Disclaimer: I don't own Gossip Girl – I own Lydia and Sebastian who are from my previous story "The Unheard Sister of Chuck Bass" and the other characters have been submitted through my SYOC, PM me if you're interested in submitting a character

A/N: Seems like Jane Doe took a slight hiatus, but how long will this one be for?

Chapter 18 – Harper E. Scott

I had to read Jane's message on a friend's phone because I was in the middle of trying to blow out the candles for my Sweet Sixteenth birthday.

Hey UESiders, First Vicky is Mini Gatsby's game girlfriend, then has the hots for Boy Wonder, now she's moved onto Levi Walker. Downgrading or upgrading? Jane Doe, kisses X X

I looked across the room at Vick and wondered how she was going to react, but she didn't seem upset by it at all. It was as if she had expected it – which meant that she knew exactly what Jane Doe was doing.

But did Vick cause a secret to be deleted, or did someone else tell?

"Well blow the candles out, Harper…" Violet tugged at the red cloak for her little red riding hood outfit. "Do it…"

Inhale, and, exhale. The candles were all out. Extinguished. The party went on, with some help from my parents and family friends who were oblivious to the rouse of Jane Doe.

People left towards the end of the evening, leaving a few of my nearest and dearest friends. Vick, Violet and Meredith. I had wanted some of the guys to be there, but there was a lot of tension between the guys fighting for Vick. And also distance between Seb and Henry. It would have been selfish of me to ask them to stay when they clearly weren't interested in being there.

The four of us were sat awkwardly in my room, preparing for a sleepover. Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood, the Ice Queen and Cinderella were no more – pyjamas and sweatpants galore.

"Where's your brother, Tommy? I haven't seen him all night…" Vicky asked politely.

I struggled for a response, knowing it was a private family matter. "He's gone back to university, I think… He wanted to get settled a little earlier."

Meredith sighed dramatically. "Okay guys, so let's play a little fun game of truth of dare. I'll go first, and I choose truth. Oh, and none of the information we share leaves this room, okay?"

The others agreed and seemed to choose me to decide on the truths and the dares, which felt nerve-wracking as they might judge me based on what I asked, but perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to ask the questions I wasn't brave enough to ask.

For Meredith, I kind of wanted to know what the deal with her and Seb was.

"Okay, I guess what I kind of want to know, is what the deal with you and Seb was?"

Meredith bit her lip before giggling to herself. "There is no deal. There never was a deal either. He was a guy that I knew who I may have kissed once or twice."

"There must be more to it than that?"

"You only get one question. You'll have to wait until later." She winked playfully at me. "Violet, you're up."

Violet's eyes dropped. "Dare."

"I dare you to… oh- I don't know. Post a gushing photo about any one of the guys on social media. Vick can write it!" I smiled, thinking it would be funny, but their reaction told me otherwise. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing – here Vick, take my phone."

Vick hesitantly took it and then fired off a photo with a caption on it. "All done – I chose J.J and wrote a gushing statement about how you're looking forward to the pilot and seeing you two on camera."

Violet gawped at her. "Oh Vick! That is so embarrassing!" she squealed before covering her mouth to laugh. "We'll get our own back though, don't worry."

"Well you'll have to hope Harper's got a good truth question waiting for me." Vick shook her head, letting her blonde bob wiggle like a tassled dress. "Do your worst Harper."

"Snog, marry, avoid. Seb, Levi, J.J." I smiled cheekily.

"You've already asked me a snog, marry, avoid scenario – the one with Dustin, Henry and Seb..." Vick pursed her lips. "That's mean, though it is admittedly a juicy question." She played with her hands nervously. "Okay, I've got it. Avoid Levi, because he's too needy. Snog Seb because I'm interested to know if he's a good kisser and marry J.J because- well, who wouldn't want to marry Jesse James Conroy!?"

Our high pitched squeals were muffled by us hugging pillows close to our faces.

"It's your turn Harper. We'll come up with a good one." Meredith ushered the other girls closer. "You're going with truth right?"

I nodded hastily, fearful of what dare might come my way.

