GUYS, THIS IS A LONG CHAPTER. LIKE, MY LONGEST CHAPTER YET, BY FAR. I'M SO SORRY!
Things are really about to start progressing and I could not be more excited to share what is to come (hint: lots of scandalous drama, duh)! For now, here we are with chapter six, the Halloween chapter (part 1?). From the time I started planning out this story I knew I wanted to make a point of having the characters indulge in Halloween fun because that's something, we didn't *really* get to see in the show. So, I hope you all enjoy it!
For anyone that is curious, I've posted some pictures on Instagram to give insight on how each specific character's Halloween costume looks. 'Odette's' is the only one I took the time to photoshop. I was planning to try it for all, but that's hard work guys! I'm a mediocre writer, not a photoshop expert so I'm in no way claiming to be good...be kind lol. I also recently have posted character profiles for all the new, non-canon, characters that have been introduced(so far) so that you can see how I imagine them looking. I will continue to do this as more get introduced. It helps me flesh out this fictional version of the Rockefeller family more if I give them each a specific look... anyways, remember that you can find *all* of that, as well as videos, and picture promo/inspo at { gilded . ff } on Instagram(no spaces)
As always, thank you to all my reviewers; each one of you truly inspires me to continue to move forward and I can't thank you all enough for taking the time to leave me feedback. Taking the 30 seconds, or so, to leave a review will make a writer's entire week(sometimes month?), seriously! Same goes for everyone that follows or favorites, it's much easier to be inspired to update when you know there are people actually reading and enjoying. So from the depths of my soul, truly thank you all!
As always, a special shoutout to my friend greyspaces. Please go read her Gossip Girl series if you haven't yet. She's so so talented and in my humble opinion, we all are not worthy!
WARNING:
SOME VULGAR LANGUAGE, DRUG, AND ALCOHOL USE, LONG CHAPTER
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.
"Poor Nate was always on the verge of saying how he really felt, but he didn't want to make a scene or say something he might regret later. Instead, he kept quiet and let other people steer the boat, while he laid back and enjoyed the steady rocking of the waves."
ᴀʜ, ʜᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴇɴ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴅᴀʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀ ɪᴛ's sᴏᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ɪɴ ᴀɴʏ ғᴏʀᴍ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪsʜ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ᴊᴜᴅɢᴇᴅ. ᴡᴇʟʟ, ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀs ᴍᴜᴄʜ.
ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴏᴄᴄᴀsɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴀʟʟ ᴏᴜᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀ ʙɪʀᴛʜᴅᴀʏ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ?
ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴘᴘᴇʀ ᴇᴀsᴛ sɪᴅᴇs ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴏᴡɴ, ᴏᴅᴇᴛᴛᴇ ʀᴏᴄᴋᴇғᴇʟʟᴇʀ, ɪs ᴛʜʀᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴍᴀssɪᴠᴇ sᴘᴏᴏᴋʏ ʙᴀsʜ ғᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ sᴡᴇᴇᴛ sɪxᴛᴇᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ᴏɴ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀɪᴛʏ ᴀʟʟ ᴇxᴘᴇɴsᴇs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀɢᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢʀᴀɴᴅғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ʀᴏᴄᴋᴇғᴇʟʟᴇʀ's ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴀᴍᴇx. ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ᴀssᴜʀᴇᴅ ɴᴏ ᴇxᴘᴇɴsᴇ ɪs ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ʀᴏᴄᴋᴇғᴇʟʟᴇʀ ғᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ ɪs sʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʜᴜɢᴇ. sᴏ, ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄʜᴏᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ ᴏʀ ᴡʜᴏʀᴇ ʀᴏᴜᴛᴇ, ᴊᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ sᴜʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴅᴇᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ɪɴ ʜᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴇɴ ғᴜɴ ᴀᴛᴛɪʀᴇ ᴏʀ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ.
ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ, ɢᴏssɪᴘ ɢɪʀʟ ʟᴏᴠᴇs ʜᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴇɴ... ᴀ ᴅᴀʏ ғᴜʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛs. ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴇɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ'ʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴏɴ. ᴍʏ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴀᴅᴠɪᴄᴇ? ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴍɪᴅɴɪɢʜᴛ ʜᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴇɴ ɪs ᴏғғɪᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ʟᴇғᴛ ᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴋɪᴅ ɪɴ ᴀ sɪʟʟʏ ᴄᴏsᴛᴜᴍᴇ. sᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴇʀʏ ʙᴇsᴛ ᴏғ ɪᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ'ᴍ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ.
sᴘᴏᴛᴛᴇᴅ: 𝟻ᴛʜ ᴀᴠᴇɴᴜᴇ
ᴀ ᴄᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴ ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ʙᴏʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʏᴡᴀʀᴅ ʙᴀss-ᴛᴀʀᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ.
ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ: ᴡʜᴏ ɪs ɴᴀᴛᴇ ᴀʀᴄʜɪʙᴀʟᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʜᴜᴄᴋ ʙᴀss? [+ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄʜᴍᴇɴᴛ]
ɪ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴs ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏ ʟᴀᴛᴇ-ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ʙᴏʏs? ᴏʀ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ'ʀᴇ sᴄʀᴀᴍʙʟɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ʟᴀsᴛ-ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʙɪʀᴛʜᴅᴀʏ ɢɪʀʟ?
ᴊᴜᴅɢɪɴɢ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴛɪᴇʀ ʙᴀɢs ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴛɪɴɢ, ɪ'ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ...
ᴡɪᴛʜ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ, ᴡʜᴏ ɴᴇᴇᴅs ᴛʜᴇʜᴇᴀᴅᴀᴄʜᴇ ᴏғ ᴀ ʙᴏʏғʀɪᴇɴᴅ ᴀɴʏᴡᴀʏ, ᴏ?
xᴏxᴏ ɢᴏssɪᴘ ɢɪʀʟ
"Do you think Blair will be okay with the bracelet I picked?"
"I like how the gift is for Odette and you're asking if Blair will be okay with it." Chuck shoots his friend an incredulous look as they saunter down Fifth Avenue.
Today was rather busy. Despite the party not being till later that night, there were still steps of preparation in order. Picking up the pieces they had put on hold at Cartier was only the first on a long list.
Giving Chuck a sizable amount of side-eye, Nate shakes his head in dismay. Chuck had never had a girlfriend, at least not a serious one. Certainly, never one as firm as Blair. Still, it bothered him how dubious Chuck could be about his relationship anxieties. Especially as of late...
Things with Blair had never been very easy, but lately, their relationship felt like it was taking a lot more work for the same results as before.
For as long as he could remember, Nate had been pushed by everyone in his life to be with Blair. He was told constantly that she was his perfect match. But still, after all these years, he had a hard time seeing it.
And he had tried.
And tried.
And tried, for years now, to find any sort of real connection with Blair but over time he had reached the defeating awareness that maybe there was really nothing there? Besides the fact that they were rich kids living in Manhattan that ran in the same social circles, what did they really have in common? What did they really have to talk about that had any meaning beyond superficial appearances?
However, anytime Nate started to feel okay with this realization and confident enough to walk away from the relationship his parents, or Blair, would step in.
It's like they could sense that something inside Nate was stirring. That he was attempting to take control of his own life.
And none of them would have that for even a second.
It was like clockwork. Whenever he attempted to sit Blair down and talk she would ramble on about how difficult the last year had been with her father leaving, and Serena, and her eating disorder. She would then proceed to thank him for how wonderful he had been and tell him that she wouldn't have survived the last year without him. 'I don't know what I would do without you!' The whole thing was much more of a damsel in distress look for Blair than what she usually went with but then again, she knew exactly what she was doing and who she was dealing with. And it worked for her every time.
It wasn't always Blair though. Other times it was his mother.
Anne would practically gush about what a perfect girl Blair was for him. By perfect for him she obviously meant perfect for the family image, not that she would ever directly say it.
