Chapter 2: Nice, Normal Girls
One year later
He knew things were too good to be true. Everything was going just a little too well.
There he was, at his engagement party, and there had been no problems thus far. The party celebrating his engagement to a nice, normal girl.
A nice, normal girl from a nice, normal family who teaches ninth grade biology at a nice, normal public school. A nice, normal girl who doesn't know or care about the Vanderbilt family or Gossip Girl or Serena Van der Woodsen.
And for once, everything seemed to be going smoothly. His parents were getting along. Tripp and Maureen and the kids (thankfully) couldn't make it. His grandfather and Cassidy's (his nice, normal fiancée) dad hadn't gotten into a public spat about politics yet. Things were good.
That is, until he heard Blair squeal 'Serena!' from the other room, and he was suddenly glued to the floor, transported back to a party over a decade ago where Serena made a sudden reappearance (following her sudden disappearance and a year's absence from all their lives).
His head was swirling. Where did she come from? Where did she go? And now he's quoting the fucking Cotton-Eye Joe song and he must be losing his mind but he always sort of feels that way when it comes to Serena.
Before he can hide to avoid the awkward interaction between him and his ex-girlfriend (and current love of his life, but he doesn't want to think about that) that is bound to occur, he hears Blair's chipper voice, closer this time.
"Nate! Look who it is!"
He wishes he wouldn't. He knows he shouldn't. But it's like he can't help it. So he does.
He turns and looks at her and boy, does she look as beautiful as ever. She's still the same Serena, but more radiant than the last time he saw her crying in Central Park. Her hair is blonder, skin tanner (she must have spent time in the sun, he thinks).
"Hi Nate," she smiles.
"Hi Serena," he says, moving toward her to wrap her in a hug.
She stiffens at first, unsure. But after a moment, she squeezes back, breathing him in.
"I missed you," she whispers, so quietly he thinks he must have imagined it.
She breaks away, and before he can get his bearings, he hears her voice saying 'You must be Cassidy. I'm Serena. It's so nice to finally meet you!'
And now Nate feels like an asshole. Because here he is, standing silently, while the love of his life is introducing herself to poor Cassidy — his sweet, normal fiancée — who is none the wiser of the hold this woman has on his heart.
"So…," Cassidy says timidly, as she sits on the edge of his bed. Their bed, he reminds himself (she moved in last week).
"That was Serena," she finishes.
"That was Serena."
She turns to face him as he pulls on his pajama pants. "Why didn't you tell me about her?"
That's a great question. Why didn't he tell Cassidy about Serena? He told her about his other exes (Blair, Vanessa, Lola, Bree — even Sage). But he conveniently left out the most important one.
The truth is, he knows exactly why he didn't tell her. But admitting that to her would mean there was something to admit. And he wasn't ready to do that. To himself or anyone else.
So, he lies.
"We dated for a couple of months years ago. I haven't even seen her in over a year. It completely slipped my mind. I'm sorry, Cass."
The words burn as they leave his mouth. He tries to look anywhere but Cassidy's face as he says them.
But Cassidy (sweet, normal Cassidy) doesn't call him on the obvious lie. Instead, she nods her head and says, "Ok. I believe you."
He lays down in bed next to her and hopes she can't feel the shame radiating off him. She leans over and gives him a soft, chaste kiss on the lips.
"Good night. I love you"
"I love you, too."
