A/N: Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful start to the new year, and as promised here is the next chapter. I've broken my record with this chapter rounding off at 14,000 words! That's long even for me. I hope you all enjoy it. A lot of work and editing went into this chapter!
Chapter 18: Bass Appeal
From pumpkins to carriages, Little J and E's sweet sixteen is the fairytale party where everyone who's anyone is going. Word is, the theme is 1920's jazz and there is even a password to get in. Aside from the cocktails and mint juleps, these two princesses may be fighting for the spotlight, but there is only enough room for one. Any bets on which of these princesses will get her happily ever after?
It was a behind the scenes landscape from the likes of Fitzgerald and Thackeray. A party of opulent proportions was in the stages of preparation. Tables were dressed and set with silky purple table clothes. The most expensive liquor New York had to offer lined the walls, and the 1920's jazz themed decorations had transformed the Van der Bass penthouse entirely.
Evelyn stood from her bedroom door overlooking the flurry of activity before her in awe. She leaned against the doorway with her arms crossed, and jaw slackened. Her hair was disheveled from a late night of planning with Serena and Jenny last night. Purple hues drape from the tall windows elegantly. The sun shone brightly through them, the promise of a new day before them.
"About time you woke up sleepy head!"
Dressed and primped with no effort, Serena stood at the bottom of the staircase. Attendants weaved past her oblivious frame. Some carried trays of food, while others carry decorations.
Evelyn rubbed her sleepy eyes. "What time is it?"
"Time to get you ready!" Serena chirped.
She pulled her hands away from her eyes and stifled a long yawn. "N-now?"
Serena bounced up the steps. "Yes! We have an appointment for one o'clock to get our manicures and pedicures. We've got a very busy day ahead of us, Evelyn. It's a quarter after twelve now."
Evelyn's mind was spinning in too many directions. Between the bustling workers buzzing around the penthouse, and Serena's sudden need for a structured schedule, the reality of what was happening finally hit her. Evelyn took a step back into her room, away from the people and her stepsister.
"Wait a second. It's going to take all afternoon to get ready for this… thing?"
Serena stepped closer to her and smiled sympathetically. "Most preparations for our kind of parties take days. Consider yourself lucky that I'm not that strict about it."
Wonderful. She was supposed to be grateful about this. And she was. However, a greater part of her being couldn't help think that this whole production was too much for a simple sixteen year old such as herself. What did she do to deserve this?
Why couldn't she accept it?
A low grumble echoed in her bedroom. "Can I eat first?"
"We'll get something on the way." Serena gave a light push on her shoulders towards Evelyn's walk in closet. "Now get ready birthday girl!"
Evelyn sighed, and dragged herself to her closet. Haphazardly, she donned a simple pair of dark jeans and a light blue button down blouse. After brushing her teeth and hair, Evelyn rounded the long hallway to the elevator.
A couple of overnight suitcases waited beside the penthouse elevator. Lily appeared from the kitchen, talking into her cellphone. She quickly hung up with a sigh.
"Alright. So, your father and I will be away at a dinner conference in Boston tonight. If you need anything please call. Serena will be in charge – God help us – for the night. I see everything is getting set up?"
"Don't worry mom. All the bedroom doors will be locked tonight, and Vanya and Ina will be your eyes and ears. Don't you trust us?"
Lily places her calm hand on Serena's forearm. "Serena, there are many things I believe in you for, but responsibility isn't one of them."
"Mom!"
Evelyn giggled. "It'll all be fine Lily."
Her stepmom was not convinced. "Any questions?"
Serena pressed the elevator door, and guided her mom inside the elevator. All three girls pilled in. "No. Seriously mom, this isn't the first time you've left us alone."
"Yes, but you're hosting a party Serena-"
Serena scoffed. "A party we actually told you about. Go figure?"
The elevator doors glided open. Lily, Serena and Evelyn rushed through the doors of the elevator and through the lobby to the awaiting limo. "Call us when you get there," Serena shouted over her shoulder.
"I will. But I expect this place to be just how I left it. Make sure it is clean by the time I get back! Be safe!"
Evelyn opened the door, and waved before she hops in. "Okay, we will. Bye!"
The doors shut, and Serena leans back on the leather seats with a radiant smile on her face. "Well, that's taken care of. Now, get ready for the royal treatment!"
"Stop! That tickles!"
Evelyn wiggled her feet, splashing water everywhere. Hunched over, her stomach clenched painfully from laughter. Her hands fisted her stomach, and her cheeks flushed.
The pedicurist wiped the water from her arms and tried to take hold of her foot once again. She grabbed her foot and tried to wedge the paper towel between her toes.
Evelyn's foot jerks away. "I'm…so…sorry. I can't help it."
Seated beside Serena, Evelyn was experiencing her first pedicure. They sat her down, rubbed her feet and calves before clipping, buffing, and washing her feet. So far, she fared well, and was really enjoying the treatment. The Pedicurist tries again, and Evelyn finally resists the urge to laugh.
"You're really ticklish huh?" Serena sat calmly beside her. She thumbed through a magazine absentmindedly.
Evelyn took a deep breath, her stomach muscles finally relaxing. "Unfortunately. It's a terrible weakness. Aren't you?"
Serena looked up from her magazine suspiciously. "Would I tell?"
Evelyn twisted in her chair and held up her hands. "What? Are you scared?" Evelyn wiggled her fingers menacingly.
Serena laughed, inching to the opposite side of her chair. "Of course not!"
Her eyes proved otherwise. "I promise if you tell me, I won't attack…today."
Serena rolled her eyes. "That's a terrible deal. Besides, you couldn't anyway, you can't move from your chair."
"Fine. I'll just have to ask Eric then. He would know." Evelyn pulled out her phone, and scrolled through her contacts.
Serena sighed. "Don't do that. I'll… take you up on your offer. I'm ticklish behind my knees."
Evelyn kept a note of that fact. She settled back in her chair. The Pedicurist was applying the first coat of nail polish.
"So, how do you like living here so far?"
Evelyn bit her lip. "It's different. I've had lots of great days, a few not so great days…. But, I'm glad I moved here for the semester."
"That's good," Serena said, smiling genuinely.
"I love the city. There's always something to do, someone you'll run into. There's still so much to explore in this city. You'll never know what was there all along that you didn't see, you know?"
Serena's smile faded. "Yes, something in plain sight, but you refused to see it."
Serena bowed her head to her magazine. Evelyn's icy eyes fixated on her with concern. "Is something wrong?"
Serena refused to meet her gaze. "Oh, no. Don't worry about it."
"Did I say something wrong?"
She shook her head adamantly. "No. I was just reminded of something that happened recently. It's no big deal, really."
"Are you sure?"
Serena finally looked up and mustered a smile. "Yes. This day is all about you. Tell me more about Constance, and what you've been doing."
Evelyn dropped the subject. She knew she was in no position to push Serena into telling her something that caused her pain. She could relate. She herself would never tell the oblivion she experienced before being betrayed. "Ah, well, Constance has a learning curve. A social learning curve to be exact."
Serena chuckled. "Yes it does."
"I'm sorry, but aren't you the school's it girl? The school practically revolves around you."
Serena scoffed. "No it doesn't!"
"Fine," Evelyn put her hands up in mock surrender. "It revolves around Blair, but everyone loves you at school."
"No they don't!" Serena exclaims obliviously.
"Yes they do. Don't try to deny it. Gossip Girl always posts about you, guys drool when you walk in a room, and all the girls want to be like you. You're so used to it you don't even see it. It must have been like that forever."
Serena shook her head. "Not always."
Right. Boarding school. Evelyn briefly remembered reading about it in the Gossip Girl archives. Serena moved to boarding school for sophomore year, then returned for junior year as an outsider.
"Are you talking about last year?"
"Wait, how-d"
Evelyn held up her phone. "Gossip Girl. But she's not too reliable, so the details I know of are very sketchy."
"Yes, well you answered your own question. To fit in at this school, the higher you climb up the social ladder, the farther you have to fall. When I came back last year, I fell from the top. It really hurt trying to get back up. Just do your own thing and don't worry about it."
Evelyn knitted her brows together. "I'm not worried."
"That's good! I'm just saying that you have to sacrifice a lot to be in this world. It's crazy, but it can be worth it—Especially, if you're born into it. Soon, when people know who you are, you won't have a choice to be apart of it."
Don't let them change you.
Her aunt's words echo in her head, as they have done over and over. Once you're in, you can't get out. Once you are apart of this world, you are your peers.
