Chapter 41
Part 2
Knock, knock, knock.
“Coming!” Serena yelled from the bathroom, quickly spreading light pink lip gloss onto her lips and fixing her already-perfect blonde hair. She rushed out of the room, and into the foyer. Inhaling a deep breath, she reached for the doorknob, and pulled the door open.
At the sight of her, Dan stopped breathing. He stared at Serena, with the very same feeling as when he had spotted her standing in Grand Central, in what felt like so long ago.
She was like an angel, all gorgeous and earthy, with that look of hardly trying to look good, but still being stunning. Serena didn’t have to try. Because no matter what, she always looked irresistibly perfect.
Her golden hair was in loose curls, falling down past her sun-kissed shoulders. A coral pink silk tank top garnished her torso, flowing down so perfectly, it was if it was made specially for her. Tight, dark, True Religion jeans covered her long, slim legs, and silver nail polish coated her toenails, which were displayed in light pink, two-inch strappy heels.
In as long as Dan had known Serena, and watched her before he even knew her, he had never felt so amazed. She had a glow about her that had never seemed as strong as it had at that moment.
Feeling awkward with Dan staring at her, a dazed expression on his face, Serena smiled shyly and nervously wrapped a lock of silky blonde hair around her finger.
Dan, finally realizing he must have looked like an idiot gawking at her like that, snapped out of it, and smiled a little.
“Hi,” he said finally.
“Hey,” Serena replied softly. Oh god, Dan thought. Even her voice is too wonderful to be real.
Dan felt so ecstatic from being in her presence that he forgot what he was there for. Stay on task, he reminded himself. I’m here to listen to why she cheated on me with Nate. To why she’s resorted to her old, party-girl ways. To why I deserve her after how horribly she treated me.
But still, the thoughts stayed faded at the back of his mind. All he could think about was how much he wished he could deserve a girl as beautiful as her. And he wondered, silently, why she looked so amazing right then. Maybe because, it was like seeing her for the first time. Only, this time around, she was only looking at him. It was like she was the one who needed to earn him back.
But whatever that reason was, the reason why Serena van der Woodsen left him more speechless than ever, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that Dan knew that he wanted her, and it didn’t matter at all what she had done wrong, because he could never stay mad at her. No one could. Serena was just the kind of girl you always ended up loving, because she was so fantastic.
“Um, you look…” Dan was nervous. What could he say? He didn’t want to come off desperate. That would never impress the girl of his dreams. “…nice.” Shit. Dan regretted his stupid comment the second he said it.
“Thanks,” Serena said, smiling genuinely at him, as if he had said something that was truly non-idiotic. “Why don’t you come in?”
Dan flushed with relief. Slowly, he walked into the suite, closing the door behind him. Serena led him to one of the sofas near a huge bay window.
“Dan,” Serena said, once she had sat down next to him, “I really want to apologize.” She took his hand gently in hers. Dan’s heart was racing. “But you have to trust me when I say, I didn’t kiss Nate. That day at the park, he kissed me. But that picture on Gossip Girl, the one of me all over him, is not real. It was Photoshopped to look like it, though. Because, trust me, Dan, I would never hurt you like that. I care about you too much.”
Dan didn’t say anything. He didn’t know what to say.
“So, please, just trust me. I know you must think I’m such a ho, but really, I didn’t kiss him. I don’t have any feelings for Nate or anything. You’re the only one in my life, and you’re the only one that matters. ‘Cause, you make me smile. Thinking about you makes me smile. As long as I’m in your arms, nothing else matters. That’s how you make me feel. And, I hope you remotely feel the same way.”
Serena looked into Dan’s eyes. He could see the authenticity in her words.
“Serena,” Dan said, finally thinking of something to say, “it… it doesn’t matter. I mean, it doesn’t matter if you’re telling the truth, and you really didn’t kiss Nate, because I could never stay angry. And, of course, I believe you anyway, one hundred percent. But, you mean too much to me. There’s no way I could stay mad any longer.”
Serena’s eyes glistened. She looked like she might cry. There was sorrow, regret, and hope, all mixed into her expression.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t explain before, but I really didn’t know how to. I didn’t think you would believe me.” She lowered her head, and, pulling her hand from his, she looked at it, placed neatly on her lap.
This made Dan have a sudden burst of courage. Suddenly, he didn’t feel so inferior.
