Outfits Link:

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There was a screen shot of a Gossip Girl article announcing Serena and Noe's return and Noe's amnesia, with a picture of them at the Ivy League Party in 1.03.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Gossip Girl here. Your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite."

From 2.05 "The Serena Also Rises", at the fashion show, Noe walked down the runway, standing next to Serena, both of them standing back to back, raising their arms over their heads, both of them smiling.

Laurel: (voice over from 2.05 The Serena Also Rises) "Andre Leon Talley is raving about the finale dresses. Loved it."

From 2.05 "The Serena Also Rises", backstage, Eleanor, Hope, Jenny, Blair, Wyatt and Alex were surprised by Laurel's news.

"They loved the dresses?" Alex asked.

"Our dresses?" Hope asked in shock.

From 2.05 "The Serena Also Rises", on the stairwell, Rufus, Hope and Jenny were talking.

"Is that what you told Headmistress Queller?" Rufus asked. "That you don't care about all the school you've missed?"

"No," Jenny answered smugly. "I told her I'm not coming back."

From 2.01 "Summer Kind of Wonderful", in the bar, Dan looked at Harris. "I know. I tried to write, but there was something in the way. I couldn't focus."

"You'll get no letter of recommendation from me," Harris told him.

From 1.08 "17 Candles", in the street, Thyra looked at Hope. "The Captain is being charged with embezzlement and fraud. This is an absolute disaster."

From 2.04 "The Ex-Files", in the school courtyard, Nate looked at Noe. "Catherine's clearly got you acting like this, and I wanna help, but I can't do that if you don't talk to me. I'm not gonna let her make you--"

"Make me what?" Noe asked, trying to push him away to protect his father for him, clearly having a mini episode given the entire situation. "Lash out, fall off an edge, spiral, do any number of the stupid things that people have been so worried that I could do because of the car accident and the damage on my mind?"

From 2.04 "The Ex-Files", in the girls' bathroom, Noe was breathing heavily and unevenly, nearly hyperventilating, holding her head in pain as she tried not to break down completely from everything going on and the effect it was taking on her given her damaged mind to begin with, having been pushed very far from Catherine's game. She backed against the wall, sliding to sit down on the window seat behind her, refusing to cry, struggling to pull herself back together, clenching her hands tightly.

Wyatt: (voice over from 2.03 The Dark Night) "Unpredictable sounds like the old Noe. Who knows what it could mean with the new Noe."

Noe was sitting on the window seat, arms wrapped around her legs, now more calm, but a few tears had fallen. She looked up numbly when she saw Brooklyn and Serena there, and when she saw Thyra and Blair walk in behind them.

Hope: (voice over from 2.04 The Ex-Files) "Catherine made you go into an episode. She could send you into a spiral."

From 2.05 "The Serena Also Rises", in the Waldorf Apartment, Noe, losing patience and temper, and lashing out before she had time to think about it, knocked over a flower vase with her arm, which fell to the floor and shattered in pieces that slid over the floor. She backed away, surprised by her own outburst.

Noe: (voice over from 2.04 The Ex-Files) "Pretty sure it's a little too late for that."

From 2.04 "The Ex-Files", in the courtyard, Noe looked at Nate, a guilty wreck. "After everything, Mom wants me to go to therapy sessions a lot more often than before because of what Catherine did to us. Everyone's worried that I could have a spiral. And they said that I should spend some time alone, out of a relationship, until things are settled down, mentally and emotionally wise for me, anyway. I think that they're right. I can't ask you to wait."

Nate chuckled lightly. "Waiting's not an issue." Noe managed a small smile, nodding, chuckling barely, though she looked so guilty and sad that she had to fight back tears. Nate looked at her sadly, understandingly, kissing her on the head. "Take all the time you need."

Noe nodded. They slowly started to go their separate ways, though they didn't like to.

From 2.05 "The Serena Also Rises", at the fashion show, Hope, Alex, Noe and Thyra were talking backstage.

"Is Nate coming?" Thyra asked.

"Uh, no, not tonight," Alex answered, glancing at Noe, sighing.

Noe sighed. "He's giving me space, isn't he?"

"Yeah," Alex answered. "After everything with Catherine, and the sessions and everything, Nate thought that you could use the space to try and think clearly on your own."

Noe nodded. "Sounds like Nate. Well, tell him I said thank you, Alex."

From 2.05 "The Serena Also Rises", after the fashion show, Serena looked at Blair. "I'm just tired of trying to hold myself back so I don't outshine you."

From 2.05 "The Serena Also Rises", outside the fashion show, Paparazzi was taking pictures of Brooklyn and Thyra after they had been in the fashion show. Brooklyn and Thyra pulled Blair and Wyatt into the pictures with them to share the spotlight, smiling. Hope and Alex walked outside. Thyra also pulled Hope and Alex into the pictures with them because thinking that Hope deserved it after everything, and because she wanted to bond with her and Alex. They smiled and embraced.

Brooklyn walked toward Serena and Noe so they could head home in their limo. Serena wrapped her arms around Brooklyn and Noe, her stepsister and sister, as the paparazzi continued to take their pictures as the three girls smiled.

Serena: (voice over from 2.05 The Serena Also Rises) "From now on, I'm gonna be who I am."

In the closing, there was a screen shot of the Gossip Girl website, there was a picture of Blair, Wyatt, Alex, Hope, Thyra, Brooklyn, Serena and Noe getting their pictures taken by paparazzi.

The headline read: Girls take Manhattan.

The caption underneath the picture read: Serena and Noe van der Woodsen, Brooklyn Bass and Thyra Diamond aren't just on top at Constance Billiard. After the fashion show, they're New York's newest it girls and are taking the city by storm. You can't seem to open a newspaper without their long locks and even longer legs staring at you. You got it, girls. Work it. While Blair and Wyatt Waldorf, Alex Archibald and Hope Humphrey aren't as popular, they are certainly gaining tread. Will we have new rising stars soon?

X•O°X•O

Worlds Colliding (Gossip Girl)

X•O°X•O

Blair's Dream

Day - Dean's Office

(Song:) The Rain in Spain from My Fair Lady

In another Audrey Hepburn reference from the movie My Fair Lady, Blair was dreaming herself as pre-reformation Eliza Doolittle, a poor girl.

The dean, Berube, stood behind her. "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain. Again."

Blair had a Cockney accent, having issues with the line. "The... rain... in... Spain... stays... mainly in the... plain? Well, I'm a straight A student, I am. the rain in... Spain...'

Serena walked in as a refined version of Eliza, dressed for the Ascot races, speaking with a British accent confidently and perfectly. "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain."

Berube looked up in relief. "By George, I think she's got it."

Blair smiled. "I do?"

"No," Berube answered, turning to look at Serena. "She does."

Berube took Serena's hand, kissing it. Serena laughed.

Blair let out a scream, crying.

X•O°X•O

Reality

Day One

Morning - Waldorf Apartment - Blair's Room

(Song:) The Wake Up Song - The Submarines

Blair was woken by her ringing alarm, taking off her sleeping mask.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Rise and shine, early birds. Gossip Girl here. We all have dreams. Some good, some bad, some fun and Freudian."

Thyra and Wyatt came over to Blair, already dressed for the day. "Hey."

"Hey," Blair greeted.

Dorota brought them a breakfast tray. "Morning, Miss Blair. Miss Thyra and Mr. Wyatt."

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "And some are the dreams we've had our whole lives."

Blair smiled. "Dorota, can you believe that in just three short hours, I'll be stepping through the gates of Yale?"

Wyatt smiled. "Yale's always been a dream for me and Blair. I mean, it's where our dad went."

"You used to sleep in your father's sweatshirt every night until it fell apart," Dorota reminded him.

Wyatt shrugged. "I'll get a new one."

"My father and Aunt Aurora went to Yale, but my mother went to Columbia, so I'm kinda torn on where to go," Thyra admitted. "But at least, the seniors like Serena, Noe, Nate, Chuck, Blair and Dan have all been invited to tour Harvard, Yale and Brown every night this weekend. You guys have already visited Harvard and Brown, so you just have to visit Yale today and it's over."

"Yep," Blair agreed. "And then I'll get to attend the dean of admissions' private reception, of course. Most candidates think it's an urban legend, but Daddy was was invited when he visited."

"Your mother already left for work, but she was very specific about your breakfast," Dorota explained. "Some Kombucha?"

"Since the dean handpicks the guests right after their interviews, I'm a shoo in," Blair told them. "If there's one thing I know, it's that I give good interview. I could make Larry King cry. And Wyatt will be a shoo in in two years, and you, Thyra, you'll be able to get to choose between the colleges you want. Yale like Matthew and Aurora, or Columbia like Victoria."

Thyra smiled. "I hope so."

Dorota remembered something. "Oh, that reminds me. Mr. Wyatt and Miss Thyra, you have mail.

Dorota handed two letters to Wyatt and Thyra. 

"What is this?" Thyra asked.

Wyatt and Thyra opened the letters to read.

"What is it?" Blair asked.

Wyatt smiled. "Hope and I've already had personal invitations to tour Brown and Harvard, but I just got an invitation to tour Yale with you guys."

"What?" Blair asked, smiling.

"Yeah," Wyatt answered. "I mean, it's not a shock. I mean, Brown and Harvard already had personal invitations for me and Hope because of our grades in school, surpassing even seniors, since they think that we could be good fits for early college enrollment. So it's not a surprise that Yale invited me for the same reason."

Blair smiled. "That's great, Wyatt. And I'm sure that if you got invitations to Harvard, Brown and Yale, and since Hope already got invitations for Harvard and Brown already, that she probably got an invitation for Yale, too."

"Probably, yeah," Thyra agreed. "Sounds like Hope."

"What about you, Thyra?" Blair asked.

"Uh, apparently Aunt Aurora is trying to help me out," Thyra answered. "She made a few calls to the board of administration and asked if I could get an invitation so go see the campus too."

"Aurora did that for you?" Wyatt asked.

"Yeah, apparently," Thyra answered. "I guess she's trying to help with deciding on what college to go to. Yale or Columbia."

"Looks like she's hoping for Yale," Wyatt pointed out.

"I'm gonna have to call her," Thyra told them. "I gotta talk to Aunt Aurora about this."

"Well, whenever you talk to Aurora, tell her we said hi," Blair told her.

"Yeah, please do," Wyatt agreed. "Aurora can be a bitch just like any other Diamond, but we miss her."

Thyra hit Wyatt in the shoulder for the 'like any other Diamond' part. Wyatt and Blair smiled.

Dorota looked between the three of them with a smile. "I am so proud of you."

"Aw, thank you, Dorota," Wyatt told her.

"And I'm so ready to be surrounded by people more like me and less like..." Blair trailed off when Thyra held up a newspaper with a picture of Serena, with Noe, Brooklyn and Lily behind her. Blair glared at Serena in the picture. "Her."

Wyatt sighed. "You've got to be kidding me. Serena pissed you off, but I think Noe and Brooklyn are worthy of attention."

"Yeah," Blair agreed. "I guess. At least Brooklyn never betrayed me, and Noe... well, that's a long story."

"No kidding," Thyra agreed. "I'm glad that Brooklyn's getting the attention, though. I mean, whenever there's photographers taking her picture, and we're around, she always pulls us into the shot to share the spotlight. Princess BB not hogging it all."

"Oh, you mean like after the fashion show how you and Brooklyn pulled me, Blair, Hope and Alex into your photoshoot by paparazzi?" Wyatt asked sarcastically. "And you mean like the way when paparazzi see you and take a few pictures, you pull us into the shot? I mean, you're pretty popular right now, too, Thyra."

"Yeah, like that," Thyra answered. "Hope deserved it that night considering everything she did to get the fashion show ready, and even Little J--ugh." Wyatt and Blair smiled in agreement to Thyra's reaction to Jenny. "Plus their dresses being involved in the fashion show. Jenny's dress because of the two of you, and Hope's on accident."

"True," Blair agreed. "But everybody loved Little J's dress, so that backfired, and everyone fell in love with Hope's too."

"And Nate, Alex and Noe deserve a break after everything that went down with their families, mainly their dads," Thyra told them. 

"Yeah, Howie and William brought a lot of bad press to Nate, Alex and Noe, but maybe this could bring them a lot of good press," Wyatt told them.

"Maybe," Blair agreed. "But we can think about saving Nate, Alex and Noe's reputations later. We got to head to school and get ready for this trip that we all get to go on now."

Blair, Wyatt and Thyra smiled, holding hands.

X•O°X•O

VDW/Bass Apartment - Serena's Room

Serena was laying down, seeing the same newspaper that Blair, Thyra and Wyatt had, with the picture of her, Noe and Brooklyn, with Lily behind them. "Noe! Brooklyn!"

Noe and Brooklyn walked in.

"You rang?" Brooklyn asked.

Serena held up the newspaper for them to see. "'The van der Woodsen sisters Serena and Nevaeh, and stepsister Brooklyn Bass take the Upper East Side by storm'. Even mentions the little spike in Thyra Diamond's popularity after the fashion show."

