it girl

"Yeah, I wish I could be more like that. Negativity comes too naturally." Dan had always been a pessimist; he did love people who could look on the bright side. He could be a bit envious of that kind of mindset. "Good, busy, but she likes it like that. I am going to be better about it, even if you and Nate might be the only people happy to see me around."

"i was like that once. a long time ago now. it took some unlearning old habits and adopting new ones. it sounds silly but it worked for me" she wasn't going to give anyone unsolicited advice, and she was far from being qualified to do so "i'm glad to hear she's good. there will be plenty of people happy to see you around, dan. you'll be fine and when in doubt come find nate or myself."

of all the people she didn't expect to see here, it was serena van der woodsen. agnes was here doing a favour to her friend but serena was above all of this. maybe not. agnes watched the way the camera's and the crowd we're drawn to her like she the princess diana of the upper east side. seeing serena from her spot backstage, she gave her friend a wave hello

serena waved in return and took the opportunity to head over to see agnes and wish her luck before the show, not that she needed any luck. "agnes, how are you?" she smiled, arriving to hug her "are you ready for your runway?"

"hey, she may be a cartoon but she had a point" he pointed out with a laugh. chuck thought over her words briefly before making a fart noise with his hand over his mouth "he gets mad because i'm annoying as shit and winding him up is a hobby of mine" hearing that he would be gifted with a gold cartier bracelet for christmas brought a grin to his face "anyone ever told you that you're the best sister? specifically have i told you that recently?"

"do you take all your life lessons from cartoons?" she laughed along with him but the fart noise was uncalled for. atticus did mean well for his cousin, he showed it in his own unique way. "you two need to learn a better way to communicate and this is coming from the woman who communicates with her mother through staff members" who was she to deny chuck bass a cartier bracelet? "you haven't but i'm always willing to hear you speak the truth"

she had come to terms with the idea of sitting herself but the sun had shone upon her when she spotted her oh so fabulous aunt slash godmother. with a beaming smile on her face, she gave jamie a hug "aunt jamie! i couldn't have better luck than you being here." there was a reason jamie was her favourite family member other than her brother "you look astounding as always. i put the outfit together but not the event" she clarified and offered jamie the seat next to her "how is friday night bites? are you finally going to tell me some juicy spoilers?"

serena looked up from her spot and smiled at the arrival of vanessa. she moved her bag out of the way and gestured for her to take a seat "it wasn't by choice. are you the photographer for this event?" there were cameras flashing around them but there was only one photographer serena was interested in talking to.

it wasn't her fault that people had their camera's flashing towards her when she had arrived. "g, how hungover are you?" she asked with an amused smile "i take it you went out with agnes andrews and her crowd? i saw her behind the scenes and she's looking like she's regretting her decision"

"I definitely did. You always have a knack for finding the good in anything." Dan smiled at her. Glad that she didn't just leave, he needed a break from the torture on his laptop. "Same mostly, working too, helping out Jenny when I can. I may be secluding myself too much."

"thank you, that's kind of you. i like to believe in the positives in life" her life had been so chaotic growing up that staying positive was sometimes all she could do "how is jenny? i hope she's good. i fear you might be, but don't worry, your whole talking to yourself secret is safe with me"

"why are you not listening to elsa? conceal, don't feel, serena" he shot back with a grin "yeah in yelling and those death ray stares of his" if looks could kill his cousin would've ended him a long time ago "if you're taking requests, it's the gold one"

"because elsa is a cartoon" she smiled, rolling her eyes at him. "have you ever considered that he gets so mad at you because he cares and wants you to be the best version of yourself?" she couldn't speak for atticus but maybe she could try and talk some sense into chuck. "i'll keep that in mind. that's one of your christmas presents sorted this year"

he'd given chuck the benefit of the doubt plenty of times and plenty of times the younger bass had failed to measure up to expectations. "not when he's been given plenty of chances before only to once again disappoint. you know more than anyone how many times he's been given the opportunity to turn things around. it can be done, you did it, but he's yet to prove that he wants to change."

"i was given plenty of chances as well, atticus. i didn't always learn my lesson either until it finally stuck. you have to keep that in mind" she countered "you can't give up on him. he deserves us to support him, even if he can be an ass at times"

nate couldn't help smiling whenever he was with serena, it was the happiest he'd been in his whole life. every time she reminded him that they were good - happy, in love, together - he felt a wash of relief come over him. serena was everything to nate, she always had been. he kissed the tip of her nose, arms around her waste as he chuckled at her question. "nah, i think logan will be too busy having a great time." it was their birthday, after all, and no doubt they'd be spending most of the night with isobel prescott. "we said happy birthday, we checked in with chuck and blair... we've had our shots... is that pretty much everything checked off the list?"

serena took a moment to look at the party behind her and decided that nate was right. logan would be having a great time and everyone else looked like the night was young and they had no intentions of calling it any time soon. "sounds like everything to me. let's go have our own valentine's day celebration"

"on valentine's day, at least," sapphire grinned. she let out a little laugh at serena's words, placing a dramatic hand on her heart. she really hoped they wouldn't, though. for someone who couldn't accept that kind of love from anyone else, she really longed to see it. to know it could work for anyone else. "fate, tequila... whichever works first. if i'm not causing a scene and breaking hearts tonight then i might as well not celebrate the holiday."

"it's like a reward for putting up with all the stuff this holiday throws at everyone" she loved love, but valentine's day wasn't a big thing for her until nate and her started dating. she had never understood the hype about it until then. "why not both? tequila could have you meeting the right person at the right time. valentines day is all about hearts, breaking them could humble some people in the room. i support your endeavours"

"and what a day to love it. who, me? oh... wherever lady fate wants to take me, i'll go. although, there are certainly a few top picks. i'd ask you the same but...," he quirked a brow. "silly question, right?"

"maybe cupid will be kind and set you up with one of those top picks." serena smiled at him "i'm sure nate wouldn't appreciate that question being asked."

"serena, you're free to both me any time. we're family, and you keep chuck from lashing out. as far as i'm concerned, you should be on the payroll for that" he answered, pouring her a glass of wine and refilling his own. "i'll believe his best behaviour when i see it"

she let out a laugh at that. maybe she could go on bass industries payroll as chief chuck babysitter? unfortunately for her there was not enough money in the world that would convince her to do that job when chuck started acting out. "give him the benefit of the doubt, atticus. he's trying, that should count for something."