Hey peoples! So here's chapter 36 for ya! Hope you like it!

General POV

Mercedes clasped her hands in Nathan's and he squeezed them gently.

"When my mom was born... her mother died. My grandmother was never supposed to have children. My mom was... a miracle child. So when it came down to it... and the doctor asked my grandparents if they wanted to save her life or my mothers... my grandmother said that she wanted to save the baby. And they did. My grandfather... all he had left was my mother, and all she had was my grandfather. He gave her everything that she ever wanted. She grew up in England, in a castle that rivaled the Queens, and yet... that never affected her. She grew up humble... and modest... everything that her mother would have wanted her to be. When my mom graduated high school, she moved to the US with her father. My grandfather was a very, very, wealthy man. He was on his way back from a trip in India when his plane crashed. No one on board made it. My mother was devastated... and she found comfort in my father. They met in a photography class in college, believe it or not.After it all happened... she met with my grandfathers attorneys and they told her that he had left everything that belonged to him... the business, the real estate, everything. He left her with 6 billion dollars and stock bonds. When my mother died... she left everything to me."

She closed her eyes to keep the tears she had in them in. Although one escaped and fell down her cheek. Talking about her mother still hurt her soul. Nathan wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. She relaxed and opened her eyes again. She looked at Brooke who wad a look of regret in her eyes. Brooke was cursing at herself inside.How could she have been so stupid as to bring up her mother! Why would she make her talk about her like that! Brooke looked into Mercedes' eyes and saw the sadness in them. Everyone could. Haley was near tears, as well as Peyton. Lucas and Jake were listening intently and looking at each other.

"Z... I'm sorry." Brooke said softly. "I really didn't mean to upset you."

"It's ok Brooke. Don't worry about it." Mercedes said smiling sadly.

Nathan leaned down and whispered something into her ear and she smiled and shook her head. She got off the couch and Nathan followed.

"We'll be back." Nathan said taking her hand.

The rest of the group looked at them as they made there way out of the room and up the stairs.

Once inside her room she collapsed on her bed and Nathan followed her. He wrapped her in his arms and lay there taking her in. She put her arms around him and put her ear to his heart. Somehow... hearing it calmed her.

"You miss her, don't you?"Nathan said running his fingers through her hair.

She didn't respond and she pulled her face closer to his chest and let the tears flow.

"Shh.. It's ok." Nathan said quietly. "Everything's gonna be ok."

She looked up at him and he wiped her cheeks.

"I love you." She whispered to him before she kissed him.

The kiss parted and Nathan pulled her close to him.

"I love you too." She sat up and lay her head on her arm. "So you're a billionaire?" Nathan said smiling at her.

"Yeah."She said smiling back. "Does that bother you?" She asked concerned.

"Of course not. Why would it?" He said getting closer to her.

"I don't know... maybe you feel different."

He looked at her for a moment and then pulled her into his arms.

"Mercedes..." He said kissing her softly. "I love you for who you are. No for how much you have." He pulled her bangs out of her eyes and kissed her again. "You have an amazing heart. The rest doesn't matter to me."

"And this is why I love you."She said placing her hand on his face and traced his high cheekbones with her thumb.

All of a sudden his phone rang and he dropped his head.

"What?" She asked confused.

"It's my dad." He answered. "How about I just don't answer." He said pulling his cell out of his pocket.

"Nathan..." She said placing her hand over his phone. "It's your dad. You should answer."

He looked at her for a moment before nodding.

"Hello?" Nathan answered annoyed.

"Nathan! Where the hell are you!" Dad asked angry

"I'm at a friends doing homework. What do you want?"

"I just got home and I got a message from Whitey that says that you got in a fight with Lucas during practice, and that you fell on some cheerleader! What the hell were you thinking! At least tell me that you won."

"Whitey said I fell on a cheerleader?" Nathan said laughing.

"Well he said some girls name."

"Ok... first of all... that 'girl' is my girlfriend, and second of all... she'd not a cheerleader... she's on the team."

"She's what!" Dan said going form angry to furious.

"She's on the team dad." Nathan said simply.

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner!"

"Why! Because I knew that you'd react the way that your reacting now, that's why!" Nathan said angry.

"This girl is gonna mess up your game Nathan and you know that!"

"Her name is Mercedes dad! She's not just some girl!"

"Get home now Nathan. We have to have a very serious talk."

"Whatever. I'll be home when I get home. Bye dad." Nathan said hanging up.

Nathan put his head down and Mercedes pulled him to her.

"Why is it that he always manages to ruin my day?" Nathan said looking at her.

"I'm sorry." She said pulling his closer.

"Yeah, me too."He stayed in her arms for a few moments before standing up. "I should go. I have to go to the café and talk to my mom, and then I have to go and face the devil I call a father."

"Ok." She said getting up with him. "I'll go down with you."

"Yeah."

He took her hand and walked down the stairs and into the living room with her.

"Later guys." Nathan said saying goodbye to the rest of the group.

"Yeah, I should probably go too."Jake said getting up.

"Same here" Lucas said following Jake.

Mercedes and Nathan led the group out to the porch and Nathan pulled Mercedes close to him while the others watched.

"I'll see you later babe." Nathan said kissing her.

"Ok." She answered putting her arms around him. "Call me if you need anything."

"I will." He said looking her in the eyes. "I love you."

"I love you too." She said kissing him.

He let her go and walked to his car and got in. He locked eyes with her before he drove off. She turned and saw the rest of the group looking at her.

"I'm gonna go." Jake said picking up Jenny.

"Ok. Thanks for coming tonight Jake." Mercedes said walkingto himhim.

"Thank you Mercedes." He sais hugging her. "I wouldn't have come tonight if it wasn't for you."

She smiled at him and he walked down the walkway and got in his car and left.

"We'll see you later." Lucas said as her and Haley emerged from inside.

"Wait... how did you guys get here?" She asked looking at him

"We walked." He answered.

"I'll give you guys a ride home." She said pulling out her car keys.

"You don't have to." Haley said walking toward her.

"It's no big." She said smiling. "Come on."

They walked to her car and got in. They drove Lucas home first and Haley moved into the front seat after he had left. After dropping Haley off Mercedes drove home and talked to Brooke and Peyton before heading up to get ready for bed.

There it is! Sorry that it's so short but... I'll try to make the next chapter longer. By way... I got a new review person! Yea! You don't even know how happy I am right now! I hope more of you read and review instead of just read. Please? I wonder if I beg... anyways thanks to Newyorkchicka, brathanfan, and jeytonlover for your last reviews! You're the best! I hope you liked this chapter, but leave me a review and let me know. Thanks! Bye!