Hey, all sorry for the late update, like everybody else school as been cruel - year 13 is not as easy as it's meant to look.

I was also saddened and a bit surprised by the little amount of reviews I got for the latest chapter, though I would like to thank the three people who did review, it means a lot.

I am really hoping to get a lot more reviews for this chapter.

Hayley's P.O.V

"You can't be serious."

Ethan and I were standing inside of a large, high ceilinged cathedral, his hand wrapped loosely in mine. He wore a large, contagious grin, but I had failed to catch it; my lips remained in a tight frown, my eyes narrowed in his direction.

"What? Of course I am," he said, pulling me farther into the old cathedral. "Isn't it beautiful?"

I would give him that the cathedral was stunning with its ornate floors, stained-glass windows and gleaming woodwork. But I had never been much for churches, and I certainly never imagined myself getting married in one.

"It is," I agreed, nodding as he pulled me further into the cathedral. "But, you know how I feel about...well, this kind of stuff."

"Hayley, I'm not asking you to convert your religion," he said, rolling his eyes.

"I don't have a religion to convert from," I said, a bit annoyed.

"Well, I'm not asking you to stop being agnostic or whatever it is you are - "

"That's nice, Ethan. Really nice." I wrenched my hand from his and scoffed, folding my arms across my chest. "I'm not agnostic, or atheist, or Christian or Jewish. I believe in God, I just don't follow a religion."

"Well, that's what I was trying to say," he said, reaching out for my hand once more. "But you know how my family feels. They want us to have a church wedding."

"Luckily for us, this is our wedding, not theirs," I spat back, feeling unusually nasty that afternoon.

He raised his eyebrows at me, seemingly surprised by my behavior. "It's not just important to them, Hayley. It's important to me."

I sighed heavily, knowing that he would win this argument by simply making me feel guilty. In all honesty, though, I couldn't understand why I was so against this idea in the first place. It was true that a church was not at the top of my list of places to get married, but normally it would have only been a minor technicality. I didn't understand why I was suddenly being so incredibly difficult.

"I know," I said with another heavy sigh. "I'm sorry. A church wedding will be great."

He smiled, giving my hand a small, grateful squeeze. "You're the best, you know that?"

"Careful you don't inflate my ego too much," I said, chuckling lightly. I leaned into him as we walked nearer to the altar, catching a whiff of his cologne; he smelled slightly of cinnamon.

"Can you see us standing up there?" he whispered into my ear as he pointed to the altar, his words laced with affection.

I stared at the altar before me, grand and beautiful; I pictured Peyton, Rachel and Brooke clad in matching dresses, Ethan's groomsmen in smart black tuxedoes, and Ethan grinning from ear to ear, but I could not envision myself in a white gown, my hands entwined with Ethan's. Instead of voicing this to Ethan, however, I said, "Yeah."

He smiled wider, pulling me closer to him. "So do you think this is it?"

No, I thought to myself, but I ignored it; instead, I smiled and said, "I think it is."

He turned to face me and I felt his lips gently touch mine. Within seconds, he pulled away, a large grin on his face. "Now all that's left to do is set a date," he said, and I felt my stomach drop.

Set a date. A date on which I would become Mrs. Ethan Graham. A date on which my life would change forever. A date, I suddenly realized, I was slightly dreading.

"Wow," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "Hadn't really thought about it, to be honest."

"I know you said that you wanted a long engagement," he said, and I could feel a but coming on from the tone of his voice, "but Hayley, I can't wait to marry you. What do you say we get married in, say, April?"

"April?" I repeated, my voice high and shrill. "That's only four months away."

"I know," he said, his finger lightly stroking my cheek. "But I love you, and I want to marry you as soon as I possibly can."

"Ethan, that's a bit soon," I said, suddenly feeling rather faint. "I mean, marriage is a huge step...it's not something to be rushed."

"When it's right, it's right," he said softly, his eyes locked with mine.

"But," I began, feeling all control slowly slipping away from me, "how will we have enough time to plan the wedding we want to have? I don't know about you, but I don't want this to be a rushed job."

"Neither do I," he said sincerely. "And it won't be. If we get started now, believe me, we'll have the wedding of our dreams come April."

