"Nate?!" Serena exclaimed.
Nate Archibald turned around to see Serena Van Der Woodsen walking up to him with a grin on her face. The kind that he was always happy to see and was almost never not attracted to. They were friends now and what happened in the past between was the past.
"S." Nate smiled. "What are you doing here?" They had just brushed shoulders walking down the streets of the Upper East Side.
"Im just getting some dinner. What are you doing right now?" Serena asked. He smiled and walked to her, "Nothing."
She smiled and they started walking. They didn't know where but when they saw a restaurant they liked they would know. It was about 8:30 at night and it would be good to have some company. "What's been new with Nate? I haven't seen you in a while. The last I heard about you was that you were dating Bree?" she asked curiously. He looked away and than looked at her, "Yeah I am, but its just weird."
Serena looked at a restaurant, "That one?" she asked. He looked and pushed Serena playfully, "Mind reader" he asked and stuff his tongue out at her. She laughed and said, "So what's so complicated with Bree?" They walked into the restaurant and given the fact that they are Upper East Siders and beautiful, they were immediately allowed to sit.
"I don't know, her dad and my dad didn't get along before. So it's not really easy for her to be with me. At first it was cute and she's great but I don't know if I can deal with that kind of relationship you know what I mean?" Nate said as he sat down. "Can't you talk to her dad or something?" She asked as she opened her menu. "I could but I don't want to do anything because it could get worst. Hopefully she'll tell her dad about it." He said.
"Im sure she'll do that eventually I bet she doesn't like being in a secret relationship with you either Archibald." Serena looked up. Nate smirked "Archibald? Have you been watching too much OC again? I know you love Summer but Serena." She flicked water in Nate's face, "Bite me."
The waiter came and Nate couldn't stop laughing as he kept trying to hit on Serena or as his hand brushed against her while he was trying to get their menus. He tried a couple pick up lines and Serena laughed and smiled and twirled her in the way that was gentle but not leading him on. Nate was used to this every time he and Serena went to a public place someone would hit on her and he found it funny.
When the waiter walked away Nate couldn't help himself he started laughing. "Serena come on, wear a mask or something!" Nate said. Serena laughed and said "Come on N, im on a date with you that would just be rude."
"I don't think your boyfriend would appreciate that." He said. "Carter?" She asked. "No the other guy that I've been reading all about on Gossip Girl and from every other guy that wont stop talking about how hot you are." Serena looked shocked for a second. "Of course Carter! You can be so stupid sometimes." He said. "Shut up!" she said and laughed, "Plus I don't even know what going on with that."
"He's an asshat, I don't like him." Nate said. "Asshat N?" Serena laughed. "There's nothing else I can think of to describe him." He shrugged. "What's wrong anyway?" Nate asked. "I don't know I think there's too many secrets and im just really ready for a good relationship. Everybody has secrets and I can deal with that but there just seems something shady about Carter and I really don't want to get hurt again." She said.
"I don't understand why you're going out with him in the first place? He's bad news Serena. I don't like him." He said. "Nate you haven't even given him a chance, he's changed." Serena defended. "How would you know that? That's what you'd think S but he hasn't changed." Nate argued.
"Yes he has, he helped me. He's been there for me Nate." She said. "Been there for you? Of course, because he wants something for you Serena." He said. "What could he possibly want from me?" Serena asked confused. "Look at you, that's an easy question to answer." Nate said sipping his coke. "Your good for my self esteem N we should hang out more often." She smiled.
"We really should. I feel like I haven't seen at all this year. I never really did thank you by the way for what you did for me last summer." Nate said quietly. "Don't worry Nate, your welcome. Plus it was kind of fun being your girlfriend." Serena smiled. "Its me of course it was fun." He chuckled.
That's what he liked about Serena she understood him. Even though sometimes she wouldn't get something she knew most of the time when something was bothering him. Last summer, Serena had pretended to be Nate's girlfriend so he could continue an affair with a married woman. She covered for him and defended him through his whole relationship with the cougar. She eventually couldn't let him go and he had to give up her financial help so he could stop his affair. It was all over Gossip Girl and Serena knew it wasn't his best moment she has had the worst moments of her life sent out as a blast of Gossip Girl.
