"It's a what?!" Rufus Humphrey angrily shouted at his daughter Jenny, "Actually don't tell me. I know what it is. You're basically engaged to him!" He ran his fingers through his hair trying to understand his teenage daughter.
Jenny rolled her eyes, "Dad! It's not an engagement ring! It's a promise ring!" She said it trying to sound happy and upbeat, "I'm only sixteen, if I was going to get married any time soon I'd need you or mom to give consent." She sighed, then quickly smiled. They couldn't know she wasn't that thrilled about it.
Her older brother Dan spun around in his chair, "Technically it is... Just goggled it and it says that it's basically a pre-pre-engagement ring," Dan said it to two very confused faces, what he just said didn't make any sense, "So a person gives you engagement ring when you're going to get married, like Dad gave to Lily, but then there are promise rings. Witch you give even before an engagement ring like..." He decided to shut up. They got the picture.
Rufus couldn't figure out what happened to his little girl? She was so sweet and genuine. Then she lashed out with her fashion thing, witch he understood completely. I mean that was normal teen rebellion. Every kid went through it at one point. But this was just getting to out of hand! This was no more normal teen rebellion.
He walked over and put his hands on Jenny's shoulders, and looked her in the eye, "What has happened to you? Two weeks ago you were making out with the boy for some reason I still don't know. And now you're basically engaged to a boy you had a one night whatever with!" Rufus turned to Dan for some support, "Your brother and I are just concerned, because honestly? Lately it doesn't seem like you're making the best decisions..." He said referring to the ring on her finger.
Why did every one have to bring that up?! They weren't engaged! It was just like a ring to show they were dating, screw goggle. And it wasn't even like she wanted to say yes. The whole time Nate was talking her heart was screaming, "Run! Run for your life! Run damn it!" but for some reason her head disagreed, "If you say yes everything will be okay. He'll take care of you. Chuck could never take care of you." And she listened to her head. Jenny now hated her mind.
"Dad... I'm not a kid any more. I know what's right, and what's wrong," She looked at Dan in desperation of help, "This is my life, and compared to yours mine is pretty mellow. I know how to tell if what I'm doing is going to be a good thing, or a bad thing." She just wanted him to get she could take care of herself!
Dan wasn't going to say anything. Both of them wanted him on their side. And he really wasn't in the mood to chose favorites. Rufus had a point about Jenny not thinking through everything. Jenny had a point though that it was her life. Either way he wanted nothing to do with it!
Rufus sighed and just looked at her, "I know you difference between right and wrong. Good and bad. But Jenny..." He pushed back his hair again, "It's the fact of you listening to your head when it's telling you what's right and wrong, good and bad." Just because she knew the difference, didn't mean she'd follow it.
Chuck was fiddling with his tie. Blair had some big dinner to go to or what ever. No matter what he did, he didn't seem to think he looked that great. If it wasn't the jacket, it was the shoes. If it wasn't the shoes, it was the pants. It felt like he was just trying to make excuses to take longer.
Their was a knock on the side of his open door, "Can I come in?" Serena asked as she took a step in, "I just wanted to see how you were doing with getting ready. Need any help?" She felt like crap since she caused all the drama. But she was just trying to be a good friend, and sister.
He smiled and laughed, "No you're checking to see if I've jumped out the window yet!" Chuck straightened his collar, "I'm done, thanks. Is Blair here or...?" Getting this dumb dinner over with was the only thing on his mind. The sooner the better.
Serena knew he wasn't thrilled to be going out to dinner, or going out with Blair, "She txted me a minute ago saying she was on her way. So yeah in a minute she'll be here," She was about to leave until she stopped at the doorway, "Don't screw things up Chuck, I don't know who'll take you back. They're gone." She closed the door behind her as she left. He knew who she was talking about. And he had to understand that it was over.
Chuck didn't even think twice about what she said. It was like he didn't even hear her. Tonight was just another night. Another boring dinner party with Blair. There was nothing to think about.
The elevator door dinged open. Even threw the walls he could hear her come in. So Chuck took a deep breathe, and opened his door. Slowly he walked out to her. Their conversations never seemed to have points to them any more. So avoiding talking was something he was trying to do.
"Their you are!" Blair as she walked over to him, "Umm... Nice outfit?" She wasn't trying to sound like a jerk. But she couldn't help it. Come on, he's Chuck Bass and he's wearing that?
Why oh why did she have to be such a... Such a... Such a bitch?! I mean the first thing she does when she sees him is complain about his outfit? If only that beautiful face had a prettier soul She wasn't awful, but there were those things that everyone would be better off without.
"Can we just go?" Chuck didn't want to stay any longer, the sooner the better, "I'm just so excited!" He said looking at Serena's disapproving look. Why did she even care if he had any one in the end? It wasn't like he ever did her any real favors.
Nate straightened his jacket before knocking on Jenny's door. He messed with his hair to get it just right. Made sure the flowers were in perfect place. Shook out his arms out to get rid of the jitters. This would be the first time seeing Rufus and Dan after giving Jenny the ring, and he could only hope they took it in a good way.
