Chapter 18

"How is she?"

Nate turned slowly from his open locker, his expression puzzled as he looked at Chuck. "What?"

Chuck sighed, annoyed he had to repeat himself. He leaned a shoulder against the empty bank of lockers. "How is she? She seemed shook up last night, but then she said she was fine. I wasn't too sure…" He trailed off, his eyes narrowing at Nate's obvious confusion.

Chuck laughed darkly under his breath, shaking his head sardonically. "She didn't tell you."

"Who didn't tell me what?" Nate demanded.

"Jenny," Chuck answered slowly. "Last night? I was at the same party she was. Some guy had his hands all over her."

Nate's jaw dropped, stunned.

"Easy," Chuck admonished. "I stepped in before it got too far. I dropped her off at her apartment last night. She said she was going to tell you…"

Nate blinked rapidly, trying to remember. He hadn't seen Jenny all morning. He assumed she was still asleep when he and Dan left for school, and she hadn't woken him when he got in…

"I guess she changed her mind," Chuck said quietly, sincerely apologetic. "I'm sorry. I thought you knew."

"I had no … What happened?"

"I'm not entirely sure. When I saw her the guy had her pushed up against a wall."

Nate's fist tightened reflexively, the muscles in his arm bunching as they corded. He clenched his jaw, angry. "She's OK?"

"She said she was last night, but…" Chuck shrugged. "I wanted to make sure."

Nate nodded, looking down the hall. He glanced at his watch and made a quick decision. "Tell Mr. Mortimer I won't be in class, will you?"

Chuck smiled briefly. "I'll tell him you went home with the flu."

"Thanks," Nate muttered, distracted. He slammed his locker shut with more force than was necessary and headed down the hall, resisting the urge to sprint.

***

Jenny winced as she wiped away the excess moisture on the mirror from the scalding shower she had taken. All the hot water and all the scrubbing couldn't completely eradicate the feel of Max's hands on her. She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes zeroing in on the bruise on her upper bicep.

She could even make out the individual fingers that had wrapped around her small arm. It was a purplish-brown color that she instantly hated. Disgusted, she turned away from the mirror and pulled on a baggy pair of sweatpants and one of her father's old Lincoln Hawk t-shirts that covered down to her elbows.

She worked a brush through her wet hair and shook it out, letting it fall in wet waves around her face. Without makeup and her cheeks still pink from the steam of the shower, she looked younger than normal.

Jenny opened the door of the bathroom and stepped out just as the front door opened. She froze, her eyes wide.

Nate closed the door behind him, not moving towards her. He dropped his book bag to the floor. His eyes looked over up and down quickly. "Are you OK?" he finally asked.

She frowned, confused. How had he…? "Chuck," Jenny said softly, realizing. Her eyes slid shut and she rubbed her forehead. "You talked to Chuck."

"He asked me if you were OK," Nate said by way of an answer, his voice tight. "Which I found interesting because I didn't know anything was wrong."

Jenny sighed and folded her arms across herself protectively. "What did he tell you?"

"What does it matter what he told me? Why didn't you tell me?" Nate demanded, his tone laced with acid.

"It was late when I got in and you were asleep," she replied, the answer sounding weak even to her. Suddenly her rationale last night didn't seem to hold up in the light of day.

"You could've woken me up." His eyes softened slightly. "You should have woken me up."

She looked down at her feet. "I know. I didn't want to."

"Why not?"

She flinched at the pain in his voice. She swallowed, trying to reign in her tears. "Because … because I was embarrassed."

His heart twisted. She looked so sad and broken standing in front of him, her clothes too big for her petite frame. Unable to stay away from her any longer, he crossed the room and pulled her wordlessly into his arms, hugging her tight against his chest.

The second his arms closed around her, she felt the last of her walls shatter. It started with one tear and then she was sobbing, clinging to him like he was a life line and she was drowning. Her body shook and her knees buckled, but he held her up, supporting her weight effortlessly.

Nate smoothed his hands down her back, rubbing her reassuringly. He pressed his lips against the top of her head, gently rocking her. "Shh, it's OK now."

She hiccupped quietly, her tears subsiding, but she didn't lift her head from his chest. She was safe here. She needed to feel safe again.

It seemed like forever until he leaned back, looking down into her red-rimmed eyes. He wiped away the residual tears on her cheeks with his thumbs, gently kissing her mouth with his.

"Tell me what happened?" he requested softly, his eyes giving her a quick once over to make sure she was OK.

Nodding, Jenny took his hand and led him to the couch. She waited for him to sit before curling up against him, her head on his chest. She could faintly make out the strong sound of his heart beating. She watched as he took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together before raising her hand to his lips.

She drew in a long, shaky breath, wondering where to start.

"You don't have to tell me," he said quietly, briefly tightening his arm around her shoulders.

"No, it's…" She sighed, burrowing her head deeper against him. "It was Max."

She felt the muscles of his stomach clench under her. His entire body seemed to tense. She could feel the anger radiating off him in waves.

"Max." He spat the name venomously. "He—"

"Chuck stopped it before it went too far," Jenny assured him quickly, tightening her hold on his hand briefly. "It just scared me more than anything else."

