Author's Note: Sorry it took a while to update. I went out of town for the weekend. Saw Celine Dion in concert for the first time and I have to say it was AMAZING! I'm still not over that experience, so that's why I blurted it out. I hope you enjoy the chapter. As you know our babies have broken up, so this is the new chapter in their lives. Thank you all for your feedback on the last chapter, I greatly appreciate it as you all know and I especially love the kind words that you say about me as an author. That makes it all worth writing when people appreciate you as an author, so I feel the love you guys are sending my way. Hope you enjoy and look forward to your feedback.


Trinity: Family, Love, and Scandal

Chapter Eleven- The Lady Vanished


Gotta change my answering machine

Now that I'm alone

Cause right now it says that we

Can't come to the phone

And I know it makes no sense

Cause you walked out the door

But it's the only way I hear your voice anymore(it's ridiculous)

It's been months

And for some reason I just(can't get over us)

And I'm stronger than this(enough is enough)

No more walking round

With my head down

I'm so over being blue

Crying over you

Sitting back on the sofa, Dan looked on at the mess surrounding him as cleaning up for the past month had been put off for quite some time. Getting up from the sofa, Dan walked over to grab another slice of pizza out of the kitchen before he attempted to give it another try. Taking a seat at his desk, Dan sat in front of the blank computer screen as he attempted to finish at least one sentence. Dan had hoped that over the recent week that he would be inspired to write but it appeared to have the opposite feeling on him. Nothing came to him. Nothing inspired him to move past one single sentence that he had jotted down and even that sentence was below mediocre. Slamming the top of his laptop shut, Dan groaned as he hid his face in the crook of his folded arms that he had on his desk.

And I'm so sick of love songs

So tired of tears

So done with wishing you were still here

Said I'm so sick of love songs so sad and slow

So why can't I turn off the radio?

Piles of paperwork surrounded her as she sat on the bed compiling the workbooks that were required for tomorrow's meeting. Since being invited out by Louis to St. Bart's, Blair found that she wanted to go above and beyond on what was expected of her because she wanted to prove to The Madame that she did in fact belong. For weeks straight, Blair had put herself in to her work as she was more determined than ever to get ahead in her career and not anything slow her down from doing so. Grabbing her cell phone to check her schedule, Blair had a lapse of judgment for a moment before she looked on her cell phone wallpaper to see that she still had a picture of her and Dan together. For a moment she could vividly remember how they were in that moment, how their only problem was trying to find new places to have sex where they wouldn't get caught or interrupted. It felt like a lifetime ago but a lifetime that she remembered being happy in. Quickly closing her phone, Blair had to brush aside the moments of the past so she could move forward with her future.

Gotta fix that calendar I have

That's marked July 15th

Because since there's no more you

There's no more anniversary

I'm so fed up with my thoughts of you

And your memory

And how every song reminds me

Of what used to be

It had all been a bit hasty but no part of Dan felt the urge to emerge into the world as he was sure that his break up with Blair was all the talk. Gossip Girl for the most part had her impeccable timing, where she emerged when he least expected her to but Dan was beyond numb to it all that it didn't even matter what other's opinions were of the relationship because all he knew was that it was over. He had missed so much work that he eventually called the secretary to quit his job while he avoided calls from everyone and anyone that was willing to waste time out of their day to check on him. Dan hadn't heard from Blair since the day she walked out, but it never stopped him from wondering about what she was up to. At moments when he should've been trying to create his book that would be his claim to fame that he should've had, Dan found that no words were coming out like he had wanted them to. Skimming through the pages of the internet, Dan wound up on Gossip Girl to see that the locator had placed Blair in St. Bart's. Sadness washed over him as he had hoped that she was feeling as miserable as he was, but he could see that wasn't case. If anything them not being together had allowed her to travel like she had always wanted to do in her career. Knowing what he knew now, Dan felt even more numb that feeling would've been a curse for him.

That's the reason I'm so sick of love songs

So tired of tears

So done with wishing you were still here

Said I'm so sick of love songs so sad and slow

So why can't I turn off the radio?

On set, Blair stood back behind the monitors to see the finished product of Louis work while he directed the shoot. On occasion Blair would run around like a chicken with her head cut off but Blair never felt so happy to be a part of something that she truly loved. Working with the models, adjusting clothes to make the theme of the shoot come to life, coordinating with the locals to be used as models; Blair was truly coming in to her own. A few times throughout the day, Blair would notice Louis smiling at her but she didn't have time to take in the fact that he had a truly amazing smile because again her focus had to be on work. Once the final shot was taken, the crew erupted with cheers while Blair smiled happily on being a part of such a project. Her job was her saving grace and she was beginning to realize it was becoming the one thing that she was sure of in her life that she wanted more than anything.


Making his way through the lobby of the luxurious hotel, Tyler found himself always amazed at what the life of the rich and fabulous were able to afford. Doormen greeting him with every turn, Tyler waited for the one employee to stop him in his tracks to question his presence but since he had been coming by on a regular basis, Tyler was aware that they had grown used to him. Getting on the elevator, Tyler made his way towards the penthouse level. Stepping off the elevator, Tyler began to walk towards the double doors but couldn't help but notice an elderly woman coming out of the very doors he was walking towards. Tyler was aware that she didn't know of his arrival but he assumed that she had been called on his way up to the room, so to know that she was able to see others instead of being able to see him for weeks had upset him for a bit. Making his way in to the room, Tyler saw Eleanor sitting at the table in the kitchen area of the penthouse suite with a beautiful breakfast spread laid out in front of her.

