Wohoo, so here we go. Are you up for a romantic wedding? Or may it be that Jenny has changed her mind? Guess you'll only find out by reading ;) I just wished that I had more time to write, work is driving me nuts at the moment. And I totally wished I could record my thoughts. I always have the best conversations in mind when I ride to work or from work home, but as soon as I sit on my laptop - they are gone :( Well, I hope you'll like this chapter anyways. And just so you know - from the next chapter on the Rating goes up to M ;)
Thanks again for reading nad sticking with me! Keep reviewing and let me know about your thoughts, always love to read them.
Chuck stormed into the building where the Spectator was located. He was pretty pissed by now. He had tried to get a hold of Nate the entire day, but for whatever reason his best friend was dodging his calls. This wasn't his usual actions. Something must be wrong and Chuck would find out what.
He was sure that the reason must be Jenny. For the past three weeks Chuck had tried his best to make her see that marrying Jasper would be a huge mistake, but he didn't succeed. She knew that Jasper held contact to his ex, although she was surprised to hear that she was in town. Nevertheless it didn't help to split them up. Obviously they knew since childhood days and it became more in between. But during dating both realized they were better of as friends. At least that was what Jenny was told from Jasper.
Chuck marched into the office rooms where Nate was working and went straight for his room. His secretary Carol was sitting at her desk, writing on some papers when Chuck approached her. She gazed up at him in confusion.
"Oh, hello Mr. Bass. May I help you?", she asked friendly, but still confused to why he had come.
"I'm just here to talk to Nate, it won't take long. Thanks Carol", he replied and walked by to enter Nate's office.
"Uhm, sorry Mr. Bass, but Nate is not in. He messaged me this morning that he is going on holidays. Guess he needed a break with all the work he had lately. He put Andrew Phillips in charge for editing and me for administration. We can contact him in urgent cases though. Didn't he tell you that he would go on holidays?", Carol informed Chuck over Nate's absence.
Chuck froze in his tracks. He left? Without saying a word to anyone? What the hell Nate! Will he come back at all? He turned around to Carol again, smiling friendly at her.
"Of course he did. I have so much going on right now, I totally forgot that he was leaving today. Damn it, I really could have used his advice. Well, guess that has to wait. Thanks anyway Carol. If you need anything here, just give me a call."
Carol flushed over his offer. Chuck Bass doesn't offer his help to everyone. "Thank you Mr. Bass, but so far we're doing good. Andrew took already a few times over when Nate was on business trips or sick. And I mainly do all the administration on my own, Nate only checks it shortly over when there is something to sign. He gave me proxy by now, so I can sign papers without him being here."
Chuck was surprised by this new fact. He faked a friendly smile. "Of course he did, he always says how amazing you're doing here and that he couldn't do all this without you at his side. Anyways, just call if you need advice or help."
"I sure will. Thanks again for your offer", Carol replied sweetly.
"Have a great day, Carol", with those words Chuck said his goodbye and dashed out the doors again, down to his waiting town car.
What the hell is going on here? Blair surely doesn't know that he left. She would have told me. Maybe Dan knows something. I can't believe he left four days before...
Chuck stopped himself from thinking further. He slapped himself in thoughts. Of course that must be it – Nate left because he had lost hope. He doesn't want to watch her marry that douche, so he left town for awhile. That wasn't good.
He immediately grabbed his phone and dialed a familiar number by now. He waited while it was ringing, turning more and more impatient.
"Hello Chuck? What's going on?", he heard the well-known voice ask.
"Hey Dan, did you know that Nate would leave town?", he asked right out.
"What? What are you talking of?", his friend questioned him in astonishment. Chuck could hear that Dan was totally taken aback by these news. So he didn't know. Fuck!
"I tried to call him all day, he didn't answer. So I just went over to his office. His assistant Carol told me that he messaged her, saying he would leave for holidays. She is in charge with some other guy. He even gave her proxy!", Chuck called out, now more annoyed by the entire situation than before.
"Wow, those are quite the news. He gave her proxy? So does that mean she can run the magazine by herself?", Dan wanted to clarify.
"Yes, that means it. She can handle business matters without him being there. Only thing she can't do, is selling the magazine. So, he didn't mention anything to you?", Chuck wanted to know once more. He was still wondering why Nate hasn't said a word.
"No, he didn't. But I also haven't talked to him during the past two, three days... maybe he came up with the idea then. Did she say how long he will be gone?"
"No, she only said he messaged that he was going on holidays. Nothing more. I can't believe he just left without saying anything, although I might know why", Chuck mused once more about the reason.
"And? What could it be?", Dan wondered which ground Chuck had in mind.
