Gossip Gay

Four: Rumor Has It

Dan groans as he slumps down into the grass next to Serena, running a hand through his short brown curls. The blonde chuckles, offering Dan a sandwich. "That bad, huh?"

"I got in trouble for disturbing my British Literature class," Dan says, sitting up to take the sandwich. A rubber band can in fact be found on his left wrist. "For walking in..."

"Wow, okay, that is kinda bad," Serena replies. Dan nods.

"And, currently, the top three rumors about us are: A) we got busted selling crack to middle schoolers and were in prison," Dan adds, only just catching some of the tuna fish from his sandwich as it tries to escape. "B) Chuck and Blair banished us from NYC for different reasons depending on who you talk to, or C) I got you pregnant and you were sent away to have the baby at some Farm while I was sent to a military school."

"I'm not sure which of those is the most ridiculous," Serena exclaims.

"I would die in military school," Dan remarks. "So I'd say that one. Anything interesting happen with your day?"

"Well apparently my mom and Bart Bass are now a thing," She states, making a face. "So if they get married, Chuck will be my new step brother."

"Ewww, why would you even go there?" Dan asks, making a face too.

"Because I knew you'd make that face," Serena teases, imitating his expression. Its like a mix between a scowl and the face a person would make when smelling a fart. Dan laughs at that, though when he regains control of himself, he has an important question.

"You get any 'gifts' from Blair and her crew?" Dan recieved a lovely locker full of ping-pong-balls which made quite the commotion when he opened his locker. Luckily, he didn't get into trouble for it.

Serena nods. "Mostly gossip, though I think one of her girls clipped off some of my hair during textiles."

Dan opens his mouth to offer to check only to be cut off by the bell chirping loudly, signaling that it's time to head to their classes.

"Jenny can check later," Serena huffs. Dan nods, standing and offering a hand to help Serena up.

Chuck and Nate are chatting outside the closed door of the classroom that Dan is supposed to be going to. Seeing as the classroom lights are off, Dan knows the teacher is going to be late.

He leans against the wall about a foot away from Nate, hoping to be at least invisible to his two classmates. Unfortunately, from this distance, he can over hear the two of them having a very private conversation.

"She's angry that I won't sleep with her," Nate is saying, his tone frustrated and exhausted. "I mean, I know we've been together since the third grade..."

"You're afraid to ruin the connection you two have," Chuck remarks thoughtfully. That surprises Dan. He's never seen Chuck as the wise, thoughtful type.

"Exactly," Nate sighs. "I just wish she'd understand-"

"Hold that thought," Chuck interjects. Then, he's suddenly in front of Dan, planting an arm on the wall above the shorter male's head. Flinching, Dan studies Chuck's face nervously. Chuck looks pissed. "Do you often listen in on private conversations?"

Dan's heart is going a mile a minute and he can feel Nate's eyes on him. Sighing, he forces his voice to be calm as he replies to Chuck.

"Okay, first of all, I'm just standing here, waiting for the teacher, same as you," Dan states. "Second, if it's a private conversation, maybe you shouldn't have it out in the hallway."

Chuck blinks, frowning, but he also moves to a much less threatening position of just facing towards Dan standing normally. "Sorry...Dan Humphrey, right?"

Dan nods, shocked that Chuck doesn't refer to him as Brooklyn Boy as most people at school do.

"Weren't you and Serena two of Blair's best friends last year?" Nate asks. Dan nods, feeling his pulse quicken at gaining Nate's attention. "Any advice for dealing with her?" Nate continues.

Dan, hoping the timidness he suddenly feels isn't visible, shakes his head apologetically. "Blair is not the same girl she was a year ago when me and Serena 'betrayed her' by leaving, which is understandable...any advice I could give you is likely useless."

Nate frowns, nodding all the same after a moment.

As if on cue the teacher appears to let them in. Nate gives a quiet thank you, which Dan barely hears, his mind preoccupied with memories of the Blair he and Serena would remember.

Foremost in his thoughts come countless memories of Blair's yearly sleepovers. She'd call him the night before every single time, formally inviting him and letting him know who'd be there ahead of time besides herself and Serena. Dan never missed one, though time and again he'd had to sneak out to get to them, and more often than not he'd spend his time with his nose buried in a book or chatting with Blair's dad.

She'd always have a makeover outfit for him, always going out of her way to make him feel included.

Another memory that comes to mind is one of the Christmas' his dad was on tour. He and Jenny were spending their holiday with the Van Der Woodsen's- the heartbreaking first Christmas after the divorce- and neither him or Jenny were in the best of mood. Still, the Waldorf's did all they could to make Dan and Jenny feel welcome. They even purchased gifts for them, which surprised them both.

A pang of guilt bites into Dan's ribs as he sinks into his seat. Blair's change had to be his and Serena's fault. They'd done this to her. 

Snapping the rubber band onto his skin, he sighed softly, a whole new wave of emotions filling his thoughts.