Evelyn always thought that in life, we all had choices. She chose to change everything she's ever known in her life to come live in New York. She chose to challenge Blair Waldorf, and befriend Jenny. Could she choose to be herself in a world that forces her to be something else? Perhaps, there are parts of her that embody the traits of the Upper East Side that she hasn't discovered yet.
"But I'm still me Serena," Evelyn countered.
"I know, but whatever you do, try your best to contain it, and never forget who you are. I know this party tonight is very new to you, and it's glamorous and all, but just remember who you are."
Did she really want this party?
Sure, she wanted to do something different, to make her forget about the bad birthdays of her past. She hoped her birthday was a happy event, rather then tragic. A part of her did want it, but another part didn't. She wasn't sure which side occupied more territory in her heart.
"Thanks, Serena."
She smiled, her spirits uplifted again. "Now tell me from your first day on, all the details of what Constance has thrown at you. Tell me your side of the story."
Evelyn smiled, happy to have a girl to talk to about this. Chuck and Eric were great and all, but sometimes, only a girl would understand how she felt, and there was no kinder person who knew her identity other then Serena. "Well, it started with learning about Gossip Girl from Eric and Chuck on the way to school…"
Having been told to stay out of the Penthouse for the party preparations, Chuck decided to take a stroll through Central Park. Normally, he'd ask for Nate to come with him, but they weren't on the best of terms as of late. With Nate's clear pursuit for his sister—whom he told in complete, utter confidence—Nathaniel was on his radar. Brotherly radar.
Chuck knew Nate would be at her birthday party tonight. He tried uninviting him, and Evelyn insisted that he wasn't coming for her. For such a smart girl, his sister was being completely delusional on this matter.
Chuck pulled out a rolled joint for him coat pocket and lit up. Seated on a park bench, he scrolled through his list of contacts, finding her name easily.
Will I be honored by your presence at my sis' b-day party tonight?
He inhales another drag. If Blair's going to the party tonight, that means everyone is going. A part of him didn't want her minions to come with her, because they always occupied her attention. They were annoying insects that never left Blair's side. But if you want Blair, that includes her minions. They come in a package.
Chuck's phone buzzed in his hand with a new message.
It wouldn't be much of a party if the Queen didn't honor her subjects.
Chuck smirked.
When will the Queen make her entrance? I can send a car.
He waited a few moments for a response.
That won't be necessary. The girls and I will be preparing at my place before. We'll be fashionably late.
Of course, Blair would be late. How can you make a grand entrance if no one is there to see it?
Care to share any details of what you'll be wearing tonight? Or perhaps what you won't be wearing?
Someone's smarmier then usual.
Chuck took a drag from his joint, and typed back.
You love it. Don't lie.
He pressed send, because he knew she did. She liked it at her seventeenth birthday party, and her stance on that hasn't changed.
There's nothing to lie about. You're disgusting.
He takes another drag of his joint and types a response.
And you're proud. You'll be pleased to see me tonight.
That was the truth. They were friends weren't they?
Perhaps, but we both know I please you better then anyone.
Chuck reminisced on his summer vacation, and his inability to perform his perfected activity with any other woman then Blair. He was glad those days were over—but he'd always wonder if any girl could compare to Blair.
Care to prove that theory?
With the distance between their conversation, Blair will say no. Had he talked to her face to face, he'd find the opposite answer in her beautiful eyes.
Not particularly. You have to work a lot harder then that Bass.
I'm already hard just thinking about you, Chuck thought to himself. He didn't dare text her that though. They were still on friend terms. There was nothing wrong with being friendly, but their conversation already escalated. It was another game for them. Who will one-up the other's innuendos before they cross the line and actually do something? He'd see her tonight at the party, looking flawless in her perfect mix of innocence and maturity.
Anything could happen at a party. Chuck knew that better than anyone. Crossing the friendship line was achingly tempting, but he told himself to resist it. He promised he wouldn't. They would wait.
Chuck takes another drag, and cursed to himself. He is never making a promise like that again.
His phone buzzed, and Chuck read the message eagerly.
G2G. Kati and Iz are here to get ready. See you tonight Bass. Wear something red.
Chuck rolled his eyes. He would know exactly what to wear tonight. Ironically, he planned to wear a red dress shirt. Without communicating directly, they always seemed to compliment each other's outfits. It's like they knew what the other would be wearing. Back when Nate and Blair dated, Chuck always noticed that his best friend and Blair rarely matched in what they wore. Instead, Chuck always matched Blair. If they stood beside each other, they'd look like a couple.
Although he'd never admit it, Chuck knew it wasn't coincidental.
Within all her dreams, Evelyn never imagined her birthday would be as picturesque as the scene before her. She never imagined her sweet sixteen being so lavish. It was all too good to be true, and Evelyn was waiting for the dream to end, and reality to restore. She already pinched herself several times. This was real. Exceptionally real.
She stretched her hands before her, the gleaming French manicure fresh. It was her first manicure, and Evelyn hoped it would be the last for a long while. She clawed her fingers, stretching them out from the stickiness of the glued on nails. Surprisingly, they weighted like mini cement blocks on her fingers. Serena said they looked beautiful, but she was afraid to touch anything, and possibly mess it up. Back home, her at-home manicures were nothing elaborate. Evelyn would apply a clear coat at most, focusing more intently on her keeping her nails neat and trimmed, not elaborate and colourful. Now, here she was dressed up, and made up to look like a fashion doll.
No one would ever understand this transformation in Hartford. No one would ever believe it. They wouldn't believe the dress, the decorations, the place itself (especially since she can call it home). It was all too much of a fairytale. A fairytale Evelyn never dreamed could ever become a reality.
Evelyn couldn't think how she could ever top this party. The bluesy jazz glides smoothly in the background calming her jittery nerves. Purple hues decorate the tables, cups, and accessories. Over fifty students from school were there; many were unfamiliar faces in attendance only because of Serena. Some may possibly be here for Chuck too; it was hard to decipher.
Everyone was dressed up, in designer gowns and dress shirts. Evelyn could see the stark contrast from the parties here versus the ones when she was in Connecticut. In Hartford, the parties she went to were in unfinished basements and backyards. Some bush parties were held at their primary school, but she never attended one herself.
Here she was, dressed up in Jenny's birthday gown, makeup done, looking just as put together as everyone else in this room. She almost felt like she was one of them. People laughed and mingled around her, some sipping their drinks, while others chugged. This was the first party she'd been too since the party Vermont ski trip in December. A party she chose to forget and never talked about.
Everything was in place, and all that was left for her was to enjoy herself. Evelyn sipped her drink, and approached Jenny by the bar.
"So? What do you think?" Evelyn leaned on the bar, her elbows.
"It looks amazing. Seriously, none of this would be possible if you didn't take the reigns on it."
"As flattering as your credit is, it was actually Serena who really made this all possible," Evelyn said.
Jenny took a sip from her drink. "I didn't know you and Serena were friends."
Oh. They weren't necessarily friends. They were stepsiblings. But she couldn't tell anyone. "Um, yeah. Eric asked her and well, things just took off from there. She's really nice."
Jenny swirled her drink. "I know. She dated my brother last year."
"Dated?"
"Yes, dated. They broke up a few weeks ago actually."
Serena seemed in good spirits when they spend time together. "How'd did it end?"
"Not good. Dan hasn't said much about it since it happened."
Evelyn turned, her side leaning into the bar. "Time is the only way to heal that kind of pain."
Jenny cocked her head. "Are you speaking from experience?"
Evelyn's eyes lowered, fixating on the marble floors. "Something similar to it."
Jenny's hand wraps around her shoulder. "Hey, is everything okay?"
Evelyn met her gaze. She swallowed the lump building in her throat. She shook the creeping thought away. "Yes. I'm fine, really. Let's just have some fun."
She raised her martini glass. "Let's toast on that," Jenny said.
Jenny raised her champagne flute. "To an amazing sweet sixteen." They clinked their glasses, Jenny taking a sip from her flute, Evelyn chugging the half remaining of her drink.
"Have you seen Nate?" Jenny asked.
"Not yet," Evelyn replied, and I don't really want to either, she added in her head. It's not that she and Nate weren't friends. The problem was that everything has been very awkward since their unofficial date, meaning that in Nate's mind it probably categorized as a date, but for Evelyn it didn't. Plus, Evelyn promised Jenny she'd support her and if possible, help in her pursuit of Nate, which thus far has resulted in miserable attempts.
"I wonder what's taking him so long," Jenny sighed, checking her watch.
