Erik finds her.
He finds her packing her bags, tears rolling down her face. She doesn't notice him, just continues to pack her clothes.
"Where are you going?" he asks, stomach sinking, dreading her answer.
"Erik, I—I'm going to visit Grandma. I'm going to be staying there for awhile." her voice barely above a whisper, he strains to hear her.
"You're leaving?"
"Erik, I'll just be a phone call away."
"No, Serena! You promised. You promised you'd be here for me. You said you would be a better sister, that you would try for me." he's all but yelling now, furious at his sister.
And he sees the pain on her face, sees the pain he caused.
"What happened, S?" he asks.
And this time, she doesn't break down. She tells Erik everything, but he can tell that the tears are hiding just behind her eyes, that she's barely keeping it together.
He convinces her to stay.
And Serena feels that maybe, just maybe, that with her brother by her side, she could stand living in this city. That she could stand seeing Nate, Blair, and Dan everyday.
And when she feels just a little bit better, laying in her bed, just wanting to sleep, the phone rings.
It's Nate.
And for a reason she doesn't understand, she answers.