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Manhattan, New York

Day One

Morning - Grand Central Station

(Song:) Young Folks - Peter, Bjorn & John

After several flashes of the Upper East Side in New York, Serena van der Woodsen was seeing riding a train into Grand Central Station, looking out of the window worriedly. She walked off the train into the station.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Hey, Upper East Siders, Gossip Girl here, and I have the biggest news ever."

A girl watched Serena, taking a photo with her cellphone.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "One of my many sources, melanie91, sends us this. Spotted. At Grand Central, bags in had, Serena van der Woodsen. Was it only a year ago our it girl mysteriously disappeared for 'boarding school', shortly after her father took her sister Nevaeh, AKA Noe, back from New York while they live out of city and around the world? And just as suddenly, S is back. Don't believe me? See for yourselves. Lucky for us, melanie91 sent proof. Thanks for the photo, Mel. Now that S is back, will it just be a matter of time before Noe is back? Fingers crossed. It's been a bit boring in the Upper East Side without the van der Woodsen sisters around."

Rufus Humphrey was on the lower level, looking for his three children, Dan, Hope and Jenny, smiling when he saw them. "Dan, Hope, Jenny! Over here!"

The three Humphrey siblings walked up to him. Rufus embraced them all tightly.

Hope smiled happily. "Hey, Dad."

Rufus laughed, pulling away. "Hey, hey! You made it. Welcome back. How was your weekend? How was your mom?"

Dan said, "She's fine", the same time Jenny said, "Good", the same time Hope said, "Fine, I guess."

The three siblings exchanged a look.

Dan looked at Rufus. "She's good and fine."

"Like, 'Maybe I should never have left Manhattan' fine, or 'taking a time out from my marriage was the best idea I've ever had' fine?" Rufus asked.

Dan and Jenny were uncomfortable.

Hope was as well, saving her siblings from having to answer. "Dad, you know, I'm starving."

Rufus nodded. "Let's go home. I'm cooking Caprese salad with a little mozzarella di Bufala. Yeah, I'm gonna make you guys..."

Rufus put an arm around Hope and Jenny on either side of him as they walked off.

(Song Ends)

Dan turned around, noticing Serena.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Spotted. Lonely Boy can't believe the love of his life has returned. If only she knew who he was."

X•O°X•O

Citywide

(Song:) If It's Loving That You Want - Rihanna

All around the city, girls and boys in high school were receiving texts, Gossip Girl blasts, alerting them as to the fact that Serena was back.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "But everyone knows Serena, and everyone is talking about now that she's back, does this mean Noe is coming back, too?"

X•O°X•O

Waldorf Apartment

Wyatt Waldorf was in the party, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here, looking forward, seeing Dylan Bass in the bar with two other girls, rolling his eyes. Dylan from the bar saw the eyeroll, smirking, sending a wink at Wyatt. Wyatt looked down, blushing a little, not wanting anyone to see.

Thyra Diamond walked closer, sitting beside Wyatt. "What are you doing?"

"Thinking of every place I'd rather be," Wyatt answered.

Thyra sighed. "Same. People keep giving me condolences and sorry stares and keep bringing up my parents."

"I'm sorry, Thyra," Wyatt told her.

"They also keep saying that," Thyra told him. They both got the Gossip Girl blast telling them about Serena, both in shock. "Oh, my God. Blair is gonna flip."

"Have you seen her?" Wyatt asked.

"Does it look like I'm her assistant?" Thyra asked.

Wyatt rolled his eyes. "Is that you or the alcohol talking? Oh, wait. With you, who knows?"

Thyra smirked a little, rolling her eyes. "Ding dong, the witch is back. Wonder is Noe is coming back too."

"Don't be mean," Wyatt told her.

"With me, right now, that's impossible," Thyra replied.

Wyatt smiled. Wyatt and Thyra stood, walking over to Blair, who was getting the blast.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Wonder what Blair Waldorf thinks. Sure, she's S's BFF, but we always thought Blair's boyfriend Nate had a thing for S's sister Noe."

Thyra sighed. "Blair."

Blair gave her a look. "Thyra. Do not say it."

"Serena's back," Wyatt told them. "Does this mean Noe's coming back?"

Blair nodded sarcastically, exasperated. "I just told Thyra not to say it, and that was supposed to go to you, too, Wyatt."

"Hey, someone has to ask the questions you're too afraid to ask," Wyatt replied. Blair gave him a look, walking closer. "Or not."

They walked along the apartment, rejoining the party their mother Eleanor was throwing.

Eleanor was talking to a friend. "I have to design a dress for this woman." She turned to see her children. "Blair, if you're going to wear one of my designs, tell me about it so we can at least get it properly fitted. Wyatt, don't worry, dear. My line will have your style of tuxedos soon."

"Thanks, Mom," Wyatt told her. "We'll keep that in mind. Great party."

Eleanor turned back to her friend. "They're my best advertisement."

Nate and Alex Archibald, their father Howard, also known as Howie, or the Captain, and another guest were standing together.

"So Nate's already thinking about college, and Alex just started to?" the guest asked.

"Well, actually, I'm a Dartmouth man," Howie told him.

"Yes, Dad's always spoken very highly of Dartmouth," Alex told him. "Nate's thinking of doing the same, or Columbia or Yale. But I would like to check out west. You know, maybe USC, UCLA?"

Howie ignored that. "Their mother wouldn't hear of it. Dartmouth is far enough away for her."

Nate and Alex were both annoyed.

"Yes, well, Dartmouth is my first choice, and it will be Alex's first choice when he gets to that point," Nate told them.

Thyra walked up to them. "Nate. Alex."

Nate and Alex smiled. "Thyra."

"Hi," Thyra told them. Nate, Alex and Thyra embraced. "You too, Mr. Archibald."

"Thyra, you practically grew up with our family and the Waldorfs with your parents always traveling, and I told you before, you could call me Howie," Howie told her. "And I am very sorry for your loss."

Thyra nodded awkwardly. "Yeah. Me too."

"You okay?" Alex asked.

"I will be," Thyra answered.

Wyatt and Blair walked up to them.

"Thyra's strong like that," Wyatt told them.

Blair took Nate by the hand to pull him away. "Excuse me, Alex, you're in the way." Alex rolled his eyes, moving aside. Wyatt and Thyra smirked in amusement. "Nate, can I borrow you?"

"Eh, sure," Nate answered. "Excuse me for a second."

Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan Bass, siblings, were sitting on a couch.

Chuck waved a joint at his siblings. "Dylan, Brooklyn, any interest in some fresh air?"

Dylan stood. "When I get back from getting another drink."

"If you get back," Brooklyn told him. "You've had enough, Dylan. Just relax. Come on."

The three Bass siblings made their way outside.

X•O°X•O

Blair's Room

Blair led Nate into her room, pushing him onto the bed.

"What's going on?" Nate asked.

"I wanna do this--it--now," Blair answered.

"Now, now?" Nate asked. "You wanted to wait--"

Blair was kissing him repeatedly. "Not anymore."

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Better lock it down with Nate, B. Clock's ticking before Noe's arrival."

X•O°X•O

Outside

Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan were smoking together.

"You're such a bad influence on Dylan, Chuck," Brooklyn told him in amusement. "And both of you are a bad influence on me."

"Oh, come on, Brooklyn," Dylan told her. "Don't pretend that you don't enjoy it."

The three of them smirked.

Brooklyn checked her phone, in shock, excited. "My God, you'll never believe what's on Gossip Girl. Someone saw Serena get off a train at Grand Central. Everyone's thinking Noe's gonna come back, too."

Chuck smirked. "Good. Things were getting a little dull around here."

They walked back inside.

(Song Ends)

The doorman opened the door of a town car that had just arrived.

Serena got out. "Thank you."

X•O°X•O

Inside - Blair's Room

(Song:) What Goes Around Comes Around - Justin Timberlake

Blair and Nate were kissing on the bed, undressed.

"I love you, Nate Archibald," Blair told him. "Always have, always will."

Nate was wondering why she was acting like this. "I love you, too."

X•O°X•O

Living Room

Serena walked into the party.

Alex saw her. "Serena?"

Serena smiled. "Hey, Alex."

"I can't believe you're back," Alex told her. "Is Noe back?"

Serena was even more worried by the mention of her sister. "Uh, kind of. Long story."

X•O°X•O

Blair's Room

Blair and Nate were still making out.

Outside the room, Wyatt knocked on the door. "Blair, it's Serena."

"Serena?" Nate repeated.

"Serena is at school," Blair told him. "Kiss me."

Nate sat up. "No, I think I heard Wyatt say she's here. Don't you wanna go say hey?"

Nate got out of bed, starting to get dressed.

Blair was not as enthusiastic. "Yeah. Totally."

X•O°X•O

Living Room

Serena was walking through the party as the guests were talking behind her back, seeing her mother, walking up to her.

Lily was talking to a friend. "So I told him forget it. I don't care if it's mahogany. It clashes with my sofa."

"Mom?" Serena asked. "Mom, hey."

Lily turned to embrace her daughter. "Oh, Serena darling."

"So where is Eric?" Serena asked. "Is he with Noe? Is she not awake yet?"

Lily gave her a look, making sure no one was listening. "Let's not discuss this right now, okay? I thought you might want to see some of your friends before we go join Eric by Nevaeh's side. So we can be there when she wakes up."

Serena nodded in agreement, worriedly. "Thanks."

Alex was standing nearby Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan.

Thyra walked up. "Serena, hi."

Serena smiled. "Thyra. I can't believe it's you." They embraced. Serena looked at her sadly. "I am so sorry about your parents."

Thyra nodded, annoyed to be told that again during the party, but appreciative of the thought. "Yeah."

"So you've been staying here with Blair and Wyatt, then?" Serena asked. "When your parents were out of town, you would stay with them or Nate and Alex."

"Yeah, I went back and forth, but now I'm officially living with Blair and Wyatt," Thyra answered.

"Well, hopefully, that means I get to see you more now that you're living with my best friend and her brother," Serena told her.

Thyra chuckled. Blair, Wyatt and Nate walked into the room.

Brooklyn smirked. "Speaking of."

Serena saw the Bass twins. "Brooklyn? Dylan? Hey."

Brooklyn and Serena embraced.

"Hey, S," Brooklyn told her.

"BB," Serena replied.

"Is Noe still living with your dad?" Dylan asked.

