Written on May 1, 2008; after Desperately Seeking Serena

Chapter Two

"Where are you?"

"Out," Dan said abruptly into his cell phone. Then he decided to give a little more, "with a friend. "

"Oh," Serena said quietly. At least he wasn't lying to her. She already knew he was out with someone.

"Well, I thought maybe we could get together? Meet me at The Palace?" Serena asked. It was either join Dan, or get him away from Georgina. Of the two options, only the later was going to happen.

"I can't tonight, I'm busy," Dan said. He knew he'd just get the same look she'd given him all week. Ever since he realized that she was keeping things from him, he couldn't help but feel betrayed. Seeing her shut down and close him out felt like running into a brick wall—it hurt.

"With your friend…" Serena said slowly, dragging out the last word. She trusted Dan fully, but she knew Georgina… was Georgie making a play for Dan to toy with Serena?

"Yeah," Dan cleared his throat. "Not anyone you know. We're waiting for her boyfriend to show; then we're going to a movie." He didn't know why he was telling her this, but he recognized that tone in her voice from when Vanessa first came to town. He didn't want to make her think anything weird was going on. He was hurt… but he didn't want anyone else.

"Oh," Serena said, feeling better that at least Georgina hadn't tried anything with Dan yet, although she knew Georgina was lying about the boyfriend thing. No Prince was going to deign to travel all the way to New York City just to go to a rinky-dink theater in Brooklyn… if Georgie was even dating that prince. Chuck had really screwed up with his sources this time.

"Look, I'll call you tomorrow," Dan finally said, wanting to end the conversation. "We need to talk."

Serena could practically hear the "duh duh dummm" resounding through her ears over those words. Everyone knew that "we need to talk" was code for "I want to break up". But Dan couldn't mean that, could he?

"'kay…" she managed to whisper.

"Bye," Dan said before closing his phone. She was frustrating him. Half of him would love to meet up with her that night, but he didn't think the past week had changed anything. He also thought she might ask if she could join him and Sarah and her boyfriend, Jack, at the movies. But she didn't ask.

He walked back over to his table where Sarah was sitting, still alone.

"Sorry about that," Dan said as he settled in. He nodded toward the empty chair next to her. "No word yet?"

"He's going to meet us at the theater," Georgina said with a smile. She was lying through her teeth. She knew that there was no way she'd be able to talk Dan into meeting up with her alone. She'd gotten a read on him this past week. She knew that he was one of the good guys—the kind that her and Serena rarely ever saw or spent any time around. He hadn't said much about Serena other than to tell Sarah that he had a girlfriend.

So, she created a boyfriend as a front to get to know this guy better. Dan was certainly not what she expected… or maybe he was.

Serena had changed so much, trying to forget about her past, that she had managed to get involved with a boy who embodied the essence of who Serena wanted to be.

"Oh," Dan said distracted, "okay… I guess we should get going if we don't want to miss the beginning." He stood up, held a hand out for Sarah like a true gentleman, and they left the place.

"So who were you talking to?" Georgina asked, as if she didn't already know. It had to be Serena. She smiled to herself. She hadn't anticipated running into Nate, but it was fun to wonder what Serena was thinking about her being with Dan.

"Oh, just my girlfriend," Dan said.

"Why isn't she joining us?" she asked innocently, as if she really couldn't understand.

"She's busy," Dan lied. "She had plans to do the whole 'girl thang' with her best friend." Well, he knew she was supposed to do something with Blair that day, he didn't know if it was still a happening or not.

"Well, let's go," she said, pretending giddiness.

"I think it's time to just call it a night," Dan said, starting to feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Oh, but wait, maybe we could—," Georgina started to suggest a club, but Dan interrupted.

"Sarah, I'm sorry," Dan said, trying to get out of this potentially bad situation. "Your boyfriend is obviously a no-show, and while I'm sorry about that, I just really think it would be best if I went home now." He looked at her expectantly. She had to know why he wasn't cool with the idea of continuously hanging with her after the movie. This entire night was starting to resemble a date more and more and he didn't like it.

Georgina sighed, "Well, if you want to spend a Friday night all alone, by yourself…" She knew she was losing fast, but at least she'd gotten to spend some time with him in search of some ammunition to use again Serena. She had originally assumed that she'd be able to get him in that theater and use her wiles to make things a little more interesting… but that was before she realized that Dan was one of those rare loyal breeds too. And truthfully, he was really beginning to bore her.

