Yeah, this chapter is up early too but only because I won't be able to write much this week. Plus I just saw "Jersey Boys" a few days ago and couldn't help but think of this story. I just had to write :) Thanks again to all for your reviews and favoritings; this one's for you!
The Music in Me: Chapter 6
Blair's back hit the wall hard, but the only sensation she felt was the thrill of Chuck's lips on hers. She hungrily kissed back, pulling on his shoulders so that he was brought into her. He let out a moan as he kissed, his large hands stroking her back. Blair's hands moved down to his ass and she brought his hips to hers. She felt the extent of his desire pressing up against her and she felt herself turn hot. Chuck moved his head downward and put his mouth on her neck.
"Don't! I'll have to cover it with makeup!" Blair exclaimed through gasps.
"I'll do what I want to you," Chuck whispered sensually. Blair felt a pinching pain in her neck, and soon it dissolved and the numbed feeling made her want him even more. Chuck's hot breath grazed her entire neck and she felt his one hand moving towards her chest.
That was when the bell rang. Blair sighed, not wanting to leave when Chuck was so feisty.
"I have to go," she said, breathing heavily. Chuck's face popped up in front of hers, his dark brown eyes filled with an uncontrollable lust.
"No you don't," he demanded. "You're staying here." Blair laughed slightly in her throat.
"I have a math test, Bass. I still need to get into Yale, and I'm not ruining my perfect record of straight A's." Chuck retreated and stepped back slightly, knowing that he wouldn't win this battle. Only Blair could stop him in the middle of when he was getting hot and heavy.
"I hate when you do this to me," Chuck groaned. Blair smiled, noticing that he had turned completely red from arousal. She loved what power she had over him.
"I'll come by the Palace later after school and make it up to you. I promise," Blair said. Chuck managed to smile at that, and he offered her his hand. She took it with glee and they walked out from behind the side of the St. Jude's building. "So what has Nate done today?" Blair asked. It was Wednesday, four days since Nate sputtered his drunken revenge threats at Chuck. On Monday, Nate had tripped Chuck as he walked down the hall and had shoved him head-first into his locker. On Tuesday Nate had raised his hand in anatomy class and asked what the maximum number of sexually transmitted diseases a person could have was.
"Usually unlimited," the teacher had answered.
"Really?" Nate had turned around and looked at Chuck. "I owe you a dollar, Chuck. You really do have seventy-five."
"Can't compare to your ninety-three," Chuck had shot back coolly. The rest of the day came with more taunts that only an Archibald could think up--in other words, not very good. However it didn't stop the St. Jude boys from mocking and taunting Chuck every second of the day.
Was Nate being as annoying as hell? Yes. A clever vengeance demon? No.
"He hasn't done anything yet today," Chuck answered. They walked past a few outside tables, where a bunch of boys and girls from Constance were standing in groups. They watched Chuck and Blair walk by like sharks whom had just spotted a meal. The couple didn't notice.
"He's really being a nuisance," Blair said, taking her arm and putting it through Chuck's.
"He'll get tired of it eventually. He said he was going to have revenge bigger than yours on Serena. He doesn't have the drive," Chuck said. Blair's eyes widened.
"Don't underestimate him, Chuck. Remember what happened to Carter when he did the same to you. Nate can carry out all of the lame stuff he comes up with, as crazy as it sounds." Chuck disagreed, thinking that he knew Nate pretty well. They had been best friends since preschool. He didn't say it to Blair, though. They walked to the center courtyard that divided the two schools.
"See you at my place, then?" Chuck asked with a grin.
"Seven sharp," Blair said. They leaned in and gave each other a quick kiss before Blair removed her arm out of his. She started walking towards Constance, smiling and waving at Chuck as she did. Chuck returned the favor, then turned to walk back to his school. He almost laughed, for never did he dream that he would be walking Blair back to school.
Chuck walked into his math class, late as usual. He heard some snickers and he shrugged it off. He sat down and suddenly heard a familiar voice from his right side.
"Chuck."
"What, Nathaniel?" Chuck didn't even face his newly-made nemesis. Nate continued talking, deluding himself that what he was about to say was witty.
"How come you suck so much?"
"Because I was friends with you my entire life."
Nate was shocked at the comeback. Chuck put his elbows up on the desk and folded his hands. He smiled behind them, wishing he could see the look on Nathaniel's face. The teacher was talking, droning on and on about something, when suddenly Nate stood up and shouted loudly in Chuck's direction.
"No I will not make out with you!" Chuck rolled his eyes. Nate really needed to get his revenge ideas from somewhere besides Adam Sandler movies. Nate looked around the classroom, looking horrified. He pointed at Chuck. "He asked me to make out with him, Mr. Delisee!" Nate exclaimed to the math teacher. "In the courtyard by the dandelions!"
"Get out of your daydreams, Archibald," Chuck replied. There was a loud chorus of immature "oooooohhhsss" from the boys until the math teacher ordered them all to calm down and pay attention. Nate waited for someone to do something, but no one made a move. He sat down, fuming that the tables had been turned on him.
"Psst. Nathaniel." Nate looked over at a smirking Chuck. "I'm flattered that you've come to recognize my sexual superiority, but I don't swing that way. You'll need to find someone else for your fantasies. How about Carter Baizen?"
"Shut up," Nate said sharply. He turned and looked at the teacher, trying to hold in his anger. That only made Chuck smirk more.
That evening, Serena and Dan went out on a date. It was their routine date: cheap, casual, and filled with memories. They first stopped at a homemade sandwich shop for dinner.
"Ummm…this roast beef is amazing," Serena said. She had nothing to eat but a small salad all day and decided to blow her diet for one evening. Dan didn't care, and that was another reason why she loved him: he would love her no matter how she looked.
"They make really good stuff here," Dan said. He took a bite of his own ham and cheese. Serena picked up a fallen piece of beef off of her plate and popped it in her mouth.
"How's the speech going?" she asked. Dan shook his head slowly. She was referring to what he was going to say to the agent who had been interested in Secret Addictions.
"I haven't thought of anything to say that's not embarrassing," Dan said. He sighed. "I can't get over it. We worked so hard."
"All you have to do is get Chuck and Nate to stop arguing," Serena said. Dan laughed a mock laugh.
"Easier said than done," he replied. "I haven't spoken to either of them all week. I heard through the grapevine about the lame things that Nate was doing to Chuck, and I really couldn't care less." Dan meant it. He was angry at all of them. He was angry at the constant drama that took place in their lives. He was just sick of them.
"Who are you mad at the most?" Serena said. She discovered that she had been good with talking to people lately. Maybe if Dan let out everything that was bothering him, he could move on from his band breakup. Dan looked down, his lips tightening.
"Your soon to be step brother, who I despise with every fiber in my being," Dan said. Serena looked baffled.
"Why?" she asked. Dan shot back up, puzzled as to why she didn't understand.