Serena didn't answer, looking down, changing the subject by giving Blair and Wyatt a hug. "Blair. Wyatt."

"Hi, Serena," Wyatt told her. "So good to see you."

"Good to see you," Serena agreed.

"Come, we're about to have dinner," Blair told her.

"I'll set a place for you at the table next to Blair," Eleanor told her.

Serena looked at Lily. "Yeah, actually, there's somewhere we have to go."

"You're leaving?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, I just don't feel well," Serena answered. "I just wanted to come by and say hi. I'll see you at school tomorrow."

"Okay," Wyatt told her. "Tell Eric and Noe we said hey."

Serena managed a small smile. "Will do."

Serena and Lily left the party.

Blair frowned. "School. So I guess she's back for good."

"Didn't you know she was coming?" Brooklyn asked.

"Of course I did," Blair answered. "I just... wanted it to be a surprise."

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Word is that S bailed on Blair, Wyatt and Thyra's party in under 90 seconds and didn't even have one lemon shot, and would not answer any questions about Noe. Have our bad girls really gone good? Or is it all just part of the act? Is Noe really not coming back? Or is she already here with more secrets to share?"

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

Ostroff Center

Serena and Lily walked in, passing the nurse's station, looking into a patient's room.

Eric was sitting at Noe's bedside, standing in relief when he saw his other sister. "Serena."

Serena walked closer to embrace her brother. "Eric, hey." She looked at Noe worriedly. "How is she?"

"Not good," Eric answered. "The doctors said she should wake up at any moment now. But they said... they said that Noe not might remember anything."

Serena, Eric and Lily looked at Noe worriedly. Noe had been in a coma for a week, and her head was bandaged from a wound on her forehead.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Why did S leave? Why'd she return? Why did their dad keep taking Noe away? Is she coming back to stay?"

X•O°X•O

Humphrey Loft - Dan's Room

Dan was in his room, looking at the blog of Gossip Girl.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Send me all the depth. And who am I? That's one secret I'll never tell. The only one. XOXO. Gossip Girl."

X•O°X•O

Worlds Colliding (Gossip Girl)

X•O°X•O

Day Two

Morning - Ostroff Center - Noe's Room

Noe woke up, looking around, seeing Serena, Lily and Eric, and a doctor, looking around. "Where am I? How'd I get here?"

Eric sighed in relief. "Thank God. You've been in a coma for almost a month."

"Coma, what?" Noe asked. "What the hell happened?"

The doctor looked at Noe. "How much of the accident do you remember?"

"Accident?" Noe repeated. "What the hell are you guys talking about? Who the hell are you people?"

Noe's family looked hurt, devastated, but like they had expected this.

The doctor looked at them. "I told you this was a possibility."

"What's a possibility?" Noe asked.

The doctor looked at her. "Do you remember your name? Your birthday? Your age?"

Noe came up a total blank, opening her mouth, trying to remember, but no sound came out.

"Your name's Nevaeh Skye van der Woodsen, but you like to be called Noe," Serena told her. "Your birthday's December 12, 1991. You're 16 years old."

Noe looked a deep breath. "How do you know so much about me?"

Serena looked at Eric and Lily. "We're your family." She looked at Noe. "I'm your sister, Serena. This is our brother, Eric, and our mother, Lily."

Noe took another deep breath, very overwhelmed. "Okay, slow down."

"She's right," Lily told them. "We can talk this over, later." She looked at the doctor. "I need to talk to you."

They walked out of the room.

Noe looked at Serena and Eric. "What is she doing?"

"Probably trying to keep this out of the papers," Eric answered. "She's... discreet." Noe gave them a confused look. "We'll explain later."

"Dad is to blame for all of this," Serena told her. "I will find him and I will kill him."

Noe raised her eyebrows and nodded awkwardly. "Papers? What are we, special or something?"

"Somewhat," Eric answered. "We're van der Woodsens." Noe shrugged. "Let's just say we can pretty much get anything we want when it comes to money. We live in the Upper East Side."

"Oh, so we're loaded snotty rich kids?" Noe asked.

Serena smiled. "There's the old Noe."

Noe smiled. "This is weird. But it somehow feels familiar."

Eric smiled sadly. "That's good thing, right?"

Noe nodded. "Really good thing. So why can't I remember anything? Why was there an accident? How do I get my memory back?"

"Oh, slow down," Serena told her, smiling, using her words.

"Our dad got drunk and wrecked his car with you in it," Eric explained. "You hit your head really hard. When you were in the coma, nobody thought you were gonna make it, or if you did, that you'd have some long and short term memory loss. They said certain medications or hitting your head again could make it come back."

"Oh, so pills or another bump on the head," Noe said, nodding sarcastically, looking away. "That's just great." She looked down at her brunette hair, holding it, looking at Serena and Eric's blonde hair. "Am I adopted?"

Serena laughed. "No. That's hair dye, silly. It'll come out."

Noe nodded again, looking away, letting go of the hair, noticing the tray of food on the table. "Ooh, food, I'm starving."

Noe brought it closer, making both of them laugh. She looked up at them, smiling awkwardly.

X•O°X•O

Hallway

Serena and Eric walked out to talk to Lily.

Lily sighed. "I was too late. The accident reached the papers, and they know it was Nevaeh involved, but they don't know about the amnesia, since she just woke up and we just found out she had it. No one will know that she has amnesia."

"And why is that?" Serena asked.

"Serena, don't," Eric warned.

"No, Eric," Serena told him. "Let me guess. Mom told everyone Noe is visiting Grandpa in Rhode Island."

"Your Aunt Carol in Miami," Lily corrected.

"So you're actually hiding her," Eric told her. "Dad gets drunk and he wrecks his car and makes Noe lose her memory and leaves her for dead, and you're hiding her here because you're worried it will cost you 'Mom of the Year'?"

Lily tried to calm him down. "Eric, please. Serena, you've been gone. Doing who knows what with God knows who."

"I told you boarding school was not like that," Serena told her.

"As happy as I am to have you home, you have no idea what it's been like," Lily told her.

"Can we please just stop talking about this?" Eric asked. "We have to be there for Noe. We have to help her remember who she is."

They nodded in agreement, worried.

X•O°X•O

Humphrey Loft - Kitchen

(Song:) Diamond Hipster Boy - Washington Social Club

Jenny and Hope were organizing handwritten invitations. Rufus was making breakfast. Dan walked in.

"Guess who's dad is cool?" Rufus asked.

"It's a trick question," Jenny told them.

"Yeah, 'cause it can't be ours," Hope agreed.

Rufus handed Dan an issue of Rolling Stone. "Look at this."

Dan read the front page. "'Top 10 forgotten bands of the '90s'."

"Yeah, check out who's number nine," Rufus gloated.

"He is very proud," Jenny told him.

Hope smirked teasingly. "Yeah, yeah, way to be forgotten."

"But that's how you get remembered," Rufus told them.

Hope looked at Jenny and Dan. "Maybe you'd care if Dad's band was on Gossip Girl."

Dan looked nervous. "What? Hope, I don't read Gossip Girl. That--that's for chicks."

"So that wasn't your laptop you've been to last night to read all about Serena van der Woodsen's return to the Upper East Side, and the possible return of Noe van der Woodsen?" Hope asked sarcastically.

Dan took the magazine from Rufus to change the subject. "Holy stone, wow! Let me take a look at this again, Dad. Very cool. Looking hot, number nine."

They all smiled.

Rufus looked at Jenny and Hope. "Hey, what are you working on?"

"It's called the Kiss on the Lips party," Jenny answered. "Everyone's going."

"You two are invited to that?" Dan asked in surprise. Jenny and Hope looked at him. "Well, no offense if I sound surprised, since I've never been invited."

"One of the girls in our art class, Brooklyn Bass, saw the calligraphy project Hope and I were working on, and she said that if we addressed all the invitations that we both could have one," Jenny explained.

Rufus smiled. "Sounds very fair. Sweatshops could learn a thing or two."

"Dad, this is not a platform for me and Hope to end capitalization," Jenny told him. "That's why you make us and Dan go to private schools."

"That's for your education," Rufus told them.

"So we should be anonymous losers who eat lunch alone and never get invited to parties?" Hope asked.

Dan shrugged. "Works for me."

Jenny ignored him. "Mom thinks it's a good idea."

"And her judgment is always sound, right?" Rufus asked. There was an awkward silence. "Hope, Jenny, if you wanna go to that party, you should go. You kids could use some fun."

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

Palace Hotel - Outside

Serena walked up to the front entrance. Nate was already waiting for her.

"Nate?" Serena asked.

"Oh, hey," Nate told her. "Um, your mom told me you guys are staying here at the Palace."

"Yeah, we're renovating... again," Serena explained. "You know my mom. If it's not broke, break it."

"Usually when you guys renovate a new place, it means Noe's coming back to town," Nate told her.

"Well, you know us well," Serena told him. "So what are you doing here?"

"I saw the newspapers about the car accident," Nate answered. "Gossip Girl is starting blasts about Noe being in it but no one knowing where Noe is. I just wanted to see if she was okay."

Serena sighed. "She's... alive. I got to get going and change for school. I'm gonna be late."

Serena walked toward the hotel.

Nate turned after her. "Serena." Serena stopped. "What happened to Noe?"

Serena turned to face him. "If you think that you can have a shot with Noe now that she's back, you're wrong, Nate. Look, Blair's my best friend, and you're her boyfriend, and she loves you. And right now, my sister is not capable of handling any of this right now. Just focus on you and Blair. I'll focus on getting my sister better."

Serena walked inside.

X•O°X•O

Street

Dan ran across the street to catch his bus to school.

X•O°X•O

Bus

Chuck and Dylan were sitting in one seat. Brooklyn sat behind them. Nate and Alex sat in front of them.

"Serena looked effing hot last night," Chuck told them. "And you know the way Noe looks. There's something wrong with that level of perfection. It needs to be violated."

"You are deeply disturbed," Alex told him.

"And yet you know I'm right," Chuck told them. Brooklyn rolled her eyes. Chuck looked at Nate and Alex. "You're telling me if you had the chance..."

"I don't like Serena and Noe like that, and Nate has a girlfriend," Alex told him.

"Alex, those two have been dating since kindergarten and haven't sealed the deal," Chuck told him.

Brooklyn looked at him weirdly. "Who says 'seal the deal'?" The boys smirked. Brooklyn signaled that they had arrived to school. "Come on."