"He'll be here any minute," Evelyn reassured her. She poured a new glass of a special punch her brother concocted.
Evelyn looked up from her drink, and saw Nate round the corner from the elevator. "Speak of the devil," Evelyn mutters. Jenny's eyes meet his and she walks toward him.
Slinking away, desperately hoping that Nate will remain occupied for the entire evening, Evelyn turns, with her drink in hand. Two brisk steps later, she collided into a body, her drink drenching a crisp dress shirt. Evelyn's mouth formed an "o."
"Easy there Road Runner, you almost ran me over," the boy said.
"Oh my god, I am so sorry!"
She set her glass on the nearby coffee table and searched the room for paper towels. Of course, there weren't any around. The paper towels were probably stashed away somewhere in the cupboards. She looks up from his shirt, and locked eyes with the boy. She doesn't recognize him from school, yet he didn't appear any older than her.
"I-I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to ruin your shirt."
He shrugged. "It's better off me anyway," The boy handed Evelyn his glass, and proceeded to unbutton his shirt while saying, "Shirts are so constricting, you know?"
"Um…" Evelyn paused, distracted with the exposure of his pale skin. " No I don't actually."
He finished unfastening the last button. His shirt remained parted, like an open invitation. His skin was white and milky, yet toned and slender. Evelyn stared at him unwillingly. She couldn't look away from his brazen confidence.
"I should probably clean this up," Evelyn said not wanting to be caught staring.
He smirks, catching her stare red handed. "I think you'll have better luck finding what you need to do for that in the bathroom."
Evelyn looks over her shoulder, catching Jenny and Nate in a casual conversation. Nate's eyes briefly veer off in her direction.
She jerked back around to face the boy. "You know, that's a good idea."
Evelyn pushed him down the hall, scurrying toward the bathroom, which thankfully wasn't occupied. Evelyn searched under the sink, and found a thick roll of paper towel. The boy grabbed a hand towel beside the sink, and handed it to her.
"Maybe we can soak your shirt first, so it doesn't stain," Evelyn suggested, albeit flustered.
"I'll have my maid take care of it, it's just a shirt."
Right. That's what it means to all the other kids here, Evelyn thought. In these moments, Evelyn was constantly reminded of their differences. If this were to have happened with her Aunt Kim, she would wash it out immediately, and not wait for someone to do it for her no matter how menial the task.
The boy's straight brown hair fell over his face, slightly over his eyes, shielding him from Evelyn getting an honest view of him. He shrugged part of his shirt off his shoulder and paused. "Unless," he began, "if you really want to make this a better party, you could join and take off your shirt too."
"Let me think about that," Evelyn folded her arms, pretending to be in deep thought. "No."
"Well, that's unfortunate. A pretty girl like you has plenty of hidden assets," he said. His eyes trained on her behind.
Evelyn slapped his bare arm. "Do you have any shame?"
"I prefer to think of it as confidence, but its all interpretation," he replied while rubbing his reddened arm. A red handprint lingered on his forearm.
"Who the hell are you?"
"You're a feisty bitch aren't you?" He smirked. "I'm Dash Montgomery."
What the hell kind of name was Dash? Evelyn thought to herself. She repeated the last name in her head. Montgomery. Why did that name sound familiar?
He extended his hand in an astonishing proper and civil handshake. Evelyn offered her hand wearily, but he shook it honestly. "I'm Evelyn."
"It's a pleasure. I've heard about you on Gossip Girl."
Evelyn sighed. "Hasn't everyone?"
"Yes, but that's something you should be proud of." He shrugged his shirt back onto his shoulder, leaving it unbuttoned.
"How come I've never read about you on Gossip Girl?" Evelyn asked.
"You probably have, but sometimes it's hard to match name to face. Most of my posts happen behind closed doors, if you know what I mean."
Evelyn's face scrunched from repulsion. "I do," Evelyn said, her hand hovered over the handle of the closed bathroom door, "but don't expect anything to happen behind this one."
Evelyn clutched the paper towel in one hand, and snatched the towel out of his. She smirked, slamming the door behind, and leaving a confused Dash behind.
Reentering the party, Evelyn quickly wiped the sticky floor with a damp cloth and dried it with paper towel. Hunched over, her hands moving in a circular fashion, when a voice startled her.
"Oh Cinderella, this is the part of the story where you get to enjoy the party."
Eric crouched beside her. "Let me help."
Evelyn handed him a portion of paper towel. "Can you explain to me why you are busy cleaning your floors at your birthday party?"
Evelyn finished drying the spillage on the floor, and sat back on her heels. She brushed a loose wavy curl away from her face. "I spilled my drink on someone. I figured I should clean it up before someone slipped on it."
Eric wiped away the last visible drops and stood. He offered his hand to help Evelyn up. She accepted it gracefully, and smoothed out her dress. "Old habits die hard I guess," Evelyn said.
"I can tell. Are you even enjoying your party?"
"Of course I am." Evelyn shrugged, constantly looking over her shoulder.
"Then why are you so anxious? It's like you're afraid someone is going to creep up behind you."
"You're always very perceptive Eric."
"Who are you afraid of appearing?"
Evelyn could rhyme off a list of people she was afraid would show up. Nate toped the list, with other boys close behind. Boys she refused to waste time thinking about.
Evelyn sighed impatiently. "No one. I'm just making sure everyone is having a good time is all. As far as I'm concerned that's the hostess' job."
"But-"
Evelyn raised her hand to silence him. "I don't want to hear another but. We are here, enjoying ourselves at my party. Now let's go to the bar and refill my drink. Okay?"
Eric eyed her skeptically. "Okay. But if there's something bothering you-"
"You'll be the first to know. Yeah. Sure. Definitely. Now, I'm going to take a shot of your choosing." Evelyn grinned devilishly. "So choose wisely."
When Blair Waldorf made her arrival, she exuded quite an entrance. Flanked with her minions on either side, they all paled in comparison to their Queen. Blair wore a crimson flapper dress, with a black bow headband. People turned when she entered the room, and Blair soaked in all the attention.
Chuck approached Blair, with a drink in one hand, his other hand in his pocket. With his classic Bass smirk, Blair caught his eye.
"Blair!"
A flurry of blonde hair breezed past him, cutting in front of him to get to Blair. Chuck's smirk turned into a scowl.
Serena threw herself into her best friend's arms. "B! I'm so glad you're here!"
The two break their embrace, and Blair shoots a glare to her minions, telling them to leave. The minions dispersed obediently, allowing Blair to focus on Serena.
"How are you S?"
"I'm better, especially after our Tiffany's day last Sunday. Also, planning this," Serena gestured to the room casually, "helped as a distraction."
What the hell could be wrong with Serena? Chuck wondered. She was dating Lonely Boy after all, and although he was a pestilence in the air to Chuck, he was practically the most harmless boy in New York. Annoying, but harmless.
"Is he here?"
Serena bowed her head, her eyes glued to the floor. "Yes. He's near the fireplace."
Blair looked over Serena's shoulder. Chuck mimicked the motion, and sure enough, Dan Humphrey stood, not looking as lost or out of place as Chuck hoped. He was learning.
Blair pursed her ruby red lips. She grasped Serena's hands. "It'll be okay. We'll just make sure your occupied tonight," Blair said. "Right Chuck?"
Serena turned not realizing he was there. Or, that he passed him. "Get Serena a drink," Blair demanded.
Chuck waved his hand up. "Wait a minute. Tell me what's going on first."
"We will. After, Bass."
Chuck looked between the two and rolled his eyes. He might as well comply now, and get the dirt sooner rather than later. "Fine."
"Meet us in Serena's room."
A couple minutes later, he returns with the promised drinks. He knocks on the locked door, and Blair answers. She locked the door behind him.
"Blair, I don't want anyone else to know!" Serena sighed. Slumped on her bed, her hands cover her face.
"S, Chuck will help us with this, and he's your stepbrother. He's family."
Chuck hands Blair her drink. "Help you with what?"
Serena uncovered her hands from her face. "You promise not to tell Chuck?"
Blair glared at him to comply. Chuck presented Serena with her drink. "Of course."
"See, S? Leave the scheming for Chuck and I. We're the professionals."
His ears perked up. A new scheme? With Blair? Whatever Serena's problem was, Chuck was committed. If Blair was there, so was he. It's what they do best together.
Actually, second best, Chuck thought wryly.
Chuck swirled the brown liquid in his glass. "Whose the bitch this time?"
Blair smirked. "Dan Humphrey."
