Apologies for the delay with this chapter, I've had all sorts of problems with laptops and viruses and the internet! I'm one of those people who says 'oh, I'll back everything up later' well the jokes on me because when your laptop goes kaput so does everything you have saved on it. Thank goodness for computer geeks, my saviours! I mean that in the best possible way, my neew computer geek mate wouldn't mind being referred to as such ;)

Still, let's not dwell on what's happened, lets dwell on what's happening, chapter 10 finally! Follows on from the restaurant, the group are now at a bar continuing the celebrations of Haley's birthday. It's not exactly how I planned it but hey, I think I kept you guys waiting long enough and I'm in a happy mood, not only is it Haley's birthday in the fic it happens to be mine too this weekend so birthday dust for everyone! Enjoy, Lexie :)

'Do you have any eye liner in that thing?' Brooke asked, referring to Haley's make-up bag.

Both Haley and Peyton turned to their friend wearing shocked and bemused expressions.

'What?' Brooke demanded.

'You usually carry like a treasure chest of make-up around.' Peyton offered as Haley dug around for the item in question.

Brooke only shrugged in response and leaned toward the vast mirror filling one of the walls of the girls' restroom they were congregated in. Peyton too took a moment to check her appearance whilst Haley subconsciously fiddled with her jewellery.

Peyton spied her friend's actions reflected in the glass and laughed, 'Hales, you really don't have to wear that thing, Nathan got it out of a Cracker Jack box.'

'Ew.' Brooke offered her opinion, 'If it's jewellery you wanted I could have bought you something high-end.'

'It's not that.' Haley sighed, she didn't really know why she wanted to wear the plastic beads given to her by an almost stranger and if she didn't understand it, Brooke and Peyton sure as hell wouldn't, 'I just heard that you gave him a hard time about the present thing, it won't hurt for me to wear it.'

Peyton shrugged, satisfied with the explanation but Brooke pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. After a moment Haley demanded to know what Brooke's problem was.

Suddenly the brunette's eyes widened and she gasped, 'Oh my God!'

Her two friends blinked back at her in an oblivious manner, urging her to share whatever epiphany it was that had just hit her.

'You're being nice to Nathan,' Brooke began, 'because he's Lucas' brother! Smart work, Teacher Girl, getting in with the in-laws.'

Haley groaned internally and received a look from Peyton that said you've got to tell her.

Brooke clapped her hands together animatedly, 'Have I told you that I had a dream about your wedding? It was beautiful, you looked amazing, of course, and there were –'

'Brooke!' It was Peyton not Haley who'd interrupted, afraid that it would make her shy friend even less likely to reveal the truth if she heard a spiel about her future as Mrs Scott.

'Sorry.' Brooke gave a wide, dimpled grin, 'It's just that you guys are so adorable, my imagination can't help itself when it comes to you two! Please just promise me I can do the dresses?'

Haley cringed, 'Erm, sure.'

She was sure that there were other things that she could have said in the circumstances, like the fact that as yet there was no wedding in sight; that Haley didn't know if she was ever going to get married; or even that she and Lucas weren't together, but it just seemed easier to agree. She was positive that she'd come to regret it later but for now at least she'd appeased Brooke. She tried to justify the action in her mind; if she ever did get married, which admittedly wasn't something that was on the cards at the moment, but if she did, she'd be happy to let Brooke deal with all things fashion.

Brooke shook her head, 'Okay, Peyton's throwing me that look that says I should shut-up, so I guess I'm torturing you?'

Haley gave a weak unconvincing 'no' in reply.

'Got it.' Brooke winked, 'Time to torture Peyton then; what do you think of Matt?'

They'd been in the restroom for near on ten minutes already and Peyton had been hoping that the subject of Matt had happily been misplaced, she was painfully mistaken though. It didn't seem to matter to Brooke that the guys were waiting for them or that they were wasting Haley's birthday night in the company of toilets, as long as she got the dirt she didn't care where they were.

'He's a nice guy.' Peyton managed.

'And?' Brooke pushed.

The blonde looked back at her blankly, 'And what? I'm not marrying him or anything so don't waste your time with the fantasy.'

'Peyton, come on, don't be so defeatist.' Brooke ordered, 'Honestly, what is wrong with him?'

'Well for one thing I don't think he realises that he's on a date with me.' Peyton shot back, 'He's spent the whole night drooling over Nathan.'

'I guess that's what happens when you bring along uninvited guests to a date.' Brooke said, not surprised by the problem Peyton was encountering.

