A.N I'm so sorry I haven't updated for so long but my computers been very sick and this is the first time I've had access to the internet in a week so although I've had chapters ready I've been unable to do anything with them. So here is chapter four and I hope it was worth the wait. Chapter Five is ready and waiting so read, review and I'll update again soon.

Chapter Four

It was only day two and Haley was already seriously considering the possibility that she had made a mistake coming here. In her mind it was obvious she shouldn't be here; she had no right to be standing where she was right now. The last five years may as well have been for nothing because now when it came to the crunch they seemed pointless and in some respects she was right back where she had started.

"Will you please just quieten down and open your novels. I'd like someone to start reading aloud please."

But her pleas were for nought as almost the entire class continued to disregard anything she said. Looking around desperately she spied a young girl who sat quietly paying little heed to the goings on around her, her attention was completely focused on the book in her hand. Haley was struck by a strange sense of familiarity as she looked at her although physically she resembled no one she knew, she couldn't help but feel like she knew her. The reason for the familiarity became blatantly obvious a moment later when she observed her turn her head slightly to furtively sneak a peek at the rather loud boy proudly wearing a basketball jersey, who Haley knew to be the ringleader of the current ruckus. Haley caught the look of adoration that flittered across her face and knew without a single doubt that she could be looking at herself eight years ago. Seeing that she was once again absorbed in her book Haley turned her attention to Jason the object of Kelly's attention. Yes she could definitely see a lot of Nathan in the way he behaved. There was no mistaking that arrogance.

"Jason I want you to sit down this instant.

No don't throw that.

Jason…"

Finally she settled for just yelling his name forgetting one of the first things she had ever learnt about controlling a class full of adolescents which was don't try to shout over them. He barely glanced at her before tossing the football across the room to where one of his friends was standing waiting to catch it.

With everything that was going on she was completely unaware of the door opening and someone moving in to the room to stand less than a metre behind her. So it was with some surprise that she noticed a sudden quieting of the room and allowed herself to wonder if maybe her shouting had had some effect despite the fact that it had not been immediate. Jason suddenly looked nervous and as he opened his mouth to speak she prepared herself to accept his inevitable apology. But when it came needless to say it was not at all what she had anticipated.

"Sorry Coach," he said humbly.

Haley started to speak before she had time to properly digest his words.

"That's quite alright…." She trailed off uncertainly. Did he just call me Coach?

It was then that she noticed that he really wasn't looking directly at her it was more a point over her left shoulder.

With an overwhelming sense of foreboding she turned slowly to look behind her.

Oh great one of the only members of staff I haven't met yet and this is how we're introduced. He's going tot think I'm an incompetent idiot.

But the sight that greeted her as she turned around was worse than even her overactive imagination could ever have predicted. Standing there bold as brass was Nathan smirking at her in a way that left her in no doubt what he thought of her teaching skills. What the hell is he doing here?

Its quite amazing sometimes how even the most intelligent of people can fail to piece together a puzzle if the outcome is not something they want to admit to. But there is only so long that one can remain in denial when the facts are thrust so blatantly in front of you.

"You're? " she stopped coughing nervously trying to clear her throat.

"You're Whitey's replacement?

"You Nathan Scott are Coach of Tree Hill High?"

"Got it in one Hales." He replied quietly so his words would not be overheard.

Raising his voice slightly he gestured towards the door with a tilt of his head.

"Could I see you outside Miss James? There's something we need to discuss."

Haley looked at him and opened her mouth to deny his request then she saw the look in his eye and knew that if she did not accede to his request he would not hesitate to create a scene and that quite simply was the last thing she needed. It was becoming increasingly apparent that her students held no respect for her whatsoever whereas she could tell with a quick glance around the room that almost all of the class were looking at Nathan with something akin to hero worship. It definitely would not improve matters to go head to head with Coach Scott in front of them especially when it was one confrontation she could almost guarantee she would lose.

