Once again, thank you for those who gave encouraging reviews. Keeping me inspired to write more.
So here's Chapter 3 of my fanfic take on Episode 1 of Season 3. Exclusively Nate and Serena scenes. Reviews are loved.
Gossip Girl Season 3 Episode 1 - "It's now or never"
Chapter 3
Scene 6 – Nate/Serena
Nathaniel Archibald continues to stare at the Venus-like statuesque who is now approaching him. Sure, there are lots of beautiful girls hanging around him but none of them could hold a candle against a Serena Van Der Woodsen.
Avoiding his gaze, Serena sits beside him and speaks casually, "That was Blair." Then looks back at him knowingly.
Without a trace of surprise on Nate's face, he nods. "Yeah… just got a text message from Chuck."
She sighs. It's beginning to be a habit of hers nowadays. Sighing, that is. If only you could just sigh out all your problems. "Oh, well. You just couldn't hide anything from those two, can you? On the other hand, their worrying is kinda touching, don't you think?"
"Yeah … and kinda suffocating and embarrassing, too. They make me feel like a kid sometimes." He makes a face that looks so endearing like that of his 7-year-old cute self, it makes her bursts into laughter. Then he joins her.
As soon as the last laugh fades, a moment of silence ensues. But before it could get more awkward, he speaks up, looking down. "Serena, I know I'm not in the right position to talk to you on this. We haven't talked and seen each other for the past couple of months now. And … we're not that close anymore unlike before. But … I'd like to believe that I'm still a friend. Am I allowed to be that? " He looks up and searches her face for an answer.
She feels a lump in her throat as she slowly swallows. She can barely be heard with her almost-a-whisper response. "Of course … What makes you think I wouldn't?"
He just shrugs his shoulders and chuckles. "Just a wild guess but then … I'm not good in guessing." Then returns his serious gaze back to her. "I heard you've been busy looking for your father. So how was it? Did you find him?"
Serena is a bit surprised. She's been expecting Nate to ask her about Carter. Somehow, it makes her feel a bit giddy knowing that he does really care for her more than his personal issue (and Chuck's, too) against Carter.
"Yes. In Fiji. But we didn't get a chance to ---"
He suddenly butts in, cutting her off. "FIJI? This summer? But I thought you were in Europe?" He silently scolds himself. He should have stayed a bit longer at Chuck's and get more information first before barging in at her place. And not look like a helpless and clueless fool right now.
A bit puzzled to his little outburst, she explains, "Yes, I was. I just shortened my trip in Europe and decided to go to Fiji first." Sighing, she continues, "I was this close of seeing my long lost father for the first time, Nate. But just when we thought we would, he ran off again to God-knows-what-kind-of-place on this planet. Well, at least, now I know where I got my penchant for running away and moving around." She smirks at the thought.
He tries to ignore the word "we" in her statement and the picture of Carter and her together, playing in his imaginative mind. He makes a big effort to focus on the center of her concern – her father.
"Let's just say you inherited your father's traveler nature big time. Yours is so dramatic. Filled with excitement and … energy." He gives her his ever-so-charming-smile in an exaggerated way.
She gasps, "You're reading tabloids!"
"I don't need to. Your escapades are all over the internet! Who would have missed that?" With all the exaggeration written on his face, he continues on teasing her.
Twitching her nose and pouting, she playfully hits his broad shoulder with a fist. "Don't rub it in. I got the point." Then with a wry smile, she turns pensive. "That effective, huh? But not enough to make my father notice me."
Once again, two pairs of beautiful blue eyes lock like magnet.
Serena doesn't plan to tell Nate about her quest in looking for her father that soon. She feels awkward confiding to him now that their closeness is not that tight anymore … as if an invisible wall is place between them, preventing them to get closer with each other.
But she has to admit. Even though they have not spoken and seen each other for a long time, they would automatically seek each other out whenever things crumble around them and turns their world upside down. They find solace with each other. Nobody could explain it. Not even themselves. So, serendipity then? Perhaps but then ……
She gives in for the minute-long battle of staring. She looks down at her hands on her lap. "He didn't want to see me, Nate. All the time I was in Fiji, I kept calling him. Asking for an appointment. Even begging him for just an over-a-minute-talk over the phone. But he ignored everything. He didn't respond. Not even once. And it hurts … very much."
"Serena ……" He whispers, stares at her with sympathetic eyes.
She rapidly blinks, trying to hold back tears starting to build up in her beautiful eyes. "All those partying … club-hoping … I didn't do it just for the heck of it. I did it with a purpose … to get the attention of my Dad. And I would do anything just to get his recognition and acknowledge me as his daughter." Her voice abruptly cracks.
He suddenly feels the urge to hug his once-upon-a-time-girl-bestfriend but up to the last second, he's able to control himself. She might run away again at the first sight of closeness. He can't afford to lose her for the nth time. Not this time. She needs friends right now. Support and …… love?
