As always, thank you to everyone that's reading. It can be hard to put yourself out there (post chapters) so every read, fav, follow, or review means the absolute world.
And as always, the biggest thank you goes to my dear friend 'greyspaces'. I really wouldn't be able to do any of this without her.
WARNING:
SEXUAL SITUATIONS, LANGUAGE, AND DRUG USE
WARNINGS WILL BE AT THE START OF ALL CHAPTERS.
All rights to 'Gossip Girl'; plots and characters belong to the author Cecily Von Ziegesar as well as TV Producers Josh Schwartz & Stephanie Savage. I only claim ownership of my original characters. And while they are part of the Rockefeller family, and mentions of the family's infamy and status will be made, any mentions of them are purely fictional and none of the characters that comprise the family are based on the true-life family.
"Who has time to make up stories when the truth is so much more interesting?"
September
There were only five hundred and thirty-six students admitted, and currently enrolled between Constance Billard and St. Judes. Annually they accepted no more and no less.
Upon applying, each hopeful prospect was placed through an intense screening with both their academic and personal records being meticulously examined.
Basically, you had to be involved in lots of extracurriculars and have an incredibly high GPA. Or, your parents needed to have deep pockets and donate lots of their money to improving the school.
With its capacity set at five-hundred and thirty-six that allowed one-hundred and thirty-four spots for each grade level. Split that equally amongst Constance and St. Judes and that left exactly a total of sixty-seven spots available for every grade level at each school.
Boasting not only low acceptance rates, and therefore small classroom sizes, but also the highest amount of Ivy-League Acceptances for their seniors, Constance Billard and St. Judes was easily considered one of the most exclusive private educations offered in Manhattan.
And Jenny Humphrey was lucky enough to secure herself one of the sixty-seven spots in Constance's freshman class.
Sometimes it really all felt like a dream.
Sure, she may be one of the token scholarship kids and have to get up earlier than all her peers so that she can catch the subway, and not miss the VIA, to school. But it was worth it to be able to attend such an elite school in the heart of the Upper East Side. Sometimes the expected course-load could be daunting, but she was fully willing to put in all her spare time and risk her mental state to keep up. Nothing would cost her this scholarship. It was the opportunity of a lifetime.
It all left her feeling overwhelmingly grateful but also unworthy. She went to school with the children of politicians, actors, and multi-billionaire CEO's. Who was she? The daughter of a washed-up Rockstar from the nineties who ran a barely profitable art gallery.
She hadn't always been ashamed of her father though.
Growing up Jenny had been a complete daddies girl, to her Rufus was the end all be all. But things had changed rather recently as she became more exposed to the world around her. It was a world that felt lightyears away and right at her fingertips all at the same time. It was a world, hers for the taking if she played her cards right. Which is why she was trying so incredibly hard to get into Blair's good graces.
The prior summer Jenny had spent almost all her free time learning everything there was to know about the social hierarchy of Constance through the most reliable of sources, Gossip Girl. And all roads led to Blair Waldorf.
She was the undisputed Queen Bee of Constance Billard and getting into her good graces and posse was almost as difficult as getting into the school itself. Blair kept her social circle small and very tight. It was near impossible to get in unless you were handpicked by Blair herself. But Jenny had managed an in through the timeless act of bartering. Handwriting Blair's Kiss on the Lips invitations had not only scored her an invite but it got her foot in the door as well.
Jenny Humphrey was in no way considered a friend of Blair's but she was happy to play the role of handmaiden for now. That is until she could potentially climb her way up higher. Maybe wanting to one day be Queen herself was a bit too ambitious... but there was also a time when she was sitting in a hot public school classroom in Brooklyn and now she was here.
Anything seemed possible now.
Who was to say that she couldn't one day be Queen J...
But for now, she was just Jenny Humphrey the library book runner.
Blair had given Jenny several books to return, and once the other girls had heard they all added their own. By this point, the stack of books in Jenny's arms towered over her petite frame. She could hardly see where she was going and as she turns the corner, Jenny walks directly into a Senior girl.
"Watch it!"
Upon impact Jenny is instantly jolted from her inner thoughts and the several books she's carrying tumble loudly to the ground. In the distance, she can almost vaguely hear someone 'shh' her.
