AUTHORS NOTE- Sorry my updates have pretty much ground to a halt, but I'm in university now and I'm not gonna lie and pretend like I'm gonna be updating more frequently. Because I'm not. But the academic year is winding time and the workloads becoming less and fanfiction is a nice escape from that sometimes. Ergo, an update! Enjoy. And thank you everyone for your continued support and feedback, keep it coming.

~ * ~

"Haley James."

Two simple words.

Two simple words that joined together to form a name that caused discomfort in the recesses of Nathan Scott as soon as they escaped from Peyton Sawyers lips.

"Who?" Brooke voiced the confusion felt by the majority of their dysfunctional group, her perfectly arched eyebrows creasing into a frown of thought.

"See that girl over there," Peyton nodded in the direction of the schools tutoring centre. "The girl with the brown hair and stack of books." She explained.

"The one with the questionable taste in fashion?" Brooke asked snidely, examining the petite girl, clothed in a simple pair of jeans and a poncho.

"That's the one!" Peyton chirped.

Nathan ignored the bitchy exchange made by the two females of his group about her attire, whilst Tim and Vegas studied the girl for redeeming physical qualities. Jake stood quietly by, beginning to regret their bet. He was the moral core of the group, even if his ethical thoughts came too late in the process to change anyone else's minds.

"So what's so special about her?" Brooke queried questionably, turning her attention back to the girl dominating all their thoughts.

And then the answer came for her in his own physical form, enveloping the petite brunette across the hall into a bone crushing hug.

No explanation needed by Peyton Sawyer.

A connection Nathan had made with the choice as soon as Peyton pointed her out in the crowded halls.

"Lucas Scott," Brooke remarked with a glittering smile. The most recent member of the Tree Hill Ravens and the newest object of her affections. Not to mention the illegitimate love child of Dan Scott and estranged half brother of her best male friend, Nathan.

Everyone focussed their eyes on Nathan, awaiting his reaction at the piece of information, but he already knew. He might hate his brother with every fibre of his being, and they might not live under the same roof, or even exchange conversation like most normal families. In fact they liked to pretend the other didn't exist. But even before Lucas came crashing into every important aspect of his life a month previously, forcing him off the team and into daily fights with their father, he watched the boy. He'd glance at him out of the corner of his eye out of curiosity when he passed in the hall, or when the teacher called him out in the few classes they shared. He had since they were in kindergarten, and it was difficult not to notice that only one person was always present at his side, and that was the female that had now become the object of everyone in his circles interests.

Haley James.

He didn't know much about her, only that her and Lucas seemed to have a tight friendship. He'd only found out her name by pure accident when his English teacher had pointed her out quietly during class once, insisting he seek her out for tutoring since he was in danger of failing the class. Apparently she was the best.

He hadn't approached her though of course, choosing to send his dad in to sweet talk over the failing situation and it had worked like a dream. He didn't see the point in working if he didn't have to.

"Oh, Peyton you are evil!" Brooke laughed, making the connection. "You want Nathan to seduce Haley James?"

Peyton grinned, pleased with her selection. "Yup!" She popped, slapping Nathan on the back. "Think you can handle it, hot shot?" She mocked.

Nathan narrowed his eyes at her in annoyance, fixing her with a mean spirited look. "Of course I can." He growled. "This is hardly a punishment is it? You know me, any excuse to fuck with Lucas." He smirked, tilting his head in acknowledgement at a passing team member. Or ex team member.

"You don't think this is gonna be easy do you, Scott?" Brooke licked her lips as she studied his handsome blonde brother exchange hugs and laugher with Haley James. "From the looks of it, their best friends. She's gonna be loyal to him. She's hardly gonna jump into bed and fuck you as soon as you look at her with your broody blue eyes?"

"Shame the same courtesy doesn't come from you?" Nathan snapped at her, watching as she checked out his brother unashamedly.

Brooke shrugged unapologetically. "He's hot." Was her only explanation.

Peyton watched their usual bickering exchange curiously for a moment, before redirecting her attention to the twosome of Lucas and Haley, who were now strolling down the hallway, content in their own world and conversation, arms looped together and happy smiles on their faces.

She couldn't fight back the overwhelming guilt she felt creeping into her stomach when an observation sprung to her mind. They were all responsible for the inevitable ruin of that.

*

Haley was finishing up the last of her days marking, immensely satisfied when she was able to add a tick to the final correct point made by her latest tutee. George Samson was coming along immensely she thought, allowing herself a moment to feel fleetingly proud of both their accomplishments.

She was neatly packing away the paper in question when the door to the tutor centre creeped open. She looked up from her task, expecting it to be Lucas popping in after his evening basketball practice, ready to walk her home. She was surprised to be faced with the same familiar blue eyes staring at her from a less friendly face.

She swallowed deeply, looking around at the empty room. The last tutor had left fifteen minutes earlier.

"Can I help you?" She forced out, fighting to remain aloof and unbothered by his looming presence.

He smirked at her obvious unease and held up a selection of papers, tarred with a circled F mark. "You tell me?"

"I don't mind read," she snapped, unable to restrain her anger at the boy who'd caused her best friend an unprecedented amount of grief his whole life. "What is it you want?"

Nathan's smirk widened and became genuine, secretly impressed by her fiery attitude towards him. "Tutoring." He replied simply. "You are a tutor right? And this is the tutor centre? I would have thought it was obvious."

Haley rolled her eyes at his sarcasm and threw her messenger bag over her shoulder. "Come back tomorrow morning." She suggested, unable to turn away anyone from their educational rights. "I'm sure you'll find some girl more than willing to teach you." She sniped, snatching her keys up from the desk and hoping he'd pick up on the hint that she wanted him to leave.

"I'm sure I will," he agreed cockily, noting the roll of her eyes again. "But I've come here for you."

"Well tough," Haley shrugged. "Because I don't want to tutor you." She explained briefly and to the harsh point. "Do you even know who my best friend is?" She asked, studying him curiously, wondering if he was oblivious to her existence in relation to his brother and whether he was truly that dense.

"Yeah I do," he admitted. "And I'm sorry about that." His tone was condescending and mocking, making Haley bristle in contempt.

"I'm not tutoring you!" She snapped.

Nathan slid a blue slip of paper onto the desk and pushed it in her direction. "I don't think you get much say in that." He smirked, watching as she plucked the slip from the table and studied the note and signature of their English lit teacher, instructing her that she were to bring Nathan Scott up to scratch.

Haley shredded the note in half, watching as the tiny pieces descended into the waste paper bin at her feet. "We'll see about that." She ground out, clutching her bag to her side and storming out of the door.

Haley James wasn't going down without a fight.