Gently, he lifted her chin to gaze into her eyes.
“I forgive you, no matter what you did,” he said quietly.
Serena sniffled, and wiped her eyes carefully with the tip of her finger. Her glossy bottom lip was trembling a bit, but she still managed a soft smile.
“I love you, Dan,” she said, stroking his hand carefully. “And I don’t ever want to lose you, because you mean so much to me.”
Dan smiled back, and pulled her in close to him. He held her in his arms, her head resting lightly on his chest.
She smelled wonderful. Like fresh, glistening lilies speckled with dew after a light spring rain. Dan knew it wasn’t any kind of perfume; it was just her natural, beautiful fragrance. And he cherished every bit of it.
“I love you too,” he whispered in her ear. She looked up at him, her gorgeous blue eyes still glossy with brimming tears.
Dan smiled, and touched her cheek gently. Serena slid up a little bit, Dan’s arms still around her, and kissed him. A soft, meaningful kiss that they would remember for the rest of their lives.
Because, for the first time, they both realized what true love was.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Chapter 41 -Part 1
Chapter 41
Part 1
As Dan stood at the corner outside of St. Jude’s, waiting for the bus, Vanessa strolled up to him. She slipped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. Dan was surprised, but not exactly happy. He had other things on his mind.
“Hey,” Vanessa said, gazing into his deep brown eyes, her arms still fastened above his jacket collar.
“Hey,” Dan said back, rather distractedly, as he removed her hands.
Ignoring the obvious distance of his mind, Vanessa beamed up at him. “So, whatcha doin’?”
“Waiting… for the bus.” Dan glanced over her shoulder down the street, desperately looking for his transport out of there.
“Where’re you going? This isn’t the bus stop for home.” V looked confused.
“Just…” Dan racked his brain for an excuse. “Jenny asked me to go Sak’s. I have to pick up some shoes she ordered.”
Vanessa frowned and said, “Why can’t she do it herself?”
“Um, she has a major project due soon, and she’s trying to stay focused on it.” Dan wouldn’t look at her. It just made him feel sick.
V didn’t look any better herself. “Uh, okay,” she said finally. She too glanced down the street. She could feel the thick, cloudy tension surrounding them, even if it was a clear, breezy day.
“So, um, any plans for the weekend?” Vanessa asked, struggling with a topic he would be excited about. “I thought maybe we could hang out at my place. You know, alone. My sister’s gonna be away for the weekend, so the apartment will be empty.” She eyed him suggestively.
Dan stared at her blankly. “It’s Monday,” was all he said, quite flatly.
Vanessa blinked. “Well, I know, but I just thought we could plan ahead.” She tried to read his face, but the expression he was wearing said nothing. He turned from away from her, just as the bus came chugging down the road towards them.
Thank god, Dan thought, as the bus stopped in front of him. “See you later,” he said, his back still turned. He climbed the steps onto the bus, and the doors swung shut behind him.
Vanessa watched as the bus departed from the curb and drove away into the heart of the Upper East Side. Her eyebrows were raised sceptically, but no genius plan popped into her usually creative mind.
Spotted: Lonely Boy, ditching his Brooklyn sweetheart for a ride into the amazing territory of over-privileged teens, Prada bags, and underage drinking. Say, doesn’t that bus go to a certain hotel we all know and love? I’m thinking yes. And there’s one person who happens to reside at that certain hotel, who we really know and love. And apparently, Lonely Boy is just another member of her fan club. Watch out, Upper East Siders. This little Brooklyn boy knows what he wants, or at least, who he wants.
As Dan walked into the courtyard in front of the Palace, he caught someone’s eye. Chuck watched as Dan sauntered over to the front doors, where Chuck was conveniently standing, smoking a cigarette. He threw the butt on the ground and stomped it out as Dan got closer.
“Why, if it isn’t Humphrey Dumpty. I thought you were blacklisted from this place.” Chuck eyed him, and pulled another cigarette out of his pocket.
“Give it a rest, Chuck. I’m not here to see you.”
“Thank god. Because just seeing you makes my stomach lurch.” C played with the unlit cigarette with his fingers.
Dan ignored his comment and walked up the rest of the stairs. He opened one of the huge double doors, but paused right as he was about to walk in. He turned back to Chuck.
“Watch it with Blair,” he said, giving Chuck a dark and protective look.
“Excuse me?”