"Okay- so this one kind of has two layers to it…" Meredith grabbed my hand, grinning broadly. "The second part is affected by your first answer."

"Right… I guess I'm okay with that."

"You know Logan Mallory, right? Do you think he's fit?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Logan? Well yeah, he's like the top jock – who doesn't think he's fit, athletically speaking?"

"No no, I mean, like, do you have a crush on him?"

"Well I don't really know him…"

"Harper- the guy wants to ask you out on a date but doesn't know how to!" Meredith squealed making Vick and Violet laugh in exhilaration.

"Oh… I don't know. I'm not really a dating kind of girl."

"Nonsense! Everyone is a dating girl – Violet's got Henry and S- Vick's going to be the new Mrs Conroy one day. I've got my man Dustin. Who have you got? Because it could be Logan, that's all I'm saying."

I shrugged. "Well it might be fun. Maybe?"

-o-

Fun it was not. Awkward it was. A couple of weeks after my birthday, I was on a date with Logan.

Logan seemed intrigued by me at first. He was asking me all these questions about me and what it was like where I lived before I moved to New York. We were sat on the roof of his parent's house in deck chairs that had been left there, with a blanket on the ground. I quickly began to wonder whether this was a set up and something that he always did with the various girls of Constance.

"What's wrong, Harper?" Logan asked out of nowhere.

I squeezed my hands. "It's not you Logan, I am just not used to this sort of thing."

"What? You never kissed a guy before or something."

I felt my back stiffen. "Yes." The word left my mouth before I had a chance to think of an excuse or alternative phrase.

"Perhaps I can help change that."

In a swift movement, he leant around and kissed my lips of which were unfortunately parted, thus allowing an open mouthed kiss. The shock of the sudden attack meant I just allowed it to happen before I hooked an arm around the back of his neck.

"You would never know about your- um, lack of experience." Logan turned towards the sky, smiling up at the shining stars. "Sometimes I like to come up her and just look up at the sky and wonder how many stars there are on the other side of the clouds."

"Yeah…" I whispered, looking up with him. "I know what you mean."

The late time made me very aware of the fact that my parents would be wondering where I was. When I glanced at my phone, I was met with a list of texts and missed calls from my mom and dad.

"I have to go," I murmured. "This was- this was nice."

"Sure. Guess I'll see you around then?" Logan barely looked at me as I walked myself down and out.

-o-

My mom were frantic as ever when I eventually got home.

"Where have you been? We've got to go to see Tommy before visiting hours are over." Mom ushered me out of the door and along the grid of roads to see my brother. "I thought you said you'd be straight home after school?"

I nodded quietly. "I know, but I got carried away."

"Carried away? Oh Harper, this is your brother we're talking about. Tommy is not well and we should be a family right now. Thank god the doctors know what's good for him and are willing to let us slip in outside of hours."

"I'm sorry Mom," I replied as we cut across the park to the west side where the hospital would be.

My palms were sweaty on the elevator ride up to see Tommy. I never really liked hospitals. Especially not when Tommy was sick. We headed towards the rehabilitation wing where, in a private wing, Tommy would be waiting.

Stopping outside his room, I looked in through the window at him. He was lying lifelessly, with a heart monitor rhythmically beeping away.

"I want to know where you were Harper – but not now. Tommy is more important right now," Mom whimpered before composing herself and opening the door into Tommy's room. "Oh baby, it's Mom and Harper – Dad is on his way." Mom sat down beside Tommy, stroking his hand and pointing at the chair for me to sit in.

I lowered myself to the chair, feeling a knot in my stomach. The tears burst out and I blubbed like a child. Ignoring Mom's whimsical pleas for me to stop, I ran out the door and down the corridor. I slumped down in one of the chairs in the waiting area and covered my hands with my face.

"Harper?"

That was Violet's voice which meant thus must have been the hospital her dad was a neurosurgeon at. She was bound to find out why I was there at the hospital.

"Harper, are you okay?" Violet sat down slowly beside me. "I know we are not exactly right, but you can still talk to me. You know that right?"

I tried to nod.

"Talk to me..."

"What about you though? You don't talk either."