He had never seen his mother more animated than when she discussed his and Blair's future and he didn't have the heart to disappoint her by pointing out how unhappy he actually was in said relationship.
His father's tactic was perhaps the most hurtful, however.
He would engage Nate in discussions about his life, consisting of the usual things... school, sports, friends, girls. The two men would exchange stories and laugh at one another's expense. This would grow into a much more serious talk about Nate's future and how bright The Captain felt it was. He would beguile Nate with these ideas of all the possibilities of what his life could one day be. 'There's big things in store for you Nathanial, huge things.' And right as Nate was able to see it all so clearly for himself, Howard would throw in, 'Blair will be there guiding you every step of the way of course'.
Were those great things not possible without Blair? Did he need her to guide him 'every step of the way'? And if not her, would it then be someone else's responsibility? Did he truly believe Nate wasn't capable of accomplishing greatness on his own?
The lack of confidence his father seemed to have in his abilities was deeply hurtful.
It was disheartening to know that in both his parent's minds all roads to success for him, led firmly to Blair.
Like clockwork, he would begin to doubt himself once more. If the people who knew him best didn't think he could be successful on his own, or happy away from Blair, maybe they were right. Maybe what he mistook for misery was just happiness being morphed by his own struggles with anxiety and spouts of depressive moods.
Besides, it's not like Blair was a terrible girlfriend?
In fact, most looking from the outside would probably say Nate was the terrible boyfriend...
Blair cared about Nate, a lot.
She was always at his lacrosse games and soccer matches, sometimes she even went to the practices.
She had also been one of the first people to catch that he was dyslexic.
Most people had the misconception that Nate wasn't all that bright but Blair saw that he just needed some extra patience and tutoring, and she had given him that when he needed it most and continued to do so now. To this day she always helped him with his studies, and she always seemed to believe the best in him even when he couldn't. By most accounts, Blair was a great, supportive girlfriend.
And who was he?
He was the guy that had to get ridiculously stoned to be able to get through big events with her.
He was the guy constantly questioning the point of their relationship, to himself at least. He wasn't even brave enough to have that talk with her.
Worst of all, he was the guy who cheated on her, many times. Some of which she knew of, some she didn't.
But most recently, he had done the very worst thing he could possibly do to her and cheated with her best friend.
Unlike the other times, the other woman wasn't some random he picked up from a bar or a nameless girl from another school. This was someone she knew, this was someone close to her. This was Serena.
All the times before he made sure to not hook up with someone Blair knew, or could ever know. It was his attempt at protecting her, as ironic as that was. Blair had worked hard to establish herself as someone to be respected and how could she demand respect from her peers if they knew her own boyfriend didn't respect her enough to stay faithful? Or that she didn't even respect herself enough to leave him for it?
So for this reason, when he stepped out on her he always made the point to be extremely discreet.
Blair knew about some of the girls.
Chuck knew about most of them.
But outside of the three of them, besides the girls that participated, no one else knew anything for certain.
There had been rumors about it since forever, but nobody was ever able to confirm anything because Nate was extremely careful with who he chose for that exact reason. Especially with Gossip Girl and her many avid readers always watching. He had to take the extra time to ensure there was no way of his indiscretions getting out to the general public.
For this reason, he had rules he practiced like religion.
Things always went down somewhere very private, typically Chuck's suite, and phones were never allowed. This didn't stop some of the girls from reaching out to Gossip Girl after they left of course, but without solid proof, it was all hearsay.
But that time, when he decided to go there with Serena, he couldn't even be bothered to give Blair the respect of being careful. They did it in a public space, he didn't use a condom, and he didn't even think twice about doing it which is what scared him most.
He chose the person closest to Blair even though he knew it could get back to her, and despite knowing that he still really enjoyed it.
He felt more wanted and pleased in those forty minutes with Serena than he had from all the amateur handjobs Blair had ever given him, and he hated himself for that.
Nevertheless, even though he felt bad, a subconscious part of him seemed to know that this would be the one indiscretion she would finally not forgive him for.
It took time but he eventually gained the confidence to tell her the truth, knowing heartbreak was the only way they could both let each other go. Through that heartbreak awaited happiness for them both and that is what pushed him to finally tell her.
Yet to his surprise, like times before, she forgave him.
Which made him hate himself even more because it clearly showed he was the only one with the issue, not her.
She was happy. He made her unhappy with the stupid decisions he continued to make. He is what was making their relationship so miserable. She loved him. He might not really understand, or even always feel that love, but clearly it was there if she was always willing to forgive him time and time again.
Maybe it didn't really matter that they had nothing of substance to talk about, or that when he kissed her he didn't really feel much of anything at all.
It didn't matter that they never really laughed together unless they were in a group setting and it was someone else humoring them. Or that he enjoyed the touch of strangers more than he did hers.
None of that mattered because Blair always forgave him and that showed that she clearly cared for him in a way in which few others could. That's what did matter...
So, as with most things, he would end up shelving his concerns for awhile.
But those doubts never fully left his mind, and lately, they had really started to eat away at him more and more.
Mainly the same one. He tried his best to push it away and ignore it, but it kept slowly easing its way back into center focus.
'Ok, but are you actually happy?'
"I asked because I really don't want to upset Blair. Things are still pretty fragile and I'm walking on eggshells as is. I don't want to cause more issues by getting Odette a birthday gift that says something it shouldn't."
At Nate's flustered response Chuck can't help but snicker to himself. It wasn't often that he saw Nate lose his cool. "Nathanial, you act like you've purchased a box of magnums and an edible thong for her?"
"No, that's all you." he gives his friend a quick glance over before shrugging, "Well, maybe not the magnums part."
Chuck shoots him the finger as he pulls out a cigarette to light, "Very funny. Look, I'm going to say something people don't often tell you... You're overthinking. What could that bracelet possibly say besides the fact that you have good taste?"
Nate ignores the slight jab at his intelligence, or lack thereof as the joke implied, "Blair and Serena are friends again but Blair is definitely still on edge about everything. She already knows I went after one of her friends, what if she thinks this gift is too nice and takes it as me planning to go after Odette too? I just don't want drama tonight man."
"You guys just fixed things, I'm sure Blair knows even you wouldn't be that dumb. Besides Nathanial, everyone knows there are tiers to jewelry-giving. Rings are the grand gestures of commitment, necklaces are reserved for women you love, and bracelets are the friendzone of jewelry." He waves his hand dismissively as he talks.
"How do you come up with this stuff?"
"I didn't, it's universally known? If a girl wears your ring that's the highest form of lockdown, or commitment. A necklace is the gift of 'love'." At this thought Chuck pauses, a small smirk pulling at the corner of his lips, "You give a girl a necklace because you want to see it wrapped around her and want her to think of you when she wears it, which she will. Bracelets are nice. But just that. They're nothing very special and no real thought goes into them."
Nate looks down at the gift-wrapped bag in his hand, "Hey! I did put some thought into this? It's encrusted with her birthstone, which always happens to be her favorite color."
"Yeah well don't go saying all that to Blair or she really is going to think you want to fuck her."
"You're shit at giving advice, I hope you know that." Nate shakes his head in dismay at how unhelpful Chuck proves himself to be time and time again. "You know, you never showed me what you ended up getting for her?"
Chuck follows Nate's eye's to his own similarly gift-wrapped bag. He takes a long drag from his cigarette before shrugging and replying shortly, "A bracelet."
"Are you sure it's not a necklace?" Nate waggles his eyebrows mockingly at Chuck before promptly swatting away the exhaled smoke he shot his way in retaliation.
"Please. The only thing I'd give Odette to wear around her neck is a ball gag, or maybe even a nice shock collar."
At this comment, Nate's face drops. Chuck's lewdness was a part of who he was, it was his charm, but there were still times even after all these years of friendship that it still caught him off guard. "Jesus. You've got serious issues man."
"Sure," Chuck holds the door to the next store open for Nate and as he passes through adds, "but at least an insecure girlfriend isn't one."
"Touche..."
