Author's Note: Sorry for the very very long delay. But, I finally got inspired again.

Chapter: Twist of Fate

June 2007

Dan rushed home with the pamphlet in hand. He was feeling a little more eager than usual and uncharacteristically peppy. This was the key to everything. He was roaming the halls of St. Jude's when he noticed a posting about a summer writing program in Syracuse. It would be a chance for him to finally get away from it all. It was his escape. No more Brad, No more discussions about his aura and karma and looking on the bright side of things. He could just focus on his work and finally just be him. Dan Humphrey. Not that he really knew who that was, but it could finally be a way for him to figure it out. The only hitch was that he had to convince his parents that spending a summer away would be good for his personal growth. He really had no desire to participate in another bout of music or sports camp—which his father forced him to engage in every year so that he could bond with his brother. Dan descended the stairs and let himself into the loft.

"Hello, anybody home?"he yelled.

There was no response, so he dumped his bag on the floor and made a bee-line for the fridge. He rummaged through it until he found some leftovers and cheese. He was busy making himself a sandwhich so he didn't really notice that his father had walked in. As he was eating, he noticed the sound of his parents arguing from the other room. Dan put his food down and walked towards their bedroom.

"Where are you going Alison?"

"I don't know," she replied.

"Isn't this kind of sudden. Shouldn't we talk about it first?"

"I need to figure some things out."

"So, you're just leaving me and the boys. Abandoning us."

Dan walked into his parent's room and said, "why are you leaving mom?"

"Dan, how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," he replied sullenly.

Alison looked over at her son sadly as she gently closed her suitcase. Rufus stuffed his hands in his pockets and wondered what exactly he could say.

"Well? Is anyone going to answer my question or are we all going to stand here and do are very best impression of a mute."

"Dan, I think you need to give your mother and I some space and time to talk,"Rufus said.

Alison picked up her case and said, "Space is exactly what I need. I'll call you."

She kissed Dan and hugged him tightly before walking out the door leaving her son and husband staring after her in disbelief.

June 2007-Connecticut

Serena Van Der Woodsen sat on her bed with a pencil in her mouth as she puzzled over her algebra homework. Finals were a few days away and she had to figure out what she was going to do next year. She couldn't run from her life forever. Serena pulled her long blonde hair back in bun and flipped back a couple of pages to see what exactly she was doing wrong. She was still flipping back and forth through her math textbook an hour later when her roommate came in and flopped herself on the bed across the room.

"I hate my life, "Melinda proclaimed. But, it wasn't an unusual statement and one she made atleast three or four times a day.

"What now?"

"I think my boyfriend is going to breakup with me."

"Didn't you guys break up last week."

"We got back together on Saturday. Don't you listen Serena."

"But, its only Monday, "Serena said with confusion. She tried to understand her perplexing roommate, but more than ever she was beginning to realize that the girl was just an idiot. Serena had her flighty and flaky moments, but this girl really did take the cake. She wondered how she had enough brain cells to stay upright at times. It was at times like this that she really missed Blair. She missed the strength that her friend exuded her no nonsense attitude and her sharp mind. Sometimes she felt like she was swimming in a sea of mindless people. She'd come to Connecticut in order to avoid that world; to re-establish herself. To become a different version of herself, but really all she seemed to be doing was drifting. She picked up her cell and looked through her pics. There were dozens of her and Blair just hanging out and being who they were to each other. She paused when she got to the picture of Nate. God, how was she going to face them all again? Would she have the strength she needed to do so?

August 2007: Hudson, New York

Brad Humphrey was in his own version of hell, chock full of hippy artists and his annoying brother who spent his days scribbling in a notebook instead of enjoying the warm weather and hitting the beach. They were staying in a coastal resort-town and all his weird brother could think of to do was scribble in his goddamn book. He knew that they had kind of gone their separate ways over the years, but a part of him really did miss just hanging out with Dan. He may be annoying most of the time, but he was still his brother. Sometimes he wished he was more like him. He didn't know how to relate to his mother and not just cause she was girl, but because she was this super-sensitive being that he just seemed completely incapable of being. Brad liked sports and the outdoors and just living life. Music was important to him, but it didn't rule his world like writing and art ruled his mother and brothers' world. Physically Brad tended to resemble his mother, but it was like he was cut from a different cloth from his whole family. He had inherited his father's musical talent and no matter how hard Rufus tried to be a cool dad, there was always this weird space between them, not nearly as pronounced as the weirdness between Dan and his dad, but it was still there.

"Hey, D. Watcha ya doing?"

Dan looked up at him with disbelief and said, "what does it look like I'm doing?"

"No need to be a sarcastic butt. I just thought you might want to hit the beach."

"What for?"

"I don't know maybe to get some sun and you know have a little fun. All you've been doing all summer is scribbling in that book of yours."

"Well, I was supposed to go to camp, but now thats a wash so I'm making the best of it. Anyways the beach isn't really my thing."

"Are you still bitching about your stupid writing camp? Isn't that a little boring for summer."

Dan just rolled his eyes and packed up his stuff. "I'm going to see Mom at the gallery. Have fun trolling for chicks in the sand, Brad."