"What a pleasant surprise" Eleanor smiled at her son "Come, join me for breakfast" she told him as he looked at her skeptically while he walked over towards the table

"Do you always have such an elaborate spread?" Tyler asked as he looked at the table to see every breakfast food imaginable was on the table at her disposal. Taking a seat across from her at the table, Tyler looked around to see that the room hadn't been long stayed in since she had been her working dent in to the place with miscellaneous papers hanging around.

"I just like to have everything I need" Eleanor smiled "Is that such a crime?" she asked as she poured herself a cup of tea before she began to put fruit on to her plate "You should really eat something Tyler" she told him

"I had a donut on the way over. I had a late night with a resource that I'm working with on an upcoming story" Tyler told her as he pouted himself a cup of coffee.

"What story might that be?" Eleanor asked

"Nothing that would make you happy, so I think we should avoid the topic" Tyler told her

"So by that, I take it you're going forward with the story on the Archibald's? my only advice is that you be careful with what you hear and what you write" Eleanor told him

"My intent isn't to hurt anyone. I'm just trying to do my job" Tyler told her "Why are you staying here? I mean it took a few friends in places to get the word that you were staying in a hotel instead of the penthouse, but why here and not your own home?" he asked

"That is because I fly out tonight. I would go home but I want to give Blair her privacy with all that she's dealing with. Have you talked with her?" Eleanor asked

"Blair and I talking isn't something that I see happening" Tyler replied

"Tyler" Eleanor sighed

"Forcing a relationship with my sister isn't going to fare well for you because the more we're forced on each other it just amplifies our annoyance with each other" Tyler replied

"Well if you must know, Blair and Dan have called it quits. They've broken up and I fear she may be throwing herself in to her work" Eleanor sighed

"Wow, didn't see that coming" Tyler said a bit a surprised to hear the news of the break up "He seemed over the moon about her….guess things don't always end up the way we think it will go" he said "But that doesn't mean you should avoid the house. Maybe she might seek comfort in having her mother around" he said

"I'm sure she would but I still want to respect her privacy" Eleanor smiled

"Are you sure everything is okay? I mean I get that we're not being on our best behavior but you don't have to run off" Tyler asked after a few moments of silence came between them

"I don't run away. I work, I work hard so that I can afford such things. I do happen to view this as a vacation of some sort, maybe you could spend the day and we can take in some shopping" Eleanor smiled

"My idea of shopping is going to Target and buy the seven dollar shirts and that's about it" Tyler replied "I appreciate the offer but I prefer comfort over style" he said

"I'm being turned down for Target, that's a designers worst nightmare" Eleanor laughed

"They got you beat, I'm sorry" Tyler joined in on the laughter before his phone started to ring. Pulling his cell phone out, Tyler could see that it was a text message from his help that was supposed to keep an eye on Damien. Reading frustrating news, Tyler groaned in frustration as he finished the message.

"Is something wrong?" Eleanor asked

"Actually yes…I have to get back to work" Tyler said as he got up from his seat

"Oh…okay" Eleanor replied

"So you're leaving tonight for where?" Tyler asked

"To Japan. I'll be away for a week but I'll do better to keep in touch" Eleanor told him "Your father should be coming in by the end of this week, maybe you can get in touch with him to do something" she suggested as it seemed a bit weird to hear Eleanor talk about Harold in that manner since Tyler still was taking it slow on seeing them as anything but his biological parents

"Yeah, I'll get in contact with him" Tyler told her "Be safe and safe travels" he said before he turned to leave.


Grabbing his case of beer, Dan rubbed his eyes to keep himself awake as he walked up to the counter. Paying for his beer, Dan couldn't help but notice a few girls off in an aisle whispering and pointing down at their cell phone screens as he was sure that he had been spotted. Shaking his head, Dan found it to be stupid on what girls to be important to gossip or talk about. Putting the change away in his pocket before he made his way out of the store to begin his walk back to the townhouse. Putting his shades on so that he could have somewhat of disguise, Dan ultimately wanted to go the rest of the day without having the whispers or anything that linked him to the break up that had been become all he was good to talk about these days. Losing concentration on where he was walking, Dan had bumped in to someone. Noticing that it was Carter, Dan felt as if it would only make sense to bump in to his old friend

"Hey" Carter said nervously

"Hey" Dan replied as he made no effort to remove his shades

"You look all celebrity status with the shades, mind telling what your blocking?" Carter asked trying to make casual conversation

"Don't act like you don't know. I know you stay up with the somewhat current gossip" Dan replied

"All right, well I do…I just didn't want to jump off with the whole let's discuss your break up topic. Gossip Girl has it trending at number two" Carter told him

"Oddly enough, I would like to know who's number one" Dan sighed

"Jennifer Graham's breast implants gone wrong. Apparently her stupidity carried over into her filling out medical application to request A and B cups…I'm just glad she didn't have a third breast to choose from because we all know what letter comes after B" Carter told him

"Well she was never the brightest, even in high school" Dan shrugged as a silence came between them "It was nice seeing you. I'll see you around" he said before he walked off. Unaware that he had dropped a card, Carter leaned forward to grab the card in hopes of catching Dan but found that he was too late as Dan was crossing the street all ready. Reading the card to himself, Carter couldn't help but speculate as to why Dan would have such a card. Continuing on his walk towards Victrola, Carter pulled out his cell phone to make a call.

"You should be here instead of calling me" Chuck groaned

"Yes, and I should forget the fact that you've turned the office into your sex room" Carter quickly replied

"When you have a frequent partner then you're allowed frequent sex, you should try that some day" Chuck told him

"And here I thought marriage was because you couldn't live life without the person" Carter replied

"That too, but your sex life only increases if you're doing it right…" Chuck went on to say

"Okay, I get the point, you're having sex, big whoop!" Carter replied as he began to grimace at the constant thought of Dan's little sister and Chuck having sex on a frequent basis "What do you know about The Org?" he asked

"Why would you assume I know anything about it?" Chuck asked

"Because you tend to know all things New York and especially the party scene" Carter said "You've changed but not by that much. The Old Chuck Bass still lingers in his creepy and perverted ways" he said.