"Happy Birthday Lovey Dovey!"
"Thank you Nonnie." Odette practically fell into her statuesque grandmother's arms, fully allowing herself to be engulfed by the familiar warm embrace.
"You weren't waiting long, were you?" Vivianne raises a perfectly sculpted brow at her.
She had been, but she also didn't mind. Her grandparents were two of the only people on the planet she didn't mind waiting around on. "No, not at all." Looping arms with Vivianne they stroll through the grand foyer and towards the dining room.
David and Vivianne had several properties all over the state of New York but they called their townhouse on Madison Avenue, home.
Her grandparents' house was easily one of Odette's favorite places to be.
While certain rooms had been repainted, and floors had been redone, for the most part, the interior design hadn't changed much since she was a child. Or since her father was a child before her. Instead of getting rid of 'outdated' furniture and decorations, Vivianne had things repurposed or found a way to make it trendy once more. Their home was eclectic, everything came from different areas, and eras of their life.
Since she was a child Odette had found her grandparents home to be somewhat of a look into their souls. Their home was a representation of their very essence, beyond what the public knew of them. This is why, despite her never actually having lived there, she felt so at home.
"Oh Dove, I can't believe you're already sixteen. It feels like just yesterday you were a little thing, trying on my diamonds and attempting to strut around in my heels." As she reflects on simpler times Vivianne brushes some of Odette's hair out of her face before leaning in really close to whisper, "You were always my favorite."
Vivianne said this to all her grandchildren of course, but Odette always kind of knew that when she said it to her she meant it. "You're my favorite too, Nonnie."
"What's this? Trying to break an old man's heart?"
Looking over her shoulder Odette smiles as her grandfather walks out of his office to greet them, but her smile slightly drops as she sees Jordan follow shortly after him.
"Hey Pops."
"Happy Birthday kiddo." David pulls Odette in for a tight hug, planting a kiss on her forehead. His children would argue this was a sign of affection they rarely saw themselves and that he was getting soft with his old age but age had nothing to do with it, his grandchildren were what softened his typically hard exterior. They were the only ones to really get to see this kinder side to him.
He would never talk about it out loud, but this large family he had built with Vivianne was truly what he considered his biggest accomplishment. "You feel any older?"
"Oh definitely." Odette nods sharply before ruffling his perfectly combed hair, "Soon I'll be as grey as you."
"You better hope not." David laughs boisterously, running his fingers through his now messy hair in an attempt to settle it.
"I won't allow it." Vivianne interjects with a small laugh. It didn't matter how old she got, Viv refused to allow herself to go grey like her husband. She paid an exorbitant amount of money every other week to maintain her beautiful blonde hair. Maintaining beauty at any age was something she often would preach to the many women that comprised her family. Odette was a teenager, but still no exception.
"No Cort?"
The sound of Jordan's voice made Odette's skin crawl.
It was taking an impressive amount of self-restraint to not roll her eyes at his question. Her plan to ignore him was instantly shot.
"No." Her response is short and not very sweet. She offers no further explanation because frankly, her sister drama was really none of his business. Besides... "You're not staying, right Jordan?" Everyone in the room is instantly somewhat taken aback at Odette's abrupt change of topics.
"I wouldn't dream of imposing on your birthday brunch. I only came to drop some things off to the old man." Jordan pats David on the back before moving around Odette and Vivianne to head towards the door, "Oh," he turns back to face the trio, "Happy Birthday though, Odette. Sixteen's a big one."
She realized this was his attempt at playing nice, but she wasn't up for the game today. The things she would like to say to him were not appropriate to say in front of her grandparents so in an attempt to bite her tongue she presses her lips tightly together and nods curtly to him before finishing her walk towards the dining room. She didn't want to waste another precious moment of her day on the likes of Jordan Leakes.
"This spread is phenomenal guys, thank you." Odette sits down at her usual spot, across from her grandmother, with David in between them at the head of the table.
David settles into his chair, wincing slightly as he feels an all too familiar pain run through his chest. A clear sign of his deteriorating health.
Three years prior David had suffered from a heart attack while in the Hamptons. It was a media frenzy and everyone found out within an hour of it happening. Eight months ago he had another one, much more serious, and no one but Viv and his team of health professionals had the faintest clue.
His family had been so worried the first time, he didn't want to bring them any more stress. Plus, most days he was somewhat in denial about it all. He also wanted to ensure no one in the business world, or the general public would know. The Rockefeller name had always been big, but David put a lot of work into making it powerful, and with that came people always searching for the weak link in the Rockefeller chain. He didn't want to admit to himself that it might be him.
David had served as CEO to Chase Manhattan Bank for several years. He had been an instrumental force in helping build the current landscape of Manhattan both fiscally and figuratively. In the late nineties, he gave his position at Chase to J.D and shifted his focus to the newly formed 'ROCK COR.'
ROCK COR. had several divisions within it ranging from public and private real estate to global media, and they were still technically considered an oil conglomerate due to owning standard oil, in one way or another. David had always had big plans for growing the Rockefeller brand, but even he couldn't have imagined he would one day have a hand in every aspect of Manhattans professional world.
The Rockefeller's were everywhere. Charlotte was mainly a high-profile socialite but she married well. Her husband, Dean Reid, was a two-term Mayor of New York City who was currently waiting out his mandatory four-year break before running again, and with David's backing and influence, it was safe to say he'd win. David's youngest daughter Adrienne owned MOMA and curated Art from all over the world. J.D, while happy at Chase, was chomping at the bit for more. He wanted ROCK COR. but David wasn't ready to let go of that control just yet. He wasn't sure he ever would be.
But, David was getting older and all of his competitors were much younger and certainly used that to their own advantage. A lot of other powerful CEO's and media groups had been looking to push David out for some time now and we're waiting to watch the Rockefeller dynasty crumble. If they knew the state of his health it would be over for him. Over for all of them. For the greater good of the business, he knew he needed to carry on like nothing was wrong. But he was old, and he wasn't well.
David watches Odette, bright-eyed and picking at the different items of food. She was the epitome of health and youth. As special as this moment was, he couldn't help but wonder how many birthdays he had left to celebrate with her. "All your favorites."
"Yeah, this is my most special birthday tradition." Smiling to them both she reaches forward and takes hold of each of their hands, giving them a slight squeeze before resuming to fill her plate. "And these flowers?" She pauses, mid-reach for the ghost-shaped waffles, and lightly runs her finger along the edge of the crystal vase. "I think this is one of the most beautiful flower arrangements I've ever seen."
"Well, then I'm sure you will be keen to know that those flowers were actually a gift from Jordan and Ally." Taking a sip of her coffee Vivianne watches her granddaughter's face distort at this revelation.
It was obvious she wasn't a fan of the family publicist. But Jordan was exceptionally good at his job. A lot of people didn't particularly like the Rockefellers, the family had seen their fair share of scandal. But Jordan had worked hard at improving their image and he also served as a close confidant to David, which to him was priceless. In their minds, he was indisposable. Odette probably had the least to do with Jordan's work which made her disdain for him even more questionable. Viv had chalked it up to Odette being a stubborn teenager that didn't like having someone employed by her family tell her what to do from time to time. But, they had an image to uphold and Jordan got paid to do just that. Odette would just have to learn to deal with it.
'Why would they get me a birthday present? Surely just to kiss grandfather's ass some more.'
Noticing that a small note is attached to the flowers she grabs it and scans over the print. It read,
'Happy Birthday Odete, heart symbol Ally and Jordan.'
It was obvious from the misspelling of her name that the misses penned the card. She was clearly all silicone boobs and no brains because who would ever think to spell it like that. A jersey girl would, apparently. "It's a shame, they probably spent so much money on this and now it'll just wind up in the trash."
David clears his throat, giving Odette a very telling look. "I recall you just mentioning how beautiful they were?"
"I'm joking. They are." She throws her hands up in defense, giving David a gentle smile, "I'll make sure to send a thank you card."
