Chapter One-

Acceptance and Denial

Ever since Haley Scott could remember she had been Haley Scott. That was her last name, it had seemed it had been that way forever. And the sad part was... she wasn't even married.

Her real name was Haley James, but at the ripe old age of six, her parents had started hinting that she should get used to her last name being Scott.

That was because the very elite James's had moved away from their high profile New York lifestyle when their second daughter, Haley was born. They had only ever had two children, two gorgeous beautiful girls, Taylor and Haley James.

Now, the James's were incredibly old-fashioned, and believed strongly in old traditions. Mr. and Mrs. James (Jimmy and Lydia) had grown up with far too much money and far too much power. They were incredibly protective, way too controlling, and had way to much free time to boast and gloat over their overfilled bank accounts.

Jim James was the most protective of both parents. These were, of course, his perfectly pampered beauty queen daughters. He wanted them to grow up rich, grow up civilized, and grow up to be successful. And although New York was a perfect place to be successful, it didn't seem right to raise children there. So, selling their six-bedroom penthouse on 5th Avenue, the James's built an oversized mansion on a rolling green hill smothered by trees in the perfect little quaint community of Tree Hill, North Carolina. The mansion was crammed with expensive antiques, and overstuffed couches, but mostly what it was crammed with was fear. Fear by Jim, that his absolutely stunning little angels, wouldn't end up with the best things in life.

I mean, after all, Tree Hill wasn't filled with promising bachelors. It was filled however, with another financially successful rich, snotty family.

The Scott's. Mayor Dan Scott, had been mayor of Tree Hill for nearly 7 years when the James's moved into town. He was married to his completely perfect trophy wife, Karen Scott, and they had two completely perfect, well groomed, raised with money sons. Both about Haley and Taylor's age, Nathan and Lucas.

Now Jim was a smart man. He didn't add to his family's fortune by being stupid. He knew business, and he knew a good business proposition when he saw one. For after three days of living in Tree Hill he had already decided that the only future he saw for his daughters in Tree Hill, had the name Scott written all over it.

It was a match made in heaven. Combine the James's money, with the power Dan held over Tree Hill, and already they were strong. By uniting their offspring... well there really was absolutely no smarter move to make.

So, Jim and Lydia sat down with Dan and Karen, after their children met at preschool, and decided right then and there. Their children were to be married. Dan thought it was completely wonderful, not only did he not have to worry about his son's running off with any cheap tramps, but Jim held power in New York City! And Dan (of course) was always hungry for power. Karen wasn't at all thrilled about it, but she held no power in the marriage. 6 and a half years of being married to Dan Scott had left her meek and abused.

On June 8th, when Lucas, Nathan and Haley were six, and Taylor was 7 and a half, it was arranged. Nathan was to be wed to Taylor, and Lucas was to be wed to Haley. It was signed in ink, hands were shaken, and the adults smiled down as the 2 little girls, and the 2 little boys played together timidly. The girls fighting over Malibu Barbie, and the boy's shoving over a plastic dump truck.

None of them realized how important that day was in their lives.

Because that day, just determined the rest of their days as long as they lived.

"Haley, Taylor, kitchen, NOW," Jim James voice thundered over the James mansion. It was ten years later, and a slightly aged, but still wealthy Jim watched impatiently for his gorgeous teenage daughters to appear.

Haley appeared first, as always. She was the good one. Always obeying, always the good grades. No trouble from Haley.

Then there was Taylor. She had trouble written all over her. From her illegal tattoo she kept hidden from her father, to her nose ring and failing grades, she had let her family down since the first day she said "I wish we weren't rich." Not that Taylor had anything against shopping sprees... but please, an arranged marriage? Just because her father wanted to be "traditional?" She, along with Haley, felt like they were trapped in an old early 1900's movie that just kept replaying. Always the same responses from their parents, "It's for the best.", "You'll thank us when your older.", "There couldn't be a smarter or more perfect match."

"Where's your sister?" Jim asked agitated, glancing at Haley, and then at the long windy sweeping staircase. A couple moments passed, and then they both heard the sound as sneaker-clad feet made their way slowly down. Eventually Taylor appeared at the bottom of the days, hair a mess, wearing rumpled clothes that looked like she'd slept in. In fact it looked suspiciously like she'd just snuck in a moment ago, because she looked shocked to see her father tapping his foot impatiently waiting for her.

"TAYLOR," his voice boomed over the lobby even though she was basically right in front of him. She rubbed the temples of her forehead, perhaps warding off, or struggling with a hangover.

"I'm here," she mumbled, "What do you want?" Jim lowered his gaze to where Haley stood. Her long auburn hair was pristinely brushed, and was left down and natural. She wore a long sleeved pink boat necked shirt, that showed very little skin. She also wore white denim Capri's and matching pink and white corked-bottomed wedges. She looked exactly how a good wealthy daughter was supposed to look. It also didn't hurt that she had on a gorgeous, Tiffany & Co, diamond and pearl choker.

"What do I want?!" Jim asked angrily, "I want you to be more like your sister!" And with an angry glare, Jim stomped out of the lobby, leaving Haley to roll her eyes dramatically at Taylor.

"What's wrong with you?" Haley hissed, "Did you seriously just sneak in?!" Taylor pulled her after-party frizzed hair up into a messy bun, and stuck her tongue out at her sister.