I didn't know what else to say. It felt as though all rational thought had fled my brain, all sense of independence had been squashed, and all words in my vocabulary save for "Yes" and "Of course, darling" had been eliminated.

"Yes...yeah...okay," I said, a feeling of dread settling over me. "So, April."

"April," he said, taking my face in his hands and sending his lips crashing against mine. We stood in the cathedral for some time, wrapped up in each other, a smile firmly planted on my lips; but on the inside, I was screaming.

"No. No, Dad, I don't want - "

"Hayley, I am your father and I want to do this for you."

"But Dad, I really don't want a big to-do - "

"Well, you're getting one whether you like it or not. End of discussion."

"Shouldn't I have some say in the matter? After all, it is my engagement."

"Yes, of course it is, which is precisely why I would like to throw an engagement party for you and your future husband."

I sighed, staring into the depths of my father's dark eyes. He was wearing a rather comical smile, his eyes wide and pleading. I couldn't help but smile at the look splashed across his face.

"Fine, fine!" I said, exasperated. "You can throw the wretched party."

"Wonderful," he said, his eyes crinkling in the corners as a grin broke out across his face. He stood and planted a kiss atop my head, and I was suddenly reminded of the bedtime stories he would read to me as a child, making sure to kiss my head before I drifted off into sleep. I smiled, watching as he turned his back to me as he began to make phone calls to caterers.

In the privacy of my own mind, I thought that having an engagement party only two weeks before Christmas was a bit impractical. However, I did not voice these concerns to my father; I couldn't bear to disappoint him when he seemed so happy and so ridiculously determined to throw me the engagement party of the century.

"Hayley," he said suddenly, ripping me away from my thoughts, "you may want to start compiling a guest list. We've got to get the invitations out by tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" I said helplessly, a million names running through my mind. "That's a bit...fine. No problem." I sighed, feeling my stress level increase considerably as I stood to find a spare piece of paper and a pen.

I scribbled "To Invite" at the top of a sheet of paper, furiously writing down all the names I could think of. Halfway through the list, I began to write a very familiar name, stopping myself as I began to write the last name.

I had nearly written Nathan's complete name on the invitation list, feeling my stomach churn unpleasantly as I realized my error. What was I thinking? There was no possible way that I would invite Nathan to my engagement party, especially after our encounter at The Ivy the previous month. Besides, even if I did invite him, there was no way he'd actually show up.

Would he?

"No," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. There was no possible way that Nathan would accept an invitation to my engagement party.

You went to his. "Only because I didn't know it was his," I muttered, shaking my head once more. If there had been any kind of prior knowledge, I never would have stepped foot into that party all those months ago.

But, maybe you would have. I knew I wouldn't have. I may have been curious to see who he was marrying, but I never would have purposely humiliated myself the way I had. I may have wondered what made him decide to get married, but I wouldn't have gone to the party. I knew I wouldn't have. I knew.

Only you don't.

I sighed, frustrated with myself. To invite, or not to invite that was the question. Would he be offended if I didn't offer him an invitation? Would he feel weird if I did offer him an invitation? Surely he would find out about it I was inviting his immediate circle of friends, and word traveled quickly in that group.

Maybe he would see it as an act of maturity. Maybe if I sent an invitation his way, he would understand that I was making an attempt at civility, an attempt to put the past completely behind us. Maybe he would see that I was moving on once and for all.

Or, maybe he'll realize that you're full of crap.

"AGH!" I yelled, throwing the pen across the room. My father looked up abruptly, hastily telling whoever he was on the phone with to please hold; he stared at me, partly confused, partly afraid.

"Hayley, what is it?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"Oh, um..." I began, feeling my face heat up significantly. "The pen...it ran out of ink."

He raised his eyebrows slightly, but said nothing more as he handed me another pen, returning to his phone call. I smiled in thanks and refocused my attention on the guest list, having finally made my decision.

Right beneath Mr. and Mrs. John Wilkinson, I wrote Mr. Nathan Scott and Miss Natalie McCormack.

"You don't think this dress is too low-cut?" I asked Peyton as I fidgeted nervously in the crowd of people, though still managing to maintain a smile on my face.