Noe sat down next to Serena on her bed, taking the newspaper, shaking her head. "What is the point of this? I mean, A, hello, I'm not exactly this type of material, and B, you haven't exactly been this type of material for over a year, and C, Brooklyn and Thyra are not entirely that type of material yet either."

Brooklyn shrugged, sitting down next to them. "But apparently, they think if they keep posting blasts or articles like this..."

"That's the type of material we'll actually become," Noe finished. "Great."

Lily walked into the room. "Ready?"

"Oh, yeah, Noe and I are all packed up," Serena answered. "You excited, us at your alma mater?"

"So I guess that means you turned down this, uh, personal invitation to tour Yale?" Lily asked.

"Brown's always been my plan, just like it was for you," Serena told her.

"And I loved it there, but if Yale had invited me, I would have said yes," Lily told her. "The, uh, invitation is handwritten, Serena, in cursive."

Serena hesitated, shaking her head. "Yale is for overachieving bookworms and preppies."

"Oh, you mean the Blairs and Wyatts of the world," Noe told her.

Serena pointed at Noe, nodding, looking at Lily and Brooklyn. "See? Noe gets it."

Brooklyn smirked. "Wyatt is definitely an overachieving bookworm, and Blair is definitely and overachieving preppy, and sometimes that can be bad, but not all the time."

"True," Serena agreed. "But even though me and Blair aren't exactly on speaking terms, there's no way I would step on that particular land mine."

"But it's just a field trip to Yale right now," Brooklyn pointed out. "Just a tour. And I think it would be cool if all of us could go together. Maybe you and Blair could make up."

Noe looked at Serena. "Yeah, maybe you can."

X•O°X•O

Waldorf Apartment - Blair's Room

Dorota sat with Blair, Thyra and Wyatt. "Miss Serena and you are still not speaking?"

"Not a word in a week," Blair answered. "Though I can't seem to escape her. Ever since four mother's show, Manhattan has turned into Serenaville. With a sprinkle of Noe, Brooklyn and Thyra."

"I heard Marc Jacobs named purses after them," Dorota told them.

"That's just a rumor, Dorota," Thyra told her.

"I get the fascination of an amnesiac rising from the ashes like Noe van der Woodsen, and two girls raised by business billionaires, like Brooklyn and Thyra, since Brooklyn's dad is Bart Bass, and everyone knows the name Thyra Diamond because of the plane crash last year," Wyatt told them. Thyra glanced down briefly. "But I don't understand the fascination about a run of the mill socialite like Serena."

Blair sighed. "Fortunately, Yale is out of her reach."

X•O°X•O

VDW/Bass Apartment - Serena's Room

Serena, Noe and Brooklyn were sitting on Serena's bed. Noe was hiding the newspaper.

"It's okay, Noe," Lily told her. "You don't have to hide the photo. I've seen it."

"I'm sorry they called you our unidentified friend," Noe told her.

"Well, I guess it's better than 'mother' or 'stepmother'," Lily told them

Brooklyn nodded to the garment bags Lily was holding. "What's in the bags?"

"It's my dress for the fall dinner at the Frick," Lily answered. "Eleanor sent them over. I don't know why there's four." She looked at the gold one with a shorter skirt. It had Serena's name on it. She looked at the purple one with a mid skirt. It had Brooklyn's name on it. She looked at the black one with the mid skirt and thinner shoulder straps. It had Noe's name on it. "This one's a little edgier than I thought, but I like it."

Serena stood, walking closer. "Apparently, the gold one's for me, the purple one's for Brooklyn, and the edgier one's for Noe."

Lily laughed, looking at the floral one. "Oh, this must be mine."

"It's a really nice color, though," Brooklyn told her.

Noe took, taking the black one. "Wait, did Hope and Jenny make these?"

"Yes, they did," Lily answered. "They certainly know which one would look better on who."

X•O°X•O

Humphrey Loft - Living Room

Dan walked toward Rufus and Hope to show them a paper. "Dad, Hope, what do you think of this color?"

"Of the paper?" Rufus asked. "It's white."

"No, no, no," Hope told him. "It's not white. It's soft ecru." She pointed at another white color. "That's white." Rufus looked at her in confusion. "I'm a designer in training. I know colors."

Rufus nodded in amusement. "Mm-hmm."

"Thank you, Hope," Dan told her. "I like the ecru myself, but I'm not sure about the font."

Rufus was going through the mail that he had just brought in. "Don't worry. You'll be fine. More than fine." He was not surprised but proud when he found a letter in the mail for Hope, smiling. "In fact, you're both the perfect Yale candidates."

Annoyed but impressed and proud too, Dan looked at Hope in amusement. "Did you get another invitation to college? Yale, really?"

Hope walked toward Rufus, stunned. "No way."

Rufus chuckled, handing the invitation to Hope. "Yes way. All these Ivy Leagues considering you for early admissions like before."

"Me and Wyatt, yeah," Hope answered. "I'm sure he's already gotten an invitation, too."

"Like I said," Rufus told them. "Perfect candidates."

"Maybe, but I--I can't help thinking that Yale is for presidents, not Humphreys," Dan admitted.

"As the man who cursed you with the Humphrey moniker..." Rufus trailed off.

"Who said 'cursed'?" Hope asked. "Cursed would be cruel."

"I now feel compelled to give a speech," Rufus told them. "Daniel, my son, you have near perfect grades, excellent SATs. Hope, my daughter, you have excellent PSATs, going to have excellent SATs, high IQ and GPA and perfect grades, even with your independent study this semester while you've been working at the atelier, which I'm guessing is a huge factor on why these colleges are inviting you early to their campuses, because they see how well you can both do work and school so well. And both of you are more talented than money could ever buy."

"Yeah, but..." Dan trailed off.

"After that, you find a but?" Rufus asked.

"Well, Hope's clearly smarter than me," Dan told him. "I mean, Wyatt Waldorf said that she's one of the smartest kids in the school, which is why she's getting invitations early."

Hope smirked. "After Wyatt, Blair and Nelly. Apparently they've all gotten invitations, too."

"But I'm not," Dan told them. "What if I'm not enough?"

"If that's not enough, then there's something wrong with Yale, not you," Rufus told him.

"I'm gonna have to tell Eleanor that I got another invitation," Hope told them. "I mean, she's okay with me not being at the atelier as long as I'm accepting invitations to colleges to tour campuses, since she knows Wyatt's getting them too, obviously. And after that, I can get back to work on stuff at the atelier."

"Overachiever," Dan told her. Rufus and Hope smiled. "All right, well, we're off. Hope gets to come early and tour the campus. And then there's just me, the best English department in America and a hundred other highly competitive extremely nervous, wannabe Yalies."

X•O°X•O

Palace - Bass Suite

Dylan, Chuck, Alex and Nate were talking.

Chuck poured himself a drink. "Get excited, Archibalds. We are three hours away from horny women's studies majors wanting to work out all their anger towards men in their bunk beds."

"My heart's still set on Columbia, and Alex wants to go to USC," Nate explained. "I--I just wish our mom wouldn't push Yale so hard."

"I think she's only pushing it so hard 'cause the van der Bilt side of our family practically owns it," Alex explained. "Even Uncle Harry. Hell, our grandfather got me a personal invitation to go with you guys today just so that he can convince me to not got to USC but to Yale."

"Think of it this way," Dylan told them. "Yale is your safety school."

"I mean, I guess we could get away from all the drama on the other side of our family," Nate told them. "And go someplace where they don't know us or the Captain."

"We blow off the formal visit crap and focus on what really matters," Chuck told them. "Creating your own freshman 15."

"Are you not seriously considering going to Yale either?" Dylan asked.

"I'm, uh, evaluating colleges based on secret societies," Chuck answered. "Yale has the Creme de la Creme, the Skull and Bones. My goal is to get inside their inner sanctum."

Alex smirked in amusement, nodding sarcastically. "And how exactly are you planning to do that?"

"By showing up," Chuck answered. 

"You know, Wyatt tells me that he and Thyra got invitations to tour Yale, too," Dylan explained.

"Yeah, Hope just texted and said she got an invitation too, because of her and Wyatt's school genius stuff," Alex agreed. "How did Thyra get an invitation though? She doesn't care about school."

"Because of her aunt Aurora Diamond," Dylan answered.

Nate nodded. "Right, Matthew and Aurora went to Yale. Victoria went to Columbia. College was important to Diamonds."

"Aurora got Thyra an invitation like our grandfather got an invitation for me?" Alex asked. "Freaking Diamonds."

"Pretty much," Dylan answered.

"So it looks like you and Brooklyn are the only ones staying behind during the college visits today, Dylan," Chuck told him. "That is, unless you two want to skip and come join me at Yale and help me get into the secret society."

Dylan smirked, tempted, considering.

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

Constance/St. Jude's School - Courtyard

The principal of St. Jude's, Mr. Prescott, was speaking to students, none of whom were in their uniforms since they would be leaving right after this anyway. "This weekend concludes college visits. The schools you will be visiting, Harvard, Yale and Brown, are among the best in the world. You are ambassadors of Constance Billiard and St. Jude's, as well of your own families. We urge you to present yourselves in the best possible light. Good luck."

Dylan noticed Dan, glaring. "I wonder what lucky school will be the subject of the next nursery rhyme penned by Brooklyn's lamest fiction writer?"

"Actually, Dylan, I think the dean of admissions at Yale will actually appreciate my ability to write about damaged characters like you, Chuck and Brooklyn," Dan told him.

Chuck glared. "Looks like we'll be spending the weekend together. How nice. Say hello to the characters on public transportation for me."

"Chuck and Dylan told me all about your story about us, Humphrey, and you should know that us being friends with Hope won't stop us from getting revenge on you," Brooklyn told him. "Dan, I swear, if you use that story about what Dylan and Chuck told you about our mother--"

"Relax, Brooklyn," Dan told her. "Don't want to pay in Bass hell."

"No, you don't," Brooklyn agreed.

Dan walked away.

Chuck looked at Dylan and Brooklyn. "Want to skip and join us at Yale now?"

Brooklyn tilted her head. "Yeah, sounds like a good plan. Thyra, Wyatt, Hope and Alex are going to Yale because they all got invitations, Chuck. You, Serena, Blair, Nate, Dan are gonna be gone, too. I don't feel like being left here alone with just Dylan. No offense, Dylan."

"None taken, because I don't feel like being left here alone with just you, Brooklyn," Dylan replied.

"So it's settled," Brooklyn told him. "We're skipping school and joining them on the tour."

Dylan and Brooklyn did a handshake, walking away. Chuck smirked in amusement, shaking his head, walking with them.

Nate, Alex and Thyra were walking.

"I can't believe Aurora got you an invitation to Yale, Thyra," Alex told her.

Thyra smirked. "Well, I can. I'm gonna call her whenever we get there. Wanna talk to Aunt Aurora about it all."

"Of course," Nate agreed.

"And I'm also not surprised that William van der Bilt got you an invitation to join the seniors and Wyatt, Hope and me on the tour, Alex," Thyra told him. "I think Serena's planning on going to Brown today, but Blair's still set on Yale, and I think Noe, Chuck and Dan are too. What about you, Nate? Just going because the van der Bilt side wants you to go, besides Harry since Uncle Harry lets you guys choose your own paths?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Nate answered. "At least Aurora is giving you a choice, Thyra. Besides Uncle Harry, no one in our family gives us a choice. It's the van der Bilt way."

"Well, that's because, despite being a van der Bilt, Uncle Harry hates having his choices made up for him just like we do, Nate," Alex told him.

The three chuckled.

"I'm just glad that we get to go together," Thyra admitted. "I mean, me with you two, and with Blair and Wyatt."

"Us too," Nate told her.

Thyra, Nate and Alex smiled.

Wyatt, Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn walked up to them.

"Did we hear that you three are talking about going to Yale?" Dylan asked sarcastically. "All of you people seem to be ditching out on me and Brooklyn. Serena, Noe, Blair, Nate and Chuck have an excuse because they're seniors. And Wyatt and Hope have been invited to every college so far this weekend. And now Alex and Thyra get invites too because of van der Bilts, minus Harry, and Aurora Diamond, and looks like we're left out in the cold."

Nate chuckled in amusement. "Sorry, Dylan. Sorry, Brooklyn."

Wyatt chuckled sheepishly. "But it's our futures we're talking about here. They're talking early admissions for me and Hope. I don't know if we're gonna take them, but still. I mean, don't want to jump in too soon and all that."

"Well, Chuck asked me and Dylan if we want to skip school today and tag along with you guys, help him get initiated into Skull and Bones, and just hang out with you guys," Brooklyn explained. "I mean, it beats having to stay stuck here without all our friends."

Thyra smiled. "I think that's a great idea. Wyatt and I would be so bored without you two. Though Wyatt's so excited about Yale since it's Harold's alma mater." She took Brooklyn's hands. "And even if you are with Dylan and Chuck most of the time, I would still want my girl there, Brooklyn."

Brooklyn smirked. "Aw. Who says Thyra can't be sweet?"

They chuckled.

"I think it would be a good thing to consider your future, Dylan," Wyatt told him. "I mean, I know you don't care about school now, but maybe you will when it's our turn to graduate."

