Yeah, my little toe-dip into the Glee fandom once more has caused my writing bug to bite quite considerably again and apparently it's not letting go. I'm supposed to be studying, but my excuse this time is just that most of this chapter was written already, it just needed certain parts filled, and I do so hate to have unfinished things – ha, believe it or not!
Hope you enjoy…
A/N: bold = flashbacks
Chapter Two: Hollis – Someone Like You And All You Know And How You Speak
"Don't judge a man by his opinions, but what his opinions have made of him."
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
.
His daughters were laughing together about something at the other end of the table, and his youngest had grabbed her mother's arm to get her attention, so she would join in with them. Aston sent them a smile as he contentedly ate his breakfast, so his gaze was drawn to his oldest son, pushing the toast around his plate with that sullen look on his face.
"You mom called," Nate announced, directing the words at his eldest boy even though it was fairly obvious whom he was talking to given the Abrams-Archibald family were all present and sitting around the table together.
Sometimes Hollis needed reminding that his family stretched beyond those within the household he currently resided in.
"Oh," his oldest son voiced at that, raising his gaze from his plate enough to catch his father's eyes.
"Yeah, she said your sister was acting really strange last night and wondered if you'd be able to shed any light on what was wrong with her," he continued, and took a bite out of his toast as he waited for his son to reply.
Hollis answered in the form of a disinterested shrug, before mustering the words, "I saw her when I was looking for a present for Effy – she seemed fine."
The teenager lifted his head then, strands of his dirty-blonde hair falling across his eyes.
"You know, the usual Harper: sunshine and smiles on the outside, cold hard bitch barely hidden beneath."
He flashed his father a smile and took a drink of his juice.
"Hollis," Nate started, clearing his throat and meeting Vanessa's eyes when she shot him a concerned look from her seat opposite her husband that then zoned in on his eldest son. "That's not really any way to talk about your sister – and besides, your mom wouldn't be calling to ask for your help if it wasn't important."
"Oh, trust me," the teenager bit out at that. "I know."
There was more hostility in that one statement than Nate cared to dwell on, and he reached over to place his hand on his son's arm; but the blonde boy pulled it out of his grasp before he had the chance.
"There was a blast on Gossip Girl about Effy ditching her on Fifth while they were shopping," his younger son informed him then, finger pointed in the air to punctuate his next words, "Think they had a disagreement."
"Right, well perhaps you could find out and then pass the information on to your brother so he can call Serena and put her mind at ease that this will all blow over soon." Nate looked between his two boys. "Hmm?"
Hollis snorted and muttered into his glass, "Not likely. And you can be the one to call her since you're so interested in talking to her."
Aston just looked at his father, and told him matter-of-factly, "I don't think that'll be happening, Dad. There was an accompanying photo – Harper looked worse than she did when her dog got run over by that cab when we were eleven, and Effy just looked plain pissed."
Aston wasn't even a year younger than his brother and yet he was so so different. Despite the fact they'd grown up together, and were forever in close proximity even when Hollis resided at Serena's home and not Nate's; both of his boys appeared to have inherited more of their mothers' genes as opposed to his own. It was times like these, however, that he wished they were a little more like him: because when Serena didn't want to be agreeable she really went out of her way to be difficult; and it was only one of the traits Hollis shared with his sister Harper, even if he wouldn't admit as much.
His younger son leaned back in his chair and informed him casually, "You're probably better bracing Aunt Serena for war to break out – that'd appear to be a more apt description of what is likely to ensue."
"Why?" It was his wife that asked; though her eyes met his once again before they settled on their children. "What happened?"
Vanessa's gaze started at their youngest, who shrugged, because as Rory had told them countless times: how was she supposed to know what was going on when they'd forbidden her from subscribing to Gossip Girl and all of the older kids liked to pretend she didn't exist.
Anna dismissed her mother's questioning gaze with a roll of her eyes. She might've known, it was more than likely given how close her boyfriend was to his cousin, but she wasn't about to tell them.
