Reese Archibald, freshman at Constance Billard and daughter of congressman Nate Archibald, born into an aristocratic lifestyle, gasps in automatic shock at the revelation of the beautiful stranger to be the daughter of her Aunt Blair and Uncle Chuck. All this time she had thought of Chuck and Blair to be two independent people who aren't relevant to each other what so ever. She thought that they were just two people who happened to be friends with her mom and dad. She never thought that they had a relationship. Or a daughter for that matter.
"Looks like you were right, Reese." Says Lorraine Humphrey, chuckling at the irony of it all. She tucks a strand of curled raven-hair to the back of her ear, shaking her head in thought.
"I cannot believe it, can you believe it?" Elizabeth Wales says, more shocked than she ought to be. It is an unspoken rule of the Queen of the Upper East Side that betraying any emotion that seems degrading is strictly prohibited to her minions. Lorraine looks towards her cousin, shrugging nonchalantly as she peers around the corner to see if the brunette is coming back anytime soon.
"She's not coming to Constance, is she?" Questions Elizabeth, trying desperately hard to hide her concern. She saw how Rhyze looked at Charlotte Bass. She saw him undressing her with a simple glance. It's clear that in a matter of days little Charlotte Bass will have Rhyze hook, line and sinker. Somehow Elizabeth's question finally earns Lorraine's actual curiosity.
"Let's hope not." Mutters Lorraine, to the intense interest of red-head Brooke Baizen.
"What's that supposed to mean, exactly?" Inquires Brooke, smirking over at Lorraine.
"I'm just saying. It's obvious that she's not from around here, or anywhere else that makes her worthy of being here." Lorraine drawls, her stunning face turning to scoff at the thought of having an intrusive force penetrate the perfect bubble of the Upper East Side.
"What? You think she just popped out of nowhere?" Asks Lorraine's cousin, her perfectly plucked eyebrows raised.
"Precisely."
"Huh, long lost lovechild comes back to her biological parents in search for acceptance and truth in life?" Brooke says pensively. "Sounds like crap to me." Lorraine laughs, shaking her head. "Agreed."
"So you think they're sending her to Constance?" Presses Elizabeth, eyeing Brooke and Lorraine for their opinions.
"Who knows, probably?" Guesses Reese, entering the conversation
"Go find out." Lorraine says simply, nodding over to Reese's parents, who just came back into the room.
"What?"
"Oh come on, if anyone should know it's your parents." Exasperates Brooke, looking over at Reese
"They didn't even tell me about her." Reese points out.
"Right, well go find out anyway." Elizabeth pipes in, demanding that the young freshman do what she's told. Instantly, Reese looks over to Brooke. Despite Lorraine being the over all judge of any command given, she tends to always spare a glance at Brooke. True, Elizabeth is formally known as Lorraine's second-in-command, but somehow, if Reese were ever to stray away from them it would be Brooke's wrath she'd fear ever more.
As daughter to Carter Baizen, Brooke has quickly mastered the art of revenge. She's mastered it so well, in fact, that Reese notices how careful Lorraine is to even step in her way, if only out of fright as to what Brooke would do to her if she did. In the same way, it seems that Brooke didn't necessarily care about Lorraine's commands as much.
I guess that's why it's such a good thing that they both think alike. Despite Lorraine and Elizabeth being cousins because of Dan Humphrey and Jenny Humphrey-Wales respectively they both shared completely different personalities, similar to her elder twin brothers. Could it be that somehow any blood relation made two people complete opposites?
"Uh… Okay." Reese slides her seat back and stands up, hastily walking past her old friends Linsey and Bridgette, eyes to the ground, much to Lorraine's loud snort.
"Pathetic," Reese hears Lorraine say as she watches Reese intently. She turns crimson but continues to walk over to Serena and Nate, who were both standing beside each other.
"Mother, father." Reese addresses them formally.