Dylan shrugged. "Maybe. Not so sure. In fact, I highly doubt it, but I like the Wyatt optimism."

They all smiled.

"Yeah, why not come?" Alex asked. "Gets too boring without Brooklyn and Dylan."

Nate smiled in agreement, looking away, seeing through the courtyard doors leading inside that Noe was getting a drink from the water fountain.

X•O°X•O

Inside - Hallway

Noe finished her drink, turning around, seeing Nate outside looking her way. She gave him a small, awkward smile. Nate returned the smile. Chuck, Dylan, Brooklyn, Thyra, Wyatt and Alex saw Nate's smile, turning to follow his gaze his confusion. When they saw that he was looking at Noe, they smirked knowingly, exchanging a look and looking at Nate.

Hope walked up to Noe. "Hey, Noe. What are you looking at?"

Noe turned to Hope. "Who, me? Nothing."

Hope looked outside, seeing what Noe had been looking at, smiling, looking at Noe. "You guys were best friends before the accident when you were living with your dad and moving back and forth for visits with your family and friends here, and you and Nate were so cute when you were together, so why don't you just go talk to him?"

"Why didn't you just go talk to Alex when you two broke up for an entire summer?" Noe replied.

"Your art of deflection is not going to work this time," Hope told her. "Alex and I agreed to give each other space over the summer because of the whole thing with Georgina, and me worrying about what could happen if he and Nate lost everything."

"Which happened anyway," Noe pointed out. "And to answer your question, Hope. Nate and I are just trying to get some distance and time away from each other so we know where our heads are at after Catherine, especially since I've still been having to go to a lot of sessions after that happened, and Alex and Nate both said that he was trying to give me space so that I won't get overwhelmed with it all again."

Hope nodded understandingly in empathy. "I'm sorry. About all of that. But you gotta admit that you're still blaming yourself for what Vanessa and Catherine did, and Alex and Nate not being able to get their lives back because of that video."

"And you gotta admit that you still somewhat blame yourself for that too, even if not as badly as I blame myself, and that you apologize way too much," Noe replied. Hope gave her an amused look. "I did the deflection thing again, didn't I?"

"Yeah," Hope answered.

"Did you get another invitation for Yale this time?" Noe asked.

"Yeah," Hope answered. "Are you going to check out Yale?"

"Seems like all of us are, yeah," Noe answered. "Serena's torn about visiting Brown or Yale, but Nate, Alex, Thyra, Wyatt, Blair and Chuck are all going to Yale. Alex and Thyra get to go because of Uncle Harry van der Bilt, and Aunt Aurora Diamond. From what I heard, Chuck was trying to talk Brooklyn and Dylan into skipping and coming with us. And I assume Dan's coming to Yale, too?"

"Yeah," Hope answered. "Alex said that he got an invitation because of the van der Bilts wanting to control him and Nate, besides their uncle Harry of course. And he mentioned Thyra getting an invitation because of her aunt Aurora Diamond, too."

"Yeah," Noe answered. "Yeah, I don't remember Harry van der Bilt or Aurora Diamond, but apparently I used to know them pretty well."

Hope nodded in understanding. "Well, maybe Serena will choose to side with the rest of us. I knew that Wyatt would get another invitation like me, and he wants to go to Yale as badly as Blair, I think. And I'm not surprised that Chuck would talk Brooklyn and Dylan into ditching and coming with us."

Noe shook her head. "Me neither."

They both chuckled, walking together.

X•O°X•O

Another Hallway

Serena walked with Blair. "Hey. So you're off to Yale?"

"Your deductive reasoning skills are perfect for a place like Brown," Blair told her snarkily.

"A place like Brown?" Serena repeated.

Blair turned to face her. "An enclave of trustafarians and children of celebrities who major in drum circles and semiotics, whatever that is. I can't wait for you to come home next Thanksgiving of militant veganista, anemic and proud."

"Brown is an Ivy League school," Serena told her.

"Everyone knows that the only real Ivies are the holy trinity," Blair told her. "Harvard, Yale and Princeton."

"I know you may find this hard to believe, but not everyone wants to go to Yale because not everyone wants to be Blair Waldorf," Serena told her.

"Not everyone can be," Blair replied. "Since we're not friends anymore, let me speak frankly. You're not that smart. You lack focus and discipline. Charm is all well and good, but in the real world, knowledge is power. You wouldn't make it past the first round of admissions at Yale, no matter how hard you try. Have fun in Providence. Oh, and you know, maybe you can get your hair dreadlocked while you're there."

Blair walked away. Serena watched her go angrily.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Gossip Girl's hardly a war buff, but I did cram for a quiz or two on the American Revolution. The last time New Haven was invaded was in 1779."

Serena took out her phone, making a call. "Hey, Mom. Change of plans. Tell the driver we're going to Yale."

Serena turned around, walking away.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Heads up, B. There's a cannonball coming your way."

X•O°X•O

X•O°X•O

Humphrey Loft - Living Room

Rufus was sitting with breakfast ready on the table.

Jenny walked out of her and Hope's room.

"Oh, after that shower, there won't be any hot water left in the building," Rufus told her.

"I wasn't in the shower the whole time," Jenny told him. "I was waiting for something."

Vanessa walked in. "I got here as fast as I could."

Jenny smirked. "I know. I, uh, saw you running up the block from my window."

"What's going on here?" Rufus asked.

"Did you know that Vanessa's applying for NYU next fall?" Jenny asked.

"Something you wouldn't be able to do without finishing high school," Rufus told her.

"Which she's doing by homeschooling," Jenny told him.

"Which she has to do because she has to work to support herself," Rufus replied. "Living as an adult when you're a teenager is not something any parent wants for their child."

"Well, what about what I want for me?" Jenny asked.

"Well, until you're 18, what you want gets trumped by what I want," Rufus told her.

Jenny and Vanessa exchanged a look.

Vanessa nodded. "Plan B."

They sat down across from Rufus.

"Come to the atelier with me today," Jenny told him.

"Come with you?" Rufus repeated.

"I'll make you a deal," Jenny told him. "Spend the day with me, and by the day, if you honestly think that I should go back to Constance on Monday, I will."

"Jenny, I've seen all your and Hope's designs, heard about your internships all summer long," Rufus told her. "What more is there?"

"Well, things are different now," Jenny told him.

Rufus considered for a long moment, sighing. "Well, at least we'll be moving forward in one way or another. It's a deal."

Jenny smiled in surprise. "You mean it?"

Rufus raised his orange juice glass. "You have my word."

Jenny squealed, raising her glass to clink with Rufus's. "Thank you!"

Jenny and Vanessa both grinned.

X•O°X•O

Yale Campus

There was a slow pan over the Yale campus.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "We hear there's nothing like Yale in October. The crisp hair, the turning leaves, the invasion of prospective freshmen. Better hurry up, Lonely Boy. Your future's waiting."

X•O°X•O

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Dan was having an interview with Dean Berube. "To summarize, I--I really feel that I have something to say."

"Well, by all means, say it," Berube told him.

"Via my writing," Dan elaborated. "Uh, with--with its world class English department, Yale would be the ideal place for me to grow as a--as a writer, to--to flourish, and, uh, thrive."

Berube nodded. "Kudos to you and your inner thesaurus, Mr. Humphrey, but there's a problem with your application."

"A-a-a problem?" Dan repeated. "No, there's, um, I double--I triple checked it."

"It seems you only have one letter of recommendation from J.L. Hall," Berube told him. "Noah Shapiro declined to write on your behalf."

"Um, Mr. Shapiro and I had creative differences," Dan explained. "But--but if you look further down my application, you'll see that I spent the summer interning with Jeremiah Harris."

"A fact which Mr. Harris has not been able to confirm himself," Berube told him.

"Oh, um, did you--did you call him early in the morning?" Dan asked. "'Cause he's not--he's not a--a morning person. I mean, he's not an afternoon person either. If you try, like, after 7:00--"

"Mr. Humphrey, if you want your application to stand out, you need another letter, one about your work," Berube told him.

"Another letter from whom and how?" Dan asked.

"This is Yale," Berube pointed out. "If you haven't noticed, we traffic in brick buildings full of professors. I suggest you put on your walking shoes, head to the English department and find someone to read your work."

X•O°X•O

Campus

Nate, Alex, Chuck, Dylan, Wyatt, Thyra and Brooklyn sat together on the grass.

"I thought we were gonna do something," Wyatt told them. He looked at Chuck. "What happened to your master plan, finding the Skull and Bones?"

"You don't find them," Dylan explained. "They find you."

Nate nodded. "Hmm, that's good. So we'll just sit here and wait." He looked at a paper. "I mean, there's a football game at 1:00 or a tour of the university art gallery at 3:00."

(Song:) White Diamonds - The Friendly Fires

Noe and Hope were walking together, past the group, talking indistinctly, both laughing.

Nate and Alex saw Noe and Hope walk by. "Whoa."

Hope looked at Alex, smiling, waving. Alex smirked, returning the wave.

Noe and Nate exchanged a look, a little awkward but still drawn to each other. They waved a bit..

Thyra looked at Nate and Alex knowingly in amusement, smiling, before looking at Chuck, Dylan, Wyatt and Brooklyn. "What do you say, guys? Instead of sitting here and wait, Nate and Alex should go after Noe and Hope."

"Oh, yeah," Brooklyn agreed. 

Nate sighed. "Thyra. Brooklyn."

"What?" Brooklyn asked. "Alex, you and Hope are still going strong."

"Yeah, Alex and Hope are," Nate agreed. "But you know me and Noe--"

"Go after her, you idiot," Dylan told him. "I know that she needed space before, but she's in the middle of a potential spiral, and I think that Noe needs you more than she needs space, Nate. Alex and Hope spent an entire summer broken up over someone getting between them and a psycho getting into Hope's head about Alex. Don't make the same mistake since Catherine did to you and Noe the same thing Georgina did to them."

"Dylan--" Nate started.

"Thyra, Dylan and Brooklyn are right, Nathaniel," Chuck told him. "Don't you agree, Wyatt?" Wyatt nodded in agreement. "Hope and Alex are having the time of their lives, Nate, while you're miserable and it's clear that you want her back, and Noe's miserable right now pretending she's completely fine. Take a page from Hope and Alexander's page. Nevaeh needs you."

"It's weird, though," Wyatt told them. "Dylan was right. Georgina got into Hope's head and was the reason why she and Alex broke up. And Catherine had an obsession with you four, got into Noe's head, and tried to break up Hope and Alex again which didn't technically work, but did work with Noe and Nate breaking up. Talk about parallels."

"But Hope and Alex fixed things, Nate, which means that you and Noe can too," Brooklyn told him.

"Go before I kick your asses," Thyra told them.

Alex stood, chuckling. "I would take the word of Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan, Nate. You know, seeing as they are Noe's step siblings and they probably know what they're talking about. And Thyra and Wyatt know us too much, too."

Nate stood. "Fine." He looked at Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan. "Good luck sitting on your asses while Wyatt and Thyra are doing whatever they're doing."

Wyatt chuckled. "Well, I gotta head to Dean Berube's office. My interview is coming up. He said that he wanted to interview me and Hope for potential early admission."

Dylan stood to face Wyatt. "Well, not that you need it, but good luck. Wyatt Waldorf's gonna knock them dead."

Wyatt chuckled. "Thanks, Dylan."

Dylan and Wyatt shared a goodbye kiss.

"And I gotta call Aunt Aurora," Thyra agreed, standing up.

Brooklyn stood up. "Tell Aurora I said hi? The biggest Diamond bitch, and I used to look up to her, naturally."

"Absolutely," Thyra agreed.

Brooklyn smiled, giving Thyra a kiss. "Bye, Thyra."

Thyra smiled. "Bye."

"Tell Aurora we said hi too, Thyra," Nate told her. "Been a while since we saw that Diamond."

"You might have called our Uncle Harry, 'Uncle Harry', but we used to call Aurora, 'Aunt Aurora' when we were kids, too, so yeah, definitely tell Aurora we said hi," Alex told her.

Thyra smiled. "Will do."

Nate and Alex nodded in thanks to the Bass siblings, Thyra and Wyatt, walking away. Chuck, Dylan, Wyatt, Thyra and Brooklyn exchanged a smug, victorious look, smirking.

Nate and Alex walked up to Noe and Hope.

"Hey, Hope," Alex told her. "Did you just get done with an interview?"

"Yeah, got a class catalog and everything to check out," Hope answered. "Right now, Noe and I are just looking around. Hey, Alex. Nate."

"Hey, Hope," Nate replied. 

"Is Wyatt's interview later?" Hope asked.

"Yeah, Wyatt's on the way to the dean's office right now since his interview is coming up," Alex answered. "You wanna walk with me?"

"Sure," Hope answered.

Hope and Alex looked at Noe and Nate, smiling sympathetically, walking away to give him space.

Noe looked at Nate. "Hope and Alex are about as subtle as Chuck, Dylan, Brooklyn, Thyra and Wyatt."

Nate looked busted and sheepish. "You heard all that?"