Chuck was slightly annoyed at how oblivious Dan was to the entire situation. After all it was all about his sister. "You really can't think of any reason why Nate would leave town, NOW?", Chuck asked him sarcastic.
"Why would I... oh, OH", Dan started and stopped mid-sentence. He understood where Chuck was going to. "You think he left because of that? Yeah, that would make sense. I'm still trying to change her mind, but it's like talking against a wall", he said while rolling his eyes.
"So she hasn't changed her mind? The wedding will go as planned?"
"Sadly yes, so far... Eric and I are still working on it. But honestly, I don't think we'll succeed. It's like he is having this hold over her, I can't describe it. But for some reason I start to think that even if she would see him cheating, she still would marry him", Dan sighed heavily. He so had hoped that after the bachelor party they would get rid of Jasper, but to his disappointment they didn't.
"Your sister is the most stubborn person I have ever come across with. Even Blair is not that obstinate", Chuck retorted when he thought about his wife.
Dan slightly chuckled. "Well, women do tend to be stubborn. But what about Nate? You think he is coming back? I mean, he hasn't left for good, or?"
Chuck was thinking about Dan's questions. He already asked them himself. Would Nate come back? He gave proxy to Carol, the Spectator means everything to him. But on the other hand, so does Jenny. And if Chuck had to bet on it, he was very sure that Jenny meant even more to Nate than his magazine. If he had to choose or give up on one, he would definitely give up his magazine instead of Jenny.
"I don't know. I hope he does, 'cos if not... I will personally hunt him down and punch the crap out of him for ditching us this way", Chuck said bluntly and he meant every word. "I shall go and inform Blair about the recent event. She will be so thrilled. Talk to you later, Humphrey."
"Yeah, let me know if you hear anything."
Dan hung up and tossed is phone back into his jacket. He had gone out when Chuck called him, now he went back into Jenny's loft. She was sitting on the dinning table, going over the last arrangements for the wedding in four days.
Dan didn't know how they got here, but it was only four days and his little sister would get married to this British ass. It really seemed that nothing would stop her from doing it, but maybe he had a new chance now to stop all of this.
He approached her and sat down opposites her, gazing over the huge paper sheet in front of them which showed the seat plan for the reception. He could also see Nate's name on it. After all she had invited him, much to the dismay of Jasper.
"You know, I'm sorry to break the news to you, but this plan doesn't work anymore", he started carefully. Jenny had been on the edge for days. The slightest comment could make her snap.
Her head shot up and she glared at him. "What do you mean? This seat plan is perfect", she shot him a further look before turning her attention down again.
"It sure is, but uhm... well there will be one guest less", he pointed out.
Jenny gazed back up at him, her eyes filled with confusion. She had spent the past six days to set this plan up, it was totally perfect.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Well, that was Chuck on the phone. He just... you know, he just wanted..."
"He just wanted what, Dan? I don't have time for this, so get to the point", she snapped at him.
Why do brides always have to turn into monsters shortly before? "Fine, he just informed me that Nate has left town. He won't come to your wedding", he said straight out, looking his sister straight in the eyes.
Dan could see the hurt flash through them shortly, before her face and eyes just looked blank. Jenny tried to comprehend those news. She did understand his words, but she didn't want to believe them.
Nate left town? He just went, without saying a word. Oh come on, don't fool yourself. Why should he tell you, you haven't talked to him in weeks. You made your choice, so he made his not to watch you get married.
It took all of Jenny's strength not to cry in front of Dan. "Just wonderful! Why did he reply than that he would come? Now I can start to rearrange the entire plan, as I have nothing better to do. Damn him!"
Dan looked at her bewildered. He couldn't believe that this stupid seat plan was all she cared about. "You serious? I just told you that Nate has left town. We don't even know where he went or if he will come back. He hasn't said a word to any of us. Chuck found out through his assistant."
Jenny looked back up at Dan. This information caught her off guard. He might not come back? Just because of me? This is so wrong.
"I'm sorry to hear that, but what can I do about it? I didn't tell him to leave. In fact, I invited him to my wedding against my fiances wish."
"Damn it, Jenny!", Dan screamed out. "The last thing that Nate wants is to see you getting married! He fucking loves you! Do you really think that he was happy to get your stupid invitation?"
"My stupid invitation? So that's how you think about my wedding. That it's all stupid. Well good to know, brother. If it's all too much to bear for you than why don't you just stay home and you also don't have to watch me get married", Jenny yelled back, feeling totally offended and left alone.
Dan sighed again. "You know that's not what I meant, Jen. I know that Nate hurt you in the past, but inviting him to your wedding after he told you more than once that he loves you... do you really think that hasn't hurt him?"
Jenny's anger faded just as fast as it had built up. She gazed at Dan who eyed her sternly.
