Aloha from beautiful Hawaii everyone. Sorry it's been so long since my last update I had exams then straight to Hawaii so I haven't had much time to write. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
One warning though, I have seen a lot of spoilers and while I'm not working off of those some of them may appear in my story because they fit too perfectly not to. But from here on out I am pretty sure my story differs enough that I am on my own.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or its characters
Rated: T mostly for language. This one isn't really M but it is a pretty high T lol.
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Phones were beeping as Blair opened the door to the limo. She immediately spotted Jenny, Dan, and Serena waiting at the bottom of the steps. Blair hadn't moved away from the limo door yet when Jenny's head popped up.
Jenny mouthed "Is it true." Blair nodded and calmly moved out of the way.
Chuck handed Blair the coffee and stepped out of the limo, moving to the opposite side of the doorway, clearing the way for Nate to step out. People hadn't been expecting to see Nate get out of the limo as well so it turned out to be a fairly nice cover. But people didn't stay oblivious for long and the whispers were all audible as the trio moved towards the Met steps.
Blair couldn't help but think that Dan looked confused. Oh well, he would understand in time. What was important right now was that he was here. So instead of addressing the strange looks they were all giving her she started handing out coffee. "Okay guys, this is going to be a long day and four of us are going on almost no sleep trying to deal with all of this mess last night."
Dan looked at Serena "Family problems, huh?" His tone was a little judgmental and he knew it so when he saw Serena start to react he placed his hand on hers and softened his voice. "Don't worry about it."
Serena gladly accepted the coffee, but Dan took it hesitantly. "Why am I here Blair?" Dan said refusing to hold onto the coffee until Blair told him.
Blair could feel that Dan wasn't holding the coffee completely and she figured that she might as well just go ahead and answer his question. "Well, Dan." Dan's eyes went wide when he heard her say his name. The world had gone crazy this morning, but he didn't interrupt. "If you are with Serena then you are one of us." There was a shocked kind of silence for a moment and everyone was thinking the same thing, Had Blair Waldorf, the biggest bitch on the Upper East Side just accepted Dan Humphrey, the wannabe writer from Brooklyn, as part of their group?
Dan finally broke the shocked silence. "Who are you and what have you done with Blair Waldorf?"
Blair couldn't help but smile a little. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?" She said jokingly before adding, "Was I really that bad before?"
"Yes" Dan said, with Serena and Nate close behind adding different versions of the same word. To which Jenny sheepishly added "Well, kind of."
Blair looked at Chuck with raised eyebrows, "Don't you have anything to add?"
Chuck could tell by her tone of voice and the smile on her face that she wasn't offended. "You know I love your bitchy side Blair, its half the reason I fell in love with you. You are the only person as cruel and calculating as I am."
Blair couldn't help but laugh, before adding, "Dan would you just take the coffee." She was tired of holding it and they had way more important things to be discussing right now. Jenny quickly accepted the coffee as did Nate.
But when it came to Chuck he wrinkled his nose. "Blair I don't like coffee."
"Well its not like you can drink scotch in the morning and you are going to need to be on your game today with this new Gossip Girl blast." Blair said practically forcing the coffee into his hands.
Chuck took it and downed in quickly to get it over with. He hated it when Blair was right but he knew that in this case she definitely was.
Blair turned back to address the rest of the group. "Okay so that brings me to why I wanted to talk to you all today. So by now I am sure everyone has seen the last couple of post by Gossip Girl. Well, as a result of that Nate is going to need every single one of us. We are the some of the most powerful students at this school, I take that back we are likely the six most powerful students at this school."
When she saw the surprised looks on Dan and Jenny's faces she added. "Money isn't everything guys. You are both smart and the teachers love you. Plus Dan you are dating Serena which is like automatic immunity and Jenny you are my friend and people don't mess with that either, except maybe Penelope and Hazel but they shouldn't be a problem. So right now our best form of offense is just going to be showing everyone that we are standing by Nate no matter what happens. We aren't going to come out attacking the post, we aren't going to hide either though. We let this mess run its course and we support Nate. Okay I think that's all I have to say." Blair said at the end of her rather long monologue.
Jenny was the next to speak. "I feel like we are suppose to add like a 'one for all and all for one' at the end of that." She said jokingly.
Chuck couldn't help but retort. "Yeah or we could be less gay and not." What could he say, he was a little grouchy when he hadn't slept.
Blair glared at Chuck until he raised his hands in surrender once more. "I'm just kidding Waldorf." Then he looked at Jenny. "Sorry I wasn't trying to be an ass. Not really at least."
Jenny laughed. "It's fine guys. I was just kidding."
Blair was alarmed when she looked at her phone and saw the time. "Shit, look at what time it is guys. We only have ten minutes before class. We should probably get back over to the school. Is everyone ready?"
