dal segno.

“Hey, Blair,” he said only it came out on a hoarse whisper as she reached up to brush his hair back. Nate really hadn’t thought this through. Seeing Blair again, he was ready to spill everything even though it would break her heart all over again. He had to get it together, not fall into her concern. Nate smiled at her question, letting out a little laugh. As always, Blair Waldorf was right. “No, I don’t. You’re right,” he answered. Pressing his lips together, Nate looked down at the space between them before looking back up again. “I’m sorry I didn’t call.”

“Is that all you’re sorry for?” It came out icier than she meant to and it wasn’t really what Blair wanted to ask, but she couldn’t help it. Her feelings about Nate were complicated, and mean was easy. She also knew Serena was around — she could direct Nate there right now. But that would mean losing this chance to talk and look at him, just to herself, and she wasn’t ready to let him go yet. She still needed to know. With a sigh, her tone softened, even with a frown still etched across her face. “Why did you do it?”

Jenny held her hands up defensively, “Wouldn’t dare bring her up without solid proof that it is, in fact, she.” She tucked her own phone away, choosing to ignore the Gossip Girl blast- there was no way… “It could be anyone just trying to mess with us. Caisson could just be bored.”

“Whoever it is better count their days. I so do not need to deal with this right now. Some of us have summer plans to tend to.” No, what she needed was a proper distraction. Blair looked over Constance’s last ever Queen with an assessing eye. “Speaking of, tell me about yours. But make sure to skip over anything too depressing. There’s only so much I can take today and if you tell me you plan on staying home with your family all summer, I’m walking away, Jenny.”

Stay dead, bitch.

walking over to meet blair, serena could see that someone was about to meet that infamous sharp tongue of her friends. she hoped that she would’ve gotten there in time but alas not all things can be achieved. “b, play nice” she teased with a smile, no warning behind it. looking at the other person to silently shoo them, thankful that they took the hint. she wouldn’t change blair for the world. “what’s wrong?” she asked, taking a seat next to her “are you still in a horrid mood thanks to revlon going into administration?” it was a tough time for make up lovers everywhere. 

deep breath, because that had been blair playing nice. and while it didn’t stop the glare she directed at the fleeing nobody, it did stop her from saying anything else truly cutting. now that serena was here, though, the initial spike of fear seemed silly. even so, blair couldn’t muster up a smile in return. this had caught her off-guard in a way that she especially hated. “it’s nothing.” she hoped. “just...” gossip girl’s blog was still staring back at her as blair silently passed her phone over so serena could see for herself. “stupid, right? clearly someone out there has nothing better to do this summer than play with ghosts. it’s sad, really.”

As soon as Nate had heard about this party, he knew that’s where they’d be. It was summer, it was the Hunter’s beach house… Where else would anyone be? It hadn’t quite dawned on Nate yet how exactly he was supposed to explain himself. To explain why he’d left, where he’d been, why he was back. Actually, if he thought about for any decent amount of time, he’d turn right back around again. No one had ever accused Nate of, y’know, thinking though.

“Hey… Have you seen Serena?”

“Nate.” She stopped to really take him in, then reached up to brush his hair back with a sigh. There were worse ways Nate could have returned, but that was very little solace. Like... not even a quick text? What, were they strangers now? She’d kill him right here and now if she wasn’t so so busy being worried about him. Besides, you can’t grill a ghost for answers. “Do you really think you’re in a place to be asking about anyone’s whereabouts right now?”

Baby was casually late for the party, which wasn’t her usual fashion. Normally she would be first to arrive so she could be first to leave but this time she got distracted by one of her books and lost track of time.

She moved to the first person in her sight and asked: “Please tell me the party isn’t over yet?”

“Oh, please,” Meredith scoffed. Used to making a fashionably late entrance, she wasn’t in nearly as much of a rush as Baby seemed to be in. She flashed a sharp smile. “Can you imagine? Logan would never be able to live it down if their little beach party they’ve been hyping up died just like that. But trust me, it’s barely started — I just got here.”

“Touchy, touchy,” Chuck said, letting out a low whistle. He lowered into the chair next to her, slumping a bit. On the table between them, he set down a box of chocolate - Godiva, the gold collection. “Gift from a vendor. Yours for the low, low price of don’t talk to me about Nate.”

“It’s funny that you think you can tell me what to do.” At once relieved and incredibly annoyed to see him, Blair leveled an unimpressed look in his direction. She resisted the temptation to glance back at her phone and instead busied herself with picking out a chocolate. At least he was smart enough not to come empty-handed. “But I accept your bribery. I wouldn’t mention him when you look so pathetic anyway.” Was Chuck walking around letting everyone see him like this? It’s not like she didn’t understand — she was uniquely qualified, in fact. But maybe it was a sore topic for her too. “I was looking forward to enjoying my summer, you know.”

“Look, newbie, your paper work is sloppy and your suit jacket is roughly a half inch too long for you. How about you cancel my 3 o’clock and take the time to get your life together before it’s too late. Okay? Toodles,” Nick hung up his hands-free, turning his attention back to them- “So, are you free for an early lunch? My treat. Well, your treat really since you get to look at my gorgeous face but these are just the details.”

“Toodles...” He repeated with a raised brow. Aaron had nothing but sympathy for whoever was on the other line but at least now he’d be taking Nick off their hands for a short while. “We both know you don’t need me to treat you. But sure, I have time for something quick. What are you in the mood for?”