Summary: When Haley James was eighteen years old, her whole world came crashing down. Her boyfriend had done what she thought was cheating on her, her parents disowned her, and her life wasn't as perfect as it seemed. After she thought she caught her boyfriend cheating on her, she ditched town and started fresh in Los Angeles where she sparked her music career. Seven years later, her ex, Nathan Scott comes back into the picture; twenty-five years old and the star player of the Los Angeles Lakers. But he doesn't exactly come into the picture requested... their agents of arranged a marriage to get their images back on track. Will Haley be able to forgive Nathan, or maybe find out the truth about what happened? Or is her idea of what happened too painful to even consider re-thinking?

2003:

Haley James was your average American teenager. She loved to have fun, was a good student, and was a cheerleader for the Tree Hill Ravens. Her boyfriend, Nathan Scott, was a basketball player for the Ravens. Nathan and Haley had been a couple for two years, but were always arguing and fighting. They considered themselves serious but deep inside, they knew that they weren't getting married anytime soon and that their relationship mainly revolved around sex. They did a lot together since their parents were best friends, but that was usually forced. The only times they willingly got together was to make out or have sex. When Haley was upset about her parents usual behavior towards her or someone betrayed her, she always went to her best friends, Peyton and Brooke before she went to Nathan. Nathan always found out through other people, and was never around during the event, therefore there wasn't much that he could do to help her.

It was the first day of Spring; the air was cool and crisp, and the wind was blowling slightly but perfectly so that it didn't freeze your face. Haley stepped out into the air and walked towards her car. She was on her way to Nathan's house, since they hadn't seen each other in days. Haley really just wanted to relax with him for once, but she knew that Nathan Scott had other ideas. He'd probably ask her how her trip was, then start seducing her, she'd giggle, try and resist, but eventually give in. Although everyone assumed differently, Nathan was the only person she'd been with sexually. He was her first real "love". Haley had a lot of boyfriends before but nothing serious, usually someone she took with when her friends went on group dates and made out with at school.

Haley got into her new shiny red Mustang convertible, and drove off to the familar Scott house. She'd been going there since she was a little girl, as her parents and Nathan's parents had been friends since university. Haley's parents were teen parents as well, and had had her when they were no older than seventeen and a half and eighteen. It was obvious that they weren't ready to become parents by the way they treated her, or maybe they weren't meant to be parents at all. They were always treating Haley like shit and making her feel completely oblivious and unloved. All she wanted was a simple, "I love you," once in awhile, whether it was on a card, through a text message, or on the phone. But of course her parents would never do that. Maybe when she was twelve her mother would have, but once Haley hit thirteen her parents completely ignored her. If they talked to her, it was just to bitch and moan at her and nothing else.

Finally arriving at the Scott mansion, Haley parked her car and walked up to the front door. She had been given a key to the house but felt awkward using it. As much as she supposedly loved Nathan, she still didn't feel that comfortable with his family, even though technically Dan and Deb Scott were her godparents. She knocked lightly on the door, and was greeted by Nathan who was in basketball shorts and nothing else. He was on the phone with someone, most likely his dumbass of a best friend, Tim Smith. Tim was a doorknob, Haley couldn't understand how Nathan could be friends with somebody so useless, but to each their own she always said.

"Tim, I gotta go man, Haley's here." Nathan said into the phone excitedly. Haley rolled her eyes at his typical teenage boy behavior. She didn't even want to examine his body, afraid of what she might encounter. "Hey babe, how was the Bahamas?"

He kissed her cheek; damn, he moved fast. Haley sighed and sat down on the couch, figuring to talk while she could. "It was pretty lame, the only thing that wasn't was the legal drinking age, thank God my birthday is in February. Otherwise I was bored as shit. How was Tree Hill..."

"Pretty boring, you weren't here." Nathan smirked as he sat down beside her and began to kiss her neck and rub her arm. Seriously? Haley thought to herself. She though she would be able to push her negative thoughts out of her head, but she just couldn't do it. She pulled away and Nathan looked at her, his face full of confusion and fury. "What the hell?"

"Is this all I mean to you, Nathan?" Haley asked as she got up from the couch. She didn't want to sound like a bitchy girlfriend, but she was sick and tired of having sex. Just sex. Normally she wouldn't complain, but it was getting old for her. "All I feel like, is a stupid sex toy to be honest. I feel used Nathan. All we do, is have sex. I come over, you ask me how my trip was but then you start seducing me. It's getting old Nathan, we're eighteen and techincally adults. How long are you going to go on like this?"

"Fine, you know what Haley, you can go home to your stupid soppy music and that ugly piano, and call me when you're not so PMS okay? I have other people I can hang out with." Nathan immediately regretted the ugly words the came out of his mouth, as he watched the love of his life break into tears and try to hold them back. After a minute she walked out, and he felt like the biggest douchebag in the world for not even doing as much as apologize in the minute she waited. He felt sick, he didn't want to be such an asshole to her. She was the one person he had in his life who he felt like he truly had, but now he felt like he'd lost his most prized posession.

