Finally! Monday morning. Time to go to school. I was really excited to see Mercedes today. I got in my car and headed to school. When I arrived I found Tim by my locker as usual. I walked over to him.
"Hey Nathan. Have you seen the new girl?" Tim said as he pointed to Mercedes standing by Lucas' locker, with Peyton and Brooke.
"Yeah. I have. I met her on Friday."
"You did?"
"Yeah."
"And…?"
"And what? I met her. That's it."
"Sure Nathan. Well I gotta go to class. I'll see you later."
"Alright later."
Tim walked way and I kept my eyes fixated at Mercedes. God! Was it just me or did she get hotter every day? What the hell was wrong with me! I saw her turn around and smile. Then Peyton and Brooke walked over.
"Hey Nathan." They both said as they walked up.
"Hey guys." I turned and started opening my locker.
"Stare much? Why don't you go talk to her?"
"I can't."
I don't know why I couldn't go talk to her. I just couldn't.
"Why the hell not?"
"I just cant. I'm afraid I'll do something embarrassing."
"Are you kidding me! Is Nathan Scott star basketball player afraid to talk to a girl?"
"Can you say that a little louder Brooke? Yes I'm afraid. I just… don't want to do anything stupid."
"How do you know you'll do something stupid?"
"Well… I don't but I don't want to take that chance."
"Well why don't you do something else?" Peyton said as she looked at me.
"Like what?"
"I don't know… write her a note or something. Just let her know you're interested."
I really don't like to admit this but Peyton was right. I had to let her know how I felt about her before someone else did.
"I'll think about it." I said as I took my book out of my locker.
"Well you better think fast. Look."
Brooke pointed to Tim who was talking to her.
No chance in hell! She could never be interested in Tim.
Mercedes POVFirst day at tree hill high was going good. I had met a few people and I had just seen Nathan. God he was hot!
"Hi. I'm Tim Smith."
It was the guy that had been with Nathan.
"Hey Mercedes."
"Can I take you to class?"
"Sure."
I began walking to class and he just looked at me.
"What class do you have?"
"Oh. Ms. Polaskie."
"The calculus teacher? Your taking calculus?"
"Yeah. You sound surprised."
"It's just I never knew that there were girls that were beautiful and smart."
I looked at him, and smiled.
"Thanks."
We got to the door to my classroom and he stopped me from going in.
"Hey what are you doing tonight?"
"I have plans with Brooke and Peyton. Why?"
"I was wondering if I could take you to dinner. What about tomorrow night?"
Oh crap! I didn't want to hurt his feelings, but what was I gonna tell him?
"Umm… sure."
"Great! It's a date then. Tomorrow after basketball practice."
"Ok."
He walked away and I went to class. After class was over I left the room and headed to my locker. When I got there I saw a single red rose and an envelope. I took the rose and opened the envelope. Inside was a baby blue piece of paper. It read…
"Mercedes
This rose is for you. I just wanted to let you know that I like you a lot. You don't know how bad I want to come talk to you. But I just cant. I just wanted you to now how I feel about you. By the way… You look amazing today. Like always."
I smiled and put the note back in the envelope. I wonder who could have given it to me. Just then Brooke and Peyton walked up.
"Hey Z. Nice rose. Who's it from? Brooke said as she leaned against the lockers.
"I don't know. It was on my locker along with this."
I gave her the note and she read it to herself and handed it to Peyton.
"Wow first day of school and you already have a secret admirer." Brooke said teasingly.
"And a date." I answered.
Peyton finished the note and looked up at me.
"A date? With who?"
"Tim Smith. He walked me to class and asked me out for dinner."
"And you said yes!"
I could see that Peyton was trying her hardest to not laugh, but Brooke wasn't holding back. Peyton handed me the note back and I put it in my binder.
"It's not funny Brooke. He seems like a really nice guy. Plus I didn't want to hurt his feelings."
"So you said yes! What are you crazy!"
"I'm not crazy!"
"Ok. Ok. I'm sorry. When is your date?"
"Tomorrow after practice."
"That reminds me… are you coming with me to practice today?"
"Yep. I wanna talk to Coach Durham." I looked at Peyton and I knew she had something she wanted to say. "Peyton you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking about that note."
"What about it?" I asked as I turned back to my locker.
"I think I know who gave it to you."
I stopped what I was doing and turned to look at her.