"I imagine," Aston's amused voice cut his mother's gaze from his brother straight to him. "Harper did something deplorable again."
"Well, it gets her noticed, right?" Hollis remarked from his own place, and turned slowly to look at his father.
His phone buzzed next to him and his wife frowned across the table at him as he diverted his attention from the matter at hand to whatever the subject of his ringing phone was. "Nate," she said, in warning.
"It's Chuck," he simply replied; as if that was answer enough for breaking the 'no phones at the table' rule he and Vanessa had instilled within their family since before their children were even born.
His wife was not impressed; her scowl told him as such.
"Apparently he's downstairs and he's – " Nate let out a laugh, because it sounded exactly like his best friend; but he rephrased it because he didn't want his wife to get even more annoyed at him, and he was at the table. "He'd sure appreciate if you kids could hurry on down so they could get going. Apparently the limo was offered as your form of transportation to school today."
He smiled sweetly across the table and Vanessa rolled her eyes and released a sigh, clapping her hands together and standing up from the table.
"Ok, kids, time to get moving – we wouldn't want to upset Uncle Chuck before he goes to work, now would we?" she said, giving her husband a pointed look, before directing their youngest daughter towards the door to collect her things, their eldest languidly following suit moments later.
Nate turned to Aston to ask, "Did you know he was here?"
His youngest son had the sense to look mildly abashed, as he admitted vaguely, "Effy might've texted me to tell me she'd be coming by."
"And your mother didn't notice you using your phone at the table?" Nate inquired when his wife was out-of-earshot, and then threw a flash of a smile Aston's way. "You've been spending too much time in the company of Bass."
The housekeeper appeared by the door then, looked directly at the blonde next to him and said, "You have a visitor, Master Hollis."
All three seemed to be surprised by the news and when his eldest son appeared to be eyeing the man with thinly-veiled suspicion, Nate spoke up, prompting, "Who is it?"
"Wouldn't say, Sir," the man responded brusquely. "Just that he was a friend of young Master Hollis here."
"Well, I'm going to see who it is," Aston announced then and sent his brother a grin, before promptly standing up from the table and making his way out of the room.
A beat passed and then Hollis made to imitate his brother's actions when Nate stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"Hollis," he said, his eyes beseeching his son to listen to him. "Your mom's trying here, but you have to give her something to work with."
The blonde teenager let out a sigh and ran a hand over his face. "I know, dad. But it's just – it's always about Harper, you know?"
"No, I don't know." He smiled at his son, and gave him a look that told him he should be of the same opinion. "What I do know is that your mom is trying hard to be there for you even when you've told her you don't want her to be; and that while using your sister as leverage to get you to see that might not always be the best idea, it's also sometimes the only chance she has of speaking to you."
Hollis cast his gaze downward.
"And for the record, I think your mom and Dan are going through some stuff, so you might want to lay off Harper a bit," he added softly.
Hollis rolled his eyes at that. "They're always going through some stuff. Honestly, you didn't think it might be a good idea to try and stop them from getting married? They're like a car crash waiting to happen – actually, scratch that – they're like the wreckage of a car crash just waiting to burst into flames."
And it was then whoever was waiting for his son decided to show face.
"Archibald, you in here?" a dark-haired male entered the room.
Hollis drew up to full height and blinked slowly at the visitor. "Stratton – what're you doing here?"
"We have school, right?" the other boy replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And I barely know anyone, but you, so I figured… "
"That you'd go into the lions' den with an ally already at hand," Nate filled in, with a wide grin; he really needed to stop listening to Chuck and Blair and all their analogies. "That's good thinking."
And then he stood and held out his hand for the boy to shake and introduced himself.
"Oh, I know who you are," the teenager cut him off, with a slight smirk that reminded him entirely too much of his best friend during their high-school days. "My grandpa always said it was prudent to familiarize yourself with those in positions of power before you set foot on foreign land. Well, so to speak."
"Right," Nate pronounced slowly and saw his son roll his eyes at the other boy.
