Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Layla.
Season 1 Episode 12
On the Upper East Side it's easy to think that the world is exactly as it appears: refined, elegant, imposing. But sometimes all it takes is a little key to open the door to the wild side.
Layla stood by the lifeguard chair Chuck was sitting in.
"Come on, he's not even your type A" Chuck said to her describing her current boyfriend Jason.
"It's my first real boyfriend Chuck, I don't have a type yet" she said sort of lying. She's had a boyfriend before. Someone no one really needs to know about.
"May I remind you of someone?"
Layla smiled at him and then turned out to the water to see Blair and Nate talking. She turned back to Chuck.
"You over her, I see?" Layla commented.
"I haven't decided" he replied.
"And that right there is why I am not breaking up with Jason to do whatever it is you want me to do with you."
"You ruin all the fun A."
"Oh I know."
Blair walked up to them.
"Enough with the blackmail! Aren't you bored already? I can't avoid Nate forever."Blair said.
"You're blackmailing her now?" Layla asked.
"Excuse me." Blair said.
"Um no this just got interesting."
"Layla"
"Save it Blair I know everything."
Blair glared at Chuck.
"I didn't say forever... just until the sight of the two of you together doesn't turn my stomach." Chuck said.
"And when will that be?"
"Only time will tell, I'm afraid. So unless you want dear Nathaniel to know how you lost your virginity to me in the back of a moving vehicle I encourage patients and restraint."
"Isn't there someone else you can torture?" Blair asked.
"Besides me?" Layla asked.
"But you unlike me actually enjoy it" Blair said to Layla with glare.
Chuck jumped down and put his sunglasses on.
"I choose you." Chuck said to Blair and then put his arm around Layla's shoulders and walked away.
"Is it really nesscary to blackmail her?" Layla asked.
"Its fun" he replied.
"Which makes me think, you aren't over her."
"Yeah but remember I know a certain boy from Brooklyn you liked."
"I should have never told you that."
"Its disgusting A, you can do so much better than him and Columbia"
That's when it all went down. A kid was floating in the water. Her brother gave him CPR and Serena called the ambulance. Now they were all sitting in the assembly hall at school.
"Thanks to the cell phone somebody left behind we've got plenty of evidence of who was at the party. Lucky for you, Andrew Collins is going to be fine. Unlucky for you, we need to hold somebody responsible. Miss Queller."
"Hello. I'm Miss Queller, the new headmistress at Constance. It's unfortunate that we meet under these circumstances... but I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you. I've already talked to your parents... at least those I could reach and look forward to reading your personal essays. 10000 words describing how you came to be on school property after hours, using alcohol and drugs, where a fellow student almost died. In other words: What the hell is wrong with you. I'll also be conducting one on one interviews until I discover who broke into the pool and iniciated the party... that person will be expelled. If that person is not identified then you all face expulsion."
After the assembly they all stepped out into the hall.
"So we all know how this works." Blair said.
"No one talks, no one gets into trouble" Chuck replied.
"Who did break in anyway?" Nate asked.
"I guess we don't have to worry about Nate cracking under pressure." Chuck said.
"So we all agree?" Blair asked.
"I'm in." Layla said grabbing Chuck's arm and they walked away.
Later in the afternoon after some of her classes she spotted Nate and Chuck in the courtyard but was unable to get to them with someone covering her eyes.
"Guess who" they whispered
"George Clooney, no it can't be him we broke up, um Leonardo" Layla said turning around to see Jason.
"Very funny Lay" Jason said
"What are you doing here?" she asked
"Um greeting you, school is over correct?"
"Yeah, it's just…"
"You have plans?"
"I have to write a paper about an event that took place the other night and my part in it" Layla said.
"What did you do?" he asked curious.
"I didn't do anything. Wrong Place, wrong time."
"When you were having your girl's night?" he asked getting even more curious.
"Girls night sort of turned into a party with the whole junior class."
"And you didn't think to call and tell me this?" he asked.
"I didn't know I had to report my every move. Excuse me I need to go." Layla said walking away just leaving him there and walking to where she thought Chuck and Nate were. Her phone buzzed.
Spotted: Lonely boy learning that when the punishment fits the crime there's no reason you can't serve your sentence in style.
