"Now that our parents are splitting up, I never have to see you again."

But the anger in Dan Humphrey's voice was to soon subside. After getting out of the cab with Georgina, his heart set on writing another novel; the true novel set in his heart he realised one thing. That those words could have cost him the best thing in his life as an Upper East Sider. The only girl he'd ever really loved, besides Blair; but the events of the past week or two had made him question even that relationship.

Slamming the door of the cab containing Georgina behind him, he swung his bag back over his shoulder. His mind was buzzing with fresh thoughts about his book colliding with those lingering from his unpleasant... ending with Serena. He began to stride down the streets of New York, only stopping to pick up a cup of coffee at his favourite stand along the way. As he neared the corner of the street, he waved a cab conveniently nearby to pull up next to him, something he had adjusted to since his increased outings to the Upper East Side. Climbing into the cab and setting his bag on the newly upholstered leather seat to his left, his mind began to wander painfully as the set off for Brooklyn.

He began automatically replaying the events of the past few hours; losing Blair to Chuck, plotting with Georgina and reuniting with Serena for a short while, even if it was just for her to destroy her best friend. It all seemed quite surreal to Dan, how much had happened and changed in the past week or two. What hurt him the most was what he would give just to go back to a couple of weeks ago, with a beautiful woman in his arms and his father still married, everyone living their lives with a certain sense of security and content-to some extent anyway.

His unconscious thoughts were simultaneously interrupted by a fierce vibrate, coming from the breast pocket of his jacket. He pulled out his cell phone, somewhat cautiously, and paused to read the most recent Gossip Girl blast. As he processed the information, the only sound being the odd beep of a car horn or the buzzing chatter or commuters outside, a sense of loss filled him. He had to scroll back to the top and re-read it, only then making it real that Blair had chosen, and it was not him;

'Spotted: B reuniting with Chuck in a casino in Paris. Poor Lonely Boy, didn't he know he was just little Jennifer in Angelina and Brad's on-going love affair? xoxo'

He remembered the last thing he had said to Blair; "I need to know how you feel about me. By tonight." He should have known that the second those words left his lips, he had lost her.

It wasn't until the driver cleared his throat a little impatiently, that Dan realised that they were parked at the side of the road, the Loft stood outside the window to his left. Paying the fare, Dan got out of the cab, once again swinging his bag over his shoulder. A crisp breeze swept his hair from his forehead before it settled back lazily over his eyes; it really was getting too long. "I've got to get this cut", he muttered to himself, ascending the stairs to the Loft. He replaced his phone back in his coat pocket, the new information playing on his mind. As he rustled himself up a quick snack, it had been a long day after all, Dan could almost hear the ultimatum he had given Serena in almost exactly the same place as he was standing. He could recall how angry and frustrated he was at her, but how much of that was fuelled by Blair's imminent rendezvous with Chuck after she'd stood him up? Finishing the last bite of his sandwich, he realised that his cell phone was buzzing angrily... it couldn't be another blast?! The caller I.D. displayed Nate's name, and he answered it, sighing heavily with relief; "Hey Nate..."

"Dan. Have you seen Gossip Girl?" Of course he was unaware of Chuck's departure; I guess he was busy moving Lola into the apartment.

"About Chuck and Blair? Yeah I-"

"No, about Serena. Weren't you the last person to talk to her?!"
Serena. Up until an hour ago he had not wanted to know, or cared for that matter where she had gone after her visit to the Loft, hoping to restart their relationship.

Unsure of what to shape his next reply into, he answered; "I don't know, I assume so since her and Blair aren't talking after the diary entries on Gossip Girl and-"

"Well what are you going to do about it?"

"What?! Nate, I haven't seen that blast..."

He could hear his friend pause on the other line, clearly hesitant to be the one to tell Dan what it had said.

"Well... it says that she's been seen leaving the city on a train...who knows where she'll end up, we know what happened last time- she didn't come back for 6 years." A flood of guilt gushed through Dan, no doubt that added to her feuds with Blair, his own declaration may have caused her reckless escape.

"Oh okay, thanks Nate. I'll try and get hold of her but I'm sure I'm the last person she'd want to talk to." He could hear the concern in Nate's voice, it was clear that when Serena left, she rarely had any intention in returning.

"Thanks dude, sorry I was the one to tell you."

"It's not your fault, I would have found out anyway." He said as he hung up the phone, somewhat pleased that he still may have a best friend who cares about him.

Pulling his ear away from his cell phone, the display showed one new message and a missed call- his father. He decided to ignore the missed call, certain that if it was important Rufus would try again. Opening the one new message, slightly unwillingly, Dan scanned the blast about Serena, studying the picture accompanying it closely;

'De ja vu, S spotted leaving the city on a train, and it seems she has a new companion with her. Who knows where she is going but from past experience, she won't be in a rush to return...xoxo'

Dan didn't recognise the man nuzzling at Serena's neck in the photo, but he did feel somewhat responsible. He must have known that without Blair by her side to help her, she might have done something like this. Pushing out the fact that he might have actually enjoyed the time he spent with Serena before he knew of her scheming, Dan knew that her own deceit caused this.

However maybe that was for the best? Maybe Serena's inappropriate plotting was simply making way for something that could have, or would have inevitably happened between them in the future, whether Dan's relationship with Blair continued or not? He fully regretted telling her he didn't want to see her again, that was clear. Blair didn't want him anymore, maybe he should have let in the one person who might have done.

He knew he could not carry on like this, constantly arguing with his own thoughts. Something needed to be done, or Dan knew he would only continue wondering what could have happened for the rest of summer. Before retreating to his bedroom, Dan pulled out his wallet and laid a crisp five dollar bill on the counter for Rufus. He began to clear out the receipts in his wallet, which had become was so full that the zip barely shut. He smoothed out a random receipt which looked tussled enough to be from years ago.

Except that it was.

It was from a restaurant on the Upper East Side, for an order of an appetizer and a $78 serving of duck.

The first girl he dated from the Upper East Side. The first, and only girl he had loved.

Now Dan knew what he had to do before he left for Rome, if he left for Rome.

He had to save Serena from her downward spiral.