July 2015

Typically, it was Dan who found the tabloid, who broke the news to her but it was Chuck who phoned.

"Go to her."

"And say what, I'm sorry you date douchebags?"

"Nathaniel you once accepted money for sex."

"I thought we were non-judging?" Nate asked roughly.

"Precisely. Go to Jennifer."

The road to Brooklyn was long and unfamiliar. He had spent the best part of six months avoiding her, trying in vain to banish her from the edges of his dreams and trying to forget the feel of her fingers lightly resting above his heart. The friendship they had tentatively began to rebuild shortly after her return via snarky tweets and late night phone calls had all but collapsed. He had no idea if her relationship with Brody had been serious, knew only that the press had, since the latter's Broadway debut, harassed the pair at every turn, culminating in the photos splashed about today of him in the arms of his former dance teacher.

"It was just sex. With me and him I mean." It was the first thing out of her mouth once the door was opened. He squinted at her.

"You've been crying though."

"Because it sucks to be cheated on even if it was just sex."

"Can I come in?" She crossed her arms over her chest and he forced his eyes not to lower.

"Did you know?"

"I saw...I saw the photos yesterday morning," he said.

"Why didn't you buy them? Would have been quite a coup for The Spectator."

"I don't need to stoop that low to keep my paper in business. I wasn't about to exploit you."

"Why didn't you tell me? You hate Brody." Nate didn't bother to deny the charge.

"I didn't want to hurt you," he told her, honestly.

"I don't need you to rescue me."

"I wouldn't dream of trying."

She moved aside letting him into the loft. He smiled at the waffles and coffee on the breakfast counter. Some things never changed.

"Are you coming to the premiere?"

"It's Dan's big night. I'm not about to miss it because some jerk couldn't keep it in his pants. One request."

"Name it."

"Dump whoever you're taking and come as my date. I need to look as though I'm on top." If he closed his eyes he could hear fourteen year old Jenny again.

"Done."

She wore an old design that had never made it to the runway, a claret chiffon that matched her lipstick. He raised an eyebrow at her stiff unnatural posture in the car.

"Hey." He entwined his fingers with hers. "It'll be fine."

It was. She glowed in front of the cameras and he felt proud to fade in her light, to be seen on her arm.

"I'm going to push Brody off a building," Dan told his sister as she hugged him. "Or hire Chuck to do so, on my behalf."

"I'm fine."

"Uh huh." The writer stood aside as Jenny spotted an old acquaintance across the way. "Hey, Nate?"

"Yeah?"

"Look after her." Between the words Nate read Dan's blessing.

"Sure. And the movie was great man. A real classic."

Jenny was teasing him about a group of fangirls peering over at him, when a familiar looking one interrupted them.

"So are you guys dating now?" Jenny tutted.

"Me and Archibald? Why would I date one of my oldest friends?" A door which had been momentarily opened, swung shut again, ignoring his hand, finally poised to knock. Laughing off the seeming flippancy behind her words, she took his elbow and led him away from the mini Serena.

Nate bit his lip. Blair, Serena, Jenny. For someone who'd once been a heartbreaker, he'd been left heartbroken surprisingly often.