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Chapter 6.
Things were hazy when Serena woke up. She remembers going out after Nate left, she remembers drinking more than seven shots - she honestly lost count after that - and she definitely remembers dancing with that guy who was checking her out all night, Jordan.
What she doesn't remember, however, was how the hell did she get home. The last thing she was sure of was when she kissed Jordan because she's drunk and she sees Dan in the guy. She wasn't sure how she got home. Maybe Nate or Eric or Chuck found her?
Her thoughts were cut short when she heard the door slam because she suddenly felt her head throb. She glanced at her bedside table to find some painkillers and a glass of water placed on top of it. Now she was sure that it wasn't Chuck because he would never leave some painkillers for her, let alone stay here until the morning.
She grabbed the painkillers quickly before downing them with water. She dropped her head back to the pillow and attempted to go back to sleep. No such luck. She groaned before throwing her covers back and getting out of bed. Immediately, she smelled pancakes - - Wait, pancakes?
Well, that gets Nate out of the equation. That guy can't even make toast properly. The first (and last) time he opened the fridge, he didn't even get to finish making their breakfast. It turned into something well... a little more than breakfast.
Eric, maybe? After all, he is her brother.
After fixing her hair and putting on her robe, she slowly made her way downstairs to interrupt whoever is in her kitchen.
...
Dan?
She slowly made her way towards him. His back was on her and she made sure he wouldn't hear her footsteps. She wanted to surprise him.
She cleared her throat once she was close enough, making him jump a little. She giggled as she watch Dan catch the pancake he almost missed. After setting the plate down, Dan spun around to face Serena.
"Hey."
"Hey." She answers, opting to sit on the stool, leaning in so that she's closer to Dan. He smiles, setting the plate down in front of her. "What're you doing here?"
He grabs a fork then handed it to her before answering, "I found you in a club in Brooklyn at three in the morning, I decided to stay here to make sure you're safe."
"Oh." Serena murmurs, shoving a small piece of pancake on her mouth, swallowing it quickly. "Thanks."
It was silent for a few minutes with Dan standing there, staring at her while Serena continues eating the pancakes as if pretending that Dan wasn't there. Finally, Serena groaned, not having used to this kind of silence especially with Dan around.
"Aren't you gonna join me?"
Dan opens his mouth to speak but closed it quickly, opting to shrug instead.
"Come on. I know you cooked more than I can eat." Serena smiles softly and it makes Dan chuckle. When was the last time they talked like this?
Serena only motions for Dan to join her and suddenly Dan grabbing a plate, stacking two pancakes on it before sitting down next to her.
"So, how did you find me last night?" Serena watches as Dan swallows before turning to her.
"Oh, you see, when Nate called me last night I immediately thought 'Maybe Serena was at that club'. And there you are... How lucky me!"
"Dan."
"Okay, sorry." He grinned at her and she pushes him a little. He pretends to stumble to get her to laugh and when she does it's like the sweetest sound he ever heard.
'You laugh like a four year old.'
"Seriously Dan, how'd you find me?"
"It was the only place in Brooklyn I haven't checked out. Plus, we went there a couple times before so I figured there's a chance you might be there."
"Lucky you." Serena giggles and since she's done eating her breakfast, she turns to Dan, even spinning around so that she's really facing him. She watches him as he eats and when he turns to face her, she blushes slightly before looking away.
"So, why the sudden partying?"
"What?"
"Serena, you barely leave this apartment and suddenly you decide to go out? Alone?"
Serena is silent and this time she stands up, puts her plate on the sink before walking back to her bedroom. Without the blonde knowing, he shoves the remains of his plate on his mouth, swallows it with water before following his ex-wife to her room.
...
"Serena."
Dan grabs hold of her arm, pulling her closer. Serena immediately bowed her head, not wanting to look at him but of course Dan just had to go and use that other hand of his to lift her head and force her to look at him.