She watches as the older girl continues on her way, never bothering to even give Jenny a second look. Let alone a helping hand.
The kids at this school moved like they were walking through her, as if she was nothing. To them, she knew that's what she was.
Letting out a small sigh she kneels down to recollect the many books she had dropped.
The other students' treatment of her was upsetting but also expected. She knew, from watching Dan navigate his last two years of high school, what she was up against. Didn't make it much better though.
Continuing her way through the expansive library she finds what seems to be the check-in desk.
"Hi, I'm returning these books."
Despite her sweet and friendly demeanor, the librarian doesn't even bother to spare Jenny a glance as she points to a metal cart a few feet away.
"Thank you..." Her words come out as no more than a whisper, her confidence wavering ever so slightly.
As Jenny approaches the cart she realizes it's in complete disarray. The R's are with the B's and V's are with the G's. It was all a mess. Despite knowing it wasn't her responsibility and that her kind gesture would go completely unnoticed Jenny kneels down in front of the cart and begins to organize the books by their codes.
"You are really making her life easier."
Sheepishly looking up, surprised anyone is acknowledging her at this point, Jenny feels her cheeks begin to rapidly heat up as she meets eyes with Odette Rockefeller.
Ever since she was little anytime Jenny got slightly flustered she'd break out in splotches of crimson red. 'Don't do this right now.' She commands herself as she tries her hardest to play it cool.
Realizing she's been silently staring back up at Odette, Jenny scrambles for something quick to say, "Yeah you know me, I'm here to make people's lives easier." She gestures to the stack of books to her side as a means of explanation.
Poor thing was obviously doing a standard book run for Blair and the other girls and now, for some reason, she had taken it upon herself to reorganize the entire returns cart. It was sort of pathetic, but mainly it made Odette feel a little bad for the girl. "Well, you should save your kindness for people that deserve it."
Too long of a beat passes before Odette continues.
"I'm pretty sure that in her spare time Miss Congeniality over there," Odette jabs her thumb in the direction of the librarian, "eats the souls of small children. She's really the worst."
Despite her talking about the librarian Jenny can't help but wonder if Odette's initial thought was of Blair.
It was no secret that Blair was especially horrid to the underclassmen girls. They were minions in training and not all of them would make the cut. Either they'd survive her and earn their spot amongst her ranks, or she'd break them. And most often times she broke them. But even though she could be awful at times Jenny truly had the utmost respect for Blair.
She was everything Jenny wished she could be.
"Does it say something that Ms. Groff is actually not the rudest person I've encountered so far?" Jenny has to laugh a little at this because it was true. High school girls could out-mean cranky librarian ladies any day.
"It says something. But nothing I didn't already know." Odette was popular but that didn't make her immune to her share of mean girl antics. Certainly, her experiences paled in comparison to Jenny's however. "I wouldn't stay and work on that. But I also wouldn't have ever started it to begin with so to each their own I guess. I'll see you around." Tossing Jenny a small smile Odette turns around and begins to walk away.
Hesitating for a moment Jenny debates her next move but ultimately knows it's her only choice. "Hey Odette, wait up!" Pushing herself up off the ground Jenny hurries to catch up with her. "I wanted to talk to you... about the other night... at th- at the party." As the words find their way out of her mouth she begins to feel increasingly more sick to her stomach.
'Party...'
Odette had been attempting to block most of the events of that night out, but Jenny was staring at Odette wide-eyed and she could clearly see that her neck was beginning to break out in what looked like hives, "Oh, that..."
Now was certainly not the time to admit it, but Dan was thankful he had stumbled across Odette.
He was someone that prided himself on his ability to be incredibly self-sufficient but in this instance, there was no way he could handle this alone.
Serena had tagged along, but she didn't know the full extent of anything. Dan had just told her that Jenny was having issues with a girl. Now that he knew the truth he especially didn't want her to know.
He knew Serena was in no place to judge his sister, but 'my sister is high on ecstasy' doesn't make for the best first date story either. For Jenny's sake, and possibly his own, he wanted the least amount of people to know as possible.