“Blair is Serena’s best friend, and I know what kind of person you are. So don’t do anything you’ll regret.” The seriousness in Dan’s voice surprised Chuck.
“Who are you to judge me?” he replied bitterly. “But anyway, why do you even care? You and Serena are over. She doesn’t need you anymore.” Chuck gave him an evil half-smile.
“How would you know? You and Serena are best friends now? Have you taken advantage of her, too? Who do you think you are, Nate Archibald?”
Dan stared into Chuck’s eyes. They were dark, and glowing with fury. Dan gave Chuck one last glance, and raised his eyebrows, before finally walking into the hotel and letting the heavy door close slowly behind him.
Chuck stared at the door, watching Dan’s faint silhouette inside. Finally, he leaned against the wall, and lit his cigarette.
Part 1
As Dan stood at the corner outside of St. Jude’s, waiting for the bus, Vanessa strolled up to him. She slipped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. Dan was surprised, but not exactly happy. He had other things on his mind.
“Hey,” Vanessa said, gazing into his deep brown eyes, her arms still fastened above his jacket collar.
“Hey,” Dan said back, rather distractedly, as he removed her hands.
Ignoring the obvious distance of his mind, Vanessa beamed up at him. “So, whatcha doin’?”
“Waiting… for the bus.” Dan glanced over her shoulder down the street, desperately looking for his transport out of there.
“Where’re you going? This isn’t the bus stop for home.” V looked confused.
“Just…” Dan racked his brain for an excuse. “Jenny asked me to go Sak’s. I have to pick up some shoes she ordered.”
Vanessa frowned and said, “Why can’t she do it herself?”
“Um, she has a major project due soon, and she’s trying to stay focused on it.” Dan wouldn’t look at her. It just made him feel sick.
V didn’t look any better herself. “Uh, okay,” she said finally. She too glanced down the street. She could feel the thick, cloudy tension surrounding them, even if it was a clear, breezy day.
“So, um, any plans for the weekend?” Vanessa asked, struggling with a topic he would be excited about. “I thought maybe we could hang out at my place. You know, alone. My sister’s gonna be away for the weekend, so the apartment will be empty.” She eyed him suggestively.
Dan stared at her blankly. “It’s Monday,” was all he said, quite flatly.
Vanessa blinked. “Well, I know, but I just thought we could plan ahead.” She tried to read his face, but the expression he was wearing said nothing. He turned from away from her, just as the bus came chugging down the road towards them.
Thank god, Dan thought, as the bus stopped in front of him. “See you later,” he said, his back still turned. He climbed the steps onto the bus, and the doors swung shut behind him.
Vanessa watched as the bus departed from the curb and drove away into the heart of the Upper East Side. Her eyebrows were raised sceptically, but no genius plan popped into her usually creative mind.
Spotted: Lonely Boy, ditching his Brooklyn sweetheart for a ride into the amazing territory of over-privileged teens, Prada bags, and underage drinking. Say, doesn’t that bus go to a certain hotel we all know and love? I’m thinking yes. And there’s one person who happens to reside at that certain hotel, who we really know and love. And apparently, Lonely Boy is just another member of her fan club. Watch out, Upper East Siders. This little Brooklyn boy knows what he wants, or at least, who he wants.
As Dan walked into the courtyard in front of the Palace, he caught someone’s eye. Chuck watched as Dan sauntered over to the front doors, where Chuck was conveniently standing, smoking a cigarette. He threw the butt on the ground and stomped it out as Dan got closer.
“Why, if it isn’t Humphrey Dumpty. I thought you were blacklisted from this place.” Chuck eyed him, and pulled another cigarette out of his pocket.
“Give it a rest, Chuck. I’m not here to see you.”
“Thank god. Because just seeing you makes my stomach lurch.” C played with the unlit cigarette with his fingers.
Dan ignored his comment and walked up the rest of the stairs. He opened one of the huge double doors, but paused right as he was about to walk in. He turned back to Chuck.
“Watch it with Blair,” he said, giving Chuck a dark and protective look.
“Excuse me?”
“Blair is Serena’s best friend, and I know what kind of person you are. So don’t do anything you’ll regret.” The seriousness in Dan’s voice surprised Chuck.
“Who are you to judge me?” he replied bitterly. “But anyway, why do you even care? You and Serena are over. She doesn’t need you anymore.” Chuck gave him an evil half-smile.
