Chapter 3: Everything was Running Smoothly…Until Now

Gossip Girl Here: Your one and only source into the scandalous life of Manhattan's elite. SPOTTED: Vanessa walking out of Eleanor Waldorf Designs with a garment bag, along with all of the other bridesmaids. How does she feel about being part of the wedding party? She seems calm, but appearances are often deceiving. You know you love me!

XOXO Gossip Girl

--------At Vanessa's Apartment: Monday (July 3rd) Afternoon--------

Vanessa glanced down at her phone and sighed. This new blast brought the unpleasant thoughts she had been thinking about earlier to the forefront of her mind. Tomorrow she was going with all of the other bridesmaids and groomsmen to the taste testing for the wedding food. The brides had already narrowed down the selection but wanted everyone's opinion before they picked. Obviously all of the grooms would be there. Seeing all of those happy couples just made her sick. Well, not all of them, just one of them. Chuck and Blair didn't bother her at all, because she had never really had a thing for Chuck. It actually made her happy to see them together, because they both became semi-decent, polite people when they were together. Dan and Serena only bothered her a bit, because even though Dan was her best friend, she liked Serena, and didn't mind them getting married, she would just miss her friend. If she was honest with herself her real problem was seeing Jenny and Nate. They were always so happy together, and it made her want to kick something. She didn't know why it was suddenly bothering her now though. They had been together for two years, and while at first she had been jealous it had been a while since that side of her resurfaced. She guessed that her subconscious had always been foolishly hoping that they would break up. The angel and the devil in her were having a major argument about it inside her head.

"You dumped him, he didn't dump you, and now he's in love with your best friend, it isn't really his fault, or hers," the angel reasoned.

"It is too her fault," said the devil, "She should have known that you still cared about him, she's supposed to be your best friend, so how could she do this to you?"

"Exactly, she is supposed to be your best friend. Don't you want her to be happy? Anyway, how could she have known that you still liked him? You were the one telling everyone you didn't anymore, and you hung out, like you were friends. This isn't her fault."

"Yes it is, and it sure as hell isn't yours. Anyway, what about Nate? Are you really going to let the insensitivity of dating your best friend after you broke up slide?"

"If you really loved him you'd want him to be happy."

"Oh, come on! They deserve payback!"

"What about Dan and Serena? They're your friends, and it's going to be their wedding too. Would you do that to them, just to get revenge on people who didn't do anything wrong?"

"They're supporting the enemy! Jenny and Nate are traitors!"

"The enemy? Plus, you don't want to be on Chuck and Blair's hit-list. They will kill you if you ruin their wedding. Blair, because she has always wanted a PERFECT wedding, and Chuck because Blair would be upset, he hates when she's unhappy. You said so yourself, you like the good they bring out in each other. Would you ruin that just for revenge?"

"Like Dan and Serena, Chuck and Blair are fraternizing with the enemy. And speaking of the enemy, Jenny and Nate hurt your feelings and they don't even care!"

"They do too! That's why they asked you to be in the wedding, to show that there are no hard feelings."

"That's not why they did it. They did it to mock you, and openly flout their relationship in front of you. They're embarrassing you on purpose, even Gossip Girl agrees."

"She just makes up stuff to cause trouble. Will you let her ruin your friends' wedding by giving in, and letting your inner devil take over?"

"Those aren't your friends getting married! Jenny and Nate are traitorous enemies and anyone who supports them is guilty by association! All three couples deserve to go down!"

"You know that isn't true."

"Do you?"

"No." Vanessa spoke the last word out loud. She had made her decision. The traitors were going down.

--------The Taste Testing: Tuesday (July 4th) Afternoon--------

When Vanessa entered the room Blair, Chuck, Serena, Dan, Jenny, and Nate were all standing up to face the assembled guests, which included all of the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the families of all of the brides and grooms, as well as several close family friends. Vanessa took a seat at the nearest table next to Aaron, who whispered, "Hi" to her. She waved at him. They had been friends for a while now, and he sort of had a thing for her, but she couldn't be bothered with that right now.

"Hey everyone! Thanks for coming and Happy 4th of July!" said Jenny, with Nate holding on to her left hand. On her right was Dan, holding Serena's hand, and on Serena's right was Blair, holding Chuck's hand.

"We have narrowed down the selection of food from the caterers for you to try today, because we would like to know everyone's opinion," continued Serena.

"Even though we," Blair went on, gesturing to Chuck on her right, and down the line all the way to Nate on her left, "will be making the final decision we really value your opinion, and appreciate you coming here today."

