Girls of the Clique

Author's Note: Title from the Goo Goo Dolls' song Iris. Amazing. Check it out. Thank you to Ellie, once again! You are a wonderful beta! Courtney, this one is for you. And early present! Happy Birthday.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of One Tree Hill or The Clique Series. I also do not own 'Teen People' or anything from it.

Chapter Twenty: Everything's Made To Be Broken

"Loyalty oaths increase the number of liars."
— Noel Peattie

"The judging will now begin. All teams will have a short intermission period. In a few minutes, everyone will be called to the stage and the winners will be announced!"

The show had ended. All the teams had presented their designs on a model, and most had been very good. Brooke couldn't help but feel a little threatened. Once again, her competition was Theresa, along with Peyton and Anna.

At this point, Brooke really couldn't hear what was going on around her. There was too much in her head. Too much that she was thinking, and worrying, about. The nerves had hit her so hard after she finished, and watched the rest of the groups perform.

She had to win this. This was her shot. It could be her big break. She knew all she was interested in was fashion. She wouldn't settle for anything else.

Most of her worries were over. Bevin didn't trip in her heels and fall. Rachel didn't expose any of her body parts. Anna didn't shout any rude comments. Haley didn't do anything to screw it up.

Lucas didn't watch her the whole time. Okay, so that he did. But she had carefully avoided it. Everything seemed to be working out just right.

Completely jinxed.

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Haley had walked off stage, while Brooke had stayed back to wave and smile at the audience. Was that really needed? Things had gone perfectly. Their designs had been a hit with almost everyone. Did she really need to flaunt herself?

Haley just laughed and grabbed Rachel before walking back towards the dressing rooms. To say it was crowded would be the least. She could barely walk without getting pushed into someone.

It wasn't just the girls anymore, it was everyone. It seemed as though everyone's boyfriends, everyone's girl friends; even some moms were backstage talking to the young designers. And then there was Lucas.

Wait…Lucas? Yes. It was Lucas, and the Lucas that was smiling and coming straight to her. She felt like she should be the person in a cartoon, rubbing their eyes to make sure it was real.

"Hey."

He had come backstage to talk to her? Why did those Scott brothers' keep messing with her head? One minute she was so sure she liked Nathan, and then the next, it was Lucas. She couldn't really tell if it was there. If that romantic vibe was real between them, or if it was just a confusing friend vibe.

She had to know. She couldn't keep lying to Brooke. Not if she wanted them to be true friends. She couldn't keep lying to herself. She knew it was there with Nathan, and it had been since the first minute of their date. What she didn't know, was if it really was there with Lucas.

"Hey." She replied, managing a convincing tone.

Maybe she should just kiss him. At least then, she would know. So yes, it would be in front of a hundred people, who actually weren't really paying any attention. But she would at least know if something was there. She could just kiss him, and feel nothing.

Yeah, then she could run off to Nathan, tell him she kissed Lucas, but she likes him and would really like go out with him. Even if all the gossiping girls were telling him about how the tutor girl actually kissed Lucas Scott.

Yeah, that would go over well.

"You did great, Hales." Lucas said as he sent her a wide smile. "You're definitely going to win." He added, truly believing it. Brooke and Haley's designs had gotten to most applause, and the most attention. Why wouldn't they win?

"Thanks, but it was mostly Brooke." She easily took notice of his slight flinching at her name.

Okay, so he obviously still had feelings for Brooke. But Haley was sure it wasn't any easier on him with Brooke completely freezing him out. It wasn't even like she had to try anymore. Things were just lost between the two.

She understood why, though. Brooke had explained to Haley her feelings of rejection and insecurity. And even though she had still wanted Brooke to take the chance on Lucas, it made complete sense to why she wouldn't.

"Yeah, she looked great." He said casually, but immediately corrected himself. "Did great. She did great."

Haley knew it would be inappropriate to laugh. Not to mention, it would most likely embarrass him. If he was going to be her experimental guinea pig, he couldn't be flushed and embarrassed.

"Yeah, she looked hot." Now Haley was going to laugh at herself. Had she really just called her friend 'hot'? Boy Brooke was really rubbing off on her. She had to be channeling that confident, crazy, Brooke personality.

"I need to talk to you about something." Haley said in a quiet whisper after she had calmed herself down. "It's important. We really can't talk about it here." She added, still in the hushed tone that started to make Lucas a bit concerned.

"Yeah, what's up?" He asked, not at all masking his confusion. He wasn't sure if he had ever seen Haley so quiet and serious. And she was the girl who tutors tons of brainless high school kids, she had to be serious a lot!

"I'm sure you still have a few minutes before you have to go for sentencing in a state of execution."

Haley couldn't even laugh at his lame, but intelligent joke. This was her shot. This was the time to do it. She had been flirting with Nathan every time he had come within ten feet of her, and now it was time to decide what she wanted.