"You do? Who is it?"
"I don't think I should tell you. He didn't sign his name so…"
"So your not gonna tell me."
"I don't think I should."
"Alright. If you won't tell me then…" I pulled out a piece of paper and a pen and wrote something down."…Will you give this to him?"
I handed her the note and she shook her head.
"Come on I'll take you to class." Brooke said as she pulled me away from Peyton.
"What about Peyton?"
"She has some other things she has to take care of."
She looked back at Peyton and winked. I saw Peyton wink back and head in the other direction.
Nathan POV
This day had gone by so slow. This morning I was so excited to see Mercedes. But then… when it came to it I couldn't go up and talk to her. So I took Peyton's advice and wrote her a note.
"It was you, wasn't it?
I turned to see Peyton behind me.
"Hi to you to Peyton. Now… What are you talking about?"
"The rose, the note, it was you."
"Maybe."
I closed my locker and began to walk off. Just like I knew she would she followed behind me.
"Why didn't you tell her it was you?"
"I don't want her to know. Not yet anyways."
"Oh. Well… She wanted me to give this to you."
She handed me a piece of paper. And I looked up at her scared as hell.
"She doesn't know it's me does she? You didn't tell her did you?"
"No it didn't tell her. I just said I knew who it was."
"You don't think she'll figure it out?"
"I don't know. Hopefully she will though. Just so you guys can stop running away from each other."
I looked at her and smiled. I took the piece of paper and opened it. It read…
"Hey guy…
You are a guy right? I really want to know who you are. Are you ever gonna tell me? Have I met you before? Why can't you just come talk to me? Please answer this soon. I'll be waiting. Thank for the rose by the way. I loved it.
Mercedes."
I folded the note and put it in my pocket. I turned and looked back at Peyton.
"Well… What does it say?"
"She wants to know who I am and why I cant go up and talk to her."
"Yeah. I was gonna ask you that to. Why can't you go talk to her?"
"I'm never afraid to talk to girls Peyton, you know that." Peyton shook her head. "But with her it's different. I don't want to do or say something stupid. She's the only girl that has ever intimidated me."
"Wow. What are you gonna do then?"
"I don't know. Guess we'll find out."
"Guess so."
We both walked along the hallway together and headed to class.
General POV
The day went on as usual. Mercedes met many new people. And everyone followed their regular routine, but the day was not over. We still had to go to basketball practice.
Brooke and Peyton came out of the locker room and headed out to the court. The basketball players had already started practicing.
"Hey where's Mercedes?" Peyton asked picking up her pompoms.
"She'll be here. She had to go talk to a teacher." Brooke answered doing the same.
"Hey guys." Mercedes said walking right by them.
"Wait… where are you going?" Brooke asked confused.
"Gonna go talk to Coach Durham."
She said walking away from them and walking towards Whitey.
"Coach Durham?"
Whitey turned around to see a beautiful young girl standing behind him.
"Yes?"
"Hi, I'm Mercedes Davis I just moved here from Los Angeles."
"Nice to meet you Mercedes, please call me Whitey. What can I help you with?"
"I came to talk to you about the basketball team."
"Ok. What about it?"
"I want to be on it."
"What? I'm sorry sweetie but there is no girls basketball team at Tree Hill High."
"I know that. I wanna join boys varsity."
"What? What makes you think I would put you on the boys basketball team?"
"I was on the boys basketball team in L.A. and I can bet you almost anything that I'm a better player than the guys on that court."
"Even if you were I couldn't put you on."
"Why not?"
"Because you're a girl. Things are different in North Carolina, than they are in Los Angeles."
"Actually… there not. I've read this thing cover to cover at least six times and nowhere in it does it say a girl cant play. You can take a look for yourself if you'd like."
She handed Whitey a book and she just stood there looking at him while he flipped through the book. She had realy done her homework.
"Alright then… How about I take that bet, one on one with my best player. You win you play, you don't we forget this ever happened. Deal?"
"Deal"
Whitey looked down at her and noticed she wasn't ready for a game of ball.
"The locker room is down that hall. I f you'd like to go change."
"I don't have a change of clothes."
"Well… your not gonna play with heels and a skirt, are you?
"Well…I guess I'm gonna have to." She looked around for a second. "Hold on."
She walked over to the bleachers and took off her heels. She walked back to Whitey and stood in front of him.