Chuck resisted the urge to laugh. "I'm sorry, but Humphrey? You must be mistaken—"
"I'm not. Dan broke up with Serena a few days ago. He claims they were," Blair propped up her air quotes, "'growing apart.'"
Dan broke up with Serena? Chuck never thought he out of all people had the nerve to do it. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Dan claimed that since he got accepted to Yale, and Serena didn't, that they were growing apart."
Chuck thought back to the pictures he and Blair took of Miss Carr a month ago. Together. Embracing. Dan wasn't concerned with "growing apart" from Serena. He had already moved on with Miss Carr—During their relationship.
Suddenly, Chuck had a strong urge to punch Dan Humphrey's judgmental and hypocritical face. Besides, it was time he evened the score. An eye for an eye.
Chuck brushed his thumb against his right eye, recalling the pain the punch from Humphrey caused him. "Was this before or after his secret dates with—"
Serena's head bobbed up, her eyes clouding with confusion.
"After," Blair growled.
So Serena didn't know that Dan was lying to her? Chuck nodded and blatantly stated, "So he lied to Serena then."
"About Miss Carr?" Serena added, "He has for a month now."
Little Daniel Humphrey. Couldn't get a date for years, and then lands the girl of his dreams, only to pass her up for some cougar from Iowa. It was all too good to Chuck. It gave him too good of an opportunity to get even with Humphrey from years past.
"That's why I was asking if your sister had any information on it the other day. Serena didn't want anyone to know. Even Gossip Girl doesn't know yet," Blair said.
"And we want it to stay that way," Serena said, crossing her arms adamantly.
"And it will," Blair reassured her. "I've already volunteered us to take care of it. For Serena."
"What are we waiting for? Let's get the bitch. Tonight. We already have proof don't we Blair?"
"Yes," Blair agreed. Her inner vixen shined, her smile devilish. "However, I have a better plan. We may have the proof, but we need someone innocent enough to dish it."
"I'm impressed," Blair said as she surveyed the room. "For an underclassman I'd admit this is an admirable party."
Evelyn turned to be met with an impeccably dressed Queen B. She was free from her minions that usually flanked her sides. "Thanks, but Serena planned most of it," Evelyn admitted.
"I see the Serenaesque qualities, but it's still classic. Nicely done."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Why was Blair talking to her? Evelyn and Blair weren't exactly friends, nor were they enemies either. Their relationship wasn't defined, and it made Evelyn uneasy to be around her.
"I appreciate your compliments Blair, but why are you talking to me? I thought we are on civil, limited speaking terms."
Blair held the same gaze and posture as she did when she met her at school in the hallway. She was calm and precise in her actions. Her eyes were calculating, and her lips were drawn up in mock innocence.
Blair straightened her posture. "Yes, you see, about that-"
"What do you want?" There was no need to beat around the bush. Evelyn saw through Blair's perfect veneer of innocence and authority.
The corners of Blair's lips drop her innocent act vanished. "You told me Dan Humphrey was in the props closet, and he wasn't alone. You saw something and didn't tell anyone. What do you know?"
Evelyn crinkled her brows. "Why do you care? Last time I checked you weren't best friends with Dan Humphrey."
Blair looked horrified at the thought. "I care because of Serena. He cheated on her with Miss Carrcrash, and now we need to get revenge!"
"He cheated on her?"
Blair nodded solemnly. "Yes he did! And we need to do something about it."
Who would ever cheat on Serena? Evelyn wondered. Serena was a ray of sunshine, affectionate and caring. Every guy was in love with her, and would do anything to even have one chance with her. They would worship the grounds she walked on—Evelyn thought Dan worshipped Serena.
Come to think of it, Serena was a bit evasive on the topic of Dan earlier that day. Serena has shown nothing but kindness to her, and Evelyn didn't want to see her get hurt. Evidently in Blair's eyes, she knew they shared the same goal.
Evelyn's eyes turned to her bedroom door. It was ajar. "Let's discuss this in my room."
Blair smirked in victory, while Evelyn led Blair to her room. A couple groped each other, standing at the foot of her clean bed.
"How the hell did you get in here?" Evelyn gaped at the couple with disgust. "Get out!" Evelyn shooed them from her room, and shut the door behind her, locking it for safety. Evelyn also checked her bathroom, which thankfully was unoccupied.
Blair stared about her room with a frown. "Your room is so…plain."
Having checked her bathroom, Evelyn returned to her room, rolling her eyes. "I haven't had the time to personalize it yet."
"Well, if you need help I'll have my people contact you," Blair said. She then focused back at the revenge at hand. "Now tell."
"I saw him having sex with Ms. Carr in the props closet, but Dan saw me," Evelyn confessed.
Blair's eyes lit up. "I knew it!"
"Yet, Gossip Girl doesn't yet," Evelyn said evenly. "Neither does the headmistress."
Blair pulled out her phone, and typed furiously. "That can change."
While Blair's head was bent to her phone, Evelyn began to pace, her arms folded across her chest. "So what if I saw them though? How valuable is my word? I didn't exactly snap a creepy picture for proof."
Blair placed her hand on her shoulder, like a mother would a child. "But I did."
Evelyn stopped pacing. "What? How?"
"A month ago, Chuck and I went on a stakeout and we snapped a photo of Dan and Ms. Carr embracing. I used it to ensure Miss. Carr did not provide an obstacle in my quest for Yale, but that still didn't happen. I didn't get into Yale because of her," Blair's tone tuned bitter, "But, now that she's seriously hurt Serena, and Yale isn't at stake, I don't care. That bitch deserves to get what's coming to her."
How could Blair be so cruel? Evelyn felt her stomach churn. Maybe she shouldn't have told Blair. "Blair, I don't know about this. If I confess, I'm going to end this woman's career!"
"Well, she should have thought of that before taking advantage of students shouldn't she?"
Evelyn sighed. "I don't want to be responsible for it. I promised Dan I wouldn't tell."
"Oh, so he approached you about it?"
"Yes, but-"
"No buts! You have the information we need to put Ms. Carr back where she came from."
"But I don't know if I can do that."
"Are you kidding? It's the right thing to do. For Serena."
Evelyn resumed her pacing, frowning. "I don't know Blair."
Blair grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop moving. "Listen, I know you're new but if you want to be apart of this world Evelyn, you're going to have to make choices. You will have responsibilities, and make big decisions. This is one of those decisions."
"But morally-"
"Morally, it's wrong for a teacher to take advantage of a student. It is illegal. Think of everyone who is affected by this. Serena, Dan, and Jenny. You need to do what's right for them. You need to do what's right and tell the truth."
Evelyn reached for her locket, proudly displayed on top of her dress. "How would it work?"
Blair smiled. "On Monday, you will schedule an appointment with Headmistress Queller. I will send you the photo, and you will confess to what you know. It's not that hard. Can you do that?"
There was no doubt that Evelyn believed she could. In fact, it was her duty to do this. She didn't want to go back on her word with Dan, and certainly didn't want to hurt his family, but the lies needed to stop. She already had enough secrets that haunt her daily. The only way she could free herself from this secret was to confess. And confess she would.
"I can."
"I knew I could count on a Bass. When you go in there, don't be afraid to play up your concern for others, and maybe bring some tears into it."
"But I don't act," Evelyn said.
Blair looked at her with pity. "We'll, I guess we'll have to work on that."
What was she thinking? She, Evelyn Bass, was reluctantly involved in her first scheme. Evelyn left her room opting for another shot, to forget this conversation with Blair. She promised Dan she wouldn't tell the Headmistress about his affair. Now, she also promised Blair, she would.
All these secrets swirled in her head, and she felt like she was spinning. She didn't know what direction to turn to, nor what was right and wrong. The only way to escape was to allow herself to free fall back first into the abyss of confusion, hoping her intuition would eventually show her the right direction.
Emerging from his sister's bedroom, Chuck's scheming radar pinged when he witnessed Blair slink out of his sister's bedroom, and Evelyn following close behind. Normally, one wouldn't approach the other, and the lines of friendship and family were clearly drawn. Knowing full well the cause these lines to be broken, Chuck needed to know if his sister was okay with it.
Chuck swiftly arrived at his sister's side. He grabbed her wrist to get her attention. "What did Blair want?"
Evelyn jumped and yanked her wrist out of his grip. "Jesus, Chuck. You startled me."
"Are you okay?"
Evelyn worked her muscles to muster a smile. "Never better. Do you want a drink?"
She turned to near the bar, but he held his arm up in front of her chest, like a barricade, his fingers gripped a full glass of scotch. "I'm already accounted for."
