A/N: Since you all have been so awesome, sharing kind words in your reviews...I thought I use the time to work on the next chapter. As I said before, I will do my best to update ASAP. I appreciate your patience and your comments!

(quick shout outs to those who reviewed my last chapter)

alistedfreak: thanks for the review! expect more N/S interaction in this chapter.
SaberGirl1005: wow! your comment really flattered me. there's just really not enough N/S fics out there!
IncandescentAngel: oh it'll get even more interesting. hehe. thanks for the review!
SweetSmiles16: haha yes...i just had to add Carter into the mix!
mars494: hello, there! i'm glad you enjoyed it. thanks for the review!
abegrl504: haha, i try to make my writing as real as possible. but i'm glad you think so!
emmy44: yay! i'm glad my fic is keeping you interested! i'm doing the best i can.

Chapter 21

"A Choice to Live By"

"Two shots of 151 please." Nate Archibald returns to the bar as he sits down, already feeling the effects from the alcohol that got his head throbbing in pain. The bartender simply nods his head as Nate turns around and catches Carter and Serena on the dance floor. They have become the center of attention and the talk of the party. Despite the loud music playing in the background, Nate could hear distinct conversations about them as people pass him by.

"Oh my God, is that Carter and Serena?"

"When did he come back?"

"I heard he came back for her."

"Are they dating again?"

"Hey," Nate shakes his head as he looks up at Blair staring back at him worriedly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he responds weakly and rather agitatedly. "I'm fine."

She smiles, moving closer to him as she traces a finger along his arm. "I've been waiting for you to ask me to dance..."

Nate idly looks past Blair where he could see Carter and Serena dancing closely to Rihanna's Umbrella. He then turns back to Blair and takes her hand in his. "Alright," he smiles as he quickly takes another shot of 151, "let's dance." Nate leads the way as they snake their way through the crowd until they were only a few feet away from Carter and Serena. He narrows his eyes at the sight of them as he pulls Blair towards him and begins moving to the music while staring closely at the pair from the corner of his eye.

"Nate," Blair shakes his arm as his focus remains elsewhere, but her. "What's going on?" With no response she tugs his arm, this time with force. "Nate!"

He finally looks at her. "What?"

She releases his hands while shaking her head in dismay. "You're drunk." Blair's eyes drifted to the direction Nate was staring at as her eyes fell on Carter and Serena. To her disappointment, she looks back at him despondently. "You should go."

"I'm fine." He snaps as he turns around and begins making his way towards Serena's direction. Just as he approaches the pair talking about something that made them both laugh, Carter and Serena stop to look his way.

"Nate," the blond smiles as her laughter slowly subsided. "Where's Blair?"

Nate looks at Carter with contempt and then softens his eyes at Serena. "Can I talk to you for a bit?"

There is a short pause as Serena looks at him worriedly. "Is everything alright, Nate?" She asks, noticing the smell of alcohol in his breath.

"Look, you can't trust him."

Carter rolls his eyes. "Are you kidding me?" The blonde's eyes drifted to Blair as she approaches them.

"Serena, he totally tricked me," Nate exclaims desperately, "and he'll do the same to you."

"Oh my," Carter chuckles in disbelief, "this is ridiculous. Hey, Blair!" He calls out once he spotted her in the crowd. "You should hear this."

Blair looks at them bewilderedly. "What's going on?"

"Your date is making an ass of himself that's what."

Nate glares at Carter as he begins getting in his face. "I swear to God if you ever hurt her…"

"Okay, Nate. You had too much to drink." Serena says as she stood between the two guys. "Stop this."

Carter nods his head. "I agree."

"Shut up."

Serena shot him a look. "That's enough, Nate."

He looks at her in disbelief. "You would go to the dance with him, but not with me." Nate lets out a pathetic laugh as his head falls back. Blair's lips parted as she looks down sullenly and leaves the dance floor without the others noticing.