"RL, hey…" Serena begins, smiling at Reese as she takes in her daughter's appearance.
"Mum,' Whispers the youngest Archibald child. "What was that?" Motions Reese to the stage.
"That was Chuck and Blair's daughter." Answers Serena warily, looking around as if it were some big secret.
"Look, I know that but… Why'd she just come out of nowhere?" Inquires Reese, looking over at Nate, who sighs.
"When Blair had Charlie… She… Well, she wasn't ready to be a mom." Reese gasps. She never believed people gasped before. Of course, that was until now.
"BLAIR GAVE HER UP!" Screeches Reese, instantly being hushed by Nate.
"She did, didn't she?" Serena nods.
"Yeah, RL, maybe you could keep your voice down." Riley Archibald comments, sliding into the conversation.
"Well maybe you should keep that thing in your pants down." Hisses Reese back sassily, rolling her eyes at her older brother who, most of the time, acts more immature than she does. Riley scoffs derisively.
"I can't say I'm not surprised that the second she comes into the room you come on her." As Riley says this Serena's eyes drift towards Riley, eyes widened. For some strange reason the supermodel's eyes avert to Dan Humphrey, who is entertaining his boss at the New York Times. Suddenly, Serena's return from exile, or boarding school as it was called, floats back into her mind. She remembers running away from Nate's arms and into the comforting Brooklyn arms of Dan Humphrey. She remembers how truly in love she believed she was. How she changed herself from drunken party girl into… Well, she couldn't really describe it.
Somehow she could see it happening all over again. The appearance of Charlie into their lives would change them, she foresees it happening. She now just really hopes that she'll be good for him.
"Riley, honestly?" Snaps Nate, eyes reprimanding his son.
"Dad… Come on, you're the one who introduced us!" Reminds Riley, eyes widening at the possibility of being yelled at. Again.
"No, no, you're right." Nate nods
"So is she going to Constance?" Presses Reese, looking over at her table where Elizabeth watches her intently.
"Yes, Chuck's enrolling her tomorrow… Dan!" Says Mistress Archibald, peering over Reese's shoulder to take a glimpse of Dan.
"Nate, Serena, hey." Dan greets them simply.
"Can you… Believe that would happen?" he looks back from Serena to Nate.
"Oh… You knew." Nate nods.
"Dan, I'd really love to talk but something tells me… B might need me." Serena moves past her blond children and her ex-boyfriend towards her best friend. That sounds like an episode of Grey's Anatomy. Serena thinks, whizzing past the guests until she comes face-to-face with Blair.
"Hey, what happened?" Inquires Serena
"Well… Everyone knows about Charlie and that I was a cruel mother who gave her up… But other than that nothing." Serena is just about to hug her sympathetically when Blair brushes her off.
"Maybe I should introduce her to some people, I know how… Left out she feels." Serena nods thoughtfully, looking down the hallway and taking a spare glance at Charlie, who is brushing lint off her dress.
"She can sit with Reese." Serena offers
"Huh?" Blair looks for the youngest Archibald around the room, before she sees the beautiful blond take a seat beside Brooke Baizen at their table, leaning over to inform them on whatever gossip she could have possibly dug up.
"Reese Archibald, Elizabeth Wales, Brooke Baizen and Lorraine Humphrey?" Blair raises her eyebrows. Somehow, Blair didn't think that it would make the best fit. Her obscure Bronx-spawned, practical daughter wouldn't mesh well with the high class socialites. Even if, somehow, Blair secretly wants her to. If only so she can see her daughter feel the comfort of being the highest of social hierarchy.
"Maybe not." Blair looks around the room for someone more down to earth. She instantly spots Riley, smiling goofily to his friends.
"Riley,"
Blair looks behind her and sees her long lost daughter and instantly grabs her arm, walking her down into the room.
"What are you doing?" Hisses Charlie, eyes widening as her mother takes her down the room.
