A/N: Hey everyone! I want to start with saying thank you to everyone who has left a review for this story since I started it in 2011. The story just passed 1000 reviews, and I'm honestly in awe. I never expected this story to garner this strong of a response, and I wanted to thank you all for giving feedback. It's really helped me grow and improve as a writer, and I really appreciate each and every single review! It's been such a fun ride with you all so far, and it's only going to get crazier. I hope you enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter 43: Evelyn on the Edge
Since yesterday's bombshell dropped, all's been quiet on the Upper East Side front. We haven't seen any secret rendezvous or any late-night drinking binges which means our most talked about Upper East Siders have sought refuge instead of reaction. You and I know that It's only a matter of time before one of our favourites goes over the edge. Who will be the first to go to the dark side? Our money's on E to explore her dark side…or rather Bass side.
Bart stared at the empty seat across from him, his chin propped by his hands. The food was getting cold, and everyone did their best to look at the food, the table cloth, or the new painting on the wall in an effort to avoid each other, or rather, avoid the fear that was slowly sneaking up on each one of them.
"Are you sure she said she was on her way home?" Eric asked Chuck.
"That's the text she sent me," Chuck said.
"She sent the same to me too," Bart said. She had sent it over a half hour ago.
"Should we try calling again?" Lily asked.
"No use. She won't pick up," Chuck said.
Chuck had broken the news to Bart about the breakup when Bart discovered his son on the couch with his scotch decanter on the coffee table. He found his son in a craggy state, ankles crossed, heels digging into the coffee table, his tumbler resting on his chest. It didn't take long to get Chuck to tell him the truth: Evelyn and Dash broke up.
Gone were the days of raising a debaucherous teenage son whose problems stemmed more from his brushes with the law, underage drinking, and womanizing that was familiar to him. He understood that behaviour and he had an often unspoken understanding with Chuck. Now, he faced a problem that he was utterly unequipped for: mending his daughter's broken heart.
Chuck's problems, as outlandish as they were at times (receiving a call from the authorities in Louisiana after Chuck stole a boat took the cake), were simple in comparison to what he would face with Evelyn. A teenage boy's heart was simple, straightforward. A teenage girl's heart was complicated. Although everyone fretted over Evelyn's absence, he wondered if he was the only one who feared more about how to react when she returned home. He looked to Lily for guidance here. She assured him that she knew what to say and do, and he planned to follow her lead.
The elevator dinged and everyone sprang from their chairs. Evelyn wore her Constance uniform with her black tote slung over her shoulder. Her eyes were dry, face expressionless.
Eric was the first to spring forward, his arms open for an embrace. "Thank God you're home!"
"Where else is there to come back to?" Evelyn said, her voice steady. She hugged Eric back in a way that Bart wondered was more of a reassurance to him than it was to her.
In quick succession, everyone wanted to greet her, embrace her, assure her that she was supported. Chuck offered his glass, she took a sip and almost gagged from the after taste. Lily hugged Evelyn too.
"Well then," Evelyn began. "Can you all stop treating me like I've come back from the war?"
"Constance can be a battlefield," Eric said under his breath.
"Yes," Lily said. "Are you hungry?"
"Sure," Evelyn said.
Bart wasn't convinced. Evelyn never missed a meal, and usually didn't last to seven thirty without eating dinner. They sat down and finally began eating their food which had gone cold. It didn't seem to bother anyone. Instead, light conversation began thanks to the driving force of Lily who asked questions about frivolous things, until she turned the conversation in a different direction.
"So what happened at school today?" Lily asked.
Evelyn pushed her chicken around on her plate. "Class was uneventful."
"And what about outside of class?"
"Well, I'm pretty sure with that tone of question that you already know," Evelyn said.
"Evelyn," Bart found himself saying in a warning tone.
Evelyn didn't spare him a glance.
"Forgive me," Lily said. "I wanted to hear the news from you since it's your news."
"I broke up with Dash today."
There was no emotion in her voice. She said it like she was reading from a textbook.
"That must have been very stressful for you," Lily said.
"Yup."
"It must be a lot to process, and we don't have to discuss it now, but if you want to talk about it, all of us here are there for you."
"Thank you." Evelyn looked to Bart. "May I be excused, please?"
Bart looked at Lily for support. Evelyn had barely touched the food on her plate.
Lily gave the slightest nod.
"Go ahead," Bart said.
The whole family watched every movement Evelyn made as she left the table. Evelyn picked up her backpack and walked down the hall to her room. Once they heard the door close behind her, everyone finally glanced at one another.
"Well that went well," Lily said.
"Well?" Eric said. "She didn't eat a thing. We all know that isn't like Evelyn."
"Sometimes when people are sad, they lose their appetites," Lily said. "Like when you're sick."
"I'd feel sick too if I found out my boyfriend cheated with my best friend," Eric huffed.
"What was that Eric?" Bart said.
"Did I say something?" Eric said looking to Chuck with alarm. Chuck just shook his head.
"Yes. You were about to tell us why Evelyn and Dash broke up. Things were going well. What happened?" Bart said.
Eric looked to Chuck to answer. Chuck sighed. "He cheated on her."
"Cheated?" Lily said. "With whom?"
"Jenny Humphrey."
"Oh my God. Evelyn must be devastated," Lily said while placing a hand on her heart.
"You just said she seemed fine," Eric said.
"Well that certainly makes everything worse," Bart said, crossing his arms. "Have you done anything about it?"
Chuck leaned back in his chair. "Not yet. I spent the afternoon with Eric looking for Evelyn before we came back here for dinner. There was no sight of Dash. That's lucky for him, but if he does get in my path, I can't be responsible for my actions."
"Well, it may be best for the time being to stay out of his path," Bart said. "It's a delicate time for your sister, and picking a fight with him wouldn't be helping matters."
"And if she asks for me to pick a fight?"
"Well that's different."
Chuck smirked.
Bart couldn't be sure if he could be responsible for his actions should he run into Dash. He hurt his daughter. If he were younger, he'd want to bash his head in. But he knew better than to react immediately. When the time came, he'd know what to do with Dash. So would Chuck.
It was a shame really. He liked the kid. Bart thought that he had good character while loving and respecting his daughter. It just showed that he was no more than a misguided kid who did not deserve to lie on the grounds his daughter walked on. He now doubted anyone would.
Evelyn's alarm clock beeped on repeat the next morning. Evelyn curled a pillow over her ears in an attempt to block it out. She wanted to block out the sound, the light under the curtains, everything. She blindly reached for the snooze button for the third time, delaying the day she dreaded.
"Evelyn?"
She groaned, pushed the pillow off her face, and blinked several times to see Eric standing at the foot of her bed.
"Yes?"
"it's almost eight."
Evelyn rolled onto her side, her back facing Eric. Her eyes were heavy and sore from a lack of sleep. The last thing she wanted was to go in school.
Eric rounded the bed and crouched down in front of her. "Evelyn, I know it's going to be a tough day, but you have to get up. Don't let the gossip get to you."
'It wasn't gossip, Eric. It was all true."
"I know. It's awful, but this isn't like you. You don't cower."
'Maybe I do now? If my boyfriend and my best friend aren't who they say who they are, then who am I?"
"You're Evelyn Bass. You stand up when others sit down. You stood up against a drug lord for crying out loud. This is nothing compared to this."
"No. This is worse. I didn't know Alejandro. I thought I knew Dash. I thought I knew Jenny. They were close to me. They betrayed me. I don't want to see them."
"Then we'll avoid them at school. Come on. I know that you think everyone's waiting for the show to continue at school, but if you don't go, then they win. The gossip will have beaten you. Do you really want to let that happen?"
Evelyn sighed. She threw off her covers and sat up. Her limbs felt heavy, and each step was laborious. Eric opened the curtains.
Evelyn shielded her eyes with the back of her hand. "Too soon."
Evelyn dragged her heels to her bathroom. "Don't wait up," she said to Eric. "I want to avoid any harassment from Dash, so I'll slip in for homeroom."
"I can wait."
"Don't. I'll be there. I'll take my dad's car. Arthur will keep me accountable."
"Okay. Text me when you arrive."
Evelyn nodded and turned the shower lever all the way to the right. She stood under the hot water for a few minutes before she began her usual routine of scrubbing her scalp and skin. Normally she'd savour her time in the shower, feel her muscles relax under the heat, press her wet hand against the steamed glass door to measure the size of her handprint. Today, she did none of those things. She took no pleasure in her shower. Everything she valued and enjoyed became void. Her routine became mechanical.
