Hey Upper Eastsiders, Gossip Girl here. We left off last time wondering how H was going to fit into the class picture at Constance Billiard. Well now's our chance to find out; the first day of a new school year. It's time to introduce the new student, kiddies.
It had been exactly two weeks since Hallie had moved to New York. The morning of the first day of school she climbed through Dan's window so she could eat breakfast with Dan and Jenny. Dan had told her that whenever she needed to come over it was ten times quicker to use the fire escape.
"Good morning…" Dan said from in front of his mirror, straightening his tie.
"Looking sharp Dan!" Hallie laughed and walked by him into the Humphrey's main kitchen/living room area.
"Hey Humphreys!" Hallie said walking over to the counter.
"Hey Hal!" Jenny exclaimed, her mouth full of waffle.
"Waffles?" Rufus asked passing Hallie a plate.
"Thank you!" She said reaching across Jenny for the powdered sugar.
"Hey, save some for me!" Dan yelled, walking into the kitchen.
Jenny and Hallie giggled.
"Are you sure your mom didn't want to eat with us too?" Rufus asked, serving Dan some waffles.
Hallie nodded and swallowed the bite of waffle she had just eaten. "Yeah, she had to head into the studio early. Back-to-school fashions await…"
"It's so nice of your mom to let me internship at her studio… after that hellish summer with Eleanor… I was worried I couldn't find a decent internship…" Jenny said.
"Oh it's no problem! She says you're a super hard worker and you have great taste and style…"
"Really? Wow, imagine that, a fifteen year old getting appreciated for something…" Jenny said with a laugh.
"Definitely. Plus, it was the least she could do… ya'll have basically taken me in the past few weeks since she's been busy trying to set up the studio…"
"Honestly, we've been glad to have you… you fit right in…" Dan said sincerely giving Hallie a one armed hug.
"Awww… thanks Dan." Hallie said with a smile.
"Really, tell your mom anytime she needs some help to just let me know…" Rufus said before sipping on his coffee. "Oh! You guys better get going! It's kinda late…" He said spotting the time.
They grabbed their bags and headed out the door all waving goodbye to Rufus.
Once they were at school Hallie stopped in front of the entrance.
"You okay?" Jenny asked.
"Yeah, I just… this is a LOT different than my school back home…"
"You'll be fine… as long as you have a few close friends- which you do-" Dan said pointing to himself and Jenny, "-you should be good to go… I've gotta go find… someone but I'll see you later… Good luck Hal…" He gave her a quick hug and waved to Jenny before walking off.
"You ready?" Jenny asked cautiously.
Hallie took a deep breath and linked her arm through Jenny's. "I think so."
Jenny smiled and they walked inside the grounds.
"Who is that?" Hallie asked Jenny as they passed a table of boys in the courtyard between St. Jude's and Constance Billiard.
"Which one?"
"The one with the dark hair…" Hallie said dreamily.
"I don't know… but I do know one of them. Nate! How was your summer?" Jenny yelled.
Nate Archibald got up from the table and jogged over to Jenny and Hallie.
"Hi Jenny! Mine was good. How was yours?"
"Great!"
"Who is this?" Nate questioned.
"Oh, this is Hallie Bennett. She moved in next door from South Carolina."
"Hi Hallie, I'm Nate Archibald, it's nice to meet you."
"You too. Um, who is that guy over there?" Hallie asked him, nodding over to the dark headed boy.
"That's my cousin, Chris. He just moved here too. But he's from Jersey."
Jenny nudged Hallie and they both giggled.
"What?" Nate said smiling at their laughter.
"Nothing…" Jenny said as she pulled Hallie away. "First things first, don't spill your secrets to anyone. Except for Dan and me. And maybe Serena. There are few people you can truly trust at this school. Second. Do you see that girl over there?" she pointed to Blair. "That's Blair Waldorf, Serena's best friend. Avoid at all costs. She might seem sweet and harmless, but underneath that doe-eyed exterior, a tiger lurks, ready to pounce on anyone who's not up to the Blair standard." Blair glared at Jenny as they passed. Jenny rolled her eyes. "Next, unless you want to treat everyone like crap, and in return, be treated like crap, then don't try to social climb. I should know. It's a short way up and a loooong way down. And lastly, don't talk to that guy. Ever." Jenny pointed to Chuck who was leaning against a wall, smoking a joint with a few other guys. "Not only is he endlessly horny, he's also Blair's boyfriend type thing. Put two and two together."
"Okay. But I think I'm just going to be myself and if people don't like me then fine. If they do, then good. I'm not going to change just to fit the schedules of the rich little trust fund children. Well maybe except that Chris guy…"
Jenny laughed. "Well, I've got to go, I have to talk to Serena's brother before class… do you think you'll be okay?" Jenny asked worriedly.
"I'll be fine…" Hallie said with a grin.
"Okay… I'll see you after class!"
"Bye Jen!"
That was some good advice you dished Little J. But last time I checked, advice on the Upper East Side is valued by how much you paid for it, and free advice is worth just that much.
Hallie looked around at her new school and sighed. Everyone had added little designer accessories to their uniforms. And everything seemed so superficial.
"Hi there. Are you new?" A suave voice asked her.
Hallie turned to the voice. It was Chuck.
"Yeah."
"Well, if you need a guide, to show you around the school, or the city, or maybe even my hotel suite, then just let me know."
"She's already got a tour guide, but thanks Chuck." Dan said sharply, joining Hallie's side.
"Chuck! What are you doing? Who is she?" Blair snapped as she walked up to Chuck.
