(There will be some flashbacks. I still can't believe that this tiny idea has made it so far lol. I'm really happy you like reading this fic. Enjoy and review please, it's the number one reason I keep writing. Kris is still there, I'm sorry but it's much more fun this way :P, more drama and I love drama!, enjoy babies)
(What Happened?)
Flashback - A Year ago.
A loud blood curdling scream woke Dan from his sleep. "WHAT! WHAT? WHAT?" he ran from his room to the kitchen to find a scared Serena standing on a chair.
"Spider" she pointed towards it. Dan shook his head not amused that her scream was for something so harmless he would have thought someone was holding her at gunpoint for how terrifying it sounded.
"get it, get it" she looked scared as Dan went over to investage.
"Kill it!" she begged.
"But he deserves to live" Dan teased with her.
"No, IT doesn't"
"He's a big sucker" Dan laughed before squashing it under a paper towel.
"let me see" she leaned over to make sure it was indeed deceased."ew" she looked at the squashed arachnid. Dan pushed it closer to her hoping for a reaction.
"Dont!" she yelled, Dan was amused at how helpless and young she looked standing on the chair.
"Okay, you can come down now, it's dead" he helped her off the chair.
"Thank you, you're my hero" she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "and now i'm going to be late" she scurried over to her bag and threw it over her shoulder. Dan made his way to the bathroom to shower.
"Hey, what are these?" he asked.
"What are what?" she stopped at the door and turned to him.
"These" he threw some towels at her that he found lying on the bathroom floor.
"I'm sorry!" she ducked. Serena tried to cover her giggle knowing how much he hated when she left her towels all over the floor, especially the wet ones.
"And the smudges all over the mirror" he walked over them trying to get to the counter.
"I'll clean up when I get home"
"Mmhmm, Sure you will" he nodded. "When i get home from work they'll still be there" he said knowing what Serena was like.
"No they'll be all gone and the whole bathroom will be sparkling clean okay?"
"I'll believe it when I see it" he smirked.
"Okay, I'm leaving, have fun at work"
"Oh, I'll try" he said pathetically.
"Dan, come on, you just need to keep at it, you'll eventually get an awesome job. I know bartending isn't exactly in your field but maybe on your breaks you can sit at the bar and write about how tragic it is for an extremely talented writer to bartend?" Dan laughed, at her concept. She was always trying to cheer him up and always knew exactly how to do it.
"You'll make it one day, you'll get your big break and be with New York Times" she continued with a smile, her voice was soothing. Serena was always had so much faith in him.
"HHyeah, I'm not going to hold my breath on that one"
"Listen you're my bestfriend and I know you're going to be very successful"
"Easy for you to say" he took a deep breath. "You have everything you've ever wanted in a career and you're still in senior year of college" Serena smiled.
"Not exactly, Chanel is my dream" she daydreamed thinking about the job in Paris and how glamourous it would be.
"Well, maybe after my shift we can be depressed about what our lives have turned into together"
"Stop being so negative!" she pushed him. "You're 22! stop acting like you're 40. Cheer up" she placed a light smack to his cheek.
"O...K" he sighed.
"I'll see you later tonight" she waved.
"Bye" he walked towards the kitchen. Serena looked in her bag and frantically searched through it's contents.
"...Dan!" she called him. He came back around the corner with her keys looped around his index finger, a smile appeared on her face. "Did I leave them in the door again?" Instead of saying anything he threw them to her, she quickly caught them. "I love you!" she yelled.
"You too!" he yelled back from the kitchen.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Present
Getting to know Kris was an awful experience for Serena. She thought after getting to know the petite brunette she'd find that they had a lot in common and maybe they'd eventually become friends but instead Serena found a hatred for her. This was day number ten on the getting to know Kris stint. They had been sitting in a coffee house for exactly twenty minutes and Serena was already thinking of excuses to leave. It seemed that no matter how hard she tried to like Kris, she would always be the other woman in Serena's eyes. She loathed her voice, especially when she praised Dan for something.
"He's so good, I had no idea how good because he never let's me read anything of his" Kris sipped on her latte. Serena smiled and was sure not to say anything offensive.
"Yeah, he's good" she nodded wondering when she could leave.