"You do realize that I'm on the phone, right?" Chuck asked

"What is it?" Carter asked

"The Org….it's some rave party. It's a usual drug experimental scene, a lot of the new drugs are at this event. I know the guy that throws these party usually has to run it as a racketeer thing" Chuck said

"Racketeer? Like a business front or something?" Carter asked

"Yes, but it brings in a hell of a lot of money" Chuck stated

"I bet with the drugs being a part of it at the core. You said you knew the guy, who is it?" Carter asked

"Greg…Greg Jomani" Chuck said as he racked his head for a name only to find that the name sounded all too familiar to Carter "Why are you asking?" he asked

"Because this party is the reason I won't be coming in today. I have all the faith in you, so don't screw that up" Carter said quickly before he ended the phone call to hail a taxi down while he began to dial a familiar number. "Yeah, we need to meet up" he said before the taxi pulled up and he got in.


Sitting up in the arena seats of the gym, Serena looked on at Jason's practice for most of the afternoon. At the practice, Serena couldn't help but pick up on a tension that was going on between Jason and Management that seemed to make Jason even more of an hard ass on his teammates. Every little thing needed to be perfect. Every little play needed to be crisp to his standards that it felt like Jason was more of the coach than the coach himself. On occasion, Serena enjoyed the competitive side to Jason but found that her own business was interfering with putting her sole focus on him. Answering and sending e-mails to club promoters that wanted her to come down for an appearance, Serena managed to line up an event for the night that would get her a quick pay day. Not even noticing that practice was over, Serena looked up to see that the basketball court was empty. Knowing that the media was probably hounding Jason with questions about the upcoming match up against the second best team in the league. Once he made his way down the stairs of the arena towards her, Serena quickly hopped up to give him a hug but he had avoided her hug.

"What's wrong?" Serena asked as she questioned his coldness

"Why'd you come?" Jason asked in a bit of a whisper

"Why'd I come? I came to see you and I was hoping we could hang out tonight at this club that I have to show up for" Serena told him

"So you book appearances while you're suppose to be supporting me. Does that sound like the slightest bit of selfish to you because it sounds real selfish to me" Jason told her under his breath as his anger was beginning to come through with how he was talking "You shouldn't have even bothered to come because now I have to worry about you penciling in whoring yourself out for your stupid career while I'm worrying about a fucking contract extension. I have a real job and all you have is a job based on your looks" he scolded her

"Okay, clearly you need to calm down because I didn't come here to fight with you" Serena said as she attempted to walk away but he had quickly grabbed on to her arm forcefully to pull her back towards him "Ouch! You're hurting me" she told him

"Don't you dare walk away. You wanted to talk, well let's talk" Jason scolded her

"Let go of me" Serena whispered

"No! you wanted to see me, well this is me. I shouldn't have to share attention in your world, you come to see me then see me…don't go on your fucking phone and book shit that doesn't even matter" Jason told her "Now, that's how I feel about it" he said throwing her hand away from him just as Sean came prancing down the stairs towards them to notice that Serena and Sean were acting weird towards each other

"Hey, what's up? Rich told me you wanted to see me?" Sean asked as a moment of silence passed by

"Yeah, I wanted to tell you that I've been talking to Coach about getting you more minutes for this upcoming game" Jason said as he continued to glare at Serena before turning his attention towards Sean

"Thanks, I appreciate that" Sean replied

"No problem" Jason replied as he ran his hand through his hair "I was wondering if you could do me a favor though….I need you to go with S to an event" he said as Serena just looked at him in disbelief

"Seriously Jason?!" Serena said

"Yes, seriously!" Jason replied angrily "Do this for me and I'll make sure to repay you back" he said as he walked over towards Sean

"I'm not sure I feel comfortable with this, I mean this is your girl that I'm being pictured with by photographers" Sean reasoned.

"As long as I know the truth then that's all that matters. Take care of her and I'll take care of you" Jason said as Sean looked over at Serena for some sort of clarification of how she felt about this but ultimately he had to trust Jason on this because they were teammates.

"All right. I'll do it" Sean agreed reluctantly before Jason leaned over to kiss Serena on the cheek

"Be good tonight. I'll call you later on to see how it all went" Jason told Serena before he made his way up the stairs to leave the arena while busying himself with working on his blackberry

"What time do I need to pick you up?" Sean asked as Serena just glared at him for a moment before she walked out of the aisle to head up the stairs "Serena, come on…" he began to say

"Don't follow me, I mean it!" Serena replied as she turned around angrily as Sean just shook his head in disbelief, feeling like he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't do anything.


The photo shoot had wrapped up early, which allowed Blair more time to take in the sights of St. Bart's so that she could enjoy a bit of the island before she'd have to leave in the next day. With a nice drink in her hand, Blair was feeling more relaxed than she had ever been. Heading into a local bar to grab something to eat, Blair sat at the table and began to read one of the books she had picked up from the airport while she waited for her food to be brought out. Just as she grew tired of her book, Blair looked up to see Louis walking towards her. A smile from ear to ear, Louis walked up towards the table to join her as she could clearly see that he had taken in a bit of swimming on his down time from the shoot.

"There you are, I was beginning to think that you had left early" Louis told her as he leaned in to hug her before taking a seat

"No, I've just been taking in all of the sights" Blair told him "It's so beautiful here" she smiled

"I know right" Louis smiled "I wish we could stay here for weeks on end because this is just so beautiful that it makes you want to drop everything" he told her.