Brad watched his brother leaved and through himself on to the couch and flicked through the channels. Normally, he could care less what his brother thought of him, but it was starting to get to him. He just felt so disconnected nevermind the boredom of the summer. He just wanted to have fun; to have someone to hang out with. What had he ever done to deserve this purgatory? He pulled out his cell and scrolled through his phone till he found V's number. He knew he was desperate if he was calling Dan's best friend—and his former playmate—just so he could have someone to talk to.

"hey, its me Brad."

"Yeah, I know. What did you think I forgot your voice or something?"

"Why are you always such a noxious bitch."

"Oh how sweet. He calls me up call me names. What do you want Humphrey?"

"How come you only call me that?"Brad asked.

"What you want me to call you something nastier?"Vanessa asked.

"Maybe I want you to use my actual name. I mean you don't call Dan that."

"That's cause I actually like him."

Brad smiled and put his legs on the coffee table and crossed them. "You know you want me baby."

"Oh please. What do you want?"

"Nothing, I'm bored. Dan won't hang out with me and I have no one to play with."

"What no brainless bimbos left to chase?"She asked.

"Maybe, its gotten old,"he said.

"Are you guys okay?"Vanessa asked. She was beginning to worry about how far the guys had drifted from each other. It was almost like it became normal to them. But, they were family and they needed each other whether they realized it or not.

"We're fine V. Don't stress it. I was just boring. Anyways I have to go. I am gonna go see my mom."

August 2007- Grand Central Station

Serena sat on the train waiting to disembark, but she couldn't help but check her texts constantly. Eric was sick. He had tried to hurt himself and it was all her fault. She didn't know if she could or would ever forgive herself for leaving him alone with her for so long. She could barely deal with her mother so how could she expect her sweet younger brother to handle it all by himself. She sighed to herself and watched people slowly leaving the train. She got up and made her way through the various tunnels before she found herself in hte main waiting area looking for her driver. She hugged her jacket closely to her body and looked around for whatever unknown face would take her home or wherever her mother called home now. For all she knew she had remarried and found her latest Klaus. Her mother changed husbands like some people changed wardrobe. She had a new one nearly ever season.

Little did Serena know that a certain Dan Humphrey who she had made quite the impression on would be clamping eyes on her again at that very moment? He drowned out his father's voice as he yammered on awkwardly about his mother and whether she had a new boyfriend up in Hudson. All Dan could see was the blonde vision before him. Serena was back and as beautiful as ever. It was like he couldn't breathe. He kept rooted to the spot. He always wondered what he'd say to her when he saw her again, but she was too far for him to yell out for her; like it mattered because she probably didn't remember who he was.

"Earth to Dan. Move your ass dude, "Brad said as he shoved his brother along with both hands. He was acting all spacey out of the blue. He was just happy to finally be back in the city. He couldn't wait to see his friends again and next week school would be starting which meant Lacrosse and soccer and girls, lots of girls. God he loved being a city boy.

September 2007

Serena was living in a hotel while her brother was still stuck up in the Ostroff Centre while her mother pretended he wasn't even there. She hated all the facades. She didn't want to put on a happy face and pretend like things weren't awkward between Blair and her. They were, but what did she expect. It had been more than a year since she had last spoken to her. She found her mother at Eleanor Waldorf's party schmoozing instead of spending time with her soon who had just tried to kill himself. Sometimes she just wished her family, her life was normal. She had made a mess of things last year and she had no idea how to make it better. So, she haphazardly put on her school uniform and applied a little lip gloss as she tried her best to pretend like Blair's icy glares wouldn't bother her. She would put on a fake smile while the other girls were around, but she knew what Blair was thinking. Now you come back. Serena just had no idea how to explain it all. She wanted her friendship back, she just wasn't sure how to achieve it and above else she didn't want to see Nate again. What had gone down between them last summer had been a big fat mistake, but that didn't mean she didn't miss his friendship. Serena left the Palace Hotel and made her way up to school. It was like watching things from the outside. Everything was oh so familiar yet so strange. She didn't know where to go from here. Who was she now? She no longer was Serena teh party girl, but who was this Serena? She was still contemplating all of this as she tried to find her locker. She turned a sharp corner and ran right into this guy. She looked at him and was almost instantly lost in those chocolate brown orbs. There was something hauntingly familiar about him, but she didn't know what it was.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I can be a real clutz sometimes,"Serena said.

"You? A clutz? Somehow I doubt that, but its okay. Atleast you didn't knock my books down on purpose like some people."

"Why would anyone do that to you?"

"If I didn't know better I'd ask if you were new, but we both know that you aren't. Its just the way it goes in the great Shark Tank known as /Constance."

Serena giggled at this boy. He was cute. A little awkward, but definitely cute. "A shark tank? Isn't that a tad dramatic?"

"I can't help it. I have a flare for the dramatic. Its a good given talent."

"Apparently so. So, Mr. Dramatic. What's your name."

"Dan."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Serena."

"I know,"he said softly.

"Well have a good day and don't let the sharks bite because it would be nice to run into you again."

Dan watched as he walked away. She was a vision and he still couldn't believe he managed to formulate actually words as the goddess spoke to him. Things were already looking up. Serena Van Der Woodsen spoke to him. Now, if she only remembered who she was, but he'd take whatever he could. The year was definitely going to be good, if this was anything to go by