B: GET TOGETHER. MY PLACE
Layla hailed a taxi and went to Blairs. She walked in. She noticed Chuck and Dan talking. This couldn't be good. She walked over and sat next to Chuck
"Poor little Humphrey-Dumpty Look, let me clearify something for you. Regardless of who you're currently sleeping with, you and I come from different worlds. In my workd, if I'm suspended or expelled a wing is donated in the Bass name." Chuck said.
"That does sound like quite a world." Dan said sarcastically.
"Well, it's not perfect, I admit. But one thing it does offer in spades is security. My family can take care of me. What do the Humphrey's have to offer? Used metro cards? Your dad's gesinge? And in case you're wondering, you narc: I only took the key from the party to hide it so we can all get blamed... including you."
"You took the key?" Layla asked.
Dan walked away.
"Yes but like I told your friend, I did it to protect us" Chuck said.
"Where is it now?" she asked.
"Don't think I'm telling you that. You have nothing to loose. You're a shoe in to your dream school and the principal wouldn't even do anything to you. You're a star student."
"I promise I won't do anything."
"Blair has it."
"Okay." Layla sat back defeated
The next day they sat in the assembly again. She sat next to Serena and Blair.
"Settle down please. Yesterday I talked about serious consequences for your dishonerable action and obviously you didn't believe me. But someone came forward today and claimed responsibility...for a crime he did not commit. And although I appreciate his self-sacrifice, I don't aby dishonesty." Miss Queller said.
"Who do you think it was?" Serena whispered to Layla.
"And I think it's time you all know how serious I am. Nathaniel Archibald is suspended from St. Jude's. And yes, this will go on his transcript. Effective immediatelly. Mr. Archibald, you know where to find the exit."
Layla watched her brother get up and leave. They both did think alike though. It was her exact thought to do when she found out where the key was. But she did promise Chuck. The whole room's phones buzzed.
This just in: Nate Archibald - Dead man walking. We hear St. Jude's has a new policy: An eye for a lie.
"Watch him go, students. Who wants to be next? Until one of you comes forward, we'll keep going until every last one of you has walked out that door."
When the assembly was over Layla tried her best to push out of there to find her brother. Once again Jason stood out there but this time with a dozen roses.
"Look I can't talk right Jason I need to find my brother." Layla said irritated
"I'm trying to apolgize Layla" Jason said.
"I know but I really need to find my brother."
Chuck approached them
"Jason was it?" Chuck said
"Yes."
"Chuck have you seen Nate? I really need to find him" Layla said to Chuck
"You Archibalds really do think a like" Chuck commented.
Layla rolled her eyes at him.
"Can we continue this later Jas?" she asked.
"Yeah" He said.
Layla ran off and saw Nate kiss Blair and then her pull a way and say something.
"Good Catching up" Nate said then walked away.
"Nate!" Layla shouted running after him. He stopped and turned around "What happened to make you want to do this?"
"I thought I was protecting Blair, turns out she was protecting someone else and she doesn't want to be with me."
"Well it's her lost. Any girl would be lucky to have you."
"You have to say that you're my sister."
"As your best friend I don't." Layla said hugging her brother
"Care to walk me home?" he replied.
She linked her arm through his and they walked toward their house.
She laid on her bed reading the book Dan had gotten her for Christmas. It was probably now her 10th time reading it since getting it. Her phone buzzed.
CHUCK: S TURNED HERSELF IN.
Layla sighed. Of course it was S behind it this whole time. She heard a knock on her door.
"I'm going to Blair's" Nate said at her bedroom door.
"Trying to win her back?" Layla asked.
"She actually was the one that texted me."
"Oh, well good luck to you."
"By the way your boyfriend is downstairs with a dozen roses. Obviously he doesn't know you well enough."
Layla smiled at her brother then got up and went down stairs.
"Hey" She said leaning up and kissing Jason.
"Hey, I see you found your brother. Did everything work out okay?" Jason asked.
"Yeah, everythings great. Including these beautiful Roses" she replied.
"You had a rose necklace when we met, and then on our first date you had a rose on your wallet. I just assumed"
"Assumed correctly" Layla lied. Why had she just lied to him? Anyone who knew her knew she liked Tulips but only Chuck knew she loved Red Tulips and the occasional Red Tiger Lily.
Sometimes you need to step outside, clear your head and remind yourself of who you are. And where you want to be. And sometimes you have to venture outside your world in order to find yourself. As for me, I'm happy right where I am... I only want to be with you. XOXO Gossip Girl.