AUTHORS NOTE: This is my first FanFiction so please bare with me.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except bits and parts of Layla.
Season 1 Episode 1
Hey Upper Eastsiders, Gossip Girl here…and I have the biggest news ever. One of my sources, Melanie91, sends us this: Spotted at Grand Central Station, bags in hand. Serena van der Woodsen. Was it only a year ago our It-Girl mysteriously disappeared for quote 'boarding school'? And just as suddenly she is back. Don't believe me? See for your selves: Lucky us Melanie91 sent proof. Thanks for the photo.
Layla Archibald scrunched her nose at the idea. Serena Back. There goes her life. Her brother Nate would be in epic heaven and then there was Blair Waldorf. Sure Layla and Blair weren't Serena and Blair but for a year Layla finally had a female friend and now it was going to blow up in her face.
"So has Nate, started thinking about college?" someone said to her father
"Well, actually I'm a Dartmouth man" Her father The Captain replied, Layla rolled her eyes. That's her father for you pushing Nate that direction
"Dad has always spoken high of Dartmouth, but I would like to check out the west, maybe USC, or UCLA" her brother replied.
"His mother wouldn't have it. Dartmouth is far enough away for her" her father said as Blair walked up
"Excuse me Captain, Nate can I borrow you?" Blair asked.
"Eh, sure. Excuse me for a second." Nate said
Layla looked back down at her phone.
Wonder what Blair Waldorf thinks? Sure they're BFFs but we always thought Blair's boyfriend Nate had a thing for Serena.
"What about you Layla?" the guest asked causing her to look back up.
"I don't know what I am wearing next week let alone what college" Layla said then looked up at Chuck Bass, Nate and Blair.
"That's our little Layla, were hoping Julliard. She's a triple threat in that area"
"Excuse me" She said and got up and walked into the crowd. She sat on the couch next to Chuck, making Blair's minions mad "So what do you think those two are up too?"
Chuck looked at her then at her phone
"My God you'll never believe what's on Gossip Girl!" Katy one of Blair's minions said.
"Someone saw Serena get off a train at Grand Central" the other one said.
"Good, things were getting a little dull around here." Chuck said getting a smile from Layla. He was right without Serena it was pretty dull but with Serena here she was going to be pushed back into being just Nate's sister. Of no importance what so ever.
"Don't worry Little Archibald, I am pretty sure Blair will still let you be a minion" Katy said.
Layla rolled her eyes. The two minions bounced up and scurried off to find Blair.
"Speak of the Devil" Chuck said pointing at Serena and Blair.
Layla watched the two across the room glancing to Nate every once in a while to see what was going through his head. It was a twin thing. Layla seemed to always know what was going on in that head of his. Same as him with her.
Her phone buzzed again. Wow Serena back in town Gossip Girl was loving it.
Word is that S bailed on B's party in under 90 seconds and didn't even have one lemon shot. Has our bad girl really gone good? Or is it all just part of the act?
Why'd she leave? Why'd she return? Send me the depth. And who am I? That's one secret I'll never tell. The only one. XOXO Gossip Girl
"Gossip Girl?" Chuck asked.
"Maybe" she replied smiling back.
Everyone always thinks that Nate and Chuck are best friends. They are but Layla's best friend is also Chuck. He always has been and always will be. Layla saw something different in Chuck that no one else ever did.
The next day Layla came across the steps. Blair, and her minions sit looking at what seems to be invitations. A blonde freshman girl stood nearby.
"Morning Ladies" Layla said
"You're late!" Blair said
"Whatever" Layla said then looked to the blonde "Whose the newest member?"
"Hi I'm Jenny" she replied
"Layla"
"I know."
"Not bad work. And here is yours… as promised" Blair said then handed one of the invitations back to Jenny.
"Thanks" jenny said
Serena walked up to them. This should be interesting Layla thought and then sat down. She was always down for a good show
"Hey here you guys are. I looked all over the dining hall for you" Serena said then looked at Jenny "Oh hi I'm Serena"
"I know, um I mean, hi, I'm Jenny"
"So when's the party?"
"Saturday and your kinda not invited. Since until 12 hours ago everyone thought you were at boarding used up all the invites" Blair said
"Um actually…" Jenny started
"You can go now" Blair said shooing the girl away
"On that note I am out too" Layla said getting up
"Where do you think you're going?" Blair asked
"Serena's back, you don't need me. I'll just go back to being Baby A the one no one really pays attention to."
Layla walked away a huge smile on her face. She always loved having the last word especially against Blair. She walked back toward Constance when her phone buzzed.
Did B think S would go down without a fight? Or can these two hotties work it out? There's nothing 'Gossip Girl' likes more than a good catfight. And this could be a classic.
Later that night Layla walked into the palace hotel to meet Chuck. She walked into the bar area and spotted Serena and Blair sitting at the bar
"I love you, B" Serena said
"I love you too, S" Blair repleid
Layla watched Blair leave then walked inside while watching Serena finish off the rest of Blair's drink
Spotted: At the Palace Hotel, S and B having a heart to heart.
Hmm, why so thirsty S? You may have won over B for now but we still think your hiding something.
"Not back long and you're already our starlet." Layla said sitting next to Serena
"Layla Archibald, always in the right place at the wrong time" Serena replied
"It's truly a gift"
"I love this town. I'm going to have to tell my father that he just bought a hotel that is serving to minors." Chuck said then planted a kiss on Layla's cheek.