"Jenny…"

"I'm … fine."

He sensed her hesitation. "What is it?"

She sat up slowly, her eyes down. She lifted her left sleeve, letting him see the bruise for himself. He heard his sharp intake of breath and seconds later his fingertips were gently tracing the bruise, his touch feather light.

"Does it hurt?"

She shook her head and let her sleeve fall back down. "No. I'm really OK. It just shook me up. Thank God Chuck was there." She grimaced. "Never thought I'd hear myself say that."

Nate laughed softly, bitterly. "No. I guess not."

"I knew going to that party with Agnes was a mistake," Jenny said acrimoniously, placing her head back on his chest.

He traced the curve of her hip slowly. "It doesn't seem like Agnes is such a great friend."

"You can say that again."

"Maybe it's a good idea for you to stay away from her. At least for a little while." He held his breath, not wanting to appear to be telling her what to do, but also not wanting her to be near Agnes. Agnes didn't seem like such a great influence.

"Or for a long while," Jenny amended. "Seems like Agnes and Max are a package deal, and I really don't want to see him anytime soon."

"I don't want you seeing him either," Nate replied evenly, his jaw clenching.

She sighed. "Just means I'll have to work twice as hard to get into a good design school."

"Jenny, you don't need Agnes to get into a design school," he scoffed. "You're more than talented enough. Any school, would be lucky to have you."

She looked up at him, patting the side of his face lightly. "You're sweet, but I think you're a little biased." She winked at him.

Laughing, he buried his face into her neck, kissing her lightly. "So what if I am? You're talented, Jenny."

"Thanks, Nate, but I'd have felt better if I had the connections to the fashion industry Agnes provided."

His hand crept down her leg, cupping behind her knee. He pulled her up so she was straddling him, facing him. He looked solemnly into her eyes. "You don't need Agnes. You don't need anyone."

She swept the hair away from his eyes. "I don't know about that."

His lips curved into a smile. "I do. You're more than talented to get into an amazing design school."

"No," she said softly, shaking her head. "I meant about not needing anyone."

He watched her pause, biting her lower lip as she studied him.

"I think I might need you," she admitted quietly.

He grinned. "Well, you've already got me."

***

Blair was halfway down the sidewalk when she felt someone take her arm, guiding her in the opposite direction. She looked up, surprised. Her surprise quickly melted into amusement as she watched Chuck steer her back up the street.

"I was heading the other way," she remarked dryly.

"And now you're heading this way," he replied easily, negotiating them through their exiting classmates. "My car's over there."

"And who said I was going in your car?"

He stopped them suddenly. "Trust me. You'll want to hear what I have to say."

She considered him for a moment and then shrugged, smiling sweetly. "Sure. I have a few minutes I can spare."

"Thank you," he said, exasperated. He kept a hand under her elbow and led her to the open car door, waiting for her to get in first.

"You were right," he wasted no time in saying once the door was shut.

"What was I right about this time?" Blair inquired, amused, as she leaned back on the opposite bench facing him.

"Jenny and Nate."

He watched her, pleased with himself, as her jaw swung open. She moved her mouth, but no sound came out. He laughed quietly to himself.

"How?" she finally managed.

"I knew there had to be more keeping Nate there than the sights of Brooklyn," Chuck replied with a careless shrug. "Jenny admitted it to me last night."

"Jenny? Since when do you talk to Jenny Humphrey?" Blair snorted, rolling her eyes. She tossed her hair over her shoulder with a shake of her head. "Last time you and little J met up, you ended up half naked on top of a building."

"That was a misunderstanding." He frowned darkly remembering the night that a freshman had made him look like a fool. "I saw her at a party last night."

"With Nate?"

"No, with some guy who couldn't keep his hands to himself."

She grinned at him innocently. "I didn't know you had a brother."

"Ha ha," he deadpanned. "I offered her a ride home and told her I knew about her and Nate."

"Did you?"

"No, but she didn't know that when she admitted they were seeing each other."

Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Nate Archibald and Jenny Humphrey? That's almost too revolting to think about."

"Leave it," Chuck said sharply, seeing the look in her eye.

She stared openly at him. "Excuse me?"

"Leave them alone, Blair," he ordered softly, his expression serious.

"You aren't the boss of me," she sputtered, amazed that he would tell her what to do. No one ordered Blair Waldorf around.

He sighed loudly. "Nate's been through enough, and if Jenny makes him happy then I'm all for it. And if you're his friend, you should be, too."

She leaned forward. "I am his friend. I'm his friend enough to know he's making a mistake."

"We all make mistakes," Chuck answered darkly.

"But this is … ridiculous. I mean, maybe it's rebound thing from Catherine or him getting back at Vanessa for messing things up—"

"The heart has reasons for which reason cannot understand," he quoted softly, meeting her gaze across the limo. "You and I should understand that better than anyone."

Blair folded her arms and leaned back, her eyes still locked on his.

"Leave them alone, Blair." It wasn't an order; it was a request.

She let out a long breath and nodded slowly, tearing her gaze away from him. "I guess I can understand that. I won't say anything."