"You're so weird," Hollis told him, and it was the dark-haired teenager's turn to roll his eyes.
"Of course I am, because doing what I just said doesn't make any sense at all, does it?" their newest addition replied sarcastically.
And then he turned his attention back to Nate and flashed him a dazzling smile, which worked its magic almost instantly.
"Stratton Sparks. Pleased to meet your acquaintance."
.
"So why are you really here?" the blonde asked as they left the room.
Stratton turned to look at his friend at that. "What? Not trust what I just told you and your Daddy dearest?"
"Don't do that," Hollis hissed at him then.
"What?" he returned, with the lift of an eyebrow.
"Don't turn like that – don't be disrespectful to my dad. Just don't," the blonde answered.
"Alright," Stratton responded slowly, eyeing his friend. "I apologize."
"It's fine, it's just – I didn't think you'd want to hang around with me after yesterday," Hollis told him, and his gaze shifted to the ground as he shuffled his feet across the hall.
Stratton frowned, and then his lips quirked up slightly as he remarked, almost in disbelief, "You're not used to people giving you much attention, are you?"
"What?" The blonde's head shot up at that, confusion knitting his brow.
"Yesterday was a difference in opinions," he explained, and gave the other boy a half-shrug. "Different cultures, different attitudes – it's bound to happen."
The blonde continued to eye him.
"Besides," Stratton flashed the taller a quick grin, thinking over the occurrences of the previous day. "Differences make for healthy competition."
"I can't get her that!" Hollis exclaimed, and Stratton doubted he was actually inspecting the necklace itself, but rather the price attached.
"Why not?" he asked, frowning at the other boy, because it really didn't make any sense.
"Well, for one it's far too expensive," the blonde answered, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"You're rich, with a legacy that extends back decades, what does money matter to you?" came his retort, if a little biting.
"It doesn't."
"Well, then."
"I'm just not spending that on my cousin," Hollis expanded, just that little bit extra.
"Why not?" he demanded, becoming more frustrated by the minute.
"I'm just not, ok?" the blonde replied, staring hard into his eyes and breathing heavily. Apparently defending his actions took a lot out of him.
Except Stratton had no plans to back down; at least, not right then, he didn't.
"No, it's not ok. We just spent the better part of the past hour looking for something you think would be acceptable to buy for your cousin, and we finally find something that is more than suitable, by the way, and you dismiss it because of the price. No," he answered, his jaw clicking. "Spill. Now."
"I'm not buying it for her. End of," Hollis replied, and turned to walk off.
The brown-haired boy reached out and grabbed the other, hard. "That's not the end of this conversation. I want to know why. Now tell me."
"Because she's not worth it!" the blonde finally let out.
Frustrated, he dragged his hands through his sand-colored hair.
Hollis's voice deflated slightly as he said it again: as if repetition would make Stratton – and anyone else who would listen – agree with him. "Effy's not worth it."
"Surely you can't mean that. Have you seen the girl?" Stratton scoffed, raising an eyebrow at the other boy, because he could not believe what he was actually hearing.
"Of course I've seen her! I've been forced to spend time with her practically every day since she was born. I've seen her, and I'm telling you, she doesn't deserve all this time and effort and money being lavished upon her. She just doesn't," Hollis was adamant with his point; Stratton could hear it in his voice, see it in the hard gaze he threw across the room, the clenching of his fists.
"Wow," Stratton released a breath, his lips twisting into a smile as he whistled. "You really hate her, don't you?"
"Hate would imply I care for her, even on some minute level, and I don't," the blonde dismissed with a glance in his direction.
"You don't mean that. And yes, you do," the brown-haired boy countered easily, watching the other closely.
"How would you know? I only just met you," Hollis said, annoyed. "And what is this anyway? Why are you so interested? What's it to you if I don't get on with her?"
"I'm not, I couldn't care less if you had some sordid past together and that's why you're so bitter. This was simply a business deal, and you fulfilled your side of it, so this is me accomplishing mine," Stratton replied, with a half-hearted shrug.
