A/N: Hello readers! My sincerest apologies for my absence. I was really struggling to work through a couple key plot points in the upcoming chapters, so I withheld from uploading this chapter to make sure the kinks were worked out. Thank you for your patience and feedback from the last chapter!
There is also something else that I need to address. I really appreciate the feedback that you have all given this story over the years. Even if your words were brief, it was nice to know that you all cared so deeply for the story and hoped to see it to its completion. I think we can agree on this site, it is more rare to find a complete story than an unfinished one! That being said, there was a comment left for the last chapter that attacked another reviewer. This concerned me because if you have any problem with the story, you are more than welcome to voice your thoughts to me. However, I do not condone hurtful comments to other reviewers for expressing their opinions. I have no intention to censure any of you, it's your right to free speech, but I implore all of you to respect everyone's opinions even if you do not agree with them.
So, let's all get back to enjoying the story. It's kicking into another gear in this chapter, and I hope you all enjoy it!
EDIT: I made a change to the first scene of this chapter to help clarify one of the storylines. I wasn't sure that I explained enough, and thanks to the helpful feedback I was able to revise it to improve clarity. Thanks readers!
Chapter 35: The Lying Game
In our world, when someone appears at your door, tail between their legs, it's because they want something: forgiveness. But if they come to you with a problem that now requires a large sum of money, it usually means they can't forgive themselves…for getting caught. Money may talk, but problems don't walk away from us. They linger and grow until the burden is too heavy to carry alone.
Evelyn's knees began to weaken, and her body began to sway. She placed her hand on Jenny's shoulder to steady herself.
"A hundred…thousand…dollars?" Evelyn said.
Jenny burst in tears again, and her body collapsed against hers. Evelyn caught her, her eyes widening as the amount sunk in. One hundred thousand dollars. That's enough to pay for almost four years of college tuition. Enough for a luxury car. Enough for a small home in Texas. Why the hell would Jenny need that much money now?
Dash looked equally as shell shocked. His pocketed his hands, not knowing what else to do with them. Whatever they were fighting about earlier was completely irrelevant.
"Jenny?" Evelyn rubbed the silky material that covered Jenny's upper back. "Why don't you sit on my bed?"
Dash leapt toward the girls. He took one of Jenny's arms while Evelyn took the other. Together, they helped her to Evelyn's bed. Jenny's body crumped on the duvet, her shoulders still shaking. Evelyn picked up a box of tissues and offered it to Jenny.
Evelyn crouched down in front of Jenny's legs so she could see Jenny's face beneath her curtain of blonde hair. "Jenny?"
Jenny sniffled and pushed her hair back.
"What happened?"
"I didn't mean for things to get this far. You have to believe me, Evelyn."
"I believe you," Evelyn said. She readjusted her position so she sat back on her heels. "Why do you need one hundred thousand dollars?"
"You promise you won't hate me?"
That was the second time someone feared her judgement that night. Why was that? Since when did everyone think she was so righteous?
"Of course, I won't hate you. I could never hate you, Jenny."
Jenny looked up, noticing Dash's presence for the first time. "You too," she said. "Promise you won't tell anyone?"
Dash shook his head, his arms crossed over his chest. "I won't. But if you want, I can go?"
"No," Jenny said. "You might be able to help actually."
Evelyn and Dash exchanged a look. What could that mean? Dash's features scrunched in concentration, attempting to calculate how he could have any connection that could help Jenny.
"Jenny, just tell us," Evelyn said.
"It started in January. When we weren't speaking, it was getting really difficult to control the kingdom. Without your protection, everyone was trying to knock me off the first chance they got. They didn't respect me. They still saw me from Brooklyn, and they always showed off that they were all richer than me, and that really made it difficult to be queen. I felt powerless." Jenny licked her lips and shook her head.
"So you looked for ways to make money quick?" Evelyn asked.
"Kind of. Not intentionally. It started when I met Thom at Dash's birthday party, and long story short, I ended up helping him arrange a drop. He gave me a percentage, and in that moment, I saw an opportunity."
"Dealing?" Dash said.
Jenny's brows furrowed. She folded her upper body on top of her thighs to shield herself from Dash's judgmental tone. The weight of shame pushed her spine forward until her stomach was flush against her thighs. "Yeah. Assisting."
"It makes sense," Dash said. His tone wasn't condescending, but pragmatic. He was trying to sort through the logic of it all. He attempted to piece together the few puzzle pieces he had. "I thought I saw you at the UN Conference, and it looked suspect."
Jenny sighed. "One of the ambassador's daughters was there and wanted a delivery. I sewed the pills she wanted in her jacket. That's when I had the idea. Thom has all these high-profile clients, so I began to sew different drugs into accessories. It worked, but I also went to many parties, sometimes five in one night once I Thom needed me to sub in more. The more I could help Thom keep up with his orders, the more money I made, so I kept doing it for months. The next thing I was going to save for was to host my own birthday party for once."
"If you've been doing this for months, you must have some money saved up," Evelyn said.
"No. I have nothing. I was living paycheck to paycheck to keep up with the haute couture, the parties, all of it. I was delivering larger and larger orders for high profile people until last week."
"The fashion show," Evelyn said. "That bag of pills was yours. You were supposed to sell them that night, weren't you?"
Jenny nodded. "At the after party, but Agnes took the drugs and disappeared. I was also supposed to show up to at least four other parties, but I couldn't think straight after Agnes drugged me. Thom was so mad. He wanted me to pay right up front for that, and the stash I still had at home that I was in charge of for the rest of the night. We also didn't just deliver at parties, but I know Thom did business with other smaller dealers at all the prep schools in the area too. Anyway, when I got home, my dad almost found part of the stash in my closet, so I threw them down the garbage dispenser. Later I went to the trash room to see if I could pick the bags out, but they were gone."
"How much did you have in your place?"
"Boxes full. Thom really trusted me after my perfect record the past few months. They were stashed in my drawers, under my bed, my closet and no one would know since I'm all the way in Brooklyn."
"I didn't realize you were so far deep with Thom and his…business," Evelyn said.
Jenny put her head in her hands and sighed. "He's been harassing me all week for the money because he needs to pay the supplier back, and I've got nothing."
"Let me get this straight," Dash said. "Thom's a dealer?"
Jenny scoffed. "Yeah. He's been one for the past couple of years. He's the biggest dealer on the Upper East Side."
"I guess I should be shocked, but I'm not," Dash said.
"So that's why he came tonight. He wanted the money," Evelyn said.
"Yup. You saved me by kicking him out, but he'll be back, and it'll be worse this time if I don't pay up."
"Did he threaten you?" Evelyn said.
"Well, not him, but his supplier. They've had a rocky relationship over the past few months, but I think he's really dangerous."
"Who is Thom's supplier?" Dash asked.
"I don't know," Jenny said. "I asked, but he wouldn't tell me. Just said that he was an old family friend, and then he would laugh like it was an inside joke."
Evelyn took a deep breath. She just needed to think. She knew she had a hundred thousand dollars in her trust account, easy. If she were to transfer the money immediately, it would be suspicious. Maybe she could ask her dad? She didn't know how serious the situation was, but if Jenny suspected Thom's supplier was dangerous, maybe it was necessary to get adults involved.
