Thank you so much to everyone that's commented and voted for this book. Each comment and vote honestly puts a smile on my face.

Following some concern and questions, this will be staying a Nate love story. I just have a lot of plans for it. And it'll be dramatic and will have a build up. But anyway, enjoy this chapter and comment or vote <3 xoxo

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Ivy week, the week where all the seniors would be freaking out and I could sit there and laugh at them. I was currently putting on my Constance school uniform with a denim jacket over the top. Blair had made me promise to help her make a good impression on Yale. Which I knew meant that I should be on my best behaviour.

I quickly slipped my headband on before walking out of my bedroom. I walked downstairs and rolled my eyes when I saw Blair pacing the floor. "B, would you stop for a second? You're gonna make the floorboards wear away." I sighed and grabbed a pot of blueberries and started eating them. 'Blair glared at me and I rolled my eyes and walked up to her. "B, you'll do fine. You're perfect Yale material and they'd be lucky to have you. So calm down." I said.

Blair gave me a small smile and nodded. "You're right. I've been working for this my whole life. This is one thing no one can take away from me." She confirmed and ran her hand nervously through her hair. "Thank you Lexi. Let's go." She ordered and took my hand, marching me out of the house. Sometimes I wondered if she realized how bossy she was.

Blair eventually ended up walking in front of me as she was in such a rush. I was happily strolling behind, eating my tub of blueberries. I tried not to loose myself in thought. Because there was too much Chuck drama going on. And I had been avoiding him since the day of his brunch.

I stopped when I noticed a slump figure of Nate on one of the benches. What was he doing sat out here? And why did he look so sad?

I sat on the bench next to him and put my hand on his shoulder. "Hey, what's wrong?" I asked.

Nate jumped slightly but relaxed when he saw it was me. "Nothing, I'm just very torn at the moment." He told me.

I pulled him in for a hug and let him rest his head on my shoulder. "It's just...my dad, he wants me to go to Dartmouth but he won't listen when I tell him I don't wanna go. I wanna make my own path, you know?" He said.

I nodded my head and ran my hands through his hair. "You've got to stop doing things for other people and start doing it for yourself. You'll only end up bitter if you don't follow your heart." I told him. "And I know you'd do fine either way."

He looked at me and smiled. "Thanks Lexi." He said.

I opened my mouth to say something in return, when a familiar voice made me stop.

"Archibald, what are you doing with my girl?" Chuck questioned.

"Oh please I'm not 'your girl' Chuck." I snorted with an eye roll. "I don't belong to anyone." I huffed and glared at him slightly before walking away.

I heard a scuffle behind me and I knew that Nate was having a go at Chuck and for some reason, that really made me smile.

First period was a drain. I had drama and if you knew my school, you'd know how overly dramatic the people in it were. I don't think they could perform one good piece of drama if they tried. It all just looked so fake.

My favourite class was music. I had that last. I knew I'd be able to work some more on my song. My teacher said I had natural talent and usually left me alone with my guitar or piano. Sometimes I practiced the flute and violin, but I used to play them just to keep my dad happy and I couldn't care less about him anymore.

Soon enough Lunch came and I went to sit with Blair and her bitches. "Hey B." I smile and sat down next to her.

"Hey A, I was just telling the girl how I'm a shoo in to get to be the usher for Yale. The only other person who could even begin to compete with me was Francis Braydon and we spiked her drinks all morning. She threw up all over the principal, it was hilarious." Blair grinned.

I just rolled my eyes at them. Why couldn't Blair ever just play fair? She was a smart girl, she had to stop being so insecure. I tapped my fingers on the desk and looked around, completely tuning Blair and the other girls out. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Nate looking at me and I smiled at him.

He gave a slight wave before he got back to whatever he was doing. I frowned and turned back to the front. I had his weird feeling, I couldn't place my finger on it, but it was weird.

"A, are you coming?" Blair asked.

"Coming where?" I frowned.

Blair rolled her eyes at me in clear annoyance because I haven't been listening. "We're going to grab some frozen yoghurt before class." She said.

"I'm good actually thanks B. I'm gonna catch up with Chuck." I said and stood up, walking away from them all. I knew exactly where Chuck would be and went to the spot behind the main building of the school, by the trees.

I approached him as soon as I got there and kissed his cheek. "Hey." I said with a smile.

"You're not mad at me anymore?" He asked.

"That all depends if you share your joint with me." I smirked.

