Haley & open

[Haley James-Scott]

Haley slowly walked down the marble staircase and into the entrance hall, careful not to step on her dress having just got it the way she liked. Originally the dress was an ugly shade of orange and had a large tear in the side due to a run in with a certain Slytherin in Gladrags. Thanks to a few well-placed charms, the dress now a beautiful pale green. It had one strap that went around Haley's neck. The skirt reached the floor, and there were tiny silver beads on the bust. 'Everybody's going to think I'm a Slytherin,' she thought, a smile appearing on her face as she approached the doors into the Great Hall. In truth, aside from actually liking her color choices, Haley had done it for Nathan's sake. Knowing her husband would appreciate her wearing his house colors.

The hall was already packed when Haley arrived. She made her way to the refreshments table and scanned the room, looking for Nathan. When she couldn't spot him in the crowds, she looked again, this time for her friends and housemates, Peyton and Brooke. Again, no luck. Sighing, she turned her attention to the punch bowl, taking sips while nervously twirling her brown hair between her fingers.

[Brooke Davis]

Brooke ignored the sideways glances she received from half the student faculty as she crossed the dining hall-come-ballroom, chin tilted up slightly, a proud, almost haughty look on her face. She did the same with the low whistles she received, and the murmurs of 's***', acting like she didn't even hear them. Not every girl could pull this off, and it was only years of being in the public eye that had thought B to keep a blank face. Seriously, though, she had honestly considered the dress she was wearing to be perfect for the event. It was considerably less revealing than her past ones, and despite insisting that only her opinion mattered in such matters, Brooke had sheepishly asked several of her dorm-mates for their opinion in her attire. They all gave thumbs up to her choice of the deep blue dress with simple gold and brown decor. Elegant and classy, revealing enough without being tarty. Or so she thought.

Brooke changed her course slightly, making her way to the refreshments table. A feet or so from the table, a long, pale arm blocked her path. In the fist was a goblet of pink liquid, and Brooke led her gaze travel to where the arm connected to the torso, than followed it up to his face. The fact that he was a Slytherin was obvious, although Brooke couldn't exactly place the name to go with the aristocratic, haughty features. She smiled sweetly. "I'm an alcoholic, now a barbie doll."

"Already taken care of."

Brooke accepted the drink than, taking a long sip. Ah, you've just got to love the snakes. They may be the snobbiest kids in the school, but their motto, like the girls scouts, was 'always be prepared'. She recognised the original drink to be guava, laced with firewhickey. The green cloaked creatures had no imagination, though. Out of the corner of her eye, Brooke sporred her house mate-and soul sister-Haley Scott. Smiling to herself, not one of those cold smirks but a friendly, warm genuine one.

Following her gaze, the Slytherin smirked and took her empty goblet, changing it to two full ones. Brooke gave him a sharp look. "I'm not having Hales carded," she told him sharply, which meant that Haley's was not to have any alcohol. Smiling ruefully, he dropped one of the goblets onto a passing elf's tray, turning to the refreshments table. He handed her another goblet, pale green, and Brooke nodded, still annoyed, and turned to where Haley stood-untypically alone.

"Traitor," Brooke accused as she reached the golden haired girl, a sharp glint in her eyes and a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. She knew that Haley was doing it for Nathan-but where was her house pride? If there was anything in the school Brooke was passionate about, it was house unity.

Her cold shell broke and Brooke smiled in a more familiar way to her friend. Winking at Haley, she sipped the pale green drink, and finding nothing that shouldn't be there, handed the goblet over. Honestly-sometimes she felt like she was baby-sitting. "Have you seen Peyton?" she asked, a slight sneer pulling the corner of her lips. Probably being all lovey-dovey with Lucas. Joy.