Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Layla
A/N: I follow the show pretty well but your not going to read everything that goes on because this is all from Layla's prospective.
Season 1 Episode 7
Have you heard Upper Eastsiders Burlesque is all the rage again and sometimes a little raging is exactly what you need and as always Chuck's aiming to be ahead of the curves.
Layla, Blair and Chuck sood in a lobby of what appears to be a strip club
"You want your dad to invest in a strip joint?" Blair asked
"How midtown, a Burlesque club. A respectable place where people can be transported to another time, where they can feel free to let loose no judgement pure escape. What happened at Victrola stays at Victrola.
"Well it does have franchise potential" Layla commented looking around.
"Chuck Bass, I do believe all your years of underage boozing truly. I am proud" Blair said
"As am I"
"You two are my toughest Critic, well Second" Chuck commented
"S do you think your father will go for it?" Layla asked.
"It is exactly the kind of innovative thing upon which the Bass empire was built. It's the perfect thing. I have been waiting for this".
"We are so late, you coming" Blair said looking at her phone
"Gotta pitch it to Bart".
Chuck kissed Layla's cheek and hugged Blair
"Victory Party here tomorrow"he said.
"Wouldn't miss it" Blair said
"I'll send a car" Chuck shouted as Blair walked out. Layla stayed behind.
"He'll love it. Good Luck" Layla said planting a kiss on his cheek
"You are my good luck charm"
Layla's phone buzzed. She pulled it out, it was a text from her brother
NATE: WHERE ARE YOU? PARENTS CORNERED ME. NEED TWIN
"I better go, good luck" Layla said and ran out the building noticing Blair took off without her. She hailed the next cab and headed to the school.
She went the whole day not really seeing her brother. I mean she saw him talking to Jenny and then later Blair so it was best not to bother him. After school she headed to a nearby café and ordered a latte. She span to fast and spilt her drink down the front of some guys shirt
"Oh my god, I appologize." She said grabbing some napkins. The guy looked up at her and facing her were those blue eyes she saw behind the mask the other night
"Layla right?" He said.
"Yeah, you're...Ja?"
"Jason yes. So we meet again."
"That we do."
"So your school's nearby?" he asked her.
"Constance yes"
"Constance, I've heard of it"
"Dalton?" she asked
"I graduated last year."
"Ivy league school then?"
"Columbia."
"Interesting choice."
"Maybe we can talk more about it over dinner say tomorrow night. I'll pick you up at 7."
"I'll have to ask, my parents have something going on but I'll let you know."
Jason grabbed a napkin and wrote his number on it and handed it to Layla.
"Though this time, lets not spill anything"he said
"It's a deal" Layla smiled.
The next day Layla headed downstairs.
"The lengths that you will go to get out of trouble nate" She heard her mother yell
"Mom he has a drug problem" Nate replied
"Whats going on?" Layla asked
"He's been under a lot of pressure, and if you hadn't been so difficult lately." Their mother said
"What?" Nate questioned
"Your latest rebellions have been very hard on your father nate. All your business with Dartmouth, you issues with Blair"
Layla ran out the door not wanting to hear much more of this conversation. She hailed a taxi and had it go to Brooklyn. She ran up the stairs and into the front door.
"You too, with the knocking" Dan said not noticing Layla had a few tear stains.
"Sorry" She said
"Layla Archibald never says shes sorry, what going on" Dan asked her Vanessa behind him
"Do you maybe want to talk about it. I know you don't know me but sometimes a stranger helps" Vanessa said
"I just need answers"
"For what Lay?" Dan asked
"My brother and my mom were fighting about my dad." Layla said. Dan walked over to her and pulled her close
"Think about what I said Dan. And Layla I am still here if you want to talk" Vanessa said leaving
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind"
Layla sat down on the bar stool
"So what advice did Vanessa give you Romeo?" Layla asked him
"Candles, new sheets"
"Definitely new sheets, and lose Cedric while you're at it"
"Thanks, I'm trying to figure all this thing out"
"You and Serena are taking that step"
"Yes, and speaking of that step you want to share your secret before another person barges through that door because it's a recurring event today" he asked getting her to laugh.
"You were right, there is more to me and Chuck then just being friends"
"And you're in love with him?"
"It's not something I'm proud of since I have date tonight."
"Date tonight?" he asked curious
"A guy I met at the ball, his name is Jason"
"When you weren't rescusing your love from the roof and playing messenger with Blair and Nate"
"Now who's stalking who?" Layla asked
"I had to catch up with you".
Layla smiled and headed toward the door but turned around instead.
"Thanks for the hug, I needed it."
"Anytime Juliet."
Layla walked out the door and pulled her phone out of her pocket and texted Jason her address. After arriving home she tore her closet apart searching for the best dress. After getting ready she headed downstairs.
"Lay, don't you think that's a little casual for a celebatory dinner" her mother asked
"I'm not going" Layla replied
"Layla Leanne"her mom said adding her second name
Layla pulled out her phone and texted Jason saying she was sorry.
"Thanks to you I had to cancel a date" she said to her mother
"Well go change, you knew this night is important"
"Not really because no one tells me anything" Layla said running back up the stairs
The Archiblads and Waldorfs all sat around in the Waldorf's living area eating cheese and drinking wine.
"We've celebrated the partnership, but I don't think we've given Eleanor her just due. This lady is fantastic." The Captain said
"Oh, well, uh, thank you, Howard, more cheese? Have you tried the Humboldt fog? It's quite good." Eleanor said.
"Eleanor's right. Enough business talk." Their mother said
"Right. Let's focus on our families' other joint venture-the union of our children." The Captain said "I have to say, every time I look at Anne's finger and see Blair's future engagement ring yes."
"I missed my date for this?" Layla whispered to Nate
"I can hardly contain my joy!" Their father said excited.
"Blair, why don't you try it on?" Their mother asked
"No, thank you" Blair declined
"It's all right".
"Yes, I would like to see it." Eleanor said
"Anne, give it to Blair." The Captain said
"Dad, she doesn't want to try on the ring" Nate said.
"Howie, why don't we just let it alone?" their mother replied
"Just give it to the girl, Anne, Eleanor, do we have another bottle? If there was ever an occasion for the toast, this is it. They're going to make such a beautiful couple. Now come on. Slide that thing on." The Captain saidn and Blair put the ring on "That's what I'm talking about, huh?"
"Oh, it's very pretty." Eleanor said
"It looks magnificent to me."
"Thank you."Blair said giving it back
"Everybody, yeah? Yeah? It's perfect on her. OH, now how about that toast? Come on. Everybody, bottoms up." The Captain shouted
"Dad, why don't we go smoke the cigars we got, huh? Mm, mm" Nate said
"Good idea."
"Excuse us."
"Certainly".
"Will excuse me as well. I am just going to use the ladies room" Layla said
"Use mine" Blair said
Layla walked up stairs and into Blair's restroom. She stood in front of the mirror and then texted Jason.
JASON: SEE YOU THERE
She headed down the stairs and down to the living area. Only her mother and Elenanor stood in the living room.
"Um since this little get together seems to be over, I am leaving" Layla said walking to the elevator getting a disappointing look from her mother.
When she got downstairs she saw her dad and Nate talking and Jason leaning against the building on the other side.
"Sorry about earlier" she said
"I completely understand" he said. "It just means you owe me another date"
"Well tomorrow is Blair's Birthday party, if you want to come to that" She smiled as they continued to walk. Both sharing bits and pieces about themselves.