"I didn't mean too, if it did. I thought we could stay friends, obviously I was wrong."
"You wanted to stay friends with a guy who is in love with you? It's a bit much to ask, or?"
Her eyes grew wide when he said that. Jenny couldn't believe that Dan really was thinking this way. "You think? It's funny 'cos I remember a time when I was in love with Nate and all he wanted us to be was friends! I heard it so many times that each time someone would say the word friends my stomach started to churn. So just to get that right, when I loved Nate and he wanted to be just friends – that was okay. But now that he loves me and I want to stay friends – that is cruel and mean. Did I get that right?"
Jenny looked at Dan with a grim stare. She really had a point there and Dan knew it. He had gone too far accusing her to hurt Nate on purpose. He may not have said it, but he had indicated it with his latest questions.
"I'm sorry Jenny. I shouldn't have said what I said. I forgot that you have been in the same position back when. I'm truly sorry", he apologized right away.
Jenny's gaze softened, but she still was mad at him. "You don't know how hard it is to love someone who only wants to be friends. I really started to hate that word. And no, I didn't do it to hurt him. I guess I was hoping that we could get back to where we were when I was a freshman. But I guess we'll never get back there again, too much got broken and damaged."
She looked down on the seat plan again. Gazing at the spot that said Nathaniel Archibald. "So, no one knows where he went?"
"No, he didn't inform anyone of us."
"And he didn't say if he is coming back to town, or when?"
"Nope, no information about that either. As Carol has proxy now, he could stay away for a longer time if he wants to", Dan replied.
"He wouldn't give up on the Spectator, that's his life. He worked so hard for it", Jenny pointed out, hoping that she was right.
"Well, true to that. But honestly, you mean more to him than his magazine", Dan informed her while praying for that these words would change her mind.
Jenny's head shot back up. Her eyes looking unsure into Dan's as if she was trying to find him lying to her. But she knew he had said the truth. She knew ever since Nate told her that he loves her. She had believed him from the very first second. If only I could follow him.
Blair gazed around the church. The decoration was more than beautiful. White lilies and callas were placed all over the church. The seat rows were already taken by the guests of today's wedding. She still couldn't believe that the day had come. She had hoped that Jenny would change her mind. But during the entire past weeks it didn't happen. Although everyone had tried to change her mind. Chuck and Dan had both told her about the bachelor party and their interview with Jasper. Clearly she wasn't amused that Jasper still had contact with his ex-girlfriend, but it hadn't been news to her. She already knew, except the part that Alina was in town. Jenny had been more upset about the fact that they took him to the Victrola as Dan had promised not to go there. No matter what they had tried, it didn't work out.
Nate had kept his distance during the entire time. It had been more than hard for him, Blair felt so sorry for him. She had gazed around to find him, but wherever she looked – he wasn't here today. No surprise. Could she blame him though? No. Watching your true love marry someone else must be pure torture, and surely nobody in its right mind would want to see that voluntarily. Wherever he was, Blair hoped that he was doing at least somehow fine. Hopefully he didn't get totally wasted.
She looked the aisle down, where Serena was about to reach half of the way. It was her turn now to start walking it down. She kept her gaze forward and took one tiny step after the other. Looking friendly at the guests in front of her, smiling politely. Jenny and Jasper had kept it quite. Only the family and closets friends were here today. She could see Marc Jacobs and his assistant Joanna sitting in the third row, who both had outdone themselves with the dresses. Eric and his boyfriend sat one row before them next to Chuck. Her mother and Cyrus were sitting right next to them, so were Lily and William. In the row before was Allison waiting with her boyfriend Alex to witness her daughter tie the knot. Rufus girlfriend Bex sat next to them with Jenny's and Dan's grandmother Eireen. On the other side of the aisle were Jasper's family and friends placed. Blair had met a few yesterday, but she had already forgotten all their names again. Not that they were important anyways.
She walked slowly further. Serena had reached the altar and stood now to the right of the priest. To his left were Jasper, his best friend Kyle and Dan waiting. This picture was so wrong, in all ways. Blair gazed at Jasper, who was smiling widely. Damn it, it should be Nate and not this … this whatever he is. I can't believe that Jenny is really pulling this through. Please God, please let Nate try one last time! I know I promised Jenny to be on her side, but come on, we both know this is not what she really wants.
Blair sighed and kept walking. She took the last few steps, gazing at Chuck and smiling at him. He could sense that his wife was unease. She didn't like this entire show, neither did he. He had tried to get a hold of Nate, but since four days he was just gone. Apparently Nate didn't respond to any messages of his friends. And also his PI couldn't find a single little thing where Nate had gone too. It was as if he had just fallen from earth. Not the tiniest of a sign indicated that he was doing good and well.