She was taken aback by the comment. "Well there's nothing to tell."

"What about the thing that is going on with you and Henry? And Sebastian- he's involved too, I overheard them at my party."

"Oh, what were they talking about?"

"You know..."

"Me and Henry, after the leak of Waldorf designs. After that Jane Doe post, we kind of had an argument. In a way, I don't even know if we are together or not. I mean, Sebastian told Henry it was me that leaked the designs, and I did. But it can't have all been me because I didn't supply the photos."

God. This was it. I had to come clean. Because of me Henry and Violet were on the brink of breaking up yet I had some knowledge to help resolve that.

"I sent the photos in. Because I didn't want for news of my brother to get out."

Violet's eyes dropped. "Why would you not speak up earlier?" she snapped aggressively, trying to keep her voice down. "I can't believe you didn't speak up and take some of the blame. I really care about Henry and I could lose what I have with him because of this and Jane Doe." She put a hand over her eyes, hiding her expression. "All of us need to have a chat about this Jane Doe business. It's getting out of hand now." Violet walked away before I had the chance to say anything else.

In a flurry of anger, I found myself on Jane Doe's Twitter page, about to send her a strongly worded message when a voice in my head told me not to send it.

Then Vick started to ring. I hurried to an empty corner and answered, hoping to sound more positive and like I hadn't just been crying.

"Harper, I can see straight through you. Where are you?" Her voice was calm and soothing.

"In the hospital on the west side."

"Oh my god, why? Are you okay? Don't answer, I'm on my way."

"I'm fine... it's Tommy."

The line went dead and I moved around the corridor, heading towards the entrance of the hospital. Vick arrived minutes later and threw her arms around me. Clutches in her hands was the copy of the book she had pinched from Tommy.

"Can I see him?" Vick asked.

"Yes."

I took her upstairs to see Tommy - I gave Mom a subtle death stare to stop her from saying anything.

Vick put the book down on the table beside Tommy. "What happened?"

"He got spiked... severe reaction from his body..."

"I'm so sorry," she whispered uncertainly. "Can I talk to you outside, Harper?" Outside, Vicky was way more frantic than I'd ever seen her. "I think it's my fault."

"How? How can it possibly be your fault?"

"Because I ended up at a party and Tommy was there. Protective of me over some creepy guy who was pestering me. We were chatting and then he jokingly downed my drink. When he started to throw up and collapse, I knew I had to get out of there in case the police caught me there."

I enveloped her in a tight embrace. "It's okay, Vick. Tommy might have suspected something which is why he did what he did. As long as you're okay."

-o-

The first day of rehearsals, the drama co-ordinaries started getting us to do all these trust exercises. It was bizarre, but nice to get to know the other people I would be doing scenes with.

The main four - Henry, Maddie, Seb and Violet seemed slightly stony and everyone could see it.

"No, no, no. This won't do! We are going to have to eventually believe that firstly, Maddie- Helena is madly in love with Henry- Demetrius, whilst envious at Violet, our Hermia. Secondly, Sebastian and Violet appear happy even though Lysander ditches her when mischief is made. Come on you four. Okay, we'll try something different..."

The four appeared instantly concerned.

"I'm want to see your best dance and debutante presentation. Sebastian and Violet versus Maddie and Henry."

Violet gave Henry an apologetic look before whispering something about it being for the play. She snaked her arms around Sebastian's neck as he rested his hands behind her at the small of her back. Maddie took to it more quickly, pulling Henry close.

Vick leaned towards me to whisper, "Maddie is revelling in the fact that Henry used to have the biggest crush on her last year."

The coordinator was satisfied with their dances, switching partners at a point.

"What's the deal with Seb and Violet?"

"What do you mean, Harper?"

"It's like there is something there... I can't tell."

"I wouldn't look too much into it."

My phone buzzed and it was a message from Jane Doe. Vick caught a glimpse of it and pulled me out the hall to the toilets.

"What does she want? I know it's Jane Doe, I saw it."

