Authors Note: And here is chapter three! It's quite short, but I have valid reasons for this. I hope you enjoy it! Any comments/feedback are always appreciated!

Chapter Three

The following day was Saturday and Serena wasn't sure what she wanted to do. Blair was out with Chuck, of course, so she instinctively reached for her phone and dialed the first number that came into her head.

"Hello?"

"Hey Nate, It's Serena."

His voice perked up. "Hey! Whatcha up to?"

"Not much. Just hanging out at home. You?"

"The same."

A small silence followed.

"Want to go see a movie, boyfriend?" asked Serena playfully.

"As long as I get to choose what one."

"I don't think so! I'm not seeing some brain-dead action movie," she pouted over the phone.

"You kept the table tennis trophy, I get to choose the movie. Deal?"

Serena huffed. "Fine. Deal."

"Pick you up in 10?" Nate asked.

"Can't wait."

Sitting in the movie theatre, Nate was complaining to Serena. "I can't believe you talked me into this!"

Serena giggled. "So I guess I got the trophy AND I picked the movie. Score: Serena -Two. Nate- Zero."

He shook his head at her. "I WILL even up the score soon. So what's this movie about again?"

"A vampire and a human girl who fall in love."

Nate rolled his eyes.

"Every girl loves Twilight, Nate. Instead of seeing it as a chick flick, see it as an educational video. You want a real girlfriend? Be more like Edward Cullen."

"So not only did I not get to pick the movie, now I have homework?" mused Nate.

Serena smiled at him.

"Besides," continued Nate. "Why would I want a real girlfriend when I have such an exceptional fake one?"

After the movie Nate and Serena wandered into a café upon Serena's insistence, who was claiming she was hungry.

"You ate an entire tub of popcorn meant for both of us and you're still hungry?" asked Nate incredulously.

"Never talk about how much a girl has eaten, Nate. That's a self-esteem issue no one wants to get involved in."

They sat down, Nate pulling out Serena's chair for her and grabbed a menu. "What do you want?" he asked.

"Cake! Chocolate cake!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"I thought you wanted a meal?"

"Who said dessert isn't a meal?"

He nodded, accepting her argument. "Fine. If you're having chocolate cake, I'm having strawberry ice cream."

"Wow, very masculine Nate. I'm impressed," grinned Serena sarcastically.

The waitress came over and they placed their orders. Once she left, Nate turned back to Serena. "And what is wrong with strawberry ice cream?" he demanded.

"Nothing, nothing," said Serena, before muttering under her breath "if you're a girl…"

"I heard that!"

She laughed openly. "I'm kidding Nate. Besides, you REALLY don't need to worry about protecting your masculinity. I've seen you with your shirt off," replied Serena flirtatiously, cocking an eyebrow.

"You know if you weren't one of my best friends, I would be hitting on you right now."

"Well it's lucky we are friends then, isn't it?"

Nate's smile disappeared just a little and his voice dropped. "Yeah… lucky…" he mumbled.

Serena's head flooded with confusion, not understanding Nate's reaction. Before she could ask him about it their dessert arrived and Serena became distracted by the mouth watering chocolate mud cake.

After dessert Nate and Serena were walking back to her house when Nate grabbed her hand. Serena didn't think twice about it because it felt so natural until Nate whispered into her ear. "Isn't that Jasmine from school?"

Serena nodded and they entered into her hotel building. In the lobby she heard her name called out. She turned around, still holding hands, to see one of her grandma's friends approaching.

"Serena, darling, how are you?" she cooed, kissing her on the cheek. "And Nathaniel, I haven't seen you in so long. Things are well?"

"Things are great," he replied, smiling at her.

The lady glanced at the couple in front of her. "I say, are you two dating?" she asked boldly, noting their hand holding.

Nate nodded. "She is the love of my life," he said, pulling Serena into his side. Serena laughed.

"Oh my!" exclaimed the lady. "What wonderful news! You know, I've watched the two of you grow up and have always thought of what a wonderful couple you would be. EVERYONE could tell, a few years back, that you two really did have a crush on each other. It's so nice to see it finally come to fruition. And looking at the two of you now, well my oh my…" the lady took a breath before continuing. "It is just glaringly obvious that you two are in love. And I must say you make a gorgeous couple. Simply marvelous!"

At that moment her phone rang. "Oh do excuse me dears, this is an important call. It was lovely to see you again." And with a wave she was outside, leaving the two alone.

They entered the elevator and as the doors closed Nate and Serena collapsed into fits of laughter.

"Oh my god, did she hear the things she said?" gasped Serena, in between breaths. "What a crazy woman!"

Nate was holding on to her shoulder for support while he was doubled over laughing. "She had no idea what she was going on about!" he sputtered.

Attempting to compose themselves, they managed to make it into Serena's apartment. Nate flopped himself down onto a couch while Serena grabbed a random DVD and put it on.

Sitting down next to Nate, he groaned. "Oh no. What crap are you going to make me watch now?"

"It's not crap!" said Serena indignantly. "It's beautiful. You should let me indulge in my romantic movies considering this is as close as I'm getting to any real love in my life right now."

Nate stared at her for a few moments, before opening his arms wide. "Come here," he said, gesturing for Serena to sit closer to him so he could wrap his arms around her. "We can pretend tonight that I'm your real boyfriend sitting down and watching a romantic movie with you."

Serena's heart sputtered just a little as she leaned into his embrace. "You should like this movie," she said softly. "The main guy, Noah, has a good heart. Just like you."

He smiled down at her and kissed the top of her head. "Let's hope so. What's it called again?"

"The Notebook."

"Sounds thrilling," he muttered sarcastically.

But despite Nate's obvious distaste for the movie, he still sat there the entire time, arms wrapped around Serena. If it had been anyone else he probably would have left. Yet when he saw her eyes beginning to fill with tears towards the end of the film, there was no possible way he was letting go of her.

Not Serena.

End Chapter Three

Yes, I am aware that this was a much shorter chapter. Basically I didn't know how to break up the next (final) chapter. So this one is short but the next one should be longer. Plus get excited, because it's time for PROM.

Review, please?