Los Angeles. A few months later. On a yacht.
I walked over to Nate and came across two blonde twins in bikini.
Nate was sitting there drinking coffee while the girls were just standing there.
I looked at Nate "yours?"
Suddenly Chuck walked up to us "mine"
Nate rolled his eyes amused.
The girls walked inside and i sat down on one of the bar stools.
Chuck asked me "did you nap good?"
I nodded "yeah. You were gone after all"
He nodded.
i saw Nate putting three envelopes back into the big ne.
He looked at me with a look. Must've been Blair's wedding invitations.
Chuck "why didn't you take someone with you for a change? I mean, someone as good looking as you wouldn't have any problems with bringing guys back home"
I rolled my eyes "Maybe the guys who want me to bring them home aren't the guys i wanna bring home"
Chuck nodded, amused "sure"
Then he gestured to Nate who was holding the mails "Anything for me?"
Nate shook his head and took a sip of his coffee "Nope"
Chuck "Well, if you hear anything crazy, it means i'm doing something right"
Then he walked inside.
I looked after him before looking at Nate who showed me the three envelopes.
I sighed and took a bite from one of the strawberries that were on a plate on the counter
---
Serena and i were sitting on the barstools. she had taken a job as a production assistant for some guy.
She smiled at me "how did you guys even end up here? and whose boat is this?"
Me "this is Allegra Versace's. i won it in a poker game in Chiang Mai after i did a show for Versace there"
Serena nodded "and how are you and Nate doing?"
I took a sip of my water "Well, what do you think?"
Serena "i've seen him and you on paparazzi pics and Gossip Girl was posting about you guys getting cozy with each other"
I nodded "i know"
She sighed "he still cares about you, Fla. And you still care about him. Why can't you guys just be happy again?"
I looked at the water bottle in my hand.
Serena "You don't like the person you turn into when you're with him"
I shook my head "I don't like the person i turn him into when we're together."
She took a deep breath "Do you still love him?"
I nodded "i do but i screwed up, Se, i screwed up"
Serena "I'm sorry, Fla, "
I shook my head "na, it's okay. We're friends. I owe i to him and to our dead relationship that i at least try to make a friendship work"
She nodded.
Suddenly Nate and Chuck walked out and over to us.
Nate "hey, Serena"
He gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek before moving to stand behind me.
Chuck gave Serena a hug and a kiss on the cheek "hi"
Serena "oh, hey"
Then she eyed him "whoa, usually when you smile like this you look like a creepy Cheshire Cat but this one is real"
Nate grabbed the water bottle from my hand.
Me "You sure? his usual smile kinda reminds me of Pennnywise"
I heard Nate choke on the water behind me.
Serena "What is your secret? and if it's legal, i want some"
Chuck "it's not a substance, it's a state of mind. a word."
Serena "Let me guess. A dirty word?"
Chuck smirked "yes"
Nate and i chuckled.
Serena asked confused ""yes", it's a dirty word?"
Chuck "The word is "yes." i say it at anything. If an opportunity presents itself, i take it . There's nothing i won't try once. Even happiness"
I smirked "a true poet"
Chuck "you mock, if someone gave me the opportunity, i'd say-"
Serena ""yes." yeah, i think i get it"
Chuck shook his head "i don't think you do. You've been working all summer at your little assistant's job. Driving a cart, getting coffee, sorting things. Isn't there something more you want out of it?"
Serena "Actually, the producer, Jane, who i really admire asked me my thoughts on a scene. And i was really excited to write something up but, Marshall, who's my supervisor got wind of it, uh..he wasn't a huge fan of the idea"
Me "What, so you never did it?"
Serena shook her head "uh, no, i placated Marshall, so now Jane probably thinks i'm a flake"
Chuck "There's still time. Go say the "yes" you never said"
Serena chuckled "You know what? you are actually right. Even if you are completely delusional, if it makes you look this good ...i will find Jane tomorrow...Marshall will be damned"
I nodded.
Serena "who wants to go with me to make sure i go through with it?"
I grimaced and took a sip from my water bottle.
Serena "i know what you're gonna say"
On the beach.
I was lying on the my towel on my back on the beach. It was a pretty hot day today and Chuck and Nate had decided to leave with Serena for a while. so i decided to enjoy some sun on the beach.
My eyes were closed but i could still hear someone walking over to me and standing next to me, blocking the sun from hitting my body.
Me "you're blocking the sun"
The person didn't say anything.
I was about to open my eyes when i got picked up, thrown over the shoulder and the guy ran over to the water.
I laughed and screamed "no no no"
Suddenly i got thrown into the water.
I jumped up and grabbed the person, shocked.
Nate was standing there with me, laughing at me.
The water was too deep for me so i had to hold onto Nate.
I glared at him and shoved the hair out of my face "why did you do that?"
Nate asked amused "why not?"
I rolled my eyes at him.
