Gossip Gay

Nine: Confessions

"I thought you said we were going home," Eric says, scowling as the limo stops in front of the Palace hotel. "This isn't home."

"Its home for now," Lily replies with a light shrug. "I'm having our flat remodeled."

"Classic Lily," Dan says, a gentle amusement to his tone. "If it ain't broke, break it." 

Eric and the girls laugh at this, while Lily playfully smacks the boy who is practically her adopted second son. 

"Ow," Dan huffs, feigning a pout at the woman who's been his mother figure for quite some time. Eric laughs again, but it fades as he remembers a conversation he still needs to have.

"So, mom, about school..."

"Your doctor said to take things slow, Eric," Lily replies, watching her son with a cautious expression.

"I know, and I will...but...I want to go back as soon as I can," Eric says. Jenny automatically squeezes his hand, though since they've left the Ostroff center, its grown unclear whether that's so she can reassure him or the other way around.

"Well...we'll go to the Ivy Week Banquet as a group first," Lily states. "That way you can see everyone and catch up, but take some time to make sure everything is steady first."

Eric nods, grinning. Jenny just squeezes his hand again.

"Nathaniel!"

The voice makes him jump at first, but he grins when he sees Chuck's head peeking out of the limo window. Waving, Nate walks over.

"Are you following me?"

"Sort of. Get in, I need to talk to you about something..."

"Now?"

"It's important, Nathaniel," Chuck says. His tone is desperate. Anxious. Which instantaneously makes Nate a little anxious too because this is Chuck, King of Cool. He rarely shows any extreme emotions.

Nate slides into the limo, watching his best friend with a concerned expression as Chuck rolls up the window. Once Chuck is looking back at him, Nate speaks.

"What's wrong, man? You're acting weird..."

"I need...to tell you something," Chuck replies, looking at the limo floor. "You're not going to like hearing it..."

"What is it?" Nate frowns, grabbing one of Chuck's hands. A million thoughts race through his head. Chuck is sick. Chuck's in trouble. Chuck got a girl pregnant. He's a drug addict. An alcoholic. He's leaving. Any one of these things would be something Nate wouldn't like hearing. 

Then Chuck says something that makes Nate's heart stop. 

"Its about Blair."

"Hey," Eric says, plopping beside Jenny on his bed. She's been way quieter than normal since they left the center and he's starting to worry. "You okay?"

Jenny glances up at him, nodding after a minute, fingers carding through her straightened, feathery blonde locks. "Yeah, just...worried, that's all..."

"Jenny..." Eric sighs, draping an arm around her shoulder. "Everything's gonna be okay. Its a new year, a new start. And...things'll be even better if you come back with me, so I can always sit with my best friend at lunches and in our classes together."

He's been trying to convince Jenny to come back to school with him. So far, his efforts have been fruitless.

"I don't know, E....what if its a repeat of last year?"

Eric makes a face at this, remembering how difficult things got when the sweet, closeted rich kid he fell for was using Jenny as his cover. It had caused Jenny and Eric to fight, a lot, and in light of recent events, he knows Jenny still blames herself for his incident.

"It won't, I promise," He says after a minute. "And if any guy tries to use you like that again, whether or not I'm making out with them in secret, I'll make sure he's the only one who gets hurt by it, not us." Pulling her closer, he adds: "Besides, you'll need a high school diploma to get into a good design school. Even with a letter of recommendation from Mrs. Waldorf."

Jenny sighs. Eleanor's made the same point multiple times. Jenny needed her degree, and though she'd been hoping to do homeschooling, she couldn't say no with Eric looking at her like a kicked puppy.

"Alright, you win..." Jenny murmurs. "If Constance-Billiards'll take me back, I will come back to school."

Eric grins triumphantly, pulling her into a hug. "Thank god. School without you was going to suck."

"You slept with Blair?"

"Yes Nathaniel..."

"You were drunk?"

"Yes."

"Was she?"

"I....I don't remember, most of that night is a blur, you'd have to ask her yourself..."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Chuck stares at Nate, studying the fierceness in those blue eyes as the two sit in Chuck's room. He could tell the truth, explain how he feared his best friend would choose the girl over him and he'd end up alone. But, he's shown quite a bit of weakness today. Maybe for now, he's shone enough.

"Its not the easiest thing to tell..."

At this, Nate scowls. Chuck leans back against the wall.

"I know you're angry, Blair was yours and-"

"Blair's not a possession," Nate states. "And you were drunk, from the sounds of it, very drunk. I'm not mad at you for what you did."

Chuck frowns, confused.

"I'm mad at you for not telling me after it first happened."

And with that, Nate walks out. Just like Chuck feared he would.