Disclaimer: I don't own a thing except Layla
Season 1 Episode 3
There's plenty of upside to being the spawn of the fabulously wealthy, but the downside, super successful parents expect nothing less from their offspring and when it comes to college that means the Ivy's. It's more than just getting into college, it's setting a course for the rest of your life and for those few who aren't legacies, the pressures are no less. When parents have sacrificed for their children's future, what kid would want to let them down?
Layla stood in front of the mirror adjusting her uniform. She put all her music pins across her tie and found her jewelry. She looked at each side making sure everything looked perfect.
She arrives at the school and joins Blair, and her minions. She spots the boys across the courtyard and watches Nate stare at Blair. Everything must be good then between the two of them. When they get inside they all slide into one booth. Great assemblys were Layla ultimate favorite. Not. Layla looks back at her brother wondering if he was thinking about that morning.
*Layla ran past her brother and father beating them both, she stops and then her brother stops
"Try not to cut me off next time; you almost knocked me over the side of the bench." Their father said to Nate
"Layla?" Nate
"Don't blame this on me, I'm just faster" Layla said folding her arms over her chest
Their father looked at him with a stern look
"I didn't mean to" Nate said defeated
"If you win fair and square like your sister, nothing would make me prouder." The Captain said
"If feels good to be the good child" Layla smiled at her brother
"Dad, we've talked about me keeping my options open, looking out West."
"Yeah of course but lets get serious here. If someone with your grades wants to get into Dartmouth, you need to appear to be working for it. Take your sister for example. She is working hard for Juliard. Why cant you be like that" their father said
"And I am done with this conversation." Layla said and walked away.*
"At tomorrow night's mixer, Blair Waldorf will announce the charity her community outreach committee will honour this year." The teacher said. Layla looked over at Blair who had a huge smile on her face.
"Have you seen Serena?" Isabel asked
"I wonder where she is." Katy said
"Who cares" Layla said
"Know what I wonder? How we're supposed to hear anything about Yale with all this talk about Serena." Blair complained
"Exactly" Layla whispered
"Why do you care about Ivy week your going to Juilliard" Katy commented
"Shh" Layla said as they all got glares from Blair who seemed to be day dreaming
"So Serena's really not here?" Blair asked
"That's what I said."
"When you weren't supposed to be talking!" Katy said
Layla rolled her eyes.
After the assembly. Layla spotted Dan and ran up to him
"Romeo" she yelled
"Layla"
"How art thou this morning?" she asked
"Don't tell me its over?" they heard Serena ask
"What? You were there; I would say it's pretty over." Dan said
"I meant the assembly" Serena said
"It's over" Layla said
"Alright well good luck" Dan said to her and walked away Layla still by his side
"I take it that it didn't go to well after I left you two together" Layla asked
"No, but now I am just focused on Dartmouth" Dan replied
"Well heres me Layla Archibald to my new friend Dan Humphrey a Good Luck Charm" Layla said giving him a kiss on the cheek and then running off
In gym playing Field Hockey Layla watched Blair and Serena attack each other. Life was indeed interesting with Serena back. After Gym she walked straight into Chuck.
Hey Upper East Siders. We hear that World War Three just broke out and it's wearing knee socks. Choose your side or run and hide. We have a feeling that this one is to the death.
"if it isn't my favorite Archiblad" Chuck said
"I Just had entertaining class" Layla replied
"You're just having a good day"
"Whatever do you mean" she asked smiling at him
"I saw your little show this morning with Daniel"
"It was a friendly jesture, why is someone jealous"
"Of humphry, no" Chuck said laughing
Layla leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek"
"Good but Blair and Serena attacked each other in gym"
"Interesting" Chuck said walking off
Layla walked out into the court yard running straight into her brother
"So?" she asked eager to know what usher spot he got
"I got it, just like dad wanted me too, and I feel bad about it because someone else clearly wanted it" Nate said
"Wait, what school was it again. Please don't tell me its…" she asked
"Dartmouth"
"Poor Dan"
"Oh that's right you two are sort of friends does your Best Friend feel about that" Nate asked
"He's good" she said
"Sure he is"
"Well I need to go check on a friend since my brother beat him out of an usher spot"
"Well it looks like he another blonde keeping him company" Nate said pointing to Dan and Serena talking.
Layla gave her brother a hug and walked over to the end of Serena and Dan's conversation
"That's all I'm saying." Dan said and continued to walk off leaving Serena there. Layla hurried past her toward Dan
"Hey, I heard the news" Layla said walking next to him
"Right because Nate is your brother. How do I forget that detail" Dan said
"Maybe cause I'm nothing like him"
"Okay, where do you want to go to school? "
"Julilard"
"So not really an Ivy school"
"No but my dream is music. I fell in love in love when I was little."
"Are you sure you're a girl of the Upper East Side" he asked
"Oh yes I'm just not an Ivy League girl. Well actually if you think about it Juliard should be"
"Dartmouth is my dream" Dan replied
"I can talk to my brother" Layla said trying to help
"Don't worry about it"
"Okay"
"Look I got to go"
"Yeah I guess I will see you at the party"
"I don't think so"
"Later then" she said
Dan smiled at her and continued down the street. Layla stood there and noticed Chucks limo go back by the school.
Layla stood in front of the mirror applying her makeup for tonight's mixer. Her mom came up behind her.
