ENJOY! :) 3
"Chuck, the car is waiting!" I yell as I finish tying my tie. This is it. The day of Chuck and Blair's wedding and I've been up since five in the morning helping Chuck get everything ready. He understands the tradition of not being able to see the bride at all the night before the wedding, but he's been dying to see Blair since she waved goodbye to him yesterday morning. It's been almost twenty four hours since they've seen each other and Chuck has tried calling Blair almost twenty four times; she never answers. And since Chuck is smart enough to know that Blair will stick to the tradition then he has a plan B. Every hour or so since he last saw Blair, Chuck has been sending her a small gift. Within the gift, he writes a small note reminding her of a memory that the both have shared, anything that they've ever gone through, he writes down.
"I'm ready." Says Chuck walking to the bar and pouring himself some scotch.
"Are you serious?" I say, "Chuck, stop drinking. Save it for after the wedding."
Chuck downs the rest of the glass and then heads out the door where I quickly follow him. Chelsea is waiting for me in the lobby when I get there and she comes up to me and hugs me. I've been feeling like a complete douche for the past few days ever since Jenny showed up at my door. I'm still wondering what she was going to tell me when she stopped by. She looked so hurt when she saw Chelsea and then she just left. It hurt me more than it hurt her and I've wanted to dump Chelsea since, but I know that Jenny is going to the wedding with Connor and I don't want to look at them all night so I decided to invite Chelsea as a distraction.
"Hey babe." She says and I smile at her.
"Let's go." says Chuck impatiently. We head into the car and make our way to the cathedral where Chuck and Blair will be married.
There are some photographers there waiting for Chuck and start snapping pictures. He's smiling happily at the picture takers and when he starts getting annoyed with them he enters the cathedral. Chuck and I go to the back and I send Chelsea off to sit in a pew.
"Are you going to be okay?" Chuck asks me when we're in the room in the back.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I ask.
"Well this is the first time you're going to see Serena since the break up." he says and then adds, "And the Humphreys are coming."
"I'll be fine." I say, "I brought Chelsea for a reason."
Chuck nods knowing very well what it's like to use another girl to get over the one you love. For him, though, the girl he loves is going to be his wife in just a couple hours, while for me the girl I love is happily dating someone else.
"Just as long as you don't ruin my wedding then all is good."
"Wow." I say, "Who would've thought the great Chuck Bass would be marrying Blair, let alone getting married at all."
"Thank you, Nathaniel." Chuck says sarcastically.
"Just letting it sink in, man. But good luck out there. You and Blair have come a long way since she lost her virginity in the back of your limo."
"Thanks." He says genuinely this time and I nod.
About forty five minutes later, after some fidgeting on my part and some anxiousness on Chuck's, we are asked to step out into the Church and take our spots. I pat Chuck's shoulder and start walking out, but he stops me.
"Nate, Blair and I went through a lot of crap before getting to where we are now. If you and Jenny are meant to be, then all this crap that you guys are putting each other through will only be a temporary thing before you get to the true happiness of it all." he tells me and I nod in awe of his words. It still gets me whenever Chuck says something unexpected like that.
We make our way to the front of the altar and I look around the Church looking for Jenny, but can't find her. Instead, I spot Chelsea sitting next to Aaron Rose talking very enthusiastically with him. She sees me looking at her and she waves at me while I smile back. The music starts at that moment and I spot Serena walking down the aisle. She looks good in a long, strapless, light gold, tight dress that pans out toward the bottom. Her hair is placed into a neat bun on her head. When she looks over at me she gives me a subtle glare and then looks away. She's definitely not over the break up.
When Serena takes her spot in front of the altar the typical wedding song comes on and everybody stands up. Blair is standing at the end of the aisle and even from where I'm standing I could see her smile. She and her dad start walking down the aisle together and I look to Chuck who is staring at Blair with nothing but love. Blair is wearing a strapless, white wedding dress with a long train. That dress looks extremely thick, but she looks like she can manage in it. Her thin veil has a crown holding it up and it travels past her shoulders. She looks over at me and smiles and I smile back. Her dad hands her over to Chuck and they make their way in front on the priest.
"Dearly beloved," the priest starts, "we are gathered here today to join together this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."
I look into the audience where no one seems to object with the wedding and that's when I finally see Jenny. She's looking around curiously and when she sees that no one will be objecting, she turns her attention back to the front where we lock eyes for a moment. I smile at her and she returns the smile, but it seems more forced than genuine and I'm not satisfied. When Jenny looks away I look next to her and find that Connor isn't there; she's sitting in between Rufus and Eric. The whole pew is just her family and Eric's boyfriend with no sign of Jenny's boyfriend. I feel hopeful that they broke up and we can start over again. Maybe I can prove to her that I'm supposed to be with her.