He shakes the thought off. Love? C'mon, Nathaniel. You have to use your head and be sensible this time. Don't let your heart be broken by the same girl for the second time around.
He returns his attention back to her then out of nowhere, puts a hand over hers. "Hey, don't worry. He will soon realize how lucky he is to have a lovely daughter in you, Serena. You'll see … in due time. And if you need anything, I'm just right here. So is the rest of the Non-judging Breakfast Club."
Though a bit surprised to Nate's bolder move, Serena does not feel less a bit embarrassed. Maybe because she feels the sincerity in every word he said. She smiles sweetly at him. "Thanks, Nate. Thanks for just being here. Really … appreciate it."
Again, he fights the sudden urge to wrap his arms around her long and slender body. "Anytime … for you. No problem." Then hastily takes his hand off her's. "Anyway, I could assist you in finding your father. So, you last seen him in Fiji. Hmmm… let's see. Hey, we could arrange a meeting with Chuck and ask for his PIs to investigate the whereabouts of Van Der Woodsen and ---"
She cuts him off. "Nate, no. No, you don't have to do that."
A bit confused, he asks her, "Why not? We're friends. And friends help out each other. I don't see anything wrong with it."
"Really, Nate. I do appreciate you. I mean, the listening and … it means a lot. It's just that …" Serena sighs and looks at him helplessly, "Carter's been helping me since day one and it's been taking up his time already. I don't wanna involve anybody else anymore. Especially you, Blair, even Chuck. Not even Mom and Eric."
She knows she's getting tense as she goes on babbling. Wait, why is she tensed? "You, guys. You were all entangled up with all my mess in the past and I don't intend to add this one around. This is my own doing and I promise myself ---" She stops as she notices his facial expression changes. Pain is evident in his intense dark blue eyes.
She holds her breath. She had seen that look before. That is the same look Nate had when she told him bluntly on his face that she didn't come back for him, on that unforgettable day. The day of her much-talked-about return to the Upper East Side Manhattan after spending an uneventful year in a far-away expensive boarding school.
"I know I'm not the most well-behaved guy around for a long time now and I understand the silent treatment but … really, Serena …" He lets out a frustrated sight and shakes his handsome head a bit, "To trust Carter more than your family and friends … that I don't understand. Not at all."
"Carter's not that bad. Well, I admit the first time he approached me and shared infos about my dad, I was kinda wary. What gives? But then, he proved himself to me a number of times. He made numerous efforts to gain my trust. And he did."
He couldn't believe what Serena has been saying. So, he snaps back. "And he did numerous mistakes to break it. God, Serena. When will you ever learn? Guys like him will never change, not even for a girl. And even if he did, it's just to protect his own vested interest. How can you not see that? Are you going to allow him to make a fool out of you again?"
As soon as he stops ranting, she softly speaks but with an edge on her voice. "Are you done now, Nathaniel Archibald?"
Startled, he finds himself looking straight into the alarmingly icy cold eyes of the beautiful blonde. She rarely calls him in his complete full name. If she did, it means only one thing. It's either she's very furious or very hurt. Or worst, it could be both.
"All my life, I've waited for that moment of finally meeting up my father and by that, perhaps finding myself in the process. And the last thing I needed right now is another lecture of do's and don'ts. I've had enough of that from my mother, even from Blair."
He could only stare at her obviously hurt face. He remains tongue-tide. He couldn't find any single word to say.
Baby blue teary eyes are now looking at much darker sad pair as she went on. "You know, despite what happened between us, I always think that I could still count on you … that I could still trust you. No judgement. But I guess … I was wrong."
"Serena …" Nate feels the hurt on every word she uttered. Hoping to erase it and stops her of thinking regrets, he apologizes. "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. It just that … Carter and I had history. And we all know how he is. But, ok. For you, I'll give the guy a chance. He'd better behave or else ……" He balls his right hand into a fist, making mock punches into the open-palmed left hand.
Seeing this adorable gesture of her boy-bestfriend, Serena can't help herself to burst out laughing. "Oh, Natie ….." Then without thinking, she flings herself into his strong arms. "Thank you, thank you. This means a lot to me."
Though a bit astonished, Nate tries to regain composure. "Hey, you're right. You can still count on me. Always. Don't you ever forget that."
With these reassuring words, Serena tightens her embrace as she closes her eyes and contentedly smiles. Also smiling wide is Nate, as he responds by hugging her back more. Well, it's not everyday that you get this much closer to the girl-of-your-dreams whom you also dearly love the most. God, I missed this girl, utters to himself as he buries his face into her slender flawless neck, getting drunk of Serena Van Der Woodsen's signature sweet scent.
…..…..To be continued……….