Evelyn blow dried her hair, brushed her teeth, got dressed, and picked up a croissant and an apple from the kitchen table.
"Eric said you were running behind, so I called to let the school know," Her father said. He was reading the newspaper cover to cover. Must be nice to be retired.
"Thanks," Evelyn said. She couldn't bring herself to look at her father. She didn't want to see the look of disappointment, or worse pity, from him or anyone in the family. She didn't so much as exchange pleasantries or a simple "good morning" to Lily or her father. Instead, she left.
The limo awaited her at the curb. Arthur got out and opened the door for her. Typically, Evelyn admonished his formality, but she didn't have the energy to protest today. Instead, with her chin tilted, shoulders back, she got into the limo gracefully, as if she did it all the time. Routine.
"Arthur?" Evelyn asked, when he got in the driver's seat.
"Yes, Ms. Bass?"
"There's a slight change in plans. I need you to take me to Brooklyn. There's someone I need to see."
Where or where is E? My inbox is overflowing with speculation. Did she jet off to France? The West Coast? Or worse, Connecticut? Stop sending me tips unless you have the facts. That's an order.
Ozzy adjusted his tie in front of his bathroom mirror. He tugged at it in an attempt to straighten it, but it still appeared slanted. It was useless. He could never seem to get it right. He then reached for his phone. No messages. He called and texted Evelyn several times yesterday. He even messaged Eric and couldn't get to sleep until Eric finally got back to him and said that she returned to the penthouse and should be in school the next morning.
When Ozzy swung open his bedroom door, he usually expected to see Dash's bedroom door open, sheets crumpled, room empty. Ozzy was the one who was usually up late. Today, he was met with a closed door.
Ozzy knocked twice. No answer. He opened the door slowly. Dash was a lump on his bed, his comforter covering him from head to toe.
Ozzy poked his shoulder. "Dash?"
Nothing.
Ozzy shook his shoulder gently at first and then with more force. He repeated his name.
Dash groaned. "Go away."
Ozzy pulled his comforter off his head. Dash's eyes were open, expression blank. "I can't. I live here."
"Then get out of my room."
"It's morning. We have school."
"I'm not going. I don't feel well." Dash rolled onto his other side and pulled his comforter back over his head.
"I thought you were going to do whatever it takes to win Evelyn back? You can't do that if you refuse to get up today."
"This is a temporary setback," Dash muffled through his comforter.
"Eric texted me and said she was going to be in school today."
"I wouldn't hold my breath," Dash said. "How many times has Eric been right about things lately?"
Ozzy checked his watch. He knew his mom would be upstairs in minutes, worried if Ozzy wasn't ready for school.
"Fine. But you can explain to my mom what makes you so ill today."
Downstairs, his mom's face was predictably creased with worry. It was mildly irritating. Now that she has been to counselling with him while knowing what happened, she was constantly worried about him. Yet it wasn't just the big things she worried about. It was the small things. She worried he wouldn't get up on time. She worried when he forgot his gym clothes. She worried if he were a few minutes late when coming home from school. Before, his mom came and went giving a flexibility to his schedule. Now, she overcompensated for the lax attitude she used to have without realizing that all these worries were starting to stifle him.
"Where's Dash?"
Ozzy picked up a bagel and started buttering it. "Still in bed."
Her forehead creased again. "Is something wrong?"
"He says he's sick."
"With what?"
"A broken heart," Ozzy mumbled.
"A what?"
"You can ask him."
Ozzy wondered what kind of illness Dash would invent. Probably a migraine. Those were easiest to fake.
"He seemed very out of sorts yesterday. Did something happen?"
"Yes."
"Can you elaborate?"
"Evelyn broke up with him."
"What? I don't understand. I thought things were going well."
"They were until he cheated."
"Cheated? Dash?"
"Yup. I think it was the same night you came to find me actually. He was blaming me for it yesterday."
His mom sighed. "I see."
"What does that mean?"
"He wasn't very happy when Evelyn and I left to come find you. I can see how things…unravelled during that tense night."
"So you're defending him?"
"Don't jump to conclusions. I'm just stating a fact to better understand the situation before I approach him. He's still upstairs?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. I'll check on him. How's Evelyn?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen or heard from her. Her stepbrother Eric told me she got home safe last night and that she'd be in school today."
"That's good. Routine is good. Having too much time to think about betrayals makes people do crazy things."
"Are you speaking from your own experience?"
"Maybe."
"Well, I don't think we need to worry about Evelyn doing that. If anything, she'll just stonewall Dash until graduation."
"Are you speaking from your own experience?"
Ozzy pushed the empty plate away. "Maybe."
"I see. Go. The car is waiting up front. I'll see you back here after school and counselling, okay?"
Ozzy slung his backpack over his shoulder. He checked his phone. No messages from Evelyn. "I'll be home. Don't worry. If anything, worry about Dash. He's the one we need to worry about."
Blair picked up her cappuccino from the barista and made her way to the table that overlooked the lush green quad. She had an early class today, her women and the law class, and she came prepared. She opened up her textbook, pretending to look studious while her gaze kept darting out the window. She kept looking out the window for a certain suited Bass who happened to frequent this coffee shop before his macroeconomics class.
Her phone rang.
"Hey Blair," Julian said, out of breath.
"Good morning, Julian. What is that sound? Are you okay?"
"Of course. I'm just out for my morning jog. Thought I'd check in with you. Have you heard from him?"
"No," Blair said. "But it's to be expected I guess due to some unforeseen events."
"What happened?"
"Do you follow Gossip Girl?"
"Never heard of it. Is that a tabloid?"
Blair sighed. "In a matter of speaking yes. There was a huge blast, or story, about his sister. I doubt he even saw that he got an invitation."
"Bummer. We'll just have to play it by ear. If he doesn't see it by Sunday, then well, we tried right?"
"Right," Blair said.
It would be the simplest solution. Just leave well enough along. Leave Chuck alone to not even notice his invitation like last year, and then she wouldn't have to worry about him becoming a member at all. It was almost too easy.
Blair looked out the window and saw Chuck approaching the coffee shop in a grey suit.
"I just got a Bass sighting. Gotta go."
Blair pulled up her textbook to cover her face as Chuck walked in. She held the book so close to her face that her eyelashes brushed against the pages. She raised her gaze up and tried to peak over it. Chuck's back was to her, and he ordered an espresso. Typical.
Blair sunk in her seat. What should she do? He probably hadn't seen the invitation. He would have called her if he did, right? Or maybe he wouldn't since they agreed to not see each other anymore in every sense.
Chuck turned in her direction causing Blair to duck behind her textbook.
"That's a new method of studying, Waldorf. Do you find it effective?"
Blair dropped her textbook. "How'd you know it was me?"
He pointed to her purse. "Your limited-edition Chanel. Dead giveaway."
He held his espresso and stood there, unsure if he was allowed to sit with her. He took the seat of the table across the aisle from her. As he sat, he unbuttoned his suit jacket. Blair did her best to keep her gaze off of him because she couldn't help but notice that he looked good. Clean shaved. Wearing purple. Given the revelations from the past twenty-four hours, she was surprised to see him without bruised knuckles.
"I saw the blast," Blair said. "How is your sister doing?"
"I'm not too sure to be honest. She came back late last night and didn't really speak to any of us. She just looked, I don't know, catatonic."
"It's a lot to process. I would know." Blair took a sip of her cappuccino. It burned the roof of her mouth.
"Yeah. I didn't believe it myself when I first read the blast. Then, I wanted to bash Dash's head in and obliterate his existence, but I'm still working out the details on that last part."
"You've been busy," Blair said. So, he hadn't received the letter. She was relieved, but also anxious that it was still possible.
"Somewhat. I stayed over at the penthouse last night in case Evelyn got any ideas. I might do that again tonight, but I'll have to sleep on the couch again."
"No way. You, sleep on the couch?"
Chuck took a sip of his espresso. "Believe it Waldorf."
"Was your bedroom occupied or something?"
"No. I just wanted to stay in the main area in case Evelyn tried to sneak out. I had to think of what I would do in that situation, and that seemed like the best way to counter any quick getaways."
"And how did that go?"
"Well considering she didn't leave in the middle of the night."
"Most people wouldn't after spending the whole day roaming the city."
