A few days later.
Serena and i were sitting at the kitchen island. Everybody was preparing for thanksgiving.
apparently no one realized it was me on the photo Gossip Girl posted. No one but Serena. She was the only one seeing me in that dress. Thank god she didn't tell anyone. But she wasn't happy to find out i spend the night hanging out with Nate instead of going to B's birthday party.
Blair looked through the kitchen "i have to find this recipe before my dad gets here."
Me "Harold Waldorf's famous pumpkin pie. I'm always dying to eat it"
Blair sat down next to me "Well, it may have been Bobby Flay's. but it didn't stop my dad from taking credit for it. It's gonna be perfect!"
Serena smiled "Look at you. Quite the chipper sous-chef"
Blair "well, i'm in a good mood.It happens. Sometimes 'cause i incrase my lexapro. sometimes because my dad's in town. "
Serena "and sometimes, mostly because things are good with a boy. You and Nate get back together?"
Blair "you mean since Gossip Girl published pictures with him and some skank?"
Serena "so that's a no. "
Me "What's Chuck doing today?"
Blair looked at me irritated "why are you asking me?"
Serena "well, you guys are friend. And, Blair,look you know you can tell us anything. We'd be the last people to judge you. Trust me. "
Blair shot me a look "with good reason"
I sighed annoyed "i know you screwed Chuck, Blair"
She sighed "i don't know what i was thinking. i mean, sleeping with him once, maybe you could understand, but twice?"
Serena's eyes widened "You slept with him? i only saw you making out"
Blair shhhd her.
Serena sighed "ug. Blair!"
Blair "what happened to no judging?"
Serena shook her head "I'm not, i thought you wanted to wait. I thought you wanted to make things special"
Blair "oh so Nate gets a free pass, and i'm a slut?"
Serena "tell me you didn't sleep with Chuck for revenge?"
Blair "well, it wasn't because i like his natural musk, and besides, nothing hurts more than sleeping with the best friend, right, F.?"
She looked at me.
I scoffed and stood up "Way to prove a point"
Blair "well, i learned from the master"
Me "You slept with Chuck, Blair. sober! At least i was drunk when i did it with Nate"
Blair "are you jealous you didn't get to sleep with him first? There had to be somebody left on the upper east side, right?"
If you only knew.
Eleanor walked inside "Blair darling, are you going to help me at all? Flavia, Serena, do you know when your mother's arriving?"
I looked at her "She's not. We're no doing thanksgiving here anymore"
Eleanor looked surprised "why?"
Blair "Because i uninvited them"
I looked at Eleanor "happy holidays, Eleanor"
Then i walked out.
On the streets. Chinatown.
Mom wasn't happy to find out that i screwed our plans with thanksgiving over.
And now we were walking through Chinatown to find what to eat tonight.
Me " i know i screwed up. So let's not get crazy"
Mom "Well, i don't know what you're complaining about. I'm just trying to provide my family with a home-cooked meal"
I asked confused "since when do you know how to cook?"
Eric and Serena laughed.
Mom looked at them "well, don't blame me. Talk to your sister. she's the one that got us exiled from the Waldorfs. "
Me "My bad"
Eric "and even if you did cook , we don't have an oven."
Mom" Preaching to the converted, Eric. Look, we'll just pick up a few things and try to made do. "
Eric "like Pekingduck on thanksgiving. "
Mom nodded "mm, not a bad idea"
I shook my head "no"
Mom "all the other sops are close. There's nothing wrong with having chinese food on thanksgiving. "
Serena "What?"
Mom "Jews having been doing it on Christmas since forever"
Mom stopped "look, a pumpkin . isn't this.."
She picked up a pumpkin "this is festive, yes?"
Serena "We're gonna eat a pumpkin?"
I shook my head "we're not gonna eat a pumpkin"
Eric took it and looked at it.
I shook my head, grabbed it from him and put it back where it was.
Eric "since when do you hate pumpkins?"
I put an arm around his shoulder "since you dropped one on my toe, little brother"
He smirked "oh yeah, right. That was a fun day"
I shook my head "careful, brother"
I saw Serena answering a phone.
Eric "we're gonna starve"
I rolled my eyes.
Serena waked to us "we're not starving. Look, Flavia got us into this mess, so i'm gonna get us out of it"
I smiled "thanks, sis"
Serena "Thanksgiving at the Humphreys. Dan invited me, and Eric's fiends with his sister, and his dad's really coo"
Mom's face dropped.