The blonde continued to eye him, breathing heavily.
"Look, buy the necklace or don't buy the necklace, I don't particularly care. Your family dynamics are your own business, but for what it's worth; I think you're wrong about your cousin."
The other boy shifted in his place, diverting his gaze from Stratton to the floor and then back to Stratton again.
"And if I really wanted to show you just how much more I know about her than you, I'd have told you to go for the more expensive one. Not because I think she'll be well aware of the price tag attached and be more impressed, but because the shape and cut would compliment her even more than they would with the other necklace, and if you'd taken a moment to notice what she was wearing, you'd see that this one would also flatter the bracelet she had on and the earrings she was wearing – not that I imagine she'd use this in her everyday wear."
Hollis was near-gawping at him, but Stratton just blew out a sigh and rolled his eyes, allowing the scathing tone to settle on his tongue for a moment before he released it on his friend.
"But what do I know, I've only just met you all."
"So why did you come round?" Hollis's voice brought him back from his thoughts on the previous day.
Stratton met the other boy's eyes for a moment, before he turned his full attention to what lay before them.
"Oh, look," he announced to his newfound friend with a brilliant smirk. "A ride."
.
"I didn't realize you were in the habit of entertaining strays," Effy commented with an amused tone to her voice that he recognized so well. "You should've told me, I'd have brought a leash."
Aston turned and saw his brother and his brother's newest (only) friend stepping from the stairs to the sidewalk; Stratton Sparks's eyes on the brunette by his side, and a matching smirk on both of their faces. To say the similarity scared him a little would be an understatement, but mainly because he noticed what lingered underneath. These two creatures before him; they were two of a kind. And God help him if he didn't know what was going to happen.
Drama. Drama. Drama.
Was there nowhere he was safe?
"I didn't realize the Upper East Side was in the habit of inspiring its youth to become glorified dog-walkers," the dark-haired boy replied, amused, while Hollis just glared at the brunette.
"One of the many traits inherited from this place. How to distinguish between the bitches," she smiled sweetly back at him, "and the bastards."
And with that Effy slipped inside the limo.
His younger sister was already seated inside, next to the two boys she held in higher regard than Aston thought was actually healthy, and he raised an eyebrow at his brother and his friend in silent invitation before entering the vehicle as well.
"Who're you?" his younger 'cousin' (his dad was best friend's with the man, so they were family by choice rather than blood – and he sort of liked that explanation) demanded when his eyes set their sights on the dark-haired boy who'd just entered the limo.
"Catch. Tone," his Uncle Chuck remarked, and sent his eldest son a sideways glance.
"Stratton Sparks," the newest addition introduced himself with unabashed self-assuredness, which alone actually seemed like it could've won the fifteen-year-old over. "And you are?"
"Catch Bass," the younger replied, his tone equaling that of the other boy; the smirk, the eyebrow raise; it certainly didn't go unnoticed by the eldest among them.
"You're Georgina's daughter?" his Uncle looked up from the papers before him as he posed the question.
It was barely a flicker, but Aston noticed it; the boy nodded, and it was as if his eyes couldn't look anywhere but at the man before him.
"Where're you staying?" was the elder's next question.
Stratton seemed to pause for the slightest of moments before answering, "The Empire."
A slow smile crept up along his Uncle's lips at that, and Aston caught the scowl that crossed his brother's face in the background. "Wonderful."
"Well, you hated my mum, right?" The dark-haired boy's accent slipped even further into a brogue Aston wasn't familiar with when he said that. "And you know what they say: friends close, enemies closer and all that rot."
"Contrary to popular belief, I never hated Georgie," the elder replied, an almost fond expression overcoming his features. "I just thought she was a psychotic bitch."
"Alright, Uncle Chuck, I think you've made your point," Hollis cut in then, and Catch rolled his eyes, heaving a sigh.
"Always have to ruin the fun, don't you, H?" the fifteen-year-old remarked.