"Oh, good." He noticed his sister's eyes darting frantically around the room, never meeting his eyes.
"Are you looking for someone?"
Evelyn shook her head. "No. I'm just making sure everyone is having a good time." Her eyes drifted once again. Her eyes widened slightly, and suddenly, she smiled.
"Let's go for a walk." She looped her arm into her brothers and motored away from their spot and down the hall.
While his sister half dragged him, Chuck returned to his original question. "I have to ask this, but what did Blair talk to you about?"
"Blair and I never talk. We ignore each other."
Chuck halted and tilted his head. "Don't play stupid sis, it doesn't suit you. I saw her come out of your room. What did she want?"
Her eyes found the comforting floor. She bit her lip deciding on whether to lie or not. He could read it on her face. In that moment, he learned that she was a terrible liar. Her eyes didn't match her mouth, nor did was her tone of voice convincing of the words they supported.
"I can't tell you."
Chuck scoffed. "But I'm your brother-'
"But it's none of your business."
"And we're both stepsibling of Serena. I know this has is about Miss Carr and Humphrey."
Evelyn's eyes widen. "How do you-"
He smirked, and cut her blubbering thought off. "Blair came to me this week asking for my help to deal with her situation and tonight briefly told me about the situation. She asked me if I would ask you if you could help, since you seem to be the one who is a witness to all that has transpired between Humpty Dumpty and his teacher. Tonight she told me why she needed help."
Evelyn unlinked her arm from Chuck's. "So what did you tell her?"
"Not knowing this was about Serena, I told her to keep you out of it."
She crossed her arms. "Well since you know that much already, then I guess I'm allowed to tell you that I may have made an agreement with Blair."
"Agreement?" Chuck asked with amusement.
Evelyn held her hands up in defense. "It's not what you think."
Chuck scoffed. Evelyn may be innocent, but she needs to know Blair, the way he did. Truthfully. "Just tell me what you told Blair."
Evelyn sighed angrily, and ruffled a nervous hand over her hair. "Chuck can we please talk about this tomorrow? I've had enough interrogating tonight."
"But-"
"But nothing Chuck! Just let it go."
Both siblings had a stare down with each other, one too stubborn to back down to the other. The insurmountable tension broke when a different voice interrupted.
"Hey!"
Both whipped their heads around simultaneously. Nate Archibald stood with his perfect smile—the same smile he uses to woo any girl he has his eyes set on. Chuck groused when Nate nodded politely to him. His nod was a demand. The demand of "pleases get out of the way so I have a chance with your sister."
Chuck didn't budge.
In fact, he was rooted in his spot blocking his ex-best friend from his sister, and had no intention of moving.
"Hi Nate," A voice squeaked behind him. Chuck shot his sister a look of indignation.
Evelyn refused to look at him. Her tight smile cloaked the discomfort and tension she felt between the two boys.
"Archibald," Chuck said coldly.
"It's good to see you too Chuck."
An uncomfortable silence filled the air and in between the three of them.
"Okay…So, Jenny's looking for me… I… I'm just going to find her," Evelyn said.
"I can help you," Nate offered.
Chuck glared at his former best friend.
"That's okay, I got it. It seems like things aren't finished here either."
When Evelyn disappeared around the corner of the hall, neither of them could look at the other.
"Watch yourself Archibald." Chuck pushed past his friend, shoulder connecting with shoulder. Nate shoved him away, and Chuck stumbled.
Chuck straightened his suit, and readjusted his crooked tie. "This isn't over."
Resisting his instinct to fight, Chuck walked away with curled fists.
Next time, he wouldn't be so forgiving.
She had successfully avoided Nate for the majority of the night. After her brief hello, with Chuck as her shield, Evelyn dodged him at every possible opportunity.
It was better that she did this. Avoid Nate, and avoid any problems that would result from interacting with him. Not only did Evelyn have to detain herself for Jenny, but apparently for her brother too. Nate was Chuck's best friend, and to see that they are not on friendly terms because of her was baffling. She wasn't used to that kind of attention, and its doubtful she will ever understand it.
Evelyn walked down the hallway of to her bedroom and unlocked her door. She needed a minute to regroup. Everyone complimented her for the party, and she herself was still having a good time—last time she checked, there was a drunken game of 3-D twister happening in the living room atop of one of the couches and rug. Apparently, playing on the floor for that game was too amateur for these kids. Dash, whom she met earlier, spun the wheel, and purposely stopped it whenever he pleased, enjoying the terrible knot he continued to weave.
Evelyn closed the door behind her, leaning back with a sigh. The muffled jazz music through the door relaxed her from the chaos that raged in her head. Evelyn closed her eyes and swayed to the beat, taking it in. When the song was over, her eyes fluttered open. Still swaying, she looked at her pristine bed, and felt the urge to jump on it. She giggled, all of the shots she took finally getting to her, and stumbled to her bed before clumsily climbing on it.
Standing up on her wobbly feet, Evelyn jumped on her bed, still giggling.
Maybe I shouldn't have tried tequila, Evelyn thought. She'd never tried it, and took a shot of it.
"Evelyn?"
She tripped at the mention of her name, and tumbled on her bed, messing up her hair and outfit. She rolled on her back to see Nate at her door.
Evelyn sat up, brushing the knots of matted hair from her face. "Hi, Nate!"
"Why were you jumping on your bed?" He asked with an amused grin.
Evelyn's faced burned. The buzz she felt a few seconds ago made her skin tingle. "I don't know. I just came to my room for something, and saw my bed and thought, "Hey, you haven't jumped on a bed since you were 12, and then just did it. Why not right?"
He closed the door behind him, and the alcohol quickly faded from her system. Evelyn felt her shoulder's tense.
"I've been looking for you all night." He approaches her with slow, measured steps. "You were harder to find than Waldo," he joked.
There was a reason for that, Evelyn thought to herself. "Sorry about that. I had to make my rounds."
"Really? I thought, I don't know, you were avoiding me for some reason."
Well, as she told Blair earlier, her acting skills were terrible at best, especially if Nate could figure out her cold shoulder. She had to change that. "Of course I wasn't! I was in conversation with one person, you with another. It'd be rude to interrupt."
"Well, I'm glad I have your undivided attention now."
He sat down on the edge of her bed, his hand behind his back. Nate's arm appears from behind his back, a wrapped box in his hand. "Happy birthday, Evelyn."
"Nate, you didn't have to-"
"I wanted to." He pushed the box into her hands. "Trust me, when I saw this the first person I thought of was you."
Evelyn smiled, her stomach swirling with unease and alcohol. His overt kindness of the gesture just reaffirmed his feelings for her. Guild piled on her conscious, and she couldn't mentally accept the gift. Reluctantly, she tore off the wrapping paper, and opened the box. Beneath the gift-wrap was a ticket. Evelyn plucked it between her fingers, and examined it more closely. The ticket swished against another; a second ticket gleamed in her hand, making a pair of tickets.
"I know, you said your favorite soccer team was Barcelona FC, and they are coming to play in New York this summer for a friendly. Out of everyone, I knew you'd want to go the most."
Evelyn starred at the tickets. "Thank you."
Evelyn placed the tickets beside her and continued to open the gift. "Now, if you are going to go to this game, you have to dress the part officially," Nate explained.
An authentic Barcelona jersey was folded perfectly in the box. She picked up the jersey, feeling the soft and unwrinkled Dri-Fit mesh on her fingers. The iconic blue and red stripes appeared more beautiful to her than on screen.
She'd asked for a Barcelona jersey for Christmas, but she didn't get it. The jersey costed a couple hundred euros, and her Uncle Travis said that was too expensive for something she would take too much care to wear. He offered to buy a cheap rip off, but Evelyn insisted that she either had the authentic jersey, or no jersey at all.
"Nate…"
Her fingers graze her jersey thoughtfully. She turned to Nate, whose perfect lips quirked in a grin.
Nate's hands cup her cheeks. He scoots his body closer to hers, and his thumb caresses her cheek.
"What are you—"?
Nate leans toward her, and his warm lips hover over hers. Evelyn's eyes widen, and her body grew rigid. Nate's lips part, his right hand brushing past her cheek, and threading through her hair. Wide eyed, Evelyn was immobile. His tongue brushes her lips; the scent of beer overwhelmed her. The taste pushes her over the edge.
Ale. The taste hit her through the gut, everything around her going fuzzy. Suddenly, she was taken back to a time she was desperate to forget.
December 21 2009.
Vermont.
The ski trip.