That's where Odette really came in handy. She was incredibly discreet.
As she guided him through the hoards of party-goers she would stop every so often and hug on some girl, or boy, and whisper something in their ear. As Dan watched each interaction he couldn't help but admire, and slightly envy, how she commanded attention.
This was a party, people were getting into all sorts of trouble and having fun, but as soon as Odette approached them they would all drop what they were doing to give her their full attention and talk to her for a bit before pointing her in the direction of the next person. Nobody ignored her, nobody dared blow her off.
Dan could only ever dream of getting acknowledged like that...
After talking back and forth with a boy Dan recognized from his Trigonometry class Odette turns back to Dan, "Okay, I think I know where to find her."
"Great! Let's go." Dan gestures for her to get moving but notices she only stares back at him with a very serious-like expression.
"Before I take you to her I need you to promise to go easy and stay calm. Chances are she didn't know what she was getting herself into, and even if she did when she comes down she's going to hate herself. She doesn't need her big brother being a dick about it too."
Anger flashes across Dan's face for a moment.
Who was Odette to tell him how to handle his own sister? But he tries to remind himself to stay calm.
He knew she was right.
Besides, there was plenty of time to lay into Jenny once she was on the other side of all this.
"You act like I'm judgmental or something?" Dan attempts a joke, but it fails completely. "I'll be cool."
"Now Dan, let's not go that far. I'm not asking you to do the impossible here. All I said was to stay calm." Odette rolls her eyes as she turns back around and leads Dan further away from where the party was happening and up one of the stairwells.
As they trekked all the way up to the rooftop entrance Dan could feel his nerves multiplying by the second.
He had never done drugs, beyond taking a hit out of Vanessa's older sister's bong from time to time. He didn't know what to expect.
MDMA seemed like one of those drugs that only 'druggie-type' people did, how did his little sister fall into it so casually? He knew that was a question for another time but it was the only thing he could think about, beyond hoping that she was safe.
"Remy!"
An incredibly handsome middle eastern boy turns around and smirks to Odette before walking up to greet her.
"Rocky, babe, you're just in time for some fun."
Handsome, British, and tall. Very tall.
Dan quickly noted that this guy was over a foot taller than Odette. He had to basically kneel down to plant a kiss on her cheek.
"Tempting, but I can't stay. My friend here is looking for his sister." Turning to Dan she gestures between the two boys, "Dan Humphrey, Remy Almasi."
As the two exchange a cautious handshake Dan is able to get a proper look at him. He had very sharp, dark features. But despite his clean looking demeanor, there was something deeply unsettling about this person. Dan's gut instinct told him that this guy was trouble, and the fact that his search for Jenny had led him here was concerning to say the very least.
"His sister is a cute little blonde and I have it on pretty solid authority that she got drugs from you."
Remy raises a thick brow at her and scoffs, "Lots of cute little blonde's do. Yourself included."
"I'm not exactly blonde. I'm more of a...what's the name of it?" Odette attempts to clarify, but as she hears Dan clear his throat next to her she decides to drop it for now, "Nevermind, doesn't matter. I know you know who I'm talking about so why don't you just tell me where she is and we'll be on our way?"
Odette watches as Remy rubs at his sculpted jaw for long a moment as if he was really trying to recall. But then he only responds with a simple, "I don't remember."
"Great. Thanks for the help, Odette." Dan lets out an exasperated breath as he walks back to the propped open door.
"That's too bad. I was really hoping you'd be more help." She fights the urge to slap the smirk growing across his chiseled face, "It's funny, you don't remember things, but I remember everything. So, I guess now I'll just have to tell everyone about that night at Chuck's? You know, when you got really, really, drunk and told him you wanted to give him a rim job? Among other things..."
Dan had just approached the door, his hand on the doorknob when he heard those last words come out of Odette's mouth. Since his back was to them he knew he didn't have to hide his facial expressions but he still tried his hardest to not let his jaw drop.
"Wow, you're going to shame me for my sexuality? I didn't take you as homophobic."
Odette shakes her head before giving him a sympathetic smile, "I'm not. Fuck boys, fuck girls, fuck both, you do you, man. But, I'm pretty sure your religion isn't quite as understanding. It'd be such a shame if word of your...preferences...got back to your father. He probably wouldn't even be able to show his face at Mosque from the shame of it all."