They all got up. Dan was standing behind them.

Dylan looked at Dan. "You following us or something?"

"No," Dan answered. "I--I go to your school." He gestured to his uniform underneath his green jacket. "Identical uniforms, that's kind of a tip off."

Alex smirked. "That's funny."

The others left the bus.

Dan sighed sarcastically, speaking to himself. "So you guys wanna sit together at lunch?"

X•O°X•O

St. Jude's School - Office

Dylan was here, looking bored.

The principal, Mr. Prescott, closed the door. "Hello, Dylan."

Dylan looked up. "Mr. Prescott."

Prescott walked around him to his desk. "As you know, your grades are not exactly best and by that, I mean you're failing a lot of classes."

Dylan sighed in annoyance. "I'm doing the best I can. I'm trying really hard."

Prescott sat at his desk, across from Dylan. "Nobody is judging you, but we talked to your father, and he told us to get you the best tutor so you can progress."

Dylan rolled his eyes. "I don't need a tutor."

Prescott gave him a look. "Yes, you do, but don't worry. You know him. He is in your classes, and pretty much all the advanced ones as well. He is the best student in St. Jude's."

Dylan looked at him in shock, knowing who he was talking about, scoffing. "Wait, you're talking about little 'Everything I do is perfection' and I'm pretty sure he cries tears of gold. Wyatt Waldorf?"

Prescott frowned. "Well, I don't know about the tears of gold part, but yes, Mr. Waldorf is perfect for you."

Dylan smiled. "Oh, you have no idea how much I agree with you on that part."

Prescott chuckled, not getting it. "Well, I'm glad you accept this. I will call Mr. Waldorf so we can tell him the good news."

Dylan smirked. "No, no, it's fine. I'll tell him. We're kind of BFFs. Let me tell him. I want it to be a surprise."

Prescott nodded in agreement. "Oh, okay. Well, then I leave you two to it. Treat him right. He is one of a kind."

Dylan chuckled, tilting his head in acknowledgement. "That he is, Mr. Prescott. Don't worry. We would love by the time we're done. I promise you."

Dylan stood, walking away.

X•O°X•O

Constance School - Outside

Blair, Thyra, Isabel and Kati were sitting on the steps. Brooklyn walked up to them, sitting in between Blair and Thyra.

"About time you got here, Brooklyn," Thyra told her. "Jenny and Hope Humphrey here were just showing us the invitations you asked them to make."

"Oh, thanks," Brooklyn told them.

Thyra looked at the invitations. "So cute. They should be framed or something."

Jenny and Hope smiled.

"Not bad work," Brooklyn complimented. "And here are yours as promised."

Brooklyn gave them both an invitation.

"Thanks," Hope told them.

Serena walked up to them, eating a yogurt. "Hey, here you guys are. I looked all over the dining hall for you." She noticed Jenny and Hope, shaking their hands. "Oh, hi, I'm Serena."

"I know," Jenny told her. "I mean, hi."

"I'm Hope," Hope explained. "This is my sister, Jenny."

Serena smiled kindly.

"Hey, Serena," Thyra told her. "We heard about Noe's car accident. Is she okay?"

"Your mom said Noe was in Miami with your aunt," Brooklyn told her. "Hope it doesn't take too long for her to recover. With one van der Woodsen sister here, it's a doozy. With both of them, it's a party."

Serena picked up one of the invitations. "Speaking of parties, when is this one?"

"Saturday," Blair answered. "And you're kinda not invited. Since until 12 hours ago, everyone thought you were at boarding school and now we're full and Hope and Jenny used up all the invites."

Hope frowned. "Um, actually--"

Brooklyn looked at Hope and Jenny. "You can go now." Hope and Jenny walked away. Brooklyn looked at Serena. "Sorry."

"No, it's okay," Serena told them. "I've got a lot of stuff to do anyway. Preparations for Noe to come home."

Serena threw the invitation onto the steps.

"Wish her the best from us," Thyra told her.

"Well, we should get going then," Brooklyn told her. "Unless you want us to wait for you. Looks like you got a lot of yogurt left."

Serena shook her head. "No, go ahead." The girls started to walk away. Serena turned after them. "Blair, think we can meet tonight?"

"I'd love to, but I'm doing something with Nate tonight," Blair told her.

"The Palace, 8:00," Serena told her. "Nate will wait."

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Spotted. At the steps of the Met, an S and Queen B power struggle with Princess BB, T and their minions watching their feud."

Blair looked at Serena. "I can probably do a half hour."

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Did S think she could waltz home and things would be just like they were?"

Serena smiled thinly. "Thanks for making the time."

Blair nodded. "You're my best friend."

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Did B think S would go down without a fight? Or can these two hotties work it out? There's nothing Gossip Girl likes more than a good catfight, and this could be a classic."

X•O°X•O

X•O°X•O

St. Jude's School - Music Room

Wyatt was in the room, sitting at the piano, setting up some sheets and a timer, putting on a blindfold, playing Ludovico Einaudi - Experience a Piano Only cover perfectly, like he had rehearsed it countless times with emotion, though he looked like he wasn't happy to be playing it, wanting to play something else. Dylan walked in, seeing this, looking impressed, amazed, but not at all surprised, scoffing silently as if to say 'of course'. When Wyatt stopped playing, Dylan clapped, startling him. Wyatt took off the blindfold.

Dylan was still clapping. "Wow. That was amazing."

Wyatt hid a blush, standing, starting to pack his stuff. "Dylan. Thank you, I guess."

"But question, why do you play blindfolded?" Dylan asked.

Wyatt shook his head. "No reason."

"Oh, now I get it," Dylan told him. "Is that a Waldorf thing?"

Wyatt crossed his arms. "What thing?"

Dylan answered in a mocking voice. "You know, the whole 'if somebody can do it good, then I can do it perfect'."

"Okay, stop it," Wyatt told him. "And it's 'do well', not good."

Dylan ignored the grammar correction. "What was your family motto? Oh, I know. 'Why enjoy today when you can be worried about tomorrow?'"

"Oh, you're funny," Wyatt told him sarcastically, stepping closer. "Now stop it."

Dylan walked closer. "Or was it, 'perfection is everything. If you're not perfect, then you're nothing'?"

"Stop talking," Wyatt told him. Dylan opened his mouth to speak. Wyatt put a hand up to stop him, up to his mouth. "You really need to stop talking." Dylan smirked. Wyatt saw how close they were, blushing. Dylan licked his hand, causing Wyatt to take it away and back away in disgust. "Ew."

Wyatt cleaned his hand off with a cloth.

Dylan laughed. "Hey, you put your hand in front of my mouth."

"Because you wouldn't stop talking," Wyatt replied.

"Hey, when there's nothing left to say, then I would stop talking," Dylan countered.

"Why are you even here?" Wyatt asked in annoyance. "Aren't you supposed to be taking someone's dear virginity from them or something?"

Dylan smirked. "Oh, man, that's the best thing. I got a surprise for you."

Dylan sat down at the piano.

"What surprise?" Wyatt asked.

"Turns out I need a tutor and the principal decided to assign none other than the best student of my grade, so it looks like you're stuck with me, golden boy," Dylan answered.

Wyatt rolled his eyes, starting to leave with his things. "Yeah, that's not gonna happen."

Dylan stood to stop him. "So just tell the principal that our deal school perfect boy can't teach me. I guess you're not really good at everything, are you, Wyatt?"

Wyatt looked at him in annoyance. "Stop calling me that. I may not be perfect, but at least close to it."

"No, no, it's fine," Dylan mocked. "You can't make me a good student. No one can."

Wyatt was clearly pushed to make his decision because of that. "Oh, I'll make you the best student, Dylan. Screw that. I'll tutor you. You will see. You're not gonna be the same when I'm done with you."

Dylan smiled smugly. "Uh, kinky."

Wyatt realized how it had sounded, blushing, shaking his head worriedly. "No, that's not what I mean. You know what? We got to put rules on. First of all, you can't do that."

"Do what?" Dylan asked.

"That--that whole thing you always do," Wyatt answered. "That stops now."

Dylan raised his eyebrow slightly. "Oh, I have a thing now?"

"Yes, you do," Wyatt answered, crossing his arms.

"Oh, right," Dylan told him. "Then rule number two. You need to stop doing that."

"Doing what?" Wyatt asked.

"The whole judgy crossing your arms and fake you make while doing it," Dylan answered. "It's adorable, but it you want to learn, that's gonna distract me."

Wyatt uncrossed his arms, holding out his hand to shake. "All right, deal."

Dylan shook his hand, smirking. "Deal."

X•O°X•O

Street

(Song:) 99% - The Mooney Suzuki

Rufus is putting up flyers for a concert of his band Lincoln Hawk.

Dan was with him. "Uh, you know, Dad, there's this thing called MySpace where you post all this information online. Save some trees, have a blog."

"Maybe if musicians would get off their blogs and picked up their guitars, then music business would be in better shape," Rufus replied.

"Spoken like a true relic," Dan told him.

Rufus nodded sarcastically. "Thanks, son."

Dan's cellphone went off. He took a look at the new text message from Jenny.

HELP ME AND HOPE: EMERGENCY. 712 5TH AVE.

"Hey, Dad, listen, um, I got to run," Dan told him. "You'll be okay?"

"Yeah," Rufus answered. "Your mom will be back. She's always been a free spirit. That's one of the reasons I fell for her in the first place."

Dan pressed his lips together awkwardly. "I meant with the flyers."

Rufus chuckled, nodding. "Luckily staple guns are old school. Go. I'm gonna be fine."

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

Ostroff Center - Noe's Room

Noe stood in the bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror, getting used to the way she looked, relearning everything about herself.

Eric walked in. "Sure you should be up, yet?"

Noe looked at him. "I feel fine."

Serena walked in. "Which is why I talked to the nurse and I'm kidnapping both of you." She handed Noe some clothes. "And you are getting dressed so we can go out."

"We're going shopping, aren't we?" Eric asked.

"We're going to Bendell's," Serena told them. Eric made a face. "Just for an hour though, I swear. I had a really bad day."

"Really?" Noe asked sarcastically. "'Cause I had a great day. A couple of pills, bunch of tests... they had this green jelly for lunch."

"Mm, yummy!" Eric said sarcastically to make his amnesiac sister feel better. "Why didn't you save me any?"

Noe smiled.

