Serena saw Nate sitting at a table waiting for her. He got up, gave her a hug and pulled out her chair.
They had dinner and Serena felt tense but no matter how tense she felt her and Nate always had something to talk about. She talked about her career and living in California and he was very reluctant to talk about anything pertaining to his career. He stuck to stories about Chuck and Blair and their parents.
After dinner she went to Nate's apartment for drinks.
"Nate this is amazing. Ultimate bachelor pad." She looked around at the big screen TV and the pool table.
"Thanks." He poured them drinks and they sat on the couch.
Their conversations were a little dry until she had a few drinks in her.
"So Madeline huh? She seems nice."
He gulped his drink down. "She's a great girl."
She looked at him. "What happened to you, Natie? You're a corporate lawyer. We spent half of our free time talking crap about those guys. What happened to environmental law? You were so passionate about making a difference. I don't even know you anymore."
He was still so angry with her for leaving. "Why don't you spare me the judgment, okay?"
She frowned. "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant –" She tried to rephrase what she meant. "Do you remember when we were younger and you would look at me and you would say, 'Do you ever feel like we've had our whole lives planned out for us?' But there was this fear in your eyes –I'll never forget it. It was what you feared the most. And now you have the next 30 years laid for you. I just didn't expect it."
He put his drink down hard. "It's called growing up. Clearly you haven't gotten there yet. But why don't you call me when you do?"
She couldn't believe he was kicking her out. She rolled her eyes. "Fine. But I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you."
"I wasn't planning on it."
She scoffed and got up. She felt like she was back in college and they were having a fight. He got up. "Don't bother getting up. I can show my own way out. Besides, I wouldn't want you to wrinkle your suit."
"Yeah well have a nice life!" He yelled after her and stumbled a little. Maybe he was drunker than he thought.
"I will. And I'll be happy too. Which is more than I can say for you!" She slammed his door and left.
…
Serena came out of the shower to hear a knock on her door. She opened it to see Nate standing outside of her hotel room.
He gave her a half smile and she opened the door wider to let him in.
They both started talking at the same time, "I'm sorry –"
He let out a nervous laugh. "Well clearly we're both still in high school."
She smiled. "Look I was way out of line. I am so sorry."
She shrugged. "I only got so upset because you hit the nail on the head. I forgot what it's like to have someone know me as well as you do. And you can tell me anything, remember?"
She smiled.
After spending the whole day together they went back to Nate's apartment to have drinks. She missed having Nate, even if he was just a friend. "You know, if I don't fall on my face on my debut tomorrow night I might just break in the runway modeling industry."
Nate looked at her.
"And I'd be moving back here! I've already seen a few places."
"That would be amazing." He grabbed her drink and refilled it.
She had to help him get to bed. She was only slightly less drunk.
He lay on his bed and tapped the space next to him until Serena sat there. "You're even more beautiful than I remembered you."
She couldn't help but blush. "Thanks." She put a hand on his arm.
"I still feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest when you touch me."
She wanted to kiss him so badly. But she couldn't. "You should go to sleep."
Nate held her hand. "Stay?"
Serena stood in the middle of her room at Blair's house.
"What else do you expect me to do, Serena? I don't want to do this anymore."
"You're an asshole."
"I'm sorry."
"Get the hell out!" She was too angry to cry.
"Serena let's not end things on a bad note."
She snapped. She threw a candle at him, just because it was the first thing she grabbed.
Nate dodged it. "Stop throwing shit at me!"
"Get out of my room. Don't you ever speak to me again!" She shoved him towards the door.
"You want to hit me?" He turned his cheek to her. "Fine. Hit me! Will that make you feel better!"
Serena shoved him harder and he grabbed her by the wrists, pushed her firmly against the wall and pressed his lips hard against hers.
Serena pushed him away. "Stop! We're done! I don't ever want to see you again. I'm leaving for good."
...
Thanks so much for the reviews guys! Btw - the last part that's in italics in Serena remembering her break up with Nate. Just wanted to make sure that was clear. Enjoy and keep reviewing! :)