Fulfilling her legal obligations, Nicole Richie was spotted out for her weekly traffic school class in Van Nuys, California on Wednesday (September 17).

The former "Simple Life" starlet wore a black top with a plunging neckline paired with ragged jean shorts and a pair of flip flops as she carried her coffee in for her day's lesson.

Meanwhile, a Star magazine insider is claiming that Nicole and her fiance/babydaddy Joel Madden have been dealing with difficult times as of late.

During a disagreement, an insider tells that Nicole yelled at Joel saying "We're through!" before fleeing to her mother's home with their daughter, Harlow. Nicole allegedly returned the next day, as the Star source tells, "This was her way of sending Joel a message. Nicole loves him, but things need to change."

On another occasion, Miss Richie reportedly jetted off to New York City after becoming fed up with her Good Charlotte rocker beau, with Joel following her out to the Big Apple not long after.

"She was just in a miserable mood, and there was obvious tension," an eyewitness said of seeing the two at a Charlotte Ronson afterparty. "I didn't see her talk to Joel the entire night, and it seemed like he was avoiding her too. Nicole was just so angry!"

Since that time, however, things look to be on the mend - as both Richie and Madden were all smiles as they posed side-by-side at a charitable event hosted by Marble Slab Creamery called “Text CHILD to 90999.”

Celebrity Gossip

Enjoy the pictures of Nicole Richie out for traffic school (September 17).