Saints & Sinners | Part I
Saints & Sinners | Part I
It's not my best work, but I was inspired. Set in 4x09, anyone that's read the spoilers knows what Im talking about. Only gonna be a short story, was gonna be a one shot but now it might be 2 or 3 chapters long. Hope you enjoy it, comments are appreciated and wanted lol!
Running her fingers through her newly trimmed hair, Jenny couldn’t help but admire her new look. She looked so different, so fresh, and innocent, she looked like a girl she used to know, a girl she admired, a girl that got lost in the debris of destruction that had washed over her last year. Straightening down her dress, a smile crept onto her face as she picked up her mask. A thousand memories, filled her thoughts. Visions of the first Masquerade Ball she snuck into all those years ago when she was just 14 years old. The idea of a Ball now wasn’t as appealing as it used to be, infact it didn’t appeal to her at all. Gala’s and parties and events, were now old, tired, she’d been to so many last year she could barely keep count of them all. But this one, this one was special. As she put the mask over her face, she remembered the yellow gown she wore, the bracelet that she used Blair’s credit card to pay for, leaving Chuck in just his underwear on the roof, and that damn mask that kept falling over her eyes. But one memory that stuck in her mind the most, the one that played over and over again, was Nate. The night they first met, the night they first kissed. She still remembered his scent, how his voice sent shivers down her spine. She really did love him, but… that was a long time ago. The two hadn’t spoken since she got back, infact they hadn’t spoken since she left. Jenny thought about calling him, she thought about it all the time, but he probably knew about what happened between her and Chuck, and probably never wanted to speak to her again.
A loud knock shook her out of her thoughts, and she turned to find Dan leant against the doorframe.
“Wow.” He proclaimed making his way into his sisters room. “You look beautiful Jen.”
“Thanks”, Jenny mumbled adjusting her mask, she’d never seen a mask like this one before, atleast for a Masquerade Ball. It covered her entire face, which could potentially be a good thing since she was trying to lay low. “Don’t you think I kinda look like Hannibal Lecter?”, she asked turning to look in the mirror once again.
Dan laughed standing next to his sister. “A little.”
Frowning Jenny slapped his arm playfully.
“- But a very pretty Hannibal Lecter!”, Dan argued with a smile on his face.
Shaking her head, Jenny threw her lipstick into her purse before closing it. “Ready?”
“Yep, you?”.
Exhaling, Jenny looked down. Of course she wasn’t ready. She wasn’t ready for another screaming match with Blair, she wasn’t ready to see Chuck’s lying face again and she certainly wasn’t ready to see Nate. Licking her lips, she grabbed her coat, heading for the door. “Lets go.”
* * * *
“Thanks for coming with me”, Jenny said as she walked into the venue with her brother.
“Don’t worry about it. Jenny if I know you, I know your probably incredibly nervous right now, but you have no reason to be. Im here. I told you, no matter what Ive got your back.”
“Thanks Dan”, throwing her arms around her brothers neck she locked him in a tight embrace. She’d missed this. Missed how safe she felt around Dan, he may be a clueless moron half of the time, but he was her brother and honestly if it weren’t for him and Eric, she probably wouldn’t have even come back at all.
“Im gonna get us some drinks ok?”.
“Yeah, can I just have a juice please?”, Jenny asked scanning the room.
Frowning, Dan looked at his sister confused. “A juice?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong with that?”. Jenny had contemplated drinking tonight. She’d thought about getting completely off her face on booze and beating the crap out of Blair, but that probably wouldn’t be the best option. She needed a clear head, she needed to prove she’d changed.
“Alright”, Dan mumbled to himself as he made his way over to the bar.
Scratching the back of her neck anxiously, she began to pace the spot she was in before deciding to explore the venue. It really was beautiful, candles filled each room, the lighting was just perfect. Jenny couldn’t help but smile as she admired everyone’s outfits, although half the dresses she saw she knew she could’ve done a better job off, with her eyes shut on the sewing machine.
“Did you guys hear? Jenny Humphrey is back.”
Frowning, Jenny turned to find 3 blonde girls, gossiping about her. They were much younger than she was, all dressed in red, they must have snuck in.
“No way! I heard she was pregnant.”
“Pregnant?“ The smallest girl protested. “Why would she be pregnant, she’s still a virgin right?”
Jenny gulped. Virgin? People still didn’t know? Exhaling, Jenny tugged on her mask uncomfortably. This place was already getting too much. Spinning around quickly, she crashed into a firm chest. Resting her hands on it, she looked up.