Peyton groaned, 'I didn't exactly know that I was going on a date tonight.'

'You said you wouldn't moan about this, not tonight.' Brooke reminded her even though she'd been the one to bring the topic up.

'Maybe we should go and see how the guys are doing?' Haley suggested lightly, hoping to avoid a row.

Both girls grabbed their purses and a surprised and baffled Haley followed them back out into the bar. They found the guys right where they'd left them, sipping beer at a table in the corner of the room.

Lucas and Nathan looked visibly pleased at the return of the girls, apparently Matt was boring the pants off of them.

Peyton slipped into the gap on the bench between Matt and Nathan for which the latter thanked her incessantly.

Brooke, who'd stopped at the bar on their way back from the restroom, brought over a tray of shots, her eyes glittering in excitement.

'What have you done?' Haley questioned cautiously.

'Drink up guys,' She grinned a devilish grin as she lifted her own thimble of adrenaline, 'I've just signed us up for karaoke.'

Her revelation was met with a chorus of outcries but it all fell on deaf ears.

'We're doing it!' She insisted in a scary manner that even Peyton didn't argue with. 'Birthday Girl, you're up first.'

Haley's jaw dropped, 'Brooke! I can't sing! I can't sing in front of people! I can't sing here!' She whispered angrily.

In response Brooke waved her hand, 'I've heard you sing when you're in the shower, you're good.'

As Haley went to argue, Peyton's phone began to ring, vibrating its way along the table as it did so.

'No, uh-uh.' Brooke wagged her finger, 'No calls at Haley's birthday.'

Peyton's eyes flicked from her friend to read the caller ID, she bit down on her lip seeing that it was Julian calling her long-distance from LA.

'Peyton.' Brooke warned, 'I haven't answered any calls and I've just started a new company.'

'It's Julian.' Peyton returned.

There was a moment of intrigue that flashed across Brooke's features, 'What does he want?'

Peyton rolled her eyes at her friend's dumb question before hitting the answer button and taking the call. She rose from the table, much to the disappointment of Nathan who was to be left with Matt once again, and headed outside so that she could hear better.

She was hastily followed by Brooke who for someone wearing dangerously high stilettos, could run surprisingly fast.

Before any kind of awkwardness could set in around the table's remaining occupants, the DJ called out Haley's name; she was next up for the karaoke. She sank in her seat and hoped that for the first time in her life the universe would take her side and listen to her wish for the ground to swallow her up. Unfortunately for her, the day was no different for any other and no deep crevices appeared at her feet.

'Haley James?' The DJ repeated.

She realised later when she looked back that she easily could have just ignored him, she could have pretended not to hear or simply not answered to her name but being the girl she was, she obediently raised her hand when the DJ scoured the room for his next victim.

The DJ was an overly enthusiastic guy and launched into the crowd when he saw the timid girl at the back of the room raise her hand. He collected her from her seat, took her by the hand and all but dragged her to the stage.

Then it was just her, Haley, alone on the stage as the rest of the room looked on, well the some of the room at least. When she braved looking into the sea of people before her she realised that many of them were distracted by the conversation around them to notice the jelly-legged girl on the platform before them. Although it felt like all eyes were on her, in reality it wasn't that bad, at least that's what Haley tried to tell herself.

She took the microphone and a shaky breath before stepping forwards to the opening bars of the song. Her eyes were trained to the screen before her even though she knew all the words to the chosen song. She gulped down the bile rising in her throat and cursed Brooke mercilessly.

Just as she was weighing up whether to run or not, a shout came from the crowd, followed by a few deep and heartfelt calls of support. A small smile crept to her lips as she sought out the lone figures of Lucas, Nathan and Matt making their way towards the stage, applauding and whistling as they did so. At least her social suicide was only going to be witnessed by three people she knew, one really if she discounted Nathan and Matt on the fact that she barely knew them.

With new found confidence she took a gulp of air and plunged head first into the song. The following day and forever after when she was to look back on it she'd never understand quite how or why she did but somehow she found the courage to stand in front of a room of almost strangers

'I've been long, a long way from here.' She surprised herself with the even tone to her voice, a shy smile inched to her lips as she eased into the new role she found herself plunged into and she anticipated the next words, 'Put on a poncho, played for mosquitoes.'

