Author Note: As always, thank you to those of you who reviewed and/or favorited my story.

Sidenote: Is anyone watching American Horror Story? That show and violate (yeah, that's right – I said violate, it's not a typo. The glee creators are evil geniuses; their shipping names always rock so hard. FYI: violate = Violet+Tate, and they are the most messed couple in the universe. I freakin LOVE them) is wrecking my life. This show is completely ruining my life; I'm like a crack addict waiting every week for a new episode. Wednesday's cannot come fast enough.

***A Word Of Caution: I'm renaming this story to DENIAL. ***

Disclaimer: Gossip Girl = not mine

…

Later That Night…

"Dad says he wants to talk to you when we get back," Dan informed.

Jenny tore her attention away from her mother's slumbering form and towards the bedroom door, where Dan stood.

She scrunched her face in worry, "I bet that's going to be pleasant."

"He was worried about you," Dan explained. "And I know for a fact that he's not even going to ask why you left."

Jenny furrowed her eyebrows at that.

"Truthfully," Dan mused out loud, "I think he's afraid of the answer."

"I needed to get away Dan," Jenny exasperated; feeling the partial need to explain, "I felt like I was suffocating."

Dan nodded, "I remember. I was there."

She eyed him warily.

"I'm not going to push," he placated. "Trust me – I'm curious, but I'm your big brother. I know you. You wouldn't have left the way that you did if something wasn't up. And that scares me; because despite all of the crap that happened before,none of that ever caused you to flee, so that makes me wonder…why? Why did you just up and leave and run away without looking back."

Jenny opened her mouth to respond, but Dan interrupted her.

"It's rhetorical," he silenced. "I don't want to know what it is that made you leave, that is unless you want to tell me… I just want you to know that I'm here for you. But if it hurts you to talk about it, and something tells me in my gut that it does – well then it's your secret to keep."

Jenny took deep breath. She looked at him for a beat, "thank you."

"For what?" Dan asked.

"For being you," Jenny smiled lightly.

Dan laughed at that, "thanks…I think."

…

A Few Hours Later…

"Lost?"

Jenny jumped despite herself, and spun around to find Nate staring at her peculiarly. She laughed and nodded, "Yeah. I got turned around. This place is so big."

"Why are you out here," Nate asked, as he approached her on the deck of the large Vanderbilt property. "And at this time of night? Couldn't sleep?"

"I forgot my sweater out here earlier," Jenny explained. "And yes. That too. I couldn't sleep."

Nate nodded, "well you did sleep through the entire trip here." Smiling mischievously he added, "Snoring away, I might add, like a chainsaw."

Jenny gasped, "You take that back. I don't snore!"

"I knew I'd need proof," he pulled out his cellphone. A few seconds later, Jenny heard the loud rumblings he had recorded on to his phone.

Her hands flew to her face in embarrassment.

Nate laughed and touched his ear, "now what would you call that?"

"I can't believe you recorded that," she shrieked.

"Purely Dan's idea," Nate copped, "but I'm debating to use it as my ringtone."

"Delete it," Jenny begged.

Nate laughed, "No way. I'm keeping it."

Jenny took a step towards him with outstretched hands. "Nate. Give me the phone."

"Nope."

Jenny's eyes widened, "Nate!"

The sudden sound of rhythmic rolling thunder echoed in the distance.

Nate took a step back and looked up at the sky, "I think it's going to rain. We should get inside."

Jenny didn't even blink, "give me the phone, Nate."

In an action that surprised her, Nate spun around and bolted.

It took her a minute to catch her bearings, before a grin broke out on her face. She took off after him, "you're such a child," she screamed.

Nate laughed loudly in response, "I'm not deleting it." He spun around, and teased her with a 'bring it' hand gesture, before breaking into full blown sprint.

"This isn't funny Nate," Jenny yelled fiercely, hot on his trail.

He made a beeline suddenly, "Strange," he breathed. Jenny struggled to skid to a stop; the sudden change in course almost caused her to trip over her own two feet. She turned towards him, and he smiled brightly, "I find it hilarious," he mocked.

She lunged towards him, and he took off again, causing her to chase after him.

"Nate! Come back here," she fretted.

A blinding flash of light winked across the dark night sky. Thunder rolled again in an ear-splitting reverberating cry.

She froze and covered her ears with her hands.

Fat raindrops fell hard from the sky, blurring her vision. It was impossible to chase anyone in this weather. "Nate?"

She couldn't even see further than a few feet in front of her.

"Nate?"

She didn't even know where she was anymore; not that she had earlier. The place was a maze.

"Nate?"

He didn't answer.

She wrapped her arms around herself. It wasn't like he could even hear her – the sound of raindrops against the damp ground was deafening. She could hear the sound of thunder echoing through the trees now. The sound was one of chaos and anguish.

It soured her mood.

Fat drops of rain clung to her eyelashes, mimicking tears. She blinked them away, and walked in silence.

It was just her and nature's wrath now.

The sound of thunder seemed to bring her back to reality.

Somehow, within the last few hours she had forgotten about the train wreck that was currently her life.

The knowledge of it all hit her hard. She had used this trip as a way of escaping again. All she ever seemed to do lately was find new ways to escape. She never seemed to deal with things anymore.

She felt tired.

Hands grabbed her from behind suddenly, and spun her around. She looked up, blinking fast, and found Nate staring down at her.

His smile was goofy, "told you it was going to rain."

Jenny didn't answer and turned away.

Nate frowned at that, "Jenny? What's wrong?"

She shook her head wordlessly.

He sidestepped her, took her face in his hands, cupped her chin and forced her to stare at him, "Are you okay?"

She tingled despite herself at his touch, and took a step back. "It's nothing," she dismissed.

Nate pulled out his phone, "look I'm sorry," he apologized. He fiddled with it, and then held it towards her, "look. There. I deleted it."

She began to walk away from him, "we should get back."

"Jenny, wait."

"We'll catch pneumonia," she insisted.

"Jenny," Nate grabbed her roughly this time, and pulled her towards him. She looked up at him, and what she saw in his eyes, caused her breath to catch in her throat.

They stood in an awkward silence for several moments, just staring at each other, before Nate began to lower his head towards her slowly; agonizingly slow.

Jenny remained frozen to her spot. Her brain automatically froze. It wasn't until she realized that he was inching closer towards her that she finally snapped out of her trance. But, by then, even if she had wanted to, there was no time to protest. Nate's lips danced lightly over hers.

"Jenny!"

Jenny went rigid and pushed Nate away.

He stared back at her lost in a daze.

"What are you two doing out here," Dan exclaimed, running at them with umbrella's in tow.

…

Nate numbly took an umbrella from him. There was no point for one now. He and Jenny were soaked to the bone. His gaze drifted towards Jenny, but she was staring dead ahead into the unforeseeable distance.

They fell into step with Dan, and headed back to the Vanderbilt house.

"You guys look like drowned rats," Dan mused out loud.

Neither Jenny nor Nate uttered a word in response.

…

A/N: Please Review

***A Word Of Caution: I'm renaming this story to DENIAL ***