Chuck checked his phone. "Which makes her more elusive. Hiding in plain sight during daylight. That's risky business."
Blair sipped her cappuccino and looked over at Chuck who was staring at her.
"Is it weird that we're talking like this?" Blair asked.
"I don't think so unless you'd rather we not." Chuck took another sip and swallowed.
Blair watched his Adams apple move and she caught herself fantasizing about kissing it. She shook the thought away.
"I should get going. I don't want to be late for class."
"Women and the Law?"
"That's right."
"Sounds riveting."
"It is far more than Macroeconomics."
Chuck's brows knitted together in confusion. "How did you know that?"
Blair rolled her eyes. "Come on Chuck. Everyone knows that's a pre requisite for a business degree."
He pondered it for a moment and accepted her answer. Good. He didn't need to know that Blair completed a whole background search on his class schedule in preparation for the Locke and Key recruitment week. He would accuse her of stalking him or something. That was her line.
"See you around, Waldorf."
Blair felt his eyes on her when she past him and felt her heart beat quicken. She sighed as she pushed the door open and said under her breath, "I hope not."
Bart's limo pulled up to the Thorpe Enterprise building in Midtown. The building was modest in height, no more than fifteen stories with an art deco styled look from the nineteen seventies. Bart's phone rang in his pocket.
"Russell. How was the flight back to Chicago?"
"Good. I just wanted to check in with you. Is the office up to your standard?"
"I'm just walking in now."
"Oh good. You can ask Ryan or Chrissy for anything you should need. They'll help you settle in."
"Great. I'm look forward to getting started."
"If you need anything that they can't provide, let me know."
"I will."
Bart pocked the phone and walked inside. The lobby wasn't as dated as the exterior of the building. The walls and floors were a grey granite, with a receptionist waiting at the desk in front of the bank of elevators.
"Can I help you sir?"
"Yes. I'm looking for Thorpe Enterprises."
"Ninth floor."
"Thank you."
Ninth floor? Bart felt his intestines clench. He knew Thorpe Enterprises wasn't as big of an enterprise here in Manhattan, but he didn't think it would be this small. Maybe taking this job was a mistake?
Bart squeezed himself on the crowded elevator and punched the ninth-floor button. As he watched the numbers light up one by one, he sighed. A memory flashed before his very eyes of his first job as an intern at Extell Development when he was fresh out of college. He too stood in a crowded elevator holding a tray of coffee cups. He squeezed the handle of his briefcase.
Once the elevator arrived on the ninth floor, Bart pushed his way out. He turned the corner, and a large open room lined with cubicles greeted him. He began walking forward, curious gazes falling on him as he passed. He kept walking to what looked like a boardroom and closed offices that lined the windowed walls.
"Excuse me, sir," A woman with bleach blond hair cut into a severe bob said. "Are you Bart Bass?"
"Yes, I am."
"I'm Chrissy." She held out her hand. "Welcome to Thorpe Enterprises."
When Evelyn knocked three times, the glass rattled on the Humphrey's front door. She had only visited Jenny a handful of times in the summer because Jenny was always busy at the atelier. As she took in the cobwebs, scuffed wooden floorboards, and stained-glass windows, Evelyn now knew better. Jenny had avoided her all summer instead of being her supposed "friend" who had sex with her boyfriend. Classy.
Rufus Humphrey opened the door, perplexed. "Evelyn." He checked his watch. "Shouldn't you be at school?"
"My dad already called to let Headmistress Queller know I would be late today. May I come in?"
As Evelyn let the half-lie roll off her tongue, she wished she did call the Headmistress. That would have helped cover her tracks because she was going to arrive at school way later than her father suggested when he called this morning.
"Sure. Are you here to check on Jenny? She really isn't feeling well today. She was asleep as of twenty minutes ago when I checked on her."
Evelyn smirked. "No, actually. I'm here to speak with you actually."
"Oh?"
"It concerns Jenny. That's why I came during school hours. It's something I know she wouldn't be happy knowing I told you, but I just didn't fell right not telling the truth."
Rufus crossed his arms. "What has she done now?"
"It's a long story."
Rufus opened the door wide. "Then by all means, tell me."
Evelyn stepped inside, her gaze darting all around the loft. When she first visited for dinner, it felt so homey to her. Now it felt like a crime scene.
"Would you like a tea? Coffee?"
"Tea, please." Evelyn hopped on the stool and watched Mr. Humphrey work the coffee machine.
"I have to say, Evelyn, I've noticed something has been off with Jenny all summer. She hasn't been herself. She's been very troubled, caged, and unengaged."
"I've noticed the same thing. She wouldn't open up to me at first. It took a lot of prodding, but I just couldn't sit on this information. I thought she would be better once she told me, but nothing has changed."
Mr. Humphrey slid a coffee mug in front of her. "Milk or sugar?"
"Black is just fine." Evelyn wrapped her hands around the hot mug and anchored it toward her.
"I'm relieved to see someone else has noticed because I didn't know what to do. Just last night, Jenny came home crying, demanding that she move to her mom's in Hudson."
"Really?"
Mr. Humphrey took a sip of his coffee. "Yes. She wouldn't tell me why. What has she told you?"
"Well," Evelyn began. "I think it all started when Jenny became involved with the wrong crowd at school. She was leading the status seekers like Blair Waldorf did last year, and with that came a lot of pressure. These pressures Mr. Humphrey are as much material as they are psychological. Since she was leading them, she needed to keep up with the fashion trends, boys, and friends to maintain her authority. Jenny told me that she resorted to some…illegal activities to keep up the charade."
Mr. Humphrey set his mug down. "What kind of illegal activities?"
"Like I said, she got involved in the wrong crowd. She befriended this guy named Thom Taylor. He's well known at our school and all of the prep schools on the island."
"What does he do?"
Evelyn sighed. "He's a drug dealer. He deals for all of the prep schools and elites. Jenny, learning that she could make enough money to keep her status, started working with him."
Mr. Humphrey's face became ashen. He started shaking his head in disbelief.
"I know it's a lot to take in Mr. Humphrey. I was just as shocked myself. She probably wouldn't have stopped dealing had she not come to me to ask for money."
"She asked you for money? What, she wasn't making enough of it with the drugs?"
"She lost quite a bit of stock and was out one hundred thousand dollars."
Mr. Humphrey's eyes widened.
"Not to worry though, I helped sort it out. Ever since then, she hasn't been herself."
"When did you sort it out?"
"May."
"May?"
Evelyn nodded. "Jenny made me swear not to tell you. I wanted to honour her wishes because I didn't want to get involved in your family where I didn't belong, but safety and Jenny's well-being now take priority."
Mr. Humphrey paused to absorb everything Evelyn had said. "Thank you for telling me all of this, Evelyn. I had no idea how severe this situation was. There will need to be some stern disciplining."
Evelyn nodded. "Whatever it takes to help Jenny, Mr. Humphrey."
"Evelyn?"
Jenny appeared in her pyjamas, hair matted, face free of makeup.
Evelyn turned back to face Mr. Humphrey. "I should be going now, so I can make it back for second period."
"What are you doing here?" Jenny asked, her voice shaky.
"Your dad and I just had a wonderful talk."
Jenny's eyes narrowed. "You did?"
Mr. Humphrey's voice was stern. "Jenny, go back to your room."
"What the? Dad?"
"He's right," Evelyn said. "Since you aren't feeling well and all. I'll just let myself out."
"Wait," Jenny grabbed Evelyn's arm. "Dad can you give us a minute? I'll come back to my room immediately. I promise."
Mr. Humphrey nodded, his jaw set. "I'll wait for you there."
Once the door clicked behind him, Jenny looked at her with remorse. "I'm so sorry."
"Really? Because if you were, you would have told me the truth yourself, but you didn't. In fact, you probably wouldn't have told me at all if I hadn't come out of my way to your place."
"Evelyn, I really am sorry. You have no idea. What happened with Dash was a mistake. You can be mad at me forever, but just know that he really loves you, Evelyn. You don't even know."
"I wouldn't call what he did an act of love. Who knows? Maybe it happened here? Or over there? Or in your room? I wouldn't know because you didn't tell me."
"I didn't know how. We were both at our lowest, and we thought you were with Ozzy—"
"Let's not rehash what happened. It's over. Done. So let me be very clear, Jenny. You and I will never be friends again after what you did. Is this payback for what happened with Nate? Did you want to even the score?"
