Hello Gossipers... I don't want to throw you straight into the deep end tonight, I know you're all having fun. But remember, I still haven't forgiven and forgotten what you did to me. It still wasn't very nice and so many of you still have to make up for it.
So, without further ado, I want to talk to you... Vanessa Abrams. Just real quick, okay? You might end up thanking me. While I know he won't mind one bit having this one revealed - why would he? - I know you will. Did you know that Vanessa hooked up with the one and only Chuck Bass? They say the line between love and hate is so very thin... you can just imagine how it happened. Not exactly the best way to stay on your high horse, V. Now, just between us, are you going to be more upset if Dan Humphrey cares or doesn't care about it? I bet it'll hurt either way.
And you, Bella Coates. I'm not particularly mad at you, to be honest. I've always rooted for you and I know you were only following Blair's lead. After all, what else would you do with your time if you didn't? If Blair says 'jump', you say 'how high'. It's not just blind loyalty though, is it? All these years... I mean, I'm doing you a favour. You can finally get over it now, right? Being in love with Blair Waldorf.
Unrequited feelings are a bitch, aren't they? I hope I've helped you both along in your journey. Much love. XOXO
Howard “The Captain” Archibald was nothing if not relentless. Everything was a business deal with him and that, Nate should have already hurried up and realised, was life. It turned his stomach every time he thought about it. Behind every comment, every morning jog or cup of coffee his father had a motive and it was often one he never shared with Nate despite his motives so often being about his son. Tonight was no exception. The Captain had been precariously setting up a business deal with none other than Eleanor Waldorf. It should have been a sure thing, right? After all, weren't the Archibalds and the Waldorfs meant to be? The collar of Nate's shirt seemed to tighten with every smile he and Blair had to exchange with their parents. Whether they knew the details or not of his and Blair's relationship, it didn't matter. His parents wanted to see a ring (Grandmother's no less) on Blair's finger sooner rather than later. They'd both have to finish college first of course but after, well, there was really only one path for them both to take.
That however wasn't the only thing that was bothering Nate. Put Howard and Eleanor in the same room together and it became a game of snide comments directed at their own children and flowery compliments directed at the other's. Nate smiled at Mrs Waldorf while he flinched at the comments she oh-so subtly made towards Blair and the butter she probably shouldn't be putting on that bread. His father, poised and ready to delve into the Dartmouth Legacy speech. He couldn't help it, Blair had always been his anchor in this storm and despite the mess that was their current relationship---friendship, whatever it was---he looked to her. He needed help. He was drowning in these pleasantries. They were so false, another little thing that reminded him just how shallow his whole life was. His whole existence. The rest of his life...
Nate smiled towards Blair, searching for something to say that would make it better. At the very least, distract their parents. But he came up short.
Synopsis: Literally just a long-winded look back on baby!Nate’s feelings for baby!Blerena. Back when things were a-okay. Lowkey inspired by what I can lowkey remember from that one GG book I read.
Things used to be simpler.
Or, at least, they seemed to be that way. Back when the comforting fog of money, drugs and privilege was enough and everyone seemed to relax into a state of content in the summer sun of the Hamptons. That's where Nate remembered being the most content. The sun would be splitting through the palm trees (were they even real?) and the three of them seemed to fit together like jigsaw pieces. Whether it was lying by the pool – Nate and Serena giving each other the look, the one that said 'one, two, three go' before they pulled Blair into the pool with them. Their laughter would drown out the sound of the rest of the world because surely it was only they three, together and alone but never lonely. That's how it had felt.
Later they'd be lying in a tangle of arms and tanned legs, some old Hollywood movie playing on the too-big TV which Blair watched contently, leaning her chin on her hands with Nate and Serena on either side. Serena would be painting her nails or flipping through a magazine or sleeping off their last hangover. Things used to be simpler.
Nate would lie there, fingertips brushing Serena's and thigh brushed against Blair's legs, lightly buzzed while his thoughts swam around in a happy haze. He wished he could freeze that moment now because then he had no idea, no inclination that it would ever come to an end. That he would ever feel any differently than he did then. That there would be a day when he woke up and didn't want to hold out his hands to receive his daily dose of Upper East Side numbness.
Of course, there was also Blair. And Serena. Weren't they the most important part of that sleepy summer memory? Of course they were. Blair's hair was pushed back by one of her hairbands – a pink one or maybe it was plaid – and Nate traced the curve of her pouted bottom lip with his eyes while Holly Golightly had breakfast at Tiffany's. It was always going to be Blair and Nate. He felt like he'd been dating her since the day they met. Mind you, they'd hardly been able to walk and talk on the day they met. Still, it was expected. Everyone knew it and it was easy, it was comfortable. It was right. Blair and Nate, Nate and Blair. Wedding bells in the distance for an Archibald and a Waldorf.
And he loved her, of course he did. He loved Blair, and he loved Serena. And he loved the way the weight of the world ebbed off his shoulders after a particularly long inhale of whatever it was he was smoking.
Then there was Serena. Serena van der Woodsen in all her shining, golden glory. She was haphazardly strewn across the queen sized bed all three had made themselves comfortable on for the movie. Messy and effortless, blonde hair cascading out around her. Every now and then he'd catch himself looking at her, and she'd look back. And then they'd smile and laugh because they were Nate and Serena and this was summer in the Hamptons.
Everything was so good then. It was good and clear. Nate knew that one day he'd graduate and head to Dartmouth, Blair to Yale and Serena to Brown. He'd graduate again, fall into his family's political reputation and marry Blair Waldorf with his grandmother's ring. He'd realise that looking at Serena wasn't as simple as he thought and he'd stop looking altogether.
But that was a long way off and he didn't need to worry about it now. Because it was summer, and the Hamptons and it was Nate and Blair and Serena.
His two beautiful girls. His girlfriend, his best friend. Best girlfriends. He was lucky. They knew him and he knew them, they fit together like jigsaw pieces and they always would. That would always be Nate's life. His girlfriend, his Serena. And Chuck Bass, of course. His best friend, his decidedly less better half but that's what made Chuck Chuck.
They were beautiful and privileged, and it was summer. And it was supposed to last forever.
' how can someone as smart and perceptive as you not realize that the person sitting right there is in love with you? '
Noah leaned on the wall, looking at the rest of the people having fun at the party, while had a chat with Blair. He froze as soon as he heard what she said, he stopping his movement of lighting up a cigarette.
“Wait, what? In love with me? Who?” He asked, frowning.
Blair sniffled and shook her head, “You’re wrong. I’ve led both of them on, and now I am completely playing with fire.” Blair sighed and looked at Charlotte, fresh tears coming on. “I should have told Nate from the start about Chuck, but I got angry about when he went with Serena. That means he has every right to get angry at me for sleeping with his best friend.”
Charlotte sighed and sat beside Blair, her gesture softer than usual. She hesitated and pursed her lips, trying to fish around her thoughts as for finding a way for calming the younger girl.
‘ Yes, that’s true. But what’s also true is that he slept with your best friend, not to mention he also slept with Jess. One could say you’re on the same page now. ‘
