A/N I'm sorry that this chapter's so short. But I wanted to update more frequently because I love you guys and all of the comments that are coming through are putting a huge smile on my face. But I want to know if you guys would like updates that are shorter but more frequent. Probably, every week. Maybe twice a week if I can manage it. Or would you like updates that are less frequent but longer? I couldn't give you a time for the less frequent. They'd vary. Comment or inbox me and let me know what you'd like. But thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy

Everyone had been acting weird since the night I told Chuck I loved him. Chuck wasn't answering my calls, I'd sent Nate a lot of texts and hadn't got a single reply, even Blair tried not to be alone in a room with me.

That's why I was at the Humphrey loft. It was very quaint to say the least. "Why are you so desperate to go Blair's sleepover again?" I asked with a look of distaste on my face.

"Because, I'll finally be in with Blair. I'll be able to be high up on the social ladder, rather than the Brooklyn girl that no one cares about." She explained.

"Your brother's dating Serena, isn't that enough popularity for you?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No it's not! I need to earn it myself. If they break up I go straight back to being a loser." She argued.

I just shrugged my shoulders at her. "It's your funeral. But just remember that Blair won't be queen B forever." I told her.

Jenny sighed. "I just wanna survive high school. I wanna feel like I belong there." She told me. I nodded in understanding and ate some more of the ice cream I brought over for us.

"So why aren't you with Chuck today?" Jenny asked.

"Oh he's gone off somewhere with Nate and I thought it'd be nice to catch up with you." I said with a shrug.

"You don't care that you have no idea where Chuck is?" Jenny asked. Of course I cared. He wasn't answering any of my calls and it was killing me inside. I knew I was stupid to tell him that I love him.

"Of course I don't. It's just Chuck." I said.

Dan came bursting into the room at that moment looking more panicked than ever.

"What's up, lonely boy?" I asked and laid down so that my head rested in Jenny's lap.

"I'm taking Serena on a date and I have no idea how to impress her." He admitted.

"She loves vespers, turn up on one of those." I adviced.

"Ha ha, very funny. Now would you please stop trying to sabotage our date." How dare he accuse me of sabotaging their date. I happen to quite like Serena and Dan together. But if that's who he think I am, then fine.

"Okay, the fancier the better with Serena. I'd order a fancy black car and go to a restaurant where you can only afford water." I said with a sickly sweet smile on my face. "She is used to luxuries after all."

"Thanks for your help, A." Dan smiled.

"No problem. I do what I can to give to the poor." I said and got up and grabbed my jacket. "I'm gonna head off, but I'll see you around Jenny." I said and blew her a kiss before walking out of the door.

Retail therapy is exactly what I needed. I called up Penelope and Izzy and told them that they were needed to come shopping with me.

Honestly? I loved new clothes, buying them made me feel looser and more content. I'd brought 5 new dresses, 2 pairs of shoes and 3 skirts.

But the next place I wanted to go was the book store, having to maintain my reputation I sent Izzy and Penelope away.

Something about browsing bookstores brought peace to me. I loved everything about them, the old book feel, the new book smell, the dents and creases from where people had read then before me. I just loved them. But I didn't fit in with my princess reputation, that was why I had to keep this one a secret.

"Hi Mr. Pissepe." I said as I walked in.

"Alexia, just the person I wanted to see. We've got a new book in and I wanted you to be the first to read it. I'm positive you'll love it." He said with a smile.

I watched him go behind his desk and search for the new book. I sat on the stool and swung my legs as I happily glanced around the shop. "Ah, here it is." He smiled and handed me The Secret Garden.

I looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "It's a children's book." I told him. "I've seen the film."

"Ah, but the book is always so much better. Plus it's a fascinating tale of discovering the beauty within yourself and those around you. I'm sure you'll love it. I've been wanting this book for a while." He told me.

I smiled and ran my finger over the delicate binding. "Thanks Mr. Pissepe. How much?" I asked.

"Think of it as a gift, to my most regular customer."

I gave him a twinkly smile and held onto the book. "Thanks, Mr. Pissepe."

I turned to walk out of the door when I slammed straight into someone. "Sorry! I didn't know you were behind me." I told the stranger and looked up.

"What's a princess like you doing in a bookstore?" The stranger asked.

"How do you know I'm a princess?" I quizzed.

"Every teenager in New York knows who you and your friends are."

"Fine, since you seem to know all about me, can I at least have your name?"

"Jason." Was the simple one worded answer I got and I looked up and smiled at him. He was hot. He had bright blue eyes and tousled blonde hair. He had the starting's of stubble as if he hadn't shaved in a couple of days.

"It's nice to meet you Jason, I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about this little encounter." I told him.

"Ah, for that to happen you'd have to go on a date with me."

I raised eyebrows at his forwardness and crossed my arms over my chest. "I have a boyfriend." I told him.

"And where exactly is he right now?" He asked. He took my book out of my hands and wrote something in it. "Here's my number for when you figure out that you're better than those you use for your reputation." He told me and handed me my book back before stalking down the other end of the shop.