Serena looked between them, smiling. "Come on, we need to get you guys out of here before Mom shows up."

They left.

X•O°X•O

Bendell's

(Song:) Bounce With Me - Kreesha Turner

Dan walked up to Jenny and Hope, who were trying on dresses. "Hope, Jenny, what is it? What's wrong?"

"Do you like these on us?" Jenny asked.

Hope realized, looking at Jenny. "Wait. Wait a second, you called Dan here for this?"

"Is that why you needed me?" Dan asked. "I thought this was an emergency."

Jenny nodded. "A fashion emergency. I mean, come on. Hope and I've never been to a big dance before."

Dan shook his head. "Neither have I."

"Yeah, but Mom's gone, and Dad's allergic to department stores, and we need a guy's opinion," Hope told him.

Dan smiled. "Well, you look good, Hope. Jen, you do, too. Really."

"Thanks," Hope told him. "I mean, too bad these are more than our rent, but I think Jenny and I can sew dresses like it."

Jenny noticed Serena, Eric and Noe walking toward them. "Oh, my Gosh, it's Serena and Noe. Serena! Noe!"

Hope took an invitation addressed to Serena van der Woodsen out of her bag. Dan panicked, vanishing.

Noe was confused, looking at Eric and Serena. "I don't know them, do I?"

"No, but everyone knows you," Eric answered. "You were always all over Gossip Girl."

"Gossip Girl?" Noe repeated, even more confused. "What?"

Eric placed a hand on her arm to calm her down. "Explain later."

Serena looked at the Humphrey sisters. "Hey. Hope and Jenny, right?"

"Yeah," Hope answered.

"So you know me and Noe from Gossip Girl," Serena told them. She looked at Eric. "This is our--"

Eric cut her off to make a joke and make Noe laugh. "Stylist and personal shopper." Noe smiled. "Eric, hi."

"Hi," Jenny told them. "Um, this is our brother..." She gestured behind them, noticing Dan was gone. "Or..."

Serena looked at their dresses. "So are these your dresses for the 'Kiss on the Lips' party?"

"Sort of," Hope answered. "Speaking of that." She gave Serena the invitation. "Here, I made you one during free period, but if anyone asks where you got it, I know nothing."

Serena smiled. "Thanks."

"You know, Noe, I could make you another," Hope told her.

Noe shook her head. "No, I'm not even supposed to be out here..."

"Right, the car crash," Jenny agreed. "We heard about that. I'm so sorry."

"I'm fine," Noe told them. "Thanks."

Eric, Noe and Serena started to walk away.

Jenny and Hope looked for their brother. "Dan? Dan?"

Noe turned back to them. "Jenny, your dress would look even better in red. Hope, yours would look even better in black."

Hope smiled, nodding. "Red for Jenny, black for me. Cool. Thanks."

Eric, Serena and Noe walked away.

X•O°X•O

Park

Alex and Nate were talking a walk, smoking a joint.

"Alex, where did you even get this?" Nate asked.

"From Chuck and Dylan's supply they keep hidden from Brooklyn," Alex answered. "This is some good stuff."

Nate chuckled. "Yeah, I'm gonna need it. Blair and Wyatt's mom's at the country house. And Wyatt and Thyra are not gonna be at the apartment tonight either, on Blair's orders."

"Yeah?" Alex asked. "Then maybe I should swipe some of Dad's Viagra? Or Mom's paxils? Nate, you're finally about to have sex with your girlfriend. It's like you're heading to your execution."

"No, man, I'm good," Nate told him.

"Talk to Alex, buddy," Alex told him. "I'm your brother. You and Blair have been dating forever, all of a sudden there's a problem?"

"There is no problem with me and Blair," Nate told him. "I'm just... I've been distracted ever since the blasts and rumors started about Serena and Noe being back."

"And Noe's accident?" Alex finished. "Nate, she was like your best friend growing up when she was living here with her mom and siblings, and then her dad would take her away to live with him, and back and forth that went. You were still tight with Noe even when she wasn't in town. I get it if you're worried about her."

"I am," Nate answered. "I went to talk to Serena about it, and she wouldn't tell me what happened to her or where she was or if she's okay. Just that 'she's alive'."

Alex looked at Nate knowingly, raising an eyebrow. "Well, sounds like a lot of worry."

"Just distract me, Alex, please," Nate told him.

Alex smirked. "Can do. Do you ever feel like our whole lives have been planned out for us? That we're just gonna end up like our parents?"

"I said distract me, not depress me more," Nate told him. "Because, man, both of those are dark thoughts. You know, aren't we entitled to choose? Just to be happy?"

"According to our parents, our families, what we're entitled to is a trust fund, maybe a house in the Hamptons, a prescription drug problem, but happiness does not seem to be on the menu," Alex told him. "Well, screw that. Whatever the hell they want, I don't want, and I don't care what I have to do to get what I want." Nate laughed. "So smoke up, stop worrying about Noe, focus on Blair, 'cause you're also entitled to tap that ass."

Nate gave Alex an amused look, smoking more. Alex smirked, also taking a hit.

X•O°X•O

Night - Palace Hotel - Bar

(Song) Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

Serena and Blair were sitting at the bar. Blair was drinking a Martini.

"Thyra doesn't seem to be doing too good," Serena told her.

"Well, she moved in with me, Wyatt and our mom full time after her parents died," Blair explained. "Plane crash."

"Recent?" Serena asked.

"A month ago," Blair answered. "Brooklyn's been helping Thyra forget the pain. And in Bass tradition, like Chuck and Dylan, that means get drunk and high or screw it out of your system. Brooklyn and I were actually throwing this party, half because of Thyra."

Serena sighed, shaking her head. "So, how's Wyatt and your mom doing with the divorce and everything?"

Blair nodded. "Wyatt not so great, but our mom's doing okay. So our dad left her for another man. She's lost 15 pounds, got an eye lift. It's been good for her."

"I'm really sorry," Serena apologized.

"Yeah, I could tell, since you didn't call or write the entire time it was happening," Blair told her sarcastically.

Serena sighed, looking down. "No, I know. I was just... boarding school, it's like..."

"I don't even know why you went to boarding school to begin with," Blair told her. "Do you know how it felt calling your house when you didn't show up at school and having your mom say 'Serena didn't tell you that she moved to Connecticut'?"

"I just... I had to go," Serena told her. "I needed to get away from everything. Please just trust me."

"How can I trust you when I feel like I don't even know you?" Blair asked.

"Let's fix that," Serena suggested. "I saw you at school with Brooklyn and Thyra, and I get it. I don't want to take you being Queen B or take Brooklyn's 'Princess BB' like Gossip Girl calls both of you away from either you, and I don't want Thyra to feel any worse than she is right now. I just..."

"Because it's just yours to take if you want it?" Blair asked.

"No, that's not what I mean," Serena answered. "I--I miss you, and with everything going on with Noe, I need you. I just want things to go back to the way they used to be. You know, walking to school together, dancing on tables at Bungalow, the nights when we were with Wyatt and Thyra at your mom's country house, if Thyra was staying with you guys and not Nate and Alex, before her parents died. You were like another sister to me, and with our families, we need each other."

Blair considered, but was still very angry at Serena. "Well, you missed some classic Eleanor Waldorf melt downs. If it wasn't such a tragedy, it would have been funny. Actually kind of was. Made me, Wyatt and Thyra laugh more than once. Got Thyra to smile even after what happened to her parents."

Serena managed a small smile. "Well, I wish I could have been there for Thyra, and for you and Wyatt."

"You are now," Blair told her. "I wanna hear everything going on with Noe, but I have to meet Nate. I kind of have something special, and..."

"Well, I don't want to keep you, but..." Serena trailed off, hugging Blair. "I love you, B."

Blair chuckled. "I love you, too, S."

Blair left.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Spotted. At the Palace Hotel, S and B having a heart to heart."

Serena took Blair's left over Martini, emptying it in one gulp.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Hmm, why so thirsty, S? You may have won over B for now, but we still thinking you're hiding something."

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

X•O°X•O

Humphrey Loft - Hope/Jenny's Room

Jenny and Hope were using two sewing machines to sew their dresses for the party.

Dan walked in. "Hey."

"Ah, the invisible man returns," Hope taunted. "You know, I really had no idea you could move that fast."

"Yeah, well, your fashion emergency was solved, so I figured my work was done," Dan told them.

"Come on, Dan," Jenny told him. "Serena said hi to you at her 9th grade birthday party, and you've never forgotten it."

"How could I?" Dan replied. "She was the only person who spoke to me, and I'm pretty sure she thought I was someone else."

"Well, you know she is actually nice, and if she did know you, I think she would really like you," Hope told him.

Dan shrugged. "I don't know. I think she would be a tad overwhelmed by the glitz and glamour of the Humphrey lifestyle."

"Well, I heard she's living at the Palace Hotel," Hope told him.

Dan gestured to her. "Well, my point exactly."

"Probably sitting at the bar by herself, sipping Martinis all alone, worrying about her sister Noe who survived a car accident," Hope told him. "You know, it's actually kinda sad. Oh, and Dad's at the gallery working late. He left money for dinner, so Jenny and I were thinking Indian."

Dan was convinced to go to the Palace. "You know, you know what I think? I'm--I'm gonna go out."

Dan left.

Jenny smiled. "Okay. Good, 'cause we already ordered and only got enough for two."

Jenny and Hope exchanged a victorious look, doing a handshake, smiling and laughing.

X•O°X•O

Palace Hotel - Bar

Chuck walked in, walking past some women. "Move, please." He walked over to Serena, who was having another Martini. "I love this town. I'm going to have to tell Brooklyn, Dylan and our father the hotel our dad just bought is serving minors.'

"And if you get a drink, they are also serving pigs," Serena replied.

Chuck smirked. "I love it when you talk dirty."

"You just love when a girl talks to you," Serena told him.

"Actually, I prefer them when they're not talking," Chuck corrected.

"Oh, I've missed your witty banter," Serena said sarcastically.

"You know who's witty banter I miss?" Chuck asked. "Noe's. Heard about her accident. The entire Upper East Side is talking about it. Where is she?"

"None of your business," Serena told him.

"Fine," Chuck told her. "Onto you, then. Let's catch up, take our clothes off, stare at each other."

Serena rolled her eyes. "What about I just get a bite too eat? I've been drinking on an empty stomach."

"I heard you didn't do that anymore," Chuck told her.

