Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill

AN: Kind of a short chappie, but I'm working on a deadline here so… sorry? I'll make the next one extra long.

The Con

Chapter Nine:

Haley took her denim jacket off and hung it up on the coat rack in the staff room. She looked down at her outfit and wondered if it was suitable for working in a fashion store. The plain black pants elongated her legs and set off the dark pink tank top she was wearing. The clock told her that she started in ten minutes, but she was ready to go out there now, get the lay of the land.

She was just about to head out of the staff room when the door opened. Brooke hurried in, her immaculate hair shining under the light and not matching her harried expression. She didn't seem to notice Haley as she dropped her bag onto the couch and put her head in her hands.

Haley bit her lip, wondering what was wrong with the bubbly, lively woman who had hired her. She took a step towards Brooke and tapped her on the shoulder. "Um, are you okay?" she asked, immediately feeling stupid. God, she sounded like a moron.

Brooke looked up quickly, her green-brown eyes widening. "Oh, Haley! I completely forgot you were in today. Wow, that top is cute!"

Haley smiled at Brooke's compliment and brushed a strand of honey brown hair behind her ear. "Thanks. No offence, but you look a bit…"

"Under the weather?" Brooke asked, she gave a dry laugh and threw herself down on the couch. "That's because I am. I just can't seem to keep any food down, you know?"

Haley looked thoughtful for a minute and sat down beside her she rubbed Brooke's back and gave an encouraging smile. "Maybe you should go home. It sounds like you've got some kind of bug."

Brooke gave another laugh, this one bitter. "I can't do that! I've got way too much to do. I mean, I've got to open up the shop, and then rush to the studio to overlook the catalogue work, and then I need to get stuff for the Scott Corp. Ball…"

"What ball?" Haley asked, her ears perking up.

"The annual Scott Corp. Ball. Basically it's Dan Scott's way of showing America how all-powerful and god-like he is. But on the bright side, I get to design it!"

Haley wondered why Nathan had never mentioned it to her. "When is it?"

"Two weeks, which means I can't afford to take a day off, no matter how crap I feel."

"Well, have you taken anything? Like, medicine?"

Brooke nodded. "I've been pumping aspirin like there's no tomorrow – not literally, don't worry – but…"

Brooke was cut off as the door opened again. A dark blonde head popped around, and Haley found him vaguely familiar. She just couldn't quite place him.

"Lucas!" Brooke cried. "What are you doing here?"

Lucas! This was Nathan's brother! Haley had glimpsed him last night at the Beach Club.

Lucas walked around the door and brought a huge teddy bear with him. Brooke and Haley 'awwed' at once.

"I came to see if my girl was feeling better," Lucas said, handing the teddy to Brooke. Brooke took the stuffed animal with a huge grin on her face.

"Oh, lucas!" she said, holding the teddy to her chest. "That is so sweet! Isn't that sweet Haley?"

Haley nodded with a dopey grin on her face. Seeing people this much in love always made her feel like a little girl, sat in front of the TV watching an Audrey Hepburn movie and just knowing that one day she would have a romantic film. Only it would be real life.

"Lucas, this is the new girl, Haley. Haley, this is my fiancé, Lucas," Brooke said, still hugging the bear. "Oh, and I'm going to call her Huggles."

Lucas laughed. "Hi Haley," he greeted. "It's nice to meet you. Brooke was talking about how great you are last night."

Haley gave an embarrassed smile and felt her cheeks flame up. "Oh, I'm not that great," she said modestly.

"Oh, tosh!" Brooke said. "Oh my God, I just said tosh. What does that even mean?"

"You'll have to excuse her, she's not very well," Lucas said in a mock-serious tone, receiving a playful swat from Brooke. Haley laughed at their show of couple-y contentment and looked at her watch. "Well, that's my starting time. Why don't I open up for you, and then you have one less thing to worry about? I'm here early anyway, and nobody else is here yet, so… what do you say?"

Brooke smiled. "Haley, you're a life saver."

"Come on Nate, Catwoman is totally hotter that Wonder Woman!"

Nathan turned to his friend Tim Smith with a raised eyebrow. "Look, Halle Berry is hot, but Lynda Carter… you just, you can't get better than that man!" unless your name is Haley Gregory, he thought silently.

"But dude, Lynda Carter is like… old," Tim said. Nathan rolled his eyes and took a swig of beer.

"Yeah, but she wasn't when she was Wonder Woman."

Tim looked confused. "Look, Halley Berry still lights my fire, she charms my snake, she…"

"Just say you think she's hot Tim."

"Hey, I'm here. What did I miss?"

Tim and Nathan turned around to see Jake enter the bar. He was still wearing his work suit, but he'd took his tie and jacket off, undone his top two buttons and rolled his sleeves up.

Nathan held out the bottle of beer he had bought when Jake rang ten minutes ago telling him he was on his way.

"A riveting discussion on who's hotter – Wonder Woman or Catwoman," Nathan said. Unlike Jake, Nathan hadn't been to work today, and as such he was wearing a pair of jeans and a black shirt. Casual, but smart.

"Catwoman, man," Jake said as if they were stupid for even discussing it. Tim's face lit up and he pointed in Nathan's face.

"Hah! I told you Nathan! It's totally Catwoman. I mean, she wears a leather catsuit! Its leather and a catsuit."

"Oh, come on."

All three men turned towards the door as a red-headed woman walked in carrying her suit jacket over her shoulder. Her black pencil skirt was just above the knee and her crisp white shirt showed just the right amount of cleavage. Tim's mouth practically hit the floor.

"It's totally Wonder Woman," she said, sashaying over to them. "The sex appeal was infinite." As she said this she looked Nathan square in the eyes. Quickly she shifted her gaze to Tim, who looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "And I'll have a beer, thanks."

Tim scurried off to the bar quickly, leaving Nathan, Jake and the red head together. Jake scratched his nose. "Uh, Nathan, this is Lisa Powell, she works with me."