With curled fists, Evelyn pushed Nate away from her. But when she did, she didn't see Nate. She saw his face. She saw his hulking frame, and leering smirk. She saw his icy blue eyes, clouded with desire. She tasted the same ale alcohol on his lips. She smelled it on him too. She felt trapped.
But then, she remembered his name. He didn't deserve a name to her, to hold power over her, but it crept back into her mind. Everything was coming back so quickly.
Donovan Tucker: sophomore football linebacker, pothead and popular jock.
Informally known as Donny.
"Did I do something wrong?" Nate asks.
She doesn't hear him. Everything is completely shut out around her. The painful memories flash before her from the beginning. The narrative she refused to relive the past several months had restarted. Finally seeing Nate's face again, she realized this story was in the process of repeating.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Evelyn? Have you seen Nate?" Jenny called.
The door slowly swung open, like a déjà vu. Her past was repeating. God, why didn't she see this coming?
Jenny stood in the doorway, livid.
Only three words slipped from her lips. "How could you?"
She shoots up from her bed, shrugging Nate's hands away from her. Her hands shake and she wipes her lips with the back of her hand, desperate to erase what just happened. Nate's gift falls to the floor when she stands up, lost and forgotten.
She had to leave. Now. Run. She couldn't run home, because her house was full of people. Evelyn rushed to her desk, grabbing her phone, and a light jacket draped atop of her desk chair.
Her back faces Nate, and she doesn't know what he could possibly be thinking. She didn't really care in that moment.
"What is she talking about?"
Evelyn ignored his question and flew through the doorway.
"Jenny! Wait!"
There were signs pointed to this. Evelyn refused to read them. She drove right by, like she always did, and then she would explode.
Jenny stops, angry tears filling her eyes.
"It's not what it looks like. Don't believe what you saw-"
"What I saw? If you wanted him so badly, why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't want him-"
Nate's hand graces the small of her back in attempt to turn her around to face him. His hands feel alien, and forceful like last time. He spun her around to face him; his hands gripped both of her shoulders.
"Evelyn?"
Nate's face disappeared, and was replaced with Donny's. Evelyn blinked a few times, but all she saw was Donny in front of her. Donny, who attempted to take advantage of her, and hurt her in ways she could never heal.
"Get away from me!"
Evelyn pushed Nate back forcefully, causing him to stumble backward and onto the floor. Evelyn bolted from the hallway, pushing past the clumps of people, and around the corner to meet the elevator. She punched the button with her fist, her breaths shaky and tears falling.
"Come on!" Evelyn punched the button again with her fist. She looked around, and most people were still unaware of her departure. With Gossip Girl, that could change instantly.
The elevator doors parted and Evelyn slammed the main floor button. She didn't know where she was going. She was running. She did that last time, and she would do it again.
The doors sealed shut, and Evelyn took a few steps backward, her back hitting the elevator wall. Her legs wobbled, her tears blurring. Her knees gave out, and she slumped to the floor, her chest heaving as all of her suppressed memories surged from the hidden hallows of her memory, and replay themselves for the first time since the memories were made.
Poor E, didn't anyone ever tell you that the girl code has this unwritten rule? Friends don't steal other friend's crushes, in the third grade that is, but that doesn't change in high school. It looks like E may have won the spotlight and N's heart, but this rising star may already be fading.
He didn't even approach her, and she sensed his presence. Chuck resisted the urge to touch her, anywhere, and waited for her to speak first.
"What do you want Bass?"
Chuck sipped his scotch. "I should ask you the same thing. So you recruited Evelyn to take down Ms. Carr?"
Blair turned to face him. "Yes. I told you I needed someone innocent to complete the final task, and I asked her politely. It was her choice whether she agreed to it or not. I only presented an offer."
"Let me guess, it was an offer she couldn't refuse. You didn't threaten her did you?"
Blair crossed her arms. "You're overreacting like a protective brother."
"That's because I am. You included my sister in one of your schemes, which she is not prepared for and against my wishes. She needs protecting."
Blair rolled her eyes. "No she doesn't. Look, all she's going to do is talk to Headmistress Queller, present the evidence with her detailed account, and all is well. Simple as that."
Chuck looked at her skeptically. "For her first time, it won't be simple. Especially with Queller."
"I already know that Bass. I'm confident she can handle it. Now, while you use your only brain cell not fried by drugs to figure out what possible ways I can help her out with that, I have to g-"
Suddenly, a flurry of blond hair and a wave of brown, whirl past them both. Chuck realized the second wave was his sister, who shoulder checked Blair out of her path.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Blair massages her shoulder.
Chuck turned and saw Nate chase after his sister, and calling her name. "Evelyn!"
Meanwhile, everyone in the room hushed. The DJ lowered the jazz music, and people stop their conversations. Some are quick to pull out their phones to snap photographs, or record this throw down.
Chuck watched his sister fighting with Jenny in what appears to be over a boy. Specifically, Nate. Blair appeared confused, eager to eat up this new public display that will surely make it onto Gossip Girl. When Nate circled behind Evelyn, Chuck automatically advances. He stiffened when he saw Nate's hand on the small of her back, intimately.
"Get away from me!"
They all watch Evelyn push through the throngs of party guests and around the corner to the elevator. He hears the door ping, and close. People stare at each other, and those who captured the moment immediately send it to Gossip Girl.
"Show's over!" Chuck yelled over the silent crowd.
Immediately, each phone buzzes or rings, indicating a Gossip blast was sent. While everyone's attention was transfixed on their phones, Chuck turned to Nate, his jaw set, and whispered, "Get out. Now."
Chuck pushed him forcefully toward the elevator, and pressed the button.
"Get your hands off me Chuck."
"I will once you leave quietly," Chuck replied.
After a few seconds the elevator returns. Chuck releases Nate's suit, and pushed him into the elevator. He scowled as the door shut in front of him.
"What the hell was that about?" Blair asked.
Chuck fired off a frantic "where are you" text to Evelyn. "I don't know, but I'm going to find out."
}I{}I{}I{
She was always waiting for him.
What took him so long, she could never guess? It was all a mystery to her.
Alone she waited in the girls ski chalet for him. She clicked the home button on her phone, checking the time every few seconds. Then, she would look up at the moose head displayed on the fireplace mantle.
Evelyn waited for him because he asked her to. There was a party tonight, and he asked to go with her. Being the best friend that she was, she gladly accepted. She trusted him. If you couldn't trust your best friend, whom can you trust?
Knock, knock, knock.
She jumped to her feet, and bolted to the door. Evelyn swung the door open casually, not wanting to appear over excited.
"Hey," he said. His childlike smile always made her feel giddy.
"Hey."
His eyes linger on her. He ruffles a hand through his curls. "You look…"
"Like chopped liver?"
He chuckled. "No. You look very nice."
She had put more effort than she usually would into her appearance, but only a little, not too much. She barely knew the basics of makeup, but thank God for Katie.
"Thanks."
"Should we go?"
"Uh… yes. Let's." She closed the door behind her, and locked it. They walked to the bus terminal.
What was the moment when a friendship turned into a relationship? Evelyn didn't know. Would he take her hand? Should she? One of them had to make the first move, and she was hesitant to make it. A failed first move would result in more than just a broken heart. It would also result in a broken friendship.
She really looked at him since the first time they met. His breath vapor steamed from his mouth in perfectly shaped clouds. With his hair cut back, his black curls spilled over his olive forehead. His jawline is refined, but strong.
He caught her staring. "What is it?"
She knocked her elbow with his. "Oh, nothing. Just looking at the ski hills. I wonder what's on the other side. What do you think is on the other side?"
"Well, from what I've learned from you, I'd say over there lies infinity."
They stopped walking. Was this it? Was this the moment?
She leaned closer into him. "Like a vertical tangent?"
He stuffed his fists in his pocket and began to walk again. "Something like that."
}I{}I{}I{
They were torn apart once they got to the party.
As soon as they walked in Katie pulled her in one direction, and Donny pulled him in another. He smiled at her, and pretended it was all good. No one noticed they came together. Everyone had been drinking for a couple hours, and were too drunk to notice.
She took a shot with Katie, and felt a sweaty hand press into her back. She whipped around, and felt the hot breaths of Donny focusing down on her. She slapped his hand away, and took a step back.
"Wanna drink, goddess?"
She looked around the room, avoiding eye contact. "I don't take drinks from strangers."
"But we're not strangers Eve!"
She barely knew him. Sure, they spoke briefly a few times, but nothing serious. "We're acquaintances," she clarified.
"Well, lets get to know each other better. Let's talk."
She spotted one of her friends who waved her over. "Maybe later?"