"Given what happened to my sister and the fact people will not stop asking me where she is when I can't tell anyone, I needed it," Serena replied.

"Well, what about a grilled cheese with truffle oil?" Chuck offered. "You do love truffles?"

"Enough to know it's not on the menu," Serena answered.

"Good thing I'm connected," Chuck stated.

Serena sighed, standing. "Only because I'm hungry."

Serena stumbled slightly, a little drunk. Chuck stood to steady her. Serena pushed him off, walking away. Chuck smirked, following.

X•O°X•O

Waldorf Apartment - Blair's Room

The room was lit by candles.

Nate walked in, finding Blair waiting for him in lingerie. "Wow."

Blair smiled. "Hi."

"Hi," Nate replied.

"Is it too much?" Blair asked. "I wanted it to be special." She kissed Nate, but he pulled away. "What's wrong?"

Nate sighed heavily, deciding it was time to come clean. "Look, I don't know how to say this, or if it's even the right thing to do, but, um, there's something I need to tell you."

X•O°X•O

Palace Hotel - Kitchen

(Song:) Photograph - Air

Chuck put a bundle of cash into the jacket of the chef and he and his staff left. "Alfonso, you're a stud. Now have a good night. We're closing the kitchen early."

Serena was eating her sandwich, relishing it. "Oh, my God, this is so good."

Chuck walked closer. "Well, if you're looking for a way to thank me, I've got a couple ideas."

Serena gave him an unamused look. "It's a sandwich, Chuck." Chuck touched Serena's thigh, leaning in on her. Serena slid away. "This is--this is not happening right now."

"You're worried about Noe," Chuck stated. "Everyone is. Especially Nate. But that might because his history with her as other than a friend."

Serena looked at him. "What?"

"Last year, the Shepherd wedding," Chuck answered. "The reason why Noe left town early to go back to living with your guys' dad."

X•O°X•O

Flashback - One Year Ago

Day - Bar

A very drunk and happy Noe was dancing on the bar bench, holding a bottle of champagne.

Nate was also drunk, but not as drunk, trying to stop her. "Noe, you know we are not supposed to be here."

"Oh, well, if the happy couple didn't want to put up the cash for the premium bar, they should have made their wedding BYOB," Noe replied. "I get my drinking habits from my dad."

"Obviously," Nate told her. "But at least you're not an angry drunk like he is." He reached for the champagne. "Let me see it."

Noe laughed. "No, make me."

Nate held the bottle. "I can do it, I can open it. Let me show you here. Come here." Noe sat down in front of him. "Let me see."

They both pulled on the bottle until it opened with a loud bang and champagne poured out.

Noe squealed in surprise. "Nate!"

Nate laughed. "That never happens to me."

Noe smiled, her fingers in his hair. "It's okay. You're still a man in my eyes."

Nate lifted her off the bar. "Come here."

Noe looked him over. "Look at you, you're a mess."

"So are you," Nate replied.

Noe and Nate were about to kiss.

X•O°X•O

Now

Night - Waldorf Apartment - Blair's Room

Nate turned his head away from Blair.

Blair looked like she knew the truth he was trying to tell. "But that was it. You guys kissed."

Nate shook his head. Blair looked up with tears in her eyes, knowing where this was going.

X•O°X•O

Flashback

Day - Shepherd Wedding - Bar

Noe and Nate were making out heavily, undressing each other. Chuck and Dylan were on the balcony, smoking a joint together, when they heard them, looking down to see.

X•O°X•O

Now

Night - Palace Hotel - Kitchen

Serena was eating her sandwich.

"Dylan and I saw it all," Chuck explained. "Of course, we never told anyone, not even Brooklyn, because she would tell Blair, and that wouldn't be fun that way. Noe and Blair never really did get along, but even a drunk on her ass Noe felt really guilty for sleeping with her boyfriend, and she came to you, her sister, a mess, before she went back to your dad's. And then you take off shortly after. I think you and Noe are more like me than you'd admit."

Serena shook her head. "No, no, that--that was then. I'm trying to change, and Noe's completely different now. You don't get it, Chuck. She's not who she used to be. She lost all of that."

Chuck didn't understand what she meant because she didn't explain it the right way. "I liked you two better before."

Chuck tried to kiss Serena.

Serena tried to push him away. "Stop it, Chuck. Stop! Chuck, stop it!"

X•O°X•O

Flashback

Day - Shepherd Wedding - Bar

Noe and Nate were hooking up, making out.

X•O°X•O

Now

Night - Waldorf Apartment - Blair's Room

Blair pushed Nate away angrily, crying. "I knew it! I always knew there was something! Get out!"

X•O°X•O

Flashback

Day - Shepherd Wedding - Bar

Noe was straddling Nate's lap as he kissed her neck, breathing heavily.

X•O°X•O

Now

Night - Palace Hotel - Kitchen

Chuck violently tried to kiss Serena.

Serena tried to push him off. "Chuck, no!"

X•O°X•O

Flashback

Day - Shepherd Wedding - Bar

Noe and Nate made out heavily.

X•O°X•O

Now

Night - Waldorf Apartment - Blair's Room

Blair fell onto her bed, crying. Thyra and Wyatt came home, hearing Blair crying from the hallway, walking in.

"Blair?" Wyatt asked worriedly.

Thyra walked closer. "Oh, God, B."

Blair let them hold her as she cried and they comforted her.

X•O°X•O

The Palace Hotel - Kitchen

Chuck was still trying to kiss Serena.

Serena struggled to push him off. "Get off of me!"

Serena kicked Chuck between the legs, making him back away and let her off the table, storming off.

X•O°X•O

Bar

Dan was looking around for Serena. Serena stormed in, crashing into Dan. Her purse fell to the floor.

Dan helped her pick up her things. "I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

Serena took her purse, running off. Dan found her cellphone on the floor, trying to tell Serena, but she was already gone.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "And just when B&S had built a bridge, it all had to come crashing down, thanks to Blair's grudge against both Serena and Noe now. But dry your eyes. The Kiss on the Lips party is around the corner, and you know who loves parties? Gossip Girl."

X•O°X•O

X•O°X•O

Day Three

Morning - Central Park

Nate, Alex and Howie were having a race.

Howie won. "Nice try, sons."

"Maybe next time," Alex told him. "Nate, you seem upbeat this morning." He raised his eyebrows, smirking at the double meaning. "Did you have 'fun' with Blair last night?"

"Actually, we got into a pretty big fight," Nate answered.

"You want my advice?" Howie asked. "Apologize, even if it was her fault. Flowers, maybe some jewelry if she's really upset. Always works for your mother."

Nate sighed. "I don't know. I think it may be for the best."

Alex turned to face him in confusion. "Wait a minute, you guys broke up?"

"Yeah, I guess we did," Nate answered.

"Blair is a great girl," Howie told him.

"I know, but I'm just not sure if she's the girl for me," Nate admitted.

"But you guys have been dating since kindergarten," Howie told him.

Nate sighed in annoyance. "So I keep hearing."

"I mean, you love her, don't you?" Alex asked.

"Yes, I do," Nate answered. "I just think it might be good for us to take a break, you know?"

Alex nodded.

"Maybe not right now," Howie told him. "Eleanor Waldorf is gearing up to take her company public, and I've been cordering her for months to let me handle the deal."

"Then you should get it," Alex told him.

"Alex, I will get it if Nate just helps me out a little bit," Howie told him. Nate and Alex looked at their father in disbelief. "What? You love her, she loves you. It's just a rough patch, that's all. You don't give up just because things are hard. Not in business, or if your family is depending on you."

Alex scoffed incredulously.

X•O°X•O

Palace Hotel - Lobby

Dan was standing at the reception table, talking to the concierge.

The concierge was holding Serena's cellphone. "How did you know it was Miss van der Woodsen's if you didn't read it and if you are not a guest at the hotel, what were you doing here?"

"What?" Dan asked. "Um, look, when Prince Charming found Cinderella's slipper, they didn't accuse him of having a foot fetish."

"And you are Prince Charming?" the concierge asked skeptically. "Well, there is Miss van der Woodsen now."

Dan saw Serena step out of the elevator. "No, no, no."

"Serena!" the concierge called.

Serena turned around, walking closer.

Dan seemed to be panicking. "Don't, don't..."

"Do you know this young man?" the concierge asked.

"She doesn't know me," Dan told him. "Nobody knows me. It's cool, it's fine."

"Um, from last night, right?" Serena asked. "I'm sorry about that."

"You remember me?" Dan asked in surprise. He looked at the concierge. "She remembers me."

The concierge held up her phone. "Well, he claims he found your cellphone."

Serena sighed in relief, taking the phone from him. "Oh, you found it." Lily and Eric walked toward the door. Lily was holding a cloth bag. "Hey, Eric. Hey, Mom. Where are you going?"

"Uh, I'm gonna go call Noe, see how she's doing," Eric told them.

Serena knew that he was saying 'calling her' because Lily didn't want anyone to know about Noe's condition or where she was.

Dan frowned in confusion. "And you have to go outside to call Noe?"

Eric chuckled nervously. "Uh, bad reception inside. I have to reach to her in Miami."

"Miami?" Dan repeated. "Didn't I see all three of you at Bendell's?"

Lily turned to Serena and Eric seriously, giving them a look.

Eric thought quickly to get them out of trouble, chuckling nervously. "He means last year, when Noe was living with us for the summer." He quickly changed the subject so Dan wouldn't say anything more to get them in trouble and so Lily wouldn't ask them questions about what he meant. "Mom, why don't you show Serena the dress you got for her, for the Kiss on the Lips party?"

Lily looked at Serena. "I saw the invitation on the nightstand."

"Oh, um, I'm not going to that," Serena told them.

"What do you mean?" Eric asked. "Blair and Brooklyn are throwing it. I think it's their way of trying to cheer Thyra up from losing her parents."

Serena came up with a lie so Lily wouldn't make her go. "Yeah, um, see the problem is by the time I got the invitation, I, um, actually already had plans."

"Plans with whom?" Lily asked.

Serena pointed at Dan. "My friend."

Eric knew that Serena was just trying to get out of going to the party, smirking in amusement.

Dan looked at Lily. "Uh, yeah. Hi, nice to meet you, Mrs. van der Woodsen. I'm Dan Humphrey."

Lily showed reaction to his last name, looking at Serena. "What are you and Dan Humphrey doing?"

