Well hello there ;]
So, this installment is the whole party scene. I do believe the whole drunk-off-your-ass thing is quite magical . . .Uh, sorta?
Anyway, I go on camp on camp in two days (Monday here in Australia but don't even get me started on time differences because I've had so much freakin maths this week I think my brain is a permanent pile of nothing). So this is probably my second last or so update for now, depending on how busy I am. Rrrr, high school. :|
And for those who are wondering why this story is about sex and teenagers and blah blah blah, I'm not a pervy weirdo and I don't base all my stories around it. I just really wanted to capture that awkward tension between Eric and Jenny that you know is there but no one's ever written about. Seriously, there's not even one E & J fanfic. I was astounded.
Jenny studied herself in the mirror. Long white dress, golden hair and blue eyes clouded with her hidden secrets. She did a twirl, her blood pumping viciously in her veins. She hadn't seen or talked to Erik in eight days. Nine? She hadn't kept track.
But now she was going to some society event, because Blair had invited Serena and Serena had invited Dan and Dan had invited his little sister. She still wasn't sure this was a good idea, but what else was there to do? She wasn't going to avoid him forever.
Jenny felt impatient as she climbed into a cab, watching the city lights flicker by as they drove. She didn't even remember paying them, or getting out of the cab. But suddenly she was at the door, facing her (current) biggest fears and dreams.
The room was dark, magical. Jenny's eyes flickered between the bar, the gold lights shimmering across the walls and the hordes of teenagers dancing.
"I thought this was a society event!" she hissed to Dan, whose eyes were large.
A very young, very drunk girl spun passed and giggled. "Well this is my kind of society!" she slurred. Jenny rolled her eyes.
Serena swooped in, a dress, as golden and beautiful as her mane of hair, clinging to her body. She smiled shyly at Dan. "Humphrey," she said sweetly, taking his hand and dragging him off.
"Serena! Wait!" Jenny yelled, but the blond goddess didn't hear. She was watching Dan too intensely to notice anything else. Jenny scanned the room, searching for a certain dark-eyed boy. She couldn't find him anywhere.
She strolled over to the bar and sank into a chair, sighing. "What can I get ya?" asked a bartender. He was young, with caramel blond hair and honey coloured eyes. He looked like a country boy. Jenny swayed dizzily. Would Erik look for a guy like this? Was this his 'type'?
"The strongest thing you've got," she said, feeling totally drained.
He came back with a glass of something so bright and neon it nearly glowed. She downed the pink liquid hurriedly. She couldn't wait to be drunk blind. She wouldn't have to think straight then.
"So, gorgeous, what's your name?" asked the bartender, rinsing a cup.
"If you get me another one of them, I'll tell you," she flashed him a silly grin. He handed her another glass, watching her scull half of it in one go.
"Humphrey. Wait, no. I got that wrong," she hiccoughed. "It's Jenny. And I am a Humphrey!" she sang, swivelling in the chair.
"Oh I'll bet."
"What'd you put in this? It's delicious! And very strong," she said, swallowing the rest. She glared at the emptiness of the flute. She felt that empty, really. She felt empty without Erik.
"Whatever I could find," her companion shrugged. "And I'm Henry. So, you free tomorrow?"
Jenny thought about that, putting a finger on her chin. "Hmm . . . I'm free right now!" she slurred.
The bartender smirked, leaning over the bench. "Well-"
Jenny felt two arms snake around her waist and lift her off the chair. "No, she's not free. Fuck off," hissed that melodic voice, full of cares and worries and honesty.
"Erik?" she whispered, but no one heard.
Jenny couldn't even remember his name – had he told her his name? All she knew was there was some shouting, and was that a threat? She sunk lower into Erik's arms, leaning her head against his chest.
"Get out of here," hissed Henry. Erik glared at him.
"Like we'd stay here with you."
And then she was being dragged off, her lank body feeling boneless. She felt the cool breeze hit her face like ice. "Oh, E," she sobbed against his shoulder.
"It's okay. Shh, it's okay. Come on now, you'll be alright," Erik said, waving for a cab. He laid Jenny in the seat beside him, and then she totally blanked out.
****
Jenny's eyes fluttered open. There he stood, like the angel he really was, his haunted, sad eyes watching her in concern. Jenny sat up, her head pounding.
"When did I- I um- Black out?" she asked Erik, taking in her surroundings. In the van der Woodsen flat, with all its beautiful artwork and stairs and antique furnishings. If she remembered correctly, this was the guest room.
"As soon as you sat down, J. Thank god we have a lift, no offence, I don't think I'd be able to carry you up the stairs."
Jenny rolled her eyes. "If my head didn't hurt, I might insult you. What's the time?"
"Ten. We've only been home, like, twenty minutes." There was a pause, which didn't quite feel uncomfortable, but didn't feel right either. "Anyway, I laid out some of Serena's old night slips and stuff. I didn't think you'd be going home anytime soon."
"What if Serena and Dan come here though?"
"Nah. Serena likes going to Dan's better, especially with your dad gone. Even though I can bet mum won't get home 'til about eleven tomorrow. Maybe later, if she's got a . . ."
Jenny grimaced. "Yeah, I got it. I'm going to shower."
Jenny let the hot water soothe her. It soothed her aches and her worries and her pains. It cured whatever need she had for Erik physically and mentally just for a minute as she concentrated on the heat slowly defrosting her. She didn't feel drunk, or even hung over. She felt like Jenny.
She screwed the taps tightly, drying herself and throwing on a rich, deep blue. It was a little big up the top, but it was still gorgeous. Jenny wondered if it was real silk. Serena probably had thousands of them. Serena probably never wore the same outfit once – even to bed. Jenny sighed.
Eric was leaning against the wall outside of the bathroom, his intense eyes looking up at her. He was thinking. She felt like she was always thinking now, but only about one thing.
Him.
She felt a little self-conscious, her long legs on show. But she watched Erik glance at her every so often and knew what they felt that first night still hung in the air.
He turned to follow Jenny to the guest room, but changed his mind. "Sleep well, Jenny," he said quietly.
"Erik," she called, waiting for him to turn. "You don't regret it, do you?"
Erik closed the distance between them, his lips hovering just above hers. "Of course not, you idiot," he mumbled. The door slammed behind them as he led her back into the guest room. History repeating itself.