A/N: thanks again for the reviews. Uh, you will now see Dylan and Chuck's conversation in straight French later. That's just them talking about what they'll do, or plan to do for the rest of the summer. Thanks to SamQuinnSportyBee for the tips on channeling Chuck Bass and his Bass-ness :)) Just read and review still. please. this is another one of the long chapters, with Nate and Dylan's longest conversation so far. But if you still want to know what those mean, just review this chapter with what you think [of course] and the question. I'll reply with the meanings. thanks a lot. :D
"Marge! The door" Dylan said from upstairs. "alright, Dylan" Marge hurried to the front door. As soon as she opened it, Nate was standing outside. "hi Marge, long time no see" Nate smiled. "Dylan! Nate is here!" she shouted upstairs. "good to see you again, Nate. How are the parents?" she asked. "uh, they're fine, alright, my dad's still there somewhere, my mom's at my house here" Nate said, sitting down. "that's good. We just arrived from Paris, so it's a bit disorienting for us" Marge laughed, then going to the kitchen. "okay, okay, I'm here" Dylan rushed down the stairs, in a denim miniskirt, and black converse. "I know you had a great time last night" Nate was grinning as she sat down beside him on the couch. "I did. But we didn't actually have sex or anything. We just made out. Here." Dylan said. "ah, yes, second base. It's a little surprising to know you guys didn't have sex" Nate said. "oh my god, why am I talking about sex with you?" Dylan cringed. "so what? we're friends, we can talk to each other about anything, and everything, under the sun, just not those problems regarding medical stuff" Nate cringed at the thought. "yeah, okay, except that" Dylan laughed. "but we don't spend that much time together anymore, even though I agreed to let you have my undivided attention, and now I am, so, are we up for a walk in the park or something?" Dylan asked. "okay, speaking about anything and everything, I will now tell you about the girl that I've been seeing for about a while" Nate said, taking a deep breath. "who is she? I mean, can you please expound?" Dylan rephrased. "wow, this is so far the longest I've talked to you without you blurting French words" Nate said, amazed. "hey, I've talked to you, two weeks ago, without me blurting a single French word, or phrase" Dylan protested. Nate gave her a look. "okay, fine. I'm still kind of getting used to saying things in straight English, but I'm practically okay" Dylan laughed. "you got tan too. It looks good on you" Nate noticed the subtle change in her skin tone. "I went to the beach yesterday, Nate" Dylan said. "oh, right, sorry" Nate said, looking down on the floor. "what's on your mind? You usually seem to notice the thing I did to my hair, or what I'm wearing. Yesterday I had my hair in a messy bun. What's up?" Dylan said. "okay, okay, I'm sorry, I've been so absent-minded lately. It's just because I found out today from my mom that all our accounts are frozen, and Chuck's lending us money. And the fact that my dad's in rehab doesn't really help me, you know" Nate said, exhaling sharply. "and the girl I'm seeing dumped me last night" Nate added. "whoa, I'm sorry" Dylan gave him a hug. As soon as she wanted to let go, Nate wouldn't let her. "uh, Nate, you can let go now" Dylan cleared her throat. "oh, oh, sorry. It's nice to have a friend around here. Especially now, you're back" Nate said. "it's nice seeing you again. But this isn't like we just saw each other again, that was a month ago" Dylan nodded. "you want to go for that walk now?" she asked, standing up. "yeah, of course" Nate said, and they walked out the door.
