St Jude's and Constance Billard had a status quo like all other schools. The jocks could often be found throwing balls around or discussing their most recent conquests; the girls would be grouped in the cliques gossiping about one another; it was a guarantee that there would be stoners getting high openly in the middle of the courtyard, knowing if they were to be told off a sizeable donation from their family would have the stain removed from their academic record. But, this day was different. The junior from Brooklyn could hardly believe his eyes when he entered the school gates after lunch and saw every child engrossed in some sort of magazine. With a closer look he noticed it was the student school magazine, which was even more baffling considering it was normally allowed to collect dust in the library. He soon began to notice that gradually more and more people were beginning to stare at him which only further put him at edge.
Seeking out his mate Carter in crowd he asked, "You want to tell what has got everything acting so weird?"
With a sombre look on his face Carter handed him the magazine, already turned to a particular article titled 'The Cruel Intentions of the Upper East Side'.
"You need to read this" Carter replied, holding Dan's gaze until he finally took the paper from his grasp.
Ever since grade school there have been two girls who pretty much run the Upper East Side, Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf. Girls flock to them, just waiting and hoping for that glance of approval. As for the male attention, the reasoning is quite simple, they are beautiful.
Blair, epitomises class. Her outfits are always well put-together, at times suggestive but never too revealing. And, with her perfect grades and relentless ambition she is loved by the teachers. But, to everyone else there is only one way to describe her, 'Bitch'. However, she owns it, and one can't help but admire and respect her ability to destroy self esteem anywhere and everywhere. All it takes is a withering glare or a cutting remark.
As for Serena, she's the girl that everyone falls for. I should know, I've been in love with her for as far back as I can remember. She's tall, blonde and beautiful, with such a care-free attitude that no matter what kind of day you've had, her presence can always illicit a smile. When she walks into a room she doesn't command attention with the authority that Blair has naturally, but nonetheless people are drawn to her.
They are the yin to each other's yang, and when you see them together, they are definitely a sight to behold. It's not hard to understand why people can't help love them, whilst also loving to hate them.
However, there is more too them than what everyone sees. I should know, I've been best friends with them my whole life. Blair and I have been a couple since the sandpit, and like I've already said, Serena captured my heart just as early on. I'm guessing you've all worked out by now who's writing this, but I'll still confirm it anyway. Yes, you are correct, this is me, Nate Archibald. However, I too am more than what you all see. I'm not just the dumb jock/golden boy that everyone assumes I am. Or at least, I'm not anymore. One could say I've had my eyes opened this year, and I guess the reason I'm writing this is to open yours too.
Blair is more than just a bitch, more than just an excellent student and self-confessed expert schemer. She's insecure, just like most other teenagers, myself included. Her mother is a fashion designer who always strives to achieve perfection in her looks, and her best-friend manages to effortless reach those ideals. So Blair nitpicks at herself and puts other down as a means of keeping herself on top. Her father, left her family for a male model and she now barely see the man she used to idolise. She has so many issues, just like everyone else, and she is far from the model of perfection that you all see, but still light-years above the broken girl she sees herself as. She can be warm, kind and funny if you are one of the lucky few who truly get to know her. Plus, she would go to the ends of the Earth for her friends, although I'm guessing after this I'm most likely no longer one of them. I just hope that, at some point, she feels comfortable enough to let everyone see the real her.
Serena, too has her fair share of insecurities. Her father left before she could develop clear memories of him and her mother has proceeded to become a serial divorcee. Nothing in her life is stable, so she found solace in alcohol, drugs and boys. However she still smiles every day, and manages to not let it bring her down. It would be inspiring if there wasn't another side to her that most of you don't get to see.
You all think that Blair is the bitch, but at least with her you know what you are in for. There is a darker side to Serena, a manipulative side that is worse because it sneaks up on you unsuspectingly. It even sneaks up on her. And, because all she does is block out all of her other problems, it is easy for her to forget about it, and not care about the hearts she breaks and the damage that she herself can cause. Then we all ignore it because of the sunny exterior she exudes. This year, that side became more apparent to me. This year I saw Serena toy with someone's heart as part of a game of revenge, and he still has no clue it is even happening.
You want to know what this article is about? To sum up. This article is about the truth. This article is about revealing who your elite really are. This article is about how I was forced to take a long hard look at the people I am surrounded by and the small bubble we live in.