Lucas stood in the changing rooms and Claudia stood outside, they were in a fancy dress shop. 

"Now way, Claudia." Lucas sighed.

"Come on, let me see." Claudia exclaimed desperately 

"I look... like an idiot." Lucas shouted as Claudia tried on a clown hat.

"Dude, I saw you in your headgear." She laughed before the hat fell down around her ears. Her head was inside. 

"Don't call me dude and I thought we promised not to talk about that in public!" Lucas shouted behind the changing cubicle.

"Whatever, dude." Claudia replied as he lifted the hat up by the brim. "Look, I'm counting to three and then I'm coming in there. One, two-" Claudia began to count as Lucas pushed open the door and walked out with a withdrawn expression. He was dressed as a caveman and was holding up a plastic club, embarrassed. Claudia took one look at him and started to laugh uncontrollably, she couldn't help herself. Lucas, mortified, walked back into the changing room as Claudia continued to laugh. Lucas then came out dressed as a cowboy, holding fake money. "Nope." Claudia stated and Lucas then came out as a bull tamer. "Olé" She exclaimed and Lucas walked back into the changing cubicle. Lucas then came out as a cowboy stetson. Claudia pretended she was John Wayne and began to shot guns. Lucas tipped his hat at her. He aimed the fake gun at Claudia and then she dropped on the floor pretending she was dead. Lucas was then dressed as a ninja and held a fake plastic sword. Claudia did some Karate moves and LUcas shrugged. Claudia began to dance before Lucas came dressed as a hippy. He walked out holding up the peace sign. "Oh yes!" Claudia exclaimed as Lucas and his fake afro shook their heads no. He tried again dressed as Elvis. Claudia pretended to be a mad screaming fan. Lucas pulled at an invisible string and the corner of his top lip moved up and down. Claudia continued her fake screaming before she laughed. Lucas finally finished dressed as Captain Sparrow. He did the moves great. "Who-ho-ho! OK, this is hot!" Claudia exclaimed impressed. Lucas straightened up.

"Excuse me?" Lucas asked raised eyebrow.

"Nathan withdrawal symptoms. I could find anyone hot." Claudia replied sadly. "Also, Lucas not all your friends like you. Okay, ew, eurgh!" She exclaimed as she turned away grossed out. 

"Look, this party's my one chance to get Brooke to finally rethink this whole 'non-exclusive' thing. And, just be,... well, exclusive." Lucas explained as he smiled sadly. "Do you think she'll like it?" Lucas asked.

"I don't know. You're asking me to enter the sexual mind of Brooke Davis?" Claudia asked laughing.

"She's your roommate." Lucas argued.

"She's your girlfriend." Claudia replied better.  "Sorta, kinda." She added laughing. Lucas turned away in defeat. "Alright, let me see what I can find out. I'll do a little 'roommate recon' for ya." Claudia smiled jokingly as she looked at the costumes.

"Thank you." Lucas asked sarcastically. 

"You're welcome, darl." Claudia replied smiling. 

"Now it's your turn." Lucas said as Claudia looked over at the costumes. "I see a belly-dancer costume with your name on it, love." Lucas said in his great impression of Jack Sparrow. Claudia closed her eyes and sighed. "Nathan won't know what hit him." Lucas said in his normal voice trying to tempt Claudia. Claudia just groaned.

"Please, I could go naked to this stupid party and it wouldn't make a difference." Claudia groaned as they began to walk.

"Okay, ew." Lucas stated as he followed her. 

___

Claudia walked into TRIC with Brooke who was dressed as a Devil and Haley who was dressed as a belly dancer. Claudia stood at the entrance wearing a Scary Spice leopard tight jumpsuit and a big black heels. Her hair was still blackish red and curly. She had a black smokey and a red lip. Brooke made her wear it all and she agreed because she needs Nathan back.

"Okay, I am off have fun." Brooke smiled as she walked over to Mouth who was dressed as Tony Marona from Saturday Night Fever.

"Okay, well no Nathan. I can't believe what I am suffering through." Claudia groaned as she tried to walk in the heels. Lucas came up behind her and held her hand.

"Haley, we better get her to a seat before she falls." Lucas laughed as Claudia groaned embarrassed.

"Roger that." Haley laughed as her and Lucas tried to get Claudia to a seat.

"Nathan better see me in this." Claudia joked humourlessly. She really wanted Nathan to notice her.

___

Claudia walked up to Peyton, she really just wanted to be back with Peyton again or at least speak to her so they could sort it out.

"Hey! You look great." Claudia exclaimed and Peyton rolled her eyes. "Are you talking to me yet?" Claudia asked seriously.

"Not really but I guess you're talking to me." Peyton replied as she smiled stiffly. Claudia was confused as to why Peyton did not like her. Claudia's smile fell. 

"Peyton, I don't understand why you're so pissed off." Claudia stated truthfully.

"Really? You come back to town after months of being away and try to pretend like nothing happened." Peyton explained and Claudia scoffed.