Nodding briefly she turned back to the class hoping to make it appear that she held some modicum of control over them.

"All of you can go on with your work. I'll be just outside."

Then she quickly spun on her heel and without another glance in Nathan's direction strode out into the hall. She schooled her features into something resembling neutrality as she sensed him following close behind her.

Hoping to be the one to set the tone of the conversation she whirled around to face him.

"What can I do for you Coach Scott?" she said desperately attempting to promote an air of professionalism.

She focused her gaze on a point over his shoulder determined to avoid looking into his eyes. She knew those eyes far too well and could easily recall the peril that one simple glance into them could cause. On more than one occasion in the past she had found herself drowning in their blue depths and she knew too well that if she wanted to keep her emotions out of this discussion then it was imperative for her to avoid those eyes.

"Well for starters Miss James you can look at me when you're talking to me."

His use of her full name should have been a sign of respect but for some reason hearing it roll off his tongue like that it sounded more like an insult and she had to restrain the shudder that went through her body.

Complying with his request she shifted her gaze slightly to rest on the collar of his t-shirt. Ok this is getting slightly more dangerous but I'm a big girl I can handle it.

"You seemed a bit out of your depth in there," he commented hardly.

"I'll be fine I've just got to set some ground rules with them."

He looked at her quizzically for a moment almost as if he was trying to read her mind, to see if she truly believed the nonsense she had just told him. Oh my god she is actually serious she truly believes that that's going to work.

"I'm not sure Frank would agree." He said quietly but Haley could hear the implied threat behind his words.

"You're not going to tell him are you?" she blurted out desperately.

"Please you can't. I'm sure that I'll get better its just some jitters in my first week I will definitely improve as time goes by."

"Yeah well you couldn't get much worse," he muttered under his breath just loud enough for her to hear.

She was momentarily stung hearing his words but she knew they were the truth so she swallowed the urge to argue her case.

"Well Coach Scott if you're finished insulting my teaching skills I really need to get back inside…"

He interrupted her before she could finish "Actually that's not the only reason I asked you to come out here. I just wanted to let you know that I'll be taking you to dinner tonight so be ready when I come to collect you at eight."

Surely he must be kidding she told herself.

Her gaze flew up to his face from where she had been steadfastly examining the material of his t-shirt, looking for some sign that he was joking but looking up at him she realised two things very quickly. The first was that he was very serious and the second was that she had made a big mistake allowing herself to look into his eyes. But she also realised that the reason to avoid looking into his eyes now was very different to what it had once been. While before she would have become lost in the tenderness that he gazed upon her with now she found herself captivated by the flash of something much more carnal. The response that had been on the tip of her tongue dried up and she was unable to speak as she tried to define the emotion burning in his eyes.

"I'll take your silence as agreement."

"Oh and do me a favour" he threw back over his shoulder as he turned to walk away from a stunned Haley "get rid of the school ma'am outfits they don't fool me for a second. You've got a great pair of legs Hales you may as well show them off."

He disappeared around the corner leaving a shell shocked Haley staring at the empty hallway where he had stood just moments before.

Several minutes passed before she was able to regain enough composure to return to the class. Luckily Jason and his crew of friends seemed worried that Coach Scott might return so their behaviour was manageable for the rest of the period. Had Haley been thinking straight this probably would have annoyed her greatly to know that the only reason her class were behaving was because of Nathan but her mind was well and truly occupied with other things and she barely gave the reason for their good behaviour a thought. Her thoughts instead consisted more of finding Nathan and telling him that there was no way she would go to dinner with him that night or any other night for that matter.

As she was to find out though as the day progressed finding Nathan was no simple task and when the school day came to an end she still had not been able to cancel their dinner.

As she left school having failed in her attempt to track him down in the teachers lounge she reassured herself with the knowledge that there was no way Nathan could have been serious. He was just trying to fluster her and unfortunately he was succeeding. But as she was to find out later that night one should never doubt Nathan Scott when he says he is going to do something.