Gossip Gay

Ten: Revelations and Regrets

Ivy Week, the most important week for juniors at St. Jude's and Constance-Billiards. Students spend the day as Ushers trying to impress college scouts with their knowledge in hopes to score a promise of full admission into the school of their choice.

And this year, it will be a scene to remember.

A little birdy told me our Queen B has a nasty surprise for D and S. But be careful B. Rumors are just lies that have taken lives of their own, and they almost always come back to bite the hands that spread them. 

Be watching for what plays out, I know I will.

You know you love me.

XOXO Gossip Girl

 Blair is barely focused on her conversation with the recruiter about who will be the Usher for brown at the Ivy week party. Her thoughts are still on what happened this weekend and how Chuck Bass helped her, and then proceeded to destroy her relationship completely.

She has the dirt she wanted on Serena and Dan. But, now Nate knows all about that night. About how Blair hadn't drank at all that evening. About how she did it because she wanted a way to make Chuck play by her rules, since just being Nate's girlfriend didn't give her that much control. Nate was unsurprisingly furious, and it appeared that the power couple of the two combined schools was now broken up for good.

"Thank you, Ms. Waldorf, we're done here," The recruiter finally says. She smiles politely, standing and making her way out. And of course, she bumps into Dan on his way in to talk to the recruiter from Yale.

"You really think the school will let you be an Usher?" Blair scoffs, drawing Dan's attention.

"Yeah, why wouldn't they?" Dan retorts, scowling.

"Because they wouldn't want Brooklyn Boy, son of a rockstar, representing the school. You're nowhere near Ivy League institution quality," Blair croons. And with that, she wanders off down the hall, leaving Dan and his damaged confidence behind.

Dan can't help but feel like he's suffocating under the recruiter's blank stare. He desperately wants to be the Usher for Yale, that's the only way the college would ever accept him even though his dad is just as well off as the parents of his peers, but nothing he's trying is working.

It all comes down to reputation. And from the look on the recruiter's face, its clear Dan doesn't have the right one.

Snapping the rubber band on his wrist to calm down, Dan falters at the end of his piece. The recruiter simply sighs in response, making Dan's heart sink to the pit of his stomach. Blair was right. No school would give 'Brooklyn Boy' half a chance.

"Thank you, Mr. Humphrey, you may return to class."

Nodding politely, Dan stands. He's shaking like a leaf, but thankfully the recruiter doesn't seem to notice. But when he leaves the office, something even worse happens.

Dan finds himself greeted by the calm, smiling, beautiful face of Nate Archibald. Nate's expression becomes immediately concerned as those eyes so blue you could drown in them scan Dan's face. Pulling Dan aside, Nate allows another student to go in ahead of him, his eyes never leaving Dan's face, even when the office door shuts, its resounding thud echoing down the hall.

"Hey...you're shaking," Nate's tone is soft, soothing. "What happened in there?"

"Nothing," Dan murmurs in reply, looking down, wishing his voice didn't sound so damn close to crying. "It was just a normal interview."

Nate frowns, squeezing Dan's shoulders. He knows that defeated, lost expression. Its that of someone whose interview was over before it even started. Someone who wasn't given any little bit of a chance.

"It'll be okay," The taller male insists, eyes scanning Dan's face once more. "If anyone deserves this, its you. You're the second in our class-"

"And you're the first. Why would they pick me over you?"

"Because I don't plan to go to Yale?" Nate offers. Dan, feeling a little emotionally vulnerable, can't help but sound sarcastic when he replies. 

"What? You more of a Harvard guy?"

"USC actually. I've always wanted to see California. And time away from my parents would be great."

Dan blinks, startled into silence by Nate's calm, cheerfulness even when getting snapped at. Nate, on the other hand, can't help but chuckle at Dan's deer-in-the-headlights expression.

"S-sorry..." Dan looks down again, but this time, Nate catches his chin with a gentle hand, tilting it back up.

"Don't be. Just be a little more self confident," Nate says, his tone reassuring. Then he flashes a perfectly white smile that makes Dan's heart skip a few beats before slipping into the office for his turn. 

Walking back to class, Dan shakes his head. 'That is Blair's boyfriend,' he mentally scolds himself. Still, he can't help but blush at the thought of Nate's lips that close to his.

Chuck smiles slightly, studying the photo he just snapped of an intimate moment between Dan and Nate. Its been awhile since he's seen Nate look so genuinely happy and comfortable with someone.

Maybe, just maybe, Nate will end up with Dan once he's over Blair. And, if he ever does forgive Chuck and start talking to him again, maybe he'll want this picture.

'At least with an adorably awkward goof like Dan Humphrey around, there's hope that everything will turn out okay."