"he's great at a lot of things" Kris said with a smile. Serena's eyes widened as she tried to be pleasant. Their common interest wasn't enough to make them bond, mainly because their interest in particular couldn't be shared.
"...yeeeah" Serena looked away.
When it was all over Serena hugged Kris reluctantly.
"Oh did Dan tell you yet?" Kris pulled away from their hug.
"Tell me what?"
"He bought the apartment down the hall" Kris smiled. "So you have yours all to yourself now, I told Dan you should turn his room into another closet, you could probably use one right?" Inside she was seething but on the outside she smiled.
"Umm...," she blinked a little still not feeling warm towards Kris. "...did you give him this idea?"
"Yeah, I knew that it was probably getting weird with me being over there all the time and I thought hey, why not move down the hall, Serena probably wants your room for a closet" she laughed.
"Oh" Serena pressed her lips together to make sure she didn't tell Kris off.
"I'll see you later Serena"
"Bye" she pulled out her phone in a hurry and called Blair. "She's ripping him away from me" she spoke through tight lips.
"You heard about Dan moving?"
"You knew?" Serena was shocked.
"S, this is the classic best-friend removal, Kristen is a smart girl. She knows that you're her biggest competetor and she knows Dan needs to apart from you if she's ever going to take your place as best-friend"
"Oh, well that's just lovely" she said sarcastically.
"How was your date with her?" Blair asked even though she knew the answer.
"It was unpleasan to say the least. I checked my watch twenty times, I don't know what he sees in her, her laugh isn't coquettish at all, infact she snorts sometimes. She talks about Dan like I have no idea who he is. I wanted to say 'Listen, girl...been there done that' and she's brunette!"
"Ouch" Blair said.
"No you know what I mean, Dan has a huge thing for Blondes"
"I know"
"Oh and she wore tights as pants Blair" she added.
"Oh god" Blair didn't mask her distaste. "I guess I'll have to teach her the rules"
"Yeah...wait, what?"
"Like I said before, she doesn't look like she's going anywhere, Dan really likes her, let's make the best of this"
"What happened to, We'll never talk to her, we're on your side?" Serena felt betrayed.
"S, I like her and so does Jenny, the only reason you don't is because of who she's with. If Kris was dating anyone else you know you wouldn't have a problem with her"
"Why do you all of a sudden have to act so mature?, I want teenage backstabbing Blair back" she laughed.
"Oh she's still in there, deep down" Blair giggled.
XOXOXOXOX
Serena sat in her apartment which felt uncomfortably silent and empty. Dan had moved down the hall a mere four hours ago, not a trace of him was left in the penthouse not even the many copies of the New York times that were usually scattered all over the coffee table, he brought them with him. Kristen was to blame for this sudden realisation that Dan should live on his own, and Serena hated her even more for it.
Blair and Chuck and Jenny and Nate were all over at his new apartment breaking it in and drinking beer while Kris hung things up on the wall and scattered the papers on his new coffee table. Serena got up and went to the door when she heard a knock.
"Are you coming over?" Dan leaned on the door frame, a bottle of beer in hand.
"Maybe later, I have some stuff to organize" she looked around.
"This place is immaculate, come over to my place there's tons for you to do" he joked. Serena could hear Blair laughing from the hall. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad for him to be just down the hall. Although it was sad that Jenny and Nate would now be closer than him.
"Ok" she agreed and followed him around the corner.
"I'm shocked" Blair said to Kris.
"It's not that scary trust me"
"Well I still couldn't do it" Serena peeked in to see Blair and Kris chatting.
"I didn't want to, I honestly thought I wouldn't be able to do it either, but my friends talked me into it and it's probably the most amazing thing I've ever done, so invigorating"
Serena sat down beside Blair and she explained that Kris bungee jumps.
"Wow..." she said quietly cocking an eyebrow pretending to look interested.
"Come with me, it'll be fun" Kris looked at Blair.
"I don't think so" Blair shot down her crazy idea.
Serena's attention turned to Dan who leapt over the back of the couch and sat beside her.
"Hey" she smiled and pretended to listen to Kristen's stories about bungee jumping that Nate kept asking.