"No—"
"Well, consider that cheque paid. We both know you have more debts to pay me, so I've come to collect. And I'm not done. I'm just getting started."
Jenny's eyes widened. "Evelyn, this-this isn't like you."
"Maybe it is now? Maybe it's what I should have done a long time ago? Who knows? All I know is that this is goodbye, Jenny."
Evelyn gripped the door handle. "If I were you, I'd take the easy way out and leave town because if you stay, well, you better watch your back."
Evelyn shut the door behind her and marched back to the limo. She felt relief when the limo began to make its way back into the city. It didn't absolve how she felt, but it fueled her to continue her quest to get even with everyone. Her trip to Brooklyn proved a promising start.
Chuck returned to his apartment near campus for the first time since the blast dropped. Nate was sitting at the centre island scrolling through his phone and eating his breakfast.
"Hey," Nate said. "I was beginning to think you were plotting to kill Dash and wouldn't be back for a while."
Chuck dropped his messenger bag on the vacant bar stool. "Fortunately for Dash, I couldn't find him yesterday. Unfortunately for him, he will have to answer to me at some point. The more time I have to think about it, the worse it'll be for him."
Nate drank his orange juice. "I'm sure it will be. How's Evelyn?"
"I was telling Blair this morning that I'm not sure. She might appear fine, but she's not acting like herself. She's not being very forthcoming about the situation."
"Well, if she's not ready to talk about it, then you shouldn't push her. It'll just push her away. If you need an extra set of hands to help with Dash though, let me know."
"Noted."
"So you saw Blair this morning?"
"I ran into her at a coffee shop on campus."
Nate studied him. "Uh huh. That's all?"
"We were civil Nathaniel. No need to worry that a civil war is going to break out."
"Yet," Nate said under his breath. "I thought she made it clear that she didn't want to see you in Paris."
"She did, but it was going to happen eventually. Campus isn't that big." Chuck's gaze turned to a pile of mail on the countertop beside the coffee maker.
"It's certainly not big enough for both of you, but hey if you two are on good terms, then that's good."
Chuck started sifting through the mail.
"I checked our mailbox yesterday and brought those up. Lots of them are flyers, but I thought you might want to look through them."
Chuck leafed through each sealed envelop until he saw a blank letter. It had no return address or stamp. When he flipped it over, its back was sealed with a red wax seal.
The Locke and Key Society invites you to attend the first meeting at St. Anthony Hall at the dawn of the new moon.
The key is your destiny.
Come alone.
Destroy this after reading.
"Not this again," Chuck said. He stuffed the paper back in the envelop.
"What's up?"
"Nothing. Junk mail."
Why would they be contacting him again? He didn't join last year. Didn't that disqualify him or something? Were they that desperate for new members?
Chuck thought about this morning. Seeing Blair at that coffee shop was no accident. Blair was up to something.
Chuck dialled her number, and started for his room.
"Waldorf," Chuck said. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about a mysterious letter that appeared at my apartment, would you?"
Blair was silent for a moment. "Yes. I know about it."
"And you didn't mention it to me when you saw me this morning? A little heads up would have been nice."
"That's against the rules," Blair said.
"We wouldn't want to break those, now would we?" Chuck said. He studied the letter and placed it on his desk.
"So, what are you thinking?"
"If I join, it won't exactly be a priority with what's happened with Evelyn and well, what's been happing with Bass Industries."
"So you're not going to join?"
"Why? Would you want me to?"
"It's up to you."
Chuck sat on the edge of his bed, his brows crinkled together. "I see. What's your angle, Blair?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Your angle. Your motives. You always have them."
"I don't have any motives. I've abstained from this process since I'm partial to you because of our past."
Blair taking a side seat was like him going out and not drinking scotch. What she was saying and what she claimed she did were not meshing together.
Chuck thought of that morning. The way she held the book was suspect. She had been spying on him. Did she…want him to join? Was this her way of concocting a reunion? Was she feeling ready to get back together after claiming she needed time to find herself?
"You just weren't the biggest fan of it last year. It might not be for you."
"Maybe. But maybe I was quick to judge?" He had been particularly harsh on the society but it had little to do with the group and more with Blair's secrecy.
"You have good judgement. You should go with your initial instincts."
So she didn't want him to join. That was her angle. She wanted to stop him from joining. Who was she to forbid him from doing what he wants? They weren't together anymore.
"You know what? Maybe I will join then. They clearly are desperate to have me. It wouldn't hurt to see what it's about right?"
"…Right."
"I guess I'll be seeing you a lot more often then, Waldorf. Waldorf?"
She hung up, and he chuckled. Annoyed Blair was not the best version of Blair, but at least it meant Blair was back in his life again.
Chuck studied the invitation. It seemed stupid to him really. What did they do? Dress in cloaks and sit in the dark? If it meant that it could connect him back to Blair, to have one strand of her to hold on to, to monitor, to keep track of so she didn't slip away from him completely, then maybe it would be worth it.
Ozzy eased when he saw Evelyn take her seat beside him in English class that morning. She looked calm and spoke as if yesterday didn't happen. By her reserved posture, he knew better. She was probably a mess inside, spinning, and withdrawing from everyone around her.
Ozzy tried to get her attention several times throughout class, but her gaze was fixed on the chalkboard. He even considered scribbling a note to her then doubted she would acknowledge it. With how monotone Mr. Lawrence was, he knew Evelyn wasn't listening.
When class was over, Ozzy scrambled to pack his things. Evelyn breezed out of the classroom with no intention of waiting for him.
"Evelyn! Wait up."
Evelyn halted, clutching her books to her chest. "Yes?"
"I tried getting your attention all class. You never texted me back last night. How are you?"
"I'm fine. Yesterday was obviously a shock, but I was able to acknowledge that it was indeed the truth."
"Oh. That's good I guess."
Evelyn nodded. "Is there anything else you want to ask me on Dash's behalf?"
Ozzy's eyebrows crinkled together. "Um, no. I was asking because I'm worried about you."
"You have nothing to worry about. Dash and Jenny made their choice and now they have to live with it. Unfortunately, I have to live with it too."
"Well, why don't we get out of here for lunch or something?"
"Thanks for the offer, but I've already made plans with Eric." Evelyn reached for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "See? Nothing to worry about. He's making sure I'm on a tight leash."
"What about afterschool?"
"Can't." Evelyn checked her phone. "Look, I have to go because I really want to avoid being pestered by Dash, but don't worry about me. I'm fine. If anything, he's probably who you should be worrying about."
"Dash stayed home today."
"Even better. Well for me anyway. Just proves the point that he needs you. Anyway, Eric's waiting for me. I'll see you later."
Ozzy watched her leave, and felt the same kick in the gut he experienced after Vermont a couple years before. Now he was getting the same treatment for being guilty by association? How was that fair?
What bothered him more was the suggestion that she didn't need him. After everything that happened this year, he was what, disposable?
Ozzy felt someone trace a line across his back. He jerked and saw Catherine smiling up at him.
"Hi Ozzy. I haven't seen you in ages! I'm sorry to hear about Dash and Evelyn. It must be hard for you, you know, being in the middle of it all."
"It's been interesting to say the least."
"Want to talk about it? I am a pretty good listener."
"Don't you have your minions to watch or something?"
"That is a part of my duties, but I don't have to babysit them all the time. Why don't we go out for lunch and catch up?"
She wasn't just asking for lunch. There was another implication attached, an implication Evelyn made him aware of a couple weeks ago. Yet, Ozzy noticed a glint in the way that she looked at him, something suspicious not only in her intentions but her delivery. It seemed like she knew something.
Ozzy looked back at where Evelyn had stood and felt his stomach ache. Why was she pushing him away? He wasn't responsible for anything Dash did. He just wanted to be there for her.
Ozzy looked back at Catherine's smug expression. She definitely knew something. He just needed to find out what.
Ozzy sighed. "Sure."
The morning flew by quickly. Bart sat in meeting after meeting, first learning about the history of Thorpe Industries before launching into a deep dive of the financial state of the company and its current Manhattan projects.
Bart didn't expect to feel as overwhelmed as he did. He knew this stuff. He knew what to do. But when Chrissy and Ryan talked a mile a minute with Thorpe Industries jargon he had yet to learn, he wasn't so sure. Bass Industries information flowed through his veins. At Thorpe, he felt as if he was just connected to an IV where they were furiously giving him a blood transfusion.
