[the ball]
The ball wasn't turning out to be such a great idea after all. Really, Dan had known it wouldn't be. Even with the date that Serena had organised for him - and Lyla was pretty and sweet, just like she'd said - he just wasn't having a good time.
It wasn't the formality of it. The island was a far cry from the Upper East Side and it's exclusive list of invitees. The people here ran the gamut from queens to beggars, as far as he could tell. It wasn't having Jenny here, or the looks he'd gotten from Blair and Chuck. It was Serena. That she was here, and that she was here with someone else, and completely happy about it. That was what bothered him. Dan told himself that it shouldn't; that they'd broken up at home, and he was happy that she was happy. He just wasn't happy that she was so happy without him.
Noticing his distraction, Lyla had sent him to get them both drinks, saying she was going to talk to a friend. Coming back to find her dancing with Chuck was a bit annoying. In fact, it bothered him, especially the way she was laughing at whatever it was Chuck was saying to her.
He'd downed both of the cups he held, turning to scan the crowd. What he needed was to get out of here, but he wasn't going to leave without telling his sister where he was going. Of course, seeing Beat making out with Ser- No, that wasn't Serena. It was... Lucy he thought, squinting, not quite believing he was seeing things correctly.
Dan didn't even give him a chance. The glasses left on a table he'd stalked across the floor, grabbing Beat's shoulder and pulling him away from Lucy. "I don't know what the hell kind of game you're playing, but if you think you can do this to Serena-"
It was all he said before his fist connected with Beat's nose. Damn, that always hurt.
It wasn't the formality of it. The island was a far cry from the Upper East Side and it's exclusive list of invitees. The people here ran the gamut from queens to beggars, as far as he could tell. It wasn't having Jenny here, or the looks he'd gotten from Blair and Chuck. It was Serena. That she was here, and that she was here with someone else, and completely happy about it. That was what bothered him. Dan told himself that it shouldn't; that they'd broken up at home, and he was happy that she was happy. He just wasn't happy that she was so happy without him.
Noticing his distraction, Lyla had sent him to get them both drinks, saying she was going to talk to a friend. Coming back to find her dancing with Chuck was a bit annoying. In fact, it bothered him, especially the way she was laughing at whatever it was Chuck was saying to her.
He'd downed both of the cups he held, turning to scan the crowd. What he needed was to get out of here, but he wasn't going to leave without telling his sister where he was going. Of course, seeing Beat making out with Ser- No, that wasn't Serena. It was... Lucy he thought, squinting, not quite believing he was seeing things correctly.
Dan didn't even give him a chance. The glasses left on a table he'd stalked across the floor, grabbing Beat's shoulder and pulling him away from Lucy. "I don't know what the hell kind of game you're playing, but if you think you can do this to Serena-"
It was all he said before his fist connected with Beat's nose. Damn, that always hurt.