A/N: thanks for the reviews. Ah, and I'm having a little trouble with what's going to happen at the end of this fic. So, i put up a poll in my profile page, asking you guys who should Dylan end up with. So, if you're in favor of DYLANATE or DYLUCK [hehe], Please, please, please answer :D. And of course, review this chapter. thanks a lot :D
"I'm sorry" Dylan sniffed. "for what?" Nate asked her as they let go. "I'm sorry I keep crying on you for some reason" Dylan said, trying to smile. "no, no, it's fine" Nate looked at his shirt, which already had a wet spot from Dylan's tears. She put down the box on the table, with the bracelet still inside. "but, hey, you know what? we're going to the gala together. Chuck's not going to be there anyway. I know it's not easy to just forget someone like that, but you could try taking your mind off that. Movie marathon again?" he said, looking at her and wiping her tears with the tissue Marge handed him. "and besides, your parents are not going to like seeing you with your eyes all puffy and red" he said. "yeah, yeah, you're right. We are going together after all" Dylan said. "you want to take a walk? It's been a while since we hung out" he said, getting his coat. "are you kidding me? we always hang out" Dylan said. "what I meant was, it's been a while since we both got to hang out and talk about stuff. like how long it's been since we reminisced" he said. "what? Nate, Marge has been doing it for us" Dylan said, leaning on the table. "fine, then we just take a walk. Make fun of random stuff for a change" he suggested. Dylan stood up straight, then her eyes widened. "oh my, we have to go to my parents house!" she said, surprised. "wha- oh yeah!" Nate said, hurrying to get to the elevator. By the time they got to the lobby, to their surprise, they saw a limo waiting in front. "hey, you two, get in" Max said, from the window. "thank you Max!" they said, hurrying inside, on their way to Dylan's parents house.
By the time they arrived, they saw Caroline standing on the steps of the house. "and welcome to the Von Furstenburg mansion" Dylan said. "where are we?" Nate looked around. "Westchester, actually" Caroline said. "glad to have you with us Nathaniel" she said. "Dylan pulled me into it. I thought it wouldn't be polite of me to suddenly impose or something" he said. "oh, nonsense Nathaniel, you're always welcome with us" she said, smiling at him. "well, thank you for inviting me then" Nate smiled, as they went inside. Caroline led them through the elegantly decorated rooms of the mansion. "Dylan darling, I thought you two would never come" Caroline said, opening the doors into the big dining room. Nostalgia overcame Nate. He remembered running around the same long table when he was 5. He was chasing Dylan, who was wearing pigtails back then. "ah, Nathaniel, so glad you could join us" Stuart stood up, and shook his hand. "thank you for inviting me" Nate smiled and sat down beside Dylan. "so, Dylan, how was your first summer back here in New York?" Caroline asked. "it was fine. We went to the Hamptons" Dylan said. "how is the Hamptons these days? I hope it's still how I remember it to be" Stuart said. "it still is, dad. So, how did the rest of your trip go?" Dylan asked them. "it was divine. You should go to Budapest and the rest of Moscow, Romania, Transylvania. It was like walking into a movie set. Hey, I have an idea, why don't you go there for break and take Nate with you too?" Caroline said. "yeah, it would be great for you two friends to bond" Stuart added. "yeah, and catch up" Caroline said, with hesitance to the word. "mom, dad, we've had enough time to catch up already. And besides, Nate lives with me. And we go to school together anyway" Dylan said. "ah yes. Nate does live with you" Caroline said. "for the meantime. Family trouble, with our money and everything" Nate said.
"what the hell happened with you and Dylan?" Serena looked at Chuck, who was slouching on the couch, looking at his glass of scotch. "yesterday happened" Chuck said. "when she came home to her apartment last night, we saw her soaking wet, and crying. Can you explain that?" she asked, her eyes narrowing at him. "she was crying?" he asked. "yes! She was. Dylan's my friend. You hurt her" she said, sitting down in front of him. "she loved you" she added. Chuck flinched at the word. He put down his glass, and straightened himself up. He couldn't answer. "fix this thing between you and Dylan" she said. Chuck took a deep breath. "fix it" she poked him on his chest, then stood up and climbed up the stairs. "just don't repeat your past mistakes. You might end up losing Dylan, permanently" she said, then going into her room. Chuck looked at Serena, who closed the door of her room. All of a sudden, he was reminded of what happened with Blair the previous year. Flashbacks of what happened the day before Blair left for the summer. "I'm going to lose her" he said. He got out his phone, and looked at her number, and started to call. "hey, this is Dylan, I'm sorry I can't talk to you right now, please leave a message" and the beep started. He dropped his phone. He stared at the ground, with a nonplussed expression on his face. He stood up, and walked to the elevator door, and pressed the button.
