Nobody Does It Better

A couple of weeks had gone by on the upper east side and students were getting used to seeing Nate and Serena together as a couple. Although, there was still a little gossip lingering around how they eventually hooked up, some of the rumors surrounding the new couple died down.

Nate's cousin Richard however, turned many heads for weeks and still did now, even though the school year had been in progress for a while now. Everyone was waiting and anticipating on whom the young Van der Bilt male would ask out first. Many girls offered themselves to him on a silver platter, but he hadn't chosen one yet.

Nate knew his cousin had a reputation of being a womanizer back in California. He had seen first hand what his cousin could do to destroy the female mind and break it down until he molded it to be exactly what he wanted. Nate decided early on that he would have a discussion with his cousin and attempt to lay down some rules as far as dating and such.

So, that's where they were sitting down in the large living room of the pent house his Grandfather bribed him with. He poured himself a glass of water before taking Richards glass and poured his cousin a glass as well.

"Listen Richard," said Nate calling Rick by his full name letting him know that this was going to be a serious conversation. "I know that you don't want to be here, but this could be a really good, enlightening experience for the both of us." Rick in turn was messing with his cell phone as Nate began to talk, probably texting one of his many fan girls.

"Rick, since you are here, I want to go over a few rules for you, they'll help us get along better and make things run a little more smoothly while you're here" said Nate as he took out a sheet of paper he had prepared. Rick continued to ignore him as his cell phone started vibrating with new text messages.

"First, no staying out past 11 on a school night, you need your sleep" he said as he cleared his throat. Rick took a drink from the glass of water sitting on the elegant coffee table, and continued to text.

"Second, no over night guest Rick" he said, Rick smirked at his phone as Nate said this. "And last Grandfather said that you have to maintain a 3.8 while you stay here or it's off to boarding school in Connecticut." Said Nate, Rick cringed as he said this. Nate folded the piece of paper and placed it back inside his coat pocket. "Ok, so that's it, you think you can follow these simple rules Rick" he asked.

Rick took another drink from his glass of water before sitting up and placing his cell in his blazer pocket. "Listen Nathaniel, how about we be honest with each other huh" he said Nate raised an eyebrow questioningly. "I don't wanna be here and you don't want me here, so how about I impose a few rules of my own"

Rick sat back and crossed his leg over his knee, resting his arms on his leg "Alright first of all, I don't have a curfew, as long as I show up to school everyday, you have nothing to worry about, and don't worry I will show up to school everyday" he said. Nate rolled his eyes. "Second over night guess Nathaniel, who's to say I haven't had overnight guess here already" Nate started to protest. "Uh-uh, you can't, because dear cousin, you don't know, and trust me you never will, as far as that last rule, I learned half the things they teach at your school in the 7th grade, I'm sure I'll have no problem getting that 3.8 that grandfather wants from me so desperately.

"Now that we've discussed that, if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting with one of your beautiful ladies from the Upper East Side," said Rick as he got up and started towards the front door. "And don't worry about your little curfew, because what grandfather doesn't know won't hurt him." He answered. As he got to the door he turned to Nate who was steaming mad and said "Stay out of my way cousin and I'll return the favor" he said before walking out of the door.

Dan Humphrey was in Queens at a building he didn't know. He walked up to the third floor and knocked on what looked like an apartment door three times, and then twice again after a short pause.

The door opened slowly and on the other side stood Rachel Carr, Vanessa and the other girl's homeroom teacher. She allowed him inside and then looked outside the door briefly making sure that he wasn't followed. After checking she shut the door and walked inside behind him.

The place was simple and small, a nice living room and dining room area and a hallway that he assumed led to the bedroom and bathrooms.

"Nice place" he said as he looked around.

"It's my sisters, I'm house sitting while she's away in Florida," she answered as she helped him out of his coat. He nodded; they never went to her place. As a matter of fact he didn't even know where she lived. He figured that it was a safety precaution.

As soon as he turned around to face her, she pulled his head down and kissed him soundly. They started backing up towards her sister's couch. She fell on top of him and it wasn't long before their kisses turned more passionate. His hands were everywhere caressing her and causing her to moan out softly.

When he inched his hand up her shirt, she slightly pushed him off of her gently. They both sat up on the couch breathing heavily and he looked over at her. Her face was flushed and her lips were red from their kissing.

"What's wrong" he asked, every time they started making out and he would try to push them a little further, this would happen. She looked at him a little nervously and smiled. He smiled back at her.

"Nothing, I just, I don't know," she answered. Dan rubbed her shoulder and kissed her on the forehead.

"I thought that you were ready for this I mean we have been seeing each other for a while now, you know that I'm into you" he said, and it was true they had been seeing each other for a while now. He and Serena broke up in April, a few weeks later, he and Ms. Carr started working together and had and undeniable chemistry. By, May they were seeing each other secretly, it was September now.

"I am," she answered a little unsure. Dan frowned at her a little.

"Where's your bathroom" he asked. She pointed towards the back of the apartment, he kissed her on her cheek and said, "I'll be back" he got up and went to the bathroom. As he finished using the bathroom, his phone vibrated. He washed and dried his hands and then he looked at his phone. It was a text from Vanessa, saying that she had a great date. Dan closed his phone and felt a small tug at his heart. He really was happy for Vanessa but something didn't feel right.

As he opened the door, he heard another close. When he walked towards the front of the apartment into the living room where he and Ms. Carr was sitting earlier, he didn't see her.

"Rachel" he called out as he started to search the apartment. "Rachel, where are you" he asked again. After he searched all the rooms he couldn't find her. He sat down in the living room and decided to wait for a while. Maybe she had to step out quickly, but why wouldn't she tell him?

Lilly Bass-Humphrey, walked inside her penthouse sweet, fresh faced and relaxed from her trip to Fiji. She checked the messages on her house phone, which were very few, and she placed her luggage inside the master bedroom.

Lilly, called a caterer and arranged to have a family dinner set up for the kids when they got home from school that day. She was really glad to be back, but she kind of missed the island.

She looked, inside her carry on bag that was sitting on the bed and felt around for her cell phone, as she grabbed it her house phone rang. Her arm was caught in her purse handle and as she went to reach for the phone and her purse fell off the bed onto the floor.

All of the contents in her purse fell as well, including a letter made out to her by Keith Van der Woodsen. She picked up all her things but her attention was focused on the letter. She picked it up and started to read it, then she closed it quickly and placed it somewhere safe, before taking a deep sigh and walking out of her bedroom.