"Of all the times to do what he did with Blair, why did it have to be now?! Didn't he think about how Nate would react, or how it would ruin everything?! Did he even care?! No. Of course not. Chuck Bass is out for only one person: Chuck Bass." Dan sighed. "I always knew he was a scumbag, but now he's dropped down a level. I didn't think that was possible. I shouldn't have even let him into the band."
"It's not his fault," Serena said. Dan looked at her, amazed at what she just said.
"Don't tell me you're sticking up for him?!" Dan asked. Serena put her hands in her lap and looked around. Then she leaned in and whispered.
"Dan, Chuck and Blair had a secret thing for months. She's been the only girl he's slept with more than one time. He was her first." Dan's eyes widened as Serena continued. "They broke it off the night of the cotillion because of Chuck's scheming. Chuck kept thinking about her, which he never does. And then there was something with the music room and…" She stopped to take a sip of her water. "Let me just say that whenever Nate wasn't there, Chuck always was. Blair finally realized that, and broke up with Nate. She went to Chuck and they made up, and that's when Gossip Girl spotted them. Nate and Blair were already broken up. Even when Blair and Chuck first had sex she and Nate were broken up…for twenty minutes, but broken up nonetheless."
Dan's face fell, understanding. He remembered seeing Chuck walking Blair back to Constance for the past two days. He knew that look they had in their eyes whenever they saw each other.
"They're really in love, aren't they?" Dan asked. Serena smiled.
"I've never seen Blair so happy before in her life. She's confident now and smiling all the time. And since when has Chuck actually dated anyone? If it's not love, then what else can it be?" She laughed a little, not believing that she was standing up for Chuck's well being. "You should see them together; they're the cutest thing. I never thought I'd approve of them, but they've clearly changed since they've been together." Serena took Dan's hand from under the table. "Maybe they're like us, Dan. Maybe they were meant to be."
Dan smiled, but his thoughts were still on Chuck and Blair and Nate. His stomach was doing knots, because he felt a little bad for the way he had blamed everything on Chuck. He suddenly laughed a little.
"I can't believe I feel sorry for Chuck and Blair," Dan said. Serena laughed too.
"Yeah, your two favorite people," she said sarcastically.
"I can see Nate being angry, because Chuck is his best friend, but he was more vicious than ever that night. It was like he went mental," Dan said.
"He's just upset. But if I know Nate, he can be convinced to forgive. Deep down he has a good heart. It's just a little clouded right now," Serena said. Dan nodded. He knew what he had to do.
Chuck stepped out of the shower and reached for a white towel. He dried off his hair, his abs, and everything else thoroughly before tying the towel tightly around his waist and reaching for his cologne bottle. He had just finished gym and the boys had to go shower before the bell rang for the next class. Chuck despised the smell of chlorine. It always made him feel dizzy. That's why he had lifeguarded when he broke into the school for a pool party with the other in-crowd members.
Chuck sometimes thought that water was better than booze, though not to drink. He loved when hot shower water dripped on every inch of his skin. It always made him feel soothed and energized when he came out. It was best when he was freezing and then he just hopped right in, like he had done a few minutes before.
Chuck put some cologne in his hands and rubbed them together. He patted them on his lower face, his upper chest, and his arms, hoping that it would drown the chlorine smell out. The St. Jude's soap sucked. Chuck then closed the bottle and threw open the shower stall curtain.
That was when he became drenched in ice. Or so it seemed.
Chuck felt goose bumps rising everywhere on his body. He felt coldness run down his hair, his back, his legs. He brought up a hand and wiped some flattened hair out of his face. Chuck's stomach immediately turned sick as the overpowering stench filled his nostrils. It was a good thing he had picked a thick towel that clung to his hips or else it would have fallen off with the force.
Chuck heard loud laughter and jeering through his waterlogged ears. He looked up from under lowered eyebrows in the direction of the sound. Nate stood a few steps away, holding an empty white bucket and wearing a mischievous grin. Random boys stood around Nate, cackling maniacally. They were all dressed in their uniforms already. Nate raised an eyebrow and tried to imitate Chuck's smirk. Chuck would have laughed at the attempt, had his bones not been frozen to the core.
"What's the matter, Chuck?" Nate asked mockingly. "Can't handle a little cold water? You're like the Wicked Witch of the West."
"Only you would make a reference to such pansy movies, Nathaniel," Chuck said, staring at Nate loathingly. Nate was unfazed.
"Well, you are a girl, so it made me think of that," Nate said immaturely. Chuck let out a laugh as he started to feel his blood turn warm again.
"I never cried when I got time outs," Chuck said with a smirk, remembering back to their kindergarten days.
"I never threw up because of chlorine," Nate shot back with a grim tone in his voice. Chuck frowned slightly at the corners of his mouth, remembering back to Nate's fourth grade birthday party. Nate tried to smirk again. "Why don't you go throw up now? They say it helps you lose weight. You might want to think about that, fat ass."
Chuck couldn't help but laugh. Nate sounded like such a girl. Chuck doubled over and gasped as he laughed even harder. Nate looked frustrated at the fact that Chuck was not taking offense, so much so that his face turned red and his knuckles clenched into fists. The other boys just watched in anticipation for the next war of words. Finally, Chuck gained his composure and stood up. He looked Nate in the eyes and smiled.
"Nathaniel, have you forgotten that I'm two pants sizes lower than you?" The other boys "oooohhheeedd," and Nate's eyes became filled with the anger that he had possessed that fateful Saturday night.
"Maybe if you didn't have such a small di--"
"What's going on in here?!" The gym teacher's booming voice echoed off the walls as he entered the shower room. He looked back and forth from Chuck to the group of boys. "The bell rang five minutes ago! You're all late, let's go!" Nate gave Chuck a deadly stare before turning and leading the group away. Chuck began to head back to the shower stall, for he was still chilled. "Bass, get to class!" the teacher exclaimed. Chuck turned to him and stared him down.
"Piss off," he said. Then the teacher gave him a detention.
Chuck was relieved when lunch finally came. He hated going to class, let alone soaking wet and cold. He chose a seat at a table in the outside courtyard, and he was thankful that the sun was out. Chuck sat down with a turkey and provolone sandwich, feeling many gawking eyes upon him. His nose scrunched up, still smelling the awful stuff on him. No amount of cologne could make it go away. For once he was hoping that Blair wouldn't meet him for lunch.
"Chuck?"
Chuck looked up slightly under his eyelids, not bothering to raise his head. The voice was much lower than the one he expected, though he still recognized it. His eyes moved back downward.
"Humphrey." Dan stood next to the table with a brown bag lunch and a few books. A few seconds of awkward silence ensued until Dan couldn't take it anymore.
"Can I sit here?" Dan asked.
"It's a free country," Chuck said, still not looking up. Dan sat down next to him and sighed uncomfortably. Suddenly his nose twitched, and he inhaled through his mouth.
"Wow. Don't take this the wrong way Chuck, but I think they put way too much chlorine in the pool today," Dan said. Chuck smiled a little.