"It's common tradition that the parents sit with their closest companions and their kids find their own seats… Now since you don't really have any friends around here, I'm guessing you should sit with…" Blair's sentence is cut off when she catches a glimpse of the handsome Archibald.
"Riley," Blair says
"No, Rhyze." Answers the blond, smiling charmingly, albeit coldly, at Blair.
"Well, Rhyze or Riley or whoever else, mind if Charlie take the spare seat?" Inquires Blair.
"Oh, yes, of course, we'd love to get to know Charlie." Rhyze replies, nodding over to his friends, who nod suggestively at Charlie. Charlie laugh nervously through gritted teeth. Beside her, Blair smiles politely at the boys, sparing a glance at Charlie. The last thing she wants is to make her teenage daughter hate her even more even after publicly outing her. Charlie hides her nervousness with a easy nod.
"B," Blair Waldorf whirls around to look down on her secretary, Tayla Fitzpatrick, a red head with nauseatingly big pores and a crooked nose. Never the less, she's one of the best secretaries in the business, which meant she is nothing short of qualified for Blair Waldorf.
"Barbra Walters is looking for you." Informs the red head to her superior. You'd think Barbra Walters would stop calling me a disgrace to day time talk show just because I don't go for her around the merry-go-round approach. Despite her contempt for the legendary talk show host she curtly nods at Tayla and walks over to Barbra.
--
Charlie slides into her seat quickly to avoid the curious stares she continues to receive from different members of the party, each one leaning to the other's ear to whisper some snobbish criticism about her appearance or her illegitimate status. Or maybe just that she looks awfully incompetent. One of the other. Charlie thinks miserably, looking around and seeing each person her age all talking to each other, each group looking more and more like cliques. And she was the outsider.
The foster girl wants to adjust her top. Its bellowing uncomfortably. Charlie's green eyes land on a beautiful tall blond, who's clad in a blue V-neck dress that ends high above her knee, showing off her broad shoulders and slender curves. She exhibited the amount of dreamy confidence that easily makes her a prime subject for low self-esteem. Charlie didn't know why, but already she could see from her icy gaze that it was more likely for hell to freeze over than for her to show a shed of genuine emotion.
The thought alone makes the thought of adjusting her dress disappear. Still, it's so uncomfortable! I feel like it's about to drip off! Charlie manages to catch a glimpse of her dress, which remains in perfect and tight position. Maybe it's just me, after all.
"Hey," The young brunette peeks over her right shoulder, emerald orbs meeting those of a more than regular handsome teenager with sunny blonde hair and enough natural charm to make Charlie feel a lot less nervous.
"Hi…" Replies Charlie. "Riley, right?" He chuckles.
"Rhyze Archibald, we met a while ago." Answers the blonde, earning a confused gaze from Charlie. Rhyze chuckles sexily, easily pulling the thick chair back and plopping himself down on it in the most sophisticated way Charlie has ever seen. How can he make sitting down look sexy and classy at the same time? Charlie asks herself eternally, her lips pursing together.
"Charlotte, right?" Charlie shakes her head frantically. Great, I look like a dog's tail wagging when it sees a ball.
"Charlie, just Charlie." Says Chuck and Blair's long lost spawn.
"Ah, Charlie… Well, you looked quite lonely here by yourself. Maybe you'd like to meet some of my friends, they're all just a little bit obnoxious and arrogant but other than that they're fair company to have around." Rhyze says smoothly, his voice coherent and civilized.
Charlie could tell from his choice of words, articulate speech, and confidence that the handsome blonde male is easily one of the most well bred characters Charlie has ever met in her lifetime. Somehow, Charlie doesn't think that pulling out a wise crack about just how amused and insecure his entire personality makes her feel.
"Are you sure? I don't really want you to bother." As Charlie says this, she grimaces. How the hell could she try to turn down the one opportunity to meet someone?