It was lunchtime, and the executive team had taken him out for a welcome lunch. They laughed and shared inside jokes with each other as if they'd been pals for years. Bart sat back and observed. He highly doubted all the people seated at the table got along as well as they wanted him to think. He'd been working for thirty years now. Coworkers rarely got along this well.
He saw Chrissy giving longing looks to Ryan. Meanwhile, Ryan talked about his adventures at the strip club in Midtown with Ethan and Rob. The older executives sat closer to him and spoke about their children's achievements, or in Barney's case, his bulldog Stella.
"How about you Bart?" One of the older executives named John asked. "How is Charles doing with college?"
"Well actually. He's very fond of the business program at Columbia," Bart said. He was just as surprised with the truth to his words. He hasn't been imprisoned, or worse, expelled. He was doing well.
"And your daughter is still in high school?" Barney asked.
"Yes. Senior year. We'll be touring colleges soon."
"Anywhere you'd prefer her to go?" John asked.
"Evelyn excels academically, so I'm sure she'll have options. I can see her going to Columbia as well or Princeton even. Perhaps Yale. We'll first see which campus appeals to her the most."
The older executives nodded.
"That is important," Barney began. "While we want our children to have the best education, they have to be happy with where they're studying. Hell, I can't even remember half of my college years because I was having such a good time."
"Absolutely," John said.
Bart thought back to his own college experience. He went out occasionally, but he was on an academic scholarship. His studies came first, and he had to maintain a certain grade point average to maintain his scholarship. His experience wasn't as illustrious as Barney's or his son's for that matter.
Bart's phone buzzed on the table.
"If you'll excuse me, I have to take this," Bart said.
"Hello?"
"Bart," Lily said in a heavy sigh. "I'm so sorry to bother you, but I just got a call from Headmistress Queller."
"Is something wrong?"
"Evelyn has an unexcused absence because she missed first period this morning."
"Has she been missing all morning?"
"No, thankfully. She was in class for second period and lunch, but this is a sign Bart."
"A sign?"
Lily sighed. "She's not handling her breakup with Dash very well. Trust me, Bart this is a sign, a call for help that we shouldn't ignore."
"What do you think we should do?"
The first idea that popped into his head was having Evelyn followed. That way, they would always know where she was and what she was up to. If she's lashing out, Bart doubted she would be open enough to talk to them about it.
"I think we first need to sit down and talk with her. Really hear what she has to say and what she's feeling."
"You think she's going to tell us?"
"Well, I know it's still fresh, but I think we need to push a bit here. I know I didn't push in the right ways with Serena in the past, and I don't want you to make the same mistake with Evelyn."
"Alright. It's worth a shot. We'll see how it goes and plan our next steps from there. Thank you for calling me right away, Lily."
"I didn't want to worry you, but I didn't want you to feel ambushed this evening either."
"That was definitely the right call. I would be of no help if I was ambushed." Bart tucked his hand in his trouser pocket. "I have to say, I'm not quite sure what to expect with Evelyn's behaviour. We've never really seen her this upset before."
Bart knew how Chuck handled pain. He knew his coping mechanisms. He'd never seen Evelyn in such a fragile position before.
"Maybe we should let Kim know?" Lily suggested.
"Maybe. She might be more trouble than she's worth."
"Or she might give us some helpful advice."
"Perhaps."
"You two don't get along, do you?"
"Not particularly."
Lily chuckled. "Let's get through tonight first. I'll call her if needed."
"Thank you. She'd probably listen more to you anyway," Bart said. He checked his watch. "I have to go now. Lunch is wrapping up. We'll get to the bottom of this."
"I hope so. It's never easy having a teenage daughter."
Lily would know. Serena was the posterchild of teenage rebellion. He hoped that Evelyn wouldn't follow a similar path. She wouldn't. She couldn't. Could she? All Bart knew was that his daughter was walking a fine line right now, and it was only a matter of time before she fell down.
Ozzy sat across from Catherine at a café three streets over from school. It was a quaint, narrow place with dark oak floors, tables, and succulents on each table. The tables were round, chairs kept knocking into another, which prompted Catherine to move her chair to be beside him instead of across. They sat facing the front window. Catherine's knee grazing his.
"So. Tell me about your summer? Where were you?"
"I was here in the city."
"Really? But Dash was in South Korea. You didn't travel at all?"
Ozzy pushed his frites around his plate with his fork. "No. Well, I did go to the Hamptons on weekends, but that's all."
"Oh, if I would have known, I would have texted you."
"It's okay. I was in and out. I didn't have much time to visit."
"Why?"
Ozzy avoided her questioning gaze. "I just…um wanted to spend the summer in the city. Explore. It was my first summer here."
"Totally. What did you get up to?"
He listed off all of the sights he saw with Evelyn while omitting her name. It didn't seem like a smart choice to bring up Evelyn at all in Catherine's presence.
"Well, it sounds like you had a good start, but there are so many places you missed! There's Eataly at the Flatiron and there's also the abandoned subway stop at City Hall Station...We'll go."
Ozzy tried to push his chair back. Catherine probably meant well, but it was too much for him. She was chattering away like nothing ended between them, but rather, they were picking up where they left off. He wanted to distance himself from her, not give her mixed signals that he wanted to get back together. Was Evelyn, right? Was this Catherine's sole motive?
"Anyway," Catherine said after filling him in on her summer in the Hamptons. "What's been going on since last night? How are things with Dash?"
"Not good."
Catherine nodded. "Pity. He seemed really happy with Evelyn. They seemed really happy together. One mistake and Evelyn call it quits."
"It was a pretty big mistake," Ozzy said.
"I know. I just wonder if you were in love with someone like that, how could you just cut it off so abruptly? That's not how feelings work."
That's how Evelyn worked, Ozzy wanted to say. She compartmentalized her feelings when they overwhelmed her, so she could break them down over time until they rear their ugly heads.
"Anyway, it's probably for the best." Catherine shrugged. "It would have been way worse if he continued to lie to her after they had sex."
"How do you know if they've had sex or not?"
"Why do you care?"
"You and Evelyn aren't exactly friends."
Catherine stabbed at her salad. "A queen knows everything."
"Really? What else does a queen know? You're not Gossip Girl, are you?"
Catherine let out a laugh. "Of course not! I would have avoided quite a few humiliations if I was her, don't you think? She is a necessary resource though if you want to get someone's attention."
Ozzy was still stuck on the revelation that Evelyn and Dash hadn't had sex. He tried not to think about it, but this fact put him at ease. The sting of betrayal would have been far worse.
But what did Catherine mean about knowing everything? That comment seemed suspect, coded even.
"Do you know who sent the video to Gossip Girl?"
"The one of Dash and Jenny?"
"Yeah. I'd like to thank them."
Catherine smiled and ran her hand down his arm. "Can you keep a secret?"
If only she knew. "Of course."
"You're looking at her."
"You recorded it?"
She nodded. "I left halfway through second period to go to the bathroom, and I heard them arguing."
"And you're first instinct was to record their conversation?"
"After I knew what they were talking about, of course! Nobody will believe anything unless there is hard evidence."
"Apparently."
Catherine pushed her bowl away and weaved her arm with his. "So? Are you going to thank me?"
She looked up at him with her big hazel eyes. This is what Evelyn was talking about. Her intentions.
"Why did you send it?"
"To protect Evelyn. Her supposed best friend cheated on her with her boyfriend? Unforgivable."
Ozzy wanted to correct her statement. He was her best friend not Jenny. It bothered him that no one seemed to acknowledge that fact.
"So why didn't you show her the video herself instead of making it a public spectacle?"
Catherine's gaze turned cold. "What is with all these questions?"
"Sorry. I just don't know how this whole Gossip Girl thing works yet."
"That's for the best Ozzy. It's a girl thing. Don't concern yourself with it. It can make you do crazy things."
Like sending a video that brings the most private secrets into the most public of spaces, Ozzy thought.
"You're right. It's beyond me."
Catherine smiled again. "I've missed you."
He didn't know what to say. He wanted to let her down easy, but he didn't want to hurt her feelings either.
Catherine straightened and kissed him on the cheek. "Why don't you come over to my place afterschool?"
"I can't. I have a doctor's appointment."
"Well, how about tomorrow?" Her free hand grazed his thigh.
"Um," He cleared his throat. "I'll have to check if I have swim practice. I'll text you."
"Good." She kissed him, this time on the mouth. He kept his lips closed.
Catherine checked her phone. "We should get going. It's almost time for class."
Ozzy untangled himself from Catherine and pulled out his phone. "I'm just going to give Dash a call to see if he's still alive. I'll be out in a minute."
Catherine squeezed his hand. "I'll be waiting."
Ozzy dialled Evelyn's number and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Evelyn, please pick up."
Voicemail. He tried three more times. The third call rang twice and went right to voicemail. She ignored his call. Again. Why won't she talk to him? What did he do?
Catherine just told him point blank that she sent the tip. Wouldn't Evelyn want to know that?
Gossip Girl is a necessary resource if you want to get someone's attention.
Ozzy began to compose a message. He started over twice, unsure how he should address this anonymous person.
"Ozzy, we're going to be late."
He garbled a sentence together and pressed SEND.
They walked back together, Ozzy's hands in his pockets, Catherine leaning into him. He nodded along to what she was saying, while seeing for the first time her deception and trickery. Was she only trying to get back together with him to get back at Evelyn? Why did she want to hurt Evelyn so much?
He checked his phone to see if Evelyn responded to his calls. Silence.
He shouldn't be surprised. He couldn't get through to her. Not now anyway. It was too soon; the wounds were too fresh. His only hope in that moment was that Gossip Girl would.
Blair's hands trembled as soon as she hung up on Chuck. Now he wanted to join Locke and Key after bagging on it all of freshman year? How could he have not been able to tell that she didn't want him to join? Why couldn't she have told him point blank? Surely, he would have listened to her. Or was this a way to torture her? Lure her back into his orbit for another game?
Dorota opened the door, with a laundry basket propped on her hip. "Hello Miss Blair. You study hard, no?"
Blair leaned back on her bed and covered her eyes. What was she going to do now?
"Miss Blair, is something wrong?"
"Everything is wrong, Dorota!"
Dorota set down the laundry basket on Blair's immaculate desk. She peered over Blair with a focused frown.
"Is this have anything to do with Mr. Chuck?"
Blair groaned and covered her face with one of her silk throw pillows. "I just want him out of my life, Dorota. Is that too much to ask on this small island?"
"He live here too, Miss Blair."
"I know that, and everyone from my society knows that which is why they want him. Don't they understand? Chuck won't be as committed as I am. Chuck will ditch them when the slightest thing gets difficult. Don't they see that? He's no asset. He's a liability!"
"Who you talk about Miss Blair?"
Blair lifted her chin. "My friends."
"From the fraternity?"
Blair's eyes widened. "Dorota." She made a motion to zip her lip and whispered, "It's a social club."
Dorota rolled her eyes. "Don't social clubs pull what do you call it, pranks on each other?"
Blair's face crinkled in confusion. "Hazing?"
"Yes. Hazing. When they make you drink or lock you in room for the night—"
"We don't haze, Dorota. It's against the bylaws and standing rules."
"Does Mister Chuck know that?"
Blair's lips curled in a devious smile. "No, he doesn't."
It was perfect! What else could deter Chuck from joining then a hazing event? He'd told her about his run in with Skull and Bones during their college visits in senior year. He wanted in so bad until he sold out Humphrey instead of Nate. They didn't want him after that, and Chuck walked away. Could she push him to that point? Would that point be too far?
Blair pushed that last thought away. This would ensure that Chuck wouldn't join Locke and Key. She was sure of it.
"Dorota," Blair said. "You're a genius."
Dorota smiled. "I know a thing of two from KGB. They try to torture me for information, but I no break."
"So, you're saying you have a couple ideas?"
"Yes, Miss Blair."
Blair bounced off her bed. "Good. Come Dorota. We have a lot of work to do."
When the final bell of the day rang, Evelyn sighed, her shoulders lowering away from her ears. She made it. She made it through the first day after the blast. Evelyn could feel the attention of her classmates from their whispers as she passed them in the halls, their wide eyes that couldn't believe that she was in school the next day. She even passed Catherine twice without so much as a comment from her.
All she wanted to do was go home. She was ready to curl up under the covers for the rest of the evening and hibernate.
Her phone vibrated in her hand.
"Not again," Evelyn said under her breath.
They say revenge is a dish best served cold, and word has it, E delivered her just desserts to J this morning in Brooklyn of all places. While D may be next on her hit list, Queen C shouldn't be too far behind. All's fair in love and war…including shots fired at the messenger. Time to load up both barrels, E.
Evelyn read the message twice, her grip tightening around her phone. Of course, Catherine Baizen was the person who sent the tip to Gossip Girl.
"That little opportunistic bitch," Evelyn seethed. She wanted to throw her phone at the wall, yell, do something to fan the flames of her anger. Could things get any worse?
Evelyn breezed by her locker and stalked the halls for Catherine. She searched for the gaggle of minions that flanked her, and she found them around her locker. They all snickered and alerted Catherine of her presence.
Sera had her back to her, cutting Evelyn off from the circle. Evelyn tapped her shoulder.
"Move. Now."
Sera's eyes widened and she stepped aside. Catherine stood, her arms crossed, a smirk on her face. She's enjoying this, Evelyn thought. Catherine thought she won.
Evelyn thought back to the first day of school when Catherine threatened her. She took it lightly then. She didn't think it was possible for Catherine to find anything on her. Catherine may not have found anything from Evelyn, but she did find the one thing that would hurt Evelyn the most.
"You sent the blast?" Evelyn said holding up her phone.
"Gossip Girl occasionally reports more than rumors." Catherine, flanked by her minions, seemed taller than she was. Emboldened. "You can thank me, you know."
"Thank you?"
"I helped you learn the truth. It didn't seem like Dash or Jenny were going to tell you anytime soon."
Evelyn took a step toward her, so Catherine was forced to look up at her. "I hope it was worth it, Catherine."
"Of course, it was. It's my duty to protect my kingdom's subjects, and that includes you."
"We both know that those were not your intentions."
"Of course, they were my intentions. They just may not have been my only intentions."
The minions giggled.
Evelyn looked at all them circled around her, disgusted. They hung on to every word of this exchange, and Sera held up her camera to record.
"Let me be very clear with you. That shouldn't be too hard since we have an audience. You will not get away with this."
"Me? Look, I'm not the one who cheated with your boyfriend."
"I don't care. You've tried to undermine me multiple times now, humiliate me when possible, and try to take all the things I value away from me. I won't sit back and let it happen anymore. And that means taking everything away from you that you value, brick by brick, until you have no empire to stand on anymore."
Catherine's looked up at her with wide eyes. She stumbled, her back hitting the door of her locker.
"Am I making myself clear?"
Catherine swallowed. "I-I'd like to see you try," she said in a shaky voice.
Evelyn pinched Catherine's headband and pulled it off her head. She then took the headband from both ends and snapped it in half.
"Hm. That wasn't too hard," Evelyn said.
She threw the severed headband at her feet. Everyone gaped, speechless.
"You should be scared," Evelyn said. "Because now that you've really pissed me off, you don't know what I'm capable of."
Evelyn stepped back once, twice, and three times to see the shock and fear on each girl's face. She wanted to take a picture of it, remember each reaction as they were, a herd of stunned deer. There. That's better. That's what she should have done months ago. She felt a pleasure course through her veins as the fire that had been building for so long turned into an inferno before their very eyes. She felt the release, a euphoria of sorts, and most of all, satisfaction.
"W-Who do you think y-you are to, uh, talk to me like this?" Catherine said.
Evelyn smirked. "I'm Evelyn Bass."
Blair waited outside the Registrar's Building later that evening. She hid in the shadows as students petered out of their night classes. Blair had come to know that this part of campus was more secluded, less trafficked at this hour, which made it the perfect spot to kidnap Chuck. Only two students had passed her on the path on to Morningside Drive. This part of campus was always deserted at night.
Blair checked her watch again. If only the Basstard would show up. Dorota had followed him all afternoon, and she confirmed that he went to class (much to Blair's surprise). What was taking him so long?
Footsteps clicked against the concrete, and Blair peered from her hiding spot. She pressed her body up against the brick wall, concealed by hedges. She spotted the suit, the swagger, and the purple bowtie that belonged to none other than Chuck Bass. She signaled for her two henchmen to move. They jumped Chuck from behind two columns that framed the staircase and put a black ski hat over his head.