Haley's nerves had dissolved a little when she'd realised what song Brooke had chosen for her, as it was one they'd played countless times from their nights in college dorms to the present day. Sheryl Crow being one of one of Haley's favourite artists, and the song being their song made it something of a comforting choice for karaoke. It had been dubbed as the trio's song for little reason other than the fact that it mentioned a poncho which referenced Haley's beloved item of clothing that Brooke happened to detest.

There were a few more calls of support from the crowd and a smattering of applause that caused a surge of confidence to flow through her timid bones. She caught the eye of Nathan, purely by accident, and he offered a wink of encouragement. On purpose, she'd avoided looking into the crowd until this point, in case it triggered her anxiousness somehow but when she betrayed her promise and glimpsed to Nathan she found that it had the opposite effect.

Although she would never dare to admit it out loud, she felt free on the stage, sassy, sexy even. She felt a blush flood her cheeks at the very thought of her describing herself as such but couldn't deny it was how she felt. How ironic, she later realised, that as she sang the lyrics to If It Makes You Happy she encountered something that made her truly happy.

It was only when she was self-consciously taking her bow to the apparently impressed audience that her two best friends re-entered the bar.

'We missed it!' Brooke gushed, her eyes glittering with regret, she frowned and analysed her usually shy friend, 'You did actually sing?'

'Yes!' Haley returned quickly, 'I stood in front of this whole club minus you and Peyton and sang.'

'And she was really good.' Nathan chipped in for good measure.

Peyton smiled at her friends having each other's backs even though they'd only just met, 'Sorry, Hales, I bet you were great, it was work, I had to take it.'

Brooke snorted, 'And then use my cell because someone forgot to recharge her battery, like always.'

The blonde rolled her eyes in her typical fashion, 'Can we not just get back to Haley's birthday? I thought that there were more shots and more songs coming?'

Brooke arched her brow, 'Haven't you got a plane to catch at like seven in the morning?'

Haley swung her head in Peyton's direction and received a shrug in response.

'Peyton's going to LA for the weekend.' Brooke revealed, 'And she's not even going home to sleep so that she's not a complete zombie for work tomorrow.'

'I'll sleep on the plane, don't worry about it.' Peyton dismissed the issue.

'Why do you have to go all the way out there?' Haley questioned, surprised as Peyton usually did all of her work from home.

'Apparently the work I've done isn't up to scratch, I've got to go and feel the movie and connect with the characters and become a part of this whole romantic barf-fest. Yippee. Can we pretend it's not happening like at all for tonight? It's only your birthday once a year and I don't think we're ever going to witness Nathan and his boyfriend on a date again.' She said hurriedly, adding a joke about Nathan and Matt who was in the restroom.

Nathan punched her lightly on the arm to show that he didn't appreciate the teasing.

'Let's dance.' Peyton announced rather than suggested, pulling Brooke and Haley to the open space in front of the stage where a duo were murdering My Heart Will Go On.

After far too many dances, far too many shots and far more turns at karaoke than the rest of the club would have liked, the group finally made their way home. The guys enjoyed the benefit of having girls in short dresses with them when it came to hailing cabs; one for Brooke, Peyton and Matt; and another for Lucas, Nathan and Haley.

Everyone hugged each other goodbye and sheepishly, Matt asked Nathan for his autograph which he happily supplied before the group split.

Haley and Lucas sighed heavily when they flopped down in the back of their cab, to which Nathan only laughed.

'I'm glad that's over.' Lucas admitted,

Haley nodded, stifling a yawn, 'It was so weird, I'll tell Brooke soon, I promise.'

'Do you know she's planned our wedding?' Lucas questioned, causing Nathan to laugh harder.

'This isn't funny!' Haley snapped, having got to know Nathan well enough during the evening to know that he wouldn't be offended by such a quip.

Nathan threw her a look, 'You have to admit, it is pretty hilarious.'

'Is not!' She said with finality to which he only muttered something under his breath that sounded something like, Where's Peyton when you need her?

'Did you have a good birthday anyway?' Lucas asked kindly, interrupting the bickering.

Haley smiled widely, 'I really did, I mean a Mac and Cheese restaurant! My friends know me too well.'

'Hello?' Nathan waved his hand to catch their attention, 'I found that restaurant.'

'Congratulations.' Haley said dryly, 'No, I had a wonderful time and thank you so much for going along with the charade, I know it's childish and stupid but I haven't found the right moment.'

'I'll tell her!' Nathan offered, 'I'm not scared of Brooke.'

'Just stay out of this, Nathan' Lucas advised.

The younger of the two brothers folded his arms across his chest and pouted.

