sorry it's been such a long time, but i have exams and gcses. it's quite a long chapter. please please please review!
Previously:
"Hi, I'm Kelly. Jake's fiancée and you are?"
But Serena didn't answer Kelly or her question. Instead she stared at Jake, as if asking him to deny it. To say that the beautiful woman standing in front of her was lying. When he didn't she said one word.
"Fiancée?"
Jake shrugged helplessly as Serena stared at him in disbelief. She sought the protection of Nate's arms, not knowing what else she could do. Nate held her tightly, trying to absorb some of her confusion. Less than five minutes ago they had been saying they loved each other and now she found out that he was engaged. Nate felt an overwhelming urge to hit Jake, but that would mean letting go of Serena's trembling body. Kelly laughed maliciously at the looks on all three people's faces.
"Oh you didn't know? Jake didn't tell you? Jake, how could you, darling? Well, Jake and I have been engaged since we were born. Of course we've each dated, but never seriously, though you are prettier than the other fifty girlfriends he's had."
Jake grabbed Kelly's arm tightly.
"That's enough. You've done enough, Kelly." He turned to Serena, who was staring at him from Nate's arms. "I'm so sorry, Serena. I never wanted you to find out. When we first started dating, I though it would just be a fling…I thought it would be over soon and no one would get hurt, but…I fell for you, hard. And when I was supposed to let you go…I just couldn't…please, Serena, I mean it when I said that I love you!"
She recoiled.
"What am I supposed to do with that Jake?" she cried in anguish. Jake was speechless. Mutely he stood there, helplessly looking at the tears streaming down Serena's face. Kelly smiled at the disastrous scene unfolding in front of her, the only one aware of the many faces now watching them. To add to the mix Blair now strolled up. The first thing she saw was Serena in the protective circle of Nate's arms. She sneered,
"Not content with you own boyfriend, huh? Trying to steal mine?"
"Actually she tried to steal my fiancé." Kobliviously y understand why Nate felt this way, but he reacted to it anyway. in. hed him kiss Serena, somthing elly now stepped forward, seeing an ally in the brunette beauty. Blair looked her up and down, coolly taking in the sluttish clothes. She turned her back and asked Serena pleasantly,
"Who is that…woman there?"
Serena smiled weakly at the disdain conveyed in her tone, knowing that although Blair would stand up for her in front of Kelly, they were still enemies. Serena, playing along, shrugged.
"I don't know…she's not really worth my notice."
Blair laughed scornfully. Kelly shrank from this attack, having unwittingly brought the two most beautiful girls in New York together against her. Nate hid a smile as he heard them throw cues to each other with ease. Jake merely looked confused, unaware of the antagonism New York's elite felt to newcomers. Finally Kelly, nearly crying, grabbed Jake's hand and tried to flee, but he drew back and said coldly,
"You don't really think that I will go with you?"
Kelly gasped with shock and horror and ran away, leaving Blair and Serena laughing mockingly. Jake, thinking that this would be a good opportunity to mend fences with Serena, said,
"Serena, I'm so sorry about that. I never…" he trailed off as Nate, Blair and Serena all turned and looked at him, Blair and Serena coldly, Nate menacingly. Blair said icily,
"I suggest you leave now before Nate gets so angry he gets himself thrown out of a perfectly good restaurant for inappropriate behaviour."
Jake looked pleadingly at Serena, but she only stared back stonily. As Nate stepped forward to shield her Jake was forced to walk away from the trio. As soon as he was gone Nate hurriedly paid the bill and the two of them brought Serena outside. Blair said hesitantly,
"You can bring her to my house. There'll be no one there."
Nate smiled at her gratefully, knowing that it wasn't easy for her to be nice to Serena, but the blonde was a wreck right now. they hailed a cab and began to apply themselves to the impossible task of comforting the broken-hearted girl.
x-x-x
Lily sat down opposite Rufus and said briskly,
"I'm afraid I don't have much time. I have to meet Bart soon."
"I'll be quick," Rufus said shortly. "The other day was…awkward." He waited, but when Lily said nothing, continued, "Why are you marrying him? You don't love him and he's not good enough for you."
"And I suppose that you are good enough for me? That I am still in love with you?" Lily retorted sharply. She was pale with anger and it scared him.
"No, but…I still love you!"
His words shocked them both. Lily sucked in a breath.
"You can't say that, Rufus. You can't! You're married and I'm engaged. Don't do this, Rufus! It's not fair on me or on Bart or on…your wife."
He grabbed her hand and held it fast.
"Lily, you left me. I loved you then and I still do. I never stopped, Lily. When you left me you broke my heart and I've never been able to mend it…and Alison couldn't either! I may have denied that I love you for 20 years, but I do!"
Lily blinked back her tears. She could never tell him why she had left him in the first place. It would sound too callous and he would never believe that she hadn't wished to leave him. She pulled her hand back and hurriedly stood up.
"I have to go, Rufus. I can't…I can't do this right now. I have to go." And then she was gone. Rufus sat back, stunned. Unbeknownst to him Alison had been listening to their conversation and now, without making him aware of her presence, left, furious.
x-x-x
Bart walked purposefully out of the Palace, hading towards his limo. Suddenly Alison stepped out and accosted him.
"Bart."
He turned to her, irritated.
"Yes? I don't have much time, Alison. I'm meeting Lily soon and I don't want to be late."
"Your fiancée and my husband are going to having an affair together. Then she's going to break your engagement and Rufus will divorce me." Alison did not care that every word was a lie since Bart's attention was now centred on her.
"What are you talking about?" His voice, though quiet, was threatening, but Alison repeated herself despite the shiver of fear that went through her. For a long time he didn't speak. Then he took her hand and tugged her into his hotel. Up, up and up they went until they reached the penthouse. He ushered her in and before she could do more than glance cursorily around, he had started to kiss her. She broke away from him, shocked.
"What the hell are you doing?" she gasped.
"The only reason you would come and tell me something like that would be because you wanted revenge. What better revenge?"
Alison was astonished…yet now she realised that he was right. She allowed him to start kissing her again. Nevertheless she could not push away the feelings of guilt that arose from cheating on Rufus…but when the conversation she had just witnessed floated into her mind again, she stopped thinking and stopped feeling guilty.