"Ok. I'm ready. Who am I playing?" She said stretching out her arms.
"Scott!" He yelled out. Lucas and Nathan both turned around. He signaled Nathan and Nathan ran over and glanced at Mercedes trying hard not to stare.
"What's up coach?"
"It seems we have a challenge for you."
"Ok. What is it?"
"Ms. Davis wants to join the team." Nathan looked over at Mercedes, surprise clearly written on his face. "So we'll have a one-on-one game, she wins she's on the team. This is how it goes… a point a basket. First one to 10 wins, got it?"
Nathan and Mercedes nodded and headed on the court. All the guys cleared out and sat on the bleachers, the cheerleaders soon followed. Whitey blew his whistle and the game began. At first Nathan controlled the ball and was leading 6 to 4. Later on in the game Mercedes controlled it 8 to 6. Swoosh! She made another basket. She had the ball… If she made this basket it was all over. She dribbled past Nathan and… SWOOSH! She had won the game. As soon as the ball went through the hoop all the guys came down to congratulate her. Brooke, Lucas, and Peyton all hugged her. She looked over at Nathan who was standing alone trying to catch his breath. Mercedes was about to walk over to him when Whitey walked over to her.
"Good game Ms. Davis, welcome to the boys varsity team." He winked at Mercedes and she smiled and winked back. "I think that's enough for today boys." He yelled out.
All the guys besides Lucas headed to the showers.
"We defiantly have to celebrate tonight." Brooke said smiling.
"Sure." Mercedes said as she looked at Nathan head in with the rest of the guys.
"I'm gonna go get my stuff" Lucas said heading towards the locker room.
Mercedes walked over to the bleachers and began to put on her shoes. Lucas walked into the locker room and walked to his locker. He looked over at Nathan who was sitting on the bench.
"You ok Nathan?"
"What do you think? I just got beat by a girl! And she was in a skirt! My dad is gonna kill me, especially now that she's on the team. What am I gonna do? I mean… he's on me all the time now but after he finds out about this…."
"I'm sorry Nathan."
Nathan looked up and realized who he was talking to.
"Whatever. Why the hell am I talking to you anyways?"
He got up grabbed his stuff and left. As he entered the gym he locked eyes with Mercedes who was sitting on the bleachers talking to Brooke and Peyton. She got up and walked toward him.
"Nathan" She called out to him after he walked right past her without a word. He opened the door and left. She looked back at Peyton and Brooke, hurt clearly written on her face. Just then Lucas walked out and walked over to where Brooke was standing.
"You guys ready?" He asked as he grabbed Peyton's hand and pulled her off the bench.
"Yeah," Mercedes answered as she walked back to pick up her things.
As they were walking to the parking lot Lucas asked…
"So what are we gonna do?"
"Something great." Brooke answered excited.
"I don't want to do anything big Brooke." Mercedes said looking at her.
"Why not?"
"I'm just… not in the mood."
"How could you not be in the mood? You just made the boys basketball team."
"I know but…"
They could all tell she was upset so Brooke decided to lay off.
"Ok. If you don't want to do anything big then… Why don't we just go back to our house and order a pizza."
"And a movie?" Peyton asked sounding excited, although she was only doing it to get a smile out of Mercedes, which she did.
"Yes. A movie to." Brooke answered smiling.
"Sounds like a plan then." Mercedes said as she stopped.
"Ok. We'll meet you guys there." Lucas said as he took Peyton's hand.
"Alright." Brooke said heading towards Mercedes' car with her.
When they got to the car they found a single red rose and an envelope. Just like the one on Mercedes' locker. She took the envelope and opened it while Brooke took the rose. Inside she found another baby blue piece of paper and it read…
"Mercedes-
I'm sorry that I can't go talk to you. But if I told you the reason you would be laughing your head off. Yes I am a guy and I have met you before. I can't wait to tell you who I am. I wanna see the look on that beautiful face of yours. By the way… How did you get so gorgeous? I will tell you soon. I promise, until then just think of me. I know that I'll be thinking of you. You never leave my mind. Not for a second. But I like it that way. I'm glad you liked the rose."
"God! Who is this boy?" Mercedes said as she handed the note to Brooke.
She read it and handed it back along with the rose.
"I don't know what to tell you. Although he seems to really be into you."
"Yeah. Let's just go."
They got in the car and left.