Nate interrupted the chorus of yes's and nods to say. "Wait a second guys. I just wanted to say thank you, to all of you. You don't have to do this, I wouldn't blame you. I have been awful to you guys recently. Some of you have every right to hate me." Nate added looking at Jenny. "So I just wanted to say thanks."
Jenny gave him a small smile and everyone again added their own little comment from Chuck's "Man you're my brother, where else would I be." To Serena, "You guys were there for me last spring when you weren't even on speaking terms with each other. To Blair, "Of course we are going to be here. We're the Non-Judging Breakfast Club."
"Come on guys we better go." Blair said as class time got even closer. "The last thing we want right now is to be late and draw even more attention to ourselves."
As everyone began to walk across the street, Jenny placed a hand on Nate's arm. "Walk with me." She said in a soft voice.
Nate was surprised but he slowed to match her step.
"So, I just wanted to let you know that I'm not mad anymore, and I don't hate you for what happened. The first time I was tipsy and you were upset and the second time was almost as much my fault as it was yours. I let you kiss me. But like Blair said, I'm here for you just like everyone else. I know that you are going through a lot right now."
Nate immediately pulled Jenny into a hug. "Thank you Jen. I don't deserve it but thank you."
Blair glanced back to see Jenny and Nate hugging and couldn't help but smile before shooting a slight glare at each of them. They would be perfect together in time, but she couldn't encourage a relationship right now, they both had to do a little healing first.
By this time they had reached the courtyard of the school. Normally this late before class it would have been empty but it was obvious that they were all waiting a certain someone to show up. The noise volume of the surrounding group of students was rising by the minute. Blair could pick up on certain common phrases.
"I wonder if its true."
"Maybe he slept with Penelope for money"
"I heard that he's been living under a bridge in Central Park."
"How could he sleep with Penelope and not me."
"Haha, the Archibald's are broke."
"You know it's true, Gossip Girl is never wrong."
But through all of the talking, not one of the group reacted. They just kept walking. If anyone said a comment directly aimed for them to here it, Blair would raise her eyebrows and smirk in a 'are you really sure you want to say that in front of me' kind of way.
They group survived the gauntlet and as they were about to head to their separate schools, Blair added one last thing for Chuck's ears alone. "Keep a close eye on Nate, he is a lot more fragile than he seems and if this ends poorly, he may lose all the progress that he has made the last few days." Chuck nodded before following the other two guys into St. Jude's.
Blair then turned towards Jenny. "J, you still have feelings for Nate don't you?"
Jenny blushed furiously and nodded. "Are you mad, because if you want me to stay away from him I will."
Blair smiled, "No, J it's fine I am only worried about you. Don't jump in with Nate too fast. You know what he is going through right now and you can be there for him emotionally without being there for him romantically. I don't want you getting hurt. But once this is all over, I will be completely supportive of you guys."
Jenny grabbed Blair and hugged her. "Thanks B."
Blair smiled, "Come on, we're going to be late."
Serena watched the exchange with a little jealousy. She envied the closeness that she was seeing between Jenny and Blair, she and Blair hadn't been like that in a long time and she couldn't help but be a little envious of Jenny at that moment.
Spotted: The Non-Judging Breakfast Club's membership has expanded from B, N, S, and C to include not so Little J and not so lonely boy D. How very curious. B and C appear to be friends again. What a shame, was I the only one rooting for that evil alliance to stick? Speaking of relationships, S and D had a little tiff this morning but they appear to have sorted things out and do I see romance on the horizon for N and J, maybe so, only time will tell. In the meanwhile, it seems as though B and J's friendship is in it for the long haul, and S looks positively green with envy. Careful S, green really isn't your color. But what of V, we haven't seen Punky Bruster since the Hamptons, is she out of our story for good? I think not, from what I hear she is making a very dangerous change in schools. Cardigan anyone?
xoxo
gossip girl
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The bell to begin first period hadn't even rang yet when the assaults started.
"Damn Archibald, you fuck sluts like Penelope and you're broke, I always knew I was better than you." It was Jasper Whitney, he claimed his family was some racing horse legacy or something. Nate's anger flared and he was about to respond when he heard Chuck's voice.
"Really Jasper, Nate is of a caliber you could never dream of. I mean honestly I hear you are the only guy Penelope's ever turned down." Chuck said enticing Jasper intentionally leading him into a trap.
Jasper took the bait. "That's not true I fucked her last month, just ask." It took Jasper a moment to realize exactly what he had just said. As the whole room of boys burst into laughter and Chuck smirked. "I didn't . . . I . . . Only meant . . ." Jasper tried to get out before turning around and shutting his mouth.
Nate turned to Chuck. "I feel like I've been saying this a lot lately but thanks man."
"Anytime Nathaniel, anytime." Chuck said before sitting down in the seat next to Nathaniel.
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Blair was walking down the hall when she passed Penelope and Hazel talking loudly. "You know without money Nate has absolutely nothing going for him." Penelope said.
