A/N: Here is Chapter 3. Thank you so much for the reviews.
Just a few things about the setting of this story:
1. Bart Bass is dead and Lily and Chuck did the scene about her signing adoption papers before the start of this story. Te penthouse was mentioned as the bass penthouse because she wasn't seeing anyone then.
2. I am not doing the line about Blair going above and beyond for Yale because I didn't like the storyline at all. Ms. Carr doesn't exist here.
3. I know in the current system you cannot apply to two Ivy Leagues in the early cycle, but for me, there was no restrictions then.
I do not own Gossip Girl. Please review!
Hey Upper East Siders, Thanksgiving is over and our favourite students are back at school. Speaking of being back, sources say that Nate Archibald is once again living in his brownstone. Is S disappointed that her Golden Boy isn't with her any longer? Wonder what Lonely Boy has to say about the latter being back to his original lifestyle once again. And what is V doing in the yards of Constance with a camera in hand?
-xoxo, Gossip Girl
Nate reached the gates of St. Judes and immediately met up with Chuck and Serena who were just getting out of their limo. "Seriously guys? Limo to school?" Nate exclaimed.
"I was running late today. Didn't have time to walk. Chuck, thankfully waited for me." Serena explained.
"You know I don't drive or take the cab, Nathaniel." Chuck smirked.
"Do you even know how to drive?" Serena asked her step-brother.
"Why should I learn... There are many luxuries that I'm acquainted to. Not having to drive is one of them." He told and walked inside.
"Somethings never change." Nate stated, shaking his head.
"How are you? Home all good?" Serena asked.
"Yeah... Mom is still not there. She hired a maid and cook, though." Nate explained. He grabbed Serena's arm and made her face him. "Thank you for what you did. It had been sometime since we... you know... spoke freely. So, thank you." He smiled.
Serena just gave him a hug and said, "You don't need to thank me, Natie. You are always welcome. And... I can say that you are my favourite person who has occupied my bed beside me." She winked at him and left for class. Nate too, laughed and followed her inside.
Tensions were high on the grounds of Constance- St. Judes as the admissions decisions of both Yale and Columbia were being declared that day. Blair especially was stressed and had her minions reload the page every 30 seconds. While the lunch break was going on, they all got a ping to notify them of the results.
Serena, first checked her notification from Yale to see that she was accepted. She then checked Columbia, and was happier seeing a postive reply form them as she knew that Yale didn't exactly want her there was the right reasons.
She turned to Blair to find out that she had been deferred from Yale but had been accepted to Columbia. They hugged each other seeing the other's acceptance into Columbia, but Blair soon left to talk to the Head mistress. Serena had not informed her about her Yale acceptance, though.
While on her way to class, she met Nate. "Hey, did you get any decisions today?" She asked.
"Yeah... I got into Columbia." Nate said, proud of himself. He knew that his acceptance there was on his merit and not because of his parents or grandparents.
"Oh my God! Me too, and Blair as well." She said excited. It would be awesome if all of them went to the same college.
"What about Yale?" Nate asked.
"Blair got deferred. She is in with the Headmistress." Serena said, looking down. Nate just looked at her to tell him what she was hiding. "I got in..." she almost whispered. She saw that he was about to congratulate her when she stopped him. "I'm gonna decline." She said. "I just went there to spite Blair, when we were fighting and i applied because of Dan. Yale was never my dream." She explained.
Nate understood and nodded. "Listen... worst case scenario, all three of us go to Columbia... which isn't exactly worst case." Nate smiled.
"Yup." Serena agreed.
Suddenly Vanessa came and said, "Guys, I'm making a video about college applications and acceptances, so where all did you get in?" She asked, turing the camera towards them.
"Well, I'd be happy to say that both Serena and I have gotten into Columbia University. She's still waiting to hear from Brown and I'm waiting of USC, but..."
"We're extremely excited for Columbia as well. And the two of us along with Blair getting in there is definitely a plus." Serena concluded.
Venessa shut her camera and then congratulated them both. Serena was running late for class so she left the two alone.
"So, you happy?" She asked him.
"Yeah... of course." Nate said.
"By the way, I heard about your father..." Vanessa said.
"Yeah. It just happened..." Nate shrugged not knowing what to say. "I have lacrosse practice right now... you wanna come along?" He asked her. Vanessa smiled and followed him.
