"Haley, left." Claudia stated as she sat down on Lucas's bed.

"What do you mean?" Lucas asked looking upset.

"I mean packed up her bags and left. Her family went to go visit their family in Virginia." Claudia answered sternly. She missed Haley so much.

"Oh Claudia what I have done?" Lucas groaned.

"Listen, Luke. She will come back. I promise." Claudia replied walking back up to her. "Just go have fun with Alba." Claudia muttered as she walked over to the door.

"Anna." Lucas replied turning around to face Claudia. 

"Whatever." Claudia muttered as she walked out of his room. Lucas chased after her.

"Please, Claudia. I hate when we fight." Lucas stated and Claudia turned around and marched up to Lucas.

"I am not the one you should be apologising to. It's Haley." Claudia replied and Lucas looked more upset.

"So we are okay?" Lucas asked and Claudia nodded her head.

"I am not picking sides. Even though you were a jerk." She smirked as she punched his shoulder before she walked off.

___

"Come on, pony up people! There's kids in this world a lot more miserable than you!" Brooke shouted shaking a money jar. "Thank you. God bless." Brooke smiled as Claudia and Peyton walk up to her.

"Look at this; one over-ripe cantaloupe, two number three pencils, what kinda Writer is this?" Peyton exclaimed to Claudia about Chris' list of demands. 

"Change for the needy?" Brooke asked looking at Peyton and Claudia who were confused as hell.

"Brooke, I had no idea you were so...charitable." Claudia muttered awkwardly. "What's the cause?" She asked fixing her crotchet bag strap on her shoulder.

"Just...needy people." Brooke made up as someone put money in the jar.

"Brooke." Peyton exclaimed amused. "I recognise the photo. It's from an ad for cramp medicine." Peyton laughed and Claudia looked at Brooke accusingly. 

"Wow! Homeless and PMSing...poor girl." Brooke replied and both girls looked stunned.

"Brooke!" They exclaimed wanting to know the truth.

"Alright. The money's for me. I'm the needy one as in I need some things for your club opening." Brooke revealed, Peyton and Claudia exchanged significant looks.

"Do you realise how wrong that is?" Claudia asked looking at her best friend. 

"Sort of, but...you know, what am I supposed to do for money?" Brooke asked awkwardly.

"Try getting a job." Peyton stated obviously.

"Right, doing what?" Brooke asked laughing.

"Anything, a number of things. What are your skills?' Claudia asked sincerely.

"I dunno. I'm good with guys. Dates, dating." Brooke listed, that was not what Claudia meant.

"Yeah, and?" Claudia asked with a raised brow.

"Sex." Brooke shrugged and Claudia shook her head. 

"That would make you a hooker." Peyton replied seriously and Brooke shrugged and someone handed her money, she took it with a smile. Peyton shook her head, smiled and slapped Brooke's shoulder. Claudia did the same.

___

Claudia and Nathan walked down the corridor towards Lucas. Claudia and Lucas were friends because she was not going to pick sides over him and Haley.

"Hi!" Claudia exclaimed smiling at her best friend.

"Ready for your big debut rock star?" Lucas asked smirking.

"Please don't remind me." Claudia muttered awkwardly.

"She's ready." Nathan answered before he looked down at Claudia. "You know, didn't you once tell me that there was such a thing as over preparation?" Nathan asked Claudia.

"Yeah, for a math midterm. This is like...avoiding public humiliation." Claudia exclaimed and Nathan pulled her into him.

"Claude, you're gonna do great." Lucas said consolingly. Claudia wasn't convinced.

___

Claudia was looking at her piano as Nathan played video games.

"Husband." Claudia cried and Nathan looked over at her worryingly.

"What's wrong?" He asked concerned as he switched off his game and kneeled down beside her.

"What do I do tonight?" She asked and Nathan laughed a little.

"Sing?" Nathan replied and Claudia huffed.

"I can't." She groaned laying her head on the piano, it made an awful noise.

"Claudia, you are panicking over nothing." Nathan replied reassuringly and Claudia sat up.

"Nothing!" Claudia exclaimed standing up. "Nathan if I fail on stage my life will be over. I would have committed social suicide." Claudia continued as Nathan walked over to her in the kitchen.

"Claudia, you committed social suicide when you wore that poncho." Nathan joked and Claudia shook her head.

"I am getting a divorce." She stated back jokingly and Nathan hugged her laughing.

"Come on, Claudia. You will be amazing tonight." Nathan replied and Claudia looked up smiling sweetly.

"Promise?" She asked in a baby voice.

"Promise." Nathan replied before the couple kissed.

___

(Claudia performing at  TRIC)

Everyone was at TRIC, it was a packed house. Claudia walked up to Peyton playing with her bracelets. She was really nervous for singing. 

"Hey." Claudia muttered painfully.

"Hey!" Peyton shouted over the noise. 

"I can't do it" An upset Claudia said. She really wanted sing she was just too nervous.

"What?" Peyton asked taking off her headphones.

"I can't do it." Claudia muttered embarrassed and upset.

"Do what?" Peyton asked confused.

"Play at all. I-I have to back out." Claudia stuttered as she placed with her bracelets.

"And you're telling me this now?!" Peyton exclaimed a little but frustrated.

"I'm sorry! It's just all these people and-and-and, I told you this might happen OK? So please just... don't hate me." Claudia apologised.

