"You can't avoid me forever," Tyler told Audrey walking over to her. She was seated on the Met steps surrounded by her minions.
"Girls, what do we do to insensitive boyfriends that don't appreciate our compassion?" she asked dismissively.
"Sorry about this," one of the girls whispered as they stepped forward and dumped their yogurt on him.
"I'm trying to fix this, A," Tyler said wiping the yogurt off his face.
"Clearly, you're not trying hard enough," Audrey huffed crossing her arms. Tyler sighed and sulked off.
"You. Number Three," Audrey called singling out one of the girls. The mousy brunette stepped forward tentatively.
"Since when do we apologize to our victims?" Audrey asked standing up.
"We don't. I just-I felt bad," the girl attempted to explain.
"You felt bad? Do you think I'd dump yogurt all over someone that didn't deserve it?" The girl shook her head frantically.
"Exactly. So we don't 'feel bad' for people who've incurred my wrath. Because they deserve it. Do you understand or do I need to draw you a chart?"
"No," the girl answered quickly.
"No...?" Audrey prompted impatiently.
"No, Audrey. It won't happen again," she promised.
"Oh, I know it won't. You're dismissed for the day. Go before I decide to be less forgiving," Audrey instructed sitting back down. The rest of the girls looked at each other apprehensively. Audrey was never like this.
"What are you three gaping at?" she snapped.
"Nothing," was the quick response.
"A? You okay?" Franky asked walking over. Audrey sighed, defeated.
"You're dismissed," she told them waving her hand. They didn't have to be told twice-they were already halfway down the steps.
"I just came from helping Ty clean yogurt out of his hair. What happened?" Franky asked sitting down.
"I don't even know," Audrey replied resting her head on her best friend's shoulder.
"Come on, A. The last time I saw you guys you couldn't go thirty seconds without physical contact," Franky pointed out.
"Ty's going through a lot right now. Meeting his mother didn't exactly turn out how he expected it to. I just... Decided to remove myself from the list of things he's worried about," Audrey explained shrugging.
"By dumping yogurt on his head? You and I both know what this is really about," Franky replied sternly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't give me that innocent doe eyed gaze, Audrey Bass. Ty hurt you and you're too prideful to forgive him," Franky said giving her best friend a pointed look.
"I told him I love him," Audrey admitted finally.
"And he didn't say it back?" Franky prompted.
"No, that's not it. He was drunk and passed out when I told him. The plan was for him to not even remember it the next day." Franky nodded, attempting to understand where Audrey was coming from.
"It's just... He wasn't himself, and when I tried to bring him back, he completely shut down."
"Maybe you should tell him that. I know your automatic defense is to strike before he hurts you, but he's not like all the other guys, A. This is Ty we're talking about. Ty, who you've known your entire life. Ty, who's Dad had to update half the school's library because he punched Arthur Mavis for making you cry freshmen year." Audrey smiled fondly at the memory.
"You're right, as usual. I've been told my whole life if a guy doesn't jump through hoops for me, he's not worth my time. But Ty's done all that and more hasn't he?" Audrey asked looking over at Franky.
"Yes. He has. Go talk to him, please. For all of us." Audrey hugged her and stood up.
"You're the best, Franky. I'll call you later to tell you how it went. Wish me luck!" Audrey called running off. Franky watched Audrey go, wondering if it was time to take her own advice.
"Mom? You home?" Franky called stepping out of the elevator. The entire penthouse was eerily quiet-no Serena eagerly gossiping with a client, no vintage indie records meant to help Dan find inspiration while wrote. Not even Sally humming quietly to herself while she vacuumed. Confused, Franky made her way to her parents' office. There was a note on her Mom's desk. Out with Nate. You're welcome to stop by with Audrey. I think Ty really needs you guys right now. Tons of love, Mom.
Franky sat down and wondered if Audrey and Tyler had the chance to work things out yet. She'd never seen two people as accepting of and in sync with each other as they were;she hoped they didn't throw that all away over some petty argument. She'd started pacing as she thought, dragging her fingers across the books in her Dad's bookshelf. She stopped when she came across one with his name on it. He'd never told her about this. "Inside," she read pulling the book off the shelf and starting to read.
Franky read the entire book in one sitting, disgusted by the thinly veiled history in front of her, but unable to stop. She couldn't believe the awful things her father had written about his oldest friends and the woman he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with. The characters were shells of the people she loved, pictures painted with a judgmental brush by an artist that didn't know them at all.
"Franky? Where are you?" she heard her mother call. She quickly shoved the book into her bag-she'd have to schedule an emergency meeting at lunch tomorrow.
"In here, Mom!" Serena walked in carrying an armful of shopping bags.
"Sorry I'm late. I had to pick up some stuff for a client on the way back from Nate's," she explained setting them down.
