It was the biggest social event in New York and the most prominent socialites of the city were invited. All were in their best formal black and white outfit - the theme of the night.
     
Nathaniel Archibald, in a traditional tuxedo, was leaning on one corner of the room, his gaze focused towards Serena Van Der Woodsen - who looked like an angel in her white napoleon-cut dress.

Nate looked around briefly for his girlfriend, Blair Waldorf. He spotted her talking to his bestfriend, Chuck, on the other end of the room. Nate took another gulp from his almost-empty glass of wine before he truned his attention back to Serena. She just finished talking to Willow Sinclair, a reporter from People Magazine.

Then, as if she felt his gaze pierce through her skin, she turned around. There, they stood, locked into each other's gaze for what seemed like forever until... she gave him half a smile. He responded with a sad smile - every bit as contradicted as he was. He pursed his lips slowly before he mouthed, "I need to talk to you."

Serena's brows furrowed a bit and she shook her head in refusal. Nate looked at her with pleading eyes and mouthed once more, "Please."

Serena sighed and tilted her head to a direction, instructing him to follow her.




Serena led Nate into an empty room. She locked the door and then turned around, with arms crossed, to face Nate. The music from the party can still be heard inside and it was playing Fever.

"What do you want, Nate? We swore, okay?! We swore to Blair that we won't sneak around anymore and here we are doing it!"

"Look, it's not about that! I just... I just need to talk to you, Serena."

"Well, I'm here. Talk. But talk fast. Dan is coming here to pick me up in a couple of minutes."

"Do you remember that summer in 1999?"

"What are you talking about, Nate?"

"Come on, Serena. Summer 1999. Blair was with her mom in Paris and Chuck was with his dad in China. You called me over. You said you were bored. You asked me if I could go with you to buy ice cream in Serendipity. I said yes, you remember?"

"I, uh..."

"And then we went to Central Park and we sat on that bench in front of..."

"The fountain." Serena interrupted.

"Yes," Nate smiled. "Yes, the fountain. And you remember when we found a Mickey Mouse watch that somebody might have left on that bench? And then you squinted and told me with a sing-song voice, "Finders keepers." You said you've always wanted one but your mother always insisted you buy the expensive ones instead."

"Yeah... yeah, I remember." Serena smiled and continued, "After that, we wondered what Blair was doing in Paris. You said she might be eating ice cream too. And I shook my head and I said, 'No. She's dancing with a handsome French count.' I was trying to make you jealous."

"But I wasn't." Nate continued. "Instead, I stood up and, with a very bad French accent, asked you to dance with me. 'But there's no music,' you said. I told you, 'I can sing. Well, I'll try anyway.' Then I asked you to pick a song and... You know that thing that you sometimes do with your mouth when you speak? When one corner of your upper lip twitches upward? You did that. And said you wanted to dance to The Way You Look Tonight. So I took your hands into mine, held you close and we swayed to my awful rendition of the song." Nate laughed.

Serena laughed too but her laughter trailed off as she continued, "And then we kissed."

"Yes." Nate looked her in the eyes, almost searchingly. "Yes, we did."

"It was my first kiss."

Nate nodded. "Mine too."

"But I said, right after, that it was a mistake."

Nate nodded again and smiled sadly, "And suddenly you hated watch and everything it stood for. As if it had something to do with the kiss."

"Yes, I did." Serena said sadly, "and I threw it in the fountain and told you that everything that happened that day drowns with the watch."

They both paused silently. Serena looked away and turned her attention to a tray full of wineglasses near them. She turned back when Nate spoke.

"I came back, you know."

"What?"

"I came back. That night? After I dropped you off? I went back to Central Park, literally stepped into that fountain and emerged soaking wet with the watch. I had it repaired the very next day."

Serena's eyes widened when Nate reached for his pocket and brought out an old plastic red Mickey Mouse watch. He held it out in front of her. A tear fell down from her face as she took it.

"Nate, why are you doing this?"

"Because I love you, Serena. I loved you ever since that summer and who knows, maybe even before that! You were different from everyone else - you were like me. We felt like we didn't belong. Chuck and Blair - they embrace this kind of life, they love it. We were different and you knew that! That's why you kissed me. And that's why I kissed you back. It's always going to be there, Serena! You can't just drown it! That's why it happened again in the Shepherd wedding. It'll keep happening because it's always going to be there!"

Serena shook her head angrily, tears streamed down from her face, "Not if I can help it."

Nate shot her a wounded look, "Why do you hate this - us - so much?"

"Because I love you, too. And you're right! But I can't live with that! There's Blair. She's my best friend, Nate! And I love her. And... I have Dan now!"

"I love Blair, too... but not as much as I love you. That's why I'm not asking you to turn your back from any of them."

"Then what do you want me to do?"

Nate clasped his right hand over the hand Serena was using to clasp the Mickey Mouse watch. "All I'm asking is that you keep it. You don't have to use it. Just don't throw it away. Put it somewhere safe and remember it once in a while."

Nate released her hand. Serena wiped her tears with her palm and nodded. "Okay." Then, as if by magic, the music from outside switched to The Way You Look Tonight.

Some day, when I'm awfully low

When the world is cold,

I will feel a glow just thinking of you...

Serena pressed her palm on her lips briefly as an act of surprise. "This never happens."

Nate smiled, "Maybe Fate is giving us a second chance to end that one summer day differently.. one without regret." and then, in a horrible French accent, he asked, "May I have this dance, mademoiselle?"

Serena smiled back. "Sure, monsieur."

Nate pulled her close to him and they swayed to the music, eyes closed and breathing in each other's presence.

Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warm

And your cheeks so soft,

There is nothing for me but to love you,

And the way you look tonight.

Living through here. Living through now. Living until the song ended.

As the last notes of the song trailed off, they kissed before they pulled away from each other. Serena looked at Nate and said, "I should go. Dan could be outside waiting for me."

Nate nodded. "Yeah, I think I should too. Blair could be looking for me."

They left the room, fingers locked tight into each other's before they had to let go and head towards different directions: Nate, back to the party for Blair; Serena, towards the lounge for Dan.




Blair finally spotted Nate. "There you are Natie! I've been looking all over for you! Chuck left me immediately when he learned that the recent contestants for America's Next Top Model were here. And I was getting tired of talking to those damn reporters. Where have you been?"

Nate shrugged. "I went outside. I needed a breath of fresh air to clear my mind. But I'm back now."

Blair raised one eyebrow and smiled sexily. "And is your mind cleared?"

"Yes. Yes, it is."




Dan was already waiting by the lobby when Serena arrived. He beamed as he saw her, "Hmm... I was beginning to think I entered the wrong building. Didn't you get my message?"

"Sorry about that. My phone was turned off."

Dan spotted the Mickey Mouse watch. "You mother mast had a heart attack when she saw you wearing that watch with that outfit."

Serena laughed. "No, an old friend gave it to me. I just... I just thought of wearing it tonight."

Dan gave her a confused smile. "Okay. So... ready to go home?"

Serena gave the watch one more glance before replying. "Yes, yes I think it's about time I do."