"you feel better now?" Dylan asked him. "kind of. Thanks" he said, smiling. "no problem. That's what I'm here for" she said, placing an arm around his shoulder. "so, you and Chuck made out huh?" he laughed. "yeah, we did. He's a good kisser, I must say" Dylan looked impressed. "and I have to tell you something. Something I suddenly realized before the kissing, or even the date. I just realized it the morning of the date. Or the afternoon of it, exactly" she said, as they walked down the street. "which was?" Nate asked, grinning. "oh, you know what? never mind. I'm uncomfortable telling you this since you know Chuck better than anyone I've met so far" Dylan shook her head. "oh, come on, please. Try me" he smiled. Dylan still didn't say anything. "you like him!" Nate's eyes widened. "and I'm ashamed to say it. Yes, I do like him" Dylan said out loud. "oh wow. I never thought you, of all people would actually like him" Nate looked nonplussed. "I was thinking about the date, and what I was going to do for it, and he suddenly pops in my head, and his voice sticks there. And last night, I felt nauseous. I thought maybe it was because of my sheer loathing for the guy that I actually ended up liking him, or something, but it's not. And I'm finding it hard to trust him from the things he said to me last night" Dylan said. "what did he say?" Nate asked. "he said, the way we said goodnight to each other the night we went out. the night which I came back from Paris, he still couldn't get it out of his head. And he also said that from the moment we met, he couldn't stop thinking about me" Dylan explained. "whoa. He said that?" Nate said. Dylan nodded. "well, he did act weird after meeting you, weird towards you, but he's the same when he's around other girls" Nate said. "anyway, that's not so important. Serena's actually in favor of this thing. She was surprisingly happy when I told her all this" she said. "you didn't tell me first?" Nate raised a brow. "don't go all jealous best friend on me. You were with Chuck. He would've told you anyway" Dylan argued back. "okay, that's not important. What's important is, you like Chuck!" he teased as they crossed the street.
As Dylan got back from her walk with Nate, a limo suddenly appeared behind her. "Dylan, Dylan, Dylan" she heard Chuck. She turned around. "Chuck" she said. "care to join me for lunch today?" he asked. The image of them making out on the couch last night suddenly appeared in her head. "okay" Dylan said, and Chuck came out of the limo, standing aside for her to get in. "Chuck, uh, about last night, I still don't know if you meant what you said to me last night" Dylan said. "I did" Chuck faced her. "I don't want to get into anything, unless what happened last night changed it" Dylan said. "it changed it for me too. I don't want to experience again what happened last year" Chuck looked down, and held her hand. "I know what happened last year" Dylan let go, looked out the window and crossed her arms. "exactement que dois-je faire pour vous passer ?" Chuck said. "prove to me that what you said last night was true" Dylan looked back at him. "we'll talk about this later" Chuck said, as they got out of the limo.
"hey sis" Chuck said, coming in. "Chuck. Dylan! You're here! hey, this is my brother, Eric. Eric, this is my friend Dylan" Serena introduced them. "I've heard so much about you" Dylan smiled. "you too. We're with our grandmother, actually. Hey grandma" Eric said, as Cece came in. "oh, hello Chuck, who is this beautiful young lady that I see in front of me?" she said. "this is Dylan Von Furstenburg, a friend of ours" Chuck said, referring to Serena, and introducing them. "nice to meet you, Dylan" Cece said, smiling at her. "let's go outside, lunch is ready" she said, leading them out to the patio. Chuck moved the chair, letting Dylan sit down first. "thanks" she said, taking the napkin and placing it on her lap. "uh, grandma, Dylan is Nate's childhood friend. You know Nate, right?" Serena said. "of course, of course, the handsome one" Cece said. "speaking of Nate, is he coming here?" Serena asked. "no, he's not" Chuck said. "Dylan, you are a Von Furstenburg, right? I knew your grandmother well. It's a bit sad she passed away last year" Cece said, cutting into the salmon. Dylan just smiled. "small world" Serena said, smiling. "very" Dylan laughed. "you seem awfully quiet" Eric noticed Chuck eating quietly. "forgive me for not engaging in the conversation. I have a lot on my mind" Chuck said. "please pass the pepper" Dylan looked at him. "of course" Chuck passed it to her. Dylan's phone suddenly rang. "oh, excuse me, it's my mom calling" she got up and went out into the yard. Chuck stared at her as she got up. He could tell she was in doubt, but she didn't want to show it. Serena looked at Chuck. She knew something was wrong between the two of them. "may I be excused? I think I just lost my appetite" Chuck stood up as well, and followed Dylan.
