Disclaimer: Yes, I'm still doing this because yes, I still don't own even a strand of their hair. I own nothing! Enjoy!
Chapter 2
Uncomfortable. Embarrassing. Awkward.
If there are three words to describe how Dan and Serena met again, that would be it. Why? Well, let's see, shall we?
…
Serena gawked at Dan, who was standing there, hands on his pockets, staring back at her.
Spotted: Lonely Boy. Can't believe the love of his life has returned. If only she knew who he was.
She feels like she can't breathe, like the walls are closing in on her. She doesn't move an inch but neither does he. His eyes are boring into hers and their gazes locked, it seems like no one else was there, even though Chuck, Blair, Nate, Jenny and her entire family was sitting there, watching the two ex – couple interact.
"I think I just lost my appetite."
Jenny said as she stood up, along with Eric and exited the room. And as Jenny passed Nate, she gave him a look that tells him to leave Dan and Serena alone for a while. Pretty soon, it was just the two of them, alone in the dining room, still staring at the other, completely unaware that everyone left.
"So…"
"So…"
Dan takes a step towards her and she freezes. She breaks eye contact with him, opting to look at the floor, the chairs, the table, the wall, the ceiling, anywhere but at him. Dan touches her arm and suddenly there are tears in her eyes. She backs away from him, taking a few steps to create a few feet in between.
"Serena…"
"Don't."
It feels familiar. This scene. Two years ago, they were also alone, uttering the same words. Two years ago, they had a choice. A choice to fight. They didn't.
"I didn't know you'd be back."
Serena scoffs because why does it suddenly seem like he doesn't care? Not that she cares but every time Eric calls her and gives her updates about her family and friends, there's always a tinge of hope in her heart that Eric will say something about Dan. He never does. And besides, even Jenny, his sister, knows about her return to the Upper East Side, so either Jenny didn't say anything to Dan or Dan's just being a stupid idiot.
"Why - -"
"My mom and dad are getting married, right?" She finally lets her eyes look at him and saw that he's fiddling with his hands, looking at the floor. "I wasn't about to let them get married without me. Besides, I'm kinda the maid of honor."
"Oh."
"What are you doing here, Dan? Jenny said you weren't gonna make it."
"Jenny told me I had to. Told me it's important that I show up." Dan said, raising his head to look at her. He took her in and was surprised that he was staring at this girl, Serena van der Woodsen, the girl he fell in love with when he was fifteen. More mature, possibly wiser, but the same girl he saw that night, at that party.
'I was accidentally invited to a birthday party where I met a girl. She only spoke two sentences to me, but I've never forgotten her.'
'Wait, your story's about me?'
"Now, I get why." He chuckles but stops when he saw Serena glaring at him.
"Why?"
"Because you're here. Because you're back."
"Dan, I - - "
She stops when Dan shakes his head, smiling warily at her. Dan told her that he's happy that she's back and for that she smiles at him for the first time, she smiles – really smiles – for the first time since she came back, possibly ever since before she left.
Serena's smiling, at him, and Dan takes a step forward, relieved when Serena didn't react. He takes a few more strides towards her and was so close that he could touch her arm but he didn't. He wanted to, oh, god knows how much he wanted to, but he can't. He can't because she's not his anymore and because he's not hers anymore.
"Well, welcome home Serena."
And the tears brimming at Serena's eyes, finally dropped, staining her beautiful, flawless face. That was when Dan stepped up and pressed his thumbs on the corners of her face, wiping her tears away. His hands dropped down and reached for hers, grins when she allows the skin contact between the two of them.
"I missed you." Dan said, and Serena pulls her hand away from him. She shakes her head, cursing herself for letting Dan come close, too close to her. It's not like she didn't want it, not that she would say it out loud but she missed Dan, but problem is she is sure she wasn't ready yet. She did go traveling to escape, avoid Dan, partly.
"What?"
"Serena…"
"Dan…"
"I didn't - - Serena, I just - -" Dan sighed. "It's been two years. I just – Serena, you know… Alright, I'm sorry but I really did miss you."
"Dan, not now. Please."
Serena walks away from him and it takes Dan a few seconds but he manages to grab the blonde's left wrist and pulled her back to him, pulled her closer to him. There were tears on Serena's eyes again and she blinks them away before Dan could notice. But he did, of course he did. He always did.
"Don't cry. You know I hate it when people cry." I hate to see you cry.
"Then don't do this." Dan's face scrunched up in confusion. What? Exactly what is he doing?
"What?"
Serena sneered at Dan before taking a deep breath, jerking her arm away from Dan's and glaring at him.