Hazel replied, making sure Blair could hear her. "That whole little clique is just a sinking ship of sluts like Serena, Blair, and Chuck and poor kids like Nate, Jenny, and Dan."
Blair's head snapped around. "Didn't I already deal with you girls yesterday? I thought you learned your lesson, I have power and you don't. I am about to be a Duchess," Blair said holding up her hand with Marcus's ring on it. She figured she might as well get some use out of this while she could. "And what are you going to be, trophy wives whose husbands cheat on them with high school girls just like you are now. Nate is worth more than the two of you put together and so are the rest of my group of sluts and destitutes."
Hazel and Penny's eyes both widened before they turned and walked the opposite direction. Blair rolled her eyes and moved on. This was going to be a long day.
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Dan was waiting outside of Nate's 2nd period when it was over, they had 3rd together so he showed up to walk with Nate. He had had free period and left a little early in order to make it to Nate's class and he wasn't sure why he did it. Maybe it was because these people had included him in their group, maybe because he understood what it was like to be at this school and not have any money, he wasn't sure. He just knew that he was taking the job of protecting Nate seriously. He may not carry the clout with the other students that Chuck, Blair, Serena, and even Jenny did, but Dan was smart and he was plenty prepared.
Nate was more than surprised to find Dan waiting for him outside of his classroom like a body guard. He just shook his head. "You guys are good you know that." Nate couldn't help but chuckle. "With the exception of that class, I haven't been alone yet today.
Dan smiled. "That's our job." But he couldn't help but laugh too.
They were walking down the hall talking about nothing unparticular when Sebastian Duke came up behind Nate and pushed him. "I never did like you much Archibald, and now I know why. You are pathetic."
Nate jerked around ready to take a swing at him when Dan stepped in . " That wasn't a very classy move, but what can you expect from new money. You're family has nothing on the Vanderbilt's, who date back how many generations of wealth and power Nate, like 30 or something." Nate nodded. " Talk about pathetic Duke, you should probably check the stock in Duke power, it's down a little low today, I think I might have heard the word bankruptcy mentioned on the news this morning."
As Dan uttered that last sentence he saw Duke's face blanch. "Oh did you not want anyone to know that? Sorry man." Dan said before stepping around Duke in the hallway.
Nate was right on Dan's heels. "Dude, that was scary, you just reminded me of Blair."
Dan couldn't help but laugh, "Of course I did, I learned from her."
"I never thought I would be saying this Dan, but thanks."
"Not an issue Nate."
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Blair hadn't paid any attention to the hint in the Gossip Girl message that Vanessa was coming to Constance until that day at lunch. They had decided to eat inside with the guys because it was pouring the rain. That was when Blair saw her, Vanessa was in the lunch line. Blair's mouth dropped open and suddenly everything clicked. She turned toward Nate who was sitting at her right. "Did Vanessa know about your money situation?"
Nate looked at Blair, then behind her where Vanessa was standing in line. "Yeah, I mean we were dating when it happened."
Blair's eyes lit up. "That little Bohemian bitch did this and she is going to pay for it. Showing up at Constance is one thing, whatever that would have drawn some serious heat from me in the first place but she is the only one who could have done this Nate and trust me she is going to regret it. Coming here though, that's a challenge, one I am all too willing to meet."
The rest of the table just looked at Blair as she plotted. Chuck smirked, Blair was in a league all her own when it came to this sort of thing and he was just going to let her take point on this one.
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Lunch was almost over when Serena saw Vanessa heading out of the cafeteria. She excused herself muttering something about having to finish an assignment and followed Vanessa. Once in the hallway she yelled. "Vanessa hey wait up."
"Oh hey Serena" Vanessa said turning around.
Serena glanced behind her. "Look I can't talk long. I'm just here to warn you. Blair thinks that you sent the blast about Nate's money problems and she's coming after you, full force."
"Whoa, Blair thinks I did that? I would never do that to Nate. But wait, why are you telling me this isn't Blair your best friend?" Vanessa asked, suspicious of Serena's motives.
"She use to be but now it's Blair and Jenny, or Blair and Chuck, or Blair and Nate, or hell even Blair and Dan." Serena said, obviously angry about Blair's lack of attention.
"I'm sorry things are weird with you guys, but that still doesn't explain why you are warning me and why you don't think it was me in the first place." Vanessa said, still questioning.
Serena couldn't help but laugh. But the laugh didn't sound normal. It was a dark laugh. Serena lowered her voice and leaned toward Vanessa. "Silly girl haven't you figured it out yet? It was me." Serena said before turning and leaving Vanessa there in the hallway, shell shocked.
Surprises abound on the UES, who's on which side now? I can't even keep up these days. But either way, its time to draw those battle lines kids. There's a war to be fought.
xoxo
gossip girl
AN: I hope you all liked it, if you did let me know :).