Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or any of the characters in Gossip Girl. I wish I did.

Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews so far. Appreciate it!


Dan turned back, forlornly observing Serena glide toward him and holding out a hand to stop the elevator door from shutting. Dan watched as she slid in surreptitiously. She looked up to Dan.

"I figured I'd go too," she recited to Dan's raised eyebrows at her sudden entry, "Chuck doesn't need me at the moment, per se."

Dan sighed.

"And as for you," Serena started again, straightening her back to look Dan directly into his eyes, "what were you doing with Blair?" She had attempted a comedic tone, something that might be lightly suggestive, but, quite frankly, failed miserably. What with Chuck's exponentially growing problems and her mounting paranoia with Dan over his seemingly awkward encounter with Blair and her break-up (Is that what you call it when your ex-teacher/ex-convict accused of statutory rape tells you he needs "time" away from you?) with Ben and the fact that her mother had just turned herself in and was likely facing major prison time not to mention dealing with the pressure and stress of those in her family and around her, Serena couldn't quite manage comedic at the present time. (Oh, S, just wait till word gets out that Daddy Vandy's back in town) Dan rubbed his temples, sighing, two signs that Serena knew well as traits that characterized Dan. He contemplated possible replies in his mind.

"I was just kissing your best friend, Serena. Might I add that it trumped any kiss I ever shared with you?"

"I just found out that plausible deniability sucks and should be assassinated, thanks to Blair, of course. Wanna know how?"

"Why, dearest Serena, I was having the best make-out session of my life with Ms. Waldorf, thank you very much."

No. No. And no. Gag, gag, and more gag. Serena would probably shoot Dan if he responded with any of those three. So Dan, ever the coward, responded:

"I…I…Blair? Fix…Resolving something."

Serena's eyes narrowed. Coward though he might be, Dan picked up immediately. He was no fool. Being on-and-off-and-on-and-off-and-on-(and off?) with Serena for the past three years, he could pick up certain facial expressions of hers at the very least as well as she could his. That squint, eye-narrowing of Serena's always hinted at suspicion. No, it hinted that Serena knew you were lying or hiding something. Knew it. Especially if her cheeks scrunched up to supplement the narrowed eyes. That was a given. Well, Dan thought darkly, I'm not necessarily lying, am I? I went to Blair to resolve something.

"Resolve what, might I ask?" Serena's voice lacked even the faux lightness about it. She was being direct and Serena was only direct when she suspected lies.

This one stumped Dan. He had thought passing off a generic answer might appease Serena but apparently in their time apart she had grown more alert than before. Maybe the alertness was always there, lurking behind the fluttering golden curls and perfect curves of the Upper East Side princess. It slightly unnerved him. Dan, ever the writer, blurted out the first lie that came to mind.

"F. Scott Fitzgerald's content is deeper than Jane Austen."

Serena looked positively stupefied. "I'm sorry, what?" she said.

"Debating the merits of the work of several classic writers. Blair wouldn't concede for weeks. It's been resolved."

Serena let out a nervous laugh. There was something about that laugh that revealed Serena's character completely to Dan. Maybe it was the writer in him that allowed him to exploit such casual interactions to find deeper emotions within them. To the outsider, the laugh might just be classified as nervous. To someone who knew Serena, that laugh would have had an overlay of potential relief about it. But for Dan, what was behind that laugh was transparent. It was concern. She was concerned about why Blair and Dan might argue the merits of literature. Her next sentence validated his suspicion.

"I wasn't aware that you and Blair even spoke," Serena said casually, lightly as they strolled aimlessly.

Oh, if you thought talking was a surprise Serena, you're in for a huge mother—

"Dan," Serena continued, her voice darker this time, but filled with noticeable intent, "Dan, I broke up with Ben."

Dan stopped. He scratched the stubble of beard growing underneath his chin. He watched as Serena halted and turned to face him.

"I'm sorry, Serena."

Serena smiled at him. Well, at least she tried to. It was more of a grimace. Dan noticed that tonight Serena was having a hell of a job pretending who she was.

"I am too, Dan," she paused for a few moments, "Have you ever been more fascinated with the concept of something? Then be left with a sour taste in your mouth after you achieve your desire. Then be left to ultimately think whether your desires are a disappointment?"

Dan's brain went into overdrive.

Why, Serena, you're living proof of that for me. Isn't it always the concept of something that enthralls us, the concept of you that enraptured me? Your blonde hair, bombshell appeal, your perfect figure that had the teenage me about as randy as…well, as randy as a teenager can be.

"You're talking about Ben?" Dan asked. He was just passing time. He knew the answer.

"Yes," Serena responded. She paused, twirling a stray golden strand of her hair around on her index finger. "It was the concept of Ben that had me caught up. The smart, attractive young teacher who was always willing to help, be a better person. Then, when I realized he wasn't who I thought he was…it was like being on life support. It was completely artificial…neither of us felt…alive."

Just like how our relationship panned out five times, Serena. Hanging on a life support, a conception that each other might be something that the other wasn't, that the other sought. But it doesn't need to be artificial. Not when you find someone to be real, yourself. Someone who you don't have to cower away from to be yourself.

"Well, the only thing left to do, Serena is to hang onto hope that you might find someone with whom you feel less artificial with," Dan said, more to himself than to Serena.

Serena looked at Dan, her blue eyes frosted with wetness.

"I suppose. We all just have to wait our time, eventually?"

"We just have to wait our time."

Their eyes met. Dan broke contact after a tense moment or so.

"What was Chuck doing with Bl—up there," Dan asked nonchalantly as they picked up their pace and began to walk without aim or intent.

"Chuck," Serena sighed, "Chuck is an interesting character, Dan."

"You could say that."

Serena chuckled.

"He shut down that party for a reason, Dan. Apparently found something about his father. I'd hazard a guess that Russell Thorpe is behind some of this…insanity that Chuck is going through."

Dan looked in space, thinking. What if Chuck's sob story was enough to sucker Blair into going back to him, without regard that I even existed?

Another voice sounded in Dan's head. What entitlement do I have to Blair? What have I done to be with her?

But what entitlement does Bass have to Blair? After trading her, sleeping with my sister, and doing god-knows-what-with-god-knows-what—

"Dan, Dan! Earth to Dan," Serena asked irritated, snapping her fingers in front of him.

"What is it?"

"Apparently, you're spacing out Dan. Maybe it's something new you've started to do."

Whenever I hear you talk, it tends to happen.

Dan let out a tense chuckle. A taxi was driving nearby. Dan turned to Serena.

"It's been a long day, Serena. I'm heading to the loft. Goodbye."

"I could go with you?" Serena's voice dripped with hesitant, dripped with desire. Her motivations were transparent—she wanted to stake her claim out and probably get back with Dan. Dan was conflicted with a sudden internal struggle—Serena or Blair?

He paused for a few seconds, contemplating. The taxi came to the curb and Dan pressed a hand on the door.

"No, Serena. I'm sorry. There's unresolved…stuff…I need to…resolve with…something."

Dan seated himself in the taxi and closed the door to catch a glimpse of Serena's broken, disappointed face.

Deadly decision, Dan.


Author's Note: Review please! If you want to criticize, please don't be scared from doing so. If you feel I'm not writing well or how you think I should be writing, please feel free to voice your opinion. The positive reviews have been overwhelming so far. Thank you all very, very,very much. I'll try to get more done ASAP. Thank you for reading :) Hope you enjoyed this chapter.