"'m not pretending anything. I'm just... I'm sorry I didn't stay in touch with you. It was hard to keep up with people." Claudia replied annoyed. 

"Claudia, it wasn't me, OK? I'm not that needy but you didn't even call Nathan." Peyton stated and Claudia rolled her eyes. Peyton knew nothing.

"I did call and quite frankly you know nothing about this situation." Claudia stated crossing her arms over. "You think you know everything, but you don't." Claudia extended annoyed. She had it up to here tonight. She was dressed uncomfortably and she was wearing heels. She was suffering. 

"And, anyway, I just don't like what you did!" Peyton exclaimed and Claudia looked hurt, everyone was annoyed at her for following her dreams. "But you know what, you're husband just said you look hot, so if you do still love him, there's you're hint." Peyton stated less mean before she glared at Claudia and walked away. Claudia looked around trying to see if she could spot what her husband was.

___

Karen was walking around TRIC dressed as a cop. Claudia walked up to he smiling.

"Hey, have you seen Nathan?" Claudia asked Karen who was placing cups on tables.

"What's he dressed as?" Karen asked and Claudia froze.

"Uh,... I don't know, actually. I know he's seen me but he's like the invisible man or something." Claudia laughed as she looked around TRIC.

"Um,... Claudia? Are you OK?" Karen asked as they stopped still. (They stop.) 

"Yeah, if OK's, like,... heels that are killing me and underwear that's digging into my ribcage and I'm about five minutes from going home and binging on cookie dough." Claudia joked as she looked down at her heels.

"That's not what I mean." Karen stated and Claudia's smile fell. "There's money missing from the register at the café. Now, I've noticed a pattern the past couple of weeks and it always finds its way back right after payday but that's not the point." Karen explained and Claudia froze... again. She knew it was Lucas because she saw him this morning, she didn't know why Lucas was stealing cash. 

"Karen, I-" Claudia began to say but Karen cut in.

"Look, I know your parents are gone and your brother is living with us and I know that things are a bit tight," Karen cut in and then paused. She really hoped it was not Claudia, "was it you?" She asked and Claudia closed her eyes and lied through her teeth. 

"Yeah. I'm, I'm really sorry." Claudia stated shaking her head. It wasn't Claudia but she knew the only right thing to do was take the fall.

"So am I... that... you didn't feel that you could come to me and ask, if you needed help. I thought we were closer." Karen replied sincerely. 

"We are. It won't happen again." Claudia said, she had to find Lucas and see what was going on with him.

"Good. I want you to know that I am always there for you, no matter what." Karen replied smiling.

"Thanks." Claudia replied smiling sadly. "Why don't I take this? Consider it interest." Claudia continued taking the tray of cups from Karen. Karen nodded her head.

"OK." She replied and Claudia smiled forcedly as Karen walked away. She began to walk until she tripped over someone's feet with her high heels. She fell down with a crash, the tray hit the ground and the glasses smashed. Claudia wanted the ground to swallow her up then and there, everyone began to laugh. She began to pull herself up before a batman walked over to her and picked her up, Claudia was shocked.

"You really shouldn't do this because I am like forty seven percent sure I have a husband." Claudia groaned as the batman placed her on the chair, the batman walked around the other side to so there was a table between them. The batman took their mask off. "Hi." Claudia smiled as she looked at her husband.

"Nice costume." Nathan stated and Claudia looked down at her leopard print body suit. 

"Do you like it?" She asked smiling, she was just hoping he would say yeah, sadly he did not.

"Not really." Nathan replied and Claudia scoffed.  

"Wow. That's great. Way to lift a girls spirit." She muttered sarcastically in her british accent.

"I mean, it's just not... really you." Nathan replied trying to justify what he said.

"I mean Brooke thought um I..." Claudia began to say before she shook her head. "I wanted you to want me." Claudia stated taking a deep breath smiling a little, she was trying to cover up the fact that she was embarrassed and felt vulnerable and insecure. 

"That's not the problem, Claudia. Trust me." Nathan stated and Claudia looked up at him eyes filled with hope. "I mean... the sexy makeover's not gonna fix us, right?" Nathan asked rhetorically and Claudia felt like ass. She nodded her head forcefully.

"Yeah, you're right. I mean, I... " Claudia stuttered before she looked down laughing. She looked back up with tearful eyes. "I look stupid, don't I?" She asked and Nathan felt bad. "I am wearing heels!" She exclaimed laughing painfully, heels were not something that Claudia ever wore. "I just thought I would try something different." Claudia stated laughing trying to cover up her pain. 

"Claudia, no-" Nathan began to say after he realised what he had done.

"I'm sorry." She stated before she jumped off the chair and ran away. Nathan watched her regretfully. 

___

Claudia sat in front of the mirror in TRIC as she finished taking her makeup off. Brooke walked in, she was still dressed as a red-haired devil.

"What are you doing?!" Brooke exclaimed. "The band is playing, you're missing it." Brooke continued less loudly. Claudia wiped of her makeup on her tearstained face shaking her head.

