A/N: The penultimate chapter of part two is finally here! Thank you so much for all the reviews, favs, and alerts from new readers and old. Most of all, thank you for your continued patience. I think this chapter will be worth the wait :)

Chapter 37: Petty Women

As Evelyn looked outside the window, she couldn't distinguish between where the road ended and forest started. There were no streetlights lining the roads to distinguish the divide. There were no visible stars among the clouds or a low-set moon that glowed down on them. There were no red backlights from other cars in front of them. The only source of light came from the headlights of their limo. The light at times revealed a straight line, curved, took turns at unexpected stop signs.

Evelyn's gaze drifted from the endless darkness outside to the blue glow of her phone. No messages waited for her. Her father didn't respond to her text explain that she was with Ruby. Nor did Dash check in with her. Jenny was not responsive either, but she didn't blame her. Jenny was still at the party, celebrating her freedom from Thom.

Evelyn dialed Ozzy's number. The call didn't even ring once but went straight to voicemail. Evelyn dropped the phone in her lap, her stomach twisting into a tighter knot.

"I already tried. His phone is either off, dead or thrown away." Ruby's voice was hoarse. She hadn't said anything to Evelyn for the past half hour. Her head was turned away from her, but when she turned to face Evelyn, she was able to see her age for the first time through her creased forehead.

"I know."

It struck Evelyn as odd to be in the same car as Ruby. She remembered the times she went to their house in Connecticut, most of the time she wasn't home, but Ruby's presence was much larger in her absence than it was in the limo. From what Evelyn knew in Connecticut, she always was leery around her. It bothered her that Ruby was always away from Ozzy. She could sense that might be a cause for some of the problems, or a reason for Ozzy's skittishness.

Evelyn shook the thought away. This wasn't the time to analyze why this happened. She needed to start thinking where Ozzy could be.

"Where are we going?"

"My dad's house."

"You think he's with his grandfather?"

She shrugged. "It's possible, and it's a place to start at least."

Evelyn laced her fingers together. She didn't think of that. Ever since the wedding, she wondered how close Ozzy really was with his grandparents. Did they call? Text? His grandfather seemed to be a busy man. It didn't seem like Ozzy was much of a priority to him for many years, so she doubted he now made the effort.

"Are you going to tell them he's missing?" Evelyn asked.

"Absolutely not. And you better not either."

"Okay then. What can I do?"

"Let me do the talking and just…follow my lead."

"Your lead?"

"Yes. I've known my father my whole life, and while I think you know Ozzy the best out of his friends, that won't be useful right now."

"Are you going to give me a signal or something to 'follow your lead'?"

"You'll just know."

"I'll just know? I don't think we know each other well enough for that."

When Ruby glared at her, she saw a resemblance to Ozzy when he got mad. They did the same thing with their lips. They pursed in a way that seemed contemplative, but really concealed the threat of harsh words that were locked inside.

"You'll know. Trust me."

Evelyn picked up her phone again to check her messages. Nothing. She dropped her phone again and leaned her head against the cool tinted window. It was going to be a long ride.

-/

When Blair and Chuck arrived at Hartley Hall, Blair felt the nostalgic dread of something coming to an end. Now that she had a place to stay with Joy next year, she realized that this would be the last party she'd attend at Hartley Hall.

They took the elevator up to Chuck's floor. She wouldn't miss the dusty elevator tiles that some girls on her floor definitely threw up on. She wouldn't miss the volleyball stars that lived across the hall (she still couldn't remember their names). She wouldn't miss the cafeteria burritos that everyone insisted was the best food item (she never did try it).

The one thing she would miss was her room. It was the only room that smelled fresh. It was the lavender air freshener that made all the difference.

Blair squeezed Chuck's hand in hers and they were suddenly immersed in crowds of people. They all held red solo cups and danced to a thumping beat.

They pushed through the throngs of people until they found Nate at the center of cluster of people jumping to the beat. Once he spotted them, he slithered through the circle until he found his way out.

"My favorite people!" Nate threw his sweaty arms over their shoulders. "It's about time you showed up!"

"We just had dinner," Blair said. She reminisced on the filet mignon she had earlier at Ralph Lauren's restaurant.

"So? Now it's time for a drink," Nate said. "It's the last party of the year!" He turned his attention to Chuck. "What do you say buddy?"

Chuck smirked. "I have a special bottle of scotch I've been saving for this occasion."

Nate laughed. "If we made it to this occasion."

"You know me well. It's in our room. Blair, do you want to come?"

Blair spotted Joy waving at the end of the hall where the common room was. "You both go ahead. Joy's trying to get my attention."

Blair weaved through the crowds of her floor mates who all tisked when she pushed her way through.

Once she reached Joy, her roommate gave her a hug. Blair's body seized up instantly, but she relaxed in her roommate's tight embrace. She even patted her back. Once.

Simon appeared and put his arm around Joy's waist. "Hey Blair."

"Simon." She remembered how young he looked when she first met him. She didn't think he was any more useful than a lackey. Instead, he filled out his skinny frame, and she actually saw multiple hair gather at the point of his chin. She felt like a proud mom.

"I was just showing Simon pictures of the place we'll be staying in next year."

"It's a beautiful place," Simon said. "It's a lot bigger than mine."

"I thought you were staying at St. Anthony?" Blair said.

"Not this year, but maybe next. All of the seniors are living there next year."

Blair knitted her brows together. How did she miss that announcement during their last meeting? She did the math, and she realized that meant Julian must be living in St. Anthony too. She hadn't heard from Julian in a while. Once final exams arrived, he disappeared in his textbooks. She made a mental note to message him.

Her phone rang. She could feel it vibrating in her purse. It was an unknown number.

"I have to take this. I'll be right back."

Blair opened the door to the emergency exit. Once shut, she could finally hear herself think.

"Hello?"

"Blair?"

"Jack?"

"The one and only."

She heard the sound of a girl moaning. Blair grimaced. Have people no decency? "One second." She held the phone to her chest and shouted, "Get a room!"

"We have one," A male voice replied.

"This is a stairwell. Big difference. Now get out!"

The heavy metal door slammed shut.

"Jack. Why are you calling me?"

"I need a favor."

"And why aren't you asking Chuck?"

"Because I need you to do this."

Blair clutched the phone tighter. "What exactly is this favor?"

"I need you to pick up some important documents for me."

"Why don't you go yourself?"

"Because I'm not supposed to be in the city remember? I'm keeping a low profile."

"I'm not stupid, Jack."

"I know you aren't. I always say that if you want to get a job done right, call a woman. When you told me, you'd do anything for Chuck, I naturally assumed you would be the first person in line to do this."

"Is Chuck in trouble?"

"Not yet, but he could be."

"What is it?"

"It's a memo detailing the political protests in Thailand right now. We had one of our employees investigate it over the past few months, and it's highly confidential."

"Wouldn't Chuck want to know about this?"

"By this time of night, my nephew is probably half in the bag. I don't want to worry him or anything, and to be honest, there isn't anything he can do."

"Why wasn't it sent to you directly? Wouldn't that be safer?"

"I'm not supposed to be in this country remember?" Jack said.

"Fair point," Blair said.

"Thank you. The package has been dropped off at your mom's Atelier. It has your name on it."

"Excuse me?"

"Look, Chuck's been a huge help through this whole process. I want to make sure he gets his spot on this project, and since there's not much he can do, please don't mention this to Chuck. He flusters a bit with uncertainty."

"Fine," Blair said. "But only for Chuck."

Simon and Joy were in the same position she left them when she returned from the stairwell. "That was my mom. A sudden fashion emergency has hit and she needs me to come help right now."

"Is everything okay?"

Blair sighed. "It will be."

Blair turned to leave, but Joy grabbed her wrist. "Are you coming back to the room tonight?"

"I'm not sure, why?"

"Well…I think Simon and I will be going there soon. I wouldn't want a repeat of what happened on Valentine's Day."

"That's no problem. I have condoms in my desk drawer, top right."

"Blair!" Joy shrieked. "We're…not doing that!"

Blair smirked. "In the case that you do, you know where they are."

Sufficiently mortified, Joy let go of her arm, her face flushed.

Blair pushed through the crowds of people and squeezed herself into Chuck and Nate's room. They clinked glasses, about to take their first drink from Chuck's hundred-year-old bottle of scotch.

"I have to go. My mom called and she's having an Eleanor Waldorf meltdown."

"What's it this time," Chuck said. "Pleats or ruffles?"

Blair giggled. She always liked how he could make light of any situation, real or fabricated. "Neither, fortunately. I'll be back later."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

Blair remembered Jack's words. "No need. I know just what I need to do to make my mom calm down. Besides, I don't need to take you away from your fun with Nate."

"I agree," Nate said, toasting to himself.

"Okay," Chuck said. "Let me know if you need reinforcements."

"I will. Thank you for being understanding." She kissed him and walked out the door. She looked over her shoulder before leaving and noticed that Chuck was watching her leave, a pensive look on his face.

She left before she could give any more clues on her lie away. It was a small lie anyway. It wouldn't mean anything. Besides, this was in his best interest anyway. She was doing it for him. She was putting him first. Isn't that what you were supposed to do for the person you loved?