"Claudia, you can't do this OK? You're name's already on the poster, there are people here expecting you to play." Peyton explained and Claudia shook her head.

"Well so what? I mean, who's gonna know the difference, right? You've already got two acts and a DJ, right?" Claudia asked.

"I'll figure it out." Peyton sighed.

"OK." Claudia stated sadly.

"But you're gonna have to get on that floor sometime." Peyton said as she pat Claudia on the arm, Claudia looked distraught.

___

Chris walked up to Nathan and Claudia at their table .

"Previously on 'Saved By the Bell'." Chris said in his usual attitude.

"Hey, Chris, this is my husband Nathan." Claudia introduced and Nathan shook his hand. 

"Married in high school. Yeah, that'll work." Chris  muttered and Nathan blinked confused. "Peyton told me you bailed on the gig. Guess I was wrong about you." Chris continued before he left the couple. Claudia was troubled by her decision and sadly placed her head in her hands. 

___

"What!" Peyton shouted as Chris walked off of the stage, without performing. "Ah, what're you gonna do, Right?" Chris asked Claudia as he walked off.

"Hey, wait a second. What about Peyton?" Claudia asked marching up to Chris.

"Tough break! Least it beat being screwed over by a friend right?" Chris snapped back before he walked away, Claudia watched him hurt.  Karen walked onto the stage amdist the booing.

"Sorry, sorry everybody. Uh... w-we just had a little... uh-I'm not... whatever that was. Uh, but while we're sorting it out, the D-the DJ's gonna play and... how bout a... a free round on the house?" Karen suggested and the crowd cheered.

"NO! ALL-AGES!" Peyton shouted to Karen as she indicated to the whole crowd. Karen gasped.

"Oh juice! Of juice! Of juice. A free round of juice." Karen exclaimed correcting herself, the crowd groaned again. Claudia walked onto the stage and Karen smiled at her proudly. Claudia walked up to the microphone and Peyton ran up to the track machine.

"Don't think. Just sing." Claudia muttered to herself before she looked over at Peyton who played the track. Claudia transformed into another world and sang so confidently.

https://youtu.be/opwudiDgv1E

When she was down the whole crowded roared and cheered. Claudia smiled over at Nathan who was cheering and clapping alongside Lucas.

"Thank you." Claudia laughed sweetly before she walked off the stage and Nathan ran up to her. They hugged and then kissed.

"You were amazing!" Nathan gushed and Claudia laughed before they kissed again.

___

Claudia and Nathan were sitting on the edge of the stage and people kept on coming up to Claudia- congratulating her.

"Good job!" A man said as he shook her hand.

"Thank you." Claudia smiled overwhelmed as she laughed at Nathan.

"Predictable break up song. How's it feel?" Chris asked smirking as he walked up to the happily married couple.

"Uh... great till ya just... dissed me!" Claudia laughed awkwardly. 

"No, look, you've got a good sound. And watching you tonight, I can definitely see us doing something together." Chris explained and Claudia looked at him shocked.

"Really?" Claudia asked stunned as Nathan looked at her. 

"Yeah, I never joke about music. Here's my number." Chris stated seriously as he handed her a slip of paper. "I got some studio time coming up." Chris finished as Claudia looked down at the card.

"Oh... wow OK." Claudia said as she looked at Nathan smiling. Nathan, however, looks very worried. 

Oh! I just remembered THUD Magazine wanted me to do a... interview with them. It's probably gonna take a little while and-" Claudia began to ramble on before Nathan cut in.

"Nah, it's cool." Nathan replied.

"OK." Claudia nodded her head.

"This is your night. Go, enjoy and I'll see you at home." Nathan replied proudly and Claudia smiled at him.

"Are you sure?" Claudia asked her husband and Chris smiled as he shook his head.

"Yeah, I gotta work early tomorrow anyway." Nathan said.

"OK." Claudia smirked before she kissed him. "I love you." She smiled and thens she turned to Chris. "Thanks." She said monotone before she got off the stage and walked off, the boys watched her.

"You have any idea how many guys in the room wanna nail your wife right now?" Chris asked before he walked away grinning. Nathan looks in Claudia's direction, considering.

___

"So...hell of a night huh?" Peyton  adClaudia as they walked through the corridors of TRIC.

"Yes, I'm still shaking!" Claudia replied jitterly as Peyton laughed. "Thank you so much for everything! And I'm sorry about earlier." Claudia exclaimed.

"No, dude, you totally redeemed yourself after indie-boy flaked on me!" Peyton replied and Claudia laughed.

"Ha! You wanna get outta here?" Claudia asked smiling at Peyton.

"Yes but, I gotta clear out some stragglers." Peyton replied as she pushed open the door to reveal a bunch on people, including Rick the band manger, doing drugs.

"Hey!" Rick exclaimed smirking at Peyton. "Relax, they're cool. In fact, Peyton and I did a couple lines the other night. Ain't that right Peyton?" Rick asked and Peyton had her hands in her pockets, she looked guilty. Claudia looked at her accusingly. Peyton did not know what to say because not only has Peyton done drugs but she's also allowing other people do drugs in Karen's club.

___

Claudia walked back into her apartment and into her and Nathan's bedroom, she was Nathan sleeping. She crawled across the bed and laid beside him.

"Thank you for tonight. I wouldn't of been able to do it." Claudia whispered in her ear before she kissed him on the cheek. Claudia closed her eyes and went into a peaceful slumber.