"I could ask my dad," Evelyn began.
"No! You can't," Jenny said. "Because he'll tell my dad, and my dad will kill me. Forget grounded for life, he would never let me leave the house again."
"Okay," Evelyn said. "Well that helps narrow our options down."
Evelyn turned to Dash whose features were still scrunched in concentration. "I'm thinking," He said.
"Jenny, I don't think I can transfer a hundred grand from my trust without my dad asking questions. That's a lot, and it would be suspicious."
"I know," She said. "But I can't have my dad finding out. Ever."
"I get that," Evelyn said. "But we need a plan. I don't know enough about Thom and his dealings to see how we could possibly play this."
"Maybe we should track down Thom," Dash said. "You and me," he said to Evelyn.
"And do what?" Evelyn asked.
He shrugged. "Maybe we could see if there's a way around paying? He still thinks we're friends, so we pretend we're buying?"
Evelyn turned to Jenny. "Do you think that would work?"
She sighed. "Who knows. You could try it, but don't mention me at all. He'll be suspicious if you both want something now."
"Then we're just going to have to be good actors," Evelyn said. She turned to Dash, and her anger and frustration at him hadn't faded. She had so much she wanted to say to him, but now was the time to prove their acting chops. Acting like a crazy, love-struck couple, who were looking for a high wouldn't be only difficult, but perhaps cathartic.
Watch out, J. Just because you finally tell the truth doesn't mean there won't be consequences.
Ozzy closed the heavy front door. After sneaking out the house so many times, he knew how to close the door without making a sound. He had to lift the doorknob up, twist it as far as it would allow, and then push the door forward. If he followed this method, he avoided any hinge squeaks or scraping sounds.
He didn't see much of a reason to stay at the party any longer. It was obvious he was unwelcome, and he would be much more productive studying alone. That is, if he could muster the motivation to study.
He didn't blame Dash. His step-brother walked in on a compromising sight. He was about to tell Evelyn how he was really feeling. If he were to have started to tell her, he doubted he would be able to stop. She didn't need to reach out to him. He could have pulled away and kept a respectful distance. Neither did either of those things. He certainly didn't. Instead, he leaned into her touch, holding onto the hands that had found him, uncovered his pain.
Evelyn saw in him what everyone else couldn't see. She saw his pain, sadness, loneliness. It was for the best that Dash interrupted. He didn't want to burden her with who he really was. If she saw him for who he was, perfectly, she wouldn't want anything to do with him. It would scare her. Disgust her. Disappoint her.
"Hello?" His mom appeared from the archway that lead into the kitchen. "Where's Dash?"
"He's still at the Basses."
"I didn't expect you to be home early."
"I wasn't able to focus," Ozzy said. He started up the stairs. "I think I'm going to study in my room."
"Okay." His mom watched him go up the stairs. "Let me know if you need anything."
He wouldn't. There was nothing she provided that he needed. What he needed was out of her reach.
Ozzy collapsed on his bed and stared at the ceiling. How much longer could he do this? He couldn't live this life any longer. It buried him.
Maybe things would be better for everyone if he wasn't in this life. Maybe if he left, went his own way, everyone could move forward without him, and he could continue to exist. Whatever that capacity was, he could figure out on his own.
He tossed and turned as he wondered what it would take to leave discretely. Would anyone even notice? He wondered where he would go, what he would do, and he would only hope that he could disappear, exist on the other side of the margins where no one would think to look. He doubted he would be happy, fulfilled, or satisfied, but maybe he could find peace.
Chuck knocked on Blair's door and waited. He clutched the locket in his hand, and shifted it to get a better glimpse of the picture in the florescent lighting. He looked at the locket at every possible angle, as if a new detail he didn't notice would reveal its secret.
The door swung open, and Blair stood in her silk black pajamas, her sleeping mask on her forehead. "Chuck?"
"Sorry to come by so late."
"It's okay." She took him by the hand and closed the door behind him. Chuck looked around the room to see if Joy was around.
"Joy went to wash up before bed. Where have you been?"
He sat beside Blair on her comforter and appreciated how it was not the standard issue cardboard mattress everyone else had. "I talked to my father, and then I went for a walk. Thought about everything before making a decision like you suggested."
Blair shuffled her body to line up with his. "That's good. Did it help?"
"Not really. I have more questions than answers now."
Despite his father's denials of what the locket suggested, Chuck wandered Central Park wondering how he could be sure his father was telling the truth.
"Didn't you ask your father about the locket?"
"I did. He denied everything. But it doesn't make sense. How," he pulled out the locket, "How could this picture not mean what I think it means?"
"Maybe your father's too proud to admit what was going on," Blair said.
"I asked him if she had an affair, and he said no," Chuck said. "Point blank."
"Chuck, maybe it's best to let this go. We have finals this week, and we can focus on this after."
"I can't forget this now. Jack is now staying in town, so I have to help him with that, and I need to assure my dad that nothing is out of the ordinary until I figure something out."
"You're playing the middle?"
"I am. It should be easy enough since they barely talk to each other."
Blair rested her chin on his shoulder. "I don't understand. When we went out with Jack, it seemed like he and his brother were close?"
"And Bart told me not to trust him at the fashion show."
"He did?"
Chuck nodded. "I need answers. If I'm going to commit my life to Bass Industries, don't you think I deserve to know everything?"
"Yes, but maybe now isn't the best time?"
Chuck shook his head and stood. What was he thinking? If Jack wasn't going to tell him the truth, or his father, then he needed to find out on his own.
"Chuck." Blair stood and reached for his hand. "Don't turn away from me now. I'm here for you. I love you. Always. And no matter what you choose to do with this situation, I will stand by you."
Chuck looked at her for a moment, reminded by her earnestness and loyalty. He didn't know what he was going to do yet. He didn't know what could be done. But he had Blair Waldorf on his side, and that was bigger than any army he could ever want.
He kissed her, stroked her cheek. "I know you will. Thank you for that."
Chuck buttoned up his coat and pulled up her duvet. Blair smiled and crawled under the covers. She allowed him to pull the duvet cover all the way up to her chin. "Rest up. You have an exam on Monday. We'll talk about this after we're both done," He said.
"You too—"
He cut her off with a kiss. "Don't worry about me. Goodnight, Blair."
Blair pulled her sleeping mask over her eyes and sighed. "Goodnight, Chuck."
Evelyn led the way to the south entrance of Central Park. It was the entrance that was less lit than the others, with less foot traffic, and the place that Thom set for them to meet-up.
"Did he say we need to be in the park?" Evelyn turned to Dash, who had been following behind her. They didn't speak much in the limo. Both were entrenched in their side of the argument they had earlier that night. They were locked in a stalemate.
"The entrance should be good," Dash said. He shoved his hands in his pockets. "So are we going to talk about what happened before Jenny came to your room?"
"No," Evelyn said. "There's nothing to say, is there? You'll just go on assuming the opposite."
"Okay then," Dash said. "Looking like crazy lovebirds who are looking for a fun time shouldn't be too hard to portray with the fight we're in."
Evelyn turned away and paced in front of the path. She was the worst actress in the world. How was she going to sell that everything was great with Dash to Thom?
"He's coming," Dash said. "Come here." He turned her around and started kissing her. It did nothing to change her mood.