"I was just introducing myself to… um," Chuck stopped realizing he hadn't even gotten her name.
"Someone that isn't easy and isn't willing to put up with your crap." Dan said icily then pulled Hallie away.
"Stay away from him." He whispered when they were out of earshot.
"Wow Dan, that was harsh. He can't be that bad…"
"Well, he is. Just let Blair handle him."
The bell rang.
"Well we'd better get to class. I'll see you at lunch?" Dan asked.
"Yeah. Definitely." Hallie said smiling.
Looks like B and C are having polar reactions to H. Was the damage done in Tuscany, or will H be the one to pull these two apart?
"So her name is Hallie?" Blair asked Serena as they sat in Blair's massive bedroom, reading Vogue and drinking smoothies.
"Yeah. And I think Dan might like her…" Serena answered as she took a long sip of her banana mango smoothie.
"C'mon S, you are so much prettier than her…" Blair said with an eye roll.
"Blair, we're talking about Dan. It's not all about looks to him... plus, you're lying, she's gorgeous."
"Whatever… what did he say when you went over to his apartment?"
"Well he said he was sorry for what he said at the wedding but he still wasn't ready to get back together. I just, miss him so much. But at the same time I want to rip his hair out. Ya know?"
Blair nodded. "I feel the same way about Chuck all the time…"
Serena laughed. "Speaking of Chuck, how are things going between you two?"
"I don't know. I still haven't forgiven him for Tuscany. But I think I really do care about him…"
"Awww… B. That's super sweet!" Serena said with a smile.
"Yeah, don't get used to it." Blair joked.
Serena laughed again and threw a pillow at Blair. "So, what are we going to do about Hallie?"
"Ignore her. I personally think you should be more worried about Vanessa…"
Serena bit her lip. Why did it seem as if Dan was all of a sudden the new Brad Pitt?
Looks like you're right S. Will these two WASP divas have their boys stolen and hearts broken?
Dan looked up from his book as someone knocked on the door of the Humphrey apartment.
"Jen, can you get that?" he called to Jenny who was sitting at the counter eating a bowl of ice cream.
"Yes sir, and would you like me to get you a cold beverage after that?" Jenny joked as she opened the door.
"Dan! Did you totally space on our movie plans?" Vanessa asked as she walked in.
"Oh crap, I… yeah. I totally forgot. I'm so sorry. But, if you want to hang here?"
"Oh well if you insist…" Vanessa teased as she plopped down on the couch next to Dan. "Whatcha reading? Oh, Hemingway… very nice-"
"Hey Dan! Do you wanna go do someth-" Hallie asked as she walked into the living room from Dan's bedroom. "Oh, you have company over… well, in that case, I will be leaving… wait! Is this Vanessa?"
"Yup. That's me. And you must have used the fire escape…"
Hallie nodded sheepishly. "I'm so sorry if I interrupted something… but Dan, just a word of advice, I would wait until Jenny was out of the room before you did anything too scandalous…"
"Haha, very funny. Vanessa, this is Hallie, our new neighbor…"
"Hi, it's nice to meet you."
"You too Vanessa… I've heard so much about you…"
"And I've heard nothing about you…" Vanessa said giving Dan a dirty look.
"Um, I hear my um phone ringing… I'll be right back…" Dan said quickly and strode out of the room.
"I'm taking off you guys… tell Dan to call if he needs me." Jenny said before walking out the door.
Vanessa and Hallie sat there awkwardly for a few minutes.
"So… Hallie. Where are you from?"
"South Carolina. It's always been my dream to come to New York."
"What school are you going to?"
"Constance Billiard."
"Oh… well on the contrary to normal advice, I would advise you to not try to make friends…"
"Yeah, Jenny has already warned me… I have no desire to be part of all that drama. Did you know there's even a website where they check all the latest gossip?"
Vanessa laughed, "Gossip Girl! I know right? Isn't it the most pretentious thing you've ever heard?"
"Well besides the cliques and underage boozing and oh did I mention Blair Waldorf and her cronies?"
They both laughed. "Oh my gosh… Isn't she awful? I mean, she has her moments of normalcy, but most of the time it seems like she lives in this bubble where the only things that matter are clothes, alcohol, sex, and gossip."
Before they knew it both girls were clutching their sides from laughing so hard.
"Well, it looks like you two are getting along nicely…" Dan said slyly as he walked back into the living room.
"Yeah, Hallie's pretty cool." Vanessa said with a smile.
"And so is Vanessa… how about all three of us go out and get a bite to eat?" Hallie suggested.
"I'll get my coat!" Dan said with a huge grin.
It appears that the underprivileged Brooklyn brigade is one more. But will that change the dynamics of the upper east side, or just leave one more bug to crush?
Gossip Girl here. It seems like both S and B are having some trouble trusting their boy toys around H. Not that Lonely Boy belongs to S anymore... News Flash to B, looks like C has added one more name to his To Do list. And V has taken H under her wing. Can Lonely Boy and V save H from the "terrors" of us over privileged upper east siders? Only time will tell. But I have a feeling it won't be long before H sees that there is more to some of us than meets the low rent eye. XOXO- Gossip Girl.
Hey people! Thanks for reading, I've been looking at the number of people reading and it's pretty good for my first fanfic but I would still LOVE some reviews! Oh and I HAVE to thank my cousin (pen name-hufflepuffbrunette247, you should read her stuff it's good!) for writing most of Gossip Girl's lines... she seems to know just what Gossip Girl would actually say and I think it adds a TON to the story! Well keep reading and REVIEW PLEASE! :)
-Shelby