"What the hell—"
Blair stepped out of the bushes and led the way to the next building. She wore flats, a calculated decision, so that Chuck couldn't tell that a woman was with them. He already caught her spying because of her purse. This time, she wasn't going to be as careless.
"Look, I have a lot of money. Name your price, and I'll pay it."
Blair rolled her eyes. Like any amount of money would sway her.
Blair pushed open the doors and guided the men to the basement. They were in the Butler building, where administrators had left their offices hours ago. The basement, Blair discovered, was a place dedicated to storage and old study classrooms that could be rented out by students. It was as secluded as it could get.
"Where are you taking me?" Chuck asked.
Blair didn't respond. She opened the door with the key and held it open for her henchmen. They dragged Chuck to the chair in the middle of the room and began to tie him up.
"I'm serious. You don't want to mess with me. Anyone who messes with Chuck Bass pays."
Blair held a hand over her mouth, amused. Since when did Chuck refer to himself in the third person?
Once Chuck was tied up, Blair nodded for the men to leave. She slammed the door behind them. Chuck jumped in his chair.
"Hello?" Chuck said. "Is anyone here? If this is a joke, or some sort of initiation for Locke and Key, you should at least give me the courtesy of telling me that."
Blair silently pulled on her black cloak that was draped over a wooden chair. She tied a black bandana over her face, so only her eyes were visible and pulled the hood over her head, so she looked like a moving shadow.
Blair light candles around the room and shut off the lights. She approached Chuck from behind and pulled off his mask.
Chuck blinked his eyes as they adjusted to the dimness of the room. He jerked his head from left to right, but Blair stood behind him, out of his view.
"Whoever you are, I'm going to make you pay for this."
Idle threats. Blair continued to turn on the projector, and she began playing the video. The Locke and Key symbol appeared, and a male voiceover details the history of the society. It was a video Blair downloaded from the Locke and Key member portal online.
The history began to allude to spirits, paranormal behaviour that selected members by divine means. She played off the idea of destiny that was a theme to their society's origins and readings, and translated that with finding clips online that explain "our one true purpose" through means of paranormal behaviour.
Okay, maybe she took some creative liberties with mixing both the actual lore of the Locke and Key with someone's conspiracy video from YouTube about the convergence of the occult and the illuminati, but she knew nothing disturbed Chuck more than the occult. He didn't believe, and he didn't like when anyone used it to influence decisions. What better way to make Chuck think this society was more cult-like than this?
When the video finished, Blair waited for Chuck to respond.
"Is brainwashing a part of the process to become a member for this group?"
Blair took two steps towards Chuck and put her hands on his shoulders. They were tense. Whatever she was doing was working. Not that she ever doubted herself in the slightest.
Blair grinned and let go. Now it was time for phase two.
Blair concentrated and said in her best Midwestern accent, "Charles Bass."
Chuck sighed. "Yes."
Blair smiled. They'd used accents to get into character during roleplay in the past, and the only accent that was never bothered with was the Midwest. It was the best way Blair could disguise her voice.
"You have been recruited by the Locke and Key Society. We take our membership very seriously, and we like to make sure we vet our new members. Are you committed to serving as one of our members?"
Chuck paused for a beat. "Sure."
Typical. What a non-committal response. "Being a member of the Locke and Key isn't just a commitment for your college career. It's a commitment for life."
"Is this your group's way of hazing?"
"Charles Bass. Are you committed to our society for life?"
Blair took a pledge paddle and hit him across his lap. She and Chuck had dabbled into S&M before, and she knew Chuck's limits on pain.
"Ow!"
"That's not an answer."
Blair hit him again.
"Okay." Chuck sighed. "Yes. Yes, I'm committed."
Blair put the paddle down. She reached for a goblet of sweet red wine. She started chanting something in Latin, something simple she learned in high school. Chuck didn't know a lick of Latin, so Blair experimented with her sentence structure for the hell of it.
"Repeat after me," Blair said. "In lumine tuo videbimus lumen."
It was Columbia University's motto: In thy light we shall see light. Not that Chuck would ever know that.
"In lumine tuo viberdims—"
"Videbimus."
"In lumine tuo videbimus lumen," Chuck said.
Blair grinned. He was totally buying this. "Drink this."
Chuck smirked. "If this is the beginning of the how much you can drink contest, it won't be much of a contest with me."
"Drink."
She held the goblet up to his lips, and he swallowed it easily. When he was done, Blair covered his eyes with the mask again.
"What are you doing now?"
Blair untied one knot, loosening Chuck's wrists from each other. It was enough to give him a head start.
"If you can find your way out of this, then we will see you next at your first meeting."
"You've tied my hands. Is this a test?"
"Come alone. Tell no one of this encounter."
"Why?"
"Because the Locke is the Key."
Chuck started to strain himself as he tried to work on the knots. "Fine," he grunted.
Blair gathered her things and shut the door behind her. She put on the video to play on repeat to really mess with him. She would also wait to make sure Chuck actually found his way out of the bind she put him in.
There was no way after that that he would want anything to do with Locke and Key. Hazing? The occult? Chuck Bass?
Blair smiled, staked out in her hiding spot, and waited. She texted Dorota and busied herself with other tasks as she waited. She waited and waited. How long was it going to take him?
An hour later, Chuck emerged while massaging his wrists. He disappeared from the building in a hurry. Chuck, who usually sauntered, practically jogged away from the building while looking over his shoulder.
Blair smirked to herself. Mission accomplished.
When Bart stepped off the elevator and into the penthouse, he wanted a drink. His first day at Thorpe Enterprises was long. When he left the office after six, his head was spinning with numbers, abbreviations, and trying to place every person's name with a face. He was usually good with names, but he found himself having trouble distinguishing between the lower level managers.
He knew this would all come to him with more time. He just hoped his lack of knowledge didn't show or that anyone he would soon work with would take advantage of it. The culture at Thorpe Enterprises wasn't terribly different from Bass Industries, yet Bart knew it was too soon to know who to trust. That comes with time.
Bart made a beeline right to the scotch bottle and didn't notice how quiet the penthouse was. He poured himself a glass and began to look around. Lily appeared from where Eric and Evelyn's bedrooms were, just down the hall from the kitchen.
"Bart. Welcome home." Lily embraced him and kissed him on both cheeks. "How was your first day?"
"Good. Lots of learning to be had." He took a sip of his drink.
"That's good to hear it went well. Listen, I don't want to alarm you, but Evelyn didn't come home after school. She texted me that she was with a friend. Now that we know she's on the outs with Jenny, we're not sure who that could be."
"And Eric?"
"He came home afterschool without her. She left without telling him where she was going."
"She may be with Ruby's son? Oscar?" Bart suggested.
"I called Ruby, and she said that Oscar's been home with her since she took him to an appointment afterschool. I know we shouldn't jump to conclusions, but I'm worried."
"I am too. Perhaps I can have Andrew Tyler start watching her."
Lily folded her arms across her chest. "We said we wouldn't do that anymore."
"I know, but the situation may call for it. If she were to walk in right now, do you think she would tell us the truth of her whereabouts? We need to put Evelyn's safety first, and this might be the most reliable way to find the truth."
"Perhaps. But if she finds out, she'll never forgive you. We can't be this mistrusting right away."
"So what should we do?"
Lily shook her head, her lips pursed. With Serena, she expected this kind of flighty behaviour. Evelyn was not as predictable. She'd only been living under their roof for the past couple years.
The phone rang. Bart got the cordless first and picked up.
"Hello?"
"Bart. It's Kim. How are things?"
Lily watched with a stern look on her face.
"They're good. Yourself?"
"Good. Good. Is Evelyn home? I've been trying to reach her for the past couple of days and I just keep missing her. She hasn't been replying to my texts either."
Lily mouthed the words 'tell her' to Bart. His stomach twisted as he grimaced.
"Yes, Evelyn… has had a difficult couple of days. If it makes you feel any better, she hasn't been speaking to most of us here."
"What happened? What did you do?"
Typical Kim. She always accuses him first before knowing the truth.
"I didn't do anything. She broke up with Dash, and hasn't been taking it well."
Kim gaffed and said, "And you didn't think to call and tell me?"
"It just happened yesterday. We were still trying to assess the situation."
"How has she been acting?"
"Distant. Withdrawn. Sound familiar?"