"If I told you, you wouldn't believe me." Chuck finally turned to face Dan, his smile disappearing. He folded his arms, his eyes filled with speculation. "What do you want, Humphrey?" Dan gulped, knowing it wasn't going to be a casual talk.
"I just came to tell you that I'm not mad anymore," Dan said. Chuck smiled again at the corners of his mouth.
"You mean for causing the breakup of your band and crushing your hopes and dreams, or for trying to rape your sister?" It was Dan's turn to smile.
"I think I made up for that second one," he said. "I actually meant the band. Serena told me the whole story." Chuck rolled his eyes.
"Tell your girlfriend that she doesn't have to stick up for me," Chuck said.
"You've stuck up for her. She told me about how you told your dad to save her for breaking into the pool." Chuck looked away and picked at the top piece of bread on his sandwich.
"You weren't supposed to know about that," Chuck said.
"Well, I do. What's done is done. I know the whole story about you and Blair, too," Dan said. Chuck looked at him, and then looked up and sighed in disgust.
"That's the last time I tell Van Der Woodsen anything," Chuck said, poison in his voice. Dan smiled.
"Don't worry; no one else knows but me, and I'm not going to say anything to Nate. You may not know a lot about me, but at least you can count on that to be true. He is the one who truly overdramatized this whole thing and ruined my band," Dan said. Chuck laughed a little through a closed mouth.
"Not to mention my friendship with him."
"No, I think you take ownership of that title," Dan said bluntly. Chuck looked away, knowing it was true. He was about to say something sarcastic back, but Dan spoke again. "It's okay, though. I know you really care about her." Chuck put his head in his hand and looked at Dan.
"It's more than that. I love her." Chuck leaned back and took his legs out from under the table. Dan couldn't believe it. Chuck actually admitted that he loved someone. It was more shocking than when Dan had found out that his dad and Serena's mom had sex.
"It's all worth it, then?" Dan asked. Chuck smiled a little, but then his face went blank.
"Yeah, except for the band."
"I know," Dan said. He didn't want to get too sappy in front of Chuck, so he decided to go back to the original topic. "You know Chuck, you and I aren't so different." Chuck's eyes looked amused.
"Is this the part where we're supposed to be friends? Look Humphrey, I came into your band for fortune, not to get to know you better. Despite Serena's connections with both of us, I can't befriend someone like you."
"Why's that?" Dan asked. He really didn't care how Chuck felt about him; he just wanted to stick it to him. "Is it still the whole class thing? I thought that didn't bother you anymore." Chuck froze, looking over at the table. Dan smiled a little. "Chuck, when Serena and I started dating, nobody approved of me as her boyfriend. Even Serena's grandma wanted me out of her life. But we love each other. We decided that we don't care what anyone else says--well, I never cared, but Serena's high society and all that crap." Chuck smiled at Dan's last few words. Dan continued. "I was kind of glad to hear that we weren't the only ones who don't care anymore."
Chuck remained silent, listening to the laugher and sounds of the people in the courtyard. Suddenly his cell phone bleeped. He pulled it out of his pocket and read the message from Blair saying that she had a study group and couldn't come to lunch. Dan sat for a few moments lost in his ponderings, and then he began to stand up.
"Dan?"
Dan looked back down, surprised that Chuck called him by his first name. He didn't think he remembered it. Chuck sighed.
"I can't believe I am asking this." There was a small pause, and Dan felt like he was in a soap opera and Chuck was about to tell him that his sister died. Chuck looked up, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm fucking cold and I can't shake it off. There's a coffee place around the block. Want to come with me and get a cup?" Dan smiled, not believing who had just asked that question.
"Sure," he replied. Chuck put his sandwich back in the bag and closed it up. Then he and Dan rose and began to walk towards the main courtyard that divided two of the Upper East Side's most prominent schools.
Spotted: C and D walking back to St. Jude's, carrying coffee from the expensive shop down the block. They seemed to be having fun, shoving each other and spilling coffee over the edges of their cups. I gotta hand it to C: he keeps me guessing more and more every day. First a steady girlfriend, now pals with lonelyboy?! He is probably the greatest actor we never knew existedI'm not liking it, but at least it's something new.
XOXO
Gossip Girl
The next day, Dan walked into the music room and sat down for chorus class. He pulled out a sheet of paper from his pocket that read what he was going to tell the agent about Secret Addictions that night. It had been difficult to write. Chuck had offered a little advice when they went to get coffee, since he was a pro at smooth talking. Dan sighed, looking from his handwriting on the page to the front of the room. It was a Thursday, the day they would normally be practicing after school. Dan dreamed of the last Thursday before the concert for weeks. Now it would never be.
Nate entered the room, surrounded by new cronies who Dan knew were as flighty as the day was young. Dan looked back down at the paper and read over the first few lines, not noticing what Nate placed on Mr. Smith's desk before running to his seat. After a few seconds, Mr. Smith entered the room with his notebooks and laptop under one arm.
"Alright everyone, get into groups, hurry up!" Mr. Smith said. As a few guys began to scurry, Mr. Smith placed his things on the desk. He noticed what was lying there and picked it up. He looked up at his students and waved the object in his hand. "Is this some sort of sick joke?!" he asked loudly. Dan looked at what Mr. Smith was holding and his eyes widened. It was a white and red covered Karma Sutra sex book.
"Open the front cover, Mr. Smith! See who it belongs to!" Nate suggested. Dan winced.
"Oh no, here it comes," he thought, and he was right.
"Where is Charles Bass?!" Mr. Smith exclaimed angrily. As if on cue, Chuck ran through the doors of the music room, out of breath. His navy blue uniform coat was across his arm and his yellow and red striped tie had come undone.
"Mr. Smith, I was walking down the hall and there was this freshy who slipped and fell down two stairs and--" Chuck began to say. Mr. Smith stepped towards Chuck and waved the book like a madman. His face had turned a bright, fire-engine red.
"What is the meaning of this?!" he asked. Chuck's big eyes looked surprised as he read the cover.
"What do you mean?" Chuck asked, though he had a sick feeling that he already knew.
"You know well what I mean. Why do you have such an object in this school, and why did you put it on my desk?!" Mr. Smith yelled. Chuck's eyes darted at Nate for a brief moment. Nate grinned like he had just won a million dollars. Chuck sighed. He had never tried swallowing his pride before. It was painful.
"Yeah Mr. Smith, I did it. I thought it would be good if you learned some new tips," Chuck said. A few of the boys snickered, before the fuming eyes of Mr. Smith lay upon them. The teacher looked back at Chuck, throwing his arms in the air.
"I can't believe you! You think you can do whatever you want and not pay attention in school because of who your father is! I can't see why a smart young man like Dan Humphrey would choose someone like you for his band. Nate Archibald fine, he always works extremely hard in this class. But you?! Your repulsive lifestyle astonishes me! Not even the greatest voice can cover for lack of determination!!"
