Chapter 11:

Nathan was looking all over the place for Peyton, and instead, he saw Carl. He was a bit surprised to see him there because he rarely entered the palace. He greeted Carl with a handshake. "Carl…I didn't expect to see you here."

Carl laughed like an old man because he is old. "I just missed the palace…You and Peyton coming to my house reminded me more of this old place."

"Speaking of Peyton, did you happen to see her?" Nathan asked.

"See her? Child, we talked for quite some time…That's actually why I was looking for you too…Unless of course you're busy."

Nathan was intrigued so he agreed. "It's ok. It can wait. Where should we talk?"

Carl pointed towards a bench in the room they were in. "Just there, so I can sit down. I am tired and old. I need to rest." Carl joked.

They headed over to the benches and sat down. "So what is it Carl?"

"I already told Peyton this, but I want to tell you too…Is the name Lucas Oliverus familiar?" Carl said with a secretive smile.

Way to start a conversation, Nathan thought. "Yeah. He's Peyton's 'hero'." The way he said hero was in a mocking way.

"I sense some jealousy there…But let's get to that later on…That Lucas was just here." Carl said waiting for a reply from Nathan.

Clearly, he was shocked, but he contained his emotions. "What? Today?"

"Yes, and he was with Peyton."

"Peyton did say he was her new friend. She explained it to me a while ago, so…I don't really have the right to be angry now." Nathan said looking pissed.

Carl smiled at Nathan's reaction. "You're her friend too…And believe it or not, I could see it in her eyes that she sees him exactly the way she sees you."

"What do you mean?" Nathan asked in confusion.

"Child, it only means you've got tough competition now. I'm not bringing you down, but I know this boy Lucas, and he's a very humble and good-hearted young man. Other than that, you have more things in common than you think you know. No wonder Peyton got so close to him in just two days." Carl was the type of man who likes to tell the truth straight out and see people's reactions.

Nathan tried to laugh it off. "You're just making me look like a fool here Carl." He joked.

Carl laughed along. "No I'm not…You should see him handle a sword and shoot an arrow…Very gifted…Like you…Well I have to go now. Think about what I just said if you know what you don't want to lose." Carl said as he walked away.

Nathan was left to ponder on his thoughts on that bench. He took a walk and saw Peyton in the art room. He was very hesitant to enter after everything that had happened on that day. But…he had competition now and he had to make his move. He entered the room silently and sat in one of the stools for the artists. Peyton saw him, and didn't react at all. She just went on with her drawing. Nathan felt more and more nervous. So he started, "Peyton I'm really sorry."

Peyton shot him a bad look for two seconds and finally spoke up. "Do you know what you're sorry for? Because I don't."

"Look Peyton. Haley told me you read people well. And that if she could tell that I was lying, so could you. Now you know when I lied…and for that I'm sorry." He said. He couldn't really say it out loud that he liked her.

"You're spending a lot of time with Haley. I don't blame you. She's pretty, warm, cheerful, full of stories, adventurous and all that…" She said while drawing still.

Nathan was confused at what Peyton was saying. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I think she's great. She is my cousin and my best friend. Should it mean something else?"

"Ok…I don't really understand where this conversation is going, so I'm going to change the subject." Nathan said.

"I don't really care." Peyton said coldly.

Nathan was feeling really frustrated with himself and with Peyton at that time. "Peyton I said I'm sorry." He said softly.

"I know you did." Peyton said as she put down her pencil and made direct eye contact with Nathan. "But you can't even tell me directly what you're sorry for. I'm over here, feeling really confused at what you're thinking. You're so hard to figure out! You're like this wall that I can't get through to!" She said in such a loud tone as she walked out. When she was out of the room, she said, "Maybe Haley can get through to you."

Nathan stood up immediately to catch up to her but she knew her way around that place. Just like that, Nathan couldn't see her in the halls or anywhere. He walked back into the room and kicked the stool out of anger. He gave out a big yell to let it out. Then he walked around in regret and looked to see what Peyton was drawing.

He looked at the paper and saw that it was Lucas. To be specific, it was when he was shooting the arrow. It had been stuck in Peyton's mind, but who could blame her? He was like Apollo at that moment. Nathan was getting more and more hurt and angry as well. He wanted to get rid of the drawing but instead, he walked out and went straight to his room where he tried to sleep it off.

MEANWHILE…

Lucas stopped by the village just to walk around and ponder on what great things had happened to him that morning. Then he bumped into a girl who was walking around the market with a sad face. "Sorry ma'am." He said immediately.

She took one look at him, but that's it. She didn't smile. She just went on with her walk.

"Ma'am I'm really sorry. Are you hurt?" Lucas asked as he followed her."

She turned around because she didn't want to be rude. "It's alright. I'm fine." She said with a small smile on her lips.

Lucas took a good look at her and suddenly remembered. "I saw you at the palace a while ago. At least I think I did."