"That being said," finished Jenny, "we can't take everyone's opinions into account, but please don't feel undervalued if we don't chose what you would have. Everyone's opinion will weigh in on this decision, even if we chose differently than some of you would have. So, everyone, appetizers are on the way!"

Waiters began pouring in from all sides with different trays of appetizers. Vanessa didn't even pay attention to what was in her mouth. She was concentrated on the top table. Chuck was popping a piece of shrimp into his mouth and Blair was asking his opinion. Serena and Dan were sampling mini quiches, and she saw Serena lean over and tap Chuck's shoulder as he kissed Blair. Meanwhile, Nate was feeding a piece of calamari into Jenny's mouth, making Vanessa want to hurl. Suddenly she noticed that Aaron was talking to her, and she turned around to attempt to listen.

"So Chuck, how does the sauce taste with the shrimp? Which one do you like better?" Blair asked.

"Come here and find out," he said with a wink, and they leaned in to kiss.

"Eww!" cried Serena tapping Chuck's shoulder. "We are trying to sample food here! You can make out later. What do you think of the mini quiches? Both Dan and I like them better than the shrimp."

"I like the calamari best," said Jenny.

"Me too," agreed Blair.

"Well, I like the shrimp," said Nate.

"As do I," added Chuck.

"Why don't we serve all three? I think that we can all agree that these are better than all of the other appetizers," said Blair.

"You see, that is why I'm marrying you! You're so smart when you want to be," said Chuck leaning in to kiss her.

"I agree with Blair, these three are the best," said Dan deciding to ignore the behavior of Chuck and Blair and addressing the rest of the group while Serena rolled her eyes at her best friend's PDA.

"Let's go see what the other guests think," said Nate, grabbing Jenny's hand and standing

up. All the other couples followed suit.

----------Chuck and Blair's Apartment: Tuesday Night----------

All three girls were in the hot tub, while the guys could be heard watching a game in the other room.

"I don't see why you would need a hot tub in your apartment B, I mean what's the point?" asked Serena.

"Aren't you having fun? Plus, hot tub sex is the greatest!" said Blair matter-of-factly

"Eww!!!" cried Serena, attempting to get out.

"Don't worry," said Blair, "I had the staff clean it out before you came, thoroughly."

"Okay," said Serena, sinking back into the water, she knew that Chuck's staff was very thorough about this sort of thing.

"Hey Jenny," said Blair, leaning over Serena so that she could see Jenny better. "Are you okay? You've been really quiet all evening."

Jenny sighed and then said, "I'm worried about Vanessa."

"Oh," said Blair and Serena in unison.

"I thought that she was okay with this, you know, me and Nate getting married. She hasn't been acting any differently towards us, until today. She wouldn't look at, or talk to either of us, and even when I spoke to her directly she would always turn and talk to someone else," Jenny continued.

"Don't worry about it J," said Serena reassuringly, "just give her some time and space."

"I hope she doesn't hate me," whispered Jenny.

"No one could possibly hate you J!" said Serena.

"And if they do, you know that Chuck and I will take them out," said Blair jokingly, and all three girls laughed, while Jenny momentarily forgot her troubles.

Meanwhile, in the other room the guys were having a similar conversation.

"Hey guys," said Nate, turning away from the TV, "I'm worried about Vanessa."

"What?" said Chuck and Dan together. Dan looked worried and Chuck looked incredulous.

"She completely ignored me and Jenny today," continued Nate.

"Why do you care?" asked Chuck, "Dude, you have a fiancée! Are you deciding now that you're into Vanessa?"

"NO!" Nate shouted him down, and both Chuck and Dan relaxed in their seats. "She's still a nice person, but your right I wouldn't normally care this much, except that Jenny was really hurt, I can tell. There was a point when she asked Vanessa about the chocolate éclairs and Vanessa just turned away and started talking to Serena. Jenny looked like she was going to cry, and it wasn't the first time today that something like that has happened. She didn't even seem to have a problem until today."

"You know, you're right," said Dan, "I'll talk to her tomorrow, because Serena and I definitely noticed what you're talking about, and it isn't like Vanessa."

Nate looked gratefully over at Dan as he said, "Thanks. I can tell Jenny is really worried about this."

Chuck just rolled his eyes…he didn't get why everyone cared so much about Vanessa anyway. He didn't hate her, but he didn't see any reason to get all worked up over how she was feeling.

---To be Continued---