Dan's mouth dropped open, and a small whimper of shock escaped his throat. He forgot that when he went to ask Mr. Smith about moving them up in the concert order, he motioned that Chuck and Nate were in the band. He put his head in his hands. The word was out now. He could feel the many eyes staring at him as if he had two heads. Nate looked surprised as well, and all of the boys looked back and forth between him and Dan in absolute shock.
Chuck didn't shoot back a remark, nor did he hang his head. He stood proudly and looked at Mr. Smith, knowing what was coming next. They boys turned their attention back to the front of the room as Mr. Smith stomped back to his desk and pulled out a white slip of paper. He walked back to Chuck and placed it in his hands with a frown.
"Take this to the principal's office when you go now," Mr. Smith said. Then he handed Chuck the book. "And this as well." Chuck took the book softly from Mr. Smith, then casually looked over at Nate. Nate's eyes were held by Chuck's poised stare. He discovered that nothing he had done to Chuck affected him, nor would it ever.
Chuck turned slowly and began to walk away, holding his head high. The boys watched him go, as if caught in a majestic rapture. Every junior boy in the school had always been in secret awe of Chuck. He always was in control of a situation. Even his defeats seemed like victories.
Chuck opened the doors and walked out, and the room became filled with an unexplained emptiness. Mr. Smith walked back to his desk. He looked through his notes.
"I must go to the copy machine. I'll be right back," he said. Mr. Smith walked out of the room, though everyone knew he was just going to try to calm his frazzled nerves. All of the boys looked at Dan, who looked back at them with annoyed eyes.
"What?" he asked. He sighed, and his voice rose. "Okay, okay. Chuck and Nate were in my band. Yes you never knew, yes we worked damn hard, and no we're not performing. There, satisfied?!" Dan stood up, tired of the world he lived in. Everyone would be talking about the band that never was, and wondering if the boys who hated each other actually became friends. He briskly walked away from his desk and walked out of the music room with one slam of the doors. Nate watched him go, his mouth parted slightly. He felt his stomach churning as if someone had stuck a knife through it.
Suddenly Nate stood up and ran out of the music room. He spotted Dan walking quickly to the end of the hallway.
"Dan!" Nate exclaimed. Dan turned around, his face exasperated.
"What?" Dan asked sharply. Nate was shocked at Dan's fury. Dan had always been mild mannered.
"I didn't know how much my leaving the band would bother you," Nate stated.
"Duh! I put my heart and soul into the thing for weeks, and you just expect me to be okay when you back out?!" Dan asked. Nate knew he would have been angry too if he were in Dan's position.
"I'm really sorry. I didn't want to make you mad. I just couldn't bear it. Standing up there with Chuck and acting like everything is okay just wasn't an option for me," Nate said. Dan sighed loudly.
"Nate, I'm not about to say that Chuck was completely right in what he did, because that would be wrong. But how you've acted towards him is just unnecessary." Nate took a step back, as if he had just been punched.
"What?! He stole my girlfriend!" Nate exclaimed.
"The girlfriend who broke up with you?! I'm sorry that she did it, but you have to face the facts. She would still be with you if she loved you, and if you loved her you wouldn't have slept with my girlfriend. Who you still care about, by the way," Dan said.
"I do not!" Nate exclaimed defensively.
"You wrote songs about her! How do you think that made me feel?!" Dan exclaimed. He looked down, trying to calm down. Nate's eyes widened, understanding for the first time how much he had hurt so many people that he cared about.
"Dan, I'm really sorry," Nate tried to say again.
"I don't care about that," Dan said, looking up. He smiled a little. "I have Serena now, and that's all that really matters." His smile faded slowly. "I just think that you need to decide what you want out of life. If you had known before, maybe all of this could have been avoided." Dan slowly turned and walked away, thinking about what he said. He wondered if it would make any impact at all.
Nate walked over to a wall. He leaned up against it and slowly moved down so that he sat on the floor. He sighed, thinking about the advice Dan gave. Images of Chuck, Blair, his chorus class, and the band flashed through his brain.
"Do you love me?" Blair's voice echoed in his head. He then remembered running his fingers through Serena's long blonde hair, and how much he had enjoyed it.
"Welcome to the band." Nate remembered Dan's face on the day of tryouts. Nate thought about how excited he had felt when he heard Dan accept him. He remembered going to the music store and picking up the bass for the first time. He smiled nostalgically as he recalled playing the songs he wrote and how empowering it had felt.
"Singing is for girls and whimpy men." Nate laughed, remembering Chuck's tone of voice as he said those words. He remembered exactly where they were after the chorus class assembly and how optimistic he had felt. He pictured Chuck in his mind, rolling his dark brown eyes in disgust and raising a smoldering cigarette to his lips. Nate's face went blank as he pictured Chuck again in his mind. This time he was sitting on a white bar chair in his room, looking at Nate very concerned.
"Look, I care about three things, Nathaniel: money, the pleasures money brings me, and you. I'm just trying to have your back here." Nate recognized how true that was.
Nate thought back to all of those nights when he showed up at Chuck's door, wanting to break down because his parents had been fighting again. Chuck was always there with a bottle of alcohol and plenty of hilarious remarks. Nate smiled as he remembered back to when they were preteens, and when Chuck had told him all about what sex was. He remembered the many whispers and rumors that had been spread about him over the years and how Chuck always shot down anyone who dared speak those things about him.
"Nate, my jump rope came undone! Help me tie it!" Blair's seven-year old voice came to Nate's mind.
"I'm helping Serena!" he had replied as he gave the laughing Serena a push on the swings. He had spent a few more minutes with her before running over to Blair, only to discover that Chuck had tied her jump rope for her. He had watched them jump through it together, chanting and laughing happily.
"Why is she mad?" Nate remembered asking Chuck in a bar. They were fifteen, and Blair had become angry with him again. Chuck had placed his scotch glass down and smirked, greatly amused.
"You never do know why she's mad, do you?" Nate frowned, and he suddenly recalled all of the days he and Chuck had spent together when Nate felt down and just wanted to go somewhere and do something. He remembered one recent time as clear as a bell. His dad had lectured him about Dartmouth college and why he would go there and nowhere else. Nate had been so upset that he had ran to Central Park just to get away. He had called Chuck and told him the story, and Chuck had shown up in a second.
"Thanks for coming. You didn't have to," Nate remembered saying. Chuck had smiled.
"I'm your best friend, Nathaniel. It's kind of my job."
Nate stood up, thinking about how angry he had been that Saturday night. Chuck was the one person he could rely on in the entire world. And he had hurt him physically and attempted to hurt him even more for no reason.
"You're jealous now, Nathaniel. You're jealous of what you can't have, and you're jealous that no matter how many times you started over, she never loved you."
"He's not my best friend anymore. He's as much worth to me as a used condom."
Nate's heart collapsed in his chest, not believing that he had said what he did. He looked down at his limp hands in his lap, and for a moment felt like he had ruined his own life. That was when he stood up and walked back to class, a smile spreading across his face. Suddenly, Nathaniel Archibald knew exactly what he wanted. His life wasn't ruined; it was only beginning.
