Seventeen Candles
According to the Catholic Church, mortal sin can only be absolved through the sacred act of confession. But it looks like a certain WASP Princess has recently found herself desperately in need of a little unburdening. And who is the man upstairs to discriminate?
***
"I can't believe he told her you guys were gonna do it." Blair said.
"Well, I told you two." Serena said.
"That's different. We're girls." Ella pointed out.
"Yeah, well, so is she."
"Exactly our point. But even if she wasn't, when you get a boyfriend, you become the best friend, and the best friend becomes the second best friend." Blair explained.
"That's just how it has to be if it's ever gonna work." Ella told her.
"Hey, you still haven't told me how Nate's doing. It's all over the news." Serena said and Ella was silent.
"Uh, when I talked to him this morning, I told him to focus on his family today." Blair replied.
"But he's still coming to your party, right? Here." Serena asked and handed her a pair of heels.
"Uh, I told him not to worry about it. I mean, only if he's up to it."
"You're such a good girlfriend, B. Really."
"Hey, um we'll just pick you up, and we can all go together but I really hope Nate can make it." Ella told her with a smile.
***
It was later that night when everyone was
at the party.
"Hey. So where's Nate?" Serena asked.
"Um, I'm sure he'll be here soon." Blair answered not very confidently.
"What about Dan?" Ella asked.
"Oh, uh, he said he's coming, but I haven't talked to him since this morning." Serena replied.
"Well, you better check in on him."
"Yeah, make sure the best friend hasn't whisked him away to do some friendly activity." Ella said sarcastically.
"Oh, shut up. Oh, there's Chuck. I bet he knows where Nate is." Serena noticed him walk in.
"I think Nate probably just snuck in while we were dancing." Blair said and walked away.
***
Ella was outside for some fresh air when Nate came up to her.
"Ella."
"Oh. Hi, Nate."
"Hey."
"So... how have things been between you guys?" Ella asked.
"Uh, strange, but not your fault."
"So you gonna go inside?" Nate asked.
"I was but decided to come out for a few minutes." Ella told him.
"Uh, do you want to go take a walk or something?"
"Um, what would Blair think?"
"Well, Blair's up there. Unless, of course, you wanna go back. It's up to you." Nate said.
"A walk does sound good right now." Ella said and he grinned.
***
Ella and Nate were sat on stairs of a building after they got food.
"What did you want to give Blair for her birthday?" Ella asked and he gave her a box.
She opened the box to see a ring.
"Your mother's ring." She recognised and he looked at her.
"You remembered?"
"Of course I do."
"I'm, uh, supposed to give it to Blair tonight." He told her.
"I'm guessing that wasn't your idea."
"Blair and I broke up, and I know it was the right thing to do. I mean, we just shouldn't be together right now, you know?"
"You sound sure."
"I am, and as much as I want to do the
right thing and help out my parents, it's just... it's not fair. I mean, to me or to Blair. I just think that if I do this now, when does it ever stop?" Nate questioned.
"It'll only stop when you stop it." Ella told him and he looked at her.
***
Nate had walked Ella back to the Palace Hotel.
"Thank you for walking me home." Ella said.
"No problem. I had a good night. Lily won't be mad you're coming home so late, right?"
"No, she'll be fine. I enjoyed this tonight."
"Me too."
"It's nice after everything that has happened, we can still talk how we used to." Ella smiled.
"That will never change." He said with a smile and she hugged him and so did he.
Spotted - Nate Archibald taking a mystery girl back to her home after midnight, though she's not that mysterious, she's only one of our it queens. XOXO, Gossip Girl.