Chapter 12: Facing the Second Day Pt. 3

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the One Tree Hill characters. I only own my original characters.

"So Kaiana did you enjoy History as much as I did," Nathan asked dryly as the two students exited the classroom. He rubbed his eyes wearily, fighting the sleep that most of classes always seemed to encourage. He hated school with a passion, especially the more boring subjects...case in point...Geometry. He understood that math was important, but what he just couldn't understand was why it was so utterly boring...and confusing. He looked over at the girl who walked next to him, noticing that she had not responded to his attempt at humor. "Hey...what's wrong," he asked, becoming more concerned about how quiet she was. Ever since they had left Homeroom, she had seemed a little distant.

Kaiana finally glanced at the handsome brunette who had been trying to get her attention. "Nothing's wrong," she said simply, returning her gaze forward. They came upon the lockers and Nathan followed her until she came to her own. He leaned against the locker next to hers and watched as she fumbled with her lock. She finally managed to get it open, not without muttering a few curses, and retrieved one of her textbooks. She then took her English text out of her bag and placed that inside the locker, before shutting and locking it back. Nathan regarded her quietly the entire time, waiting for her to speak again, somehow knowing that she would add something else to the nothing's wrong statement she had just made.

Kaiana leaned her shoulder against her locker and finally let her eyes meet his again. "Really Nathan...nothing's wrong," she stated. She sighed at the disbelieving look he gave her. "Okay...yeah something is wrong but---," she broke off when she saw Lucas coming down the hall laughing with Brooke. Kaiana'a stomach somersaulted at the way Brooke was clutching Lucas's arm. She knew that feeling in her stomach. It was jealousy and she hated it. Just then Lucas pulled his eyes away from Brooke and the laughter died on his lips when he saw her. Brooke noticed the change in his demeanor and her eyes flew to the target of Lucas's attention. She smirked to herself and pulled on his arm, hurrying him down the hall towards their friends.

"Hey guys...what's up," Brooke greeted cheerfully, casually dropping Lucas's arm. Brooke then looked at Kaiana, noting the expression on her new friend's face was anything but happy. "Hey chica...what's wrong," she asked, her voice filled with concern.

"That's what I was just trying to find out," Nathan said, looking at Kaiana meaningfully before meeting his brother's concerned eyes. A thought just occurred to him that maybe he did know what was wrong after all. He would bet money that Justin was the cause of the change in Kaiana's mood. Maybe he and Lucas needed to have a little chat with Justin.

Lucas looked from his brother to Kaiana as he tried to figure out what was going on. Something had happened since he last saw her. He came closer to her, ignoring the heat that was growing inside him from being in such close proximity to her, his only concern right now to find out what had caused this sudden change in her mood. "Everything okay," he asked her softly. She nodded in answer. "Are you sure," he continued, not satisfied with that response at all. She nodded again. "Okay...is there a reason why you've become a mute," he asked, his tone more playful. He received a smile for his effort.

Kaiana looked over at Nathan, who gave her a pointed look. She had just been about to explain to Nathan her frustration with Justin 'the prick' when she had seen Lucas and Brooke. After witnessing Lucas's temper twice, both incidents involving Justin, she didn't think it would be a good idea to talk about that issue with him. "Sorry it's just some stuff...you know...nothing major," she replied, allowing her eyes to return to Lucas's blue ones. "It's no big deal...really."

Lucas looked at her intently and then at his brother. "Okay," he said calmly. He heard a familiar voice and his eyes followed the sound; pupils narrowing at seeing Justin down the hall engaged in a conversation with a couple other members of the team, his kiss-ass friend Allen standing as always by his side. Then something occurred to Lucas. "Did something happen in homeroom again Kaiana...with Justin," he asked, returning his gaze to her.

Kaiana closed her eyes in frustration. She had heard the familiar voice too, but had refused to turn around, not wanting to see Justin's irritating face again so soon. "Actually yeah, but it was nothing," she said wearily. "I'm just a little tired today and Justin is in prick mode, but really it's cool. Justin is just a little...shall we say persistent." She then looked over at Brooke. "I'm fine really...he's just so annoying."

