''Darling, I hope you don't mind, but I took a peek at your dress and it is absolutely-''

Rose Ange Noir stopped in her tracks instantly at the sight of her daughter, Victoria, sprawled out on her bed with various text books, notebooks and colorful highlights surrounding her.

She jerks her head back. ''What is this?''

''Homework.''

Rose looks away, snickering. ''Oh no, honey, tonight is the New York Philanthropic Society's annual gala. Come, you've been focused on your studies for the past two weeks, you deserve a night out.''

Frankly, it wasn't about what Victoria deserved. It was entirely set on how she felt. Since the weekend spent on Yale's campus she's been bombarded by thoughts that scared her. She wasn't sure how to control them and or handle them.

Then, to add the frosting on the cake, Nathaniel Archibald hasn't spoken to her since that night. It wasn't until that first morning back to school, that she never realized that he went out of his route just to speak to her. Other than that, they never crossed paths unless a spark of interest occurs.

It was weird for her, not to see him for the duration of the week. For a while she thought it was fine for Nathaniel and her to return to their normal lives. That they were never really friends to begin with anyway, so now she could be able to focus on her and her life.

But going on into the second week of not speaking, much less seeing him, another rage of thoughts clouded over her. She began to wonder if he thought she literally meant that she needed some time and space. Or maybe he's got stuff going on his own life that's too personal to share with Victoria and he'd rather go for someone closer to home.

But the most anxious thought was if he had thought what everyone else thought about her. The high end girl couldn't be bothered with somebody worth less than her.

''No, it's fine,'' Victoria scrunches her lips to the side. ''I got this big test in my AP English class this Monday and I kind of need a ninety or higher to keep up my GPA.''

''Victoria,'' Rose sets down her gown along side of the bed and takes a seat in what little space was left to sit on her bed. ''I admire your consistency to shoot for the stars, but tonight, I want you to feel like the star that you are. You need a break. Wouldn't it be nice to get dolled up and have your photo taken?''

She tilts her head high. ''One hour, and that's it.''

''Lovely.''

She takes a stand from her bed and heads out the room, making sure to close the door from behind her.

-

''Merci, madame Lafayette,'' Victoria smiles at the elder woman who complimented her appearance. She wore a Valentino embellished sleeveless gown that was very v-neck. The dress didn't even require to wear a bra given it was exposing so much cleavage. It was a piece from the Garden and Earthly Delight collection.

She began to walk away from the elder when she walked right into the back of someone.

''Oh,'' She gasps. She takes a few wobbly steps back and apologizes, ''I'm so sorry, I should've been-'' Her features faltered into this wave of shock when Nathaniel Archibald turned to her.

''Hi,'' She breathes out. She began to fiddle with her fingers as a nervous habit. She knew she should've stayed home. Nothing ever goes wrong when you're hiding away in the comforts of your own bed.

''Sounds like you're done needing time and space.''

She groans. ''Look, I really would hate for you to take that night personal. It was nothing towards you and I wasn't trying to come off-''

''Rude?''

she pursed her lips. ''I was gonna say, like a bitch-'' He chuckles lightly at her analogy. ''But rude works too.''

''Victoria,'' He smiles. ''I don't mind. I just want you to know that I'm here for you if you ever need someone to confide with.''

She furrows her brows at him. ''Really?''

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he shrugs his shoulders. ''Well, yeah. It can't always be me with a problematic error in their life.''

She slowly grew into a smile. ''Yeah, I guess that can work.''

Her phone then vibrates in her clutch.

As she opens her clutch, he began to speak. ''You look really nice, tonight.''

She pulls out her phone and finds another one of Gossip Girl's blast on her screen. That being Nathaniel Archibald, and the blonde known to be Dan Humphrey's little sister lip locked with one another.

Spotted at the palace; Nate Archibald and Little J. Like the song says, How long has this been going on..?

''Uh,'' She stammers. She couldn't think, she couldn't form a proper sentence at the moment. Wasn't just stuck on a grown woman at Yale University? It's only been two weeks since, how is it humanely possible to move on that fast? It takes Victoria a whole month to even consider someone a possible candidate for a crush. ''Sorry,-'' She urgently stuffs her phone in her purse and shakes her head. ''That was just, um-''

She could see his eyes narrowing and his thick brows inching towards one another.

