A/N: So, originally, the first section of this chapter was supposed to go with the flashback from chapter 16, but I forgot to include it where I wanted to, so know it is here. You can go back and reread that flashback if you want, or not, it will still make sense.

…

On Sunday evening, Emily was busy preparing for her first day back at Constance. She was picking out the perfect accessories to add some flare and class to her uniform and the best designer bag to match her shoes.

She had just begun to consider how she would do her hair when she saw Blair standing in the doorway with a kind smile on her face, "How are you feeling about tomorrow?" She asked as she stepped into the room and sat on the edge of the bed.

"I'm nervous," Emily said, turning away from her vanity and facing Blair, "Everything has to be absolutely perfect."

"Don't worry," Blair said comfortingly, "I'm sure you will fit right back in with all of your friends."

Emily looked down, "I don't know about that…" She said skeptically.

"Well, no matter how bad tomorrow is, you know that you can always count on Edward and Theodore to be there for you." Blair reassured her with a pat on the knee.

But Emily was still unsure, "I know Ed has been supportive and great about everything the past few days, but I just-, I don't know if I can trust him. I'm scared that if I take one wrong step or say the wrong thing, or if he just gets bored or annoyed he will turn on me and use everything he knows to ruin me."

Blair nodded and smiled softly, "I understand why you might think that; Edward doesn't exactly have the most trustworthy background. But to be completely honest, I don't think he would ever do something like that; not to you."

Emily snorted, "Of course you would think that. You are his mom; you have to think the best of him." She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, "I just can't trust him and I don't know if I ever will."

"Sweetie," Blair said, waiting until Emily looked up to meet her gaze, "You might not be able to trust him now, but if you give him a chance, a chance to prove you wrong, then every single day that he stays and is there for you, and every single day that he doesn't hurt you, that trust will grow. And then one day you will reach a point where you barely remember why you ever doubted him in the first place." Blair paused and nodded with a smile, "Trust me, I would know."

Emily's brow furrowed in confusion, "But Chuck is-"

"Chuck hasn't always been the man you know him to be." Blair explained, "But Edward's similarities to his father go deeper than that devilish smirk and his good looks. Just remember that when you are having doubts." Blair stood and straightened out her skirt. Before she walked out of the door she turned back to Emily, "Tomorrow might be hard for you, but things are only going to get harder. It might be nice to have someone like Edward that you can count on your side."

…

On the way to school the next morning, Emily sat next to the window as far away from Ed and Theo as she could get in the limo. Ed knew she was nervous, so he reached across the seat and took her hand, "Relax, Vanderbilt," He told her, "Constance hasn't known what to do without you. You will be firmly enthroned again in no time. Plus, if anyone dares to try and cross you, Theo and I have your back."

She ripped her hand out of his and turned towards him with a glare, "I don't want you to have anything. I don't want your help. You are not my friend, you are not my boyfriend. We are not together and we are not in love. We are nothing. We live together and we are in this situation together, but that is it. At school we are still mere acquaintances, both a part of two separate worlds."

"Em-"

"Please," She cut him off, raising her hand and turning back towards the window, "I can do this on my own. Just stay out of it."

Ed's jaw clenched and he slid away from her, "Fine," He huffed, "Do whatever you want."

Ed and Emily ignored each other for the rest of the ride, causing Theo to simply roll his eyes at their antics.

…

By the lunch period Emily was right back where she belonged, sitting at the top of the Met steps with her minions surrounding her. Only Chloe Collins, who had been taken over the throne in her absence, looked disgruntled over Emily's return.

"I just can't believe you're back, Em!" One of the girls gushed, trying her best to get back into Emily's good-graces.

Emily flipped her hair over her shoulder, "I know. It has been too long since I have been in the city. I'm just glad my parents realized the error of their ways and let me return."

"What made them change their mind?" Chloe asked, "I heard they were pretty upset about you getting caught having sex with Ed Bass in a school closet."

Emily glared at her, "Obviously whoever you got your facts from was ill-informed. Yes, my parents were angry, but not because I was having sex with that little Basstard in a dirty closet. We had merely skipped class together and were talking." Seeing the skepticism on Chloe's face, Emily gave her a knowing look, "You can check our school records if you don't believe me. My parents overreacted and thought it was a sign of my rebellion or that I was heading down a bad path or something," She rolled her eyes, "But they came to realize that they had overreacted and it was one minor indiscretion on my part that I would never let happen again."

"But, Em," one of the girls began tentatively, "Why would you ever want to talk alone with Ed if not to…you know, sleep with him?"

Emily snorted, "In case you have forgotten, Edward's brother and my dear cousin have had an on and off relationship for years which has caused Ed and I to be stuck together on multiple occasions. We were only discussing some of the issues in Theo and Anne's relationship when we were discovered."

"Is that what they call it these days?" Chloe muttered under her breath.

But Emily heard it and raised her eyebrow at the girl, "What was that, Chloe? Did you have something to say?"

"Oh nothing," Chloe replied, "I was just wondering why your parents are letting you stay with the Basses when Ed was part of the reason they made you leave in the first place."

"Yeah," one of the other girl's chimed in, "Your parents don't even like the Basses that much to begin with. Why aren't you just staying with Anne's family?"

"Well, Anne is living in a dorm room now and everyone knows her mom is a complete bitch, so when Chuck and Blair offered I was more than willing to stay with them, despite the constant presence of the devil twins," She shrugged, "Mr. and Mrs. Bass have, like, no rules and they are super nice and generous. They may not be my parents' favorite people, but my brother helped me convince them that staying with the Basses would work out fine."

"Plus, I'm sure Blair must be able to get you all the latest Eleanor Waldorf designs, huh?" One of the minions asked eagerly.

Emily laughed, "Of course!" She replied, eager to change the subject. And as the conversation moved on to other topics, she didn't notice Chloe's silence or the suspicious look that had crossed over her face when they had been discussing her living arrangements.

…

Throughout the lunch period, Ed watched Emily on the Met steps from the nearby wall he was leaning against taking a smoke break with Theo.

"Dude, you need to focus." Theo said as he waved a hand in his brother face, finally breaking Ed out of his reverie.

He shook his head, "I'm sorry, I wasn't listening."

"No shit," Theo said, "I was asking if you wanted to skip French again today. I have no desire to sit through another boring lecture on the importance of correct pronunciation."

"I can't," Ed replied, his eyes still glued on the girl across the street, "I have to go."

Theo's eyes narrowed, "Why? Paris is like our second home. We can already speak French better than the teacher." He paused and followed Ed's gaze over to Emily and his face cleared in understanding, "Oh right, I forgot, Emily is in that class with us now."

Ed looked at his brother as he explained, "I just have to talk to her. I don't get why she is acting like this…"

"Look man, I get it." Theo said, clapping him on the shoulder, "But she is hormonal, and like it or not, from now on everything that goes wrong is going to be your fault. So if you want my advice, keep taking care of her, just without letting her be aware of it. You and I both know that a lot has gone down since Emily left. She may be on top now, but she isn't going to stand a chance without some back up. There is so much she doesn't know, that she can't use to her advantage."

"You're right," Ed sighed, "I'm just going to have to go behind her back. It's for her own good anyway."

"Plus, knocking those mean girl bitches down a few pegs is always some fun." Theo said with a smirk.

Ed laughed, "That is so true, my dear brother."