"Dude you said this was a masked party not fancy dress" Dan twisted his face
"Well technically it's both, its fancy dress but you have to wear a mask" Rhys added
"Not the same!, how are we supposed to get in anyway?" Dan asked
"We know one of the guys inside, who knows the doorman, it's all very complicated but trust me, we'll get in" he winked
"So you are actually friends with some of the UES crowd?"
"No, he's not like the usual stuck up assholes that seems to inhabit the UES people, he's just like one of us. Don't panic"
"I'm not panicking, I'm just not happy with this costume I got to wear, the cape does nothing for my figure" Dan jokingly posed "and this mask is pissing me off"
………………………………………………………………………………….........
"OK 1st rounds on Humphrey" they all agreed once they had got a table inside
"Here, this one's on the house"
Dan grabbed the cigarette and lifted it to his mouth "Why thank you kind one" he put on a posh accent and inhaled
"What's up with this? This isn't the usual" Dan questioned after taking a draw, noticing the different taste from there usual 'smoke'. The substance was new to him
"No, tonight we thought we'd try you on something a little different, we knew you would be up for it, don't let us down" Mason spoke in a low tone "just smoke and we'll all get high together" he smiled
Dan didn't want to look like a fool in front of them so smoked the unnamed cigarette, not bothering to ask if it were safe
"The only good thing about the Upper East Side ladies is that they give it up easy if you know what I mean" Zach smirked "behind those headbands and tights lies a very naughty girl"
………………………………………………………………………….............
"Serena, sweetie you can't pull of the brunette look" Blair laughed running her fingers through Serena's brown wig "Leave it to the pro's" she stuck her tongue out and pulled down her mask leading her to the dance floor
"Tonight we are going to enjoy ourselves ok, no more Humphrey, no more drama, ok?" Blair shouted through the music into her ear
"Ok" Serena agreed
30 minutes and 3 drinks later Dan looked into the crowd of people. He barely noticed anyone as his vision was slightly blurred and could only recognise a few students from his school through their costumes.
He lifted his head when he spotted her, sitting by herself at the bar. A devilish smiled played on his lips 'found you' he thought. To others she was just a party girl in costume, in disguise; to him she was the golden goddess who made his heart stop, the words of the GG blog running through his mind, he knew that that was only partly true, he had at one time made an impact on her, he was certain that she once loved him despite what he had read 'I'll get the bitch back' he thought, his new split personality shining through, he had the drugs to thank for that. He watched as she sat up from the bar stool and tried to make her way through the crowd. He made his move.
"You look beautiful"
Serena froze on the spot. She knew that voice, her stomach knotted when she felt his fingertips graze her hips and wrap around her waist. Against her better instincts she lent back into his beating chest. Dan was taken back by her actions.
She refused to turn around and look at him afraid she would do something she may regret later. "How did you know it was me?" she still had the brunette hair piece on to go with her character, and her mask covered her eyes and nose. She was unrecognizable to the outside world
Dan leaned in closer, his breath tickling her ear as he spoke softly. "Did you think I could forget those lips?"
Serena closed her eyes and let his words linger in her mind. She was still affected by him. Being this close to him made her head spin and her pulse race his scent intoxicating.
"Why did you say you were glad to get rid of me?" he asked
"What? Dan what are you talking about" Serena turned around, confused by his question and his sudden change of tone
"On the Gossip Girl blog, it said you were happy that you were finally free and away from me" Dan said with a hint of evil in his eyes, clearly still feeling bitter
"I never sad that, how could you even think I would say that Dan"
"You liar, I bet you've been whoring it up ever since the night that 'set you free', gone back to your slutty ways have you" Dan said. Venom dripping from his words
"Don't you ever speak to me like that, how dare you" she slapped him across his cheek, hard, the force making his cheek blush immediately. Serena's anger was boiling up inside her. "I think you may have us confused, it's you that's whoring it up all over town, I saw you Dan, in the nightclub with that girl, rubbing up against her. So don't dare question me about my ways" Serena spoke right into his face before turning around making her exit
"That girl? What the…
Dan followed her out the club "what the hell are you talking about Serena, have you been spying on me" he shouted after her
"Yes Dan, I just love to see you getting your freak on with other girls" Serena rolled her eyes
"Getting your freak on, oh my, time away from me has not boded well with your vocabulary" He widened his eyes in mock annoyance "But I learn from the best" Dan said harshly "Didn't you use to throw yourself at any Tom, Dick and Harry back in your wild days, I would often read GG to check in with my dream girl only to find her with a new 'customer' each week, I thought it looked like fun so why not, you should be proud of me" he hunched his shoulders and sneered
"What's gotten in to you Dan, you've….changed"
"Omg, here we go again" Dan dragged out his words and threw his head back. He looked across the street at the pizza takeaway suddenly feeling hungry, "If another person tells me I've changed I'm gonna…………"Owww Jesus" was all that could be heard as Dan stepped down off the curb and misjudged his foot causing him to crash into the ground. It didn't help that he still had his mask on
"Serves you right you jackass" Serena looked down at him. He had a cut across his forehead going down his cheek, and his knee was cut open, from previous experience Serena knew that Dan had a tendency to lose less than normal amount of blood if he hurt himself so would need hospital attention "You are such a pain in the ass, now I'm going to have to help you get to the hospital to get them looked at, why can't you just be normal"
"I'm not going to any hospital, its a few cuts, just leave it, and how insulting, do you even know what normal is? And don't say yourself or else I really will have to go to hospital, I'll have split my sides open………………….from laughing" he said as he rolled his eyes
Although she hated him at this minute Serena knew she couldn't just leave him
"You are going and that's final, so shut up before I give you another injury, you want children yes?" she warned him
………………………………………………………………………..
