At school.
Blair was ranting about her mother's new boyfriend. Cyrus.
Blair "Not only are Cyrus' moving boxes everywhere. But so are his annoying relatives. "
I asked confused "Aren't you a little bit overreacting?."
Serena "they can't be that bad. Aaron always talks about his nana"
Yeah, right, Serena's got a new guy. Aaron, an old friend of ours.
Blair "oh, Sylvia? you know, she kissed me on the cheek, she left a big orange lipstick mark. It looked like i'd been spray-tanned"
I giggled.
Blair "and Cyrus' nephew only talks about corn, grain of the future. And his sister asked me to go shopping with her"
Serena smiled as Blair opened her locker "Oh, that's sweet."
Blair put her books in " At century 21"
Serena rolled her eyes annoyed "the horror"
Blair "but even though daddy isn't coming, i'm determined to have the perfect thanksgiving i didn't get last year"
I nodded amused about the thought about last year.
Blair "you two are still gonna help me make his famous pie tomorrow?"
Serena "yeah, but i can only stay for a couple hours"
I nodded "me too"
Serena smiled "Aaron is coming to meet my family before Thanksgiving dinner. "
I nodded.
Blair "and how do you plan to introduce him? "Mom, you d.V.R. Big love. this is Aaron, and he's just like Bill Paxton, only younger and with scruff""
I nodded "sounds pretty good "
Serena eyed me "why so surprised?"
Me "Because there's a reason i have never let mom meet one of my boyfriends"
Serena "but i like him enough to do that"
Blair scoffed disgusted "here comes your ghost of boyfriend's past to haunt me"
Serena "please, try to be civil"
I snorted amused "sure"
Blair threw me a glare.
I giggled and walked away.
Then I walked around the corner and bumped into Chuck "Chuck"
He smiled "Flavia, how are you?"
Me "I am good and you?"
Chuck looked over my shoulder, smirking "even better now"
I looked at him confused.
Chuck put a hand on my arm "Excuse me"
Then he walked away.
At home. Night.
I was sitting in my room when i saw Eric walking past my room.
He looked at me surprised "you're home?"
I nodded "yes, why?"
Eric "shouldn't you be out on date or something?"
I raised an eyebrow "bro? you look kinda off guard? what's wrong?"
Eric shook his head "nothing"
I raised an eyebrow and stood up "Sit"
Then I pointed at the bed.
Eric sighed and sat down.
I sat down next to him "now tell me what's going on"
Eric "Bart mentioned something and it's not leaving my head"
me "and what did he mention?"
Eric "that Jonathan might be dating someone else."
My eyes widened.
Eric "how and why would he know that?"
Chuck walked inside "he has a p.I. On retainer, like i do."
Eric "i get that for business, but for family and friends of family, it's just creepy."
Chuck "not to worry. Bart's people are top-notch and very discreet. Perhaps we should continue this conversation somewhere else"
He shot me a look.
Eric looked at me and i nodded.
Me "go ahead"
He nodded and left the room with Chuck.
I rolled my eyes and let myself fall backwards on the bed.
Next day.
Serena stormed into my bathroom "My new boyfriend is on his way here to meet everyone, and i want you-"
She cut herself off when she saw Chuck leaning against the counter and watching me applying make up.
Serena "what is going on here?"
Me "Chuck's helping me getting ready"
Serena caught herself again "well, i want your words on something"
Chuck turned to her "if you are talking about the dress, i say "higher""
She slapped his arm "chuck, i want your word that you ill not mention anything about the girl i used to be"
We walked into my bedroom and i put my shoes on.
Serena "i just got Aaron all to myself, and if the one thing i have to do is keep it that way is hide my recent history for a while, then that's what i'm gonna do. "
We walked into the kitchen.
Chuck "I get it. You lied to him. "
Serena's jaw dropped "no-no, i didn't. I merely chose not to tell him everything i did"
Me "which should probably stay that way, for the sake of your relationship with him"
Serena "it will come out naturally, over the course of the many conversations we're gonna have, as we're dating exclusively"
Chuck nodded "you have my word, whatever that's worth"
Chuck grabbed a glass of champagne and made his way to the stairs.
Me "where are you going?"
Serena "Eric's waiting for me in my father's study. We're having a business meeting"
Suddenly Aaron walked inside with a present in his hands.
Serena smiled "oh my god! you're here!"
He nodded "hey"
I raised an eyebrow.
Serena "that was so not on the same level as my hi"
Aaron "i bumped into Dan at the store. uh, he just said something. I'm trying to figure it out"
Serena "figure out what?"
Aaron "something about a girl named Georgina?"
Serena breathed out nervously "what?"
Me "Humphrey did what?"
She looked at me for help and grabbed the present from Aaron's hands and put it on the counter.
Me "Dan's jealous. "
Aaron nodded "yeah. Yeah. i mean he was talking a lot about Thanksgiving last year when you two ere together, so.."
Serena nodded "yeah. Well, i guess he's just as over me as i am over him. But-but seriously, Aaron, the next time he starts to tell you stories about me-"
Aaron shook his head "no, no, no, no, never again. No, it's not gonna happen again"
Outside.
I walked through the gates of the Palace and made my way to the building but was stopped by a guy.
Guy "Flavia Van Der Woodsen?"
I nodded confused "yeah?"
Guy "i'd like to talk to you abut Nate Archibald. "
---
Chuck "i knew you'd come back for more"
Me "the FBI came to see me. Nate's in trouble. "
Chuck "Tell someone who cares"
Me "don't pull that crap on me now, Chuck. He needs our help"
Chuck "where are you?"
Me "Outside the Palace"
Then he hung up.