Dan as well as Eric were more than angry about it, although they somehow understood. Nevertheless they both had hoped that Nate would stop this craziness and bring Jenny to her senses. But they all had tried it, including Nate, and neither one of them had succeeded. Now they were all here to witness the inevitable. Chuck totally believed in that Jenny was walking right into her own misery, and so did Blair. She took the two steps up and stopped next to Serena.
On the other end of the church Jenny and Rufus got ready to start their walk. Rufus held out his arm to his daughter, not pleased with the entire situation. He had tried as well to stop her from rushing into marriage. He had tried to convince her to wait at least one or two more years, but Jenny as well as Jasper had turned him down.
"So, last chance to skip and leave", Rufus said as kindly and jokingly as possible.
Jenny frowned at him. "Dad, I'm not going to back out. I told you more than once that I am sure."
"I just wanted to make sure", he replied soothingly, "you know that I'm proud of you, kiddo?"
"Sure I know dad. You told me more than once during the past months", Jenny smiled at him.
"Cos I honestly mean it. I really want the best for you and I hope that is Jasper. Have you talked to Nate?"
Jenny shook her head in denial. "No, he has vanished the past four days."
"Can you blame him? This must be the hardest day for him, watching you marry is definitely not on the top of his To Do list", Rufus mused over the fact how much Nate was in love with his daughter. He always liked Nate, and after Dan told him about his feelings for Jenny he had begun to root for them. Jasper surely was a nice guy, but he couldn't see a future for him with his daughter.
"Dad, could we please not speak of Nate today? It's my wedding day and we are walking down the aisle right now", she pointed out.
"I know, I know. I just think it's sad how things are between the two of you. You know each other for quite a time. It's just sad to see it end this way", he revealed his thoughts to her.
They reached the altar and Jasper stepped down to take Jenny's hand and lead her up the two stairs. Rufus gave her a short kiss on the cheek before handing her over to Jasper, whispering in her ear: "I wouldn't be disappointed if you would run."
Jenny was shocked to hear this from her father, but kept on smiling towards Jasper. She walked up with him and they stopped before the priest. She handed her flower bouquet over to Blair, who took it from her with a genuine smile. Gazing in the brunette's eyes she could see the sadness. Blair had told her that she would accept her decision, but she was obviously upset that she hadn't chosen Nate. Jenny did understand where she was coming from, but she also felt a little pain that none of her friends had accepted Jasper in her life. At least not the way she had hoped for.
Two days earlier
"Hey Blair, come in. You want something to drink?"
"No thanks, it won't take long. I'm on my way to meet Chuck for lunch", the brunette replied when she walked into Jenny's loft.
"Oh, okay. So what can I do for you?", Jenny asked curious while turning around to her maid of honor.
"It's not that easy", Blair said and braced herself for the upcoming conversation. "Look, I know I said that I will be on your side no matter what you decide, and I still stand to my word. But I have to tell you what I think. You're making a huge mistake by marrying Jasper. I know you like him, maybe even love him. But he is not the one you should be with."
Jenny sighed and plopped down on one of her kitchen bar stools. "Blair, please not that again."
"I'm sorry, but I need to say this. As your friend and maid of honor. Jenny, I can see that you still love Nate. And he is so in love with you. He even left town because he can't stand watching you marry Jasper. And only God knows if he will come back", she let the last words hang between them.
Jenny's face turned sad. She had thought about Nate the entire past two days. Since she heard that he had left, he was all on her mind. She couldn't concentrate on anything. She couldn't even count the amount of times she had picked up her phone to call him only to put it back down again.
"You don't think that he'll come back again?"
"Well, maybe. But it's a fact that he had never been in this state before, due to the fact that he had never loved a girl that much before like he loves you. If I had to guess, I would say he has fallen for you long ago. He was just too proud or too stupid to admit it, whatever you want to call it. But now losing you... it gets to him way more than anything that has ever happened in his life. So maybe he won't come back, as he surely won't like to see you live happily ever after with Jasper."
Jenny swallowed hard. To hear Blair say these things really got to her. She so wished it would be easier. She did realize what all her friends and family were trying for the past weeks, but it wasn't as easy as they all thought. Just leaving Jasper behind to start over with Nate... that was totally out of the question.
"Blair, I get what you're saying, but it's not that easy. Too much has happened in the past that..."
"Yes, you said it. In the past! You can leave it behind you, you only need to let go of it and start over new", Blair insisted.
"Sorry, but I can't pretend that it never happened. Maybe you guys are capable of pushing things aside, but I'm not. I can't forget what he did to me, how he shoved me aside to be with my so called best friend or my sister. Blair, I always had hope, but after he threw me out of his apartment I started to realize that it was just a dream and wish of mine. Leaving New York and him was the best thing I could have done. I was finally able to concentrate on myself and heal, but mostly... to get over him."