"Your definition of fun is vastly different from mine, cousin," the blonde shot back.
Catch smirked at that, and practically sneered at the elder in return, "That's because you've clearly been hit on the head too many times during lax."
That was a low blow. Everyone knew Hollis wasn't the best player; he tried his best, and he was good, certainly, but he was no Nate Archibald. Aston didn't know why his brother didn't just concentrate more on track, since he was infinitely better at running around without a stick and chasing other runners as opposed to a ball, but apparently the elder thought playing lacrosse was the only way he could bond with their Dad, or some other stupid reasoning, so there was no convincing him otherwise.
Aston thought Hollis was pretty idiotic to be honest, if he thought the only thing he had in common with their Dad was a sport. Hell, if that were the case Aston would never even strike up a conversation with the elder. The boy was in serious need of family therapy, or at least a good boost of self-esteem.
He sort of hoped this new friend of his brother's would actually do him some good.
"Ok, boys, that's enough," his Uncle said then, seemingly bored with the whole affair as he flipped another page. "There's already enough bodies in here to more than constitute a party, I don't think we need to add your dire attempts at entertainment to the mix."
.
"Seen your sister around?" Chet Baizen's voice broke through his thoughts.
"What's it to you?" Hollis replied, and flickered his gaze up to meet the other boy's eyes as he settled himself atop the stone table, his feet planting themselves firmly on the bench next to where the blonde was sitting.
"I have something for her," he responded; but there was something in his eyes, something –
" – Is that supposed to be some sort of innuendo?" the blonde asked. "Because if it is, you're totally going about this whole 'Get-Effy-Back' plan of yours completely the wrong way."
"Man, there is no 'Get-Effy-Back' plan. That ship has sailed – I'm onto pastures new and all that," Chet informed him, still smirking that damn smirk.
"And you're looking to my sister to fulfill these fantasies of yours, are you?" Hollis scoffed.
"Oh, they're not fantasies," the other boy remarked, face alight with pleasure and that aura of smugness he always seemed to carry.
"What did you say?" Hollis questioned at that.
He was met with Chet's face, apparently infinitely more amused than before, and laughter filled his ears.
"I don't believe this," the boy choked out. "Of all the people – it had to be you."
"What are you talking about?" Hollis demanded; he was officially done with Chet Baizen's games, and being but a pawn in them.
"You should really read those Gossip Girl blasts you subscribe to more often," was the other boy's advice, before he leaned down to speak directly in his ear as he delivered the words, "I slept with your sister."
.
Hollis had been too stunned by Chet's words to actually do anything, but sit stalk still while the other boy strode away, laughing as he went. He was ashamed; because that was his sister the whole school was apparently talking about, but at the same time, he wasn't; because Harper had gained her reputation a long time ago, and really, he'd sort of been expecting the whole her-and-Chet thing for a while.
What struck him as odd, however, was that he was feeling somewhat bad for Effy. He wasn't sure why, it wasn't like he actually got on with his cousin; but he suspected it had more to do with his parents' nature, and the morals and all that they'd instilled in him since birth. It was just empathy. Besides, it was more of a fleeting feeling than a lingering one, and it had only happened when he'd looked across the courtyard, taken in the gaggles of giggling girls, the twittering from all corners of the space, the groups of guys pointing and making those gestures and realized that Effy was standing in the middle of all of it.
That was until her back got that little bit straighter, her eyes got seemingly darker, and she announced to them all in a loud, clear voice, "So, my cousin's a whore – tell me something I don't know. Make sure you keep your aim as low as that next time too; I reside at the top for a reason."
And that was when Harper came into his line of vision as well. He could've sworn his cousin had some sort of psychic ability for timing and appearances; it was all far too coincidental for it not to be at least somewhat orchestrated for dramatic effect.
He took the opportunity, as the younger stood momentarily stunned, to grab hold of her arm and yank her over to the side.
"You slept with Chet Baizen?" were the first words he spoke to her.