"So beautiful" her mother said
"Thanks mom" Layla answered
"I know your the baby but please keep your eye on your brother. I feel like him and your fathers talks are getting to him"
"I always have Nates back because he always has mine" Layla turned around saying
They arrived at the party. Chuck approached them as her father walked away to mingle
"Beautiful as always"Chuck said then kissed her cheek "and Nathaniel"
"I'll leave you boys to do whatever it is you're going to do" Layla said
"Your sister knows me best" Chuck said
Layla smiled and then headed to the refreshments but spotted an old friend
"Eric!" Layla yelled
"Lay, hey how are you" Eric asked
"Good" Layla replied but then leaned to whisper something in his ear "rumor has it you've been in Florida. But I'm Layla Archibald and I'm 100% sure that's a lie"
Eric laughed at his friend
"You would be correct" Eric replied
"Am I allowed to know" Layla asked
Eric lifted his sleeve and Layla gasp
"Eric, why didn't you come to me"
"You were busy with you know who doing you know what?"
"You still should have told me. So is that why S is back"
"Yeah, but Lay, don't tell anyone" Eric pleaded
Layla held an imaginary key up to her lips she shut them and turned the key.
"Talk to you later" Eric said right as she felt someone approach her from behind
"I need you opinion on my next conquest" Chuck said into her ear. Layla turned to see who he was talking about when Blair came up
"Can you please explain why Serena is commandeering the Yale rep whilst you're supposed to be his usher?" Blair asked Chuck
"I switched, I'm trying to get into Princeton" Chuck said
"Well I'll leave you two to the scandal you're about to do" Layla said noticing something was going on
Layla walked away and over to the refreshments table. Of course Serena stood there and talking to Dan.
"Hey you made it" Layla said
"Refreshments" Dan said and then held a glass up for Serena.
"Hey" She heard from behind her. She knew it was Nate. It was the Twin Sense
"Hey" Serena said but got ignored by Nate "Wait, you're seriously not going to talk to me? Like literally not speak?"
"Hey" Nate said. Layla and Dan looked at eachother and then back to the other two
"Oh much better, thanks guys" Serena said and walked away
"So what is he like" Dan asked Nate
"Like a Dartmouth English lit professor that I have nothing in common with. I guess I could tell him how I'm an Archibald."
Dan smiled at the remark
"You should mention Dr. Seuss. Theo Giselle was his real name, he went to Dartmouth. Hall says he got the idea for "The Petting Zoo" from the Lorex."
"The what?" Nate asked
"Nate doesn't read" Layla said
"Funny Lay"
"Umm... you know what never mind. Just mention how his prostyle is influenced by early Faulkner and you'll be alright. Ah, or not." Dan said trying ot help
"Actually I was going to go get some fresh air, how about you take these over to him" Nate said handing Dan the drinks
"Alright, yeah I guess he can read my post essay for "Petting Zoo"." Dan said
They watched Dan walk away.
"That was very sweet of you Nate" Layla said
"He wants it more, now facing dad is going to be the tough part" Nate stated
"Good Luck"
"See you later" Nate said pulling Layla into a hug.
She watched her brother take off out the door and a very angry version of her father followed him. She walked back out into the crowd when Blair took the podium. Her minions and Chuck stood to the side. This wasn't going to be good.
"Can I please have everyone's attention?" Blair said "Welcome again to the Constance Billard/ St. Jude's Ivy mixer. I'm Blair Waldorf, chair of the community outreach committee. Every year our schools choose to support one local institution that we feel benefits our community. This year our schools have chosen to honor the Ostroff Centre."
Layla looked over to Eric who was now by Serena.
"Whats going on" Dan asked
"Its Blair, anything can happen" Layla said
"This year's choice is a very personal one because the center has helped one of our own. It's because of their excellent program which aids so many young addicts and alcoholics, that a student here with us today is clean and sober... at least for now. Can I please have Serena Van Der Woodsen join me on stage?"
Dan looked over at Serena making her way to the stage and then back to Layla.
"Hi, I'm Serena Van Der Woodsen. I just wanna thank my friend Blair Waldorf for recognizing the Ostroff Centre and all of the good things that they do." Serena said and then turned to Blair "Thanks Blair. In the Ostroff Centre, one of the main things that we learn is forgiveness
"She's in rehab?" Dan asked
"It's not her" Layla and Jenny said at the same time
"Her brother" Layla said "But you can't tell anyone"
"I won't but why is she doing this?" Dan asked
"In order to move forward for our future, we must forgive those who have wronged us in the past. And we ourselves must ask for forgiveness from those whom we've wronged. Without this forgiveness, innocent people get hurt"
"Thank you Serena! Thank you! Thank you!" Blair said
Honesty may the best policy in some zip codes but not in this one and not this week cos "I Was a Teenage Drug Addict" is not exactly a winning college essay.
"Can we please have Dr. Ostroff join us on stage please?" Blair said.
Layla watched Dan watch Serena.
"Go after her" Layla said
"Yeah" Dan said then took off.
The next morning Layla entered Chucks suite. Nate was on the phone and Chuck still sound asleep or at least she thought
"Oh yeah, I'll be right there" Nate said into the phone
"Where the hell could you possibly need to be right now" Chuck grumbed from the bed
"I'm late for a run with dad"
"Hmm why didn't he call me?" Layla aske d
"Holy shit Lay you need to tell people you're here" Nate said
"Why that would ruin the fun" Layla said getting a smirk from Chuck
"Only you" Chuck stated
"No but really why didn't Dad call me" Layla laughed
"He's tired of losing to you" Nate said with a grin. "Now you two behave your selves when I am gone"
"No need to worry Nathaniel, your sister is a virgin and a prude" Chuck said
"I am not a prude and I am not…not. I am a virgin" Layla said trying to catch her outburst
"I don't even want to ask" Nate said heading out the door
Chuck sat on the bed laughing at Layla. She looked down at a paper.
"So is Jessica, Princeton" Layla aske d
"They're tigers for a reason" Chuck stated
Layla sat down her hand bag and ran over to the bed and jumped on to it right into Chucks arm.
"Can I prove I am better" she said and then kissed him deeply making it lead to much more.
