"Serena!" Nate shouted from the train platform when he spotted the pretty blonde girl exiting the train car. She turned and he smiled, unable to control himself.
"Natie!" She ran and jumped into his arms at top speed. He caught her and twirled her around as she giggled like a little girl. "I thought Chuck was going to pick me up." She said grabbing her bags and looping her arm through his.
"Well, the bride and groom were...busy with...wedding stuff." From Nate's uncomfortable expression Serena guessed at what the bride and groom were busy with, each other.
"Gross." She said, giggling conspiratorially. "So he sends the best man to pick up the sister. Typical Chuck."
"I wanted to." Nate said. "I missed you, it's been too long."
"Well if someone hadn't flown the coop after freshman year, maybe it wouldn't have been." Serena said teasingly. Nate rolled his eyes. USC had been his goal all along and when he found out he'd been accepted as a transfer student he had packed his bags and headed for the sun and surf.
"You could have visited, California is great. You would love the beaches." Nate lifted her suitcase into the limo's trunk and slid into the backseat behind Serena. "At least Chuck provided the limo for your arrival."
"Do you know what they do in here?" Serena asked checking for telltale signs. "He probably got off on the idea of us sitting in their special spot." Nate grimaced and joined her search for evidence of naughty misdeeds.
"How's Dan?" He asked after deciding that he would rather not know what had happened between his best friend and his ex girl friend on his seat.
"We're over, for good this time." She replied playing with a strand of long blonde hair.
"You said that last time." Nate replied and she stuck her tongue out at him.
"It's really over. He's dating someone new, well old, not that old just. Whatever." Serena moved to stare out the window.
"Who?" Nate asked, admiring the way she still tucked her legs under her when she was upset about something.
"Rachel Carr." Serena fidgeted with her hands, obviously upset that Ms. Carr had somehow ended up at Yale and managed to reignite a spark with Dan.
"The teacher? Gross." Nate wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"Better then a two timing duchess." Serena threw back, smiling.
"That was forever ago." Nate said scooting closer. "Besides do you remember the weaselly artist or the scam artist Southerner?" Serena swatted his arm playfully.
"Well you dated the future Mrs. Chuck Bass for like 12 years." She shot back. "And failed to seal the deal for most of it." Nate narrowed his eyes at her.
"Well at least I'm not related to said Bass." Nate answered.
"Only by legal document." Serena retorted. "Besides so what if I'm related to him. At least I didn't try to come between my best friend and his lady love while heavily inebriated." She was referring to one drunken night when Nate had tried to win Blair back, again, declaring that Chuck was cheating on her. This had led to World War III and numerous sleepless nights for the rather uptight neighbors to the Waldorf/Bass apartment. Not to mention Chuck agreeing to a lie detector test and Blair hiring a PI to follow him for the next four months.
"No, you just slept with your best friend's boyfriend." Nate meant it to a light, teasing response but it seemed to hang in the air over them. Serena's had opened her mouth to reply but had stopped abruptly. Not once had they mentioned that night since it happened and now, almost five years later, there it was.
"Nate." Serena started but stopped because she didn't know where to go, how to reply.
"Serena, I've been doing a lot of thinking and.." Nate began looking at her earnestly for the first time. He was interrupted by the limo's door being opened.
"Mr. Archibald, Ms. Van Der Woodsen. We've arrived, shall I call a porter to take your bags up?" The driver asked. Serena nodded and he went off, leaving the door open.
"Serena." Nate began again, determined to get it out this time. "It's always been you."