Happy with this answer David bows his head to Odette ever so slightly before shifting his gaze to his wife, "Well Vivvy, do you want to lead us in prayer?"
"I want to do a special blessing too, Dove, since it's your birthday and all. We need to start sixteen off right."
The room falls silent as they all hang their heads and listen as Vivianne begins.
Odette wasn't incredibly strong in her faith, not in the way her grandmother wanted her to be at least, but she still found extreme comfort in hearing Vivianne recite prayers. Whether she believed in everything the Catholic Church taught was irrelevant, Vivianne was so devoted to her faith and Odette had to admire that about her.
Despite the fact that she really wanted to focus on the words her grandmother was saying all Odette could really think about was stupid Jordan and his clueless wife's beautiful gift. She hated that she loved the flowers so much, but she did. Obviously Mrs. Leakes had great taste. Maybe not in men, but certainly in floral arrangements.
Either way, she most definitely would not be sending them a thank you card.
"...Amen."
Tonight was a particularly chilly night for October, but that didn't seem to faze the hoards of party-goers waiting in the line wrapped around 583 Park Avenue.
For an unspecified reason, the security team was only allowing groups of five to ten people in at a time. Which surprisingly didn't seem to bother many of those left waiting in the cold in very revealing costumes.
In fact, the only person that seemed truly bothered was Dan Humphrey.
"All of this just for a party? This is stupid, I'm leaving."
As Dan moves to leave his place in line Jenny quickly takes hold of him by his arm and pulls him back, "Dan, we've already waited all this time. We're so close, just relax."
Normally she probably wouldn't care if Dan didn't want to buy into all this, in his own words, 'elitist bullshit'. But Rufus had made it pretty clear that she wouldn't be allowed to go if Dan didn't. So here they were.
"Serena will be so disappointed if you blow her off, again."
"Alright, let's not forget why I had to 'blow her off' in the first place." Dan instantly felt guilty as he watched Jenny's face fall in shame at the mention of her incident at the Kiss on The Lips party. In an attempt to lift her mood he looks over her homemade costume, "You did a really good job on your costume Jen." He didn't like how much of her mid-drift it showed, or the number of zippers located in all the most concerning areas. But he wasn't their dad. However, he knew Rufus wouldn't have been so pleased himself. Which is why Jenny had worn her Princess Peach costume from two years ago and changed at the gas station around the corner. Dan didn't love helping Jenny sneak things by their dad but he also wanted her to have fun, and at least if they were together he could keep an eye out.
Hearing Dan's compliment, Jenny's face lights up. The Bride wasn't her first choice of costume. But she knew her father wouldn't buy her the kind of costume she wanted to wear, and she also didn't think it was smart to spend money on something she was only going to wear once. Unlike her peers, she couldn't afford that luxury.
Sifting through the very back of her closet she had found a yellow jumpsuit that her mom had gotten her for Easter one year. Tailoring it a bit, and adding black trim down the sides all Jenny had left to do was splatter some fake blood across herself and suddenly her modest jumper was transformed into the classic costume. It had a 'generic version' look to it, but she had still managed to make it work.
"Thanks! You're costume..." Jenny's eyes scan her brother up and down as she tries to find the right words to say, "It's nice."
"That was underwhelming."
"Well no offense Dan, it just doesn't look like you put a lot of effort into your costume?" Jenny shrugged a bit, shifting her weight from one foot to another. They had been in line for over an hour and the anticipation was killing her, but there was only one more group ahead of them so she knew she just needed to be patient for a little while longer.
Dan looked down at his costume fully prepared to disagree with her assumption but to be fair, she wasn't wrong. He had long outgrown the Halloween tradition of dressing up. Even as a kid he had always found the whole thing kind of silly. This was mainly rooted in the fact he got teased every year for his costumes.
Once he was old enough to choose his own costumes, and go trick-or-treating alone, Dan had always dressed up as some of his favorite literary characters and authors. No one ever really got it and in turn, he was usually beaten up to some degree and his pillowcase of candy was always stolen.
Halloween had long ago stopped being fun for him and now being dressed up and surrounded by his peers, who either a. didn't know him or b. thought he was a loser, brought back all those old negative feelings.
Feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket he decides to see who texted him instead of arguing his choice of costume with Jenny.
To: Dan
From: Serena
Are you close? :)
Despite feeling extremely out of his comfort zone, he couldn't deny that the text from Serena lifted his mood a bit. She was the whole reason why he was doing this after all. He wouldn't put himself in these uncomfortable situations if he didn't know she was waiting for him on the other side.
As security allows the next group of seven people into the building Jenny and Dan move to the front of the line, "Finally."
"Hey man, we're not going to be able to let you in."
Dan looked over his shoulder to see who security might be talking to but all of the people behind him were caught up in their own conversations.
"Yeah, I'm talking to you."
Dan looks up at the bouncer to see him staring directly back, "I'm sorry?"
"We have orders. No one is allowed in without a costume."
Jenny closes her eyes for a moment, cursing her brother's choice of costume in her head. His inability to cut loose could be annoying from time to time, but she was really going to be upset if it kept her from this party.
"...Dan?"
The event space David had rented out for the night was well known amongst Manhattan's elite. In the past, this same building was used to host numerous charity and political events, but tonight the entire place had been transformed into a Halloween dream world.
The expansive first floor had been turned into a truly frightening haunted house with actors completely devoted to staying in character and scaring the hell out of everyone. This is why security had been instructed to only let small groups in at a time. Odette wanted to ensure everyone attending was completely surprised and more importantly, terrified. It might have been a bit mean to put everyone through such a scare, but it was Halloween and that was part of the fun.
Once, and if, the party-goers could make it through the haunted house they were granted access to the second floor where the actual party was happening. The screams of her frightened guest below were completely blocked out by the loud music and chatter of all of the people that had already made it to the party.
The wait staff were all dressed in intricate and traditional Halloween costumes and moving around the party offering all types of hors d'oeuvres, and more importantly, shots.
"Girls, let's toast!"
Serena, dressed in Brittney's iconic schoolgirl costume, stops one of the waiters, dressed as a Pirate, and begins to pass out all the shots to the surrounding group of girls. After handing Odette hers Serena raises the small glass up, "Here's to the birthday girl! I hope sixteen is way better for you than it was for any of us," The girls burst into a fit of giggles, all nodding in agreement, "but seriously, here's to you Dette! Thank you for allowing us all to be here and celebrate your fabulous self." With a wink to the birthday girl, Serena clinks her glass against the other girls and they all quickly knock their shots back.
A shudder runs down Odette's spine as she feels the liquor burn all the way down her throat. Despite it being her fourth shot of the night, the alcohol was not seeming to go down any easier. "Okay, that shot was awful but thank you."
Serena wraps an arm around Odette pulling her in for a side hug as they both laugh together but before she can say anything back the two girls are pushed apart,
"Why is Aspen Holloway here?"
Blair, dressed head to toe in Holly Golightly's bedtime attire, had put herself between the two girls but her attention was solely focused on Odette. Judging by her tightly crossed arms, and firey stare, she was not happy. All the girls had been laughing just a minute before but now they had all fallen completely silent.
"What..?" Odette hadn't heard Blair the first time, caught off guard by her sudden interruption.
"God, are you drunk already?" Blair couldn't refrain from rolling her eyes, already picturing having to end the night by holding back Odette's hair as she puked into a communal toilet.
"No...I just didn't hear you, B." Odette was taken aback by the harsh tone of Blair's voice. Everyone knew Blair was fully capable of being a bitch, but her hostility wasn't usually directed at Odette.
"I asked why is Aspen here?" Blair spoke very slowly making a point to emphasize each word.
Blair was being completely condescending, it was awkward, and everyone could feel it.
"Because it's my birthday and I can invite whoever I want?"
Odette wasn't used to Blair speaking to her with such an air of superiority, but Blair also wasn't used to Odette challenging her. Blair pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly before opting to drop the subject. For now. "Have any of you seen Nate?"