Serena looked to Dan for help. "We, um..."

Dan showed Lily and Eric a flyer for Rufus' concert. "Uh, we're going to a concert tonight."

"Lincoln Hawk?" Eric asked.

Lily clearly knew more than she let on, hiding the fact that she was nervous.

Dan smirked. "Yeah, Rolling Stone named them one of the top 10 forgotten bands of the '90s."

Serena faked cheered. "Whoo! I'm a huge fan."

"Well, this party would have been the perfect opportunity for you to announce your return, but I guess I'll just keep the dress for Noe, when she returns," Lily told her, leaving.

Eric looked at Serena. "I'm gonna go see Noe now."

Serena nodded. "Tell her I will meet with her later, okay?"

"You got it," Eric answered, leaving.

Serena looked at Dan. "Thank you."

"Yeah, no, I..." Dan trailed off. "It's not a problem, really."

Dan started to walk away.

Serena turned after him. "So pick me up at eight?"

Dan turned to her in surprise. "You really wanna go out with some guy you don't know?"

Serena tilted her head in response. "Well, you can't be worse than the guys I do know."

Serena smiled, walking away. Dan made a gesture of victory, leaving the hotel.

X•O°X•O

Japanese Restaurant

(Song:) Hang Me Up to Dry - Cold War Kids

Blair and Nate were having dinner.

Nate broke the long, painful silence. "Thanks for meeting me. Look, Blair, I really hurt you, and I know that, and I want to fix it."

"Really?" Blair asked. "And how are you gonna do that?"

"I'm gonna put everything in the past," Nate told her. "I'm not gonna see Noe again since she's not even here, and she's not gonna be here. It'll be like every other time when she's living with her dad."

"I think that's a good idea," Blair told him. "Let's not mention it again. You gonna eat that?"

Blair picked up a piece of sushi from Nate's plate to eat.

"That's it?" Nate asked. "'Cause you were pretty upset last night. I mean, should we talk about this?"

"I've already talked with Wyatt and Thyra when they came home last night, and they helped me realize that I overreacted," Blair told him. "You say it's in the past, it's in the past. I'm sure you have no feelings for her anymore." Her tone turned sarcastic. "I just feel bad for Noe. After the car accident, and now exiled from her family, and now you. She'll really miss you. What time does the limo come?"

Nate was annoyed with the way she was acting toward Noe given the circumstances. "Eight."

Blair smirked. "Perfect."

(Songs Ends)

X•O°X•O

Art Gallery

(Song:) Time Won't Let Me Go - The Bravery

Rufus was working. Lily walked in.

Rufus was really surprised to see her. "Lily! Are you shopping for some more art to match your furniture?"

"Why is my daughter, Serena, going to one of your concerts?" Lily asked.

Rufus shrugged. "'Cause we're awesome."

"With your son?" Lily added.

Rufus looked at her in surprise. "Dan's scored a date with Serena?"

"Mm-hmm," Lily hummed in answer.

"Well, our kids were bound to meet," Rufus pointed out. "It's a small island."

"You're sure it's not some ploy that you're using my daughter to get to me?" Lily asked. "Now that your wife left you?"

"How do you know about Alison?" Rufus asked.

"Like you said, small island," Lily answered.

"Oh, I get it," Rufus told her in amusement. "You hear about Alison, use your daughter as an excuse to start something."

Lily scoffed. "Yeah, in your dreams."

Rufus smirked. "Well, you are in my dreams, Lily, and one in particular occurs. Finding you in the back of a Nine Inch Nails bus with your shoes and your earrings and Trent Reznor. Oh, that happened."

They both chuckled.

"No need to rehash details of decades past," Lily told him. "So I moved on."

Rufus scoffed. "Yeah, from Chanter lane to Paris until you switched up rock stars for billionaires."

Lily smirked. "You think you're so cute. Washed up band, crappy so called art gallery."

"Well, not all of us have settlements from multiple divorces to sustain us," Rufus replied.

Lily gave him a look. "Just stay out of my life, Rufus."

Rufus turned his back to her. Lily left.

X•O°X•O

Humphrey Loft

Jenny, Hope and Dan were standing in front of a mirror, getting ready to go out. Hope and Jenny were dressed up for Kiss on the Lips.

Jenny looked at Dan. "You're going out with Serena, and Hope and I are going to Kiss on the Lips. Who said this family wasn't cool?"

Dan smiled. "Well, listen, I don't want to be late, but you're both looking great, and good luck."

Hope nodded to him. "Same."

Rufus walked in.

Dan passed him. "See you at the concert, right, Dad?"

"I, um, okay," Rufus answered. Dan left the loft. Rufus saw his daughters dressed up for the party, walking closer. "Oh, my God. My daughters are women."

"Dad, you could just tell us we look nice instead of turning this into a sermon on the passage of time," Hope told him.

Rufus smiled. "Jenny, you look like your mother. Hope, you look like my mother."

Jenny and Hope smiled in return. "Thanks."

X•O°X•O

Night - Waldorf Apartment - Blair's Room

Blair was looking at herself in her full-length mirror, wearing a brown dress.

Eleanor walked in. "Blair, let me see how it looks. Why are you wearing that one? Didn't you see the dress I left on the bed?"

"I like this one," Blair told her.

"This one is not as elegant a choice as that one," Eleanor pointed out.

"Why do you care so much?" Blair asked.

"Because I love you, Blair," Eleanor answered. "You will never be more beautiful or thin or happy than you are right now. I just want you to make the most of it."

Blair sighed. "I guess I have time to change."

Eleanor ran a hand through her hair. "And put some product in your hair. The ends are dry."

X•O°X•O

Wyatt's Room

Wyatt was doing homework.

Eleanor walked in. "Hello, Wyatt."

"Hey, Mom," Wyatt told her.

"Why are you not changed yet?" Eleanor asked. "It's almost time."

"Time for what?" Wyatt asked.

"The Kiss on the Lips party, of course," Eleanor answered.

Wyatt nodded in remembrance. "Oh, I'm not going to that."

"Of course you are," Eleanor told him. "Blair and Brooklyn are throwing it, and half the reason they are is for Thyra, so you need to be there for all of them."

"I can't," Wyatt told her. "I have to study, and I haven't practiced violin yet, and I still need to plan my fundraiser for a new remodelation for the orphanage and have to start a new studybook for my tutoring student."

Eleanor chuckled. "Nonsense. You have time for all of it. You always do. And this day would be no different. Who is that new student you're tutoring?"

"Brooklyn's twin brother, Dylan Bass," Wyatt answered. "And having time for anything is not easy, Mother."

"If it's not easy, then you're not doing it right," Eleanor told him.

"I am doing it right," Wyatt disagreed. "I'm doing everything all the time. I am doing everything perfect."

Eleanor smiled. "That's how you should keep doing it. I'm proud of you, Wyatt."

"Thank you, Mother," Wyatt told her. "So you know I am very busy."

"Still, you are going to that party, even if only for Blair and Thyra, and your friend Brooklyn," Eleanor told him.

Wyatt looked up. "But Mom--"

"You want to, don't you?" Eleanor asked. "It would make me, your sister, Brooklyn and Thyra very happy that you did."

Wyatt took a deep breath. "Yes, of course, I want to go."

Eleanor put a hand to his face. "That's my boy. Now fix yourself up and put on an outfit matching your sister's."

Wyatt nodded. "Always."

Eleanor smiled, leaving. Wyatt was very annoyed and frustrated, a little upset, overwhelmed from overworking himself so hard for everything in his life, closing his eyes, letting a few tears fall.

X•O°X•O

Thyra's Room

Eleanor knocked on the door. Thyra opened it, letting her in.

Eleanor stepped inside, concerned. "Hello, Thyra. How is everything?"

Thyra turned away. "Everything is fine, Eleanor."

"Are you sure?" Eleanor asked.

Thyra nodded. "Yes, I promise."

Eleanor smiled. "Well, I'm glad you're okay."

Thyra forced a smile. "Thank you."

"I'm so glad that Blair and Brooklyn are throwing this party for you," Eleanor told her.

"I wasn't really feeling up for a party," Thyra admitted.

"Well, you have to," Eleanor told her. "It's for you. What is up with you three tonight? Go out, have fun. Thyra, you could use it."

Thyra shook her head. "Eleanor, I don't really--"

Eleanor stepped closer to take her hands. "Thyra. You need to go."

Thyra sighed. "Fine. Yes, I'll go."

Eleanor brushed back her hair. "Good girl. Now go out and have fun."

Thyra nodded. "I will."

Eleanor smiled, leaving. Once she closed the door, Thyra lost her smile, rolling her eyes, going to her bed, grabbing a box from under it, opening it, revealing several alcoholic drinks, grabbing a whiskey that had already been opened and had a little left inside, finishing it in one drink, throwing the bottle away, looking at the table, letting a tear fall, wiping it away, returning her expression to her non emotional facade. She turned around, looking in a mirror at her green dress, upset from grieving her parents, taking a deep breath, opening her eyes, which had tears in them.

Wyatt stood in the doorway, dressed for the party. "Hey. Thyra?"

Thyra kept her back to him, wiping her tears away before he could see. "Wyatt, learn how to knock." Wyatt chuckled. Thyra turned to face him, noticing something wrong. "Everything okay?"

"Fabulous," Wyatt told her sarcastically.

"You've been crying, I can see it," Thyra told him. "You haven't fixed your face yet."

Wyatt closed the door, sitting on the bed. "Damn it."

"Why were you crying?" Thyra asked.

"Nothing," Wyatt told her.

Thyra nodded sarcastically. "Right, of course. Look, stop crying, Wyatt. Crying is not going to make anything better."

"Not everyone can keep the unemotional facade all the time, Thyra," Wyatt replied.

"It's better than feeling everything," Thyra countered. "But then again, that's just you. You do everything all the time just like you feel like feeling everything, and just hide behind a fake smile."

"If you smile enough, nobody would believe there is something wrong with you," Wyatt told her.

"But there is, Wyatt," Thyra told him. "A smile is not gonna change anything."

"I'm trying, Thyra," Wyatt told her. "Okay, I'm trying everyday, but it doesn't get easier. It just gets harder and harder."

Thyra sighed. "Sometimes I feel like I'm..."

Thyra and Wyatt finished together. "Drowning."

They looked at each other sadly. Thyra walked closer, sitting next to him. Wyatt put a comforting arm around her.

