A/N: Hi all, thanks for your wonderful reviews!!! Next chapter will focus on Erik/Jenny.. hope you enjoy this chapter! Please read and review, thanks! 

Out of the corner of her eye, Blair saw the two people that she had grown up with stand at the other end of the sidewalk.

"Nate! Chuck!" she called out loudly, screaming almost, not caring if anyone could hear her.

The two boys headed toward the group, Serena taking note that that the sullen expression on Chuck's face was gone; but replaced with fear and worry.

"Where's E rik?" he immediately asked. Serena felt her heart plummet.

"He and Jenny are still in there," she whispered.

Nate put a hand on Blair's shoulder, who buried her face in his shoulder. They watched as Chuck's face fell .

"I didn't mean to say what I did to him," he said. "What if he never-"

"Don't say that," Nate hissed.

"He knew you didn't mean it, Chuck. But will you please accept the fact we're family? And don't try to push us away anymore. It's not worth it," Serena said.

"I'm sorry," Chuck whispered. "I really am."

Serena nodded. "Okay," she said. "Okay."

"Did you call your dad?" Nate asked Dan, who looked startled.

"Shit, no, I didn't. He's with Lily, in Boston."

"Can you call before it hits the news?" Serena asked Dan. "I just don't think I could talk right now without falling apart."

"Yeah, sure " Dan agreed, as he and Nate went off to talk in a quieter part of the street.

Serena sank to the ground, her knees giving out, as Blair joined her. Chuck sat down as well, as the three sat quietly, not speaking, but taking comfort in one another. This was one of the days they knew they would never forget.

"Listen up, students!" a teacher, unknown to them, shouted. "We're moving you to the empty gymnasium a few blocks from here. Your parents may pick you up from there. "

"What about the people still in there?" Chuck shouted, his voice loud against the rest of murmuring voices.

"The police are dealing with that as we speak. They're in touch with the gunman in the school; he's got ten or eleven people held hostage. We'll do everything we can to get them out," the teacher responded, unfazed. "Now, if you can all just come with me."

Dan and Nate came back as soon as they were loading. "I heard the teacher," Dan said, "and let Dad and Lily know."

"They're okay," he continued. "They'll be here as fast as they can. I think they're shaken up though."

Mutely, Serena nodded, thinking over and over to herself that this must be some sort of bad dream, some bad dream she couldn't wake up from. She boarded the bus, along with Dan, Nate, Chuck and Blair, and took her seat next to Nate- Blair had wordlessly, and without complaining, taken her seat next to Dan. Blair looked at Dan, who had his eyes closed.

"Humphrey, Little J is going to be fine. So will Erik. Those two are smart kids, as much as I hate to admit it sometimes. They're tough."

Dan nodded, his voice low as he spoke. "If someone dare hurt my little sister, or Erik, I don't know what I'd do. I really don't."

"I just don't know how this all happened. I mean, who could be screwed enough to enter a school and randomly start shooting? Do we even know this person?" Blair was rambling and couldn't stop. She hated that about herself; whenever she was scared she'd talk and talk, not stopping.

Dan shrugged, as the bus pulled to a stop. "I don't know," he repeated. "It's beyond screwed up though; it's sick."

The 300 or so students gathered in the small gymnasium, the aura significantly different than in previous days. For once, it didn't matter who was sitting next to whom. Everyone was subdued, quiet, and very anxious. They took a seat in an area that was less occupied, and Serena tried to sit down but couldn't stay still. She stood up and started pacing back and forth, back and forth, chewing her thumbnail. Blair shared a worried look with Chuck, and went to join her best friend, putting a comforting hand on her arm.

"I'm worried," she said bluntly to Blair.

"I know," Blair soothed.

"They're only 15. What if something happens to them, B? I couldn't live with myself. I couldn't live without him," Serena said, her eyes filling with tears. She tried to blink them back, but a few dripped onto her cheeks as she frantically wiped them away. Blair didn't know what to say, so she pulled Serena into her arms and didn't let go.

"They must be so scared," Serena whispered.