XXX

All Haley felt like doing was crying for the rest of her life. She finally came clean up her feelings, opened up to Nathan, and in his own way, he called her a hormonal bitch. She felt awful; she felt like shit. Could nobody treat her like a normal person? Of course her best friends could and she loved them, but her parents, Nathan, people who were supposed to love her, made her feel like dirt.

There was supposedly a huge party going on that night, but Haley wasn't sure whether she'd show up or not. She wasn't feeling like going to a big party and pretending that she was okay, when she truly wasn't. Haley received a text from one of her best friend's, Brooke, asking whether she was coming or not.

Hales... r u coming? Really wanna see you tonight! xox

Haley sighed, hit reply and texted her friend back. She didn't want to bother Brooke because she knew Brooke would cancel going to the party and sit with her all night, but Haley didn't want to hold Brooke back. She knew Peyton would do the same, she knew she had the best friends ever. Don't think so, I think I picked something up in the Bahamas, don't wanna risk getting you guys sick! Love you lots, maybe we can do something tomorrow. xo

Haley let the tears fall again. These sad filled tears I cry, are all for you my love.

XXX

Nathan felt like the biggest jackass on the planet, as he knew that he was. When Haley showed up at the party that night he intended on apologizing in front of everybody, because he wanted her to know how truly sorry he was. He knew he should have called her way earlier but he was a coward and he knew it. He hoped that she didn't avoid the party altogether, because he knew she was feeling pretty shitty after what he'd said to her. Worst of all, he'd made a comment about her music, and even though she rarely spoke about it he knew that music was a big part of her life and he knew she was talented even though he'd never heard her before. He knew that was a low blow, and that is probably what effected her most besides calling her PMS.

He arrived at the party on time for once, much to everyones surprise. He looked around for Haley who was usually already there with Brooke and Peyton, but all he saw was Brooke, Peyton, and some new girl named Carrie, who even though he'd never talked to, didn't like. She looked like one of those slutty girls who would sleep with anyone with legs, something that was not attractive to him in the least. He loved Haley; beautiful, classy, smart, and elegant. Not to mention one of the kindest people you'd meet.

Nathan finally went up to Brooke, and asked her where Haley was. "Have you seen Haley? I really need to talk to her, and make an announcement."

Brooke looked at Nathan with confusion. "I thought she would have told you," Brooke said, "she's not coming. She said she might have picked something up in the Bahamas, some yucky virus or something. Wait... did you do something Scott? I knew you were nothing but scum!"

Brooke started getting mad, Nathan could see the anger filling up her face. Brooke and Peyton were always good to Haley, Nathan was glad he always knew that she'd have people there for her when he was being a jackass. Obviously she wasn't even feeling up to telling them though, which seriously meant she was hurting because usually she always told them when he was being his usual jackass self. "I fucked up Brooke, okay? I said some really lame things and I feel like scum, trust me. I was really hoping she'd be here tonight so I could tell her and apologize, because this time I really know I've fucked up and honestly I feel horrible. I feel like Dan, and it scares me. Can you try texting her for me? She won't listen to me."

"Alright," Brooke sighed. She knew Nathan Scott fairly well, and she could tell when he was full of shit and truly genuinely sorry. "I'll do it, but you have to make things right or else you see this heel? It'll be up your ass and out your mouth."

Nathan chuckled. "Alright, I promise I will. Thanks Brooke."

Hales, I know you're not feeling well but pleaaaaaaaaaase come! We don't care how sick you are, if you're throwing up we'll hold your hair!

Haley laughed at her friends text, but still wasn't feeling up to going. She told Brooke that she'd see but it didn't seem likely, then she sent another one saying that she was 110% sure she wasn't going to make as much as an appearance. Haley wanted to go but she knew that Nathan would be there, and he was the last person she felt like seeing.

Back at the party, Brooke frowned at her friends reply.

Nathan walked over to Brooke, and he knew Haley wasn't coming. "She's not coming, is she?"

"Sorry bud," Brooke said. "I'm afraid not. But you can still make things right, okay? I think you should give her the space she needs tonight, because I know Haley and she'll just shut you down tonight. But if you wait until tomorrow morning, then I'm sure she'll listen to you. Try going extra early and shower and be clean to show her you care, otherwise she'll think you haven't been to bed yet and that'll piss her off more."

Nathan smiled softly. "Okay, thanks again Brooke. I think I'm going to go get my coat and take off though, I'm just not feeling it."

"Alright buddy, let me know if you need anything."

Nathan walked upstairs into the room where the coats were kept to a disturbing surprise. "Hey, thought you'd never show up."