"Where's Dan gone?" Mason asked to the other guys as he handed them each a drink
"He left with some brunette" Zach smirked "I guess our plan is working then, were getting to him, bye bye Serena……soon she'll be out of the way completely, unfortunately not physically but emotionally " they chuckled
……………………………………………………………………………………..
"You are like a disobedient child" Serena huffed as she helped him through the hospital doors
"I told you, I don't need your help" Dan said loosing his patience
"You don't need help do you, fine" Serena clapped her hands to her side letting go of him. "Come on then, walk" she tilted her head expectantly and folded her arms
Dan just stood there, his legs felt like jelly and his head was spinning
"I thought so" Serena looked mighty pleased with herself
"You just didn't give me enough time is all"
"Dan if I'd of given you more time you would have bled to death"
"You say that like you care, what would your 'crowd' say about that, they would have been so ashamed of you" he snorted
After giving the receptionist all his details - with help from Serena they sat in the waiting room in a tension filled silence
"What drugs have you been taking Dan?" Serena questioned him "You'll have to tell the nurse because if they give you any medication tonight you might have a reaction, its dangerous"
"Knew you couldn't keep yourself quiet for 5 minutes, well you are the drugs expert aren't you" Dan puffed out "But none"
"Don't lie to me, I can tell you've taken something, your mannerisms, your mood, what is it?"
"It's non of your god damn business" Dan spat "You can go home now" he turned away from her
"Why are you being such an asshole Dan?, who have you been hanging out with, what the hell are they turning you in to" Serena stood up and walked down the corridor to the exit
"Excuse me miss"
Serena turned around when the nurse called her. "Yes"
"You came with Mr Humphrey, yes?"
"I did, what's wrong?"
"Oh nothing, it's just that he'll need someone to take him home"
"I'll call him a taxi" Serena replied. She really didn't want to be around him right now
"But with any head wound we like the person to be aided by someone
"It's only a cut though?"
"I know but its procedure"
"Ok" Serena groaned when the nurse was out of earshot, this was the last place she wanted to be
Serena made her way back to the waiting room.
"Well I thought I got rid of you, how lucky am I to have you back" Dan rolled his eyes when she sat down
"I'm not back by choice"
"This is taking forever, why the long wait" Dan was getting restless. "By the way brunette doesn't suit you, I'm glad you put that wig in the bin"
"Thank you but I don't want your opinion" Serena spoke in a harsh tone
"I'm sorry you only care about what your little east sider's think right"
"Dan Humphrey?" they were interrupted by the calling of his name "Room 1 please"
After the nurse introduced herself she began to tend to his wounds, making light conversation
"So who's brought you here tonight?" she asked looking in Serena's direction
Serena began to speak but was cut off by Dan
"My mom" He sarcastically answered for her "or rather she just likes to think she is" he said with a cheeky smile
If looks could kill then Dan would be 6ft under by now with the look Serena shot his way
Nurse Stevenson let out a chuckle as she looked between the two "young love" she thought to herself
"I'm going to need to lie back while I clean and dress your head wound Sir"
"Sir?, that's what you should be calling me Serena " Dan nodded his head
Serena looked at him and held up her arm "you see this hand? It's going to get a meet and greet with your face in a minute if your not careful…..sir"
"I've already had a meet and greet thanks; my face didn't appreciate the act of kindness"
"Lovers spat?" the nurse asked bemused
"Were not lovers" they both said in unison
"Serena now likes her guys arrogant, rich and with only a 10 watt bulb lit up in his brain" Dan said, the bitterness of the blog coming back to haunt him
"OK I'm going to get some supplies out the cupboard next door, please don't kill each other while I'm gone"
As soon as Nurse Stevenson left the room Serena slapped her hand down onto his now dressed knee, putting pressure on his wound
"Owww, are you crazy" Dan sat up and clutched his now throbbing knee
"You're Mom?" Serena raised her eyebrow showing no sympathy for what she had just done
……………………………………………………………………………
"Night dad" Jenny hugged her dad and placed her glass in the sink.
"Night Jen"
She stopped at her door and turn around to Rufus "Don't worry about Dan, it's just a phase he's going through, just let him know that you'll be there for him" she gave him a smile and closed her door. She wished she could believe her own words but even she had started to worry about him, he was so different lately. Although she had only met Mason, Zach and Rhys twice before she had a bad feeling about them, she needed to find out what their deal was and had to enlist the help of the one person she hated in the world. Chuck. He's an asshole but she knew he could find anything out. If there was anything to find out
……………………………………………………………………………..
"Now I don't want you to walk on your leg tonight so I'll go get you a wheelchair to take you out to the taxi"
It took the nurse 5 minutes to find a chair
"There you go, sit, I hope to never see you again, and I mean that in the nicest way" she laughed
"Wait, your putting Serena in charge of pushing me, do you know 6 months ago she crashed a trolley, an empty trolley at that, while we were shopping, you can't put her in charge of moving wheels, with my luck I'll be back here with a glass door through my head" Dan threw his hands up and attempted to stand up
"Don't be so dramatic, thanks nurse" Serena pushed him back down into the seat and began to push him at an alarming speed down the empty corridor, only slowing down when she spotted an older nurse rounding the corner
"I hate my life" Dan choked out while holding his head in his hands as they made there exit
Is this a new beginning for S and our not so Lonely Boy? Are they bonding over bumps and bruises? Will D kick his new habit?.......We think not!
Thanks for the reviews, it's great to get feedback on the story.