"Blair," says Chuck reciting his vows, "I used to think that loving someone was stupid. I thought that being alone was the perfect way to live, why expose yourself like that right? But then you came with me to Victrola and something sparked inside me. I didn't know it was love back then and it took us a while to finally tell each other how we really felt, but everything that we've been through has been completely worth it. I love you, Blair Waldorf and I'm glad that you will become my wife in just a matter of minutes."
I look over at Jenny who is smiling happily. I cant help but smile at her smile. She looks gorgeous. Serena doesn't even compare to how Jenny is looking. Her long blond hair is curled and let loose around her cherubic face. She isn't wearing much makeup. I don't exactly know what she's wearing but it looks like a baby blue dress.
"Chuck," says Blair, "I never imagined that I'd be marrying you, that our games would turn into something more and that you would be the one person that makes me happiest in the world. I had this plan for my future. I knew the guy I would marry, the school I would attend, the job I would have. I planned my future when I was five thinking that it was set in stone; what I wrote down was what I would accomplish in life, but I was completely wrong. I ended up not going to the college of my dreams and best of all, I ended up falling in love with you. Chuck Bass I love you with all my heart and I cannot wait to start my new life with you."
Blair and Chuck look so immersed in each others words that they cant stop smiling. It's as if they are the only two people right now; every other witness in this room isn't even there.
The priest smiles and then says, "Do you, Chuck Bass, take this woman to be your wedded wife. To love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?"
Chuck smiles over at Blair and responds with a happy, "I do."
"Do you, Blair Waldorf, take this man to be your wedded husband. To love him, comfort him, honor him, and keep him in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?"
"I do." Says Blair excitedly.
"Now repeat after me." Says the priest signaling for Chuck to get the ring. Chuck looks over at me and I remember that I'm the one holding the ring for him. I grab it from my pocket and hand it over to Chuck.
Chuck places the ring on Blair's finger and repeats after the priest, "With this ring I, Chuck Bass, take Blair Waldorf, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."
The priest looks at Blair and she takes the ring from Serena, "With this ring I, Blair Waldorf," she repeats, "take Chuck Bass, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."
"Love alone is capable in uniting living beings in such a way as to complete and fulfill them, for it alone takes them and joins them by what is deepest in themselves. Now as you, Chuck Bass, and you, Blair Waldorf, have consented together in matrimony and have pledged your faith to each other, I pronounce that you are now husband and wife. You may seal your vows with a kiss." Finishes the priest and Chuck takes Blair in his arms and kisses her. The photographers start snapping pictures and everyone stand up and claps and I cant help but look at Jenny. I watch as happiness illuminates her face and she's clapping and smiling with Eric. She looks like such an angel and I realize at that moment that I would want to spend the rest of my life with Jenny. I never thought of marriage until now and looking at Jenny makes me really want to marry her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.
I turn my attention back to Chuck and Blair who are walking down the aisle happily. I follow Serena out of the Church and make my way to the car which will be taking us to the reception. In the car Serena and I sit on opposite ends (Chelsea in between us) and we watch Chuck and Blair kissing happily. If it weren't for the fact that there were three other people in the car they'd probably be doing a lot more than just kissing. I'm pretty sure they would miss the reception all together and just leave on their honeymoon.
We arrive at the hall about twenty minutes later and Chuck and Blair enter to find many people waiting for them. They receive hugs and kisses from family and friends and I retire to the bar where I take the liberty of pouring myself some scotch and completely ignoring Chelsea.
"Nate, we have to go sit next to the bride and groom." Serena tells me after my third glass of scotch.
"You're talking to me?" I ask completely surprised.
"Only because Blair asked me to. Now, come on, it's almost time for the toasts." She says and goes to sit down next to Blair. I sit down next to Chuck and then the dinner is served.
After dinner, the parents go up and tell stories about Chuck and Blair. After Cyrus finishes telling a story about Blair, Chuck tells me that it's my turn to go up and I take the microphone and stand on the stage.