"Don't act like nothing happened. Don't act like we're still friends, that we're still on good terms. Don't act like the past two years didn't happen. I left for a reason, Dan. And we both know what the reason is."
Dan bowed his head down. He wasn't really even sure that was his intention, but he really did miss her.
"I'm sorry."
Then she smiles, reluctantly. That smile slowly turned into fits of giggles. The giggle he missed too much, the one he didn't get to hear for two years.
'You laugh like a four year old.'
"Why are you laughing?"
Her laugh was cut short and was replaced with a glare and he really wishes he hadn't asked that. He should've just shut up and let her laugh. He already misses her giggles.
"You're not sorry."
"I know. I'm not. I'm really not."
And they stare at each other in an awkward silence. Déjà vu much? Summer at the Hampton's, waking up on the beach, seems like decades ago.
"Well then, I gotta get going."
"Okay."
Dan made a move to hug the blonde but stopped because he can see that it makes her uncomfortable being close to him. Hell, she's stiff right now, and she's already standing a few feet away from him.
"Okay. I better get going."
"Yeah, you probably should."
With a nod, Dan made his way towards the living room but stopped when Blair and Jenny appeared. Blair was glaring at him but c'mon what else was new? Jenny glaring at him, however, was a different issue.
"What?"
"Why is she here?"
"Dan, I told you not to bring her!"
"Could you be anymore stupid?"
"Why did you told her about this lunch?"
"Seriously Humphrey, what the hell were you thinking?"
"Dan, this is such a bad idea."
"No one likes her! I can't even believe you do."
"What are you - -?"
"Who's here?" Serena intervenes, automatically making Jenny close her mouth and Blair stare at her, as if she was seeing her for the first time. Blair turned to Dan, rolling her eyes at him before stalking off beside Serena.
"Ugh. Just blame Humphrey."
Serena stares at her. What the hell is Blair talking about? As far as she's concerned, Dan wasn't even supposed to make it today. How much chaos could a person who unexpectedly turns up cause?
"Dan, seriously I thought you won't come here. And besides, you said you'll be quick." That voice, Georgina Sparks, entered the room and she looked annoyed.
She walked up to Dan and pecked his lips quickly, before turning towards Blair but stopped, shocked when she saw Serena standing there, the blonde's mouth agape and she was staring at them. Georgina smirked. This is just too good.
"Serena."
"Georgina."
Georgina walks closer to Serena, wraps an arm around her but the blonde stood still, not making an effort to be friendly towards her former friend.
"It's good to see you."
Blair, Jenny and Serena simultaneously scoff at her while Dan stood there, uncomfortably.
"What are you doing here, G?"
"Yeah, Sparks. This is family only."
"Really? Then why is Dan invited, huh, Blair? Anyway, I came to pick Dan up. He's late for our little lunch date."
Then Georgina turns to Dan, walks over to him, reaches for his head and gives him a sloppy kiss on the lips. Of course, she made sure Serena was watching and she was. And she looks ready to vomit, plus points for G.
"Anyway, sweetie we gotta go."
Serena cringes at the way Georgina says that to Dan, the way she looks at Dan, the way Georgina's hand intertwines with his, the way they kissed. Georgina waves them off and grabs Dan's arm before dragging themselves out of the building.
Dan manages to take a look on Serena's face before Georgina pulled him away. He saw the look of hurt, anger and sadness. Three things you would never use to describe Serena upon the first glance but you'll soon realize, when you get to know, really get to know Serena that those three words have described her ever since she was little, it was only masked by a smile she manage to perfect after so many years.
Serena stood there, shell shocked. Blair and Jenny look at her cautiously, like they are waiting for her to crack. She doesn't. Instead, she smiles - even though it didn't quite reach her eyes - and assures the two that she's fine.
"So, Dan and Georgina?"
And Blair and Jenny's silence were more than enough of an answer.
"How long?"
Serena wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer to that but she listens to what Jenny said anyway.
"Almost a year."
...
Uncomfortable. Embarrassing. Awkward.
Three words to describe Dan and Serena's reconciliation earlier.
And seeing Georgina Sparks again?
Serena wasn't sure how to describe that. Especially seeing her, in the arms of Dan Humphrey, kissing him in front of her.
But if there was one thing to describe how she felt seeing that, hurt, that would be it.
Because it definitely hurts.
.to be continued.
A/N: Hey! Yes, it is me with a new chapter! Thank you to every single one who favorite/followed/reviewed/read this story. It means a lot to me, really! I will try my best to update as often as possible because school just started (second semester, yeah!) and I think I will be busy with homework, research and stuff. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter!