A.N Sorry guys have been having internet dramas again. But I'm finally back online so its time to give you the latest installment. Hope you enjoy.

kaos2405 Ok I take it by that review that you were a little surprised by the end of the last chapter either that or you've decided my story is crap.

unfolddream Glad you liked Paulo. He was just something that popped into my head as I was writing but I may try to work him into later chapters.

TinyDancer7 I'm glad you liked the dance scene. This chapter should hopefully explain about Haley's sort of engagement. As for poor Nathan I wouldn't start feeling too sorry for him just yet. He's a big boy and he certainly is not above turning the tables on her. He is going to make her suffer.

MeSpikeAndAngelinA3sum Glad you enjoyed the chapter and yes you're right there is some definite craziness in store for future chapters.

jacqueline22393 Glad to know you're still reading. Unfortunately this chapter does not hold much Naley action but I can assure you that there is plenty of that to come in future chapters. Thanx for the review.

heather dawn Well I'm glad that I did manage to surprise some people with the engagement story line. Its definitely going to create some interesting situations between Nathan and Haley. As for her waiting so long to tell anyone well I haven't really explained that in any of the coming chapters that I have written so far but I'm kinda thinking it was just a case of she didn't think it was anyone elses business and maybe was a little worried about how Nathan would react. Not that she would probably admit that.

doodlebah Thanks for the review. This chapter should answer your question about her engagement but remember all is not necessarily as it seems in my stories. Enjoy the latest chapter.

Jenna Wow thanx for the complimentary review I still get a little disbelieving when people enjoy my writing so much. But it definitely brings a smile to my face to get such positive reviews.

Cap'n Keira Sparrow Glad you enjoyed that chapter and as with most of the other reviewers from the last chapter your questions should hopefully be answered in this chapter. If you feel I'm still leaving any holes in the story let me know and I'll try to incorporate answers in the chapters to come. Thanx for the review.

cherrymfzb Great to get a review from you once again. I decided that it was definitely time to start getting some Naley action happening and what better place than the dancefloor. I would have loved to continue it longer but thought with the way the story is going at the moment that i didn't want things to go too far with them just yet but they will definitely be getting up close and personal in the coming chapters and I can promise they will not be interrupted quite so early in the process. This chapter should explain about Josh and their so called engagement. On another note I just went and checked out your latest installment of your story and found your authors note. That is so cool. Thank you so much. I'm really enjoying your story.

Ok all well keep reviewing and if you haven't reviewed before please do I like to know what a wide range of people think of my stories. Even if what you have to say is negative at least it lets me know where I'm going wrong. Unfortunately this chapter will not include any making out with Nathan and Haley but felt that I needed to use this chapter to explain a bit of what has been happening and how they are feeling. The advantage of having had no internet is that I've been able to get the next five chapters done and I can promise that there is definitely some Naley action to come. The chapters are all ready to go so all I'm waiting for is you guys to have a chance to read and review. Enjoy.

Chapter Seven.

"What the fuck are you talking about? How can you be sort of engaged? You're either engaged or you're not there is no sort of about it."

She visibly paled at his obvious anger although she knew that he was totally justified to be more than a little upset. She was going to have to try and explain things to him and hope to God that he would understand. Looking at the fury on his face now though she could not help but have her doubts about just how understanding he would be.

"Normally," she began "I would totally agree with you but in this case things are slightly more complicated."

He stared at her contemptuously but she could almost see the wheels turning in his mind as he tried to make sense of her statement. "So," he said his voice dripping with malice. "Does this sort of fiancé of yours have a name?"

"Of course he does," she responded trying to keep her voice as neutral as possible not wanting to set off his temper anymore than she already had. "His name is Josh."

"So where is this invisible Josh? Are you hiding him away somewhere in your house?"

"Of course not," she couldn't help but snap her own temper starting to assert itself. "He's back in Chicago."

He grabbed her arm abruptly before she could continue any further. "Come on. We're getting out of here. I want to hear every single detail of this supposed engagement and I have a feeling it's going to be a long story. I may as well be comfortable for it." He finished off as he practically dragged her back to the table to collect his jacket and her purse.

She could see Paulo across the room involved in chatting to some other guests. She forced a smile onto her face and gave him a little wave. Nathan pretended at no such niceties and instead sent a curt nod in the older man's direction before steering Haley out the door.

As they got into the car Haley held her breath subconsciously in preparation for the interrogation that she was sure was about to start but Nathan apparently had no intention of having this conversation while they were driving and remained closed lipped.

As he drove Haley leaned her forehead against the cool glass of her window and tried to work out exactly how much she should tell Nathan about the situation with Josh. It was confusing enough just living it without trying to explain it to someone else especially when that someone was arguably the person who knew her best in this world. She grimaced as she realised the ridiculous notion her mind had just cooked up. He may have known the old me but he has no idea about the person I have become today.

It was difficult though to block out the small voice that whispered from somewhere deep inside that in reality she had not changed all that much in the time since she had left. Deep down she was still the same person with the same values and principles that she had always had and the same vulnerabilities.

Anxious to steer her mind to safer topics she tried to focus on Josh and everything that had happened between them. In so many ways he was the perfect man for her. She had met him while she was studying at Strayer University back in Chicago and although it had hardly been love at first sight they had managed to build a relationship based on friendship and mutual respect, which had eventually become something so much more. He had been one of her lecturers at college and although it was not a necessarily common practice he had taken a personal interest in Haley James the moment she had set foot into his lecture or so he had later told her.

They had only dated for six months before he had popped the question but he had insisted that this was what he wanted. She could still clearly remember exactly how it had all come about.

Flashback

Arriving home from another day of nerve-wracking placement in a local school she was in a state of sheer fury. Bursting in the front door of their home she had barely noticed the wonderful aroma of one of Josh's special dinners simmering away on the stove. Instead she had stormed into the kitchen in serious need of venting some of her anger and it just so happened that Josh was right within range.

"Why?" she yelled throwing her hands up into the air in emphasis. "Why do they set us up to fail? There is no way that that group of maniacs is a typical freshman English class. They were completely out of control. I don't believe anyone could possibly control that group of miscreants without resorting to severe bodily harm and I'm pretty sure that's not part of any American High School's curriculum."

Finally pausing to draw breath she took her first proper look at Josh since she had entered the room. He appeared to have dressed up more than usual and she madly tried to remember if they had plans that she had forgotten about.

"Haley Honey calm down Here have some wine."

She accepted the proffered glass gratefully and took a long sip before she glanced to where Josh was standing still holding his full glass apparently intending to make a toast.

"Oops sorry." She apologised.

"That's fine honey. Dinner's almost ready why don't you go get changed and I'll finish up in here."

Several minutes later she returned and began to eat in silence. She knew Josh liked to chat during dinner but tonight she was too hungry to care.

Looking up she saw that he had barely touched his own food. He was definitely acting strangely tonight. Pushing her plate to the side she turned her full attention to him. "Ok spill, what's on your mind?"

"I'll tell you when we've finished eating,"

"No I want to know now."

"Haley please."

"Just tell me."

"Fine you really want me to do this now then here goes." He pulled something from his trouser pocket and came around to where Haley was sitting. Getting down on one knee he took her left hand in his. "Haley I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?"

Haley stared at him in dumbfounded silence. Surely she could not have heard him right. But looking down she could see an expensive ruby ring being slid onto her finger.

He was looking at her expectantly so she did the only thing she could do.

"Umm Ok. Sure I'll marry you." She knew she should be exuding more enthusiasm but she was in total shock she had never thought this would happen.

Josh appeared not to notice. "Oh honey that's wonderful I can't wait to make you my wife." He pulled her into his arms kissing her enthusiastically. Between kisses telling her again and again how wonderful their life together was going to be.

End Flashback

Snapping out of her daydream she realised the car had stopped and she turned to find Nathan studying her curiously.

"Thinking about your darling fiancé?" he enquired sarcastically.

Determined not to let him get the better of her she smiled sweetly at him and answered. "Yes I was actually."

"Alright well let's hear it. Tell me all about this sort of engagement."

She looked at him although she knew that he was only using the same words that she herself had used to describe her engagement she could feel her anger growing as she heard the contemptuous way he described her betrothal. "I don't have to tell you anything." She snapped her eyes flashing with undisguised fury. "Now can you please take me home?"

"I'm not taking you anywhere until we talk this out."

Not taking the time to examine her surroundings Haley wrenched the door open. "Fine then I'll walk."

Nathan laughed then but there was little humour in the sound. "Haley have a look around. I really don't think you're going to be walking home from here. Now why don't you close the door and start talking?"

Haley finally took the time to look around her and see where they were. It was with some surprise that she recognised their location. Nathan's car was parked high on a cliff overlooking the sea. It was the same place that he had brought her to many times in the past after he had got his licence. Although in the past they had usually come here with other things in mind than simple talking. She knew they were about ten miles out of town but she was determined to make it clear to Nathan that he could not just order her around. She was so tempted to call his bluff and begin walking but deep down she knew she was being ridiculous. Begrudgingly she got back into the car and pulled the door closed.

"Well?" he asked impatiently.

"We got engaged about a year ago," she began. I may as well just tell him what he wants to know and then maybe he will finally leave me alone.

Nathan looked down at her left hand trying to see if he had somehow missed out on seeing the symbol of another man's hold on her but her finger was bare. There wasn't even a tell tale white mark on her finger that would indicate a ring had been there anytime recently.

Haley saw him studying her hand and self-consciously buried it in her lap away from his prying eyes. Looking into his eyes she could see the question that he had yet to voice and rushed to answer it before he said anything. "I um don't wear the ring that much."

"So let me get this straight. You're sort of engaged to a man who is nowhere to be seen and you have a ring that you don't wear? You weren't kidding when you said this was complicated."