"We heard all that," Noe answered.

They both couldn't help small smiles and laughs.

"Sorry, Noe," Nate told her. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Does it have anything to do with drama or obsessions or love triangles?" Noe asked.

"No, no, no," Nate answered. "Absolutely not."

Noe chuckled. "Then absolutely."

"You wanna hang out?" Nate asked. "I know that you still need time, but we can hang out like friends. We used to be best friends, so... And if it makes things easier, we can be hanging out with Alex and Hope."

Noe smiled, nodding. "Yeah. Yeah, I'd love to hang out. With or without Alex and Hope."

Nate and Noe smiled slightly.

X•O°X•O

Elsewhere

Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan were walking together, away from eyes, when a group of guys jumped them and put bags over their heads and restrained them, kidnapping them.

X•O°X•O

Elsewhere

Thyra was walking, on the phone.

Aurora Diamond's voice was on the other line. "Hello?"

Thyra chuckled nervously. "Hey, Aunt Aurora."

Aurora was out of the country, at her own branch of Diamond Enterprises. "Thyra. Hey, sweetie. Did you get my invitation?"

"You mean the invitation that you got for me to Yale?" Thyra asked sarcastically, nodding. "Yep. I'm here now."

Aurora chuckled. "I'm glad to hear that. Your father and I had a lot of fun at Yale. Matthew was the one that helped me get in, ironically."

"Yeah, he told me that before," Thyra told her. "Blair, Wyatt, Alex, Nate and Brooklyn told me to tell you they said hi."

"Well, whenever you see them again, tell them I said hi, too," Aurora told her. "Blair, Wyatt, Alex and Nate are like your siblings, and so they're like niece and nephews to me too. And Brooklyn's... Brooklyn."

They laughed.

Thyra sighed. "Did you help me get an invite so that I could come here after I graduate high school?"

"Well, I got you an invitation so that you could look at your options clearly for the next couple years," Aurora answered. "I know that you're conflicted about choosing Yale like me and your dad, or Columbia like your mom. Victoria always spoke very highly of Columbia, and I know that Matthew always spoke highly of Yale, so I decided that you could get to look at both close up and take the next couple years to decide for yourself."

Thyra smiled, chuckling. "Well, thank you. I'm not sure if looking at both colleges is gonna make it any easier to decide, but this is definitely gonna help, so thank you, Aurora."

"Of course," Aurora agreed. "Let me guess. Blair and Wyatt there with you? And I'm guessing the van der Bilts got Nate and Alex there, too? Since their family likes to control everything and everyone, except for their uncle Harry."

"Oh, yeah," Thyra answered. "Wyatt and our friend, Alex's girlfriend, Hope Humphrey got invitations." Aurora reacted visibly to Hope's name, looking stunned to even hear Thyra say it, looking down. "Even though Wyatt's a sophomore like me, Brooklyn and Dylan, and even though Hope's a junior like Alex, because of their GPAs, IQs and all that."

"Sounds like Wyatt and Blair's got some competition for smartest and brightest with this Hope," Aurora remarked, looking down nervously.

Thyra smiled. "Yeah, but Wyatt's still the smartest."

"How did an Archibald land a genius girlfriend?" Aurora asked. "Nate and Alex never cared about school, and Alex lands a girl like this Hope Humphrey?"

"Yeah, we were all surprised too, but they're perfect together," Thyra told her. "Serena, Noe, Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn are here, too."

"I thought Serena wanted to go to Brown," Aurora told her in confusion. "I get Chuck wanting to be there, but Dylan and Brooklyn?"

"Serena only came so she could get even with Blair over a fight," Thyra explained. "Chuck wanted to bring Dylan and Brooklyn so they could get insider scoop on the Skull and Bones secret society."

Aurora nodded. "Sounds like Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn. Basses aren't known for their patience or non-decadence."

Thyra laughed lightly. "Maybe not."

"And I know that you and Brooklyn are together, and so are Wyatt and Dylan," Aurora told her. "And you said that Chuck and Blair had a thing. And with the fact that Eleanor adopted you, you're basically a Waldorf and a Diamond, and the Archibald/van der Bilts still consider you family since you grew up with Blair, Wyatt, Eleanor, Nate, Alex, Anne and Howie when Victoria, Matthew and I couldn't be around, and you used to call Harrison Uncle Harry too. Did you Waldorf/Diamond siblings make a bet to get with the Bass twins and their older brother, Thyra?"

Thyra couldn't help another laugh. "No, but Blair always used to tease me and Wyatt about Brooklyn and Dylan, and I replied that if things didn't work out with Nate, that there was always Chuck, and then everything after that happened. Nate and Alex called me a psychic for that one."

Aurora smirked. "Hmm. You said that Noe's there too?"

"Yeah," Thyra answered.

"How is she?" Aurora asked. "News about a world renowned shady doctor William van der Woodsen that gets drunk and gets himself and his daughter into a car accident and leaves his daughter for dead in a coma that wakes up with no memory travels fast. I keep tabs on things in Manhattan. How's Noe doing?"

"Things were touch and go for a while, and sometimes still are, and she's been having trouble not spiraling given something that happened with her, Nate, Alex and Hope, and this obsessed Duchess, but I think that Noe's gonna be okay," Thyra admitted. "I mean, she has medicines and sessions and all that, and I think they're helping, but she still has episodes and sometimes lashes out without meaning to. Everyone was worried about a spiral, and it could still happen, but we're hoping not."

Aurora nodded in understanding and concern. "What about you, Thyra? Speaking of medications, you sound better when you're on yours. You don't sound so depressed and angry anymore. And Wyatt, is he?"

"We're not," Thyra agreed. "Things are a lot easier now for both me and Wyatt."

"I'm sure some of that has to do with you being with Brooklyn and Wyatt being with Dylan," Aurora told her knowingly in amusement.

Thyra hid a smile. "Maybe. Even though people around here still call me the Black Diamond because of how I used to be after Mom and Dad died... I'm doing better, and so is Wyatt. And yeah, a lot of it is thanks to Brooklyn and Dylan. And Blair, Alex and Nate being there for us as family, and Noe and Hope as friends. Serena too, when she's not going to war with Blair. Even Chuck sometimes."

Aurora chuckled. "Got it. I hope you have fun at Yale and it can help making a decision easier between there and Columbia, but remember, you still have a couple years to decide, Thyra. Us Diamonds always prevail and succeed. I gotta get back to work."

"Okay," Thyra agreed. "Thank you, Aurora. I miss you."

"I miss you too," Aurora agreed. "I hope to see you soon. Bye, Thyra."

"Bye," Thyra agreed.

Chuckling, Thyra and Aurora both hung up with small smiles.

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

Undergraduate Admissions Office - Waiting Room

Blair was waiting.

The receptionist was dusting the figurine cats on her desk.

Wyatt walked in, seeing his sister. "Hey, Blair."

"There you are, Wyatt," Blair told him.

"Guess the dean's conducting interviews alphabetically," Wyatt told her.

"Yeah," Blair agreed. "I'm next, and then you. Where have you been?"

"Was with Thyra, Dylan, Brooklyn, Chuck, Alex and Nate," Wyatt answered. "Thyra, Dylan, Brooklyn, Chuck and I talked Alex and Nate into going to hang out with Hope and Noe. Alex didn't need much convincing since he and Hope are still together, but Nate still wanted to give Noe space."

"But you, Thyra, Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck figured that Noe could need Nate to avoid a spiral," Blair finished. "Great. Don't want a repeat of Alex and Hope last year."

Wyatt chuckled. "Right."

They heard Dean Berube laughing from his office.

"Oh, my," the receptionist named Shirley said. "The dean hasn't laughed like that in years."

Berube opened his office door to let Serena out. "It was an utter delight to meet you, Miss van der Woodsen. What a lovely surprise."

Blair and Wyatt looked shocked to see Serena.

Serena smirked smugly. "Oh, and who doesn't like a surprise?"

"I do hope you enjoy the rest of your visit," Berube told her.

"Thank you so much," Serena told him, laughing, looking at Blair. "Looks like he's ready for you."

"Shall we, Miss Waldorf?" Berube asked.

Blair stood. "I've never been more prepared."

Serena chuckled. Blair walked by Serena as the two looked at each other with no friendship in their eyes during their fight. Blair walked into the office, while Serena left the building. Wyatt watched Serena go in annoyance.

X•O°X•O

Campus

Hope and Alex were sitting on a bench.

Nate and Noe were walking together in the grass up ahead.

"What happened to you and Serena wanting to go to Brown?" Nate asked.

"What happened to you wanting to go to Columbia, and Alex wanting to go to USC?" Noe replied. Nate tilted his head. "Sorry, sorry. I really need to stop using deflection as my first response."

Nate chuckled. "No, it's cute."

Noe smiled, looking up. "No, yes, we wanted to go to Brown, but Serena got an invitation to come here today, and our mom said that we could at least check it out here."

"I'm sure that you got to talk to Dean Berube already?" Nate asked

"Yeah," Noe answered. "He said that he was impressed given my history."

"Really?" Nate asked. "That's incredible, Noe." Noe smiled. "Was he impressed with the hard work after the accident, the good grades that you had to fight to keep up, or the surprisingly awesome SAT scores that you were so afraid of failing?"

"A little bit of all of the above," Noe answered.

"See?" Nate asked. "Told you you had nothing to worry about."

Noe hit Nate's chest teasingly. "Shut up."

Nate laughed. "No, I meant it then, and I mean it now."

Noe smiled, looking down. Nate smiled. They walked up to where Hope and Alex were sitting.

"Hey, guys," Alex told them. "You wanna sit?"

"Yes, please," Noe answered, sitting down.

Nate chuckled, sitting down too. "What you got, Hope?"

"It's a pamphlet that I got, since they wanted to give me and Wyatt the option of early admission," Hope answered. "Whatever major we pick, we can mix up with electives, and Yale's are better than most. Got a course catalog and everything."

"Oh, really?" Alex asked. "What're the electives on the list?"

Hope overlooked the list, frowning in amusement. "Okay, there's electives on here literally for the Role of Sex in Art, and Great Hoaxes in Archaeology."

"Those are seriously classes?" Alex asked.

They laughed.

"God, I'm definitely not gonna miss St. Jude's," Nate told them.

"Me neither," Alex agreed.

"And I'm not gonna miss Constance," Noe added.

Hope shook her head. "Mm-mm."

A guy sitting on the bench nearby looked over at them. "St. Jude's? Constance Billiard?" Alex, Hope, Noe and Nate nodded. "Then you must know, uh, Nate and Alex Archibald and Nevaeh van der Woodsen. I hear they're on campus this weekend."

The girl next to him shook her head. "Why do those names sound familiar?"

"Nevaeh's father is apparently William van der Woodsen, a shady, world renowned doctor, an alcoholic who caused a major car accident with her in the backseat and caused her to lose every memory she ever had, making her a freak with episodes and freak outs until she started to get her memories back, but rumor has it that she still doesn't remember everything, and she still has episodes like that," the guy explained. Noe looked very agitated and overwhelmed, looking down. Nate took her hand in hopes of keeping her calm. "She even had to go to a place meant for the addicted and the disturbed just for help." Alex and Hope looked at Noe worriedly in sympathy. "And Nate and Alex are the sons of Howard 'The Captain' Archibald. We've been talking about them in Econ. The guy's like a modern Milken."

Alex and Nate looked annoyed as well.

Hope stood, turning to face Alex, Noe and Nate, wanting to help by getting them away from the conversation. "Hey, you think we should go take a walk? Explore campus and get away from here?"

Noe nodded, thankful for the option to get the hell out of there. "Absolutely."

Alex stood, as Hope took his hand.

Nate stood, offering a hand to Noe. Noe took his hand, standing.

Alex, Hope, Nate and Noe walked away.

X•O°X•O

Skull In Bones Meeting Place

The Skull in Bones society removed the hoods from Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan's heads.

"Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn Bass, heir to Bass Industries," Guy 1 told them. "Chuck and Dylan, champions of the legendary lost weekend, and Brooklyn, quite the leader and socialite in society."

Guy 2 looked at Chuck. "Rumor has it, you've slept with more 'Maxim' covers than John Mayer."

"And better, I might add," Chuck told them.

There was laughter.

"If our intel's correct, you're the perfect candidates for future classes, but we don't take anything on hearsay," Guy 1 explained. "We need to hear firsthand you three are as good as your advertising."

"Well, we come prepared," Dylan told them. "How about a little private party to kick things off?"

Guy 1 looked intrigued. "What do you have in mind?"

Brooklyn smirked. "First of all, you should never ask the Basses that question."

X•O°X•O

Dean Berube's Office

Berube was interviewing Blair. "I have to say, your application is most impressive, Miss Waldorf. There's just one thing I'd like to know. Tell me something about you that isn't in that packet."

"Oh, not in there?" Blair repeated nervously.

"Do you like to drive race cars?" Berube asked. "Can you cook authentic szechuan? The young lady before you told me a delightful story. She and her sister and friends were recently in a fashion show just for fun."