"Oh, but Charlie, nothing is ever a bother with me…" Rhyze looks at her, really looks at her, and he sees it. He sees exactly why this mystery girl has managed to catch his twin brother's eye in a matter of seconds. Given the fact that she is nothing short of breath-taking with her beautifully carves face and illuminating eyes, she also has what Riley wants most of all.
This girl, in the first few seconds Rhyze has spoken to her, is clearly different. She's different in the way she converses, in the way she carries herself and most importantly the way she sees things. The gorgeous brunette is nothing short of rough in a sea of diamonds… She's the only one who doesn't flaunt herself, oozing with destructive self-confidence. She is a real girl. A girl who's seen what no girl as even thought about seeing.
She sees the world for what it really is. This is exactly the type of girl Riley wants. A girl who offers the escape Riley so desperately longs for. Rhyze knows Riley inside and out. He also knows that all Riley ever wants is to stop being who he is. He wants to stop being the son of a congressman and a model, to stop being his twin brother, to stop being rich and glamorous and whatever else they were.
Riley doesn't want this world. And that's what makes him want Charlie. The fact that she is the world Riley wants to venture in.
Somehow, knowing this, Rhyze already knows he has to take her for himself.
"Well, if it isn't then… Sure, why not?" Agrees Charlie, smiling at him. The first of many. Rhyze thinks cockily. He stands up, and, like a proper gentleman, pulls Charlie's seat back for her. She stands up as well, eyes sparkling with a hint of embarrassment. Like a school girl losing her virginity for the first time.
He extends his arm for her and she takes it silently, as if making some derisive comment would make him disappear.
"Penn, Anton." The Archibald son calls after his cohorts, making both look over at him and Charlie. As they catch sight of Charlie draped in Rhyze's arms, already their eyes narrow towards Penn accusingly.
"Rhyze," Anton Humphrey-Wales hisses under his breathe, his head motioning towards Rhyze's identical twin brother accusingly. I guess it wasn't only me who saw Riley fall at Charlotte's feet. Rhyze ignores the two and looks charmingly back at Charlie, who's slipped away from his grasp and is now looking over her father longingly, begging that he come and save her from a social catastrophe.
"Charlotte, this is Penn Sparks and Anton Wales, they attend Saint Judes with me and… My brother." Rhyze adds his brother in last minute, as if to show that his brother isn't nearly as important as he is.
Charlie looks over at the two handsome strangers and smiles, though dismissively. They both give her a once over, smiling politely before their gazes avert to Rhyze.
"That's nice of you, helping Charlotte out." Penn says icily, eyes raised at Rhyze, who ignores him easily.
"I know, isn't it?"
"Charlotte, maybe you would like to get something to eat or drink?" Inquires Rhyze, eyebrows raised suggestively. Penn snorts derisively while Anton rolls his eyes.
"You can go ahead, I'll just talk to these guys for a bit." Says Rhyze dismissively, earning yet another snort from the illegitimate Sparks son. Rhyze shoots a quick on-set glare at Penn before nodding at Charlotte dismissively. Rhyze is perfectly aware of his sudden mood change in Charlotte's eyes. He's aware that he flickers from gentleman to rude. But that's how he's kept all the girls, by going hot and cold and always making them wonder.
The thing is that Charlie looks more relieved to stray away from the eldest Archibald son's company, something all three handsome boys notice in interest.
"Thanks," Says the brunette, straying away from Rhyze and his cohorts.
The first to speak is Penn, who scoffs irritably as he averts his gaze from Charlie's retreating figure to his sometimes-friend, Rhyze Archibald.
"What are you doing now?" Inquires Penn, judgment and scrutiny plastered on pale face.
"You saw Riley's face when he met her, you know he likes her, what's so wrong with letting him have someone for once?" Demands Anton in a whisper, eyes looking around the banquet hall.
Rhyze's gentleman like appearance and the true sadistic Rhyze transforms in front of Penn and Anton's very eyes. Rhyze lets out a derisive scoffs, eyes darkening in malevolence as he inches closer to his supposed friends.