"What?"
"Why?"
A few minutes and there's still no answer from her. It makes him think about reasons but couldn't think of any. She barely even leave the apartment.
"Serena."
Finally, she jerks her arm away from Dan before walking over to the other side of the room, far away from Dan.
"Stop it, okay?" She spun around to face Dan once more. "Look, I really don't need you to look after me and ask me all sorts of questions. I'm pretty sure Blair or Nate are on their way over here to tell me what a big mistake I made last night, okay? So, would you stop?"
"Look, Serena, I know I'm not your favorite person or whatever right now but I need to know - -"
"Why do you care?" Serena snapped, looking away. "You didn't seem to care before."
"I don't care? I don't care?!" Dan starts, voice starting to rise. He notices Serena flinch but he didn't stop. "If I didn't care, Serena, I wouldn't have bothered to look for you yesterday. If I didn't care, I might as well left you with that guy you were with."
"Yeah, well you just should've. I know what I'm doing, Dan. In case you haven't noticed, I've been partying for years. And I know you know that because you're frickin' Gossip Girl!"
Dan looked surprised, feels surprised. He honestly thought they were over the whole 'him being Gossip Girl' thing. And he was deeply, truly sorry for that.
"Of course I care, Serena." He starts walking towards her. She, on the other hand, was now sitting on the floor, leaning on the wall, just looking at him. "You're one of the most important people in my life. You'll always be. And I'll always care."
When he reaches her, he sits down beside her. He feels Serena stiffen and edges a little bit away from him.
"Why?'
"Why what, Serena?"
She turns to look at him, hurt, sadness evident in her eyes.
"Why her? Why her, Dan?" Her voice starts cracking and tears starts falling so she bows her head down, but when Dan attempts to touch her, she shakes her head and pushes him further away from her. "Georgina? Of all people, Dan?"
"I'm sorry."
"I can probably understand if it's someone else, even Vanessa. We moved on, and I get that we're supposed to see other people but why her Dan?"
"She was just - -"
"Is this your plan of hurting me? 'Cause if it is, you're doing a bang up job at it!"
"What? No, Serena, I - -"
"Then what Dan? I know you're 'friends' with her before and yeah, you hooked up in college but you know I hate her, we all hate her."
"Because she was the only one there for me when you left Serena."
Serena snaps her head up to look at him, completely surprised. Where was Jenny? Vanessa? Even Nate?
"Vanessa went away for eight months to go travel around the world, Jenny was busy with the Waldorfs and even my dad didn't have time to talk to me. And obviously Nate and the others are all on 'Team Serena', and I had no one. Unlike you, I don't have that many people on my side. You don't know how much I needed someone to talk to."
"And Georgina - -" Serena stops, because she can't, because it hurts.
"She was there for me. She listened when I needed to talk, whenever I felt like my world's falling apart. No one else."
"I'm sorry." Serena whispers, putting her head in his shoulder. She feels him jump a bit but a few minutes later, he presses his head on top of hers.
"So, you moved on?" Serena asks, wrapping her arms on Dan's, hands tightly placed on his arm. "Are you happy? With her?"
He's about to answer but suddenly his phone rings. And it like both of them came back to reality because the sprang apart, a few feet away from each other.
When she turned her head to see who was calling, she suddenly wishes she didn't.
Incoming Call: Georgina
"Aren't you gonna get that?" She asks. He simply shook his head.
"I gotta go, Serena." He says after rejecting the call. He walks over to her before placing a light kiss on her forehead then starts heading out.
When he looks back at her again before leaving, he sees her tears starting to fall, he wishes they weren't.
"Bye S."
She looks up and forces a smile.
"Yeah... Bye."
.to be continued.
A/N: I said I'd post a new chapter, so here I am. A new chapter for everyone. I hope you will like this chapter. Next chapter will be up by Valentine's Day, hopefully. If not, probably the 15th. Enjoy!