"No," she said for what must have been the tenth time. "I've told you already, you look great tonight."

"Wish I felt that way," I said with a sigh.

"Oh, shut up," she retorted, rolling her eyes. "This is your party, you know. You should at least try to have a good time."

"I am," I said through clenched teeth, watching nervously as more and more people flooded into the ballroom my father had reserved. "I'm just a little nervous, that's all."

"Where's Ethan?" she asked, raising her eyebrows curiously.

"Erm..." I began, unsure of what to say; the truth was that I had no idea where he was. "He'll be here soon."

She nodded, but her lips were pursed; I could tell that she was annoyed. "The guests are arriving. He should be here."

"He will be," I said, more sharply than I intended.

Again, she simply nodded. I refocused my attention on the crowd that was gathering, watching as dozens of people I barely knew accepted flutes of champagne from the waiters circling the room. I felt much like I had at Nathan's engagement party; everything seemed too extravagant and completely overdone.

"Hayley!"

I spun around quickly, my hair whipping around my face. Lucas was approaching with Leah, his on- and off-again girlfriend. Her chestnut brown hair, noticeable red streaks flashing through each strand, was shorter than it had been the last time I'd seen her, but then again, that had been over four years ago. Naturally, things were bound to have changed.

"Lucas," I said with a wide smile, embracing him briefly. "I'm so glad you came."

"Yeah," he said, grinning. "Wouldn't have missed it for the world."

"Thanks," I said.

"It's really a great party," Lucas said, Leah nodding enthusiastically in agreement. "I have to admit, though, that I was a bit surprised to hear that you were getting married."

I flushed slightly, a small, nervous chuckle escaping my throat. "It was pretty sudden, I know. But...when it's right, it's right. Right?"

"Right," he said, offering me a small smile. "Where is your future husband, anyway? I still haven't met him, you know. I'm quite hurt."

I laughed, feeling myself tense up a bit; where was Ethan? "Oh, he's around here somewhere," I said, trying to sound casual.

"When you find him, let me know," he said, grabbing two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. "I have a few words for him."

I grinned and rolled my eyes playfully, waving as he and Leah broke away into the crowd.

"Peyton," I hissed, breaking her away from her conversation with Jake, "I'm starting to get a bit nervous."

"Oh, I can tell," she said, her voice sharp. "I don't know what he thinks he's playing at, but he better get here within the next ten seconds or I swear to God I'll kick him so hard in the "

"Hayley, darling," my father said with a wide, sparkling smile, interrupting Peyton's threat, "how are you enjoying the party? Isn't it just marvelous?"

"Yeah, Dad," I said, trying my best to smile. "You really went to a lot of trouble. Everything looks beautiful."

"Only the best for my Hayley," he said, planting a kiss atop my forehead. Beside him, Olivia stood in a hideous orange sundress (Who wears a sundress in the middle of December? I thought to myself), her smile tight and forced. I ignored her, as I usually did, and focused instead on my father, who was so intent on making this night a brilliant success.

"Thanks, Dad." I smiled as he walked away, Olivia at his side, making small talk with random people in the crowd as he passed through.

I stood there, my eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of Ethan. Beside me, Peyton stood rigid, barely making eye contact with Jake as she spoke with him; she, too, was busy searching the crowd for my missing fiancé.

What if he doesn't show up? I thought frantically to myself, feeling my stomach churn unpleasantly. What if he's backed out? What if he's changed his mind?

My heart began to beat faster, so fast and so loud I was sure the whole room could hear it. And then, suddenly, it stopped.

Directly in my eye line was Nathan, his hand lightly entwined with Natalie's.

He had not seen me; he was intercepted by my father, who shook his hand and spoke with him briefly. Then, just as I was about to dissolve into the crowd around me, our eyes met.

I had not expected him to come. I had not expected to see him there, his hair rumpled atop his head, his blue eyes shining brightly. I had not expected his hand to be so lightly, yet so noticeably, entwined with hers, making my stomach lurch dangerously again.

He was coming towards me now, his steps quick and swift. He was wearing a half-smile as his feet carried him ever closer, closer, closer...

"Hayley!"