At this revelation, Remy bites down hard on his lower lip before chuckling, "Hm, you really are a twat, Rockefeller. But I suppose game recognizes game."
"I really am." Despite him using the word to hurt her Odette remains completely unbothered, "So then, where's his sister Rim-y?"
Once Remy had told them everything he knew Dan and Odette left the roof and headed in the direction of where Remy had claimed he left Jenny.
"Are we going to talk about what just happened? Because I'm not sure how I feel about it. I mean, extorting someone by using their sexuality and religion seems pretty messed up."
Odette stops descending the stairs and turns back to Dan, "Whoa, I'm not prejudiced, Dan. Which I know, that's exactly what a prejudice person would say. But seriously, I don't care where a person comes from, what color their skin is, or if they're gay or not. But a piece of shit is still a piece of shit regardless of what they believe in? Remy is not a good guy and he doesn't play nice either. You should know by now that in this world it's fuck, or be fucked over." Pausing for a moment Odette shrugs, "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable or offended you in any way, but I have a little sister too. I'd do anything for mine, and I know you'd do anything for yours too. That's what was in my arsenal so I used it."
Dan studies Odette before responding, "You're right, I would." He knew she wasn't being malicious, she was just trying to help him save his sister. But the lengths his peers went to to get what they wanted never ceased to amaze him.
It didn't take long for them to find Jenny. Remy had all but spelled it out for them.
"The girl's bathroom, seriously? We went through all this just for her to be in the bathroom?"
"Dan," Odette turns to him with a wary expression plain on her face, "I don't know exactly what's going to be happening in there. So why don't you just hang back and let me get her and I'll bring her to you."
As much as Dan wanted to fight her on this he was pretty nervous of what he might see. He had no clue what kind of state Jenny was in, he just wanted to know she was safe and to get her home.
"Why don't you go and fetch a cab and I'll meet you out front with her?"
Without saying a word Dan nods and quickly heads towards the front entrance of the venue.
As Dan retreats Odette pushes the bathroom door open and is instantly hit with deja vu of earlier in the night when she brought Chuck in here.
"Jenny?"
She calls out for the girl knowing full well that she won't respond. But she hopes that if people hear that she's looking for someone they'll be less weirded out by her looking in the cracks of the stalls.
Most of the stalls seem to be being used for their intended purposes, but a low groan was coming from the farthest, handicap-accesible, stall. The same stall she had lured Chuck into only mere hours before.
As she reaches for the door handle she realizes it's locked.
Peering through the small crack in the side of the stall she can't really make out who's in there, but she does see blonde hair so she knows she has to go for it.
Looking down at the tiled floor she realizes there is only one way to get into this locked stall. Taking a deep breath and doing a quick sign of the cross, Odette gets down on her knees and crawls across the dirty floor and under the stall door.
"Oh my god!" Once she squeezes through she finally has a clear view of what's going on in this particular stall.
Jenny is seated on the open toilet seat, her eyes closed and her head only propped up because she's leaning back against the wall. Her dress is pulled down to her belly button and her bra is completely off, exposing her breast.
Standing in front of Jenny is a guy Odette vaguely recognizes from Dalton, with his pants and boxers down between his ankles.
He hadn't even noticed Odette crawl her way into the stall he was entirely focused on Jenny's exposed body as he rubbed one-off.
"What the fuck is wrong with you!" Odette shoved him roughly to the ground before starting to lay into him. "Unconcious girls are so sexy, right?! You worthless low-life." Every one of her slaps and punches landed and he quickly brought his hands up to defend his face. "Oh, and look. You're stupid too," Odette comments as she pushes herself up off the ground and draws back her leg just enough before kicking him as hard as she can in his groin. "that's hoping you can't ever procreate."
As the pervy Dalton boy groans in agony, Odette steps over him and looks around for Jenny's missing bra.
Unable to locate it she opts to just pull her dress back up. She was going home anyway, and Odette really wanted to get them both out of here before the guy on the ground got his strength back, and possibly called for backup.