Brooke nodded in agreement. "Yeah...I get that," she replied, shaking her hair out of her eyes. "He thinks he's god's gift ever since he joined the team. I can't stand him." Brooke gave a little shudder. "Frankly, he gives me the creeps," she added softly.

Lucas took in a deep breath to calm himself. "So he's still bothering you," he asked, trying to keep his voice even as his eyes strayed to Justin again.

"He apparently can't take no for an answer," Kaiana remarked sarcastically, forcing a small chuckle from her lips. "He's just a little too pushy, but he'll back off sooner or later. He'll get tired of this annoying chasing thing he's doing." Kaiana looked at Lucas closely. She sensed that Lucas wasn't as calm as he was trying to appear. His eyes had gotten so cold and they seemed to be focused on someone behind her. And she knew who that someone was. She looked around and groaned when she saw it was indeed Justin who Lucas was looking at....make that glaring at. "Lucas...Lucas," she called, tugging on his hand to get his attention. His eyes returned to hers, some of the coldness now gone, but with a slight tinge of anger still remaining. "It's alright," she told him, her voice taking on a pleading tone. "So stop shooting daggers at him okay. I'm a big girl. I can handle it."

Lucas glanced down at the floor, slightly embarrassed. "Okay...sorry," he said softly. "That guy just pisses me off sometimes." He met her eyes once more. "I just thought after this morning that I had made myself clear. Now I find out he's still messing with you. I can't help it if I just feel like kicking his ass." He inhaled deeply and placed his hands in his pockets.

Nathan chuckled. "Believe me...I know the feeling," he said. "The guy can't take a hint. He's always had a problem with us Luke...because we're the infamous 'Scotts' as he likes to call us. And now a girl who he likes is hanging with us. It's making him act even more obnoxious than he usually does."

"Jeez I didn't think anyone could be more obnoxious than you Nathan," Brooke said, flashing Nathan a cheeky grin. "I have to agree with you though. He seems to have a special spot in his heart for the 'Scotts' and now you're taking away a potential conquest for him."

"What...there's no potential in him getting with Kaiana," Lucas said vehemently. He flushed slightly, realizing that he had said that out loud. "I mean...she's obviously not into him...so...you know...he should leave her alone," he continued on awkwardly. "Aren't there any other single girls that he could try to date?"

Brooke's eyes brightened. "I've got it...I've got a solution to this," she said happily looking from Lucas to Kaiana. "Why can't the both of you just pretend to be together? Then he would think Kaiana is off limits and back off." Brooke crossed her arms over her chest and mentally patted herself on the back for her ingenuity.

Nathan burst out laughing, seeing the surprised expression on Kaiana's face. "I think it's a great idea," he said, his blue eyes gleaming with mischief. "Don't you agree Kaiana?" He grinned at her stupidly, raising a brow at her.

"Are the two of you out of your minds," Kaiana asked incredulously. She looked at Lucas. "They can't be serious...right Lucas...Lucas?" Wait a minute. Did he agree with them? He wasn't answering her and he appeared to be actually considering the idea. "Lucas it's a crazy idea...right," she continued, a note of desperation entering her voice.

Lucas shrugged. "I don't know," he told her. "It might not be such a bad idea. I mean you're new in town, so of course Justin sees you as fresh meat and he's probably not the only one. If he thought you were seeing someone else then he might give you space." He looked at her hopefully. This wasn't exactly the way he would have seen them getting together, but at least it was a start. Maybe pretending for a while could actually lead to the real thing. "Come on...it's worth a try," he said, pulling on one of her curls jokingly.

Kaiana looked at Lucas like he had lost all his marbles. He couldn't possibly be serious about this. She narrowed her eyes, peering at him closely. Correction...he was serious. "Lucas...I don't know about this," she replied uneasily. "Suppose we're not convincing enough. Suppose he doesn't care if I'm dating someone. He may still try to make a play for me anyway."

Lucas nodded. "Yeah he might still try, but we can only hope he won't," he responded. "We have to do something and this is the only non-violent way I can think of. He obviously doesn't understand words, so maybe action will do it...just of the non-violent kind." Lucas looked again at Justin, who all of a sudden was staring in their direction, almost as if he knew that he was the topic of discussion. "I'm serious here Kaiana. I'm seconds away from causing that guy pain. This way Justin will stay bruise free and I will stay suspension free."