"Dan, you're going to come bungee jumping with me right?" Kris cracked a smile in his direction.
"No way" he laughed. "You go right ahead,...go nuts" he expressed with a grin.
"Show us your Spain pictures, we haven't seen them yet" Jenny requested. A few minutes later Kris was showing all of them the 500 something pictures of their month long vacation. Serena couldn't care less to see them but she looked over to be polite.
"Hey, Kris, where's my ipod?" Dan asked while getting up.
"It's in our room, on your dresser" she answered not looking up. Serena's stomach dropped with what she said.
"Dan you want to show me around?" Serena stood immediately.
"It's the exact same layout as our apartment just opposite" he took a swig of his beer.
"I want to see how you painted" Dan agreed and showed her around after grabbing his ipod and having it play some background music while everyone continued to look at Kristen's photos.
"See the exact same" he said when the pointless tour was complete.
"Is she living here?" Serena asked when they were out of earshot.
"Not officially, but she spends most of her time here" he answered.
"I have to work in the morning so I'm going to go...home" she pointed to the door.
"Hey, Serena" Dan grabbed her elbow and she turned back towards him. "I don't want this to weird, we're good right?"
"Why wouldn't we be?" she smiled lightly.
Serena had a hell of a time sleeping that night. She didn't know what it was but thought it might have to do with the fact that she was alone, she knew Dan wasn't in his room, he wasn't just a call away and if she felt like it she couldn't just hop on to his bed and snuggle with him. She woke up at six and tried to remind herself that the jealous feeling she had would go away in time. She cooked and sat at the table, eating her breakfast in silence.
I hear the clock it's 6 am, I feel so far from where i've been. I've got my eggs, I've got my pancakes too, I've got my maple syrup, everything but you. I break the yolks and make a smiley face, I kinda like in my brand new place. Wipe the spots above the mirror, don't leave my keys in the door, i never put wet towels on the floor anymore cause dreams last so long, even after you're gone. I know you love me and soon you will see, you were meant for me and I was meant for you.
"You in a rush?" Dan opened his door and stepped out into the hallway as Serena floated by. Her hair was untamed but still shiny and beautiful, it carried a scent past Dan's nose that was very familiar.
"Oh hey!, morning" she stopped for a moment. She noticed he was in a very sharp suit, much better off than her, she could tell he had a good night's sleep.
"You look very profesh" she smiled and widened her eyes to his briefcase. She always knew him to carry messenger bags and backpacks not professional leather briefcases.
"I have an interview" he looked down at his suit to make sure there we're no wrinkles.
"What? you didn't tell me" her smile widened.
"I didn't really want to tell anyone in case I don't get it" he admitted. He took a deep breath and Serena could tell he was nervous.
"So?" Serena stood and waited for the whole story at this point she didn't care if she was late for work.
"Well, the Spain piece was a huge success, I got a little cocky and dropped off a resume somewhere, not expecting to get a phone call but I did" he sounded excited and Serena smiled widely.
"Somewhere is?"
"...umm," he rubbed his chin.
"Where Humphrey?" she smiled even bigger.
"...Times" it was almost a whisper and he looked as modest as ever. Modesty was probably Serena single favourite trait about Dan.
"Shut your mouth!" He smiled. "DAN!" she hugged him tightly. "look at you!" she put her hands on his face.
"I don't have it yet" he rationalized as he tried to stop smiling.
"This is your dream!, Oh, this is so great!." she continued to celebrate. "You'll get it, I know you will. Especially in this snappy suit" Kris clicked open the door and Serena removed her hand from Dan's shoulder.
"I picked it out" she walked into the hall. Serena could see she was still in her pyjamas. They looked slutty and that was another thing to put on Serena's "I hate Kris because..." list.
"Well, it's really nice" Serena smiled pathetically at Kris. "But I got him the tie" she looked up at him proudly with a smirk.
"It's my favourite tie" he mentioned.
"Ok I'm going to be super late but take it easy you're going to get it!" she shrieked a little. "I'm so proud of you" she wanted to tell 'Luh you!' but knew she shoudn't when Kris was standing there.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Serena stepped into her design firm and everyone was already letting her know she was behind. "I know, I'm sorry" she sat down at her desk.
