I once wrote a story similar to this, but after having several writing classes and improving my work, I decided to re-create one of my own stories

in order to bring better reading to readers. Hope you enjoy.

I do not own Gossip Girl or any of the characters.


Nate Archibald walked down the street and blinked as the cold wind stung his eyes. Rubbing his glove covered hands together, he sighed. He could do with a coffee right now...

"Ouch."

Looking down, if only slightly, Nate realized he had bumped into someone. A girl. No, a woman. She had tied back blonde hair and bright blue eyes that were glistening with amusement. She was really stunning.

"Hey, I'm so sorry." Nate decided he should be the one to apologize, because he obviously wasn't looking where he was going if he didn't notice her in the first place.

The girl smiled and waved it off. "It's no problem."

Nate nodded. For some reason, he felt awkward. Here he was, standing in front of a gorgeous girl, unsure of what to say. I mean, they'd only just met thirty seconds ago, but he had this need inside of him to ask her out. You could start by introducing yourself, a voice in his head sung.

Before he had the chance, however, the girl told him her name.

"I'm Jenny."

Wow. Her voice was amazing. Slightly raspy, but not in a manly way. Like a woman. A woman who knows what she wants. She wants you to speak, idiot.

"Nate. Nate Archibald."

"Nate." Jenny repeated, seeming happy. It was quite adorable. "Well, Nate. Do you want to go for a coffee?"

He felt a blush rise up on his cheeks. Seriously? What are you, twelve? He must of looked ridiculous to her, but he couldn't help it. He felt so stupid. He'd turned from a normally confident young man into a blushing boy too afraid to ask a girl out within minutes. It was like being in high school all over again. Or worse, considering you did pretty well with girls in high school.

"Earth to Nate?" Jenny said. It was like he'd known her for years as she jokingly waved her arm in front of his face. He snapped out of his weird moment and smiled.

"A coffee would be great."


Twenty minutes later, and they had settled down to have their coffee. He was so nervous, he had forgotten what he normally ordered and chosen something randomly off of the menu. Jenny had decided to have some waffles, too, which made Nate think this could be more like a date than a coffee. Unless she was just hungry, which was also an option? And the most logical explanation,

Since she only met you a quarter of an hour ago.

Nate ignored himself and decided to speak up and show Jenny the real Nate Archibald. Cool, calm, collected...

"You've got pretty eyes." Pretty?! I take back what I said earlier about you being twelve. You're not even five.

Jenny, hands around her mug, blushed, evening things out between them. She reached up and tucked a fallen strand of hair behind her ear, and Nate could feel butterflies in his stomach. Man, you've got it bad.

"Thanks, I was going to say the same thing about you."

She may like you as much as you like her. Play it cool. Nate decided to lean back in his chair and took in a deep breath.

"So, Jenny, what do you do?"

Jenny grinned. It was magical. It made him want to lean forward and kiss her. You're moving very fast, today, Mr. Archibald. I think I might like it.

"I'm a fashion designer, actually." She had a day-dreamy, passionate look as she spoke, "I have this little store. It's not very big, but it's something."

"You must have a lot of money to own a store." One: that is the most stupid thing you've ever said. Two, I take back what I said about liking this version of you. Nate quickly tried to make things better. "I mean, of course, because you're in the UES, but..." He trailed off. He was useless.

Apparently Jenny didn't think so. She laughed.

"I got a loan." She said it with no trouble, but Nate noticed something in her eyes. A sadness, maybe.

Before he could ask her another question, her phone began to ring. It made her jump, and she spilt her coffee on the table. Looking unsure whether or not to answer the call, Nate gestured to her phone.

"Take it, I've got this." Finally, you're getting back to your old self. The charming, helpful gentleman.

Nate picked up his napkin and began dabbing at the table as Jenny walked a couple of feet away. He could still hear her, but tried to ignore it. He couldn't, though, because of what she was saying.

"Carter? Where are you?" She sounded genuinely concerned, and that's when it hit Nate. She has a boyfriend. He didn't even think to ask her. His heart broke as he heard a mumble. It was the person on the other end of the phone.