“How would you know? You and Serena are best friends now? Have you taken advantage of her, too? Who do you think you are, Nate Archibald?”
Dan stared into Chuck’s eyes. They were dark, and glowing with fury. Dan gave Chuck one last glance, and raised his eyebrows, before finally walking into the hotel and letting the heavy door close slowly behind him.
Chuck stared at the door, watching Dan’s faint silhouette inside. Finally, he leaned against the wall, and lit his cigarette.
Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Blair walked along the lunch line. She picked up a low-fat lemon yogurt and placed it on her tray. She walked over to an empty table, and gracefully sat down. Serena had an appointment that afternoon, so she had left before lunch.
Peeling back the lid on her yogurt, Blair reached for a pack of artificial sweetener. She tore it open, dumped it into the pale yellow dairy product, and stirred it in.
Suddenly, out of the corner of Blair’s eye, she saw someone sit down across from her. She looked up.
“Blair, you don’t need to starve yourself just to look good for me. You’re skinny enough.” Chuck eyed her lunch, which consisted only of the lemon yogurt. He brought his hand up from under the table, and slapped a foot-long sub covered in plastic wrap down next to her. Turkey, with lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, and margarine instead of mayo. Her favourite.
Blair hesitated. “Chuck, there’s only six months ‘till swimsuit season. And there’s nothing grosser than a flabby girl in a designer bikini. That just looks pathetic.” Blair put a spoonful of yogurt into her mouth.
“Fine,” Chuck said stubbornly. Blair noticed a large gift bag sitting on the chair beside him.
“What’s that?” she asked, tipping her chin in the direction of the bag.
“Just a little gift I bought you, in celebration of buying you that delicious, and rejected, sandwich.” Chuck lifted the bag onto the table. Reaching inside it, he pulled out a plush toy that vaguely resembled a Cabbage Patch Kid. And that was only because of the Cabbage Patch tag pinned to its arm.
“What the hell is that?” Blair said, forcing herself not to burst out laughing.
“It’s a custom-made Cabbage Patch Doll I had made specially for you,” Chuck replied, setting it down in front of him. “His name is Chuckles.”
Blair looked the strange doll up and down. It had shaggy, dark brown hair, and strong, sharp features. It was wearing a miniature version of the St. Jude’s uniform, but with a tiny black, red, and white scarf around its neck. It completely matched the scarf wrapped around Chuck’s own neck at that very moment.
“It’s… supposed to look like you?” Blair said slowly, twisting her lips upward, forming her curt little smile. She had to purse her lips shut just to keep from spilling out laughter.
“It’s to remind you of me.” Chuck raised his eyebrows, a suggestive smile playing on his lips.
“More like to scare me in the middle of the night. It looks like a transvestite.” The eyes and lips looked very feminine, but the eyebrows were thick and bushy. An interesting combination.
“You should really work on your jokes, Blair. They’re getting kind of crappy.”
“I think that’s just from hanging around with you too much,” Blair replied, a wide grin spreading across her face. “Really, awesome doll, Chuck.” Sarcasm soaked her words.
Chuck’s little smile vanished from his face. It was replaced by an offended scowl. “I go to the trouble of getting you something special, and you don’t like it at all.”
“Awe, of course I like it!” The grin was still quite evident on B’s face. It was too much. “It’s just… um, well, you know. Strange?”
“Whatever,” Chuck snapped, pushing his chair away from the table. “I’m going to get a fruit or something.”
Blair watched him go, laughing quietly. She picked up the doll and examined it closer. Her fingers played with the scarf a little, and she flipped over one of the ends. Embroidered on the back of the dangling scarf were tiny gold words. They read, You know you love me.
B stared at the words, sewn on with such precision and carefulness. Chuck suddenly sat back down at the table, startling her. She put ‘Chuckles’ down.
On Chuck’s plate was a huge fruit salad. Bananas, apples, mangos, peaches, pears, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapples, strawberries, oranges, and just about every other fruit.
Blair supposed ‘a fruit’ had a much exaggerated meaning.
“Has he grown on you yet?” Chuck asked, digging into his food.
“Um, not exactly. We’ll see, though.” B smiled at him. It was kind of cute. Well, not the actual doll, but the gesture. And that’s what mattered. “But, hey, I have to go. I have a social test next period, and I want to be super prepared.” Blair grabbed the doll, stuffed it in her pink Coach handbag, and stood up. She kissed C’s cheek, and headed towards the doors.