"Not me Nate." Serena smiled as she sipped on her drink. "When are you going to break with Carter Serena? I keep thinking he's going to hurt you." Nate said looking at her. "I don't know. I think you should trust him. What if he doesn't hurt me? He's been really good to me." She said. "How has he been there for you, you guys only spent the summer together." Nate blinked. "Wait what happened this summer?"
"Nothing" she said looking away as she saw the waiter approaching with their food. "Yum!" Serena exclaimed. The waiter once again looked at Serena and tried talking to her. He told her how beautiful she was and how she looked like a model. She blushed. Another good thing about Serena was how she received compliments like this and was still so humble.
"S." Nate said before starting to eat "How did he look out for you?" Eating some of her spaghetti, "I don't know if I really want to talk about it." She said. "Its me, you can tell me anything." He looked at her hoping to insure her she was still his best friend.
Serena looked down and said, "He's helping me find my dad." Nate looked shocked, "You've been looking for your dad?" He asked. "Yeah that's how I met Carter in the first place. I asked him to help me find my dad and I think this time I may have actually found him." She explained. "How long have you been looking for him?" Nate asked as he started cutting his chicken.
"A very long time." Serena said. "Why haven't you ever told me about this before?" He asked. "I don't know, I was kind of scared. I was scared that if I actually told someone about it, I would have expectations. I would expect to find him and if I didn't I don't think I could handle it. I just want to find him and be a part of his life, I want him to be a part of me and Eric's lives." Serena said.
"What about your mom does she know about this?" Nate questioned. "No, I haven't told her yet. You, Blair, Eric, Chuck, and Carter are the only people who know." She said as she twirled her spaghetti on her fork. "What is she going to say when she does find out?" He asked her and she stuffed her spaghetti into her mouth. "I don't know what should I do Nate? I don't want her to get mad at me for even looking for him but I want her to talk to him too."
"That's a complicated question." Nate began, "Either way Serena I think your going to have to tell her, how is she going to feel when she finds out that you and Eric have been making an effort to be a part of your dads life and you guys didn't even want to tell her what was going on? Its better to be honest and talk about it than not tell her and never know what's going to happen."
Serena smiled, "This is why my whole life and all your stupid comments are for, you give the best advice." She said smiling. "What can I say?" Nate grinned. "Don't say anything, especially something stupid before you ruin it!" She laughed. Nate suddenly had a devilishly gorgeous look on his face and threw a piece of his cut chicken at Serena. He started laughing, "Its hahahahha in your hahahahaha hair!" He said dying of laughter.
He saw the look on Serena's face and suddenly realized, "Were in a restaurant, your going to get us kicked out physco!" He said laughing but stopped when he didn't see any signs of her showing that she wasn't planning on throwing everything in the restaurant at him, "KICKED OUT S!" He said grinning.
Serena looked around, "Damn it N Ill get you!" Serena finished her food, "I will get you!" Nate had finished his food already leaving a couple pieces of chicken and some of his pasta on the side. "Are you ready Nate?" Serena got up and brushed herself off. "Don't forget I am going to get you!" She said as she pointed to Nate.
They paid for their food, and left the restaurant. They were now walking home. "Do you want me to walk you home Serena?" Nate asked. "Of course I do, look at how dark it is, I can't believe you had to ask." Serena said as she put her nose high in the hair. "Sorry!" he said laughing as Serena punched him. "For the record Serena, If I had you I would never think of doing something stupid to lose you. Your something worth fighting for and holding onto." Nate said as he looked at Serena and smiled. Serena smiled back at him and said, "Just because your sweet doesn't mean im not going to get you!"
They got to Serena's house and Nate said, "Well Van Der Woodsen here we are. I'll see you later." He said walking away. She was walking into her house when she turned around and ran over to Nate, "Nate!" He turned around. She hugged him.
"Call me" Serena said, "I will" Nate said.