All the girls shook their heads. Despite the change of subject, there was still an awkward dead air surrounding the group.
Blair made direct eye contact with each girl waiting for any of them to say something of worth about literally anything. But, of course, no one did. They were all just a bunch of sheep and while that is what Blair preferred, sometimes it did get rather annoying. She couldn't help but wonder how these girls even remembered how to breathe without her having to tell them to do so. "Well, I think you all should be the first to know... tonight is the night." A triumphant smile begins to spread across her face as she talks but as she's met with blank stare it quickly falls, "Meaning, I'm going to take the next step with Nate." She bites this out, clearly once again perturbed by their incompetence.
"Congrats B." Kati raises her glass ever so slightly to the brunette.
"Wow, you're finally giving Nate head?" Hazel nods her head approvingly, readjusting her headband halo for the tenth time of the night.
"What? No." Blair's face twists in disgust, "I've told you guys, I don't do that. It's sickening."
The farthest Blair had ever gone with Nate was handjobs and some mild fingering, so it was easy to assume the next obvious step would be oral. Except, Blair found the idea of oral sex to be redundant. But she also had never been on the receiving end which might explain her lack of interest. She was probably one of the only girls on the whole Upper East Side that didn't want to give Nate Archibald a blowjob... it was comical, but also kind of sad.
Penelope's brows furrow for a minute before a devious smirk spreads across her face, only complimenting her choice of costume more so. "It's alright, B. It's not for everybody. You're vanilla, and that's okay."
Serena can't help but wince at Penelope's words, knowing that will make Blair's blood boil. As another wait staff passes by with more shots Serena stops him, "I'll take two of these. Thanks"
"I am not vanilla!"
"It's okay Blair, it's nothing to be ashamed of." Penelope shrugs tapping her freshly manicured red nails against her glass.
"Not all guys care about that." Hazel offers, but her tone is weak and it's clear that even she hardly buys the statement coming out of her mouth.
Penelope looks at her counterpart for the night and shrugs, "Yeah, I guess Nate's one of those guys?" That's definitely not what she had heard through the grapevine but...
Looking between the costumed devil and angel in front of her Blair lets out a sigh of defeat as she rubs at her temples, "It's not like I haven't tried, I just can't do it." The idea of putting her mouth on something urine comes out of was repulsive, to say the least. No matter how hygienic Nate was she just didn't have it in her.
Serena wraps her arms around her best friend in an attempt to comfort her, "It's not a big deal Blair. You and Nate have been together forever, it's obviously not important to him."
Odette was trying incredibly hard to not make a face at Serena's comment. It was nice that she was trying to make Blair feel better, but it obviously was somewhat of a big deal because Nate had stepped out of his relationship to get something that he wasn't getting from Blair, and he got that something from Serena herself. The reality of the situation was that Serena knew what Nate liked sexually more so than Blair.
"What's with the face?"
Pulled from her thoughts by Blair's question Odette struggles to keep eye contact with her, "N-nothing."
"No, you clearly were thinking something. So say it."
At this point, all the girl's eyes have shifted back to her, and Odette was feeling extremely put on the spot. She wouldn't, couldn't, tell Blair what she was actually thinking. But she also wasn't thinking quickly enough to come up with a valid sounding alternative.
"Oh look B, there's Nate!"
Serena nudges Blair, pulling her focus off Odette and towards Nate and Chuck as they come up the stairs.
Odette had never been so thankful for a save. Following everyone else's stare, she has to stifle a laugh as Nate approaches their group.
"Superman, sweetie? What are you, five?" Blair was obviously annoyed with his choice of costume but Odette didn't understand how she couldn't have expected this. This costume was so Nate Archibald.
"I think it's great," Odette comments, reaching out to poke at his padded muscles. "And you?" her focus shifts to Chuck, "Where's the pet tiger?"
Chuck smirks, "Happy Birthday."
"Thanks."
"I don't get it, what are you, Chuck?" Iz's face is puzzled as she looks over Chuck's white suit. Besides the fact that white suits were tacky, outside of Hamptons parties, Chuck didn't look all that different from his everyday self.
"Girl, seriously? Scarface, duh."
Coco approaches the group, drink in hand, but her eyes are completely focused on Chuck, "That's a great costume, Chuck."
Looking over the youngest Rockefeller's choice of costume Chuck struggles with the right thing to say, "And that's...that's a costume. Pretty Woman right?"
Her eyes light up, surprised but pleased that Chuck even knew the movie well enough to catch on, "Yeah, it's my all-time favorite movie."
Odette scoffs, "Since when?"
Coco's head snaps to her older sister, shooting her daggers, "Since forever. But um...nice princess costume sis, I think mom had me wear the same one when I was six."
Hearing Cortney's clap back to Odette, Pennelope and the other girls don't even bother trying to hide their amusement.
"Mhm." First Blair, now Coco. Honestly, both girls were working her last nerve. "I'm gonna go get some air..." Odette excuses herself from the group walking towards the back exit to avoid winding up back in the haunted house.
Noticing Odette walk-off Blair quickly follows behind her, "Hey, Birthday Girl?"
Of course, she recognizes her voice instantly, and as much as she wanted to try to play it off like she didn't hear her, she couldn't. Turning around Odette is all smiles as Blair closes the remaining distance between them.
"It's your birthday O, so I'm going to let you be a bitch if you want to. But don't think your little comment from earlier went unnoticed. I'm letting it slide since you're my friend and it's your big day, but don't expect me to be so kind again." Despite the obviously threatening message Blair smiles sweetly to her friend, her dimples on full display. She then leans forward and pats Odette on the head before returning back to their group. As she watches Blair walk away Odette is left standing there, stunned by her behavior.
In the past couple of years of their friendship, Blair and Odette had never had an altercation like this. Blair had never looked at or spoken to her the way she did tonight. At least, not as far as Odette was aware.
But then again what did she really know? The way Blair had been treating her tonight was exactly how she always treated the other girls, and she trash-talked them behind their backs constantly. Who's to say she hadn't been doing that to Odette all along? Maybe they weren't as close as she thought... She didn't want to believe that was true but she had seen a new side to Blair tonight and she wasn't particularly impressed.
Hurrying down the steps, she's even more eager than before for some fresh air.
This was her sixteenth birthday, this was a birthday she had dreamed of for years. It was supposed to be special, and so far it definitely didn't feel like that.
"We have orders. No one is allowed in without a costume."
As Odette approaches the large main entrance she overhears security turning someone away. She felt a little bad but there was really no excuse to not be in costume. She had made a big enough deal about it to everyone she invited and honestly, she was kind of tired of people blatantly disrespecting her on her day. Rolling her eyes, she stretches her head around the large guard to see who it was.
"...Dan?"
Dan's head is buried in his hands as he tries to think of how to explain his costume, in the most simplified of ways, to this meathead security. As he hears someone call his name he looks up to see a platinum blonde, Odette. "Uh, hey Odette. Happy Birthday..." he offers, awkwardly making a half-assed spirit fingers gesture with his hands.
"Oh, no, no... don't do that." Odette cocks her head to the side, feeling extreme second-hand embarrassment for him.
"Yeah, I don't know why I did..." Dan doesn't even bother finishing his sentence, "Odette, do you think you could maybe help us out here?"
"Not 'us' buddy, you. Blondie is good to go."
As the security guard points to Jenny, giving her his stamp of approval, her face lights up. "Awesome!" She moves around Dan and both security guards make way for her to enter the party.
"Jen, seriously?" Dan calls after her, shocked his little sister would leave him like this.
"Sorry Dan! Should've tried a little harder with your costume." Jenny laughs a bit, never bothering to look back at her brother as she squeezes past Odette standing in the doorway.
"Unbelievable."
"Yeah, little sisters are never as loyal to us as we are them, unfortunately. It's kind of the curse of being the older sibling." Odette bites at her bottom lip for a moment before looking at her security team, "Guys, he's a friend of mine. He's good. Doesn't listen to simple directions it seems, but he's good."