"This is... such a bad idea." She cried.

"But Nathan totally talked to you. He... swooped in like some kind of knight in... Batman armour-" Brooke began to say but Claudia shook her head.

"It's not the point, I look stupid and ugly." Claudia cried a little, all she wanted was for Nathan to tell her she looked beautiful. But sadly, it was too much to ask for. 

"Well... OK, maybe now that you've messed up your hair, but-" Brooke spoke and Claudia looked away, exasperatedly. 

"I am a nerd and I can't go around walking like angry spice because that sure as hell won't get Nathan back." Claudia exclaimed cutting Brooke off.

"You're a rock star." Brooke replied kindly and Claudia smiled tearfully as she shook her head.

"Not anymore." Claudia said before she shrugged. "I'm just Claudia." She sighed as she turned to the mirror. "That really should be enough." She stated as she shook her head before she looked back at Brooke. "I'm done playing games, Brooke. I'm just gonna go home." Claudia finished sincerely.

"OK." Brooke nodded.

"And there better be cookie dough." Claudia laughed sadly, Brooke hugged Claudia sympathetically before she exited the backroom. Claudia looked down and smiled at her bare feet. 

___

Claudia walked out of TRIC upset she turned around to see Nathan in his batman outfit, he walked through the mist flapping his cloak. 

"Hey, thank you for helping me earlier. I'm sorry I... freaked out like a baby. I just want things back the way they were." Claudia explained sincerely as he leaned down and kissed her on the lips. Once they were finished Nathan turned around and walked off through the mist. He did not say a single word. Claudia opened up her eyes smiling, she just couldn't believe it. "One point for Claudia." She muttered smirking. 

___

Claudia was walking around the apartment singing Hey Ya. She never sung songs like that but she was on cloud nine. Nathan kissed her.

"Hey." Lucas said as he entered the apartment. He had taken his wig off but kept the rest of the costume on. 

"Look at us we are nose buddies now! We both have nose rings!" Claudia exclaimed happily. 

"I wanted to make sure you were OK." Lucas shut the door and Claudia grinned at him. 

"Nathan kissed me." Claudia exclaimed grinning.

"What?" Lucas asked startled. 

"I didn't even know what was happening. It just, it happened and then he was gone!" Claudia exclaimed laughing incredulously. She was so happy for the first time in while. 

"Did you go after him?" Lucas asked intrigued and Claudia shook her head.

"No. It was just so romantic and perfect and I just wanted to come right home and not mess it up, you know?" She asked, she was acting like a schoolgirl with their first ever crush. She was jumping up and down grinning. Lucas smiled happily. He was happy for her too. 

"Well, then I guess you're OK." He joked and Claudia bit her lower lip.

"Yeah. It was like... a totally out-of-body experience for me." Claudia expressed.

"Then, maybe I should get Nathan to kiss me." Lucas joked which ultimately ruined it. 

"Oh, shut up!" She replied as she slapped Lucas's arm. Lucas laughed. 

"Alright, then, uh... I'm gonna head home." Lucas replied looking at his costume.

"OK." Claudia laughed and Lucas pointed at her.

"Thanks for the costume advice. Remind me to never have you spy for me." Lucas replied and Claudia was amused.

"I'm sorry!" She exclaimed laughing. Lucas opened the door and was about half-way out before Claudia remembered something. She stopped him.

"Luke, uh,..." She shouted and Lucas walked back in, "there's just one more thing that I'd..." Claudia struggles to say and Lucas shut the door. "Your mom thinks I stole money from the café." Claudia stated with difficultly. 

"Why does she think that?" Lucas asked slowly, he began to feel bad. It was him stealing the money.

"Coz I told her I did. Coz I... was covering for you." Claudia explained as she sat down on the stool. Lucas looked down caught.  "I saw you take it and... what's going on, Luke?" Claudia asked concerned. Lucas looked up and realised that he had to tell her. He walked forward, against his better judgment, and sat opposite her. 

"I needed to buy some medicine." Lucas said and Claudia's heart dropped, she was worried.

"For what?" Claudia sighed, she really didn't want to know.

"For my heart,Claudia." Lucas and Claudia shook her head. "I have HCM." Lucas stated and Claudia was dumbfounded. 

"Excuse me? What? Pardon? Repeat." She said fast and confused. She was devastated, her eyes began to tear up.

___

Chris Keller walked into his apartment after making a deal with Nathan for him to work on Claudia's music with her. He smirked to himself as he looked down and saw the his own batman costume, he picked it up the mask still smirking. Who did kiss Claudia? 

____

Sorry I did not update yesterday I had an exam and then had to go out last night but I did sort out this entire book with the episodes! So excited to continue writing it.

Q: Who do you like better Deb or Karen?

A: Mine would obviously have to be Karen, duh. But say in the comments who you like better if you want the next chapter to uploaded quicker!

Love you all,

Mrs N O'Brien