"Well S, I kind of see where Nate is coming from." Blair said cautiously after Serena told her about what Nate said to her. They both sat in Blair's family room getting spa mani-pedis.

Serena frowned. "I don't know what I did wrong."

"Typical.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Serena. We both know that you don't think about the consequences of your actions. You sleep with Nate and run away leaving him completely in love with you and then you come back and want nothing to do with him. Eventually you'll give in, be with him for a bit and run away again leaving him heart broken. It's the same old story."

Serena got up suddenly. "I can't believe what you're saying."

Blair shrugged. "You know I'm right. And now you're going to be insulted and storm out. So typical."

Serena was reaching for her bag when Blair said that. "Call me when you want to have an adult conversation. And maybe if you weren't such a judgmental bitch you'd actually be a good friend and listen to what I have to say."

Blair smiled. "How about you call me?"

Serena threw her bag over her shoulder and walked off.

…

Blair sat across from Nate and watched him pick at his pasta. Blair, Nate and Chuck had lunch every Wednesday but Chuck had to cancel for a business meeting.

"So…what's new?" Blair had exceeded her patience. Nate kept responding to everything with one word.

Nate shrugged. "Not much."

"Is your food good?"

He shrugged again. "Yeah."

"You really know how to hold a conversation."

"Sorry." He sat up and looked at her for the first time. "You're not one for small talk and I appreciate you trying so hard. But why don't you just say what you're really thinking?"

She always underestimated how well they knew each other. "Have you heard from Serena?"

He cleared his throat and reached to loosen his tie. "Nope. I hoped to but I didn't really expect her to call."

"You know Serena. It's the same old story."

"I know but I just can't let go. Every time she comes back I see her and I drop everything to go crawling back to her."

"She loves you too Nate. Just –"

"Just not as much as I love her."

"Just not as much as she loves her independence. It's going to be a while before she even considers settling down."

"Waiter. Can we get a couple round of shots?"

Blair laughed. "No way Nate!"

Nate smiled. "Yup. We're doing this. Let's go."

They both leaned on each other and stumbled out of the café. He was slightly drunker than she was and she struggled to support his weight and hail a cab at the same time.

She opened the door for him and helped to toward it. He grabbed the door and laughed. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Thanks Blair. You're the best." He leaned in and planted a kiss on her mouth.

His kiss was a sweet memory. She couldn't help but open her lips and invite him in. Then just as suddenly he pulled away and plopped down in the back seat of the cab.

She watched the cab leave and stood there for a second longer before her car arrived.

…

Blair heard knocking on her door and woke up from her nap. She still felt slightly drunk.

She sat up and opened the door.

Serena looked upset. "There's a picture of you and Nate making out all over Gossip Girl."

"Nice to see you too."

"Why are you and Nate kissing? What is going on?"

"I thought you didn't want Nate. You made that pretty clear."

"That's so not true! How can you do this?"

Blair scoffed. "Nate was mine first!"

"Nate is mine. So why don't you back off?"

Blair couldn't help but smile. "I knew it! You're totally in love with him."

Serena was confused. "What? Is this some sort of game?"

Blair shrugged. "The kiss was nothing. Just a tiny reminder of a distant memory. You should go talk to him."

…

Serena stood in front of Nate's door for five minutes before finally knocking on the door. She was about to walk away when a very pretty girl in a towel opened the door.

Serena felt like she all the air had been knocked out of her.

The girl finally broke the silence. "Can I help you?"

No you can't you whore. She opened her mouth but no noise came out. Nate came from behind the girl. "Serena?" He was fully dressed. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry. I should go."

"No wait." Nate stepped out in the hallway and closed the door behind him. "Are you okay? You seem a little out of it."

She hated the thought of him being with someone else. She wanted to curl up in a little ball and cry. "Who was that?"

He looked away. "It doesn't matter. What are you doing here?"

"I don't want to interrupt. I can come back when you're not busy."

"Nothing was happening. I just got here a minute ago."

"Wow. She got out of her clothes fast." He shot her a look and she looked down. "Sorry. I just…I miss you."

He dug his hands in his pockets. "I miss you too."

"Can we go get some lunch sometime this week?"

"I'm really busy."

She gave him a half smile. "How about coffee?"

"I just don't think it's a good idea for us to hang out. I can't be your friend right now. I'm sorry but I think it's best if we just stayed away. I just need some time to get over you. I should get back."

"Natie…how can we just stop being in each other's lives? I love you too much."

"Don't say that. You have no idea what that even means." He tried to control his emotions.

"Yes I do. The idea of you being with anyone else just kills me."

"You don't want me and you don't want anyone else to have me, right? We've been here before...Please don't cry."

Serena turned her face so he wouldn't see her. She couldn't help herself. "I'm not. I'm really sorry. I should go."

She turned to leave but he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him in a big hug. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly.

His date was fully dressed again and walked out of his apartment. He was facing her and made a signal that he would call her later. She looked upset but nodded and walked out.

Serena finally managed to stop her tears. "I'm so sorry. You're the only person I've ever loved and I've managed to hurt you the most."

He pulled away so he could look at her face. She was so beautiful he couldn't remember why he was so angry in the first place. She was telling him how much she loved him and that was all he ever wanted to hear. "It's okay, Serena. I'm gonna be okay."

"I know. I don't think I will be though." He wiped away her tears with his thumb and she leaned in and kissed him.

Nate pulled away quickly. "Serena…"