She needed to rip the band-aid off quickly. Go for it, before she lost the courage. Would admitting that she did have a thing for Lucas, mean losing her new, blossoming friendship with Brooke? It was time to decide.

She took a quick, split second, look around before grabbing his arm and pulling him towards their dressing area. It wasn't a soft embrace. No, she had a death grip on his forearm, yanking him towards her designated area.

"Haley." He said in a slow, questioning tone. "What is going on?" He wanted to laugh and call her crazy person, because of her antics.

However, he didn't have time to say, or think anything else. He could slightly taste the strawberry. It caught him off guard, completely. He could remember one person with that exact taste.

Brooke must have let Haley use her lip gloss. It brought him back to that night. The night where Brooke had wanted him. Where he screwed up and lost the beautiful brunette.

Haley had practically lunged forward, pressing her lips to his. She had to know. And kissing Lucas would do just that. The moment was brief, but both came to an understanding.

Haley slowly pulled away, in fear of what he would say. Oh how she prayed that Nathan hadn't seen that. Now she knew exactly what she needed to do. And it wasn't going to be easy.

"I'm sorry. I mean…I shouldn't have-" She stopped. What could she say?

I shouldn't have attacked you with my lips? Nice, one. Come on Haley. Think. Think. Say anything.

"It's okay. Now we know, right?" Lucas said in reassurance, knowing she had to feel the exact same way.

Neither of them felt that. Neither of them felt the magic of a first kiss with someone you really liked. Neither of the two felt like the rest of the world had dissolved. Neither of the two felt like time had stood still.

"Yeah. I've kind of been wondering about that for quite awhile." She admitted. Lucas raised his eyebrow slightly, getting a cocky smirk. Guys and their egos.

"So you've wanted to kiss me for awhile, then?" Lucas as mockingly, as he sent a few chuckles at her. Haley let out a deep sigh as she brought her hands to her hips and rolled her eyes.

"Well… I didn't know it would be like kissing my brother. But it was." Lucas playfully rolled his eyes in return to her as Haley laughed at her own joke. "Hah!"

Lucas shook his head, in a playful disapproving manner. "But it's good that we know. We're friends. That's that." He said, bringing a serious tone back to their conversation. Haley nodded agreeing, before she remembered Nathan. Even if she wasn't ready to tell her, she could still enjoy some quality flirting.

"And you're tragically hung up on Brooke."

Lucas' eyes shot straight at her, and he quickly shook his head to prove she was wrong. But, for what? All he wanted was to be a good guy, and not take advantage of Brooke. Now he couldn't have her. Never had he known he would be so sad, not having Brooke Davis as his girlfriend.

But that's exactly what he had dreamed of. Seeing that glimpse of the real Brooke, he wanted to know more. He was dying to learn more and more about the girl. To become close to the real her. He hadn't expected it to quite hit him this hard. But it had. It had been weeks since the party, and the morning after, but he still couldn't get over her.

"She likes you. It just hurt her." Haley whispered as she leaned inwardly. She knew she shouldn't be telling him what Brooke had told her not to tell, but it would help them get together. "Don't give up on her."

He nodded as he smiled down at her. Never had a girl kissed him, and then told him to go for another girl. She was quite the friend.

"Go get her." Haley said as sent a quick smile and pushed him towards the crowd.

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Brooke walked gleefully. Actually gleefully. She was starting to overcome her worries. They had a real chance of winning this thing. All she needed to do was gather her girls and get ready before going on stage to meet their fate.

She took a glance around at the large crowd. It wasn't this large before the show. So many people were backstage. She could even notice Nathan. And unfortunately, Felix. She rolled her eyes at her previous date, before noticing Bevin standing by their curtain.

At least the girls had listened to her when she said to meet back at the dressing rooms. She quickly bounced in the direction, before stopping dead in her tracks.

Right there, to the side of their curtain, was a thousand knives sticking into her back. Haley was kissing Lucas. Haley? The Haley that was into Nathan. The Haley that had been talking to Lucas earlier. Now it all made sense. Why had she even trusted the girl?

Brooke had thought they were actually getting on quite well. She had actually become a great friend, and not a Peyton replacement. Now she had betrayed her. Brooke had told Haley of her fears and feelings for Lucas only a night before, and now Haley was kissing him? That was it.

She quickly turned around and ran back to where she had seen the guy. She was actually running. She saw the dark-haired boy she knew, and quickly grabbed his arm. She pulled him to an open spot around a curtain, with no resist from him.

She practically jumped as she kissed him, not even sure if she had hit his cheek or his mouth. She was too angry. A second later, she pulled back. She didn't want this. Even if she wanted revenge, she could find someone better. She deserved some better.

"Hey girl." He said in that cocky tone of his, the one that made her roll her eyes.

"Felix."

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