"I don't know about dropping everything but it does make you forget all the problems" Blair sighed as she began to play with the straw in her drink.

"And by that are you referring to your brother, Tyler?" Louis asked her

"That's a problem that I want to leave far, far behind me" Blair told him as the waiter brought over her food. "My mother has been dodging choosing sides between that one, so I just removed myself from that situation all together" she sighed

"What do you mean? I thought Eleanor wanted you guys to work it out?" Louis asked

"She does but she wants me to just accept him and I'm not sure that I can, not yet" Blair said

"Did you find any evidence on him like you set out to?" Louis asked

"I found too much" Blair sighed "I found that my boyfriend wasn't exactly in the clear like I thought" she said

"Wait, are you saying that he wrote that book, he wrote Insider?" Louis asked eagerly as Blair thought for a moment on how she should handle this because she knew the ramifications of what this could lead to if she outed Dan as the writer.

"No, he just….he didn't disagree with what was said" Blair told him

"And you feel like everyone is on Tyler's side" Louis concluded

"It wasn't just about Tyler with Dan and I" Blair sighed "It was more than that, but I can't focus on that…I have to focus on the important things and that right now is my career" she said

"That's a great way to see things" Louis smiled "But if I had to admit to something, I don't think you came out to bad in the so called book. I mean I think the writer wasn't ready for the woman you were becoming. I think that he was realizing that he wasn't your happily ever after in the long run" he said

"So me being portrayed as some manipulative and controlling bitch seemed great to you?" Blair questioned with a bit of a laugh

"What you see as a bitch, I see as a woman that knows how to go after what she wants" Louis smiled "And that's always sexy" he told her as she couldn't help but blush at the compliment that he gave her "I think you could be something amazing Blair, and maybe letting go of the girl and the boy against the world fantasy is what you need to make that step towards what you want" he said as he leaned in closer towards her to where they were a centimeter away from each other

"I hope your right" Blair smiled

"Oh, I know I'm right" Louis said as he looked her in the eye one final time before he leaned in to attempt to kiss her but found that she had moved away from his lips.

"Though I love the compliment…I want to keep this professional" Blair told him as she kept her eyes close in fear of seeing his disappointment

"I completely understand….and I feel like a complete ass" Louis laughed in embarrassment

"No, don't. I mean you're…you've got great assets and maybe, but not now. Does that make sense?" Blair asked

"Not now. I think I understand" Louis smiled before he tucked of strand of hair behind her ear.


Most of the car ride had been minimal conversation between both Carter and Vanessa as she was unsure what his true intentions were. On occasion she couldn't help but notice that he was a bit different than usual but she wouldn't allow herself to get caught up in noticing anything about Carter because the focus at hand had to be about making sure that Dan wasn't going to get caught up in doing something stupid. Looking out the window at the darkened sky, Vanessa immediately saw a blaze of light as they came up on the camp grounds that the party was being held at in the outskirts of New York that almost seemed like they were heading in to New Jersey. Getting out of the car, Carter surveyed the crowd as it seemed to be a full fledged mad house by the time he had shown up. Closing the drivers side of his car, Vanessa got out the car immediately scanning the crowd to see it was as she expected when it came to this type of party. The Upper Eastside party was more precise and fancy but when it came to Brooklyn and beyond, it was just about packing the area along with blasting the loudest current or upcoming music while putting out samples of the latest drugs for those that did the street circuit as a nine to five. Making their way through the crowd, Carter found that his idea of making a quick spotting of Dan was going to be harder than he thought as it had to be over a thousand people in this open field.

"So do you have any idea as to where he might be?" Vanessa asked as she dove her hands into her pocket

"No, I just know he's here" Carter said

"And you know this how?" Vanessa asked

"Trust me, he's here. He just broke up with his long time girlfriend and he looks like crap" Carter replied

"So that constitutes him going to a party such as The Org?" Vanessa questioned as they got in line to get their wristbands and tickets

"It sounds crazy but I just have this sense that he's doing something stupid and being here with a bunch of potential stone heads sounds like the dumbest of things" Carter said as a few people ahead turned around to look back at him and Vanessa "But yet it's such a well put together event" he reasoned as he wanted to take the sting off of his words

"Come every year" Vanessa smiled before the people turned back around to move forward in the line "Nice job of trying to get us killed Baizen" she muttered to him

"Sorry" Carter said as they made their way to the front of the line

"Two tickets" Vanessa said as she motioned to grab for her wallet but Carter had stepped in front of her to pay. Handing the tickets to Carter, the guy handed them their wristbands before they stepped to the side to get into the entrance line "You didn't have to do that" she told him

"I'm not stingy" Carter replied "Besides, I invited you on this mission. You can just repay me…we'll work out a payment plan seeing as I need to pay your step dad back" he joked

"And you know how to kill a moment" Vanessa laughed as she put her wristband to show the guard before they both made their way in to see an even bigger crowd ahead of them with the music playing louder than ever that it made it hard to even hear each other.

Hey baby, what's that sound

I make a few steps and I fall on the ground

It's a long shot but darling I couldn't love you on, come on

Grabbing her hand, Carter led Vanessa through the crowd as they walked down towards the stage. The people that they passed, Carter saw numerous amounts of drugs that were either being snorted, injected or passed through kissing. His concern grew with each moment that passed as he just hoped that Dan wasn't getting caught up in the scene of the crowd. Relaxing in to the feel of her hand in his, Vanessa couldn't help but smile to herself as she missed being lead by him. Again she felt herself trying to fight against her inner thoughts because the focus needed to be clear. Fireworks erupted in to the sky which made the crowd jump up in excitement and only made it harder to find Dan with the bodies jumping about.

