Secret
Current Title: Secret
Story Summary: When they told him should have told him not to tell what they said. Now, two can keep this secret 'cause Dan Humphrey is dead.
Genre: Romance/Mystery
Rating: T/PG-13 for character death, language, crude humor, and possibly some mild adult content. This may push the envelope on M later on depending on where the idea takes me. You are forewarned.
Author's Starting Notes: So, um, this idea was really blur-blam-type for me. I don't know what is going on in my head, and I certainly don't know if I can pull this off. But, I sure as hell hope someone will bare witness to either my amazing success, or horrible failure, right now and over the course of the next few months. I'm literally writing this seconds after the idea has soaked in. I got this actually a few months ago and wrote down a bunch of tidbits from scenes. Turns out, all those tidbits, yeah, they make up the teaser/preface before you. Read and review. With an idea like this, I don't just crave feedback; I need it.
This chapter jumps around a lot, and the entire story takes place in senior year. This is after the entire season one. However, this disregards season two. As much as I like how the new season is going so far, it doesn't play into this.
By the way, I don't write obituaries. Neither does Gossip Girl for that matter. It's more like a cruel joke by the gossiping bitch. So, excuse me if it doesn't fit the usual guidelines.
Time Stamp: September 17th, 2008
Chapter One:
November 19th, 2008 - Twelve Noon
What a day Upper East Siders, what a day. Never did I think I'd be doing an obituary for anything other than B's social life, yet someone has caught our attention enough for me to write one.
NotSoLonelyBoy, under the legal age, "man" candy of Serena van der Woodsen, is dead. They say some secrets are worth dying for. And on the Upper East Side, that is all too true as far as Dan is concerned. What GossipGirl wants to know is, what did he know? Who did he learn it from? And where can I get the deets? Did you really think I was saying this out of the kindness of my heart? I don't think so. For once, I'm out of the loop, and I won't rest until I learn what's up. You can ask S, guys; you can't keep secrets from the ones you love, and we all love GossipGirl.
XOXO.
November 16th, 2008 - Ten PM
There it was.
Oozing.
Dripping.
Pulsating.
She couldn't tear her eyes away.
Nearly every inch of the previously beige carpet had gotten a paint job from something much more traumatizing. The glass table that had for a short time graced the center of the room had a new centerpiece. Trust me, though; a vase of roses would definitely be the better choice.
Two people stood wide-eyed staring at the body wordlessly as pure panic ran through their veins. Neither wanted to check nor think about how it happened. All that mattered was that it had. The truth was in the air, anyway. The only thing that could even register inside their cloudy heads was a simple question of five words.
What had they just done?
Eight PM
"Hello everyone, this is the voicemail of Dan, uh, Daniel… Daniel Humphrey. I'm not at the phone now, obviously, but you can leave a message, if you want, which you probably should, or I won't know who's calling…. Yeah, um, bye,"
"Damn, voicemail again. Well, hey, Dan, it's me. I wasn't sure how I'd tell you this. I'm still not even sure if I should right now because I like literally just found out a little while ago. I'm going to say it anyway though before I change my mind, hang up, and order you to erase this message. Um, well, Dan…. I'm pregnant! Call me back soon. We've got a lot to talk about."
Four PM
Daniel Humphrey sat on his bed, headphones in his ears, eyes closed. It had not been his best day so far. He couldn't even think of a single thing that could make the day worse.
A soft tap came on the window a little ways away, but he didn't hear it. Following that, the window opened and two figures walked through with very unpleasant expressions on their faces. One of them reached forward and removed his headphones.
Dan opened his eyes ready to yell at his sister, but found that the person before him was definitely not Jennifer Humphrey. He suppressed a groan seeing who it was.
"What is it now?" he asked impatiently. The figure on the right looked pissed. They showed how angry they were a second later when they grabbed fiercely at his collar and started spitting out threats.
"Don't you dare take a tone with us, you rotten little as-"
"Hey, cool it," the figure on the left said, "Look, Dan, you can either come with us quietly, or not,"
"Keep in mind that the quiet one keeps you alive," the figure on the right said
"Are you being serious, or just joking around?" Dan asked
"You'll find out if you start screaming," Righty said, a devious look on their face
"Fine, I'm coming," Dan said heading towards the fire escape.
Five PM
Dan looked around as the car rode down the street. He wouldn't say anything until they did. He wasn't even sure why he was with them. What was the point in dragging him out of his room if all they'd do was sit there silently?
"You told someone, didn't you, Dan?" Righty asked from the passenger seat not even bothering to look at him.
"Why would I tell someone? What would I gain from that?" Dan asked
"Who knows? The fact of the matter is that someone knows and neither of us told," Righty said
"I didn't tell anyone. I swear," Dan said
"You swore you wouldn't tell too," Righty said
"And I didn't break that. I don't swear and then double cross," Dan said
"Are you sure about that?" Righty asked turning to look at him. It was then Dan noticed how truly serious Righty looked. This was so not good.
Two people sat on a plush comforter in an immaculately decorated bedroom. The female in the party looked stressed beyond belief, while the male looked as if he'd just gotten back from the spa. A silence covered them until the female decided to speak.
"Gosh, I cannot believe I am in this situation,"
"Can you honestly say you're surprised? You are oh so good at betraying trust for someone who's supposedly good and refined,"
"Shut it!"
"Aww, it was a joke. Lighten up,"
"How can I?"
