Girls of the Clique

Author's Note: Okay, so we are getting a lot closer to the end. Very close actually. I'm sorry for the very long delay of this chapter. I hope everyone understands. I started school, and life has become busy for me. I've actually been waiting to write this for quite awhile, I just didn't have enough time until now.

This chapter is dedicated to the girls who helped me through details of the storyline. Thank you dear Ellie, for being my wonderful beta.

Chapter title credit would be a lot of people. It's old and has many different people so how 'bout we go with…Rod Stewart.

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-Three: I Only Have Eyes For You

Haley practically skipped as she went to answer her front door. She couldn't help but be in a wonderful mood. All the times she had liked Nathan, or been confused about everything, the two had finally kissed and everything was clear to her now, or at least, almost everything.

There was still Brooke. She really wanted to storm over to the house of that preppy brunette with her "I'm the queen" attitude, but then Haley remembered she was at just as much fault as Brooke.

Yes, Brooke shouldn't have left Haley there alone, especially since she was the one who talked her into it, but Haley was the one who had kissed the guy that Brooke liked most. Then there was the fact that Brooke saw them. So maybe there was some fear involved, and it was keeping her from going over there.

She knew eventually, she would just have to face Brooke, and try to explain to her before the door was slammed in Haley's face.

As she opened the door, she couldn't help but be happy, nervous, and a little surprised. "Hey Nathan." She let out, with a full smile on her face.

"Hey." Nathan would never want to admit it, but he was also nervous, maybe even more nervous than Haley was. She didn't know what was about to come next, only he did.

He gave a simple nod as she stepped into her house. He was definitely envious of the environment. It looked so cozy and homey. Like a real family lived there. It definitely had what Nathan's house was lacking. It wasn't as big, it didn't have as much expensive stuff, but it was real.

Being the captain of the basketball team, he was never to be turned down. He felt like he was on some reality show with a hidden camera.

"Do you want to come in?" She asked casually as she stepped back and parted the door open further. Haley was a well-mannered, traditional girl, and Nathan was a respectable guy. Haley knew, even though she was home alone, nothing would happen that she didn't want.

"So…about last night," he started, before cutting himself off. What is wrong with you? His head screamed to him. Nathan Scott never had problems with girls.

"I'm sorry."

Nathan was a little surprised by the statement. Not only had she cut him off, but also she was sorry. Sorry? What did that mean? "You're sorry?" He asked, not bothering at all to mask the confusion.

"Actually, I'm not." She stated in a firm, almost robotic like tone. So maybe she was being a little weird.

"Umm…okay. So," he once again started, a little thrown off. He wasn't quite sure what to say now, because it seemed as though all of his words had left the building.

"I wanted to kiss you, Nathan. And I totally understand if you want to laugh in my face right now, or if you are recording this for some public humiliation, or just something to laugh about in your sweaty locker room. I don't care. So I'm not sorry."

He looked over at her, her arms folded across her chest. He quietly laughed a little, but not for the reasons she was thinking.

"Okay, it's nice to know that. I was actually going to say "Will you be my date to formal." But I mean, if this is going to the locker room…" He teased, knowing this would embarrass her just a little, but it was cute to see her cheeks turn a slight red and an adorable smile appear on her face.

"Oh. Okay. Well, then I take all that stuff back." She said softly, almost inaudible, she knew it was the pessimist in her that assumed the worst, but it was nice to know what Nathan originally had planned to ask her.

"Well, I'm not sure if I want to go to the formal with a crazy-"

She immediately cut him off with a light playful slap on the arm and a "Hey!"

"Okay. So shut up and let me talk this time!" He exclaimed in a joking, flirty tone that had become common, almost natural, between the two.

"Well, I'm the hottest guy in school, it's only natural for me to go to the formal with a beautiful girl." He paused for effect, obviously teasing her. "So will you be my date?"

She smiled as she stepped forward and reached up to hug him. "Of course."

He sent her a genuine smile as she pulled away, now standing completely on her feet. He even found it cute that she had to prop of up on her toes to hug him. "Well, that's not all."