Bart poured himself another glass of scotch. The police had just left the penthouse to begin their missing persons search for Ozzy. Lily paced the living room, as she brainstormed every connection she had that could possibly give a lead to where Ozzy was.

He felt for Ruby. For all the times that Chuck went gallivanting around the world, he always knew where he was. He couldn't understand what would motivate Ozzy to leave so abruptly, but he hoped for the sake of Ruby, and to a lesser extent, his daughter, that he was found.

It was almost one in the morning when the elevator door chimed. Bart held his drink and wondered if that could be the police again. Maybe they had a lead? It was awfully soon to hear back from them. He didn't think getting hopes up would be a good idea.

Dash appeared, his hands stuffed in his pockets, shoulders slumped.

"Dash?" Bart said. "Did you find any leads?"

He was surprised to see him alone, looking almost dejected.

"Yeah. I don't think they'll lead anywhere though."

"Not to worry. NYPD's finest are on the case," Bart said.

Dash shrugged.

"Where's my daughter?" Bart asked.

"With Ruby. They decided to go searching for Ozzy. They wouldn't say where they're going, so good luck trying to get a hold of them."

Bart checked his phone to see if Evelyn left him a message of this. Sure enough, a text detailing her whereabouts was sent an hour ago.

"And you didn't go?"

"Someone had to stay back in case he came home. My dad's home now, so I thought I'd come here to see if I could do anything."

"There's nothing more you can do," Bart said. "I think you should go home and get some rest."

Dash scoffed. "Why? No one else seems to be doing that."

Bart took a sip of his drink. He would think to offer Dash a glass, but he was too upset. He had to wonder if it had something to do with his daughter.

"Is everything alright, Dash?"

"Fine."

"You can stay here and wait if you like," Bart said.

Dash noticed Lily in the living room for the first time. "No, I'll go. I'll just…check to see if he was at the party this whole time. We didn't check there yet. Could have shown up there this evening and had us all scared for nothing."

"Perhaps." Bart swirled his drink. He doubted that possibility, but if it made Dash feel better that he was doing something in this search, he wouldn't stop him.

They say every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and once something is set in motion, it can't help but build momentum.

"If I'm supposed to follow your lead, I think you need to give me all the details to know what I'm getting into," Evelyn said a while later.

Ruby's eyes narrowed. "What details?"

Evelyn crossed one leg over the other. "For starters, why did Ozzy feel the need to search for his dad? Where is he?"

"That's unrelated." Ruby's voice was flat, almost monotone.

"I think it is. Why would he hire a P.I.?"

Ruby sighed. "That's none of your business."

"If I am to be of any help to find Ozzy, it is my business."

Ruby turned her head toward the window. It was still pitch black out, but she had a faraway look in her eye, as if she wasn't present in their conversation anymore, but instead went back, back to a memory.

"You have to understand it was a different time."

Evelyn shifted her position to face Ruby directly.

"I know you have this perception of me being an absent and irresponsible mother, but you don't know the whole story. It's not that simple."

Evelyn thought back to the time when she saw Ruby for the first time in New York. It was her engagement party, and she was so shaken by seeing Ozzy and her that she remembered some choice words she said to Ruby. Maybe she wasn't being completely fair in her judgement of Ruby. She really didn't know much about her, and that was part of the problem.

"You're right," Evelyn said. "I don't know the whole story, but given the circumstances, I think I should know."

Ruby was silent for a few moments, weighing the risks of telling her something so personal. "Alright."

It took a moment for the response to fully register with Evelyn. It was like finding her favorite blue V-neck t-shirt months after it disappeared.

"I was nineteen years old, in my second year of college when it happened. I was engaged by then, and my parents wanted me to drop out of school to focus on planning the wedding."

"Drop out of school?"

"It was a different time. My parents didn't think much of me going to school, only that it could find me a husband, but I already had a high school sweetheart."

"What was his name?"

She rolled her eyes. "He was a Van der Built. Wyatt. God knows why I liked him. Anyway, when I was at school we kept in touch, we visited each other. I made friends at school, so did he. He even gave me a promise ring before we left for different schools, but things changed. I met someone, so did he. It happened fast."

"What school did you go to?"

"Columbia. My fiancée at the time went to Harvard. I didn't want to leave New York, but he did."

"And you met someone?"

"I met someone. It just happened. I sat beside him by chance on the first day of lectures. It was one of those things that was instant."

Evelyn thought back to the first time she met Dash. She didn't feel that instant connection, or did she? They went to the bathroom together at her birthday party and she changed his shirt. She couldn't remember what she felt. She remembered meeting Ozzy for the first time. His general apathy annoyed her.

"We hit it off. We had similar interests, we even got in trouble for talking in class! It just worked even though every sign pointed to us saying it shouldn't."

"This is Ozzy's father?"

"Yes. He studied math and economics, had a partial scholarship which didn't cover the obscene fees he had to pay as an international student."

"Where's he from?"

"Mexico. From a wealthy family, not like here, but decent all things considering. He was the first to go to school in his family."

"So how did it happen?"

"I went to surprise my fiancé for the weekend and caught him with another girl. I ended it right on the spot and came back to New York. Threw the ring back at him too. Soon after Ozzy's father and I became more than friends. In that time, I found out that Ozzy's father found other ways to support his schooling, ways that my father would never approve. I was young, in love, and I didn't care. I told my parents at Christmas that it was over with Wyatt and they were not pleased at all. I decided then was a good time to tell them about my new boyfriend too. That was also a bit of a shock. Wasn't my best decision now that I'm being honest with myself."

"And then what?"

"My parents convinced me to go along with the marriage, even though I vowed to leave Wyatt at the alter by himself so he could feel the humiliation I felt when I caught him cheating on me. He even said we could have an arrangement, have our own partners after we have two children. I didn't want to hear any of it."

"Right before my bachelorette party, I found out I was pregnant. We went over reading week, and I intentionally chose Mexico because I need to tell Ozzy's father. What happened then was something I didn't expect."

Evelyn felt her stomach twist. "Like what?"

"I went to his family home and his parents were there. They didn't have a clue as to who I was. I told him privately, he was shocked of course, but assured me we could figure it out. Too bad his mom overheard us because she came after me with a wooden spatula shouting terrible things in Spanish to me. She was probably calling me a loose American girl or actually…probably worse. I got off easier. He got a beating for being careless and for disrespecting the family and not thinking with his brain from his father. It was awful. I knew this could be my way out of the marriage with Wyatt, so I came home and told them." Her gaze became grave.

"They didn't take it well either?"

"Yes. I came with Ozzy's father, but they kept going off on me like he wasn't even there. My dad was worse. He made his comments that I shouldn't be breeding with someone like him, and more racist things like that. Remember what happened at the wedding with my dad? Why I refused for him to be there? It's because of this moment. He asked me something unforgivable."

"What did he ask you?"

"He said I…I had to give up the baby or he would disown me."

Evelyn's eyes bulged. "What?"

She nodded. "Think I'm that bad huh? See where I come from, I'm nothing. He's the one you have to be worried about."

"I'm so sorry…"

"Don't be. In hindsight, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. When I refused, I was finally free from them. I could live my own life, and make my own choices, and one of those choices was to keep Ozzy."

Evelyn couldn't grasp the words that struggled to roll off her tongue. They were all jumbled and confused.

A small smiled came across Ruby's face. "He was the best decision I ever made. Really. I wouldn't change it. I know I made many mistakes, but I did the best I could with what I knew."

"Ms. Taylor, I didn't…"

"Know? You didn't. No one really knows the whole story. All they know is the scandal. Left the Upper East Side engaged to one man, knocked up by a 'dirty' Mexican, who knows what else went around."

"Why don't you tell Ozzy any of this?"

She shook her head. "I thought that it would be better if he didn't know any of it. I didn't want him to resent his grandparents for their ignorance. What they did was horrible, but the best thing I thought was to not have them in his life. I could never tell him the real reason why they didn't help throughout his childhood. How do you ever tell your child that they weren't wanted?"

"You don't," Evelyn said. "Then, at least. But with the circumstances now, if he's at his grandparents, maybe it would be best if he knew everything."

"We'll have to see when the moment happens. If he's there."

"If," Evelyn repeated. It was a hopeful word, full of possibility. Were they just deluding themselves thinking he would be there? In New Hampshire?

"What happened to his father?"

"We tried to make it work, but he had to go back to Mexico. It broke my heart, but we both knew he couldn't be present in Ozzy's life for very long. It was too dangerous."

"Dangerous?"

"Yes. He did help when he could. I haven't seen him in person since he left. Only through letters, deposits to go to Ozzy's needs. I didn't want them, I wanted to do it all on my own, but I learned that hat was an impossible task."

"Did you finish school?"

"No. He did though." Another small smile reached her face. "I was the only one to attend his graduation. Well, Ozzy did too, but he cried throughout the whole thing."

Evelyn tried to visual what Ozzy looked like as a baby. Maybe Ruby could show her a picture one day. "He's really special you know," Evelyn said.

"Ozzy?" Ruby said.

She nodded. "We've had our ups and downs, but I've never doubted his loyalty."

"Or feelings?"

