*Disregards five-year jump*

Are You That Somebody?

Serena was awaken by the sound of her phone alarm. Shit! She thought, she hadn't meant to sleep over, she had to be at work early this morning. She shifted her half-open eyes to the perfect body laying next to her, he was still sound asleep. She carefully peeled the covers away from her body and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She slipped on the grey slacks she had worn the previous day over her deep purple Bordelle panties. Since she had no intention of turning last nights events into a slumber party she hadn't brought a change of clothes, a clean pair of underwear, or even a toothbrush. She sighed as she buttoned her silk Navy Blue Safiyaa blouse all the way up, she would have to stop on the way to work at least to pick up underwear and a blouse ...and gum, lots of gum.

He rolled over and his eyes fluttered open, he placed a hand on the small of her back as she slipped on her nude pumps.

"Hey" he said in his raspy morning voice.

She looked over her shoulder and flashed him a smile, "good morning sunshine"

He moved closer to her, propping himself up on his elbows to plant a kiss on her shoulder.

"Where are you going?"

"Work" she replied standing up and shrugging her jacket over her shoulders.

"you can't stay?" he groaned falling back against the plush white pillows.

She smiled shaking her head in the little girlish way that she always did.

"How about after you get off of work you swing by the spectator and we can grab dinner"

She sighed, "you know we can't do that"

He shook his head, "yeah, yeah we can't steal Blair's shine."

Serena had grabbed her bag and was heading out of the door, but seeing the look in his eyes, she sat back down on the bed and cupped his face with her right hand. "Nate" she started "you know I love you and I can't wait to tell the world that we're together."

"...Back together" he corrected smiling.

She gave him a look as if to say 'So I stand corrected.'

"But Chuck and Blair just got married ...I just think we should wait ...yo know just a month ...or two"

"two?! Serena, that's not what we agreed on, look I love Chuck and Blair but we shouldn't have to hide our relationship."

A few days after Chuck and Blair's rushed wedding they put together an extremely extravagant reception, at which Nate and Serena began talking and reminiscing about old times. At the end of the night they found themselves on the couch of the suite he and Chuck once shared, their sweaty bodies entangled in an all too familiar fashion. Since that day they had been secretly meeting as often as possible and Nate loved every second of it, but he was starting to get the feeling that Serena wanting to keep them a secret was more than just not wanting to steal her best friends thunder.

"We will talk about this ...tonight" she said kissing him on the forehead. "I'll come back after work, we can order in" She suggested.

He nodded reluctantly, "have a good day at work."

"you too" Nate also had work today, but being the Editor In Chief, he had a huge say in setting his hours.

Almost as soon as Serena threw up her arm a yellow cab came screeching to a halt right in front of her. "Barney's Please" she said as soon as she slid into the grey leather seat. Her phone lit up with Blair's name flashing across the screen.

"B!" Serena said excitedly.

"Serena!" Blair exclaimed "I've missed you"

Between Serena's new work load and her best kept secret she hadn't talked to Blair much, let alone see her.

"I miss you too, I've just been so busy"

"Dinner tonight?" Blair asked

"of course" Serena obliged.

Just then both of their phones rang with a text tone, it was a gossip girl blast, they both pulled their phones away from their ears to read it.

Spotted: S leaving the empire hotel in a hurry for the third time this week ...in could that be yesterdays outfit? Seems she took no time getting over lonely boys betrayal, but who could S be having sleep overs with? ...dare we say ...Nate Archibald the two were seen getting pretty cozy at C &B's wedding reception. Watch out B, with Nate and Serena back together, the heat of the Waldorf-Bass union wont last long. While you and Chuck may be the most scandalous couple on the upper east side S&N are without a doubt the hottest.

"S" Blair said in a tone that let her know she was expecting an explanation.

"Later" Serena said "The Carlyle 6pm"

"see you there"

Serena hit the end button and let her head fall back onto the headrest of her seat. This is exactly what she didn't want to happen, Serena knew from years of being Blair's friend that even appearing to outshine her would result in nothing less than a full on world war III.

across the bridge Dan was holed up in the loft for the third day straight scrolling through the gossip girl post, his heart breaking more and more with each word he read. he knew that after his and Serena's last conversation that they would have to move on, and he even expected her to do it first. but reading about it had hurt much more than he'd expected. he stabbed at the last bit of chow mien with his fork and tossed the box away widely missing the garbage can.

"hey lonely boy" jenny exclaimed as she slid open the door to the loft with Vanessa in tow.

despite his current mood Dan couldn't help but smile as he rose to greet his little sister and best friend ..or former best friend. He pulled his sister into a tight bear hug.

"Ow jeeze Dan" she laughed rubbing her arm.

"I missed you kid" he responded. She slung her bag onto one of the bar stools and headed into the kitchen to scour the refrigerator for her favorite juice, she knew Dan kept it in the house.

"Dan" Vanessa started setting a bag down.

"I'm sorry " they said in unison.

"I know that what I did was horrible" she explained further as she stepped in closer to her best friend. "but you have to know how bad I've felt about it ever since, you know that that's not who i am & i do anything to make it up to you & Serena ..& Lily and Rufus .." she said trailing off.

"I forgive you V " he said

she smiled and let herself fall into his arms "I've missed you!" she said, his arms wrapped playfully around her head.

"I miss you too"

"so " she said leaning back from their embrace "where's Serena, I have to apologize to her too"

obviously she hasn't seen the latest gossip girl post, or any of the about 100 that had covered he and Serena's break up over the past few weeks.

"I wouldn't know" he shrugged.

She gave him a questioning look as he handed her his laptop.

"Dan" she said her voice dripping with sympathy "I'm so sorry i didn't know"

he shrugged "no big deal" he heard himself lie. who was he kidding it was the biggest deal of his life. Serena was his first ..his first serious girlfriend, his first love. she had shown him life on the upper east side all while never once treating him like some type of outsider, but who was he kidding, he had to know that this would happen someday right?

girls like Serena didn't end up with guys like him.

Spotted: V & little J making their way back into Brooklyn. Maybe Lonely boy will be getting over s sooner than we. thought?

you know you love me

XOXO

gossip girl