who run the world?

at bella's dismissal of the girl, pen was already inpatient at how slowly she was leaving. "quickly" she demanded, clapping her hands twice to hurry her up. ignoring the girl from that point on, she returned her attention to bella "are they fun or are they a means to a disappointing end?" no one could live up to bella in pen's opinion, and no one was ever going to get her approval "it's a burden to carry but someone has to do it. i'd never say no to a refil and a catch up with you over drinks. so come on, fill me in, what have i missed? who's a mess?"

a small smile tugged on her lips at penelope's absolute lack of patience. poor stacey (stacey, right?). fortunately, she was long forgotten now that pen was here to occupy her time. bella rolled her eyes at pen's question but not without affection, they both knew she was right. "well, i'm not supposed to know that it'll be a disappointing end when we're making out for the first time. i need to be shocked and appalled every time. otherwise, how could you rightly tell me 'i told you so'?" she teased. "music to my ears, pen," she grinned, looping their arms and leading them both back over to the makeshift bar. gossip was such a passion of theirs.

Juliette shrugged, a smirk on her lips. She wasn't sure which part Bella was agreeing to. Either way, she was right. "How could I forget?" She winked. "They can, because I am going to steal some time with the birthday girl."

"How indeed," she smiled. Until last summer, Bella hadn't thought of Juliette Vanderbilt as more than a spectacle to be admired from afar. A wildfire that would spread if you weren't careful. Getting tangled up with her wasn't her smartest move. Then again, nothing 'casual' ever was. "Turning to a life of crime, are you? Well, I suppose you can consider me yours for a moment then."

"Never," Theo exclaimed, hand on heart, offended. "Hey, sometimes a guy just wants to watch, Bella. That's what that chair in every hotel room is for. I'd happily occupy yours any time, any day." He shrugged, "I don't shit where I eat. Mostly. Sometimes."

"I'm blown away at the offer," Bella said dryly, rolling her eyes again at him. It was then she remembered that - okay, it was Stacey, right? - was still there. "Why don't you go get us some more drinks? Go on, sweetheart. Bring a spray bottle for this one while you're there." She scoffed at his answer but she was far from shocked. "Just on days that end in 'y', I'm sure. You must have some other ambitions for tonight, no?"

"Vanessa is certainly a choice..." Blair muttered the words to herself as she read the blast about Chuck and Vanessa for the fourth time. His actions had no affect on her; absolutely none. Chuck could do whatever and whoever he liked, but why did her friends keep insisting on slumming it with the Brooklynites?

"That's a trap, you know?" she greeted, holding her head purposefully higher. Bella was not going to react to it, she refused. After all, what did it matter anyway? Judging by the way Blair was clutching her phone, there was no reason to think she was even a thought in her head. "Thinking that Chuck Bass has any standards at all."

@tfrstarters

"As if there's nothing better to do, Lisbeth," Bella commented from behind her sunglasses and daiquiri. She wasn't going to give anyone the satisfaction of watching her react to whatever slop 'Gossip Girl' was throwing out here. "Enjoying yourself?"

in all honesty, agnes didn't even bother to read the card of whatever the persons fact was. they had been paired with her which meant that they were at least fun and what was fun without a little surprise. she tossed the card and picked up the key and began her travels to the room number that was allocated.

"i can drink to 'interesting'," bella offered, handing agnes her glass and holding her own up to her. she very well might need to given agnes andrews' reputation. it was hardly a secret, wasn't it? she had never run in agnes' circles before and it wouldn't be a particularly sensible idea to start. but... it was valentine's day. "i must say, your reputation proceeds you. i don't suppose you already have 'property damage' on the list of activities for tonight?"

"or is the smartest way to live without shame and then nothing gossip girl can say would mean anything? being an open book suits me better. closed books don't have any stories, live authentically i say."

"well, i don't know about that. there are certainly a few that i could name that should have more shame, never mind none at at all. not you, though, obvi-," she added. more like georgina sparks, for example. more like serena van der woodsen, in her opinion. "that is inspiring, though. are you planning on living authentically in all these bars we're hopping?"

Juliette liked casual, she had learned in high school. Dating and feelings lead to nothing good. Bella, William, and Freddie had all been fun, but none of them had ever made a move towards more. And she was okay with it, as of right now, that's what she preferred.

"That much is deeply undeniable," Bella mused. Whether that was her smarts or Juliette's perfected ability to bring the drama... who could say? Either way, it seemed Bella was just as unable to deny her now than summer. "Well, I'm glad you remember. I'm sure my other guests will manage to entertain themselves a while."

Zeke had wanted to see Caitlyn. Of course, he did. But he cared about Bella and Savannah like they were his own sisters. He had grown up with them, and they both gave him advice. Whether he wanted it or not.

"Yes, you do," Bella smiled back, giving him a little nudge for good measure. There would always be room for Zeke Lopez with the Coates', there was no doubt about that. She poured them both a glass of champagne - if they were going to gossip about Cait, they'd need it - and shook her head. "No, honestly though. I have no idea what her deal is lately and you know normally, she could never resist a dramatic return on a holiday. And Valentine's Day... her favourite. She seriously needs to return to the planet before we have to host an intervention. Some of us don't have that kind of time."

"Wow, just say you hate me," Ever the dramatic cousin. Jackson tsked loudly, waving a hand to get her attention. "I can't believe you're ignoring me for some random girl. Betrayal."

"Oh my god," Bella huffed, looking over to... ugh, it was like, Stacey or Layla or Claire... something like that, gesturing for her to scram. "I'm sorry, did you need something? Or aren't there enough random girls for you to be making out with here, you need to scare away mine?"

"Oh my god, who cares?! As you were, please. Both of you."

Bella rolled her eyes practically out of her head at Theo. "Do you ever get tired of being a dog, Theo? If you're looking for an invite, you should try Sapphire-," she paused, shaking her head- "Or Latife."

"i'm saying...if you stopped making out with random girls that you'd finally see your best friend has arrived after a twenty six hour long haul flight but whatever i'll go fuck myself i guess"

"pen!-," bella gasped, a bright grin instantly on her face (a far cry from her usual cool indifference). "you can go," she said to... whatever-her-name-was... before practically leaping over to her best friend. "shut up, you know you're far more important than random girls i'm making out with. fun as they are, of course. you're much prettier too. your sacrifices will not go unrewarded, promise. refill?"

Loryn stopped abruptly, briefly forgetting what she was doing at the sound of her voice. When was the last time she had spoken to Bella directly? Despite noticing her around the city and at Logan's party, she couldn't say it was recently. Such a shame to have to break her record. "Oh my goodness! Would you seriously let me?" Her tone was overly sweet and emotional, making her sound like a character from Mean Girls. "I'm going to have to write about this in my journal."

Bella hadn't had the displeasure of coming face to face with Loryn Huntzberger since high school. It was practically in another life! At least, that's what she told herself when she thought about her. Not that she thought about her. How could she ever forget just how easily she managed to get under her skin? So typical of a Huntzberger. "Still as charming as ever, I see. Oh, sure. 'Dear Diary, it finally happened... I got to sit with the cool kids. I can die happy now XOXO'. I mean, please. I'd be floored if you have anything better to do."

"my hurry is a bar and a good night out. it's time to start living lives to the fullest. everyone is trying to avoid gossip girl, and it's made you all boring."

"well, that is one way of putting it. i find the smartest course of action is to have nothing for gossip girl to get her hands on. aren't you an open book, agnes?"