Thyra leaned her head against his shoulder. "I'm tired of always being like this. I wanna be really okay at least once."

"Same," Wyatt agreed. "Happiness seems impossible sometimes."

"At least you still got me," Thyra told him.

"And you got me," Wyatt agreed.

They spoke together again. "We both got Blair."

They chuckled a little, doing a fist bump.

Blair walked in. "Wyatt. Thyra. Come on. Time to go."

Wyatt nodded in agreement. "Let's do this."

"Everything okay?" Blair asked.

Thyra and Wyatt shook their heads. "Nope."

Blair sighed, walking closer to take them both by the hands, pulling them up and with her toward the door. "Know the feeling. Come on. Let's go be miserable together and try to have some fun."

They all smiled real, small smiles, leaving together.

X•O°X•O

Limo

(Song:) Hard to Live in the City - Albert Hammond Jr.

Chuck, Blair, Nate and Alex were laughing and drinking champagne all around the limo.

X•O°X•O

Palace Hotel - Lobby

Dan walked in, seeing Serena standing on the gallery. They looked at each other, smiling.

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

Kiss on the Lips Party

(Song:) The Way I Are - Timbaland

Everyone was arriving, getting out of limos and walking into the party. Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn stood together.

Chuck saw Jenny in the crowd with Hope. "Who are the newbies?"

"Jenny and Hope Humphrey," Brooklyn answered. "Jenny's a freshman. Hope's a sophomore."

Chuck smirked. "I love sophomores, but not as much as I love freshmen. They're so..."

"Fresh?" Dylan finished sarcastically.

"Anything about them on Gossip Girl?" Chuck asked.

"No," Brooklyn answered.

"Mm, till you're done with them," Dylan told him.

"I swear to God, Chuck, if you ruin the party Blair and I threw for Thyra just to play one of your stupid games, I will ruin you," Brooklyn warned.

Chuck chuckled in amusement. "Relax, Brooklyn. I'll take it out of your little party."

"Don't do anything stupid," Brooklyn told him.

"Oh, come on, Brooklyn," Dylan told her. "You're wasting your breath telling Chuck not to do something stupid."

"Hilarious, Dylan," Chuck told him sarcastically. "Baby brother and sister, if you'll excuse me..." Chuck walked over to Jenny. "Hi. I'm Chuck."

"I know," Jenny told him. "Um, I mean, hi. I'm Jenny."

"It's nice to meet you," Chuck told her.

Jenny nodded. "You too."

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Looks like little Jen might end up with a new boy and a ticket to the inner circle. Or will C end up with another victim? I told you I love parties."

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

X•O°X•O

Street

(Song:) Go - Hanson

Serena and Dan were walking down the street toward the back entrance of a club. The band was unloading their equipment.

"So I'm a little overdressed, aren't I?" Serena asked.

"Honestly, I don't really have a problem with your appearance," Dan told her. "Hey, come on. I want you to meet one of the guys in the band."

"Oh, so you're a groupie?" Serena asked in amusement.

"Well, not quite," Dan answered, leading Serena to Rufus. "Serena, I'd like you to meet Rufus Humphrey. Dad, this is Serena."

"Serena van der Woodsen," Rufus stated. "Oh, I don't know how I know that. Nice to meet you."

Serena chuckled. "Nice to meet you, too."

"You guys are a little early," Rufus told them. "It's gonna be a while before we take the stage."

"Yeah, I may have slightly over budgeted it for travel time," Dan admitted.

One of Rufus' bandmates held Rufus' guitar up. "Hey!"

"I should go tune that," Rufus told them. "Excuse me. Enjoy the show. Son, talk to you later."

"Yeah, see you," Dan agreed.

Rufus left.

Serena turned to Dan, amused and curious. "So you took me to meet your dad on our first date?"

"So this--this is a date?" Dan asked. "Ah, maybe I should have worn my loafers then, and dress down a little bit."

They both laughed.

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

Kiss on the Lips Party

(Song:) Don't Matter - Akon

Dylan was in the bar, drinking.

A girl approached him, smiling flirtatiously. "Hey, there, Dylan."

Dylan smirked. "Well, hello."

Dylan looked behind the girl to see Wyatt in the crowd looking awkward and out of place, looking surprised that he was there.

The girl looked at Dylan. "So..."

Dylan walked away from her toward Wyatt. "Oh, God, are my eyes deceiving me, or is golden boy Wyatt Waldorf blessing us mortals with his presence?"

"Oh, it's a blessing to anyone, but I'm pretty sure it won't be to you," Wyatt told him.

Dylan faked sadness, putting a hand to his chest. "You hurt my heart."

Wyatt rolled his eyes, moving his hand across his chest to the right position over his heart. "Your heart is this way."

Wyatt looked at Dylan to see Dylan was already looking at him and smiling a bit. Wyatt took his hand back quickly.

"So you look like you're having fun," Dylan told him sarcastically.

"Yeah, you can tell by my face?" Wyatt asked, just as sarcastic.

"What, is this party not enough for your magnificence?" Dylan asked.

"It's not that," Wyatt answered. "I don't like parties. Too many people."

"But you literally plan every event with Blair, Brooklyn and Thyra," Dylan pointed out.

"Yes, but those are events I have control over, and in here, I don't have anything," Wyatt replied.

Dylan smirked. "Oh, I get it. You're one of those control freaks. Perfectionists. Aren't you?"

"Oh, you know my type?" Wyatt asked. "Let me guess, Dylan. How many of them have you been to bed with?"

"Not one," Dylan answered, moving closer, whispering. "At least yet."

Wyatt blushed, pushing away, chuckling a little. "So that girl you were talking to? Shouldn't you go back to her or something?"

"Nah," Dylan answered. "I'd rather be here with you. I'm gonna dance. Are you?"

Wyatt shook his head. "I don't dance."

"Why?" Dylan answered.

"I don't like this sound," Wyatt answered.

"Seriously?" Dylan asked. "Well, that can be fixed. Wait here for me."

"Wait, don't leave," Wyatt told him. Dylan walked away. "And you left."

X•O°X•O

Bar

Thyra was drinking.

Brooklyn slid along the bar toward her. "Well, well, well. Look who I found."

"You want a medal or something?" Thyra asked.

"How many of those have you had?" Brooklyn asked.

"Lost count a while ago," Thyra admitted.

"Well, then mind if I joined you?" Brooklyn asked.

"Depends," Thyra answered. "Are you gonna go with the whole 'Oh, Thyra, you shouldn't do that, stop, come on, that's not cool' or something like that."

Brooklyn smirked. "Oh, please. Who do you think I am? Wyatt?"

Thyra chuckled. "Oh, kitty has her claws out. Oh, right then. But I'm telling you now, princess, I don't drink with amateurs, Princess BB."

"Good thing I'm not one, Thy-Di," Brooklyn replied.

"Thy-Di?" Thyra repeated in confusion.

"Thyra Diamond," Brooklyn answered. "Thy-Di."

"It sounds like I'm gonna die," Thyra told her, looking down. "Just like my parents."

"Keep drinking, Thy," Brooklyn told her. "I'll help you forget the pain for a while. Luckily, I'm a Bass, and we can keep up with the likes of you when it comes to this."

"Well, you're on, Brooklyn," Thyra told her.

Brooklyn grabbed her glass, clinking it with Thyra's, and they both finished their drinks in one shot, sharing a smirk.

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

Dance Floor

Wyatt looked like he was not feeling very well, getting more and more anxious. Dylan touched his shoulder from behind, startling him.

Wyatt turned around, pushing Dylan's arm off before realizing who it was. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I thought you were somebody else."

"Who would you want to hurt?" Dylan asked.

"Hey, it's your fault," Wyatt told him. "Don't do that again."

"Do what?" Dylan asked.

Wyatt sighed, shaking his head. "Never mind."

"You didn't want me to leave you here alone, did you?" Dylan asked, smiling a little.

"What?" Wyatt asked. "God, no, please leave and don't come back."

Dylan laughed. "Yeah, sure."

(Song:) Here's to Us - Halestorm

Wyatt smiled in shock. "Oh, I love this song. I don't understand. I saw Blair and Brooklyn's list, and this song wasn't on it."

"I paid the DJ to put it on since you weren't dancing to the old song," Dylan explained. "I had him put on a new one."

"How did you know I would love this song?" Wyatt asked.

"I didn't," Dylan answered. "I love it too."

"Blair and Brooklyn are gonna kill you," Wyatt told him.

Dylan shrugged. "I love the danger. Now don't change the subject. I'm gonna dance. Question is, are you?"

Wyatt hesitated. "I don't know."

"Come on, golden boy," Dylan told him. "I heard you were a great dancer. I could use a tutor for this, too."

Wyatt gave in. "Fine."

They went out to dance, laughing.

X•O°X•O

Bar

Thyra and Brooklyn were now having a competition to see who could drink more shots. People were cheering them on.

Even though they finished at the same time, Thyra put her shot down first, doing a victory dance. "Boom! I win. And that's how it's done."

"Oh, stop it, you big show off," Brooklyn told her.

"I told you, Princess BB, I don't drink with amateurs," Thyra told her.

"It was a tie," Brooklyn told her.

"Was it really, though?" Thyra asked.

"Why don't we ask Kati and Is?" Brooklyn asked, turning to Kati and Isabel. "Girls?"

Kati and Isabel nodded. "It was a tie."

Brooklyn smirked smugly, turning to Thyra. "Told you. I'm a Bass, and Basses are never amateurs at anything." Thyra smirked. Brooklyn's eyes widened when she heard the song playing. "Oh, my God, I love this song. Come, let's dance."

"I don't feel like dancing," Thyra told her.

Brooklyn took her hand. "I don't care. We're forgetting all the bad and having fun tonight."

Brooklyn pulled Thyra to the dance floor.

"Still not dancing," Thyra sang.

Brooklyn tilted her head at her. "Fine. I will just dance around you until you get tired and dance with me."

Brooklyn started to dance.

Thyra laughed. "Okay, stop, Brooklyn. I give up."

"Now would you dance with me, Thyra?" Brooklyn asked, holding out her hand.

Thyra took her hand as the two girls danced together, smiling and laughing as the drunken buzz eliminated their problems for the night.

