Katrina and Nate were walking around the grocery store and Nate felt uncomfortable. He had never gone grocery shopping in his life. In a way, he had kind of wished that he had done this before because Katrina felt completely comfortable. He wondered if she picked up this skill in New York or had the lovely Lucille taught her this.

"Katrina, what you doin' here today?" said a petite dark skinned girl working behind the jewelry counter. Already, Katrina has made some new friends and part of him was worried that she would end up staying in Georgia instead of coming back to New York. He really wanted her, and he didn't know if they were strong enough for a long distance relationship.

"Hello, Latoya. I didn't know you were working today."

"Yeah, girl, had to cover for someone. Damn near cussed out my boss for callin' me so early in the mornin'…anyway, who's the cutie?" Latoya asked and Katrina didn't know how she would introduce him. That had just agreed to be a couple just thirty minutes ago, and she hadn't quite gotten used to saying that she was dating Nate Archibald.

"This is Nate. We went to school together." she said looking at Nate's face making sure he wasn't offended. He didn't show any signs of it.

"Nice to meet you." he said extending his hand and she shook it.

"I'm Latoya. I'm her cousin."

"I'm her boyfriend." he said and Katrina nearly choked him. Of course, he wouldn't let something like that slide.

"Oh…" Latoya said with a weird look on her face as she started at Katrina.

"What is it, Latoya?" Katrina said sensing that there was something on Latoya's mind and she was one to always express it.

"Okay, you know I ain't got a problem with y'all two datin', and you know we all love Grandma Lucille, but uh…you ain't gonna take him to the family thing tomorrow, is you?" she said with a worried look on her face.

"I…uh…yes?" Katrina said a little unsure if that was a good idea because most of her family didn't like her. Thanks to her father, most of her cousins, aunts, and uncles haven't seen her or her mother in years. Most of them called them uppity, stuck up snobs and if she showed up with a rich, white guy, they'd never stop.

"If you do, you know I gotcha back. Those crazy ass people need to just get over it and realize that this whole bullshit just crazy and they need to stop. Ain't none of us gettin' younger."

Suddenly Nate's phone rang and it was Chuck. He knew it wouldn't be long until he would call him, especially since he didn't tell him about his little trip. But, he knew he couldn't let Katrina know he was talking to Chuck or she would kill him.

"Excuse me." he said as he stepped a few feet away and Katrina nodded. "Hello, mom."

"Well, hello, son." Chuck said in a sarcastic tone. "Nathaniel, what kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into? I mean, not even a call or text…or even a damn tweet." Chuck teased as if he was his mother.

"Ha, ha, Chuck." he whispered once he knew he was far enough so Katrina wouldn't hear him talking to Chuck. "I've been a little busy."

"How in the world could you possibly be busy in Atlanta, Georgia?"

"How the hell did you know where I was?!"

"Does it matter, Nathaniel?"

"Yes, it matters. Stay out of it, Chuck! I'm handling some business here, and I don't need you getting involved."

"Could that business go by the name of Katrina Sinclair?"

"Fuck you…Okay, thanks to your stupid little feud with Jason, a girl's life is ruined."

"As if her reputation for being a partying lush wasn't bad enough…"

"You know what, Chuck…you're an asshole."

"Oh, name calling is so petty. I thought we were friends, Nate. Don't tell me you're going to throw away our friendship for Katrina 'party girl' Sinclair? That would just crush me…" he said with a sarcastic chuckle.

"I'm hanging up…"

"Not so fast, Nathaniel. Do you honestly believe that you're going to play hero and she'll just willingly run into your arms when she finds out that you're still dating Vanessa?"

"I'm not dating Vanessa!"

"You will be. Let's just end this whole foolishness by you getting your ass on the next place out of Georgia to New York and make up with Vanessa."

"Vanessa's back in town?" he asked hating that he was curious that he wanted to know that. He had ended it with her on sort of friendly terms, not at first, but they eventually smoothed things over and they had moved on, at least he did. "I can't…Katrina and I…"

"There isn't going to be a Katrina and you. If she comes back, Blair will make her life hell. You know that. So, if you really want to protect your little pet project, I suggest you just leave her there in Hicksville and forget about her."

"Well, I just can't leave her. She's coming back to New York and she wants revenge. Jason really screwed up her life and…I'm not blaming her for wanting to get even. Just hold Blair off when we return, okay?"

"Why should I do that? I mean, Katrina did accuse me of rape, and I clearly didn't do it. Why should I help her? Her accusation hurt my reputation too, you know?"

"It was already damaged and you know that. You should help her because you owe it to her because you know it's your fault that Blair was behind all the rumors sent to Gossip Girl. You helped send her into a near mental collapse and you…"

"Don't blame me because your 'girlfriend' couldn't take the truth. No one made her go to clubs nearly every night and drink like a fish."

"Just make sure Blair doesn't do anything to Katrina when she returns and see if you can dig dirt on Jason, and I'm pretty sure you have dirt on him because of your stupid feud. I'll talk to you later." Nate said as he hung up and walked back to Katrina and Latoya.

"Is everything alright, Nate?" Katrina asked with a worried look on her face.

"Yes. I was talking to my mother. I told her to send some of my things down."

"That's cool. Well, I have some good news…sort of. It depends on how you look at the situation. You're coming with me tomorrow! I know it's a little soon since we're barely dating for a little less than an hour, and we have to worry about a little scrutiny from bitter family members, that I'll handle myself, but I didn't want to leave you alone to be bored sitting all by yourself in my grandmother's house all day."

"Wow, that's great! I really appreciate that you wee thinking of me."

"And don't worry…if they give us any trouble, Latoya's got our backs."

"I can't wait." he said thinking about how he wasn't looking forward to that and much less looking forward to their return to New York. He wondered how long he could stall for time.