First of all a thank you to everyone who has taken the time to actually read this and a BIG thank you to the reviewers – I've gone round with a stupid smile on my face for a whole day. I'm not too sure about this chapter; it doesn't feel as well written, so any feedback (positive or negative) would be appreciated :)
Disclaimer: I Own Nothing. Nada. Zilch :(
It was with apprehension, and if she was being honest, downright terror that Jenny approached the steps.
To an outsider Jenny looked confident, untroubled – even bored, but in her time as Queen she'd learnt the finer details of the art of the poker face and was using to her advantage as she felt the eyes of the school upon her.
"Eyes forward, there is only you. No one's looking, or staring, or gossiping" Jenny repeated the mantra over and over, trying to keep the panic at bay. Then an exceptionally harsh giggle caused Jenny eyes to flutter up.
The eyes upon her were wide and ravenous,
"Forget it of course they are - this is the perfect scandal. "
Jenny took several deep breaths and continued walking, eyes trained in a straight line, her steps were quick, although she tried to keep them measured - to appear scared would just get her hurt.
She reached the entrance quickly slipping easily through the other students. She could feel the eyes upon her being replaced with camera lens, a nightmare photo shoot.
Jenny kept her head ducked, "great Gossip Girl will have her fill today".
Reaching her classroom she slipped gratefully into her seat and leaning back decided on the mature belief that if she shut her eyes her malevolent peers would disappear and she could be alone. "Funny that just yesterday I was praying for any form of social interaction, but this is worse than the silences"
The lessons passed in a haze of disapproving looks and unanswered questions. Jenny soon settled into a routine, she meticulously ignored anything that moved, be it teacher or student; merely copying down the bare minimum of what she was expected.
Lunch found Jenny seated on a table in a, mercifully deserted, classroom. She balanced frozen yoghurt on her lap but made no attempt to eat it. Rather she stared dejectedly into her hands; the knuckles stuck out weirdly making her hands look strange, almost alien.
"Very fitting, after all I feel like an alien – lost somewhere I don't want to be"
Jenny's feet flew as she sped down the steps; eager to get out of the spotlight – the stares seemed to be heavy, she could feel them pushing down on her, suffocating her.
She spotted her car, waiting only a short distance down the road. Relief coursing through her body she sped up.
Then a hand grabbed her small wrist. Jenny whirled around, anger fiery in her eyes, ready to free herself of the anger building inside of her on the poor unfortunate fool who had decided to approach her. The onslaught of words was stooped as her eyes fixed upon a glacial pair of blue ones.
"Your back," It was a statement not a question; Nate's eyes appraised her, a slight crease between his eyes.
"Yes." her chest tightened, this was all too much – too many old faces in one day and too many memories associated with this particular face. She willed herself not to look into his eyes, "Excuse me" she pushed past him, a slight rush to her pace as she set off. . . in completely the wrong direction.
"Shit", the curse was muttered under her breath. Well there was nothing for it now - there was no way she was turning back and facing him she'd have to keep walking. Striding with fake confidence she continued up the street, she'd loop round and get to the car that way.
"I hope you had a good day? Lily and I are attending a benefit Gala but we've ordered some food to be sent up," Jenny felt like screaming; shouting, slamming doors – anything to stop the grating niceness in her father's voice.
Images flashed before her eyes; Rufus teaching a miniature Jenny, pale blonde hair brought firmly into two ponytails on either side of her head" to play songs on his guitar – the neck reaching far above her head. The car blasting classic rock as Rufus drove Jenny and Dan, who had his fingers planted firmly in his ears, to school.
Suddenly she needed to get away from him and the guarded look in his eyes,
"I was going to go for a run anyway," she plastered a smile on her face, entirely too much teeth to be truly convincing –and Rufus did not look convinced.
"Surely you should eat first?" The concern in Rufus's voice brought a warmth to Jenny's heart, only to disappear as suddenly seconds later "I don't deserve any concern,"
"Oh I'll be fine – I'm sure they'll save the food till I return" She tried to inject energy and happiness into her voice, before swiftly heading back to her room, determined to finish the conversation.
Jenny pushed herself hard, she found running cathartic, it pushed other thoughts from her head. Except, suddenly Jenny's vision began to blur, black spots appearing at the edge of her vision. Dizzily she spotted an empty bench and collapsed onto it.
She rested in the same position for several minutes. She lazily stared up at the sky, it al seemed so peaceful, there may have been busy traffic screaming past from each direction but the clouds in the sky were blissfully unaware of such earthly matters, drifting along so slowly.
Then a shadow fell in front of her and Jenny sat up straight, shocked by the sudden apparition.
Chuck took another step forward, Jenny jumped up, meaning to get dodge past him and continue back to the house, but Chuck had a strong presence and she found herself unable to move out of his glare.
"Why'd you leave" his voice drawled, direct as always and seemingly unconscious of the curious stares from all directions.
"It wasn't working out." her desire to leave the conversation was evident but Chuck was unperturbed.
"So you skipped town? Not that I minded, but call me curious,"
Jenny closed her eyes, drawing in a shaky breath through clenched teeth, "I don't need this right now Chuck," she released her breath taking a step back, distancing herself from those burning eyes., "Look it's evident enough, you don't want me back here, but I'll be gone soon. I'll be sure to stay out of your way."
She spoke the last words with finality, she was done with this – she just wanted to get home, well Lily's at any rate, but Chuck blocked her path.
He sucked in his cheeks, cheekbones sticking out, prominent against his face. For the first time since they'd started talking Jenny really looked at him, he was immaculately dressed as always, down to the red shoes, but his face looked tired, his frame a bit gaunt.
He seemed off put by her analysing him and took a step away, moving out of her way, "Just stay away from Nate he doesn't need a juvenile distraction."
Jenny flinched at his words but nodded her agreement, "I didn't come back for him"
"So why then is it all that Gossip Girl has put out a blast concerning a heated meeting between the two of you?" Chucks voice was spiteful and the softness that had briefly touched his eyes had disappeared.
"I didn't initiate that," Jenny's head began to pound, why would he not leave her be- she hadn't begun to understand why Nate had sought her out and she could certainly give Chuck no explanation, "Nate and I have no more reason to talk".
Chucks eyes still screamed uneasiness but he made no attempt to speak again so Jenny, stepping quickly past him, continued down the path. She could feel Chuck's eyes boring into her back, assuming he was checking she was truly going, she sped up disappearing from his sight.