Chuck hit the ground hard, and his cheek became scratched by the rough fiber of the rug. He turned his head upward and looked into the disappointed, angered eyes of his father. Bart Bass stared at his son as if he were a bug he was about to step on.
"I don't know how many more times I have to say it," Bart said coldly. He slammed the suite's door behind him, and Chuck cringed. Bart walked over to the bar and went right for the scotch. "When you came to me with the idea for Victrola, I really thought different about you, son." He poured the brown liquid into a glass as Chuck staggered to his feet. He considered himself lucky that he only got a shove through the door. Bart raised the now-filled glass to his face and he stared at it as if contemplating. "I thought you were making something of yourself. You weren't bringing home women anymore, you got a D on a test that one week instead of failing…" Bart guzzled down all of the scotch in one gulp, then looked at his son harshly. "And then you go and spit in my face for hoping." He slammed the glass down on the bar and Chuck jumped. He hated how jittery his father made him sometimes. At least Chuck knew where he got his scaring tactics from.
"I'm telling you, it was Nate," Chuck said. He grabbed the back of an armchair and leaned on it. Bart laughed a little.
"Do you honestly think me that stupid, Chuck? You should give your father a little more credit. Nate Archibald and a Karma Sutra book, hah! That's a mighty fine laugh." He poured more scotch in his glass. Chuck looked down.
"I just lied to the principal," Chuck admitted. "Maybe if you were home once and a while, you would know that Nate and I are in a fight and that Blair and I are dating." At hearing this, Bart spit the alcohol in his mouth back into the glass.
"What?!" Bart asked. Chuck knew he shouldn't have said anything, especially the last part.
"Blair broke up with Nate and we're dating now. Nathaniel's angry and not speaking to me."
Bart looked off to the side for a few moments in shock. Then he walked out from behind the bar and over to his son gently. He stared down at his own reflection in Chuck's deep, widened eyes for a few moments. Then he slapped Chuck across the face on the same cheek that had hit the ground coming in. The force was so great that Chuck felt his face sting. Chuck thought about how sick he was of everyone hitting him. No one could compare to his father's occasional wrath, though. Bart didn't hit him often but when he did it hurt more than anything. Bart continued to stare down at Chuck, his eyes bulging out of their sockets.
"How could you?" Bart asked calmly. That was the worst thing about Chuck's father. He never raised his voice; he just slowly took his anger out, making Chuck feel stupid for living. "You and Nathaniel have been best friends for years. How could you steal his girlfriend?"
Chuck paused for a moment, looking back up at his father with big eyes. The left side of his face was still hurting and throbbing, and Chuck thought of nothing but putting cold water on it.
"Because I care about her. He doesn't," Chuck said simply. Bart's chest heaved, and he shook his head.
"Charles, why do you always have to screw everything up? The Archibalds are a prominent family. Maybe not as well known as the Waldorfs, but definitely richer."
"And more troubled," Chuck said. "But who am I to point out a troubled family?" Bart looked a little disturbed by his son's comment.
"We're not troubled. I have everything I could've dreamed of. Money, nice suits, whenever vacations, you…" Chuck noticed how he wasn't even in the top three.
"Everything except mom," Chuck commented.
"We'll have that soon. Lily will be your mother."
"A lot good that will do. I feel almost bad for the Van Der Woodsens, getting suckered into our life." Chuck crossed his arms, and his father looked almost hurt.
"Suckered? I happen to love Lily."
"Like you love me, I'm guessing," Chuck said sarcastically. Bart suddenly grabbed Chuck by the shoulders and pressed his fingers down so hard that he nearly penetrated Chuck's muscles. Chuck kept his arms folded to resist his father's strong grasp. He continued looking down. Bart shook Chuck slightly but firmly and looked down upon him with hardened eyes.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you," Bart ordered, his voice strict but staying the same composed tone. Chuck looked up slowly.
"Now you listen to me and you listen good. Everything I do is for you and your future. I built up my business to what it is so that you can take the reins one day. I invest so that you will never have to worry about being one of those bums on the streets in Manhattan. You've always had the world at your fingertips. What more could you possibly want?"
"You and mom," Chuck thought, but he said nothing. He had managed without them for most of his life. Pretty poorly up until recently, but he still managed. It wasn't like his mom was magically going to come back to his dad and his dad would stay home again, like in the dreams he sometimes had as a child. Bart let go of Chuck's shoulders but his eyes didn't look away.
"I've given my life for you, Charles. It's about time you gave back." Bart walked back to the bar and drank the last of his scotch. Then he grabbed his briefcase which he had left on one of the chairs. "I'll be gone to a social with one of my clients. Don't wait up." And with that, Bart Bass walked out of the suite for the one trillionth time. Chuck stared at the door, his brow lowered.
"Give back? I've been trying to impress you for the past seventeen years," Chuck said irritably to his imaginary father. He walked to the bathroom and examined himself in the mirror. His cheek was red and bleeding very slightly, whether from the rug or his father's nail he wasn't sure. Chuck gently put a cold washcloth to his face. After he numbed the stinging pain he walked over to the bar and got himself some scotch. He checked the time as he drank. It was two o'clock. Blair wouldn't be out of school for another hour.
Chuck took his drink and went to his bed. He laid down and stared at the white ceiling tiles, thinking about everything that had happened the past few weeks and how his father never knew. His eyes closed, and he felt the alcohol kick in and relax him.
"Chuck!"
Chuck stirred a little, squinting as the light hit his eyes. As soon as his vision cleared, he sat up and looked at the clock: four twenty. Chuck didn't mean to sleep for so long. He sat up and out of the corner of his eye saw the outline of a tall figure. Chuck turned and frowned as he saw Nate.
"How did you get in?" Chuck asked bitterly. Nate straightened up, prepared for an interrogation.
"I have the spare key you gave to Blair that one morning at the brunch. After everything occurred, she gave it to me, saying I'd need it more than she would." Nate shuffled one foot over the other, looking around. "It feels like I haven't been here in ages." Chuck placed his long legs over the side of the bed and stretched his arms out in front of him. When he lowered them he leaned back on them and looked at Nate uncaringly.
"Cut the crap, Archibald. What do you want? Come to insult me again?" Chuck asked. He smiled a little. "Go ahead. This will be good for another laugh."
"I'm not here to insult you," Nate said.
"You want to hit me again, then?" Chuck asked cockily. "My father already gave me a good slap in the face, but everything else is yours. Except for the balls, please. Have enough heart for that."
"Chuck…" Nate paused, wanting to say something before getting straight to the point. He couldn't think of anything. "I'm really sorry." Chuck looked at him for a few moments, then smiled.
"You're pathetic," Chuck said. Nate arched an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb," Chuck said, crossing his arms and leaning forward. His voice had its familiar arrogant tone. "You saw today that you can't hold a candle to me when it comes to outwitting someone, so now you come crawling back on your hands and knees. Nothing you do troubles me, so you figure not to try anymore." He clicked his tongue in his mouth. "I'm disappointed, really. I thought you'd at least give it one more week before you realized how lame you are. This is almost upsetting." Nate looked extremely irritated, but his voice didn't rise.