"What's it matter to you, you little stuck-up bitch? It's not like you've ever been to a real party in your life. Too busy being daddy's little "bundle of perfection?" huh? It's too bad you missed out. Lucas was there," she said with a nasty little wink. Haley's mouth dropped. She thought Lucas was her equivalent in the Scott family. Lucas was the good one. Lucas was her arranged husband. Taylor got the party one. Taylor got Nathan. Haley thought she got the sweet one who liked to read, and play innocent basketball.

"What's the matter princess?" Taylor asked, bulging out her bottom lip and looking pouty, "You should be happy. It turns out your "husband" is a hell of a kisser." With that, Taylor spun on her mud splattered pink high-top Converse, and waltzed back up the staircase. Probably to pass out for the entire day, only to wake up and go out again.

Haley watched her pathetic sister, walk upstairs like she was so much better than her. Like she had this life down. Taylor seemed to think she'd coast through high school well enough for daddy to pay off her teachers so she could grad. She also thought she'd get out of this marriage by running off with a rock star after daddy finished paying all the bills. They'd move to Paris and party all night, and Taylor would change her name, and live off the luxuries of her rock star husband.

Haley was a bit more practical. Haley had accepted that her father would be breathing down her neck until the day she graduated. After that, she was Lucas's. She'd already accepted her marriage to Lucas. She figured they'd get married, go to separate colleges across the country. See each other every now and then, and basically carry out their own lives. Lucas was her best friend in the entire world. She loved him. Not love-love, but friendship love.

Now she couldn't help but wonder, despite how childish and girly it made her seem... did her sister make out with her husband?!?!

Nathan ran his hand over his rumpled gray tee-shirt, yawning as he made his way down the hallway of the Scott mansion towards the kitchen. He kicked open the walnut swinging door, and entered the kitchen, shocking the hell out of the timid red-haired maid, Natalie, who had been scrubbing a pot furiously. She glanced at him, lips trembling nervously. Natalie was three years older than Nathan, and had basically had a thing for him since she started working at the Scott place two years ago. It was blantantly obvious to everything, including Nathan who paid little attention to her. She was all-right looking, with her outrageously curly red hair, and dimpled cheeks, and tiny waist. But she was so goddamn nervous all the time, he couldn't exactly see her doing body shots at the next rager with him. Which, unfortunately, was one of the qualities he looked for in a girl.

"Anything I can get for you, Mr. Scott?" Natalie asked timidly, putting down her dirty dish rag. Nathan shook his head, yawning again, opening the fridge and drinking some orange juice from the carton. She giggled at this act, and he raised an eyebrow at her.

Natalie blushed deeply, obviously annoyed at herself for giggling, and returned to the dishes. He shrugged, replacing the orange juice carton, letting his thoughts drift to the previous night. A party, of course. Drinking, dancing, stripping, maybe some mild drugs? He couldn't exactly remember, which to him was a sign of a good night. He remembered Taylor, half naked in just her bra (perhaps due to strip poker?) making out with Lucas.

Ha Lucas, Nathan thought. He was still sleeping it off. For the first time in ages, Nathan had gotten his practically-a-saint-betrothed brother to come to a party with him. He had gotten wasted, and got it on with Nathan's to-be-wife.

Not that Nathan gave a shit. This whole arranged marriage thing was a joke to him. Plus, Taylor was a joke as well. She'd probably die of a OD before graduation, or move to Amsterdam before this whole marriage thing even made it to the courts. Lucas and Haley, however were different. Both of them (for some reason) had accepted it. Why?! Nathan hadn't the faintest. Lucas was a pushover, easily swayed by their controlling asshole-of-a-dad, Dan. Destined to be the next mayor of Tree Hill, granted all the power of the New York James's. Nathan, on the other hand, was expected to thrive at basketball, and make it to the NBA. Which he planned to do, maybe. If the opportunity came, if the mood strikes.

One of the perks of having Dan Scott as a father, was that he would never have to worry about working to get into anything. So he didn't. Nathan drank excessively, partied non-stop, and played basketball in between. School was something he left his highly-paid, highly-educated, imported from France, 30-year old tutor to deal with. She did his homework, and got him through school. Nathan showed up at Tree Hill High (sometimes) to hang out with his friends, and get a check mark on the attendance list. His tutor would drop by later after hours, and obtain all the notes, and assignments he was supposed to do, and quietly and efficiently do them for him.

It was a good life, no doubt. The only thing that bothered him was that as long as he wanted his father to keep being able to have the power he does, the Scott's, always had to have the James's to lean on. So, the Scott boys, always had to be "polite and courteous" to the James girls. Bullshit, Nathan thought. He had sex with Taylor on occasion, that was about as courteous as he got, and as far as polite... well one time he complimented her cleavage.

Taylor was fun. She was his equivalent in the James household. Her sister, Haley was a snotty ass, bitch. Daddy's little princess.

What a joke. Haley was the only part of the arrangement that got on his nerves. Having to see his brother actually consider marrying the stuck-up twit mad him mad.

Some life, Nathan thought angrily, Everyday having to wake up next to that little snot. He shrugged though, kind of grateful in a way. As he exited the kitchen, leaving a still-blushing Natalie, all he could think was,

Thank god that isn't me.