A/N: This story starts before Bella moves to Forks, and during Season 3 of Gossip Girl. Reviews are appreciated! Please let me know if you are liking this idea ;)

*Infrared: Although our eyes cannot see it, the nerves in our skin can feel it as heat.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or Twilight. Those belong entirely to the writers. I am only working off of their creativity ;)

Infrared

Chapter One

"East to West"

.+.+.+.

Never really thought the day would come that I'd be forced into appreciating what I had, having been told only yesterday that I'd be leaving it all behind. I just sit in the kitchen of the beautiful Van Der Woodsen/Humphrey/Bass home, taking it all in and chewing on some leftover French toast from breakfast.

Everyone else has already gone to bed, content and not seeming to care that I'm suffering here. I have to leave it all. Constance and my queen status, my family (even though they all pretty much hate me right now), and Nate, who I can't seem to distract from that gorgeous attention whore, Serena.

With a heavy sigh and drop of my fork onto my plate, I scowl and shake my head. They're sending me off like I don't even matter. No one was even willing to listen to my side of things. I know I've turned into a pretty terrible person, but I'm still worth holding onto, right?

And could they send me any further away?! I mean, seriously? Forks, Washington. It might as well be a prison. The population there is like ten and there's no social hierarchy to speak of. They wanted to drain the monarchy blood running through my system and they succeeded. Congratulations everyone! I'll be a small town nobody. I can't even get a decent job with a fashion agency.

Do I really deserve banishment and torture? Cruel and unusual punishment, that's what this is. I get to go live with a cousin on my mom's side of the family. People I haven't even since I was like six years old at a Thanksgiving dinner. I don't even really know why they agreed to take me. I heard they own a tacky shop selling recreational gear or something. Ugh. Talk about lame.

Goodbye Gossip Girl, goodbye queendom, goodbye any chance of having a somewhat satisfying future. Tomorrow I'll be dragged to hell.

…

It's pretty early when dad wakes me and orders me to get dressed. He grabs my suitcase and I slip on something comfortable. I don't even really care what I look like. No one's going to notice where I'm going anyway. I run my fingers through my hair and fix what's left of yesterday's mascara.

No one's really waiting downstairs to say goodbye, and I try not to let it bother me. Wouldn't be much of a warm farewell anyway. I put on my coat, we make our way through the lobby and out into the freezing air of the January morning. The sidewalk's slick and I nearly trip, but dad reaches out to steady me.

I don't look at him and instead slide into the limo, scowl still in place and eyes glued to the window. That's when my phone notification goes off and I look down eagerly, expecting someone –anyone- to be sending me a well-wishing text.

Have you heard the news? Word on the street is that our dear Queen J has been banished from her kingdom in the Upper East Side. Who will reclaim the throne now? Bye bye, J. I do hope you value this last little mention from me. Starting today, you'll officially be a nobody.

XOXO – Gossip Girl

Well, anyone but her. I purse my lips and angrily slam my phone closed before looking to the window again. This crushing feeling settles over me. My world's literally falling apart. Everything I'd worked for is just gone. Everything's broken. My heart, my dignity, my freewill.

We arrive at the airport after a headache of morning traffic, and I step out onto the pavement with a slam of my Christian Louboutin heeled boots. I'm going to miss shopping with Lily, who recently added some designer items to my wardrobe. Once you go there, you just can't go back. I look down at my lovely shoes. They're the Mrs. Boulglione cutout with the red sole. My new favorite, actually.

I sigh and sweep my bangs to the side before following my dad inside and trudging up a set of stairs. Could've taken the escalator or even the elevator, but I guess he doesn't care. Go figure.

It isn't until we reach the line for customs and the time comes for us to part ways. He hands me my suitcase and I look to him with a sudden pleading. "Dad," I say, now desperate for a last appeal. "I'll do better. I'll try harder. Please," my brows crease. "Please don't do this to me."

"Sorry, Jen," He shrugs and then holds out his arm. He has the nerve to look sympathetic. "It's already been decided. We'll regroup after this semester and, if you show improvement, we'd love to have you back."

I look to his outstretch arm, beckoning for a hug, and I scowl again before stamping my foot and turning to put as much distant between us as I can. I don't even glance back at him or anything, only stand in line, hating the world the whole entire time.

'Thanks for nothing, dad.'

I look to my ticket and a feeling of defeat takes me. There's nothing I can do. Absolutely nothing. All of my accounts have been frozen and I only have 20 bucks on me for emergencies or whatever. Can't trade my ticket out, and I can't just stubbornly stay in this airport either. My dad would probably just buy himself a ticket and escort me the entire way like I'm a toddler. So, I totally want to avoid that embarrassment.

And I don't exactly have any friends left either. I don't think Eric will ever forgive me, and the girls I rule(d) have probably already moved on.

I have to go. That's it. They all won.

I get through customs, do some more waiting, and then I walk the terminal with my head held high. Just because I'm broken inside it doesn't mean I can let everyone else see it. I take my seat, thankfully at the window, and thankfully in first class.

With my chin in my palm as I lean my head against the window, I just stare as the plane takes off and the world becomes smaller. I watch in horror at the increasing distance between me and my life. I'm basically going to the opposite side of the world. Might as well be another planet.