Ethan was suddenly in front of me, blocking Nathan from my vision. His cheeks were flushed from the cold, biting wind outside, his dark hair disheveled atop his head. He grabbed my hand, staring at me intently.

"I am so incredibly sorry," he said quickly, squeezing my hand for emphasis. "I had a ridiculously long exam today, and by the time I finished I couldn't get a taxi, the traffic was crazy, I ended up walking 10 blocks to get here. Hayley, I know I should've been here ages ago, and I am so, so sorry..."

"Ethan," I said, cutting him off, "it's okay. You're here now."

He smiled before placing his lips to mine, kissing me sweetly. As we broke apart, I could see Nathan a few feet away, hurriedly avoiding his gaze as I looked up. Ethan turned around, a dark look crossing his features.

"What is he doing here?" he asked sharply, his eyes wide. "Hayley, please don't honestly tell me that you invited him here."

"I did," I replied. "I was invited to his engagement party. It was...it was the polite thing to do."

He stared at me, incredulous, but didn't say another word. Instead he nodded curtly, wrapping his arm protectively around my waist as Nathan and Natalie approached.

"Hi, Hayley," Natalie said as soon as she reached us, her smile bright. "Congratulations on your engagement!"

"Thank you, Natalie," I said, nodding slightly. "I'm glad you guys could come."

"Of course," she replied, smile still firmly in place. "Thank you so much for inviting us. The party is lovely, I must say."

"Thank you," I repeated, feeling incredibly awkward; Nathan was doing his best to avoid my eyes.

"Oh!" I said, realizing that I had yet to introduce Ethan. "This is my fiancé, Ethan Graham. Ethan, this is Natalie McCormack and Nathan Scott."

Ethan shook hands with both of them, a wide (but noticeably fake) smile spread across his lips. "It's really nice to meet you both," he said, somewhat unconvincingly.

"Great party," Nathan said distractedly to Ethan, who nodded in response. "Erm. Natalie, there's Jake and Peyton. We should go say hello."

Natalie nodded. "We'll see you soon!" she called over her shoulder, feeling my stomach churn once more as I watched them walk away.

Nathan's P.O.V

He felt as though he was in a nightmare, the kind you wouldn't ever wake up from.

He was surrounded by people, only a handful of whom he actually knew; the rest blurred together, colorless, a giant being of nothing. Natalie was excitedly making small talk with anyone and everyone she came into contact with, Nathan only reluctantly joining in on the conversations. As he looked around him, he couldn't understand why he had ever agreed to come to this party.

His small, terse conversation with Hayley had been disastrous. He had not known what to say to her, even as her bright green eyes stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to say something she wanted to hear. He could barely stand to look at Ethan, hot anger running through his veins as he slipped his arm so protectively around Hayley's waist. He didn't know what she saw in him, in all honesty. He seemed boring, and dull, and useless; he was everything Hayley did not need in her life.

He could not understand the logic in his brain. He knew by coming to this party that he would see Hayley and her future husband together, smiling, sickeningly happy, and he also knew that seeing this would, figuratively speaking, destroy him. He didn't understand why he chose to put himself through the pain of seeing her with someone else.

But, he did it anyway. And, deep down, he knew why he did it. He just wanted to be close to her.

"Hello, everyone," a deep, faintly recognizable voice said, silencing the crowd. Nathan looked for the source and found it in the center of the room; it was Ethan with a microphone in his hand, Hayley standing by his side.

"We just wanted to thank all of you for coming out tonight," Ethan said, a broad grin on his face. "It really means a lot to me and Hayley."

Nathan felt his stomach lurch as Ethan turned away from the crowd and faced Hayley, taking her hand in his.

"I just wanted to say," he began, his voice a bit sheepish, "that I love this woman more than anything in the entire world. She has made me the happiest man alive by agreeing to marry me. She is the most amazing person I've ever known." He bent down to kiss her, wrapping his arms around her, bringing her closer to him.

The guests applauded as Ethan kissed Hayley, raising their glasses to the couple. Nathan could not look at them any longer as he realized, far too late, that it should have been him in the center of the room kissing Hayley.

It should have been me, he thought bitterly to himself, downing his glass of champagne. It should have been me.

Please review and tell me what you think also thank you to the three people who review, it means a lot.