Blair chuckled nervously. "My adoptive sister and her girlfriend were in that fashion show. Thyra Diamond and Brooklyn Bass." Berube nodded. "I know I must seem rather traditional, compared to others, but isn't tradition what Yale is all about?"

"Well, yes, but we've been trying to change that image," Berube answered. "Too stuffy. So..."

Blair was very nervous. "Well... I'm aware I lack some people's easy grace with strangers, and I don't exactly make you feel like you've known me forever even though we just met. When I laugh, you might not smile just at the coquettish sound of it. And I may not be spontaneous or delightful or full of surprises, and my hair might not sparkle when it catches the light... Everything worth knowing about me is in that folder. I made sure of it."

X•O°X•O

Waiting Room

Berube opened the door to let Blair out.

Wyatt stood, ready for his interview.

Blair turned to Berube. "Well, isn't there anything else you'd like to ask me? Maybe about what my plans are for tonight?"

"Uh, there's so much to do on campus," Berube told her. "I'm sure you'll find something."

They shook hands.

Blair smiled nervously. "It was so nice to meet you."

In a gesture of unthinking, flustered nervousness, Blair kissed Berube on the cheek, shocking herself, Berube, Wyatt and Shirley.

"Right," Berube said awkwardly. "Uh, good luck then. Mr. Waldorf, are you ready?'

"Yeah," Wyatt answered. "Yeah, I am."

Berube walked into his office.

Blair and Wyatt exchanged a look of worry and shock, as Wyatt walked into the office.

Blair was mortified. "Oh, God."

X•O°X•O

Outside

After Wyatt's interview was over, Blair and Wyatt walked outside, seeing Thyra talking with a group of people.

Thyra was looking at a course catalog. "Great Hoaxes in Archaeology? Is that even a class?"

Blair pouted. "Thyra, I completely blew my interview."

Thyra looked at the group. "Excuse me." They nodded. Thyra walked toward Blair and Wyatt. "I'm sure you didn't do bad, Blair."

"I did," Blair argued. "I couldn't find one non-traditional thing to say, that he wanted to hear, to finish off, I accidentally kissed him on the cheek."

Thyra raised her eyebrows in surprise. "What?"

"Yeah," Wyatt answered. "Not good, but doesn't mean that it's the end either, Blair."

"Easy for you to say, Wyatt," Blair told him. "I'm sure you both did well on your interviews, and you're not even seniors yet. Just here because you're smarter and Aurora's got connections for Thyra."

"Well, I'm not sure how well I did," Thyra admitted. "Are you, Wyatt?"

"No, I'm not, Thyra," Wyatt answered.

Serena walked by. "Uh-oh. Doesn't sound so good over here."

They looked at her in annoyance.

"What are you doing, Serena?" Blair asked.

"Yeah, here," Wyatt told her. "Yale. You hate Yale."

"Well, I'll admit, Wyatt, Thyra, I came to punish Blair for the things she said to me this morning," Serena answered.

"Fine," Blair told her. "Consider me punished. You can go home now."

"I actually like it here," Serena told them. "The campus is beautiful, the people are so nice. And do you know how great the drama school is?"

"Of course we do," Thyra answered. "It's world renowned."

"The dean made me realize that by being so set on Brown, I closed myself off to all other options," Serena told them.

"Well, that's a lovely epiphany," Wyatt told her. "I'm afraid it's irrelevant. It's not as if you'd actually get in here."

"And why is that?" Serena asked.

"Are you for real?" Thyra asked.

"Yeah," Serena answered. "Tell me. You're not better than me, so why can't I be here?"

"We are better than you," Blair told her. "You just don't get it. You're not Yale material."

"I'm gonna tell it like it is, Serena," Wyatt told her. "You're a washed up blonde wannabe socialite. Yale doesn't want you because you're so smart, because you're not. They want more press. That's what you are bringing, nothing more special."

Serena's phone rang. She answered. "Hello? An intimate gathering at the dean's house tonight? I'd be honored. Thank you."

Blair, Thyra and Wyatt looked at her in shock. 

"You were invited to the dean's gathering?" Thyra asked.

"You might want to make other plans," Serena told them. "She said I was her last call. How is that for a wannabe washed up blonde socialite?"

Blair became desperate. "Of all the things. Our mom, the girls at school. You wouldn't take this from me. Because if you do, I swear I will take you down."

"I'm not taking anything from you, Blair," Serena told her. "And as for taking me down, I'd love to see you try."

"If you do anything to hurt her, just know that it won't be just Blair fighting you, Serena," Thyra told her. "It'll be me and Wyatt. And can't imagine that Brooklyn and Dylan will like that their stepsister started a fight with their girlfriend and boyfriend because you started a fight with our sister."

Serena chuckled, as if trying not to worry about that. "Well, I won't have to start a fight with Dylan and Brooklyn's girlfriend and boyfriend if you and Wyatt stay out of it, Thyra."

"And how are Thyra and I supposed to stay out of it when you're threatening our sister's future?" Wyatt replied. "We've been lenient to you, Serena, because of Dylan and Brooklyn, you and Noe being their stepsisters, and Chuck's. But I'm sure that Brooklyn and Dylan would understand us defending Blair if you continued this fight. Leave Blair alone, and Thyra and I won't have a reason to get involved."

Serena scoffed. "Blair's the one that started this. If you want to get involved, get involved, but it's your mistake."

Serena walked away, leaving Blair, Thyra and Wyatt looking angry.

"Do I even have to say it?" Blair asked.

"You don't," Thyra answered.

"She needs to be destroyed," Wyatt told them.

Blair, Wyatt and Thyra exchanged a look of anger and determination.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "When it comes to war, the rule is never retreat, never surrender. But whoever said that never met the new Serena, or Blair and Wyatt Waldorf and Thyra Diamond."

X•O°X•O

X•O°X•O

Eleanor Waldorf Designs - Atelier

Jenny was working while Rufus was watching.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Spotted. Little Jenny Humphrey off her high horse and in high demand."

A blonde woman walked closer. "Did you look at the resort samples? Eleanor wants your opinion."

"Oh, no, I didn't, but I'll do that right now," Jenny answered.

"And we got in the chambray you like," the woman explained.

They walked away.

Rufus went to talk to Eleanor.

"I didn't realize that with Hope going away on another college visit because she was invited early, that Jenny would bring you to work instead," Eleanor told him.

"Yes, well, it was Jenny's idea to show me why this is so important to her," Rufus explained.

Eleanor nodded. "Uh-huh."

"Do you have a moment?" Rufus asked.

"Just," Eleanor answered, looking at her phone.

"I gave Jenny my word about something this morning, but I'm not sure if I can keep it," Rufus admitted. "I need your help."

"What can I do for you?" Eleanor asked, sitting down.

"Fire her," Rufus answered.

Eleanor laughed. "I will do no such thing. Fashion is a young person's career, and this is Hope and Jenny's moment. Hope is balancing fashion with school and her future, but Jenny is wanting nothing more but to involve herself here."

"I like that Hope is doing both," Rufus explained. "She's not giving up her education or her future for something they might not succeed in. She's 16 and juggling two passions of hers, school and fashion. But Jenny wants to completely forsake school to delve into something that might not work out for her, and she's only 15 years old. The opportunity can wait till she's ready."

"Do you remember the dreams you had when you were their age, Mr. Humphrey?" Eleanor asked. "What if they all started to come true? Would you have told them to wait?"

Rufus didn't answer.

X•O°X•O

Yale College - Campus

Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck were walking together.

Dylan was on the phone. "Just make sure they're up for anything. This crowd can get particular."

Serena walked toward them.

"Well, I know you're not a geography whiz, but you are aware that Providence is in Rhode Island?" Brooklyn asked.

Serena sighed. "I don't have time to explain. I've been invited to the dean's house tonight. I have to get ready."

"The dean's house?" Chuck asked. "Nice. What's your answer to his question?'

"Yes?" Serena asked.

Chuck chuckled. "No, no, no. 'What person, real or imagined, living or dead, would you most like to have dinner with?' The rumor is, if your answer impresses the dean enough, it gets you on the short list for early admission. Or so says Blair."

Serena groaned. "Oh, I should have given my spot to her."

"You got invited, and she didn't?" Brooklyn asked. "You're lucky to be alive."

"Yeah, well, I won't be much longer if I don't find an answer fast," Serena told them.

"Steal Blair's," Chuck told her. "She has no use for it anymore."

"No," Brooklyn told them. "No, Serena, you can't, no matter how good it is."

"George Sand," Chuck told them.

Dylan hit Chuck. "We did not want to know that. And how do you even know that? Wait, why does Blair want to go to dinner with some guy named George?"

"A hot girl named George," Chuck corrected. "She dressed like a man and apparently is the dean's favorite writer. And I know this because talking with Blair about how she's going to get into Yale gets her really--"

Brooklyn hit Chuck. "Chuck, no. You just told us two things I never wanted to hear, and one is gonna haunt me for the rest of my life."

Serena scoffed. "Nice, Chuck. And Brooklyn, Dylan, sorry ahead of time, but, uh, Thyra and Wyatt kind of admitted that if Blair and I don't stop this fight, and if I did anything to hurt her, that they would get involved, and, well..."

"Then stop," Dylan told her. "That's all you gotta do. You save your friendship with Blair, and you don't go to war with Thyra and Wyatt. Kills two birds with one stone. Seriously, Serena. You don't even like Yale."

"Just please stop," Brooklyn told her. "This is getting ridiculous."

Serena sighed, walking away.

X•O°X•O

Elsewhere

Hope, Alex, Nate and Noe were walking together.

"Are you guys okay?" Hope asked. "I mean, about earlier?"

"Don't ask me, ask Nate and Alex," Noe told her. "I'm tired of people asking me if I'm okay, Hope."

"I thought you said you were gonna stop using deflection as my first response," Nate told her in amusement.

"No, I said that I needed to stop using deflection as my first response," Noe corrected. "There's a difference."

They laughed.

"Yeah, sure there is," Alex said sarcastically.

Dan walked outside of the English department nearby. "Hope?" Hope turned to face her brother. "Noe." Dan sighed in annoyance. "And Nate and Alex."

"What's up?" Hope asked.

"Nothing," Dan said sarcastically, bitterly. "Nothing, besides the fact that here I am, a senior, working my ass off to try and make a connection to the English lit department, and here you four are, walking and laughing like nothing's wrong, and Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn are out there screwing around, and Thyra and Alex got invited and they're not even caring about school, and you and Wyatt got invited too even though you're not even seniors, all because you have a better chance than I do, Hope."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Hope told her. "Calm down. Dan, what is--"

Noe scoffed, starting to laugh, causing Dan, Hope, Alex and Nate to look at her in confusion.

"Is it funny for you?" Dan asked. "Because my future's not a joke."

"It's not," Noe agreed. "But you going off on us for something you can't do is kinda ironic, since you're the one that can't do it, and yet you're blaming other people. And you say that we're laughing and screwing around, but you have no idea what we had to go through this afternoon or every other day."

"Look, Noe, I know that your life, and Nate and Alex's lives, are complicated with your families, your dads mostly, and all of that, and Catherine most recently, but you guys are fine now," Dan told them. "While I'm here freaking out about my future."

Noe raised her voice without meaning to. "And so am I, Dan!" The loudness of her voice made them jump and others nearby look over. "With everything going on, I'm not even sure that I'm ready for college given the accident, the damage, the episodes. And you have no idea the kind of things that people are saying on campus about me, my dad, Nate and Alex and their dad. That our dads are monsters and that I'm a freak. And you know what? Maybe they are right about me."

Nate tried to reach out and calm her down. "Noe..." Noe shook her head, walking away. Nate looked at Dan in annoyance, angry about the way he caused that to happen. "Do you ever get tired of carrying around that chip on your shoulder, Dan? No wonder why Serena dumped you. Why the hell would you want to snap at us like that and cause Noe to snap like that?"

"Earlier, Noe was overwhelmed because of what people were saying about us, our dads," Alex told him. "And you just blowing up at us and bringing up all of that, not helping. Everybody was worried about Noe spiraling before after the Catherine thing, and you may or may not just have helped with that. Congrats, Dan."

"Nate, Alex, go get Noe," Hope told them. Nate and Alex walked away. Hope looked at Dan, shaking her head. "What the hell, Dan?"

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" Dan asked.

"Not okay," Hope answered.

"How was I supposed to know what was going on today?" Dan asked. "I mean, with Noe, Nate and Alex, it's always something, Hope. And you get dragged into it a lot, especially with everything involving Georgina and Catherine."

Hope scoffed. "And that's their fault? Georgina and Catherine were psychotic stalkers with no impulse control. It wasn't Alex's fault where Georgina was concerned anymore than it was yours or Serena's. Or anymore than it was Nate and Alex's fault that their father did those things, or Noe's fault that her father did what he did, and what happened to her because of it, or our fault where Catherine was concerned. And school? College? You're really going to snap at us for being here and seemingly just screwing around just because you can't get anyone to read your stories? Getting mad that me, Alex, Chuck, Brooklyn, Dylan, Wyatt and Thyra are here too when you think your future's more important."