Haley laughed at his kiddie behaviour and leant across to pat his knee, 'Thank you for coming too and thank you for my bracelet.'

'You know it was a free gift from a Cracker Jack box, right?' Nathan snorted.

'I'm not a diamonds girl.' She shrugged, lightly fingering the coloured beads, something that would soon become a habit.

'Then I take all credit.' He smirked, a hint of arrogance peeking through from beyond his kind eyes that made Haley feel safe whenever she looked to them, she supposed it was because they were exactly like Lucas'.

When the car pulled up outside her apartment and the boys refused to let her pay, she took one final glance at those deep azure pools before skipping to her front door. She denied the significance of the fact that it was Nathan's eyes not Lucas' that she was drawn to.

'Did you have to be so rude?' Brooke demanded in a cab across town.

They'd just dropped Matt off after a tense journey during which Peyton had listed each and every reason why she wasn't suited to him, much to the humiliation of Brooke.

'Ah, well, at least he's in no doubt.' Peyton shrugged.

'You can't do that to people! You can't tell them everything you dislike about them, what is the poor guy going to think when he goes back to his lonely apartment now?' Brooke quizzed her bewildered friend.

'He's going to think,' She began slowly in a drawn out, drunken manner, 'That Peyton Harp isn't the girl for him.'

'Obviously.' Brooke agreed, distaste evident in her voice, 'Would it kill you to just give someone a chance? Admit it, you wrote him off before you even spoke to him.'

Peyton only shrugged, her manner similar to an angry teenager being disciplined.

'Peyton! It's not fair, not fair to him and not fair to you. Just look at Haley, she didn't want to go on a blind date at my store opening but she went ahead and did it and just look at her and Lucas now; match made in heaven!'

Brooke's words caused a splutter from Peyton and then a long cackle.

The brunette frowned, 'What exactly is funny about your disastrous dating techniques?'

'It's not that.' Peyton paused to make way for more laughter.

Brooke, growing more frustrated with her intoxicated friend, clucked her tongue as she saw Peyton's building rapidly approaching, 'Peyton, it's not funny!'

'It is!' She insisted, reaching unsteadily for the door handle as the vehicle came to a stop, 'Haley and Lucas pretending to be together so you wouldn't get mad, it is funny.'

Brooke's jaw dropped, then she told herself off for trusting the slurs of Peyton at such a late hour.

Peyton's hands flew to her mouth and she gasped largely, she frowned and leaned towards Brooke to whisper into her ear, 'Shh! That's a secret!'

'Hold on,' Brooke demanded of her far from clear-thinking friend, 'Haley and Lucas, they're a couple; boyfriend and girlfriend.'

'Uh-uh.' Peyton's corkscrew curls flew madly as she shook her head defiantly before stepping out onto the sidewalk, 'Now I really need to go to bed!'

Brooke watched in only the way that a best friend can to ensure that Peyton reached the safety of her building with only a few stumbles along the way, before heading to her own apartment; her mind whirring with what Peyton may have accidentally revealed.

It couldn't be true. It couldn't be. Or could it? Brooke pondered to herself, No, definitely not, Haley was an awful liar for one thing…but of course it was always Peyton who caught her out. But to be so cunning, and for what? Were her friends really that worried about how she'd react? Well, Peyton wasn't, that was for sure, but was Haley scared to tell her that she didn't like Lucas?

Brooke shook her head, sure that she was driving herself slowly insane, perhaps, Peyton had drunk too much, that was far more likely the case.

She wished that something would take her mind from the possibility that Haley was lying to her, she cursed Peyton for getting drunk and saying such a thing and cursed herself for not letting the issue go. She yearned for a distraction, anything to clear the sinking feeling in her stomach.

As she closed her eyes and focussed on her hope, her message tone sounded. She cautiously peeked one eye open as though frightened that fate may be playing tricks on her and some bad news was going to serve as the distraction she'd begged for.

Her worries were quashed when she saw that the message was from the newest contact to her phone book that had come about thanks to the fact that Peyton had needed to borrow her phone earlier to call her boss.

She read the text and momentarily forgot all about the Haley drama that had been plaguing her, Now I've finally got Brooke Davis' number. J.

The cab driver jumped a little at the sound of an excited squeal from his back seat.

So, I have no idea why it happened like that but that's my muse for you; it changes direction at the very last minute just for 'funsies' I guess. There was going to be more in the club, more conversations and who knows what but when it came to writing this happened! I hope you liked, tell me what you thought, Lexie :)