Chapter 7
I had made it home in time, before my dad had suspected anything and we made it to my Grandma's in time for lunch. The only interesting thing that happened was when Gossip Girl sent out a blast.
Spotted! C and B leaving the party together, early! S and Lonely Boy weren't far behind. Sources saw Lonely Boy leaving a fancy hotel early this morning, but where was S? Could it be, Lonely Boy pulled out the Do 'em and Ditch 'em policy? We thought that was more C's style. S hasn't been seen yet. Is she sulking with N, somewhere? He wasn't even seen leaving the party? Here's one party in a line of many for the summer! You know you love me. Xoxo Gossip Girl.
Jenny had looked up, eyebrows raised . I glared at her, hoping she got the point that it wasn't her business, and thankfully my dad and Granny hadn't noticed.
We were now back at the loft. It was late, but I thought I'd give Serena a call. I was about to hit send when Jenny entered my room.
"Could it be, Lonely Boy pulled out the Do 'em and Ditch 'em policy?" she said, quoting Gossip Girl, "Dan what the hell is that about."
"I really don't want to discuss this with my little sister, "I said rubbing my neck, "Can you just - "
"No Dan," she said, "Don't get all awkward, now like I haven't seen posts about your sex life on Gossip Girl since I was 16."
"Ugh, that's so not right," I replied.
"Dan," Jenny persisted, "Please tell me you didn't break up with Serena again!"
"What?" I asked, "No, of course not. Don't you remember calling me this morning? 'Dan, get your ass home before Dad finds out you aren't in your bed!'"
"Yeah, well I thought you were getting drunk with Nate or something," Jenny told me, "Why didn't you tell me you were with Serena?"
"Are you kidding?" I asked, exasperated, still not sure how she was so comfortable asking me about this, "I was with Serena, ok. But I really didn't want to explain that to dad, or you for that matter, so when you called I explained it to her and left."
Jenny rolled her eyes, prepared to keep grilling me, but I cut her off.
"I really want to call her now though," I explained, "Can you please go?"
She turned and left and I immediately hit send on my phone. It rang and rang and I was about to hang up when her Voicemail answered me.
"Hey, this is Serena!" it said happily, "Leeeave me a message!"
I smiled and decided to leave one.
"Serena, hey," I said, "It's Dan. I know it's late but I back from my family trip and I wanted to talk to you. I guess people think I'm like Chuck now, I feel like such an ass. I can't believe they saw me leaving, but think you're sulking with Nate somewhere. Call me back."
I hung up and tossed the phone next to me on my bed. I had just started changing into a t-shirt and sweatpants when my phone vibrated loudly. One new text from Serena.
I smiled and opened my phone.
"Is this seriously Serena's phone! Holy shit!"
I was confused to say the least.
"Jen!" I called, "Come here."
"Now you wanna talk?" she asked.
"Look at this."
"Oh that's just great," she said, sounding annoyed, "Some jerk found Serena's phone and now that they know it's hers they're probably gonna look all through it. I hope you guys haven't talked about anything dirty recently, cause I guarantee Gossip Girl is about to find out."
"Shit," I mumbled, "And she lost her phone so I can't even give her a heads up."
"Call Nate," Jenny suggested, "Serena might not even know she lost it yet. She'll want to cancel the services."
I scrolled to Nate's name quickly and gave him a call. Again there was no answer. I knew I was desperate, cause next I went to Blair's name and hit send.
"Hello, Humphrey."
Of course, she'd be the one to answer.
"Are you with Serena?" I asked her.
"No," she said shortly, "But if Gossip Girl was right, I wouldn't tell you if I was."
"Come one Blair," I begged, "You know that's not what happened. And this is serious. Some idiot has Serena's phone and I need to tell her."
"I haven't seen her since the party," Blair told me, "I assumed she was wasting a day with you."
Anger washed over me and I slammed the phone shut.
"Call Chuck."
I looked up at my sister, remembering she was still there.
"What?"
"Chuck might know," she suggested, "Maybe he's with Nate or something."
I was really starting to get concerned. No one had talked to Serena all day and even Gossip Girl hadn't seen Nate. I pushed the thought out of my mind. Maybe they were together and Nate just didn't hear his phone. It's not like that bothered me, they've been friends forever. But things were starting to get weird.
"Try calling Nate, please," I told Jenny, "I'll call Chuck."
He answered on the first ring.
"I'm busy."
"Chuck," I said forcefully, "This is serious. Are you with Serena or Nate?"
"I'm enjoying a nice night in," Chuck told me slowly, "I have business to attend to Humphrey."
"Chuck, someone has Serena's phone and neither she nor Nate have been seen all day. Have you seen Nate?"
"No," he told me, "But why didn't you ask if I've seen Serena? We are family you know."
I was about to hang up on him to when Jenny squealed.
"Gossip Girl!" she exclaimed, "Someone found Nate!"
"Hooolly shit," I heard Chuck mumbled.
I grabbed Jenny's phone to read the newest update.
The first thing I saw was a terrifying picture of Nate. He was lying on the ground in some dark alley. His dirty hair was across his face, plastered down with blood. His suit jacket was ripped and he looked unconscious. Luckily, whoever had sent in the picture had enough sense to call the ambulance.
"Still think this isn't serious?" I asked Chuck.
"Meet me at the hospital," Chuck demanded, "And find out where Serena lost her phone."
We hung up and I turned to my sister.
"I have to go," I said, "And no you can't come."
"You really want to spend time alone with Chuck?" she shot me back, "Let me come."
"No," I said again, "You saw that picture of Nate. And if working with Chuck is what I have to do to save Serena from that, I don't care."
"Dan," Jenny said seriously, "Don't jump to conclusions. This might have nothing to do with Nate."
"I have to find out," I said pulling on some shoes, "Explain to dad."
"Dan, I just texted Erik," Jenny went on, "They haven't seen her."
Without changing out of my t-shirt or tying my shoes, I ran out of my house. As soon as I was in the taxi I sent a text to Serena's phone.
"You have to tell me where you found this phone. I don't care what you do with it, but tell me where you found it. Serena van der Woodsen is missing and you may be the only one that can help us find her!"
Within a minute, they replied, "Outside the Bass hotel."
I tapped my fingers on the seat in front of me the whole way to the hospital.
I was running up the steps when Gossip Girl sent another text.
Not spotted? S! A source from Lonely Boy himself confirmed her disappearance. Who will be her Knight in shining armor? Stay tuned!
