A/N: Sorry this chapter is so short, but I wanted to get something in today. Next update should be on or before Wednesday. As always thank you for the wonderful feedback. It's like my own personal crack.

TOXIC

Chapter 3

Ego Tripping

"So the valedictorian of Bayview high school is waitressing at a dance club. You certainly are goin' places," Nathan maligned, while giving Haley a cocky smirk.

Both of the girls and a of the few guys chuckled lightly at Nathan's lame attempt to unnerve her. Haley glanced around the entire table this time, realizing she recognized every face there. She gulped back a breath of air, her throat dry and scratchy. The word Vile, rising in her brain as she looked at the group in front of her. The group that had spent the majority of high school making her feel unwelcome and unworthy.

Scott's Seven. God she was amazed she even remembered it at all.  Nathan Scott and his band of friends. The elite of the elite at West Bayview Highschool. A group that originated from a previous generation, of cocktail parties and caviar dinners. Dan and Deb Scott creating an empire of fortune and prestige that they gladly handed down to their sons. Nathan being the natural ringer leader of course, the big man on campus. He'd also been one of the best basketball player's in Bayviews' history, earning him recognition all over the state. Something he constantly used as leverage to get anything and everything he wanted. One of the many reasons Haley had always despised him.

Tim Smith, and Vegas Parker also sat at the table. Nathan's two mindless lackey's, following him around like little puppy dogs, since day one of highschool. Trying to soak up any left over attention they could get. Theresa Phillips and Kelly Roberts, sat next to each other, their perfectly manicured faces, masking their true nature. Being part of the two most successful and wealthiest family's had earned them a spot in the group, as well. That and their willingness to sleep with any guy. Leaving Jake Jakski and Nathan's brother Lucas to round out the group.

However, it was Lucas who seemed to stand out at Haley, his soft demeanor and kind eyes the same as she had remembered.

"Hi Luke," Haley said peacefully, giving him a small smile.

"How you doin''," Lucas smiled back.

"Surviving," she laughed nervously. "How's Duke treating you?"

"Good, for the most part. Finals were killer though," he answered lightly.

"I bet. I'm sure you did great. You always have," she replied with another smile.

Nathan on the other hand seemed disinterested in this entire encounter, and instead snapped his fingers at her to gain her attention. Haley shot him an annoyed glare, wondering where she'd gotten the courage  for that.

"Hey Heather, you gonna take our order," barked Nathan.

"It's Haley, and yes. What would you like?"

"What have you got," he asked, ignoring the menu in front of him.

"We've got a selection of drafts, hard liquors, malt liquors, mixed drinks, shots ," Haley listed off, pulling the menu out of it's holder and flipping it open for him. "Why don't you take a look for yourself."

"I'll have a Heineken," he replied, with an malignant smile, his eyes never leaving hers.

Haley took everyone else's order rather quickly, letting them know it might be a few minutes before their order was out. The whole time feeling Nathan's eyes watching her, surveying her moves, making her nervous and rigid. She made it down the steps when she heard Nathan call to her again.

"Oh and Hannah, get us a basket of chicken wings too," he shouted to her, turning around and laughing obnoxiously when someone else made a comment she hadn't been able hear.

...................................

As fast as she could Haley made it back to the bar, and to her own friend's table, taking off her apron and shoving it at them. "Here put this on."

"Umm why," Brooke asked, looking at her strangely.

"Because that table in the corner, the one with the people you thought looked familiar. Well they are familiar. Mostly because they are Nathan Scott and his "Magnificent Seven." And I can't go back over there. I really, really, really, can't. So just take this, and pretend to be me, and I will owe you for the rest of my life. Deal?"

Peyton and Brooke noticed the pleading look on Haley's face, and grimaced. Once upon a time they had been a part of that group. They had been on the inside, seen the way they could be cruel to almost everyone that didn't fit their ideal, or their price bracket. But when highschool had ended the group had dispersed, their relationships had dissolved like dust in the wind. Because truthfully most of them weren't ever really friends. It seemed surreal that they were all together again, as if the last two years had never happened. Brooke especially knew what it was like to be on the outside, she'd been the target of their ridicule more than a couple times. It was different now though. They were in college, adults now damn it, they didn't have to cower anymore.

"Ok listen to me, before you spaz out," Brooke stated taking hold of Haley's shoulders. "We're going to go over to the bar,  get your order, then we're going to go back over to that table and pretend to make polite conversation."

"But---."

"No buts, come on lets go and get this over with," she ordered, pulling Haley by the arm, while Peyton followed quickly behind.

As they made their way over Haley was hit with the sinking feeling that no matter what Brooke said or did, Nathan would still get the better of her friend. He knew right where her soft spot was. They did after all, have a history.

"Greetings and Salutations all," Brooke called to them, a huge plastic smile firmly in place.

"Brooke Davis.......and Peyton Sawyer, long time no see," Theresa stated, with false cheeriness.

"Hello Theresa," Peyton replied dryly, "How are you?"

"Busy as always. Daddy's moved the business over seas now, so we've been traveling to Europe a lot lately. We got a new boat this summer too," she flipped her long brown curls over her shoulders gracefully.

"Intriguing," Peyton responded, with even less enthusiasm.

"And what have you two been up to," Nathan asked from the corner where he sat.

Brooke immediately caught his attention and let out a petty laugh. "Do my eyes deceive me, Nathan Scott actually home for Christmas? Well that's a first."

"One for everything," he chimed. "So what are you doing here?"

"Don't play dumb Nate, you know I go to school here," Brooke said.

"Oh that's right, I must have forgot,  being up in Michigan and all."

Brooke decided to ignore his comment, and focus on the others at the table. Making idle chit chat, while Peyton did the same. In the background Haley stood there staring at them, feeling awkward and out of place. Just like highschool all over again, she thought with growing gloom.