It was just after Thanksgiving which had been as normal of a routine as usual, except for quite a few awkward moments. The whole family had collected at the Upper East Side address of the van der Woodsen's. Starting from the head of the table and working clockwise was the whole family it seemed, and dates. Lily was the head of the table with Rufus to her left, and then Jenny and Erik sat next to each other and there was Chuck at the other end of the table with Blair to his left and then Nate and Serena. Nate sitting directly accross from Jenny, and as per tradition they all shared what they were thankful for and all Jenny could come up with was being sober, which was a white lie, and having such great support as she looked to everyone around the table besides Nate and Serena.
Her letter had been put in the mail box outside the Empire a little over a week after Chuck had told her about it, and who knew where it was her all her feelings were out. Whenever she looked at him there were still butterflies in her stomach, but Erik managed to know the exact moments when they happened and began conversation.
Of course, following Thanksgiving everyone was preparing for two things of real importance. Christmas and the Snowflake Ball, only one of which everyone on the UES participated in and was already well into preparing for. It was to be held three days before Christmas and everyone was already going out and buying gowns for the extravigant event.
Jenny on the other hand was quickly adjusting to the fresh blanket of snow that had collapsed itself onto New York City last night, it was ten o' clock in the morning on the following Wednesday after Thanksgiving meaning three more weeks. She had a spoon halfway into the gallon of ice cream watching scary movies when Chuck dragged himself into the living room.
"What is this absurd noise I've been hearing?" His eyes half open he had sunken into the couch and looked as the television screen was quickly covered in blood.
"Scary movie marathon, have you seen outside?"
"So instead of running, you're indulging in a fattening ice cream. Makes perfect sense."
"Ha-ha. I'm Chuck Bass and I'm hilarious."
It wasn't until the elevator beeped that they both looked to see who it could be so early in the morning, sure enough in walked the last person Jenny had been expecting to see. Dan, he had been away in Europe for Thanksgiving but here he was walking into the one and only Bass residence.
"Dan...welcome home?" Smiling she stood up and hugged her brother but he didn't seem to react under her. "Dan what's wrong?"
Dan walked towards Chuck who had already stood up, and was quickly knocked down with a punch.
"DAN!" Grabbing her brother she looked at him with wild eyes, it was such a shock to see men fighting ecspecially to see her brother fighting. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"You slept with Nate?"
Jenny was taken back and looked to Chuck who was already standing holding his nose, the two of them exchanged serious looks. No one had known besides Blair and Erik both of whom didn't speak to Dan. "Dan..."
"Jen, when were you gonna tell me you slept with the one guy I can't stand? You know what he does to women! And you're still just a girl!"
"Wow, just wow. So suddenly I'm just like all the other girls?"
"Jen that's not what I meant..."
"No, shove it Dan. Get out." Turning away she went to her room leaving Chuck and Dan alone.
"So when did this happen?" Dan sat down looking to Chuck who was taking a swig of scotch and icing his nose.
"Just under two months ago, after the masquerade."
"And?"
"Dan...you need to be supportive of something. But you can't tell Jenny, it's for her own sake."
"It all depends."
After about ten minutes of explaining, Dan just rubbed his face with his hands and looked at Chuck. He was asking a lot, but from what he could tell his sister had strong feelings for Nate, his sister's feelings meant more to him than his hatrid for a human being. He knew what love felt like, he just didn't think that his little sister truly understood it. But part of him would take Nate over Damien anyday.
Dan apologized for punching Chuck, Jenny accepted Dan's apology to her, and then as an acceptance the Humphrey's went to a early lunch and went for a brief Christmas shopping trip. Jenny got permission to buy her brother a first edition signed book that he had always wanted, while his back was turned. As for anyone else she had no ideas as what to get, she hadn't really asked anyone what they wanted. But sure enough Dan took her clothes shopping seeing as she had little to no winter wardrobe.
At the end of the day Jenny had come back with several sweaters, her own pair of sweat pants, a new jacket, several pairs of pants, as well as some under garments that she had snagged when Dan wasn't looking. But she knew in a week Chuck was going to offer to take her shopping for her dress, and that she'd have to help him pick out his suit to help make Blair look even more stunning when she went.
And sure enough, a week later as the date was approaching, Chuck woke the girl up just after nine and warned her they were going to do lunch and then go shopping for her dress and his tuxedo. So as they ran out for lunch and hopped into the Bass limo, they took off for only the best store there ever could be for things such as this.
"Blair, can we talk?" The tall blond looked to her best friend as she held up outfit after outfit in the mirror, there was a art gallery tonight that Lilly wanted her to attend so that they could pick out a few new pieces for their place.
"Uhm, S I'm pretty sure we've been talking for the past hour." Her friend sat on the small corner couch reading a magazine, looking up she smiled. "I like that dress by the way."
"I meant a serious talk..." She looked to Blair in the mirror's reflection with a frown.
"Of course, of course. What's wrong?"
"I just..."
"You should be thrilled. You are going out with the one and only Nate Archibald, you're absolutely stunning in every outfit you've picked up, you are going to the best art gallery tonight with your boyfriend, you've got me as a best friend. What else could you ask for?"
"I took something Blair..." She turned to her best friend. "You can't tell anybody, not even Chuck. Ecspecially Chuck, is more like it."
