A/N: This came to me while I was re-watching re-runs of Gossip Girl. I hope you enjoy it and please review! :)

Disclaimer: I only own original characters.

"Please tell me you aren't serious, Mom." Nicolette Emerson groaned into her cellphone as her roommate, Avery Butler, looked over at her.

"I'm very serious. This is a big deal Nicki," came her mother's reply through the ear piece of the phone.

"Fine."

"Your father and I have the perfect escort for you..."

"Step-father and no. If I am going to do this, I'll find my own escort and dress." Her mother sighed into the phone.

"Fine."

"Bye Mom." Nicki closed her phone and groaned as she covered her head with a pillow from her bed.

"Problem?" Avery asked.

"My mom... she's asked or more to the point, told me that I am going to be a débutante this year." Avery let forth an uncontrollable laugh as she took in what her best friend of six years was telling her. They had met the first day of junior high school when both girls, hopelessly lost, ran into their first period class a full ten minutes late.

"Shut up Avery."

"Funny, I never pictured you as a deb." Truer words were never spoken. Nicki was more the type to be in the shadows, perfectly content to go about her years at Spenser without having to do anything that would put an undo spotlight on her.

"Me either." Nicki sighed. "I need to find a dress and an escort. Who do you think would be willing to do this for me?"

"Bordy Becklin?"

"Would you be serious, please?"

"I am. Aaron Abbott?"

"He's dating Kira Snider."

"Who the hell would be suitable and single?"

"Reid Garwin and Tyler Simms. Though, I think for this particular event, Tyler would be the better escort." Nicki laughed softly.

"I would have to agree." Nicki opened her phone and sent a text Tyler. Avery's cellphone rang and she grabbed it from her nightstand. She looked at the screen and sighed deeply. Nicki looked up from her phone and to her best friend of the last six years.

"Something wrong?" she asked as she set her phone down on the bed.

"My mother. I bet ya even money that I'll be right up there with you for that debut." Nicki laughed as Avery opened her phone and put it to her ear. "Yeah, mom?"

"How are you doing, dear?" Avery knew the way her mother operated. Put on the niceties then hit her up for a favor.

"I'm doing fine mom. How's daddy?"

"He's doing just fine. The reason I'm calling is because I would like you to participate in this year's débutante ball here in Boston."

"Why?"

"Well, your father and I agree that is is important that you make a proper debut." Avery rolled her green eyes.

"Come on, Mom. When has daddy ever cared about the whole society thing?" Avery laughed softly.

"Alright, alright. I would appreciate it if you would. I was made chairwoman of the Ladies Auxiliary and I think it would be appropriate if my daughter be debuted this year."

"Alright Mom." She rolled her eyes again, but let a small smile spread across her face.

"Thank you, Dear. Now, you'll need to come to Boston this Saturday. Meet me at the Little Dance Studio at 9am sharp. You know where that is right?" Avery grabbed a pen and a Post-It notepad from the nightstand.

"Yeah." She began writing on the paper.

"You'll meet your escort there and afterwards, we'll go and get your dress."

"Okay. I'll see you on Saturday then."

"Bye, Dear."

"Yeah, bye Mom." Avery closed her phone and set it down. "Told ya. She already has an escort for me and everything." Nicki laughed softly to herself as her phone began ringing. She picked it up and looked at the picture of Tyler on the screen before opening it and putting it to her ear. She smiled.

"Hey Tyler."

"Hey, what was so important?"

"Um, I need to talk to you about something. Can you come by my room later?"

"Well, I'm not busy now. I can come by if you aren't busy."

"Okay, that'll work."

"Alright. I'll be down in a few." She closed her phone and set it back on the bed.

"He'll be here in a few." Avery smiled.

"Maybe this'll be the thing to turn your crush on him into something more." Nicki looked over at her.

"What're you talking about?"

"Please. Nicki, it's obvious you like this guy. Maybe you should go for it."