"I came here to apologize, and you mock me. That is so like you, Chuck."
"You can't be serious." Chuck stood up, looking up from under lowered eyebrows and smirking. "You can't just waltz in here after all of that and be sorry." Nate shrugged, still looking aggravated.
"Well, I am." His face suddenly softened. "Look, I took the whole thing way out of proportion. I was upset that you took Blair. But it wasn't because I loved her or anything." He sighed. "Chuck, my whole life, everyone has decided things for me. My dad already has my future planned out. I barely pick out my own clothes. I guess that Blair was the only thing in my life that always belonged to me, even though we were planned too if you think about it." Chuck's overconfident attitude had disappeared. Nate noticed that Chuck was listening closely instead of ignoring him. "I realized after walking out of Dan's loft that you were right in what you said about me being jealous. I wanted to go back and apologize, but I didn't. Something terrible made me want to hurt you. It was the jealousy, worse than you can ever imagine. It wasn't jealousy of you and Blair; it was only jealousy of you."
"Me?" Chuck asked in a whisper. His mouth dropped open slightly in disbelief. "Doesn't he have any idea how jealous I've always been of him?!"
"You have the life I've always wanted. My father puts so much pressure on me in everything I do. I had to always want the life he planned for me and I've always had to grow up when he told me to grow up." Nate paused and looked down, the words getting harder for him to say. "I know that your father is rough on you, but at least you got to go out and drink and sleep with whoever you wanted. I always had to be with Blair, it was expected of me. You have the freedom I've only dared to dream of. Not to mention that you can go wherever you want with your future. I guess that when Blair went to you, it was like your life got a whole lot better. You got the girl you wanted, while the girl I want is unattainable."
"You mean Serena," Chuck said. Nate nodded slowly.
"I was a monster. I was angry at you for the privileges you have. That was so wrong of me that I won't even go into it. Especially since all you've ever done to me is be the best friend anyone could have." Nate looked back up, his voice shaky. "You're like my brother." Chuck smiled a little; so did Nate. "What I did to you was terrible, but I'm not jealous anymore, Chuck. I learned today that I've got to start taking charge and deciding what I want in my life instead of blaming my uncontrol on those I care about. And the first thing I want is for you to be my friend again." Nate suddenly looked a little worried. "Do you think you can ever forgive me?" Chuck smiled widely, thinking about when he had hated Nate when he had Blair. Jealousy had been the only thing to ever make them despise each other.
"I always have," Chuck said. Nate grinned, getting the answer that he had prayed for. Without Chuck's friendship his life was unsupported and dull. "For the record," Chuck said, "I was always jealous of you too." Nate laughed a little.
"I guess we're both guilty of that, hunh?" Nate asked. Chuck was about to throw in how he wouldn't have gone as far as Nate did, but he decided to hold his tongue. He just nodded and walked over to Nate.
"Come here, man," Chuck said. Nate put one arm around Chuck in a man-hug and Chuck returned it.
"I'm sorry," Nate said again.
"Don't think about it anymore," Chuck said. He pulled out of the hug and looked at his friend's face. His mouth formed into an unbelieving smirk. "Are you crying?!"
"No," Nate said, blinking. Chuck shook his head and punched Nate in the arm.
"You wuss," he said. Nate laughed.
"I really do belong in that boy band," Nate said through his laughs. Chuck laughed too, remembering back to that joke. When he stopped, he realized something.
"Does this mean you want to go back tot he band?" Chuck asked.
"I'm in. Are you?" Nate questioned. Chuck smiled.
"Yeah. Let me give Humphrey a call." He pulled out his cell phone and did just that. When Chuck told him the story, Dan was shocked into silence for so long that Chuck thought he had fainted.
"Okay, see you tomorrow," Chuck said at the end of the conversation. He closed his phone and looked at Nate. "Humphrey didn't talk to the agent yet, thank God. He said that we'll have a meeting in the music room tomorrow after school. He told me he'd call Carter. Oh, and he also told me to tell you not to come in swinging this time." Nate laughed.
"He can guarantee that," Nate said. "Chuck, we're going to be rock stars!"
"Hang on Nathaniel, we're not famous yet," Chuck said.
"Or are we?" Nate asked. He suddenly frowned. "Stupid Gossip Girl, stalking my life." Chuck's face brightened as he got an idea.
"How about this?" Chuck asked. He walked over to a mirror and ran his fingers through his bedraggled hair to smooth it out. He was still in his school uniform but he didn't feel like changing. "How about we go out and get some drinks, and on the way there we'll list all of the names we can call that bitch?"
"Sounds perfect, except you just said the word that is the epitome of Gossip Girl," Nate said. Chuck looked at him.
"Epi-toe-what-the-hell?" he asked. Nate laughed out loud at Chuck's clueless expression.
"Epitome. The essence of," Nate described. Chuck shrugged.
"Don't worry, there are plenty of others. And if we can't think of anything, we'll go to a Border's and find a book that lists more," Chuck said with a smirk.
"That ought to be foreign to you," Nate said.
"You'll have to talk intelligently for me. Not that you're much better," Chuck joked. "Maybe we should get Humphrey, Mr. 'top ten percent in the school.'" Nate laughed, then he followed Chuck to the coat closet. Nate looked down uncomfortably.
"Chuck, can I ask you a favor?" Nate asked.
"What is it?" Chuck grabbed his tan coat from the closet and threw it on.
"Do you think I could stay here tonight? My mom's pretty pissed at me."
"Why's she pissed?" Chuck asked.
"I told her that I wasn't going to Dartmouth and that I'm going to major in something different then she and dad want me to. She threw a fit," Nate said. Chuck's mouth dropped open and it formed into a grin.
"You really are getting some backbone, Nathaniel! I'm impressed!" Chuck said.
"I told you! I'm not taking anyone's shit any more," Nate said.
"Good to see," Chuck said. "Sure, you can stay here. Lord knows you have so many times that my living room couch creates a molding of your figure. And that you are just like the wuss and I am just like the messy guy from 'The Odd Couple.'" Chuck's voice turned curious. "What are you going to major in?" Nate was about to answer, but suddenly Chuck interrupted again. "Wait, wait. I want to hear all the details at the bar on how you decided it and how you told off your mom. First, I want to think up some names, because I hate that internet stalker bitch."
"That's one name," Nate said. Chuck opened the door and Nate walked halfway out before turning around. "The spying loser girl."
"Think a little dirtier, Nathaniel. You're free now, you can swear." The two walked out of the room and went to the elevator.
"Spying mother fucker!" Nate exclaimed loudly in the hall.
"There you go!" Chuck said. They chortled as they went into the elevator, as if no time had gone by.