''Not important,'' She finalized. ''You were saying?''

''I'm gonna go get us some drinks,'' He excuses himself.

As he left, a haunting possibility was made.

That maybe, just maybe, did she ruin any chances of making friend in this damned city.

Not a moment or two later did Victoria Ange Noir turned around and found a hurried Vanessa, clearly not dressed for the occasion nor intended to anyways. She pursed her lips at her while Vanessa sighs.

''I guess you can say I'm running around blind, again,'' She chuckles dryly.

But, Victoria was in no mood for a light hearten conversation when it came to her. How could she? She labeled her to obscurity all because of a name and status.

''Can I just say, I'm sorry about that night?'' She swallows deeply and takes a step forward. ''Call me foolish, but it seemed like you were trying be sincere and like every other one of you guys, I thought it was just some scheme to play me or something.''

Victoria tilts her head to the side. ''One of you guys, as in Serena Van Der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf?''

She flattened her lips into a thin line.

Victoria tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. ''Let me guess, you're here because of Nathaniel?''

She inhales deeply. ''No, but if you could pin point where he is so I can find Jenny, that would be great.''

Victoria's brows jumped on her forehead. ''Wow, I didn't take you to be that type of girl.''

''Excuse me?''

''Well,'' She slightly cringed. ''with Nath-''

''Good evening,'' The host spoke into the microphone, diverting everyone's attention on him. ''May I have your attention, please?''

Victoria's gaze flickered past Vanessa and on Nathaniel Archibald, entering from the main hall. Clearly, his mission on grabbing a drink was overlooked.

''Thank you,'' The host clears his throat. ''As head of the New York Philanthropic Society, presenting this award is my favorite duty. Please join me in congratulating, Lily and Bart Bass.''

Victoria tucks her clutch under an arm and clapped, joining the round of applause for the couple standing before them.

''Lily and Bart Bass have funded the constructions of clinics and hospitals in Equatorial Guinea, Sri Lanka-''

The lights then went out.

The TV screens displaying a slide show of the Bass' achievements was altered with the word, Introducing.

''My apologies, there seems to be some sort of technical difficulty.''

Music began to play and the words, J Humphrey Designs appeared. 

Victoria turned to find Vanessa eyeing her with furrowed brows. What the hell was going on?

A bunch of servants entered with flashing lights, waving them around the models entering in two single file lines. The models climbed on the table and began throwing Polaroids everywhere.

The last model for the show appeared, earning a cheer from everyone surrounding them.

''Okay,'' Victoria sighs. ''I'm actually getting a little dizzy.''

''This is amazing,'' Vanessa giggles. She was practically bouncing in place.

In the midst of it all, there was a figure than ran from one side of the room to another. The blonde hair was recognizable enough to be Jenny Humphrey, as she jumped into the arms of an ecstatic Nathaniel Archibald.

In a second they pulled apart from the hug and shared a kiss.

Licking her lips, Victoria turns to Vanessa once more, and her smile had vanished.

Her gaze was locked on the two, as if she couldn't believe it. She was missing something.

''I thought you saw it on Gossip Girl.''

Vanessa turns to her, her features never fading.

''I'm sorry.''

With the shake of her head, she storms for their direction.

She wanted to judge. Matter of fact, by the look on Jenny's face when seeing Vanessa made Victoria only want scold Nathaniel. A few readings on Gossip Girl here and there, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that Vanessa was close with the Humphrey's. 

And based off of some collateral history between Nate and Vanessa, he should've known that he was stepping on dangerous grounds when getting involved with Jenny Humphrey.

She marched up to Nate when he stood alone.

''Nate,-''

''You saw that?'' He slaps his arms against his side. ''Of course, you saw that.''

She raised a brow. ''Nate,-''

''I don't think I should be here,'' He shakes his head vigorously. ''I should probably head out to the Hampton's, where my mom is.''

''Nate!'' She exclaims. ''You're not going anywhere until we find someplace to talk. Then, afterwards, if you still want to leave, fine.''

He looked distraught. He wanted to leave, but this was the first time Victoria Ange Noir has ever really been persistent when talking to him.

''Come on,'' She urges by linking her arm with his.

They had left the Palace, arms still linked and wandered down the street. Until that street turned into a couple of blocks away from where they were.

