Chapter 18 is here and just waiting for some reviews! HeHeHe! I'm just playin wit you. Nah, but really leave me a review, please!

Mercedes POV

After we landed we all got in the car that was waiting for us when we arrived. As we drove back to town I turned to talk to Brooke who was sitting next to me.

"Brooke, I'm gonna drop you off at home and then I'll go drop off the guys."

"Yeah, that's fine. Peyton is stayin the night so... you'll just have to drop off Nathan, and Lucas."

"Ok."

We arrived at the house and Peyton and I took Q's things inside while Brooke helped Q in and sat him on the couch. She walked over to the door just as I was about to leave.

"Be home soon, k?"

"I will." I said walking back to the car

I got in the car and noticed Lucas and Nathan both starring at each other. I didn't say anything and we drove over to Luke's.

"I'll be right back." I said putting my hand on Nathan's knee.

He smiled and shook his head. I got out of the car with Lucas and we walked to the door.

"So... I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow." He said opening the door.

"Luke... Thanks, for everything. You really helped me get past the last week. You're a really great friend." I could feel the tears welling in my eyes.

"Come here." He whispered. He took me in his arms and he squeezed me tight. "I'll always be here for you Mercedes, always."

A few tears escaped my eyes and I pulled away from him.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow." He said placing a small kiss on my head.

"Ok." I said backing up. "Hey Luke... Will you tell your mom I love her for letting you come?"

"Will do." He said smiling one more time before heading inside.

I walked back to the car and got in. Nathan could tell I had been crying.

"Hey, you ok?" He asked sitting closer to me.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I answered looking up and smiling at him.

"You sure?"

"Nathan... I'm fine." I said lifting his arm and putting it around me. I cuddled up to him and rested my head on his chest. He pulled me closer to him and clasped his hands with mine.

We stayed that way and I loved it. I sat there just taking him in. His sent, the way he was drawing small circles on my hand with his thumbs. Before I knew it we had arrived at his house. The driver opened the door and I got out with him. He put his arm around my shoulders while he carried his duffle bag on his other shoulder. I looked up at him and smiled while I put my arm around his waist. We came to the door and he let go to open it.

"You wanna come in and talk? My parents are gone for the weekend so..." He said shyly.

"I wish I could but... I really should get home."

"Ok, I'll see you at school then." He said heading inside.

"Nathan?"

"Yeah?" He said turning to face me.

I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him in to kiss him. We both pulled back when we had run out of breath and pulled back just enough so our foreheads were touching.

"Thank you." I whispered.

He leaned in to kiss me again and pulled back.

"Anytime." He said his lips touching mine and he said it.

I let him go and started walking down the driveway.

"Goodnight Mercedes."

"Night."

I got back in the car and drove home. When I walked inside and heard voices coming from the living room. I walked in a found Brooke and Peyton both sitting on the couch talking.

"Hey Z" Brooke said smiling brightly.

"Hey guys." I said plopping down on the couch across from them. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Nathan staying the night with you last night." She said teasingly.

"Lucas?"

"Yep. So... no point in hiding it. Spill. Tell us everything." She said excited.

"I was a mess that night. With everything that had happened that day I was spent... He made me feel so much better though."

"Did you sleep with him?"

"Brooke!"

"I'm sorry but... after everything that happened that night... if I had Nathan Scott in my bedroom I wouldn't be sleeping if you know what I mean."

I threw a pillow at her and she caught it and hugged it against her.

"No I didn't sleep with him. He just held me all night."

"Aww... that's so cute."

"You really like him don't you." Peyton asked

"I really do. I've never felt this way before. It's like... when I'm around him... I... I get the feeling like all the airs been knocked out of me and I can't breath. I mean... my knees get weak. I can't stop thinking about him. And when he touches me... he... I don't know... he sends shivers up my spine, and I feel like I'm gonna melt."

"Wow... That's deep." Brooke said looking at me.

"I know... but I love the feeling."

"Do you think maybe you..." Peyton said suggesting something

"Maybe I what?"

"Love him?"

"I don't know about that... I mean... love? No... I can't... be... in love."

"Sure you can't." Brooke said rolling her eyes.

I turned to look at her and stuck out my tongue at her.

"Whatevers... I'm gonna go to bed. We've got school in the morning." I said as I was getting up. "Brooke you should go to bed too"

"Yes mom."

"Ha, ha you're funny Brooke!" I yelled as I ran up the stairs.

I heard their laughter and headed into my room to get ready for bed. I was about to lay down when I heard a knock at my door.

"Come in." I said as I sat up in bed.

Peyton opened the door and walked inside.

"Hey buddy."

"Hey. I'm sorry you were about to go to sleep... I'll just talk to you tomorrow." She said turning back to the door.

"P. Sawyer! Come sit here and tell me what's up."

She walked over to my bed and sat down next to me.

"What's going on Peyton."

"I'm sorry about your mom Mercedes."

"Thanks." I said a little confused "But... where is this coming from?"

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm here for you if you need me. If you ever want to talk I'm here for you. I know what it feels like to have your world ripped away from you."

"What are you talking about?"

"I lost my mom when I was younger."

"Oh, Peyton I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's ok, I just wanted to let you know that if you need to talk about something you feel I've felt it too and we can help each other."

I leaned in and hugged her.

"Thank you Peyton." I let her go and looked at her. "You and I have a lot in common, don't we?" I said

"Yeah I guess we do. Well... you should go to sleep. We've got school in the morning." She said getting up. She walked over to the door and opened it. "Goodnight Mercedes."

"Goodnight Peyton. And thank you for everything."

She smiled and headed out closing the door behind her. It was finally time to put on end to a very exciting day.

So... What do you think? Love It? Hate It? Leave me a review and let me know. I know this chapter doesn't answer many questions and leaves you with a few others but... a lot of your questions will be answered soon. I promise. Shout out to Newyorkchicka & OTH-Lucus'gurl for reviewing. I love you guys for it!