Haley smiled warmly at him and replied, "Well…Believe me if you want to, but I'm the princess' cousin, Haley Drayton."

Lucas was taken back so he immediately paid his respects by bowing down. "Forgive me for I didn't know. Good day my lady."

Haley was a bit shocked to have someone bow in front of her in public. "Please, please…You don't have to bow…" Then she wondered why this guy was at the palace. Lucas stopped bowing and apologized. "It's alright now. But…why were you in the palace? It's my first time to see you. What is your name?"

"I'm Lucas Oliverus." He said.

Haley thought it was very familiar…Then she remembered. "Oh! You're my cousin's new friend! It's very nice to meet you." She said shaking his hand. "You know she wasn't lying. You are very much like Nathan…Handsome, charming, a gentleman, but you're more humble." She joked.

Lucas tried to smile but he was confused. "She…told you? About me?"

"Well…Not exactly. It's a very long story." She said. "I'm sorry about a while ago. I was just thinking about stuff…And don't feel awkward. I'm pretty bleak, so don't act weird or don't be offended when I say you're handsome, but I'm not attracted." She said laughing.

"Don't even worry about it." Lucas replied.

"You know you two would make a good couple." Haley said out of the blue as they were walking.

Lucas was surprised. "Now where did that come from?" He laughed.

Haley smiled and answered, "Nothing…I guess…I just want her to be with you cause…Never mind." She stopped before she said too much. "Goodness…I'm sorry. I was just joking about the couple thing. I know you just met. I told you…I'm pretty bleak."

Lucas laughed but he felt flattered deep inside. "Again, don't even worry about it… But don't mind me asking…Do you like Nathan?"

Haley was more than shocked…She froze there and tried to laugh it off really loud. "Now where did THAT come from? You have to admit that was so out of the conversation!" She said.

Instead of feeling embarrassed, Lucas felt that he was right with the way Haley was reacting. He was pretty good when it came to analyzing things. "I think I'm right." He said as he walked forward with a smile that Haley couldn't see. Haley followed looking really worried now. "I mean…You just described me a while ago…Handsome and all that…And so is Nathan. Plus, you wanted Peyton and I to become close…Maybe it's because of Nathan. Face it. Everyone in this village is crazy over Mister Nathan Donne."

Haley caught up to him and walked beside him. Now instead of being defensive and dramatic, she decided to go with it. "Ok. Let's say you are right, and I confirm it. Would you tell me if you like Peyton?" She asked.

Now, Lucas was the one who didn't know what to say. "Tell me first if I'm right and I'll give you an answer."

"I just met you and you expect me to tell you my secrets?" She asked while laughing. "That's pretty ridiculous.

"Aha! You said it was a secret. If you didn't like Nathan, there'd be nothing to keep. So…There's no need to answer because I know you like him." He said with a grin on his face.

Haley couldn't believe how good this guy was. "W-Well…" She was stuttering because she was guilty. Then she stopped and she stopped Lucas. "Please, Please don't tell this to anyone. I'm begging you."

Lucas was amazed to see he was right. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me…even if we just met." He said confused.

"You know you're like Peyton." Haley said as they started to walk again. "You read people so well. I wish I had that gift."

"I do? Wow…Who would've thought? I mean…I never had friends." Lucas said.

"Well…" She put her arm around him as if they were buddies. "Now that you know my secret, we're friends." She joked. "No I'm just kidding. We're friends because you seem like a good person."

"Thanks Haley." Lucas said. "You know this is all getting to unreal for me. My friends are both living in the palace. Not to mention, you've become my friends in less than one day. This…is too bizarre."

Haley noticed it as well. "Maybe…It's destined or something. Don't you believe in destiny and fate?"

"Mm…Now I do. I think everything is happening for a reason right now. You know what I think?" He asked with a smile.

"What?"

"I think destiny worked late so now, it's rushing things." He joked as they both laughed.

"Now that is just silly." Haley said.

"But anything's possible." Lucas said.

"Easy for you to say…In just two days, your life changed." Haley said. "Well, my mother's probably looking for me already. I'll tell Peyton I ran into you. It was nice meeting you."

"Please…The pleasure is all mine." Lucas said as they parted already.

AN: Thank you for the reviews and I have a favor to ask…Your predictions for the stories…Could you please not say them out loud? Hehe. Because your reviews are acting like spoilers already. I know you have guesses but the purpose of the piece-by-piece update is to leave y'all hanging. Joise…Hehe. Sorry. No offense. Sorry! I appreciate your reviews! They're so encouraging same for everyone else's ideas but you're kind of spoiling it for them. I don't want anyone to think that I get my ideas from reviews because this story has all been planned out carefully. But good news is, one of your guesses is right! I'm not telling which one it is! Again…Please keep R&R-ing. SORRY JOISE! smile You're one of my favorite readers though.  keep supporting!