new year, old allies / chapter two

LIKE ANY OTHER DAY BEFORE THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, Marley would spend her entire evening at the Humphrey's loft, her night consisting of staying up until midnight through Jenny's excitement of the Kiss on the Lips party she had somehow been invited to.

The moment she had woken up, she could hear the Humphrey's conversation of the same party that had little Jenny babbling so much about.

"It's called the Kiss on the Lips party, everyone's going." Jenny responded to Mr. Humphrey's question.

"You were invited to that?" Dan asked, almost sounding surprised. Who could blame him though, Marley herself had been a bit skeptical at first.

And with good reason too, after all it was Blair's party. Nothing good ever came out of it, at least not that wasn't beneficial to her.

"One of the girls in my art class saw my calligraphy, and she said that if I addressed all the invitations that I could have one." The girl replied in a keenly matter.

"I thought you said Blair handed you one?" Marley finally came out after eavesdropping for a minute, her school uniform now on.

Jenny had lied to her about how she got her hands on an invitation, but the question was why? She wouldn't have minded the truth, because if she was being honest, it would've made more sense than Blair giving her one of the blue — especially considering they weren't friends.

"Marley, you- you're up." Jenny stuttered, caught off guard by her sudden appearance, as were Mr. Humphrey and Dan.

"Want some pancakes Mars? They're in the shape of a planet!" Mr. Humphrey offered while holding up two pancakes with a spatula.

"No thanks Mr. Humphrey." Marley chuckled. "Besides, we're kind of running late since someone didn't wake me up."

"I'm sorry, but you should have known I'm not very reliable when it comes to being on cue." Dan defended himself, and he was right, he was the least reliable person in Brooklyn.

"Yea, yea whatever." Marley rolled her eyes. "Let's go before we miss our cue of being on time."

"Bye Mr. Humphrey. Maybe next time on the pancakes." She smiled before heading out the door.

"Bye Mars." He waved back.

"The bus doesn't come for another ten minutes?" Dan explained, going after Marley while Jenny followed behind him.

"Who said anything about riding the bus?" She smirked, turning her head to the limo that stood in the corner of their complex building.

"Oh, great." He sighed, Jenny on the other hand, twinkled of enthusiasm.

꒰ 💋 ꒱

THE LIMO RIDE TO SCHOOL WAS QUIET, just as she has expected it to be. She didn't really mind, she liked quiet — particularly in the morning since her brain wasn't one hundred percent wired at that time.

"Hey, how much longer?" Dan asked the driver,
whose response was closing the window blind.

"Nice going." Marley shook her head whilst Jenny tried holding her laughter. "You scared him away."

"You should see how he does with girls." Jenny muttered, continuing to taunt his brother. "It's like he's a girl repellent."

"Alright, that's enough you two." Dan snarled at them, putting an end to the conversation and beginning a new one. "Jenny, how about you tell us why you lied to Marley about the invitations?"

Marley had forgotten all about that, and even though Dan was only mentioning it to annoy his sister, she actually thanked him for bringing it up.

"Uhm, I- I don't-" Jenny's hesitation to finish her sentence got the best of her. She could've come up with any excuse and Marley would've bought it, seeming that her only weakness was believing everyone the first time — maybe except Blair's words.

"Jenny, whatever it is I promise I won't get mad." She assured the girl, giving her a small smile.

"Okay. But please don't tell Blair I told you, please!" She blurted out, her voice shaky. It was almost as if she were scared of Blair.

"Bl-"

"Blair? Did Blair do something to you?" Dan cut in before Marley could begin to speak.

"No! I just don't want her to know. Please Marley!" She begged.

"Of course Jenny. Don't worry." She nodded.

"Okay. Blair told me not to tell you about the invitations. Or more of how I got them. Because," She paused, looking at Dan and then back and Marley "She didn't want you to know she had more invitations."

Marley couldn't resist herself from laughing, the two in front of her looking at her weirdly. "I'm sorry, I just needed to let it out."

She couldn't believe how immature Blair was being. After everything they had been through together, it was highly silly of her to pull something like this on the first day of school. The worst part was knowing that it was only the beginning of the many things Blair had in mind, the worst was yet to come.

"Don't worry Jen. Your secret is safe with me."

But it probably wasn't with gossip girl.

꒰ 💋 ꒱

THE MINUTE THEY GOT OFF THE LIMO, Blair's eyes followed the Wilton girl as soon as she noticed her pose's attention wasn't on her anymore.

"Oh. My. God." The girl standing next to the right of Blair gasped, her facial expression exaggerating.

"No way did Marley just give them a ride." The other one uttered.

"Are you two even surprised?" Blair scoffed, diverting her eyes anywhere but at them. "Money can't buy class and Marley is living proof of that."

"Marley looks amazing though." The girl accidentally slipped out, causing Blair to clear her throat before looking at her. "But, not as amazing as you of course."