Hey baby, give it a tryI can find an answer if you wanna know why

I know I'm a nerd but give another play to this song

Come on, come on

How does it sound if we spend the night out?

Stopping for the camera's on the red carpet, Serena posed for the numerous of photographers that had called her name. Managing to dodge Sean, Serena didn't want to go alone so she brought along Hazel and Kati. Though she would've loved to bring Blair along, Serena just settled for who ever was available at this point. The flashing lights nearly blinded her as all she could do was smile up against the backdrop of the club while she walked the red carpet along with the other celebrities that were there. Making her way inside, Serena didn't want to hold up the fun for the girls so she made a conservative effort to get the work out of the way before heading inside. Going towards the doors, Serena looked over to see Sean in the crowd motioning for her to pick up her phone. Looking in his direction, Serena just pretended that he was just another face in the crowd before she eventually headed inside.

"Really?! I know you saw me" Sean declared as she saw the back of her head inside the club "Now I know the shit Kevin Costner had to deal with, chasing Whitney Houston's crazy ass" he muttered to himself as he made his way through the crowd towards the bouncer.

Hey baby, what's that sound

I make a few steps and I fall on the ground

It's a long shot but darling I couldn't love you on, come on

Sitting backstage after finishing up with the stage set up, Dan looked out at the crowd that was beginning to form. Helping out a friend of his that was playing a gig at the event, Dan wanted to view this experience as a way for him to get out of his funk that he was in but the longer he was here, the more he just wanted to go home. The drugs all around him wasn't his scene and he wasn't going to pretend like he was even in to that because although he wanted to feel numb, he didn't want to do it in that way. After the set was finished, Dan made it up in his mind that he would help the band get their equipment but would head home soon after. Grabbing a beer backstage, Dan just drank while he leaned up against the wall listening to the music to pass the time. Turning off his cell phone, Dan wanted to preserve his battery.

Hey baby, give it a try

I can find an answer if you wanna know why

I know I'm a nerd but give another play to this song

Come on, come on

How does it sound if we spend the night out?

How does it sound if we spend the night out?

Finally finding the location, in which Damien had snuck off to, Tyler managed to sweet talk his way past the bouncer. Heading into the building, Tyler quickly noticed the strippers swinging around on the pole while Damien sat front and center just throwing money about. Groaning in frustration, Tyler began to wonder if he took on more than he could chew by reaching out to talk with Damien since it was like babysitting a spoiled rich kid that had no boundaries. Hanging his head, Tyler stood in deep contemplation as this was the first time he questioned if getting the story on the Archibald's was really worth it. Just as he got lost in thought, Tyler received a text that left him confused.

Come on, come on

How does it sound if we spend the night out?

Hey baby, what's that sound

I make a few steps and I fall on the ground

It's a long shot but darling I couldn't love you on, come on

Realizing that the bouncer wasn't going to let him in to the club, Sean groaned in frustration as he knew Serena knew exactly what she was up to. Walking out towards the street, Sean had thoughts of calling it a night but he knew that he couldn't just leave because Jason would find out and then he'd lose the only chance he'd have at getting playing time. Gritting his teeth, Sean took a seat on the sidewalk and prepared himself to wait until Serena would come out. Sean knew it'd be a long stretch but he had to try something because going home empty handed was not an option for him.

Hey baby, give it a try

I can find an answer if you wanna know why

I know I'm a nerd but give another play to this song

Come on, come on

Sitting on the patio of her villa, Blair held her cup of tea as she watched the lights from the boats pass by on the water. With her feet to her chest in the chair, Blair took in this moment and was just glad that she could relax for a moment. It had been few and far in between where she was able to just stop and sit, but even now she felt the need to keep moving because now all she could do was sit and think. Thinking was something she didn't want to do because she knew that along with thinking would come regrets as she couldn't have regrets in her future or could she? She questioned herself.

How does it sound if we spend the night out?

How does it sound if we spend the night out?

Enjoying the warmth of the breeze that came by, Blair closed her eyes to take it in before she heard the sounds of her cell phone ringing. For a moment, Blair thought it was her mind playing tricks on her but she as she could hear it continue to ring, Blair knew that it was real. Setting her cup on the patio table before she got up, Blair put her blanket on the chair before she headed inside to grab her phone to see that it was an unknown caller. Finding it strange that it was unknown caller calling her, Blair thought for a moment as to who it could be but nothing came to her mind. Putting her phone back down, Blair looked on at the phone once more before saw that it began to ring again. Grabbing the phone, Blair looked on to see that it was once again an unknown caller calling her.

"Hello" Blair answered the phone as she heard the sounds of music glaring in the back ground "Hello" she said once more as the silence continued to grow before a name suddenly registered to her as to who could be calling "Dan" she said as her final attempt on guessing on who it was while he just felt some bit of hope that he was still on her mind. Dan wanted to say something, he had worked it out in his mind that he would but no words manage to come as all he needed in that moment was to hear her. "….I know it's hard but it has to be this way. I'm not doing this to hurt you, you have to believe me on this…I don't want to keep hurting you" she said as tears began to well up in her eyes "Say something!?" she declared as she wiped away tears from her eyes before he finally ended the call.


Tucking the phone away in his pocket, Dan wiped away the tears that were welling up in his eyes. Dan had hoped that hearing her voice would entice some anger in him to just forget her and blame it all on her but he couldn't. Dan missed her. Dan wanted her back, but he knew he had nothing left to offer to make it seem like they could be different and that seemed to be the part that killed him the most, he couldn't give her the things she needed and it was a long time coming but it was something coming since they began. Hating that he needed to leave and that he would be leaving the band behind, Dan quickly made his way through the backstage area before he made it out in to the open fields of the concert area. Nearly running towards the parking lot, Dan bumped in to what looked like to be Carter to him.