Nate smiled "thought you could need the cool off"
I put both of my hands on his shoulder and put all my weight on him to push him into the water.
He let himself do that.
I smirked at him but suddenly i got grabbed by the waist and thrown into the air and i landed in the water again.
He started to laugh even harder.
I put a hand on his shoulder again to support myself "Shouldn't you be with Serena?"
Nate "i was but then i figured i couldn't let you go all alone to the beach by yourself"
Me "and why?"
Nate "Because i figured you'd feel lonely"
Me "you do realize that there are like a dozen very good looking guys here who are dying to get my number?"
Nate shrugged "i wanted to hang out with you, is that bad?"
I shook my head"no, no, it's fine, we're friends"
god that word killed me.
He nodded, sounding kinda bothered "right, friends"
---
Nate and i were lying in the sand.
He was leaning on one elbow in my direction.
Me "Can i ask you something?"
Nate "sure"
Me "you had planned to never sleep alone at night for the whole summer."
He nodded.
Me "What's changed?"
Nate looked at me confused.
Me "you slept nearly every night alone this summer. What happened to your plan?"
Nate "Well, doing nothing has given me a lot of time to think. The last couple years are starting to take their toll. I mean, between my family, Juliet, Raina, you. I mean, sometimes i wish i could just reinvent myself, you know?"
I nodded.
Nate "but i could ask you the same question. We had the same plan. What happened?"
Me "The same thing that happened to you. "
Nate "Now, i wanna ask you something"
I nodded "shoot"
Nate "why did you decide to spent the summer with us?"
I looked at him confused "what do you mean?"
Nate "Chuck might have not noticed every time you turned down a guy who wanted to sleep with you but i did"
I played with the sand that was on my towel a little.
Nate "so why didn't you do the same i should'Ve done?"
Me "because i didn't feel like it"
He raised his eyebrows.
Me "I'm serious. Besides, i didn't feel like screwing around with guys in front of my ex "
Nate "then why did you come with us?"
Me "Because we're friends. And i promised you to try to make this friendship work. "
Nate "That's why you're not sleeping anyone? because of me"
I shook my head "not really. I'm just not ready to sleep with other guys yet"
Nate nodded "i get it."
Me "And i joined you guys because i thought that it would stop feeling awkward between us when one of us is getting closer with another person"
Nate "and? did it stop feeling awkward?"
I shook my head "no, it's still awkward"
He nodded "i know"
Me "i miss you, Nate"
Nate nodded "I miss you too"
Then he sat up and opened his arms for me "hug?"
I sat up and sighed "Nate-"
Nate shot me a look "As friends?"
I nodded "okay"
Then i moved over to him, put my arms around his neck and hugged him. He put his arms around my waist and pulled me to him.
I closed my eyes and smiled. I miss him. I miss him a lot.
Nate "There's a party later. You in?"
I nodded "Sure"
At the villa.
Serena, Nate and i walked inside.
Everyone was here having fun.
Serena walked away from us.
Me "I'm gonna grab a drink"
He nodded and i walked away.
I walked past a door when i suddenly got grabbed and pulled into a room.
My jaw dropped when i saw who it was "Cart?"
He smirked "hey, doll"
I asked confused "What are you doing here?"
Carter "I'm here with a friend"
I shook my head "you don't have friends, Carter"
He rolled his eyes "ouch. I thought you'd be glad to see me"
I nodded and hugged him "and i am happy to see you"
He hugged me back.
Suddenly the door opened and Nate stood there with a woman.
My jaw dropped.
His eyes widened when he saw Carter standing there.
Carter just smirked and drove a hand through his hair "Well, i think i should get back to my friend"
then he walked out.
I leaned against the table and drove a hand through my hair sighing.
Nate shook his head and walked away.
The woman followed him.
Next day. Morning. At Serena's movie set.
Nate, Chuck and i were waiting by the limo for Serena. We were heading back to New York.
Serena walked to us.
Me "You ready to go?"
Serena "I am not coming. Guess why? Jane offered me a job"
I smiled "and you accepted right?"
Serena smiled "of course i said yes"
I smiled and hugged her "that's great, baby"
Serena "Thank you"
Suddenly Chuck pulled out a bottle of champagne from the limo "how about now? Your new L.A. lifestyle ready to make an exception?"
Serena nodded "i think so. Pop it open"
Chuck opened it and the liquid started to rain around.
I chuckled.
Chuck "of course that happened. Jeez"
Serena "there's a bathroom in the dressing room there. i'll show you"
Chuck handed me the bottle "I'll be right back"
Then the two of them walked away.
I leaned against the limo and looked at Nate "Nate-"
He shook his head "don't bother, Fla"
I sighed "Nate, i didn't invite him. I don't even know what he was doing there-"
Nate "Fla, i'm serious. We're friends. You don't have to give me any explanation"
I nodded "okay"
Then he opened the door for me "now get in. Let's go back home"