"Please, you're not over him at all", Blair pointed out while gazing at the young blonde. "If you were over him as you say, you wouldn't wear his bracelet – again. You said it yourself, you have fallen for him again."
Jenny looked down on the golden arm bracelet with the golden charms on it. Again she didn't know why she had put it on, but it somehow made her feel better. She ran her finger over the charms, remembering every word that Nate had said when he gave it to her. Tears started to build up in her eyes.
"Fine, so I'm not over him. But it doesn't change the fact that I can't forget or push aside what happened and what he did to me. Blair, I understand what you try to do, but please could you also be a good friend to me and just accept my decision", Jenny asked her while looking her straight in the eyes.
Blair couldn't stand this situation. To hear her say that she still loved Nate, but refuses to get back together with him – it was just insane. Why would she make it so hard? And why is she running into a marriage when she was in love with someone else?
"You really want to marry him although you still love Nate?", she asked incredulous.
"I know it's hard to understand, but I also love Jasper. Nate will always have a special place in my heart, but I don't see a future for us anymore. But I do see a future for Jasper and me. I'm sorry, but that's how it is", Jenny finished her point of view and got up from her stool. "I see you in two days in the church."
Present day
Blair still looked at Jenny and smiled genuinely. She hated to witness all this, but she would be a good friend to Jenny. This is what she wanted. The priest started to speak.
"We gather here today to celebrate and dedicate the joy and deep meaning of the union of Jenny and Jasper in this sacred commitment. The essence of this covenant is the acceptance of each other as Lover, Companion and Friend. It is therefore a decision which is not entered into lightly, but rather undertaken with great consideration and respect for ourselves and each other.
This ceremony can set the tone for your entire life together. It is the visible symbol of the ongoing wedding process in which the two of you grow in love and union. It represents the welding of two souls as one. It is also a demonstration of the bonding which will strengthen and free you to each grow in your unique way but yet still together.
The gift of marriage brings husband and wife together in the delight and tenderness of sexual union and joyful commitment to the end of their lives. It is given as the foundation of family life in which children are born and nurtured and in which each member of the family, in good times and in bad, may find strength, companionship and comfort, and grow to maturity in love.
Jenny and Jasper are now to enter this way of life. They will each give their consent to the other and make solemn vows, and in token of this they will give and receive a ring representing their forever bond.
First, I am required to ask if anyone is present who knows a reason why these persons may not lawfully marry, so please declare it now."
The priest stopped talking and took a look around to see if anyone of the guest may have a reason to stop this wedding. Blair hoped that Nate would show up now and stop this entire show but he wasn't to be seen anywhere. She could see on the face of Dan that he obviously thought the same. He looked quite disappointed.
Eric and Chuck had slightly looked around, but they also couldn't spot Nate anywhere. He wouldn't stop this wedding, this was for certain now.
As nobody stood up the priest continued with the ceremony.
"The vows you are about to take are to be made in the presence of God, who is judge of all and knows all the secrets of our hearts. Jenny and Jasper, I now invite you to join hands and make your vows, in the presence of God and his people."
Jasper and Jenny turn to each other. Jasper takes her left hand and slides the marriage ring onto her ring finger while making his vow.
"Jenny, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honor you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you.
I, Jasper, take you, Jenny, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part; according to God's holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow."
He smiled brightly at her and gazed her straight in the eyes. Jenny felt slightly unease but she took the ring from Blair anyways and turned towards Jasper again. Taking his left hand and sliding the ring onto his finger. She started to speak up.
"Jasper I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honor you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you.
I, Jenny, take you, Jasper, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward;..."
"WAIT! Don't do it!"
An all too familiar voice echoed through the church. Her head shot round and so did Jasper's, Dan's, Blair's, and every other head in the church. In the middle of the aisle stood Nate. He wore a gray suit and looked very tired.
Blair and Serena both sighed in relief, Chuck smiled smugly. "Now this is going to be good. Was about damn time that he shows up", he whispered in Eric's ear, who was grinning all over the face and only nodded in response.
"Jenny, don't do it. You know that you don't love him the way you should."
"Are you fucking kidding me, Archibald? You really have the guts to show up here!", Jasper screamed out angry. His gaze was shooting daggers at Nate, but he didn't flinch or backed down because of it. Instead he kept talking to Jenny.
"Please listen to me Jenny. I know I have messed up back when. I know I hurt you so many times. And I truly wish I could take it all back, but I can't. I left town because I couldn't stand watch you marry him and while I was gone all I could think about was you. How I could proof to you that you can trust me and that this is not just a game to me.