"So, truthfully, if you would have told me around four or five years ago that Chuck and Blair would get married I would have probably laughed in your face." I start and watch as Blair and Chuck give me a look of amusement mixed with curiosity, "Back then everything was different. Chuck and love wouldn't be put in the same sentence unless never was in between the words and Blair was 'betrothed to somebody else and could barely stand Chuck. But then the unexpected happened and they fell in love. Chuck and Blair have gone through so much these past few years and yet they still made it through." I look at Jenny at this moment and she's staring at me with so much intensity. "It just goes to show you that love conquers all; if it's meant to be, it'll happen. Because love is not only breathlessness, or excitement, or promises of eternal passion. It is when two people are so in sync with each other that they become one—not in the obsessive Siamese twins way." I add as an afterthought and some people laugh. I keep my eyes locked on Jenny's the entire time, "No, it's when one single soul inhabits the two bodies. The two people understand each other and care for each other more deeply than anyone thought possible. They learn to deal with each other's faults and accept their failures. They learn to rejoice in victories won and just be happy in each others arms. Love is madness, but it is also needed. Without it we are all lost. Chuck and Blair have found that in each other. Everyone can see that they have fallen madly in love and they have surprised us since the moment they got together. This is just the beginning for them as I can tell, having known them for so long, that they will continue to surprise us and their love will never fail." I raise my glass of champagne, "To Chuck and Blair." I say and everyone repeats after me. We all take a sip of the wine and then I hand the microphone over to Serena.
When I sit back down, I see Jenny looking a little bit paler than before. She stands from her seat and quickly but quietly heads out the door. I don't want to leave considering everyone is staring at our table and it would seem rude to walk out, but my impulse takes over and before I know it I'm heading out the door following Jenny.
I find her standing on the porch staring out into the New York night. When she hears my footsteps she jumps a little and then looks over at me.
"Sorry." I say
"It's okay." She responds and goes back to looking at the street.
"Is something wrong?" I ask her and watch as she takes a deep breath.
"I liked your speech." She says avoiding my question.
"Thanks." I say
"No problem." Jenny replies and then we stay in silence for a few minutes. Her blue dress makes her look so beautiful that I wonder if this is really real. She seems too beautiful to be here.
"You look beautiful tonight." I say to her.
Jenny smiles slightly at this and then turns around, "Go back to your girlfriend, Nate, I hear she's getting way too close to Aaron Rose."
"I don't care." I say, "She's not my girlfriend, just a date."
"Well then go back to your date." She says kind of cruelly and then turns her back to me.
"Where's yours?" I ask out of curiosity.
"Where's my what?"
"You're date."
She stiffens a little and I feel like she's not going to answer me but then she says, "We broke up."
"I'm sorry." I say hoping beyond hope that she's okay with it.
"Don't be; I broke up with him." she explains and I automatically feel like I'm soaring with contentment.
"When and why?"
"Two days ago and because I didn't love him."
I'm about to ask another question when Dan comes out looking for Jenny. When he spots her he says, "Jenny, dad is looking for you. Are you okay? You walked out looking really pale."
"I'm fine." Says Jenny and walks inside ahead of Dan. I follow them into the room where music is blaring and people are dancing.
"So, what's wrong with my sister?" asks Dan and he looks at me suspiciously.
"I don't know, she wouldn't tell me anything." I reply.
"You know she told me the truth about you guys right?" he says and I freeze in my steps.
"Why aren't you punching me across the face like you did with Chuck?" I ask him nervously.
"Because A: we're at a wedding. B: Jenny told me to leave it alone, it's in the past and you cant undo it. C: I, unfortunately, can tell that my sister cares about you more than she leads on and if she truly loves you after all this time then I guess she'll be angry at me if I killed you." Dan explains and I nod in agreement at the last one. Thankfully, that saves me from getting punched by Dan.
"Dan, let's go dance." Says Vanessa walking up to her boyfriend. She smiles at me in acknowledgment and then the couple heads off to the dance floor. I spot Jenny sitting by herself in a table and walk up to her.
"Dance with me?" I ask and put my hand out for her to take it. She looks up at me startled. I watch as she contemplates on whether to take my hand or not and after a few minutes she hesitantly places her small hand in mine. I guide her to the dance floor where a slow song has just started. I put my arms around her waist and she puts hers around my neck. We dance slowly in tune with the music. Jenny places her chin on my shoulder and we move closer to each other closing whatever space we had between us. I drown out everything around me and concentrate on just her. She smells like pure vanilla, her curled blond hair and the blue dress make her look like an angel. I never want to let go of her.
Halfway through the song I decide to interrupt our moment and ask her, "So who do you love?"
Jenny looks up at me with uncertainty and surprise and then replies, "Isn't it obvious?"