Evelyn pushed him away. "What are you doing?"
"Acting the part."
Evelyn rolled her eyes.
"What? Now you're repulsed with even kissing me?"
Evelyn was about to reply when she saw Thom over Dash's shoulder. She swallowed the words that she wanted to spit back, and started giggling.
"Thom? I'm sorry you walked up on us..." She giggled and looked at Dash with a look she hoped seemed like affection.
Dash squeezed his hand on her waist and kissed her forehead.
"It's no problem. I've got to run, so let's make this quick. What do you want?"
Evelyn looked up at Dash expectantly. He could make himself useful and answer the question. "What do you think, babe?"
It was a term she never used for him, and she could viscerally see him tense. She always thought it was odd to call Dash pet names, and he agreed. His smile was strained and his hand squeezed her waist.
"That's uh… a good question," Dash said.
"Thom, it's been a long week with studying, so what's the best thing you have to just relax? Let loose?"
"Look, I only have E or MDMA on me right now," Thom said while checking his phone again. "What do you want?"
Evelyn turned to Dash. "What do you want, honey?"
Dash sighed. "We'll take the E."
"Alright. Cash upfront please."
"I don't have any on me."
Thom looked visibly annoyed. "Then no fun for you."
"Wait," Evelyn said. "Isn't there another way? Just because we don't have the cash on hand—"
"Cash upfront or no drugs. That's my policy."
"What about an e-transfer? I can do it when I get home."
Thom looked at her pensively. "Alright. We can do that." He reached in his jacket for a small bag. "How many pills do you want?"
"Two?" Dash said.
"Four actually," Evelyn corrected. Two pills sounded like the wimpiest order ever. There was no way that was convincing.
Thom plucked a bag from his pocket.
"Why do you have only a cash policy? No running tabs?" Evelyn probed.
"Easier to not have to hunt people down to pay. Plus, I've got my payment deadlines to meet too."
Evelyn exchanged a look with Dash. Deadlines? Surely that meant he had to pay off the supplier by a certain time. That didn't look good for Jenny.
"Thanks, Thom," Evelyn said when she accepted the package.
"No problem. If you need more, let me know."
He stalked away without another word. The LED glow illuminated his face as he typed.
"So much for a discount," Dash said.
Evelyn slapped the pills against Dash's chest. "So much for more information."
"I'm not sure about that. It seems like he was under pressure to pay off his supplier. I don't think we have any other choice than to pay him for Jenny."
"Unless we think of something else," Evelyn said.
"I don't know if there is anything else we can do. Thom is all business with this, and if we don't pay, things could get serious. I don't think he always asks for cash upfront like that, so he must be pressed for money."
"Maybe," Evelyn said. "I just hope we can do something."
Dash touched her shoulder. This time she didn't flinch. "We will."
The next morning, Evelyn sat at the dining table flanked with Eric and Jenny at her sides. After much deliberation, she convinced Jenny to stay the night before she and Dash went to meet-up with Thom. When she returned home, Jenny was fast asleep, curled up in a ball.
"Can you pass me a croissant?" Jenny asked. She was more well rested than the night before, but she sat up straight, as she was not only with Eric and Evelyn, but also sat across from Bart and Lily Bass.
"Here." Evelyn lifted the plate and offered it to Jenny, so she could pick which one she'd like.
It was an innocent exchange. Evelyn certainly didn't want to show that anything was dangerously wrong to either her father or Lily, but especially after Jenny said not to. She had to honour her friend's word, no matter how much she disagreed with it.
"It is such a pleasure having you join us for brunch this morning. I had no idea until this morning that you stayed in Evelyn's room last night."
"I did send a text," Evelyn said. It was one of the rules they agreed upon since Aunt Kim visited.
"It wasn't planned," Jenny said. "I was so tired from studying that I fell asleep."
"Ah, I remember with Serena how stressful the SATs were," Lily said.
"Not to mention there were other reasons," Eric said under his breath and sipped his tea.
"Thank you so much for having me Mr. and Mr. Bass," Jenny said.
"It's no problem at all," he father said. "How is the studying coming along?"
Eric, Evelyn, and Jenny each made a face of defeat.
Her father chuckled. "That well, huh?"
"It's coming," Evelyn said. "It's painful though."
"And it'll be over before you know it," Lily said. "Stay focused. You'll all do great."
"Thanks, mom for the motivational pep talk," Eric said. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to study more algebra."
"Oooh how thrilling," Evelyn said.
"Don't remind me," Eric said.
Evelyn piled more berries, an extra croissant, and banana on her plate. "Jenny, we should get back to studying too. Load up on any snacks now, so we're fueled for the rest of the afternoon."
"Have a great day," Evelyn said as she excused herself and Jenny from the table.
Once in her room, Jenny said, "Wow, that peppiness almost seemed genuine."
"It kind of was, but I like to think my acting skills have improved. Not sure if they did any good last night."
"Right. Last night. Fill me in. What happened?"
"Do you want the good news or bad news?"
"Bad news first."
"We couldn't get much information from Thom. In fact, it seems like he needs money quick, so he'll probably be coming to collect from you sooner."
"And the good news?"
"We now have four E pills, so if everything starts really going to hell we do have an escape."
"That's good news?" Jenny scoffed. "Like you'd ever actually take one."
"Okay, true, but I was trying to lighten the situation," Evelyn said.
Jenny collapsed on Evelyn's unmade bed. "Great. We're back to square one. What are we going to do?"
Jenny's phone rang.
"Who is it?"
Jenny checked the Caller ID. Her eyes widened. "It's Thom."
"Put him on speaker, so I can hear the conversation."
"But Evelyn—"
"You have to pick it up," Evelyn said.
Jenny flipped open her phone. "Hello?"
"Humphrey?"
Jenny took a deep breath and exhaled. "What do you want?"
"Your money obviously. You owe me, remember?"
"I told you. I don't have a hundred thousand dollars."
"You better find it somehow because I need that money by the end of the week."
"I told you that's not possible," Jenny said. "I don't have a trust fund with that much money like you do."
"What happened to the money from every other deal?"
"It's gone. used."
"Jenny, if you don't pay up there will be consequences. I'm not joking here. You won't be getting those consequences from me, but my supplier."
Jenny looked up at Evelyn. Supplier? Evelyn mouthed, "Ask who he is."
"Who is your supplier?"
Thom laughed. "Someone you should be scared of. Legend has it, he's hurt a lot of people before."
"That's not very specific," Jenny said. "If he's coming after me like you said he is, I should at least know his name."
"They call him the Jefe."
Jenny and Evelyn exchanged a look. "What does that mean?" Jenny asked.
Thom laughed. "It's not complicated. That's boss in Spanish."
Hm. So this supplier is Spanish? That was a detail they could work with. Evelyn motioned for Jenny to continue the conversation.
"How was I supposed to know that?"
"You don't know what you got yourself into, Jenny," Thom said.
"What's his actual name?"
"Why would I tell you? So you can call him? Send a love letter? He doesn't play games."
"Thom. I'm not playing games. I need to know what I'm dealing with here. Tell me right now."
"His name is Alejandro. That's all I'm going to tell you. Pay me by Friday or else you'll hear from him."