"Chuck sucks at school, okay?" Dan asked. "He's not college material, and neither are Dylan and Brooklyn. And even if they were, they're sophomores like Wyatt and Thyra. They have more chances for the next couple years, and you and Alex have your chance next year. This is the only chance I got."

"Maybe you should stop putting the blame on everyone else and start putting more effort into furthering your own future, because the only one holding you back is you," Hope told him. "Now I gotta go make sure that my best friend is okay after you decided to start a fight with us because of your own stress, and basically made Noe's skyrocket even more. She's been struggling so hard not to spiral after everything with Catherine, and the stress that this college thing is putting her under, and everything that we heard people talking about earlier, and you, you just made that worse. So nice job."

Dan sighed apologetically. "Hope..."

Hope ignored him, walking away.

X•O°X•O

Berube's Office - Waiting Room

Wyatt walked up to Shirley's desk. "Hello, Shirley. I would like to get an invitation for my sister Blair to the private reception at the dean's house tonight, and you're going to get her one."

"I'm sorry," Shirley told him. "I'm not in charge of the dean's private affairs."

"I have it on good authority that you are, and Blair needs to get back in the good graces of the dean," Wyatt told her.

Shirley shook her head. "Interviews are so stressful for you students."

"Check your email," Wyatt told her. Shirley did, seeing figurine cats in her email. "18th century. Did you know how rare a pair is from that era? I had someone at Christie's put them on hold, just in case."

Shirley wrote down the address on a piece of paper. "1100 Hillhouse Avenue."

Wyatt took the paper, smirking. "Thank you."

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Poor S. She should know Waldorf/Diamond rules by now. When someone leaves you off the list, don't get mad. Get in."

X•O°X•O

X•O°X•O

Eleanor Waldorf Designs - Atelier

Rufus was sitting down.

Jenny walked toward him. "Well?"

"I'm impressed," Rufus told her. "You're clearly valued here, just like Hope. I know you two handle yourselves very professionally."

Jenny smiled. "Thank you."

"But I think you should go back to school," Rufus told her.

"But you just said you were impressed," Jenny told him. "I don't... I don't understand."

Rufus stood. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I just think school's too important."

Jenny looked crushed, disappointed. "Okay. If that's what you think, that's what you think. We made a deal, and I agreed to it, so..."

Rufus turned to stand in front of Jenny as she turned away. "I have to say, I thought there'd be some yelling."

"You said you'd give me a day, and you did," Jenny told him. "Can, um, can you at least take me to complete one last errand before we go home?"

"Sure," Rufus answered.

"Thanks," Jenny told him, walking away.

Rufus sighed.

X•O°X•O

Berube's House - Living Room

(Song:) Time Is Running Out - The Section Quartet

The invited students were here for the dean's party, which was classy and elegant.

Serena stood at the bowl of papers, conflicted on what to write.

Blair arrived behind her. "Trying to come up with an answer for the dean's parlor game?"

"You manipulated your way in here?" Serena asked.

"I had help," Blair answered. 

"Let me guess, Wyatt, or Thyra?" Serena asked. "It's really a toss up since they both would do anything for you. So would Brooklyn, but I know she's doing her own thing with Chuck and Dylan right now."

"It doesn't matter who," Blair told her. "I get what I want, Serena, just like I'm gonna win tonight. What's your answer? Oh, no, let me guess. Lauren Conrad."

Serena made her decision. "Try George Sand."

Serena wrote the name on her piece of paper.

Blair looked stunned. "Wait, that's--"

"Your answer?" Serena asked. "Not anymore. If you're gonna have Wyatt or Thyra cheat your way in, then why should I play fair? Oh, and I heard that the dean asks his questions in alphabetical order, so since V comes before W, it looks like the answer's all mine."

Serena walked away toward Berube.

Blair watched her go, stunned and hurt, getting angry again, turning to look at the bowl of papers with the answers written on them. She pulled out her phone to make a call. "Come on."

Wyatt was in the library, answering. "What the bitch do?"

Blair smiled. "I love you so much. Where's Thyra?"

"I'm gonna meet up with her later," Wyatt explained. "I'm at the library."

"Okay, well, hear this," Blair told him. "Serena stole my answer."

"What?" Wyatt asked.

"Yes, she cornered me," Blair answered. "She has to pay."

"Well, the answers to the question are in alphabetical order, right?" Wyatt asked.

"Yes," Blair answered.

"So if you were to change her answer and take back your own, she wouldn't have time to prepare nor that it would matter," Wyatt told her. "It's Serena. What possibility does she have?"

"You're so right," Blair told him. "I just have to make sure what I put knocks her down so she has no more lines."

Wyatt got an idea, smirking. "Or, well, someone she did lines with."

Blair realized what he meant. "Wait, you don't mean..."

"Why not?" Wyatt asked. "If she wants an answer, let's give her one."

"Pete Fairman would completely get her off her game," Blair agreed. "She won't recover."

"You step in shining with your answer, destroy her," Wyatt continued.

"Impress the dean, get on the list," Blair kept on.

Wyatt smirked. "Get into Yale and rule."

Blair smirked. "My little brother, the manipulative. Thank you, Wyatt. I'll call you later."

"Tell me how it goes," Wyatt told her.

"Got it," Blair agreed. "Tell hi to Thyra for me."

Wyatt nodded in agreement. "You got it."

They smirked, hanging up.

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

Skull and Bones 

Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan were putting on a mini party for the society.

"You wanted a Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn Bass party," Brooklyn told them, handing out the best liquor and such to each member.

"Well, your party has arrived," Dylan told them. "Straight from..." Blindfolded girls walked in. "Well, I can't tell you where they're from, actually, but they're the best money can buy."

"Before you ask, they don't speak English," Chuck told them. "And they don't care. By the way, that's not one for each of you. They do their best work in threes."

"Not bad, Basses, but you're not done," Guy 1 told them. "The liquor, the girls, they're all right, but that's all they are. You still need to prove your loyalty. We want Nate and Alex Archibald and Noe van der Woodsen. We know you're tight with them. We know they're on campus."

"They're not worth your time," Dylan told them.

"We think they are," Guy 1 replied.

"My family lost our compound in Newport because of Nate and Alex's father," Guy 2 explained.

"Noe's father, out of country, the doctor, he was the reason my mother got sick and nearly died because of his shady practices," Guy 3 explained. "And finding out that she got screwed over by her own father the same way, and hearing the rumors about how she can act out now, it might be fun to get some payback."

"Pull them in, take them down," Guy 1 told them. "You've got one hour. If you want in, you'll bring us Nate, Alex and Noe."

Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan glared at them, clearly not going to betray two of their best friends and their step sister like that.

X•O°X•O

Berube's House - Living Room

Serena was speaking French with a couple to talk with them.

Blair walked closer to correct Serena's French. "Actually, it's 'vous', as a sign of respect. I'm sure that's why you don't know it very well." She shook the couple's hands. "Blair Waldorf." She looked at the woman. "You were my father's favorite teacher. I've been looking for you. You inspired his expatriation to France. I'd love for you to hear about it. Shall we?"

Blair and the teacher walked away.

X•O°X•O

Night - Campus

Noe was walking, kicking over a trash can while she passed it by.

Nate caught up to her. "Hey, Noe."

"I'm not gonna have an episode," Noe told him. "I just got so angry, and... I'm sorry for snapping like that."

Nate shook his head. "No, don't--don't apologize. Dan deserved to be snapped at like that. I just wanted to make sure..."

"If I hear someone say 'make sure you're okay' one more time, I swear, I feel like I could scream," Noe admitted.

"Okay," Nate said, understanding but worried. "Okay. It's okay." Noe groaned in frustration directed at herself, turning away. "Hey, don't do that."

"Don't do what?" Noe asked.

"Take it out on yourself," Nate answered. "About what you said earlier, how you thought that the people we heard talking about us and Alex earlier, that you thought they were right about you being a freak. You're not a freak."

"I think you're a little biased to say that I'm not a freak, Nate," Noe told him. "Of course you would think that I'm not a freak, and so would our friends and family, but everyone else in the world can see me for what I really am."

Nate tried a different approach to make her feel better. "Okay, well, if you're a freak, then I'm a freak. Hell, in that case, we're all freaks." Noe couldn't help but laugh. Nate smiled at the accomplished goal. "So don't feel bad. Okay?"

Noe sighed, nodding. "Okay."

"I remember what you said earlier, but you not being sure you're ready for college given everything," Nate told her.

Noe sighed. "Yeah? What about it?"

"You don't have to go to college right away if you don't feel like you're up to it," Nate pointed out. "And there's definitely gonna be better colleges for people like us to go to instead of this one since it's pretty clear that people here hate you, me and Alex."

Noe nodded in agreement, expressively. "Yeah."

"But college can wait, Noe," Nate told her. "You shouldn't have to push yourself too hard. Hell, the old Nevaeh van der Woodsen would probably yell at you for pushing yourself too hard and tell you that it's okay to wait too."

Noe managed a small smile. "Thanks, Nate." Nate returned the smile. After a second, he started to chuckle. Noe frowned, confused but amused. "What?"

"No, it's just..." Nate trailed off. "I remembered a saying and a movie called 'Heaven Can  Wait'. And your full name Nevaeh is Heaven spelled backwards, and saying that in the same sentence that I said 'college can wait' made me think of it."

Noe couldn't help a small laugh. "Wow, Nate. Random."

"Yeah," Nate agreed. "But, I mean, you gotta admit, Heaven spelled backwards as Nevaeh, that being your name? It's kinda fitting considering the whole rebel bad girl image, and your middle name is Skye, so Heaven backwards and Skye is your name. You trying to tell me something?"

Nate's goal to make Noe laugh more worked, as they both laughed and smiled. 

Noe took a deep breath, sighing. "Thank you."

Nate smiled slightly, nodding. "Come on."

Nate and Noe walked across campus, meeting back up with Hope and Alex.

"Hey," Hope told them. "You two okay?"

"We are now," Nate answered.

Thyra and Wyatt walked up to them.

"Thyra, Wyatt, hey," Alex told them.

"Hey, guys," Thyra told them. "Looks like we've missed out on a party."

"Not so much a party, but definitely intense fighting with Dan and overhearing people at this college hating on me, Nate and Noe," Alex answered. "Dan made Noe flip out on him."

Wyatt and Thyra looked at Noe in concern.

"You okay?" Wyatt asked.

Noe rolled her eyes. "I'm really tired of hearing that."

Wyatt chuckled lightly. "Sorry. While you guys were fighting with Dan, me, Thyra and Blair were fighting with Serena."

Noe tilted her head. "Serena's still fighting with Blair?"

"Yeah," Thyra answered. "Don't worry. How about the six of us just go somewhere and avoid the fighting for the rest of the night?"

Hope nodded. "That sounds good to me."

"Me too," Alex agreed.

Noe's phone rang. She pulled it out, seeing Brooklyn was calling, answering. "Hey, Brooklyn. Where've you been? Where's Dylan and Chuck?"

Brooklyn stood with Dylan and Chuck, holding her phone on speaker. "We've been tied up."

"Hey, look, you guys wouldn't want to leave tonight, would you?" Noe asked, putting her phone on speaker. "I mean, I think I am completely done with this place."

"What happened?" Dylan asked. "Did something happen?"

"More like things erupted," Nate answered. "People here know who Alex, Noe and I are, they know all the stuff about our dads, plus there was this whole thing with Dan Humphrey. He blew up at me, Hope, Alex and Noe, and made Noe blow up too."

"Well, I'd love to say 'tell us all about it' and mean it, but since I can't, why don't we just meet up and get blazed?" Chuck asked. "Nate, Noe, is Alex with you?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm here," Alex answered. "So are Hope, Thyra and Wyatt."

"Great," Brooklyn told them. "Hi, Thyra."

"Brooklyn," Thyra replied.

"What's Wyatt and Thyra doing there?" Dylan asked.

"Hanging with Nate, Noe, Alex and Hope since we're done with Blair and Serena right now," Wyatt answered. "Long story, Dylan."

"Hey, look, there's this place off campus called Mike's Bar," Hope told them. 

"We'll meet you there," Chuck told them. "Stay put."

Noe sighed. "Perfect."

They hung up.

Brooklyn looked at the Skull and Bones people. "It's done. Let's go."

X•O°X•O

Berube's House - Living Room

Blair was talking with a man. "Although I love Henry VII, I prefer Sir Thomas more. I think it's great that Pope Benedict canonized him when he did."

Serena walked up to them, correcting Blair. "Don't you mean Pope Pius XI?"

"That's quite right, Miss, uh..." the man trailed off.

"Van der Woodsen," Serena answered.

The man shook her hand. "Van der Woodsen, is it? Most people don't know their popes in succession."

Another man led the man away to talk to him. "Can I borrow you for a moment?"

Blair looked at Serena. "How do you even know that? You slept through history class last year."

"I love 'The Tudors'," Serena answered. "Henry Cavill is a total babe. You look pretty calm for someone who no longer has the perfect answer to the dean's question."

"You don't think I came all the way here without a backup answer, do you?" Blair asked. "Oh, and it's a real crowd pleaser. It's gonna kill."