We have been through so much together, and I don't want to believe... no, I can't believe that this will be the end for us. You were the first person who told me that I have to stand on my own feet and do what I think it's best for me. Do you remember that? When we were sitting on those steps at Blair's birthday. You told me that..."
"... it will only stop when you stop it", Jenny finished the sentence for him. Remembering their first deep conversation all too clearly.
Nate smiled when she filled her own words in. God, she looks so damn beautiful in that dress.
"Right, it was the best advice that I had become in a long time. For some reason I trusted you back then way more than anyone else. I couldn't even explain it to myself, but now I know why. Already then we had this strong, invisible connection. And with time passing by it grew stronger and stronger. You always saw it, but it took me awhile.
I was thinking about the one moment where I really blew it... and it was the night of the Snowflake ball. I should have given the letter to you, but stupid as I was I didn't."
He gripped with his hand in his jacket and pulled out the letter he had written to Jenny all those years ago. He held it up to show her. Jenny's eyes widened in astonishment. He did keep the letter all those years?! He started to read it out loud, not caring that everyone would get to know what he wrote her when he was only 17 years old.
"... Now that your brother know about us, I have to stay away from you... but I don't want to. I really care about you. I just don't know what to do."
Jenny had listened in amazement to him reading out the letter that she should have gotten a long time ago. Silent tears had started to fall down her cheeks. He did love her back then.
"Look Jenny, I know a lot has happened between us. And I know I screwed up more than once. It was all because I was immature about my own feelings. I couldn't handle them and instead of standing to them, I ran away. I kept hiding with Vanessa and also with Serena", he looked apologetic in her direction. She only nodded and smiled. She totally understood what he was saying.
"Fact is, I messed up and lost you in the process. After you left for Hudson without saying goodbye I realized for the first time how much you really mean to me. But with everything that had happened, I was too ashamed and also too proud to follow you. And that was my biggest mistake ever. I should have come to Hudson and tell you right away that I love you and that I always have and always will."
Blair, Serena, Dan, Chuck, Eric and Rufus smiled widely when they heard him say it out loud in the church in front of everyone. For Alison, Lily and Eleanor it was a huge surprise. Jasper only got more and more enraged.
Nate still stood in the middle of the aisle, gazing straight into Jenny's blue eyes which were fixated on him. He smiled slightly at her before he continued.
"I know you still care about me, that's why you're wearing my bracelet. Please don't..."
"WHAT? Your bracelet?!", Jasper exploded. "That bracelet is from Nate? You told me that your grandmother gave it to you."
For the first time since Nate had shown up Jenny turned her gaze towards Jasper again, remembering that he still stood beside her in front of an altar and priest. She shortly lifted her hand and gazed at the golden charms, especially at the heart in the middle. Knowing which secret it held inside.
"I... I'm sorry... it's...", she started to stammer.
"I can't believe you! You lied to me!", he screamed at her. "You told me that you're over him."
Jasper pointed in Nate's direction and Jenny followed it, meeting Nate's blue, warm eyes. He still smiled at her, but she could see that concern had taken over his pretty face.
"You don't have to feel sorry Jenny, it's over. He doesn't have a hold over you anymore", he assured her.
"What the hell are you talking about? I never had a hold over her. If anyone has one it's you. Ever since she came back here you wouldn't leave her alone, confusing her like hell. We were happy since you got back into the picture. I knew we shouldn't have come here", he let out frustrated and angry.
"And what about your ex-girlfriend Alina? Is she thinking the same way?", Nate asked bluntly, catching Jasper off guard.
He gazed at him furiously and in confusion. "I don't know what you mean. We broke up in friendship and Jenny knows it."
"Of course she does. But she surely also knows that it wasn't Alina's idea, right?"
Jasper would have loved to kill that bastard right there and then. He could tell that Nate would become a problem from the second he met him, and now here they were.
"I was the one who said it first, true. But she also felt that we are more friends than lovers. I don't get why I have to discuss this now with you. This is our wedding and we are in the middle of the ceremony, so you mind to leave us alone", Jasper addressed him to leave.
Nate only kept smiling and shook his head. "I don't feel like leaving. You know next to thinking about Jenny, I also did some research with a friend of mine. And it was quite interesting what we stumbled over."
Blair looked confused at Nate and then to Chuck. What was he talking about? Chuck's PI couldn't find anything about Jasper. Did Nate find something?
Everyone in the church was following the angry conversation between the two men. It was like watching a tennis match, just that it was more interesting.
"Archibald, this is pathetic. Just accept that you lost her and move on. Just like Jenny did with me."
"She didn't", a female voice called out from behind Nate. He stepped a little aside to give her space to enter the play field.