He hung up and Jenny dropped the phone on her bed. "I'm so screwed."
Evelyn picked up her phone. "No, you're not."
"Evelyn. I don't have a hundred thousand dollars kicking around. I have no idea who this supplier is or what he will do to me if he found out I wasted his goods by getting models high at a fashion show."
"I know that, but we can look into this. We got two names out of Thom. Jefe and Alejandro. If we hire a P.I. maybe we can find him and sell out Thom?"
"There's no way that would work."
"We don't know that if we don't at least investigate this lead. Are you in?"
Jenny put her hands on her hips. "Like I have a choice."
Whoever said knowledge is power didn't know what it was like to have a P.I. on speed dial. Lucky for little J, this little Bass does.
After a restless sleep of tossing and turning, Ozzy woke to the sound of a siren. It was what, an ambulance, firetruck? Those cars never usually drove down their street, but he rolled over and blinked his bleary eyes to see it was almost noon.
He groaned, collapsed back onto his pillow and rolled over. How was it that he was constantly tired? It wasn't just from a restless night, but for the past few weeks a tiredness towed him around like a sleepwalker. He closed his eyes, sandwiched his head between two pillows until he fell back asleep. He didn't sleep long, but he woke again to the feeling of his stomach growling.
In the kitchen, he scavenged for something to eat and settled on toast with Nutella. His mom wasn't around, nor was Philip or Dash, so he ate in silence, spreading extra Nutella on his toast since no one was watching.
He didn't wonder where everyone was. They probably told him, but he forgot. Instead, he wondered the same thoughts as last night. How long could he go with the money in his trust for? Now that he even had a trust, it was incredible how much money was in it. It could last him years if he was diligent with his spending.
He heard the sound of the doorbell and opened the door. No one was there, but a small package leaned against the door frame. He picked it up, saw his name on it and closed the door. Ozzy opened the bag to see bags of white powder.
He returned to his room, and dropped the bags on his desk. A couple SAT study guides were on his desk. Right. The SATs. The test was this week. He should be studying. But no one was home, and he did just get a delivery…
Ozzy folded the yellow manila envelope in half. Then, he opened his desk lower left desk drawer. He shoved it in the back alone with three of the other bags. As he put these items away, he saw an invoice from Stephen & Carlton Detective Agency. The further back he pushed the stuff in his drawer, the better.
He opened one small bag of powder and began to create lines. The house was quiet, and the acute pain of loneliness was apparent. He could sink in that feeling, make it return to his bed, so he could sleep on and off for the rest of the day, or he could forget everything and let the powder on the table take him on a trip.
It's not like anyone would notice, and taking a trip would achieve the only goal Ozzy seemed concerned with anymore. Becoming invisible.
Blair prepared for her final exam the next morning with her usual organized vigor. She woke, ate a light brunch of yogurt parfait with berries, showered, and dressed. Blair didn't look over her notes the day of her finals. It was always bad luck for her, and she figured if she didn't know it now, she wouldn't know it on the test.
Joy, who furiously read her review sheets was the complete opposite. Her hair was matted and thrown up in a messy bun, and she nibbled on the batch of cookies she baked the night before. Her desk was stacked with notebooks and textbooks, and her comforter was jumbled into a tight ball.
"How can you be so calm before your exam?"
"Easy. I meditate and believe in myself."
Joy put down the half-eaten cookie in her hand. "I wish I could do that."
"You can. Well, you don't have enough time today, but maybe your next exam? I assure you that the Blair Waldorf way is the most effective way to study for exams while actually feeling like a functioning human."
"That sounds wonderful," Joy said. "You will have to show me for next time. I mean, look at me. I'm such a mess!"
Blair nodded. Sure, they were now nice to each other, but she was still always going to be honest. "Please don't let Simon see you like this."
"I won't," Joy said. "Besides, he's busy studying today for an econ final tomorrow. He disconnected to focus better."
Blair packed her purse, making sure to include her sharpest pencils, best gliding pens, and phone.
"I have no idea how I'm going to do this again next term," Joy said.
"Will you be living on campus?" Blair asked.
"I don't know yet. Some girls on our floor have been looking for sublets and asked if I wanted in, but they haven't found any decent places. What about you? Are you going to live back home?"
"Definitely not. I'm looking for an apartment myself."
"By yourself?"
Blair adjusted the grip on her purse handles. "Well, seeing as how this arrangement worked well for us this year, maybe we could just continue next year?"
"Wait a minute. I swear my brain is moving at a snail's pace today. Do you want us to room together next year?"
Blair inspected her nails and shrugged her shoulders. "Perhaps."
Joy smiled. "I'd love that, but I don't know if I can afford it."
"Of course, you can afford it. You'll pay however much your budget is. I'll cover the rest."
"Blair, really. That's too kind."
"No, you're too kind, which is why I know you won't take advantage of it."
Joy's face broke out into a big smile. "Then, yes! We'll be roommates!" She clapped her hands and threw her arms around Blair.
"Wait, you already have a place picked out don't you?" Joy said when she let go from their hug.
Blair smirked. This girl learned quickly. "All that's needed is a rent deposit."
Jack was in a fluffy bathrobe when Chuck knocked on his door on Monday morning. Chuck had ordered him to stay at a non-Bass branded hotel. He found himself in Midtown at a Hilton suite where his Uncle seemed far more relaxed than he should be.
"How's my favourite nephew doing this morning? No final exam today?"
"Blair has one. Mine are near the end of the week."
"Let me tell you, I don't miss those." Jack led him to the sofa. "Coffee?"
"Sure. Black."
Jack poured him a coffee and set it on a coaster in front of him. "So, now that I'm off the grid, tell me what's going on. What have I been missing in the Bass world?"
"I asked my dad for what happened the night my mom died. He told me that after delivering Evelyn she hemorrhaged too much and died. Is this true?"
"It's…an interpretation," Jack said.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Look, Chuck. I understand why you care so much about what happened to your mother, but I don't think you're going to find the answers you're looking for. If Bart doesn't want to tell you, that's his choice. You were his child. It was the worst night ever. None of us want to rehash it."
"How bad could it be if he can't even tell me?"
"Feelings are funny that way. It could be a mix of reasons. Guilt. Shame. Mixed in a cocktail, it can be pretty potent, believe me."
"Seriously, Jack. If you've all moved on with it, then it can't be that bad right?"
"It's too early to talk about something this depressing." Jack took a swig of his coffee. "Listen, let's talk about something more productive."
"The Thailand project?"
"Precisely. We need to convince the board to give me control of that portfolio despite my absence. You are vital to make this happen."
"Why me?"
"Even though I'm here, I still have to make sure everything is being taken care of on the Bass Industries front in Australia, right? We have to keep up the charade. So, you'll need to persuade the board members to appoint me for the project."
Chuck took a sip of his coffee. "But I don't sit on the board."
"Yes, but you've been working on this project beside me for the past couple months. You know it inside and out. If I'm not appointed, then you won't get to oversee the building process this summer, guaranteed."
"Once I'm done exams this week, I'll make some calls."
"Of course. Exams first. We've worked too hard to let this go, don't you think, Chuck?"
Chuck nodded. "Let me know what you need, and I'll do my best to help."
"That's my favourite nephew. If all goes well it could be more. Business partner?"