Kaiana shook her head. "I can't believe I'm actually considering this," she said, feeling herself relenting. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Alright...fine. Anything to get that guy off my back. Are you sure you're cool with this Lucas? Isn't this going to mess you up with...you know...girls that may be interested in you?" She felt a small tinge of irritation at the thought of Lucas dating someone else, which just made her more irritated with herself for even feeling that way.

Lucas gazed down the hallway again, watching Justin and their fellow teammates get closer and closer to them. He then looked down at Kaiana and gave her a sweet smile. "Don't worry about other girls," he said, pulling her closer to him as he ran a hand down her cheek. "Trust me. You're the only one I'm interested in." He then felt a sense of bravery. He placed both hands on her hips and leaned down, giving her a small kiss on the cheek. "Sorry...Justin's coming this way," he whispered in her ear. He felt her nod and he pulled back to look at her face, his hands still resting on her hips. He almost laughed out loud upon seeing how wide her brown eyes were. Lucas then glanced at his brother and Brooke, who even though had agreed with the idea heartily, now appeared shocked at what he just did. Then he looked up and Justin was standing there, their teammates standing a little ways behind talking animatedly. Justin was not a happy camper.

"Well...what happened to I don't have a crush," Justin said scornfully, his eyes filled with hatred as they were drawn to where Lucas's hands were. "You have a hard time staying away from Pucas over here for someone without a crush."

Lucas looked at Justin calmly, but refused to strike out, even though hearing that old nick name Nathan had given him boiled his blood. Instead, he pulled back from Kaiana and leaned against the lockers. He then grabbed her hand and pulled her to lean back against his body, smiling defiantly at Justin as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Kaiana surprised him by placing her own two hands on top of his.

"You know Justin...I also remember telling you the subject of Lucas and I is none of your business," Kaiana said harshly, as she leaned her head back against Lucas's shoulder. "Whatever is between me and Lucas is exactly that...between me and Lucas." She released a shaky giggle when Lucas nuzzled her neck. "Now be gone Ass-tin."

Nathan and Brooke burst into laughter. "Come on man," Allen said, not joining in on the laughter he heard coming from his teammates. "Let's just go. It's not worth it man." He pulled on Justin's arm, trying to lead him away before something happened.

Justin shrugged Allen's hand off him, his glare growing even stronger as he heard the snickering behind him. "You know maybe you're right," he said finally. "If she wants to be with Pucas, then who am I to stop her." With one more glare thrown in Nathan and Lucas's direction, he began walking away with Allen following dutifully behind him.

"Man y'all sure pissed him off," one of the boys said, releasing another chuckle as he stared at Justin's retreating form. "You guys better watch your back."

Nathan scoffed. "Please, are we supposed to be scared of that jerk," he asked cockily. "I'll just be over here pretending to shiver in my shoes." He laughed out loud again. "I think even Brooke can take that guy."

"Damn right," Brooke said firmly. "Anyway my work here is done." She looked at the couple who still hadn't moved away from each other yet. "I'll see you two love birds later. Come on Nate...we got class." Brooke then looked pointedly at the remaining teammates that were gazing at Lucas and Kaiana curiously. "You too jocks...don't you have classes to get to?" Brooke grabbed Nathan's arm and began dragging him down the hallway, looking back to see if the 'jocks' had indeed moved away from Kaiana and Lucas to give them some privacy. When she saw that they were following behind her and Nathan, she turned back around and prodded Nathan to walk faster, realizing that they only had another minute before the bell rang for 3rd period.

Lucas felt Kaiana tense as soon as the group moved away from them. He knew the reality of the situation was crashing down on her, the euphoria of irritating Justin now wearing off. Yet she hadn't moved away from him. And he wasn't complaining. Having her pressed up against him felt so good...so right. It had been a while since he had allowed himself to get so close physically to another girl; not since his last couple dating disasters. But he knew it was time. It was time for him to open himself up to the possibility of maybe getting into another relationship. As he breathed in the faint floral scent of her perfume, he knew that she was the one he wanted to open up to. All he had to do was convince Kaiana that this pretend relationship they had just started could turn into something more meaningful.

Note: Crunked out another chapter. I'll try to wrap up the second day in the next chapter. Feedback is always appreciated!