Eric cheered "awesome "
Serena "what do you say, Mom?"
She fake chuckled. This is gonna be fun.
Flashback. Thanksgiving last year. At Blair's.
I was sitting drunkly at the kitchen table at the Walldorfs. Serena and i got a little drunk last night. Blair took us in.
I looked up when i saw Nate walk inside.
Nate "what did i miss?"
Harold "you're about to witness the return of sober Flavia"
Nate chuckled when he saw me.
I cheered and stood up "Natey"
I hugged him.
Harold "or maybe not. sweetie, would you take her upstairs? put her in the bath before your mother get wind of this whole situation?"
Blair "what, and leave you all alone? Thanksgiving is out thing?"
Nate asked me "where is your sister?"
Me "passed out in the guest room"
Nate asked amused "and you not?"
Me "i passed out earlier for 10 minutes"
He chuckled.
Blair "Nate, will you please take care of her? please?"
Nate nodded "sure"
I made a step tripped. Nate caught me and picked me up bride style.
Nate "poor girl"
Me "I'm actually pretty rich"
He rolled his eyes and we walked upstairs into Blair's room.
Flashback end.
Home.
Eric walked into the living room all ready. Mom was sitting on the couch n her PJ reading a book.
Eric "you sure you don't wanna come?"
Serena"yeah, we don't want to leave you, mom, if you don't feel well. "
Mom "oh,no.you kids have fun- I don't have an appetite anyway"
There was a knock n the door.
Serena opened it.
The room service walked inside.
Serena shook her head "oh.ho.no. no. no. no, sir, you have the wrong room?"
Mom "oh no, you're early, i lied"
She stood up.
Serena sighed annoyed "mom"
Mom sighed "All i care about is that the three of you are together don't want to be an imposition. "
Suddenly there was another knock on the door and Dan walked inside"man with van, at your service"
Serena "could you convince my mother to come with us, please?"
Dan looked at her "i'm not taking no for an answer. In fact, i'm not even asking. you are coming with us. I'm adult-napping you"
Serena grinned.
Mom "fine, just stop talking, and i''ll get ready"
I smirked followed mom into her bedroom.
Mom looked at me surprised "you need anything?"
Me "Serena might not notice why you don't wanna go but i do"
mom "what are you talking about?"
Me "Grandma loves to rant about people. Especially when she's drunk, that's when she goes into detail"
Mom "What did she tell you?"
I shrugged "nothing, well, she told me that you and a Rufus Humphrey have some history together"
Mom sighed.
Me "don't worry,i didn't tell anyone. I won't"
She looked at me surprised "why not?"
Me "You're single, Mom. And it's none of our business who you are spending your time with. "
She gave me a soft smile"thank you"
I smiled"now get dressed"
at the Humphreys.
We wake inside.
Dan yelled "hey, we're here"
A blonde woman walked to us "there you are. you'Re lucky you made it while the turkeys' still hot"
Dan "mom, this is Serena, her sister Flavia ,and her brother Eirc"
Serena and i shook Dan's mom's hand.
Dan's Mom "it's so nice to meet you all"
me "nice to meet you too"
Dan "and tis is their mother, Lily"
Mom smiled but both of the woman's smiles faded when they laid eyes on each other "happy Thanksgiving"
I smirked "this is gonna be fun"
Mom "well, i'm just gonna take these coat and put them, in, um, Dan's room."
Dan's mom" uh you know what? it's okay. I've got them. "
She took them from mom.
Mom handed Rufus the bottle of wine.
Rufus "thank you. okay. Eric and Jenny, napkin duty. Serena and Dan, i want every water glass filled, and every candle you can find lit. "
mom shot me a look.
Me "I'm gonna help my sister"
--
We were al sitting around the table. This was so weird. .
Dan "uhm, Mrs. Van der woodsen, what were thanksgivings like when you were growing up? Serena said you were raised in California?"
Mom "oh, i grew up on a little ranch in Montecito. "
Jenny "i didn't now there were little ranches."
Allison "there aren't"
Everybody giggled. Mom took a sip of the wine.
Suddenly my phone rang.
Me "sorry"
i stood up and walked into Dan's room.
Then i answered the call "yeah?"
Blair cracked "i need you. Can you come over? please"
I sighed "Be there in 10 "
Then I hung up and walked back to the table "I'm sorry guys, but i'm needed. I have o go"
Serena "want me to go with you?"
I shook my head "no, no, no need, enjoy the meal. I'm really sorry. have fun"