Evelyn's cheeks burned. "What do you mean?"

"You may think I was unaware of what was going on, but I do know there's always been more then friendship going on between you two."

"You're mistaken."

"No. I think you are."

The car finally stopped. Evelyn saw the first bits of light as they drove through the wrought iron gates. In the courtyard, a large fountain was positioned in the circular cul de sac. The car drove around the circle and pulled up at the front steps. They had arrived.

After stopping by the penthouse for a pair of keys, the atelier was empty when Blair arrived. There was no fashion show upcoming that she knew about, so the atelier was far quieter, with people leaving much earlier. Blair used her fob key and went straight to her mother's office. It was secluded in the corner with a glass door that was locked.

"Great," Blair said under her breath. She looked on the desk, and sure enough she saw the package with her name on it on top of the pile of designs. She had to get into that room. She was a woman on a mission. Not only did she need to get in the office, but she wanted to read that memo. If she was doing the work, she should know what it's for right?

Blair picked up the heavy keychain. There were at least twenty different keys on the chain, and Blair put each key in the lock one by one. She tried another key and another until the last one opened the office door.

Blair looked up at the ceiling, silently thanking him for his help. She marched up to the desk and picked up the envelope. It was legal sized and light. She flipped it over and saw that it was sealed shut.

She was about to leave the office when she noticed her mother's desk lamp. Blair rounded the desk and flicked it on. She put the envelop underneath and could only see its shadow. She adjusted the lamp light to face the ceiling and held the envelop over the light. Blair stood on the tips of her toes to see what was inside the envelop. Sure enough, there was a letter that Blair assumed was information about the protests. It wasn't long, and she wondered if Jack was in contact with the government to grant them access to building in their country.

That wasn't the only thing in the envelop. It had no writing on it, but thick black lines, boxes within boxes, and small numbers all around it. It looked like a set of blueprints for a building. Why would that be in the envelop?

Blair flicked off the light and straightened out her mother's desk. Maybe Jack had to attach a set of proposed blueprints for their approval? She didn't know much about the deal, or international business in general, but she wondered.

Blair locked up her mother's office and left the atelier. She held the envelop in her lap and examined the precise printing of her name. She hugged the envelop to her chest, hoping that her contribution to this deal would finally give Chuck the break he deserved.

If Dash had any sway in the matter, he thought Ozzy's disappearance was best left to the police. Wasn't that their job anyway? They knew how to find someone living or dead, and they had the resources and experience to do it quickly. What business did they have being super sleuths on a hunt for Ozzy? It would end their search in disappointment.

It wasn't as if Dash didn't care about Ozzy. He was scared shitless. He wondered if what he said that morning played any factor of his departure. He wasn't trying to be mean. He only wanted to ensure Ozzy knew his place when it came to Evelyn. Ozzy wasn't her best friend anymore. He was.

Dash knew he wouldn't be able to sleep since Evelyn had left with his step mom, so the only thing he figured he could do is try to be useful with the case. No one seemed to check if Ozzy was at the party, not that he noticed him earlier, but maybe he was there? Maybe he was on the balcony shooting up with the other guys? It was worth a try.

The party was still in full swing as he'd left it. Jenny's minions, once huddled in the room, were now scattered, dancing, drinking or hooking up with random guys he didn't recognize.

He didn't see Ozzy anywhere. He wasn't surprised. The only place he'd probably be was on the patio.

"Dash?"

He spun around to see Jenny, alone. "Hey."

"I thought you were with Evelyn?"

The reminder pressed down on a wound. "I was."

"Is everything okay?"

"I'm looking for Ozzy. Have you seen him?"

She shook her head. "I haven't been drinking much, so trust me when I say that I haven't."

Great. Another dead end. What a surprise.

"Thanks."

He considered leaving, but he looked over the bar, well stocked with every drink he could imagine. His search, now inconclusive, made him think he didn't need to go home just yet. He could at least have a drink.

He left Jenny and asked the bartender for a drink. He didn't specify what he wanted and insisted that he would have whatever the bartended had in his hand. It was champagne. He finished his first glass in one gulp and asked for another.

He wondered where Evelyn was right now. Was she in the city? In the state? He dialed her number and heard the phone ring and ring. It was almost two at this point, she still had to be up. It went to voicemail and he hung up. He called her again and again, and left a voicemail on the last call. He put his phone down and downed his third glass of champagne.

Suddenly, his phone rang. He fumbled when he tried to pick it up, and almost threw it back down on the counter when he realized it wasn't Evelyn. He looked around the room and noticed everyone else's cell phones were going off, the glow of the LED screens lighting up everyone's eyes. Some gasped, and they all exchanged glances with each other.

He opened the message for himself.

Breaking News: Our own Queen J caught dealing the very best to our elite. While running an empire is costly, it looks like this foreign Brooklynite has gone bankrupt.

Everyone began whispering as Dash re-read the message. He searched for Jenny who was in the middle of the room, her minions swarming her.

Dash was left puzzled. Who sent the blast? He certainly didn't. Thom couldn't because he was God knows where with Alejandro. Eric couldn't hurt a fly. Could it have been Evelyn?

He struggled to think of a conceivable reason why she would. She was too preoccupied trying to find Ozzy that she hasn't thought of anyone or anything since.

"You're a drug dealer? Ew!" Sera said.

"And you didn't tell us?" Kate added, her arms crossed.

"Well ladies," Catherine said. "It looks like we have a hypocrite on our hands. Queen J, always thought she was so high and mighty is not only no better than us, but worse."

Lila shook her head, distraught. "Is this why you didn't pay me back for lunch the other day?"

"I…I…"

"Maybe we should start our own charity fund?" Sera said.

"Perhaps," Catherine said. "But we can't have someone so…fiscally irresponsible lead us."

"Not to mention financially dependent," Sera said.

Catherine reached for Jenny's headband. "Then it's time for new leadership. Consider yourself dethroned, Little J."

Everyone snapped pictures and recorded videos as it happened. Dash didn't doubt that it would end up on Gossip Girl within the minute. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't deny the truth. He just hoped she didn't think he was the one who revealed it.

Jenny hurried down the corridor where the bedrooms were without a word. All eyes followed her, burned her, until she slammed the door.

Dash ordered another drink.

An older man wearing in a three-piece suit opened the front door. Evelyn waited for Ruby's reaction, an indication if she knew who this man was.

"Hello Timothy." Her voice lacked any warmth that would exist when addressing someone who she seemed to know.

"Ms. Ruby," He bowed. "This is quite the surprise."

"It is. I understand my father is home this evening?"

"Indeed. Please." He stepped aside and pushed the door open completely.

Evelyn followed Ruby in the grandest foyers she'd ever seen. A gleaming chandelier hung precisely over the center of the room. The double staircase reminded her of the Princess Diaries, and she waited for Julie Andrews to descend in her most elegant and royal robes.

"Allow me to introduce you to Evelyn Bass, a…family friend," Ruby said while offering her coat to Timothy.

He extended his arm to take her coat. "Pleasure to meet you Evelyn."

"You too," Evelyn said. She knew that was hardly formal enough, but she had no idea what else she was supposed to say.

"I'll put these away and call your father straight away. He was just about to wash up for bed. I'll be but a moment."

As soon as he walked away, Evelyn whispered, "Did you live here?"

"Yes, but not full time. This has always been the weekend estate."

A weekend estate? Her family didn't even have that. Sure, Lily had a home in the Hamptons, but the Basses didn't have estates. They had hotels, which meant they had places to stay all around the world.

A man with combed over white hair appeared beside Timothy. Evelyn recognized him from Ruby's wedding, as brief as his appearance was, and it was one of the scenes she remembered most. Neither he nor Ruby appear to show shock or any emotion from their first official reunion in over a decade. They both mirrored blank expressions.

"Ruby," He stopped with a few feet away. "I was expecting you."

He was? Evelyn looked to Ruby whose reaction didn't change. "You've been expecting me for a long time," Ruby said.

"Perhaps. Please, let's sit and have a cup of tea?"

"We can't stay long," Ruby said. She looked at Evelyn, as if now realizing she was in the room with her. "This is Evelyn Bass, a family friend."

"Pleasure to meet you," Mr. Taylor said, nodding his head to her.

"Likewise."

"We won't be long," Ruby said. "We're on our way back to New York after a swim meet this weekend. Ozzy said he wanted to visit, and we agreed to pick him up. Where is he?"

How did she come up with that? The lie rolled off her tongue like a breath mint, smooth and easy. It was risky too. How could she assume that Ozzy would be here? Evelyn didn't notice a cue or anything, so she remained silent.

Her father smiled. "He left."

"Left?"

"He was here for the whole day, which is odd if he was supposed to be at a swim meet all day. He never mentioned any of that, but he did have a big duffle bag with him."

"Where did he go?" Evelyn said trying to keep her voice free of any panic.

"He said he was going back to the city," he said. "I offered for him to stay the night, but he refused."

"Don't act like you care now," Ruby said.

"Oh but I do, Ruby," Her father said. "You see, there is such potential with Ozzy. He's quiet, but bright."

"You don't care about any of that stuff. You will stay away from my son."

"I have, dear Ruby, but he seems to always keep coming back to me."