Berube tapped his glass to get everyone's attention. "Everyone, everyone. It's time for my favorite part of the evening, which has delightfully become known over the years as Probatur."

Blair spoke snarkily to Serena. "That's Latin for 'The Quiz'."

"We will begin with Mr. Applebalm," Berube explained.

Blair and Serena waited impatiently for their turns.

X•O°X•O

Campus

Dan was walking alone, meeting up with a girl and guy. "Hi, Jordan and Tyler?"

"Do I know you?" Jordan asked.

"No," Dan answered. "I was told by the other TAs that you work for the chair of the lit department. I'm sorry to hunt you down now, but I'm desperate. I need someone to read my work and write a letter before the weekend's out, and I--I was hoping you could help me."

Dan, Tyler and Jordan continued walking, only for the Skull and Bones guys to grab them, kidnapping them while they were shouting and struggling for help. Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan watched them go.

X•O°X•O

Berube's House - Living Room

Berube read from the next piece of paper. "And now onto Miss Steinberg. Your answer is Artemis."

Steinberg stood. "Artemis is the goddess of the forest and the hills. As a freegan, I believe in all living things being equal to all people."

Serena whispered to Blair. "I'm so glad they did this alphabetically, 'cause now I get to see the look on your face when I use your answer even sooner."

Blair whispered back. "I can tell you right now, the look on my face will be of vindication."

Steinberg finished her explanation. "And also screw the man at the same time."

"Very nice, Miss Steinberg," Berube told her. "And now onto Miss van der Woodsen. The person you would most like to have dinner with, real or imagined, living or dead is... Pete Fairman." Serena's smug look turned to one of shock and hurt. Blair gave her a fake look of innocence. "Uh... I don't know this person. Who is Pete Fairman?"

"Um..." Serena trailed off. "He, uh, he..."

"He's the man she killed," Blair told them.

Everyone muttered in shock.

X•O°X•O

X•O°X•O

Serena whispered to Blair. "I cannot believe you did this."

"Why?" Blair asked. "It's not like you don't deserve it."

"Miss van der Woodsen, would you like to, uh, explain?" Berube asked.

"No, of course, Dean Berube," Serena answered. "Um, Pete Fairman was a man that I knew."

"Man slash dealer," Blair told them.

"Miss Waldorf, let her speak," Berube told her.

"He died almost two years ago when I was with him," Serena explained. "What happened was a tragedy, and I am filled with regret over it. But I was not responsible--"

"Were you responsible for the sex tape?" Blair asked.

"Blair," Serena warned.

Blair chuckled. "It wasn't very sexy, if you ask me."

"Blair, that's enough," Serena told her. "Let's go. Dean Berube, do you mind if we, uh, if we, um, sort this out privately, please?"

"Take all the time you need," Berube told them.

Serena pulled Blair toward the door.

"My answer was George Sand," Blair told him. "Love her, idolize, worship!"

X•O°X•O

Outside

Blair stepped away from Serena. "Get your hands off of me! Or are you trying to kill me, too?"

"A guy died, and you use it as part of a game?" Serena asked. "Who does that?"

"It isn't a game, and this isn't just another thing on a laundry list," Blair told her. "This is Yale, my dream. You crossed the line."

"And so did you when you brought up Pete!" Serena replied angrily. "As far as my being here, you take that up with the school." Serena turned around to walk back inside. Blair threw her clutch at Serena's head. Serena turned to face her. "You did not just do that."

"Why did you think you were invited?" Blair asked. "You know on paper, you're not Yale material. Could it be your face on 'Page six', your name everywhere? Just like Wyatt said earlier. Face it, Serena, Yale needs to up their Q rating, just like all the other schools, and they're gonna use girls like you to do it."

Serena walked closer angrily to push Blair back. "You shut up!"

Blair pushed Serena back. "You shut up!"

Serena and Blair engaged in a full on cat fight, yelling.

Serena pulled off Blair's headband, tossing it down. "And I really hate those stupid headbands!"

Blair gasped. "My headband!"

They continued to fight.

X•O°X•O

VDW/Bass Apartment - Noe's Room

Lily was trying on the black, edgy dress that was meant for Noe, looking at her reflection.

X•O°X•O

Living Room

Rufus and Jenny stepped off the elevator.

"Are you sure it's okay for us to just come up here like this?" Rufus asked.

"Yeah, the maid's expecting me," Jenny answered. "Larissa?"

Lily heard her from Noe's room.

Rufus was looking for any sign as to whose place it was. "Whose maid is Larissa, exactly? You didn't say where we were going." He saw that Lily Bass was the name on the mail on the counter. "Jenny."

"Lily's not here," Jenny told him. "I didn't think you'd mind."

Lily walked in. "Rufus."

Rufus looked stunned by the sight of her in the dress. "Whoa."

"Oh, um..." Lily trailed off, laughing nervously. "This is not my dress. I was just trying it on... for fun."

Jenny smiled. "Sorry. When I called, um, Larissa said you were going out tonight, and I could leave this with her. I forgot to include it in the garment bag with your dress. But clearly, um, I don't even think you need it. Uh, this dress looks so great on you." She noticed that Rufus and Lily were looking at each other. "The only thing wrong is the shoes. I can totally go pick you out a different pair if you want."

Lily pointed to the stairs. "Oh, upstairs, third door on the left." Jenny went upstairs, leaving Rufus and Lily alone. "How have you been?"

"Fine," Rufus answered. "Sorry for the intrusion."

Lily shook her head. "Oh, it's no bother. I'm always happy to see you."

"Uh, the house seems quiet," Rufus remarked.

"Well, Bart is out of town, Serena, Nevaeh and Charles are on college visits, and Brooklyn and Dylan apparently went with them, and Eric has a new friend, so I hear," Lily explained. 

Rufus looked around. "Well, the place looks amazing, as do you. It's quite a dress."

"Of course it is," Lily told her. "Hope and Jenny made the dresses for me, Noe, Serena and Brooklyn. You're so lucky to have two daughters that are this good at what they want to do so early in their lives. They have gifts. You had one, too, if I remember correctly."

Jenny walked downstairs, handing a gold pair of heels to Lily. "Here you go. The perfect pair of Jimmy Choos."

Lily smiled. "I will lend these to Nevaeh when she wears the dress."

Jenny smiled. "Okay."

"Jenny, we should get going," Rufus told her.

Jenny waved to Lily. "See you."

"Bye," Lily told her.

Jenny walked away toward the elevator.

Rufus looked at Lily. "By the way, no matter what you wear, you look fantastic."

Rufus walked away. Lily smiled.

X•O°X•O

Mike's Bar

(Song:) Dragstrip Girl - Jamie Blake

Nate, Noe, Hope, Alex, Thyra and Wyatt sat at the bar. The man behind the bar placed down drinks in front of them.

Thyra was on the phone, leaving a message. "Hey, Brooklyn. Where are you? Where's Dylan and Chuck? We've been sitting here forever. Please just call me back."

"Thyra, Wyatt, what's taking Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck so long?" Hope asked.

"I don't know," Wyatt admitted. "I mean, Dylan and Chuck have never been good on punctuality, but Brooklyn has. So I don't know."

Noe shrugged. "Well, as long as there's drinks."

Noe took a drink.

Nate reached out for her drink. "And you still gotta be careful drinking. Don't wanna get hurt again like you did before with Georgina, right?"

Noe sighed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

They chuckled.

"Don't worry, Noe," Alex told her. "We got your back."

"Well, as long as you guys aren't suffocating me, I'm good," Noe told them.

The Skull and Bones guys walked in.

"Round of shots, Mike," Guy 1 called.

"Coming right up, guys," Mike told them.

"We just taught Nate and Alex Archibald and Nevaeh van der Woodsen a lesson, and they'll never come back to Yale," Guy 1 told them.

Nate, Noe, Hope, Alex, Thyra and Wyatt looked toward them.

"Yeah, the Archibalds are such losers," Guy 2 told them.

"Like van der Woodsen's a little slut," Guy 3 said.

Completely fed up with everything that day and beyond, Noe stood, walking toward the guys. "Excuse me."

Nate, Hope, Alex, Thyra and Wyatt stood, worried and cautious about what she would do.

"Noe, don't," Hope told her.

"Did you say Nate and Alex Archibald and Nevaeh van der Woodsen?" Noe asked.

"Yeah, we just tied the Archibald chumps to statues in the courtyard," Guy 1 told them. "We made the girl watch to screw with her. It's priceless."

"I hope the guys freeze their asses off," Guy 2 told them. "She's gonna be even more traumatized for life. Talk about weak freak."

Nate, Hope, Alex, Thyra and Wyatt made faces since they knew that was the wrong thing to say.

"Well, you got the wrong guys," Alex told them. "I'm Alex Archibald. That's my brother Nate."

"And I'm Noe van der Woodsen," Noe told them. 

"And I look forward to coming here next year and kicking your asses," Nate told them.

Noe shrugged. "In fact, why wait?"

Guy 3 stood right in front of Noe, in her face as the two glared at each other. Noe pushed him back away from her. When he tried to grab her, Noe kicked him down.

The rest of the guys stood, going to fight the rest of the group.

Nate and Alex punched two of the guys each.

Wyatt punched another guy, holding his fist in pain since he wasn't used to contact like that.

Another guy tried to grab Wyatt from behind. Thyra jumped onto his back to make him let go of Wyatt, making him fall to the floor with her on his back, getting up, backing away.

While Alex was busy fending off another guy, distracted from Guy 1, Guy 1 tried tried to punch Alex when he was busy with the other guy, but Hope got Guy 1's attention by tapping on his shoulder. When Guy 1 turned to her, Hope punched him hard in the face, holding her fist in pain.

Alex looked at Hope in surprise, impressed, proud, smiling. "Nice right hook."

"You too," Hope replied. She looked at the rest of the guys, knowing they were outnumbered. "Okay, it can wait."

"Go!" one of the guys yelled. "Get them!"

Thyra, Wyatt, Nate, Alex, Hope and Noe got their things to run. Noe pushed a stool down in front of the guys to buy them a little time for them to run out of the bar. The guys tried to follow them but got tripped up by the stool.

(Song Ends)

X•O°X•O

Courtyard

This courtyard was huge compared to the high school's, a field with gazebos and statues. Tyler, the guy that Dan asked for help along with Jordan that got kidnapped alongside Dan, was tied to a statue by the far end of the courtyard, while Dan was tied to a statue on the other side, far away, both in boxers. Jordan was trying to help Tyler get free from his binds.

Dan was trying to get help. "Hey, excuse me. Excuse me, uh... Um, I know this is a strange request, but could you untie me? Sir? Hey, yeah. Hey, come on. Excuse me. Would you be so kind as to, uh..."

Alex, Hope, Nate, Noe, Thyra and Wyatt walked closer to Dan, since Jordan was taking care of Tyler.

Hope was in shock to see her brother there. "Dan?"

Noe looked a little smug after the way that Dan had picked a fight with them earlier, putting a hand on the statue. "I hope you at least bought the statue a drink first."

"No, you know, I don't know if I want you to help me," Dan told them.

Hope tried to untie him.

Nate sighed. "Well, you might, if you knew the only reason you're here and that guy over there is because they thought you were me and Alex, like they thought whoever the girl is was Noe."

"How is that even possible?" Dan asked. "I didn't lie about my name."

"Yeah, but I have a feeling someone else did for you," Wyatt told him.

"Why would anyone want to hurt, uh, the perfect Nate and Alex Archibalds, and Rising from the Ashes Nevaeh van der Woodsen?" Dan asked.

"Apparently Alex's and our legacy at Yale involves a lot of people hating our father's guts," Nate answered. "It turns out he killed a few trust funds around here."

"And my dad had shady doctor practices apparently and got some people hurt," Noe added. "And they thought that it would be fun to toy with the amnesiac freak."

Nate tilted his head. "Noe."

"Yeah, yeah, not a freak, or we're all freaks," Noe told him. "Heard you the first time."

They chuckled.

"By the way, this knot is ridiculous," Hope told them.

"Yeah, I know," Dan told her. "Could you, uh, could you try a little faster? Because I don't like people staring." He looked down. "I'm not entirely fond of my choice of boxers."

Thyra pulled out a pocket knife. "Here. This was my dad's. I keep it on me as a souvenir."

Hope took the knife as Thyra offered it to her, giving her an amused look. "You're just telling me this now?" Thyra smirked, shrugging, causing Dan to roll his eyes but the others to chuckle. Hope chuckled, starting to use the knife to cut at Dan's binds. "Oh, my God."

"Glad that you find this amusing, Hope," Dan told her sarcastically. "Them finding it amusing, I get, but my sister?"

"Oh, this coming from the brother that blew up at his sister and her best friend and boyfriend, and the ex-boyfriend to her best friend slash brother to her boyfriend," Hope replied. "Just earlier today, I might add. Excuse me for finding some irony in this."

Nate, Noe, Alex, Thyra and Wyatt smirked.

X•O°X•O

Berube's House - Outside

Blair was picking up her things after the fight.

Serena was sitting down. "I can't do this anymore, Blair."