"Really?" Chuck said.
"After school, of course. I'd never turn down someone with the experience you'll have once we get this project off the ground." Jack finished the last of his coffee. "Now, I have to Skype my top assistant from Australia for a touch-base meeting. Study hard, and we'll talk."
Jack held out his hand and Chuck shook it. Maybe it was for the best he didn't keep digging into the past. What good what that do? Right now, he needed to focus on the present and possible future. With Jack, he actually had one career wise. With his father, all he got was empty promises and lies.
Blood may be thicker than water, but what is thicker than lies? Betrayal. Better walk the thin line between the two carefully, C. You may end up getting burned.
Later that week, Evelyn and Jenny sat at a coffee shop after school. They left their minions to study for the SATs, which was a couple days away, while they waited for their P.I. to show up. Evelyn looked out the window, watching every pedestrian pass by in hopes of one being Stephen. She had never met him in person, but knew from calling Bass Industries, that he was one of two P.I.'s his dad kept on retainer in the case that anyone sued the company or him personally.
"There is no way this is going to work," Jenny said as she drummed her finger nails against the wooden table.
"Yes, it is. This P.I. is one of the best, and he asked to meet us today, so that must mean he found something."
Jenny poured a pack of sugar into her coffee. "I hope so. We're running out of time."
"Don't worry. Worst case scenario, I make a withdraw from my trust account. I'll have to tell my dad about it, but I won't connect it to you."
A man with a briefcase appeared at the register. After placing his order with the barista, he scanned the room, looking for someone and waved when his eyes landed on her.
Evelyn smiled and waved back. "See? We'll have answers soon. Perk up," She sipped her hot chocolate, one of her last for the season, as spring was beginning to turn to summer.
"Evelyn Bass?" He asked with a steaming cup in his hand.
"That would be me. This is my friend Jenny Humphrey. What I needed you to search for concerns her."
He pulled up a chair and revealed a file folder. "You know, you're not the only person who's wanted to look for this guy."
"That popular huh?" Evelyn said.
"Yeah, in more ways than one," Stephen said. "I was able to track him down. I know where he is, his address and phone number too. There's only one problem."
"What is it?" Jenny asked.
"He's not an American citizen."
"Oh?" Evelyn said.
"I did some research, and it appears that this supplier has a very strong connection to the Upper East Side. He has many dealers that work for him in proxy, so most of your classmates, parents even probably get drugs from this guy."
"And Thom is one of them," Evelyn said to Jenny.
"Where does he live?"
"Mexico. Guanajuato, specifically."
"Guana-what?" Jenny said.
Stephen presented a summary of his findings to Evelyn. "If you want to contact him directly, you can use this phone number. His address is also listed. If you choose to visit in person, I would suggest you not go alone."
"Thank you, Stephen." Evelyn picked up the paper. "This really helps."
"If you have any more questions or inquiries, just let me know," Stephen said.
Evelyn turned to Jenny. "Well, now we have a lead."
"Yeah, but what are we going to do? Call this guy?"
"Maybe we could. Blame Thom for not providing us of our drug orders?"
"I'm pretty sure that's already been done."
"Okay," Evelyn said as she tried to think. How could they use this number to get Thom to back off on the money Jenny owed?
"Maybe I could call?" Evelyn said. "Complain about Thom's services?"
Jenny stood up. "No. It's useless. All of this! I shouldn't have done the first drop in the first place."
"Jenny, how were you supposed to know this would happen?"
"It was a bad idea from the start. Being anywhere close to Thom is bad news."
"There's nothing you can do about it now. We have to use this information we have against Thom. I'll talk to Dash and see if he has any ideas. They were best friends before."
Jenny picked up her pursue, her eyes glassy. "And if we can't do anything?"
"I'll pay. I told you that already. Just leave this to me. Go study for the SATs."
Jenny dabbed the tears from her eyes and blinked them quickly. "Fine. But let me know if anything happens."
Once Jenny left, coffee in hand, Evelyn dialled Dash's number.
"Just the person I was thinking about," Dash said. "What's up beautiful?"
Evelyn rolled her eyes. The one time she used a pet name, out of spite, he decides to make practice with it. "I have a lead on Thom's supplier. I was wondering if you had any ideas on what to do with it?"
"I'll be there in ten."
Ozzy stared at his SAT practice book in the kitchen. He had already attempted two essay questions that afternoon, and he always stumbled when making a thesis. It was hard to pick a point to argue when everything seemed pointless.
He tapped his pencil against his notebook, trying to brainstorm an answer when Dash walked in. Dash moved the bowl of fruit on the counter, to check underneath it, before checking the kitchen booth. He lifted the cushions and checked every crevice he could.
"Looking for something?" Ozzy said. It was the first time they spoke directly since the study party at the Basses.
"My keys," Dash said.
"Did you check your coat pocket?"
"I did, but I'll check again."
Dash disappeared to the front hall where his coat hung atop of his on the coat rack. He dug in all of the pockets.
"Got it," Dash called from the front door.
Instead of leaving, he checked messages on his phone and wandered back to the kitchen.
"If anyone asks, I'm with Evelyn okay?" Dash said.
"Okay."
Ozzy waited for him to leave, but he lingered. He got the message pretty clearly at the party. Don't speak with Evelyn ever. She was with Dash now, and any contact between the two of them was not okay with Dash.
"She's my girlfriend you know," Dash said.
"I know."
"You say that, but I didn't get the feeling you got the message last week," Dash said.
"I got it Dash. Trust me," Ozzy said.
"You better. You're my brother and all, and I know you two used to be good friends, but things are different now. You can't be whatever you guys used to be."
"Dash? I got it. I won't speak with her again."
"Don't be so dramatic. That's not what I'm saying. You just can't expect to be that close to her anymore…you know?"
Ozzy didn't respond. He understood Dash very well. He was not welcome to be Evelyn's friend. He couldn't bother confiding in her, or him about anything that was going on because they were perfectly happy being together without him. He was a problem to Dash. A problem that needed removal.
"God, you're so moody sometimes," Dash said. "When you're over it, let me know."
Ozzy kept his gaze on his textbook. He waited for Dash to put on his coat, waited for the door to shut before the pencil in his hand snapped. He threw each half across the kitchen, the wood clinking against the refrigerator. Ozzy gripped the table, his nailbeds white, and took two shuddering breaths. He slammed his SAT book shut, and ran up to his room.
He understood Dash perfectly well. He wasn't welcome here. He wasn't welcome on the Upper East Side. He wasn't welcome in his own home. He wasn't welcome to converse with his most trusted confidents.
Ozzy threw the textbook in the trashcan. He slammed the door shut, and opened the chest at the foot of his bed. Inside was his duffle bag that was able to fit all of his possessions. He lifted it up, and looked around his room. He could fit his life into this bag. What did he really need? His wallet and ID, underwear, basic toilettes, a couple outfits, his IPod. But even then, he knew they were just things. They were used and replaced. He could get more if he needed to.
All he knew was that he wasn't welcome anymore, and he was going to leave. He had no idea where he was going to go, but he needed to leave. He wasn't going to be a burden to anyone anymore. He wasn't going to write the SATs. He was going to live the life he was meant to live. Alone.