"Carter!?" Dan said as he turned back to see Vanessa and Carter

"Oh, thank God we found you" Carter said before he quickly ran up towards Dan to check him "Your eyes are red….what drugs were you taking?….it doesn't matter, we'll sober you up and possibly stop by the hospital because who knows what they put in these experimental drugs" he babbled

"What are you talking about?!" Dan asked as he moved Carter's hand away

"I'm talking about you coming to a party called The Org" Carter stated

"Did you come to get high?" Vanessa asked with concern as she walked up towards them

"What?! No" Dan replied

"Oh, this is clearly the drugs kicking in. This is denial at it's first phase, I know this, we might need to get Dr. Phil on speed dial for an intervention….it's okay to want a ecstasy release from the problems" Carter told him as he gripped the sides of his face "But you have to let the pink, yellow, green, whatever color it is pills go….you're not going to be some druggie. I'm here to stop you from being some drug addict." he told him

"Drug addict? Carter what the hell are you talking about?" Dan questioned

"You came to the biggest drug fest in New York, why else would you be here?" Carter said

"Because I was helping Jeremy set up. He's in one of the bands that are playing tonight, he paid me a hundred to help and I sort of need the money" Dan told him

"So you're not looking for some drug comfort?" Vanessa asked

"I don't do drugs. Why would I do drugs? Dan asked

"Oh, I don't know…maybe because you're so damn heartbroken that he needs to be saved. Carter! I can't believe you brought me out to this drug fest off of suspicions" Vanessa said before she hit Carter on the arm

"Okay, I may have blown things out of proportion" Carter reasoned as he dodged Vanessa's hits

"You think" Vanessa replied "C'mon let's go because it's starting to get cold out here and I'm hungry" she said

"I told you I would buy you food" Carter reasoned

"I'm not taking a rocket hot dog or any sort of food item at this place" Vanessa said as she lead the way up the hill towards the parking lot while the boys followed behind her

"You know this is your fault, right?" Carter told Dan as they climbed the hill

"How is this my fault?" Dan questioned "You're the dumbass that thinks I'd come all the way out to the outskirts of New York to get high. I could just do that in New York, we went to school with a bunch stoners….hello, does Nate Archibald not ring a bell to you" he said

"All right, I get it" Carter replied "Let's just focus on this damn hill, my legs feel like I'm on a stairmaster" he said nearly getting out of breath


Skipping rocks onto the street as the music from inside the club played loud enough for him to hear, Sean couldn't help but feel upset that he had managed to waste a perfectly good Saturday night. He wanted to be furious but the tiredness had begun to kick in and took away all of his energy to be upset. How did he manage to get stuck babysitting and looking after someone else's girlfriend? He questioned himself as he tried to find some way to build up the nerves to walk away from the situation that he was in. Ever since he was a little kid, Sean had always wanted to play professional basketball while Tyler was eager to be a journalist. Since they were kids it was just always something that they each knew, they both wanted and had the opportunities to be what they wanted in life. He'd be the best in his position as a power forward but in the professional leagues, he was just one guy that was good amongst the hundreds that were good as well. Hearing her laughter, Sean looked over his shoulder to see that it was Serena coming out of the club with her group of friends. Rising to his feet, Sean walked towards her and her friends.

"Can we talk?" Sean asked

"Go home Sean" Serena said as she stopped to pose with a fan of hers while the girls stood off trying to locate another after party

"I need to talk to you…at least make sure you get home all right" Sean told her as she continued to ignore him

"I don't need you to hang around" Serena replied as she finished with her picture taking "I'm with friends, so I'm not alone and I don't want to be bothered with you" she said being as cold as possible so that he would understand her anger

"I'm sorry" Sean told her as it seemed to put a stillness on her anger for a moment as they exchanged a look "Can we just talk?" he asked as she sighed

"Guys, I'll catch up to you later. I'm going to let him take me home" Serena told the girls before they walked off and got into the taxi. "Do you have a reasoning behind your statement?" she asked as she folded her arms

"I know that it seems like you're being passed around like property, which is wrong but I'm sorry for my part in it. I'm sorry for treating you like you with respect" Sean told her as she was receptive to his apology

"Sounds good, go on" Serena told him as they began to walk

"Look, I don't like taking you out…" Sean began to say as Serena stopped quickly to glare at him "I meant that I don't like taking out someone else's girl because that's just weird and I'm not sure why you let him do that. I hate the situation because I would at least think that a girl like you should have guys fighting to take her out let alone planning every moment that had you in it" he told her

"I know this sounds pathetic and crazy, but I understand him" Serena told him "I know what it's like to have expectations put on you and have people think that you're only a certain type of person. I just…I want to be different for him. I want to prove that I'm not with him because he's Jason Peters but because of him as a person and I think he fears that at times" she said

"So if we potentially keep going out together, you'll still understand him?" Sean questioned

"We won't keep going out together. This is all just temporary and because he happens to trust you" Serena said "I mean don't think I don't notice what you stand to gain from all of this" she pointed out to him

"He's a teammate and I'm so far down on the bench that…" Sean began to say

"I get it. I get it" Serena laughed "As long as you treat me with respect and not some child, then I'll be sure to make sure this isn't some hell like experience for you. I mean we could do things that you like if it'll make it easier to be around me" she said

"See, that's what I'm talking about. The clubs and stuff are fun but it's not my type of scene. Maybe you should do play station or x-box events" Sean suggested to her

"Okay, no" Serena laughed "But since we're on the wave lengths of gaming systems, I do enjoy a good round of Guitar Hero" she told him as they hailed down a taxi

"Guitar Hero" Sean laughed

"Hey, don't knock it until you tried it" Serena told them as the taxi pulled up and Sean opened the door for her to get in before he got in himself.