"Whose?" Jenny said, looking confused. She tilted her head, something cute that Nate would never have the chance of seeing again after she left the building. She probably only asked him out for a coffee to be nice for bumping into him. Nothing more.

Jenny paused. Another mumble.

"Okay," Jenny turned, facing Nate. He quickly turned away, humiliated that she caught him eavesdropping on her private conversation. Well, it wasn't your fault she was speaking loudly, was it? "Uh, look, Carter, I have to go. You're okay?"

She stopped to listen, and then smiled at Nate. Nate smiled back, nervously.

"Absolutely," She replied to the other person on the end of the phone. Carter. Afterwards, she hung up, walking back to the table. She glanced at it, noticing it was now dry. "You cleaned it! Thank you!"

Looking at her, face to face, eyes locked, he couldn't help himself. It came out without him being able to stop it. "Was that your boyfriend?"

Jenny let out a half laugh. Shaking her head, she took her seat, nodding at Nate to do the same. He did. It looked like he'd misunderstood and things were looking up for him and Jenny. Again.

"Carter is my brother," She said, "He's quite a bit older than me, five years, but we're close. My parents always thought it was odd. Not that I care what they think."

"Why not?" He knew he was still being nosy, but he wanted to get to know her. That was what people normally did on dates.

She didn't seem to mind, because she sat forward and bit her lip. "I kind of don't speak to them anymore."

"That must hurt." Nate said, feeling sorry for her. Not in the pity way. In the way where he wanted to pull her into a hug and tell her he'd love her forever. Too soon, Nate. Too soon.

"Well..." Jenny looked down, "I know we've only just met, but I really like you, Nate, but I'm kind of worried if I tell you this, I'll scare you off."

He looked her right in the eye again, unable to help himself. He knew instantly that whatever it was, he wouldn't run. He'd stay, and ask her out on a date. In fact, he'd ask her on several. Knowing that she had confessed to liking him made the butterflies flutter. Louder, this time. "Tell me. I promise I won't react badly."

"I don't speak to my parents because they disowned me. I was seventeen, and I had this best friend. We met when we were five, and I knew then he was my soul mate. But when we were older, he got a little messed up. He hated everyone around him, his dad, and his step-mom. Everyone but me..."

She swallowed and Nate knew it was coming to the part she was afraid of telling him.

"Go on."

"One night, we were lying in his bed. Not in a creepy way, but it was something we did. It was our quiet time, where we could just...lay and be us. He proposed. I was so shocked. He'd fooled around with so many girls that year the thought had never even crossed my mind that he could see me like that."

She continued, "In the end, I said yes, because I saw the real him and I thought we would be together forever. We got married; both our parents hated it, so we told them to disown us if they wanted. Luckily- or unluckily- for him, his dad didn't, because he didn't want his only heir to disappear. But my parents had never liked him, so it was easy for them to cut me loose."

There was silence. Nate took a sip of his coffee, which was now cold. It didn't matter. It wasn't like he was that focused on it. He was too busy registering what Jenny had just told him. She was married. Or not.

"Are you still married?"

"Until the divorce comes through. It didn't work out." She glanced at him with eyes that burned his own. Nate shivered. It was a good shiver. "Nate?"

"Yeah?"

"I'd like to ask you out again, but there is one more thing."

"You have a kid with him, too?"

Jenny let out a loud laugh, one that showed how much she liked his joke. If it was even a joke.

"No. We're, uh, we're still best friends." Jenny stated, "If you want to go out with me like I do you, you'll have to get used to that, because I know it's selfish but I can't disown him. I would never be able to live with myself knowing he's hurting and I'm not there."

"I get that." In fact, it proved she was a lovely person. Still his friend, still there to help him through tough times. Nate had only dated on other person like that in his life, and she ended up going down the wrong path. Luckily, Nate didn't think that Jenny would be the same. "And, I'd like to offer your offer of a date. How does Friday night sound to you?"