He tossed all of his valued possessions on top of his duffle bag. He sorted through all of the things he needed and didn't need and looked at himself in the mirror. He looked haggard. He had dark circles under his eyes, his curly hair looked like it was standing up, and he had a patch of hair gathering around the tip of his chin. He began to shave, but had given up a week ago. He pulled at his hair, finally feeling the pain he deserved. He pulled harder and harder, his frustration mounting until he let go.
He had to get out of here before it suffocated him. He imagined what it would be like to not answer to anyone. Freeing maybe? Elation? Whatever it was, maybe it would give him a feeling. For now, he felt angry, angry at everything, and as he furiously packed, he realized it was the first emotion he'd felt all week.
"Evelyn?"
Evelyn turned, and flipped the last cue card in her hands. "Yes Lily?"
"Dash is here to see you."
Dash appeared from behind her and smirked. "Thank you, Mrs. Bass. Pleasure catching up."
Evelyn resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Dash may be able to schmooze Lily, but it would take much more to earn her forgiveness.
Evelyn waited for Lily to leave, but she didn't. Dash looked around her room, really looking around for the first time, while Evelyn approached Lily.
Lily motioned her over with two fingers.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong dear," Lily said. "I'm just reminding you. Door stays open. I'll be in the living room if you need anything."
"Thanks, Lily. No problem." It was funny really. A week ago, she'd be furious of the implication of what a closed door meant and how she needed to keep hers open at all times. Now, no matter how hard Dash tried, it was very unlikely that anything would be happening in her room, at least, in that way.
"Okay," Evelyn said. "Let me fill you in."
Dash neared her, his arms circling her. "But first, a proper hello."
Evelyn wiggled out of his embrace. "No. We're still in a…disagreement remember?"
"It's been a week."
"So? We still haven't worked through your little jealousy episode, and for the time being, no hello for you. Sit."
Dash scoffed and sat on her bed, arms crossed.
"We figured out who Thom's supplier is. His name is Alejandro and he's from Mexico. He apparently has lots of dealers on the Upper East Side."
"That's quite the lucrative market," Dash said. He picked a piece of lint from his sleeve and brushed it away.
"It is. Our P.I. gave us his address and phone number, so in theory, we could contact him."
"So theoretically, what would we say to him?"
"I'm not really sure," Evelyn said. "We want to pin the blame on Thom right? Maybe we could talk to Alejandro directly and incriminate him?"
"As an anonymous tip? I don't think this works like Gossip Girl."
"That's a good point. Maybe I could pretend to be Jenny? He hasn't seen or heard me, so he wouldn't know the difference."
"That might work. But what's our angle? As Jenny, you owe this guy a hundred grand. We want to avoid paying right?"
"Maybe we could play up the fact that we're young and innocent? Maybe he would wave a pass? This guy has to be loaded."
"Or maybe he'll send a hit man to make you an example?"
"Do you really think he's with the cartels?"
"Who knows," Dash said. "I'm inclined to think that this guy is somehow connected to the Upper East Side. You don't get that kind of market without trust. Especially with drugs. I know people pay a premium, but almost all of the drugs people get are pure. Like the weed we smoked in the fall? Only herb."
"As opposed to?"
"Depending on your dealer and supplier, some of the drugs can be laced with other toxics. I know fentanyl is one of them, and they could kill you."
Evelyn shook her head. "And this is why I choose not to do drugs."
"Spoken like a true PSA influenced kid."
Evelyn moved to her desk and picked up the paper with the home address and phone. "I'm going to call him."
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes. Thom is going to come knocking tomorrow if I don't. I'll put it on speaker phone."
Evelyn dialled the number and waited. The more she waited, the more she wondered if this was such a good idea. What would she say? Did he even speak English? These were irrational thoughts, but thoughts that ran through her head.
On the last ring, a deep voice crackled through the phone. "Alo?"
"Hi," Evelyn felt her cheeks heat up. "Is this Alejandro?"
"Yes." He had a distinct accent on his English. "Who's this?"
"I'm Jenny Hum-, just Jenny."
"Just Jenny?" He pronounced each J like a y. "Never heard of her."
"I-I know. You see, I was helping Thom Taylor with some…deliveries?"
"Ahh. I've been getting lots of calls from people not getting what they ordered."
"I know, and I wanted to call and apologize. I'm really sorry for losing you money. Someone went through my things and stole everything. I didn't know someone would do that."
"You have to be more careful chica."
"I know. I know I also cost you a hundred thousand dollars, but I have no way to pay you back."
"Pay me back?"
"Um…yes. Thom told me I needed to give him the money by the end of the week or…or…else."
"A hundred thousand dollars?"
Dash and Evelyn exchanged a look.
"Yes?"
He whistled on the other end. "He never told me about this deal."
"Oh. Really?"
"Listen, chica, I was going to fly to Boston tomorrow for business. I'll come and straighten this out. I should be there in the afternoon. Would you be available to meet?"
Evelyn had a panicked look on her face. Should she go? Was it safe?
Dash nodded.
"I have a test in the morning, but the afternoon should be fine."
"Excellente. I'll have my assistant tell you where to meet us."
"O-Okay. Thank you, sir."
"Please. You Americans with your formalities. Call me Alejandro."
"Yes. Thanks, Alejandro."
"Ciao."
Evelyn hung up and sighed. "Oh my God."
"I can't believe you just talked to a possible drug lord," Dash chuckled.
Evelyn covered her face with her hands. Did she really just talk to that guy? She wasn't sure what to make of him. He seemed reasonable, fair even. But what if that was all a façade?
"And I have to meet him tomorrow. After the SATs." She brought her phone close to her face and typed. "Jenny needs to know."
"If Alejandro didn't know about the one hundred grand that was lost, maybe this means Thom was lying?"
"What, like, he asked her for more money than she owed? Why?"
"If I were to make a bet based on how well I know the guy, then he is totally trying to pin this on someone else. He was never good at managing debts. Hell, he always made me pay all the times we got candy in grade school. I think he might be in more debt than we think. He might be piggybacking one debt to pay another."
"You think?" Evelyn asked.
Dash nodded. "Trust funds run out eventually. Maybe his did?"
Evelyn brought her phone to rest under her chin. "I guess we'll find out tomorrow."
Blair returned to her dorm room after finishing her last exam. She rolled her right wrist, sore from two and a half hours of writing but felt relief. She had finished her first year of college, and all she wanted was a glass of Dom.
Joy ate her last chocolate chip cookie at her desk. She too finished her last exam after lunch and was free from studying for the next few months.
"How'd it go?" Joy brushed cookie crumbs from the corners of her mouth.
"Well. I try not to think about it after it's over."
"I wish I could do that," Joy said. "But congratulations! We're both done our first year!"
It felt good to finish exams. It was an accomplishment surely, but Blair enjoyed the ability to prove the culmination of the knowledge she learned. It didn't stress her out, but provided a challenge to prove her abilities. So far, her abilities resulted in higher grades, and it was satisfying. It would feel even more satisfying if she could have the marks back immediately, but she would settle with waiting like everyone else.
"We should celebrate," Joy said.
"As much as I enjoyed your batch of cookies this week, I think I'll pass on sweets."
"No, I was thinking of something else."
"Like what?"