"If you get a drink, they'll also be serving pigs" Serena rebutted
"I always loved it when you talked dirty" he replied
"Oh I've missed your witty banter" Serena said to Chuck
"Let's catch up take our clothes off and stare at each other"
"While you're doing that I think I'll just sit here" Layla said then flagged down the bartender
"What about I just get a bit to eat. I've been drinking on an empty stomach" Serena said
"I heard you didn't do that anymore" Chuck commented
"I heard that as well" Layla replied grabbing her drink filled mostly with cherries from the bartender
"Special occasion"
"Well, what about a grilled cheese with truffle oil? You do love truffles? Chuck replied
"Enough to know it's not on the menu" Serena said
"But then I'm connected"
"Only because I'm hungry"
"A? you coming" Chuck asked Layla
"No I am going to enjoy my cherries." Layla replied
"Suit yourself" he said and guided Serena away
Layla sat and enjoyed her cherries. She noticed a boy come through the door then recognized him from school.
"Can I help you?" Layla asked
"Hi I'm…" the boy started
"Dan Humphrey" she replied
"Wow, Layla Archibald knows my name"
"We have English together, you're a writer"
"And you're a performer" he responded
"And a people watcher" she said eating another cherry
"That's how you know my name"
"I love knowing everybody, well almost everybody"
"A loner"
"I consider more of a person with lots of friends. Nobody hates me but then again everybody hates me."
Dan looked at her confused. Layla loved doing that to people. She grabbed a cherry and popped it into her mouth. Serena came running out of the kitchen running straight into Dan knocking them both down. Layla chocked on her cherry laughing to herself
"I'm so sorry, are you okay?" Dan said to Serena
Serena picked up her purse and hurried off. Dan picked up Serena's phone and goes to turn to her only to find Layla the only one in the area
"Well here's your chance Romeo. Return the phone and maybe get the girl" Layla said
"What?" Dan asked
"You're hot for Serena, it's written all over your face"
"How?"
"People watcher. Now if you'll excuse me I need to see a certain Bass about some important business" Layla said grabbing her purse and leaving Dan standing there all by himself and heading to find Chuck.
And just when B and S had built a bridge…it all had to come crashing down. But dry your eyes" the Kiss on the Lips party is around the corner. And you know who loves Parties
Gossip Girl
The next morning Layla grabbed some shoes after changing into her running clothes. She spotted Chuck still sound asleep on his bed right where she left him. She grabbed a pen and wrote a quick note to him and ran out the door. She arrived at the park just in time to see her dad and Nate finish running.
"Am I Late?" she asked her dad and brother
"Yeah Layla we started early, you would of known that if you stayed at the house. Who did you stay with anyways?"
"I had a late night chat with a kid from school so Chuck let me crash in his pad" Layla replied
Her father gave her a kiss on the forehead and left.
"So things with dad seemed tense" she said watching her father leave and then turned back to her brother
"Blair and I had a fight and Dad wants me to fix it" Nate responded
"Do you want to fix it?"
"I think so, I don't know"
"Then fix it if you do and if you don't then don't. Its all really up to you" Layla said
"Thanks little sis"
"Always here to help, we Archibald twins need to stick together"
Nate leaned in and gave Layla a hug and went on his way. Layla walked back to the hotel. She spotted Dan walking out of the hotel a huge smile on his face
"Hey Romeo" She yelled getting his attention
"Layla hey" Dan replied
"So did you return her phone?"
"Yes I did and I got a date"
"Congratulations, you landed our town starlet. That's like dating Royalty"
"Thanks though"
"No problem"
She watched him walk away and went inside. She headed up to Chuck's suite and walked inside.
"How was your run" Chuck asked adjusting his tie
"I was late so I didn't get the chance to run" She said and walked over to help with his tie.
"So who was the guy in the bar last night" he asked
"Some kid into Serena" Layla said walking into the bathroom grabbing her dress. It was a short black and silver dress. She walked out of the bathroom all dressed with hair up and make up on.
"You always know how to make yourself better than everyone else" Chuck said admiring her
"I will take that as a compliment" she said smiling
"You always do"
Chuck and Layla headed down to the Limo. When Blair, Nate and the minions were in the limo they popped a champagne bottle open and poured it into glasses. The group arrived at the party. Layla stood at the bar with Chuck and the minions. They spot Jenny walk across the room.
"Who's the newbie?" Chuck asked
"Jenny, freshman" Layla replied taking a sip of her champagne
"I love freshman. They're so…"
"Fresh?" Isabel finished
"Anything about her on Gossip Girl"
"No" Layla said"But there might be after she spends the evening with Chuck Bass by her side"
The minions typed on their phones and then a ding appeared on hers
Looks like Little Jen might end up with a new boy and a ticket to the inner circle. Or will C end up with another victim? I told you I love parties.
Layla watches Chuck take Jenny up to the roof after a while. Then came in Serena and Dan. The crowd broke into whispers, discussing Serena.
"Layla hey have you seen my sister" Dan asked her
"Jenny?" Layla asked putting two and two together
"Yeah"
"I saw her earlier but don't remeber exactly where that was. She might be with Blair." Layla lied.
"Thanks" Dan said
"No Problem"
"Dan" She heard Serena yell. Layla watched them go upstairs. The next she knew they were all coming back down the stairs, Chuck holding his nose. Layla grabbed a rag and ran to him and the group ran outside. Layla gave Chuck the rag as they all watched Serena climb into the cab.
"She better not show her face again" Blair said
"I'm actually hoping she will" Chuck replied.
Layla looked behind her at her brother and walked back to him.
"You okay Nate"
"Yeah Lay, I'm good"
Layla gave him a side hug.