Nate Archibald was waiting at the arrival area of JFK Airport. "stand up straight, Nate. I wouldn't want you looking like that when you see your old friend again" his dad, Captain Howard Archibald looked at him. Nate just rolled his eyes. He leaned against the limo, looking at the doors, hoping they would finally open. To his surprise, it did, and he was suddenly overcome with nostalgia. Walking towards them was his childhood friend, before he met Blair. The girl walked towards him, removing her aviators, and eyed him with familiarity. "Nate?" she said, running a hand through her long, wavy, brown hair. Nate's lips formed into a smile. "Dylan?" he said. "oh my god!" they hugged each other in excitement. "it's been so long! How have you been?!" Nate asked her. "it's been like, what? 12 years or something? Wow, you, look good" Dylan patted him on the shoulder. "you look good too, well, better from the last time we saw each other" Nate said. He couldn't help but smile wide. He looked at his dad, who was already in the limo. "you two can do that on the way. Come on in, we're going home" he said to them.
"so, Nate Archibald, what's going on with you?" Dylan asked as they got in. "well, I used to have a girlfriend. Remember Blair Waldorf?" Nate asked. "oh, her? What happened? I mean, why did you two break up?" Dylan asked. "well, it's a long, complicated story. She's gone to the South of France or something. I don't know. I just know she's out of the country. Well, how about you, Dylan Von Furstenburg? What have you been up to?" he asked, grinning. Dylan sighed. "well, I spent the next 12 years studying, of course. And for college, well, I got in Princeton, which is kind of a good thing. But I've always wanted to go to an art school and take up film" she answered, her eyes lighting up. Nate was amazed. She was no longer the scrawny, boisterous girl he knew when they were 5 years old. And all the more, he noticed that she was more beautiful now than the last time he saw her. "you've changed, you know" he said. "kind of. You however, didn't. Am I right?" Dylan chuckled then ruffled up his hair. "it's so nice to see you again, all the way from Paris. I bet you miss New York, huh?" Captain Archibald said to her. "I did miss New York. It's good to be back here. The cars, the traffic, the Upper East Side, seeing your childhood friends" Dylan smiled.
They spent the ride back, talking about what happened to them all those 12 years that they didn't see each other. Nate told her how the previous year had been for him, and that this summer, he wanted it to change. "so, things kind of changed a lot since we've grown apart, you know" Nate said. "things did. Like for my mom, she didn't really want to go back here. She didn't want to remember what happened the day she was about to leave this place" Dylan laughed. "so, where do we take her again, dad?" Nate asked him. "by the way, Dylan, your parents are having your condominium unit remodeled. You'll be staying with us for a while" he replied. "goody! This will be fun" Dylan smiled. The limo suddenly stopped. "and we're here" Nate said, looking out the window. They stepped out of the limo and went straight inside. "Nate, please show her where the guest room is" Captain Archibald said, then going into the parlor.
Meanwhile Chuck Bass stood at the sidewalk, waiting for his limo to take him to Nate's house. Being the Chuck Bass that he was, he looked at some girls up and down and then smiled to himself as he got in the limo. It was the start of summer, and he planned to go to the Hamptons for a long weekend, or probably for the rest of the summer. As he got out of the limo later on, he noticed some suitcases that were being brought in. "ah, Chuck" Captain Archibald shook his hand as he walked inside. "glad to be here, Mr. Archibald" Chuck said with a grin, then headed up to Nate's room. "Nate?" Chuck said, opening the door. He wasn't there. Chuck raised an eyebrow in suspicion. 'where is he?' he thought. He turned around and saw an open door. He walked towards it quietly, and saw Nate with a girl, on the bed, talking. As much as he wanted to barge in, and see his friend trying to score, he opted for the safe approach. He knocked on the door, and Nate sat up at once. "what is going on in here?" Chuck returned to his normal self, grinning at Nate. "Chuck! This is my friend, Dylan Von Furstenburg" Nate said. "hi" Dylan stood up as well, and smiled at Chuck. "it's a pleasure to meet you" Chuck kissed her hand. "I'm Chuck Bass" he said. "oh, Nate has told me so much about you" Dylan said. "as have you" he said, then looking at Nate. "we known each other way back, when we were 5" Nate said. "wow, then I don't see the reason why Nate shouldn't have you as a friend" he looked Dylan up and down. "so, the Von Furstenburgs. I know about your family. They travel all over, right?" he said. "yeah. As a matter of fact, they do" Dylan replied. "so, Nate, are you still joining me in the Hamptons?" Chuck turned to Nate this time. "yeah, of course. Dylan, would you like to join us in a weekend at the Hamptons perhaps?" Nate asked her. "yeah, great. I will" Dylan smiled at both of them.