"Did your driver give him a ride back?"

"Yes," Anthony Taylor said with a sharpness that indicated that he was annoyed that she interrupted.

"I thought I saw a limo parked outside. I'll go check to see if I'm right," Evelyn said.

She moved towards the door when the doorbell rang. Evelyn turned to Anthony, who looked equally confused as to who the visitor could be that late at night. Evelyn checked her watch. It was almost three. The only person she could think of was Ozzy returning. Evelyn's heart beat quickened at the thought.

Timothy scurried to the door. He opened the door and revealed not one but two visitors. Evelyn's hope deflated, when she realized neither visitor was Ozzy. Instead, her deflation turned to confusion when she really paid attention to who the visitors were. One had his arm around the other, not in a form of affection but of power.

It was Alejandro and Thom.

Chuck poured another glass of scotch. While he enjoyed the party for the first couple hours, he retreated to his dorm room and closed the door behind him. He could hear the music thumping, and he could feel it vibrate though the door. Chuck opened the window that separated his bed from Nate's, and welcomed the gentle breeze enter the room.

He heard the music return at full volume when the door opened. He heard Nate's dry chuckle, and the door shutting.

"Hey," Nate said. "Are you…hiding out from a party?"

Chuck smirked. "I was thinking of having a smoke actually."

Nate poked his head through the open window. "Oh yeah," Nate took a deep breath. "Totally a good night for that. I'll get my lighter."

Chuck opened his drawer and rummaged to find his brown bag stash. Blair didn't approve of course, but he always needed a stash just in case. Sometimes you just needed a break. Sometimes that was every week. Other times he needed a break a few times in a few months. Once a day. It varied.

He began to roll a couple joints, making sure they were taunt and secure. He felt juvenile doing it. He remembered the first few times he tried rolling a joint. It fell apart on him, but now his nimble fingers knew what to do. All these years later, he and Nate hadn't changed.

"Here." Chuck offered him a joint and Nate lit it.

Nate tossed him his lighter and puffed. "I gotta say, I'm shocked you made it through the first year of college."

"Really? I could say the same thing about you," Chuck said.

"But seriously. I had a bet with Serena on it."

"And you obviously bet that I would make it?" Chuck said.

Nate drew the joint to his lips.

"Oh that's nice. Some friend you are."

Nate exhaled, a line of rings billowed out of his mouth. "Nah, I bet that you would. I'm just shocked that I won. Serena better pay up."

Chuck drew a drag from his joint and smirked. He couldn't wait to taunt her when she returned from Brown.

"We are rooming together next year, right?" Nate asked.

Chuck exhaled. "Do you have to ask?"

"I forgot actually. That settles that then."

Through the window, voices, giggling and yelling wafted up their window. Nate peeked through the window and grinned. "It's the girls on Blair's floor. Looks like they're streaking."

Chuck shot up and looked through the window. A pack of girls, no more than six, ran naked, barefoot around in the courtyard of their building.

"Aren't those the volleyball twins across the hall from Blair?" Nate said.

"I don't know. Blair didn't really talk to them." Blair wasn't on a first name basis with many of the girls on her floor. As they frolicked on the front lawn, he began to understand why.

Nate shook his head. "That's Blair for you. I can't believe she's friends with Joy now."

"Blair's anything but predictable sometimes," Chuck said.

"Now maybe, but I know her pretty well. There are some things that don't change with her."

"Like what?"

"Elitism, fashion, being Queen B. You know, I have to say, I also had a bet with Serena on how long you'd last and I think I won that bet too."

"What didn't you bet on, Nathanial?" Chuck exhaled.

Nate chuckled. "Oh come on, man. You had to know that being in a relationship with Blair was going to be volatile. Serena gave you guys until March. I said a full year with at least two breakups. I was closer, so I won."

Chuck wanted to raise his hand and slap him upside the head. "I'm so glad predicting my life has made you so lucrative."

Nate crushed the butt on the window sill, extinguishing its embers. "If anyone could do it, who better?"

"Maybe I should make bets on you next year. Maybe you'll have one, maybe two failed relationships? One could be with a family enemy?"

Nate threw his joint out the window. "I am a free agent. I will not be tied down by any woman."

"Please, you have the eye of a golden retriever. Anyone who gives you affection charms you."

"Thanks man." Nate slapped his shoulder. "I can always count on your support."

Nate leaned back on his bed and spread his arms out in a T position.

"Not going back to the party then?" Chuck said.

"Maybe later."

Chuck propped up his pillow and leaned back on his own bed.

"Chuck?"

"Yeah?"

"If you could sum up the meaning of life in one word, what would it be?"

Chuck leaned his head back on his pillow and closed his eyes. Some things never changed. Nate's philosophizing while he was high didn't.

After Dash left, Bart saw no reason to stay up any longer. The police were working on the case, Chuck was at his dorm after finishing his final exam, and Evelyn was with Ruby, a competent adult who was furiously looking for her son.

Bart didn't know if her search would do her any good. It occupied her, and gave her purpose for the time being, but what would she do if Ozzy couldn't be found? He couldn't imagine what Ruby thought when she discovered that her child was missing. He would have hope, but as the days will inevitably roll on from the disappearance, the more hopeless he would feel. If Ozzy was found, there would be some finality to whatever happened. All Ruby had was an aimless search without a lead to point her in the right direction. If she didn't find anything, it could drive her mad.

Bart kicked off his slippers and turned down the covers on his side of the bed. Lily was already tucked in, eyes wide open, her brows still knitted.

"Everything alright, Lily?"

"I just can't help thinking of what could happen if she doesn't find him. I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

"I was thinking the same thing. Lots of what ifs."

"And I started thinking about Eric, and I began wondering…what I would have done if Eric did this."

"You don't need to think about that. Eric didn't run away. He didn't then, and he won't now."

"I know. I just remember the times I didn't handle his situation that well. I doubt I'd be much help if he did run away."

"We don't have to think about that," Bart said. "We just have to trust the police and wait it out. We know he didn't leave the country, so that narrows down the search quite a bit."

"It's still a big country." Lily rolled to her side and turned off the lamp on her nightstand.

America was a big country. Evelyn was in another state, probably on the road somewhere in New Hampshire. He wasn't thrilled about her being away in the middle of the night, but just like Ruby, he understood her need to try. She needed to know that she tried everything she could in the case that Ozzy couldn't be found.

He just hoped she found something.

The first shrill shriek came from Ruby.

"Alejandro?"

She had turned pale, an ashen shade of white.

"Ruby?" He rolled his r and looked equally as shocked. His eyes went from her to her father and then back to Thom.

Evelyn looked through the intense gaze between Ruby and Alejandro and her eyes widened. "Oh my God!"

All eyes fell on Evelyn, but she was too frazzled with a realization. "He…you…oh my God!"

"We meet again, chica."

"You know her?" Ruby said more harshly than she intended.

"It's a long story," Evelyn said. "But first, he's…"

Ruby nodded.

"It…all makes sense now." Her knees began to weaken. Evelyn stepped aside and leaned against the nearest column.

"What are you doing here? Especially with my other grandson?" Anthony said.

Alejandro shook his head. "He's indebted to me, and he can't pay."

"Indebted to you? Impossible."

Evelyn noticed Thom for the first time. He seemed to hold his right arm close to his chest, as if it were hurt. His face showed no cuts or bruises, but with his limp, Evelyn could only assume that he was in a fight.

Alejandro shook his head and turned to Thom. "Tell him the truth."

"I'm sorry Grandfather," Thom said.

"And?" Alejandro pressed.

Thom sighed. "The checks that you gave me every month didn't go to a charity I was working for. I used them toward getting into…his business."

Anthony's nostrils flared. "You're wrong."

"No, he's right," Alejandro said. "He's been dealing to his friends for the past year at least, but he made a mistake."

"It wasn't my mistake," Thom said. "It was her incompetent friend!" Thom pointed to Evelyn.

Ruby, who hadn't taken her eyes off of Alejandro the whole time, as if trying to memorize every detail of his physical presence, turned to her. "You know about this?"

"I told you. It's a long story," Evelyn said.

"He now owes one hundred thousand dollars in damaged and lost merchandise," Alejandro said. "Since he can't pay, it'll fall on you to pay the difference."

"I'll report you to the authorities," Anthony said.

"And what? Cause a scandal?" Ruby said. "All three of us know that's not an option with you."

"And besides Mr. Taylor," Alejandro took a couple steps closer to Anthony. "We both know this fee is nothing in comparison as to what you owe me."

Anthony began to tremble, his hands curled into fists. After a couple beats, he cleared his throat. "Timothy, get my check book."

Evelyn watched the scene before her in awe. Before her, she saw Ozzy's parents in the same room exchanging tender glances that suggest an intimacy yet extinguished. She tried to reach for different features that Ozzy had from each parent, cutting and pasting her own interpretation. Thom hobbled to the nearest chair and gritted his teeth, eyes squinting as he sat down.

Timothy returned with the checkbook and a pen. Anthony's hand shook as he wrote the check. He ripped it out and offered it to Alejandro, pinching it with two fingers as if he couldn't contaminate himself with anything that came in contact with Alejandro.