He stepped inside Dylan's apartment. "Chuck? Dylan and Nate aren't here" Marge said. "do you have any idea where she is?" he asked. "she's with her parents, having a late dinner" Marge said. "have you come to fix things with Dylan?" she asked. Chuck gave her a confused look. Without saying anything, he turned around, and just as he was about to press the button, he saw the box that he gave her, with the bracelet. He put it down, then pressed the elevator button, already knowing what was going to happen. He stared at the elevator doors, as he was going down to the lobby. "thank you Ted" he muttered, then went out to get in his limo.
Nate and Dylan stepped out on the porch, in front of their waiting limo, laughing. "and then your father, apparently mistook the owner for a janitor" Caroline said, laughing. "that must be some restaurant in Turkey" Dylan said. "so, Nathaniel, which college are you planning to enter?" Caroline asked him. "well, I was hoping to check out west, USC, or UCLA. But I'm keeping my options open, even though my dad speaks highly of Dartmouth" Nate said. "if you want, we can get you Princeton. I'm friends with the Dean. That way you'll be in the lead against all your classmates" Caroline grinned. "thank you, Caroline, I will have to think about that" Nate just smiled. "ma, it's getting late, and we have that gala, right?" Dylan said. "oh yes, dear, goodnight, both of you, get your beauty sleep, I want you to look your best tomorrow night" Caroline said to Dylan as they got in the limo. "goodnight" Caroline said, waving at them as the limo drove back to Manhattan. "you'll be so far away when we get to college" Dylan said. "I was hoping for that. That way, I'll be able to check out new places. You'll be in New Jersey anyway" he said. "yeah, but we won't be able to hang out anymore" Dylan said. "that's the reason why I came back here" she said. "I don't know, I just want to get away from all this tension. They've already aired my dirty laundry in Gossip girl, or so these group of girls say" Nate said. "I see. But, if you go to USC or UCLA, let's keep in touch, alright?" Dylan said, touching his hand. Nate looked at her hand on his. He felt heat in his cheeks, as he then looked at Dylan. "yeah, of course. I'll be mongering you everyday in college" he joked. "great, and I'll be doing the same to you" Dylan laughed. "you know what? I think I'll try out Princeton. I gave my word that I keep my options open, and I will" he said. "you're just saying that because I'm already here for good" Dylan said. "no, no, I check it out. If it's as good as I thought it would be, then I'll go for it" Nate said, smiling.
They returned to the apartment later that night, seeing Marge seated on the couch. "good evening Marge," they said, entering the apartment. "Chuck dropped by. He was acting weird though" Marge said. "weird? As in how weird?" Nate asked, his brow raised. "he couldn't say anything. It was like he was disturbed upon finding out that you were gone" Marge answered. "and he saw the box that he gave to you over there" she pointed at the table, where the box still was, intact, with the bracelet still in it. "okay, just forget about him. We have to get some sleep. Mom says I have to be looking my best tomorrow" Dylan climbed up the stairs. "goodnight guys" she smiled at Marge and Nate. "goodnight, Dylan" Nate said. "hey, pick me up at 8" she joked, then went to her room, and closed the door. "I bet her parents liked you" she said. "what? yeah they kind of did. But that's because they know my parents" Nate said. "uh huh. Chuck was acting weird when he dropped by. It was like he didn't know what to do" Marge said. "I think I know what it means" Nate said, suddenly recalling that one time. "I'm in favor of you two getting together, but it does look like Chuck is still in Dylan's mind" Marge said, then going into the kitchen. Nate took a deep breath. He opened the door of his room, and collapsed on the bed. "I like her, I like her a lot" he said to himself.
"so, how are you doing?" Serena asked Chuck over breakfast. "same old. Like nothing has happened to me yesterday, and the day before that" Chuck answered quietly. "what? you've had lots of girls yesterday and the day before" then Chuck gave her a look. "oh, you're- you're not over Dylan, are you?" she said, giving him a good look. "does it look like I'm over her?" Chuck snapped. "so, did you try and fix things with her?" Serena asked. Chuck gave her a look again. "oh, sorry I asked" Serena said. "I came by her apartment, and she wasn't there, Nate wasn't there" Chuck said. "I'm sorry about that" Serena said. "I'm losing her. I know it" Chuck slouched. "then try again. Fight for her. It's never too late to make something happen between you two" Serena said. "look, I have to get dressed and meet up with Dan, try again" Serena got up and went to her room. He thought of what Serena had said, even the night before. It gave him an idea. He was finally going to take a risk. He looked at his phone, and at Dylan's number. "hello, it's Dylan, I can't talk right now, you know what to do" and the beep started. He dropped his phone again. It was the second time that happened. He stared at the table, then stood up, and straightened himself. He had to do something. He had to take a risk this time. By the time he was at the lobby, he got in his limo. "take me to Dylan's place" he said.