Serena Van Der Woodsen looked at her phone. There was a message from Gossip Girl. It was a picture of Nate, with a girl, at JFK airport. Serena took a good look at the headline, then smiled, and left her place. Out on the sidewalk, she bumped into Nate and the girl themselves. "whoa, Serena" Nate said. "Nate, I'm sorry. Wow, uh, I haven't seen you in a while" Serena said, then looking at the girl. "you too. But then again, I hear something about you once in a while" Nate laughed. "oh, uh, Serena Van Der Woodsen, this is my childhood friend, Dylan Von Furstenburg" Nate said, and they shook hands. "so, are you new here in New York?" Serena asked. "oh, uh, I just moved back here. A lot has certainly changed since I left" Dylan said. "oh. Alright, so you and Nate go way back, huh?" Serena said. "yeah. Since we were 5 years old" Dylan laughed. "so, Nate, what are you doing for the summer besides hanging out with Chuck, and of course, Dylan?" Serena turned to him. "well, that's just about it. The three of us are going to the Hamptons, so, you know" Nate replied. "great. Well, you know me, I lock myself away in there too, wanting to get away from it all" Serena laughed, then smiled. "hey, Nate, I just remembered, I have to go to Bendels to pick up something for my mom. It was nice meeting you, Serena" Dylan said. "nice meeting you too" Serena said, as Dylan started walking away.
Dylan crossed the streets, going to Bendel's, unaware that someone was watching her. "where are you going?" someone said behind her. She turned around. There was a limo, parked in front of her on the street. The window rolled down, and Chuck appeared. "Chuck! Hey!" Dylan smiled and waved. "where are you going?" he asked. "oh, uh. Bendel's. My mom, actually, asked me to pick up something" she said. Chuck gave an approving nod. "how about you? Where are you going?" she asked. "nowhere. Going around for the meantime. Why not, I come with you?" he asked. "thanks, but I'm sure you have other plans. I don't want to get in the way of it or anything. I'll see you later" Dylan walked on. Chuck watched her leave, and cross the street. "take me to Bendels" he said to the driver, and the window rolled up in front of him.
Serena and Nate ate at a small coffeeshop. "she seems nice" Serena said, eating a sandwich. "she is. It's good to have her back here, you know. It's been a while since we last talked. Back when we were little, I remembered pouring sand all over her dress" Nate began to laugh. "she cried after that" he laughed again, and Serena began to laugh as well. "aww, that's so cute" she said. Nate just stopped and smiled. "I haven't seen you smile a lot ever since she came back" Serena said, noticing his unusual habit. "it just feels good knowing there are things you can go back to, you know. But don't get me wrong, I don't look at her that way or anything" he looked out on the street. "wait, you introduced her to Chuck, right?" Serena asked, wiping her mouth. Nate nodded. "yeah, he was there when we were talking" "great, at least she's aware of what to expect when she meets him" Serena said. "yeah, I guess" Nate nodded in agreement.
Dylan looked through aisles and aisles of clothes, looking for something to send to her mother. Her fingers running along the clothes, she looked around some more. "you know, you should get that blue sweater" she heard a familiar voice. Slowly turning around, Chuck was standing right behind her. "Chuck, it's just you. I'm guessing you shop here too?" Dylan asked, smiling at him. "I told you I didn't have anywhere to go at the moment. Besides, I thought I'd help you" he said, standing beside her this time, looking at the clothes in front of them. "I don't really need any help. Thanks" Dylan said. Chuck stood back and watched her look through racks. He looked her up and down again, impressed by what he saw of her. "did anyone tell you that you're beautiful?" he suddenly said. Dylan didn't say anything. "you're very beautiful, you know" he said. Dylan turned to face him. "thanks" she said, then looked through another aisle. Chuck began to follow her. Dylan faced him, stopping him in his tracks. "I've just met you, so please, stop it" she said, her tone a little more serious. "okay, since this doesn't seem to work. You, me, that little Italian restaurant at Park Avenue tonight, 8 PM" he said. Dylan shook her head, scoffing. "you really go for what you want, don't you?" she said, looking at him. Chuck stepped closer. "of course. I'm Chuck Bass" he said, kissing her hand. "I'll pick you up at 7:30" he smiled, then walked away.
By the time she left Bendel's, she suddenly bumped into Serena, knocking her bag off, and it fell to the floor. "Dylan! Oh my god, I'm sorry. I didn't see you" she said, as Dylan picked up her bag. "it's fine, it's fine. These aren't mine anyway" Dylan laughed. "so, I know you're Nate's friend, and I was wondering if we could get to now each other, since I knew Nate almost as long as you have too, and I could perhaps tell you more about what went on last year. I figured Nate already told you" Serena said. "great. Just the girls, that would be fun!" Dylan smiled. "come on, first things first, there are a few people I want you to meet" and she pulled her onto the street.