be athletically disadvantaged, but she was just gone."
Lucas couldn't help but chuckle, before getting serious again. "She ran off? Did she say anything to you first?"
"No. Does she know how to get around town?"
"I don't know. She told me Nathan took her out on Saturday, but I don't know if he showed her everywhere."
"Well, this is just great!" Haley moaned. "Her second day of school and only her fourth day in town, and we lose her! Okay, we got to split up and search for her. Brooke, Peyton, you go with Tim and I'll go with Haley and Jake. Everyone know her cell phone number?" They all nodded. "Good, keep trying to call her too."
"Wait!" Peyton said, when they started to go to the door. "Shouldn't we tell Nathan?" They all stared at her. "What? He's her fiancé, boyfriend, whatever! He should know."
"Why don't you go tell him then? Since you guys have been all buddy-buddy lately?" Haley said, not-to-friendly.
"Tell me what?" Nathan asked, from the doorway.
"Didn't you leave? You know, because our conversation was over?"
"I was, but I forgot my bag. Tell me what?" He said, grabbing his backpack quickly and walking towards them. All of them look away and try to be inconspicuous, but failed. "Brooke?"
She peeked at him and stomped her foot, whining, "Why is it always me that gets asked first?"
"Because you're a gossip queen?" Haley supplied.
Brooke glared at her, until Nathan called her again. "Fine, Marisol ran out of here and we don't know where she went."
"What?" Nathan yelled. "You guys let her run away? She's only been here for three days!"
Haley coughed. "It's her fourth day. Learn how to count."
Nathan glared at her. "Whatever, like that matters right now! Okay, uh…Do you guys have any idea where to search?"
"No." Lucas admitted, bashfully.
"Okay." He looked at how the group, wondering what he should say. "Jake and Haley, you go to the court by the river. Lucas and Brooke, go to the café, Karen's Café, you know your mom's. Yeah, uh, Tim, you search the area around the school. Peyton, come with me and we'll go to the library."
Brooke stood in front of Peyton. "I think I'll go with Nathan. Don't want a repeat of what happened last time you two were alone together."
"Brooke!" Peyton squealed. (In the way Peyton would, of course.)
"Okay, can we move on from your little situation here?" Haley asked. "How do you even know she would go to these places?"
"Yeah, can't we search the mall? She's a girl. Wouldn't she go there? I go there if I'm depressed."
"That's because you're you." Peyton pointed out.
Nathan rolled his eyes. "Marisol's not like that. She doesn't like malls. She doesn't really like going anywhere crowded with people by herself. The places that come first to me for where she would go is the café, that court, and the library. She loves the food in the café, she loves the view at the court, and she loves books. Can we just go before the next century?"
Haley looked impressed. "Okay, uh, Jake, let's go."
"River court!" Nathan called after them. "Peyton, Lucas, the cafe. And, Brooke, let's go to the library."
"Do we have to?" Brooke whined. "That place always gives me a headache."
"Brooke." Nathan warned.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming." Brooke leaned into Peyton. "He's so strict when it comes to Marisol, isn't he?" Peyton laughed and Brooke skipped off after Nathan.
At the café, upon entering and before his mother could greet them, Lucas said, "Mom, Keith, have you guys seen Marisol?"
"No, honey. Is something wrong?" Karen asked, from behind the counter, where she was pouring Keith a cup of coffee.
"Yeah, something happen to her?" Keith interjected.
Lucas scratched the back of his head. "No, but she ran off earlier and we don't know where she is. A bunch of us - me, Haley, Jake, Peyton, Brooke, Tim, and Nathan- are looking for her."
"Nathan? And Tim?" Karen asked.
Keith chuckled. "You all friends now?"
"Not really, but we all want to find Marisol." Peyton said, finally speaking up.
They nodded. "We want to help too." Keith said. "Right, Karen?"
She nodded. "Where should we look first?"
"What about the café?" Lucas looked worried. "Can we afford to close it early?"
"Yes, stop worrying. We're not going to go bankrupt if we close early for one day." She said, emphasizing the 'one day.' "Besides, I think Keith is the most business we're going to get tonight." (A/N: Is it just me or did that sound dirty? Probably just me…)
"Okay. Well, there are some other places we could go to look for her." Peyton started. "Uh, like the music store."
"Or the book store." Lucas suggested.
"Okay." Keith said, glancing over at Karen. "Karen and I can go to the book store, while you two go to the music store."
"Alright. Call if you hear anything."
Keith answered. "We will, Luke."
"We will find her, hon." Karen tried to reassure and Lucas just nodded before walking out with Peyton.