"Yes." Kim sighed. "See? This is why I didn't want her dating in the first place."
"You and I both know nothing was going to stop her from seeing Dash then. That's over now, so we need to focus on what we can do to help her deal with this."
"Deal with this? Clearly you don't know your own daughter, Bart. She doesn't deal with things. She withdraws, distances herself from her problems and pretends they don't happen. Sound familiar?"
Bart ignored the dig. "Vaguely."
"Let me talk to her. She tells me everything."
"I would, but she's not home now."
"Not home? It's after dinner. Where could she possibly be?"
"We're trying to figure that out."
"Figure that out? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"
"Now, Kim. Listen—"
"You're telling me that she could be God knows where, doing God knows what, and you don't know? What kind of parent are you?"
"I'm sure you will tell me," Bart said.
"That's it. I'm coming. Clearly, you are way out of your depth here. If there's anything she needs right now, it's me."
Bart took another drink.
"I'll pack up a bag and drive in tonight. When I get there, I swear to God Bart, she better be there, or there will be hell to pay."
"She will be."
"How can you be so sure? You don't have clue where she is right now."
"Give my daughter some credit, Kim."
"I'll give her credit. You? Not so much. Look, I'll call you when I'm about to leave."
Bart hung up the phone and finished his drink in one gulp.
"Well?" Lily said.
"Kim's coming."
Chuck's thighs still stung when he got home from campus. He winced as he walked, kept massaging his wrists, and he was beginning to feel drowsy.
Nate was lounging on the couch when Chuck hobbled through their apartment. "What happened to you?"
Chuck shook his head. "Never join a fraternity, Nathaniel."
"You're joining a fraternity?"
"Something of that nature, and I'm already regretting it."
"Did they haze you or something?"
Chuck looked at his wrists. They were still raw from the rope. "Let's just say they used a paddle in a way I wouldn't."
"Enough said. Hang in there, man."
"I plan to."
Chuck retreated to his room and lied back on his bed. He sat back and tried to process this evening's events. He was kidnapped, shackled to a chair in the basement of the Butler building, whipped with a pledge paddle, and forced to drink the most disgusting excuse of red wine he'd ever had. What the hell was that all about?
The hazing wasn't what surprised him. After his run-in with Skull and Bones, he knew the usual tactics for an all-male fraternity. Yet, he didn't anticipate the same behaviour from Locke and Key. He was caught off-guard. Maybe it was because they were a mixed secret society. Maybe the rules were different since girls were involved. Blair. Wait, Blair didn't have to endure anything he went through this evening, did she? Did a man force her through it?
Chuck sat up too quickly and winced. He lowered back on the bed. Wouldn't he have noticed if something like this happened to Blair last year? Besides, Blair insisted that Locke and Key wasn't like that.
Something wasn't adding up. Was each gender hazed differently? Or was this ritual made because he didn't join last year?
None of those scenarios seemed to expose the whole truth. He was missing something.
Chuck yawned. Why did he feel so tired all of a sudden? Did they put something in the drink?
Could he call Blair about this? Since she was a member, maybe she could clear the air. Chuck picked up his phone.
Blair picked up after the second ring. "Bass."
So they were back to calling each other by their last names? How formal. "Waldorf."
"What do you want?"
"You wouldn't happen to know anything about illicit hazing activities from your little group?"
"Hazing? Like what?"
"You know. Kidnapping. Getting tied to a chair in a dingy basement classroom." He yawned again. "Watching this obscene video on loop? Plebeian wine?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You don't?"
"No. I was never hazed when I initiated last year. As if I would join if that was involved. I like others submitting to me not the other way around."
Chuck smirked. "I still have the scars on my back to prove it."
"Good. They were meant to be permanent."
"In all seriousness, Blair, should I expect more of this?"
"I…don't know. I mean, I wasn't hazed, but maybe that's changed. I don't make the rules."
"Yet. You don't make the rules yet."
He could hear her smile on the other end of the phone. "We'll see about that. Just be careful Bass."
"Since you asked nicely, I'll try, but with my track record, I can't make any promises. Good night, Waldorf."
Chuck hung up and yawned. If he was going to become a member, he was going to have to endure hazing for what, the next two months? No prestige seemed worth two months of grovelling. Maybe he'd do it, for Blair.
Blair. She was civil on the phone, but something still wasn't adding up. After she heard about his hazing, why didn't she take it more seriously? I don't make the rules. Since when did that ever stop Blair when someone hurt the people she loved? Regardless if they were together or not, Blair would have at least protested. Hell, she would go to Julian and demand something be done about it.
It could only mean one thing.
Blair was the one who hazed him. The puzzle started falling into place. He should have known by her touch. The occult being used to scare him (Which worked way too well since he didn't think he was going to sleep for the next two days), the paddle. It was a great plan. He wouldn't expect anything less from Blair. She wanted him to stay away from Locke and Key, and she almost had him. After tonight, he was ready to quit. But he couldn't quit now. Not when the game between them was just getting started. Blair may have earned the first point, but Chuck was ready to win round two.
Evelyn felt her phone buzz in her pocket again. She pulled it out of her pocket, the name 'DAD MOBILE' flashing on the screen. Evelyn hit the ignore button.
She stepped off the elevator at the Palace hotel. She had gone upstairs to her brother's suite for refuge, away from the prying questions and soothing comforts everyone wanted to douse her in lately. Evelyn just needed a few hours to herself.
She had spread out her notebooks, pens, and computer on the coffee table where she began to plot out what she still needed to be done to Jenny, Dash, and now Catherine. She made a few calls. Ignored all the others. There was something inside her that had woken up. Something that first woke up on the stage of Victrola last year. But this time, she didn't feel ashamed for feeling powerful, in control, ready to manipulate others around her to get what she wanted.
Evelyn felt her phone buzz in her pocket again, a text this time from Ozzy. She ignored it. Instead, she veered off into the Palace bar. She had never walked into a bar by herself before. The first thing she noticed were the people. They sat in pairs on bar stools while the bartender shook a martini together. Having changed out of her school uniform, she pulled the sleeves of her red sweater down to cover her wrists. She fixed the scraps of fabric that she tied in a loose bow around her neck.
Evelyn found a seat at the bar beside a boy that wasn't much older than her. She tapped his shoulder.
He turned, a familiar face, with a light scruff on his cheeks and deep blue eyes. It was Carter Baizen.
"Evelyn Bass," Carter said, giving her a once over. "Isn't it past your bedtime?"
"For small children yes. For me, not so much," Evelyn said while taking a seat on the barstool beside him. "Thanks for meeting me though."
"It's my pleasure to accompany a beautiful girl for a drink. What would you like?"
"Whatever you're having."
"Bourbon?"
"Why not?"
Carter signaled the bartender for two more glasses.
"I have to say, I was surprised that you called me. Your brother and I aren't exactly friends."
"I know, but whatever happened between you and my brother is between you and my brother." Evelyn flipped her long wavy hair over her shoulder. "Besides, I'm currently trying to save face from a public humiliation and could use some tips. Is leaving your inheritance behind and backpacking around the world a viable option?"
Carter chuckled. "Why, yes, it is."
The bartender set two tumblers of bourbon in front of them. Evelyn took hers and swirled the dark liquor in her glass in the same way she'd seen her father do it before her.
"Do tell. Where should a girl like me start?"
Carter looked at her with a renewed interest he didn't have when she first met him last Thanksgiving. He raised his glass and said, "Why don't we start with a toast? To new friendships and backpacking adventures."
They clinked glasses and tipped them back while Carter's eyes never left hers. She had to blink away her tears as the bitterness of the drink burned down her throat.
A great man once said, "Don't get mad, get even." While we can command you Mr. Kennedy, on the Upper East Side, nobody does revenge better than our ruling women. How will E even the score? By finding the most unlikely allies. Better choose a side fast kiddies because winter's coming quickly.
You Know You Love Me,
XOXO Gossip Girl
A/N: And there you have it! Evelyn is on the prowl to exact revenge on Dash, Jenny, and now Catherine with the help of Carter Baizen, Blair's back at it with her scheming to deter Chuck from joining Locke and Key, and Bart had his first day at Thorpe Enterprises. Quite a bit happened in this chapter!
So what do you think is going to happen next? The next chapter will be called "Bass Instinct". Let me know what your thoughts and theories are in a review!
Thanks again for reading, and I'll see you again next month.
Till next time,
XOXO EZ11