"Nate, please--"

"No, I see how it is. I broke your heart when I chose Blair, and now you're making it even." Serena shuts her eyes. "You two have a goodnight together."

Meanwhile, Chuck Bass looks on from the second floor of the club as he spots Serena following Nate in the crowd. Chuck takes a swig of his drink as his eyes suddenly fell on Jenny Humphrey standing near the stair steps wearing a silky red tube-top dress. A sly smirk crosses his features as he straightens his suit and begins making his way downstairs.

"Jenny?!" The petite blond looks over her shoulder and finds Blair Waldolf standing before her in surprise. She gulps down nervously with shifty eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Serena invited me." Jenny responds nervously as Blair narrows her eyes at her. "Look, I'll leave right away if you want me too."

"No, stay." Chuck says from behind as Blair shot him an icy glare. Jenny takes a step back, cautiously looking at the guy who almost took advantage of her.

"This is my party," Blair exclaims, "and I decide who gets to be in it. I have enough problems as it is."

"Well you suck at keeping people out." Another voice argues back as they all turn around to see where it was coming from.

"Vanessa?" Jenny walks over to her in surprise as soon as she adjusted her eyes to the dim lights. "What are you doing here?"

"What the hell is she doing here?" Blair groans angrily with her arms folded across her chest.

Jenny sighs. "Is Dan with you?"

"No."

She studies Vanessa carefully. "He told you to come here and check up on me didn't he?"

Vanessa gives in and sighs. "Well do you blame him?" She says while giving Chuck the evil eye. "The guy is a perv."

"And who the hell are you?" Chuck snaps offensively as Vanessa glares at him.

"Someone who obviously doesn't belong here," Blair responds cold-heartedly while staring at Vanessa in disgust. "How the hell did you get in here anyway?"

She rolls her eyes. "It doesn't matter because I'm leaving now. But if you," Vanessa says while turning to Chuck with disdain, "do anything to Jenny…anything at all, you better believe that I'll mess up your pretty face and leave more than just a black eye." She tells him seriously with a mocking smile as Chuck winces at the thought. "Enjoy the rest of your party, guys."

With a small wave, Vanessa turns around and headed back to where she came from. Meanwhile, Chuck Bass continues staring idly at her direction with a mischievous smirk.

"Who the hell does she think she is?" Blair snaps with dreadful eyes as Chuck takes another sip of his drink.

"I don't know..." he responds in disbelief. "But she fascinates me." Blair looks at him with raised eyebrows.

"Nate, stop! Can we please talk about this?"

Serena follows him outside the club where the night is cool and still. Nate finally stops on his tracks as he slowly looks over his shoulder to face her. Silence lingers in the air as the two stare deeply into each other's eyes with looks of pain and confusion.

"What will it take for you to believe that I love you, Serena?" He says softly as she could sense the sincerity and hurt in his voice. "Because I've been doing everything you ask me to do, and I just can't get over you no matter how hard you try to push me to be with Blair."

Serena averts from his gaze as a deep sigh escape from her lips. "Nate, you have to understand. Blair is my best friend and she loves you." She explains while searching every inch of his face carefully. "It's not worth losing." His eyes drifted to the floor. "I don't want to hurt you, Nate."

He pathetically chuckles. "Well, it's too late for that now."

She tilts her head to the side. "Nate…"

"You don't want to be with me. Fine," he states angrily. "In fact, let's just not be friends at all."

Serena's mouth fell open in surprise. "What?"

"Have a good night, Serena." Nate cuts her off as he turns around and signals for a cab. Serena stays behind as she watches him enter a taxi cab and disappear in the distance.

"Serena?"

The blond quickly wipes a tear away as she turns around and faces Dan and Vanessa who are standing before her. "Is everything alright?" Dan asks worriedly as Serena nods her head, forcing a weak smile for their sake.

"Yeah," she replies half-heartedly while turning away, "everything is fine."

They watch on as Serena hurriedly heads back to the club.

To be continued...