"Thank you," Alejandro said. He quickly looked at the check, folded it and put it in his pocket. "That will be all then from me. Have a good night."

Ruby's eyes followed him out. Evelyn watched his figure retreat until it hit her. This was it. This was her cue!

"Ruby, I think it's time that we should go too?" Evelyn said. "It was a pleasure to meet you both."

Ruby mumbled something incoherent and followed her out. Evelyn raced down the steps, where the limo wheels crunched against the exposed aggregate driveway. She ran right in front of the limo, causing it to halt.

The driver rolled down his window. "Watch it young lady! You're going to get yourself killed!"

"I'm sorry sir! Can I please talk to Alejandro for a moment?"

He sighed and rolled down the window in the back. "Make it quick."

Evelyn raced to the open window. "Alejandro?"

"Did anyone ever tell you that you're persistent chica?"

She smiled. "A couple. Anyway, there's a situation that I think you should be aware of."

"Meaning?"

"It's about your son," Evelyn said. She didn't know where Ruby was, if she could hear her, but she needed to do something. "We weren't here for a visit. In fact, this is the first time Ruby has stepped foot on her parent's property since she left. What I'm trying to say is that we're looking for Ozzy because he's missing."

"Is this true Ruby?"

Evelyn turned and saw Ruby stand behind her. There were tears in her eyes. She nodded, and for the first time that evening, she saw tears falling down her cheeks. She covered her face with her hands and her silent cries turned to sobs.

"Ay dios mios." He opened the door and put his arms around Ruby. She collapsed into him, her hands feeling him, grabbing him, trying to hold onto him as she said over and over, "I'm sorry."

Evelyn leaned on the car and turned her gaze away. She saw another car, parked ahead of car Ruby's car and raced over to it. She raced up to the driver window and knocked on it. The car was parked, and the driver had gone to bed.

When she returned to Ruby and Alejandro, Ruby had composed herself, but still clung onto Alejandro.

"The driver wasn't there," Evelyn said. "So we don't have a lead as to where he took Ozzy."

Ruby wiped a stray tear away. "Well, if the driver's back already, then we know it wasn't New York."

"But that leaves pretty much anywhere else. Unless he's at the airport?" Evelyn said.

"That can't be either," Ruby said. "Unless he somehow found the code to the safe, he doesn't have his passport. Only Philip and I know the combination."

"Is there a big bus terminal around?" Alejandro suggested. "Might be a good place to start."

Evelyn looked at her watch. It was almost half past three. "Will it be open?"

"Of course. The nearest station is in Dover. It's about what, fifteen minutes away?" Ruby said.

For the first time that evening, Evelyn felt her tiredness catch up with her. "It's a shot in the dark."

"Going to a White Castle is a shot in the dark," Ruby said. "This seems like something he would do. I just have a feeling."

"You both can lead the way, I'll follow with my car," Alejandro said.

"No," Ruby said. "Come with us. We'll go together."

"Are you sure?" His words carried the weight of a burden he'd been carrying for sixteen years.

She took a step closer to him and brushed his cheek with her thumb. "It's time."

Blair knocked four times on Jack's door before he answered. He wore nothing but a fluffy white robe. Dark chest hairs lined the V-neck of his robe. Blair kept her gaze at the walls on either side of his arms or the coffee brown carpets under his feet.

"It was in my mom's office like you said it would be." Blair offered the envelop to him.

Jack smiled and snatched the package faster than he intended. "Blair, I really thank you for doing this for me…for us."

"It won't happen again," Blair said. "Whatever business you and Chuck have is between the two of you."

"Of course. This," He looked at the package like it was a long-lost love, "Will be a big help. Believe me."

"I hope so…for Chuck."

"More than you know."

Blair nodded. She adjusted the sleeves of her coat and moved the handle of her purse to rest on the crook of her arm. "Well, good night then."

"Sweet dreams."

They say the universe has a great sense of humour. That sometimes having your dreams come true can feel like a nightmare. Because getting what you want always comes with strings attached. Better hope those strings don't get cut B, or else your dream will turn into a nightmare.

Dash stumbled past the elevator door when he collided into Jenny. He only had four drinks, but he started to feel the sway and a dopey smile spread across his face.

Jenny huffed and stabbed the elevator button with her index finger. It cracked.

"Jenny," Dash hiccupped. "I just want you to know that I didn't tell Gossip Girl."

"Dash, I don't want to talk about it."

Her arms were crossed and her makeup was smudged around her eyes like she had wiped it with toilet paper.

"I just want you to know that," He leaned his left hand against the elevator door until it opened. He fell forward, and Jenny caught him from face planting.

"Dash, you're making things worse," Jenny said.

Their classmates snickered, taking pictures and more video. Dash straightened up and said, "I fell. So what? If you want to laugh, John Edwards has herpes. Why don't you laugh about that!"

Dash stepped into the elevator and watched the looks of horror cross the faces of a few girls in the room. Ha. Serves them right for trying to make fun of him. It may have worked when they were in seventh grade, but not anymore. Especially when liquid courage kicked in.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I had enough of that," Dash said.

"Me too." Jenny hugged her arms across her chest. "Thanks for that."

Dash shrugged. "Well, I wasn't lying."

"Really? How did you know?"

"Word travels in the boy's locker room." He leaned against the back wall of the elevator and closed his eyes. He didn't feel dizzy, a good sign, but he didn't want to go to sleep yet. He knew Evelyn was probably wide awake doing God knows what to get Ozzy back.

A part of him wondered how far she would go. He had to keep reminding himself that she would be faithful, she was his girlfriend after all, but a part of him wasn't so sure.

"I mean it though. Thanks for not telling Gossip Girl about Thom."

He opened his eyes. "No problem. Too bad someone else did."

She sighed. "I know, and I have no idea who did it."

"Well it wasn't me."

"it wasn't Eric either because he already told me," Jenny said.

"I don't know how Thom would do it since he was literally escorted away from Alejandro."

"That leaves…Evelyn."

Dash tensed when he heard her name. After all the chaos and pandemonium of the night, he remembered that he did tell her that he loved her. He'd been aching to tell her for ages. He wanted to tell her before their first time, during even. He hoped she would have eaten it up, unable to resist him, but she looked like a stunned deer.

She didn't even say it back. A painful pang of rejection erupted inside him.

The elevator doors parted.

"Where is she really?"

Dash couldn't unlace the anger from his words. "She's off looking for Ozzy. He disappeared and she's God knows where doing whatever it takes to find him."

"Ozzy's missing?"

"Yeah, but the police are on the case. She left to find him. I don't know when she'll be back…"

"She just left when she was with you? For him?"

Dash winced. "Pretty much."

"That's…not right."

"Why do you think I came back to the party? It wasn't for the petty drama."

Jenny shook her head. "And here I thought I had the worst night out of everyone."

"Yours was pretty shitty too."

Outside, the mild wind cooled his hot face.

"Dash," Jenny said. "You don't think Evelyn sent the blast do you?"

He paused to think about it. He couldn't' think of a time where she'd sent one before. "I dunno. She's been so singularly focused on finding Ozzy that I can't think of why she would do that to you after she bailed you out."

"I don't know either…maybe it was a distraction? Make sure that I get hit with the blast so no one is concerned that Ozzy is missing which is a bigger scandal to the Taylors than anything else."

If it was to protect Ozzy, Dash had no doubt she would do it. For some reason, he always came first, always had more need than everyone else.

"I guess it's possible," Dash said. "She didn't say anything to me about it. What she says and how she feels are two different things."

They lingered outside his limo.

Jenny looked at her watch. "I should probably get going. The subways to Brooklyn aren't as frequent at this hour."

"You're going to take the subway home at this hour?" Dash said.

"It's fine, Dash."

"That's not safe."

"I'll be fine, Dash. Really."

"I think you forget the fact that I lived in Brooklyn for a few years. I know."

"Okay, fine. You win."

Dash opened the door for her first and then got in. He could feel his buzz wearing off, and the pain creeping back in.

"God, I need a drink." He rubbed his hands over his eyes.

"Me too. I only had one tonight."

"Only?"

"A Queen never gets drunk in front of her subjects." Jenny's proud smile quivered and she began to cry.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean—"

She waved him off. "It's okay. What happened just hit me all over again." She turned her body away from him, as if to shield any weakness from him.

"I think you need that drink more than I do," Dash said, hoping to lighten the situation.

Jenny uncoiled herself from her hunched position. "I need more than a drink."

Dash reached in his pocket and felt a plastic bag stick to his fingertips. He chuckled to himself.

"What is it?"

"I just realized I'm still carrying these. Is this more what you're looking for?"

Dash held out the bag of ecstasy tablets. Jenny chuckled and wiped away tears. "It's a start."

Chuck was staring at the ceiling while he discussed his interpretation of the Matrix. He didn't know how long he had been talking, or if Nate was even listening, but he continued to theorize. Then, he heard the door open.

"Nate? Nate?" He rolled over to see Nate's eyes were closed, mouth gaping.

Blair appeared at the door. He sat up and worked a hand through his hair. "Has the disaster been averted?"

She took him in, as if it was the first time she saw him in months. She drank him in like a glass of water, a wistful smile on her face. "It has. I helped clean up the mess after Eleanor Waldorf's notorious meltdown."

