Alright, so by the end of this chapter, everyone will know everyone else and then the real drama can start. But for now, just bear with me, okay?
Disclaimer: Don't know them, don't own them, don't sue me.
Warning: Language and slash in chapters to come.
"So what's going on?" Marissa asked Peyton, who had calmed down by then.
"You mean, why was I bawling my eyes out in public? Where do I start? My life is a total mess right now. I just threw the boy I love out of my house. I was a bitch to my best friend. I made out with her boyfriend. I – "
"Whoa, okay, stop." Marissa said, holding up her hands. "Let me get this straight, you made out with your best friend's boyfriend, but he's not the boy you love, right?"
"No. I mean, I love Lucas…as a friend. But nothing more."
"Wait, Lucas is your best friend's boyfriend?" Marissa asked.
"Yeah. Do you know him?" Peyton took a sip of her latte.
"Well, I am staying in his mother's restaurant."
"You're staying here, at the café?"
"Uh-huh. And well, I only briefly saw Lucas, but nice work, girl." Marissa laughed.
Peyton pretended to glare at her. "You're not exactly making me feel better." She took another sip of her coffee and when she looked up, she gasped and ducked her head. "Oh, shit, it's Brooke."
"Hey, you know Brooke?" asked Marissa.
"Yes, she's the ex-best friend!" Peyton said. Marissa's mouth dropped open, but she managed to gather herself as Summer and Brooke began walking toward them.
"Hey, Sum," she called. "Hi, Brooke."
"Coop!" Summer made her way over to her.
"Hi, Marissa," Brooke said and followed Summer, but stopped short when she saw who Marissa was sitting across from.
"Hey, Summer, I'm gonna get some air, okay?" Shooting Peyton a glare, she turned on her heel and walked out. Peyton sighed, put down her coffee and excused herself. She followed Brooke out.
"Brooke!"
Brooke whirled around. "What?"
"I'm sorry, okay? I know I've said this a million times before, but I really mean it this time. I'm done with Lucas. I swear."
"You know what, you're right! You have said this a million times, Peyton and I've just stopped caring anymore. I trusted you, time and time again, and you proved me wrong. And you may be done with Lucas, but I am done with you. Just stay the hell away from me!"
With that final word, Brooke stalked off.
"Okay, we're here." Nathan pulled up outside the comic book store. To Seth, it was a dream come true. It was bigger than the store back in Newport and it just seemed newer…shinier. It was probably just because Seth had seen the inside of the store back home so many times.
"Knock yourself out," Nathan said, unlocking the doors.
"Oh, I'm not buying," Seth told him. "Sometimes I just go inside and sit on the folding chairs and look at the comic books. You know how people like to spend time with their friends? Well, comic books are my friends."
"You sound sad," Nathan observed. "And lonely. I'm sure you have friends. Who'd you come with?"
"My…well, okay, I do have friends."
"And a girlfriend? What about a girlfriend?" Nathan leaned against his door, looking at Seth.
"Uh…well, okay, I have a girlfriend – Summer."
"And is she like you?"
"You mean nerdy?" Seth asked, laughing a little uneasily. "No, she's one of the prettiest, most popular girls in my school."
Nathan swatted Seth on the arm. "Comic books are your friends? Dude, your girlfriend is one of the most popular girls in your school – and you're lonely?"
"She's not my girlfriend." D'oh! Seth inwardly smacked himself.
Nathan looked bewildered. "But you just said – "
"You know what, I don't know what I'm talking about? Let's go." Seth reached to open his door but Nathan turned on central locking. "No, not until you tell me. Is she your girlfriend or isn't she?"
"She's kind of…" Seth started helplessly. "Well, everyone thinks she is."
"So what, she's just pretending to be?"
"Something like that."
"But why?" Nathan asked.
"Uh-uh. You're not getting that out of me."
"Wait, let me guess. You like someone else and she's dating you to make them jealous?"
"Nope."
"Okay. You're actually an heir to the throne and desperately a need a wife?"
Seth laughed. "Not exactly, Nate. I'd just let it go if I were you."
"Nate," Nathan mused. "No one really calls me that."
"Well, I'm going to call you that, so get used to it," Seth replied, unlocking his door and sliding out. Nathan did likewise.
"Get used to it, huh? I guess we're going to be spending a lot of time together."
"I guess so," Seth replied and they walked in.
Nathan begun heading over to the magazine department. "I'll hold you to it," he called. Seth couldn't help but grin.
Brooke's cell phone rung. Unknown number. She flipped it open.
"Hey." It was Summer. "Where you at?"
"Home," said Brooke. "Where'd you get my number?"
"Your ex-bestie, Peyton. Brooke, she's really nice."
"Summer, I really don't have time for this. What's up?"
"Lucas is having a party," Summer said.
"So?" Brooke replied impatiently.
"So he specifically asked for you."
"Really?" Brooke sounded doubtful. "Where?"
"Uh, his brother's house. What's his name?"
"You mean Nathan?"
"Uh, yeah, him. So, um, be there or be square, okay?"
"Okay, Summer," Brooke said, still suspicious but curious to see if what Summer said was actually true. "See you then."
As Summer hung up, Peyton, who she had just got acquainted with, looked at her with admiration.