"Well, I do have a way that'll relieve that stress very quickly,"
"No, Chuck. Gross,"
"What? I was talking about a trip to the spa. You know, run away and forget your little boyfriend for a while. Hey, maybe when you return you'll even have a better plan than the one you have now,"
"My plan is fool proof,"
"Your plan is calling him and hanging up if he answers,"
"I like it,"
"But I'm sure Daddy-to-be-won't,"
"Why did I tell you in the first place what was going on?"
"Because family looks out for family. Where would I be if I let my dear Godchild grow up without a father?"
"You're not the Godfather, nor are you in any way related to my nonexistent baby,"
"Nonexistent?"
"Yes, I'm not pregnant,"
"You'll know for sure in a few minutes,"
"It's going to be negative, I know it,"
"Right, of course it will,"
November 18th, 2008 - Midday
Jennifer Humphrey walked into the loft after a nice long jog around the town. She looked inside for her brother or father, but saw neither in the front. She didn't expect Dan in the front, anyway. She hadn't seen nor heard word from her brother in twenty-four hours. However, she didn't blame him. She said some nasty things to him the day before. She shouldn't have even said anything. She decided that she needed to tell him how sorry she was.
She knocked on the garage door that separated their two bedrooms.
"Dan, I'm back. I didn't come over here just to tell you that though. I'm actually really sorry about what I said earlier. I shouldn't have been listening in… again. Can you forgive me?" she asked into the door. There was no response.
'Great, he's giving me the cold shoulder,' she thought leaning against the metal.
She instantly recoiled. It was freezing, yet the air was on…. Curiosity got the better of her and she pushed up the door to find no one there and the window wide open. His sheets were rumpled, his cell phone lay abandoned on the side table, and his pricey headphones were on the ground in what had to be a forced position. Something didn't feel right about the situation. So, Jenny did what any reasonable person would do when confronted with something they weren't sure about.
"Dad!" she screamed
November 18th - 7:35 PM
Ring-Ring!
"Hello?"
"Hey, Alyson?"
"Yeah, Rufus?"
"Yup. Is Dan there right now?"
"No, he's not. I'm not scheduled to see him or Jenny for another week,"
"Oh…"
"Why? What's wrong?"
"We haven't seen Dan in a little over a day. No one has and we're getting worried,"
"He's probably just with Serena, Rufus,"
"For a day? And without his cell phone?"
"Yeah, you're right. I'll catch the next train and we can look together tomorrow. Just try not to worry too much,"
"I'll try, Al. I'll try,"
November 19th, 2008 - Three AM
Rufus Humphrey and his ex-wife, Alyson, waited with baited breath by the phone. They'd called the police a little while after getting the sinking feeling that it was more than a guy just spending time with his girlfriend. They hadn't heard word since then. After exhausting list after list of possibilities, the only thing they could think to do was wait patiently.
"Here," Rufus said as he walked back in the living area with a cup of tea for Alyson. She accepted it gratefully and took a small sip allowing the hot liquid to calm her a bit.
Alyson had always believed she was prepared for anything. Sadly, there was not a single thing in the world that could prepare a person for what was about to come.
The phone rang and she had picked it up instantly.
"Hello, Dan?" she asked
"Um, no, ma'am. Is this the Humphrey residence?" asked a man who sounded a little too stiff to have good news
"Yes. Who may I ask is calling?" she asked
"This is Officer Mohr. I'm calling in regards to your missing persons report. Um, we have a small situation," the man said
"And that would be what exactly?" she asked
"Would you be a parent of the missing boy?" he asked
"Yes. He's my son. What's going on?"
"We believe we've found your son, ma'am… in the river,"
A strange sound that sounded like a mixture of a sob and a gasp escaped Alyson as she dropped the phone to the ground. Tears welled up in her eyes, her throat constricted, and the only thing she could think to do was turn into her ex-husband and cry. Her baby….
Rufus looked confused as she buried her head into his chest. He picked up the phone and needed only to catch a few words to know what exactly had her breaking down. He wrapped his arms around her slowly as his brows furrowed and silent teardrops began cascading down his face. He could only hope that it wasn't Dan they'd found.
"We'll go in the morning," he whispered
"No," she squeaked, "Now. I want to go now,"
He understood what she wanted, and grabbed a piece of paper to leave a note for Jenny.
4:16 AM
Their feet echoed eerily in the vast and desolate halls of the station. Everything surrounding the three walking people was bare and grim. Rufus had never felt more out of place in his life.
He didn't deserve to be there. Alyson didn't deserve to be there. And, his son sure as hell didn't deserve to be there. Not that, Rufus thought it was Dan in the river. He was almost positive it wasn't actually. His son was a good boy that didn't get involved with anything bad. The worst he'd ever done was snap at his mother during Thanksgiving. There was no way it was Dan. There was maybe a two percent chance that his son was the lifeless corpse under the blanket at the end of the hall.
Sadly, two percent was all that was necessary.
Author's Note: Feel free to review now people. I'd love to hear what you're thinking. I'm not completely sure about this idea, and I'm writing what (I hope) will become my book one day, so, I need to know if I should fully take on this story or not. So, drop a line even if it's just saying "Yeah, I read it, write more". I'd appreciate more than that, but either way it lets me know this isn't for nothing.
(c) Everything written above belongs to me (FF user, Paint Me a Symphony) if somebody is out there pushing this as their own. They are lying. I may not own Gossip Girl or its characters, but I do own this.