Opening the door, Carter took in the full sight of Dan's living condition as not one bit of trash seemed to be picked up for any type of cleaning. Walking through the trash like it was just so casual and natural, Dan walked in to the kitchen to grab two beers out of the fridge while Carter tried to find the safest way over towards the sofa without picking up some sort of disease along the way. Never in his life had he seen Dan live in such conditions because Dan was usually some bit of a clean freak. Carter remembered times he'd be more concerned about the cleaning than Dorota would at times when he'd come by the Waldorf penthouse. Taking a seat on the sofa, Carter reached up to grab the beer that Dan was handing to him before Dan walked over to flop down on the chair across from Carter as they just sat in silence for a bit. Carter wanted to make his usual crude joke that Dan was accustomed to him doing but he figured that things were too different to just start off acting like they were back to normal when they still had a ways to go.

"This is the first time I've actually ever been in your place" Carter said as he looked around

"I thought you came to the house warming party?" Dan asked as he put his legs up on the coffee table

"Nope, you were kind of pissed at me at that point. Though watching those TMZ clips made me feel like I was there" Carter laughed

"That was a crazy night, I don't even think it was truly about the house….it was just Blair's vendetta against Tyler" Dan sighed as he traced the rim of his bottle with his finger before a silence came between them "Why'd you do it? Why'd you take the blame for the book?" he asked

"It was the asshole in me" Carter laughed

"I'm being serious. Why do it? We weren't in the best of terms and it was clearly my thoughts…why did you take credit for it?" Dan asked

"Because of all those things. I knew that you had truth in your words and I also knew that no one in this world would ever open up to admitting that what you said or thought was correct. People don't like truth, we'd pay a million dollars to hear a lie than to hear truth…and it's sad. I wanted to protect your right to that truth because I believe that you have something valuable to say" Carter told him in a honest moment between the two

"Sooner or later its going to come out that I wrote the book, what then?" Dan asked

"I don't know, maybe I'll be rich off of being the best liar…I might get a movie deal for my superb acting" Carter laughed "But I never did it to hurt you or take any bit of spotlight from you. I did it because regardless of where we stand, you're still my best friend…that's the only aspect about me that hasn't changed" he told him

"Thank you for what you did. I know I didn't see it at the time, but I appreciated what you did" Dan told him after a moment of silence came between them

"Hey, I could be the one you needed all along. I mean Waldorf, she was fun and crazy, but we're the true bromance" Carter joked as Dan couldn't help but laugh as only Carter would say something so out of whack that it actually was funny "I'll be your Denny's, open 24 hours, 7 days a week" he continued to joke

"Oh, wow! That was corny and bad all in one" Dan laughed which he found to be refreshing since he hadn't done that in a while.

"How have you been handling the break up? I mean you've been off the radar for a month but...is it getting better?" Carter asked

"It something that I haven't quite gotten use to. I know that we're not together but I just...I feel like we're still connected and that's the part that hurts" Dan sighed "I know that in the end that we wouldn't have worked because she's Upper Eastside and I'm the Brooklyn boy" he said

"People fall for people that are different than each other all the time, point in case, I like your friend Vanessa" Carter told him

"Yes, but I knew that this is like fighting fate. Fighting something that is bound to happen" Dan told him "I felt her slipping away and for the most part, I let her slip away. The book wasn't the main reason we broke up, but it was a good enough reason for us both to use as the scape goat. She wants her career and I just want to stop disappointing her, so now...we have our peace of mind" he smiled weakly as he held his bottle up


It was well in to the next morning when the town car pulled up in front of Damien's suite. Catching some bit of sleep after the long night he had, Tyler slowly sat up in his seat and began to rub the sleep out of his eyes while Damien chatted away with the driver. Hearing him make arrangements for another party with the driver that he would be attending that night, Tyler grew tired of even sitting next to the guy before he finally just opened up the door and let himself out. Walking towards the sidewalk, Tyler looked on to gage how long it might take for him to walk home before Damien quickly got out the car to run behind him. Hearing his name being called, Tyler kept walking with no intention of stopping as the closest place would be The Waldorf Penthouse.

"Will you wait?" Damien asked as he ran up to him

"Why should I?" Tyler asked "You're wasting my time. You're useless" he stated

"You need me" Damien replied

"No, I need a shower and coffee. I don't need some rich kid that can't keep his pants up and dollars in his bank account" Tyler replied

"Clever word play" Damien laughed

"Watch me continue to be clever because I'm not chasing after you anymore. You might as well go back to where ever you came from because I don't need you and I will find another source" Tyler said before Damien ran in front of him

"I'm the only source you have on this story" Damien told him

"I'm a smart guy. I will find sources" Tyler told him

"Not like me. Look, this is home. I'm not home a lot so I just wanted to have a bit of fun" Damien said flashing his million dollar smile, hoping it would get him somewhere but Tyler didn't feel compelled by the slightest to give in

"You don't have family or friends. The whole time you've been here, you've slept in all day and partied all night by yourself. This isn't home for you, this is just another landing spot" Tyler told him

"I didn't have a lot of friends, big deal" Damien replied

"The big deal is that I'm finding it hard to believe that you knew Nate Archibald or anyone for that matter because you currently have no one that is at least the slightest bit of happy that you're back" Tyler told him