"Come on Jenny." Odette slaps her porcelain-like cheeks a little in an attempt to wake her up. It works, but barely.
Supporting almost all of Jenny Humphrey's body weight on her Odette makes her way out of the crowded bathroom and through the party.
Noticing that people were starting to stare Odette laughs, "I've got to call her driver, she is SO drunk!"
That story seemed to suffice most of the nosey passersby as they stopped staring at Jenny and focused their attention back on the party.
Almost as soon as she stepped foot out of the door Dan was there to take the majority hold of Jenny in his arms, "Shit."
As Odette moves to open the cab door for him she sees the clear look of distress on his face.
"Do you mind if I tag along? Not really in the party mood anymore. Besides, cab fare from the Upper West Side to Brooklyn is probably a bitch, I can charge it to my card?"
"My mind is kind of spinning right now so I could probably use the company, and it doesn't look like my sister will be much of that." Dan carefully maneuvers Jenny into the backseat, being extra careful not to bump any part of her body against the car as to not disturb her. As if it could in her state.
"I'll get it on the other side so that Jenny is between us. That way if we hit a pothole or something her head isn't banging against the window or something." Odette offers, already walking that way.
"Hold up," Dan takes hold of her by her elbow, "This street is really busy and people drive like maniacs, I don't want you to get hit. Why don't you get in on this side?" Holding the door for her he waits for her to get in completely before shutting it and hurrying to the other side.
After telling the driver their address and getting situated Dan sits in silence for what feels like a long time.
He was racking his brain trying to figure out what happened tonight, and why Jenny let this happen.
"I doubt it'll make you feel any better," Odette finally breaks the silence, "But Jenny is definitely not high on MDMA. She might've thought that's what she was taking but it's pretty obvious she was roofied..."
At this revelation, Dan stares down at his sister.
He was suddenly so tempted to scoop her up and cradle her in his arms just like he used to when they were little and she'd fall and scrape her knee.
There was so much he wanted to protect her from and he couldn't. Tonight was a very clear indicator of that.
"That Remy guy you think?"
"Yeah. Like I said, piece of shit."
Dan can feel the sensation of tears beginning to build. He wasn't sad, well maybe a little bit. But he was mainly pissed. His fourteen-year-old sister had been given the date-rape drug at a charity event. Sure, it was an unsupervised, alcohol-fueled party only masquerading as a charity event, but still.
She didn't deserve this, no girl did. And unfortunately, in this world especially, this was a common occurrence.
Rich boys that were given everything they've ever wanted can't take no for an answer. They feel entitled to whatever they want, including underage girls, and so they roofie them and take them by whatever means necessary.
Dan wasn't so unaware. He heard the boys in his classes talk about their wild weekends.
It alarmed him the amount of them that would so openly talk about using roofies as a means to get action from the more frigid girls but it hadn't struck him this hard until it was Jenny on the receiving end.
"I'll never know what happened to her and she probably won't either. That really just eats at me."
Odette wondered if she should tell Dan what she saw. But it didn't feel right...
Jenny was the one who had been assaulted, she would tell her but then it was Jenny's choice to tell Dan and whoever else. Besides, Dan already looked pretty broken up and she didn't want to push him over the edge.
"The good thing is, she's safe now. She's with her brother and soon she'll be in her own bed and be able to recover. You can't think about all the what-if's right now, you'll drive yourself crazy. For the time being, just focus on being comforting to her in whatever way she may need."
Dan nods in acknowledgment but says nothing further and they ride the rest of the way in silence.
Once the taxi reaches its stop Dan pulls Jenny in his arms and carries her out of the car. Before heading into their building however, Dan turns back to the cab, "Odette?" He waits for her to roll the window down and look at him, "I don't think I would have been able to find Jenny on my own. Actually, I know I wouldn't have. If it weren't for you, I don't know what could have happened. So, thank you."
"Of course, as I said, I have a little sister too. I get it." The two exchange a look before Dan turns and begins to walk away, still holding Jenny in his arms.
"Oh, Dan!" Odette calls after him suddenly remembering something important that he had forgotten in the mess of everything, "Make sure you call Serena in the morning and explain because I'm sure she's feeling pretty stood up right about now. You left her in the literal lion's den."