She sat beside him on her bed and caressed his cheek. "I'm glad to be back though."

"You sound like you just came back from a war."

"It was one believe me," Blair said. She kissed him in a way that was to impose meaning into him, a meaning his mind couldn't process.

"I could be mistaken, but it's like you love me Waldorf."

"I do love you," Blair said. "You know that."

He smirked. "I know that especially when you show me." He ran his hand down the length of her side.

"Chuck, Nate's right there," Blair said.

"So? He's passed out."

"Still…" Blair said.

He could always count on Blair to be bashful with these kinds of things. If sleeping Nate was a stranger, she could care less. Since it was Nate, she would never do anything to hurt him.

"You know what we could do?" Chuck said.

"What?"

"Watch the Matrix."

Blair groaned. "Did you and Nate smoke up?"

"Perhaps."

Blair looked over her shoulder and noticed the open window. She got up and closed it. "I would offer my room, but I think it's still occupied."

"Really?" Chuck said. "I know college liberates everyone, but I thought Joy would stick it out until marriage."

"I don't think it went that far," Blair said. "But I'm okay staying here to sleep tonight."

"We could do that too." Chuck yawned. He peeled off his shirt and pants and got back into bed. Blair unbuckled her shoes and dropped her purse on the floor. He held his comforter sheet up, an invitation for Blair to climb in with him.

Blair opened his dresser and picked out a pair of his silk purple pajamas.

"Waldorf, you should keep your clothes off, not put mine on."

Blair ignored him and slide into bed beside him. She hummed as she nestled herself half onto him and half beside him. He wrapped his arms around her, breathing in her signature scent. If he were to describe what home smelled like, this would be it.

"Blair?"

"Yes?"

"How did you interpret the ending of the matrix?"

"Goodnight, Chuck."

Fifteen minutes had never felt so long before. Any time the car began to slow, she looked out the window for a bus terminal, but it never appeared. All she saw were trees, and then strip malls, gas stations, and traffic lights. Evelyn checked her phone for the third time within the last minute. She ignored all messages from Gossip Girl. She didn't care to hear the juicy scoop of the night. All she cared about was finding Ozzy.

"So that's how you met? You called him and mediated a meeting to work out this debt that Thom was responsible for?" Ruby said.

"Yes," Evelyn said. "I wish I could say that I felt bad about what happened to your nephew Ms. Taylor, but he's…not a nice person."

"I picked that up pretty quickly," Ruby said. "I wonder how my father will justify his behavior. He condemned it from some people, but he'll probably pretend this didn't happen with Thom."

"You think?" Evelyn said.

"It wouldn't be the first time," Ruby said. She snuck a peak at Alejandro to see if he heard her.

Alejandro was quiet. He was somewhere else, eyes trained on his floor. He couldn't quite keep his hands still. He rubbed them up and down on his thighs.

"Alex?" Ruby said. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," he said. "I just hope we find him."

Ruby reached over Evelyn's lap and took his hand in hers. "Me too."

The car came to a full stop. Evelyn looked out the window to see a quaint bus station with a large overhang supported by moss green posts. It looked like a bungalow home with lofty ceilings and bay windows. A greyhound bus was parked on the side of the building, and she could see a couple people waiting to board the bus.

"Looks like the bus is about to leave," Ruby said. She opened the door and stood still, paralyzed.

Evelyn stepped in front of her, watching the last two people begin to board. She was too far away to identify Ozzy, but close enough to know she could catch the bus if she started moving.

She ran. She ran to the bus shelter, jumped over the flowerbeds and raced to the open door. The last person was boarding, a woman with long black hair. Evelyn stepped up to the bus driver and was surprised to see the bus was almost full.

"Your ticket, ma'am?"

"I don't have one. I'm looking for someone actually." She didn't look at him when she said it. Her eyes scanned each face from the front to the back, row by row.

"Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to either pay for a ticket or get off this bu—"

She sprung forward as the bus driver continuing to call out to her. Slowly, the sleepy faces began to wake as she went to the back of the bus, her heart pounding, her hands clammy.

She stopped at the third row from the back, where a familiar face leaned against the window, eyes closed.

"Ma'am," the bus driver called.

"Ozzy," Evelyn whispered. She wasn't sure if he was awake or not, and she didn't want to startle him.

He blinked a few times, a look of confusion on his face. "Evelyn? What are you doing here?"

Words failed her when she saw the vacant look and toneless voice. He had only been gone for a day, but she tried to memorize what he looked like in this moment.

"Ma'am," the bus driver grabbed her arm and began to drag her to the front of the bus.

"No! Wait! This will only take a couple minutes!" She struggled to wiggle out of his grip.

"So will this," the bus driver said as he continue to drag her back row by row.

"Ozzy!" Evelyn said as she tried to grab onto the head rests of each seat she passed. "Don't go. Please." Her voice broke on the last word and her vision became blurry. All she could see was a blur of fluorescent lights and him, now standing, become smaller and smaller until she was thrown out of the bus, face first onto the concrete.

Her hands absorbed the impact of her fall, but she stayed in that position. She rested her forehead on the concrete, her shoulders now shaking. She heard the revving of the engine and the bus pulling away and she couldn't pick her tired body up to see it leave. To see him leave.

How could he do this to her? Against all odds, she found him. She found him! No matter what everyone said, she found him and he just didn't care? The pain she felt in that moment felt worse than death, cutting deeper than it ever could.

She was crying so hard that she didn't hear her name being called. She felt two cold hands on her shoulders.

"He left! I saw him! He left!" She said, thinking it was Ruby.

"I'm right here."

Evelyn sat up and looked over her shoulder. Ozzy sat back on his heels, his gaze tentative.

"Ozzy?"

"I'm right here."

Evelyn threw her arms around him as tight as she could. Ozzy held her with equal ferocity and care. He held her so tightly she could let go completely and she wouldn't fall back an inch.

"You left all of us," Evelyn cried into his neck. "You left me."

"I'm sorry," Ozzy said. "I'm so sorry."

Evelyn pulled back and held his head in her hands. She inspected him to see if anything was different about him or if he was hurt in any way. She couldn't see any part of him that was hurt physically. But she could feel the pain within, a pain she couldn't fix.

"Why did you do this?" Evelyn asked.

"I thought it would be best if I…disappeared."

"Do you know how many people have been looking for you? You can't just disappear and think that no one will notice."

"It feels like I've been doing that for months. My own mom has no idea what I do half the time."

"She knows more than you think. She knows, I know…you don't have to hide anymore, Ozzy."

"What are you talking about?"

"We know that you looked for your father and we know about the drugs."

Ozzy pulled her hands off of his face by pulling her wrists down gently. "Those were just a couple mistakes I made. It's no big deal."

He stood up, and Evelyn scrambled to her feet. "It is a big deal! Ozzy we found multiple empty bags, this isn't a one off."

"So? Not all of us are saints like you Evelyn."

"Don't turn this on me. You're the one who left."

"And you didn't leave me last year? Now you know how it feels!"

Silence filled the air. "That's not fair. It's not the same and you know it!"

He hung his head. "You're right. It's not. It's worse. Evelyn, do you know what's it like to just feel nothing? Nothing interests me, I'm tired all the time, and nobody understands."

"Then make me understand. Tell me."

"I-I just feel nothing. It's like…" He trailed off trying to find the right words. "I'm hollow inside. I hate it, I hate it so much, I hate myself and how I'm always hurting or disappointing everyone around me, but it won't go away. I can't feel anything anymore."

"That's not true." She stepped forward and took his hands in hers. "If you were that far gone, you wouldn't have gotten off that bus. You did."

"Well I had to because…"

"Because what?"

He shook his head. "I don't like it when anyone treats you badly. I can't stand around and do nothing."

"I know," Evelyn said. "Whatever it is you're going through Ozzy, you're not alone. We can work through it. And I'm not just talking about me, but your mom too—"

"My mom? Since when do you think my mom is competent enough for that?"

"She is. I misjudged her. She's here, probably ready to chew me out for making her wait, but Ozzy, nothing is going to change unless you want it to."

He said nothing.

"Ozzy," She leaned her forehead against his. "Do you want to feel better?"

"Yes."

"Then if you come back with me, we'll find a way together. All of us."

"I don't deserve it," Ozzy said. "I've been really awful to you, my mom, everyone."

"It's not about deserving, it's about wanting. Wanting to do better."

He tucked loose hairs behind her ear. Neither of them said anything, breathing in each other's breaths. Evelyn parted her lips slightly. If he leaned forward in an attempt to kiss her, she would allow it. She didn't think about what it would mean to Dash. She didn't think of why she wanted it. All she thought of was cherishing this moment with him, having him so close to her brought her back to how close they used to be.

He didn't kiss her. He pulled away and instead brought their interwoven hands up and kissed the back of her hand. "Let's go back."

Ozzy slung his duffle bag over his shoulder and reached for her hand with the other. He wasn't ready to let go of her yet, and neither was she.

"Did you drive yourself?" Ozzy asked.

"No. I didn't come alone." She looked ahead wondering where Ruby and Alejandro were.

Alejandro.