"I like to travel alone and be alone, I'm that type of guy" Damien laughed

"Go home, wherever that may be for you" Tyler told him as he once again to continued to walk away

"It was a pay for sex deal" Damien stated as Tyler stopped dead in his tracks before he turned to look back at Damien, who was smiling at the fact that he was able to get his concentration

"Go on" Tyler said as he walked towards Damien

"It was a prostitution ring, but it was mostly a pay for sex deal for certain prominent figures in the political or even the elitist sphere to have their fantasies to come to life" Damien told him

"And how do you know this?" Tyler asked

"I work the under ground circuit because the ties I have due to my father. I get leverage and access because my father is an ambassador to another country while my mother is a U.S. born citizen" Damien said

"Okay, so you get the black market, what ties you to this prostitution ring?" Tyler asked

"Because in the U.S. my family was consider amongst the founding families. I may not have been a Sparks or Waldorf, but my father's position of power gave me birth rights. I found out that the big pay was coming from the arrangement of orchestrated hook ups and I recruited my own prized pieces that helped pay for the finer things" Damien said

"So Nate did this whole pay for sex?" Tyler asked

"You could say, he was part of it" Damien said

"So a rich kid get prostituted out, that doesn't seem like a bad thing. I mean he was just having sex, I hardly think it would be spun so badly to make such a fuss" Tyler reasoned

"It'd be a big fuss if he was having the sex we all thought he would be having" Damien laughed "Nate worked mostly with the male clients I had" he told him "He had sex with them" he stated as Tyler wore a shocked look on his face


When you're dreaming with a broken heart

The waking up is the hardest part

You roll outta bed and down on your knees

And for the moment you can hardly breathe

Wondering was she really here?

Is she standing in my room?

No she's not, 'cause she's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone...

Thousands of miles up in the air, Blair looked out at the night sky as she flew above the clouds. Not knowing where exactly she was looking, Blair just stared out aimlessly as she hoped that somewhere out there in the universe she'd be able to have her happy ending. Blair felt the guilt of her decision as missing him was something she did effortlessly but she couldn't deny that she wanted to find out what she was capable of. The bouts of turbulence would usually scare her but on this trip back home, nothing scared her at all but the fear of regret.

When you're dreaming with a broken heart The giving up is the hardest part

She takes you in with your crying eyes

Then all at once you have to say goodbye

Wondering could you stay my love?

Will you wake up by my side?

No she can't, 'cause she's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone...

Turning the lights off in the bathroom as he finished up with his shower, Dan walked in to the bedroom to see the bed completely made up as she had left it. Dan thought it'd be easy to get back in the bed because he figured that it would be something he'd have to get used to, but the longer he stared at the bed the more he realized that he couldn't. He could see her vividly in this bed, in any open space where they used to lie next to each other. Letting out a sigh of frustration, Dan walked over to turn the lights out in the bedroom as he closed the door behind him.

Oooooooooohhhhhhhhh

The driver opened the door for her before Blair got out the car. Making sure to carry her small items with her, Blair looked back to see the driver retrieve her luggage from the trunk of the car as she proceeded to walk into the building. It was late into the night, so no one really knew she had made it back to New York and that left no room for her to be an updated topic of Gossip Girl. Greeting the night staff that was so used to seeing Dan with her, Blair felt the need to make sure she stood out as an individual entity. Boarding the elevator, Blair let out a yawn as the night was finally catching up to her and she sought sleep more than anything. Once the doors opened up, Blair was immediately greeted by Dorota, who welcomed her home with waiting arms. The two had shared minimal conversation as the only thing that Blair wanted to do was go to bed. After a nice long shower, Blair finished putting on the crème to her face as she made her way into her room to get in to her bed. Looking over at the oversized bed, Blair hadn't truly realized it until now that she would now have to get used to sleeping alone. Laying on her side, Blair once again stared out the window just trying to call upon the sleep that she once had but was now fading away.

Now do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hand

Do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hand?

Do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hand?

Do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hand?

Baby won't you get them if i did?

No you won't, 'cause you're gone, gone, gone, gone, gone...

With his head hung low as he sat on the sofa, Dan found that sleep was not as easy as he thought it would be. Getting up from his spot on his now sofa bed, Dan walked in to the kitchen and began to lean against the kitchen counter. His eyes burned from the tears he wanted to cry but he wouldn't allow anything to get the best of him. Reaching forward to open up the fridge, Dan grabbed the case of beer that he had left over and opened up one as she just stood and drank, hoping he'd get drunken sleep if anything.

When you're dreaming with a broken heart

The waking up is the hardest part


Music/Lyrics Used in this Chapter:

Neyo- So sick

Martin Solveig- The Night Out [Maldeon remix]

John Mayer- Dreaming with a Broken Heart

Author's Note: So this chapter basically showed them dealing with the break up. Blair is putting all her efforts in to work while Dan is just stuck in a rut. I assure you that he will not have a drinking problem, but alcohol is just his release at the moment. I wanted to make this chapter a bit light because we've had the intense. Everyone else's storylines will start to progress to keep pace, so it's nice to hear that Sean/Serena/Jason are getting some comments then Chuck/Jenny are getting some interest.

I wish I could upload all the chapters at once like you guys want, but I need to get the feedback. I like reading and gaging what you guys are thinking. I absolutely love the speculation reviews I get because sometimes they are spot on then sometime they're not quite. I will say that only one person has read the entire story, and they've given me a tagline for my finale "Shit Gets Crazier". Not my tagline, but I thought it was funny.

Dan won't be in his rut for much long, but you guys will enjoy the next chapter and Chapter Fourteen will be big for Dan and Blair. So hang in there until then because that's when it really picks up with them.