I frowned at my book and put it in my bag. I walked out of the shop and shook my head. I wasn't using anyone, and how dare a perfect stranger tell me otherwise. He didn't know me, he just knew what Gossip Girl posted about me. I was left to stew in my own thoughts the whole way home. My confusion, anger and loneliness all rising.

I headed straight to my room once I arrived home, ignoring the calls of Blair and her minions. I wasn't in the mood for a sleepover tonight.

I got my phone out of my bag and dialed Chuck's number. As I suspected, it went to voicemail again. I left another voicemail, not caring how desperate I sounded. "Hey Chuck, it's me again. Look, I know you and Nate are away somewhere or whatever, but could you at least call me back and let me know that you're alive. I miss you. Anyway, text me when you get this or something." I hung up and took the book out of my bag. My eyes darted over the number and I bit my lip.

I decided to try Nate again, it'd distract me from the stranger. I dialed Nate's number and stood up, crossing my fingers. My heart sank when I got voicemail on his phone too. "Nate, seriously. What's going on. I mean, I get Chuck not answering my calls because he's Chuck and he's an asshole. But you? What have I done? I just wanted to make sure you guys are okay. But fuck it, I don't care anymore. I called you to distract me from this cute guy that I met today. But hell, if you guys aren't answering my calls and letting me know that you're safe, I'm not gonna feel bad about going on a date." I hung up, practically seething.

I opened my book and typed the number into my phone. 'Movies. 7pm. Be there.- Alexia.' I smiled as I sent the text, a feeling of pride washing over me. Revenge is sweet.

I grabbed some blueberries and went into my bathroom. I ran a bath and added extra bubble. I got into my bath and relaxed, letting the bubbles soak over my body as I popped blueberries into my mouth. I started to read The Secret Garden, allowing myself to be absorbed in the child's tale. I loved analyzing books. Trying to find all the possible hidden meaning and what each thing represents. I guess you could say that I take away the enjoyment from just reading. But to me that is the enjoyment of just reading.

I looked at my clock and saw that I had two hours left until my date. I quickly got up and wrapped a towel around me.

I pulled out a silver, floaty dress and slipped it onto my body. I styled my hair into a fishtail braid, but loosened it a little so it looked at bit more boho. I slipped on some silver kitten heels and put pink and white flowers in my hair to make it less boring.

By the time I finished my make up, I had twenty minutes to get there. I grabbed my bag and ran out the door before Blair could bombard me with questions.

When I got there Jason was already waiting for me. I got out of my car and smiled. "You didn't give me a fake number then." I smiled.

"Of course not, princess." He smirked.

"You say princess like it's a bad thing." I pointed out.

"Maybe it is." He quipped.

I shrugged and rolled my eyes at him. "When you're born into royalty it's hard to get rid of the titles. Unfortunately, the upper east side is like royalty...anyways, we should go in."

He smiled at me and took my hand as we walked into the movies. I turned off my phone and waited as he ordered the tickets.

***

Honestly? I had an amazing time, but it wasn't anything more than that. Just an amazing time. Our worlds didn't fit together and we both understood that. But it was nice to escape with a perfect stranger.

I got home and kicked my shoes off. No body was home so I made my way upstairs.

I got into my bed, turned on my phone. I'm surprised it didn't blow up with the amount of notifications I got. Most of them being from Chuck.

I immediately called him and he answered on the second ring. "Chuck?! Oh my God! Hi! Are you alive?!" I screamed down the phone with excitement.

"Don't pretend to care about me." Chuck hissed down the phone and my heart just sunk in my chest.

"What are you talking about? Of course I care, Chuck."

"Don't lie to me! Where are you right now?"

"In bed." I said, my eyebrows furrowed with confusion.

"Stop lying!"

"Chuck! I'm in bed." He frowned.

"You were with someone else. Have you checked Gossip Girl."

"I- Oh Chuck. I'm sorry. I was just annoyed that you and Nate weren't answering my calls. I'm so sorry. I promise you nothing happened. I just-I felt like shit. The worse we did was hold hands."

"Like I'm gonna believe that. It took nothing to get you into my bed."

"Chuck! What? I promise nothing happened."

"We're over." Chuck said then hung up. I felt my heart hammering heard and then there was just a dull ache and I burst into tears.

At about two in the morning Blair came in and wrapped her arms around me. "I'm so sorry."

"I take it Chuck told you." I whispered. I felt Blair tense but her arms stayed wrapped around me.

"I never meant for it to happen, Lex."

"It's not your fault Chuck left me. Or left in the first place. I shouldn't have gotten so angry and gone on that date." I sighed.

"What exactly did Chuck tell you?"

"That he saw the gossip girl blast and we're over. Why? Should he have said more?" I asked, looking up at her with my puffy red eyes.

"No. No I just. I wanted to know how much I'd have to torture him for." She kissed the top of my head and I smiled.

That's how I fell asleep, in the arms of my sister. Stuck with each other no matter what.