Despite all the grief they had been giving him, as soon as Odette came out and said he was 'good' just like that he was. That explained this world to tee. "Finally, thank you." His words drip with sarcasm as he moves past security. Before he completely enters the building he turns back to Odette, "You coming?"
Leaning against the large door frame Odette offers him a small shrug in response.
"Excuse my saying so, but it's your birthday and yet you look pretty miserable."
"Gee, thanks." His words make Odette smile, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "I guess I just expected today would go differently."
Of the people Dan went to school with, he would probably consider himself closest to Odette. However, that wasn't saying a whole lot because he really didn't know her all that well. He got the impression most people didn't. Regardless, he could still tell something was definitely off about her tonight.
"Everybody puts too much pressure on themselves when it comes to big birthdays," he didn't but most people seemed to, certainly Upper East Side princesses, "it's normal to feel like it didn't live up to what you expected." Dan felt a bit ridiculous saying this.
583 Park Avenue was one of the most high-end event spaces in Manhattan, and this party was one of the most lavish he had ever seen and he hadn't even been inside yet.
His sixteenth birthday had been his first one since his parents had split and he had naively thought that they could all come together as a family for the day. But instead, the day of, Rufus made chili and they played scrabble with Jenny, and then that weekend he went to Hudson and saw Allison and Mackenzie. Alone. That was a bad birthday, not this. The people in this world had no idea how lucky they were and therefore had no appreciation for any of it. But, it was her day so he could spare her the 'Metropolitan; me v. you' monologue for the night.
She knew Dan couldn't really understand, but she appreciated his effort nonetheless. "So, what's the deal with the no costume thing?"
"Seriously? I am in costume. The gelled hair and glasses don't give it away?" Dan gestures to himself, getting somewhat huffy over the fact that no one was getting it.
"That's part of your costume?" At this revelation Odette can't hold back her laughter, "I thought maybe you ran out of contacts or something."
"Ha ha." Dan comments back dryly, once again regretting ever showing up to this party and subjecting himself to any of this. This was his childhood all over again. He was fully prepared for Odette to take out his knees and steal his candy next.
"Well, why are you wearing your school uniform? To anybody that doesn't know you, and sorry Dan but most people don't, you look like an average, every day, St. Judes student."
He could somewhat see her point, but he refused to digress, "It's the only suit jacket that I own, and I'm supposed to be Clark Kent."
"That's tragic." Every man should own a suit, just as every woman should have a little black dress. "Ah, Clark Kent. I guess I can see that. Maybe if you had worn the Superman costume underneath it would have translated better?"
"Well, I actually do have a Superman t-shirt on underneath."
"Then unbutton that shit!" Odette quickly moves to unbutton most of Dan's shirt for him, revealing his faded blue t-shirt underneath, "See, there we go. Now, you look like Clark Kent," kind of, "if Clark Kent was, you know...a student at St. Judes."
"Thanks." In retrospect, this was probably something Dan should have thought about, but since he didn't, he appreciated Odette's help. "Did you wanna head into the party now?"
She wasn't entirely sure she even wanted to go back but it was her birthday and all these people were here to celebrate her. It would be in incredibly poor taste for her to bail on her own party, "Yeah, come on." As Dan follows her inside Odette casually drops in, "I hope you don't scare easily Humphrey"
"Uh, what exactly did you mean by that?"
The party was a hit, though that was expected. After all, everyone loves a good theme party.
Everyone was also drunk which really helped.
As drunk as Odette was she couldn't get the bad taste, left from Blair, out of her mouth.
Odette wanted to put the situation behind her, but it had been lingering in the back of her mind all night. Their previous exchange really bothered her, and worst of all it didn't seem to faze Blair at all. The two of them were lounging on a couch with Hazel, talking like they always did. But every time Blair spoke Odette's annoyance with her only grew.
It was frustrating, as well as somewhat disheartening, to think that Blair could talk to her the way she did and then act as though nothing had happened.
"I can't believe Coco really dressed up as a hooker." Blair burst into a fit of giggles as she sips on a glass of champagne.
Odette didn't have the patience or energy to point out the irony of Blair, dressed as Holly Golightly, poking fun at Coco for dressing up as a hooker.
She continues to stay silent, listening as the two girls ramble on and on about truly insignificant things. But her focus is on anyone but Blair.
Looking around the crowded room it makes her happy to see everyone having a good time, she only wishes she could share in their enthusiasm.
At the bar she notices Kati and Iz chatting up a sophomore boy from St. Judes. She recognizes all their signature moves and knows they've found their victim for the night. Poor kid was not going to know what to do with both of them.
Odette cracks a small smile as she realizes Kati is missing her cottontail, and Iz her bunny ears. They were also both swaying in place, barely able to stand on their own. They were the roughest looking playboy bunnies she had ever seen, but there were two of them, and what teenage boy would ever turn down a threesome with two bunnies?
Out of the corner of her eye, she sees a figure moving in her direction. Turning to see who it is she's pleasantly surprised to see Chuck approaching her.
"Hey, I haven't really seen much of you tonight."
That was a lie. While dancing with Serena, earlier in the night, she had spotted him in the corner chatting up Alexis Lombardi. Alexis was a friend of theirs, but she was also super easy so Odette had made a point of keeping a careful eye on them for the remainder of the night.
"My birthday gift to you." He jokes, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, "Swan, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"...dressed as a slutty nurse. Could she be any less original? Or desperate."
"Sure." Normally she wouldn't give Chuck much of her time, but right now, even time spent with him was better than sitting here listening to Blair and Hazel play fashion police.
Watching as she extends her hand to him, Chuck helps to gracefully pull her up from the low-seated couch. However, once she's up he lets go of her hand, not wanting to give the wrong idea.
"Follow me." He nudges his head over towards one of the various side hallways.
The two walk, in complete silence, away from the ongoing party and towards one of the empty storage rooms. As Chuck holds the door for her Odette slips under his arm and moves to sit on the sole benched seat in the room. After a moment Chuck joins her, but he doesn't say anything right away. He takes a moment to study her face and also takes the time to fully think through what he wants to say.
"I like your costume." This isn't what he had called her away to talk about, but it was worth noting that he did. Especially after he had overheard the other girls laughing at Cortney's previous comment at her expense.
Odette was dressed as Princess Aurora.
Her dress almost matched the cartoon princess perfectly except for the fact it was hemmed to be much, much, shorter. The form-fitting pink chiffon dress cut off just above her mid-thigh, and even as they sat here he noticed her sly attempts to pull it down as it inched up further.
He liked her costume a lot.
"Thank you." The way Chuck's eyes bore into her made her feel incredibly nervous. He had this certain, unnerving, effect on her but she didn't seem to have any type of effect on him at all. He always seemed completely cool and collected. "What did you want to talk about?" She finally breaks eye contact and instead focuses on the sparkles on her dress. She tries to count each individual one, in an attempt to calm her growing nerves.
"Well, it is your birthday. I wanted to give you your gift." As he speaks, he pulls a velvet Cartier box from his suit pocket and presents it to her. "I have another gift for you too, but I'll bring it to you another time. It's fragile."
"Awe, just what I wanted for my birthday," Odette's eyes drift from the velvet case up to Chuck, her eyes twinkling in bemusement, "Chuck Bass's ego."
His lips twist into a half-smile, but instead of saying anything in response, he props the jewelry box open so she can see the contents inside.
Settled into a cushion of emerald satin was a diamond tennis bracelet.
"Chuck, it's so beautiful... but I can't accept this."
"Sure you can. I mean it's just a bracelet. Nate got you one too." Chuck offered, placing the piece of jewelry on her delicate wrist, and latching it into place.
"Nate got me a diamond bracelet that looks like it costs the tuition of Constance?" She called his bluff. Nate might have gotten her a bracelet, but it certainly wasn't as extravagant as this.
Chuck shrugs this off, "Nathanial's money is tied up in trusts, my money is much more disposable." It was true, but even he knew he was dancing around the point.