"That's because you lost," Blair told her. "I had you pinned with that chicken wing. Don't deny it."

"I don't mean this," Serena told her. "I mean everything." Blair stood. "The wars, the betrayal, the watching out for every possible land mine. It's exhausting."

"I'm sick of it, too," Blair told her. "I'm sick of always looking like Darth Vader next to sunshine Barbie. Life's too short. You make it feel so long."

"Well, if that's how we really feel, may--maybe we shouldn't be friends," Serena suggested. "We were probably gonna grow apart in college anyway, so might as well just start now, right?"

Even though she was hurt, Blair turned away. "Fine by me. You live your life, I'll live mine."

Serena sighed. "Sounds great."

Blair crossed her arms. "I agree."

Serena and Blair both looked close to tears. Serena stood, walking away. Blair turned to see that she was gone.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "From comrades to combat, we thought we'd seen it all. But we've never seen this. Serena and Blair calling a cease fire. After so much scorched earth, can either side claim victory?"

X•O°X•O

X•O°X•O

Day Two

Morning - Humphrey Loft - Living Room/Kitchen

Rufus stood behind the kitchen counter, having food ready. Vanessa sat across from him.

 Jenny walked in, sitting down. "Why do I feel like you're gonna tell me the cat died?"

Vanessa smiled. "No, no, it's nothing bad."

"Uh, when I was your age, all I wanted was to be a musician, but my parents didn't think it was a good idea," Rufus explained. "And it made for some pretty uncomfortable years. And last night, I realized that--that we don't have to do things that way."

"I don't understand," Jenny admitted.

Vanessa smiled, pulling out a packet. "Your dad asked me to bring over all my stuff on homeschooling."

Seeing a form for home school, Jenny squealed in excitement, running to hug Rufus.

Rufus embraced her. "After Christmas, we can reevaluate. And if everything works out, maybe you'll apply to the professional children's school for next semester."

Jenny squealed again. "Like Vera Wang. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you."

Vanessa smiled. "Aw."

Jenny shook her head. "I won't let you down, I promise."

Rufus smiled. "I know you won't."

X•O°X•O

Yale Campus 

Serena was walking up to the admissions office, only to see Thyra and Wyatt waiting outside, and Blair walking outside. They walked past each other. Thyra, Wyatt and Blair stopped, turning to face Serena.

"What are you doing here?" Thyra asked. "Making sure the dean knows it's all Blair's fault?"

"No," Serena answered. "I came to tell him that Yale is Blair's dream, and she deserves to go here more than I do. What are you three doing here?"

"I was doing the same thing for you," Blair answered. "Thyra and Wyatt were waiting to support me."

Serena looked touched by that. "I was up all night thinking about the first time we came here together, with Noe. Blair, you and I were nine, Noe ten months younger than me like she's always been, and Thyra and Wyatt were seven. Your dad took us to that Harvard/Yale game, and you tackled Senator Schumer's daughter for wearing a Harvard sweatshirt."

Blair, Thyra and Wyatt smiled at the memory.

"I bet those grass stains never came out," Wyatt remarked.

Blair looked at Serena sadly. "I don't want to not know you. I can't not know you."

"And I'm sorry about the part that I played in the fight," Thyra told them.

"Me too," Wyatt agreed.

"Thyra, Wyatt, I know that you did what you two did because you were defending Blair and because I wouldn't stop, even with knowing that Dylan and Brooklyn would be mad, and I'm sorry," Serena told them. She looked at Blair. "Maybe we just had that fight because the reality of being separated next year is just too scary to think about."

"So?" Blair asked.

"Wait here for me," Serena told them. "We'll ride home together."

Thyra smiled. "Okay."

Serena walked inside.

X•O°X•O

Campus

Jordan and Dan were walking.

"So you think you can, uh, maybe help me out a bit?" Dan asked.

Jordan looked at Dan. "Well, I can't promise anything, but I'm pretty sure I can get someone in the department."

"Oh!" Dan said in excitement.

"To read these and write you a recommendation," Jordan finished.

"Yes," Dan sighed. "Thank you so much, really. It's so nice to know that my dream of going to Yale isn't dead. It might be, uh, embarrassed and humiliated, but not dead."

Hope and Alex were walking together.

"You all right?" Alex asked.

"Just reeling from all the drama," Hope answered. "Still kinda pissed at the way that Dan snapped at us, Nate and Noe yesterday, so seeing him tied to a statue like that, plus whatever his deal with Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn that made them do that..."

"Yeah, uh, Dan was writing a story that was exploiting the fact that their mother died while she was giving birth to Dylan and Brooklyn," Alex explained. "Chuck told me and Nate about it. Brooklyn always blamed herself pretty harshly about it because she was the one being born when it happened, so she thinks that she's the reason that Bart hates her, Dylan and Chuck."

Hope was in shock, sympathetic. "Oh, my God. Dan was writing a story about that?"

"Yeah," Alex answered. "So he could get a recommendation for here."

Hope scoffed. "Okay. And with Serena fighting with Thyra and Wyatt and Blair, looks like everyone crossed a line."

"Yeah, looks like," Alex agreed. "Thyra barely did, but Serena, Blair, Wyatt did big time. Hope, I'm sorry about last night."

"What are you sorry for?" Hope asked.

"The fight at the bar, and the only reason why Dan, Tyler and Jordan were targeted like that was because those society guys thought that they were me, Nate and Noe," Alex answered. "And the brawl at the bar? I know that this is not what you signed up for when you wanted to date Alex Archibald, or be friends with brother Nate, and best friends with Noe van der Woodsen."

Hope turned to face him. "What happened last night was not your fault, Alex. Or Nate and Noe's. You guys were targeted because of your dads, and because people are sick wanting to mess with Noe. I might not have ever known that I was in for this when I started to date you, Archibald, but I'm all in. I love you, no matter what your last name is or who your dad is."

Alex smiled in relief. "I love you too, Humphrey. You were pretty badass last night. Loved seeing that."

Hope smiled. "You too. It was a rush. Something that surprised me that liked."

Alex smirked. "Looks like you're more like us than you thought."

Hope and Alex smiled, sharing a kiss.

Elsewhere, Noe and Nate were walking. Nate was looking at Noe.

Noe noticed the look. "Don't ask that question."

Nate chuckled in amusement. "I'm not asking the question."

"But you're still wondering if I'm okay," Noe told him.

"Of course I am," Nate answered. "With Dan blowing up at us, Alex and Hope, the guys targeting us and other people taking the fall for us because Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck set them up, including Dan... it protected us, and I know you don't like being protected like that."

"Yeah, well, Dan kinda deserved it after blowing up at us, Alex and Hope, and after he did the story on Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan," Noe told him.

"Maybe," Nate agreed. "You lashed out pretty good at the bar."

"Yeah, so did you, Alex, Hope, Thyra and Wyatt," Noe replied. She sighed. "I'm sorry for starting the fight, though. It just... I got angry and it happened."

Nate nodded in understanding. "I know. After the things those guys were saying, I don't blame you, Noe. None of us do. I just wanted to check in."

"I thank you for that, Nate," Noe told him. "I do. I just wish people would stop treating me like glass that's gonna break."

Nate nodded, sympathetic and understanding. Noe sighed, forcing a small smile.

Further away by a building, Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan walked outside. The society guys stood around them.

"There they are," Guy 1 mocked. "It looks like you screwed up last night and sent us after the wrong people."

"They may have been the wrong people for you, but Humphrey was the right guy for us," Dylan told them.

"You'll pay for this when you guys get here, all within a couple of years," Guy 1 told them.

Brooklyn looked at them like they were stupid, smirking, laughing. "Oh, you stupid idiots, we're not coming here. Those girls that we brought to the party last night, they witnessed some pretty incriminating acts with their lipstick cameras."

Chuck smirked. "You may be the future leaders of America, but you're now under the control of Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn Bass. We own you."

Dylan tossed a flash drive to Guy 1. "Keep it. We've got plenty."

Dylan, Chuck and Brooklyn walked away, walking up to Noe at the limo.

"Missed you last night," Brooklyn told her.

"Did you?" Noe asked. "Or was it your plan all along, just to get me, Nate and Alex out of the way, safe with Hope, Thyra and Wyatt?"

"What?" Dylan asked.

"I know what you did," Noe told them, gesturing toward Dan and Jordan standing together.

"You should be glad, Noe," Chuck told her. "Those guys were coming for you, Nate and Alex. We saved your asses."

"So you send them after Dan, Tyler and Jordan?" Noe asked.

"Tyler and Jordan were just randoms that happened to be with Dan," Brooklyn told her. "Two birds, one stone. Seemed good to us. As long as you, Nate, Alex, Hope, Thyra and Wyatt were okay, we were okay, Noe. Even though you guys got into a fight, too."

"Besides, since when do you care about humdrum Humphrey anyway?" Chuck asked. "He's nothing. He's less than nothing. And from what we heard, he had some pretty terrible things to say to you, Nate, Alex and Hope yesterday, too."

"Look, Dan pisses me off as much as he does with you, and seeing him like that last night was deserving," Noe told them. "But I still feel bad about people getting hurt because of me. You do realize that he used to date Serena, right?"

"Used to being the operative term," Dylan replied.

"And they still have feelings for each other," Noe told them.

"Just like how you and Nate still have feelings for each other?" Brooklyn asked. "Hope and Alex spent a summer apart figuring things out. Don't pull a them."

Noe shook her head, pointing at them. "Do not make this about me and Nate."

"Why not, sis?" Chuck asked. "You and Nate are miserable without each other, just admit it."

Noe shook her head. "I'm not admitting to anything."

"We'll talk about this is in the car," Dylan told her. "We should get you back home, 'cause after last night, looks like you need some time with medicine and therapy. Heard about the fight that you started without meaning to. And Nate, Alex, Hope, Thyra and Wyatt helped out with the fight. Looks like you're trying not to spiral down into the rabbit hole, Noe."

"You know what?" Noe asked. "I'd rather ride with Hope, Alex and Nate. Because, you know, right now, I just can't talk about this."

"Or you just can't deal with the sound of the truth," Chuck told her. Noe rolled her eyes, walking away. Chuck watched her go in amusement. "You're not over Nate, Noe, and you're closer to an edge than you want to admit."

Noe held up her hand to flip Chuck off, walking away.

Brooklyn chuckled, hitting Chuck's shoulder. "Give her a break, Chuck. Come on. Let's get going."

Serena, Blair, Thyra and Wyatt were walking to the limos.

"So the dean seemed inscrutable to you too?" Thyra asked.

"I don't think he even blinked," Wyatt told them.

Blair looked at Serena. "Well, since we're probably both gonna end up at Hunter College after what happened, I think we ought to say a proper goodbye."

Serena's phone rang. She answered. "Hello?"

Berube's voice was on the other line. "Serena, Dean Berube."

Serena held her phone close to Blair so they could both hear. "Uh, hello, sir."

Berube was sitting in his office. "I just thought you should know that despite events at last night's reception, I remain most impressed with you, and come time for early acceptance in December, I'd check that list to see if your name was on it."

Serena and Blair smiled. Thyra and Wyatt figured it was good news, smiling. They saw Brooklyn and Dylan at the limo, walking toward them.

"Okay, but what about Blair?" Serena asked.

"Like all the other students with Blair's qualifications, she will learn her fate in the spring," Berube told her. He was looking at articles showing Serena, Noe and Brooklyn. "If it's all right with you, I'd like to issue a press release that you came up to visit our glorious campus."

"I'm gonna have to call you back," Serena told him, hanging up. "I won't accept. I can't, like this."

"What?" Blair asked. "No, you have to. It doesn't matter how you got it or why. It's an opportunity."

Serena shook her head. "No, you're my best friend. What's mine is yours."

"You can't share this," Blair told her.

Serena sighed. "We'll find a way. Together."

(Song:) The Wake Up Song - The Submarines

Smiling, Serena and Blair embraced. Serena messed with Blair's hat, kissing her head, the two laughing as they walked to the limos.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Dreams. Everybody has them."

Wyatt and Thyra walked up to Dylan and Brooklyn. The two couples kissed and embraced.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Some good, some bad."

Noe was walking toward Nate, Alex and Hope. She hesitated, like she knew that Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn had been right about her struggle not to spiral, and how miserable she was without Nate.

Gossip Girl: (voice) "Some you wish you could forget."

Nate, Alex and Hope clearly wanted to be there for Noe without pushing too much, the four sharing small smiles.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Sometimes you realize you've outgrown them."

X•O°X•O

Eleanor Waldorf Designs - Atelier

Jenny walked in.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Sometimes you feel like they're finally coming true."

X•O°X•O

On the Road

Noe, Nate, Alex and Hope were riding home in one vehicle, Chuck, Brooklyn, Dylan, Thyra, Wyatt, Blair and Serena in a limo.

In the first vehicle, Noe was looking at her shaking hands, clenching them to stop them from shaking, hiding her hands so the others didn't notice. She held her head in pain.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "And some of us just have nightmares. But no matter what you dream, when morning comes, reality intrudes, and the dream begins to slip away. Dream a little dream of me. XOXO, Gossip Girl."