"Anton, Penn, you're both acting ridiculous." Rhyze says simply. "I am merely making Charlotte feel welcome." Informs Rhyze.
"We both know you're trying to triumph over Riley. Again." Says Anton. Rhyze responds to Anton's vicious accusation with an easy smile.
"And, once again, both of you cast a poor image of me, your supposed friend and ally. My only concern is that my young and kind brother finds a lady suitable for him, and that lady is certainly not her." Says Rhyze coherently to the two. Anton and Penn shakes their heads disbelievingly at the aristocratic blonde.
"Rhyze, Anton and I saw you with Lorraine. We know you're the guy who slept with her." Hisses Penn
"We also know that you're the one who sold that picture of Rhyze taking marijuana to the press to hinder his chances of getting into a good college." Anton continues
"We've seen you scheme his downfall, execute it and jump in and steal Riley's thunder… We know you're ruthless." Somehow, the hurtful words didn't seem to even make Rhyze flicker. Instead, he does what he always does to Anton and Penn, turn the other cheek.
--
"Charlie," The brunette foster child whirls around to have Chuck Bass, hotel mogul, into view. He smiles warmly at her, the kind of smile that rarely appears of Chuck Bass' face. Somehow, Chuck easily became fond of the young beauty. She's him and Blair and herself. And somehow that makes Chuck like her way more.
"Hey," Acknowledges Charlie, a plate held to her hand as she looks at the food neatly stacked in piles. Chuck looks down at her plate's contents; five grapes, one piece of garlic bread and a chocolate coated strawberry. It doesn't occur to Chuck why he does it, but he grabs hold of the plate and hands it to the passing waiter. Then, with swiftness, he grabs a new one and fills it with a real meal. Steak with mashed potatoes, salad and assortment of fruits and deserts. Charlie's eyes widen like saucers.
"Holy crap! I can't finish that!" Reprimands Charlie.
"No, you will." Chuck replies simply. "Have you seen yourself? You're as skinny as a twig. And even with photos adding fifteen pounds you'll still looks like one. Do you even eat?" Rants Chuck, on and on again.
"Yea, but the last few foster homes had, like, one chicken leg for three kids to share, so yeah, I'm used to not gorging." Chuck halts, stunned. He's unaware of how to react to what she's said. He's never been good at comforting. Luckily, Charlie isn't one who looks for comfort. She takes the plate from his grasp and smiles warmly.
"But thanks for caring." She supplies awkwardly.
"Charlie, I know that I don't exactly have any credentials to go by with this… Father, thing, but I really hope you'll give me enough credit for where credit is due." Charlie nods at the entrepreneur.
"Charlie," Charlie looks away from her biological father to one of the male blond Archibalds.
"Rhyze, hey." Greets Charlie dryly. For some reason, Rhyze didn't imprint a good impression on the brunette. In fact, Charlie can tell that he is really only after her to annoy his brother. The foster child didn't know if it was his too-good-to-be-true charm or his rather devilish appearance, Charlie can tell that no good can come off someone that vial.
"Riley, actually." Corrects the younger twin, earning a mirthful genuine laugh from Charlie. Suddenly her uptight shoulders relax and she can breathe again. Somehow, Riley's warm and sunny face earns her instant anxiety-release. Riley sees his effect on her, and can't help but turn crimson as he bashfully, looks down at his shoes.
"Riley," Chuck interrupts them. "Before you go and flirtatiously charm Charlie to being nice to you, perhaps you can channel that charm to getting her to eat." Says the only Bass son to the younger Archibald twin. Riley nods reassuringly, picking up his own plate and filling it.
"Wait," Charlie turns to Chuck. "Thanks,"
"What?" Asks Chuck in bewilderment.