''Victoria,'' She rolls her eyes at his call.

''Don't call me that, at least for the night.''

He shrugs his shoulders. ''Then what do I call you?''

She looks at him with a sly smirk. ''Surprise me.''

She was amused at the sight of his face twisting up, momentarily in thought. He wanted her nickname to be unique, something no one would think of on the spot.

''Via.''

They stop at a red light when she smiles. This one was bright, more truer and genuine she's ever worn with every encounter the two had.

''I like that,'' She mumbles. ''I really like that.''

''Where are we going?''

They proceed their journey once the light allowed them to walk in the dark and somehow busy streets of Manhattan.

''I don't know,'' She breathes out.

His features blanked. ''What?''

She looks up to him and smiles. ''We're going to get lost for a little while. I'm not going to force you to talk, but I feel like you need someone whether you want to speak or to stay silent.''

His chest rise with a heave of a dry chuckle. ''There's that perspicacious charm. I was afraid you might have lost your touch.''

She snickers. ''Yeah, well, just because I don't know how to help myself doesn't mean I don't know how to help others.''

''What if there was someone to help you?'' He argues.

''Um,'' She shrugs her shoulders. ''There isn't. Besides, nobody has you better than yourself.''

''No,'' Nate shakes his head. ''No way, that can't be true.''

''And how are you so sure?''

Nathaniel Archibald stopped walking when she pulls away from his touch. She takes a few steps ahead of him and turns around, her brows furrowed. She folds her arms across her chest and tilts her head to the side.

''Not once, out of your whole life have you ever considered asking for help?''

She jerks her head back. ''I never said I haven't thought about reaching for help my whole life, but-'' She lets a distressed sigh. ''Forget it, it's stupid.''

He raises a brow, nearly entertained. ''You're doing it again.''

''Doing what?''

''Clamming up,'' He takes a step towards her. ''And don't say you're not because this isn't the first time you've done it, either.''

Victoria takes a deep breath. ''We're out here for your sake, Nathaniel.''

''What happened to the nicknames?''

She pushed out her bottom lip into a small pout and shakes her head in a subtle motion. ''Moment faded.''

He tilts his head to the side, pleading, ''Victoria-''

''I'm gonna call my driver,'' She announced. ''I'll have him pick us up and drop you off.''

-

Victoria Ange Noir was staring at the building, confused.

It was silent for the duration of her phone call with Charles and the ride to Nate's place. But she had to speak up once they arrived. She had to know.

''Why are we in Brooklyn?''

''I'm sorry, I'm afraid that's none of your business,'' Nathaniel remarks on his way out from the backseat of the limo. She opened her mouth to protest, but he had already slammed the door shut.

Needless to say, Victoria was fuming. It was one thing to be mad, it was another to dismiss her that way.

''Hey!'' She calls out. She slams the door behind her once she was standing outside of the limo. ''What the hell is that suppose to mean?''

Nate wipes his face down with one hand and sighs. ''Look, Victoria, I know that we're not close, and maybe Gossip Girl is right, maybe you do think you're too predominant compared to everyone else, but I consider us friends.''

She blinks rather rapidly at him. Did Nathaniel Archibald really call what they had a friendship?

''You're funny, you're nice, you're always there to listen, I-'' He sighs. ''What I just said back there, is exactly what it feels like you're telling me whenever I ask something even remotely direct towards you.''

''I'm a Noir, Nate!'' She exclaims furiously. ''I shouldn't have to call for help, I should be able to stand on my two feet all on my own. And it's not because I think I'm on a high horse for being named the wealthiest child in the city, it's because it's what expected from me. I need to be able to handle the pressure, I need to be alone because from what I seen on Gossip Girl, it looks like all you guys do is use people as a stepping stool to advance yourself in a better place. I need to pick a college that shows that I'm true to my unique desirability and I need to be able to figure out what the hell I'm going to do for the rest of my life by the time we graduate!''

''Hey, that is not what I do,'' Nate hissed.

''And I'm not prestigious, Nathaniel,'' She shrugs her shoulders. ''I guess were both judged by character over a stupid anonymous blog.''

She turned on the heel of her foot and climbed back inside the vehicle. With a signal to drive, the limousine was in motion. And Nathaniel Archibald was left standing in front of Dan Humphrey's building, bewildered.