"That must be Nate..." Jenny said turning away from her dad and to the door, "We're going to some dinner party or what ever." She really didn't care where they were going. At the moment doing anything to get away from her family was wonderful.
She opened the door to his smiling face, "Hey! You look great!" Nate said giving her a hug and handing her the flowers. Everyday she looked better, if that was even possible.
Why did he have to be so sweet? Complimenting her about how she looked. It was nice to hear but... not exactly coming from him. There was some one she'd much rather say it to her. They were in the back of her head now though. So it was just nice hearing it from Nate too.
Jenny smiled like a shy little girl, "Thanks," She looked back at her Dad and Dan really quick, "We should probably go." She said slightly nudging her head towards them. There was no time for her dad to give Nate a speech on dating and treating her well, or any of that.
He was kind of confused, but got the picture. They weren't happy about the ring. So he wrapped his arm around her and shut the door. Just like they walked away. Jenny had never just left her dad like that. Never.
Nate and Jenny walked into a huge ballroom with a hundred or more people in it. A giant chandler was hanging from the ceiling. There was an incredible band playing away as people danced to their beat. These parties weren't so bad. Free food, free drinks, free music, free basically everything. Dating some one with connection wasn't so bad.
Like in a movie there was some light shinning on her, and Chuck saw that light shinning. He slowly got up, unlike at the brunch the other day, saw her, and smiled. She looked beautiful, even if she was with Nate. That wasn't going away, and he didn't want it too.
Once again Jenny had the feeling she was being watched. Was she becoming paranoid? Then she saw Chuck smiling at her, and she smiled back. He looked so hansom in his suit. It didn't matter if he was here with Blair. Chuck was smiling at her right now, and that was all that mattered.
Neither of them had crossed the others mind all day. And now that they were seeing each other, it was all worth it. It was like forgetting Christmas was the next day, then waking up to a thousand presents. Just that perfect in it's on dysfunctional way.
Jenny tapped Nate on the shoulder, "I'm going to go the uh..." What was she going to say to get away? Oh yeah, the most obvious thing, "I'm going to go to the powder room. I'll be right back." She then slowly walked off, looking back at Chuck to see if he was watching. Then Jenny went into a room, and closed the door.
Chuck watched her close the door, then turned to Blair, "I'll be back in a few," He brushed off his jacket and started to walk towards where Jenny went. She did mean for him to follow right? If not it'd be okay just to see her.
"Where are you going?" Blair said standing up, instantly looking for Jenny, "Actually... What ever. I don't care. Have fun." She said noticing Jenny wasn't any where to see. Honestly, she didn't care what Chuck did. As long it had nothing to do with Little J, she was no longer Queen J in Blair's eyes.
He walked quickly to the door, making sure to avoid Nate's eyes. He knocked twice to hear a sweet and innocent, "Come in." Chuck opened the door as fast as he could, and took a step in. They were in the same room. It only could get better.
"Hi..." He said feeling shy, "You look so beautiful in that dress. Did you make it? Because it just looks really good. I mean something you'd make. You know, all your stuff is really good." Chuck wanted to stop talking right after he said beautiful. But he couldn't help to continue to talk. It was more like spitting out what ever came to mind because he was nervous.
Jenny blushed. The guy she wanted to say she looked good just said it, "Yeah I did make it. I haven't been working on fashion a lot lately but... I had a strange feeling tonight would be worth the work," She smiled and brushed back her hair, "I think your suit looks really good on you. Very, hansom." They were being nice and civil! It was like a dream.
Chuck grinned to himself. Blair was going off about how it wasn't good enough for something like this the whole ride here. And here was Jenny, saying he looked hansom. He'd much rather take Jenny's word over Blair's.
They both got a little closer to each other. But it didn't feel like they were going to kiss or anything. It was more like they were just getting closer. To hear each other better? To make sure no one heard them? To do what exactly? Or were they just getting closer, to be closer?
"Well... It was great seeing you Chuck," Jenny said sighing, knowing this conversation was about to end, "You know without bushes covering part of your face." She wanted to shout it, she didn't though. Jenny just walked right past him and out the door.
That wasn't how this was suppose to go. Jenny wasn't suppose to know Chuck saw and call him out on it. Then again Chuck didn't really know what to except. He knew she wasn't going to let him all the sudden sweep her off her feet and leave. But anything but this was excepted.
She didn't plan on bringing it up. There was just to much tension starting to build in the room. All she wanted was to see him. Talk to him. Get the need to be near, over with. Now it was time to go back to where she "belonged" and he had to go back where he "belonged".
Chuck slowly left the room after Jenny so no one got suspicious. He went back to Blair and sat down. First he figured out where Jenny was. They caught each others eye again and smiled, again. So what if they weren't right next to each other. Both knew the other didn't mind being close and that mattered the most.
The moment in the room was over, that's for sure. The night though... The night was still young. Jenny and Chuck could only imagine what they both could be doing with the other. They only had to imagine for now. Because anything can happen, especially at parties.