Dan closes his eyes as his fuck-up fully dawns on him. Years he's been silently pining for Serena and when he scores his first semi-date with her he completely blows it. "Thanks..."
"Obviously, I don't remember much. But Dan clued me in on what he could, and I'm honestly just really embarrassed about the whole thing." As Jenny speaks her head drops and she won't make direct eye contact with Odette.
Odette knew this conversation was coming, but that didn't make it any less unpleasant. "Jenny... there's something that happened that I really think you should know."
"I know." Jenny's bottom lip quivers as she speaks as if she was fighting the urge to cry, "I mean I don't know-know. But I know enough. And what I don't, I think I'd rather not. At least for now."
Odette doesn't say anything right away, taking care to fully process what Jenny was saying and asking of her before she responds. "I understand. If you ever change your mind though, you know where to find me."
"Thanks. You know, for all your help and also not telling anyone. I don't know how I didn't make the top page for Gossip Girl, but I have to think that was your doing. Mainly because the only other person who cared is Dan, and he definitely doesn't have your pull."
Odette says nothing to this but gives Jenny a very telling wink before heading back in the direction she came from.
As soon as she's out of Jenny's line of site Odette wraps her arms around herself, in an attempt to comfort herself, and releases a shallow breath. Their talk hadn't made her feel any better, but that was life sometimes.
Sometimes you had to bear the emotional weight of someone else's trauma so that they didn't have to.
This was precisely why she didn't go out of her way to help people.
This sucked.
October
J.D Rockefeller was a man of structure. He relied heavily on routine and stressed punctuality above all. He was a busy man and his time was precious, and anyone that didn't respect his time didn't warrant his attention. He held everyone to this standard.
Everyone except for his youngest daughters, who despite their utter disregard for punctuality he loved unconditionally.
Most of the time.
Odette was really pushing his patience today though.
Releasing a heavy sigh, he looks down at his Patek Philippe watch for the sixth time in the last five minutes. "We did agree on eight o'clock did we not?"
Coco was currently in a texting frenzy as she rapidly replied to her group message with Kati and Iz. They all couldn't stop talking about the recent drama between Blair and Serena during Ivy Week. But at her fathers' question, she spares him a short glance and shrugs before returning her focus to her phone.
One daughter was late, the other was completely absorbed in her phone, and he was starving.
J.D flagged down one of the various servers moving around the busy restaurant, "I'm still waiting on my other daughter but we'll go ahead and order the Oceans La Tour... that's the three-tier tower correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"Okay, we'll do that and then..." J.D scans over his menu one last time before handing it off to the server as he finishes, "I'll get the ribeye, medium rare, with a side of the roasted rainbow carrots. Coco?"
The youngest Rockefeller doesn't even bother to look up at the server as she replies, "Chicken. No Leeks."
"Yes, mam."
"I'm so late, I know. I'm sorry!"
Odette leans down to be eye level with her father and plants a big kiss on his cheek.
Despite his previous annoyance with her, J.D's slight grin tells her that she's forgiven for her blunder.
As she begins to slip off her mink coat she asks, "What's been ordered?" And without missing a beat their server takes the coat from her and drapes it across the back of her seat before pulling her chair out for her as he reads off the table's appetizer and entree choices.
"Yum! I'm going to add a spicy tuna roll to the appetizers, and for my main course, I'll take the Chilean Sea Bass with a side of parmesan truffle fries. And can you just bring an entire bottle of your sparkling water?"
"Absolutely. Is there anything else I can get for the table?"
"I'll take another seven and seven, thank you." As the server leaves the table J.D directs his focus on Odette, "Thank you for finally gracing us with your presence."
"I said I was sorry." Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear she bats her eyes innocently at her father, "The pharmacy was giving me a bit of an issue when I went to refill my prescription."
At this revelation, J.D's brows furrow in confusion, "Didn't you just get that refilled a week or so ago?"
"No." Her answer is short. Probably too short. Glancing over to her sister, Odette quickly racks her brain for a conversation change, "Has Coco caught you up on all the latest drama at school?"