Now all eyes were on her. She was brunette and had brown eyes. She was tall and skinny, dressed casually. None of those persons that stand out in the crowd, but still somehow beautiful in her own way.
"She never moved on with you. In fact, she dumped you", the girl informed the wedding company. They gasped in surprise and astonishment. What was she talking about?
"Wait a second", Rufus got up and looked at his daughter. "What does she mean by that? And who is she?"
"My name is Alina, I'm Jasper's girlfriend", she said right out without any hesitation.
Rufus blinked in bewilderment at her. "Girlfriend? Didn't Nate just say that you're his ex?"
"Yes, I was his ex, but we're back together for quite awhile now. But this will change today."
Rufus turned towards Jasper and Jenny. "Would one of you mind to fill me in what's going on here?"
"I'm sorry Rufus, my EX is a little crazy. I really thought that we managed to break in good terms, but obviously she can't stand that I'm happy and moving on", Jasper replied kindly, trying to sooth his father in law to be.
"Cut the crap Jasper. I'm not crazy. Neither is Nate. He saw us kissing at his magazine party", Alina confessed to them all. "You want to know the truth Mr. Humphrey, well here it is. Jasper is a dick, he is a real ass. He is selfish, arrogant, deceitful and greedy. Your daughter is better off without him."
Jasper got totally aggravated by Alina's present. She would ruin everything he had built up. "You jealous little bitch. You really can't stand that I found the love of my life, can you? So now you spread all those lies to get us separated."
"Those ain't lies", Nate stepped in again. "Why don't you tell Rufus about the video you made from Jenny and that you keep blackmailing her with."
"WHAT?", Rufus and Dan screamed out in unison.
Jenny turned pale, her entire world started spinning. Nate knew, he knew about the video. Did he even see it? That would be a disaster. How could she ever face him again if he saw it.
"What video is he talking about?", Dan asked Jasper furiously while approaching him. His friend Kyle, who obviously also didn't know what was going on, still stepped forward to hold Dan back.
"I don't know Dan. They just make that up. Can't you see that Nate and my crazy ex have teamed up to stop our wedding?", Jasper tried to sooth Dan down again.
"What I see is my very pale sister. So obviously there must be some truth in what Nate just said. Were you trying to blackmail my sister into marriage?"
"NO! I would never do something like that to her, I love her!", Jasper called out.
Chuck had gotten up and went over to Nate. They shortly talked and Nate explained everything to him. Chuck eyes narrowed with every word Nate told him. As he came to the end, Chuck wouldn't even mind if Dan would kill that British dick.
"Jenny, what did he do?", Rufus had made his way over to his daughter and gazed her friendly and concerned in the eyes.
Jenny couldn't take this any longer. Tears started to stream like rivers down her face. She also started sobbing. "I'm sor-ry, but I... I ju-st can't do th-is."
Without a further word she ran by Blair and Serena to the back door that led to the rooms of the congregation. Both girls were first puzzled but then followed her friend immediately. Serena called out over her shoulder. "Don't worry, we take care of her."
Dan turned his gaze back to Jasper. "You still want to tell me you didn't do anything?"
"I honestly don't know what that was", he stuck to his previous statement, but started to feel unease after Jenny ran off.
Alina walked a little further to the altar. "Well then maybe I should fill you in. Jenny dumped Jasper about ten months ago when she caught him cheating on her with me. She made it very clear that she never wanted to see him again. But Jasper wouldn't let her get away like that. At that time you, Mr. Humphrey, were still married to Mrs. Bass and Jasper thought it was a good way to get into a wealthy family.
As I said he is deceitful and greedy. He once placed a camera in his bedroom and when he and Jenny you know, he filmed it all. He made her try some new things, so it wasn't just some sex tape."
Rufus and Dan both got sick in their stomachs, Alison gasped for air. What did this creep do to their little girl?
"Anyway... when Jenny broke up, he took the video to blackmail her back into the relationship with him. She had just won that contest at school and Marc Jacobs offered to work with her. Jasper told her that he would publish the video and make sure that she would never get another chance to work in fashion if she doesn't obey to his terms."
Dan was so enraged that Kyle had massive problems on holding him back. Rufus only took one step and grabbed Jasper by his jacket. "Look me in the eyes and tell me that she is lying!", he threatened the young man.
The priest was shocked by all the actions and declarations. He decided it was best to leave. There wouldn't be a wedding anyways.
"Rufus, I swear. I wouldn't do that to her", Jasper begged him to believe his words.
Alison had got up too, and now stood next to her ex-husband. "Rufus, it won't change anything if you knock him out now. Jenny is the one that we should be concerned about. She needs us now. Come on, we should go and find her."
Rufus gazed at his former wife and nodded in agreement. She was right, this idiot wasn't worth it. They would deal with him later, now his daughter was most important.
