A/N: Hey guys, I had to post this again after my brother (He's 12) deleted it, I have no idea what else he did with my profile, but I hope he didn't cause anymore damage (sorry to any authors out there if he had reviewed anything badly). He also deleted my story "Never Look Back," and I don't have it saved on my computer so I'm sorry to the readers who enjoyed that story, but it is forever gone.

Anyways, this story starts off a day before Serena comes back from boarding school. During the past year Serena had left the city, Rufus and Lily had been dating, so there was no relationship with Bart Bass and Eric never went to the Ostroff Center.

Once Dan's father became engaged to Upper East Side royalty, everything changed.

He didn't know much about Lily, but he remembered Jenny telling him about how much power and influence the Rhode's women had in New York. He thought it was bullshit, but his sister followed these sorts of things so she would know.

He's gotten to know Lily and her family pretty well. Cece doesn't seem to mind him but hates his father. She thinks of him as a gold digger who has been a bad influence on her daughter. Lily had treated him well and their relationship had slowly progressed to motherly status, at least more than his biological mother who is still in Europe discovering herself. His relationship with Eric was strong as well and was probably his only friend at St. Jude's.

Then there was Serena Van Der Woodsen, the blonde he saw dancing on some table at a birthday party. It was disturbing but he was quite infatuated with his future stepsister and tomorrow was the day she would be back from boarding school.

XOXOXOXOX

As he watched Lily's penthouse become filled with balloons and a welcome home sign pinned to the wall, he was becoming overwhelmed with anxiety. Today was going to be the first time he would meet Serena.

"You're going to really like her Dan," Eric said patting his back with his hand trying to comfort him. Eric knew about his crush and thought he actually stood a chance.

His eyes found a perfectly put together brunette helping Lily set up.

Blair Waldorf

For the past year, their eyes would meet at events and charities he would attend with his father, but they haven't spoken a word to each other. If there was one word to describe Blair, it would be, bitch. Jenny looked up to her yet warned him about her which he finds to be quite ironic. She was currently dating Nate who could be considered an Abercrombie Fitch model. People looked at them as the king and queen of the Upper East Side. They were perfect, but he could see right through the bullshit. Nate was clearly distant and Blair seemed unhappy. He was a writer and he could notice little things others couldn't.

The guests started rolling in and he began chowing down the appetizers. It was another party in which he didn't know anyone and felt like an outsider looking in. The women were wearing over the top jewelry and dresses for a welcoming home party. All the guys were in suits while he was wearing a casual button down and vest with jeans looking out of place.

"Hey," Nate said. Dan turned around and found the blue eyed blonde staring at him. "I heard your father recently got engaged to Lily."

"Yeah, last week actually," Dan replied while holding a glass of fruit punch.

"Nate." Nate stuck his hand out and Dan shook it.

"Dan."

"I would've introduced myself earlier if I had any idea you were Rufus's son."

He noticed Nate's eyes trace elsewhere and followed them to find Serena walking into the penthouse. Blair's mom seemed excited to see her while Lily kept her composure. Blair herself was somewhat distant and their hug seemed awkward. His eyes went back to Nate and noticed him slightly uncomfortable to Serena's appearance.

It felt like eternity before Serena reached him. Her skin glistened and her smile lit the room. A part of him was beginning to feel grateful his father was marrying into this family.

"Dan right," Serena inquired knitting her brows together.

"Yeah, it's nice to finally meet you." Dan smiled

"Hey Serena," Nate said

"Natie," Serena yelled excitedly as Nate pulled her in for a hug.

Dan looked over at Blair and found her staring at him. There was clearly something on her mind but he was having trouble reading her. She wasn't even paying attention to Serena and Nate, her eyes were only on him. He was beginning to become tired of this game and was thinking he should just introduce himself, but then he realized he was Dan Humphrey, and she was Blair Waldorf, Queen B of Constance.

He spent the rest of the party getting acquainted with Serena and Nate while Blair was mingling with others. It was very strange to witness, he thought she would want to catch up with her best friend or even spend time with her boyfriend.

XOXOXOXOX

Once all the guests had left, he sat with his father and watched him strum his guitar while sitting on the white sofa in the living room of the Van Der Woodsen's.

"I saw you talking to Serena." Rufus smiled and nudged Dan's shoulder playfully. "It looks like you had a good time."

"I did, Serena seems nice," Dan concurred

"I'm happy that you're beginning to make friends with these people, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful. Stick to your morals and don't let them change you," Rufus told him leading Dan to nod.

He heard high heels clicking against the marble floor leading him to glance over and find Serena walking up to them in jeans and a thin long sleeve top.

"I'm going to the Palace, would you like to join me," Serena asked Dan

Dan was hesitant at first because he was uncomfortable going to a place where he didn't think he would be welcomed, but after half an hour of convincing from Serena, he gave in and agreed.

After taking a cab, they reached the lobby of The Palace and entered the elevator. This was his first time in The Palace and he didn't have a clue as to why Eric wasn't joining them. Serena explained that Eric was too young which caused him to become more apprehensive. The elevator stopped and the door slid open. In front of him was a long carpeted hallway with only a few doors. Once they reached their destination, Serena knocked and a smirking Chuck Bass opened the door while holding a drink in his hand.

To put it into simple terms, Chuck Bass was an asshole who only cared about himself, but he was someone you'd want on your side when things got bad. They knew each other pretty well from attending St. Jude's, but said very little words with each other.

"What is he doing here," Chuck sneered looking disgusted.