Blair caught up with Serena on the sidewalk once school got over. "So, you turned down Yale." Blair stated.
"B... I didn't know that you..." Serena started.
"Why aren't you going there?" Blair asked.
"It's not for me. I applied back when Dan and I were talking, and I got into Columbia. I guess I'll prefer going there after Brown." Serena stated. "Nate got into Columbia too."
"Nate got in there too?" Blair asked.
"Yup."
"Well... how about we tour Columbia this weekend. I need to decide how I feel about being Yale's second choice." Blair said, in her usual fashion.
"Alright.. I'll call Nate and see if he wants to join us."
"Great.. I need to go. I'm meeting Chuck in sometime." Blair bid adieu and hailed a cab.
Blair headed to the Palace and made her way to Chuck's suite.
"I hear congratulations are in order." Chuck said, going to pop open a bottle of champagne.
"I guess. I don't know." Blair said, sitting on the couch beside him.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Yale accepted Serena above me."
"But she declined."
"That isn't the point. Columbia accepted Three students from Constance- St. Judes."
"Blair..."
"Nate and Serena."
"So? Yale is your dream."
"But what if it isn't. I mean Columbia is in New York City. I won't have to got that century old village named New Haven." Blair questioned.
"It's upto you, Blair. But don't make the decision because you are afraid to lose your friends. You know that won't happen." Chuck smiled ay her and passed her a martini he prepared while talking to her.
"I guess. I'm going to tour Columbia with Serena and hopefully Nate this weekend... come with us?" Blair asked.
"Well... I can go tour a college. But don't tell me to enter any classrooms, or the library."
"Deal." Just then, phones phones beeped notifying them of an update from Gossip Girl.
Why does Queen B not look over the moon despite her Yale acceptance? Maybe Bass can help her see the path correctly. And spotted, our two favourite blondes making their way into S' favourite restaurant for a table fo two? What's bubbling there?
"Are they together?" Blair asked, half shocked and half delighted.
"I have no clue. But I do hope they are. The sexual tension is disturbing at times."
"Sexual tension, disturbing to you. You forget I know you, Bass." Blair smiled challengingly.
A few blocks away, the couple in mention too checked their phones.
"God! We can't even have dinner in peace." Serena exclaimed.
"Well, it's just a few more months. Then we are officially free from Gossip Girl." Nate smiled.
"How are you always positive?"
"It's a talent." Nate winked.
"Hmm... Listen, this weekend, you, me and Blair tour Columbia."
"Sure. Wait a minute... she hasn't accepted Yale?" Nate asked shocked.
"Something about being second choice. who knows?" Serena said.
"It's Blair." Nate stated, both knowing that she would ultimately make decide what she thinks best.
They continued talking and eating without caring who saw them and what was posted on the Gossip Girl website. In fact, they shut their phones for the time being and enjoyed their night out. When they left the restaurant, Nate saw Vanessa has called him a few times. He could imagine what she had to say. He dropped Serena at her apartment and texted Vanessa to meet him outside his townhouse.
"Nate.. you said that you wanted to give this another go. Were you lying?" Vanessa questioned him as soon as he stepped out of his car.
"I wasn't. Vanessa, Serena is my best friend and the two of us stopped talking and being with each other the way we used to. So, the day I was moving back here, she and I made a pact that we would meet once a week for dinner or lunch. Just the two of us." Nate explained.
"So there is nothing going on?" Vanessa asked again.
"Nope. Just friends." Nate smiled and leaned in for a kiss which Vanessa happily obliged.
Spotted N and V sharing a passionate kiss on te steps of his townhouse. Wonder what S will have to say about Archibald returning to his past flame. Coming back to our Queen B, sources say that she still hasn't left the Palace room, wonder what's going on in there.
-xoxo, Gossip Girl
Saturday morning, Nate was getting ready to leave his house and meet up with his friends, when the doorbell rang.
"Hey. I brought breakfast." Vanessa stated, "and you already have plans." She stated after looking at his clothes.
"Touring Columbia." Nate stated.
"Alone?"
"Serena, Blair and Chuck."
"Chuck?" Vanessa asked confused.
"Blair is dragging him. Sorry I can't stay. I'm late as it is. You wanna come with me?" Nate asked,d adding the past as second thought.