She rolled her eyes at him and flippantly replied, "So tell me something Gossip Girl hasn't."
"He was looking for you earlier – even asked me if I'd seen you," Hollis said then. "Sounds pretty desperate, if you ask me."
"Yeah, well no one is asking you," came Harper's biting response, and she turned her venomous gaze on him then as opposed to the wall behind his head and off to the side a smidge. "And he found me anyway, so crisis averted!"
"What's wrong with you?" he questioned, leaning closer to her to get a proper look at her, both hands on her upper arms as he tugged her forward then so he could get a better view. "Are you high?"
"Yes, high as a kite, I'm soaring up through the atmosphere," was her sarcastic retort as she paraphrased the Mary Poppins song; but he saw more truth in her words than she was trying to let on.
"Go home," he instructed her then, and started to pull her towards the front gates, throwing out his arm to hail a cab.
"What?" she demanded, wrenching her arms from his grasp, as a taxi pulled up near them.
The bell rang in the mild distance and Hollis turned to trudge back up towards the school, calling over his shoulder at his sister, "Go home, Harper!"
.
"Hey, have you seen this?" he asked, almost in disbelief, because seriously, it was crazy.
He jogged to catch up with the dark-haired boy, and held out his phone to show Stratton the latest Gossip Girl blast:
I'd say I sense dissension in the ranks, but I think it's fairly obvious where all your loyalties lie on this one (give me a call when they don't fall into E's corner).
Tut tut, vdW, sleeping with a taken man – not to mention your cousin's man. Bffs? Family? Does this mean nothing to you people anymore?
Think of it this way, vdW: at least you won't have to struggle to choose a dress for the Bass ball tomorrow night, because you won't be going. Maybe you can keep C company in the lonely night, since it worked out so well for you both before.
E was spotted earlier denouncing said (ex?) bff's status as a lady-in-waiting, and my sources claim the girl didn't even shed a tear.
You know we call her the Ice Queen for a reason, so you love-birds better watch your backs; because E's going to be coming for you, and you know she likes her apologies raw when she bleeds you dry.
You know you love me.
xoxo
Gossip Girl
"No, I hadn't," was the reply. "But thanks for showing it to me so I can get the latest insider scoop on your cousin's life. Real nice of you."
"You don't gossip," Hollis said, and he wasn't sure if his tone of disbelief made it a question or a statement.
"That's because nobody tells me anything," Stratton pointed out; though the blonde doubted this would really stop the other boy. From what he'd experienced so far in the new arrival's company, he knew more than he seemed to let on.
"Well, apparently, my sister slept with my cousin's ex-boyfriend, before he was her ex," the blonde clarified; and he wasn't sure if it was to gauge the other boy's reaction or because it actually felt sort of good to have someone to tell something like that to, to be the one in-the-know, for once.
"I don't mind that nobody tells me anything," was Stratton's simple reply.
That stopped him short.
"I'll call you tomorrow about the arrangements for the party," the other boy called back, and carried on walking along, holding up a hand and half-waving it as he went.
Hollis was left standing in the street, wondering if he'd just been blown off by his new friend for acting exactly the same way as those he complained about daily; or if there was just something about the dark-haired boy he hadn't figured out yet.
And surprisingly, he found that he didn't really care.
Because for once he'd done what they had, for once he'd acted like they did; and it felt good.
.
TBC…
A/N: the exchange between Stratton and Hollis about gossip was inspired by a quote from Grey's Anatomy
Ooh, and the order went: Nate Archibald – Stratton Sparks – Aston Archibald – Hollis van der Woodsen-Archibald
The Abrams-Archibald Family:
Nate & Vanessa = married.
Arianna 'Anna' = 18 years old. Senior.
Aston = 17 years old. Junior.
Aurora 'Rory' = 15 years old. Freshman.
Hollis van der Woodsen-Archibald = 17 years old. Junior.
Thanks for reading, and please let me know what you thought of it – it really means a lot!
Steph
xxx