“Oh my god, Im so sorry!”, laughed the mysterious guy.
Jenny’s mouth fell open, her body went numb. That voice. That cologne. Those eyes.
Nate.
“Are you ok?”, Nate asked the mystery blonde, the confusion apparent in his voice.
“I…”, shaking her head, Jenny pushed past him. Dropping her purse in the process.
Frowning, Nate bent down and picked it up. Opening it up slowly, he felt a little rude. He knew this wasn’t his place, but he had to find out who she was. Pulling out her wallet, he pulled out a picture of Dan and a very familiar looking girl.
“Jenny?”, Nate mumbled to himself as he stared at the picture of her and Dan. Shoving it back into her purse, he began to run after her.
“Hey, Jenny!”, he yelled as he followed her down the hall.
Running into the girls restroom, Jenny slammed the door behind her. Making sure it was locked.
Nate stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the door like it was a no entry sign. Sighing he leant against the wall, gripping onto the purse. She was back? How long had she been here? Why hadn’t she said hello? More importantly, why did she run away from him?
* * * *
Why did he have to be here?! Why did she have to run into him? Out of all the people that were here tonight, she had to bump into him. The second he figured out who she was, he’d yell at her for Chuck, she knew he would. He’d hate her forever. Looking up she noticed Serena, stood at the sink.
“Jenny are you ok?”, Serena asked as she shoved her lipstick back into her purse.
“I just… I need some water.” Jenny muttered, trying to catch her breath.
“Here, drink this”, Serena said offering Jenny her glass of champagne.
Snatching it from her, she gulped it quickly. The no drinking thing, had become a distant memory tonight.
“What happened?”, Serena asked concerned for her step sister.
Setting the glass down onto the counter, Jenny removed her mask. “I don’t know, I guess, I guess I just had a panic attack or something.”
Exhaling, she looked up at Serena. Noticing the concerned look on her face, she smiled gently. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me.”
“Do you want me to get Dan?”.
“No. No I’ll be alright. I just need a minute.” Dan was the last thing she wanted right now, if Dan came, then Nate would follow. She may have been gone 1 year, but she knew how close the two had gotten, mainly because it was all Dan ever seemed to talk about when he came to visit her, well Nate, Serena and some kid named Milo.
“Ok, well if you need me you know where I am.” Serena muttered quietly as she ran her hand up and down Jenny’s arm comfortingly.
“Thanks Serena.” Jenny was glad the two had managed to patch things up. Another pointless war with an Upper East Sider was the last thing she needed.
Nate tapped his foot impatiently. Jenny had been in there too long, what if she’d done something stupid to herself? Nate asked himself, as he wiped the sweat from underneath his mask. He hated these damn things. Noticing a blonde walking out of the restroom, he ran up to her quickly.
“Hey!”, Nate yelled as he grabbed her arms gently.
“Nate?”, Serena asked turning around to face him.
“Oh Serena hey, Sorry I was looking for Jenny.” Nate mumbled, the disappointment apparent as he let go of Serena.
“She’s right there”, Serena pointed causing Nate to turn around confused.
Opening the restroom door slowly, Jenny adjusted her mask before noticing Nate once again. Before she knew it she was running, she didn’t exactly know why, she didn’t even know she could run in this dress, but somehow she was.
“Jenny?!”, Nate yelled once again before chasing after her.
“Excuse me. Sorry”, Jenny muttered as she pushed her way through the crowds of masked people.
“Jenny, hold up!”, finally catching up to her he grabbed her arm, turning her to face him.
“Where did you learn to run like that?!”, Nate asked out of breath.
Jenny looked down at the hand he had wrapped around her arm, sighing she prepared herself for the disgust that was about to creep onto his face. She’d seen it on Blair’s, Dan’s, even her Fathers no matter how hard he’d tried to hide it.
“Why were you running?”.
“I, umm…”, That was pretty much all she had right now.
Licking his lips, Nate let go of Jenny’s arm. “Well here, you dropped this before.”
“Oh right, thank you.” Jenny mumbled as she took the purse from his hand, ignoring how alive her body felt when their hands touched.
“I didn’t know it was you”, Nate said shoving his hands into his pockets. “Your hair, it’s different. I like it.”
“Thank you”, Jenny replied running her hand through it.
Looking down, Nate tapped his foot anxiously. Conversation’s with Jenny weren’t usually this hard. Something was wrong.
“So, how long have you been back?”
Jenny frowned, clutching onto her purse. “Why are you being so nice to me?”, she asked looking up at Nate.