Odette lifts her wrist up to study the way the jewels shimmer in the light and something catches her eye, "Wait," taking a closer look it becomes apparent that this wasn't your typical, everyday, tennis bracelet that one would see in the jewelry store windows. All the diamonds were formed into tiny, intricate, swans. She takes the box from Chuck's hand and studies the label running across it, "Cartier, hm? You know I get a lot of my jewelry from them... and I've never seen this in-store or even in their vault?"
It was obvious he had placed a custom order for this particular gift. He knew it, and now she knew it too.
"It's nothing." Chuck straightens his posture, pulling back from her. He wanted to give her the gift, but he didn't want her overthinking the deeper meaning of it because there was none.
Watching Chuck pull away, putting distance between them, Odette can sense he's quickly putting his walls up and she knows better than to push him. This softer side to Chuck rarely ever came to the surface, and when it did it was always fleeting. "Thank you."
"Well, now that the kind gesture is out of the way..."
"Ah, there it is." She should have known Chuck had an ulterior motive. His intentions were never pure.
Ignoring her comment completely he continues, "I have to mention that I've been hearing that you've been talking a lot of shit about me recently. Saying that I'm 'not special', and 'I don't think any woman is special', and I just don't really think that's a fair assumption."
'Coco and her big mouth.' She should have predicted that Cortney would go running to Chuck. She was drawing a clear line in the sand of where her loyalty was.
Odette was tracing the part of her dress where the fabric and skin of her thigh met, but at his words, she looks up at him and they stare at each other in silence for what feels like a very long time.
"Just because I haven't met a woman I consider special yet doesn't mean I never will. There's hope for me."
That wasn't where she had been expecting him to go with that, but she also couldn't be surprised, "Haven't you heard? There's no hope for any of us. Least of all you."
Chuck shakes his head, an actual smile spreading across his usually solemn face as he taps his fingers along the bench they were seated on. "You flirt with me a lot."
Completely caught off guard Odette's mouth falls slightly agape as she scrambles for something witty to say. Unfortunately, she was really off her game tonight. After a few beats pass she finally responds, "I insult you any chance I get, what do you mean I flirt with you?" He made his statement with so much certainty that it almost pissed her off. Who was he to say something like that to her?
"You do talk badly about me." He agrees with her on this point, "But, if I were as awful as you paint me to be, in your own words, why would you be here alone with me right now?"
"Because..." Odette focused on an art piece on the adjacent wall, desperately trying to ignore the fact that she could feel Chuck's eyes on her. He stared at her as if he was staring at her naked body and not her stoic face. It made her feel vulnerable, and she didn't like it. "Because even surrounded by lots of people, I've felt completely alone all night. I don't like to be alone and, whether you admit it or not, you don't either. Misery loves company or whatever."
"Well," Chucks abruptly offers his hand to her. She turns and stares at his outstretched hand, and then back up at him, with a perplexed expression before cautiously taking hold of his hand, "It's nice to meet you Misery, I'm company."
Rolling her eyes Odette fights the flushed feeling behind her cheeks, "That was so lame. I don't understand how you pull the number of girls that you do when you're out here saying stuff like that." She made a point to not acknowledge what he was implying with that careful play on words.
"You need to be a man of many words to keep a woman, but to get her you just need to be a man of action. You should remember."
At the mention of their brief past history, Odette stiffens ever so slightly. It wasn't a period of time she remembered very fondly.
"What I remember... is you telling everyone what an awful kisser I was."
Chuck grimaced, "Well, you weren't great."
"You're such an ass!" Odette exclaims in amused shock. Chuck had continuously shown his true colors, she couldn't really fault him for living up to it. "In my defense, you were my first kiss and I didn't know what I was doing yet."
Even though he had been laughing at her previous comment at this revelation he abruptly stops, "Wait, really? I was your first?" This was news to him.
"Yeah. And you, you're Chuck Bass. You have tons of experience and were a great kisser, obviously. I felt really good about it all until I showed up to school Monday morning and everyone was teasing me about being your 'worst kiss ever'." It had easily been one of the most embarrassing moments of her life. All ill feelings she had for Chuck stemmed from this period of time. Coincidentally, all other, confusing feelings she had for Chuck also stemmed from this period of time.
"Worst kiss ever is a bit of a stretch..." Chuck rubs at the back of his neck, not completely sure what the right thing to say here was, "I'm sorry, I had no idea. I wouldn't have said anything had I known. Honestly."
Odette nods, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She was wearing a wig but was still so nervous that she felt the need to play with her faux hair out of habit. "I mean, thank you for the apology but you shouldn't say anything regardless Chuck. Whether you were my first kiss or my three hundredth, it was nobody else's business and it should have stayed between us."
This was a situation that had been weighing on her for a long time, and while it felt good to put it out there it also felt extremely exposing to let him see how much he had hurt and embarrassed her.
"I hear you. Sometimes I get a little too caught up in the game of it all I guess."
That proved her entire point. None of that had been a game to her, it was her life. She had really liked Chuck and thought he really liked her too. Maybe that was naive, but she was only fifteen at the time, and he broke not only her confidence but her heart a little bit too.
Thankfully she had come a long way since last year.
"Yeah well, it's all ancient history at this point and no thanks to you, I've learned a thing or two. I've had no other complaints."
At this implication he laughs, but isn't particularly humored by the thought, "I don't doubt that. But, I was down to teach you a thing or two."
"Crazy concept, but maybe you shouldn't have told anyone that I was so bad and then you could have. Now, what use are you to me?" She was only joking, but her tease came out as more of a challenge than anything.
Chuck chews on the inside of his lip for a moment before reaching out and taking hold of her hand again. He carefully examines the way his gift looks on her dainty wrist before looking back up at her, "You... can use me for whatever you want."
As the words leave his lips Odette can feel her heart rate pick up ever so slightly. "We should probably get back to the party." She pulls her hand away from him and stands up in one fluid motion. "Thank you again for the present."
It felt like maybe a moment had been building between them, but maybe it was for the best it never reached its peak. Chuck and her were a bit, 'been there, done that'.
"As I said, it's nothing." As he stands up he notices that his white suit had started to wrinkle and attempts to swat the gathered fabric apart.
'Yeah, nothing...'
"Here let me help you with that, I wouldn't want people seeing you all disheveled and getting the wrong impression." She moves closer to him, running her hands over his suit with just the right amount of pressure.
"Again." Chuck adds in coyly.
"He's got jokes." With a final trace of her fingers down his chest, she smoothes down the last bit of wrinkled fabric before smiling up at him, "I think you're good to go Mr. Montana."
As her hands drop back to her sides they're left in comfortable silence and their eyes meet once again. But this time he doesn't hold her gaze. His eyes flicker from her cerulean eyes, down to her naturally pouted lips, and back.
From there, it all happened feverishly slow.
Odette can feel Chuck inch closer to her, 'What. The. Fuck?'
She needed to stop this before it went any further. She couldn't allow herself to be left in the same position she was the previous year.
If she wanted to stop this, now was the time.
She should want to stop this, but she didn't. She couldn't deny her body's natural reaction to him.
She wanted him.
She had been wanting him.
Which was disturbing on several levels, but that was something she would have to work out in her next session with Dr. Windsor. For now, she was fully enjoying the moment. The mistakes she made now could be her future self's problem.
She tilts her head slightly, to give him better access to her, and finally, Chuck closes the remaining distance between them as his lips connect with her own.
It wasn't a hasty, 'This-is-a-predecessor-to-me-getting-you-naked-so-I-can-fuck-you', kiss. This was different. He started very slow, kissing her as if she might break under his touch.
He was almost stiff from his own nerves, kind of like he was bracing himself for her to stop him and pull away at any moment. But as he feels her lips graze along with his own, reciprocating his movements and not trying to stop it, the air around them shifts and he begins to kiss her deeper.