He doesn't know the half of it. Wonder what he would say if I was to tell him the whole story. She knew however that that was not a story she was willing to share with him at this point in time. "We're still together," she told him "we're just having a little break right now."

"Yeah and?" he asked pressuring her to continue.

"I really don't think the rest of it is any of your business," she stated simply. "Now will you please take me home?"

He considered refusing but the truth was he needed time to digest this new information and figure out how this fit into his plans. "Fine," he said not even glancing in her direction. "Lets go."

As he drove he inwardly fumed. He didn't understand what the hell was going on here and that bugged the hell out of him. Suddenly a thought occurred to him. Turning to look at her he asked the question that was now plaguing his mind. "That was him, wasn't it?"

She looked at him in confusion.

"That was him that you were talking to on the phone the other night? When you were crying? You were talking to him."

Haley wasn't sure how he even knew about that but could see no point in lying to him about it. "Yes that was Josh." She shuddered as she saw a look of cold fury cross his face as he connected this latest piece of the puzzle.

Minutes later he pulled up in front of her house but as she went to undo her seatbelt he stopped her placing his hand over hers. "Do you love him?"

She recoiled from his touch shocked at his question. "What are you talking about? Of course I love him. I agreed to be his wife didn't I?"

"Then why the hell did you kiss me like that?" His voice rose again as he allowed his temper to take hold.

She couldn't answer him she had been asking herself the same question ever since they had left the restaurant and she still had no idea. "I don't know," she answered softly getting out of the car and walking away. "I really don't know," she said out loud to no one in particular as she opened the front door to let herself in. She half expected him to come after her but to her relief he didn't. She couldn't handle being with him any more until she got herself back under control.

He sat in the car watching her enter the house. This news had completely thrown him for a loop and he wasn't sure how to deal with it. He pulled smoothly away from the kerb and headed towards his house. He had a lot of thinking to do.

Haley meanwhile could not get his earlier words out of her head. They kept repeating themselves over and over again. "So let me get this straight. You're sort of engaged to a man who is nowhere to be seen and you have a ring that you don't wear?" Nathan was right this was completely nuts but it was funny how she had never seen the ludicrousness of this situation until Nathan came back into her life and pointed it out to her. Josh was a great guy and she really loved him. They had a lot in common and always had plenty to talk about but she knew those things were not what was required to make a successful marriage.

After she and Josh had gotten engaged for a while she had been able to pretend that everything was right with the world but she soon found out that her act was fooling no one least of all Josh. Things had started getting strange almost immediately as Haley had kept coming up with excuses not to wear the ring. The excuses were many and varied ranging from her being worried it would get lost or damaged if she wore it to school to simply saying that it didn't really match her outfit. Josh had been very understanding at first namely because he didn't want to pressure her but he finally had enough the day that they had sat down to set a date. Haley had been prevaricating for weeks trying to avoid this discussion but he had eventually pinned her down and made her go through the calendar with him.

But deciding on a date was to be no easy task as Haley managed to find something wrong with every single date that he suggested. He was fast reaching the end of his tether with her and it was starting to show. Eventually he snapped and told her that it was time for them to take a break, he was convinced that there was something in her past that she needed to resolve and so he had suggested that it was time for her to go back to Tree Hill and sort out whatever it was. To be honest it had probably been slightly more than a suggestion. It had been offered to her as an ultimatum. Either she resolved her issues with the past or she say goodbye to any future that they might have together. So that was how she had come to return to Tree Hill. Although she had never had any intention of ever setting foot in the town again it had ended up being a choice between resolving her past and giving up on her plans for the future.

She sighed to herself as she realised how unfair her behaviour had been to Josh. She loved him so much but for some reason just could not bring herself to put that ring on her finger and decide on a date that would begin her life as Josh's wife. Deep down she knew she was being illogical and she would tell herself that things would get better but they never did and now she was back in Tree Hill trying to make her peace with a past that she had been trying for so long to forget.

Across town Nathan sat stewing over the latest developments. So much had happened in that one evening. He had finally had Haley back in his arms and they had kissed. It amazed him just how much that one kiss had affected him after so long away from her. Then of course everything had fallen apart with the news that Haley had a new fiancé. He wasn't sure at this stage just what he should do with that piece of information. A thought occurred to him then. Maybe this isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact this could be just what I need to bring her down.

He smiled to himself he now knew exactly how he was going to bring about Miss James' downfall and it would be so simple if tonight's earlier events were anything to go by. All I have to do is get Haley back into my bed, which if memory serves me correctly won't exactly be a hardship. I know what she's like and there is no way she will be able to continue with this engagement if she's cheated on poor old Josh. Then when it's over between them and she comes running back to me ready to pick up where we left off that's when I'll do it. That's when I'll dump her. Revenge is going to be so sweet.

As Haley got ready for bed an hour later she pulled out the ruby ring that Josh had given her and looked at it in wonder. She could never understand how this piece of metal could hold such power over her. Sighing she placed it down on her bedside table allowing it to rest beside a simple gold band containing one perfect solitaire diamond.