"Well, I've been watching some makeup tutorials this afternoon, and I was thinking we could go out. We could go out to whatever the best restaurant is on the island, your choice. We can have a drink to toast to our success."
"A drink?"
Joy nodded. "I know, it's hard to believe, but today's special. I'm the first one in my family to go to school, so finishing first year is a big deal. It would also be good to leave campus; break the bubble and see a part of the city I wouldn't know to go normally."
"A place that doesn't sell shawarma?"
Joy laughed. "Yes. Even I'm shawarmaed out. Pick anything, and I'll try it."
Blair rubbed her lips together. Who would have thought she would not only be rooming with this girl beyond freshman year, or that they were actually hanging out together?
"Well if it's a night out on the town that you want, it's a night out on the town you'll get."
Joy jumped to her feet and clapped her hands together. "I'll start getting ready."
Joy picked up her shower caddy and a towel. She smiled as she passed Blair, her smile reaching the crinkles in her eyes.
Blair quickly sent a text to Chuck, letting him know of her plans with Joy and that she finished her last final. She let out a deep breath, and looked around the room. It occurred to her now that the school year was over that she might miss their dorm room. Over the year, the walls filled up with posters, string lights, and pictures on Joy's side, while Blair's desk filled up with books, cookies, and photos on her cork board. She might not be Queen B anymore, but she realized in that moment, she didn't need to be. She had her friends, her society, her studies, and her boyfriend. For someone who was as ambitious as Blair, it was the first time she was content.
Bart was about to turn in to bed when Evelyn appeared in the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. It had been a stressful day at work. Ever since Jack left for Australia, it seemed like every ternate was having a problem. There was a huge mess in one of the Palace's biggest suites after some rapper had a party with his posse there. In midtown, they were having electrical issues, and in London, they were struggling with contract renegotiations.
Bart placed his empty tumbler of scotch in the sink. A long day always felt better after a stiff drink. With Evelyn's back to him, he said, "Does late night snacking help prepare for the SATs tomorrow?"
Evelyn jumped. "Sorry." She held her hand to her chest. "No. I was just going to warm up some milk before bed. Helps me sleep."
No matter how stressful his day was, he knew he couldn't be feeling the same stress Evelyn was. He remembered when he took the SATs many years ago. Much had changed, and the test seemed to bring out more stress than it did to him and his friends. The way Eric and Evelyn spoke, it seemed like the end of the world if they didn't get the scores they wanted. Little did they know was that they could always rewrite.
"How are you feeling about tomorrow?"
"I'm so over it. Honestly, I just want the test to be over."
"I don't blame you. Just do your best."
"Thanks, Dad. Hopefully that's enough."
"It's always enough. We can deal with whatever happens even if it's unfavourable."
Evelyn set her mug of milk in the microwave. "Does that apply beyond the SATs?"
"Of course."
She couldn't seem to meet his eye. It appeared like she was deciding whether or not she wanted to tell him something.
"Is something wrong?"
"No. Not with me. Just some petty drama."
"It's best to stay out of that."
Evelyn rolled her eyes. "That's not possible when you're a girl, dad. It follows you."
He chuckled. "It has been a few years since I was in school. Just know that if there's any problem with those girls, you can come to Lily or me."
"Thanks, Dad. I'll remember that."
"Besides, your birthday is next week."
Evelyn groaned. "I know. I haven't even thought about it."
"Well this is an opportunity to think about it. It can be motivation."
"Honestly, I don't think I want anything elaborate this year. Last year was…fun, but I'm thinking of keeping it low key."
"Alright. It's your birthday, and I'm not going to object. But if you change your mind, let us know."
Evelyn opened the microwave and wrapped her hands around her mug. "I'll let you and Lily know after tomorrow. Promise. Goodnight."
During the morning of the SATs, Ozzy walked through his usual morning routine. He woke up to his alarm (even though he desperately wanted to oversleep), showered, dressed, and ate his breakfast across the table from Dash. It was a picture out of the routine his mother had encouraged over the past few months, a routine that required presence more than participation.
He knew he was supposed to drive to the test centre with Dash, and his mind furiously tried to calculate how he'd try to shake him off. He couldn't just bring his duffle bag with him, that would be far too suspicious. He couldn't return home to pick it up because his mom would probably be home. It was a Saturday after all, and she usually took her time getting ready in the mornings.
Ozzy excused himself from the table and noticed that Dash trailed him.
"Are you meeting up with Evelyn before the test?"
"No. Why?"
Ozzy shrugged. "You usually do everything together these days, you wouldn't want to miss that opportunity, right?"
Dash glared at him. "Still not over it, huh?"
"I am," Ozzy said. "But you don't want to lose your grip on her do you?"
Dash shoved his wallet in his pocket and picked up his pencil case. "No, I don't."
"You better go then."
Dash took a deep breath and slammed the door behind him. There. That wasn't as hard as he thought it would be. Mention Evelyn in any context that insinuated that he knew her better, and it set him off. He didn't want to do it, really, but now he was one step closer to leaving for good.
"Where did Dash go?" His mom asked.
"He went to see Evelyn before the test. They're going there together I think."
"Interesting…he never mentioned that."
"It just came up. I'll just go now."
"Okay, honey." His mom wrapped her arms around him. "Good luck."
She pulled back and kissed him on the cheek. "Just do your best."
"Okay. I just have to go get my stuff."
"Don't forget your calculator and a good sharpener."
"You don't have to wait up," Ozzy said. Now, his mom decided to wait at the front door to watch him go? What was this? First grade?
When he entered his room, he prayed for some kind of distraction. He gripped his duffle bag in one hand, and the doorknob with the other. He looked back, and the room looked like it belonged with every other one in the house. Dark mahogany bed, wooden floors, wainscoting, small windows. It was like he never lived there, it had its own personality, its own history, and he was a person who lingered in it for a brief period of time.
Ozzy looked at his desk, clean with his books neatly stacked. He wouldn't be needing them anymore. All he needed was to get his duffle bag out of the house without his mom seeing. He was about to barrel down the stairs, hoping to make up a plausible excuse when the phone rang.
Ozzy neared the staircase and waited until his mom's footsteps faded to the kitchen. He jumped down the steps and swung the door open and set the bag on the porch, away from sight.
"I'm going."
His mom appeared from the kitchen and waved. She blew a kiss to him, and he closed the door. He felt his stomach churn. He succeeded, and his mom had no idea what he was about to do.
He didn't even leave a note. Ozzy thought about leaving one the night before, even pulled out a piece of lined paper, but the words didn't come. What could he say? How could he say everything he was feeling so succinctly?
Ozzy carried his duffle bag through the black iron gate. Dash took off with the limo, so Ozzy carried his bag down the street. It was a longer walk than he anticipated, but he hailed the first cab he saw.
"Where to?" the cab driver asked.
"Grand Central Station."
Evelyn and Eric waited for the elevator on the morning of the SATs. She did everything she was supposed to do. She went to bed early last night, hydrated herself this morning, had a hearty breakfast, and carried all the supplies she'd need for the test. Her father and Lily wished them luck, and the only thing left to do was to drive to the test centre, register, and write the exam. She even received a text from Aunt Kim wishing her luck.
"Are you ready?" Eric asked. The elevator seemed to be taking forever.