"That's exactly what I want," Dan agreed, nodding his head enthusiastically. "Take care, Sarah."

"You too," Georgina said, giving him a practiced smile.

As she watched him walk away, her practiced smile became a full-on smirk before she reached in her pocket for her cell phone which she knew had a message waiting for her.

She also knew, without even looking, that it had to be Serena. She wasn't expecting a text from anyone else. Ever since she'd taken off for parts unknown, she made friends here and there but… they were more like acquaintances. The only real friend Georgina had ever had was Serena van der Woodsen—the same girl who now wanted nothing to do with her.

That was a problem. Georgie liked to get things her way, and when you crossed her and, what's more, hurt her, she didn't cry like most people would. She got even.

But, the only thing Georgina had on Serena that would destroy her was something that would also get Georgina arrested.

The only other option was to torture Serena, and she would do so mercilessly. This new Serena seemed to care for a lot of people. She cared what they thought about her, and she cared about doing the "good" thing now.

She'd have to work on Dan a little more but now that Serena was tipped off to her plans, it was time to let Serena know that she wasn't going anywhere.

Though the part about using Serena's loved ones to get to Serena, well… she'd keep that to herself for now.

"Hello, love."

Serena was beginning to hate that tone to Georgina's voice. That tone that was one of amusement and clearly said, "I'm toying with you."

She left Blair's as soon as she could get away. She wanted to call Dan. She made some excuses and told Blair that she'd been acting weird around Dan too because of the whole Georgina thing and wanted to explain everything to him now that she'd told Blair all about it and felt better about the situation.

Fortunately, Blair believed her and didn't try to stop her that time.

Serena called Dan almost immediately upon leaving. That conversation didn't go well. Then she sent a text to Georgina and waited for the inevitable call back.

Defeated and feeling sick, she returned to The Palace and went to her suite.

She tried to put the whole situation out of her mind and hung out with Eric for a while. Her brother was still a little obtuse about the whole Chuck moving out thing, but he couldn't be ticked at her forever. She and Chuck hadn't spoken about what to say to Bart to get him back in—truthfully, she really enjoyed her bathing time and didn't want to risk another dirty day… though something made her think Chuck might be past that now.

"Cut the crap Georgina," Serena snapped. "Stay the hell away from my boyfriend."

"Imagine my surprise when Dan's friend Vanessa showed up with none other than Nathaniel Archibald," Georgina said smugly. "Thought B had him under lock and key. My, how things do change in a year."

"Look, I don't know what your game is, but that's it! It's over! Just leave. Go back to Switzerland, Belgium, Balfour, wherever the hell you came from," Serena said angrily.

"Careful S," Georgina said with deadly earnest. "You already hurt my feelings once this week… you don't want to do it again."

"Or what? You know you won't say anything," Serena said. "Just forget you knew me! Why are you even bothering? It's not like I'm going to change my mind. And you said you didn't need anyone in your life who doesn't want to be there. Well, I don't want to be. Just pack your bags, get on the first flight out, and don't look back."

"See," Georgina said icily, her anger flaring astronomically, "there you go, hurting my feelings. What a shame. Guess I'm going to have to stick around a little while longer."

"Georgina, stop!" Serena exclaimed, panic flooding her insides.

"Sorry, S," Georgina said, feigning innocence. "I'm in the mood for a little more fun at your expense."

"Georgina…" Serena said, her anger wilting in the face of G's threat.

"You know you love me," Georgina said impishly and sweetly. "Goodnight. Get some rest sweetie. You're going to need it."

With that, Georgina slammed her phone shut, not even hearing Serena's attempt to make peace.

Serena wanted to scream! If only she could tell Dan about the psycho girl trying to use him to get to her… but she couldn't. She just couldn't. He would want details—every single detail. And out of everyone in her life, Dan Humphrey—with morals and self-righteousness pouring out of every pore—was the last person who should know.

She just needed to be more attentive. She would talk to Dan tomorrow and try to explain everything away as best as possible. She would come up with something. She'd been lying to him since Georgina came back, what's a few more lies to help bury the past?

She had to do it. There was no other alternative.

And when she fixed things with Dan, she could also figure out a way to make sure Dan had nothing else to do with this "Sarah" person.

Then Georgina's fun would be over.

She couldn't torture Serena by using Dan anymore…

Right?

To be continued…