"S come on, what is that bad?" Her smirk turned into a little frown as she held her best friend's hands.
Serena let go of best friend's hands and turned to her closet, walking in she grabbed a box that was over her dresses. Opening the lid she pulled out an envelope, and then put the box back. "I took this a few weeks ago..."
"Well give it here, what is i-" Holding the envelope in her hands she looked to Serena. "Serena what is this?"
"It's a letter from Nate to Jenny. I don't know what it's about but he seemed almost hurt when he put it in the mail, so I took it out of the mail."
"Serena, why would you do that?"
"Because Blair! He called her every night just after midnight for about a week, then he told me he couldn't see me for two days and then I go to see why and he was outside putting this in the mail."
Blair was shocked, she was truthfully speechless. If anything, from what she could guess it was probably Nate telling Jenny his true feelings or telling her the secret Chuck was hiding from her, or maybe both. Nate probably hadn't tried to talk to Jenny because he probably thought she didn't feel the same way or something, Blair just sat down on the bed.
"Serena..I truthfully don't know what to say."
"This is why I need your help, I hate Jenny with all my heart but I'd like to give this to her at the art gallery tonight. I just need you to be with me so she'll actually let me give it to her."
"I'm only helping you tonight, but once I get you to Jenny you're on your own S. You need to set things straight with Little J." Offering a small smile she stood up to hug her best friend, looking at the letter she couldn't believe it. This was worse than Chuck's secret.
"So? How do I look?" She stepped out of the dressing room in a her nineth dress, the first of which was just too sexy for Jenny as Chuck had put it. However as Jenny spun around, he simply stood up and stood behind her.
"Very...Jenny Humphrey." With his smirk she looked at him.
It was a off-set pink that was very form fitting until the mid-calf where it softly let out to be a bit of a mermaid dress. It had eight small straps that held up the top part of her dress and all connected to just over her shoulder. It was sexy, but conservative and Jenny could only smile as Chuck whipped out his wallet and paid for the dress.
Chuck had gotten a very classic tuxedo an hour before she had begun shopping for dresses but she was very happy with both their selections.
"So, now where are we off to?" Getting back into her regular clothes she looked to Chuck who was standing outside her dressing room.
"Back to the Empire, we have to prepare for the gallery tonight."
"Gallery?"
"Yes, Lilly is picking out some pieces and I'd like to introduce myself to the artist. I'm not leaving your home to ice cream so you're coming with."
"Ok, well I'll text Erik and I'll hang out with him tonight."
Blair ran off the elevator just as Jenny was walking towards it, running into her Blair dropped her purse and out came the envelope. Jenny picked it up without looking at it and handed it to Blair.
"Sorry J, I'm just running l-"
"Blair it's fine, Chuck's wasting time so I was gonna go wait in the limo." She smiled to Blair, "You look beautiful for tonight by the way. I really enjoy your necklace." Getting into the elevator she waved. "Tell Chuck to hurry up will you?"
As the elevator doors shut she whipped around to see none other than Chuck who placed a finger under her chin and gave her a kiss. "Are you ok?"
He seemed to sense her tension, and was soon proven right when she lifted an envelope out of her purse. All Chuck could do was read what was on the envelope and look at her. "What is this?"
"Serena took it not long after she and Nate were back together, I think it's Nate confessing to Jenny about everything and his feelings. She wants to give it to Jenny tonight and apologize."
"Blair, not tonight. We do not need any scenes tonight, tell Serena you forgot it at home."
"I can't just lie! There's two people you and I love and care about who depend on this letter."
"Listen to me, she's finally moving on. Jenny is finally starting to get over him, she wrote a letter not long ago with her feelings down and has been better. Tonight is not the night, do it some other time."
"She's going to get it Chuck, whether you want her to or not. I'll put it in the mail myself tomorrow if I have to."
"Just not tonight Blair, let Jenny have a good night."
"Fine...Have I ever mentioned that I love how you look in a suit?" She smiled at him and kissed him.
Jenny, Chuck and Blair walked into the gallery which was very low lighting with a small blue hue to the room. It made Jenny's dress even better, even in it's simplicity. It was just a front button up dress that ended mid-thigh, and a set of tights underneath with a pair of heels. And to top it off was her pea coat that she had just coat checked.
She searched for Erik and when she couldn't find him she sent him a text but saw Lily and Serena first. Asking where he was, Serena answered for Lily and told Jenny that he was out on a date. However, Serena then threw her a compliment on how she looked which Jenny took weird seeing as Serena practically had always hated her guts.
Thanking them she walked away just as Nate was entering the gallery and going for Serena, she had only seen him for a second as she went to go look at the works of art. Instead, she accepted the offer of wine from the tray and drank. After a few minutes she found Chuck with Blair on the other side of the gallery, they were talking to who appeared to be the artist so she left them. As she took another glass of wine she swallowed it whole, and placed it back on the tray. She was actually slipping on her own agenda but she was extremely bored but not ready to leave.
Turning to look at some art she soon heard someone speak behind her.
"Well, if it isn't Jennifer Humphrey." She couldn't recognize the voice, as she turned around she felt her whole body freeze up. He slipped an arm around her waist and walked her towards the back exit, her eyes darted around for everyone and anyone but so she could hear the clapping and saw as a white veil was being lifted over a piece of art work.
Trying not to show her nerves she eased under his hold of her, "Damien."