"I don't mind the ride. I need to go to a studio a few blocks from there." Nate went inside for a second and grabbed his stuff to join Vanessa in the town car.
The car came to a stop in front of the Student Union building and the two got off.
"Nate! Finally." Blair exclaimed. "Vanessa." She stated with disdain. "Did you get into Columbia as well? In that case I might just seal my spot at Yale."
"Always a pleasure, Blair. But don't worry I'm not here to intrude on your plans."
"Just your presence is an intrusion. Nate, what are you doing with her? I thought we finlly got rid of all things Brooklyn when S dumped Dan." Blair asked looking irritated with her former boyfriend.
"B... Vanessa, we don't mind you coming along." Serena tried to diffuse the situation and Nate mouthed her a silent 'thank you' for it.
"Thank you, but I need to be at a studio near by." Vanesaa faked smiled at them, waved Nate goodbye and left.
Seen on the Upper West Side, on the steps of Columbia University, the Non-Judging Breakfast Club. Are our three favourite college applicants planning to stay in the city. That certainly makes things interesting. All I can say is, Beware New Yorkers. That calls for trouble. And can someone tell me why V was seen leaving the group in a bad mood? Looks like B has more of a problem with this union that S.
-xoxo, Gossip Girl
"Well, people know us here as well. It will be easier to conquer this school." Blair stated.
Other just rolled their eyes and indulged her while walking through the many buildings of the university. Nate had wanted to go check out their fields while Blair wanted to have a look at the theatre, so Nate and Serena went one way while the other two went another.
They had grabbed coffee on their way to the grounds and after a while Serena asked, "So, Vanessa?"
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you during dinner that night. We decided to give it another go just that afternoon." Nate explained.
"So don't need to apologise, Natie." Serena smiled. After a minute she asked again, "Will she object to our dinners?"
"No. She won't, well she can't. It's not as if i will listen to her. Not about that." Nate told facing her. "She needs to accpet that we are friends."
"Yup. Anyone we date needs to." Serena agreed with Nate. "My mom is dating Rufus Humphrey." She said with a hint of annoyance.
"Got something against Rufus?"
"Not but I don't like having to see Dan and Jenny so much more often." Serena said.
"Don't worry. We both know he won't last." Nate said.
"That's the hope."
"Blair... what's going on with you?" Chuck asked sensing she was in a mood since a while.
"Well, Nate is dating Brooklyn once again; What can be right?" Blair exclaimed.
"It's not that. Both of us know it." He pressed.
"I'm liking this place!"
"That's good." He was confused
"Yale was my dream." Chuck smiled. "Why are you smiling?" She asked getting more irritated.
"You said was." Chuck stated. "Dreams can change Blair."
"But I have a plan."
"Your plan can remain as it is. Just you begin here, at Columbia, with your friends and me by your side." Chuck said, trying to calm her down. "Columbia is Ivy League too."
"When did you grow a brain?" She smiled.
"It must be because of hanging around with you. Now go let's meet up with our other half." He said guiding out whichever building they were in and texting Nate and Serena to meet them at a cafe nearby.
Soon, they all were seated at a table and had ordered their meals.
"Let's stay together for the next four years of our lives?" Blair asked, looking at the blondes hopefully.
"Let's stay together." They both said together.
"We still need to convince our parents." Nate said.
"Don't remind me." Blair said. "My mom will think I have gone crazy. My dad will not beileve me and think I am joking or rebelling against him moving to France."
"Then let's do this. Either all three of us come to Columbia or Blair goes to Yale, you go to Dartmouth or USC, and I go to Brown." Serena suggested.
"Deal." Nate said, raising his glass. All four clicked glasses.
"By the way... you are now officially my sis." Chick said looking at Serena.
"The court approved the paperwork?" Serena asked happily. Chuck nodded. Him and Lily were finally able to get rid of Jack Bass and his back-stabbing schemes once and for all.
"To family!" Blair toasted.
"To family!" They all cheered.
Sources say that that the N-JBC just toasted to 'family'. Was it only to celebrate that newest adoption of the Upper East side of Chuck Bass or did it mean something else? Well, these four do be with each other like family. Our favourite C and B were seen sharing a kiss and the blondes are looking so much more cozier together. Better watch out V... your prince charming may not be yours for long.