"For bringing me here. It's a far cry from privations, that's for sure. And I know I really hadn't said anything, but I really am grateful you guys took me in." Chuck halts and slowly looks up at Charlie. It was the very first time he's ever helped someone so tragic. It makes Chuck want to help her more.
"Think nothing of it." Is the only response Chuck can muster up in public. He walks away, shaking in shock.
"Chuck Bass? Your dad… I guess I should've noticed." Riley notes quietly. Charlie turns to Riley, eyebrows raised in question.
"The same jaw, the hoarse voice and even that habit of pursing your lips." Riley points out. Charlie chuckles.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think I was allowed to." Replies the brunette.
"And Blair Waldorf? Well… I guess I can see it in the shape of your eyes. They're kind of… Doe like." Concludes the platinum blonde.
"Ah, well I don't think you mentioned Nate Archibald was your dad."
"I didn't think it was important." Notes Riley.
"I didn't either." Replies Charlie.
"What about your eyes? They're green."
"I… Don't know." Riley's eyes drift towards Charlie, about to apologize when she shakes her head.
Charlie glances away from the blond male's sun-kissed face to glance over at the room, still whispering and staring at her. She can feel her knees buckle unwillingly, biting her lip nervously.
"I know how you feel." Riley points out
"Like a fish out of water? Like Goodwill rags surrounded by Chanel and Prada?" Riley scoffs jokingly "Uh… Goodwill?" He inquires silently, eyebrows raised
"Goodwill, the thrift store… Oh, right I'm talking to one of your kind."
"My kind?" Asks Riley
"Your type; the type who have credit cards and bottomless bank accounts, the ones with town cars and beach houses and penthouses and yachts. The ones who go to the best schools in America and don't have to worry about anything… You know, your type. The privileged ones, the lucky ones. The ones who grew up on the right side of the tracks." Answers the brunette insightfully, noting Riley's stunned impression.
It's rare he hears a girl say that with such contempt. It's rarer that it ever affects him. He's read enough books and newspapers to have some glimmer as to the life outside of the Upper East Side bubble. He knows there's much more to the wealth and perfection he and his family have achieved. Somewhere inside, the younger Archibald twin is perfectly aware of his how damn lucky he is.
And yes… I don't feel lucky. Sometimes, whenever he's alone, silently lying in bed, he thinks. He thinks about him, the things that come with being the son of wealthy and powerful parents. He knows he's lucky. The essential needs, the safety and even some of the undeniably great things he receives. Riley had what everyone else only wishes to have. But somehow he knows he doesn't want it. Riley knows it's not important to him.
The blond has always felt different, always out of place in the crowd. Yes, he knows how to act around those who matter but all he really wants is to escape the perfection that condemns him.
"We're not that fortunate." He points out. Charlie snorts derisively.
"Yes, you are." She retorts. "In fact, I'm betting you couldn't even survive one day away from your town cars and penthouses." Riley raises an eyebrow. Already he hears the semblance of a challenge in Charlie's voice. And already, the overly-competitive Riley feels the need to prove her wrong. If only to impress her and prove he's right.
"Is that a challenge I hear?" Riley inquires, turning her to gaze into his blue-green orbs.
"Maybe," Answers Charlie apathetically
"So that's what you think of me? A trustfund baby with no other insight on life?" Presses Riley
"Exactly,"
"How do I prove you wrong?"
Charlie halts, looking at him carefully. Indeed, he looks like he's been bred on the Upper East Side, with billions of dollars at his disposal. Yet, out of everyone here, he looks like the most down-to-earth one. Charlie edges closer to him.
"Follow me," She whispers ominously, eyebrows wagging as she gestures to the exit.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
--
Author's Note: Alright, so I know that I am focusing a bit more on Charlie and Riley and Rhyze, but trust me, it will all relate back to Charile's relationship with Chair.
Next Chapter: Charlie takes Riley out on an adventure, Chuck and Blair fight about Charlie's living conditions and last name.
