Chapter 1: Three Words, Eight Letters.

Life in the Upper East Side has finally simmered down after Serena Van Der Woodsen's near fatal car accident involving a certain politician. That is until Little J sets her sights on the scorned lover of S. Remember Serena: Little J isn't so little anymore.

Jenny felt his eyes on her as she moved through the crowd yet she never turned around to meet the gaze burning a hole in the back of her dress. She could barely see through the tears streaming down her face. The last thing she wanted was for Nathaniel Archibald to have to save her. He'd done it so often lately. She knew he was following her through the crowd trying to catch up with her. To maybe take away the pain of having her heart shattered.

Just as she reached the door she felt a hand clap down on her shoulder. She shrugged it off and continued out the door and down onto the busy Upper East Side street. Looking around she felt so claustrophobic she began to panic. She desperately wanted to get to her own house. Her own bed and just cry. If only Gossip Girl could see her now was all she thought. Little J and Damien finally broken up. No longer the drug lord and lady of Constance Billiard school in Manhattan.

"Jenny wait!" Nate called as he ran down the steps. When he finally reached her and put his hands on her shoulders he asked, "Jenny what's wrong?"

"Nate go back," Jenny furiously wiped at her face trying to get rid of the moisture she knew was ruining her make up then for the second time shrugged out from under his hands. "I'm fine just go." She felt the break down coming. She needed to get away. Away from Nate, Chuck, Dan and especially Damien. "Go!" Her voice cracked. That was all Nate needed to convince him she wasn't as okay as she tried to pretend.

"Shh," Nate spoke to her softly and gently. "Shh Jenny it's all going to be okay. C'mon we'll get you home and it'll all be fine." He pulled her into him and felt her body shaking, being racked by her silent sobs. "C'mon Jenny."

Nate signaled for his driver to pull up and carefully loaded Jenny in the limo before sliding in beside her. As soon as the door closed Jenny bent double and let out a sob so heart wrenching Nate felt his breath catch. Never had he seen Jenny so vulnerable. Not ever. All the times he'd saved her she'd never cried. She was always so in control. Even when it appeared her world was crashing in she held her composure. Now that façade was crumbling away revealing the true Jenny. The girl who was so easily hurt by the boy she thought she loved. Or so Nate thought.

"Jenny what happened?" Nate asked rubbing her back lightly. "You and Damien-"

Jenny cast him a scathing yet pitiful stare, "There is no 'Damien and Jenny' anymore!" There never was she wanted to add but knew Nate wouldn't understand and if he did he'd be all awkward around her. Jenny was in love with Nate and he couldn't even see it though she was obvious in the way she acted.

"Oh Jenny," Nate pulled her into him again and let her sob all over his Armani tie and Dolce & Gabana shirt. "He's not worth it then. You deserve someone who sees you for who you are. Who loves you for that. Who respects you and your ideas. Who's only goal in life is to love you, support you and protect you." Nate's mouth went dry for a moment. For a moment and only a moment he pictured Jenny wearing a white dress and walking towards him down the long aisle of a church. Then a car horn sounded and the vision vanished.

Jenny laid her head in Nate's lap and closed her eyes though tears continued to fall, "Nate why are you always saving me?"

The question surprised him. He'd never thought of it really. Saving Jenny came naturally to him. He knew he was meant to save her. He couldn't trust anyone else to. "Jenny I.." he hesitated. "I don't know," he lied. "You put on this act. Like you're so in control all the time. Like nothing ever fazes you. But I know you need someone to count on. Someone who is there to hold you up when you just can't hold yourself up any longer." He began stroking her hair. "I know you have Rufus and Dan but you don't let them in. You don't let anyone in. Except me. You let me in and now you can't get rid of me."

She let out a reluctant laugh. "You're like a puppy. You follow me around. You make me laugh but more importantly you're there when I cry. You're here." She felt a tear leaking out of the corner of her eye again. "Why is it I am crying with you here? If what happened inside happened when you weren't around I could have held it together long enough to finish the event before going home and.." She paused for a moment. "Before calling you," she added quietly.

"Nate stroked her hair, "It's because you know you can trust me. I'm not going to tip off Gossip Girl. I'm going to listen and not tell a soul."

Jenny felt like her heart was breaking hearing him talk about them like it was all so simple. Like she didn't secretly hate any girl he went on a date with. Like she didn't sabotage every relationship she'd had because it was never Nate she was kissing. Nate whose hand she grabbed and laughed with on the Brooklyn Bridge. Nate who grabbed her around the waist and kissed her in the middle of Central Park when it was pouring rain.

"Nate I have something to say," she whispered as they pulled up in front of her building in the Upper East Side. She looked him in the eye for another long second before saying, "I love you." And with that Little J bolted from the back of the limo leaving Nate staring after her with his mouth hanging open.