chapter SIXTEEN.

Jenny drummed her newly manicured nails against the long table in the Dining Hall of Constant Billard, a look of practiced boredom plastered across her features. Of course, she hadn't been able to afford one of those expensive mani-pedis in Manhattan like Penny or Hazel, but she honestly didn't see what the big deal was about having her nails done at a small salon in Brooklyn. The result didn't differ all too drastically and it saved her from having to bust open her piggy bank and grab up all that was in it just to possess more attractive hands.

The entire room was abuzz with female chatter, girls giggling about the latest scandal and loudly whispering about who was sleeping with who. All the while, Jenny was seated at the most 'popular' table of them all, the one placed directly in the middle of the gigantic cafeteria. The one that the 'underclassman' automatically knew not to even go near unless they wanted to be beheaded or humiliated very publically.

And now Jenny was finally allowed to sit there!

Penny and Hazel suddenly swooped in, curing her loneliness. Not long after, so did Kati and Isabel. Every girl had the first three buttons of their white school uniform shirt unbuttoned and when Jenny glanced down at hers, she realized only the first two had been. Quickly and slyly, the young blonde reached up and popped the third button open, hoping that none of the other girls noticed.

"Can you believe some of the stories people have been telling about Serena and Blair?" Isabel sighed, pulling the tab of her strawberry yogurt upward and sniffing her very first meal of the day. If it could even be called a meal.

"I know," nodded Kati in agreement. "Rain Hoffestetter told me Blair was supposedly moving to France to take care of that baby of hers. She was an emotional wreck and begged her father to take her in, just so he could help raise the baby." She scoffed. "Pathetic."

"That's not true," insisted Penny, pulling the plastic top of her salad off and tossing it casually into a nearby garbage bin. "Nicki Button told me all about how Blair decided to stay in the city because she was involved in some orgy at The Palace hotel, with every member of Avenged Sevenfold. And then the lead singer found out about her pregnancy and convinced her not to leave because he wanted to help support her. They're having a baby girl."

Hazel rolled her eyes. "Like you can even tell yet. . . Anyway, I heard from Laura Salmon that Blair and Serena were caught having a three-way with the new headmistress and they're both running away. To Los Angeles. And that total b!tc# of a headmistress is getting fired and moving with them. Blair had an abortion and Serena's getting married to Zac Efron, simply for the cash."

Jenny ignored them all and continued drumming her nails against the table, resting her chin in her free hand. What was really the truth behind the numerous amount of Serena-Blair stories? She'd heard from Gossip Girl that they'd gotten into yet another big blowout in SoHo, but that was a pretty vague bit of information, one which left the young blonde feeling left in the dark. Again.

Finally, a short dark-haired girl slid into the last empty seat of the table, sliding Jenny's plate of carrot sticks and chocolate mousse across the table and beaming at the group happily. "Hey, guys," she said in that naive tone of voice. It was Elise Wells, the girl who'd been officially wrapped around Jenny's finger. If she needed to return a book, she could turn to Elise. If she needed a paper done for geometry, she could turn to Elise. . . If she needed her shoes polished, she could turn to Elise. Just the thought made Jenny's lips curl into a small, satisfied smile.

"Thanks, E. . . What took you so long?"

Just as Elise was about to open her mouth to utter something in response, Isabel turned to Jenny. "So, little J. What's been up with you? Anything other than trying to keep your dork of a brother hidden from the outside world?" Each girl tittered with delight. Except for Jenny, of course.

"Well actually, I think I'm gonna start dating Leo Dunne." Jenny was about to explain who he was but she thought it'd be cooler if she just kept silent, as if everyone seated at the table should already know who he was and what he did. And, of course, they all did know. Except for Elise. But no one felt the need to fill her in.

Kati dropped her plastic fork, Hazel put a hand over her mouth, and the rest of the girls gasped. "No. Way!"

Jenny laughed. "Way."

"You're dating a senior?" Penny's eyes lit up. "Wow, little J! You've really done well for yourself!"

Each girl at the table nodded and smiled, all secretly hating Jenny for being able to snag such a hottie just a day after climbing her way to the top of the social chain. Then they all went back to picking at their salads and yogurts, pretending they would eat them, and examining their hair closely for any split ends. And all the while, Jenny was busy dazing off gleefully, imagining what her life would be like after this. . .


Meanwhile, Blair sat two tables away, next to six girls she'd never ever talk to in her life. Of course, as soon as she'd stepped onto school grounds a wave of whispers and gossip had swept over the entire student body. But she'd made a resolution on her way here not to let it affect her. And she wasn't. She had much more important things to do. . . Like eavesdrop on Jenny and the rest of her backstabbing friends.

And the text message she'd recieved from Gossip Girl a few minutes ago had already sent her fuming with rage, giving her all the more ammo and incentive to go in for the kill.

So. Jenny thought she had Leo all of a sudden, just because she'd spoken to him once or twice? Well Blair definitely had a different plan in mind. And when she had a plan, she wouldn't quit until it came to fruition.


Spotted: B keeping her dirty little secret all to herself. Well, more like dirty little PLAN if you ask me. . . And it's not like she has anyone to tell anyway. The amount of names on her Friends List has fallen pretty short these days. But I'm sure all that will change soon enough. Wink, wink.

you know you love me.
xoxo; gossip girl