Before he could turn around and walk away, Serena grabbed his arm. "Well, we are going to be living together so I thought he could get acquainted with my friends, since he is family now," Serena said

Chuck rolled his eyes but slid away to let them in. Chuck's reaction was exactly what he was expecting. People at St Jude's act like Brooklyn was a place filled with paupers trying to squeeze their way into royalty. He's not poor, he's middle class, but that term doesn't exist to these people.

He had to admit the suite was luxurious, the living room itself was larger than his loft. Everything was well furnished and it looked like a professional interior designer worked on the room. As they reached the living room, he saw Blair sitting on the sofa chair with her knees crossed while Nate was rolling a joint on the glass coffee table.

"Why don't you pour yourself a drink," Chuck offered pointing to the bar

"Yeah, I don't even know what to pour," Dan replied

Chuck smiled while Nate looked amused. He glanced over at Blair who was looked as though she was trying to control herself from laughing at him. His cheeks reddened as he nervously rubbed the back of his head. He had never consumed alcohol before and the only thing he knew about was beer and wine. Of course he's heard of scotch and bourbon, but he didn't have a clue as to what it would look like or which one he would actually prefer.

"Why don't I get you some scotch," Chuck said as he walked towards the bar.

"Sure," Dan responded as he sat next to a smiling Nate. He glanced over at Blair who was scanning over his wardrobe and wrinkling her nose to his appearance. "I'm Dan by the way." Dan met her doe eyes

Her heart shaped lips curved slightly. "Blair."

Chuck handed him the drink and sat beside him. "Thanks." Dan raised the drink to Chuck and took a sip. He felt his throat burn which led his eyes to squint leading him to cough.

"Awww, you're so innocent," Serena said while Chuck and Nate chuckled.

"Well it's time to corrupt you Humphrey," Chuck added

"Have you ever smoked," Nate asked

"I've never been offered," Dan said

Nate and Chuck stared at each other and smirked. Nate glanced over to Dan. "Since it's your first time, a joint between me and you won't get you high, it took me my third time smoking to actually get high."

"So what are you saying," Dan asked

"We're just going to have to smoke more than usual," Nate explained while patting him on the back

"I'll get my stash and the bong." Chuck stood up and headed towards the bedroom

His dad told him not to let them change him but here he was, drinking a glass of scotch while waiting to smoke. He always thought he wouldn't let others influence him, but he forgot about something called peer pressure. Peer pressure wasn't something that people forced you to do. It was more of what everyone around you did and you feeling like an outsider because you wouldn't join them.

He's already feeling a bit nervous and guilty, but then he stares over to the blonde goddess and thinks, Fuck It.

"Blair, you're awfully quiet," Serena questioned with her brows furrowing in confusion. She then looked at Nate then back at Blair. "What's going on?"

"I broke up with Nate," Blair told Serena. Dan could notice her eyes looking very unwelcoming and her jaw clenching. "I'm having difficulty comprehending why you look so surprised."

"This isn't going to be pretty," Nate whispered to Dan

Blair looked over her nails. "Dan, I'm sorry to tell you, but your future step sister is quite a whore," Blair said as Chuck walked in with a bong and his stash.

"You know," Serena stated in a disbelief tone of voice while a smirking Chuck sat beside him

Blair glanced over to Serena with fierce eyes. "That you slept with my boyfriend, yes, it's actually pathetic really, taking the virginity of a boy helplessly in love with you and then running away. You really do exude class."

"I'm so sorry Blair, you know I love you and would never purposely hurt you. It was a mistake. Don't let some drunk night ruin your relationship, it's you he loves," Serena reasoned

Blair laughed bitterly. "I thought that was true once, it was before I overheard my mother talking to Anne Archibald this morning in the kitchen. See to our little Natie, I'm just some business deal."

His jaw dropped hearing the words coming out of her mouth. He knew there was something off about their relationship, but he didn't think it was this bad. Blair Waldorf might have been a cruel manipulative bitch, but he even had sympathy for her at the moment while his view on Serena was slightly changing.

Blair stood up. "Stay the hell away from me," Blair scowled at Serena before walking out of the hotel room.

Serena fell back against the sofa as her face was filled with a mixture of sadness and shock. Nate seemed mortified while Chuck looked amused by the whole scene. It seemed everyone was worried about themselves but no one was thinking to comfort Blair.

"Isn't anyone going to go out there just to check on her," Dan asked

"I think Serena and me are the last people she wants to talk to right now," Nate said. "And Chuck's, well, Chuck."

Dan shook his head and instantly left the room to try and catch up with Blair. Rushing through the hallway, he found her waiting for the elevator with her arms folded across her chest and her foot tapping impatiently against the floor.

"Blair," Dan said as he reached her

Blair rolled her eyes. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to see if you're okay," Dan said. "Seeing as how it seems you have no one to talk to."

"Yes, well at least it's better than having to talk to you," Blair scoffed

Dan smiled in disbelief and shook his head. "You really make it hard for someone to have any sympathy for you."

"No one is asking for you pity."

She looked unbreakable on the outside, but there was something about her that made him feel like she was actually fragile and breaking down on the inside. There isn't anyone in the world who wouldn't be hurting after being betrayed the way she had.

"Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have…..," Dan stated.

"been bent and broken, but I hope into a better shape," Blair interrupted softly while meeting his eyes and finishing his quote. "Charles Dickens."

Dan gave her a warm smile. "I'm impressed."

The elevator rung and the door slid open. Blair stepped into the elevator while looking at him curiously. She didn't say a word but never left his eyes as the door slid closed.

He turned his heels and headed back to the room thinking Blair wasn't as horrible as he initially imagined.

So what do you think?