Nicole Walks Out On Joel? Puh-Lease!

Star Magazine reports that Nicole Richie moved out of her and babydaddy Joel Madden's Glendale house to stay with her mom, and she took daughter Harlow with her!

According to a pal, the couple had "a bitter fight," ending with Nicole screaming at Joel: "We're through!" The new mom returned the following day, but "this was her way of sending Joel a message."

Days later, Joel's band Good Charlotte performed at a VMA after-party at the Chateau Marmont... and the rocker partied with Mischa Barton, Nicole's friend, says a source.

Mischa had just broken up with Taylor Locke and was "dancing seductively for Joel," claims the mag.

Okay, FIRST OF ALL, we have pix of Nicole and Joel out shopping together just last Friday (see below!) and they seem perfectly fine...



Second of all, they're still living at their Glendale house while continuing to look for a new home. And third of all, Joel and Mischa? I don't think so.

They're totes just friends! We really don't trust this report... do you?