I read out the message. "Hey Harpsichord- really, great... Tag, you're it again! It's time to choose whose secret comes out. Yours or Little Bird's? Just in case you wondered which secret id be sharing of yours- how about your little rooftop session with Logan Mallory? Go you little Harpsichord. Jane Doe. Kisses."

Vick went to grab my phone. "You can't choose Violet."

I held my phone to my chest. "Why? I don't want everyone knowing about my failure of a date with Logan."

"What? How?" Vick exclaimed loudly, silencing herself when the door opened and Violet stepped in. "Violet... we need to talk with you."

"No, we don't," I added, going to leave.

Vick cornered me metaphorically by blurting out the truth. "Jane Doe is asking Harper whether to share her secret or yours."

Violet cupped a hand over her mouth. "Please- I know we had a fight, but if you choose me, then it'll ruin everything I have with Henry. Henry won't understand."

I wrinkled my nose. "Understand what?"

Violet dropped her hands. "That the weekend after the fashion show, Sebastian asked me to help follow his dad to the Hamptons."

"And?" I felt like there was an and.

"Nothing happened. I just don't want Henry to know – if he does find out, I'm sure he'll think something did something between me and Seb."

I frowned at her, trying to determine whether Violet was holding back on me. "But if you open up to him before Jane Doe sends out a hit, then wouldn't that negate the damage?"

"I can't believe you're actually considering choosing me!" Violet snapped feistily, turning on a nearby tap to mask the noise. "What's your secret then?"

"I'm not telling you."

"Well it sure as hell isn't going to be as destroying as mine. You and Logan might actually be able to make something of your rooftop date."

"Not when Jane Doe tells everyone that was my first kiss."

"But how would Jane Doe know that?"

"How does Jane Doe ever know anything? She just does!" I sent my response. "There, I've sent my response, but I really think you should talk to Henry and tell him the truth. If you do, he'll understand. I know he will."

Violet turned away and stormed out the toilets.

Vick stared at me with a petrified expression. "I can't believe you choose her secret."

I shook my head. "I didn't, but the secret she has is eating her up inside. If she tells Henry, it'll be a weight off her shoulders." I showed Vick my phone for good measure.

I walked out of the toilets and back towards the hall where we might be able to catch the last bit of the meeting for the play.

"Harper? What are you doing here?"

"Logan!" I exclaimed quietly, feeling nervous all of a sudden because we hadn't really spoken much. "How are you doing?"

"Alright- I tried messaging you, but you never replied… What gives?"

"Oh nothing. I, uh- well I kind of just thought that you didn't like me in the same way." I leaned back against the wall, trying to remain calm in this awkward conversation. "Because if you don't, then that's cool. I'd just rather know now."

Logan rolled his eyes. "But I do. I just want to get to know you more."

"Really?" I asked, staring up at him as he stepped towards me.

"Really, really."

I could sense him moving towards me, looking down, but I could see the cast beginning to leave and I panicked. "Not here," I whispered giddily.

"Who cares?"

"I care!" I squeaked, stopping when he smacked his lips quickly onto mine. "Oh."

"I'll text you, okay?"

"Sure…"

Then the phone alerts came through and my heart smashed on the floor.

Hey UESiders, 2, 4, 6, 8 – who does Harpsichord appreciate? Not Pencil Boy anymore, but Mr Mallory! And I heard a rumour that she told Mr Mallory that he was her first kiss… Did she forget about this kiss? Ouch- that gotta hurt, huh Mr Mallory? Nobody likes to be someone's sloppy seconds. Know my name, keep the secrets, Jane Doe. Kisses. X X

There was the photo of the time where I accidentally kissed Henry attached and the people who were quick to read it were already sniggering away to themselves. Logan seemed confused at first, before realising that people were laughing at him and me. I just knew he was going to walk away, I could just feel it.

"Harper…" he whispered, dropping his bag.

Everyone around watched as he strode towards me, kissing me like we were in some kind of teen rom-com film. His hand was on the back of my head, holding me close. People began to gasp, cheer and even laugh.

Looks like Jane Doe should be careful who she messes with…

Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = Oops, now did you expect that to happen? Looks like Jane Doe is really about to crack down on the kids one of these days if they think that they will get away with this apparent defiance...