He tastes like whiskey and cinnamon, just as she remembered. Despite usually hating the taste of the brown liquor, in this moment she couldn't get enough of it. His lips were a little rough, maybe he needed a little chapstick, but she didn't mind. In fact, she almost liked the sensation of his lips scraping against her own.
With both hands wrapped around her waist, Chuck walks her back until she's pressed firmly up against the door. Her lips were plump and her body felt so warm against him.
She smelled faintly of eucalyptus and honey - just as he had remembered.
Chuck suddenly pulls back from her, taking the moment to catch his breath. This was when he would progress things to the next level. After all, kissing was just foreplay and really did nothing for him. Usually.
But there was something about this kiss he wasn't quite ready to move on from just yet.
Chuck was several inches taller than her so he had to get on her level to be able to fully reach her lips. Cupping her face with his hands he simultaneously leans into her while pulling her further into him as their lips meet again. At that moment he wanted her as close to him as humanly possible. He wanted to feel her everywhere.
He kisses Odette as if he's savoring every last bit of her.
And his kiss completely sets her insides on fire.
ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴄᴀʀɪᴇsᴛ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴡᴀsɴ'ᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴏᴜsᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴄᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ᴀ ʏᴇᴀʀ ᴏʟᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀɴʏ ᴡɪsᴇʀ...
sᴘᴏᴛᴛᴇᴅ: ᴀᴛ 𝟻𝟾𝟹 ᴘᴀʀᴋ ᴀᴠᴇɴᴜᴇ
ᴀ ᴅɪsɴᴇʏ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇss ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴅʀᴜɢ ᴋɪɴɢ ᴘɪɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀɴ ᴇᴍᴘᴛʏ sᴛᴏʀᴀɢᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴍ. ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴ ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴏsᴛ sᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ᴏғ ᴅᴀʏs ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴛᴀᴛᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴀɴʏ sᴇɴsᴇ
ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ: ᴡʜᴏ ɪs ᴏᴅᴇᴛᴛᴇ ʀᴏᴄᴋᴇғᴇʟʟᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʜᴜᴄᴋ ʙᴀss? [+ʟɪɴᴋ]
ɪ'ᴍ sᴜʀᴇ ᴄ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ sᴏʀᴛs ᴏғ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛs. ɪ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ ᴡᴇ'ʟʟ ʙᴇ sᴇᴇɪɴɢ ᴏ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟɪɴɪᴄ ғᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇ 'ʀᴏᴜᴛɪɴᴇ' sᴄʀᴇᴇɴɪɴɢs sᴏᴏɴ.
ᴅɪᴅ ᴡᴇ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜɪs ʟᴀsᴛ ʏᴇᴀʀ, ᴏᴅᴇᴛᴛᴇ?
ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ sʟᴇᴇᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛʜᴇɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ʟᴜᴄᴋ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪs ᴏғғ ɴᴏᴡ.
ᴡᴇʟʟ, ᴋɪᴛᴛᴇɴs,
ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟᴏᴄᴋ sᴛʀɪᴋᴇs ᴍɪᴅɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴇɴ ɪs ᴏᴠᴇʀ. sᴏ ʀᴇᴍᴏᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀsᴋs ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇs ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇᴀʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅᴀʏ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴏɴ. ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʜᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴅᴀʏ ɪᴛ's sᴏᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ, ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴅᴀʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀ ᴛᴏᴏ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀʏ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ɪ sᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜ, ɪ sᴇᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ, sᴏ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀʟʏ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴᴇ ᴅᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴡɪʟʟ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏᴏ. ʙᴜᴛ ғᴏʀ ɴᴏᴡ...
ɪᴛ's ᴍɪᴅɴɪɢʜᴛ.
ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴊ, ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘᴜᴍᴘᴋɪɴ ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ ɪs ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀss ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʙʀᴏᴏᴋʟʏɴ. s, ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴍɪɴɢ ᴡɪʟʟ ɴᴏᴡ ɢᴏ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀ ʟᴏɴᴇʟʏ-ғʀᴏɢ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴏ, ɪᴛ's ɴᴏᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙɪʀᴛʜᴅᴀʏ ᴀɴʏᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇss. ʙ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇᴅ, ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴅᴀʏ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ sʜᴇ's ɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀ ғᴏᴄᴜs ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʙʀɪɴɢs ᴀ ᴍᴇᴀɴ sᴛʀᴇᴀᴋ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ʜᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ, ɪғ ɪ ᴡᴀs ɪɴ ᴀ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟᴇss ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ɪ'ᴅ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ʙᴇ ᴀ ʙɪᴛᴄʜ ᴛᴏᴏ... ᴏʜ ᴡᴀɪᴛ, ɪ ᴀᴍ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴍʏ ʜᴀʀsʜɴᴇss ᴅᴏᴇsɴ'ᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴏғ ʟᴏᴠᴇ, ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ sʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴇ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴜɴᴅʀᴇᴅs ᴏғ sᴜʙᴍɪssɪᴏɴs. ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴜʏs ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ᴍʏ ʟɪғᴇ ғᴏʀᴄᴇ. ɪ'ᴍ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀʏ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪᴛ's ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴡᴀʏ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴ. sᴜɢᴀʀ ᴀɴᴅ sᴘɪᴄᴇ ᴍᴀʏ ʙᴇ ɴɪᴄᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ's ɴᴏᴛ ɴᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴀs ᴇғғᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴀs ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀ ʙɪᴛᴄʜ, ʀɪɢʜᴛ ʙʟᴀɪʀ?
ʙᴜᴛ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴀɴʏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪɴɢᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀᴛᴇ ᴍᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴘᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ, ɪ'ᴅ ʙᴇ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ.
xᴏxᴏ ɢᴏssɪᴘ ɢɪʀʟ
So there we have it… I feel like there is a lot to unpack with this chapter? Maybe not. But there is one thing I really want to take the time to address and I hope all of you will read this:
Throughout some of the upcoming chapters, I am planning to try and give a bit of insight into some of the core canon characters featured in this story. Obviously, we all know and love the canon characters from the show/books (or we wouldn't be reading/writing fanfiction for it!) So, don't worry, I do try to keep the characters pretty accurate to how they are depicted in the show and/or novels. But this is also a FanFiction and in the context of the GG world in which *my* story takes place, I do analyze and write them a bit differently...
If you are still reading this then surely you know exactly what I'm dancing around right now.
*gasp* I've made our golden-boy not so very golden…
But I mean, Nate was never really a perfect human being in the first place! He has flaws just like the rest of us of course. Flaws are what makes us wonderfully human after all.
It's important for me to mention that I don't think that because Nate cheats he's a bad guy and that was not my intention in writing this. I took a lot of time working and rewriting Nate's section because I wanted it to be read in a way where he doesn't seem scummy, but rather he seems deeply unhappy and lost. Because the fact is, not everyone cheats strictly for the thrill or the physical component or because they just can't handle monogamy. Sometimes people cheat to feel connected to someone, even if just for a little bit. Because they feel *that* disconnected from the person they're with. It's shitty but it does happen. Cheating is awful and I'm not condoning it but I also think it's *way* more interesting to explore Nate cheating for deeper reasons other than just him being 'madly in love with Serena' like they cover in the show. I think Nate is deeper and more complex than that and he deserves to be written as such. I want to explore WHY does he *think* he's in love with Serena? WHY does he cheat as opposed to just leaving Blair? WHAT will make Nate happy? WHAT will make him ultimately grow?
I truly hope I haven't terribly upset anyone or turned anybody away from reading this story by taking this leap of creative freedom. My hope is that those of you that are reading and really capturing the feel of this story and this world will totally get it and most importantly, just trust me ;) And if you don't, you need to because there will be more instances in the future of me taking creative direction with our beloved canon's. But I promise it's all for a purpose and my hope, is that you might even appreciate some of these characters more once you get to know them a bit more in-depth... but we shall see.
If you have continued to read this far, thank you for your continued support! I would love to hear what you think about the chapter and I'll be back with a new one very soon.