§Not What It Seem§ |Gossip Girl|

9.

Even though her relationship with Chad and friendship with Will was strained, Nora continued like nothing ever happened. Like she said, she didn't want Gossip Girl to catch wind that something was up with them.

Nora had also ignored several calls from Blair, specially since she saw that spotted post from Gossip Girl about her and Serena hanging out together.

Right now, Nora was helping her brother with his Lost Weekend party, decorating and hiding valuable belongings.

Will and Chad were around as well, organizing the bar and the snacks.

Nora's hair was pulled up in a ponytail, strands of wavy hair framing the sides of her face as she reached her brother's side who was with Nate.

"Found it" Chuck told them, having been looking for something, raising a watch for everyone to see "Piaget"

Nora grabbed it, examining it. She felt a cloth brush against her shoulder, glancing through the corner of her eye to see Will wearing a scarf lean forward from behind her to watch what they were doing.

"Can't you not call it a watch?" Will asked in confusion.

Chuck rolled his eyes, holding his hand to his sister. "If it costs more than 10 bricks, it earns a proper name"

Nora smiled in amusement as she put the watch in his hand. Everyone knew that you shouldn't take something out of Nora's hands if you wanted your hand intact.

Nate raised an eyebrow as Chuck hid the watch in a drawer, picking up a baseball ball, "How about this?"

"Definitely that" Chuck told him, grabbing the ball from Nate's hand, putting it in the same drawer he hid the watch in, "Babe ruth's called shot, the most famous homer he ever hit. Better safe than sorry"

"Great" Nora deadpanned. Chuck smiled. She turned to her twin, "Do I need to remind you that I want my boys intact from your sins?"

Will and Chad had to visibly refrain from reacting at what Nora said.

Nate nor Chuck seemed fazed by what she said.

Chuck patted Nora's arm, "Dear sister" he cooed, pinching lightly her cheek making her swat his hand as she stepped back, bumping into Will's chest who hovered his arms around Nora's forearms to steady her, ignoring the skip on his heart for how close she was and the way her perfume invaded his nose. "You know me. They'll be perfectly fine"

"It is why I know you, I'm telling you" Nora narrowed her eyes, stepping away from her best friend, feeling the lingering heat of his body on her back. "I mean it, Charles. I want them in one piece"

"You have my word, Nora" Nate told her, glancing between the siblings. "I won't let Chuck corrupt them"

"Much" Chuck added, a smirk on his lips. Chad and Will looked amused. "They'll be pure and chaste just for you to ruin them. You have my word"

Chuck then walked away, followed by Nate as there was a knock on the door.

Nora frowned after her brother, Chad and Will exchanging a look as they looked at Nora questionably. Chuck knows?

Nora looked back at them, relaxing her brows. Chuck knows everything.

And for some reason, Nora didn't feel worried that her brother knew the tension between them, nor threatened, because even while bitches and assholes to each other, the Bass twins have never betrayed each other. That was their rule. Bass squared ruled better than separated.

~8~

Ignoring Eleanor Waldorf wasn't something you did.

After all, it was always a good move to keep the powerful players happy and in your side of the board.