Why Can't We Be Friends?

Nate Archibald felt guilty. He was about to tell Dan that they could no longer be friends, and he still hadn't figured out a good reason. As much as he wanted to tell Dan the truth, he knew it would only create more problems. Dan would freak out if he knew that his younger sister was the unknowing star of a Chuck Bass sex tape. Furthermore, he didn't want Dan to think he was like Blair or Chuck. He wasn't like them at all, and neither was Dan. That's why Nate enjoyed hanging with Dan. It was all about to end, though. Nate looked up and saw Serena walking toward him. He looked away. Seeing Serena made him uncomfortable, though he wasn't sure why.

"Hi, Nate!" she greeted as she hugged him.

He patted her back unenthusiastically. She was wearing a brand of perfume that Nate loved... He pulled away instantly.

"Hey," he greeted lamely.

"I tried to call you this weekend. Why didn't you call me back?" she asked.

"Oh, I had something to do..."

"Something that took all weekend?"

Nate shrugged.

"Sort of," he muttered, looking down.

"Hey. What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"Nate, come on. It's me. You know you could never lie to me," she commented in a nearly singsong voice.

Nate felt warm inside, so he looked up. His breath became short and his heart swelled when he gazed into her deep, blue eyes. He couldn't help but smile back.

"There we go," she laughed, "Now, why don't you tell me what's on your mind, so we can worry about it together?"

He nodded.

"It's Chuck," he answered.

"Isn't it always?" Serena chided.

Nate snickered.

"You know that blonde girl at brunch?"

"Um... Jenny, right?"

Nate nodded.

"Well, she's the sister of this guy i know named Dan. Chuck..."

Serena watched him with her beautiful eyes. Nate didn't want to say it. He didn't want Serena to know. He didn't want anyone to know.

"What?"

"He... he's blackmailing me. He's threatened to do something terrible to her if I don't stop being friends with Dan."

Serena nodded.

"I see. What's he going to do to her?" she asked casually.

Nate shook his head violently.

"I can't say," he answered quickly, "It's bad, though. Trust me."

"Fair enough. Well, Chuck and I have an agreement," she advised him, "I think he'll understand that you're going to be friends with whomever you want."

Nate looked up at her.

"I know you've been gone for awhile, but have you forgotten who Chuck Bass is?"

"No. I know exactly who he is. That's why I feel confident that Chuck will pass on his blessing for you to make friends outside of our little circle."

Nate was confused. What was Serena talking about?

"... Really?" he asked sceptically.

"Yes, Nate, really," she promised, "So, go, find your friend. Have lunch with him, braid each other's hair... Hell, ride a tandem bicycle down Wall Street as far as I'm concerned. Just leave Chuck Bass to me."

So, he was right. Serena knew something. She was blackmailing Chuck, Chuck Bass of all people. What did she know, though?

"You and I should hang out together, though," she insisted, "I've missed you."

She hugged him again. He didn't return the hug. He didn't know why, but her return had him confused. Why had she come back? To blackmail Chuck? Was she looking for something more? Either way, Nate suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

"Sure," he muttered, "I'm going to go find Dan. He's probably in the lunchroom..."

"Great. That's where I'm going! Maybe you can walk me?"

Nate hesitated.

"Um, actually, I just remembered that I have to drop something off at my locker first. You go on ahead. Go... have lunch."

She frowned.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No," he answered, "I just... I have to go. Bye."

He turned and walked back down the hall. He could tell she was watching, so he had to turn the corner. He waited by a fountain for a few moments until he was sure she was gone.

What was going on? What was this? Why was he so reluctant to spend time with Serena? A year ago he would have walked on hot coals just to spend one minute alone with her. He spent a magnificent night with her. Somehow, she was different. He was different. He sighed and continued back down the hall, anxious to see Dan. Whatever he felt about Serena, she had promised that if he was still friends with Dan, that Chuck wouldn't do anything to him. Would she be able to deliver?

He entered the lunch room and looked around. He spotted Dan staring off into space alone. He looked over and saw Serena sitting with Chuck, Blair, and Jenny. He had to admit he was surprised to see Jenny still hanging with them. Perhaps Blair actually wanted Jenny as a friend...? Probably not, but whatever. He was also curious to notice that Isabelle and Kati were nowhere near them. Nate was pretty sure that Blair had ordered them to spend no time near Serena. Chuck was glaring at Nate intently, urging him to come sit with them. Nate looked over at Serena who smiled and nodded. Nate smirked at Chuck and headed toward Dan. Chuck's eyes went dark and his lips went narrow, but he made no indication that he was going to move. Serena patted him on the back and smiled at Nate. Nate smiled to himself as he sat down with Dan. Did that really just happen?

"You look amused," Dan commented miserably.

"I just... Hey, are you okay?" Nate asked when he looked into Dan's eyes.

Dan looked depressed. While Nate didn't know Dan that well, yet, he felt he knew Dan enough to know that Dan was not normally a miserable person.

"Not really. Vanessa and I had an argument this weekend," Dan muttered, "She just doesn't understand."

"Understand what?"

"Why... why we're friends."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she was quick to point out that we have nothing in common, except a few classes. We don't know each other that well, our parents aren't friends... Hell, before last Friday, you didn't even know who I was."

"That's not true, Dan-"

"Sure it is, Nate. Vanessa and I have been friends for a very long time, I can't just turn my back on her."

"I'm not asking you to-"

"I know, and I appreciate it. But she... she just isn't comfortable with us being friends. I have to do whatever it takes to show her my loyalty."

Nate scoffed lightly to himself.

"Loyalty? What is she, the Godfather?"

"Nate-"

"No, you made it very clear, Dan. I can't say I understand or respect your choice, but I'm not going to stop you," he snapped bitterly as he got up to walk away.

"For what it's worth, I'm very sorry," Dan called.

Nate shook his head. It was worth nothing. He looked over. Serena was watching him and she looked confused. Chuck was watching him and he looked pleased. Blair wasn't paying attention to him. Jenny was the only one who looked sorry. Did she know what Dan was going to do? He sighed and headed off into the hallway.