Spotted: C and N drinking and being merry in a classy bar near the Palace. They were laughing and talking the entire time, I wonder what was so funny? It seems like they're best friends once again. I knew it wouldn't last before C went back to normal. Now if only we could catch him going home with two skinny sluts, and all would be right in the world. B and S walking out of a spa, and S recieving a phone call at which she jumped up and down excitedly after hanging up. Could it be a message from lonelyboy? What is he up to now that his band is through, anyway? B has looked much happier lately, even though I hear that she put on two pounds. My explanation? B is enjoying C's company after all...in the form of mind blowing orgasms.
XOXO
Gossip Girl
"Hello?"
"Carter?"
"Is this Dan?" Carter sounded surprised.
"Yeah, it's me," Dan said happily. "You'll never guess what."
"What?" Carter asked. Dan smiled. He was so overjoyed that his band was getting back together.
"Chuck and Nate are friends again. They've stopped fighting, so the band will go on. We're having a meeting tomorrow after school in the music room, and our debut is still on Sunday."
"Dan, I can't."
Dan felt his stomach drop.
"What do you mean, 'you can't?'"
"I'm off to India in an hour. I'm sitting in the airport right now. I actually would've been gone already but the flight was delayed," Carter explained. Dan couldn't believe it.
"Carter, you can't leave! India's not going anywhere, you can leave after Sunday! We'll hold off practices until you get back for the next gig!" Dan exclaimed.
"I'm sorry Dan, but this is important. I have my own life. The band moved on, remember?" Carter asked. He talked like it had been years since Secret Addictions played.
"What is so important about it?! Is it a business trip, or are you just going for gambling again?!" Dan asked. Carter's voice became harsh.
"You guys are just a teenage band. It was a priority of mine before, but it broke up and now I have new priorities," Carter said.
"Is it because you found another get-rich-quick scheme since this one didn't work out so well for you?!" Dan asked. Carter was silent, and Dan sighed. "You know what your problem is, Carter? You never commit to anything or anyone. You could be successful if you didn't go away and obligate yourself to different things and the second your chances look bleak come back! That's exactly what you do!"
"You don't know me," Carter said through gritted teeth.
"I know that you said you wanted to be like me. I am the way I am because I see things through. I would never let down people who count on me," Dan said. Carter listened in silence. "Plus, you owe my dad one. You don't have to come back, Carter. But if you don't, and if I ever see you in New York in the future, I'll find no reason not to walk up and punch you in the face. Because people who don't settle on a purpose disgust me." Carter said nothing. He lowered the phone down subconsciously. He stared into space, feeling like Dan had just summarized his life. "Carter? Carter?! Hello?!" Dan shouted through the phone. Carter raised the phone back to his ear.
"Sorry," he said. "I was just thinking." There was a pause as Dan waited for an answer. He heard Carter sigh. "Alright Dan, I'll come back. But it's only to pay back you and your dad." Dan raised an eyebrow.
"Why me?" Dan asked.
"I don't think I ever would have realized what I did just now had I not met you." Carter hung up the phone, still lost in deep thought. Dan sat in puzzlement, wondering what Carter had realized. He thought back to what he told Nate, and how he and Chuck were friends again. He smiled as he put down the phone. Dan had gotten his band back together, and all it had taken were words.
"Stop pulling it!" Nate exclaimed. "I'm going to choke!"
"Stop moving your neck!" Chuck exclaimed. He twisted the collar around and let it hang on Nate's shoulders. "There, you're all nerdy." Nate turned to face Chuck, who was playing with the sleeve of his own red chorus robe. "God, we look ridiculous."
"Don't worry, it won't be long before we can go look cool," Nate said. He flattened down the yellow collar. "It's different, I'll give it that." Suddenly the doors of the music room slammed open and a certain dark-haired boy entered.
"You guys!" Dan exclaimed, rapidly running over to them.
"Hey Dan!" Nate exclaimed.
"Humphrey, where were you?!" Chuck asked.
"Traffic was terrible," Dan said. He leaned in and whispered to Chuck. "Do we have the vegetable soup?"
"It's in my back pocket and accounted for," Chuck whispered. "Is Carter at the club?"
"Yeah, he's making his way," Dan said. "He sent me a text." It was Sunday night, and ten minutes before seven o' clock. The boys were planning to get Nate sick at precisely 7:25, so he wouldn't have to do his solo and then they could sneak out.
"We have to each go one at a time to the bathroom so no one is suspicious," Chuck said.
"I'll go," Nate volunteered.
"Okay, as soon as we're done with attendance and warm ups, you head to the bathroom," Dan said to Nate. "Chuck will go next, then me."
"Who's got the compost mix?" Nate asked.
"I brought it. It's in my coat which I tossed in an empty locker close to the bathroom," Dan said. "I even added parmesan cheese so it seems like Nate ate pasta."
"Excellent," Chuck said with a grin. Just then Mr. Smith entered the room, looking very animated.
"Alright people, gather in your sections for warm ups!" Mr. Smith exclaimed. "This is the night we've been waiting for!" The three separated and waited patiently as Mr. Smith took attendance and led them through warm up songs. Finally, they finished. "I just want to say how proud I am of all of you. You have worked very hard. Now it's seven, and period one is up first!" Mr. Smith exclaimed. The period one boys hooted, making the best of their situation. They left in a big group, and Dan ran over to Nate.
"Nate, go into the bathroom when period two leaves. You'll blend right in," Dan said. Nate nodded, and five minutes later period two was called to be ready backstage. Nate ran quickly to the back of the group and stopped as soon as he got outside the music room. He ran for the bathroom.
"Nate?"
A small voice stopped him. He turned and smiled brightly once he saw who it was.
"Jenny!"
"How are you?" Jenny asked, blushing. She wasn't counting on seeing him after what Dan told her, so she was overjoyed.
"I'm great! How are you?" Nate asked.
"Pretty good, excited!" Jenny said.
"I thought Constance's concert was next week," Nate said.
"It is, but I'm in the a cappella choir. They invited us to do a special guest appearance. Maybe they wanted a little high voices in with the lows." Nate noticed she wore her black a capella gown.
"Well that sounds like fun! Dan never told me," Nate said.
"He's been busy." Jenny walked closer to him and put her hand on his shoulder, turning Nate red. "I know you guys are sneaking out tonight. He's probably too worried about the band," Jenny whispered. Nate smiled.
"Yeah, we're being bad," he whispered back. Jenny giggled.
"I wanted to see you sing your solo, but the band is more important." She stepped back a little and dropped her hand. "Good luck tonight, although I'm sure you won't need it." Nate grinned brightly.
"Thanks. You too," he replied. Suddenly, the door of the music room flung open and the period three group came out, hollering. Nate quickly grabbed Jenny's hand and pulled her with him behind an opposite wall where no one would see him. Jenny was shocked by the sudden motion, and almost tripped. Nate pulled her closer to him and caught her in his arms before she fell. She looked up and examined his slender face. She looked into his cerulean blue eyes and she couldn't find her breath.
"You have good reflexes," Jenny complimented, fighting the urge to bend up and kiss him. Nate smiled, flashing off a set of gorgeous white teeth.