He arrived at Dylan's place. "Marge, where's Dylan?" he said, upon seeing Marge come out from the kitchen. "she's upstairs" she said. "hey man, what are you doing here?" Nate came out of his room. Chuck went straight up to her room. "I have to see her" he said, going up the stairs. He saw the door slightly open, and Dylan was sitting on the chair in front of her dresser. "Chuck" Dylan stood up, looking at him. "Dylan," he said, walking up to her. "I should've told you how I really felt about you" he said, holding her hand. Dylan said nothing. "please tell me you still feel the same way" he said. Dylan looked at him. "I'm sorry. You had your chance, but you blew it" she said, getting teary-eyed. "Chuck, I- I think you should go" Dylan said, looking down. It hurt her a lot, but she had to do it. Chuck looked at her, seeing the sincerity in her eyes, that he's never seen in anyone else before. "Dylan, I'm sorry" he said. "just go" Dylan looked at him this time. She let go of his hand, then turned her back against him. "Dylan, please" Chuck said, about to touch her shoulder, but her couldn't. "you don't know how much I liked you" Dylan said. "I know that now" Chuck said. "Chuck, just-just go" Dylan said. Chuck didn't know what to say anymore. He left her room, climbed down the stairs, seeing Nate and Marge standing in the living room. "Marge, Nate, always a pleasure" he said, then getting in the elevator.
That night, everyone was getting ready for the much-awaited fundraising gala. "wow, Nate, just as handsome as I remember you to be" Marge said, as Nate stepped out of his room, in a tuxedo. "thanks, Marge" Nate said, looking at himself in the mirror. "Dylan should be out in a few minutes, in case you're wondering" Marge said. Dylan suddenly stepped out. In a black gown, reminiscent of what Eva Green wore in Casino Royale. Nate was dumbstruck upon seeing her come down the steps. Her hair was up in a bun, with a brooch in the strap of her dress. He was amazed at how beautiful she looked. "hey, Nate, you look good" she said, looking him up and down. "so do you, wow, I'm in awe" he said, trying to get it out of his system. "you get over Chuck pretty fast, huh" he said, still amazed. "well, the hair, I admit, I'm not so used to this tight bun, with all this mousse and product and everything. It weighs it down" Dylan shook her head, and laughed. "so, you ready to go?" Nate said. "Max is waiting downstairs already, and your parents called me, looking for both of you, so, I definitely should push you two in the elevator and get going for the gala. Have fun you two" Marge said, pushing them inside the elevator, then waved as the doors closed. "hey, how do you know what color my gown is?" Dylan looked at him. "nothing. Lucky guess" Nate grinned. "it's like what we said during that one time over breakfast. Great minds think alike, and you, my friend," she put an arm around him. "have a great mind" she smiled. "I'm not going to take all the credit, you know. you did some pretty good thinking yourself" Nate grinned at her and laughed. The doors opened, and they saw Ted, smiling at them. "hey Ted" they both said, stepping out. "you two look good. Where to?" he asked. "gala. My parents fault" Dylan said. "and you two match up pretty well" Ted muttered, as they went out to the lobby. "have fun, you two" Ted said.
They had finally arrived at the gala, wherein dozens of photographers took pictures of her and Nate as they stepped inside. "they're going all out for this thing" Nate said. "Dylan! Nate! You have arrived" Caroline and Stuart hugged Dylan. "both of you look divine" Caroline looked them up and down. "enjoy the party, both of you" Stuart said, as he and Caroline went around to the other guests. "oh my god, Dylan von Furstenburg, is that you?" a woman came to them. "uh, hello" Dylan smiled. "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. Sandra Mason, of the Mason Underground Art Gallery in Paris" she held out her hand and Dylan shook it. "I knew your parents. And I believe you know my son?" she asked. "oh, Gerard Mason is your son? I'm sorry I didn't know" Dylan said, surprised. "ah, and who is this young man who you're with tonight?" she asked, looking at Nate. "uh, this is my best friend, Nate Archibald" she said. "hello, nice to meet you" Nate shook her hand. "nice to meet you too. Well, I better go, enjoy" she said, walking off. "I can't believe she was Gerard's mom, I didn't even see the resemblance" Dylan said, surprised. "who's Gerard?" Nate asked. "a guy I hung out with back in Paris. He's like this artist, who does amazing paintings. I tell you, people who have seen his work, often mistake it for something that Jackson Pollock did, or even Salvador Dali. It's pretty incredible" Dylan said. "wow, then he must be pretty good. being compared to Pollock and Dali" Nate said. "and yeah, in case you're wondering why we're so close, we dated for a while. But we didn't do it or anything" Dylan said. "Nate! Dylan!" Serena and Dan found them, along with Eric. "hey guys" they said. "you two look great. How come I didn't see that gown before?" Serena looked her up and down. "well, I had this made custom, just got it yesterday. Randolph Duke" she said. "ooh, very nice" Serena said. They laughed. "so, I'll get us some drinks then" Nate said, going to the bar. "me too. Champagne, right?" Dan followed Nate.