She sprinted away from him, as soon as she had the chance.
}I{}I{}I{
She finally found him standing outside with a bunch of jocks. Donny's friends. They scattered when she arrived, presumably to pass the bong around somewhere else.
"Hey. Since when are you friends with those guys?"
He shrugged. "Ah, you know I'm trying to branch out. They're pretty chill guys."
With the intelligence of a brick, Evelyn thought. "It's cold out here. Want to go inside to warm up?"
"Yeah, in a bit. Are you having a good time so far?"
This time, she shrugged. "Sort of. I don't think I'm drunk enough to have a good time."
Truth was, she wasn't having a good time at all. Donny kept staring at her, making her feel squirmy, and all her friends were already drunk, passed out, or making out with some random guy to converse with. All she wanted was to go back to her chalet with him and talk and possibly…
"Would you want to just, I don't know, le-"
Someone called his name, interrupting her.
"You know what," she continued, "Don't worry about it."
}I{}I{}I{
When the party was starting to quiet down, Donny found her again.
"Let's go talk in here," Donny suggested. He pointed inside another room. A bedroom.
Evelyn backed away, knowing his true intentions. Why couldn't he just leave her alone? She barely knew this guy. "No thanks, I have to go find Katie she's been looking for me."
She tried to turn away but felt a claw clamp around her arm. The claw pulled her toward him sharply, just like a predator snatching its prey.
"What are you doing? Let go of me!" Evelyn tried to fight back.
He pulled her chin close to her. He breathed heavily like a beast did in storybooks, and the smell of beer polluted her face. The stench came closer and closer as she tried to break away violently.
"You're so hot," he mumbled before he went in for the kill.
He lowered his beer tasting lips on hers.
}I{}I{}I{
She hears the cracking of knuckles crushing a nose. Then another, and another. Her eyes blurred, yet she stands there in shock, as the brawl happens in front of her, and all she can do is hear it happen.
"What the fuck man? Fuck off!" Donny spat.
"No, you fuck off. She said no."
"No she didn't. She wanted me, everyone wants me."
He attacks Donny from the middle, and slammed him into the carpet. "What fucking delusion do you live in? She never gave a shit about you. You didn't have a chance."
"And what, now you think you have one?" Donny sputtered. "Did you want one the whole time? I told you already, you're work here is done!" Donny flips him on his back and held him by the throat.
Finally, Evelyn regained her sense back. She clawed Donny by the shoulders, prying his hands away. "Get off of him."
"Stay out of this bitch." He pushed her back with one arm.
Evelyn countered; she swung her right foot into his groin as hard as she could. Donny screamed in pain, shriveling into a little ball.
She looked between both of them with disgust.
"How dare you?" The boys looked accusingly at the other. "Both of you." She shook her head and marched out of the bedroom. She fled quickly, and didn't look back.
}I{}I{}I{
'Your work here is done," rang in her ears like wind flowing through chimes. She was so confused. She was stumbling all over the place, over people until she found a door. Escape. Escape now.
She isn't fast enough. She tries to close the door but someone shimmies past it. Him.
"Where are you going?"
"This whole time I-I thought it just you and me. What was he talking about?" She could see her breath crystalize in wafting clouds.
His brown eyes once warm and comforting reflected sadness and desperation. "It was a long time ago. It was stupid." He tried to grab her hand, but she flinched away. The room suddenly began to spin.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Can't we just wait till tomorrow to talk about this? It's freezing out here."
"No.
"He asked me to help."
"He almost hurt me, how could you help him do that?"
He runs a hand through his short disheveled curls. "Because he wanted you. I didn't think he was serious – look, It's hard to explain but I didn't think he'd go this far-"
Her hand acted before her head and she slapped him. Hard. "Fuck you, asshole."
"Wait! Will you listen to me? When I agreed to help him, I didn't think he was serious about you. I didn't realize I was even serious about you."
Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Some friend you were. Do you know what these people are saying about me? The lies? Why won't you tell them it's not true? I stopped him from forcing himself on me!"
"I didn't think he'd take it as far as he did, and he was drunk. I thought I could control it. But I couldn't control my feelings for you. I lied to him, thinking he would leave you alone, but I never lied to you. You have to believe me."
Spotted: E not so graciously fleeing her sweet sixteen before cutting the cake. Didn't you hear E? You can run away from your past, but it'll always come back to haunt you. For this paper bag princess, her fairytale has come to a dramatic end.
She was so good about it. Never once did she think about it, giving it power in her mind to fester. Never once did she let herself feel the anger and pain he caused her. The pain they both caused her. She told herself her best friend wasn't worth it, and that everything she went through for him wasn't worth it.
But it was. In so many ways it could have been worth it. But fate intervened, and her past was behind her. She couldn't believe she let it happen all over again.
Didn't she see the warning signs? They were at every corner. The play, Time Square, the lacrosse game…all signs pointed in the same direction, but she stared away, like a careless driver.
All she wanted was to recreate herself after the damage she left behind. She wanted to start fresh, and live the life she always thought she deserved with her family. But she never bargained for this.
She changed. She always will be changing in life, but these past four months have resulted in her greatest transformation yet. Did it feel right? Did she feel like she was an Upper East Sider? She wasn't by blood, or by upbringing. Parts of her were sure, but this past piece of her was revolted with what she was becoming.
Right now, she had the power to destroy two people's lives. A teacher she never met, and her ex-new friend's oldest brother. Why did she have the power? Because she was at the right place at the wrong time. What disgusts her the most is that she is not only capable of destruction, but a part of her is able to justify it, and follow through.
Everything around her is spinning, and she felt like she'd lost her grip on everything. Who was she?
Right now, as a new sixteen year old, she had no idea.
The doors to the rooftop opened, and startled her. She sniffled and whipped away her tears, before the intruder could realize she was at her most vulnerable.
Chuck materialized from the dark shadow and Evelyn sighed. "Sorry for the melodramatic exit."
"On the contrary, you don't need to be sorry," he said.
"No really, I am. I tried to sneak out. It's kind of difficult with the configuration of the Penthouse, and where everyone just happened to cluster at the party."
Chuck took his place beside her. "Stop apologizing to ignore the real issue as to why you made your exit. What happened? The whole night you were ready to jump out of your skin, the next you're crying."
They overlook the New York skyline, the city buzzing beneath them, and the air silent around them. The silence persisted, and both waited for her to speak.
"It's a long story," she finally said.
"I've got time."
"But, you might get mad."
"Why would I be mad?"
Evelyn brushed the frizzed hairs away from her face. "Well, lets see. Remember when we ran into Nate at the party, and how it was super weird? Well, with this story, you'll be inclined to react in the same way."
"I'll refrain."
She eyed him suspiciously. "You promise not to judge?"
"I don't think you know this, but as Chuck Bass, I'm never entitled to judge, so I don't. Therefore, yes I promise."
"Promise you won't interrupt?"
"I promise."
"And, keep the names in this story confidential? I mean, I'll tell you one person's name, but the rest I'm going to make up."
"Evelyn, just tell me."
She took a deep breath, and pushed herself away from the edge of the building. Evelyn began to pace, and started telling the story quietly. Her voice grew stronger and stronger as she wondered out loud for the first time the feelings she suppressed.
"Chuck, have you ever had a friend whom you really cared about, but realized they were using you to get to someone else, or something bigger and better?"
He leaned back into the railing. "I've known a few."
"Well, my best friend did that. Through everything I helped him with, he just did it to use me to become popular. I mean, who does that? And then he had the nerve to say that 'wasn't true' and that I'm jumping to conclusions, and that he didn't want all of that, which was a complete lie. Here are the facts. He sold me out to his friend Donny, so he could be accepted and friends with him. Who the fuck does that? Where's the jump there?"
"And don't even get me started with the whole 'my dad left my mom before I was born' I never knew him blah, blah, blah. His mom is a total dumbfuck by the way."
He smirked. "You don't say?"
"Yes she is! Did you know she would just leave him to jet across the country, looking for a rich sugar daddy, since he was in seventh grade? Legitimately all alone! No babysitter, nothing—not to mention all the men she's brought home."
"Sounds like an wannabe Upper East Sider."
Evelyn scoffed. "She's desperate is what she was. But like most desperate people, she hasn't gotten anywhere."
Evelyn finally stopped pacing. She looked at him seriously and asked, "Am I crazy for being mad at this? Because I've only talked about it to one person, and she said I was overreacting."