"So I was thinking Indian for lunch" One of Serena's fellow stylists asked all the women of the firm.
"Oh you go ahead it makes me ill everytime, I think I'm allergic to something" she passed going back to her computer, she was looking for something in particular to buy online from Italy for one of her clients.
"Got it!" she smiled to herself once the sale was made. The rest of her day was filled with adding to her look book and calling clients to make sure they were being looked after properly. Her cellphone rang in her bag and she riffled through it , finally she found the vibrating culprit and held it to her ear.
"Hey B" she answered.
"Serena, don't freak out okay?" Blair started.
"What?" her eyes pulled away from the computer screen and stared into space.
"You don't sound calm Serena"
"I'm calm, what?" she waited.
"Dan...he's at the hospital and he's fine" Blair's voice was calm but that didn't make Serena feel any better.
"What happened?" she yelled.
"a driver went through a red and smashed directly into passenger side of his car and he skidded right off the road, he's fine" she added again. "Thank god it wasn't the driver's side" Blair waited but Serena didn't say anything.
"Serena he's fine though" Serena hung up the phone and put her purse over her shoulder.
"Ok, I have to go" she announced to the women she worked with.
"You have a client at one" she was reminded.
"I have more important things right now" she walked out.
XOXO
Dan propped himself up on the hospital bed asked the nurse for the 10th time if he could leave.
"I'm fine, I feel fine. Can I at least get up?"
"No" the nurse was getting fed up.
"Your car looks like shit" Nate laughed a little trying to remind him that he's lucky to be alive
"Thanks for reminding me" Dan groaned with a smirk knowing Nate was just trying to lighten the mood.
"Do you need anything?" Jenny asked.
"No, I'm fine" he sat up a little. "Just really bummed about my interview"
"They'll give you another shot, I mean... you almost died today" Blair said.
"...hey, where's Serena?' he asked realizing that Blair was there but Serena was no where to be found.
"She's coming...shouldn't you be asking for Kris?, she's you're girlfriend" Nate laughed a little.
"yeah that's what I meant" he blinked.
"Jesus" Dan looked down at his arm that was black and blue from the impact of the crash and seemed to be getting worse by the second.
"Well you might have a concusion and you may have sprained your wrist but other than that, you're in good health" Jenny said, she was the only one that talked to the doctor. Blair left to get back to work and left Dan with Jenny and Nate.
"OH MY GOD!, you're okay" Serena ran into the room and to his side before kissing him on the cheek.
"Yeah" he smiled. "Serena I'm fine" he promised seeing her concerned face that was inspecting him to make sure he was all there. "Just a few stitches and bruises"
"He might have a concusion but other than that the doctor said he can go home tommorrow morning" Nate mentioned.
"We're going to get going, it looks like you're in good hands" Nate smiled and said bye to them. Jenny hugged Dan tightly before heading out. "This is from Dad" Jenny squeezed him extra hard since Rufus was back on tour and was in Los Angeles by now. "bye Jen"
"I got the phonecall at work and I was just so freaked out, the car is really beat up I heard"
"Yeah Nate said it's totalled" he groaned again thinking about how brand new it was.
"Well, you don't look too bad" he put her hands on his face. "Just the arm and the stitches on your head" she touched them slightly making him flinch.
"I'm sorry" she covered her mouth hoping she didn't hurt him.
"No it's fine" he smiled letting her know he was fine once again.
"I missed my interview" he said quietly. Serena frowned knowing he was really disapointed. She hugged him tightly. "You'll get another chance. Just be happy that you aren't hurt. For how strong of an impact you could have..." she stopped. "I mean I just don't know what I would have done with myself, If..." she stopped, her throat hurt and tears started to fill her eyes.
"I'm fine, Serena I'm fine" he brought her into a hug.
"Well, I was really wor…" she began when a woman's voice interrupted her thoughts and she looked at the door.
"I'm here, I'm here" Dan looked past Serena to see Kris.
"Are you okay?" she shuffled in and put her hands on his face.
"..yeah" he tilted his head up to kiss her.
"Oh look at you" she stroked his face and ran her hand lightly over the bruise on his arm.