After about six hours, I finally land, and they announce the weather on the intercom. It's raining. Surprise surprise. I heard it does that a lot here. I grab my carry on, and strut down the aisle and into the terminal. My relatives had better be waiting for me, that's all I have to say.

I look across the row of people waiting with signs, trying to spot my name. With a heavy sigh, I just shake my head. Really? Not here yet? Pursing my lips, I walk past and then suddenly stop when I hear my name being called.

And there they are. Uncle Rob and his son, Mike. They're just waving and smiling. How'd they even recognize me? With a shake of my head, I then think about how stupid it was of me to assume that they'd send someone to hold up a sign for me. Or even do it themselves.

'This isn't the Upper Eastside anymore,' I remind myself.

They walk towards me and I just raise a brow, waiting for them to speak first. I'm so above these people, family or not. They have absolutely zero sense of style. Looks like they got their clothes from Old Navy.

"Hey, Jenny!" Mike says with a lopsided grin.

"Been awhile," Rob says after him, extending his hand.

I scoff, "a hand shake, really?"

Unsurely, Rob lowers his hand and it goes into the pocket of his jacket. He shouldn't look so surprised. He asked for me, so he'll have to deal with me.

"Well," he holds out his other hand, "I'll just go ahead and take your bag. How was your flight?"

I just shrug and hand over my suitcase.

Mike and his dad exchange a glance and then turn and begin walking, glancing back and offering another set of smiles as I begin to follow.

"Your aunt Karen made her chicken soup. It's known throughout town." Then, before I can respond, Rob quickly adds. "You hungry?"

After a moment, I just look away. "Sure, I guess." Yeah, I'm actually starving.

When we get outside and begin our walk towards the parking lot, I grimace as I step into a puddle and look up to the drizzling sky, blinking away the drops of rain that fall into my eyes. Ugh. This place is gross. A depressing overcast, nonstop precipitation, and people who have no life. Outdoorsy, recreational people.

We get into the car, me sliding into the back and Mike taking the passenger seat. They tell me it'll take about an hour or so to get back, and I nod before looking to the window, determined not to say anything else.

As the scenery passes, I blink and tilt my head. Okay, so…it is kind of beautiful. The evergreen trees and distant mountains give it a sort of fairytale feel. At least there's one perk to this whole stupid thing: a pleasant view. Not that it'll make the weather any more bearable.

As we enter Forks, the welcome sign mockingly greeting us, a look of horror takes over me. I knew it was small, sure, but this is microscopic! Old, logger looking shops line the street, and all around I see these backwoods people along the sidewalks. I grunt and throw my head back against the seat, grinding my teeth a little.

This is definitely torture.

I thought I'd been prepared for this, but apparently not. Skyscrapers, highways, status, elite places, shopping districts, fine dining, a nightlife. It's all gone! Why haven't these people moved past the 1800's?

We go down the main road and turn into a neighborhood. Typical line of houses with a suburban look. Rob then turns into the driveway of a more secluded outlet where a two-story, log cabin stands on an incline. Okay, so, looks like the Newton's rise a little above the rest of society. It actually looks like a nice place. Could definitely be worse.

Rob grabs my bags and then leads the way up the stairs, me trudging up behind him and Mike following behind me. As soon as the door is opened, I smell that chicken soup and I bite my lip as my stomach grumbles. It's a pretty warm place too. There's a wood stove in the main room, where I hear the logs crackling, and there's a bunch of fur rugs on the floors.

I look down the main hall then as aunt Karen sticks her head out from the kitchen. She looks so much like my mom. Always has.

"Jenny!" She says excitedly before rushing forward with her arms spread wide.

I don't really even have time to react and so I find myself in an embrace, which I sorta stiffly return, forcing a smile. "Aunt K."

"It's so good to see you," she gushes as she steps back to take a look at me. "You've grown so much!"

I just shrug, and she grins wider.

"Well we can talk some more once you're settled, alright?" She looks to Mike, "will you show her to her room, dear?"

Mike eagerly nods, takes my bags from Rob and then starts leading the way towards the staircase. Seems we can't go very long without him trying to start up a conversation again. This boy likes to talk.

"So, I think you're really going to like the school. I'll introduce you to all my friends. I'm in the popular crowd, so you've already got it made."

I just shake my head and scoff a little. Right, like that's comforting. The popular crowd in this place might as well be the riffraff of homeless people in Brooklyn. I had sat at the top. I sat at the very top of all the most prestigious teens in Manhattan.

He grins widely and keeps on rambling. Wow. I can see how he and Dan are related. "I'm real excited for this next semester. Only three more days! And, don't worry. Dad already took care of your enrollment. We have like four classes together."

I ignore him and then when we finally reach the room. He opens my door and sets my things down as I inspect the place. It isn't too bad at all. A full size bed, plenty of closet space and a window overlooking those mountains. It might just become my sanctuary in this foreign land.

"Bathroom's across the hall," Mike says, and I just nod. Didn't really expect to get my own, but I hope he's prepared to deal with a counter and cabinets full of products.

He stands there awkwardly another moment before lifting his hand in a half-wave and then leaving the room. I close the door before walking to the bed and falling back across it. I feel like crying in frustration, but I tell myself I'm stronger than that.

I'm going to find a way to get back home, and nothing is going to stop me. After all, if I can get my relatives to hate me, what is Dad going to be able to do if they want to send me back?

I smile. This is so happening.