She halted abruptly. "I didn't come alone."

He began to loosen his grip from hers. "Did you come with Dash?"

She clasped their hands tighter. "No. I came with your mom."

"My mom?"

She nodded.

"But you don't get along," he said.

"We did when we needed too."

Ozzy shook his head. "I don't believe it."

"Then you'll just have to see it. Along with someone else." They continued walking toward the limo where she began to see two figures waiting.

"Who?"

Evelyn squeezed his hand. "Your father."

"Shall we make a toast?" Dash held up his shot glass of tequila.

"To the end of my social life as I know it?" Jenny suggested.

"Very fitting, but I was thinking more along the lines of missing girlfriends, but maybe that's just me."

They clinked glasses and threw their heads back before sucking on lemon wedges. Dash winced from the sourness of his lemon and shook his head when he put the lemon in his empty glass.

"How did you get involved with Thom anyway?"

Jenny dragged her glass in small circles on the leather bar. She kicked her feet under the bar, "This whole time I convinced the girls that my dad was indeed a famous rock star who was actually pretty well off. It helped that he went on tour last summer and the summer before that. He's playing at a gig tonight actually in Boston too, so they bought it. I kept having to sew new clothes to keep up with the fashion trends, convince them that everything I wore was designer, but I saw Thom dealing at your birthday party. I didn't think much of it then, but I ran into him again before the UN Conference, and he had to trust me to get the drugs to this delegate's daughter through sewing it in the clothes. I got a cut from that and was able to buy a new purse. We bonded, and I said I wanted to keep going. I kept going with it because it could pay off the costs of being queen. I was planning to save enough money to host an end of the year party, but Agnes stole the drugs at the fashion show, my dad almost found what I had at the loft, and then it became a fiasco."

"You did it for the money," Dash said.

"It may be hard for you to understand, but it kept my minions from being suspicious. They reminded me that I hadn't run any parties all year. I was trying to keep them busy, distracted, but I was running out of distractions. Once I started dealing, everything was back in order."

"Until they found out."

Jenny nodded. "It's all hypocritical really. Thom dealt to everyone in our circles. I just made sure I was a part of the higher profile clients that didn't go to school in New York. That way, no one knew."

"I never pegged you for a drug dealer," Dash said.

"If you asked me a year ago, I would have told you that you were crazy. I did what I had to do. I always do what I have to."

"Blair Waldorf would vouch for you on that," Dash said. "I remember what happened in freshman year. You were all over Gossip Girl at one point."

Jenny rolled her eyes. "Look where that got me."

"Sure, it was an unexpected coming out, but at least it freed Eric, right?"

"That's one way of looking at it."

Dash signaled the bartender for another round. "You don't need those girls to be popular Jenny. If anything, you should adopt my approach. Glide by, and good things will come your way."

"I tried that, and I was tormented."

"You didn't give it enough time. I was tormented too, remember?"

Jenny set her glass, so the bartender could refill it. "I'm sorry about that."

"About what?"

"I heard about what happened. Sixth grade. Everyone knew. I didn't say anything."

"Nobody did. Don't worry about it."

"Still. It wasn't right, and I didn't say anything when I could have."

"And here I thought you resented me for my lowly status?"

"How could I when I'm beneath you?"

He shrugged. "I dunno. You really were hell-bent on keeping Evelyn away from me in the fall."

Jenny looked down at her hands. "I had my reasons."

"It doesn't matter. It could be over with Evelyn for all I know." Dash downed the shot without using a lemon for a chaser.

"How did things leave off? Was it…bad?"

Dash signaled the bartender for another refill. His posture had progressively slumped over the bar since they'd arrived. "I told her not to go. She said she had to. She said she'd do the same for me. Then, she left."

"It doesn't sound like an end to me," Jenny said. "Then again, the last guy I dated thought we were casual and hooked up with someone else since we started dating, so what do I know?"

Dash stared at the different shaped bottles that lined the mirrored wall ahead of them. "It's different."

"How?"

"They have this connection that transcends us. They could not talk for months, years even, and fall back into step, not even having to ask each other what's going on to know what the other is feeling. Evelyn knew something was going on with Ozzy months ago. I didn't want to believe it, but maybe that's because I didn't want to believe that she still cared about him."

"But she was with you. She chose you, didn't she?"

"She says she did, but he rejected her at the masked ball. If he didn't, she would have never even noticed me."

"I know what that's like," Jenny mumbled.

Dash turned to her, on the verge of a realization. "It's like, there's something impenetrable about their bond. No matter how shitty he is, she forgives him."

Jenny downed her shot. "I think you should tell her how you feel."

"I did. She thinks I've got it wrong." He held up his right hand, finger pointed to the ceiling. "I'm convinced I don't." His head lolled to the side as he signaled the bartender for another drink.

He checked his phone. No message from Evelyn. He thought about calling again, but he dropped his phone on the floor. The room started to spin, and he started to see double of everything.

"Maybe we should just get the check," Jenny said. She stumbled as she slid off her stool to pick up his phone.

"Last round," Dash said to the bartender. He heaved his body against the bar. Jenny watched him attempt to sit up with a lazy smile on her face. She too leaned on the bar, her fist holding up her head.

"I'd like to make a toast," Jenny said. "To getting fucked over by Thom Taylor."

Dash clinked his glass with hers. "Amen to that!"

When Ozzy heard Evelyn say the word father, it sounded like word in a foreign language. Its intonation was undecipherable, and the combination of sounds was meaningless.

His father was here. His own flesh and blood, his kin, however else you defined such a relationship. It didn't make sense. When he searched for his father, his father wanted nothing to do with him. He couldn't even claim that he was his son. Why would he be here now?

"It's a long story," Evelyn said. "But he's waiting. They're both waiting."

He could now see his mother standing beside a man. A man who was supposedly his father. He couldn't bear to look at him. He wasn't supposed to know anything about him, much less their probable physical resemblance. He was as faceless as a shadow.

"I can't," Ozzy said. "It's too late. He doesn't want anything to do with me."

"It's never too late," Evelyn said. "I'm living proof of that."

He looked down at their hands, clasped so tight, their knuckles were white. "Don't…"

"I never have," Evelyn said.

"Ozzy," His mother's voice rasped. She had been waiting this whole time, and she swallowed. Tears welled in her eyes. "My baby."

Ruby ran towards him and threw her arms around him. She didn't guilt him for his absence, or yell at him for leaving. She held him, pouring her love into their embrace in a way he didn't realize he needed for a long time now.

He didn't have the energy to be angry. He knew he still had his reasons to be, but he was willing to concede them in favour of appreciating each other, really appreciating each other's existence for the first time in a long time.

"Mom, I'm so sorry," he said in her ear. "I didn't think—"

"I know. It's going to be okay. Better than okay." She kissed him on both cheeks. "I know I haven't been completely honest with you in the past, but I need you to know that I did that to protect you."

Ozzy could have taken the opportunity to wound her, tell her that her attempt didn't work, but he didn't let the anger speak for him.

"I know you looked for your father, and it led you to a dead end, but he's always been a part of your life. He always wanted you from the very beginning and has always put your needs first. I know this is sudden, and I'll answer any question you have, but I'm saying this because he's standing behind me."

"Evelyn told me."

Ruby took his hand. "Then come."

He dragged his feet over the dewy grass. He wanted this. How long he wondered about this moment, he couldn't precisely calculate, but he imagined the fullness he would feel. He didn't think he would feel the quaking terror that surged through his limbs. He didn't think he would fear seeing him for the first time.

"Ozzy," his mom said gently. "This is your father."

She let go of his hand. He kept his gaze on the grass, and first noticed his shoes. They were polished leather, a dark brown, with small tassels on the dorsal side of the foot. He'd never seen anything like it.

He finally looked up, saw the slacks he wore, his white dress shirt that revealed black chest hairs, and finally to his face. Over the years, he was never able to tell in what ways he looked like his mother, and in that moment, he understood why. He had the same black curly hair, eyebrows and mouth as his father. He had a full beard that was carefully trimmed and groomed. He looked at him with equal uncertainty.

They both looked at each other without a word. It was a size up to overcome all of the missing years that separated them, and the presence of his father didn't complete him. He was wary of him, yet curious.

He held his hand out as a greeting. It didn't occur to him that there was any other way to greet someone new for the first time.

His father chuckled, took his hand. Instead of shaking it, he pulled him in his embrace. Ozzy's eyes widened at the closeness of the gesture that this stranger gave so willingly. He was a stranger, he kept reminding himself, but he had a strange relation to him too.

"I hear you were looking for a vacation. Where were you, uh, going?"

Ozzy was surprised to hear him speak with an accent. The smoothness of his pronunciations was a music he'd never heard before. It made him even more foreign to him. "I didn't have a specific place in mind. I was going to let the bus decide for me."

"It's good you didn't."

Ozzy nodded. He wasn't sure what else there was to say. He didn't think this far into the meeting. All he thought about was how it would make him feel, not necessarily how he should handle it. It comforted him to know that his father seemed to have the same problem.

"Can you believe how late it is?" His mother said. "It's almost five in the morning."

"And here I thought my second all-nighter would finally be school related," Evelyn added.