"It's fine, Mom. Don't worry about it," Franky replied standing up.
"You okay? You look upset," Serena commented sitting down.
"Fine. I just remembered I have to go meet Milo. Do you think we could have lunch Saturday, just the two of us?" she wondered.
"Of course. You know I never say no to you. Or food. We'll go to that place on Madison that you like so much." Franky smiled and hugged her mother. The judged, shallow literary version of her only made Franky appreciate the real Serena even more.
"I'll be back before dinner," she promised as she left.
"Mi? You in there?" Franky asked knocking on his door.
"Come in!" he called back. He was sitting on his bed, his laptop paused on a movie Franky didn't recognize.
"Hi," she said standing in the doorway awkwardly.
"Hi," Milo replied looking confused.
"I know I said I was mad at you. And I was. But then I found this," Franky explained pulling the book out of her bag and handing it to him. He flipped through it, a pensive look on his face.
"Dylan and Sabrina? Like Dan and Serena?" She nodded and sat down.
"I don't know what to do. My Mom tells me about stuff my Dad's written for her all the time. She always says how wonderful and flattering the way he captures her is. What part of that is flattering and beautiful?"
"Hey, this was written a long time ago," Milo pointed out, wrapping his arms around her.
"So?" He sighed and stroked her, knowing that would get her to at least start to calm down.
"I just... I feel like I've been told this huge lie my whole life. Aunt B and Uncle Chuck tell Audrey everything about their past. The good and the bad. Do my parents just not trust me?" Franky wondered.
"Of course your parents trust you, Franky. Maybe it just never came up," he offered.
"My Dad trashed everyone we love in a best selling novel and had some creepy crush on Aunt B and it never came up?" Franky asked sarcastically.
"Your Dad and Blair? That's unexpected," Milo said after a minute.
"It's gross," Franky replied. The thought of it was so outrageous, she had to laugh. She stopped when she felt his eyes on her.
"What?" she asked self consciously.
"I missed you," he told her.
"You did?" He nodded and looked down.
"I had this crazy idea in my head that I would just show up at your place unannounced and meet your parents. I was gonna tell you that if that's what's important to you, it's important to me." Franky grinned, shocked-she couldn't believe he'd been planning that.
"When were you going to do that?"
"Today. I was trying to work up the nerve when you knocked on the door," Milo explained sheepishly. Franky leaned in and pressed her lips to his gently.
"I love you," she told him after she pulled away.
"I love you too. And I meant what I said. I overreacted earlier. Whenever you want, just let me know." Franky's grin widened.
"You're the best. Can you meet me for lunch Saturday?" she asked.
"Sure," he replied shrugging.
"Perfect. I've gotta go. I promised my Mom I'd be home for dinner. Call me later?" Franky asked standing up.
"Of course." She smiled and gave him one more quick kiss before leaving.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Jessica demanded. She'd been wandering around the city in an attempt to clear her head. Shane refused to leave her alone-everywhere she turned, there he was. It was only a matter of time until he ran into one of her friends and told them everything. Walking around ended up doing nothing but make her feel paranoid. So walking into her room and seeing Henry was not a welcome surprise.
"You've been avoiding me," he pointed out looking hurt. It made her heart constrict, seeing him like that, but everywhere she went, Shane seemed to follow, and she didn't want him meeting Henry. Ever. She looked down, tracing her necklace guiltily. She'd felt ridiculous wearing it at first, but it was a part of Henry- a symbol of what they had. Hence, she never took it off.
"I'm sorry you feel that way," Jessica said finally, in her best attempt to sound stoic.
"I know you, Jess. You're not telling me something," Henry answered standing up.
"What's there to tell?" she asked looking down.
"I don't know, maybe who that guy that's been stalking you is?" Jessica's head snapped up in shock.
"Henry..." He stayed quiet, eyeing her expectantly.
"You should go," she said finally. She couldn't do this.
"Just tell me what's going on," Henry pleaded touching her arm lightly.
"When are you going to get it? I can't!" Jessica snapped pulling away.
"Why not?" The question hung precariously in the air. Why couldn't she just tell him about her past? She knew how much Henry cared about her-he'd get rid of Shane the minute she told him what he was doing. But would he still be that caring if he knew all the terrible things she'd done?
"I just can't, okay? You can't know about this. So if that's all you want to talk about, please just leave," she replied, trying desperately to keep her voice from wobbling.
"Fine. There's this huge dinner my parents are hosting Friday night. My Mom really wants you there. Come or don't, I'm exhausted caring," he told her as he sulked out. She sank down on to her bed, letting the tears fall freely.
Spotted: J breaking down You know what they say-the truth shall set you free. And I have a feeling this little birdy's about to be let out of her cage...
xoxo
gossip girl
A/N: I know I know I'm terrible. Hopefully this was worth the wait. Review and let me know!