Nate and Chuck had made their way up to the altar when Blair and Serena returned back into the church room. Blair only shook her head.
"I'm sorry, we couldn't find her. She is gone. She took the limo which waited outside", she informed everyone.
Rufus, who had let go of Jasper, walked over to Bex and dragged her up. "We'll head to the loft in Brooklyn. Maybe she shows up there. Eric, could you go to her loft?", he addressed to Jenny's best friend and former stepbrother.
"Sure, I'll do. I call when she shows up there", he immediately said and turned to leave too.
Nate watched them leave. Alison and Alex went with Rufus. He wanted to search for her too, but first there was one thing he still had to do. Nate turned around again and walked up to Jasper. Without any warning he punched him straight in the face, sending the young British man down to the ground.
"That was for messing with Jenny. Stay the hell away from her or you'll regret the day you were born!"
Two hours later Nate showed up at Dan's apartment. He had searched for Jenny over the entire town. He went to all the places he knew that she loved them. She was nowhere to be found. He worried massively about her.
"Hey, you heard anything?", he asked his friend when he walked in and sat down on his couch.
"No, nothing yet. Dad is back home in Brooklyn, she didn't show up there. Neither did she go home, Eric is there. Also Chuck and Blair's place was a no show, they got home nearly two hours ago and wait since then. Serena is up at her mom's, just in case Jenny may go there for old times – or so. She didn't come here either", Dan filled Nate in.
Nate sighed heavily. He was really anxious. Where the hell did she go? He could understand that she needed time to think, but she shouldn't be all alone. After he had found Alina and she told him the entire story, Nate needed a while to comprehend. But he did understand why she had pushed him away from her, it finally made sense.
His PI was able to get a hold of the video and erase it. According to his words was the Hilton clip nothing against it. Nate was more than glad that he never saw it. Just the thought of Jenny having sex with that douche made him want to vomit.
"I really hope she is fine, she shouldn't be on her own", Nate said to break the silence.
Dan gazed at his friend and could see the concern towards his sister. "She surely is okay. Just give her some time to process everything. It must have been hard to get blackmailed like that."
"I just don't get why she didn't turn to any of us", Nate replied frustrated and sad that she didn't trust him.
Dan chuckled a bit. "Would you tell your family and friends something like that? Like, Hey, uhm, I get blackmailed with this sex tape which could ruin mine and you entire reputation and career. You mind to help me out?"
Dan definitely had a point there, but it still bothered Nate that she went alone through all that. But mostly the question whether Jasper blackmailed her into sex bothered him even more. He didn't want to think about it, but he couldn't take his thoughts of it. Did he even rape her?
"You think she is going to press charges against him?"
"I hope so, but we don't have any evidence. It's just her and Alina's word against his. If Alina is willing to testify at all", Dan pondered over the topic.
"I can't believe that dick gets away with it", Nate grunted.
"I don't think that Chuck and Blair will let that happen. Pretty sure they already have something in mind to punish him", Dan said convinced that the power pair would step up for his little sister.
Nate looked up at him. "Yeah, you're probably right. I'll head back to my place at the Empire. I doubt that Jenny will come by, but you never know. I'll talk to you later."
He got up and walked towards the elevator. Dan followed him with his gaze.
"You know I really hope that you guys will be able to sort it out now that you got rid of Jasper", Dan told him honestly.
"Thanks man, I hope we can. She really means the world to me."
Nate stepped in the elevator and left. Dan stood for a bit and watched the doors slide shut when he heard a door open up. He turned around and faced the person coming out of the room.
"Thanks for not saying anything."
"I promised, but you can't avoid him forever", he said gently to his little sister. She looked more broken than ever. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. She had taken some of his clothes and replaced her wedding dress with them.
"I just need some time Dan. I can't face him right now, not now that he knows", she barely whispered.
Dan walked over to her and pulled her in a tight but gentle embrace. "He will understand. You've heard him. You mean the world to him. He will be happy to get you back, no matter what happened before. And you didn't know that Jasper took that video. You were scared that someone might find out. Jenny, it's nothing to be ashamed of", he assured her while caressing her.
He took a step back and gazed down at her, still holding on to her shoulders. "Hey, do you remember the last Cotillion where my sex tape with Serena blew up? See it happened to me too, and I'm still alive", he joked with a huge grin on his face.
Jenny slightly smiled. "Still, I need a few days to sort my thoughts and think about what I want to do."
"Sure, just send me a text that you went for a few days out of town to think. I'll let the others know and if they want proof I can show them. As Serena might come here soon, we shall find you a good hotel were you can stay for a bit til the others believe the story and you can go back to your place."
"You're the best, Dan."