"Should I put my bag in the trunk?" Ozzy said.

"I'll do it," His father offered.

"We don't have to go back just yet," his mom said. "Are you hungry?"

He hadn't been hungry in days. "I could eat."

"Great. We'll find a diner or whatever's nearby. I have to remember what's around here. It won't be anything fancy."

"Doesn't need to be," he said.

His mom kissed him again. "I love you."

"I love you too." He would be lying if he didn't return it. He could have as many reasons to resent his mother, but he now realized she did care. She cared in her own way, a way that was not always legible to him.

His mom opened the door and ducked into the limo. He felt Evelyn's hand return to his as she appeared at his side.

"What did you say when you met your father?" He said.

"I didn't know what to say. You have to remember, my dad, Bart Bass's gaze is colder than death. I think I just said 'hi' or something equally mundane."

"I don't think I did much better."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. Just be yourself. He wants to know who you are."

"Yeah, but most of it isn't very good. Like he literally just met me after a botched runaway attempt."

"Exactly," she said. "And he's still here. If that's not unconditional love, then I don't know what is."

She squeezed his hand before ducking into the limo. Ozzy paused before following. He looked across the hood of the black limo and saw the sun begin to rise against the orange sky. He grinned.

It took Jenny four attempts to unlock her front door. Her key scratched against the door, slipped in the lock and out, and when the key finally slid into the lock, she fell against the door and giggled.

Dash stumbled in behind her. The loft was a blur of plushy couches and warm colored brick. He tripped towards the kitchen and landed on the bar where a bowl of shiny red apples shone under the dangling light fixture. He wanted to reach forward and take one. He imagined how crisp the first bite would taste with juice trickling down his chin. Instead, Jenny reached forward and took the apple he was looking at and took a huge bite.

"I can officially say that I'm krunked," Dash said.

"It took you this long to figure that out?" Jenny laughed.

"It took me this long to accept it." He peeled his cheek off the counter and noticed the wall of records that attached to the brick load bearing wall. Beside the couches, different acoustic and electric guitars were polished and displayed in their stands.

"Wow," he reached for the gleaming red electric guitar. "Your dad really is a rock star, huh?"

"Duh. These are just a couple from his collection. The rest are in storage or on the road with him right now."

"Is he making a comeback?" Dash strummed a chord that sounded out of tune. He was no musician.

"Sort-of. More like a reunion tour, but it's still capturing his fan base. Want some water?"

"Sure."

Dash sunk into the couch. He leaned his head back and kept looking at how everything in Jenny's home seemed old but new again. The exposed pipes were painted navy, the table seemed crafted by hand with its emphasis on wood. It was a space that could feel crowded, but instead, it felt full to him. Warm. Homey, even.

Jenny handed him the glass. "Thanks." He drank it, holding the glass with both hands.

His head lolled to the right, enough for him to see the Brooklyn Bridge. The sky was a deep purple. "You can see the bridge from here."

Jenny collapsed on the couch beside him. "It's not that glamorous."

"You can't appreciate New York from the inside," Dash began. "You can't see how grand it is from that perspective. You think you are the biggest thing in it. That's what I started to notice when I moved out here, as brief as it was."

Jenny tucked her chin in her hand. "I never thought of it like that. I never thought of you as a fellow Brooklynite."

"I don't think I get that title. I lived here, sure, but my ties were still strong enough on the Upper East Side. It didn't matter then anyway."

"I wish we could live in a world where it doesn't," Jenny said. "But I'll always be little Jenny Humphrey from Brooklyn. I won't have any connections, social life, or opportunities like the rest of you."

"It'll get better," Dash said. "Or so I'm told."

Dash felt his phone vibrate. It was a text from Gossip Girl. Inside the message were two pictures. One was a picture of Ozzy and Evelyn in a tight embrace. The next photo was of them holding hands.

"Dash?" Jenny said in a cautious tone. "Is everything okay?"

He gripped the phone in his hand, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "She found him."

"That's good isn't it?" Jenny said.

With his eyes still closed, he offered his phone to Jenny.

"Dash…I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say."

There's nothing to say," Dash said. He slapped his thighs and got to his feet. "Tonight, I told her I loved her, and she couldn't say it back." His voice began to escalate. "Then, she leaves me for my stepbrother, manages to find him, and is holding his hand like he's her boyfriend?"

"You can't be sure though…"

"Look at the photo Jenny," Dash said. "It's clear what she wants. She doesn't want me."

Jenny set down her apple and stomped toward him. "Don't say that. Don't even think it."

"Why? Nobody wanted me. Nobody spared me a glance for years. Don't pretend it didn't happen. You are just as guilty."

"You have it wrong, Dash. Do you know how jealous those girls were of how you are with Evelyn? They wouldn't dream of a boyfriend being as kind and…supportive as you."

"You don't have to bullshit me to make me feel better."

"It's true! I was there when we'd watch you both go to lunch or even meet up in the hallway. It…hurt to know that I would never have that."

Dash's tone softened. "You will. Soon if you're lucky, but at least eventually." He sat on one of the stools, his head in his hands.

"Do you want to know something?" Jenny said, her voice suddenly small.

"What?"

"I was hard on you last year because I thought you weren't royal material. I didn't think people would accept you as a suitable king at our school. Before us, the blueprint was that he had to be from old money, into sports, a traditionally 'all-American' guys guy."

"None of which I am," Dash said.

"You don't fit that criteria, but when you started to be involved with Evelyn, people took notice of you. Not in a pityingly way, but really looked at you for the first time. What I'm trying to say is that I was wrong."

"It's fine. Didn't really care for that stuff anyway."

"That's fair. I just wanted you to know that. You matter. You are more capable than you realize. I pulled that stunt at Cotillion not because I thought you were beneath her, but…"

"But what?"

"You aren't the only one who feels like they come in second when it comes to Evelyn. It seems like every guy I like never wants me…they always want her."

"I'm not completely following."

Jenny huffed, her cheeks turning pink. "What I'm trying to say is that at Cotillion, if I couldn't have you, I thought no one else should."

"Wait… you…like me?"

Jenny rolled her eyes. "It's not for your slow wit I'll tell you that. I just thought you should know that in your time of self-doubt that you are wanted."

"Now I don't know what to say," Dash said. His mind moved like a turtle, as he tried to process her confession. He was flattered, really. He just never thought of her like that before. Instead he had questions. For how long? Why? When?

Dash turned to her, as if really seeing her for the first time. She returned his gaze and refused to cower after her admission. With Evelyn, he was never sure where her head was at. One minute he thought they were in sync, the next she pushes him away. He didn't feel that with Jenny. Her gaze while confident, dared him to push beyond what he knew, who he thought he was even.

She caressed his cheek and kissed him. She kissed him with an open mouth, his closed from shock, but it was brief. She hovered in front of him, with a daring look in her eye. It reminded him of when he skipped school earlier that year to go on adventures with Evelyn. He wondered how daring those stunts were. They were reckless, but he wasn't pushed beyond convention. What would Jenny do on a day off?

"You want me?" He asked in disbelief.

Jenny took his hand and guided it up to her chest to cup her breast. She flattened his hand over it with her hand on top of his.

Dash let out a shudder. She was smaller yet supple in his grasp. He squeezed her twice, feeling a pulsing shoot through his body that demanded relief. On the second squeeze, she kissed him again. This time, he kissed her back, his mouth opening and probing his tongue with hers. He removed his grasp and cupped her cheeks. He kissed her deeply, pushing her back, step by step, until they slammed against the front door. She snaked her arms around him, her nails digging into the back of his scalp, her lips never leaving his.

He didn't know how long they kissed for, but he finally broke away for breath. Jenny took the opportunity to shimmy out of her dress, kick off her shoes in a matter of seconds until she stood completely naked in front of him. He saw all of her for the first time, almost a head shorter than him. She looked up at him and licked her upper lip.

She roped her forearms around his neck and whispered, "Take me."

He kissed her, eager, and they collided against the door clumsily. He struggled to unbutton his shirt, remove his tie. Jenny helped him unbutton his pants, and soon they stumbled away from the door. Dash still struggled to get his shirt off from the sleeves. Once he pulled down his boxers, almost tripping as he stepped out of them, Jenny pressed her naked body flush against his. They wobbled together, both grabbing for each other, fumbling to hold onto something through their spiral.

Dash groaned as an urgency took over his senses that he couldn't stop. He lifted Jenny to the closest surface available. The kitchen table. She widened her legs and curled her fingers on the edge of the table, her desire for him unabashed. Dash hooked both of her legs around his hips and thrust into her for the first time without warning or caution.

When he came, Dash didn't look at her face, her body, or closed his eyes. He looked ahead and into the sun that now rose over an orange sky. It glinted over the Brooklyn Bridge.

On the Upper East Side, we have the usual suspects making the same mistakes. But what do we do when it's the ones we'd never expect commit the unthinkable? This'll be one secret I'm dying to tell.

You Know You Love Me,

XOXO Gossip Girl

A/N: Yes. I went there. Would it be GG if I didn't? Stick with me readers and have no fear. This story is still far from over.

I eagerly await your thoughts and opinions on this chapter.

Also, happy father's day to all!

Till next time,

XOXO EZ11