"are you feeling okay?"
"Fine" he nodded. Kris turned her attention to Serena who was sitting quietly and uncomfortably.
"Serena, I'm here now, you can go" Kris smiled at her as if she was doing her a favour and Serena smiled back weakly and felt an instant hot sensation on her face and knot in her stomach.
"Okay" she squeaked. "Umm" she stood from her chair and hugged Dan tightly, her lips brushed his neck slightly.
"Take care of yourself" she waved when she looked back Kris was holding his hand and telling him how scared she was. Serena was nearly positive she was more scared.
XOXOX
Serena had been spending more time with Aaron now, she of course was using him just like Blair claimed she was. She had hardly anything in common with him but it kept her from having to go out and meet strangers in bars and helped her by keeping her thoughts away from Dan. The only good thing about Aaron was that Dan was jealous of him and she knew it. Serena used to date a guy named Steve and Serena hadn't seen Dan look jealous since Steve.
Flashback
"We aren't going to the bar Dan works at" Blair insisted somewhere else.
"I've never been, I'm dying to go" Serena said as she applied another layer of mascara.
"It's in Brooklyn" Blair fussed.
"I'm up for anywhere" Vanessa said.
"Me too" Jenny added.
"I'm game" Nate mentioned. Chuck nodded in agreement.
Dan poured an entire tray of drinks and smirked when he saw Serena walk in the front door, she had never been in there before. she proceeded to walk in when the bouncer stopped her and asked for ID, Serena looked at Blair confused as she rumaged through her purse to find it, she wasn't used to this. In Manhattan she was never asked for ID. she handed her id to the bouncer and he looked her up and down before handing it back. They walked towards a table and sat down not even ten minutes had gone by and a guy had made his way over to Serena.
"YOU WANNA DANCE?" He asked over the blaring music. Serena shook her head and swallowed what was left in her mouth.
"No thank you" she smiled innocently.
"WHY NOT?" he held his hands out disapointed.
"...I HAVE A BOYFRIEND!" she lied, yelling over the music.
"I DONT SEE HIM" the guy looked around.
"Well, he's here!" Blair said unimpressed with the guy that was blocking her view from her bestfriend.
"Come on let's dance" Vanessa and Jenny got up and Serena followed them on to the floor. Blair stayed with Nate and Chuck.
Dan stood behind the bar serving people, he looked up every now and then to see Serena dancing with the girls, guys were always looking at her, she was a force of nature.
"Keep it!" Dan snapped out of it as a girl pushed a five dollar bill towards him as a tip.
"Thank you" he smiled putting it in his pocket, Dan grabbed his tray of shots he poured and walked to a table of women all about twenty five.
"YOU WANT SOME SHOTS?" he yelled to the table of women, they all handed him a few bills of cash. When he set the tray of shots down a couple of them handed him tips, that he immediately stuffed into his apron. Serena and the girls sat down at the table next to theirs, she smiled at him as he picked up the empty cups at the table, she watched the women look at him like a piece of meat, when he was gone they touched their arms and made reference to how muscluar he was.
"DAN!" one of the women called out. "can we get more!" Dan nodded and went back to work he was so obdient and the women just loved him. When Dan was done with their table he walked over to Serena's and pretended he didn't know any of them. "How's it going ladies?" he asked as he wiped down their table. Serena, Vanessa, Jenny and Blair all giggled at his new persona.
"Can I get you anything?" he looked at them all.
"A tetnus shot maybe" Blair was still fussing about being in Brooklyn.
"I'm not sure how to make that..." Dan joked with her.
"DAN CAN YOU BRING THE SHOT TRAY BACK?" the girls from the other table called, not wanting him to split his attention with Serena's table. He looked up and smiled. "I'll be right with you I need to take this girl's order" he pointed at Serena.
"What will it be?" he looked at Serena, she almost blushed, it was like he was another person.
"Surprise me" she said. Dan ran down and made a few more shots, he went to the obnoxious ladies first, they always tipped heavily.
"Thanks sweetie" The girl touched his arm and smiled at Serena, who smiled smugly thinking this girl liked her Dan, she had something up her sleeve. Dan walked towards Serena and got really close.