"Ave, we're friends. We've known each other since we were 10 years old." Nicki and Tyler had become friends in grade school, when, in what he thought was a fit of genius, Reid chased Nicki around the playground with a squirming earthworm between his index finger and thumb, threatening to put it in her hair. Tyler had 'accidentally' tripped Reid when he ran by, allowing Nicki to get inside of the classroom to safety. Ever since then, Tyler had been the one to help her, when he could, if Reid turned his attention on her.

"So? You like him... he likes you..." Avery quickly covered her mouth as the words left her lips.

"Wait... what?"

"Oops..." Avery got up as did Nicki.

"Avery, what are you talking about?"

"Um, I was talking to Kate a few days ago and she kinda let it slip that Tyler has a thing for you." She smiled. "So, like I said, maybe this is the thing to get you two together." There was a knock at the door and both girls looked at it. "Um... are you going to get that?" Avery asked after a few seconds of silence and no movement. Nicki blinked and shook her head.

"Yeah." She walked over and opened the door. Tyler smiled. "Hey." Nicki smiled brightly and stepped aside. "C'mon in." He walked in and she closed the door.

"Hey Ave," he said softly as Avery smiled.

"Tyler." She grabbed her shoes. "Um... I'll be back in a bit." She winked at Nicki as she walked out and Nicki sat on her bed.

"What did you need to talk to me about?"

"Um, I have a huge favor to ask."

"What?"

"My mom... she's..." Nicki cleared her throat. "Um... I need an escort to a débutante ball, would you please be mine? I'll owe you."

"I dunno." She raised an eyebrow and a smirk appeared on her face.

"I'm not gonna beg, Ty." He grinned.

"Not even a little bit?"

"No." Nicki smiled as he rolled his eyes.

"When is it?" Nicki squeed and got up. She hugged him tightly. Nicki loved the feeling of him in her arms and she quickly inhaled his scent. A combination of shampoo and a cologne she couldn't place, but she knew she would love to have that scent around her all the time.

"Thanks so much." They looked at each other and she cleared her throat as she felt the heat in her face and ears from an embarrassed blush that had overcome her in that single moment with that look. "Um... it's in three weeks."

"Is there anything I need to do?" Nicki moved away from him.

"Aside from a tux and everything to match my dress..." She paused. "Um... ballroom dance lessons." She cringed a little as his eyebrows furrowed.

"Oh come on, Nicki."

"It'll be fun Ty. I promise."

"Anyone except you and I wouldn't be doing this." He smiled and she hugged him again.

"I really do appreciate this, Tyler."

"When do we start?"

"Um, Saturday. There's a place called the Little Dance Studio in Boston."

"Need a lift?"

"No. Me and Ave are carpooling it." She smiled and Tyler's cellphone rang. He pulled it from his jeans pocket and looked at the screen.

"I better get this." He flipped open the phone and put it to his ear. "'Sup Reid?" Nicki rolled her brown eyes.

"So, what did she want?" Reid asked.

"Um... I'll talk to you when I get back. I'll be done here in a few."

"Alright." He closed his phone and looked at her.

"Sorry," he said softly.

"It's okay. Um... you need to be there at 9 sharp, Saturday morning."

"Alright." She walked over and opened the door. He smiled as he walked over.

"Thanks again, Ty."

"No problem... I think." Nicki laughed softly as Tyler walked out. She closed the door and walked over to her bed. Avery walked in with a smile on her face.

"So? How'd it go?" she asked as she sat on her bed.

"Fine. He agreed to be my escort."

"So, what are you going to do for a dress?"

"We have to go to Boston on Saturday, so I figured I could look for a dress then."

"What kind of dress does one wear to something like this?" Avery laid back on her bed and looked at Nicki.

"Ball gown... evening gown... white."

"Ball gown?" Avery raised one of her tweezed eyebrows.

"Yep. Big, pouffy... not gonna do it." The two girls laughed. "Where'd you go anyway?"

"Uh, down the hall to Crystal's, but she wasn't there, so I waited in the hallway until he left." She smiled and Nicki laid back.