𝘎𝘭𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 // 𝘎𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘱 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘵

𝒮𝒾𝓍𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓃

Chuck and Blair circled in the dining room as they both talked to people on the phone. Audrey, arguably Talia's best best friend had ditched last period to be there with her.

"He'll call" Audrey assured her. Just then Talia's phone rang and Aki's photo came up.

"Ak, if it's bad news I don't want to here it-"

"It's good news. Apparently no one could place the women with your dad the night in question. Someone just after your dad... are you okay?"

"I'm great. Thanks Ak" Talia said hanging up the phone. She turned to Audrey who had a smile on her face. "I love your boyfriend"

"And I love him too. See just because Jack has done some shitty things doesn't mean he's trying to bring you down" Audrey said. The two hugging in relief.

"Thanks for coming here. I wouldn't know what to do without you here"

"Best friends" Audrey said. She hugged her once more before excusing herself out. Talia relieved by the news walked over to Chuck and Blair who were still arguing on the phone.

"You can tell CNN to shove the story-" Blair shouted before realizing they had hung up.

"Well, good news. NetCorp according to Roger Menzies has no proof to the story. So Jack has been using my name for illegal drugs. That just helps the guardianship case"

"Okay, thank you" Chuck said as he walked over to the two. "You should really stay home tonight"

"I can't miss Julien's dad's set list. It's important to her. Plus there's nothing going on so I'm good" Talia tried reasoning.

"NetCorp doesn't know this because I just got off the phone with your mother. She's willing to testify. That's why he urged for the divorce, and why she moved away. He paid her off to keep silent" Chuck explained.

"Well it doesn't change a thing. I'm going to the event" Talia said. She rushed up the stairs to get ready for the event that would start in just a few hours.

As Talia walked up to the venue multiple people were camped outside chanting "Boycott Bass".

"Talia, good, you're here. Let's get inside" Audrey urged. Luna and Monet stopped the two posing for a quick picture before entering. Talia walked around, greeting people. She wandered around, finally finding herself at the bar. "One cosmo, please"

Talia sat at the bar swirling the lime wedge around her glass when a voice she recognized snapped her out of her trance.

"Two beers please" Max ordered. A beautiful Russian girl next to him. She clung tightly to his shirt which had been unbuttoned a few from the top. He smiled at her, or at least that's what Talia assumed he was doing. She smiled back whispering something in his ear.

"Another cosmo?" The bartender asked. Max and the date he was with looked her way. "Yes, please. Extra strong"

"Hey, how are you?" Max asked trying to be sincere. Talia couldn't bare to look or talk to him when he was here with someone else. Especially someone far for prettier than her.

"Fine. I'd rather not talk about it here" Talia muttered sipping the new drink that had just been given to her.

"I'm-" the girl began.

"I know who you are. The ballerina" Talia said shaking her hand. Max awkwardly smiled.

"What do you say we have another go?" She asked Max, her hands trailing up and down his chest and back. Talia discussed, downed the drink and left. She made her way outside, hailing her first cab. She headed for a small bar, a place where she would be neither spotted or bothered.

"One beer please" she ordered throwing her coat over the back of her chair. She slowly drank the beer as the new station blasted Jack's photos with pill bottles 'prescribed' to her. She took another sip as a man across the bar scoffed at the television.

"Turn this shit off. Jack Bass is an asshole. Did the same thing to my girl a few years ago" the drunk man shouted, the girl with him trying to hush him. The bartender quickly changed the channel to avoid more outbursts. Talia looked back at the man and noticed the women. She had been an assistant to one of Jack's publicists a few years ago, a promising assistant who had dropped off the face of the earth quite abruptly.

Talia quickly snapped her head back around and threw a twenty on the counter. She hailed a cab back to Jack's knowing he was out having a special dinner with Roger and Helena.

Talia rushed straight past the doorman, hoping he wouldn't notify Jack of her arrival. She also knew he wouldn't have his phone if he was still at the dinner. Once inside the penthouse she rushed up to his office, trying to remember the safe password.

After a few failed attempts Talia tried Bart's death, the safe unlocking. "Morbid" Talia muttered as she looked around. There she spotted the old phone Jack had hidden away. Talia took it and the charger before trying to hide all evidence for her every being there.

Just as she exited the building and jumped into a taxi, an oblivious Jack pulled up in his car, on the phone.

Talia headed to Obie's where the rest of the group was.

"T? Where were you?" Audrey asked all concerned. She was snuggled up against Aki on the couch.

"Oh good. Let's order a pizza now that everyone is here" Julien exclaimed. Luna and Monet came out of the bathroom popping benzos.

Talia ignoring them all ran to the kitchen, plugging the phone into the charger. It eventually turned on and Talia headed straight for the text messages.

"Talia are you okay?" Audrey asked walking up next to her. Max saw the group hovered around her as he walked down the stairs.

"Jack, he's done this multiple times. It ranges back alone on this phone from 2007- 2012. I left the other phones back in the safe. I need to go get them-"

"Talia you shouldn't go alone" Aki said. The group got quiet when Talia's phone began to ring on the kitchen counter. The caller ID Jack.