“Later, Waldorf,” Chuck called after her. He winked.
“You know you love me!” Blair called back, just before she swiftly exited the cafeteria.
Blair walked along the lunch line. She picked up a low-fat lemon yogurt and placed it on her tray. She walked over to an empty table, and gracefully sat down. Serena had an appointment that afternoon, so she had left before lunch.
Peeling back the lid on her yogurt, Blair reached for a pack of artificial sweetener. She tore it open, dumped it into the pale yellow dairy product, and stirred it in.
Suddenly, out of the corner of Blair’s eye, she saw someone sit down across from her. She looked up.
“Blair, you don’t need to starve yourself just to look good for me. You’re skinny enough.” Chuck eyed her lunch, which consisted only of the lemon yogurt. He brought his hand up from under the table, and slapped a foot-long sub covered in plastic wrap down next to her. Turkey, with lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, and margarine instead of mayo. Her favourite.
Blair hesitated. “Chuck, there’s only six months ‘till swimsuit season. And there’s nothing grosser than a flabby girl in a designer bikini. That just looks pathetic.” Blair put a spoonful of yogurt into her mouth.
“Fine,” Chuck said stubbornly. Blair noticed a large gift bag sitting on the chair beside him.
“What’s that?” she asked, tipping her chin in the direction of the bag.
“Just a little gift I bought you, in celebration of buying you that delicious, and rejected, sandwich.” Chuck lifted the bag onto the table. Reaching inside it, he pulled out a plush toy that vaguely resembled a Cabbage Patch Kid. And that was only because of the Cabbage Patch tag pinned to its arm.
“What the hell is that?” Blair said, forcing herself not to burst out laughing.
“It’s a custom-made Cabbage Patch Doll I had made specially for you,” Chuck replied, setting it down in front of him. “His name is Chuckles.”
Blair looked the strange doll up and down. It had shaggy, dark brown hair, and strong, sharp features. It was wearing a miniature version of the St. Jude’s uniform, but with a tiny black, red, and white scarf around its neck. It completely matched the scarf wrapped around Chuck’s own neck at that very moment.
“It’s… supposed to look like you?” Blair said slowly, twisting her lips upward, forming her curt little smile. She had to purse her lips shut just to keep from spilling out laughter.
“It’s to remind you of me.” Chuck raised his eyebrows, a suggestive smile playing on his lips.
“More like to scare me in the middle of the night. It looks like a transvestite.” The eyes and lips looked very feminine, but the eyebrows were thick and bushy. An interesting combination.
“You should really work on your jokes, Blair. They’re getting kind of crappy.”
“I think that’s just from hanging around with you too much,” Blair replied, a wide grin spreading across her face. “Really, awesome doll, Chuck.” Sarcasm soaked her words.
Chuck’s little smile vanished from his face. It was replaced by an offended scowl. “I go to the trouble of getting you something special, and you don’t like it at all.”
“Awe, of course I like it!” The grin was still quite evident on B’s face. It was too much. “It’s just… um, well, you know. Strange?”
“Whatever,” Chuck snapped, pushing his chair away from the table. “I’m going to get a fruit or something.”
Blair watched him go, laughing quietly. She picked up the doll and examined it closer. Her fingers played with the scarf a little, and she flipped over one of the ends. Embroidered on the back of the dangling scarf were tiny gold words. They read, You know you love me.
B stared at the words, sewn on with such precision and carefulness. Chuck suddenly sat back down at the table, startling her. She put ‘Chuckles’ down.
On Chuck’s plate was a huge fruit salad. Bananas, apples, mangos, peaches, pears, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapples, strawberries, oranges, and just about every other fruit.
Blair supposed ‘a fruit’ had a much exaggerated meaning.
“Has he grown on you yet?” Chuck asked, digging into his food.
“Um, not exactly. We’ll see, though.” B smiled at him. It was kind of cute. Well, not the actual doll, but the gesture. And that’s what mattered. “But, hey, I have to go. I have a social test next period, and I want to be super prepared.” Blair grabbed the doll, stuffed it in her pink Coach handbag, and stood up. She kissed C’s cheek, and headed towards the doors.
“Later, Waldorf,” Chuck called after her. He winked.
“You know you love me!” Blair called back, just before she swiftly exited the cafeteria.
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