Chapter 41 -Part 2

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.