"Oh my god, they're coming this way!" The other one noticed and quickly warned Blair, being a little too late.

"Wha-"

"Hey Blair!" Marley gave her an obvious deceptive smile, while Jenny stood standing behind her not too far.

Blair took a second before turning to face Marley, returning the same fake smile. "Hey Marley, it's so good to see you!"

"Likewise B." She lied, the last thing person on the list of people she wanted to see today was the Queen B.

"There was an awkward silence between the girls prior to Marley breaking it. "So, Jenny here wanted to tell you something."

Jenny came out from hiding, gently being pulled by Marley to face Blair. "Don't be shy, tell Blair here what you came here to say."

"I have the- your invitations." She uttered, taking out the invitations from her duffel bag and handing them to her.

Not a second later, Serena appeared practically
out of nowhere, carrying a small bag with her while she took a spoonful of yogurt in her mouth. "Hey, here you guys are. I looked all over the dining hall for you."

The brunette had a displeased look on her face, the last thing she needed was to to explain herself to both girls. Not to mention feeling humiliated by someone she deemed as the lowest of the low. At that point, she knew that her plans to withdraw her invitation were falling apart, and that she would have no other choice but to invite the girls — or not.

"Hi Serena!" Marley greeted her with a hug. "Blair was just telling us about a party this weekend. Isn't that right Blair?"

"Party?" Serena sounded surprised. "Is there a party I don't know about?"

"Of course there is silly." Blair giggled. "But, you two are kinda not invited."

"Is that so?" Marley voiced, her arms crossed.

"Sorry, M. But trust me, I did it thinking of you." She smiled, placing her hand by her chest. "I know how much you hate my parties."

"She paused, now looking at Serena. "And you, well since until twelve hours ago, everyone thought you were at boarding school. Now we're full, and Jenny used up all the invites."

"Um, actually-" Jenny began but was cut off by the brunette.

"You can go now."

It didn't take long for Marley to stick up for the girl, stopping her from taking another step away. "She's not part of your evil minion cult, Blair. You can't keep telling her what to do."

Spotted on the steps of the MET. An old trio power struggle. Reunion gone bad?

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes and quickly got up, her posse following right after her. "Sorry."

Did B really think she could embarrass M and get away with it? And did S think she could waltz back home, and things would be just like they were?

"No it's okay, I got a lot of stuff to do anyway."
Serena replied as she shrugged her shoulders.

"So do I. Actually when did you say this party was?" Marley questioned, making the group halt to a stop.

"Saturday."

"Oh, right! Even if we were invited, which we clearly weren't, Serena and I have plans that day." She stated as she interlocked shoulders with the blonde.

"Right, how could I forget?" Serena chuckled, playing along with Marley's game to get under Blair's skin, and it was working.

"I'm sure that whatever it is, it will be nothing compared to my party, but to each their own I guess." She swung back, this time taking steps down to be on the same level as the three girls.

"Because your parties are always so epic." Serena asserted, but it was more in the form of a question rather than a statement.

"Obviously." She furrowed her eyebrows confusedly. "I'm a Waldorf."

"A very busy one, so if you don't mind." She gestured with her hand for them move out of her way so she could pass through.

"We would wait for you two, but like I said, I'm a very busy woman." She smiled, before turning back to walk away. "Enjoy your yogurt S!"

"Thanks B. How considerate of you." Serena's unnatural grin showing.

"Blair!" Serena called out, causing Blair's walking to stop. "Think we can meet tonight?"

The brunette stood for a second before answering causally. "I'd love to, but I'm doing something with Nate tonight."

"The palace. 8 a clock?" The blonde continued, not caring about Blair's affairs. "Nate will wait."

"I could probably do a half hour." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Thanks for making time."

"You're my best friend."

Did B think S would go down without a fight? Or can these two hotties work it out? Whatever outcome comes out of this, it seems like M is not part of their meeting, again. It seems like the rumors that trios never work out are right, and these three hotties are proof of that.

"Remind me to never piss her off again." Marley commented once they were gone.

"You too?" The blonde chuckled, taking another spoonful of yogurt. "How come?"

"Let's just say I'm probably not gonna be anywhere near hear boyfriend anytime soon."

"Oh."

"How about you? Why is she pissed at you?" She asked. She knew she wasn't going to tell her, but she asked anyway. "It must have been serious for her to not talk to you for a year."

"Uhm, I-" She stumbled with her words, changing the topic by turning her direction to Jenny, who they had forgotten was there. "We haven't properly been introduced, I'm Serena."

"I know. I mean, hi, I'm Jenny." She smiled shyly as she shook her hand.

"So, now that we have introductions over, could someone care to explain who Dan is?"

"Oh sister, you're in for a good one." Marley chuckled, grabbing both girls by the shoulders and walking away from the steps.