He laughed and held the spliff to my mouth. I smoked it and made him open his mouth so I could give him a blow back. And that's how the rest of my lunch was spent. Smoking weed. Letting it run it's course and completely calm me. I looked up at Chuck and smiled, he understood me. He didn't try to change me or calm me down. He didn't care if I was out partying my ass of until 4 in the morning. He just let me be me. He let me do my own thing. I wasn't in love with him, not completely anyway and maybe I'd never be. But who says you need to be in love to be with someone? I don't believe in soulmates or fate. I just believe that you get with someone to stop yourself feeling empty, lonely. It makes your life more fuffilled.

"Are you coming to the event tonight?" Chuck asked me and pulled me to cuddle into his chest.

"Yeah, B wouldn't let me miss it. You know, it's so much easier to hate her." I told him and he laughed.

"No I guess not. But trust me, it'll be a night to remember." He smirked.

"Do you know what? I'm not even gonna ask. I don't care what you're plotting. Just leave me out of it." The bell rung to signal lunch was over and I gave Chuck one last kiss. "I'll see you tonight." I smiled.

The rest of school went pretty quickly. Music went far too fast though. I only managed to get a few more lyrics of my song done and my teacher had convinced me to enter for the school talent show. I wasn't sure I was actually gonna go for the audition.

I unwrapped my towel from my body and walked to my closet, trying to figure out something to wear. I needed to go conservative and not show off to much boob or bum. I pulled out a lacey black and white button up top and my leather high waisted skirt. I slipped them on and tucked the top into the skirt and placed a belt over the top to make it look more put together. I then put on a grey blazer and let my hair flow naturally. I teamed it up with some jewlery and a red clutch and I was ready to go.

"B? Are you ready?" I yelled down the hall as I slipped my ballet pumps on. Blair came out in a navy blue dress suit and I held in a laugh. She tried way too hard sometimes. "Come on let's go." I smiled and linked arms with her.

Our driver was waiting for us outside of our house, under strict instructions not to be late from Blair. We got in and Blair was constantly straighting something out or fixing her hair and it bugged me. A lot. "Blair, I swear if you don't stop fidgeting I will strip for the Yale representitive." I threatened and that immediately caused her to stop. Because she knew I wasn't joking.

Once there I gladly accepted a drink off of Dan's table and made my way over to stand with Blair and help represent her. I spoke up only at the times that Blair told me to and recited all the cue cards she had given me the night before off by heart.

I finally got a break when Blair went to make her speech. I stood next to Chuck and laced his hand in mine and rested my head on his shoulder. But what Blair said next made my eyes widen and I turned to look at Chuck. Ostroff center? Drug problem? I knew it couldn't be true, I knew Serena. This was the workings of Blair and Chuck. Not caring about others at all and not digging deeper to find out the whole truth.

My hand immediately fell from Chuck's and I shook my head at him. Why hadn't I questioned him when he gave me the opportunity? Did that make me as bad as them? Not caring until someone got hurt. Not giving enough of a damn to prevent it. "I can't believe you!" I hissed. "God! I can't believe I ever let myself be with someone like you! I can't believe I started to like you. You're a sleeze and you'll always be a sleeze Chuck Bass." I said and my eyes filled with tears. "I hate you. And if I never see your face again, it'll still be too soon." I spat out, refraining myself from yelling.

"Alexia, It was a joke. I'm sorry. Please?" He begged and grabbed my arm. I immediately yanked it out of his grip and walked away from him. And I didn't bother looking back.

"A?" A small voice asked from behind me. I turned around and saw Eric. I smiled at him and hugged him.

"Eric hi! You're back, it's so nice to see you. Look, about B and S. I didn't know it was gonna happen. I'm so sorry. If I'd have know I-"

"I tried to kill myself. That's why I went to the Ostroff center. It's not Serena that goes there, it's me." Eric cut me off short.

My eyes widened in pure shock, anger and disbelief. Blair had really done it this time. She had really screwed up. I couldn't help but hug Eric again. "I'm so sorry Eric. I don't know what to say." I whispered and felt tears fill my eyes. "Are you okay now?" I asked. Eric nodded his head.

"I'm working on it, but I should get going. There's another Waldorf I need to speak to" He excused himself. I nodded and watched him go.

I walked out of the building and leaned against the wall, my hands running through my hair as I slid down the side of it. When did life become so fucked up? What was the age when things stopped seeming like a fairytale and started to become real? And why, when I felt my absolute lowest, was no one there. no one at all?