Citrus

Friday is the longest school day of Dan's life. He dawdles through the day, feeling more consumed by his thoughts than usual. All he can think about is Serena, and the party, and unfortunately Chuck.

You are there for Serena and Serena only. This one line runs through his head over and over again in Chuck's annoyingly haughty voice.

"I'm going to that party," he announces to Vanessa as she approaches him after school outside of St. Jude's.

"You mean that Serena chick's party?" Vanessa asks, her voice thick with disgust.

Dan nods, his chin hitting his stiff white collar each time his head bobs down. "Jenny too."

"Well that doesn't surprise me, but you? Seriously Dan? Could the obsession go any deeper?"

Dan blushes slightly and he scowls. "You don't understand. I get it. But don't look at me like that, ok?"

"OK," Vanessa says leaning against the wall next to him. "Hell, I'll even go with you to this lame party. I don't have anything to do anyway. Ruby is out of town all weekend with the band and I'm supposed to stay with you so… guess that means I'm rubbing elbows with the rich and famous tonight."

"You never told me about that," Dan snaps throwing her an evil glare. "Thanks for the notice. Oh and by the way I watched your fucking documentary and managed to spill coffee all over my best cargos. So thanks for that too."

Vanessa smirks with obvious amusement. "Like you have a best anything. And good. I'm glad it freaked you out. That's what it's supposed to do. Mission accomplished."

Vanessa stares out into the distance and spots Serena. She looks back at Dan and follows his gaze back to the blonde bombshell. She chuckles and sighs. "We better get to the bus before we miss it."

Dan groans. "We. How it warms my heart to hear you say that."

"Oh stop being so fucking cynical."

.o.

Three hours later, Dan sits on the edge of his grey duvet covered bed in his small dusty bedroom. He has no idea what to wear.

Jenny bursts into his room, followed by Vanessa.

Dan takes in Jenny's hair. It's straight. And it looks so odd. And she's wearing a ridiculously short midnight blue dress. Well at least it doesn't show off her breasts, Dan thinks. He would rather have the attention fixated on her legs. They were more, well, they were smaller.

And then his eyes shift to Vanessa. Somehow Jenny's gotten her into a long flowing black dress. She's wearing tights though because she hasn't shaved in days. Dan just knows this. Her Doc Martens still engulf her large feet and Dan smiles a little because it sort of gives him a constant. Well that and her hair. Its not like Jenny could do anything with stubble.

"What do you think?" Vanessa asks jokingly, twirling around in a girlish manner, Jenny's fake diamond chandelier earrings shimmering and whacking the sides of her pale face.

"You look like a girl," Dan says somberly.

"O-kay," Vanessa says throwing him a funny look. "I guess I'll take that as a compliment. Not as if I was really fishing for any."

"What about me?" Jenny asks, pouting her pink glossed lips and batting her heavily lined eyes. "How do I look?"

"Great," Dan gulp-lies.

Jenny smiles and swirls from side to side.

Vanessa rolls her eyes. "What are you doing Dan? Are you even gonna change?"

Dan shakes his head no and eases himself up off the bed. He wobbles a little as he stands and Vanessa catches his arm.

"Are you all right?" she asks and she sounds very motherly to Dan.

"Yeah," he says, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "I'm just, uh, a bit nervous that's all."

"Oh, well don't be. Its just Serena."

"Exactly," Dan sighs. "Its just Serena."

.o.

Dan is cold, as he stands outside flanked by Jenny and Vanessa as they wait for a cab. His hair flutters in the breeze and gets in his eyes and he keeps pushing it away but it just won't stay away. He gives up and lets his skinny arms fall to his side. A gust of chilling wind blows and he wraps his arms around his chest, hugging himself.

He glances over at Vanessa who looks pretty warm, despite the fact that she's bald and in a strappy dress. How the hell is she not freezing? Is he simply imagining that it's cold? Is he going crazy?

He looks over at Jenny. And she's fine too. And he feels faint.

The cab finally pulls up in all of its filthy mustard yellow glory. And Dan is, for once, quite glad to see the shitty thing.

Dan dives towards the cab and yanks open the door sliding in first, apparently forgetting the whole ladies-first mantra. And it's still cold. Fuck.

Vanessa and Jenny slip in beside him. Well sweet Jesus. Finally. Did it take five hours to get in the damn cab?

"Close the door!" Dan whisper-screams at Jenny. Jenny appears confused but does as she's told.

But it doesn't help. And he's pissed.

Fidgeting uncomfortably, Dan looks up towards the cab driver as he hits the gas. He's wearing a blue baseball cap and has a fuzzy blonde mustache above his chapped upper lip.

"Hey, can you turn the heat on?" Dan asks in a trembling, desperate voice.

"It is on," the cabbie grumbles.

"Well can you crank it a tad higher?" Dan spits angrily.

Vanessa turns towards Dan and stares at him incredulously. "Dan, what the hell is wrong with you? It's like a fucking oven in here. You need to ca-alm do-own," she says slowly as if he's some sort of idiot who can't comprehend what she's saying.

"I realize that," he shrills, curling up in a ball and leaning his head against Vanessa's bare shoulder.

"There you go, little guy. Fetal position always helps," Vanessa quips, rolling her eyes at Dan's little mental breakdown. Little is a bit of an understatement. Bit is a bit of an understatement.

"Oh shut up," Dan snarls, letting his head fall into Vanessa's silky black-sheathed lap.

The cab pulls up to Serena van der Woodsen's building. Jenny must have fed the address to the freaky-blonde-mustache-man, Dan thinks.

"Pull yourself together," Vanessa says, scootching over, causing Dan's head to hit the worn brown leather cushioned seat.

"Ufff," he says into the sticky material. He slowly raises his head up and suddenly realizes the meter is still running. Damn all things New York.

Scrambling into sitting position, he forks over some cash and leaps out of the car, slamming the door shut with his foot. Cause, he feels like it.

"Do I look ok?" Dan asks self consciously, loosening his black tie a little bit more with his glowing white hands.

"Seriously?" Vanessa asks, running a hand over her stubby head.

"Well everyone else asked it. Am I not allowed to or something?" Dan complains.

"Dan you look so fuckable. I'm ready to rip that sexy white shirt right off your smoking hot bod," Vanessa deadpans, raising her eyebrows in a kinky manner.

Dan's face colors and Jenny, looking sick, waves her hand in an exiting manner and skips into the building, calling, "See you guys later."

"Daniel Bernard Humphrey if you do not stop this nervous behavior right this minute I am taking you far far away to a little place I like to call…"

"Anywhere but that freaky film festival place!" Dan moans. "Ok, I'll stop, I'll stop."
Vanessa smiles and loops her arm through Dan's sweaty arm, leading him to the golden double doors. "I would rather you pick Francesca's but at least your conquering your fear of all things blonde and leggy."

.o.

Just to make things clear, all the Vanessa/Dan banter is totally harmless friend stuff. This fic is Dan and Serena all the way. Even though I do like Dan and Vanessa.

Thanks for reading!

Reviews are appreciated!