Disclaimer: I don't own Gossip Girl – I own Lydia and Sebastian who are from my previous story "The Unheard Sister of Chuck Bass" and the other characters have been submitted through my SYOC, PM me if you're interested in submitting a character
A/N: So we haven't heard from Lydia lately, so let's see how they're doing!
Chapter 09 – Sebastian Archibald
My dad stared at me with wide eyes, trying to maintain composure whilst being the centre of attention. It probably would have helped if he hadn't just screamed my name across the café. There was no way that I was going to live this down- especially when it happened in the heat of the mayoral election.
He wanted the picture perfect family and I was clearly messing with that image. "Why would you cause such a scene, Sebastian?"
"I don't know Dad. I guess I've got a lot on my plate." I shrugged, glancing over my shoulder at Henry, Vick and Violet. "Pressure just got to me..."
"You and me both son. I shouldn't have shouted." Dad smiled and waved at some families and a passerby who recognised him. "You promised me and your mother that you wouldn't draw any negative attention to us."
"Hold on. What about Mom? She was the one caught red handed!"
"Get in the car. Thank you..." Dad climbed into the back after me and sighed, tightening his tie. "We have a big name to uphold and I need no hiccups. Your sisters have given me their word that there will be no arguing."
I coughed in surprise. "Rosalie and Elle promised you that? I hope you have a refund on your money there. Those two fight worse than Uncle Chuck and Aunt Blair."
Dad playfully tapped the back of my head. "That's family you're talking about. Now there is an event on tomorrow, the organisers have asked me to do a speech. I want you to be there. Elle, Rosalie and your mom are going to be there too, but you are even more important to me so I need you there."
"Oh. I can't, I promised I'd go out for dinner with-" I had to stop myself from saying Emma and fumbled to say another name. "Vick."
"Vick? As in Victoria Humphrey?"
"Yes Dad- me and her... we're kind of a thing? Ish?"
Dad looked suddenly really uncomfortable by the sudden revelation. "I don't think you two make a good pair..."
"Why? Because of the fact that you and her mom had a history? It's come up in conversation. We're just seeing how things go. I don't know how I feel alright?" I couldn't even believe what I was saying, let alone think that Dad would believe it either.
"Who was the other girl with you? She seems nice."
"Oh her? That's Violet Avery. I think she's new in town. Friend of a friend, but there's something going on with Henry there so I thought I'd let him have this one."
"You should put those Archibald blues to good use, Sebastian." Dad smiled before stepping out of the car and up the steps to the house.
There was a couple of reporters nearby who hastily threw themselves at him in an attempt to get an update on the election.
"Well I'm sure the people of New York will know exactly who to put their trust in. Now, if you don't mind, I've got a family dinner to go to." Dad grinned, putting his hand on my shoulder and guiding me inside though the now open front door.
"Honey? The photographer is here to take some photos for your campaign!" Mom called through the house. "There's a fresh suit upstairs for you and Ava is here to go over some campaign notes!" She came striding into view wearing an elegant dress with a wafting skirt and flowing transparent silk sleeves. For a moment, she registered the disappointment in Dad's face. "Sebastian, there's some clothes I want you to change into for a couple of photos the photographer thinks will provide a new angle for the campaign. Upstairs now please."
As I passed the stairs, heading up to my room, I could see Rosalie and Elle wearing similar coloured dresses to Mom with their hair all curled and twirled. Dad's campaign manager Ava was fluffing a makeup brush over their cheeks and nose. Ava was a close friend of Dad's who stepped up once he announced his candidacy. She had long black hair that was dead straight and big brown eyes. If she were my age, I'd be tempted. Mom tried to shoo her politely away from the twins, saying they didn't need the makeup.
Upstairs, I changed into a navy suit with a white shirt and red tie. It made me feel like it was forced to look patriotic, but it fitted like a glove as I flattened the blazer against my chest and stomach. Even though it wasn't a part of Mom's approved outfit, I went over to the chest of drawers in my room and took out a silver tie clip from its box. The tie clip was a gift handed down to me from my great grandfather and it felt like a perfect homage to him. William Van Der Bilt.