She nodded, as she looked at him a bit curiously. Things had been going very well since the night before, and she was hoping that wasn't going to be ended with bad news.

"Okay, so I know I had to force you, but the first date we went on, I think we both enjoyed that. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am. And…I mean, since then, we when we have been…"

Now he was getting nervous. It wasn't so much asking her to formal because girls were lined up for him, but this was the hard part.

"What I mean, is that we've gotten to know each other more, and I like you and…well-" The words once again had disappeared.

It was like watching the school geek on a television show trying to ask the most popular girl at school to dinner, and watching him being let down easy. Thankfully, she had once again cute him off.

"Yes, I'll be your girlfriend, Nathan."

She hoped she wasn't, once again, off base. There was only so much embarrassment a girl could take in one hour. But, she wouldn't be Haley James if she didn't take that leap and throw it out there.

It's what she wanted, it's what she dreamt about when thoughts of Nathan came around. And if he laughed in her face, then she would find a different prom date.

He smiled as he quickly walked towards her and pulled her into a romantic kiss. "Thank god."

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Brooke finally opened the door, after hearing the banging sound growing louder and louder. Why had Haley not gotten the clue? She didn't want to talk.

"What?" Brooke asked curtly as she opened the door, having a clear view of Haley James on her doorstep.

"Brooke, I know you're angry about the kiss between me and Lucas, but you have to let me explain. You let me there at that place-" Maybe it hadn't come out the right way, or maybe it was the fact that she didn't get to finish, but Brooke had abruptly cut her off.

"So now this is my fault? Haley James, the perfect little angel. Lets just blame it all on Brooke. You know, the fact that I told you how much I care about Lucas and how you told me you understood and you kissed him."

"No, Brooke. That's not what I mean." Haley stated, already getting a little overwhelmed and frustrated.

"I mean, you left me there and I was completely alone. I'm not mad, I understand. But I'm saying, because of that can't you just hear me out? I'm not trying to blame anything on you at all."

"Fine. Two minutes, and then I need to get ready to meet Bevin at the mall, so we can talk about you."

Haley knew Brooke was saying that to get to her, and in all honesty she completely understood, but she wasn't leaving just yet.

"I don't like Luke. We are just friends. We've been friends for a while, and there was just always this connection. We didn't know if it was just friendly or something more. And I have this thing for Nathan, and we just had to kiss to make sure there was nothing there.

There isn't. All I could think about was Nathan and all he could think about was you. I'm sorry, Brooke. We were getting to be good friends, and I wasn't trying to do anything to intentionally hurt you. It was nothing. I really like Nathan. He asked me to formal this morning, and officially became my boyfriend."

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Peyton approached Anna the next morning, a Monday, and quickly sat down at the table. The bell was about to ring, to signal the start of last period, but she needed to talk to Anna, since they wouldn't see each other for the rest of the day.

"Hey!" She exclaimed to the brunette, obviously letting her know of her happiness. "Guess who I'm going to formal with?"

Anna looked up at Peyton, a smile on her face to see Peyton so happy, and gave a slight shrug. "Who?"

"Jake Jagielski."

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Lucas took a deep breath. This was it, this was his chance. He was just going to walk up to Brooke at her locker, grab her arm and pull her around. Then he would pour out his heart, beg for forgiveness, and hopefully live happily ever after.

When she tried to walk away he would say just one minute, and just talk. He had rehearsed it over and over. It was something along the lines of:

"I'm sorry about the kiss. It's just that I couldn't have you and we didn't know if there was something there. But there wasn't. And then I saw you with Felix and I had to help you. I really, really like you and I never wanted to hurt you. Will you go to formal with me?"

This was it. He took another deep breath, rounded the corner and headed towards Brooke's locker. Just then, he felt like he had fallen face first to the floor. He was smashed like a pancake.

There stood the somewhat likeable guy, who for some reason had chosen to be Felix's best friend, right in front of her.

The words "Yes, I'll be your date" had just come out of her mouth. Seriously, would the knife stabbing into his heart just stop. All hope was gone. What was he to do now?

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There it is. This chapter was written different then most. Alot of minor cliffhangers. Hope you enjoyed. Reviews are love.