X•O°X•O

Dance Floor

Hope was walking along, looking for Jenny. "Seriously, Jenny, where are you?" She was so focused on looking for Jenny that she didn't see Alex walking behind her, bumping into him, making his drink spill on his shirt, turning to face him, worried. "Oh, my God. I am sorry. Here, let me clean it up."

Hope reached for a napkin to wipe away.

Alex chuckled. "No, it's okay. Don't worry."

Hope was still trying to help. "Maybe if you scratch a little harder..."

"Again, it's fine," Alex told her.

Hope was too nervous to really hear what he said. "Maybe if I get some rock salt. I heard that's really good."

Alex gently grabbed her hands, causing her to stop talking and look up at him. "Trust me, it's fine. I have a thousand shirts and this is not even one of my favorites. So I don't actually care."

Hope chuckled nervously, but relieved. "Oh, okay. Still sorry."

"You apologize a lot, you know that, right?" Alex asked.

Hope nodded. "Just when I'm nervous."

"Well, don't be," Alex told her. "What's got you nervous?"

"I'm looking for my sister, Jenny," Hope answered. "She has my phone, and I don't know where her phone is, so I can't use her phone to call my phone to find out where she is, and she can't call me."

"I'm sure she's all right," Alex told her. "I'm Alex. Alex Archibald."

"I know," Hope told him. "I mean, not that I am a stalker or anything. I just, I've seen you on Gossip Girl. Not that I spy on you or anything. You know what? Let's go back to the start. Nice to meet you, Alex Archibald. I'm Hope. Hope Humphrey."

Alex laughed in amusement, clearly finding the rambling cute. "Nice to meet you, too, Hope Humphrey. Or should I say Not My Stalker Girl?"

Hope blushed, shaking her head cutely in embarrassment. "Please don't. It's embarrassing."

"Know what?" Alex asked. "I will call you that. It suits you. And you can pick me a nickname too."

"Like what?" Hope asked.

"I don't know," Alex stated. "Think of something."

Hope glanced him over, only able to notice the big stain in his shirt. "Uh, Stain Boy."

Alex gave her an amused look. "Seriously?"

"You call me something better than Not My Stalker Girl, and I'll call you something better than Stain Boy," Hope replied.

They both smiled.

Alex nodded in agreement. "Done deal."

They heard the song change.

Hope smiled excitedly, dancing a little. "Oh, I know this song."

"Well, in that case, would you like to dance?" Alex asked.

"Oh, I'm really bad at dancing, just like I'm really bad at talking," Hope told him.

Alex chuckled. "Oh, come on. You kinda owe me. You did ruin my shirt."

"You said you didn't mind and it was one of the ones that you didn't like," Hope reminded him.

Alex shrugged. "Well, it's my favorite of the ones that I don't like."

Hope laughed. "Fine then. I would love to dance."

They went to the dance floor to dance. The camera panned over the party, showing Dylan/Wyatt, Brooklyn/Thyra and Hope/Alex all dancing and having fun.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "And just like that, in one little Kiss on the Lips party, our Upper East Side's golden boy, a young Bass player, the bad Diamond, our Princess BB, the Archibald rebel, and Brooklyn's humble little Hope Humphrey all had a big road ahead of them, together, or not together. Who knows what would happen to them next?"

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

Stairway

Chuck led Jenny into the empty stairway.

"This is definitely quieter, but do you actually know where we're going?" Jenny asked.

Chuck stopped. "Here looks pretty good."

Chuck leaned in to kiss Jenny.

Jenny pulled away. "So, you said you wanted to talk. Um, what do you want to talk about?"

Chuck leaned closer. "How into you I am." He started to kiss her. Jenny pulled away. "Okay, I am sorry. If you don't want to do anything, that's cool. Let's start over."

Jenny nodded. "Yeah. Um, do you wanna start over back at the party?"

Chuck showed her a couple drinks. "Uh, have a glass of champagne, please?"

Jenny shrugged. "Maybe one."

While Chuck poured them champagne, Jenny took out Hope's phone, realizing she couldn't call Hope, making a face in frustration, texting Dan instead.

X•O°X•O

Club - Outside

Serena and Dan left the club. Dan held the door open for her.

"Thanks," Serena told him, noticing the way he was looking at her. "What?"

Dan shook his head. "Sorry. No, nothing, nothing. I just, um... my sisters were right. You're nice."

Serena smiled in amusement. "You asked me out on a date and you didn't think I was nice?"

Dan chuckled. "No, uh, I just thought you were hot and technically, you asked me out."

Serena laughed. "Oh, okay, okay, I see. So, um, sensible tortured soul boy is actually kind of superficial."

Dan nodded. "Yeah, just a little bit."

"Good to know," Serena told him.

Dan's cell went off, so he took it out to look at the text from Jenny.

HELP. EMERGENCY. NEED YOU TO FIND HOPE. U KNOW Chuck?

Dan sighed. "Sorry."

"Got a better offer?" Serena asked.

"No," Dan answered. "It's Jenny telling me to find Hope. They're at that Kiss on the Lips party, you know. Jenny's having some problems with that guy Chuck. I'm sorry, I have to go."

Serena became worried. "I'll go with you."

"No, really, that's okay," Dan told her.

"No, no, listen," Serena told him. "If it's Chuck, it's not okay."

X•O°X•O

Kiss on the Lips Party

(Song:) Micaela - Sonora Carruseles

Dan and Serena walked in.

"I'm gonna do a lap, okay?" Dan asked. "Look for them."

"Okay, yeah," Serena agreed.

The guests noticed Serena, starting to gossip.

"Serena?" Wyatt asked.

"It's Serena," Dylan said.

Others were talking about Serena.

At the bar, Thyra and Brooklyn both got new texts. "Serena's here?"

Blair was standing nearby. "What is she doing here? She wasn't invited."

Blair made her way through the crowd toward Serena.

Nate stopped her. "Blair, come on. Are you really gonna kick her out because of me and Noe?"

"No," Blair answered. "I'm gonna kick her out because she knew about it and lied to me, and then she left without saying goodbye, comes back and thinks everything will go right back to the way it was. You said you wouldn't talk to Noe. Don't talk to Serena, either."

Nate was very annoyed. "I was going for a walk."

Nate passed Serena without looking at her. Serena turned around, looking at Blair.

Dan found Alex and Hope in the crowd, running to his sister. "Hope! We need to find Jenny."

"Alex's been helping me look for her all night," Hope told him.

"She's nowhere to be found, man," Alex told him.

Dan sighed worriedly.

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

Rooftop

Chuck tried to kiss Jenny against her will. "Quiet."

Jenny was struggling. "No! Stop!"

X•O°X•O

Inside

Serena walked up to Dan, Hope and Alex. "Hey, no luck?"

"No," Alex answered. "We haven't seen her anywhere." He got an idea. "Brooklyn. Dylan."

Serena realized he was right, looking around for them. "Brooklyn! Dylan!"

They found them by the bar.

"What now?" Dylan asked.

"You've seen your brother around Jenny, right?" Hope asked.

"Yeah," Brooklyn answered. "He didn't say where he was going, but he said he would take her out of the party, which for him, mostly means the roof."

"You have some sad truths to learn about your brother, guys," Serena told them. "He's not who you think he is."

"What are you talking about?" Dylan asked.

"No time to explain," Hope told them.

They went walking for the roof access.

X•O°X•O

Stairwell

Dan, Hope, Alex and Serena were walking upstairs.

"You think Brooklyn and Dylan are right about Chuck bringing Jenny up here?" Hope asked.

Alex found a scarf on the floor. "Hope."

"What?" Hope asked.

"That's Chuck's scarf," Alex answered.

Horrified and worried, Hope ran upstairs. "Oh, God."

Dan, Alex and Serena followed.

X•O°X•O

Rooftop

Chuck had Jenny pinned on a glass window on the roof, still trying to kiss her when Dan, Hope, Alex and Serena ran onto the roof. Hope and Dan ran up to them.

"Hey, Jenny!" Hope told her.

"Chuck, stop!" Alex told him, pulling Chuck off of Jenny. "Get off of her."

Hope pulled Jenny into her arms. "Are you okay?"

Dan pushed Chuck away angrily. "Son of a--"

"What the hell is your problem?" Chuck asked. "It's a party, things happen. Who are you anyway?"

"How many times do I have to tell you?" Dan asked. "I'm in your class. My name is Dan Humphrey, and that is my little sister."

Dan punched Chuck in the face, making his nose bleed.

Alex broke the two of them apart before they could fight anymore. "All right, enough. It's over."

Hope led Jenny off the roof. "Let's go, come on."

Serena pushed Chuck. "Chuck, don't you ever touch her again!"

"Hey, your life is over, slut," Chuck told her. "Don't forget I know everything!"

Chuck was left alone on the roof.

X•O°X•O

Kiss on the Lips Party

(Song:) The Gift - Angels & Airwaves

Blair watched as Serena, Dan, Jenny and Hope were leaving, while Alex was helping them.

Hope was comforting Jenny. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I will be," Jenny answered. "Just take me home, okay?"

X•O°X•O

Outside

Hope got Jenny into a cab, turning to Alex. "Thank you so much for helping us with Chuck."

"No problem," Alex told her. "Chuck's an ass, but he's my brother's best friend. And Brooklyn and Dylan's big brother. Kind of have to deal with him. I'll get him to calm down about all of this."

Hope managed a small smile. "Thank you, Alex."

"Anytime, Hope," Alex replied. "I'll probably see you around school."

"Probably," Hope agreed, chuckling. "See you."

Alex held the door open for Hope so she could get into the cab. They waved to each other. From across the street, Nate saw the exchange, curious and confused, wondering who his brother was interacting with.

Dan looked at Serena. "So, you think I've got a shot at a second date?"

"Well, I don't think we can top this one," Serena told him.

Dan nodded in agreement. "I did punch someone."

Serena chuckled. "True. We'll talk about it in the cab."

Serena and Dan got into the cab. Blair and Chuck were watching from inside.

"She better not show her face again," Blair told him.

Chuck smirked. "I'm actually hoping she will."

X•O°X•O

Cab

Dan and Hope hugged Jenny. Hope looked out of her window, waving bye to Alex. Alex waved bye in return. Dan looked at Serena, who smiled at him and turned and looked out of her window.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Spotted. Alex Archibald helping Serena, Hope, Dan and Jenny make a heroic exit from Thyra, Blair and Brooklyn's party. Too bad for S, there's school on Monday. So until next time, you know you love me. Gossip Girl."