"Nope. But I caught him up on what a monster you've been to me." Setting her phone down, finally, Cortney looks up and gives her older sister an icy stare.
Waving Coco's concerns off with little thought Odette turns her attention back to her father, "Little sisters are the worst, I have no clue how you did it with two, daddy."
At this J.D can't help but chuckle. Since they were little the two girls had always been at each other's throats. Some things never really change. "You'd be surprised."
"Have you talked to Nonni recently?" As their server returns with her sparkling water Odette shoots him a grateful smile, "I went to church with her a few Sundays ago. Early morning service too. And that was the morning after a huge party so you should be very impressed."
"Ah, did you need to make a confession?" Most fathers would not be impressed or want to hear, about their fifteen-year-old daughter's party lifestyle. But J.D was not like most fathers.
Odette and Coco were the youngest of his six children and therefore got away with the most. He was much younger when he had his older four and was in turn much stricter. But by this stage in his life, he had somewhat checked out on being a proper dad. He preferred the role of a friend. Unfortunately, so did their mother and this left the girls with no real parental figures. J.D would justify it because both girls acted much older than they were, but deep down he knew he was doing his children a great disservice.
At her fathers' question, Odette forces a smile, 'Well, I did sprinkle cocaine across my chest for Chuck Bass the night before...' "Of course not. I just know she likes for us to try to attend with her from time to time."
"Yeah, I'm sure she loved that." J.D's mother, Vivianne, was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, and despite living in Manhattan all these years she had truly retained those southern values. Especially in regards to family and God. "I haven't seen her in a while, I should probably make more of an effort."
Odette adored her grandparents. So much so that she probably spent more time with them than her own parents. "It's okay. You're a busy guy, I'm sort of surprised you were even able to do dinner with us."
This change of conversation had piqued Coco's interest and she quickly adds in, "Me too. I thought you had standing dinners with Lily on Wednesdays?"
Both girls were very aware of their father's notorious behavior. He had charmed his way into many Upper East Side mothers' beds. Both single and married. His latest flavor of the month had been Lily Van Der Woodsen.
With Eric in Miami and Serena at boarding school, Lily had all the time in the world for J.D. But as with all the women before her, his attention always drifted elsewhere.
"Lily is an exceptional woman." J.D smirks to himself as he reflects on his time with her, "But, she wants more than what I can give at this point in time. We mutually agreed to remain good friends. Besides, she was seeing someone else and I suspect she was more interested in him anyway. What about you two, seeing anyone special?"
Coco scoffs before replying bitterly, "Not if Dette has anything to say about it."
"Are you actually being serious right now?" Odette gives Coco her hardest stare, determined to not let her break eye contact, "He said special. Chuck Bass is not that."
"I'm sure he would say the same about you." Coco bites back as the server returns to the table and presents them with their appetizers.
"Thank you." J.D nods to the young man before reaching for an oyster. He wasn't really sure what his girls were fighting about now, but he had learned long ago not to attempt to intervene lest he be accused of choosing sides.
"I'm sure he would. I'm sure he would also say the same about any other girl in the world, including you. Because he's an asshole who doesn't care about women in general."
As Coco looks at her sister she sees nothing but red. Just because Chuck had thrown Odette aside didn't necessarily mean he would do that to her.
Odette had a serious older sister complex and seemed determined to not let Coco live her own life and find things out for herself. It was getting increasingly more irritating.
Besides, she had heard from several mutual friends that Odette was still hanging out over there from time to time, and Coco couldn't help but wonder if Odette was really looking out for her, or looking out for herself. "If he's so terrible why are you over there all the time?"
Odette loses a bit of her confidence, taken off guard by Coco's accusation. "I'm not over there all the time. But jealousy really ages a person Coco so if I were you I'd chill out. Looks like you're already getting wrinkles right there." As she finishes she pokes her freshly manicured finger between Coco's eyebrows and pushes her head back before preparing for whatever retaliation Coco was sure to fire back at her for this.
"Girls," Sensing that the situation was rapidly accelerating J.D finally calls for both his daughters' attention, "I want to enjoy a nice dinner with you both, can you maybe save the fighting for when you're home, with your mother? Let it be her problem please?"