"No." I say having no idea who she's talking about. She's not obvious at all.
She thinks on my answer for a few minutes and then nods her head. Jenny places her chin back on my shoulder and we keep dancing slowly.
After a few seconds of dancing silently, Jenny raises her head from my shoulder and looks at me, "Do you love Chelsea?" she asks.
"No!" I scoff.
"Then who do you love?" she asks.
I contemplate on how to answer this and then decide to take her approach, leave it vague, yet clear. "Isn't it obvious." I reply and she smiles a small smile. she looks up at the ceiling and I realize that the song just ended. Jenny takes a step away from me and starts to walk away, but that's when it hits me. She loves me. Well at least I think she does. That's what she meant by her answer, right?
"Wait, Jenny," I call out and she turns around, "do you—"
"Bye Nate." she interrupts and then keeps walking. I try calling after her again, but she ignores me.
"Natie! Let's dance!" says Chelsea running up to me.
"No thanks." I say and she looks disappointed.
"Well you danced with the bitch?" she says and I turn to look at her angrily.
"Don't call her that!" I yell and she cringes a little.
"What? I mean she looks like one."
"Well she's not." I say sick of hearing her voice, "You know what, screw you. Whatever we have or did, it's over." I walk away from her and feel relieved that I ended whatever we were.
"So you and Chelsea are over?" asks Chuck as I order a drink from the bar a few minutes later.
"How'd you find out so quickly?" I ask
"I knew from that once you'd find out Jenny and Connor broke up you'd go after her and forget about Chelsea." He explains.
"Oh." I say and take a sip of my drink. I look around for Jenny and see her walking toward us. Chuck sees her too and walks away just as she walks up to us.
"Okay I know that the moment I say this I'm going to regret it, but I have to and I a know that you're with Chelsea, but I feel some kind of hope here and so I'm just going to spit it out." she rambles and a smile at her amused. "I love you, Nate." she says and my smile fades.
"You what?" I ask needing her to say it to me again.
"I love you." she says again, "I always have. It's never gone away, but I decided that this time I wasn't going to jump head first by kissing you or trying to ruin your relationship, I was going to ease you in. Then I saw you with Chelsea and well that ruined all hope I had of us being together, but I decided tonight to just tell you because at least you know and if you see me avoiding you whenever you're around then you know it's because it's hard for me. I told you you'd get over me quickly. I know you said you don't love Chelsea, but I know you don't love me either. I was right, what you told me was just a fluke and I understand that. In truth, maybe we're not meant to be. I know that it's going to hurt, but I'll get over it. And I was hoping you'd get the hint I gave you when we were dancing, but no, you didn't and so here I am confessing my feelings to you and well I'm going to stop talking now because I feel like I'm rambling and not making any sense." Jenny stops and breathes and I'm about to tell her how I feel when Chelsea of all freaking people walks up to me angrily.
"We need to talk." She says
"No." I say and look to her trying to tell her to get lost.
"Now." she demands.
"I'm just going to walk away now and leave you two lovebirds alone." Interrupts Jenny.
"No, Jenny, wait." I say, but she's already disappeared into a crowd of people.
I turn to Chelsea annoyed, "What do you want?"
"My money." She states.
"What?"
"Yeah, did you forget I do this for a living. I mean I haven't actually been with anyone for so long and I actually felt something for you, but now that you dumped me then I need the money you owe me for the past three days."
I stare at her in shock remembering that I hired her from Chuck's little black book. "Um, yeah, I'll just send the money in the mail." I reply quickly and she smiles.
"Thank you." she says, "Now you can go and find your little blond friend."
She walks away and I run through the crowd looking for Jenny. After searching for almost ten minutes (inside and out) I walk up to her brother.
"Dan, where's Jenny?" I ask. He looks up from where he's sitting with Vanessa.
"She left around twenty minutes ago." He explains.
"Left! Left where?" I ask.
Dan gets up from his chair, "Look, man, I don't know but she seemed sad. I could swear I saw a tear and I asked her, but she said everything was fine that she was just tired. And if you want, you can go after her. I think she'll probably open up to you more than she will to me."
I nod at Dan and see those words as an approval of me being with his sister. He sits back down and I run out of the reception hall. I call a cab and head down the road where I tell the cab driver to just keep driving until I tell him to stop. I have no idea where we're going. Miraculously, after fifteen minutes of driving in circles I figure out where to go first. I tell the cab driver where the destination and then pay him and extra hundred dollars if he drives quickly. I will not let Jenny get away this time, we've been through too much to just give up now.