"Sebastian- are you ready? Can I come in?" Mom asked, knocking on the door.
"Sure," I replied, sweeping my hair to one side using my fingers to meticulously separate it.
"Look at you. The spit of your dad." Mom smiled adoringly at me, before straightening my collar and noticing the tie clip.
"Oh. I didn't think you would mind..."
"No, no. It's not that, I think it's very fitting. Given the circumstances." She placed a hand on my cheek. "What did I ever do to deserve such a thoughtful boy?"
"Ehh..." I replied, shrugging my shoulders.
"Let's go downstairs. Now brave face, big smiles and it'll be over in no time. I know you hate all this kind of thing-"
"Because it is so fake Mom," I replied walking out of the room. "This is not the family we are and you know that. You can try and behave like our family is better than Uncle Chuck's, but it's not really. It's built on lies."
Mom silenced me before we went down the stairs, much to the delight of the photographer who was this middle aged man with thin, wiry brown hair. He ushered Mom towards Dad, standing on his right side behind Elle and Rosalie who were sat on the chaise lounge. Then he grabbed my hand, pulling me to Dad's left side and that's when I saw the identical nature of our suits. Like father, like son…
"Okay, smile beautiful family." The photographer delighted in the photos he was getting, repositioning us every now and again. His eye caught Ava standing in the archway with her arms folded. "You uh, come stand here."
My parents voiced their concerns for having Ava in the shots, but the photographer insisted. Before long, it seemed as though me, Mom and the twins were parcelled off to the other room so that photos could be taken of Nathaniel Archibald and his incredibly successful campaign manager. Mom was clearly put off by it, but she fussed over Elle and Rosalie.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and noticed an alert from Jane Doe. My cheeks puffed up with concern over what it might be. Opening up the alert, it took me to Twitter where there was a post about a secret.
Hi UESiders and boy have I got news for you?! A little birdie told me that Mini Gatsby has been playing the field and really going for the extra hours of tutoring. Hopefully Vicky isn't too heartbroken by this? Oh well. I wonder if Mini Gatsby is prepared to be schooled and read Emma all over? Know my name, know my secrets. Jane Doe. Kisses.
My stomach was immediately in my throat. Jane Doe was throwing a number of curveballs that I was not prepared for, but someone clearly tipped her off. The thing was that the only person who truly knew about Emma, was Vick. I immediately excused myself and disappeared to me room to call Vick.
"Hey Seb- you okay? I'm currently having dinner with my parents right now." Her voice was a little shaky.
"No. No it can't. Excuse yourself from the table now. I mean it Vick, I'm not in the mode." I was firm and insistent, waiting until she confirmed it was safe to talk openly.
"What's wrong?" Vick asked innocently.
"Are you seriously going to play dumb now? Jane Doe just posted a hit on me and Emma- are you seriously going to play dumb now? You are the only one who knows about me and her."
"Seb- trust me, I would never do that to you."
"Don't lie to me!" I snapped loudly, seething at the temerity of the situation. "You are the single person that saw me and Emma together. You spoke to her like it was nothing. You provoked Emma into making us nearly break up and then you tempt Jane Doe into cornering us. What the hell were you thinking?"
"Please stop shouting at me Seb…"
"Vick – tell me the truth now!"
"I didn't do it! Now will you stop shouting at me!" she shouted aggressively. "Look. I know I made my views on your freaky relationship abundantly clear, but you of all people must know that I would never do that to you. I would never jeopardise our friendship like that. Seriously, pinkie cross on my heart."
"Don't use that against me."
"I'm using it to emphasise how serious I am," Vick sighed, sniffing violently. "I have to go now. Don't talk to me again until you learn to apologise."
Before I could even try to apologise, she cut off the call and I then realised that I had completely blown up the situation beyond its proportions. She had done so much for me to hide my secret, but I felt like I had thrown it all in her face. I was going to need to make it up to her in one way or another, but she liked grand gestures sometimes. Maybe that was what I would have to do. Me and Henry have spent hours in the past just listening to her list of these films that we needed to watch before we died and all the scenes that were filmed in and around New York.
"Sebastian?"
