Eric Is Back (A Gossip Girl Novel)

12. 2007

This was bad.

Dan hated me.

He'd kicked me out of the loft!

What was he going to do now? Tell Mom and Rufus that I'd kissed him when he had passed out?

I didn't understand how he had forgotten about our kiss. I mean, he was the one who had encouraged me to do it. Not the other way around!

I spent the night tossing and turning, dreading the morning. When it came, I expected Mom and Rufus to burst into my room and accuse of being a... whatever I was!

A creep?

A criminal?

A brother-lover?

But morning came and nothing like that happened.

It didn't happen the next day... or the next... or the day after that...

A week passed and it seemed as if my secret was safe. To make sure it was, I nonchalantly asked Rufus what Dan was up to.

"Oh, you know..." he said, "just applying for colleges and what not."

I nodded. "Oh, right."

"Why do you ask? You want me to see what he's up to?"

"No, no!" I said quickly. "I-I was just wondering..."

"Are you sure? I think it would be nice if you two did something together. Us Humphrey–van der Woodsen men have got to stick together, right?"

"Yeah... right."

Grabbing his phone, Rufus held up a finger and said, "Hold on – I'll give him a call."

I could feel my face turn ghost-white. "Oh, no! I'm fine – really!"

"Let me see what he's up to..."

"Y-you don't have to do that!"

But it was too late.

The call went through.

"Hey, Dan!" Rufus said cheerfully. "What are you up to?"

Crap... crap... crap...

"Applications, huh? Now, there's a surprise. Listen, I'm just with Eric at the moment and I was wondering if you guys wanted to hang out tonight."

Tonight...?!

"I know it's probably not your thing but Lily and I were gonna go to the opera tonight," Rufus said. "But Lily has still got that damn bug so I don't think she'll be up for going. So, how about you and Eric go instead?"

Me... and Dan... at the opera?!

That was a terrible idea!

"Oh, come on!" Rufus pushed. "It'll be fun! You'll love it!"

I could hear Dan grumbling on the other end.

Please say no... Please say no...

"Is that a yes...?"

NO!

"Great!" Rufus beamed, pumping his fist in the air. "I'll let Eric know! Alright, talk to you later! Bye!"

Rufus snapped his cellphone shut and turned to me with a big, cheesy grin on his face.

"You're going to the opera!" he said excitedly.

I forced a smile on my face. "Oh... yay."

*

What on Earth were Dan and I doing at the freakin' opera?!