XXX

After pacing around her room, attempting to read, write, and sing, Haley decided to make an appearance at the party afterall. She decided that Nathan couldn't stop her from spending time with her friends and having a good time, it just wasn't fair. She was stronger than that and she knew that. She put on her hottest outfit, did her makeup sexy but still classy, and drove over to the Davis mansion where the party was being held. Haley pulled up into the first parking space, and walked into the house. When she walked in she felt all eyes on her, and she could cockily admit that it felt great.

Brooke noticed everyone staring at something, and she needed to see what. When she saw Haley, her jaw dropped. "Haley! You look HOT!"

"Merci," Haley smiled.

"Hon, I think Nathan just left. Too bad. One look at you and-"

"Don't finish that sentence, Brooke." Haley chuckled. "To be honest, it's a good thing, I'm kind of pissed at him right now. But whatever, I'm here to have a good time! I need to go put my coat down though, what room is it this time?"

"My parent's room," Brooke said, "I'll be in the kitchen making you a drink."

"Alright!"

XXX

Upstairs, Nathan was in shock. "Carrie, what the HELL are you doing?" Nathan was not pleased, and not in the slightest bit attracted to the slut who was sitting completely naked on top of the coats. He was quite disturbed that now his coat would be contaminated by Carrie's... ass. He knew that if someone walked in they'd get the wrong impression, and that's the last thing he needed. All he wanted to do was find Haley and take her in his arms. He truly wanted to change, and be a better boyfriend for her and show her that he truly loved and cared for her. She deserved the world, and he knew that, yet he let his pride get in the way and didn't show her how much she was worth.

"Come on, babe." Carrie said seductively, except she was so slutty sounding she sounded like a failure. Nathan chuckled at her stupidity, and headed for the door. "That stupid bitch of yours isn't here, Nathan. Relax, she'll never know about us. I know how much you've been aching for me since the day you saw me."

Nathan felt the fury build up inside of him. "Don't you dare refer to Haley like that. She's beautiful, and smarter and classier then you'll ever be, got that? The only thing I've been aching to do to you is send your ass back to California. I don't like you, Carrie. I never did. Can you please get some close on while I wait outside so I can get my coat and leave?"

As Nathan was going to head for the door Carrie jumped up on him and wrapped her legs around his waist. "CARRIE-!"

"Nathan!" Nathan heard her voice, his Haley's voice. He could hear the pain and confusion in her soft, tender voice. He felt horrible. Of course, this was just his luck. Haley had to show up and come to put her coat away as he was being seduced by the biggest slut in town. "H-how could you?"

"Hales," he said, literally dropping Carrie to the floor. She was a lot heavier than she appeared to be, "this is not what it looks like, I swear to you. Carrie was-"

"No, no." Haley cut him off, not wanting to hear anymore. "I get it Nathan. You're pissed off at me for being so PMS today, for not satisfying your "needs". So you turned to the biggest slut in Tree Hill, knowing she'd welcome you with open legs. I get it, I really do. I just didn't think you were this big of an asshole, that's all. I can't believe after everything I've been through, we've been through, that you'd do something like this. We're done Nathan, forever. I guess always isn't forever."

Haley stormed off in tears, not letting anybody see her. She drove back to her house, and immediately started packing a bag. She needed out of Tree Hill, besides her friends, there was nothing left for her their. The tears kept flowing down her beautiful face as she packed all her "prized" belongings. She included a picture of her and Nathan, when they'd been the happiest and most successful as a couple. As much as she hated him at that moment, she'd always love him and he'd never be out of her mind. She got into her car and first of all, stopped at Peyton's house where she wrote a note to her two best friends explaining her leaving. She didn't want to go back to the party and face him, she couldn't.

I guess this is the end, I guess this is the end, I guess it's true that every good thing comes to an end.

After the life changing episode with Haley and Carrie, Nathan forgot about his jacket and rushed to his car. Nathan Scott never cried, the last time he cried was when he was eleven and Dan had called him a failure, but tonight was an exception. Nathan truly felt like his world had come crashing down. He loved Haley with all his heart, and because of his stupidity and Carrie's sluttiness he lost the only important person in his life, someone who loved him even though he was a complete jackass. He knew she deserved much better than him, and he hoped that she got someone who she deserved and made her extremely happy. Of course he would try to win her back, but he knew that the chances of succeeding were slim. Haley James already had issues trusting people after all the shit she'd been put through with her parents, and now after the Carrie incident, he knew she'd never be able to trust him.

A/N: Thanks for reading the first chapter of my first story everyone! Basically this is the prologue, and the story truly starts at the next chapter and it'll be fastforwarded to about seven years later. I hope you enjoyed this first chapter, but I promise it'll get better as the story progresses. I was initially going to make the slut who ruined Naley Rachel, but I decided that using Carrie was even more appropriate since sometimes I actually like Rachel! Never, EVER, liked Carrie though, even when she was potentially innocent...