"Not now, Mom."
"I think we should have a chat, before the whole police department come to see what your shouting match was about."
Oh god… I thought. I hadn't even realised how loud I was being.
"And there is also some woman here to see you. I tried to send her away, but she was insistent…"
Some woman. I started to panic and barged out of my room, pasting Mom. Quickly shuffling down the stairs, I ran to the door thinking that it was Emma standing outside, but when I opened the door, I was surprised.
"Do I know you?" I asked, slowly walking down the steps.
She was tall and thin. Her skin was a smooth cocoa colour and her hair was cut short, almost like a buzz cut. "You don't know me personally, and I don't know you personally, but we have a mutual friend in Miss Clark."
"Emma? Where is she- is she okay? I need to see her."
Her face twisted. "Mister Archibald, please. I don't like this any more than you do, but this is the choice that Emma has made. Before she left the Upper East Side, she wanted me to give you this."
"A letter?" I squeaked when I saw the parchment envelope. "No, Emma must have more to say than she can in a letter, right?"
"Just. Read the letter, and move on with your life. You're both in two different places." She looked over her shoulder. "I'm in no place to cast judgements, but she is her own person. I may not have known what was going on in the middle, but I know about the end. Bringing that girl to Emma's apartment was- I don't even think I can put a word on it, but it just goes to show your age I think. Move on Sebastian."
I watched as she left me standing alone in the street holding a stray letter. I tore into the envelope and discarded it on the sidewalk like a dirty tissue. My body found itself a perch at the bottom of the stairs as I read the letter.
Sebastian, I hope this letter gets to you soon. What happened today has really opened my eyes to the severity of what might happen if everyone found out about our relationship. The things I could stand to lose if we are to carry on down the path we're on. My job, my home, my whole livelihood because of what I'll be labelled as. I don't regret anything, but I do regret that you are not a few years older. It was selfish of me to even consider that you and me could work. This letter serves as cutting the ties. I'm going to transfer schools and I want you to continue being an amazingly talented boy, because nothing would make me prouder than knowing how well you did. Deep down, I know that you don't want to hear this, but it is over. Do not come to my apartment and do not send me messages. Miss E. Clark
Before I knew it, I had let a tear escape and I held the rest back, standing up and turning to see Mom standing in the doorway. She remained quiet, but held her arms up to me. I practically fell into her arms, feeling the warmth of her embrace. Mom may not have said anything, but I was thankful for it.
This was my secret, and I had to keep it.
"Why don't you come inside for some dinner? The girls want your help picking the photos."
"Sure…" I mumbled, scrunching up the letter and putting it in my blazer pocket.
Whilst all I wanted to do was sulk in my room, I knew that my family were one of few things that could bring me out of my mood. Though I didn't like to admit it, but my family were very important to me. Even my sisters – being two years younger than me and girls, you would think that we wouldn't get along, but they mean a lot to me. Rosalie and Elizabeth, I was their protector when they were babies, telling visitors 'don't touch the babies.' Sitting down at the table next to them, they should me a tablet of all the different photos that they liked. Mom and Dad smiled at the three of us, with Dad taking her hand and rubbing his thumb over hers. Deep down, I wasn't happy about Emma breaking up with me after everything we had been through, but I felt like it had run its course.
"Serena tells me that it's nearly Vick's Sweet Sixteen. I hope you and Henry have planned something extra special seeing as that girl's put up with you both all this time…" Mom said, taking a sip from her glass of wine. "Although nothing will beat the time we played – what was it called? Assassins?" She looked over at Dad who nodded. "Even if a little bird got to you first, eh?"
"I have something in mind… It's going to take a bit of preparation and help from a few of my friends."
"Mysterious…" Rosalie giggled. "Me and Elle can help if you want too. She's like the big sister and-"
Elle squeezed my arm. "You should get help from people to like subtly recreate iconic scenes from her favourite films in New York. Like some secret flash dance or something!"
My mouth hung open. "That was my idea!"
Our parents couldn't help but laugh at the way our minds were thinking the same thing.
Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = A nice little chapter down and dusted before my holiday hopefully the next chapter will be a little more exciting than this one :L