Chuck got out of the limo and entered the gala. His eyes scanned the place for a sign of Dylan, or Nate, or even Serena and Dan around. He went forward, not minding the cameras flashing on both sides. He stopped all of a sudden, as in the midst of all the beautiful and important people, dressed for the occasion, Dylan stood out. Even in her black gown, and updo, she had this glow to her. He took a deep breath, his expression nonplussed, then walked straight. "scotch please" he said. "Chuck, you came" Nate saw him. "I wouldn't miss this. And besides, I've been hearing all this talk about Dylan" he said, drinking. "look, I know we haven't talked that much since Dylan arrived" Nate said. "it's alright" Chuck said. "alright, I'll see you later, man" Nate said, walking off with the two glasses. He turned around and looked to where he was walking. He saw him giving the glass to Dylan, who was laughing with Serena and Dan. He couldn't take it anymore. He was still keeping his feelings for Dylan inside, and he wanted to let her know. "do I see Dylan von Furstenburg?" he heard one girl say. "yeah, and she even got Nate Archibald as her date, I'm totally jealous" another girl said. "but they're not even together. I heard they're just best friends" the first girl said. "I don't know about that. I heard they live together already" the other girl said. Chuck took a deep breath, then stood up, and opened the door at the side, and went in. 'I knew coming here was not a good idea' he thought, as he found himself on the terrace. He looked at the view of the city, underneath a sky laden with stars. He was already here and he still couldn't say it. She was already there as well. It was too perfect an opportunity. He expected that she would follow him in this area. He slowly counted. One, two, three, four. . . five. She wasn't there. But that suddenly sparked an idea. Apparently, something has been holding him back. He looked at the door. He fixed himself, then opened the door to go back in.
Dylan's phone rang. "who is it?" they asked. "nothing, nothing, it's just a message" she said, taking a look. "I'll be right back" Dylan left them. She climbed up the staircase. She found herself in the hallway of the second floor. "hello Dylan" Chuck stood at the other end. She scoffed, and shook her head. She walked toward the stairwell, about to go down, when Chuck suddenly caught her hand. "wait" he said, his hand, traveling upwards to her shoulder, then to her face. "I just want to say it" he said. "then say it" Dylan said. "the guy who you saw in Victrola isn't the guy you're seeing right now" he said. Dylan just looked at him. "Dylan, I-" he stopped. "yes?" Dylan whispered. "I-I-can't say it" he stopped again. "I knew it. I won't expect anything to happen between us anymore" Dylan turned to go down again, when Chuck pulled her to him to kiss her. Dylan suddenly pulled away from him. "let me go, Chuck" she said. "I don't want to" Chuck whispered in her ear, then kissed her again. "tell me to stop" he said, as his hands were on her waist. "tell me that you don't feel the same way anymore" he said, kissing her again. 'damn, the guy is a really good kisser' she thought. "Chuck, I-" Dylan said, looking at him. "you're not saying anything" he said. "je-je ne peux pas m'en occuper en ce moment" she said, letting go. "I'm not letting you go unless you tell me that you don't feel the same way anymore," he said. "unless you tell me that you don't love me anymore" he added. Dylan looked down on the floor. "Dylan, I-I-I" he stopped. He wanted to say it. He felt a lump rising in his throat as he stared at her. "I love you, Dylan" he said. There, he said it. Dylan stared at him, surprised, and a little teary-eyed. He hoped he would get the same thing from her. "I love you too" she said. "from the moment I met you, I knew you were different" he said, then kissed her. "I knew you would be a lot to handle" she said.
"Dylan? Dylan?" Nate looked around the place. He was getting a little worried. She was out for almost a half hour. "hey, have you seen Dylan?" he asked a group of girls passing by him. "she went up here a few minutes ago" one girl said. "thanks a lot" he said, climbing up the stairs. "Dylan? Dylan?" he called out as he reached the hallway. He heard a slight thud. He looked down both sides of the hallway. He hoped to find her alone. He hoped to tell her how he felt. He tried to call her on her cell. She wasn't answering. "where are you?" he muttered. In the corner of his eye, he saw an open door in one room of the hallway. There was a dim light coming out from it. He began to walk towards it. By the time he got there, he saw something he shouldn't have.