“Why… wouldn’t I be?”, Nate laughed, confused.
“You…”, her eyes widened. He didn’t know.
“It doesn’t matter”, Jenny continued shaking her head. The relief washed over her. He didn’t know. Thank god, he didn’t know. Smiling, Jenny looked up at him into his deep blue eyes. Even when he had a mask on, they still captivated her.
“So you, wanna maybe go for a walk, catch up?”, Nate asked smiling back at Jenny. He hadn’t realised how much he’d missed her until she was right in front of him, flashing that beautiful smile. She looked good, different. She looked like the old Jenny. The girl he fell for, 2 years ago.
“A walk sounds good”, Jenny replied smiling up at him gently.
* * * *
It was almost midnight by the time the two had gotten through their conversation. Jenny talked about Hudson, the people she’d met, her interview at Parsons and her mom’s new boyfriend. Nate talked about the summer, and Juliet. Jenny was still surprised at how easily she could open up to Nate, without even thinking she would confess all her deepest darkest secrets to him, well all except one.
“I cant believe you dated such a Physco!”, Jenny laughed. “Where do you find these woman Nate?”
“I don’t know”, Nate replied scratching his head. “How about you, any boyfriends?”, he asked immediately regretting the question.
“No. No boyfriends”, Jenny muttered as the two drank the last of their drinks.
Looking at Jenny slowly, Nate couldn’t help but scan her body. She‘d grown up, so much. Even her voice sounded deeper. It was always comfortable with her, easy, he‘d forgotten how much he‘d missed that, missed having someone to hear out all his problems, and to understand.
“Well, Im sure you’ll find the right guy soon”.
“Yeah…”, she whispered before smiling up at him, Jenny threw her arms around his neck. “Ive really missed you.”
Smiling, Nate wrapped his arms around her tiny frame pulling her tighter against him. “Ive missed you too.”
Looking at his watch, he let go of Jenny. “Almost midnight, what do you say I get us some more drinks.”
“Ok”, Jenny nodded.
“Be right back”, Nate grinned as Jenny watched him leave.
Tucking her hair behind her ear, she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. Straightening down her dress, she took out her phone using it as mirror, making sure she looked good for when Nate came back. Noticing another face in the reflection, Jenny’s heart sank into her stomach. Thousands of tiny vicious knots, twisted and churned.
“I thought I smelt something.”
Gulping, Jenny turned to find Blair stood behind her.
“Your quite the sneaky little termite aren’t you. I didn’t even know you were back in town.”
“Oh you didn’t? I thought you knew everything?”, Jenny retorted bitterly.
Blair chuckled to herself. “Apparently not. And neither does Nate, by the looks of things.” Jenny followed Blair’s eyeline to Nate standing at the bar with Dan and Serena.
“-Maybe I should fill him in.”
“Blair, please don’t.”
“Why not? You destroyed my relationship, it’s only fair I destroy yours. Not that Nate would ever think of you as anything but a friend. It’s a pity, Im gonna have to ruin that.”
“Blair, come on don’t do this!”, Jenny yelled grabbing Blair’s arm.
“Don’t touch me!”. Blair yelled pushing Jenny’s arm off of hers.
“Look I know what I did was wrong ok, and Im sorry. But please you have to move on from this.”
“I don’t have to do anything.”
Watching as Blair turned to make her way to Nate, Jenny ran in front of her quickly. She needed to do something.
“Look, how do you think this is gonna look on you huh? If people find out I slept with Chuck, your gonna become a laughing stock, you don’t want that. I don’t want that.”
Reasoning with Blair seemed to take up all of Jenny’s focus she didn’t even realise there a small petite blonde girl filming their entire conversation, or the 10 second countdown to midnight.
“10, 9, 8, 7!”
“Alright Humphrey, you win. I wont say anything.”
“6, 5!”
“Thank you.” Jenny whispered looking into Blair’s eyes gratefully.
Hearing their phone’s go off, the two searched their purses pulling out their phones.
Clicking on the video, Jenny almost collapsed on the spot.
“4,3!”
“If people find out I slept with Chuck, your gonna become a laughing stock, you don’t want that. I don’t want that.” Jenny yelled on the video.
“2,1.“
Dropping her phone, Jenny looked around the room. Before turning to face Dan and Nate… both with phone’s in their hands.
“MASKS OFF!”
Blair smirked. “Well, looks like I didn’t even have to say anything at all. You did all this yourself.”
Nate dropped his glass, the expression on his face blank.
Jenny… slept with Chuck?
To be continued.