Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Nate met with Vanessa at 3:45 near the park to discuss what they were going to do. When they’d agreed on the plan, Nate went to meet Serena. Vanessa followed closely behind with her camera phone ready.
“Hey, Serena,” Nate said, approaching the bench she was sitting on.
“Hi.”
“Um, thanks for meeting me here.”
“You’re welcome.”
Nate sat down beside her. “So,” he said a little nervously, “I’m sorry about last night and everything. I just couldn’t hold it in any longer.”
Serena just looked at him,
“And,” Nate continued, “I’ve realized that we can never be together, but I just needed you to know how I felt so we could both move on. I wasn’t expecting you to say it back, either.”
“Good. Because, I’m sorry, Nate, but I’m with Dan, and it would just be too hard to ever be with you.” Serena looked at little sympathetic. Nate sighed.
“I understand. You love him, not me.”
“I never said I loved him,” Serena said suddenly. “I just care about him, and respect him too much to do anything behind his back.” Serena stood up. Nate did too.
“Well, why do things behind his back? I mean, it is possible to do things openly.”
Quickly, before Serena had a chance to reply, Nate grabbed her and kissed her. With his strong, muscular arms, he held her tight against him, his hands wrapped around her waist.
Serena struggled, but it was no use. He had a good hold on her, and he wasn’t letting go. When Nate finally released her, Serena was out of breath.
“Nate!” was all she could manage.
N smiled. “Why, Serena! I didn’t think you felt that strongly about me.”
“What are you talking about?” Serena looked shocked.
“I’ll call you later.” Nate smiled and walked away, leaving Serena standing there, astonished.
Once Nate was around the corner, Serena whipped out her cell phone.
“Blair? It’s Serena. Can I come over? It’s important.”

Nate and Vanessa were in V’s house, at the computer. They had uploaded the picture Vanessa had taken onto the computer, and were about to start work on it.
On the screen was a perfectly angled photo of Nate and Serena in the park, kissing. Of course, it was obvious that Nate had been the one doing the kissing, as he was the one holding her in.
“We can definitely fix this,” Vanessa said, examining the photo.
“How long will it take?” Nate asked.
“Probably a few hours. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
“Awesome. Make sure it looks believable.”
“Of course.”
After Nate left, Vanessa started work on the picture. Tsk, tsk, Serena, she thought to herself as she began clicking. Aren’t we unfaithful? But don’t worry; that won’t be much of a problem for long.

“And so then he just let go! I was so confused!” Serena chugged the rest of her coffee.
“And then what did he do?”
“He ran off.”
“Hmm…” Blair was scanning the Gossip Girl web site. “That’s very strange. And I can’t believe Gossip Girl hasn’t heard about him confessing his love to you yet. She needs to get with the program.”
“You know, I’d prefer it if she didn’t.” Serena went to pour herself some more coffee. “Our lives would be so much easier without our own personal paparazzi.”
“Amen to that,” Blair agreed. “But I guess GG doesn’t have much of a life, so she spends her days pursuing ours.”
“Well, at least we’re like the celebrities of the Upper East Side.”
“Honey, we’re like the queens of the Upper East Side. And this beautiful city of ours,”–Blair waved her hands in the air, gesturing around her—“is our castle.”
“I thought the Palace was our castle.”
“No, dear, the Palace is our palace.”
“It’s more like Chuck’s palace.”
“Serena, don’t turn this conversation into a scene out of Gilmore Girls.”
“Sorry,” Serena said, laughing. “But Lorelai would be proud."