Neither girl says anything, they were both stubborn to the bone and never one to fully back down, but they both resign to digging into the large seafood spread before them. For their fathers' sake at least.
Besides, Oceans was one of the best restaurants in the city and it would be tragic to let all this wonderful food go to waste.
"Just the guy I was looking for."
"Uh..." Dan's eyes shift nervously as he closes the book he was previously studying to see who had suddenly approached him, "What's up.. Odette?"
It was a Wednesday which meant he was expecting a 'pop quiz' in his American Literature class. He could argue with his teacher that using the term 'pop quiz' was incredibly redundant when after over a month into classes they always, and only ever, happened on Wednesdays. But Dan had always had a strong need to be liked by his teachers. Especially in a school like this where the other students wanted nothing to do with him. The literature puns Mr. Townsend told him each day were some of the only social interactions he received here at school on any given day.
That was until Serena came along.
Sure, things had gotten off to a rocky start but they were slowly but surely figuring it out. Kind of. There was the elephant in the room; their vastly different worlds. But surely other people had overcome worse?
Serena was so perfect in his own eyes it made him feel like he needed to walk on eggshells.
As early on as things still were he was constantly worried he'd do something to blow it all. Again.
Sure, they had managed to work through the early onset drama. But if other things started to happen would they be so lucky?
There was also a very real possibility that at any given moment Serena could realize Dan just wasn't very interesting and leave his life as quickly as she entered it. This was a big fear of his but he tried desperately to not give it power over him.
This blossoming romance was both exciting and terrifying all in the same beat.
Shoving his backpack and some books over Odette promptly plops down next to him, "I was running through some last-minute details and realized I never heard back from you about my birthday party?"
If he was being honest, he had completely forgotten about the invitation she had slipped him a couple of weeks back. Mainly because he thought it might have been a joke.
"Serena's going, so I kind of figured you would be coming together?"
Blair hadn't shut up about 'how weird' the thought of Dan and Serena were. Odette, as with most things that bothered Blair, didn't see the big deal. Or at the very least, didn't care enough to. But, she did need a final headcount for her upcoming party.
"It's two weeks from Saturday, so are you coming or what?"
Dan watches as Odette taps her monogrammed pen against her planner, impatiently waiting for his answer. "Two weeks from Saturday? Like, as in Halloween?"
"Well, I mean, duh. That is my birthday..." Odette narrows her eyes at him slightly.
Everyone knew her birthday fell on Halloween.
That was sort of very telling about who she felt she was as a person.
"Do you have a better offer? Big night of passing out candy to little Brooklynite tricker treaters or...?"
Dan can't help but cough as he tries to stifle a laugh. Somehow Odette being brought into the world on the 'scariest day' of the year made perfect sense.
At her second comment, he can't hide his grimace. He did, in fact, make plans with his dad to pass out candy to the tricker treaters in their building. But, if Serena was going to this party then, "Yeah I'll be there."
"Perfect." Patting his knee Odette pushes herself off the benched seat. Before walking off she quickly turns back around to add, "Make sure you're in costume or security won't let you in."
"You're joking..." Dan hadn't dressed up for Halloween since he was eight.
"Of course, I'm not. I don't joke when it comes to Halloween you weirdo?" shaking her head in disgust Odette hurries off in search of the next person on her list. She had a few other people she needed confirmation from by the end of the day.
"You're the one having a costume-themed birthday party, but yeah sure I'm the weirdo." Dan had started off trying to yell after her, but it was obvious she couldn't hear him.
He could feel the judgmental stares of his peers around him and can vaguely make out someone saying 'what a loser' under their breath.
"But uh I'm the one talking to myself." Clicking his tongue to the roof of his mouth he gathers his books and heads off to his class, eager to put himself out of his own self-induced misery.
He needed to prepare himself for his quiz.
He also needed to find a Halloween costume, apparently.
This chapter was obviously somewhat of a filler. But everything, even the small details, all help to better build this world. I promise things will start to really take off in the next chapter!
As for the Jenny section, I hope that didn't offend anyone. In the first Gossip Girl book Jenny and Chuck get caught in a bathroom stall and I decided to lean on that for inspiration more so than how things went down in the show.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it.