"ma, yes, I'm fine here" Dylan said. "alright, just tell me, when you and dad will be arriving, okay? Yes, I will wear that white dress to the white Party tonight. Bye mom" and Dylan put her phone in her pocket. She turned around and saw Chuck, standing there. "Chuck" she said. "je ne suis pas qui vous croyez que je suis" he said, coming closer to her. "êtes-vous sûrs ?" Dylan asked. "oui. si je dois aller à Paris vous convaincre, je. I couldn't eat nor sleep, I feel sick like there's something in my stomach, my heart beats fast" he said, holding her hand. "then kiss me" she said, and he took her in his arms, and kissed her. "hey, Dylan, you do- oh" Serena stopped in her tracks, once she saw Chuck and Dylan kissing. She suddenly smiled to herself, then went back to the table.
Serena and Dylan walked down the street right after lunch. "how was the lip-locking with Chuck earlier?" Serena said. "you saw that?" Dylan said, as they were headed to Dylan's house. "yeah. I was about to ask if you're going to the White Party later. I'm coming with Dan" she said, as they crossed the street, revealing the suburban part of the Hamptons. While they were talking, without a warning, they both fell on the ground. "oh my god!" Dylan said, getting up, and fixing herself. "NATE?!" Dylan and Serena both said, as Nate was standing up, and running away, in his boxers. "what the heck?" Dylan said, looking to where he came from. It was a woman, most probably in her early thirties, and the man who she was kissing was most likely her husband. "oh, I'm guessing we already know who Nate's seeing" Serena said. "oh yes, we already know" Dylan said, taken aback by what she saw.
"good thing I brought my clothes with me here" Serena said, coming inside the house. "it's just me and the maid here" Dylan said, opening the door of her room, and the doors of her walk in closet. "your closet just never ceases to amaze me. All these came from Paris" Serena said, amazed, while Dylan checked in her other closet, for a dress. "is this fine?" Dylan pulled out her white mini dress. "of course. I bet Chuck will like that" Serena said, laying her clothes on the bed. "I don't even know what we are. Are we a couple? Are we just casually dating each other? Are we friends with benefits? Chuck's left me clueless" Dylan sat back. "friends with benefits? I don't think you and Chuck were ever friends to begin with" Serena said. "so did I" Dylan laughed. "what about Nate?" Serena said. "I don't know. You know what we should talk to him about this" Dylan said. Marge suddenly appeared on the doorway. "Nate is here" she said. "speaking of the devilish" Dylan looked at Serena. "give him a drink or something, we'll just dress up, but wait, is he already wearing white?" Dylan asked. "yes he is. He's grown to be a handsome man. I remember when these two were kids, they used to play together in the sandbox at Central Park" Marge looked at Dylan, while Serena laughed. "Marge! Just give Nate something to drink, or eat or whatever" Dylan laughed, pushing Marge to the door. "aww, Dylan" Serena teased.
They came down minutes later, seeing Nate seated on the couch, his arms crossed. "Nate! Sorry we took so long" Dylan said, hurrying down the stairs, and sat down beside him. "it's fine, I came by, and I guessed you two would be here. It starts in a few minutes" Nate said, looking at the clock. "okay, you have got some explaining to do" Dylan said. "okay, I'm sorry, I didn't tell you" Nate said. "you?" Serena's brow was raised. "okay, all of you, even Chuck" Nate said. "speaking of which, how was the kissing over lunch today?" he turned to Dylan, and Serena laughed. "you didn't tell me?" he said with sarcasm. "hey, I was going to" Dylan said. "don't try to change the subject, Archibald, explain" Dylan added, playfully slapping him on the arm. "okay, her name's Katherine, and fine, she was older" he explained. "older? We thought when you mean older, we meant college or college senior, but this one's married!" Serena said. "cougar alert" Dylan joked, while Nate playfully punched her on the arm. "but I think it's safe to say she ended things with me, for good this time" Nate said, looking down. "that's good" Dylan said, then exchanged looks with Serena then turned back to Nate. "hey, I know that look. That's a guilty look. You really do have a thing for Katherine" Dylan said. "Nate, she's not really worth it, no offense" Serena said. "I guess. I just want to go there already" he said, burying his face in his hands. "fine, fine, we believe you" Dylan said. " "and since Dan's coming with you, do you mind if I told the people at the party that I'm your date if it's okay with you and Chuck?" he looked at Dylan. "why of course! Chuck didn't ask me anyway" Dylan smiled. "then what are we waiting for, let us go, and party, and check out the competition" Nate stood up, pulling Dylan off her seat, and out the door.