"On me" he set three shots and a martini glass in front of her making the women at the other table all look at eachother shocked. "On me" he placed drinks in front of Jenny, Vanessa and Blair on his next trip over.
"No I insist on paying" Serena played with him.
"Your money is no good here, trust me, not for beautiful ladies like yourselves" they all rolled their eyes at him except Serena who smiled. The women at the other table started gossiping while they watched them.
"This is unbelievable I need another drink" Serena heard the girl say, Serena grabbed Dan by the neck and kissed him hard, Dan closed his eyes and copied what she was doing sending the women into catty conversations. Their lips parted "maybe i'll see you around?" Dan asked with shock.
"Umm, probably not, I have a boyfriend" Serena sipped her drink with a giggle.
"Well, he better watch out" Dan disapeared into the crowd.
"Ugh You guys need to just get back together already"
"...No, besides I don't think he wants to" Serena said thinking about it.
"Who was that?" One of the bar backs asked Dan.
"My roomate" Dan laughed a little.
"That's your roomate?, you just kissed her" he looked shocked.
"Yeah, we have an interesting relationship" Dan laughed a little.
"She's...," he shook his head not wanting to offend Dan. "She's smokin'" Dan smirked.
"Don't try anything, I'm going to go for it" Dan mentioned.
"Like she'd ever date you"
"...You don't even know the half of it"
"Two Corona's" a guy ordered. Dan looked up to see Serena again on the dancefloor, the same guy that asked her to dance still trying to get her to dance.
"six seventy five" Dan handed him the bottles after opening them, he looked back up to see Serena denying him again.
"Can I get two rum and cokes" a girl ordered, Dan nodded and looked up again to see Serena backing away from the guy. Dan tapped his friend on the shoulder can you do this" he pointed to the cups, and went down to the dance floor.
"Everything okay?" he asked her. Serena nodded with a smile, the guy was gone so Dan headed back to the bar, when he noticed the same guy setting another martini at Serena's table. Everytime Dan looked over now, she was flirting with the guy and accepting more drinks. Dan turned to the girl at the bar, he was surprised to find that it was Blair.
"What would you like Waldorf?"
"Dan, if you want Serena back, I'd do something now. She just accepted a date with that guy"
"Umm, what makes you think I want to get back with her?"
"Dan..." Blair rolled her eyes, it was obvious.
"I don't...own her. She can do whatever she wants" he said bravely seeing that she was having a great time with the guy who's name was Steve. He was a classic athlete type, he probably played lacrosse, and Dan knew he was jealous.
At three am Dan found himself standing outside his and Serena's apartment door. He sighed when he saw Serena's keys were still hanging in the lock. The glass, diamond key chain sparkled as he turned it and opened the door. Walking in he almost tripped over something, he turned the lights on and noticed there was a pair of size eleven Nikes beside Serena's Louboutins, they weren't his.
Without another thought he walked out of the apartment and knocked on Nate's door across the hall.
"Hey" Nate answered with a stumble, he was relieved to see that he was still awake.
"Can I crash here?"
"Yeah go for it" he invited him in.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Present
At night was when she missed him the most, she thought about running over to his apartment several times in the last couple of weeks but she knew Kris was there. She tossed and turned again. Too much was on her mind. What did he see in Kris?, why did she feel neglected? Why couldn't she sleep without him there?. Surprised to say the least she heard a knock at the door, it was light. She waited to see if the sound would stop, but it was persistent. Finally she lifted herself from the bed and went to see who it was. When she opened the door she smiled when she saw Dan with her keys looped around his index finger.
(Chapter 10! WOO! never thought it would get to this point. I hate to tell you this but Kris is far from gone. You'll like the DS interaction in the next chapter I'm sure of it :D I only wanted Kris to be likable for a little while so you can understand why Dan wants to be with her. But that's not exactly working out lol. it's even hard for me to like Kris lol. Just keep in mind Dan actually likes her, he even loves her, he's smitten. Dan has always been a confused guy that doesn't really know what he wants in a girlfriend but Serena is always the constant in his life, he'll always go back to her, he loves her. Don't you get the Ross Rachel vibe from them? just for being so indecisive all the time.)