~They Belong Together~

Chapter 3. Outside.

I do not own Gossip Girl or any of those characters. I am just using them for fan fiction.

People when being in difficult situations often say that every cloud has a silver lining, but Dan could safely say to them that every cloud- at least in his life- only brought another one together and they never seemed to fade away.

Bad was definitely an understatement to characterize his meeting with Serena.

They met at the loft, after Dan's request, not only so as to have privacy, but also because he felt more comfortable to talk to her there. It was a little awkward at first, but the conversation started to flow easy after a while. He had told her about the summer at the Hamptons with Eric, and she had shared her news of L.A. The part about her getting a job really surprised him, but not the way she got it. She seemed very happy and relaxed and Dan was happy for her and somewhat proud if he could say. She definitely deserved it.

"So what did you want us to talk about?" she had said smiling at him.

"Uh.. It isn't that important really" he had tried to back off.

"Hey! But you said it was! Come on Dan what is it?"

He had taken then a deep breath and had started:

"Ok but first I want you to have in mind that I had no intention to hurt you or anybody else for the matter."

"Dan you are frightening me.."

"I wrote a book" he had said interrupting her.

"Well that's wonderful! I don't see how.."

"It's about you."

"You wrote a book about me?" she had asked a little confused but also flattered.

"Uh...not only about you, but also Blair, Chuck, Nate, Lily, my dad...Well everyone" he had admitted.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I never meant to publish it..! I want you to be sure of that. It just happened..Vanessa has something to do with that, but this is another story really. I wanted to inform you before the book comes in your hands, because there are some things that I wrote that are somewhat bad but only fictional."

"What have you written about us?"

"It started with us meeting again 4 years ago.."

xxx

She had remained silent until he had finished talking.

"Well...That's the main concept..There are more but..Please do remember that I never intended to publish it"

"I don't know what to say.."

"You have every right to be angry at me and if I could, I would stop it from being published..But it's too late for that"

"Why?"

"It's already out" he had said defeated.

"I just..I can't believe you did this to me..."

"As I said it's not only about you.."

"Do the others know?"

"Nah..not yet"

"Not even Blair?"

"None" he had confirmed again.

"I have to read it.."

"Sure, I figured you would" he had said giving her a copy "Here"

xxx

Dan was sure that Serena would already have more questions, even if she couldn't have read the whole book yet. He was expecting her to call or text him confronting him for his story. Instead, she came again at the loft to see him.

He opened the door and was surprised to see her standing there. She was beautiful as always, but she had a look of disappointment in her face.

"That is what you think of me?" were her first words and as she talked she raised the copy in her hand.

"How far have you gone?"

"Far enough to understand that the book is mainly about Sabrina's best friend and not her, nor the others"

"I already told you it's fictional.."

"Stop it! Ok? What part exactly is fictional? You and I weren't dating? Didn't you hate her in the beginning? Didn't you two become friends behind my back? Isn't she in love with Chuck?" she said underlining especially the word isn't. She didn't say weren't and that hurted the most." The only thing fictional in here is the part that you loved me..If you really did, you wouldn't write these things about me. About us"

"Serena" he said trying to reach her" I did love you..I really did..I still do, just not in that way anymore..I mean who wouldn't? You are beautiful and..and funny and supportive and.. and amazing..And I did fall for you..And we tried it, but in the long run it just didn't work out. We had lots of chances but..it kind of.. faded away.."

"And you love her?" she asked, disbelief very obvious in her voice.

He didn't answer but it wasn't necessary really. It was all written in his face very clear for everyone to read.

He did love Blair Waldorf.

"I need to sit" she said and headed to the couch.

"Of course...I'll bring you some water"

He returned with the glass in his hand and offered it to her. She raised her head and he could see the accusement in her eyes.

Betrayed. That is what she felt.

He sat next to her, left the glass in the table and took her hands in his.

"Serena.." he started but the click of the door interrupted him.

"Humphrey you should really lock that door or someday.."

She didn't finish the sentence. She remained frozen next to the door, taking in the picture of Dan and Serena sitting next to each other and holding hands.

"Great.." he said to himself blaming everything and everyone for his bad luck.

"Blair.." said Serena beside him" We were.."

"Well it's pretty obvious what you were doing" she rolled her eyes and continued "or going to do. I didn't mean to interrupt. Now if you'll excuse me I have somewhere else I need to be" she said, turned on her heels and left.

"No..Blair wait.." he emerged from the couch and tried to reach her when Serena put her hands in his arm.

"Let her go" she said softly and she meant it in every way. "Can't you see it? She is never going to choose you over her fairytale with Louis"

"But she doesn't even know I'm an option" he protested.

"Maybe it's better that way Dan."

He sort of agreed and sat to the couch again. But then he remembered Blair's expression when she left and made his mind.

"I can't...I have to see her"

"No..you have to stay here..With me..And talk about us and the last chance we said we'll give ourselves"

"There is NOT us! As much as I would love to hear that one year ago, I don't feel that way anymore"

"Fine" she said bitterly "Then stay here. Alone. It seems that when you got to write that book of yours you didn't think of everything well enough. So stay here, on your own, because believe me when they read the book, when she reads the book you are going to feel more outsider than ever!"

She made her way to exit and he didn't make any move to stop her.

xxx

"What the hell is wrong with you man? Me? Gay? Where did this come from? You are a total jerk, Humphrey! Chuck was right about you" was the message from Nate on his voicemail.

"Really Dan? My relationship with Lily made me look like that fool to you? I had no idea you thought of me this way..I thought.. never mind what I thought.. I was proud you were my son but..not anymore..You are not better than any of those you despised" was his dad's.

"Dan? Uh..It's probably better that I'm leaving a message otherwise I don't know if you would have let me talk to you. I'm not going to apologize for what I did. I know that right now you hate me and your relationship with everyone is up in the air, but when this..storm calms down you will see that I did the right thing as a friend. It was too good to stay hidden. The publisher sent me your first check, which I sent back to you in Brooklyn. Dan..I hope someday we can be friends again" said Vanessa.

There were a few more, from Lily, Jenny, Eric, but none from whom he wanted to hear.

Blair either hadn't read the book yet, or her silence was her answer and she didn't want anything to do with him.

Serena's words came to his mind then and echoed again and again until he admitted that she was right.

If four years ago he was unnoticed and unimportant what he felt now was hated and alone.

Yes, alone described very well what he was indeed.

xxx

a/n. There it is! What do you think of it? Thanks to everyone who reviewed/alerted the story! I much appreciate feedback! Sorry for any mistakes there..if you notice any please let me know. I know that this chapter has no Dan/Blair interaction but it was necessary for the story in order to continue. I'll try to update asap! Please read and review!