AN: Apparently, I had written a second chapter for this story, so…Merry Christmas? ;D – D.g.

“Honors Chemistry is kicking my tail,” Conner confessed as he and Natalie walked across the campus’s main lawn. “I haven’t had time to even look at history.” He scratched the shaggy jet hair that used to be pulled into a braid past his shoulders; now it was all gone. Natalie was sure he didn’t really like it, although it made him look older. Then again, Conner Redcloud didn’t need any help at all in looking older…better…or just generally hot. He seemed to be an instant celebrity where ever he went.

“You should study with us,” Natalie suggested cheerfully. “We’ll be on the second floor of the library probably every night until finals week…”

“We?” Conner skeptically echoed. “That includes Mary Jo.” The look on Conner’s face was explanatory. Natalie tried to smile, but she wasn’t going to play Cupid for a lost cause. In her not-so-humble opinion, Mary Jo wasn’t good enough for Conner. Natalie wasn’t sure if any girl was.

“You shouldn’t have asked for her notes,” Natalie sighed, kidding. “Now she thinks you’re in love with her.”

“She offered!” Conner defended. “I’m only interested in her notes…she’s not as dumb as she looks.”

“Oh, so you think she’s smart?”

“I think she looks dumb,” Conner muttered. Natalie tried not to laugh. “So are you staying in Clearwater any this summer?” he asked somewhat sheepishly. She sighed; the matter was in the air. Going three months without Tucker or any of her friends seemed out of the question, but her mother couldn’t spend three months alone in Chicago. In a way things hadn’t changed at all since the first summer Natalie came to Oklahoma—there was still all that distance between them all.

“I wish my mom would just move down here. It would make everything so much easier for us…and your dad…” Conner smirked; things with his father and Natalie’s mother were still going on, despite the distance. It felt like they spent as much time at Kyle’s house as they did in the new house in Chicago. Kyle’s house felt more like home than the new place would ever.

“Natalie,” Conner began nervously, “I…I don’t know if Dad wants you guys to know, but I think you should.” Natalie’s stride slowed to listen. “My dad was talking about how it gets pretty busy over at Kyle’s place when you both stay there, and Lacey too…he was thinking maybe you and your mom could stay with us.” The idea struck Natalie still. Living with Conner? She hadn’t ever thought about it even with the faint sound of wedding bells resounding in the future background of their parents’ relationship. If they did get married (which wouldn’t be anytime soon of course) Natalie and her mom would have to move to Oklahoma. Spending the summer at the Redclouds’ place made perfect sense.

“Really?” she began to smile, already excited.

“It’s kind of a bachelor pad with just me and Dad,” Conner excused, already grinning, “but we have an office and an extra room that’d be yours. It’s a little out of town, too…on the other side of the reserve.”

“Sounds great,” she said while wondering what her mom would think.

“It’s just an idea,” he reminded. “My dad’s probably too shy to even ask. I guess it’s kind of a big step.”

“Yeah, but it’s one we want them to take,” Natalie replied. “I mean, we both know our parents are crazy about each other. If something like this doesn’t happen, they’re just going to say it’s too hard being long distance and quit.”

“But you,” Conner interrupted, “you wouldn’t mind staying with us instead of your cousin’s?”

“I love Aunt Jenny’s place, but I love the reserve, too.” Conner smiled slightly before asking his other hard question.

“What about…Tucker?” Natalie didn’t see how Tucker mattered. She wouldn’t be as close to his house, but she would still be around Clearwater. Conner saw her confusion and sighed. “He doesn’t like me, Nat, he never has.”

“Con—”

“He’s nice to me because he loves you,” he went on, “and as soon as you and I get too close, he stops being nice. You know he’s got a crazy temper.” Natalie sighed; Conner was overdramatic. She took his arm and pulled him along on their way back to the dorm.

“This isn’t about Tucker. It’s about our parents and our old school Parent Trap plan of getting them together.” Conner tried to smile, but the idea of Tucker’s jealousy still bothered him. Maybe he did have a crush on her the first time they met. Maybe he still had feelings for her—it didn’t matter, because no matter what nothing would happen. It was Natalie and Tucker, end of story. “Are you OK, Con?”

“Yeah,” he answered on beat with a forced smile. Natalie bought it, and the subject was dropped.

“Come up and say hello to Mary Jo,” Natalie asked with a convincing smile, still tugging on Conner’s arm. “It will totally make her day.” What could he say?

“Sure, for you,” he agreed. Natalie nearly squealed and led the way to her dorm room, just down the hall from the boys’ wing. She heard Mary Jo’s music blaring from behind the door before she slid her key into the lock.

“Mary Jo,” she warned quickly, “I’m bringing someone in!”

“OK!” her roommate answered in her Southern Louisiana accent. When the door opened and Conner was brought inside, Mary Jo nearly screamed. Her face was covered in a light green cream except for the eyes; with her hair in thick rollers surrounding her face, she looked completely science fiction. Natalie’s plan had failed horribly. At least she’s dressed, Natalie quickly reasoned, whereas the first time she met Tucker she wasn’t so lucky. Mary Jo grabbed a towel and desperately tried to cover her face. Conner looked as if he had seen a ghost.

“Mary Jo,” Natalie stammered, “it’s Conner! He…just wanted to say hi!”

“Hi!” she nearly yelled. “You can go now!” Conner was abruptly shoved out of the room and the door was closed.

“What was that about?” Mary Jo screeched, frantically wiping off her face. “You bring CONNER here when I’m getting ready? You’re evil!”

“What are you getting ready for?” Natalie cried. “I thought we were going to dinner before studying!”

“Tonight is a big…dinner…thing,” she fumed while ripping rollers out. “It’s a huge Greek party that everyone is going to! God, I could have asked him to go, and now I can’t!”

“Conner is not a Greek party person…and he’s still in the hall…” Mary Jo glared at Natalie before ripping open the door and finding a startled Conner still waiting. He gave an awkward smile to them both.

“Hi?”