"Well, let me see if I'm understanding this correctly. You meet Osten, or whatever names you gave him to keep his confidentiality, through tutoring math and become friends. Over the summer you become friends, you thought he liked you, he undergoes a physical transformation, and suddenly people notice him, and started hanging out with the jocks. Then he made a deal with this dumbfuck Donny, to help him get him to fuck you, even though he wanted to fuck you-"
"Now you're just inferring that."
"Dear sister, I am a man, and I know what they want. By the way you described it, he definitely liked you, but was either confused or a wimp to do anything about it. I'm hoping it isn't the latter, because frankly, I worry for your idiotic taste in men."
"Chuck! You promised."
He sighed. "I'm just saying. Anyway, you all go to Vermont for a ski trip, things are progressing and then everyone got drunk, and Donny tried to rape you. Your stupid best friend tried to save you—which he was completely useless, since you were the one to completely disable Donny. Then you find out about the deal and tell them both to fuck off, and never talked to them since."
Evelyn sighs with relief. "Yes. You are understanding correctly, despite your added unnecessary commentary."
"So, what's the problem?"
"Well, tonight was a glaring example that I repeated what happened then, except I was the best friend who screwed everyone over. It was me!"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Chuck. Sure, I may not have liked Nate, like my best friend liked me, but the consequences are the same. I wanted to be accepted this time, and I'm just as horrible."
"You don't need someone's permission for acceptance. People here will accept you for who you are Evelyn. Not everyone will accept you, but that's no different wherever you live."
"Really?" Evelyn's eyes were filled with hope.
"Really. In three months, you've already been accepted into our family. Most kids can't even say that, so since you already have that, nothing else matters."
"I think…you're right. Seriously Chuck, that was really profound."
His waved her off. "Don't think this is usual. On the contrary, my moments of clarity are extremely rare."
Evelyn laughed. "Well, out of this whole mess, I'm glad I came to meet my family. My core family. Honestly, I would've never got through this like I am with you right now. I don't know what would've happened if I stayed there."
Chuck cocked his head to the side. "So, you're intentions to meet us weren't as pure as we thought."
"No! Of course they were, but my actions were accelerated a bit. I've wanted this since I found out I was adopted. I wished and dreamed for it to happen, and he did too. He never knew his father. That's how we initially bonded. We both came from fucked up families."
"Anyway, I couldn't show my face there again. It was humiliating, so I ran."
"What do you think you're accomplishing by running away?"
"I run. It's what I do. I…I can't stand on my own when everything is crumbling around me."
"Most people can't." He pulled the red napkin from his coat, and dabbed the tears and running mascara away from her eyes.
"You don't understand. I run because I never know what to say."
Chuck knitted his brows together. "What do you mean?"
Evelyn sighed, rubbing her face with her hands. "I run because in moments of disaster, and when people are attacking me, I freeze. I'm speechless. The only way to defend myself is if I retreat."
He chuckled, and pressed the handkerchief into her sweaty palm.
Evelyn's eyes narrowed, the handkerchief wrinkling into her closed fist. "What are you laughing about? This isn't funny Chuck."
"I'm not laughing at you. In fact, I completely understand. Running away from problems appears to be a heretic trait."
She scoffed, unconvinced. "How could you possibly understand?"
"Last year, right before summer break, Blair and I decided to be a couple. We were, for a week. I had it all planned out. I was going to take her to Tuscany, romance her like she deserved, but I didn't follow through."
Evelyn gazed at her brother intently. "Didn't follow through?"
"I ran too," Chuck admitted. "I ran because Bart mentioned that he was proud of me." He grinned at that pleasant memory. "But I got scared too. He told me I was growing up, and how I was going to change, and everything was going to change once Blair and I were in a serious relationship. I panicked. I guess I didn't know what to say either."
"And then you left her alone in Tuscany."
He smirked. "Thanks for the reminder."
"Sorry, but that's in the past. You've both moved on from that haven't you?"
"Yes," Chuck admitted. "That's what makes everything so scary. We've changed. Now, I'm thinking about taking care of her, thinking about her all the time. Everything around me reminds me of her. And when I am talking to her, it's feels very right. I don't have to decipher what she says. She understands me, and I understand her."
"So, you're essentially her boyfriend without the title?"
Chuck glared at her. That title was his largest repellent.
"What?" Evelyn asked innocently. "From your description, you are acting like the boyfriend without the benefits. It's very noble of you."
"It's pathetic," he countered.
Evelyn tisked. "You are being too hard on yourself. Look, it's very obvious that you really like Blair, and she likes you. What's stopping you?"
"We agreed we should wait until I was ready."
"Well are you?"
The terror on his face gave her the answer. "No…maybe…I don't know. I just think that if we do get together, I'm just going to mess it up. I'll run to my old habits when things get rough."
Her eyes began to clear, and she turned to face him for the first time. "Are you that scared of yourself?"
Chuck looked away silently.
"Look, everything is going to change and change constantly. Take me for example. I left everything I knew, everyone I knew to come here, and I made it. You can't just hold out on what ifs. Do you know how many times I've thought what if? What if I stayed? What if I just said something to Donny so things wouldn't have gotten so far?"
"But none of that happened."
"Exactly. You can't avoid living because of the fear of you screwing up. Truth is, yes you probably will screw up. But that's okay. You just need to have a little faith that you'll get back up, and fix whatever your problem will be. And you won't be alone. I'll be here to support you."
Chuck raised his brows skeptically. "How can you be so sure?"
"If I could do it, I know you can. I had the chance to live with you, be apart of your family this term. I'm so glad I did it. Did I screw up? Yes. Will I continue to? Absolutely. But I'm still going to keep trying, because that's all you can do."
Chuck stared at his sister, and realized each word she spoke was sincere. She left everything she knew, every problem that held her back, and flew, flew to the Upper East Side. She wanted a clean break, and it's a shame that she hasn't completely gotten one. Unless…
This Donny douche needed a punishment for what he did, and probably did with many others. He thought of Blair's scheme with Miss Carr finishing up, and a new scheme formed in his mind.
"You're right," Chuck admitted.
She shrugged. "Well, it happens occasionally."
"You know, if being a doctor doesn't work out, you should be a psychologist. You actually could be more useful than half of the staff at the Ostroff center combined."
She laughed. "I don't know about that. I only offer services for family members."
She's so modest. "Good for me." Chuck checked his watch. "Do you want to take refuge in my suite in the meantime? I think the party is still going on in our home."
Evelyn nodded, a relieved smile on her lips. "That is exactly what I need."
Chuck held his hand out to her, pulling his sister to the door. "Can we also order pizza?" Evelyn suggested. "Its only one thirty, but I'm starving!" she exclaimed.
"Lucky for you, I'm well connected."
They arrived in suite 1812 and Chuck already had a plan formulating in his mind. He already messaged Andrew Tyler to investigate and find anything he could find on this Donovan Tucker. And while hired help is nice, sometimes you had to rely on the best, whose expertise carries no price.
Evelyn's fine, although a little shaken up. She won't be at school on Monday, so you may have to reschedule your Miss Carr takedown.
In the meantime, there's a guy in Connecticut that I'm personally going to hunt down on behalf of my sis. Care to join me on a road trip?
I need you Waldorf.
-C
Chuck debated on the last line, not wanting to sound needy. But as insurance, he needed to show some vulnerability if he was going to convince her to go with him on a road trip. A road trip, just the two of them, with nobody to interfere. It was dangerous, but Chuck yearned for time with Blair. This opportunity was too good to pass up.
Fine Bass. I owe her one. But I have a couple conditions: first, you're sister must follow through with the plans on a revised schedule. Second, I need to know the full details and facts of what we're dealing with. I suspect you've already made these arrangements. Call me tomorrow for further instruction.
-B
He smirked in the dark and closed his eyes, imagining Blair's devilish smirk when one of her plans comes together. He couldn't wait to see it grace her features once again.
While this sweet sixteen ended on a bitter note, there's always a new tomorrow waiting. As for B and C, that means a new day, a new scheme. Whoever is the target should take cover, because with these two cohorts working together to protect a loved one, their aim will turn deadly.
You Know You Love Me,
XOXO Gossip Girl
A/N: Well, there you have it! The birthday party, a revelation of Evelyn's past, and an introduction of a new character. Again, I put a ton of work into this chapter, and would greatly appreciate feedback on it through a review.
Next chapter preview: The Engagement party, Chuck/Blair scheming, and a game changing revelation. Also, the title will be called: "The New Upper East Side Players"
Any thoughts, or theories? Hit up the review button and let me know!
Till next time,
XOXO
EZ11