"You realize you just made that up on the spot, right? I mean, you haven't asked Lucas, you don't even know Nathan – "
"That's where you guys come in," Summer interrupted. "Peyton, you ask Nathan. Coop, do me a favour and ask Lucas."
Peyton and Marissa exchanged glances. "Fine," they both said in unison. Marissa sighed. "Where do you think I'd find Lucas?"
"With Ryan," Summer said. "They're together."
"And Nathan?" Peyton asked. "Oh, wait, you guys don't know him. I'll just call him."
"Peyton, no. I can't," Nathan ducked out of the store.
"Please. Summer really wants this," Peyton pleaded.
"Wait, Summer, as in Seth's girlfriend?" Or sort of girlfriend, Nathan added inwardly.
"Who's Seth? Hold on," she turned to Summer. "Hey, is your boyfriend's name Seth?"
"Yeah, why?" asked Summer, taking a bite out of her blueberry muffin. Peyton didn't answer, but instead replied to Nathan.
"Yeah, she's Seth's girlfriend," Peyton told him. "How do you know him?"
"He was lost. I rescued him off the road," Nathan replied, glancing inside. Seth hadn't even noticed he'd left. "Do you think it's just a freakish coincidence, though? You never know."
"I don't think so, Nathan. So what do you say? What are you gonna do in that big house all by yourself anyway?"
"Oh, alright," said Nathan eventually. "You can have it at my place. I suppose I'll have to be there. I'm hosting it, right?"
"Not exactly. Lucas is."
"Really? That's funny, he never mentioned anything about it to me."
Peyton hesitated. "That's because he doesn't know."
"What? Peyton – "
"Oops! Sorry, call waiting, gotta go. Bye." She hung up.
Nathan swore under his breath and then went back inside. Seth glanced up from the comic book he was flipping through. "Hey, where'd you go?"
"Apparently, I'm having a party. Only I'm not. It's just at my house."
Seth raised his eyebrows.
"Hey, you wanna come? It could be fun."
"You hardly know me," Seth told him.
"So come to the party," Nathan replied. "I'll get to know you. And maybe, just maybe, I'll find out your little secret."
Ryan's cell phone rung. He pressed the 'talk' button. "Hello?"
"Ry? It's Marissa."
"Oh, hey. Can we meet up sometime today? I feel like I've barely seen you."
"Um, yeah. Look, I actually needed to talk to Lucas."
Silence.
"Summer wanted me to," Marissa said hurriedly.
Without another word Ryan passed over the phone. "Hello?"
"Lucas? Marissa here."
"Hi, Marissa. What's up?"
"Okay, see, Summer told Brooke a little white lie and now we need you to host a party at Nathan's house."
"Alright," said Lucas. "It all makes sense now."
"It's a long story. Bottom line? Sum's ass is grass unless you help us out. You don't even need to do anything. Just come to the party and tell people you're hosting it. We'll do the inviting. Okay?"
"Fine," said Lucas, after only a moment's hesitation. "Well, then I guess I'll see you tonight then, Marissa."
"Bye," Marissa said, and hung up.
"What was that all about?" Ryan asked.
Lucas sighed. "Fancy going to a party tonight?"
Back in the car, Seth turned to Nathan. "Where exactly are we going?"
"Karen's Café. I'm guessing that's where Luke'll be and we seriously need to sort this party stuff out."
"Hold on. First of all, who's Luke and why would he be at Karen's Café? Second of all, why would you need to discuss party stuff with him?"
"Duh. Luke – Lucas. He's my brother and his mother – "
"Owns the restaurant. I know. I'm staying there. Whoa, you're his brother?"
"Last time I checked, yeah."
"This is all too weird." Seth said. "It's like we're all meant to meet."
"Who knows?" Nathan said, parking the car. "Maybe we are."
Seth and Nathan both walked into the café to see Peyton, Marissa and Summer all sitting at one table, hunched over some sort of list.
"Hey, guys," Seth called as they made their way over to the table. "What are you working on?"
Summer's head snapped up. "Duh, doofus. A party ain't a party without people. An invitation list."
Marissa also looked up. "Hey, Seth, this is Peyton. Peyton, this is Seth."
"Hi," Seth said shyly.
"Hey," Peyton responded.
Marissa turned to Nathan. "And you're Nathan, right? I'm Marissa and this is Summer."
"Nice to meet you both," Nathan said and kneeled down to look at the list.
"I'm allowed to look, right? I mean, it's not like it's happening at my house or anything."
"Well, aren't you a comedian today," Summer retorted. "Now, get to work."
"Okay," said Peyton. "So far we have Nathan, Lucas, Summer, Marissa, me, Brooke, Seth, Ryan, Mouth, Skills…"
"Mouth?" Seth asked, raising his eyebrows at Peyton. "Skills? Seriously, what kind of friends do you have?"
Ignoring Seth's remark Peyton continued. "Junk, Fergie," (Seth tried to stifle his giggle. Summer glared at him) "Bevin, the rest of the cheerleaders."
"Cheerleaders?" Seth asked. "You know cheerleaders?"
"Actually, I am a cheerleader," Peyton said, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Really? But you're so nice."
"Not all cheerleaders are evil people, Seth." Peyton smiled at him.
"Alright, so who next?" Marissa took control of the situation.
"Just tell everyone to bring a friend. Or two," Summer said. "Man, this party's going to be incredible."
So next chapter'll be about the party! Reviews are very much appreciated. :)