"As I can be. You?"
Eric stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I guess. I don't think I'm necessarily the judge for that."
As usual, Eric had a point. The test would determine if they would be eligible for the Ivy Leagues and top-ranking universities. The test graders were the judges that would decide if they were ready or not.
The elevator door chimed, and the door rolled open.
"Dash? What are you doing here?"
"I was ready early, so I figured I'd come by to see how you're doing this morning."
"That's really thoughtful of you," Evelyn said.
Not to mention, it was a blatant attempt to make up for the fight they hadn't had time to work through yet.
"We were just leaving for the test centre," Eric said.
"Yes. Come on, we'll go together," Eleni said.
Dash nodded in agreement and the car ride to the test centre was unusually quiet. Dash looked out the window, gave monosyllabic answers. She even tried to take his hand, which he did accept, but he applied no pressure to the clasp.
"Eric, go get a spot in line. We'll be there in a minute."
Evelyn turned to Dash. "Are you okay? Is this just nerves?"
"Yes and no."
"What's going on?"
"It's nothing important. We can talk about it after."
Evelyn clutched his hand and they rejoined the line with Eric. She spotted Jenny at another registration table. She waved.
"Evelyn—"
"Jenny, you have nothing to worry about. Like I told you last night, everything is taken care of. So push any thought you might have about Thom aside, because the only thing you need to focus on is this test."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Jenny smiled and hugged her. "Thank you so much! I don't know how you did it, but thank you."
"I'll tell you later. Which room are you in?"
"I'm in hall 2. E-H. You're probably in room 1. Good luck."
After Evelyn registered, she lingered with Eric and Dash. Eric was in room 5, while Dash was in room 3. She looked around the bustling crowds and looked for any other Constance or St. Jude's students.
"Where's Ozzy? He should be here now, right?"
"He was late this morning. He'll probably show up as they're closing the doors."
There was a sharpness in this tone that seemed unusual to Evelyn. She looked at Eric to see if he'd noticed, but he was too busy looking around.
"Alright. We should all go to our rooms then. Good luck and I'll see you on the other side."
"With hand cramps and brain overload," Eric said. He waved and went off to his room at the furthest end of the hall.
"Hey," Evelyn reached for Dash's cheek and tilted it so he could look at her. "Good luck okay? You'll do great."
She kissed him and his tense expression loosened. "You too."
Evelyn squeezed his hand and left to search for her room. She walked through the doors, found her seat, and popped a piece of spearmint gum in her mouth. She chewed and let her arms relax. It was just a test. She thought of her meeting with Alejandro, but pushed the thought away. She needed to focus. Any fear or anxiety could wait.
"The test will begin in two minutes."
Evelyn organized her sharpened pencils and calculator as she chewed her gum. Around the room, a sea of unfamiliar faces were a mix of fear and exhaustion. She looked down at the test package and focused on her breathing.
"The first part of the exam begins now."
She opened the test package and began writing.
Chuck walked out of his last final exam of the year to see Blair Waldorf waiting in the hallway. She was a radiant beacon among the waves of students who filed out of the exam hall, with bloodshot eyes, bags under their eyes, or jittery.
"Congratulations on finishing your last final."
He took her in his arms and kissed her. "Thank you. This is a pleasant surprise."
"And it's not over yet. How do you feel about a nice lunch at Le Bernadin?"
"Sounds decadent."
"It's rewarding. Think you can fit me into your busy schedule, Bass?"
"For you? Always," Chuck said. He took her hand they walked down the hall and out to the waiting limo.
"And tonight?"
"I'm celebrating with Nate. I think our whole residence will be since today was the last day. You are more than welcome to join."
"We'll see. I'll be checking an apartment with Joy this afternoon. All we have to do is sign, but she wants to see it first."
"Apartment?"
"Don't give me that look, Bass. Our living arrangement suited us both this year. It was amicable. Why change a good thing?"
"Or you could just admit that you wanted to be roommates with her."
"Impossible."
"Why?"
"Because that would mean you're right," Blair said.
"But I am."
"On technicality. It doesn't count."
Chuck laughed. One day Blair would admit that he was right about Joy, and he would make sure she never forgot it. He continued to needle such an admission until they arrived at Le Bernadin.
It was an elating feeling to not have to retreat to his dorm where everyone carried their notes to study at every hour of the day. He certainly didn't take it too seriously. He didn't bother studying until two days before the exam. Now, everyone was willing to party again, release all the stress that had built up during finals season. Today, he was prepared to celebrate along with classmates the end of their first year. Aside from his floormates, all he needed was Nate and Blair.
Spotted: C and B at Le Bernadin as official college sophomores. Victory never did taste so sweet did it?
Ozzy held a one-way ticket out of New York City in his hand. He didn't really know where he was going until he went to the counter and ordered his ticket for the first train available. It didn't matter where it went. All that mattered was that it went away.
He walked through the grand hall where hundreds of people zigzagged with purpose around him. Some wore suits. Others wore sweats. It was a cross-section of every kind of person he encountered in life that passed by him, all walking with a sense of purpose to a set destination.
For once, he didn't have one.
Ozzy checked the departure platform on the sign boards. He had fifteen minutes to find his train platform. He had time. No one knew he was here, or that he was leaving. He didn't think anyone noticed his absence. Maybe they would get suspicious tomorrow morning? He'd need to clear the state line by then.
Ozzy checked his phone. There was a message from Catherine asking if he wanted to hang out at her place that night. There was a message from Thom from days ago, asking if got his package and for payment. Nothing else. He'd have to ditch the phone too, but he had time.
He took one last look at the grand hall. He noticed it's odd blue ceilings, imitating a cloudless sky, and the warm sunlight that shifted through the stationary windows. He especially noticed black bars that covered the windows, reminding him of a jail cell. It was a casual Saturday. Nothing suggested that he was leaving, but it was better this way. It was better to fade, live in the margins, where no one noticed you. It was going to be freeing. He was sure of it.
Some would say that the best way to free yourself from your pain is to fly away. For Upper East Siders that takes a global meaning. Some choose London. Others fly to Paris or Tokyo. When the world is your oyster, there is always a place where you can find yourself near and far.
Ozzy walked toward platform twenty-six, and waited to board the train. As he disappeared to the platforms, a man with dark curly hair and a slim build emerged in the station. He held a phone to his ear and scratched his full beard.
"Tomás! I just arrived in New York. I know the reason you aren't picking up this call right now. It's because you are writing that big test, right? It better be because I do expect you to come meet me after. We have much to discuss. I know about the money you owe me. Don't bother trying to run now, because my amigos are watching you. I'll see you soon."
But no matter where you go, those problems tend to follow you back home.
You Know You Love Me,
XOXO Gossip Girl
A/N: And there you have it! Jenny's financial situation leaves her future in the balance, Evelyn/Dash are still fighting but come together to help Jenny, Joy and Blair will continue to be the Odd Couple, Ozzy has left the UES, and a new character is calling to collect. I think I covered it all, right?
What's next you might ask? Well, the next chapter is titled "Do the Wrong Thing". I won't say anything about it, as I think it's better if you go into it with no spoilers.
So what did you think? Sound off your thoughts in a review!
Till Next Time,
XOXO EZ11