They had arrived right on time, greeting guests and other familiar people in white as well. "you okay?" Dylan asked Nate. The woman passed by them, while Dylan had said hello to one guest, while her arm was draped on Nate's. "trying to ruin my marriage?" she whispered, then walked casually to the other guests. "what?" Dylan looked at him. "get me drunk. Please" he said. "sure, sure" Dylan led him to the bar. "what's wrong with Nate?" Chuck appeared while Nate was drinking. "it's Katherine" Dylan mouthed. "ah yes. Katherine. Nate, would you mind if I borrow Dylan for a while?" he said. "not at all. But just please, Dylan, come back" Nate looked at her. "sure, I will" Dylan nodded, then went to Chuck.
"what's up?" Dylan asked him. "comment allez-vous ?" he asked. "je suis parfait" she replied. "écoutez, j'ai pensé, de nous, beaucoup dernièrement," he said. "et ?" "comment de quand nous rentrons dans la ville, nous pouvons passer le reste de l'été, juste nous et probablement avec Nate et Serena autour de" he looked at her. "Cela semble bon. Je me retirerai à mon immeuble en copropriété quand nous revenons" she said, smiling at him. "alors peut-être que nous pouvons passer le reste de l'été après tout seul " she added. Chuck grinned, his arm around her waist. "c'est exactement que j'ai eu en vue. Je l'aime quand vous le dites" he whispered in her ear. It sent chills up her spine. "nous déchirons en haut pour maintenant, Nate a besoin de moi puisque je suis sa date, mais j'irai faire à bientôt" she said, as she kissed him on the cheek, then went back to the bar, where Nate was. "toujours un plaisir" Chuck muttered, watching Dylan go back to Nate. He looked her up and down, and shook his head.
From afar, Nate watched Chuck and Dylan separate, Dylan on her way towards him. "hey, I'm feeling a little better" he said, putting down the glass. "are you really?" Dylan asked. "nope" Nate shook his head. "come on, get up, let's go around, and check out the scene. It's a party, and besides, there's a lot of girls in here, and I don't mean just me and Serena" she said, holding out her hand. "you sure?" he said. "yeah. Go around. Socialize. Mingle" she said. Nate suddenly smiled, then took her hand and they walked to the party. "there you go. That's the Nate I'm with today" she said. "the only thing so far that cheered me up is you being here, with me" he said. "why thanks, Archibald" she smiled widely. "what are you still doing here?" Katherine whispered, passing by again. "what did she say?" Dylan looked at Katherine, whose arm was on her husband's, with one martini on the other. "you know, I just wish I could make her feel as bad as I feel right now" he groaned, looking at Katherine at a distance. "you can" Dylan grinned at him. "oh yeah? exactly how-" and Dylan kissed him. At the far corner, Chuck saw the scene, and rushed over at once. "there. Better?" she giggled. Nate began to laugh. "oh, hi Chuck. I was just trying to make Katherine look jealous" she said. "bien, vous me rendez jaloux aussi" he whispered. "ne soyez pas bien, vous venez ce soir, n'est ce pas ?" she grinned. Chuck just smiled. "I'm leaving tomorrow, you're both welcome to join me" he said. "alright. I'll just go to your house then, I'll be meeting up with Serena anyway" Dylan said.
They returned to New York the next day, only for Nate and Dylan to experience a rude awakening as they got home. "okay, everything's gone" they stood there, looking at the empty house, save for a few items, which happened to be Nate's. "they caught up to my dad after all. I can't believe it" Nate said, nonplussed. Dylan couldn't say anything. "your things are probably still intact, I doubt mine still are" he said. "well, you pack, while I also do the same thing. For letting me stay here, even for a short time, you can move in with me. I'm sure my mom would understand" Dylan said. "no, it's too much, I can't accept that" Nate shook his head. "it's the least I can do. It's okay, Nate" Dylan assured him. "it's okay, it's fine" she said, looking at him. Her phone suddenly rang. There was a message from Chuck. "mon endroit. Minuit" it said. She then looked at Nate, and put her phone back in her pocket. "come on, let's go pack" she said.