"Thank you."
"A-hem!"
Nate and Jenny looked up to see a smirking and bright-eyed Chuck looking down at them. He put his hands behind his back and laughed in his throat.
"I see what's going on here. A little romance before the soldier goes off into battle?" Chuck asked, making his voice stretch slightly over each word. Both Nate and Jenny blushed as they stood up. Jenny was embarrassed, while Nate was annoyed.
"What are you doing here?!" Nate exclaimed in a whisper.
"I came out with group three and saw you two making a jump for your lives. You're supposed to be in the bathroom already, remember? Or is your mind too filled with thoughts of sex set to music?" Chuck asked. He continued to let his tongue roll over each word. Jenny rolled her eyes.
"I don't care what my brother and Serena say; you're still a creep," she said.
"Take it easy Little J, I approve of you two," Chuck said with a grin. "I'm taken, so you can't want me anymore. I know I'm irresistible, but that's the way it has to be."
"Um Jenny, I think you should go," Nate said.
"Yes, I think so," Jenny said with a hateful glare at Chuck. She turned back to Nate and beamed. "Goodnight, Nate. And don't worry, you'll be great tonight."
"So will you," Nate said. Jenny turned and ran down the hall. Nate smiled as he looked after her. Chuck shook his head and sang lowly.
"Got a big plan, his mind said maybe it's right, in the right place and right time, maybe tonight…"
"Shut up!" Nate exclaimed, punching Chuck in the shoulder. Chuck laughed, and then smiled once he stopped.
"You like her. I can tell," Chuck observed. Nate looked at his best friend, surprise showing blatently on his face.
"Do you really approve?" he asked.
"Yeah, you two could work. She's young, that's a plus," Chuck said.
"Great Chuck, date by age. That doesn't sound perverted at all," Nate said.
"Everyone does that, Nathaniel. Now come on, we have to go." Chuck started walking rapidly down the hall, and Nate ran to catch up with him.
"What about you? Is Blair coming tonight?" Nate asked. Chuck grinned.
"She said Eleanor had another party, but she was going to try to make it," Chuck said. "Hopefully she will."
"Serena will definitely be there," Nate said. "Dan said so." They found the bathroom and ran in. Chuck looked around; it was deserted. He placed the can on the counter and flipped the metal opening. He tossed the top of the can in the trash and threw paper towels over it. Chuck turned and handed the can to Nate.
"Go throw half in the toilet, half around it. They won't suspect a thing," Chuck said. Nate nodded, took the can from Chuck's hand, and went into a stall. Moments later Dan came in, carrying his black coat. He opened a pocket and pulled out a plastic baggie filled with compost. All of the boys' noses scrunched up, even Nate who was farther away. It already smelt bad.
"How's it coming?" Dan asked.
"Good," Chuck said. Nate poked his head out of the stall.
"You didn't tell me Jenny was going to be here!" he exclaimed. Dan smiled.
"What's your interest in Jenny?" Dan asked. Nate's face went blank. He motioned to the empty can. "Here Chuck, get rid of this." Chuck walked over and took the can from Nate. He looked in the stall.
"That's so gross. I'll make it grosser," Chuck said. He dipped his slim index and middle fingers into the soup can and got some excess off the edges. He moved towards Nate and Nate jumped back and squealed.
"No way are you putting that on me!" he exclaimed. Chuck sighed.
"Nathaniel, do you want them to believe us or not?!" Chuck asked. "Quit being such a girl. Besides, it's only soup."
"No, you're not doing that!" Nate exclaimed.
"Guys, keep it down! They'll hear us!" Dan exclaimed. He looked behind him worriedly. Then he opened the compost bag and walked in between Chuck and Nate. He went into the stall and spread the stuff around. "It's almost time, I'm sure. Nate, let Chuck do it."
"No!" Nate yelled. Chuck sighed. He took the can and turned it upside down on the front of Nate's head. Nate screamed and waved his arms.
"You're such a pansy!" Chuck exclaimed with an eye roll. He wiped his fingers off on Nate's robe and then tossed the can in the trash under paper towels. He washed his fingers off in the sink. "Now shut up, they'll be coming in here." Dan threw out the empty bag, then he walked to the sink and started washing his hands off.
"Get in the stall, Nate. Chuck, you go tell Mr. Smith. You're a better liar than I am," Dan said. Chuck nodded proudly and left the bathroom, making sure there wasn't any evidence on him. He found Mr. Smith standing backstage, observing the activity.
"Mr. Smith, Nathaniel isn't feeling well. I think he's throwing up," Chuck said. Mr. Smith's eyes widened.
"What?" he asked. He ran towards the bathroom and Chuck followed him. They entered and heard disgusting noises echoing off the walls. A pungent stench wafted through the air, making Mr. Smith hold his nose and cough. It smelt so gross that Chuck felt like he could've thrown up himself. Dan was standing outside of the first stall, and Nate was kneeling over the toilet inside. Dan walked over to Chuck and his teacher.
"Mr. Smith, Nate's really sick. He's been like this for the past ten minutes," Dan said. "I don't think he can go onstage." Nate made a few weird gurgling noises.
"How terrible!" Mr. Smith exclaimed. His voice sounded higher since he was holding his nose. "It smells awful. It's like parmesan cheese," Mr. Smith commented. Chuck held in a laugh, causing him to start shaking.
"He did have pasta and vegetable soup for dinner," Dan said. While Mr. Smith walked over to the stall, Dan stomped on Chuck's foot to make him stop laughing. Chuck's mouth opened but no sound came out. He mouthed the f bomb at Dan as Mr. Smith knocked on the stall door.
"Mr. Archibald, it's Mr. Smith. You won't be going onstage in your condition." He walked back over to Dan and Chuck. "Mr. Humphrey, stay with him and take him outside for some fresh air when he finally stops. Mr. Bass, come with me." Chuck looked relieved and followed Mr. Smith. Dan went over to Nate and opened the stall door.
"Good job!" Dan whispered. Nate answered with a smile, then went back to making more noises in case anyone else came in. Chuck and Mr. Smith left the bathroom and both took a few breaths.
"Dear God, that was horrible. The poor boy," Mr. Smith said with pity.
"It was his nerves, I think," Chuck said. He decided that was the last thing he would say on the matter. He didn't want Mr. Smith to get suspicious, especially since he knew about the band. However, it seemed like he had forgotten all about it.
"This is terrible." Mr. Smith folded his arms and paced back and forth slowly for a few moments. Chuck thought he looked more like a philosopher than a music teacher. Mr. Smith suddenly stopped and looked at him. "Mr. Bass, what I am about to ask goes against all of my personal opinions of you. It's a pity that Mr. Archibald is sick, but the concert must go on. Despite your lack of studious mannerisms, you do have the best voice out of anyone in my class."
Chuck froze, feeling his palms begin to sweat. He turned a little paler than usual, for he knew what was coming.
"Mr. Bass, will you take Mr. Archibald's solo tonight?"